Chapter III
A Hero Unrecognized

Where am I? Why is everything so dark? I can’t even feel myself moving…

“I think Aerio’s waking up!” a familiar voice echoed in the boy’s mind.

Mom? Is that you? Where are you?

Aerio’s eyes slowly opened and his ability to focus was still a struggle. He looked to his side toward his parents, then his eyes wandered about. He noticed the familiar scenery. A small house with his parents’ bedroom and his bed near the kitchen and front door. Aerio felt relieved, but it was short-lived once he felt pain in his ribs and experiencing difficult breathing. Trying to get up, his mother came to him and gently pressed her hand against him to lay him back down. “Don’t get up. You’ve been through so much.” She sat onto the bed where Aerio laid. She wore a long-sleeve white shirt and a long worn down white skirt, soft brown hair traveled down midways down her back, and her bright green eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

“What happened, Mom? All I remember is walking in the Senki Forest… then being attacked by these big mushrooms…” Aerio muttered as he tried recollecting the event, “… and someone or something came and killed all of them.” Laying confused, he began to wonder how he ended up back in his home.

“That must’ve been the person who left you at our door. Your father and I were preparing breakfast until we heard knocking at the door. We found you cut, bruised, and bleeding unimaginabley. We still don’t know who left you, but we were glad you returned home. You had me so worried!” His mother said while shedding some tears nearing the end of her explanation.

“Yeah! I thought the person who left you out there was the one who did this to you!” His father barges into the conversation holding up his Golden Smith Hammer, standing as if he were taunting. He wore a white muscle shirt to cover his tanned built figure, a faded blue pair of jeans, and brown pair of boots covered his feet. “As your mother took you in and aided your wounds, I went searchin’ for whoever found you. I spent hours, I couldn’t find a single trace of man or being with the strength to carry you here. It was a little strange… even the smallest snail can leave a trail.”

“Your father’s right. He was out all day until nightfall,” the mother said as she took a small towel from a table nearby. She cleaned off some sweat from Aerio’s forehead, “but in any case, your father went to town and asked the town priest to come by to help with your condition.”

Aerio listened, but he still pondered over who or what had saved him. Remembering that dark figure’s speed, he found himself assuming it wasn’t real.

Maybe I was seeing things… my eyesight wasn’t at its best…

Moments later, a knock came from the door. The father looked out the window, “It’s the priest.” Opening the door, he welcomed his divine guest. “Welcome, Father. It’s an honor to have you in our home.” Their guest had the appearance of a young man in the late-20’s and made his way through, wearing his red oriental fury coat and hat, carrying a small sack underneath his arm, the strap wrapped around his shoulder, and in his hands, a Kage was confined.

“Please, call me Jonas.” The priest said turning toward Aerio’s father. “And it is an honor to be in the presence of a skilled craftsman as yourself, Hiruko. Your skills in creating such weaponry and armory are exceptional. Your ability to use elements to forge equipment gives you such an advantage in the market.” He looked around, “This is a wonderful home you have, Hiruko. Away from the main towns, in the tranquility of the forest. Your nearest neighbor must be a few miles away.” Hiruko laughed appreciatively and his face lit up as Jonas spoke those words. Jonas turned his attention to Aerio and began to make his way. “This is the boy, Serui?” The mother nodded as she left Aerio’s side and stood near Hiruko. “I see. I feel that his senses were impaired and was also paralyzed for the most part. Am I correct, Aerio?”

“Y-yes…” Aerio muttered.

“Very well then. This will only take a moment.” Jonas closed his eyes and gripped his Kage. He mumbled a few words under his breath as a spherical light began to appear above him. After a few seconds, what seemed to be a marble-sized light grew tenfold. Four golden folded angel wings sprung from the orb of light. As the wings began to open, the orb bursted into several strands of bright energy. The strands began to hover over Aerio, thickening, and when the golden wings extended to their absolute length, the strands of energy shot into him. A blast of light exerted from the strands in Aerio, causing Hiruko and Serui to shield their eyes from it. As the light dimmed and the surroundings were now visible, Hiruko and Serui found the wings gone and Aerio lifeless.

“Is Aerio all right?!” Serui cried out to Jonas.

“Yes, but the intesity of my Dispel was too much for him. Being a small boy and it being his first time being Dispelled, this result is reasonable. He will be fine. Let him rest as his body recognizes the effect of the spell. His body thinks he’s still wounded. I would completely heal him from all wounds, but knowing what kind of effect Dispel had on him, I wouldn’t take my chances. I will let his body take care of those temporary wounds. His body’s immunity must be strong when he is young, therefore Healing him would hurt him later in the future. As long as his senses and movement that cannot be retrieved alone return to him, then I have succeeded,” Jonas responded calmly.

“So Aerio will be okay, right? You think he can do some hard labor tomorrow?” Hiruko chuckling as he spoke.

Jonas turned to Hiruko and laughed softly, “I highly doubt that. At his age, to take such a beating is unheard of.” He noticed Serui silent, staring at Aerio’s still body. A sigh left the priest’s mouth, knowing he couldn’t make Serui secure about her son’s condition. “Anyway, I mustn’t stay long. My services are needed back at the church. I apologize for being in such a rush.”

The parents understood. “Thank you for everything, Jonas. I was so worried about Aerio. I had no idea what was going to happen,” Surei spoke softly as she returned to Aerio’s bedside. She took a hold of Aerio’s hand wanting to feel his warmth and small pulse within his fingertips.

Jonas nodded gratefully and faced back toward the door, “Let me know when he’s awake. As much confidence I may have in my spells, I do wish to see him back to his old self.” He slowly made his way toward the doorway.

“Will do, Jonas. Thank you for your help.” Hiruko showed him out. As Jonas reached a couple of feet into the Senki Forest, Hiruko shouted from behind, “Oh wait! Do you know any weird events happening?”

Jonas looked back, “What do you mean?”

“Well… Aerio was brought by someone or something after his encounter with the orange mushies. We don’t know anything about it. I was wondering if this may sound familiar to you,” Hiruko explained.

The priest seemed puzzled, “No, this would be the first time hearing this kind of story. Perhaps Aerio is being watched by a certain guardian. If it wanted to harm him, it would’ve left him in the wilderness. Maybe your son has a little guardian angel watching over him.” He walked toward Hiruko while digging through his sack and pulled out a couple of small bottles of red liquid and bottles of water with Jonas’ holy markings on the sides. “Here, give these to Aerio. I’m sure he will need it since it will soon be that time of his life.”

Hiruko took the potions, “Yeah, thirteen years have gone by so quickly. With all this happening, I hope he can regain his strength.”

Jonas smiled slightly and nodded. “Do not worry yourself. Your boy will be fine,” he said as he placed a hand on Hiruko’s shoulder. “You’re a good man, and a wonderful father. Have confidence in your son as he fights internally upon his bed.” Hiruko nodded and Jonas returned to his walk back to the church.

Hiruko watched as Jonas disappeared into the dark forest. Mumbling under his breath, “I do have confidence in him… but I sense something will happen that none of us will be ready for.”