Chapter 2: Strange Encounter
By the time they left the safety of their home, the morning star has risen and shining down its light through a fleece of clouds. Bringing forth a brand new day for the inhabitants of a town by the forest-covered mountains. Somewhere, there is a busy street where business flourish. With residents going about their day, following their own daily routine they planned out today.
The streets are made from cobblestones and brinks, layer out in a certain pattern to keep people on the sidewalk. There are streets signs point out many directions for the people to find a certain district, the light poles are aligned along side with autumn trees, and bus stops with maps that show the entire area. Occasionally, the town folks would go in and out of half-timbered stores, finding any desire items that are on sale today.
As the two so-called sibling and their beloved dog traverse through the crowded lane, they try not to get separate from each other by the current of people. Unfortunately, Akira is already a few feet behind from Sorin and Scary. She try to move through the crowds, but she ended up getting blocked by strangers. There are times when she feels uncomfortable whenever a random person get too close to her. Especially if a stranger accidentally bump into her. Making her situation awkward and uneasy.
On the other hand, Sorin is well adjusted in the crowded sidewalk. He made sure to hang onto the leash, so Scary wouldn't get swept away. Occasionally, he would look back to see his older sister struggling to keep up with them.
It wasn't long until he feels someone grab him by the shoulder, and he turn his head to see it was Akira."You okay, sis?" Sorin asked."Did you got S care of getting lost?" The golden-haired boy made a slight snicker.
"Oh, hahah, very funny." Akira made a fake laugh."And for your information, I was making sure that you didn't end up lost. You know there are people who just love getting in the way." She sounded very tick off at the last part.
"Right~" He said with a teasing smile.
Akira rolled her dark blue eyes at him."You little..." She stop herself by bitting her own lip from finishing the sentence, and let out a sigh."Whatever, let just keep going."
Before they can continue moving forward, Scary made a sudden halt in the middle sidewalk. Making the two so-called siblings to stop in their tracks as well.
"Huh?" Sorin became confuse when his dog stop for some reason."Hey, Scary, c'mon. We have to keep moving. " Then he begin to tug on the leash, hoping to get the dog's attention to make him move again, but it didn't work.
"What the heck is up with him?" Akira asked.
"I don't know, " Sorin wasn't sure about his dog's strange behavior, and his unwillingness to move.
"I thought you're an animal expert." Akira noted.
Sorin simply ignore her comment, and try to figure out what's wrong with his dog "Seriously, Scary," he started, "I really don't want to force you."
While the golden-haired boy try to make Scary move again, without resorting to force. The black-pelted dog was showing signs of strange behavior. First, his pointing ears begin to twitch. Then, the dog sniffs the air as if he caught a scent that only canine could smell. Scary's head turn to look a certain direction on the left side of the street.
Akira was able to noticed Scary's odd behavior. The way that Scary was acting and the way he stare look like he is under a trance. Wondering what Scary was looking at, Akira turn her head to the left and see an opening space between two buildings. An alleyway that lead to the other side of the block.
All of a sudden, Akira feels a powerful jolt running through her nerves. She begin to feels some kind of radiation coming from the alleyway. It kinda reminded of her of a sensation she felt in her dream from last night. Akira try to shake the bizarre feelings away; however, it was pointless. She begin to wonder if her mind is playing a trick on her. But still, this experience feels very real to her.
Strangely, something about the alleyway was alluring. Almost like the dark space is calling her to come forward. She wasn't sure why she getting that kind of vibes, but the urge to search for the main source of energy was tempting. And the only way to find out, it's by letting her instincts to take control.
Without thinking or considering the possible consequences, Akira begin to walk into the alley.
Although he was dealing with his dog, Sorin notice his older sister walking to the alleyway."Um, sis...what are you doing?" Sorin try to ask her. However, it seem she didn't listen to him. "Hey, we can't go there!"Once again, his words didn't reach her.
Sorin can only watch as Akira walk away like she was possessed of some sort. It bad enough he have to deal with his dog's stubbornness, but now with his sister. He gotta do something or else he will lose sight of his sister. But first, he need to figure out to make his dog move again. He place two fingers to his lip and made a loud whistle, which made Scary's ears to perk up and look up to his owner. Sorin's plan of getting his dog's attention actually work. He then point his finger at the alley where Akira is. The dog seem to understand his owner, and then both of them quickly went after for Akira.
Further down the alleyway, Akira look around to her surrounding and find nothing out of the ordinary. Only typical stuffs like trash cans, broken planks, and boxes randomly place in the area. However, she can still feels some sort of energy radiating here. Just when she about to continue, she feels a tight grib around her wrist, and turn her head to see it was Sorin with his dog beside him.
"...We shouldn't be here."
"Huh?" Akira made a genuine confuse look.
"Oh, c'mon!" Sorin shout."Didn't you listen to me the whole time?" The respond he got was Akira shaking her head. "Dad told us not to go places alone." He informed.
Akira begin to scratch her scalp wondering he mean by that. She wasn't sure how to answer, nor explain the strange phenomenon she felt.
"I..." Akira try to say something.
Out of nowhere, a short scream interrupt her and broke the tension. Follow by another sounds of metal and paper being crush. The disturbing noise made Akira to quickly grab her young brother to hide behind her back. While the dog, Scary, huddle against their legs then begin to growl at something.
"What was that?" Sorin asked.
"I don't know..." Once again, she have no idea what's going on.
From where she is standing, Akira can see someone in an ackward postion on top of crushed trashcans.
"Ugh...medic..." The stranger moan, painfully.
"Sis...I think that person hurt." Sorin pointed out.
Somehow, Sorin manage to wiggle his way out of his sister's grip and went toward the injure person. While Akira fallow him to check the stranger too, with Scary walk along them without command. They were about brace themselves to see whatever gruesome injuries the person might have, but surprisingly, there is none. The only thing that look wrong about him is the awkward position that he's in.
From what they can tell, it's a young male around the age of fifteen years old. He also wearing some sort of form-fitting black hoodie, jeans, and runner shoes. However his face is hidden by a big hood, only showing bits of his chin.
"Huh, he kinda look fine." Akira was astonished to see him with little injuries.
"Yeah, but I think he's unconscious." Sorin pointed out how the teenage boy is responsive."We should call-" Before he can finish his sentence, the hooded boy made a painful groaning noise.
Akira, Sorin, and Scary step back to give him some breathing space also watch him as he awaken from unconsciousness. When the young stranger finally open his eyes, he look around and notice the two sibling with their massive black dog standing in front of him. He made a startling gasp, and tries to scurries away from them. However, he fail miserably since he struggle to get up from the fall.
"Hey, careful! You're going get yourself more hurt!" Sorin ran up to the injured person, and unintentionally let go of the dog leash. Luckily, Akira is there to grab the leash to keep Scary from wandering off.
"No, really-I'm good!" The hooded boy hold up a hand to signal Sorin to stop.
While her little brother did his best to help the stranger, Akira stand still and watch as he put effort to help someone. That when she notice something off about the hooded teenager. From the moment he appeared out of nowhere, the sense she followed became very weak like dying ember. Although that isn't strangest part, Akira's eyes can see a green glow rippling over the stranger's body like lights reflecting off on a pond surface.
"Huh?" She quickly rub her eyes for any dust in her eyes. But once she finish rubbing them, the hooded boy was no longer enveloped by a green light."Did...I really see that?" She start to wonder what she was real or not.
A few attempts later, the stranger was able to get up from the crushed garbage cans without help from Sorin. Though he is now standing on his two feet, he still look a little sore from his injuries.
"See, I told you I can do it!" The hooded teenager say triumphantly. Then he stare back at the two so-called siblings."So, um...by any chance see anything weird, kid?" He ask while rubbing the back of his neck, awkwardly.
"Um...just you." Sorin pointed out the person in front of him.
"Oh, thanks gods..." The hooded boy seem relieved by his respond.
"Y-You're welcome?" Sorin reply with a bit of wary.
Before the hooded teen can say anything, suddenly a hand appear and covering his mouth. Almost giving Akira and Sorin nearly a heart attack, while Scary got into a defensive position with his lip pull to show off his fangs. Out of nowhere came a newcomer, dressed almost exactly like the other hooded teen, except the new stranger is a teenage girl, and she was at least a year older than Akira by a year.
"Makay-" He muffled, but was cut off.
"Shhhh!" The hooded girl shush him.
She began to whisper something into his ear. While the so-called siblings and their dog watch, Akira can hear some of the words from their whisper.
"Told you...Don't jump..."
"I'm sorry..." The male figure's voice suddenly shifted."I-I thought..."
She groan in frustration."Never mind...we...get out here."
"...But what about those guys?" He whisper back while his thumb pointing at the siblings with their dog.
She whisper back." Leave now...before things get worse."
"Alright, fine." He agreed.
Without a word, the two hooded-teens rush toward the opposite side of the alleyway. Leaving Akira and Sorin with confuse expressions written all over their before they fully disappear, Akira only one to notices the strange symbols on both
"That was weird." Akira said.
"Yeah,"Sorin nodded.
Akira begin to think for a moment of what just happen. Something about those two teenagers were so bizarre. The ways they were dressed are very similar to each other like some kind of uniform-styled. Also how they appeared out of thin air was very unsettling. They're certainly don't look like from around here, nor look like a typical person from Seikastu Valley.
"I wonder..."Akira begin to think about it.
Before she continue thinking, Sorin interrupted her train of thought. "Hey, sis." He started."Why did acted so weird?"
"Huh," Akira look directly at her surrogate brother.
"Ugh..." Sorin groan in frustration. "You didn't listen to me when I'm tell you to stop. Like seriously, what the heck?"
There is an awkward pause between the two of them. Akira have no answer to explain what felt back then. She thought for a moment until she think of a good answer to make Sorina to stop talking.
"It's nothing." Akira answer.
"Really?" Sorin's brow rose up, and he look very spectacle.
Akira sigh, deeply."You wouldn't understand..." She said, quietly."Let just get out here. We need to do Al's errands before noon, remember." Then she reminded him about the job they have to do.
Sorin purse his lip. Something about Akira's answer didn't sit well with him. The way she said it sound like she holding back some details from him. Before he can go against her, Sorin see his surrogate sister is leaving him behind. The boy made a frustrating groan, and then he look down to see Scary still stand next to him. Waiting patiently for his command.
"C'mon, Scary." Sorin tug the leash to make his dog move.
And with that, Akira, Sorin, and Scary exit out of the alleyway. Carrying the memories of their strange encounter fresh in their mind. Sometimes, Sorin still wonder about Akira's and Scary's strange behavior, also the two teenagers dressed in similar hoodies that appeared out of nowhere. It so bizarre that he wonder what he saw was real or not.
Many hours since the strange incident in the alleyway, they already finished their errand to get groceries from the market place. Akira, Sorin, and Scary hurry down streets to get home before it get much colder. While carefully not to let the heavy bags full of groceries to fall apart, or accidentally let anything slip out from the bag. By that time, it was already noon, and sky begin to dimmed as clouds cover more of the sky.
It wasn't long until they arrived to a familiar two-floored, house with a small front porch and a small yard. They walk up to the small steps, and stand in front of the door.
"Finally, we're home." Sorin said, relieved.
"Thank, gods..." Akira agreed.
Sorin then pressed the doorbell, making a lovely ringing sound, and waited for someone to open the door for them. It wasn't long until the front door is open by none other than their father, Alan.
"Hey, dad!" Sorin started. "We got the stuff you needed!" He held up the heavy plastic bags full with fresh produce, spices, and other necessities.
"Excellent," Alan smiled. "You two have done a splendid job." Alan praise his kids for completing the errand.
"It was nothing." Akira said it, naturally.
As the small family and dog enter the house, they all went to another room know as the kitchen. Where Akira and Sorin place down four heavy bags of groceries on a nearby kitchen counter, then begin to take out the items one by one. Alan help them out to organize the items into certain categories like one go to the cabinets and the other go to the fridge.
Alan then look over to his two kids from the spot he standing."So, tell me...anything interesting happen today?"
"Well..." Sorin turn to face his father, "It was weird, dad."
"Really?" Alan seem very interested.
"Ah, shit."Akira curse under a whispering tone.
"Huh, did you say something?" Alan look at her with concern.
"Um, nothing!" Akira nearly messed up with her words.
Akira went back organizing the food items into prober cabinets, and trying to act natural in front of her uncle. However, she can sense Alan is still looking her with a narrow gaze.
"So what did happen, son?" Alan want to hear the bizarre story.
"I don't know how it happened, but Scary was acting super weird today. He didn't want to listen to me, and didn't want move." He explained the incident when he was in the street.
"Mhmm," Alan hummed."That is quite particularly, son."
"Hu-huh! Even sis was acting weird, too." Sorin said.
"I did not!" Akira objected, and unintentionally slammed down a can to the counter.
"Yes, you did!" He retorted. "I tried to call you, but you didn't listen to me when your entering the alley!"
"Seriously, Sorin, just shut-"
"Calm down you two!" Alan order them to stop, before the argument get out of control. Thankfully, his kids did listen to him and kept their mouth shut. "I'm sure she have a good a explanation why she did it. Care to explain your side of the story?" Alan turn his gaze to look at his niece.
"I..." Akira struggle to find a proper explanation. Wondering if she can really tell him about the weird feeling she got from the alleyway. Well, her uncle is waiting for her response, so she have to wing it. "You know that weird feeling your being spy on? Well, I thought I take look to make that no one spying on us. But it turn out to be some idiot doing some a stupid stunt."
"Is that so?" Alan seems to understand her.
"I know it sound weird, but...ugh, I just don't know how to explain it." Akira gave much informations she can, but the say she said it doesn't sound right.
Alan scratch his beard, and turn to his son."Is that true, my son? Did those thing really happened in the alley?"
"Yeah, it did." Sorin confirm the incident."It was so weird, he just fell out of nowhere. Then a girl appear, and they both acting weird." He added.
"That is quite bizarre." Alan expressed his thought about the incident. "Well, whatever happened back there must've been something."
"Who knows...maybe they are part of something that being kept secret from everyone." Akira theorized.
"Seriously, sis? That kinda sound dumb." said Sorin.
"Hey!" Akira glare at the boy.
"Kids, what did I told you?" Alan's voice slightly rose up.
"Sorry, dad..."
"Sorry...Al." Akira and Sorin apologize at the same time.
After putting away the items into their prober places, Akira let out sigh of relief now that she was done. She step away from the kitchen counter, and begin to go somewhere else.
"Sis, where are you going?" Sorin turn to see Akira heading toward a small hallway in the back of the kitchen
"Where else," She started, "I'm going outside." She answer without looking back.
Once she reach to the back door and open it, she exited out of the house by herself. The door lead Akira to the back of the porch, that have a wooden railing and a retractable sunshade. She took a moment to look at the backyard, seeing the flowers blooming alongside the tall fence, and notice the sky is still clouding. Then she walk across the porch, went toward small steps to walk down on, and went toward a shed in the upright conner of the yard.
Akira step inside the shed, and look around for a certain iteam. Hidden among the gardening tools, there was a bucket fill with with wooden swords. Akira gently shift them around until she found a particular sword that resemble a sleek, double edge blade with a leather grip, and a star on the wide guard. She held up it too see a carving on the blade that has her name written on it.
Once she got the sword, Akira turn around to head toward the exit until she got startle by a shadowy creature blocking the entrance. But she soon realize it was just Scary standing outside of the shed, it's probably the lighting ended up tricky her to see differently.
"God damnit, Scary." Akira said."Don't sneak up on me! I hate it when you do that." Akira then heard Scary letting out whimpering noise, and ears flatted against his head in shame.
Then another familiar person appear next to the dog."Hey sis," Sorin began,"are you going to do sword practice?"
"It's called, sparring." Akira corrected him, and rolled her dark blue eyes.
"Yeah, that one!" He finally remember the type of training exercise his sister does."I wanna spar too, sis." Sorin said with pure confidence.
Akira look at him with a displease look. "No way, Sorin" She decline."You're the worst sparring partner ever!" She said, bluntly.
"Please, sis. I been practicing too, and I finally getting better at it." Sorin bring up his personal experienced of his own personal training. Hoping that his improvement might help him to train with her.
"Yeah, right." Akira cross her arms, and shook her head like she didn't believe him at all.
"I'll show you," Sorin ran inside the shed, and came out with a basic looking wooden sword.
"Are you sure about this?" Akira asked. Then her surrogate brother gave his respond by nodding his head ."Fine, but I'm warning you."
Both sibling and the dog walk onto the yard to get into prober position. Akira choose to stand on the right side of the yard, while Sorin have the left side, and Scary just sit on the back porch to see his owners spar against each other.
"I'm ready, sis." The boy ready himself by holding his own fake sword tightly, and get into defensive position.
"You better be," Akira got into an attack position.
The first one to attack was Akira by performing a verticals slash; however, Sorin brought up his sword to block. For the first time, Akira is genuine surprise by his quick reflex.
"See," He smirk,"Told ya."
"Psh, lucky block." Akira made peeved expression by his response.
As the sparring match go on, Akira continue using attacks while Sorin manage to block every strike she made. Akira starting to get a little annoyed how Sorin keep blocking her. It wasn't long until she got an idea to break through his defense. From what she seeing, there are some opening since the sword can only cover most of his body. Once she manage to pinpoint an opening, she thrust her sword and hit directly at Sorin's chest.
Sorin's eyes widen in surprise, and letting out a painful gasp from the hit. "Hey, why did you do that?"
"Always figure out your opponent weak point." That all she said, and went back to sparring.
Each of them went all out with their method of attacks. Akira used a lot of her force into a strike, and Sorin jump out of the way from getting hit. Then she changed her style to perform a flurry of slashes, then finished it off with a thrust to the Sorin's center. However, Sorin use dodge again then perform
basic upwards and horizontals attacked-styles with all her strength and try to perform a finisher move by striking the sword through the upper region of Akira's body.
Luckily, she manage to block the attack with her sword."Ha!" She mocked."You looking a little tire aren't ya, Sorin."
"I can do this all day!" Sorin is determine to keep on fighting.
Time begin to fly by very fast, the cloudy sky is now painted with the colors reddish-orange hues. Akira and Sorin are feeling tired, so they decided to put down their swords and rest for a while. Their arms felt tired and very sore from combining attacks.
"Ehh, you still need more work." Akira used her left hand to wipe off the beads of sweat on forehead.
"Really, sis..." His leaf-green eyes narrow and made an angry frown. Then he felt a gentle nudge against his rib. Sorin notices it was just his dog trying to get attention. He already know what Scary want, so he gave him a scratch behind his ear."You think I'm good, right, Scary?" He asked his dog. The black dog's lips pull back into a goofy smile with his tongue sticky out. "Aww, I knew you think so!" Sorin happily wrap his arm around his dog's neck and giving his more scratches behind his ear, making Scary's fluffy tail to wag madly by his owner affection he getting.
"Pfft," She let out,"If you wanna get better with sword. You should really start with thinking other of kinds move beside defense." Then she held up her personal sword up to show off."Sword aren't shield you know, they can only take some hits and you'll end up losing energy." She gave a brief explanation.
"Oh, I get it." Sorin soaked in the information he's given."Any others techniques you know, sis?"
"Plenty." Akira smiled at him.
Then she went on and on about the many methods of how to use the sword. Sorin made sure to pay attention to every single words she say. Akira would occasionally show off some attack with her sword while sitting, and Sorin would try imitate with own.
Soon their discussion came to abrupt stop, when they heard the back door is being open. Akira and Sorin turn around to see Alan appear.
"Kids, dinner time." Alan announce.
"Okay, dad!" Sorin quickly got up from the porch step and head toward his father, with his dog trailing behind him.
While Akira have to put away the fake weapons back to their prober places. Akira first put away her surrogate brother's sword into the bucket, and then she about add in hers. But before she do that, she begin stare at the sword with her name on it. She examine every dents and marks it has over the years of usage. Then trace her fingers over the carve name, bringing back the days when she first began training herself to wield a sword.
She then sigh deeply,"If only."
A memory of her and an older male giving her the sword when she was very little. She still remember the smile, and the promise he made just for her.
One day, I'll train you...
I promise, sis.
Akira locked up the shed, and went back to the house where they're having dinner at dusk. They spent the remainder of the day eating a delicious meal together as a family. Alan would occasionally start up a chat and Sorin would join him too, while Akira was too focused on eating than talking with them. And once their finish, they all work together to wash up dishes until they are nice and clean.
After that, they all split up to do their own thing. Akira decided to go upstairs to take a quick shower, and change into her favorite sleeping wear for tonight. And then she went to her bedroom, to spend the rest of the day in the comfort of her room. She is standing behind a window to see the night sky. Her dark blue eyes searched for any kind of constellations among the scatter clouds until she heard the door was being open by someone. The bright brown-haired girl slightly glance to see her guardian, Alan, enter the room.
"Oh, hey...I'm just looking at the stars you known." Akira gave her reason why she not in bed yet.
Alan chuckle by her answer,"Just like your older brother."
"Yeah...I guess." Akira sort of agreed with him.
Alan walk a bit closer to see outside her window, so he can get a glimpse of the stars too. They both are memorize how lovely sky it look in the valley. Even how it manage to brighten the dark more than the lights from the small town.
"It truly remarkable how stars look so much better here than other parts of Seikastu Valley." Alan explained.
"Really?" She questioned.
"Yes, my dear child, I been to places like Nemean City, Hippocampus Coast, and St. Wyvern when I was a young traveler. Trying to find my place in the world along with your father." Alan revealed a few things from his youth."We been to many places in our van that been our home through out the journey."
"Hey, Al..." Akira spoke up.
"Yes?" Alan was still staring at the starry sky
"Do you think my dad watching over my big brother?" Akira asked.
There was an awkward silence filling in the room. Alan made a quite hummed, and his head dropped as if he was ashamed of himself for some reason.
The fifteen years old soon realized it wasn't good idea to asked him that kind of question."I-I'm sorry, Alan! I went out of line-"
"No, it's alright, Akira. I blame myself for letting traumatic experience get in the way." Alan interrupted her before she could apologized. "And yes, I do like believed he watching over Terra from Haven Trails."
"I hope so...I wonder if dad know what going on with Terra?" She wonder about her older brother whereabouts."It been ten years already, and he haven't come back. I missed him so much." She said while holding back her sadness.
"I do too, child." He said." But he's a grown man by now, and he have a important role to keep the worlds safe like ours."
She let out a deep sigh,"I know...I just worried since he been gone for so long."
"Yes, I am worried about him too." He agreed."But we must believe in him, he must've grown strong and have allies who look out for each other."
"Yeah, you're right." She said.
The two keep staring at the startling fill sky for a few more minutes. Until the grown man decided he want to sleep.
"Well it's getting late," Alan said then went toward door,"Also...don't let the thoughts those consume you."
"Okay..." Akira said, "Night, Uncle Al." Trying to pull off a small smile for him.
"Good night,"Alan left Akira's room and closed the door behind him.
Finally alone once again Akira turned away from the door and look through the window. Seeing the stars shimmer in the dark blue sky that brought back precious memories of her times which her older brother.
"Good night, Terra..." she said, sadly.
Author Note: Thanks you for reading today chapter. Hope you guys enjoys much as I do since my favorite was the ending scenes. This chapter have to go through lots of editing since there are ton mistakes that needed to be fix. I hopes this chapters give you guys a better ideas about Akira and her surrogate family, also some key moments that foreshadow certain characteristics.
Until then, see ya next time!