Dawn at the Wild Rift (Book IV)

Chapter 13

Before Gusion and Hanzo would speak, Aida—Hanabi's mother—tells his son to leave the room first. She has the feeling that it is no good for him to hear what their guests are about to say.

Clenching his fist, Hanzo lowers his head and apologizes. To begin with, it is he who didn't manage to stop Hanabi from going to Magical City. Despite the fact that his head would be rolling on the ground, he still gathers his courage and tells the whole truth of what happened. And of course, he didn't tell the specific details or he won't be able to leave the Scarlet village alive.

For the other half of the story, Gusion takes the responsibility to tell it as well. He speaks of the time Hanabi had been abducted and was experimented on. As the story goes on, instead of anger, worry and anxiousness become evident on Hanabi's mother. She could still remember the last words of her daughter before she departed and it pains her.

"That is indeed a long story and for you lot to travel from the city of magic just to visit, I do admire that consideration," Aida states as she grips her cup of tea. "You are very much lucky to have visited at such time that my husband is on a mission."

Hearing her last words send goosebumps to the two. They are indeed lucky or else they'll be hanging right on the gates of the village. However, they could feel Aida's disappointment.

"It seems that apologizing is not the only thing you came here for. Do tell me what else you have to say," she states. They did tell her that they'll save her and take her back as soon as possible but she doesn't feel assured at all.

"As I have said, Hanabi became acquainted with a man. That guy, however, is not from our land but has come from—"

Gusion is cut off when Aida finishes his sentence.

"Another place with different time as us," she interjects.

Gusion and Hanzo are both taken aback. With her words, they theorize that there truly is a story behind their family that no one knows.

A sad smile crawls on the edges of Aida's lips as she stares at the green tea on her cup that's almost empty. Her greatest fear ever since giving birth to her daughter has somehow started happening without her knowledge. And now that Hanabi is taken by the ancient warriors, there is no longer any way she could stop whatever danger comes her way. If only she didn't allow her to leave their village, things could have been different. But regretting won't turn back time.

She stands up and tells the three to follow her lead. She takes them to the underground library that only she and her husband knows of. Though the place looks aged, it is still well kept. No cobwebs or dust has accumulated and only the air is dry. On the three sides of the walls, scrolls after scrolls are stacked. And almost on the entirety of the room, shelves after shelves are lined up. A series of lamps give the room enough light. And just after the entrance, a table stands on the side with some ink and brush placed on top.

"The real history of our faction is hidden from anyone with only the exception of the direct descendants. However, Hanabi isn't aware of it," Aida states as she pulls out about five scrolls from the farthest corner of the room.

She lines them up on the table and opens the first scroll right in front of the guests. But before she transcripts the written history of their clan, she warns them with a sweet smile, "As you are the very first one to hear about this, it is in your best interest to keep it to yourself. The moment you spill them, your voice shall not only vanish but you'll forever feel anguish and pain."

With the first scroll fully opened, the three couldn't read what is written since it is a foreign text. Aida unfolds the remaining four as the texts are separated and arranged in a peculiar way. It is the only way to keep the text from being translated by unauthorized people.