Eternal Flames

Chapter 1

The Ronin

It was decided when we were children. Taken to the emperors sacred room and tested by blood to see our prophecy that we will be guided by the flame of time to rid the world of demonic creatures that plotted to spread out and deprive the world of freedom and order.

A prophecy I did not wish to fulfill.

"Konan, you can't run from this. It's our fate, it's been decided by the gods that we are to-"

"And who am I to care what the gods have decided? They do not value our lives. Our prays have not been answered for decades and you expect me to risk my life for them?"

"This is not for the gods, this is for our people, our families. Do you truly wish for more lives to be lost?"

"Thats it, Akuma, I will not hear another word!" I say before storming off, stopping when I hear Akuma's voice once more.

"Fine, just know one day this will catch up with you, and I'll be there."

I shake my head out of anger and proceed to walk away from my childhood friend.*

I wish I had never walked away.

The mourning dove sings its melody as I walk through the golden forest. The sun gifting its soft beams onto my skin as I make my way back to my home. My family.

It's been 10 years since I had spoken to Akuma, something I had begun to regret. I didn't know how his life was going. Did he have a wife? Kids? My mind continued to wander as the memories of my own children brought a smile to my face. I was lucky to be blessed with a good woman who gave birth to my son and daughter. Those thoughts gave me the strength to continue home, knowing my third child would be born soon.

The walk home was peaceful until I saw smoke in the distance. I rushed down the path, dropping what I had on my back desperately trying to get to my family, hoping they were okay.

As I got closer I spotted our home, the one I build by hand, had been burned to the ground. The sound of a woman, my wife, shrieking as I rushed into the blockade of embers the fire had made. I put my arms up to cover all the ash coming toward me then when I got into the middle of that damn wreck I witnessed a creature..no. A man who looked identical to me.

Before I could even blink I dropped at the crack of my wife's neck, then her being throw next to my dead children. My daughter..unrecognizable...and as for my son, all that was left was his torso and arm which clutched the blade I had brought in case of intruders. He hadn't even been able to learn how to use it..He was eight years old.

The man then turned to me and walked over, a glare that leaked with malevolent intent. I couldn't move. I simply watched as the demon approached me, waiting to end my life just as it did my family. With each step another weight of fear was placed onto my shoulders, another mistake, another regret.

That was, until, the very demon that killed my family was cut into pieces. Put onto the floor as if a chef had prepared it to perfection.*

As I look at the figure which saved my life my eyes widened with surprise..

It was a tall man in samurai armor. He had a mask on his face under his helmet which had the horns of a deer on them. His armor looked to be made of volcanic ash and his sword made from the finest of steel with a name engraved on it.