The Foundation of it All

Nine Years old.

'Tatheya! Tatheya!'

Sheena came running down the path from her grandfather, the Chief's, house.

Tath sat by a tree, holding two cards in her hands, chanting some words slowly for herself, eyes closed, concentrating. She didn't flinch as Sheena stopped in front of her, cocking her head to her side, hands on her hips.

'What are you doing?'

'Summoning.'

Sheena laughed. 'That's not how you do it!'

Tath opened her eyes and let the cards fall to the ground. 'Then how do you do it?' she snapped.

Sheena giggled. 'Give me one of your cards.'

Tath reluctantly gave her one of her blue cards. Sheena gave a smile when she saw them. 'Who are you trying to summon?'

Tath shrugged. 'Don't know, just some water spirit.' Sheena grinned, as she closed her eyes and the card floated up in front of her. 'Well, now, watch the Master.'

Tath sighed. Easy for you to say, when you've learned it. Just 'cause your granddad is the Chief. Why won't he teach me the art?

'I summon thee, Holy Spirit of the Water…'

Tath raised an eyebrow as she watched Sheena fall silent for a moment as she concentrated. Then she rose a hand to the sky and opened her eyes. 'Come!'

A few moments later, a little bit of water squirted out the ground, enough to drown a poor bug that happened to cross its way.

Tath gave a wide grin. 'Impressive. I seen you've learned a lot from the Chief,' she said sarcastic.

Sheen folded her arms. 'Shut up!'

Tath giggled. Sheena was the only one as close to a friend as one could be to Tath. She didn't let her close but Sheena didn't care, so their relationship worked out.

'So what did you want that was so important, before you came and interrupted me?' Tath asked and picked up her cards.

Sheena gave a smile again.

'Oh, right! Grandfather wants to see you.'

Tatheya stopped and looked up at Sheena. 'The Chief? Why?'

Sheena shrugged. 'Beats me. But it sounded important.'

Tath looked at the Chief's house. 'Alright then.'

She rose, brushed of her clothes and walked with a high head to the Chief's house.

She'd barely opened the door when she heard the old man's voice. 'Enter, my child.'

She did as he said and kneeled down before him, her forehead touching the floor, and didn't rise until he told her it was okay.

'Tatheya, you, as Sheena, are soon going to turn into the age of ten. And since you are not a born Igaguri follower, I must give you a choice.'

Tath frowned. 'A choice?'

The Chief sighed. 'You may stay here, but then you may not leave for another five years. I think you have heard by now that this village is a secret one and no one except we who live here know where it is. It is in our tradition that no… outsiders may enter, but you were an exception.'

Tath frowned, wondering what his point was.

'But, however, if you ever want to leave the village before that, you must do that now, but then… you can not return.'

Tath, oddly, wasn't saddened by the news. She felt something else, like something was being set into motion.

The Chief poured some tea to himself and Tath.

'I've been watching you for all these years, Tatheya, and… I think you already know what you want.'

Tath looked up at him. 'I cannot stay.'

The Chief smiled. 'I thought so. Then please have this in mind: In this world be live in, it is better to have your fate in you own hands than someone else's.'

Tath nodded, not knowing then how big part those words would play in her future.

'Must I leave now?'

The Chief smiled. 'Of course not, stay for a while. I think you know when it is time to leave.'

'Alright, come on!' Sheena stood with her cards ready in hands, looking at Tath with a daring hint in her eyes.

Tatheya watched as the Chief stood outside his house, a group of men kneeling before him. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she could at least tell that the men were from the smithy. The presented a wooden box to the Chief who carefully opened it. He picked up a long, thin sword, beautifully carved, shining like frost in a cold winter morning. The Chief swung it a couple of times, smiled satisfied and nodded to the men. Tath was in awe of what she saw. She never thought a weapon could be beautiful, but that sword was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

'Hey, Tatheya!'

Tath snapped out of her thoughts and turned back to Sheena, seeing that she was getting ready for an attack. The girl moved fast, as fast as she could, but thanks to Tath's exsphere that no one knew about, Sheena seemed to move very slow and she grabbed with ease Sheena's hand, twisted it around, grabbed the cards easily and held them towards the defenceless girl.

'Aw, come on! Do you have to do that every time?'

Tath grinned and tossed the cards back to her, her eyes turning to the Chief again, seeing him walk into his house with the box in his hands.

For the next few days, Tath tried to find as many reasons she could to go to the Chief's house, just to see the sword. It was still in it's box that was locked, but each time Tath went to the Chief, pretending to be asking about her trip away, she studied it discreetly, trying to solve how to open it.

But then there was another problem. The Chief never left anywhere without it. He always carried it with him. After much secret study Tath found that the only time he left it alone was at night. It was in his chamber, by his bed, but if one was very silent, one could take it...

19 years.

'Ah, Tatheya, welcome,' Ian said as the guards escorted her too his office in a hideout under Asgard.

'Hello, Ian,' she said, releasing the hilt of her sword, relaxing.

'Tell me now, how did the mission go?'

Tath shrugged. 'Kvar's grandson is dead, no one saw me.'

Ian nodded, then looking at her. 'And what did you find out?'

Tath sighed. What was she going to tell him? She decided she might as well tell him about the Angelus Project. He wouldn't know a thing about what it meant, anyway.

'The Angelus Project? Interesting. It sounds almost like your exsphere and Crystal.'

Tath nodded. Ian was the only one, besides her father, Altessa and Yuan that knew about her past in the ranch, and the situation of her exsphere. Although she hadn't told him what effects of the Cruxis Crystal had on her. She'd merely told him that her body didn't work as others, due to the fact that Kvar linked all her blood veins through her exsphere. Not even Tath was sure of how strong she could be with that.

'Yes, after all, it was in the Asgard Ranch they did this to me. It is probably based on the same plans,' Tath shrugged.

Ian nodded thoughtfully. 'Indeed.'

Tath looked around. She didn't want to stay too long, she wanted to see what happened to the Chosen's group.

'Well, what do you want from me now?'

Ian looked up. 'Actually, nothing. We have temporarily slowed down the Desians. Let's see how they react and than go from there. I'll send for you when I need you.'

But you won't find me, Tath smiled to herself. She would do as always, drop in when she felt it was needed and he wouldn't complain. Tath then said goodbye to him, thinking amused how satisfied he seemed over their 'victory'. If he really were to find out the truth about it all he would probably die from astonishment.

Tath grinned and walked out, not knowing that her words would soon come to a terrible truth.

Nine years.

It was the darkest night on a long time. The moon was clouded and everyone seemed to be asleep, even the birds that used to sing even though it was night. Yes, all were asleep, saved for one. Tath was moving silently through her small room, taking the small bag, already packed, with her out the room. She looked back to the little house. It was time to leave Mizuho.

Then she turned to the Chief's house. But not entirely yet.

The door to his house slid up without a sound and Tath crept over the floor, her exsphere giving her strength to be as silent as she was. She could hear the soft breathing over the sleeping Chief. She kneeled down beside his bed and carefully placed her small hands on the wooden box, knowing exactly how to open it. It soundlessly lifted and Tath, almost unable to control her excitement, slowly lifted the sword she'd longed for so intensive. But she only had time to admire it for seconds before she had to enwrap it in a white cloth. Then she left the house as silently as she'd come.

She went to the gate and stopped. She gave a sigh, but she didn't turn. Instead she lifted her bag again and left the village.

She wouldn't see Mizuho again for nine years.