The orange tint of the sky gradually faded to an ever-brightening blue as the previous night's clouds floated away, growing smaller and indistinguishable as they rolled beyond the horizon. The return of the sun brought birds soaring through the air, fluttering their light wings and chirping out to the vibrant environment around them, which was directly heard by the bustling village on the ground below.
However, it was no ordinary village—it was the number one rated village in all of Adonai: Furusato.
The residents of the busy village were proceeding as usual, following their typical schedule of heading to their place of work, to a local vendor, or any other means of passing time. The level of peace and comfort that resonated within the walls of Furusato was something that had never been scarce, dating back to the first queen of the village's history, Tsubasa Mibojin, many moons ago.
As time passed, successive rulers ascended to the throne of Furusato, enacting laws and processes that gradually transformed the village into a more contemporary hamlet, its success earning it the top spot in the entire nation in terms of safety, technology, and opportunity.
Speaking of rulers, the village's main structure, located precisely in the center of Furusato, was a castle which housed the present reigning family. A solid edifice constructed of durable stone stood in excellent shape, with no signs of degradation or damage on any of its walls. Dozens of guards, hired servants, and guests walked around the castle's levels, admiring or preserving the massive structure's beauty.
"Is the youngest awake?" One servant inquired to another, standing outside a beautifully decorated and tall door.
The second servant folded a small handkerchief and stuffed it into his right breast pocket, raising his eyes as he spoke, "He hasn't left his quarters yet. I'll notify him that the day has started."
With those words, the first servant nodded in acknowledgment, shifting his body to walk away and continue his job.
*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*
From outside the room, the second servant courteously bent his fingers and knocked his knuckles against the wooden surface of the huge door, halting after the third strike.
"Young Lord, the day is new!"
XXX
Cushioned in a soft mattress, covered by a thick blanket, was a teenage boy with jet-black hair, snoring peacefully as beams of the sun's light broke through his room's curtains, shining onto his face and stirring him awake. Carefully, the teenager rose from the bed, opening his bright blue eyes and wiping the crust from his eyelids. The bedroom was relatively ornate, large with a warm air clinging to the boy's skin.
He exhaled slowly, stood up, and turned his head to look at the bright drapes on the wall behind him. As he approached the window, he smiled softly, reaching out to grab the curtains and moving them open in two opposing directions, exposing the brunt of the sun's rays.
The boy was greeted with the sight of the back of his home village, peering down at the homes of the villagers and what existed beyond Furusato's walls. Grassy hills and a statue of Tsubasa Mibojin, built not long after her death.
Everything seemed perfect, with the sight of unity and prosperity putting the boy at ease.
*KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!*
"Young Lord, the day is new!"
The teenager perked his head up and glided on his feet before turning and walking toward his door, slowly twisting the handle and opening it inside. A towering, middle-aged servant with receding hairline and scruffy beard caught the boy's stare, puffing up his chest as the door swung open.
The boy grinned at the servant and said, "I was just getting around. Thank you."
Humming with satisfaction, the bearded servant smiled, returning the mirth. "Of course, Young Lord."
As the day progressed, the teenage boy kept his head up and his heart full. He greeted and welcomed every guest, servant, and guard he passed in the hallways, smiling at the paintings of those who were locally held in regard and displayed on the castle's internal walls before making his way to a little brown door. The boy looked at the bottom of the door and noticed a little amount of light beaming from within the room, causing him to shrug and wrap his right hand around the long handle to open it.
Inside the room was a desk with mountains of stacked paper scattered across its surface, most of them having tiny, weighted objects placed at the top. A small, oscillating fan was actively spinning its blades from the corner of the desk, slightly blowing cool air against the weighed down papers.
"Hello?" The teenager called out, sticking his head into the office, his blue eyes scanning the area. "..."Father? Are you here?"
Suddenly, two hands clutched the boy's shoulders, making him jolt in place. The shadow of a taller individual was cast on the door beside him, his eyes widening.
"I'm afraid he won't be joining us for the time being." A familiar voice rang in the boy's ears, making him tilt his head and peek at the person behind him.
It was Regashi Ketsueki, who was grinning down at the teenager toothily, his emerald-green eyes boring deep into the boy's blue ones. The older male's brown hair hung loosely as his head was tilted downward, wearing a black shirt with equally black cargo pants.
Without warning, Regashi pulled the boy closer and embraced him, ruffling the teen's hair playfully.
"Just messin' with you, Kenji! Father's out at a meeting. Doing boring political moves." Regashi spoke mirthfully, separating himself from the younger boy.
Kenji, the jet-black-haired boy, blinked. "Oh, all right. How about Mother?"
Regashi pointed with his head, signaling for Kenji to exit the cluttered office and shutting the door immediately after. "She's there, too. Being the queen still gave her the short end of the stick."
The two siblings traveled along the castle's halls and down a number of steps before reaching the first level and the door to the outer world. Crowds of citizens observed the royal brothers as they exited the castle, quickly equipping themselves with cameras and personal devices available at the time. Flashing lights and the sounds of photographs being taken roared across the castle's front stairs.
"There's Regashi and Kenji! They just stepped outside!" One pedestrian shouted, pointing at the pair.
"Please sign my shirt!" Another person hollered, tugging at their attire.
"What are your opinions on the Takuetsu family visiting Furusato this upcoming week!?"
Regashi hummed, crouching down to whisper in Kenji's ear. "After we shake the crowd, I want to see the progress you've made at the academy, ya hear?"
*WHOOSH!*
Before Kenji could respond, the older brother grabbed the jet-black-haired boy's shirt and leapt into the air, his legs brimming with his Aura Sense. A strong breeze glided across the younger boy's face, his hair swaying uncontrollably, with a few strands irritatingly smacking him in the face and poking his eyes.
Regashi Ketsueki was unquestionably the strongest member of their family, having eclipsed his father and king, Oritsu Ketsueki, while he was only in his early twenties. He had perfected his red Aura Sense, strengthened his combat abilities, and maintained a positive image as a well-known warrior. Regashi was expected to rule over Furusato as king after Oritsu's inevitable retirement. The locals liked him; he was powerful enough to protect Furusato, but he had little interest in politics. It bored him to death.
After a few moments, the brothers landed on an empty patch of grass outside the village, with Regashi dropping Kenji onto the ground carelessly.
"All right! Put some distance between you and me and show off what you've learned!" Regashi spoke aloud, his voice laced with excitement.
Kenji lifted himself off the ground, rubbing his neck. "I don't really want to destroy the ground here."
Chuckling, Regashi shrugged. "Then don't destroy the ground. Sometimes warriors have to work around their environment depending on what's at stake."
"Yeah, but I'm going against you." The younger brother adopted a deadpanned look, his shoulders sagging as he distanced himself from Regashi.
Regashi's green eyes glinted, his smile widening. "Then forget how great I am and remember how great you'll be. See me as a common thug."
Once again, the older brother was asking Kenji to do the impossible. See him as a common thug? Arguably the strongest warrior around? Regashi would have to hold back about ninety-nine percent of his strength to be remotely considered a "common thug."
"Come on! Kick his ass, son!"
The two brothers blinked as they turned their heads to look off to the side, spotting two familiar faces.
"Don't stop because we're here! We just want to watch our boys tussle a bit!" A giddy feminine voice followed.
"You brought Mother with you!?" Regashi groaned, rolling his head dramatically. "She always complains that we don't go tougher on each other!"
The two spectators were none other than Oritsu and Hana Ketsueki, the king and queen of Furusato. Oritsu rubbed his beard speculatively while Hana clapped her hands, a devilish smirk on her face. Although Oritsu had a more prominent record as a warrior, Hana never failed to scare those around her with her attitude and abilities—when she was not being a mother, at least. The now married couple used to attend the same warrior academy as kids back when Kokoro Kangae was king, growing to be disciplined and skilled, even at their similar ages of forty-eight.
Accompanying the two was a third onlooker, who happened to have lengthy red sideburns, midnight-black hair, and brown eyes. It was the uncle of Regashi and Kenji Ketsueki, Seijun Hotaru.
"Am I seriously hearing you complain, Regashi!?" Hana howled, her blue Aura Sense flaring.
Oritsu felt a bead of sweat cascade down his face as his wife and eldest son bickered, laughing anxiously.
"Uncle Hotaru, do something!" Regashi pleaded, putting his palms together and bowing.
In the distance, Kenji watched the mother-son interaction with interest before something in the sky caught his eye. Raising his gaze upward, the boy saw a small speck in the air, hovering above the land. As Kenji tried to narrow his eyes and call it out to his family, he was promptly distracted.
"Focus up!"
*SMACK!*
In a fit of enjoyment, Regashi launched himself at his younger brother, wrestling with him in the grass, with Oritsu and Hana watching proudly.
XXX
A cloaked person with a white mask and fluffy white wings hovered high above the Furusato royal family, calmly observing them. The harsh blue eyes behind the mask softened slightly as they focused on the group, only to turn to the number one ranked village. Memories reappeared inside the individual's brain, but no emotion could be shown, whether owing to the mask or the ultimate acceptance of the past—it would be disregarded forever.
Slowly the cloaked individual raised their hand to the mask concealing their face, gripping the material gingerly before sliding it off their head.
"I hope I did good, Kronos…" The individual murmured, the mask fully removed.
Tanjo Nozomu would never forget his past; however, he would never let it conquer him. Although his biological family had died, he had Old Man Nozomu; despite being shunned by the world for having the Aura Amalgamation, he still had Asami, Kronos, and Class 1AB—specifically, Naguru Akogare and Apiru Naderamu. And even in the end, during his very last fight, Tanjo had a partner, someone who had changed for the better due to his help: Yuso Takuetsu.
No matter how many hardships there were in life, there was always something to look forward to. Now that Tanjo had utilized the Disruption of Reality, he repaired the infinite number of universes that existed, purging the old Nyx's influence from them all. History was rectified, tragedies were prevented, and families were allowed to prosper.
"Are you sure this is what you want, Tanjo?"
Blinking slowly, Tanjo shifted his body to glance at the owner of the voice.
"I'll never be certain, I'm new to this overseer stuff." Tanjo murmured, smiling softly. "But, that's why I brought you, Yuso."
Floating a few feet away, the crimson-red-headed Yuso Takuetsu flapped his dark wings majestically, meeting Tanjo's gaze. The redhead's eyes were no longer permanently pentagrams due to the Shirugeto, but instead he was now capable of enabling the Shirugeto willingly, his heterochromatic eyes no longer hidden. Yuso's hair had also grown longer than ever before, nearly reaching his heels in length.
To Yuso, Tanjo no longer looked like a teenager, his body forced to evolve into its prime. A good argument, however, was that time was not something the omnipotent truly followed. Was Tanjo still a teenager? Yuso would never know.
"You know what I've done, Tanjo. If we're to strictly be overseeing everything, what chance do I have at rectifying my past actions? Despite all that I've done, I was the one granted the ability to fly above it all." Yuso replied thoughtfully, staring at Tanjo expectantly.
Tanjo hummed and said, "You answered your own question, Yuso. We're overseers now. So, don't overlook those in need. Just because we no longer… belong to a universe anymore, it doesn't mean we can't indirectly or directly help. You have more of a chance to fix your past now than you ever did."
The redhead hovered wordlessly, staring at the man before him.
"There's something else I want to see with my own eyes. Care to join me?" Tanjo spoke lucidly, raising his right hand in preparation to snap his fingers.
Yuso clenched his jaw, looking down at the world below. "I'll be right behind you."
*SNAP!*
XXX
The village of Ryakudatsu. Both Tanjo and Yuso remember the location vividly, along with why they remember. After miraculously appearing above the village in a flash of light, the two gradually descend downward, locking in on a small house nestled alongside an arbitrary pathway in the village, grouped among the rest of Ryakudatsu's homes.
In the front of the house was an open window, allowing for Tanjo and Yuso to touch down and look into the residence, remaining unnoticed.
"Remember him, Yuso?" Tanjo suddenly queried, turning to look at the redhead.
Three kids were in their home's living room, running around while playing, chasing each other with young laughs bouncing off the walls. From an outside perspective, not a shred of stress or fear existed inside the house, only glee and hope. One of the kids, a brown-haired boy, caught Yuso's attention.
"...That's the boy that had the Kekkan no Sosei." Yuso murmured, narrowing his Shirugeto eyes.
Tanjo elicited an affirming hum. "Mizuki, the boy I fought to save from you and Nyx. Next to him are his siblings: Sona, the girl, and Toshiro, the other boy."
The two former rogues observed the children closely, noticing two adults sitting just a few feet away. The parents. Tanjo gazed at the lot of them with newfound joy.
"The last world wasn't so kind… but we're here to make it better. Look at how happy those kids are with their family. That's something they never got to feel in our time." Tanjo stated calmly, his voice soft.
Yuso could not disagree, and part of the reason why their old world was so terrible was because of who he used to be. The Demon of Adonai. A title that Yuso will forever dread. He was an utter monster—he ended the lives of many, including children. Yuso destroyed an entire village all because he had simply seen that there were children cowering inside their homes.
"Just because we no longer… belong to a universe anymore, it doesn't mean we can't indirectly or directly help. You have more of a chance to fix your past now than you ever did."
Tanjo's words echoed in Yuso's mind, causing him to look down at the home's window sill.
"I'm ready, Tanjo." Yuso suddenly asserted, causing the jet-black-haired man to look at him. "...I know I can't ever truly take back my previous actions, even if that universe is gone. But—!"
A gentle hand landed on Yuso's shoulder, with Tanjo's firm voice following. "You don't have to trouble yourself with an explanation, Yuso. I know."
*FWISH!*
With a wave of his hand, the world around the two vanished, bringing them to the center of the universe. Earth's warm and lively atmosphere was replaced with the cold and empty vacuum of space; though, they weren't truly alone, as stars and galaxies inhabited the cosmos around them, shining brightly.
"Yuso, I want you to hear this." Tanjo kept his gaze on the redhead, his blue eyes shining benevolently.
The man stuck his right hand out toward Yuso, waiting for a handshake.
"Even with what had happened in our old universe, or what will happen, our main goal is to ensure that beings like Nyx don't ruin the perfection of reality. Remind yourself that perfection is imperfection; cherish what may not last, and protect what should. A frown breaks a heart, but a smile births a million more." Each and every word that left Tanjo's mouth was laced with utmost sincerity, a wide smile etched onto the man's face.
Yuso gazed at Tanjo's outstretched hand, reflecting on his speech.
"So, Yuso, will you help me make people smile?"
A pregnant silence enveloped the two, with Yuso digging deep into the back of his mind.
*SHRMM!*
Unexpectedly, Yuso allowed his Shirugeto to whirl to life, with crimson pentagrams swirling in his eyes and forming on his palms. Immense power thrummed within the redhead's body, his soul revitalized.
*CLASP!*
Yuso shook Tanjo's hand, nodding.
"To a better reality."
Tanjo inhaled despite being in the middle of the universe.
"To a happier reality."
XXX
And there it is, the end of The Village Disciples. The entire main story—complete. The day this final chapter came out is also the fourth anniversary for this novel, which is hilarious. I did not even intend for that to happen. I just happened to look at the date in which I published the first chapter of this novel and realized that July 2nd was its anniversary!
Although this novel was mostly meant to be a fictional piece for me, if anyone has read through it, I want to thank you. Four years of love went into this story, and that's all I ever needed. The characters in this novel helped me through many challenging times, and I will continue to respect their image even after the finale.
And who knows, maybe a visual novel will come to light? (If someone can fix their art)... (me :/)
With that aside, now I will conduct the regular outro.
I hope you enjoyed the last chapter and managed to not get lost by the novel's plot. Stay safe, people, and this time I will not tell you to stay tuned here… but stay tuned for potentially new content elsewhere!
I love you all
Have a Great Day!
Peace - Cr1ticalz_