Chapter 1

Chapter 1
"Some Stories..."

"Once upon a time...many moons ago, there was a thriving city surrounded in fog, and within that fog--fiends lurked. This place was inhabited by many eccentric people. These people came from many foreign places, bringing their beliefs, traditions, even fears together. Within this town, there lived a woman that had an extraordinary power; she was not like the rest. She had a very lovely aura about her, and her beauty matched that aura. She was a Spirit Warrior. Behind the walls of this fortress filled with knights, bards, and things of that nature, she was one of a warrior breed that died out a long time before...or so they say. This race was called 'The Eternals.'

This people devoted their lives to fending off the more powerful demons and fiends of the world that plagued the land. Alongside the knights and guardians of the world, they helped plunge the darkness of the land into the fog and dark places of the world. Sanctuaries, places of prayer and refuge within cities, were built to inforce the power and spirit of the warriors and people. It helped for a decade...but after it was up, there arose a certain demon. He challenged the power of the warriors...

Warriors that fought for the cities, towns, the people within them, were no match for this one particular demon spawn. He was different....he fought...with purpose. He fought as though he had something to prove. He challenged the great and the small, and defeated them along with anyone else that got in his way. The elders of the sanctuaries came together within the great city of 'Inori no Idaina Toshi,'or The Great City of Prayer to discuss the fate of the people, and to come up with a plan for this great demon. After careful deliberation, the elders decided to seal him away...but it was no use. The demon was too powerful. Then one of the elders came up with the idea to weaken him with a special bottle of liquid that was prayed over and try the seal again. The plan was opted to trial, but it required someone to get close to him...then a single hand rose up from within the outer room--it was the woman.

She agreed to be the willing vessel to get him to a weakened state. She wanted it to a process that would keep as many people alive as possible. The elders agreed on her being the catalyst. So preparations were made. The woman ventured out into the treacherous fog looking for the one demon that has become the city's simple epitome of evil. Upon venturing out into the abysmal fog, she was surrounded by fiends of many sorts. She fought valiantly, but to no avail...there were far too many to handle along. She was near death, until...he showed up.

Wondering at what he saw, he commanded all other demons to move from her, but the ones that did not heed his command, he killed them before her very eyes. Exhausted, she tried to get up to fight, but collapsed. He looked at her with an eye of curiosity. She saw him and began to question all that she was taught by the elders--he wasn't as devilish at all; instead, a fierce determination. Time passed and the people noticed that she did not return, but also...the demon did not return either...

They sent out a search party within the darkness to find the woman. They find her standing over a man...which was actually the demon resting, with an empty bottle; it housed the liquid that was said to dampen the power of that demon. Asleep, the demon was bound and carried into the city square to be sealed. During the trip, the woman kept looking at the sedated man, as if taking pity on him. They reach the gates and a myriad of joyous sounds were heard  from all around; even the demons howled...but for a different reason. The elders gather around the stake where the demon starts to shake and turn.

Awake, the demon sees the woman, the elders, and the townspeople. He tries to muster up strength, but...no avail. The elders begin the ritual, but one steps in and says to burn him alive. Allthewhile, the demon begins to speak...but stops...and starts to laugh. The high elder of the sanctuary motions his hands into the signs of the 'Eien no Honoo Buresu Spell.' He starts, and the other elders begin the same spell. As they set him ablaze, the demon shouts loudly, 'Anata wa shisha o korosu koto wa dekimasen! Watashi ga kaesa re, subete ga kore o futan shimasu! Watashi no ritān o kitai shite! Watashi no ritān o kitai shite!'

Chilling words from such a cold heart. to this day, those words ring in the ears of the children and offspring of those present in the city today. Deep within the miasmatic fog-covered woods sits a house--mansion-like in stature, that is said to hold the secrets of the demon...or so they say..."

"T-that's not real, i-is it, Aeanna?" a trembling voice comes from Reina Eternael, a young girl no higher than where an average man's knee rests. She has flowing brown hair that is kept in three braids signifying her status as "third child born." "That's what they say. I may have forgotten a few parts here and there..." explains Aeanna Eternael, her older sister, shouting back from the other room. The second born of the family of The Eternaels, Aeanna is quite the scholar when it comes to stories that date back before her birth, or even the times before the settlement of the town she lives in.

Peeping from behind a door, Reina gripping the door, "What happened to the people that were there when the demon was burned? Where is the woman? Will he, or, it return?" 

(sighing) "It is just a story...," Aeanna explains, reassuring her younger sister. "Trust me, it is nothing to be afraid of."

"YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?!" A shout pierces the silence...
Both girls shriek loudly.
"GAAAHHH!! HIBIKI!!!" Aeanna shouts. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?!"
Hibiki: the oldest and more immature of the three, stands with his chest sticking out, stretching his arms out like a giant tree in the shadows as though to make himself seem more intimidating than he actually is, "You honestly scare easily, don't you? Haha, geez that look on your face was priceless."

"Don't do that. You know Reina scares easy..." she explains.
"From the sound of things, you do too." he says in a monotone voice.
 "You honestly think that story is true? Ha! I don't-"
A cold water-drenched hand touches his shoulder...
"believe....in.....that...kind....of...of....." he stammers, unable to get the rest of the sentence out due to fear.
"IT'S THE DEMON!!!! HE'S GOT ME!!! SOMEBODY HELP!! HELP!!!" he shouts, as the girls look on with giant impish smiles on their faces.

"Maybe next time, you'll learn to check your surroundings before you decide to scare someone." Reina speaks from behind Aeanna's legs.

A low chuckle is heard from behind Hibiki. It's their mother Camira. "And you are supposed to watch the house to your father gets back? Watch your back first, and your focus. They tend to leave you when you are....afraid. Haha" she explains 

Shaking, Hibiki speaks. "I'm not afraid..y-you just caught me off guard, is all!"

All three girls at the same time, "Yeah....right."

"Alright you three, get ready for bed." Camira to her children.

"Alright!" Reina shouts back
"Yeah, yeah.." Hibiki mutters.
"Alright mom." says Aeanna to her mother.

"Oh Aeanna," Camira shouts back, "come here for a minute..."

"Yeah?" she responds eagerly.
"That story you tell tends to have more variations to it every time you tell it."
"Mother, well how does it go? I really want to know..."
"Hmm.." Camira begins, but stops. "Isn't it past your bedtime?" 
"Yeah, but.."
"Go--" 
"But.." Aeanna interjects
"Go.."
"Ok, but can I get a little piece of the stor--"
"Goodbye..." Camira interrupts.
A drooping head full of long flowing hair is seen in a nightgown disappearing into the shadows of the hall.