Episode 7: Choice

Ven continues to sulk while Enishi, Nyx and Kia look on in silence. Kia then approaches Ven, bends down to his level and holds him in her arms.

“Let it out,” she says as she comforts him. “Let it out.”

She pulls away from him slightly, letting her soft blue eyes gaze upon him. He can see the sincerity in her enchanting eyes and concludes that she truly won't cause any harm to him.

“We all lost the people that were important to us. We’ve lost and then we found. You will do the same. Things may seem hard right now but,” she wipes a few tears from Ven’s eyes. “You have us. I promise you that we will be here for you. We’re not so bad.”

Ven looks up at her. “I just.... I need time.” 

“Go back to the room. We will be waiting for you here," Enishi suggests.

Kia helps Ven to his feet and he walks to the room, crawls onto the bed and cries himself to sleep.

 *A few hours later*

“Ven.”

Upon hearing that familiar soft voice, opens his eyes and sees his mother, staring at him.

“Wake up.” She says.

Ven sits up immediately.

“Mom! I had the strangest dream,” he replies while wiping the sleep from his eyes. “I had a dream that you died and I was transported into another world and and-“ Ven looks at his mother and notices something is off about her.

She’s transparent.

“Ahhhhhh!!!" Ven screams. "What the hell are you?!"

*SMACK!*

Ven's head twists like an owl's, and he grabs his now red cheek.

"OW! What was that for?!"

“Calm down Ven! Listen to me! I don’t have much time!” She yells aggressively, placing her hands on his shoulders.

“What are you?!” He asks, holding his face.

“I am a spirit,” she says and shrugs.

“A spirit? So you’re not really here. So you really are-"

His mother nods and Ven starts to tear up.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you,” he says as he tries to hold back the tears.

“Ven. What happened wasn’t your fault. In fact,” she grabs his chin softly. “You saved me in many other ways.”

Ven looks into her beautiful eyes and starts to sob uncontrollably.

“I miss you. I’m so confused,” he confesses.

“I’m sorry that I kept things from you. I wish I could you tell you everything but I don’t have much time left. I’ve only been granted a few minutes to talk to you but Ven, I need you to trust them.”

Ven's eyes widen. “The three crazy people?”

Auroa giggles.

“Yes. You can trust them. I called for them.”

“Who are they exactly?” Ven questions.

“They are the ones that will guide you on your journey. What they say is true. You were born of this world. I took you to the other world to protect you.”

“From the “Dragatgon Wielder”?”

 Auroa nods.

“So, what they say really is true then huh. If that's the case then where are my real parents?” Ven asks.

Auroa looks down. “They’re gone. But you do look like her. So much like her.”

“You knew my mother?”

Auroa nods. “Yes.”

“Who was she? What was her name?” Ven asks excitedly.

“That, I cannot say. It's better if you don't know that at this moment in time.”

Ven pouts. “That’s not fair.”

“A lot of things are not fair Ven. Especially for what you must do.”

Ven raises his eyebrows.

“It’s a lot to ask of you but you really are the only one that can save everyone.”

“What am I supposed to do exactly? I can’t fight! I watch anime, read manga and play video games! I have no power! Incase you forgot, I only ever got my ass kicked!”

“Only because I made it that way.” She presses her lips together. 

“What?” Ven asks puzzledly.

“When I took you from this world and hid you, I casted a spell on you so that you wouldn’t be detected. It was a dormant spell that kept your power hidden but, your power has always been inside of you." She places a hand on Ven’s chest. “Always. It wouldn’t fully awaken until you came back to your home world. This world. Plus! If I didn’t you could’ve possibly set all of Japan on fire and the government would’ve been at my house thinking you were some sort of alien or something. Although, technically… you are!” She smiles.

“And what are you exactly?” Ven asks.

“I’m a mage. A wizard. Like that Gandalf thing or whatever you call him.”

“Seriously?! Wait a second, how OLD are you really?What kind of spells have you-"

Auroa quickly covers his mouth, quieting him. “Hush. And excuse me, you don't ask a lady her age, that's rude," she clears her throat then continues, "I understand you have a lot of questions but now is not the time. You are a Tenari, Ven. Those ears of yours. Those things that you’ve hated so much,” she points to his ears. “Those things make you a lot more special than you could ever imagine.”

He pulls his ears. “What am I to do now?”

“You train. You learn to control your power. You help them defeat the Wielder. You fulfill your destiny. Your life is now like those games you like to play."

Auroa looks at her hands and notices that she is starting to fade.

“Mom! You’re fading!” Ven says in a panicked voice.

“Ven. Thank you. Thank you for being such a joy in my life. Like your mother before you. It was an honor serving you. I love you.”

She then quickly fades to nothing.

Ven reaches out for her in a futile effort to feel the warmth of her skin on his fingertips for at least one last time. He sits on the bed, gripping the necklace his mother gave him, thinking about what just happened and contemplating on what to do.

*Meanwhile*

Enishi, Nyx and Kia are all outside standing around waiting for Ven to come out; It’s been five hours.

“What will happen if the kid tries to run?” Nyx asks while chewing on a wooden toothpick.

“You act like we won’t be able to catch him. There is nowhere for him to go," replies Kia.

“The main thing is, what if he refuses to cooperate?” Enishi says.

“He has to. We need him,” replies Kia.

"And if he doesn't cooperate?" Nyx chimes in.

Kia shrugs. "We threaten him and force him to!"

Enishi and Nyx chuckle. Their moment of humor is cut short when they hear the door to the hut open and see Ven walk out. They all turn their attention towards Ven, who stands at the doorway. He looks at the three of them and takes a deep breath.

“Teach me everything.”