Jace and Hidemi sat in silence. 

On the floor were words that Hidemi wrote out. 

He had been telling Jace his story in writing. 

"... What happened next?" Jace asked hesitantly.

A flash of memories hit Hidemi's mind. 

▪︎Finding his father get hauled off by the guards to be arrested▪︎

▪︎Seeing the figure of a man at the window of his home smiling▪︎

▪︎Getting beaten and thrown out of the city by guards▪︎

He shook his head "no" signaling that he didn't want to talk about it.

"I understand…" Jace said. 

He too knew what it was like to experience a devastating loss. The likes of which would shake you to the core. 

He sat next to Hidemi as the two stared into the fire together as they listened to its crackle and the only other sounds around them— the animals.

Ughh. I made it too weird now! I can't talk to him anymore. Jace heaved, slapping his head with the palm of his hand. 

"Oi!" A voice came from behind them. 

Hidemi and Jace turned around in time to see Aleximus kick Hidemi fast into the trees behind.

"Haaaaa!!!" He exhaled as he landed. "All good." 

"All good?!?!?!?! You idiot, you could've killed him!!!" Jace shrieked. 

"Yeah, but I didn't." 

Jace looked at him in pure confusion. 

"Bro… he's literally on the floor right now. You can't be serious…" 

"Geez you whine too much. Besides, that won't be enough to take him down. He's tougher than that." Aleximus said, raising his leg menacingly in an attempt to scare Jace. 

"Eek! Stupid! How would you know? Don't you see how skinny he–" 

Hidemi shot up, interrupting Jace's worry. 

"GAH!" He panted furiously. 

His eyebrows were creased and his face was red with veins. 

He began to move his hands in quick successive motions. The communications taught to him by his father. 

What are you, a ninja? Aleximus scratched his head. 

…

"Alright, alright. I get it." 

Aleximus crossed his arms and sat on the log opposite Hidemi and Jace. 

He had very distinct "punch bumps" on his head. They seemed to have swelled from a beating Jace and Hidemi gave him.

Hidemi hid behind Jace's back, causing Jace to lash at Aleximus.  "I don't think you do. What were you think–" 

" –His skin." Aleximus cut him off. 

"Huh?"

"I noticed back at the gate when I slapped the back of his head. His skin is abnormally tough. In fact when I kicked him… my feet were the ones that were hurt. Am I right…"

He turned towards him. 

"Hidemi?"

Hidemi nodded his head slowly. 

"Thought so." Aleximus stood in front of them. "Grrrrr…" Hidemi backed up apprehensively.

Aleximus looked him in the eye, inching closer and closer to Hidemi. 

"I wanted to give you some time to think we weren't bad people so I left you here to Jace. I figured you'd hit it off with him…" 

Hidemi's back felt the surface of a tree. He had nowhere to run.

"Do you understand what I'm saying, Hidemi?" 

His tone had changed. Though Hidemi couldn't hear, he could definitely detect the change in mood. Yes, Aleximus looked dead serious. 

"H-Hey Aleximus! That's a bit much!" Jace warned. 

Aleximus ignored him and continued forward until he was face to face with Hidemi. 

"I wanted to use you." 

Hidemi's eyes opened wide. 

Even these nice boys, who he thought were different from the rest, were just using him. He thought back to Jace's extended hand. 

His heart ached. Had he been betrayed and hated like this before, and it wasn't a good feeling. 

"That being said, I will not bring harm to you. You are free to leave if you wish. You may be weak but I am not strong enough to hurt you. You have nothing to fear." Aleximus backed away, pointing towards the direction of the village to signal to hidemi that he could leave. 

Though skeptical, Hidemi could tell Aleximus was sincere. 

Aleximus sat back down on a log. "But before you go, I have three things to ask you Hidemi. I hope you'll answer them as truthfully as you can?" 

Hidemi gulped. 

"First: Have you ever seen a material like this before?" He asked, holding up his wooden sword.

Aleximus had noticed Hatagi's interest in the sword and wished to affirm something with Hidemi's insight as a blacksmith.

"!?" Hidemi marveled at the sword. Though the craftsmanship was sloppy, the wood would easily be an A-grade workshop material. 

"Where did these boys find it?'' was Hidemi's first thought.

He shook his head. His father had taught him many tricks on how to point out great materials so he could tell the worth of the material at just one glance, and yet he had never before seen this wood.

Aleximus gave a devilish grin. "I see…"

He's up to something shady isn't he? Jace thought to himself.

Aleximus continued, holding up 2 fingers to make it apparent to Hidemi that this was the second question. "Second: Have you ever heard of an item called a Codex and anyone capable of separating it from its host?" 

Hidemi's face seemed confused. 

Aleximus sighed. "Thought not. Forget about it."

"Third Question:" 

Hidemi was apprehensive. What was he going to ask? 

"Hey, Aleximus, I think that we should–" 

"–Shut up, Jace." 

His words hit Jace's heart like an arrow, making him dramatically fall over on the ground. "O-Okay…"

"Hidemi…" Aleximus stood, placing his hand on Hidemi's shoulder. 

"Do you… want revenge on those guys?" 

"?!?!" Hidemi and Jace both reacted startled. 

"Oi, Aleximus! Are you sure about this…?" 

Aleximus kept his gaze on Hidemi. 

"I can get the basic gist of how you feel towards your family, so…"

"I want to make a deal with you!" He smiled.

No trace of his former intimidating aura could be found on his face. It was as if nothing had happened. 

“He’s dangerous…” was Hidemi’s train of thought. And yet, though he had been deceived, he sensed no ill intent from the pair. Nothing that would make him uncomfortable. In fact, Aleximus himself made it a point to tell the truth. 

Hidemi gulped as Aleximus continued.

“We will get you in that ‘Dwanivit’ competition as long as you can do one thing for us!” he grinned.

“Teach us how to unlock our Sanctum Chambers.” 

Hidemi was surprised for a moment. 

These two were unable to use Sanctum Magic and yet gave off the aura of dangerous beasts to him. 

Unfortunately for them, Hidemi had no way of teaching them about unlocking it. He wasn’t a master and was still only at the first level of Sanctum prowess. 

He relayed this by writing on the ground with his spoon. 

“I see…” Aleximus scratched his chin. “I do suppose that causes a bit of a problem, ha ha.” 

“But we’ll still help you, won’t we Ale–” Jace began.

Aleximus cut him off quickly with a cold and callous “NO.”

“A deal only works if both sides benefit. I truly feel sorry for you Hidemi, but if there is nothing you can do to help us… Well, suffice to say, there is nothing we can do to help you.”

Tch. There he goes again, saying and doing whatever he wants. I know he’s just looking out for us but he’s gonna crush Hidemi’s spirit!

Hidemi looked down. He understood very well that he was in no position to bargain. 

WRSTLLLEEEEE

A sound came from the woods.

Aleximus and Jace jumped up in an instant ready to pounce. 

Jace inched closer to the woods, making his way to the sound. 

He was finally within arms reach. 

“NKKKKGEEEI!!” a deer yelled, jumping backwards with an intense fervor.

It was the same deer from earlier and it seemed to be scared for its life. 

“YOU! Dang it, you almost gave me a heart attack you bastard!!!” Jace yelled, clutching his chest. 

The deer collapsed on the ground looking at him with a stream of fake tears. 

Jace kicked him in the stomach. “Cut the crap!” 

The deer jumped up exhaling and inhaling rapidly. 

“NHHGWWAAAAAAAA!!” It yelled at him. 

Jace walked on over to the log and picked up his wooden sword. “You got some nerve coming back here buddy…”

There was a deadly glint in his eyes. One that screamed “I’ll eat you!”.

The deer nearly had a heart attack, yelling loudly; “AHHHHHHAAAAAAAA!!”

“Shut up!” Aleximus said, throwing 2 pebbles at both Jace and the deer’s foreheads. 

They both went quiet.

“But Aleximus! This dummy here tricked me twice! Can’t believe I fell it.” Jace argued, annoyed. 

“That’s cause you’re an idiot. Not the deer’s fault that it’s smarter than you, yawwn.” Aleximus replied. 

“Now, if you wouldn’t mind, catch it now. We’ll be lucky to at least have some meat tomorrow instead of vegetable stew!” Aleximus ordered. “It’s the only thing it's good for anyways.” he stared at the deer. 

He and Jace began to imagine a roasted slab of meat being turned around and cooked on a spit. 

They started to drool intensely. 

Jace took the initiative and jumped atop it.

“NGGWWOAAAA!!!” The deer cried as it wrestled with Jace. 

“S–Stay still… will… ya?!” Jace fought. 

“NGHHHWAAAAIIITTTTTGHHGHGH!!” 

“...?” Aleximus noticed something. 

“Jace, hold on for a minute.” 

“Huh? What now? I finally had him…” 

The deer’s front foot hit him in the face. 

“OOUF!” Jace fell backwards, landing on the ground. His chin bled slightly. 

“... Something is weird with that deer.” Aleximus reached low, trying to grab his cooking knife from the dishes on the floor. 

“WAIT.” A voice came echoing from the deer. 

“EEK!!!! Did that thing just… speak?!” Jace backed up quickly, crawling backwards on the ground to Aleximus and Hidemi. 

Hidemi seemed speechless, looking at the deer as if it was a familiar sight. 

“Who… are you?” Aleximus asked. 

“No. Not here. They’re approaching. Come to the innermost section of the Weeping forest where I reside. This vessel isn’t sufficient for further communication, children of the Ashfields.” 

“?!?!?” Jace and Aleximus turned startled. 

The voice seemed to know who they were. 

“Ashfield? What do you mean?!” Aleximus demanded. 

“Who’s approaching?!” Jace asked, turning his head around to hear it. 

The clutter of footsteps in the forest were getting louder, and the source that accompanied them were becoming ever so close. 

–

"Come on! Those stinkin 'brats gotta be around here somewhere!" Upo shouted to his men.

'I won't take an insult to my honor like this!' he clenched his fist, eye twitching.

--

Jace focused. “...!!” 

He realized what it was.

“Aleximus–” he began.

“–I know!” Aleximus snapped. 

“It’s obvious that those dwarven jerks want some more trouble! Well if it’s trouble they want…”

He held up his knife dauntingly.  

“No. You are unable to do anything. Without magic you are useless. Be cautious and play to your strengths.” The deer spoke, turning around and facing the forest direction in which he came.

It was obvious that the voice now had their attention. A low chuckle could be heard from the deer in the distance as it walked into the forest. 

Jace remained cautious. “What do we do?” 

Aleximus racked his brain. What exactly could the deer have meant? Why was it there? And did it know something about them?

“Tch! Damn it, let's just go!!” Aleximus ran, following the deer.

“W-Wait for us!!” Jace urged startledly.

Hidemi had been quiet, still thinking over Aleximus’s offer. 

Damn it. Aleximus you idiot! Jace facepalmed, realizing he couldn’t leave Hidemi alone with those dwarves. He grabbed Hidemi’s hand and ran quickly after his brother. 

Please be making the right choice here, Aleximus! He thought, eyes twitching and vanished into the darkness of the forest. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where is he leading me? What could be through there? Aleximus worried, suspiciously. 

Wait… I couldn’t be running into a trap, right?! He began to sweat nervously. 

The deer ahead of him, as if reading his thoughts, spoke, answering Aleximus’s worry. “Worry not, boy. I have no need to deceive you. Besides…”

In front of the deer, the trees could no longer be seen and a curtain of darkness surrounded the area. It was blacker than anything Aleximus had ever seen, as if blindness had corrupted each of his senses.

This darkness is too thick. And the more I try to move through it, the thicker it becomes. I… I can’t tell which way is which!!!

A single sound could be heard in the darkness. The sound of a snap. 

An intense energy hit the region, lighting up the forest for Aleximus. 

“BLEEEAATTTT!!!” the deer stopped, bowing its head to the figure seated in the chair ahead. Whatever was possessing him, seemed to have quit the possession.

At a loss for words, Aleximus stared in complete awe and horror at the figure in front of him.

The figure sat seated in a wooden throne with the likeness of a tree. Surrounded by several snakes and woodland creatures, it stared at Aleximus with a fragmented smile. 

“... You are a very important piece.”

“W…what the hell are you?!?!?” Aleximus stepped back warily.

Its face was scaly and lined with cracks. Reminiscent of a snake, his mouth almost stretched to both ends of his face. 

He wore a long robe, and a crown sat atop his head. 

It's like… a bottomless chasm. I don’t know what that ‘Sanctum Energy’ business is but this… is completely different… It’s like… pure chaos…!! 

The deer moved up to the entity’s throne and put its head in its lap.

The entity coddled its head, thanking it. “Ah… Thank you, my friend. If you had not alerted me of our friends here… well it would have been quite the shame to lose the chance to speak to the sons of Runnulf and Kazumi.” 

Aleximus’s eyes narrowed. Runnulf! I’ve heard that name before… he realized, thinking back to the conversation Matsuda had with Hatagi. 

“Who are you?! Talk!” He demanded. 

The entity chuckled. “It’s been quite a while since someone has questioned me, boy. I must admit, you Ashfield's are such interesting people. Standing up to your superiors despite knowing how outclassed you are. But I guess that is the legacy of the ‘free’.”

“Ashfield…? Free? What are you talking about?!” Aleximus yelled, confused. 

He was finally here. At the tip of finding out his origins. Whoever or whatever thing it was, it definitely had that information. And Aleximus wanted it. Bad.

TAP TAP TAP TAP

“AHK–” a voice came from behind Aleximus. 

Jacender and Hidemi emerged from the dark confines of the forest and made their way to where Aleximus was. 

Jace scanned the surroundings and a chill ran down his spine once he laid eyes on the entity. 

“Ah…another visitor? So… young. Who might you be, young man?” a fragmented voice echoed through the darkness. 

He referred to Hidemi, who stood behind Jace, cowering at the entity. 

What the..?! What’s happening?! This energy…it’s like what Uncle Matsuda released at the waterfall!! Jace thought, his body being pressed down just by the words the voice spoke. 

As if by instinct, the codex under Jace’s shirt glew brightly and flew out, still closed. 

“...!! You’re… I see now…Bwahaha!! He must’ve arranged for you to come here, then. Conniving brat…” the voice chuckled. 

“He”…? Does he mean Uncle Matsuda?? Jace tightened his muscles in an effort to withstand the power.

“Oh? You’re able to withstand Sanctum power with pure physical strength? Quite the impressive willpower you've got there. Though I am only emitting it at the 2nd level, it's quite worthy of an Ashfield.” 

“Ashfield…? What…?” Jace raised his head, gritting his teeth. 

“What do you want from us?” Aleximus asked again. 

The pressure released, letting Jace exhale and feel comfortable with moving around. 

“Oh?” the voice whistled. 

“You might be worth using after all.” 

“...!!” Jace’s eyes widened. 

“Using…? What are you-” 

“Allow me to tell you a story.” the entity cut him off.

Huh? Aleximus gasped internally. 

“We don’t have time for this! We’re being chased, you bastard!” Jace’s forehead veins popped. 

“Oh, you needn’t concern yourself with the dwarves. No one can enter here unless I allow them to.”

Jace shut up. 

“Long before time had a name and the first atom was brought into existence, there was a man.” the entity spoke as if bored. 

“He existed in the vast darkness by himself. No idea on how he came to be, nor the faintest clue about any other man’s existence. His only two pieces of solace were his 2 items, a shield, and a sword. Both were there when he gained awareness. For eons, maybe longer, the man had nothing.”

Aleximus listened intently. For some reason, he felt a connection to the story. 

Jacender was the same. His codex continued to glow with each word from the entity.

“Anyways, it wasn’t until one day that it struck the man. His items could never be lonely due to them being a pair. And yet, he was the only one stuck alone, without a single person to provide the warmth of companionship. So… The man, using his powers, split himself into 2 beings. If no one could be there to help him, he would be there for himself. This momentous surge of energy flooded the infinite darkness with the man’s limitless power.

“Time, Light, Darkness, and all other concepts all began to spring into existence the moment this phenomenon occurred. This was the start of our universe as we know it, as well as the planet we reside on known as ‘Nexus’. The planet sitting at the center of creation. The one with the strongest pull of Sanctum magic.” 

Jace sweated nervously.

“What happened to the 2 who split?” 

The entity caressed a snake overhead him. 

“They were happy for a time. Getting along well, the 2 became best friends, roaming around the universe. Though such happiness rarely lasts. As I mentioned before, darkness was brought into this world. Now with its arrival, there came an entity born to counterbalance the 2 beings. Perhaps it had been there since the beginning but the beings had never noticed its arrival until they gained sentience. With that sentience came a path set out for all living creatures. A path we refer to as Fate.”

“...?!?!” Aleximus and Jace collectively twitched.

“Then that means…” 

“Yes. With the existence of collectivity, came the existence of a joint path all living beings are subject to from the start of their lives to the very end of it. So, the beings named the entity ‘Fate’. It was aptly named.”

“AGGHHHHH!!!! W-What's happening?!” Jace collapsed to his knees, gripping his head. 

His breathing started to intensify. 

"Huff…huff huff huff huff…puff ha-" 

A wave of scenes played out in his head, flooding his brain. The reaction to the entity’s face words sparked a stronger response each time. 

Aleximus and Hidemi were at his side quickly. 

“Jace! What's the matter?!” He asked, shaking him.

He turned to the entity.

“What did you do to him?!” Aleximus roared. 

“It seems though it's not awakened yet, that Codex… is giving him memories of a time he hasn't seen. Interesting.”

The entity discerned, grinning slightly.

He directed his next words to Jacender. "I apologize. It seems you can't handle the sight of me. I must have overestimated your capabilities." he jibed, flickering his eyes back and forth. 

Jace’s face became red with embarrassment.  It was obvious the entity was looking down on him. That was something Jace's pride wouldn't allow him to take. 

Jace!! Aleximus thought, stunned, but proud of his brother. 

He, too, understood that the figure was making fun of Jace and didn’t take kindly when someone were to disrespect his family. 

“RIDICULOUS!!!” Jace yelled, interrupting.

“Listen here! I’m not so weak that a stranger needs to care for me! Don’t overestimate yourself!” 

“Oh, and don’t go spouting crap at us with this cryptic story. All you’re doing is confusing us ya bastard!”he muttered.  

He was confused and fairly angry. After all, he came out here to be told how to save his life from the Codex, not to be told a story about his life not even being his own to control. 

“Ho?” the entity raised a brow. 

These candidates are quite… the interesting ones.

A creaking rumble started to occur below their feet as the entity stood up. 

“You stand before me, powerless, unable to do anything if the thought of wishing you harm were to occur to me. You’re quite like your father in that regard. That blaze of purpose seems to fill your soul two times over. Almost as if detesting the very notion of fate. You truly are an Ashfield, fufufu!”

Aleximus’s eyes narrowed at the word father. 

Just what does he know? 

“The point of my story, boys, was to give a slight insight into your futures. Fate coils around and grips the life of everything. Even one such as I. No matter if you decide to hide in the deepest reaches of darkness, where light itself cannot shine through, fate will forever be there.

“So to that point, I offer you a chance to change your fate.”

“Huh? Didn’t you just say fate couldn’t be changed? Stop being so cryptic!” Jace nagged. 

“Yes. Those born to be slaves to fate are unable to fight back against it. And yet, you Ashfields, those branded as the ‘cursed sinners’, seem to be the only ones to be able to control your own fate and take it into your own hands. Perhaps it was this power that led you to me. So I could teach you.”

Aleximus stood, facing the entity head on. 

“Teach us what?” 

“How to shatter fate.”

《Chapter 9: Those who are free》Fin