AWAKEN

Written by: Djurica Vidanovic

Long time ago, in another world, there was a war of the 7 great
families, people describe it as the bloodiest war of all time, they say
there was so much blood that a whole ocean could be filled with it.
When war finished, and all families surffered big sacrifices. Its been
only 15 years sence the war ended, and this time there is even greater
enemy who wants to defeat all families and take over all the great
weapons, with will give him infinite power.

My name is Iruka, i am 17, i lived with my parents. I was going in high

school, i was not particilary good student but i was getting good
grades, i was pretty good at martial arts and i was good with many
diffrent kinds of weapons, with almost no knowledge about what they
can do, i always felt like there is some connection with me and
weapons, almost like i was born to fight. After about 2 years, i reached
black belt and i was the best martial arts student in whole school, of
course there were bullies who tough they are stronger, so they
harrased me all the time, i never attacked first because i saw no
reason to fight them. I was succesful at defending myself, but they
always returned with even greater number of people.
One night i was on my way home with my best friend Ken, when i saw
a girl sitting on the roof of another building just looking at us, i felt
strange while looking at that girl. And i felt like i know her from
somewhere but can't remember where. I told Ken there was some girl
watching us but when he looked at the roof he said he didn't see
anyone there, when i turned she wasn't there anymore.
The next day i woke up and got ready for school, Ken was late for some
reason so i went to school without him. In school i was on chemistry

class when school director came in and called our teacher to talk about
something. When teacher got out everyone started talking, taking out
their phones, playing games... I was never the type of guy that had
alot of friends and i was never that guy that drank too much, go to
parties all the time, i was almost always home or walking in endless
circles in nearby park, looking for something, to fill my emptiness.
While everyone was shouting i looked out the window and i saw that
girl again, she was in school playground, standing there looking at me.
I was afraid of course, i didn't know her or why she was looking at me, i
decided to ignore her, maybie i tough she wasnt folowing me after all.
The following night i saw yellow leaf flying in front of me, for some
reason i couldn't take my eyes off of it. I tried to capture it but it always
slipped trough my fingers, then it flew off the blacony. Then i saw that
girl again, on the same roof of the same building, looking at me. I
wasn't with Ken this time so i decided to ask her what she wants from
me. I shouted asking her: "Who are you, what do you want from me,
stop folowing me!" And then, in a split second she wanished, i didn't
know what happend but then, i heard voice saying: "Are you Iruka?"
When i heard that voice i felt like my whole body was stunned in fear, I
couldn't do anything exept thinking of how did she came so close to
me from that roof in a split second, i tough i was dreaming but it felt so
real, but in the same time if this is real how can she travel like that?
Then i blacked out.
I woke up following morning in my room, in my bed. I was releaved
thinking it was just a dream, like usual i went to school, and later that
night martial arts class. Everyone was talking about a new student,
how she has beautiful long grey hair, and is very short. I asked a guy
next to me what does he know about this new student and he said: "All
i know is that her name is Nel, she comes from another city and that
she has astonishing martial arts skills. And that she is very short." I
wonder how good is she really in martial arts and if she is beautiful as
everybody says. Right at that exact moment door opened and
everyone looked in that direction, I saw a beautiful young girl walking
in, first thing i noticed was her bautiful grey hair, she had red eyes and
red hairpins, and she had scars under her right eye that were looking
like two Xs. Teacher told us about her, and told me that i am the one
that is supposted to train with her, teach her basics and some moves.
When we started i had in mind that she already has black belt but it
might was just a roumer, so i went easy on her. I showed her a couple

of moves just once without her doing them, i told her to try them on
me. I told her that i am going to attack her and she was supposted to
defend herself and put me on the ground as fast as possible, so i
attacked her. When i attacked in split second i found myself on the
ground with no clue what happend, i got up from the ground and
everyone was watching us. Teacher came to us and said that he wants
to teach her a couple of moves, and told us to stand aside and watch.
Teacher and Nel were in the middle of a fighting circle that was made
by all students. He took his position and she took hers, i never saw
such positions, teacher never showed them to us.
She attacked first and went for a kick in a stomach from the right side,
when teacher defended himself with both of his hands we saw him
struggle to hold her, but he had no time to relax because she was
using the momentum of teacher pushing her right leg away from him
and attacked with her left leg, she kicked teacher in the back and put
him on the ground. Everyone was amazed how she put teacher on the
ground with just 2 hits while they needed at least 3 men to attack him
just to land one punch. She helped teacher get up. When teacher got
up he finished the class and let us go home, while i was going out i saw
him talking to her about something like he already knew her from
somewhere.
That same night i was going home, i was walking trough this small dark
street, thinking how did she move so fast, and how did she menage to
put teacher on the grond with just 2 punches. When in the corner of
my eye i saw someone folowing me, i turned around and there was
nobody there, so thinking i was just imagining it i continued walking
and then i heard someone calling my name from the street on the
right, and funnily enough it was her. I answered "Yes?". She started
slowly walking towards me, and with her every step towards me i felt
some strange force pushing me down to the ground and making my
breathing harder, i was scared, i never felt or heard anything about
something like this. The force was getting stronger and stronger, until
my body couldn't take it anymore and i fell on my knees, when
suddenly force dissapeared, i felt very tired all of the sudden like i was
running. Then i heard her saying "You felt it didn't you, it was my aura
that made you fall to your knees." I was too tired to talk so she
continued talking: "If you can feel my aura you must be Iruka, my
brother."

When she said that i was confused, i never saw this girl before, how
can she be my sister when i know i don't have any brothers or sisters.
So i said: "What? Who are you, and why are you claiming that i am
your brother." She just smiled to me and said: "So they didn't tell you
anything yet huh? Okay lets go to your parents right now." At this stage
i was very confused, she was very presistant thinking that i am your
brother, but what was more bodering me was that strange force i felt
earlier so i asked her: "What was that force before, you called it aura,
so you must know something about it." She just smiled and said: "Do
you mean this?" And in that exact moment the force pushed me down
to my knees again, now i was scared so i asked her to stop and explain
me what is this. Her answer was: "Aura, or you can call it "Spiritual
power", every being has one, i warries from person to person but it
does the same thing, it sustains your life so if you loose you aura or it
gets destroyed you are dead. There are four ways you can use your
aura.
First way is to focus your aura on attack or defence, this way you
increase your psyhical strenght. Of course this only applies to fights
without a weapon. However if you use some kind of weapon that works
with your body and its not range then you can use this way.
Second way is to focus your aura around you to hide your presence, or
spread it rapedly and find other auras, if your aura is much stronger
than someone elses you can put pressure on him and immobilize them.
Third way is to use your aura for boosting the power of abilities, you
can focus your abilities into one spot or spread rapidly, its very strong
if used correctly, but requires lots of body strenght and stamina.
Fourth way is to make a strong bound with your weapon, this one is
the strongest because you make a strong connection with your weapon
and spirit inside it, it can increase the power of your weapon up to 10
times.
What i did just now was i used my aura to find yours and make my
presence known to you, now, because my aura is alot stronger than
yours your aura couldn't handle it so your body of my aura's pressure
to your body, lowering the risk of it being destroyed and you eventually
dying."
"Why did you come here for me?" i asked her.

Her answer was: "I came here to ask for your help, you have been
secretly moved to this world with a couple of our most trusted servants
to protect you. 95 procent of their auras have been taken just in case
someone tries to folow them and find you."
I was confused, who would ever want to find me and why? I asked her:
"Who would want to find me and why?"
She looked at me and said: "Lets first go back to your house and talk
about this. There is someone i want to meet"
I lived with my parents at the time, does she want to talk to them? but
how does she know them?
At this moment i heard steps coming from the street on my left side, i
looked down the street and i saw someone casualy walking towards us,
he seems very fammiliar, when he walked into the street light that was
shining the street i saw my Martial arts teacher. Then i heard Nel say:
"You are late, Takamoto." Teacher never said his name to us, and he
always seems to focus on me mainly for some reason, what is he doing
here, does he know Nel from somewhere?
When he finally came to us he looked at me and then at Nel and said:
"My greatest apologies." He seems to have some connection to Nel.
We went to my house and there were my parents at the door
welcoming us, i went to them and asked them what does this mean,
how do you know this girl? They didn't answer, when Nel came to them
they said: "Welcome, its our pleasure to have you as our guest."
When we went inside dinner was ready and we all sit to the table,
noone started eating exept me. Everyone was silent not talking
anything, it was like on the graveyard. I decided to ask what is going
on so i asked Nel: "Hey what is this, how do you know my parents and
what are you doing in my house!?" She looked at me and said to my
parents: "Explain him, explain him who i am and who you are."
My dad started talking: "We are servants of Nel's family, we are sent in
this world to protect you, from our enemy."
I was irritated thinking this is some kind of a prank. My body started
shaking and it was obvious i was angry. Then i felt same force pushing
me, so i calmed down.

Nel then said: "Let me explain everything now. 17 years ago there was
war, war in with 7 great families were fighting each other for weapons
and teritories, it lasted 2 years, at this time you were just a baby, we
were attacked by Yan family, and your father and mother decided to
put you somewhere safe, so they chose 2 of their most turhusted
servants to take you to the living world and keep you in secret for your
safety. But not everything went as planned, Yan family had changed
the cordinates where you will be sent to, so nobody knew where you
will end up. Thats why i was sent to find you after the war was over.
Yes, war is over, but now a new war is coming, and this one is going to
be on a much greater scale."
"Yes but, why do you need me for? i bearly know anything, this is all
new for me." I said all confused.
She said: "We belive you are carrying the "Fire of Awakening""
"What is fire of awakening" i tought to myself.
"We don't know for sure, but what we know is that the one who carries
it will be able to use Black Rose. Black rose is the strongest one out of
all 14 great weapons, and if we are right, you will be able to use it, and
hopefully help us defeat our enemy." Nel said.
I was very confused with this, how can i be chosen, i don't have any
special talents, and i don't even understand the half of things she said
to me.
Then my dad told me: "We will give you "The ring of Awakening" that is
supposted to boost your natural aura and give you knowledge of
fighting that many warriors need over 10 years to learn. Here it is. But
don't put it on yet, we still have to see what fighting style you
specialise in."
They gave me this strange ring, just by touching it i felt some strange
energy flowing inside me from it, i was scared so i dropped it on the
table. Then my teacher asked my mother to give him a plastic bowl
that is clear and can bee seen trough it. My mom went in the kitchen,
and my dad asked Nel: "Do you think this is a good idea? He is still not
18."
Her answer was: "Don't worry, he is chosen by fire of awakening so he
doesn't need to be old enough. The chosen ones poses the knowledge

from all warriors before them who used The fire of awakening, but the
more knowledge they have to deal with the greater the chanse of their
brains overloading and dying. With is why there is very little candidats
who can use it, and they are carefuly chosen. With means he will be
able to handle it, IF he has the will to do it."
At this moment mom got my teacher the bulb he was asking for, the
atnosphere changed, everyone was focused, my teacher took some
kind of bottle with strange black liquid and pour it in the bulb, and told
me to put my hands in it. I put my hands in it and felt something
pulling me into it, but my hands weren't moving at all.
Then my teacher told me: "There are five basic methods of fighting:
1: Scout, scout is supposted to spot incoming enemies, he needs to be
fast and be able to fight with multipie enemies at the same time.
2: Front-line fighter, they have long and fast weapons, and specialise
at 1on1 and 2on2 fights.
3: Archer, archers are supposted to put long-range and very accurate
fire on enemy lins, their main weapons are throwing spears and all
kinds of arrow-based weapons such as bows and crossbows.
4: Communicators, They go in groups of 2, and they stay far back
behind allies, they are able to communicate with some/all allies via
aura manipulation, their basic duty is to send messages from scouts to
everyone else about enemy positions and targets.
5. SPECIALIST, this fighting method is very very rare, and only 6
people in history were specialists, and they were all chosen by The
fire of Awakening."
By the time he explained all of that to me he was finished preparing
the bowl. He told me: "Okay, now we will see with color the liquid wil
change into.
Red is Scout
Blue is Fighter
Green is Archer
Brown is communicator

And Clear is Specialist.

Now focus all of your aura into palms of your hands, your focus must
be apsolute perfection or this won't work."
What will it be, What if nothing happens, will they be dissapointed in
me? I am nothing special and i bearly know anything. At that moment,
i felt everyone's tention dropped down, and i felt their presence. The
color was Clear.
Nel wasn't surprised at all that the liquid was clear, me on the other
hand, i was surprised and worried. How can i be Specialist if i don't
even know basics of one single FS [Fighting style/Method of fighting]
Nel said: "Now i want you to put on the ring i gave you."
When i put on the ring i felt everyone's presence in this room, i felt
their auras, and they didn't effect me at all. I felt Nel rising her aura's
pressure, but it wasn't like before, it was more like wind, and i could tell
the specific direction it was coming from, In other words i can tell
where she is. I also felt someone else outside my house, i looked
outside my window and i saw 2 man dressed in black, like ninjas.
Nel looked out the window and immedietely stood up and ran outside,
my parents and teacher went after her, so i went too. Then somehow
Nel got a weapon, ran in front of the spies, and taking them down, but
not killing them, only immobilizing them. We took them inside the
house, and put them by the wall.
Nel looked very angry. I was just about to ask about that weapon she
was taking out of nowhere, when those two woke up. Nel all angry
asked them: "What are you doing here!? How did you know where he
is?!"
One of them answered: "We followed you, we are supposted to observe
the situation about "The awaken one" where he is, and how strong he
is. We weren't ready for that kind of aura, it's impressive, we were
surprised so we dropped our focus, and that's how you were able to
find us."
I never belived someone would give that much information to the
"enemy". I can feel they are very scared of her and me, is Nel really
that scary to those who know her?

I decided to ask them a couple of questions myself so i went to them

and i felt them getting scared out of their minds, bearly menaging to
keep themselves calm. I went to them and asked: "Where are you
coming from, and how did you menage to hide yourselves all this time
from Nel and my teacher and parents?"
The other one answered: "We are SCOUTS from YAN family. We are
trained to keep our presence hidden in scariest of situations, and
collect as much information as possible about subject. Sence we are
from Yan family, that specialises in hunting, we are one of the best
scouting units in the whole kingdom."
At this moment i was about to ask more questions, but what stopped
me was aura from Nel, i felt her get really really angry, and was
irritated by every word that man was saying. The man continued
talking about his family, when Nel snapped. She killed one of them,
and told the other one: "Go back to your Captain and tell him not to
send anyone else, if he sends anyone i will kill them myself." After she
said those words she let him go, he ran away with astounding speed. I
guess that's the speed of scouts, before i was able to think about that,
he was gone, and i wasn't able to sence him anymore. But then on the
top of a high Building i saw some kind of a door opens, It was glowing
red and smoke was coming out of them as they open. And i heard my
teacher say: "The Crimson Gate. Its the gate to the other world, there
is no other way to get to the other world but the Crimsong Gate, unless
you can teleport of course." While he was explaining that, the doors i
saw opened and i felt strange force coming out of it, then i saw the
man we let go jump inside, and then the doors closed, and
dissapeared.
After this strange event Nel told me: "Training starts tomorrow, before
we even think about going home, you need to know how to fight and
defend yourself.''
The next morning, Nel woke me up and said: "Wake up, it's time to
train. Come on dress up and let's go, get something you can move
freely in like a shirt and shorts. I'm waiting outside."
I dressed up and went outside, there were my parents, teacher and Nel
obviouisly. We got into a car, my father was driving. I didn't know
where we are going so i asked Nel: "Hey Nel, where are we going?"

-"We are going to the training grounds, they were built by our family
long time ago as a training grounds during the war.''
The car stopped in the middle of an empty field, field was like a round
shaped with trees all around where we were standing, there was
nothing around us for about 100m all around. Everyone started getting
out and so did i. When we got out i was looking around, but nothing
was around. Are training grounds underground? They must be, there is
nothing here.
Then i saw something form on Nel's back. Orangy-red leaves, forming a
shape that was looking like a sword. After a couple of moments leaves
started flying away and there was a sword. Then i heard my teacher
say:
"One of 14 great weapons, Makazake, the controller of winds and
trees. It's such a pleasure to be in presence of such a weapon."
Oh i see, so she has one of so-called "14 Great weapons"
Then she took her sword and put it's blade, put it into the ground and
all the ground up to the trees started glowing, with strange lines all
over the field.
And then i saw buildings appear. It seems like we were standing in a
middle of an arena of some kind, but it had all kinds of punching bags,
targets for archery, swimming pool and other training instruments.
With huge tower in the middle of them. I belive tower was some kind of
final exam or something like that.
Nel then got her sword and said: "Welcome to the training grounds.
Here we will train for 2 months. Before going home."
She put her sword back, and it transformed into leaves that flew away.
I was amazed so i decided to ask her about sword: "Hey, Nel. How..
how did your sword just appear out of nowhere"
She made her sword appear again. "This is Makazake. She is one of 14
great weapons. She can control trees and wind."
But wait why does she keep calling her sword she? "What do you mean
by SHE? Is your sword alive?"
She looked at me and her sword started glowing with some symbols

then she said: "Yes, all weapons have soul in them, but some are
trained and took their form, and for others that form is not existing yet.
14 great weapons are the strongest, they've been trained and forming
for over 200 years. Makazake is 6th, by the strenght and experience
out of all 14 great weapons."
She put away her sword and said: "Okay tomorrow starts your training,
we will train your psyhical and mental strenght, your aura, your
reaction and desition making, all that in first month. In second month
we will find what kind of a weapon you prefer and teach you how to
fight, and defend yourself."
I said: "That sure seems alot, will we be able to do that in 2 months?
Will you be able to train me, without any previous knowledge?"
Nel smiled and told me: "We'll see. Now go with your teacher, he will
show you where you'll sleep for the night. And also call your parents, i
need to talk to them."
I had so many more questions, but i didn't ask them. Instead i went
and told my parents Nel is looking for them. Also i asked my teacher to
show me where i'll sleep.
Teacher showed me a house and said: "You'll sleep here, there are alot
of beds, that's because this are barracks. Go, take a shower, and take
some rest, tomorrow will be a hard day for you. Try not to dissapoint
Nel. You may not realize that but she really really loves you, she almost
died trying to find you."
What? She almost died trying to find me? Thinking about that i went to
take a shower, and, it had hot water. I took a shower and went to bed.
Tomorrow will be a new day, i will train hard and not dissapoint Nel... I
wonder what is my real family like.
The next morning i woke up, took a shower and, was ready to train.
When i went outside i saw Nel, and teacher. And 3 other people i didn't
know. Nel already took her sword out. It seems like they are enemies or
something? Then Nel noticed me and said: "Quick get over here as fast
as you can." I started running towards her. One of the enemies tried to
attack me but was stopped by Nel. It happend in a matter of
miliseconds. She cut his head off. The other two didn't move, they
were just watching one of them die. When she cut his head off she
didn't even blink. Her aura didn't increase by one bit. Acually it was

even weaker from when we were just talking back at that valley. I'm
sure she is at her minimum, but still, she moves faster than my eyes
can folow.
I've never seen anyone get his head cut for real, i saw it a couple of
times in movies and games, but never for real. I tougth i'm gonna trow
up but i didn't. I felt anger towards Nel, i didn't expect her to do that. I
didn't expect her to be such a monster.
I was inside my head for a long time thinking about what happend,
when she killed second one. I couldn't handle it, i was in rage. I felt
such anger towards her. I was able to feel my aura, but in anger i
coudln't control it. Then i felt my aura getting stronger and stronger,
then everyone collapsed on the ground. Then i realised i went too far. I
ran to Nel, asking her: "Nel! Nel! Are you okay? I'm sorry, i couldn't
control myself. I dissapointed you."
She was tired, probbably from pressure on her body. But she menaged
to say this: "It's okay, this was just a test. You did great, we menaged
to wake your rage."
"What? What do you mean by a test!!? You just killed two people."
She smiled and said: "They were not real people, they are just illusions,
or puppits. I want you to meet VIVIJAN.