May's age: 5 years old

Pride of the Fanalis Clan

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By Angelbloodlover

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~ The acknowledgment of our weakness is the first step in repairing our loss.

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Thomas a Kempis

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Chapter 2: Acknowledgement of a New Life

It has already been a week after that incident, and not once did I see father. This actually saddened me, I had scared him with that action of mine, but I couldn't tell him the real reason as to why I did that.

How could I tell him that this world didn't exist, that it was only a figment of someone's imagination, then the situation would become the opposite. I would be seen as the deranged girl of the clan. And mother had fussed over me ever since while in reality she should be taking care of herself and the baby.

I only made things worse. Sighing, I poked the ground with my stick, ignoring the playing children and the working mothers. Why'd everything have to get so difficult? I was really at loss of what to do. And since I made it worse, I had to fix it. This was the person who made sure I was fed, the person who trained me, the person who loved me above everything.

This was my father.

Mind made up, I stood up abruptly, earning some confused glances my way. Ignoring them, I sniffed the air, trying to find my father's smell. In that week I had acknowledged my situation, there was no denying it. I had been transported into the world of Magi, while it had seemed wonderful, in reality it's all but not. I was scared out of my wits for the incoming dangers that would surely haunt this world. I was not going to sit by and let everyone trample on me, I wanted to be prepared and trained enough to the point where I could keep my family and myself protected. Like hell I would let them get enslaved.

Over. My. Dead. Body.

So, my search for my father started...

It didn't take me long to find him. He was in an open plain where he was training his martial arts, using the famed Fanalis stance with his one arm outstretched. I knew that he had smelled me way before I had arrived so I didn't announce my presence, instead I opted to watch him as he gracefully thrust out his palms, and throwing violent kicks into the mix.

Really beautiful to watch.

After another quarter, I got up and joined him, mimicking his movements. Although I needed practice, I was slowly on getting the hang of it, much to my delight. Because getting strong fast meant a stable future life for my parents and I, but more importantly a trouble-less life for my (hopefully) little sister. Also, the fact that my parents wouldn't have to watch constantly over me, would increase their chance at staying safe and without trouble. I sure as hell didn't want to burden them.

Engrossed within our daily training session, we didn't return until midnight, worrying mother endlessly. Her stomach had become fairly large, which meant that soon, she would give birth to my little sibling. Father hadn't even uttered a single word until I did.

"Father, I-I.." I couldn't even finish my sentence, instead I decided to show my real feelings through the language of the body. That language couldn't lie, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't.

He had been shocked at my sudden embrace, but he didn't push me away, he didn't ask any questions, he only tightened the hug, murmuring a soothing, "Everything's alright." just like he had done when I was a new-born baby.

And those words had changed him, because in the next morning everything returned back to normal although my parents' questioning gaze lingered on me whenever I would demand for more training. Even when I was dead tired, I would keep training, I had to become strong and well fast.

The clock was ticking and danger was lurking around every corner.

One day my mother questioned my true motive, to which I had answered truthfully, stating, "I need to become strong in order to protect my family, my little sister, my clan."

This had probably shocked her, since no child of my age trained this vigorously like me. They did train but not like me-and soon I was becoming one of the strongest huntress of my age.

..and soon after that came the birth of my new sibling.

Not once did I hear my mother scream in pain; Fanalis women really were strong and could be scary since even dad was wary of mother when she was in an angry mood. Not that I did blame him, I'd rather fight a horde of saber-tooth tigers instead of facing mother's wrath.

Finally after an hour or four it was over and I could hear the crying of a baby, my new sibling. Overjoyed, I rushed inside the tent, seeing my tired mother and my proud father with a glowing face as he cradled the small baby close to him. Their eyes moved towards my petite frame and shuffling quietly towards them, I stared at my father, hands outstretched, "Can I see?"

"What do you know, overprotective sister mode is on."

I giggled softly, my curious eyes set on the small bundle as father handed me the baby. A wide smile stretched on my face when I saw the pure innocence in my arms. "...beautiful," I whispered in amazement, watching as the small baby smacked those small lips, emanating a cute sound.

Mira giggled weakly, "It was like you had predicted, a baby sister to protect."

My eyes widened and snapped my eyes to my father who nodded in agreement. And then I averted my attention on the small bundle, "Don't worry, May-onee-chan will protect you at all cost."

An arm draped over my shoulder, I looked up, noting how happy my father looked, "Morgiana does suit her, doesn't it?"

I blinked my eyes, wondering if this was pure coincidence or not? It could be another Morgiana right? Right? Even knowing this, I had to take all the possible scenarios into account. If this was the Morgiana, the tritagonist from Magi then I had no choice but to increase my training since I had only a few years left before chaos would embrace us all. Turning serious, I faced my father, "Father, when will we start our hunting trip?"

To say that they were shocked was the understatement of the year.

Father's eyes darkened and when he replied, "We'll leave in a week." mother bristled and refused it, I interrupted her calmly.

"As a big sister I have a duty towards my little sister; protect her at all cost. Mother, don't worry, I know what I'm doing, besides father is with me."

Resigning, she accepted Morgiana and watched as I left to train more. I had no time to lose, everything depended on me.

After that I decided to help out my clan too, "You've all been defeated by a girl. How pathetic." But maybe provoking them like that wasn't very smart? Meh. Who cared, at least it got the job done well. Ever since that humiliating defeat to the boys of my age and some above, they started to up their training, constantly challenging me for another roundabout, but in the end they lost pathetically. While I had spent my time training, they used it to play with each other.

I only hoped they would get stronger for when the time was right.

This was all I could give them, a warning hidden by an innocent provocation.

Finally, a week had passed; Mother got stronger and healthier, Morgiana was looking less creepy and more like a baby should look like and father had been even more preserved than usual. His face looked troubled, even more so than usual.

"Father, is everything alright?"

He blinked his eyes and nodded, "Yes, no need to worry, May. Now, did you pack efficiently?"

I nodded, opening my bag, which had been made by mother with the skin of a lion. Everyone knew I adored those animals, to the point of having an obsession. I observed him closely as he rummaged through my belongings, which had been packed neatly.

Smiling softly, "Like how it should be. Perfect, May." He praised me, ruffling my hair in affection.

Mother joined us, a nervous smile on her face, "May-chan," She crouched down, taking something out, "This piece of ornament belonged to my great-great-great-great mother and protects those who wear it." She unlocked it and placed it around my neck. "I want you to keep that close to you, understood?"

I nodded, smiling softly at her as I hugged her tightly, "Don't worry, mother, I will bring honor and pride to our clan." Wiping the tears away, I kissed her forehead. "Where is Mor-chan?" That was the nickname that Aladin had dubbed her with, but I couldn't resist nicknaming her after that. It suited her perfectly.

"Inside, why don't you go and bid her farewell for now?" She advised, worried eyes set on my father.

Nodding, and wanting to give them their privacy, I walked inside, towards the wooden crib in which a small baby was sleeping in. "Hey Mor-chan, it's your onee-chan speaking. I don't want to wake you up, but-" I leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "-I wanted to tell you that I'd be going away for who knows how long. I'll do my best to come back as soon as possible. For now, be a good girl and don't tire mother out too much, 'kay?" Placing another kiss on her forehead, I turned away, leaving the sleeping baby alone in her crib.

When I got outside I could only hear the small snippet coming from my mother before she abruptly cut herself off, her eyes set on my figure. The only thing I had registered was, "..slaves..." but that small, insignificant word shook me till the core and knocked the very breath out of me. Quickly composing myself, I walked towards my parents, "Father, I'm ready." I gulped when I felt the knowing look from mother. Receiving another kiss from her, I placed my bag behind my shoulders and followed father as he walked away from mother.

"Stay safe!" were the last words I heard from her before we disappeared from her sight.

Many people from our clan had wondered why I was obsessed with training, even more so than the normal boys of my age. Whenever mother would reply with the truthful answer I had given her, the other mothers would coo at my heroic and courageous act, scolding their reckless boys on the fact that a girl could best them like that.

This in turn made the boys shout in outrage and start their training, focusing their time on training instead of lazing around.

It was a good thing that my clan didn't discriminate the female race. And if they did, they would get beaten into a pulp since all Fanalis had super inhumane strength, men and women alike. But of course, the ones who trained their muscles daily were stronger than the ones who didn't. This was only logical.

"May, we'll make a camp out here."

I nodded, shaking those thoughts away. Now was not the time to be spacing out, now was the time to get stronger. And well fast!

Our second day in the open field was spent killing a horde of hungry hyenas. They had ambushed us but unfortunately for them, Fanalis weren't called the strongest, living hunting tribe from the Dark Continent for nothing. I jumped in the air and flipped forward, slashing my legs down like an axe. Grimacing at the loud sound of cracked bones, I continued my assault on the wild, crazy animals until father and I had slaughtered them all.

But where father was spotless I had been drenched in animal blood, the smell annoying me. Sometimes it sucked being a Fanalis and sometimes it didn't. He shook his head, "You should start evading the blood spots, May."

"Yes father."

Soon, vultures encircled us and we left the ruptured area, moving on to our next destination. In the Fanalis tribe when a father went out hunting they could take their son or daughter with them. There they were forced to prove themselves deserving of being addressed as an honorable warrior from the Finalis tribe. After the long hunting trip, you'd be seen as an adult. This was the ritual that every child from the clan had to undergo.

This was another reason why mother didn't like that idea of me going to a hunting trip, because that would mean being declared as an adult. And once one was an adult they would have to join the hunting group to fetch fresh meat and other necessities, like defending the clan from any invaders or wild animals. But once a Fanalis made up his or her mind no one could stop it, because if they tried stopping the soon-to-be-warrior, they were trying to stop Fate and no one would go against it. No one.

In this world everything resolved around Fate.

I had changed into another set of camouflaging clothes, sighing in relief when I didn't smell the strong coppery scent. Blood smelled downright awful and I hated it. Once I was done, I joined my father who was sharpening his sword, sitting on a stone, "Father, do you know of someone who could teach me how to use my Magoi?"

He raised his eye brows, "Shaman Marus is the only on in our tribe who utilizes magic."

"Can you introduce me to him once we return from our trip?"

He sighed softly, "May, why are you forcing yourself?"

"Because I have to get strong to protect my precious people, that's why." I answered stiffly, my senses on high alert. This was still the Dark Continent and being off-guard would lead to death.

Sheathing his sword in its hilt, he stood up, "An admirable trait, but you need to think of your body's health, May."

I flinched at that-he was slightly right, I was denying my body to rest properly, always training, day in, day out. But how could I even rest when danger was nearing them? How could I rest knowing that the Fanalis clan would be no more?

That's right, I couldn't.

But to ease father's worries, I nodded, "I'll take your advice into account, father. Don't worry."

Another week had passed wherein I had been sent to many solo hunting missions: kill and retrieve food to survive. Frankly, at first I had been disgruntled, knowing I had to kill animals, but these were no times to be soft. I had to get food or I wouldn't survive the next day. Father would stay out of my way, only intercepting me when the situation was called for, which meant when I lost control of it.

Till now I didn't have any experiences with Death and I wasn't planning on dying either. The first time had been enough for me, thank you very much.

For the rest, he kept watching me, scrutinizing my next move. At first, I had been saddened when he told me that he'd watch me since I liked it when we would hunt together. But soon that became excitement, bubbling within me, especially when father settled himself on a tree branch, watching. That was when I decided to give it my all. And also to give my father a good show.

This was also another session where I had been drenched by blood, well, less blood spots than before, but still unacceptable judging from my father's face. He hadn't spoken a word, and I followed him trying very hard not to sulk. I had never needed to keep my clothes clean, but father made it clear that it was something that every hunter was able to. Besides animal could smell the blood and could become restless because of it, which was a disadvantage for a Fanalis whose task was to hunt on an animal.

Another group of hyenas, a group of tigers, and hell, even the King of the Beasts, the lion. All had become my prey.

Father had also taught me how to skin an animal effortlessly, turning the skin into clothes, differentiating edible meat from non-edible, using the bones in the bodies as weapons and many more. This didn't mean that I had completed the task without difficulties. Skinning an animal became my worst nightmare-it was revolting and made my stomach churn unpleasantly. Hell, I had even puked the first time as father cut the innards of the lion open, bowels and organs pulled out with bare hands.

He had told me to look since I would have to do it sooner or later, and with disgust I watched as father used everything to his advantage. My first try had been horrendous-I was a mess of blood and gore, scaring away every animal in my vicinity, ...even my father didn't dare staying close to me, opting to stay behind me. His lame excuse was to follow the leader and being the one to be led. Gradually on, I could skin an animal properly without having to retch or vomit every two seconds.

A month had passed without anything troublesome. Until it came all crashing down on us.

"Father!" I screamed in worry when I saw that he got surrounded by six scary-looking men with strange tools in their hands. Possible magic tools?

He shouted for me to run away, "Don't be stubborn, May!"

I shook my head and stubbornly jumped in the middle, ignoring his heated glare. "I'll never leave you behind father." Although I looked calm on the outside, inwardly I was having an heart-attack. I cursed my luck and the fact that I had jinxed myself.

"Well, well, if it isn't the famed Fanalis clan." The leader (?) spoke, his voice muffled by the mask he was wearing, "And you even have taken a child with you, a girl nonetheless. Very good, isn't it my friends?"

His companions laughed in reply, their sound shattering my confidence. "Don't let Fear conquer you, you're a Fanalis, you conquer Fear itself."

My eyes widened hearing his encouraging words and I watched as father took four opponents himself while the other two were left for me. Even from here I could see that he was playing with them, breaking arms, snapping necks, piercing through flesh-he looked like a ruthless God with the touch of Death itself. I moved my attention on my enemies and gulped slightly. This would be the first time that I had faced off other humans. The possibility that I would have to kill them was high and risky, but if it was a choice between them and I, then the answer was as clear as crystal.

My life over theirs.