Chapter 2: Dreams

The landscape was encircled by mountains that stretched high into the clouds. On one of these peaks, three siblings sat, pointing to the sky as their voices wove in and out of conversation. Cool breezes whistled around them, carrying the familiar scent of earth, leaves, and oncoming rain.

The middle sibling, Ichido, reclined against the mountain grass, enjoying the cold air greeting his face. A thought occurred to him, and he glanced at his older brother, Taizen, who was holding their sister, Nayuri, close. Ichido extended his arm and gently nudged his brother’s side, careful not to disturb the little girl.

“Hey, do you have any dreams? Like, what you want to do when you grow up?” Ichido asked.

Taizen raised an eyebrow, tilting his head back as if to think about it. “Why are you asking me that? And don’t we already have a father to look up to?” A slight trace of annoyance clung to his voice.

He wasn’t wrong, but to Ichido, their father had already completed his journey years ago, leading him to the life they now shared. Ichido wanted perspectives from someone his own age, or close to it. He had thought about the future himself, but dreams were so complex. What was he supposed to make of the years ahead? No, it was easier to just ask his older brother.

“True, but I want to know from your perspective, I guess. You’re a few years older and you’re going to face it soon. Unless… you don’t have anything planned.”

Hearing that, Taizen sat up abruptly and reached for his little brother, playfully ruffling his hair. Ichido flinched for a moment but stilled himself.

“I’m not unprepared, okay? At least, I know I won’t be.”

Plucking a thin strand of grass, his mind still buzzing with curiosity, Ichido said, “Well, if you’re not unprepared, then tell me. I’m sure you must have thought of something.”

As Taizen braced to answer, Nayuri sat up and leaped onto him with a wide grin, wrapping her small arms around his neck. “Tell us! Tell us!” She blinked her wide eyes and smiled, a slight blush on her cheeks.

“See! Even Nayuri wants to know! Come on, tell us!” Ichido joined in the chant.

She doesn’t even know what we’re talking about, Taizen wanted to say. And I thought she was asleep, that sneaky little one.

His eyes twitched in playful irritation. Rolling his eyes, he pulled his two younger siblings into a tight hug, then pushed them down onto the mountain bed.

“Hmmm… let’s see. I love weaponry, swords and all those. I’m always curious about how finely they’re crafted, sharpened, and shaped. Can you guess what I dream to be?” Taizen asked, grinning down at them.

Nayuri tilted her head in thought. She didn’t know the exact name of the occupation, but she knew the trade from seeing it in the village whenever her mother or brothers took her along on errands.

Ichido’s eyes lit up as he immediately figured it out. “I know! You want to become a blacksmith, don’t you?”

“Bingo! There, you got it,” Taizen confirmed with a grin.

He could almost picture the gleaming metal and the burning forge, hear the hiss of sharpened iron as it dipped into a bucket of water, and even smell the oil on the polished handles. He could feel the perfect weight of a finished blade. Dreams.

“Now it’s your turn. Before you say anything, it doesn’t matter whether you’re sure of it or not, just tell me what you might want to try. Maybe let’s ask little Nayuri first?” he suggested, turning his attention to their youngest sibling with a playful twinkle in his eye.

Nayuri hummed in thought, her eyes wandering between her two older brothers. Ichido nodded, encouraging her to share. “Nayuri, what do you dream of doing when you’re older?”

“Hmmm….” Nayuri hummed until a bright smile broke across her face. “I want to help people!”

Ichido and Taizen exchanged knowing looks, then threw their heads back and laughed. Their little sister was just a glowing bundle of angel dust, so they naturally expected an answer like that from her. Ichido sat up to pat her head.

“That’s very good, Nayuri! I know you will help so many people when you’re older. We’ll all be proud of you!” Ichido smiled. Taizen then nudged him, prompting his turn. “Fine, fine… hmmm…”

This time, both Taizen and Nayuri leaned in with curious eyes.

Ichido took his time, intentionally making them wait. Taizen threw his hands up and rolled his eyes, drawing a laugh from Ichido before he finally answered.

“What is that called again? A merchant? Maybe I’d like that in the future.”

“That sounds like you,” Taizen chuckled. “We’re young, so we’ve got plenty of time to figure things out. Maybe you could even ask Father about it. He might know more than just swords, you know? But for now…” Taizen paused, standing up and stretching. “Let’s head back to the village,” he said, raising both fists for Ichido and Nayuri to bump.

They all laughed and returned the fist bump before making their way down the mountain trail.

The village was alive with activity. Carts rolled along the dirt road, strong men carried heavy sacks, and little children ran around, trying not to bump into women carrying baskets. Stalls lined the path, displaying a lively assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables on some, and raw cuts of meat on the butcher’s tables.

“Ichido!” A gentle, high-pitched voice called out, followed by a shy squeak as the girl quickly turned away.

Her two brothers chuckled at her, but they waved at the three siblings. The group ran toward them with bright smiles, offering fist bumps and gently patting Nayuri’s head.

“Hey!” Taizen greeted them.

Ichido smiled and waved back at Maya, since she was the one who had called his name. “Oh, hey Maya! Hey, Sho! Naoki!”

Maya blushed and looked down.

“Where have you three been? We haven’t seen you all day,” Naoki asked as he approached, Sho and Maya following close behind.

“Why do you ask?” Ichido questioned with a laugh. “We already spent the morning with you, unless you miss us that badly.”

“Can’t we miss our dear friends?” Naoki teased, causing a ripple of laughter to burst between them.

“We decided to have a little sibling time. It’s what our mother always wants us to do, so there we were,” Taizen explained. “We might have had a little future discussion—or a life crisis, whatever you want to call it. But don’t tell her we went up to the mountains,” he pleaded.

“Aw, how sweet. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us,” Sho said, crossing his arms. “But wait, does that mean you’re not joining us tonight for some treats?” Sho crossed his arms.

“Treats! You mean those sweets your family makes all the time?” Nayuri’s eyes lit up at the word, but Ichido shook his head.

“Sorry, Nayuri, we can’t join them today,” Ichido said.

“That’s not fair! Can’t I stay?” Nayuri pouted, crossing her arms so fast her hair bounced.

“What she said—that’s not fair,” Sho mimicked with a laugh, only to get a sharp nudge from Maya. “Sorry, little Nayuri. How about this: I’ll save my share for you so you can have them when we meet up tomorrow morning. Deal?”

Nayuri’s pout melted into a bright smile, and she jumped up and down, nodding. “It’s a deal!”

“Of course little Nayuri will call it a deal!” Naoki laughed. “Isn’t Maya such a generous friend?”

“Thanks. That’s very kind of you, Maya,” Ichido remarked, his gaze meeting hers. Maya’s cheeks flushed crimson.

“Anyway, we have to get going; we’ll hang out again tomorrow. We need to get home before our mother starts to worry,” Ichido explained.

As Ichido spoke, Taizen noticed how Maya kept stealing glances at his brother, slightly hiding behind Sho and Naoki.

“We’d better see you tomorrow. We can’t wait to show you a new game we thought of! Right, Maya?” Sho asked.

Maya nodded quickly. Throughout the interaction, Taizen struggled to hide a smirk as the girl’s expressions confirmed his suspicions. Despite wanting to tease his little brother, he held back for now.

Her soft eyes met Ichido’s, and she gently brushed a stray leaf from his shoulder before quickly pulling her hand away. “T-There were some leaves on your…” she stuttered, her cheeks burning bright. Taizen watched, biting his lip to keep from laughing.

Ichido glanced down at his shoulder. A warm smile touched his lips as he looked back at her. “Thanks, Maya. I didn’t see that there. I’m so careless.”

“O-Oh umm… it’s… it’s nothing… w-we’ll see you tomorrow then…” Maya’s face was turning entirely pink.

Sho finally noticed, tugging Naoki’s sleeve and pulling Maya away while waving to the three siblings. “See you three tomorrow! Don’t be late!” Naoki called out before walking home with Sho and Maya.

Ichido smiled and waved back, and Nayuri did the same. Once the group had walked far enough away, Taizen couldn’t hold himself back any longer. He didn’t know if Maya could still hear them, but he couldn’t resist a bit of harmless teasing.

“Hey, Ichido,” Taizen nudged him, his voice rising to a playful pitch. “Did you see Maya’s face? Did you know that she likes you, hmmm?”

Ichido turned away with a small huff. “No, she doesn’t. She’s just shy.”

“Shy, hmmm? You didn’t see her face and how she stuttered when she talked to you?”

“Like I said, she’s just shy. Doesn’t she talk like that to everyone?”

“My, my. Who knew my little brother was so clueless,” Taizen said with a dramatic sigh, slinging his arm around Ichido’s neck.

Ichido rolled his eyes and shoved Taizen’s arm off. “Whatever you say…” he grumbled with a frown.

“I’m hungry,” Nayuri interrupted before Taizen could continue.

“We’re almost home, Nayuri; we’ll get some food. Maybe we can find something on the way?” Ichido’s brow furrowed, but his expression cleared into a smile when he noticed a familiar shop was still open. “Hey, look, the shop there is still open! Think the nice grandpa will give us some sweets? Especially for Nayuri, since she’s hungry?”

Nayuri and Taizen exchanged a quick glance, then turned back to Ichido with matching grins. Nayuri began jumping excitedly. “Yes, please! Let’s go say hello! It’s nice to greet people no matter what time it is. And he always gives us food!”

Taizen and Ichido both chuckled. “That’s one way to put it, but of course sweet Nayuri thinks of everyone. Come on, let’s go then,” Taizen said, gesturing for them to follow.

They headed over to the storefront, and Nayuri was the first to greet the old shopkeeper, followed by Ichido and Taizen. The rich aroma of fresh sweets and simmering food hit their nostrils. The old man grinned at the sight of them. He was a short man with hair as white as beach sand, a deeply wrinkled face, and a perpetual, pleasant smile. As always, he handed them a few sweets to enjoy on their walk home.

“Don’t gobble them all up in one go,” he told them with a warm smile.

“We won’t!” they chorused, waving goodbye as they stepped back out onto the road.

As they snacked on the treats, Ichido struck upon a new idea. “It’s getting late and we need to rush back, so why don’t we have a little race?”

“A race?” Taizen rubbed his chin. “Hmmm… I don’t see why not. Let’s do it!”

“Yay, a race!” Nayuri cheered, almost clapping her hands before realizing she still held her sweets tightly in her right hand.

“All right then! On three! One… two… three!” Ichido yelled, and the three siblings bolted.

Ichido and Taizen were naturally faster, quickly pulling ahead of Nayuri. Watching her brothers draw further and further away left her on the verge of tears. She knew they were older and faster, but she still couldn’t help feeling like it wasn’t fair.

“Big brother Taizen! Ichido! That’s not fair! You two are always faster than me!”

Ichido and Taizen caught each other’s eye, sharing a subtle nod. They slowed their pace just enough to ensure Nayuri wouldn’t notice the trick, allowing her to sprint past them for once.

The race ended right at their doorstep. Nayuri started jumping, throwing her hands up with a triumphant grin. “I won! Yay, I won!” she squealed.

“Good job, Nayuri!” Ichido cheered, Taizen joining in.

The commotion caught their mother’s attention. The front door squeaked open and she stood in the threshold, letting out a soft sigh that quickly gave way to a small smile. At the sound of her voice, the siblings turned. The savory aroma of dinner drifted out into the cool evening air.

“There you are, my little angels. Hurry inside, I’ve prepared some food for you. You three have been missing all day without a bite to eat or a drop to drink. I’m not sure whether to be shocked or impressed that you’re still as hyper as ever,” their mother chided gently as they rushed past her.

But as she ushered them into the warmth of the house, a sudden, blinding pain shot through her head. Wincing, she clasped her forehead and staggered backward.

“Mom, are you okay?” Ichido asked.

“I’m alright,” she responded, offering a soft smile. “Now, what have my little adventurers been up to today? Let me check and make sure you’ve all returned in one piece.” She immediately checked each of them, hovering over Nayuri for any injuries, knowing how easily small wounds appeared during outdoor playtime.

“Mom, we’re fine. Nayuri is fine too, and so is Taizen,” Ichido assured her. She looked at them before sighing softly and nodding.

“Can’t blame your mother for worrying about her little gems. Now go and take a seat at the table. You can wash up after a good meal.” With a gentle nudge, she guided them to the dining area before heading to the kitchen. The house was small, the living room directly linked to the dining space with the kitchen tucked at the back. It was a cozy setup; hearing the sizzling of food, the steady rhythm of the chopping knife, and inhaling the rich aroma of their mother’s cooking was a magical experience on its own.

Once she was almost finished, she returned with drinks and snacks. As she set the plate down, the sound of their rumbling stomachs made her chuckle.

“Here, have some of these first. I’ll bring out your dinner in a bit while it’s still hot. Can’t let my adventurers have bloated stomachs while waiting.”

“Thanks, Mother!” Nayuri smiled, Ichido and Taizen echoing her. Once they settled down to eat, their mother joined them at the table.

Taizen and Ichido exchanged a glance, anticipating where the conversation was heading. A stern curiosity had settled onto her face. Meanwhile, Nayuri busied herself with her snacks, munching happily and letting crumbs tumble onto her chin.

“Now, I hope you three didn’t venture outside the village. You know it’s forbidden for anyone to leave. It’s—” Before she could finish, Ichido interrupted.

“It’s also forbidden for outsiders to find out about this village, let alone enter it.”

Taizen nodded to support his brother. “We know, Mom. We all know this. We’re playful, but we aren’t careless.”

“We promise,” Ichido added. “We enjoy the peace we have in our village, so we wouldn’t expose it to anyone.”

She sighed, looking at her children with soft eyes. Her hands reached out to gently hold Taizen’s and Ichido’s before she playfully pinched Nayuri’s cheeks, brushing off the crumbs. “Still, your poor mother can’t help but worry…” she said softly. “Anyway, thank Nomi for bringing you three home safely. Finish up the snacks and I’ll bring out your meals. It should be cool enough to eat now.”

“Thank you, Mom, we love you so much!” Ichido said, earning a pat on the head. His mother worried too much, he knew. He and his brother had always known there was a whole different world out there. It could be dangerous… or not. But it didn’t matter; they liked it here in the village.

As their mother got up and walked toward the kitchen, she loaded the food onto a tray and picked it up. Humming under her breath, she held the tray steady until another sudden burst of pain shot through her.

“Agh!” She groaned and flinched, her hand stiffening. The tray tilted and the plates fell, crashing to the ground. The sound shattered the quiet house like an explosion.

“Mother!?” Taizen bolted from the table in concern. Ichido and Nayuri followed quickly, knocking their chairs over in the rush.

“Mom, are you—” Ichido’s voice was cut short by a piercing shriek from their mother. Her hands flew to her face, then her head, scratching in agony as her body contorted horrifically. Ichido pulled Nayuri close, shielding her as he watched in horror.

The shriek dissolved into the creaking of bone and a loud gurgling sound as she thrust her chest upward, opening her mouth wide. Her limbs twisted at unnatural angles. The sight made Nayuri scream and bury her face against Ichido’s chest.

“W-What’s happening to Mother!?” Nayuri cried.

Taizen started to rush to her aid but froze in his tracks. The creaking and gnarling grew louder.

“What is happening?” he gasped.

Her limbs stretched and twisted, morphing into a disturbing shape as if something was trying to crawl out from beneath her skin. Bumps moved and pulsated like waves across her flesh, the aggressive tracks of her own fingernails leaving angry red slashes behind. Taizen’s body trembled as he stared, extending his arms to pull Ichido and Nayuri behind him.

“Mom?” Ichido called out softly.

“That’s… that isn’t Mom,” Taizen hushed him, his voice a grave, low whisper.

Ichido whispered in denial as her screams filled the house. She was morphing into something horrific—something born of a nightmare.

A… a beast… a monster.

Ichido shivered as he caught his mother’s gaze. Her head cranked violently to the right. Her pupils shrunk into thin slits, her eyes dark, wild, and full of rage. There was no love left in them, only violence.

Another piercing shriek shook the walls, and the monster charged.

Ichido’s heart dropped into the pit of his stomach. His knees trembled; his limbs suddenly refused to work.

As the creature frenzied toward them, Taizen’s mind raced. Everything was happening too fast. He opened his hand, glancing at the lines on his palm. He knew how to trigger his ability, but this specific application was uncharted territory. He had only read about it in books, never attempting the method himself.

The monster growled and snarled, claws scratching the floorboards as it closed the distance.

Instinct took over. He extended one arm to shield Ichido and Nayuri while his other hand trembled with uncertainty. Would his gamble be enough to save them? Closing his eyes for a split second, he focused on the image of tungsten—the dense metal he had studied so meticulously. He pushed away the panic and called up the shimmering, ashy color of the steel.

With a surge of determination, Taizen willed his arm to transform. To his immense relief, it obeyed, morphing into the resilient material he had envisioned. The metal stretched out with a loud snikt!, widening instantly. Taizen’s tungsten-clad arm, now a heavy shield, doubled as a weapon as he prepared to unleash a barrage of sharp metal shrapnel to fend off the beast.

“Ah!” Taizen yelled, aiming his arm at the monster. He unleashed a barrage of tiny metal shards as the creature smashed through the table, knocking over chairs and crashing into the walls. It growled, stumbling back a step before letting out a menacing roar.

“Uh-oh,” he muttered. His relief was short-lived; he knew he couldn’t stay on the defensive. Pushing his siblings farther behind him, he stepped forward.

He braced himself for the impending clash, hoping against hope that his makeshift shield would hold.

Before the creature could leap, a thunderous crash reverberated through the room. The front door shattered, giving way to a sudden barricade of thick, extending wood that encircled their transformed mother. Amidst the settling dust, a figure emerged.

“Dad!” Ichido’s voice rang out.

“Oh, no… no, Aya.” Ashura stared in disbelief. He swallowed his immediate grief to turn his attention to his children. Taizen’s shoulders sagged, his face slick with sweat. Behind the wooden wall, the monster moaned, its voice shaking into a deadly growl.

Ashura’s blood ran cold despite the strong front he kept for his kids. He didn’t want to hurt his wife, but he had to subdue her to keep everyone safe.

He dashed toward his children, using his wooden Daichi to sprout additional barriers to slow Aya down in case she broke through the first enclosure. Inside, she struggled, slamming her body against the wood and sending splinters flying. Each time a piece splintered away, another branch would flip through the air and merge into place, keeping her sealed.

He pulled his children into a tight hug, checking them for any signs of harm. “Are you three all right!? Taizen? Ichido!? Nayuri!?”

“W-We…” Ichido stammered, too deep in shock to answer.

Taizen stepped in. “We’re fine, Dad! But Mom—” He lost his focus, and his arm slowly transformed back to flesh, leaving a numb sensation crawling through his fingers.

“I’ll help her, but I need you three to get out of here!” Ashura ordered, his voice commanding.

Taizen nudged Ichido and Nayuri closer to the door, though his eyes remained on his father. “But Dad—”

THUD.

Aya shattered the wooden enclosure with a deafening roar, sending fragments flying in all directions. Ashura scrambled to his feet. His sole focus was getting his children to safety, away from the charging beast that had once been his wife. He clenched his fists, knuckles cracking as his mind raced.

Is… is this the prisoner’s doing? No, that’s impossible. We don’t even know each other, yet he knew my name. I don’t even know who he was, but I should’ve listened… I should have returned quicker.

Soft whimpers and sobs made him look over his shoulder. His eyes widened. The children were still frozen by the door, their faces wet with fright.

“Go! Get out of the house! NOW!” He shoved Taizen toward the exit, Ichido and Nayuri stumbling right behind him.

“Dad, watch out!” Taizen yelled.

A dark shadow loomed over the room.

“Huh!” Ashura gasped.

Before he could turn, Aya lunged, violently tearing a chunk from his shoulder. Blood splattered onto their children. The sickening sound of ripping flesh and the spray of crimson cut through their collective gasps.

“DAD!” Taizen screamed, his voice cracking as his eyes flared with rage. He thrust his arms forward, and thick tungsten rods shot from his palms with explosive force, creating a heavy lattice barrier that slammed between his mother and father. Ashura fell forward, a pool of red staining the floor.

“I-I’m sorry!” Taizen’s apology hung in the air.

Ashura didn’t waste a second. He scrambled up, wrapping his arms around his kids to shove them through the threshold. But Nayuri, her face buried against Ichido’s chest, clutched Ashura’s hand tightly.

“Daddy!” she wailed.

The sound of her crying out to him was a dagger to his heart. He refused to believe this would be their last time together—with his children, with Nayuri, with Aya. This couldn’t be the end.

Ichido looked at his father in agony, tears streaming down his face as he held Nayuri close. “Dad…”

“G-Go and get help! Please! That’s the only way,” Ashura pleaded, his voice straining. “The only way to keep you three safe, and the only way to help your mother and me!”

“Dad! I can help!” Taizen begged, tears spilling over as he tried to stay.

Ashura met Taizen’s eyes with absolute intensity. “Taizen, please. I trust you to take care of them.”

The weight of his father’s final directive settled heavily upon him. Taizen looked at Ichido, then down at Nayuri, who was still weeping and anchoring herself to Ashura’s hand.

Time was running out.

He had to act quickly.

Taizen glanced at Ichido and saw that his little brother was entirely paralyzed by fear. Realizing he had to take charge, Taizen broke the hold, tugging gently at Nayuri with a sudden surge of urgency.

“Nayuri, we have to go now! Trust Dad! He’ll handle it!”

“No! I won’t leave!” Nayuri screamed. Desperate, Taizen sought help from Ichido, but his brother was just as frozen as the little girl.

Taizen grabbed the back of Ichido’s neck, locking eyes with him. “Ichido, please. I can’t do this alone.”

Snapping back to reality, Ichido wrapped his arms securely around Nayuri and began to pull her away.

She screamed again, kicking her legs in the air. “Let go! I’m staying here!”

“Nayuri! We need to go if we want to help Dad!” Taizen pleaded, his mind flashing with the images from just moments ago—the blood, the horrific, animalistic sounds.

Hearing that, Nayuri could only weep as she looked back at her father.

Ashura’s heart ached at the sight of his daughter in tears, yet he forced a comforting smile, silently urging her to go with her brothers. She finally released her grip, allowing Ichido and Taizen to pull her through the doorway.

Instantly regretting it, Nayuri screamed for Ashura again. Behind him, the monster was back on its feet, hunched in the shadows with its claws extended, drooling and snarling. Its eyes narrowed on Ashura, its steps slow and deliberate, like a predator stalking helpless prey. Ashura’s chest felt heavy, the entire right side of his body going numb. Tears streaming down his face, he turned to confront the beast.

As they fled farther from the house, Taizen and Ichido’s eyes widened in terror. Instinctively, they shielded Nayuri’s face, sparing her from the gruesome sight of their mother pouncing on Ashura.

“DAD!” Ichido’s cry pierced the night air as the front door slammed shut behind them, sealing away the last haunting image burned into his mind—the monster ruthlessly tearing his father apart.