Age of Strife Book 0: The Path of War

Chapter 19: As Foretold in Tale

Hajime asleep in his state, dreams of the battle he keeps on seeing over and over again and again. But as he continues with the dream's motion and story when he reaches the end where he would be greeted by his death instead the dream stops to standstill, looking around in confusion Hajime looks around only to hear a thunderous voice 'You've done well chosen.' Soon the dream disappears as Hajime finds himself in a room, not too dissimilar to how it looked in the exiled valley. 'I hope you don't mind, but I figure a familiar setting might settle you in more for what you will hear next.' the voice says as soon it is manifested into the visage of the armored figure that haunted Hajime's waking moments. "Who are you?" Hajime asks. 'A lifelong passed through this material plane, a soul that was you... in a previous life.' The armored figure answered. "That doesn't really answer the question well." Hajime points out. 'Nor should it, you have been chosen by fate or destiny to house my soul and by extension that makes me your previous life and you my current. I have no wish to relive through you chosen; merely ready you for things to come in your path and life.' Hajime looks away for a moment unsure what to think and asks "So what is it you wish to tell me then?" The armored figure crosses its arms and says 'Chosen by fate and destiny, you have been selected to be in life a sign of things to come. When you awaken your responsibilities will be known and by approximation your ultimate destiny will be decided, the path you walk is long and hard but need not to be stoic and alone. Merely by the end of the path usher in the new age of the world, that is all I can say and this will be the last time I converse with you and with it the dreams.' Hajime uncertain sees the room fade to darkness and with it the armored figure who says to him 'Farewell chosen and live the life you wish to lead, all the luck to you.' Now adrift in the black void of space Hajime sees a light in the distance and it draws closer and closer to him. It has been only three days since the initial attack of Telveria, and the siege had ended just as it started with the death of Lion-Kin Captain Alyxanders. Now the Beast-Kin offensive divided or retreated are being hunted and pushed out of the city's limits and lands, the city can begin the process of healing but things with those who were in the city's coliseum still have a matter to attend to. Kasumi tending to Hajime tirelessly hears shouting outside the room she's in, the conversations is with Grand Defender Zeryas and Kazuma. Kasumi scoffs at the conversation as she thinks to herself how the monastic elders squabble is petty and very much pointless to what the current situation is. The now ten year long war with the beast-tribes of the southern lands has reached the empire's territories that bordered the two states, they deem now to act against the beast-tribes when the civilians are at risk? Unbelievable. 'Well darling, the elders just got a firsthand encounter as to what has been happening in the war-effort. It's only natural they'd argue over what's to happen and how'd they assist in the war effort to maintain their power.' The voice in Kasumi's head says. Kasumi now annoyed says "Ayane... reveal yourself to my eyes, I tire of you speaking in my mind right now." As soon as she says that a mist manifests on the other side of Hajime's bed and woman's hand is placed on his cheek. 'My oh my, you really are high-strung right now sweetheart. Why don't you relax and... Let me take over?' Ayane says as the mist begins to clear to reveal herself. "For the years you've lived in my body that notion has not benefit me in any meaningful way." Kasumi retorts. 'Hmph... Says you, do you really think your body and beauty was from dear old mother? I think not as clearly you take after me.' Ayane says in a knowing tone. "If I had it any other way I'd refuse the "Boon" you've given me in life, but I can't lest I lose my life and by approximation yours on the material plane." Kasumi retorts in spite whilst still tending to Hajime. Kasumi focusing on Hajime ensure that his body does not atrophy nor become sore due to him being bedridden since their escape. 'He's aged wonderfully, wouldn't you say?' Ayane says longingly. "Grown since I last saw him yes, last you saw him was when he was fending you off with a stick in the forest." Kasumi says with sly cheshire smile. 'Hush you... though the thought of reuniting with him isn't terrible. A little of work on his dressing and style and well... I'd say you'd have a very handsome man.' Ayane says while caressing Hajime's cheek. "You are a very shallow woman, you know that?" Kasumi says annoyed. 'Comes with being a spirit of a demoness sweetheart... though I'm sure you yourself won't hold long now that he's here.' Ayane says with eagerness in her voice. "My feeling for Hajime are irrelevant right now, and the only thing that matters currently is making sure when he wakes up that he-" Kasumi is interrupted by Hajime letting out a groan as he begins to stir and come to. Kasumi looks at Ayane who gives a knowing nod before disappearing into mist and into Kasumi before she is seen, Hajime sitting up from the bed sees Kasumi at his side and hears shouting outside his room. "Hajime? You're awake!" Kasumi says excitedly before hugging Hajime. Letting out a loud groan Kasumi lets go of him for a moment before Hajime notions that he is okay and asking "I'm fine, how long have I been here?" "Three days, you've been here asleep for three days." Kasumi says in an assuring tone. Hajime motioning to get out of bed feels a sense of vertigo take over causing him to stumble for a moment and having Kasumi catch him from falling. "Easy now, you took the worst of the attack from that beast-kin siege captain. You're lucky that your injuries healed rapidly." Hajime looks a Kasumi for a moment before a sense of dread dawns on him as he asks "The monastic grandmaster, where are they are they-!?" Kasumi calming Hiryu down says "They are fine... but they do have a few words for you." Hajime looks away in shame as he knows what he did; he remembers vividly that he attacked the five grandmasters that were there to rescue him and the other contestants. Though he was unable to land a hit on any of them, he recalls wanting to unleash something within himself to finish them off. "I committed treason against the monastic schools, and they are likely to execute me for my transgressions." Hajime says knowingly. Kasumi looks at him with a wary expression as she too knew the consequence of attacking the grandmaster unprovoked, however she says to Hajime "Perhaps... but I think the grandmasters have something else in mind." Hajime looks at Kasumi with a confused expression before the door opens and Kazuma walks in but behind him Zeryas, Ikumi, Mother Supreme Geneva and Kassan await in the hallway. "Ah you're awake Hajime, good given we've much to discuss now that you're awake. Kasumi your services are no longer required and you may take your leave if you'd like as this is a private matter." Kazuma says "I think not Grandmaster Kazuma; I still need to ensure properly that Hajime is physically fit and even mentally fit. Anything you can say to him you can say with me as both a validated physician and psychologist I am sworn much like any other healer to confidentiality." Kasumi says firmly. Kazuma wanted to contest otherwise but ultimately conceded and say "Very well, given your high rank and position... what is said here will remain between you, me, Hajime, and the other grandmasters. Understand?" Kasumi nods in acknowledgement. "Very well, Hajime get dressed and Kasumi bring him to the arboretum where can discuss with the other masters."After awakening from his three day slumber Hajime with the assistance of Kasumi is walked through the halls of a monastery to reach the arboretum. Looking to the sky Hajime sees a transparent dome with magic runes emblazed at various places; Kasumi seeing Hajime's confusion explains that after the attack on the Telverian Arena and evacuating all the civiliansand injured soldiers in the battle that he and many others were brought to the Clockwork Monastery. From there shielded by magic and guarded my sentries like no other many were healed and allowed to recover within the monasteries walls. Hajime though not understanding the full-extent of the clockwork monastery still understood that with its assistance it helped people in the initial parts of the siege, and that he can appreciate not for himself but others too. Reaching the arboretum Haijme is greeted by the sight of floating flora and fauna, even Kasumi herself looks in both bewilderment and awe. "Lovely plants aren't they; I've tried my best to keep up with tending to them." Ikumi's says as she walks toward Hajime and Kasumi. "Grandmaster of the Clockwork, I'd bow in respect but...." Hajime says as he tries to motion himself to bow but is stopped by Kasumi. "There's no need for that, besides you are of even greater importance than we can hope for. Please follow me to the other grandmasters." Ikumi says before beckoning the two to follow her. As they walk through the arboretum more flora and fauna is seen suspend by magic and even some more... exotic floras are contained here, soon they arrive at the center and to Hajime's surprise there is a dome like at the ninth school. Entering into the dome Hajime and Kasumi are greeted by Kazuma, Geneva, Zeryas, and Irene inside the dome "We are all here, so this council can begin on the subject at hand of Hajime Ryuuzaki, Adept of the Ninth School, Champion of Centura, Bearer of the Six Swords of War, and The Outcast Exile." Ikumi says as she stands side by side the other grandmasters. Hajime looks at Ikumi in surprise as he says "Outcast Exile? You all-" "I had suspicions, Hajime." Kazuma interrupted. "I suspected you for an exile for a long time but could not confirm my suspicion, yet the signs were to some extent clear. You hailed from an isolated community and knew nothing of the empire nor the current state of affairs, along with that your basic combat experience it was... more experienced than was initially appraised when you first arrived. Your intuition and instincts as well were enough to match an experienced warrior but all those could've been explained some other way. If I were to be honest it only thanks to Kasumi that we know properly where you hailed from." Hajime looks at Kasumi who returns with her shaking her head. "Know that it was not her words that told us but rather her origin, her old village that lied close to the exiled valley." Geneva says to Hajime. "She herself would not speak of it so we sought other means, thus I looked into her past with my connections and standing." "Yes, now that we know of your background properly we can see how you were... adaptable to the situations you faced. But most prominently to us are the swords bound to your person, they are the swords that Kazuma spoke of when he initially found the shrine." Zeryas injects. Hajime summons all six-swords to display and the grandmasters look in interest as Kazuma continues "Indeed, when I found the shrine Haijme I initially tried to take the swords off their mantle but I was unable to remove them from their place. Yet here you stand with them as though you've been gifted them, do you know why that is?" Hajime shakes his head in ignorance to the answer and Irene steps forward to say "Because you are the Avatar of War." "What?" Hajime says in disbelief "Avatar of War? How can I be an Avatar of War and why does it involve me?" "You are the current Avatar of War because you fulfill criteria required for the station and the destiny associated with it. You are associated with a monastic school, you bear the skills and cunning of a warrior beyond your years, and you brandish the six swords of war as both a status and weapon of who you are. We've seen how you've handled yourself during the tournament and though initially we had thought it was due to Kazuma having a personal interest in your progress, it became not only evident but clear of what you were are to the monasteries." Ikumi answers as she shows images of the tournament. "Hajime, besides your new station the destiny you now bear has become a lot more burdensome as you are the driving force of what'sto come in the following years." Kazuma says. The other grandmasters look in discomfort as what is to be told is a burden for anyone to hear, but Kazuma continues "Hajime my student you will bring an age of war, an age of change, and an age of... uncertainty. With this new age you usher you also will drive out the astral powers that forcefully occupies the material realm and by essence drive out the gods from the world. It is written by the dragons final decree for his final gift to us is our freedom." Kazuma finishes.