In the distant past, before humans graced this small planet, a mysterious negative energy prevailed. This energy threatened to transform the world into a dark realm, a feast for cosmic creatures. However, an entity intervened with a vision of hope. It cleansed the planet, transforming it into a haven of life and joy, and named it Earth.

Day by day, the entity breathed life into the world. Rivers flowed, oceans swelled, and forests sprouted. Animals roamed the lands, and fruits and vegetables flourished. As the final touch, the entity introduced a new element into the mix: humans.

A millennium passed, and the planet was embroiled in endless wars among humans. This conflict reignited the negative energy, attracting malevolent beings known as witches. These witches drained the purity of humans, animals, plants, and the planet itself.

To counter this threat, the entity bestowed upon humans a special power: the “Samurai Soul.” This power, reserved for warriors unafraid of death, could not be wielded by all. If one’s intentions were impure, the power would be fatal. Samurais needed to be pure and honorable, dedicated to protection.

I never intended to become a samurai, but my strong desire to protect my friends and family led me down this path. I was given the chance to receive the soul of a samurai, and I survived the process. We were given a code, seven virtues to uphold: righteousness, courage, benevolence, respect, honesty, honor, and loyalty. We also interpreted these as the Eight Virtues:

I. Rectitude or Justice II. Courage III. Benevolence or Mercy IV. Respect V. Honesty VI. Sincerity VII. Honor VIII. Loyalty IX. Character and Self-Control

My name is Namida Mirai, and this is the story of my life’s curse.

On a stormy night, I sat alone, waiting for the tempest to pass. My meal was simple: dried fish and the last of my rice. I was a renowned samurai, infamous for slaying countless witches. The day I was chosen to be a samurai, I was told my entire family had been killed by witches. But the truth of that claim remained elusive, leaving me with a lingering sense of unease. Despite my fame, I was a man of few words and preferred solitude.

I, Namida Mirai, had been cursed from the day I became a samurai. If I hadn't been chosen, I would have perished alongside my beloved family. Instead, I lived a life of isolation, always on the frontlines battling witches.

"I'm tired, so tired of living this way," I muttered to myself before drifting off to sleep.

That night, I had a bizarre dream. A woman with beautiful black hair called out to me, pleading for help. As I reached out to her, the ground beneath me crumbled, and I fell into an abyss. My body disintegrated, and I woke up in a cold sweat.

Shaking off the remnants of the dream, I dressed in my purple and green samurai kimono and packed up my belongings. I set off for a small village to the south known as "Haru no mura" (春の村), a place I remembered from my childhood for its vibrant flowers.

Upon reaching the village, I was greeted by the village chief at the entrance.

"Are you the boy from Kiseki (奇跡) temple?" he asked.

"Yes, I am the samurai, Namida Mirai."

"Please, follow me."

The chief, a small, bald man with long eyebrows and a thick beard, led me to the village center. The sight of the villagers, all crying and mourning, was heart-wrenching.

"Can someone tell me what's going on here?" I asked.

The chief explained that the village was in crisis. The once vibrant flowers were dying, and the villagers were falling ill. Some had already succumbed. Just then, a child approached me.

"Namida, sir, I found something strange in the graveyard," he said.

"Show me!"

I followed the child to the graveyard, where a young girl with beautiful black hair was kneeling by a gravestone. Her hands were bloody, and she bore the mark of the witches. My heart sank. Was my life forever chained to these witches?

"It is you," she said, looking at me.

"Do you know me?" I asked, taken aback.

"You, it is you," she repeated.

As she approached me, I prepared to draw my sword. I was tired of witches, and this woman's strange behavior was unsettling.

"Namida Mirai draw stance style: Iruminēta ken (イルミネータ剣)," I declared.

My sword began to glow with holy power. Just as I was about to strike, she fainted. This was my first. Was she badly hurt?

As the rain began to pour, I picked up the young girl, intending to perform a ritual to cleanse her body. She stirred, mumbling something about destiny and killing. Her words were unsettling, unlike anything I'd heard from a witch before.

Leaving the village, I carried her to the old Kiseki (奇跡) temple. The temple was in ruins, but it still housed a statue of our revered Lord Shurui, a samurai known for his courage and kindness. I admired him, yearning for a world free of battles and hatred.

The rain intensified as I left the girl by the statue and went in search of food. Behind the temple, I found an apple tree and an injured tanuki. After treating the tanuki's wounds and gathering some apples, I returned to find the girl awake, sitting before Lord Shurui's statue.

"You don't need to put your guard up, I won't hurt you," she said.

"But you are a witch, aren't you supposed to be evil?" I asked.

A tear rolled down her cheek, and I quickly apologized. Her gaze was intense, as if she could see into my soul.

"Do you know why witches exist?" she asked.

"It was said that witches exist to eat up negative energy," I replied.

"And do you believe that?" she pressed.

"Honestly, I don't," I admitted.

"You talking to me right now is proof of that. I've battled and killed hundreds of witches, but all of them seemed determined to die. I always wanted to know what's going on."

"So, that means you'll go against your orders?" she asked.

"I don't give a damn about them. I've been fighting because I wanted to die, no, that's not true. I guess what I really want is to find the truth," I confessed.

"Are you sure? The truth can be dark and cruel," she warned.

Then, she said something that completely took me by surprise.

"We witches are born at the same time a samurai is born, one cannot exist without the other. Whenever you become a samurai, whether it's a happy moment or a depressing one, it doesn't matter. We witches and samurais are one and the same."

Her words left me stunned. Witches and samurais born at the same time? That was absurd. But then again, there was so much I didn't understand. I was just given a samurai sword and told my mission was to kill all the witches. But why kill them?

"Because they taint the purity of this word? I don't understand."

"What... What sort of nonsense is that?" She replied to what I said.

"Don't you find it strange that more witches are emerging as more samurais take the role? The people at Kiseki(奇跡) are playing all of you for fools. This entity supposedly cleansing the world is an imposter named 'Raiā(ライアー),' and he is no God. He's just a guy who always argued with his counterpart 'Shinjitsu(真実)' and decided to start a war to extinguish everything we know." She explained

"Hold on, how do you know about this?" I asked

"Because I am a child of Shinjitsu(真実), and she told us everything." She replied

"So that means we are the children of Raiā(ライアー)?" I asked, being confused

"Yes, Raiā(ライアー) is a master of lies and will deceive anyone to achieve his goals." She replied with the same cold tone in her voice.

"I always felt that something was off, but this... Wow." I replied in disbelief.

"Indeed, you inherit the kind heart of Shurui. You are so much like him." She replied, now blushing.

"Lord Shurui was my role model growing up; I guess this is why." I replied, being proud.

"I see."She said that with a beautiful smile, reminding me of my deceased fiancée, well, sort of. I have an idea, and I know she'll agree.

"Well, I've had enough.""What are you gonna do?" I continued.

"Would you care to join me?" I said, being determined.

"For what exactly?" She replied, being confused.

"Together, we are going to unmask this to the world." I replied, grabbing my sword.

She smiles, with a sparkle in her eyes, charmingly. Now I need to know her name; we are talking, but I don't know her name.

"Since I take your smile as a yes, what's your name?" I asked.

"Aisuru, Aisuru Kirai. That's my name." Aisuru replied, smiling.

"Namida Mirai, it's a pleasure to meet you." I replied, smiling back at her.

That's how I met Aisuru Kirai. I'm not sure if I can still trust her, but I'd rather do this than just waste my life killing witches. After all, I was bored anyway. Well, let's see how this goes.

Namida and Aisuru, now united by a shared purpose, decide to embark on their quest to uncover the truth. In order to protect Aisuru from potential harm and maintain secrecy, Namida made a difficult choice. He decided to lie to the villagers, claiming that he had defeated Aisuru.

With a heavy heart, Namida fabricated a tale of Aisuru's demise, painting himself as a hero to the villagers. In gratitude for what they believed was his selfless act, the villagers offered Namida some food for his journey.

As they left the village, Namida couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for deceiving the very people he had once sworn to protect. Aisuru, understanding the necessity of the ruse, walked alongside him in silence, their shared determination to expose the truth pushing them forward.

As they left the village, the atmosphere was tense yet filled with the anticipation of unraveling mysteries. Aisuru, sensing Namida's curiosity, decided to share glimpses of her past.

"You know, Namida, my childhood was quite ordinary. I grew up in a small village, much like the one we just left. My family was kind, and I had friends who shared similar dreams." Aisuru said as they were walking

"I never imagined witches having normal lives. I always thought they were born into darkness, wielding their powers without a care for humanity." Namida replied, intrigued.

"That's the misconception that led to so much pain. We're just like anyone else, born with gifts we didn't choose. It wasn't until Raiā(ライアー) twisted our purpose that things took a dark turn." Aisuru said, smiling sadly.

"Wait, are you saying... all those witches I fought, they were once just ordinary people with dreams and hopes?" Namida replies in shock and guilt.

Aisuru, nodding

"Exactly. Raiā(ライアー) manipulated our kind, turning us into tools for his twisted goals. Many witches never wanted to harm anyone, but circumstances forced them into a life of conflict."

Namida, guilt-ridden, said

"I've killed so many... thinking they were monsters. I never considered they might be victims, too."

Aisuru understands Namida, she replied.

"It's not your fault, Namida. Raiā(ライアー) deceived everyone. Now, we have a chance to make things right, to expose the lies and bring justice to both witches and those who believed in them."

"You're right, Aisuru. We'll uncover the truth and put an end to this deception. No more innocent lives were lost." Namida replied," Now being angry for being deceived.

As Namida and Aisuru continued their journey, the landscape transformed, leading them to the tranquil banks of a river. Exhausted from their travels, they decided to pause and drink from the clear waters, setting up camp for the night.

Namida, handing a piece of food to Aisuru.

"Here, Aisuru. We should replenish our strength for the journey ahead."

"Thank you, Namida. It's been a while since I've had a peaceful meal."

Aisuru said grateful.

As they ate, the crackling sound of the campfire blended with the gentle murmur of the river. The night sky adorned with stars seemed to watch over them.

In the quiet moments by the river, Namida's mind drifted back to Kiseki, where he first learned about witches from the monks. A vivid flashback emerged:

"Namida, witches are beings that devour negative energy, seeking to plunge the world into chaos. They are born from the darkness within human hearts."

Said a monk solemnly.

"Beware, young one, for these creatures are deceptive. They manipulate minds and sow discord, leading humanity down a path of destruction." Said another Monk warning, Namida.

Namida, absorbing the teachings with intensity, began to see witches as monstrous entities, threats to the very fabric of existence.

Back to the present, as the fire flickered and the river flowed peacefully, Namida's perspective started to shift. He began questioning the narrative fed to him at Kiseki, realizing that the world was more intricate than the monks portrayed.

Namida, contemplative, said.

"All this time, I believed witches were monsters, devouring negativity to destroy the world. But they were... They were just like us, victims of manipulation and deception."

"The truth is often obscured by falsehoods, Namida. We're on a journey to uncover it and set things right." Aisuru replied, being empathetic.

As the night deepened, Namida and Aisuru found solace in their shared determination, eager to continue their quest for the truth as they rested by the river's gentle embrace.