Chapter 1

World Treasures Antique Shop

Calcata, Rome

Early June, 2001

November 24th, 1994

Today is the day where I must rejoice, for it is the end of the second, and hopefully, the last Darkstalker War of the century. The threat of that demonic dark lord and his one-soul being are no longer in existence, and I believe that all of the suffering and grief previously acquired by this messiah's victims have finally been subsided due to his defeat. I only wish the best for my master and mentor, for he knows not how to subside his own conflicts from the evils of losing one's humanity. Nevertheless, I am bested by own cockiness, for I discovered that the leg injury that I have gained since the time of Jedah's death has become serious, and the wound has refused to heal…Even the most proficient of all doctors in this town has declared that the damage is too great, and that it is permanent, despite all the surgeries I would have to take.

I too feel a great lost on this victorious day, for I can no longer take up actions as I used to. I may be young, but I feel like I'm growing older by the second, and soon I will not be able to catch up with the greater threats that continue to roam this world. I must resign quietly from this old profession that will possibly never go back into light ever again, so to speak.

"Heh, the good old days," Myoko said as she quickly snapped her black, leather journal shut. It was already six o' clock in the morning, and the glinting rays of the rising sun were already beginning to lightly sprinkle her face with pale yellow and orange tints. "Oh...and already, the day has come to greet me with another evening of selling artifacts. I must stop reading those entries everyday…" Myoko slowly stretched her arms and finally made her way out of bed, and like any other normal person, she headed straight to her small bathroom, where she took her daily shower and other hygienic habits. As she began to brush her wavy, waist-long hair, she continued to stare into the bathroom mirror, observing every detail of her tall, slender body. She knew that despite all of her efforts to fit into such a beautiful society such as Calcata, she knew better that her personality and appearance would never allow her to fit in. Her skin was dark almost as dark as ebony wood, and her long hair was red-violet with slight amethyst colored ends, making it quite a spectacular contrast. And her eyes…they were inhuman and feral; two golden orbs that seemed to stare right through one's mind and soul.

It was quite obvious at most times whenever Myoko went out from her usual schedule just to take a small break from the unexciting life of waiting at the shop's desk counter. She stuck out like a sore thumb in the middle of Rome like a flower planted in the wrong garden, and arguably enough, others would mistaken her to be a foreign tourist or model the first time around. The more elderly locals simply did not trust her and even feared her because of her "strange and unaccustomed mannerisms", for they too already knew who (and what) she truly was. The name "Myoko" was definitely not a name of any Italian origin, but she never tried to hide it. In fact, she displayed it with great dignity. The thick Asian accent she spoke with continuously confused the citizens she gathered with regularly, but she knew their native language quite well. Most of all, Myoko contained supernatural abilities and knowledge acquired by ways that most wouldn't even dream of practicing. Mind reading, receiving premonitions, and manipulating other natural elements were always kept down quite low to prevent any further conflict with the neighbors, but she always performed miniature tasks just for the entertainment of tourists, such as palm and tarot card readings.

After getting dressed in her long black gown and golden bracelets, she automatically headed downstairs, where the antique shop was currently set up. After she flipped the sign over to reveal its opening, Myoko slowly walked through the multiple aisles of countless artifacts, ancient charms, and any other trinkets that could be bought as souvenirs for the next person who came in to stop by. Many of them glimmered with the help of the sun's rays, and she enjoyed that, for it gave the shop a less gloomy, more mystified feeling. From there on, Myoko hustled herself to the desk counter and behind it on her personal stool, biding her time. Wooden masks, old dusty paintings, and other items that dangled off the walls also gave the store a bit of a more traditional, tribal atmosphere to the antique shop as well, and Myoko loved it. It reminded her of back home, where she would periodically take trips to in order to tend to the orphaned children there.

Myoko sighed as she began to watch bustling outside world through her large shop window. For her, business was usually quite slow everyday, and the number of customers was quite low as well, but somehow, she was always able to raise enough money to keep the antique shop going. Now that it was already past noontime, many people were already exploring the many areas of the shopping district, yet no one seemed to paying any attention to hers. However, it was only a quarter after two when Myoko noticed a familiar chime of bells being rung and the old creak of an opening door. Customers. The middle-aged woman automatically stood up and observed them a bit. They were a small group of young adults, presumably four or five of them that were probably taking a small trip to Rome as a summer vacation before their next journey to college. Obviously, they were tourists, so Myoko had to do her best in order to make their stay a pleasant one. "Hello, may I help you on something?"

"Um, no, we're just taking a look around," one of the young men said as he and his friends observed the little shop in awe. Most of them were curiously walking through the aisles, their eyes wide with quite amazement as the old artifacts continued to entertain them. A few of the girls were giggling and conversing amongst themselves as they tried on the multiple stashes of jewelry such as necklaces and rings, while the boys joked around with the with the miniscule statuettes and other talismans. One of them, however, was able to make in towards the entrance of the backroom. Myoko immediately noticed this, and she confronted the male with no hesitation whatsoever.

"Sir, do you wish for me to help you of any sort?"

"Er…no, but I was wondering if you had any more stuff to look at back there. You know, just for bigger selection."

"Oh, that room is for those who wish to know the future," Myoko responded with a tone that sounded almost bored. "I do fortune telling, and other things of that sort. "Nothing much of interest back there." Before the woman could walk back to her desk, a few group members overheard the tiny conversation and decided to join in the fun.

"Fortune telling? I'd like to do that."

"Hey, but what about all the other sites that we have to see? Shouldn't we go first?"

"C'mon Jared, it'll be really cool! Besides, we have plenty of time to see all the other places." Jared, a.k.a. the young man that Myoko talked to earlier hesitantly nodded his head and agreed with the rest of his friends, and Myoko also nodded in approval.

"Sure, why not. We don't have anything to lose," the boy said as he scratched his head. "When should we do it?"

"Now would be good time, if you wish to do the readings now," the woman answered with a soft smile. "Right this way, please…"

"Alright, thanks for the readings! See ya!"

"Your welcome," Myoko warmly replied. "Please come back anytime!" As she retreated back to the recesses of the antique shop, the woman turned her head and took one last glance out the store's window. The afternoon was almost over, and now the sun was beginning to set. She had made good business today, and so far, the most favorable items to buy from her selection of wide assortments were the good luck pendants that she cleverly hung on a small rack near the desk counter so that others could spot them while they were making a purchase. Myoko stepped right back into the dark-curtained entrance of the backroom, illuminated by the dim lights of the candles' flames. She comfortably sat down on her velvety, plush armchair, where she inhaled the lingering, deep scent of burning incense. Myoko pulled out a deck of tarot cards, seemingly old, but valuable and she placed them into their designated areas on the maroon tablecloth.

"Finally, a little 'reading' for myself," she said in her mind as she continued to prepare other talismans in their places. Since it nearly closing time, Myoko had a chance to have the shop all to herself for several peaceful predictions just before heading to bed for the next day. Myoko was also a bit of a worrywart because of the ending of the second Darkstalker War, for she constantly feared the worst of all situations to happen…another Darkstalker war. For her previous nights, her predictions had never failed her about the upcoming morn, but this evening would be the last peaceful one she would ever have for the days to come…