Sad memories

It was in the age of the ninjas.

They were at Rendal house. Alliot loved his books, or rather, the books he owned. There was this particular book he saw at his house that he took an instant liking to it the moment he saw it.

“Mister Rendal, may I take a look at that book? The one that has nothing written on the spine.”

Mister Rendal, as what Alliot had called, turned and glanced at that book. That book was empty at the inside. Yet, he kept it because of its delicate patterns. He wanted to refuse but decided against it. What harm could it do? Rendal touched the book, swept dust from the top of the spine to the bottom, and then took it out, examining it for a second longer before handing it to Alliot.

Alliot touched the delicate patterns. No wonder Mister Rendal kept it. It was old, torn at the edges, the cover was turning yellow. Yet, it was giving out an unspeakable aura. He thought he saw it glow when Mister Rendal touched it. Funny. He shook his head and told himself that it could not have happened, no book could glow. At the very least, glow when someone touched it. He smiled to Mister Rendal, uttering a single thank you. He walked over to the black beanbag. He wondered what that book would contain. He opened the book and the only thing he remembered were the lights turning out and a gust of wind.

“MISTER RENDAL! BIG BROTHER! SABRINA! WHERE ARE YOU?”

Alliot was in a foreign place. There were cherry blossoms and rain falling. He did not know where this place was. He looked at the book. There were words. Funny, when he opened it, he saw only empty pages. There was a man running towards him. Alliot lowered himself to a fighting stance. He was a Tae Kwando black belt. He wanted to throw the book aside but it seemed that it was stuck to his hand. Never mind that already, the enemy was the man in front. He lashed out but his legs caught air. No, but that man should have been caught by his leg. How? A strong wind blew at his hands and the pages of the book flipped.

There was a different scene in front of him. The man that had once been trying to attack him was now hugging a small young boy. The boy looked like Mister Rendal. The man carried the boy up and placed him on his shoulders, “Rendal, be good now. Papa’s going to protect the country so don’t cry anymore, alright?” Alliot stared at the book. The book was showing him Mister Rendal’s past. No, he was an outsider; he was not supposed to interfere at his past. He tugged at the book, wanting to release it but to no avail. It simply did not want to let go. Hugging onto huge refusal, Alliot watched on.

The young Rendal climbed down from his father’s shoulders and said, “Okay, but promise me. Be back by my birthday. And I’ll spar with you, again.” A faint smile played on his father’s lips. He tapped his son’s shoulder and promised, “Okay, then I’ll be off now.” Rendal lifted his left hand and waved at his father. This action may seem little but to Alliot it was a huge thing. He noticed that there was no scar on that Rendal’s left palm. Could he not be the Mister Rendal he had known? No, it could not be. It is him. His voice, his face even the way he stood was Mister Rendal. Alliot flipped the pages and found himself watching the young Rendal slashing bamboos. It seemed that this was a one way mirror. He could see them. However, they could not.

The pages flipped and the scene changed. He could now see a young Rendal running into his bamboo house, carrying onto what seemed like a Koi. Alliot followed. There were guards everywhere in the house and of course, maids. The house was rather grand and Alliot thought that Rendal’s father was not a simple man. There was a young lady lying on a bed, perhaps not that young as Rendal ran over and called her mother. She was a beautiful woman. Her hair caressed her cheeks, and was tied back into a ponytail but some of her hair was let down. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of green just like Mister Rendal’s. She looked pale.

“Mother! I bought you fish. Please eat it.”

His mother shook her head, and said, in a barely more than a whisper, “Bring me up, Rendal. I shall bring Ryendo to your father.” Rendal’s eyes contained fear and yet, he brought his mother up to a kneeling position and went over to open the door. Right at that moment, a servant ran in and opened his mouth. The young lady waved her hand impatiently but weakly. Her fingers curled in and slowly became a fist and she thumped it against her chest. It was a sign that Alliot knew all too well. Mister Rendal used it. It meant to bring whatever that is in store for her. Rendal’s father hurried in. He knelt down and reached a hand out. The young lady looked at her sadly as if asking him if it was really required. She raised her hand and immediately a servant brought a sword to her. It was one of the best swords available. A meito. A phrase to call a named sword. It was patterned to resemble a dragon at the handle. It was a terrifying sword. Rendal stood at the corner of the room, slowly disappearing into the shadows. He was scared and he had the right to be. That sword, Ryendo, meant trouble. His father was soaked in blood. His ninja outfit was torn at places and blood could be seen gushing out. At the same time when he was kneeling, there were doctors tending to his injuries, trying to contain them as far as possible before he left. There were gashes at his face and a stroke of clean cut ran down from his left eyebrows to his mouth. It was bleeding. Every second, the man winced but not screaming or even uttering a single word of pain. This was his courage.

The young lady splashed a handful of water on him and began to chant, “O, holy water! Let this man of hopes be ridden on the mountain of hopes. Let this man with dreams fulfill his dreams with glory. Let this man only to go down when fighting. Ryendo give me your promise to protect this man from all harm. May all our hopes and dreams be carried on his shoulders and be back soon. O, holy water, hear my chant and hear my hopes, receive my offering and be on your road!” The young lady used a small dagger and cut her wrist. Fresh blood gushed out with enthusiasm. She swiped her finger against her wound and winced and wiped her blood on her lips. She kissed her man on his lips and let go almost immediately. Her man stood up, almost throwing off the doctors who were on him. He bowed and reached out to take the sword. Rendal stared at his father; his face showing little emotion. But it was clear that he was scared, his eyes were showing fear. Despite all odds, he bowed and reached out his hand. His fingers turned into a shape of a claw and clawed upwards to his heart before clenching his fist and his fist lashed out, punching into thin air. It meant good luck or to destroy everything in your path. His father mimicked him, doing the same action which meant I received your charm, thank you. It was then that Alliot knew what was happening. There was an attack near the borders of the town. The monsters are getting stronger and only the Ryendo could destroy it. And that things were not looking too good.

After the man in blood had left, the young lady went into frenzy. She quickly walked over to the altar, despite her illness she knelt down and started praying. She knew that things would get messy. Rendal look at his mother with sadness in his eyes. He wanted to help yet there was nothing he could do. Without prior warning, a sword with a bat at its handle shot out of the altar, stabbing the priest in the heart. It was instant death. The priest fell back, eyes wide open, mouth agape. Rendal was in shock. He screamed and ran over to his fallen mother. Alliot turned away; it was painful to even watch. He knew, however, that the death of the priest meant the death of Rendal’s father too.

Monsters appeared for the priest’s barrier was broken. The first to peer into the altar was the strongest. Its mouth still contained his previous food. A hand with a dragon-handled sword. Rendal saw it. He practically went mad. First, he ran over to that monster and grabbed the sword. He heard horses coming. But he did not care. Next, he lashed out using all the skills he had learned. He destroyed everything in his path. He killed the monster. He saw carriages. He did not care who they are, he just wanted them dead. He ran over and slashed. Blood spurted but the men protecting the carriages avoided those attacks easily. They dodged but never attacked. Suddenly, Rendal stopped and Alliot knew why. A young priest had shot something at his left hand. Rendal was too shock to move. The young priest went over to him. He was crying. Tears rolled down as if there were no ending. The priest sat down beside him. She simply said, “The stars are beautiful.” Rendal looked at her with those wide eyes before falling into the arms of pain. And he lay still on the priest lap. The priest raised a single hand and touched his head. A single tear dripped. “The boy had gone through a lot. Prepare him a bed in the palace. Bury his parents at the royal cemetery. And clear this place up.”

A week later, at the royal palace, Rendal woke up and saw the priest. He sat up and asked, “Who are you?”

The priest turned around and answered, “I am the princess of this country, Japan. I hope you are making yourself feel at home. Here, your sword. And to your question,” a faint smile played on her pale lips, “I am Tomoyo.”

Back at Rendal’s house, Sabrina saw the unmoving statue of Alliot, sitting at a corner. Sabrina called out, “Alliot?” There was uncertainty in her voice. She walked over and saw Alliot tearing. She screamed and collapsed to the ground, still staring at him. Alliot’s brother came running over and saw the scene. He pulled the book away but it did not budge. Mister Rendal came over and was shocked too. “What the…?” He pulled the book away and it did. Alliot fell and Mister Rendal went forward to grab him by his arm. Alliot looked up and said in barely more than a whisper, “Mister Rendal… … I’m sorry…” before fainting.

1,888 words.