The Light in Darkness

1:0 - Light in Darkness

Chapter 1 - Light in Darkness

Authors Notes: I completely rewrote this chapter just so it matched the rest of the pacing of the other chapters hahaha.

My... My name... Is Kuro... Who... No... I mustn't forget... Them... My children... My past... Ori...

The peacefulness of that forest... Nibel. I remember how the forest lit up that day. When the Spirit Tree bloomed in the distance as a voice spoke to me, telling me that the Forest was now under the protection of the Light, and it can no longer help me anymore... Who was that... The voice seemingly disappeared as I stared into the glistening light as it reached for the skies, holding it close as if it was dragging it down to the forest... It was beautiful... I know that I was an Owl, we serve under the veil of night, fearing the light...

But there was a thought crossed through my mind at the time... What about us? The creatures of the darkness? Will we be protected under the veil of light as with any other creature? I was so curious about the light, I went as far as leaving my nest to experience it multiple times. Many times I've been blessed by the beauty of it, but I have also been burned, singed, and even blinded by the same light I loved... I was naive as I recalled it clearly...

But I remember... Every night, when the skies were clear of any darkened clouds. I would stand at the edge of my nest and bask in the moonlight, the only other source of light that I can feel without feeling the painful effects of the light... I wondered about the light ever since I was a little Owlet. Was it truly a monster that I would fear? Or was it just misunderstood, like the darkness? I didn't know the answer at the time... I would have never guessed it after all...

Another memory washed over me as I remember the blistering winds and the freezing winds as it pelted raindrops at us. I was protecting something... My nest? My... My children... But I know I saw it, a peculiar bright light as I noticed it from the corner of my eye. It flew right past me and into the cave as it danced in the air, eventually landing towards my nest... I remember the brightness that came after, and I was shocked at what I saw... The light which was a shimmering leaf, transformed into a small spirit...

I... I can't remember what I felt that day when I saw him... I took him under my wings, pressing him closer to my nest as if he was my own. I felt him come closer to me as if he thought I was his mother... Maybe I was? But somewhere in my mind, I knew that I shouldn't have done that... But I remember... I was a mother... I couldn't just let him die in the cold, especially during a time like this...

I thought I was strong enough to part ways with him after the storm had settled... But I recalled it clearly. I never even brought up that thought until he was growing side by side with my children... My Owlets... I remembered I named the spirit, Ori. And I taught him the language that the spirits spoke in as I prepared myself for the day that he would leave our nest and be with his own kind...

Seasons changed and moons passed as the days went by without a sense of change... I remembered the first time they left the nest. Aru called it an adventure as they explored the forest to their heart's content, but this happened when I was gone. I would always return home to find that they went missing, only for Ruru to tell me where they went as she always stayed behind, trying not to get herself involved with her brother's endeavors. I remembered that day clearly... How could I forget?

When I hid in the trees as I stalked the little Owlets as Ori came into view with another Spirit... I remember the pain I felt as my heart was pricked by sharp needles. I remember the thoughts I had when I saw him speak to another Spirit. Should I intervene? What if it takes him away... But they went their separate ways as the Owlets went close to Ori, as they gave him a big hug. I was curious at the time, I wanted to know what exactly happened that day.

When we all went home, I asked Ku, the youngest of the Owlets to tell me what Ori said that day... Again, the feeling of pins piercing her heart as Ku explained that Ori didn't want to leave them, they were bewildered by his words but the other Spirit understood Ori. I remembered how I felt... I felt guilty... Was it right that I kept him away from the light? To keep him hidden in the darkness when he clearly does not belong.

...

No... Maybe he does... Or maybe I'm still clinging onto that false sense of hope that Ori would stay in the darkness... But I've seen how he navigates the darkness, it was as if he knew exactly what horrors lie beneath it, but combined with the sense of curiosity that the light held... I remember the name I used to give him... My guardian. My guardian of Light and Dark... I felt myself laugh softly at the memories, how I used to tell myself that the Shadows should never appear before the light... Yet the light appeared for me... A ray of hope as the light embraced me... and I loved it...

I'm... I'm Starting to forget again... No matter... They were safe... Safe in Nibel... They would never come to this land... They were... Safe...

Authors Notes:

So I just gotta add this since every chapter is gonna have at least one of these...

Hmm... Well, this story is gonna be a long one with a few turns and twists, and considering this is my first story, it should continue to get better.

Thank you in advance for anyone reading, having, or leaving reviews hahaha.