The Mysterious Hero
19. A Piece of Past Memories

In a beautiful garden, yellow rose blossoms dominate the garden. Bright sunlight and a cool breeze make the smell of yellow roses scattered everywhere.

Shady trees flourished in the garden. Several trees and flowers appear in pieces of various shapes add to the beauty of the garden.

In the center of the garden, there was a fountain with a magic circle-shaped statue on top of it. Small birds appear to stop by the fountain to drink or just play water.

A boy with black hair seemed to walk slowly while humming quietly. Her long hair decomposed beautifully and fluttered when blown by the wind. The round eyes with their plump eyelashes and golden irises add to the sweetness of the child.

The boy slightly lowered his head, picking a yellow rose in front of him. He brought the rose close to his nose, closed his eyes and enjoyed the fragrant scent of the flower.

A sweet smile was imprinted on her pink lips, as if she really liked the scent of the flower.

However, without realizing it, a pair of small hands suddenly closed his eyes from behind, making him shocked instantly.

"Let's guess who I am?" Asked the figure in a soft voice that ended with a ruckus.

The boy smiled thinly and grasped the small hand of the figure behind him, and pulled his down so that it coiled around his neck.

"Who else if not you, Rinka?"

Knowing that the young man could guess her easily made Rinka, the girl put on a pouting expression. His cheeks he puffed right and his pink seed he piled forward, a sign he was upset now.

"Shouldn't know kak Ruu pura..." Grunts Rinka upset.

Ruka, the boy just laughed at the complaints of the little girl who was his little sister.

The little girl with silver hair in half tie and big round eyes, beautiful bluish irises and a sweet smile.

She is Ruka's younger sister, Rinka Leilas. A girl who has light element magic and spirit control abilities.

Ruka who saw her little sister sulking immediately pinched the cheek of the sister with anxiety. "Yes, sorry... But don't pout that, later the beauty is gone."

Rinka grunted in annoyance. "The beauty is Ruka's sister. Man but his hair is long. This sister is actually a girl, right?"

The blush!

Instantly Ruka blushed to hear her sister's words. "I am a man! My hair is this long you know the reason for that."

Rinka gave a small laugh seeing the reaction of the brother. It's exciting to tease my own sister.

Rinka slightly lowered her head, plucked a yellow rose and tucked it in her ear. Ruka who got the treatment just fell silent without any intention of banning her.

A sweet smile formed on Rinka's face looking at her brother's timidity. "Sir is sweet!"

Ruka sighed, "enough... Don't treat me like a girl." Ruka's hand moved to remove the flowers that were attached between her hair, making Rinka again snort annoyed, but soon smiled back.

The girl walked ahead of Ruka. A gentle wind blew waving the silver hair of the little lady. "Sister, promise me. Even though Ruka's sister went to do her duty later, don't ever forget me!"

Ruka could only nod small, but what happened next made Ruka's golden eyes perfectly round.

A burst of fire suddenly appeared, scorching everything in front of him, including Rinka who was standing there.

Ruka's body froze for a moment. The younger brother's body was quickly charred in the flames and left only ashes flying in the wind.

"R-Rinka..."

Fire then appears around her, burning away the beautiful garden, turning her into a sea of fire where. Ruka's small body was still frozen in place. Her feet were squeezing making her fall down.

Tears flowed from the golden bead's eyelids, then fell to the ground.

"Wine!!"

A silver-haired man shouted calling for his name. The man's body was shrouded in a bluish glow from his protective magic. Without a doubt it penetrated the growing flames.

"Vulnerate awareness! We gotta get out of here!" Said the man while hugging Ruka's small body. But the young man did not move a bit.

"Rinka's... What about Rinka..." The sound was clearly heard. The little girl just mocked him. He just saw her sweet smile. But now that he was gone, it simply disappeared in the engulf of the flames that had come out of nowhere.

"I'm sorry, but if you stay here, we won't survive either. We have to go Ruka!"

"But Rinka?" Ruka's eyes moved looking at the face of the man before her. Her gaze was blank with a trace of tears on her cheeks.

"Trust me, he'll ba-"

JASSH!!

Kling...

Too soon. Even Ruka could not see it.

In a blink of an eye the father's head was cut off and fell, rolling on the ground which was then followed by his body collapsing a moment later.

Rivet...

The sound of chains was clearly heard around him. The flames were getting bigger, but you couldn't hurt Ruka's body.

"Dad... Pinky..."

'Here you look like...'

Ruka's eyes were back round. Behind her the chain rotated and formed a magic circle between her. A black, red-eyed figure came out from within the magic circle which then pointed his hand at Ruka.

A black magic circle appeared before him, and a forest ball as well as a chain rushed towards him.

***

"NO!!!"

Ruka woke up instantly. His chest rose and fell due to the unstable roar of his breath. His heart beat fast, sweat soaked his body, making the young man's black hair look limp.

'Hey Ruka why are you?'

'Wrong!'

"N-it's okay, just having a bad dream..." Reply Ruka. His hand moved squeezing the pendant from the necklace he was wearing and the shirt that covered his chest, enduring the pain that had suddenly throbbed.

A golden-colored mark suddenly appeared under his eyes, making Ruka hiss stifled.

'It's not just bad dreams. What's the matter, actually?'

Ruka shook her head briefly. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, trying to regulate his breathing again. "I dreamt about you first." The grip of his hand on his chest was getting stronger. His eyes are warming. "I'm sorry... It was me-"

'No need to think about that. What matters now is that you keep your word, right, Brother Ruu.'

Ruka was silent, not answering. Although it was true, but there were regrets that he could never forget. The tightness and pain that he continues to feel every time the memory appears. As well as regret for failing to protect his 'family' back then.

'The most important thing now is to complete your task. That way, no one else would have to lose their lives so tragically.'

Ah right, at least he should finish his task. This way there will be no more victims... Wasn't he?