The Hand of Fate

Makoto stared at Mana, the warmth of the campfire unable to chase away the chill creeping into his chest.

"Innocence?" he repeated, his voice trembling slightly. "What does that mean?"

Mana sighed, gazing into the flames. "It's... complicated. Think of it as a kind of energy—a fragment of something far greater than any of us. Long ago, it was used to fight against monsters called Akuma. Innocence chooses its wielders, people strong enough to stand against the darkness."

Makoto blinked, trying to process the information. "Monsters? Darkness? This... this has to be a joke, right?"

Mana's expression softened, though there was a trace of sadness in his eyes. "I know it sounds unbelievable. But I've seen it with my own eyes. Innocence is real, and the fact that you've been... pulled into this world isn't a coincidence."

Makoto felt his hands trembling. "I'm just... me. I'm not strong, or brave, or anything like that. I can barely stand up to an angry fruit vendor!"

Mana chuckled at that, placing a reassuring hand on Makoto's shoulder. "Maybe you're stronger than you think. Innocence doesn't choose people at random. It sees something in you, something you might not even see in yourself."

Makoto didn't reply, his thoughts spinning in a hundred directions. Was this why he'd been brought here? To fight monsters with some mysterious power he didn't even understand? The idea was as terrifying as it was surreal.

The following days passed in a strange blur. Mana had taken Makoto under his wing, teaching him small tricks to help out with the circus: how to juggle, how to polish and maintain props, even how to calm the animals. The performers treated him like family, always quick to offer a kind word or a helping hand.

For the first time in his life, Makoto felt like he belonged somewhere.

But even as he tried to adjust, he couldn't shake the feeling that something bigger was waiting for him. Mana's words about Innocence lingered in the back of his mind, a constant reminder of the strange, otherworldly power that seemed to follow him.

One night, as the performers prepared for the evening show, Makoto found himself helping Mana with his costume. The man's patched coat was heavier than it looked, its fabric worn but sturdy.

"Makoto," Mana said suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence. "Do you ever think about the kind of person you want to be?"

The question caught Makoto off guard. "I... I guess I just want to help people," he said after a moment. "Even if it's just in small ways."

Mana smiled, though his eyes seemed distant. "That's a good answer. The world could use more people like you."

Makoto frowned, sensing an odd weight to Mana's words. "Is something wrong?"

Mana shook his head, ruffling Makoto's hair. "Nothing at all, kid. Now go find Lily before she decides to ride the elephants again."

The circus was alive with energy that night. The crowd cheered and clapped as performers dazzled them with feats of strength, agility, and skill. Makoto stood off to the side, helping to hand out props and ensure everything ran smoothly.

It was during Mana's act that it happened.

Makoto was watching Mana juggle flaming torches when a sudden chill ran down his spine. The air felt heavy, as though the world itself had taken a deep breath and was holding it. He glanced around, his heart racing, but he saw nothing out of the ordinary.

"Makoto!" Lily's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was running toward him, her face pale. "Something's wrong!"

Before he could ask what she meant, a deafening crash shook the tent. The crowd screamed as one of the support beams collapsed, sending the canopy sagging dangerously. Performers scrambled to get people to safety, but the chaos only grew.

Makoto's legs felt like lead, his body frozen with fear. Then he saw it—a hulking figure emerging from the shadows at the edge of the tent. Its body was grotesque, a twisted amalgamation of metal and sinew. Its eyes glowed red, and its grin was wide and menacing.

An Akuma.

The Akuma lunged toward the crowd, its claws slicing through the air. Makoto's heart pounded in his chest, his body refusing to move even as the monster drew closer.

"Makoto, run!" Mana's voice cut through the panic.

But Makoto didn't run. Instead, he found himself stepping forward, a strange warmth blooming in his chest. The same warmth he'd felt when the fruit vendor slipped on that apple. It spread to his hands, filling him with a sudden sense of clarity.

"Stop!" he shouted, his voice cracking.

The Akuma turned toward him, its grin widening. "And who are you supposed to be, little boy?" it hissed, its voice dripping with malice.

Makoto didn't answer. He raised his hands instinctively, and a flash of green light erupted from his palms. The Akuma screeched, recoiling as the light enveloped it. Makoto stared in shock as the light formed into a strange shape—a wheel-like object that hovered in the air, glowing with an ethereal energy.

"What... what is this?" he whispered.

"It's your Innocence," Mana said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. He stepped between Makoto and the Akuma, his gaze fixed on the monster. "Makoto, listen to me. That power is yours. You can use it to protect people."

"I-I don't know how!" Makoto stammered, his hands shaking.

"You don't have to know," Mana said, glancing over his shoulder with a reassuring smile. "Just trust yourself. Trust your heart."

The Akuma roared, charging toward them. Makoto's instincts took over. He gripped the glowing wheel, and it spun with a hum of energy. Before he knew what he was doing, he hurled it at the Akuma. The wheel sliced through the monster, leaving a trail of green light in its wake.

The Akuma screeched one final time before disintegrating into ash.

Makoto stood there, breathing hard, as the wheel returned to his hand and faded away. The tent was silent, the crowd staring at him with a mixture of awe and fear.

Mana placed a hand on his shoulder. "Well done, Makoto."

"I... I didn't mean to—" Makoto began, but Mana shook his head.

"You protected these people. That's what matters."

After the chaos had subsided, the performers gathered in the back tent to regroup. Makoto sat apart from the others, his mind racing. What had he just done? What was that power?

Mana joined him, his expression calm but serious. "Makoto, I think it's time you learned the truth about this world. About the Akuma, the Innocence, and the fight you've just become a part of."

Makoto looked up at him, his chest tight with anxiety. "What fight?"

Mana's gaze was heavy, but there was kindness in his eyes. "The fight to save humanity."

To Be Continued...