Mutations

Chapter One : The Mark

"Drink this, my child, you will now be able to graduate with the rest of them." A priest offered one of Yaku's orientation drink. As the guy drank it, he spat it out, coughing while the rest of Yaku's hunters laughed. I sighed as Dawn wiped her tears from laughing. "Did you see that, Maia? He literally couldn't handle it!" Dawn started to chuckle as Cedric stared at her with disappointment. "Maia, are there any tasks for Group F today?" One of the students came up to me; he looked like a newbie as well. "Yes, I will post them later in the tavern." He fidgeted than bowed and left with his friends. "MAIA!" I felt someone embrace from the back before I fell over. "Oh god, sorry," Alwen started to get flustered. "Why do you do that every time!" I shouted, "How else would I get your attention? You have been working all day, humph." Alwen crosses her arms. "Here, take my hand." I looked up and saw Goro as I placed my hand into his. "Thank you, sir!" I bowed, "Do not bow, my child, you have earned that. Ms.Alwen, as much as we adore you here in Yaku, would you please refrain from doing interruptions on orientation day?" Alwen sighed and nodded as she hid behind me. "Why is Goro so cranky today?" She whispered, "Maybe because you made me fall onto the floor?" I answered quietly. "Hey, I was just trying to show you my love appreciate it more." She whispered. "Oh, for the love of God, please let this end!" Everyone in the room stared at me when I answered Alwen. I forgot there was still orientation. "Both of you to the temple now!" Goro shouted as I looked at Alwen. Moments later, Alwen and I were sitting on our knees with a book on our heads. "You will learn to keep more balance and focus in your life as requested by Goro," The Seeker said to us. "I will use my aroma to know when your book has dropped, so don't think you can lie." She leaves the temple as Alwen giggles. "This isn't funny; last time we had to sit in cold water!" I shouted. "Hey, I happen to love that one. I'm used to the cold anyway." Alwen smiled, "Maia, what's wrong, you been grumpy all day?" I looked at the statue in front of us; it was a Yaku warrior statue known as Zeta holding the head of a Sigma. Every time I saw this statue, it reminded me of the time I met a kind demon and how now I kill them before they eat someone. "How ironic," I mumbled. "Earth to Maia!" Alwen tried waving her hands before realizing her book has fallen. "Oh god," I said. The Seeker appeared with another book, "Time for a harsher punishment."
Though it was a long punishment day, Alwen and I sat at the tavern reading our assignment. "Looks like we have to go to the Cryptic area." Dawn read, "Hm, I heard the place is full of those slimy little bastards." Cedric replied while holding a drink in his hand. "Well, don't forget they can look like us now." Unmei walked in yawning. "Where have you been? You missed orientation for the newbies?" Cedric asked; Unmei ignored Cedric and ate the food on the table. "Hey man, that's mine." Alwen crossed her arm. "Well, it's mine now, blueberry." Unmei munched on the rice cakes as Alwen began to argue with him.
"Cedric, do you think if we leave at 5am tomorrow, we will reach Sir Aka?" I asked; he pondered for a moment and stared at the map. "I think it's best if we leave today at night. The weather tomorrow morning will be foggy, and since Cryptic is on a mountain, it's safer this way, especially with Dawn and Sushi." Cedric answered. "Tell me again why we are bringing the dog with us?" I asked as Dawn tried picking up Sushi but was too heavy. "Well, Sushi is a Cerberus relative, don't forget that." He pats my head as Sushi whimpered at me. "Fine, you can come, but the moment you smell them, you tell me." Sushi barked at me joyfully."Very well then, who is handling for Alwen tab?" Giovanni asked as he cleared the wine glasses upon the bar. "Again, seriously, Alwen?" Cedric yelled, Alwen smiled kindly as the rest of the group conversed. I looked at the map closely, "Cryptic..." I mumbled, I felt a sharp lingering gaze behind me, and as I turned, it was nothing. "Maybe that Seeker discipline hurt my head." Sushi brushed up against me as I pat her. The door was burst opened by Emilio; everyone in the tavern was hushed until he started giggling, "You should've of seen your faces, I was all like boom, and you guys went..." Emilio smiled as Dawn approaches him and propels him on the knee. "Ah, fuck that hurt." He blurted, "Don't be late to the meetup next time." Cedric groaned as he drank his booze. "I was out farming for Goro!" Emilio sat next to Alwen and started to pluck at the rice cakes. "I paid for that!"
Alwen yelled. "No, you didn't," Cedric and Unmei responded as Alwen looked discouraged. "So, Maia, I heard your trio was traveling to Cryptic," Giovanni said; I walked a tad closer to Cedric's bar. "Naturally, we will," I answered. Giovanni closed his eyes as he wiped his wine glasses, "I went there once to trade alcohol." He replied, "Of course you did." Cedric said. Giovanni opened his eyes, the cranberry blood lust eyes he had could pull you in. "Did you sense them?" I asked. "Of course, I am one of them. But of course, they didn't attack me since I am known for trades." Giovanni placed the wine glass on the shelves. "They let an incubus into Yaku, it always perplexed me." Cedric replied, "Of course, I was the only one not wanting to devour humans, and Goro detected that in me." He smirked and gaped at Cedric, "That's why when you were young, you always said you will try to be more powerful than me since I am Beta."
Cedric chuckled at Giovanni's comment. "Now look at me, I surpassed killing a 5 stripe", Cedric said. "You know, don't be so cocky, I've always deceived you." Giovanni pulled out Cedric's sword, "You will always have strength, but you need to work on your agility." Giovanni smiled gently as Cedric got flustered. I sighed but yet grinned, "You can eat me!" In my head, I heard the sound of the child I was before and how kind the demon was to me. As I gazed at Cedric and Giovanni's friendship, it made me wonder where that demon was again. I walked over to the door, "Going home?" Giovanni asked, "Yes, I will take a nap before going on this journey." I replied. "I'll come with you!" Alwen shouted, "Don't bother. You have done enough today." I left as Alwen whined in the tavern.
The twilight skies were upon us, the soil scent was in the brisk breeze. The other villagers were appreciating there lives with their families as I walked past them all. "Mama, I want to be a hunter too!" A small boy said to his mother as she inspired him to do so when he grew up. Becoming a Yaku Hunter was given to me; after eating that bright substance that the demon gave me, it disappeared, and I passed out. I thought for a while, I was dead since I never woke up. But I awoken on a warm bed, with new clothes, and I became confused, I thought I was in heaven, but a male figure put his big hand on my head and said, "You are safe now, do not worry I will take care of you." Goro had raised me as his own child, and I have been thankful ever since I heard reports that my own aunt was absurd for purposely enticing a demon to me so it can take a child in return for a gift. I paused and gazed up at the heavens; my aunt ended up being consumed by that demon, the same one who gave me something to eat. So when I often think about my happenings, I knew who was the real brute and who wasn't. Though it broke my spirit she did to me, I still cherished that woman for some reason, maybe because she was the only real family I had.
I began walking again and groaned, "How bittersweet, huh?" I muttered, the thoughts in my head always swirled in my mind, I will never have the option to control it. "Good evening Madam." One of Goro's court maid came up to me as I approached home, and I smiled lightly. "Hello, again, Marie," I answered; she took my sword without asking like normal. "Sorry, Goro told me too." She bowed, and I nodded and went to my room. My room was organized like routine; I hated coming home to something out of place. I fell straight onto my bed, and above me was just a buoyant dim ceiling. "Now for that snooze," I said, it took a while, but ultimately I slept.
HUU!
It's coming after me, I don't know what it was, but if I turned around now, I would only be slower.
HUU!
Like a mine exploding when you step on it, my heartfelt that I was almost out of breath.
"Maia.." A sound called behind me as I ran. I was surprised it knew my name, but I never looked backed and kept running. "Maia...!" I have to keep running to survive I need too! "Maia!" I leaped up from my bed and saw everyone around me staring, worried, and confused. "You okay, man?" Unmei asked, I sat up and took a deep breath. "Is it that nightmare again?" Alwen sat next to me on my bed. I nodded and sighed, "It's just a nightmare, so don't worry, you'll be fine." Emilio smirked as Dawn kicked him. "AGH-" Dawn stared at Emilio, touching his knee with agony as Cedric shook his head in displeasure. "Well, were all packed to head towards Cryptic are you all rested up?" Cedric asked, I nodded and got up from my bed and grabbed my flower pin given to me by Goro for luck. "I can't believe I'll be away from Giovanni.." Dawn face sadden as Emilio remarked, " Well, it's like he knows you exist." Dawn punches Emilio in the face as Alwen tries to break them up from yelling. "That pin, you should always wear it never take it off." Goro slides open my door as I see him holding a cigar like typical. Everyone bowed while I stood up, "No need to bow everyone, when your in my home with my daughter it is okay." He lightly smiled and puffed out his smoke outside of my door. "We are heading to Cryptic, Sir." Cedric responded. "Ah, Cryptic be careful I sent GROUP F there a while back." Goro smothered his cigar ash into his handkerchief before speaking again, "And they successfully captured a Gamma and now Aka has requested us again." Goro gazed at me. "You are not wearing the pin right, foolish girl." Goro came closer to me and placed the pin inside of my tunic. "You never wear it outside, you wear it inside to protect your heart." I nodded gently. Alwen hid behind Dawn frightened after orientation she didn't want to get punished again by Seeker. "Alwen, my favorite Jao student, the only one here that is blue like the skies. Don't forget to work harder on hiding your thoughts from me I can read it in your face." Goro smiled and Alwen looked queasy. "You kids be good." They all bowed except me as Goro left.
"You guys don't always have to bow." I said. "I have my reasons to bow for this man." Cedric replied as he left the room as Unmei followed. "Did I say something wrong?" I thought to myself. The others and I left my room and started heading our journey to Cryptic. "Oh man my feet, move over Dawn lemme ride on top of Sushi." Emilio yelled, as Sushi ran forward to avoid him. "HEY! GET BACK HERE YOU STUPID DEMON DOG!" Emilio chased Dawn and Sushi down the road. I kept looking around the forest and saw nothing but dried leaves on the ground and fallen tree branches. Up ahead from the distance you saw a tall mountain standing tall, while cotton clouds surrounded the top. "It looks so easy to get there, yet it so far away." Alwen said. "It's the illusion spell by Sir Aka, he must of did that after the Beta incident." Unmei walked as he ate his rice cakes. "Where did you get that?" Alwen asked, "Muufwhat?" Unmei could hardly speak while answering Alwen. "Are those mine!" She shouted. "What..no" Unmei pondered for a moment before Alwen started to scold him. Cedric stood quiet as usually and observing his surroundings. Cedric was a strong person, sometimes I wonder what he thinks about because he always took everything serious, if I had one wish I think Cedric deserved to smile some days for all he has done to save people. Cedric noticed I was looking at him and said, "Yes?" But I shook my head and looked away and let the cold breeze hit my face.
By the crack of dawn, we arrived upon the mountain, yet there was fog forming already as we approached Cryptic. "Wow, they weren't lying about the fog." Emilio whistled as he got off Sushi. "I never understand why you guys never use mounts." Dawn gets off Sushi as well. "You guys just suck at walking." Alwen responded, "There using Cedric dog as a mount imagine?" Unmei shook his head in disappointment. A chilling sharp gaze was behind me again, I turned around just in time before a Gamma attacked. "Where the fuck did that come from." Cedric took out his sword immediately. The Gamma looked like a newborn it's eyes were full of red lust. "God I hate Gamma newborns." Dawn replied. "No issue here." Emilio with a blink of an eye took out his katana and charged forward towards the gamma. The gamma began to resist Emilio attack as it clawed his cheek. "Shit." Emilio said. "What the hell was that don't do that next time!" Cedric angrily said as the gamma began to attack again. Alwen took out her elastic arrows as she launched them she muttered a spell. The gamma screeched in agony from Alwen arrows, Dawn sped quickly towards the Gamma with Scythe making sure to create a barrier so it wouldn't escape. "Maia quick!" Cedric went left as Unmei went right, I sped towards the middle to its upper heart. In a blink of an eye, the gamma had fallen and all was left was the marble of it's life span. "Maia, since you killed it keep the marble." I shook my head and gave the marble to Emilio. "Next time, think before you act." I said as I wiped the blood coming out of his cheek. Emilio looked happy yet upset. "I thought Goro said there wasn't anything like this what happened?" Alwen asked. I looked around the mountain and saw nothing but fog up ahead. "Something is making this fog appear more, enough to not sense any demonic movement from the ground." I answered. "I concur." Cedric replied. We kept walking up until we saw huts. The whole village was empty, there was no sign of life anywhere. "What the fuck is going on?" Emilio looked around and went inside a hut. "Guys, come in here!" We all went inside the hut and what we saw inside was horrid. The smell of flesh and blood lingered inside the hut, organs were spattered across the room as the head of a little girl was apart from her body. Dawn face turned green as she went outside to vomit. "This is.." Alwen eyes were frozen in shocked. "Sir Aka's daughter.." Cedric ripped apart a cloth upon a table and covered Aka's daughter. "Who would do that to a fucking child?" Emilio angrily said. Sushi eyes began to glow, "HEADS DOWN!" Everyone dropped down to the floor as a spear went through the hut wall. "What the hell is going on!" Alwen shouted. "Demon or possession, it has to be in between." Cedric answered in a calm voice. Sushi barked us to go outside, the rest of the group followed Sushi, Dawn was behind a large tank. She gestured us to be quiet with a finger on her lips as we watched a shadow figure come out another hut holding two dead bodies. My eyes widen as I saw Sir Aka possessed, his aroma in the air was filled with a vile stench of blood and lust. He devoured the two bodies in front of us as he got bigger, Dawn looked like she wanted to vomit but held it in this time. Cedric and I exchanged glances then gestures, "On the count of three." I tapped my hands onto the tank as Sir Aka turned around, his eyes were no longer humane, all that was left of him was his gray hair. 'ACKKK!" He screeched. "Alwen now!" Alwen nodded and manipulated the rocks around him to hold him in place, but in an instance he broke out. "What the-" Alwen avoided his attack from his spear from dodging quickly. "Cedric his third eye he can see us where we hid." Unmei shouted as he move towards a tree. "What do we do, Maia!" Cedric shouted at me. "If his heart isn't visible his third eye is, the issue is on how we have to get closer without his spear getting in the way!" I answered. "Let me use Transcend, but I have to focus so stall for me!" Emilio yelled. I nodded as Dawn began to rotate around to create a barrier, Alwen uses her metallic arrows to burn Aka skin as Cedric began to taunt him. Unmei hair changed from a coffee brown to a mint, his Yaku tattoo glow as he cast Karma on Aka. "AGHHHHH!" Aka screeched and tried hitting Cedric who was right in front of him. Each the members tattoo glowed from the powers they used, Emilio finally looks at me as I whistled, Cedric gets out of the way as Emilio lighting transcended into Aka. Aka yelled in agony, his arm has been ripped apart as his third eye began to close. I quickly grabbed my sword after viewing Aka heart on the left side of his body and performed the exorcism on Aka. "Burn!" I was surrounded by blue flames as Aka yelled and Dawn contained him the seal with her barrier. Eventually Aka became nothing but a mere burnt corpse leaving behind a green marble. "Fuck." Emilio touched his lower abdomen where his Yaku tattoo was. "Emilio you used too much." Cedric said to him as he placed his hand and it began to glow. "Thank you," Emilio I began walking again and groaned, "How bittersweet, huh?" I muttered, the thoughts in my head always swirled in my mind, I will never have the option to control it. "Good evening Madam." One of Goro's court maid came up to me as I approached home, and I smiled lightly. "Hello, again, Marie," I answered; she took my sword without asking like normal. "Sorry, Goro told me too." She bowed, and I nodded and went to my room. My room was organized like routine; I hated coming home to something out of place. I fell straight onto my bed, and above me was just a buoyant dim ceiling. "Now for that snooze," I said, it took a while, but ultimately I slept.
HUU!
It's coming after me, I don't know what it was, but if I turned around now, I would only be slower.
HUU!
Like a mine exploding when you step on it, my heartfelt that I was almost out of breath.
"Maia.." A sound called behind me as I ran. I was surprised it knew my name, but I never looked backed and kept running. "Maia...!" I have to keep running to survive I need too! "Maia!" I leaped up from my bed and saw everyone around me staring, worried, and confused. "You okay, man?" Unmei asked, I sat up and took a deep breath. "Is it that nightmare again?" Alwen sat next to me on my bed. I nodded and sighed, "It's just a nightmare, so don't worry, you'll be fine." Emilio smirked as Dawn kicked him. "AGH-" Dawn stared at Emilio, touching his knee with agony as Cedric shook his head in displeasure. "Well, we're all packed to head towards Cryptic. Are you all rested up?" Cedric asked; I nodded and got up from my bed and grabbed my flower pin given to me by Goro for luck.
"I can't believe I'll be away from Giovanni.." Dawn's face saddens as Emilio remarked, "Well, it's like he knows you exist." Dawn punches Emilio in the face as Alwen tries to break them up from yelling. "That pin, you should always wear it, never take it off." Goro slides open my door as I see him holding a cigar like typical. Everyone bowed while I stood up, "No need to bow everyone when you're in my home with my daughter; it is okay." He lightly smiled and puffed out his smoke outside of my door.
"We are heading to Cryptic, Sir," Cedric responded. "Ah, Cryptic, be careful I sent GROUP F there a while back." Goro smothered his cigar ash into his handkerchief before speaking again, "And they successfully captured a Gamma, and now Aka has requested us again." Goro gazed at me. "You are not wearing the pin right, foolish girl." Goro came closer to me and placed the pin inside of my tunic. "You never wear it outside, you wear it inside to protect your heart." I nodded gently. Alwen hid behind Dawn, frightened after orientation; she didn't want to get punished again by Seeker. "Alwen, my favorite Jao student, the only one here that is blue like the skies. Don't forget to work harder on hiding your thoughts from me; I can read it in your face." Goro smiled, and Alwen looked queasy. "You kids be good." They all bowed except me as Goro left.
"You guys don't always have to bow," I said. "I have my reasons to bow for this man," Cedric replied as he left the room as Unmei followed. "Did I say something wrong?" I thought to myself. The others and I left my room and started heading our journey to Cryptic. "Oh man, my feet, move over Dawn lemme ride on top of Sushi," Emilio yelled, as Sushi ran forward to avoid him. "HEY! GET BACK HERE, YOU STUPID DEMON DOG!" Emilio chased Dawn and Sushi down the road. I kept looking around the forest and saw nothing but dried leaves on the ground and fallen tree branches. You saw a tall mountain standing tall, while cotton clouds surrounded the top-up ahead from a distance. "It looks so easy to get there, yet it so far away," Alwen said. "It's an illusion spell by Sir Aka; he must have done that after the Beta incident." Unmei walked as he ate his rice cakes. "Where did you get that?" Alwen asked, "Muufwhat?" Unmei could hardly speak while answering Alwen. "Are those mine!" She shouted. "What..no" Unmei pondered for a moment before Alwen started to scold him. Cedric stood quiet as usual and observing his surroundings. Cedric was a healthy person, sometimes I wonder what he thinks about because he always took everything seriously; if I had one wish, I think Cedric deserved to smile some days for all he has done to save people. Cedric noticed I was looking at him and said, "Yes?" But I shook my head and looked away and let the cold breeze hit my face.
We arrived upon the mountain by Dawn's crack, yet there was fog forming already as we approached Cryptic. "Wow, they weren't lying about the fog." Emilio whistled as he got off Sushi. "I never understand why you guys never use mounts." Dawn gets off Sushi as well. "You guys just suck at walking." Alwen responded, "There using Cedric dog as a ride, imagine?" Unmei shook his head in disappointment. A chilling sharp gaze was behind me again; I turned around just in time before a Gamma attacked. "Where the fuck did that come from." Cedric took out his sword immediately. The Gamma looked like a newborn. Its eyes were full of red lust. "God, I hate Gamma newborns." Dawn replied. "No issue here." With a blink of an eye, Emilio took out his katana and charged forward towards the Gamma. The Gamma began to resist Emilio's attack as it clawed his cheek. "Shit." Emilio said. "What the hell was that? Don't do that next time!" Cedric angrily said as the Gamma began to attack again. Alwen took out her elastic arrows as she launched them, she muttered a spell. The Gamma screeched in agony from Alwen arrows; Dawn hurried quickly towards the Gamma with Scythe making sure to create a barrier to seize it. "Maia quick!" Cedric went left as Unmei went right, I sped towards the middle to its upper heart. The Gamma had fallen, and all was left was the marble of its life span. "Maia, since you killed it, keep the marble." I shook my head and gave the marble to Emilio. "Next time, think before you act." I said as I wiped the blood coming out of his cheek. Emilio looked happy yet upset. "I thought Goro said there wasn't anything like this. What happened?" Alwen asked. I looked around the mountain and saw nothing but fog up ahead. "Something is making this fog appear more, enough to not sense any demonic movement from the ground." I answered. "I concur." Cedric replied. We kept walking up until we saw huts. The whole village was empty; there was no sign of life anywhere. "What the fuck is going on?" Emilio looked around and went inside a hut. "Guys, come in here!" We all went inside the hut and what we said inside was horrid. The aroma filled the essence of flesh and blood lingering, organs were splattered across the room as the head of a small girl was disconnected from her body. Dawn's face turned green as she went outside to vomit. "This is.." Alwen's eyes were frozen in hysteria. "Sir Aka's daughter.." Cedric ripped apart a cloth upon a table and covered Aka's daughter. "Who would do that to a fucking child?" Emilio angrily said. Sushi eyes began to redden, "HEADS DOWN!" I shouted. Everyone dropped down to the floor as a spear went through the hut wall. "What the hell is going on!" Alwen shouted. "Demon or possession, it has to be in between." Cedric answered in a calm voice. Sushi barked us to go outside, the rest of the group followed Sushi, Dawn was behind a large tank. She gestured us to be quiet with a finger on her lips as we watched a shadow figure come out another hut holding two dead bodies. My eyes widen as I saw Sir Aka possessed; his odor in the air was filled with a vile stench of blood and lust. He devoured the two bodies in front of us as he was bigger; Dawn looked like she wanted to vomit but held it at this time. Cedric and I exchanged glances, then gestures, "On the count of three." I tapped my hands onto the tank as Sir Aka turned around; his eyes were no longer humane; all that was left of him was his brown hair. 'ACKKK!" He screeched. "Alwen now!" Alwen nodded and manipulated the rocks around him to hold him in place, but he broke out in an instant. "What the-" Alwen avoided his attack from his spear from dodging quickly. "Cedric his third eye, he can see us where we hid." Unmei shouted as he moves towards a tree. "What do we do, Maia!" Cedric shouted at me. "If his heart isn't visible, his third eye is, the issue is on how we have to get closer without his spear getting in the way!" I answered. "Let me use Transcend, but I have to focus so stall for me!" Emilio yelled. I nodded as Dawn began to rotate around to create a barrier; Alwen uses her metallic arrows to burn Aka's skin as Cedric began to taunt him. Unmei hair changed from a coffee brown to a mint, his Yaku tattoo glow as he cast Karma on Aka. "AGHHHHH!" Aka screeched and tried hitting Cedric, who was right in front of him. Each the member's tattoo glowed from the powers they used; Emilio finally looks at me as I whistled, Cedric gets out of the way as Emilio lighting transcended into Aka. Aka yelled in agony; his arm has been ripped apart as his third eye began to close. I quickly grabbed my sword after viewing Aka's heart on his body's left side and performed the exorcism on Aka. "Burn!" I was surrounded by blue flames as Aka yelled, and Dawn contained him inside a seal with her barrier. Eventually, Aka became nothing but a mere burnt corpse leaving behind a green marble. "Fuck." Emilio touched his lower abdomen, where his Yaku tattoo was. "Emilio, you used too much." Cedric said to him as he placed his hand, and it began to glow. "Thank you," Emilio gets up as I looked at the marble. "Aka was supposed to give us our task, but it seemed like he was it." I said. Dawn stared at the marble, "Why is it green?" She asked curiously. "It means you can't use this one, or it will possess you. Though Seeker needs them for her studies, Alwen put this in your pouch!" I threw the marble at Alwen, and she almost let it fall on the ground. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." Alwen laughed lightly. "Hey Maia, what's that on his spear?" Alwen walked closer and spotted a red cloth with a symbol on it. "I don't know." I answered, confused as well. Cedric approaches and observes it and sighed, "It's a Sigma mark."