Vengeance Upon Fate - Chapter 16

With Kurogane now moments away from his village, the night was coming close to its end.

(Almost there.. just a little more.)

As he walked past the remaining trees, an open range came to view. The ruins of his homeland resided exactly as it was long ago. The moonlight gazed over the bitter sweetened scenery, shedding its empathy on the ghosted, vacant region as the clouds began to clear away.

Since the village was leveled lower than the usual land, anyone entering it would end up walking downwards. From within the village, it would look as if various hills surrounded the place.

The village path was mostly thin gravel with small plants and weeds growing in random areas amongst the ruins. Outside the village, surrounding areas were green with flattened, grassy vegetation.

Towards the northern direction of the village was a part of the green land that tilted upwards, eventually reaching a fifty feet high cliff where a cove resided below it. Beyond the lake that was beneath the cliff were small shores and forest trees of the seemingly endless, vast jungle.

However, in the opposite direction, south of the village stood a raised, hundred feet tall stone cliff. Anyone standing there would have a clear view of the houses followed by the cove and lake beyond it.

As Kurogane began to walk away from the jungle and head down towards the village, he paused, looking to his right and glancing at the comfy, green area at the cliff of the cove. He began to remember the one of many nights where they would sit there as he would lean back on his mother’s lap while they would watch the beautiful, sparkling stars and listen to the gentle sounds of the glittering waters before them.

…

〔Mom..〕

〔Yes dear?〕

〔These amazing moments we’ve had together… they mean everything to me. But can things stay the way they are now?〕

Kurogane’s mother smiled, closed her eyes and giggled as she wrapped her arms around him – gently resting her chin above his head.

〔I definitely want the same. I mean, I don’t see why not.〕

〔Really?〕

〔Of course dear! As long as you are happy, I’m even happier!〕

Kurogane’s eyes began to water, tearing slightly out of joy.

〔Mom… Thank you for everything. I really don’t know what I’d do without you.〕

As Kurogane said this, he struggled to maintain a smile due to how emotional he had become.

His mother used a portion of her red kimono to gently wipe the tears in his eyes.

〔There there, don’t cry. You’re a big boy now.. my eleven year old son! We have our whole lives ahead of us, so let’s cherish the time we have together, alright?〕

〔Yes mother!〕

Kurogane’s face lit up with a happier smile. What better of an answer could he have asked for from the one person who gave him a life as memorable as heaven itself.

〔That’s the spirit!〕she said, giggling and hugging him tighter as she rubbed her face against his cheek.

〔Mom! You’re overdoing it.. hehe…〕

Kurogane looked away from the cliff and lowered his gaze as he continued to walk towards the village – his face distressful and saddened.

As the path got lower, he could see bits of the building foundations in his surroundings. Small plants and weeds had grown in various places. Walking through the middle path, Kurogane looked to his left followed by his right as the memories of the once existed houses consumed his view.

There were ten houses total in the village. One stood around twenty five feet tall at the entrance, most of its height coming from the building’s long wooden pillars, giving the structure a tower-like look. To enter the house, one would have to climb the wooden ladder attached to the front.

Eight more houses were lined up across each other, four on each side with a walkway in between. The last house faced forward at the end of the village, this one being Kurogane’s.

The buildings were about ten feet apart from each other, and collectively made the village look rectangular from a mapped perspective. Wuxiaworld for visiting.

The rest of the nine houses were made primarily with wood and had flat roofs to shelter everything within. To enter, one would have to use the slide doors which were made with traditional translucent paper that were backed up with wooden frames to support them.

Most of homes stood about twelve feet tall and were one storey in height. Behind Kurogane’s house was a river that flowed sideways which separated his village and the stone cliff that resided there.

Kurogane could feel his feet being dragged forward at this point. The deeper he went, the more deadened he felt within. Darkened fragments and pieces of bones were still visible, some on the walking path and others within the home foundations.

His expression remained unchanged – the same saddened, desolated expression he had upon reaching the village – incapable to feel otherwise.

Before he knew it, he was before his own house. He paused as he turned his head away from another building to his left.

A gust of wind began to blow, leaves and bits of gravel traveling along with it. There stood the remains of the place he once called home.

The only difference between his home and the others was the fact that nothing remained of his mother. Nothing he could at least mourn over.

He dropped to his knees as they began to shake and numb.

“I’m home, mother…. I.. finally made it.”

A tear rolled down one of his cheeks. The overwhelming sadness was too much to hold in any longer.

He slowly interlaced both of his hands together and closed his eyes, grieved and occupied with immense sorrow, praying silently for his mother and everyone around him.

“Rest peacefully, everyone… I won’t allow your losses to be left in vain, I promise.”

Above the stone cliff behind his house stood a black robed hooded figure. Unclear of any precise details from the position Kurogane resided at, it silently watched over him from the distance.

Upon finishing his prayers and standing up, suddenly another gust began to blow through – much stronger than the previous. Kurogane covered his face with one of his arms to avoid any contact with the wild debris.

…..?

He began to feel as if something watching him. After the gust calmed down, he looked upwards at the stone cliff, following his alarmed instincts. Nothing to be seen.

Kurogane stared at the cliff for a few moments in suspicion, then turned around and proceeded to make his leave.

As he reached the entrance, the sun began to rise as the brightness greeted the landscape. The air was much more harmonious, and he couldn’t help but stop himself to appreciate the greatness of the view.

(It’s still beautiful as ever)

Afterwards, he made his way to the jungle, but paused to glance back at the village once more.

(When this is all over, I’ll come by again. Hang in there, everyone.)