We had only just stepped into the village when a pungent, stinging stench hit my nose.
Smoke. Fire.
Everywhere... nothing but fire.
The wooden houses that used to feel so warm and welcoming were now charred, collapsing into ruins. The village streets were littered with debris, and faint screams could be heard echoing from the distance. The sky had turned completely black, choked by thick, heavy smoke.
"Rei..." Alisa's voice trembled. "What... what is happening?"
I froze in my tracks. My chest felt incredibly tight. "I-I... I don't know..."
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out from the center of the village. "HEY! IS ANYONE STILL OUT THERE?!"
"That's Dad!" Alisa started jogging forward, waving her hand. "Dad! We're over here!"
Xion Barley rushed toward us. His face was covered in soot, his sword was still radiating heat, and he was breathing heavily.
"Alisa, Reika," he said quickly. "Come on, head to the evacuation shelter right now!"
"What actually happened, Dad?!" Alisa asked, panic taking over her voice.
"The village is under attack by a Hydra," he answered grimly. "There's no time. Move!"
My heart hammered wildly against my ribs. "W-wait..." I pulled on his sleeve. "My mom... where is my mom?"
Xion went silent for a split second, looking down at me. "Your mother... she's already at the shelter."
But... I saw his face. His eyes wavered.
"You're... you're lying..." my voice cracked. "Lord Barley... you're lying. Mom must still be inside the village!"
Without waiting for an answer, I spun around and bolted.
"REIKA!!!" Xion roared.
"Alisa!" He dropped to one knee, grabbing his daughter's shoulders. "Head to the shelter, Alisa. Take the northern path. I'm going after Reika."
Alisa bit her lip, then nodded firmly. "Got it!" she said, giving a quick, determined salute. "Okey-dokey!"
"Mom! Mom, where are you?!"
I sprinted through the burning village streets. My legs were shaking violently, but I refused to stop.
"Mom!!"
"Reika?!"
I skidded to a halt. "Mom!"
My mother was standing among the debris of a collapsed building. Her clothes were torn, yet her posture remained perfectly upright.
"Mom! What are you still doing here?!" I ran over and threw my arms around her.
"Reika, it's dangerous here!" she said, panic lacing her voice.
I looked up... and my eyes widened in utter shock.
Floating gently right behind my mother's back was a glowing green star.
"M-Mom..." My voice caught in my throat. "That... is that a Soul Star...? So all this time... you were..." I swallowed hard. "A HEERO?"
My mother fell silent, letting out a long, heavy sigh. "I'm sorry, Rei. I kept it a secret from you."
"Why?!"
"I used to be a Heero," she said softly. "But I retired when I was pregnant with you. I just wanted to live a normal life... then I met Lord Barley and chose to become a maid."
Despite the chaos around us, my eyes lit up. "That is so cool!"
My mother blinked in surprise. "You're... you're not mad?"
I shook my head vigorously. "No way! You must have had your reasons. Besides... you are incredibly cool, Mom!"
A small chuckle escaped her lips. "Well, I suppose I've always been pretty cool."
"Hehe..."
But her smile vanished in an instant.
"Rei!" My mother's face twisted into pure horror. "Look out!"
With every ounce of her strength, she shoved me away.
"MOM?!"
SPLAT!
A massive, scaled tail pierced straight through her chest.
"Mom...?" My voice shattered.
Blood spilled heavily onto the ground. My mother's body began to shudder.
"No... no... please, don't..." Tears started falling, one by one.
"MOM!!!"
My entire body trembled violently. The world around me felt like it was crashing down. The Hydra let out a deafening roar right in front of me.
My chest burned... it hurt so badly... and then, everything went black.
I wasn't even aware of when or how it happened. My body simply moved on its own.
Deep within the darkness, I saw five stars ignite inside my chest. Those stars flew out, hovering right behind my back.
The Hydra roared. I leaped.
I launched attack after attack—no technique, no conscious thought, just pure, unadulterated rage and grief. Fire, wind, and an explosive energy I didn't even understand burst from my small body.
"This is... impossible..." someone muttered.
Xion Barley stood there, completely frozen in place. "That boy... has five stars?"
Another man appeared, wearing a cloak that made him look like a seasoned adventurer.
"Sorry I'm late," he said calmly. "What happened here?"
"Wiz," Xion answered. "The youngest Heero... a Hydra attacked the village. And... just look at that boy."
Wiz watched Reika plunge into the fight. "Fascinating. What's his name?"
"Reika Argan."
A short while later, the Hydra collapsed, its body completely obliterated. I fell to the ground, utterly drained and helpless.
"..."
Wiz caught my body before I hit the dirt. "Good job, kid." He handed me over to Xion. "Please watch over this boy. A lot of people are going to come after him."
Xion gave a solemn nod. "Understood."
"May I pay my last respects?" Wiz asked softly.
"Selia Argan," Xion replied. "Go ahead."
Wiz bowed his head. "Hopefully, sis Selia be accepted by His side." He stood back up. "As for the Hydra... just tell everyone I killed it. This needs to stay a secret."
With that, he walked away, vanishing without a trace.
The next day...
"Ah..."
I blinked my eyes open. "Where am I?"
Memory flooded back. "Mom?! MOM, WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Rei..." A deep, heavy voice quieted me down.
Xion was sitting right next to the bed. "Calm down..." he said softly. "Your mother... I'm so sorry. I couldn't save her. The wound was just too deep."
"Oh..."
The tears came spilling out. I lowered my head... and just cried silently.
"Rei..." Alisa wrapped her arms around me in a tight embrace.
I hugged her back, and my sob finally broke through.
"It's okay... I'm right here," she whispered, gently stroking my hair.
I nodded weakly, wiping away the remaining tears.
"Rei," Alisa asked carefully after a moment. "Back there... with the Hydra... who defeated it?"
Xion cut in quickly. "Lord Wiz. The youngest Heero."
"Lord Wiz?!" Alisa's eyes went wide.
I managed a small, faint smile, even though my eyes were still wet. "Yeah..."