Deep in the wilderness of the Eastern borderlands, a village hid in its great redwood Forrest. Buddhist monasteries and temples were interwoven with bamboo and purple wisteria trees, with the occasional red maple tree. In a large Pavillion at the village center sat a navy blue man, before a shrine with hieroglyphics written on its stone monument. Round about the man was four, four-eyed, four-armed, ram-horned asuras. They faced away from the shrine acting as the columns of the pavilion, in a square formation. Two of the asuras arms, like Atlas bearing the foundations of the world, held the ceiling firm. The green pair who faced east and west held a shield and double-bladed staff. The blue pair who face north and south held a shield and crossbow.
The man before the shrine kneeled silently meditating. The man sat like a frozen statue for hours unmoving. The tapping of footsteps began to resound through the Pavillion."Patriarch Ko'el Ziel I have found your runaway son. He has been sent to his quarters to rest." An old man dressed in white robes, whory locks of hair, and amber prayer beads hanging off his neck appeared behind the patriarch and bowed before the shrine. The patriarch's cold silver eyes slowly opened." Thank you for covering my shame elder Spiorad. With this, all the children shall be ready for the Bezwaren ritual next month's full moon."
The old man kneeled beside him before the shrine sighing." They have a better chance of turning into demons than asuras Ko'el, is it not more efficient to train them in puppet magic so that they can awaken the ancestors from their coffins? I have found such a method..."The patriarch went silent as a cold pressure mounted." Do not defile the ancestors Spiorad." The elderly Spiorad stared at the patriarch with pity, a valknut symbol appeared in his fiery amber eyes." Ko'el I am privy to the deal you made with the demons to obtain those parasitic abominations. It's either we defile our ancestors or our posterity...but you've already made your choice, patriarch."The old man rose from his seat, dusted off his robes, and made his way to the exit." I will take the boy to the forest to train for the week. At least then he might have a chance to survive, however minuscule it is."
With elder Spiorad gone the patriarch's cold silver eyes began to glow with a Triskele symbol, and his hands brushed against the hieroglyphics on the stone monument. "Grandfather this is the only way for the clan to survive. "The patriarch rose to his feet." Inzicht has the symbiotes, been injected with the blood?" A raspy-voiced Nàdur man cloaked in black appeared from the shadows. "Yes with a 2:2:6 ratio. "He nodded in approval." Make and my son's and Gathorn's 1:3:6." The cloaked figure bowed. " Gather all the children in a week for symbiosis"
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In a compound in the remote Nàdur village, a slap resounded. " Ahhhhh!" A startled boy awoke with a large handprint on his face. He searched for the perpetrator only to find that wretched old man postulating before him as if he was acting righteously. " Wake my little villain we haven't much time! The world needs saving!" The boy was angered by the old man's broken promise. "You said I could rest for the week Elder Spiorad! It hasn't even been a day!"
The old man whose face was as thick as a dragon's scales ignored the boy's complaints and snatched him out of bed. " Your symbiosis is in a week. We must prepare you body and soul, lest you become another Gathorn."The old man threw him over his shoulders and headed out. As they made their way out of the village wave of nostalgia washed over the boy. The morning's golden rays split through the bamboo trees, droplets of dew fell from the wisteria trees' purple leaves, and the occasional orange maple tree leaked its sweet syrup.' There is heaven on earth pity such a paradise is destined for desolation.'
The village slowly receded into the fog upon their exit "Elder Spiorad why did Gothorn go mad and frail?" The old man looked into the sky I thought. "Since all your other attempts didn't include symbiosis I'm not surprised you aren't in the know. you'll find out when you get your symbiote" The two walked hours through the redwood forest before arriving On a secluded hill void of any mana beasts or fog. The pair arrived be for the foot af an ancient wisteria tree in full bloom, standing aloof upon the crown of the hill. Its petals glowed in a deep orange hue and its branches dark as the night sky as if charred by lightning.
" What happens here you speak of to no one." Before the boy could question him the old man formed a hand seal, shooting the tree's translucent vines at the boy, and binding him to its trunk. The vines pierced his skin invading his body and pumping an unknown liquid into his veins, paralyzing him. The old man flashed beside the boy, a bloodied hand reaching out for his eyes, plucking them. An electrifying pain overcame the boy yet not a sound would come out. Translucent vines entered his now empty eyesockets and orifices. He could feel something entering his brain.
" The fairy spirit will inform you of what you need to know." The old man's footsteps faded off into the distance. Once again his mind began to fade into the darkness...' Damn it'...' Watch your language before this Lord of the trees.'
' What?'