Chronicles Of Yositania: Of Demons And Men

Chapter 1: An Ordinary Day in Yositania

It was a breezy and warm day. Not hot; but warm, as in a comfortable and cuddly one. And the citizens of the Capital of the Kingdom of Yositania were going about their daily affairs with a jovial mood. Glenzel the trader (of morally questionable things) was setting up his shop. Martha the cook was putting up the "Open" sign on the front door of her restaurant. Caribu the fisherman was readying his nets and preparing to set off for the port. Jack the shipwright was sharpening his tools and getting them upto speed. The day was just beginning, and the citizens of the Capital were preparing for it.
And just a bit further away to the left, away from the hustle and bustle of the Town Square; a young boy was approaching the cemetery. He was 12 years of age; though he had the air and demeanor of someone much older. He had dark, messy and ruffled hair which extended upto somewhere between his shoulders and neck.  His features would make you mistake him for a commoner; but at the same time, they would also tell you that he was not.  His brown eyes, which were filled with an almost mysterious knowledge; probably had a part to play in this.
He opened the thin, black cemetery gates and stepped into the green grass of the cemetery; closing the gates behind him after doing so. He strode past five rows of graves and stopped before the sixth. Entering the row, he walked past the first seven graves; coming to a halt before the eighth.
Three years had passed since he last came to this specific grave. And yet, nothing had changed in those three years. The grass around the grave was just as green as he remembered, the  grave was just as gray, the flowers surrounding the grave were just as pretty; and the tombstone still shone with the same brilliance that it had done so with three years ago.
"I....... am back," he announced softly. And a soft, flowery breeze greeted him by ruffling his already ruffled hair. Although he knew very well that this was just a coincidence; he couldn't help but crack a wide smile.
"So, how've you been doing?" he asked cheerfully; taking a seat on the soft grass. "As for me, well; I just got back yesterday and have been absolutely astounded by the developments that had occured while I was gone."
Deducing the reply contained within the silence that followed; he continued on, " I mean, I was especially surprised by just how much my three imps have grown. Little Claudia can actually write now!"
And just then, someone patted him softly on the back. Even without looking, the boy could tell who it was. "Is something the matter, mother?"
"Not really, no; just wanted to see how my eldest son was holding up," she replied lightly; taking a seat beside him.
"Oh I was just telling Aldora about the growth spurt that Claudia, Cronos and Ryu had gone through."
"Oh my, and how did she react?"
"She was quite surprised, and glad."
"Oh, I see....... that's quite good," said his mother with a hint of slight unease in her tone. And he knew the reason very well.
"Mother, if its too awkward for you; we can change the subject. I mean, I know full well just how weird this habit  of mine is-"
"No! Wun, don't you dare call it weird!" flared up his mother loudly; looking into his eyes with ones that were filled with a reprimanding anger.
"It is weird mother, and you can't deny it. But," the boy raised his hand slightly; stopping his mother in her tracks before she could interrupt him angrily, "I am not ashamed or sorrowful of it. In fact, I am proud of it. So if it is a bit awkward for you; please say so," he finished; his eyes filled with an almost otherworldly determination.
"No Wun, it truly isn't," replied his mother with eyes that now contained an overshadowing pride in them. "And I want you to continue your earlier conversation with her."
"Are you sure that it wouldn't make you feel awakward at all?"
"Why should I feel awakward watching my son talk with his friend?"
"You've certainly got a point there," he replied with a chuckle. "Oh and by the way, have you seen the three imps today?"
"Now that you mention it, I haven't," his mother replied with a prominent trace of concern in her tone.
"Hmmm..... I am certain that they are just playing at the Central Square Garden," he said reassuringly; even though he had a subtle hunch that he was wrong.
And in the next second, he was proven wrong.
The voice of Claudia exploded into his head; shouting, "Somebody help us!"
Both of them looked at each other simultaneously; their faces pale with fear and shock.
-x-
Ryu glared at the massive Scion before him; shielding his younger siblings from it. And the Scion leered back at him.
It had long, white wings; a spiked and pointy tail; and the body of a massive lion. And its eyes burned with a ravishing hunger.
"Cronos, when I say so," Ryu whispered softly to his younger brother; without taking his eyes  off the Scion, "take Claudia and run." A second later, he felt Cronos' nod on his shoulder.
The Scion growled hungrily at them, and Ryu, after a second's pause; shouted, "Now!"
In the next second, just as the Scion pounced at them; Ryu charged at it with his tree branch; and Cronos sprinted in the opposite direction with Claudia.
The Scion and Ryu swiped at each other with their claws and branch. The branch was obliterated completely  with a "Snap!" as soon as it collided with its opponent; freezing Ryu's body up completely in fear.
With an evil grin, the Scion lashed at him with its tail. And Ryu could do nothing but watch in despair as time slowed down, and the tail approached him slowly; like a lazy snake that knew that its prey was completely defenseless.
It was over; he was dead. The tail was going to skewer him with its spikes; and then the Scion was going to eat him up. He was going to die here and there was absolutely no way to stop it. But still, his naive mind hoped furiously for a miracle to occur; for his brother to magically save him; just as he had always done.
It happened in the span of a second; just before he was about to be hit.
A fist rocketed into the Scion's cheek, blew it off its feet and sent it flying with a loud "Wham!" The fist; belonged to Wun and just as always; he had arrived in the nick of time.
They were saved; was the first thought that came to his mind, accompanied by a wave of relief. But what followed almost immediately after, was fear; fear at the look of nearly limitless rage that covered his brother's face as he looked at the fallen Scion. It was almost as if he was holding himself back from killing it with all that he had. Needless to say, he had never seen a look of such fury on his brother's face.
But when he turned around to look at Ryu, his face reverted back to its usual kind form. "That should stall it for a few seconds. So, let's get going," he said with a smile to Ryu, Cronos and Claudia; the latter two of whom had halted about five feet away from the former, at the sound of the punch, and were now looking at Wun in awe.
"Wun, we are very sorry-" began Ryu remorsefully; stepping forward- if he had only been a bit stronger, a bit more stern, a better older brother- Wun patted him gently on the head, "It's okay, I am not angry."
"You...... aren't?"
"No I am not," he said with a very elder-brotherly grin; ruffling his hair. "But, we should be on our way now," he added; retracting his hand.
Ryu forcefully supressed his tears, and nodded in agreement. "Well then, Claudia, hop onto my back, and Cronos and Ryu, come here," ordered Wun and his siblings obeyed immediately.
A few seconds later, Ryu discovered himself being carried between Wun's left arm and abdomen; as he leapt from one tree to another with an almost unnatural agility; carrying Cronos in exactly the same manner with his other hand.
And, it was quite comfortable.
-x-
When Wun had punched the Scion off its feet, he had had a raging desire to go after it; to beat it to a pulp completely; to obliterate it forever. But he hadn't done any of those; and had for that moment at least; settled for a devastating punch to the face. Because he had siblings that needed to be carried home, needed to be protected. And as a human being, as an elder brother; his conscience hadn't allowed him to just abandon them and chase after that vile, disgusting and wretched thing.
With a growl, out of nowehere; the Scion in question pounced at the siblings from one of the trees to the left, while their carrier was still in the middle of crossing over to another tree.
Almost instinctively, Wun turned around in mid-air and sunk the sole of his sandal deep into its cheek with a kick; and sent it speeding to their right.
The Scion crashed against and passed by several trees before finally dropping onto the ground; just as the siblings also landed.
The image of a Scion leering at him; as he clutched the bloodied body of his dead friend in absolute terror, despair and disbelief; flashed by his mind. And once again, he had the indomitable urge to zoom in; and end it once and for all. The kick had damaged it considerably; and he could certainly finish it off with absolute ease at this point.
It was only a few feet away, the thing that had killed his friend. Only two more punches; and it would be over. He would finally have his revenge. He would finally be able to avenge her.
With a deep breath; he turned around and started to sprint. Because that Scion was most probably not the one that had killed Aldora; because even if it was- he was no murderer; and because he had a far more important matter to tend to- his siblings.
And so, he continued to sprint forward; without turning back even once.
-x-
"So, care to explain just what you three were doing in the Forest of Unknown?" asked the mother of the three offenders in question in a dangerously cold voice.
"They....... are innocent, mother. I am the one to blame," said Ryu with a little difficulty and a whole lot of determination; looking straight into her eyes.
Even without looking, Ryu could see the flabbergasted eyes of Cronos and Claudia. After all, it was Claudia's early-morning tantrums about going to the forest for an "adventure", that had driven both him and Cronos to take her there in the first place.
However, he was not going to sell out his younger sister. If anyone was going to take the full force of their mother's wrath head on; it was going to be him, and him only.
"I know that you are lying, Ryu," said their mother in an even colder tone.
"I am not," he replied with an equally determined tone.
And for a few intense seconds, they stared at each other; locked in a battle of wills. After they had passed, however; his mother finally gave way to an exhausted sigh, and said, "Very well, you kids may go to your rooms. Just for this once, I will overlook this grave transgression."
Ryu couldn't quite believe his ears. Their mother, the demon of a woman who handed out severe punishments for drinking an extra glass of milk during breakfast; actually forgave an offense as grave as this?
But neither he, nor his siblings wasted this golden opportunity; and bowing their heads; they quickly climbed up the flight of stairs behind her.
Just before they were about to part ways, however (their rooms were situated in different corners of the second floor); Claudia's voice spoke softly in his head, "Thank you."
And in reply, he punched her on the head; making her cry out in pain immediately. " Consider us even," he replied with an evil grin; opening the door to his room.
-x-
Wun washed his face with a handful of water from his bedside mini-fountain and felt a fresh surge of refreshment rush through him.
"So, what are you going to do now, Wun?" asked his mother suddenly from behind him.
"Could you please stop doing that?" he said a bit reproachfully as he turned around to face his suddenly-appeared mother.
"But its fun!"
"I don't care if its fun; it is a direct breach of my privacy and besides; aren't you a bit old for this sort of fun?"
"Hmmmm..... you seem awefully sensitive. Did something happen?"
"Nothing much. And as for what I am going to do from here, well; I want to learn everything for starters."
"Ah yes, a king without any knowledge whatsoever can't really become the Greatest King That This Kingdom Has Ever Seen, can he?"
"Yes mother, that is exactly why I wish to learn everything," said Wun with a determined smile; approaching the enormous window to his left. "Because, that was my promise to her, after all."
And almost subconsciously, he touched the star shaped pendant hung around his neck; the proof of his promise.