Chapter 5: Echoes of the Past

Kido stared in disbelief at the figure emerging from the shadows. Zara? But… how? He had seen Sir James’s attack, witnessed the devastating force of his magic. There was no way she could have survived.

“Zara?” he croaked, his voice hoarse. “Is that really you? But… but they had a son with you”

The figure stepped into the light, revealing Zara’s familiar features – the bright, intelligent eyes, the playful curve of her lips, and the cascade of purple hair. But something was different. There was a haunted look in her eyes, a weariness that belied her youthful appearance.

“Kido,” she said softly, her voice tinged with a strange echo. The sound seemed to resonate in his mind, stirring up forgotten memories. “It’s me. Or… at least, part of me.”

He couldn’t wrap his head around it. “What do you mean, ‘part of you’?”

Zara sighed, running a hand through her hair. "It's complicated. Sir James wasn't a normal hunter. He was experimenting with dark magic, trying to find a way to cheat death to sell his kids to slavery. He succeeded in trapping a copy of my soul in a talisman of some kind. Gary knew the truth, but he just wanted power."

"But how are you here?" asked Kido

"When you killed him and Sir James with the White Legacy, the talisman shattered, releasing the last of my power. My soul became free but it also only left me with a fragment that can use echo of magic"

Kido ran towards her and gave her a hug for her to push out and say "I hate hugs". Zara's face turned to a more saddened State.

He pulled back. "What's wrong?"

"My love of hugs have been taken away, I don't know why" Zara started crying.

"We'll get you your hugs back," Said Kido laughing

Zara stopped crying and starts laughing along with Kido.

He felt a strange mix of relief and confusion, but also a renewed sense of determination. He remembered one of Kido's moms wishes to get his uncle and starts explaining as Zara gets sad to only offer up "lets focus on getting some answers first for you, then you can focus on your problem. We are in this together!"

"The hunter guild?"

"They can't be trusted. Not anymore,” Kido said, his voice bitter. “James and Gary were clearly involved in something sinister. Who knows how deep this conspiracy goes?"

“Then what do we do?” Zara asked. “Where do we go?”

Kido paused, thinking. His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything that had happened. He thought back to the hidden compartment in his father's desk, to the journal and the amulet. He knew his father had been hiding something, protecting him from something. Maybe the answers he sought lay buried in those secrets. Then that last wish when she died, she asked him to get her uncle.

“I know where to go,” he said, his voice filled with newfound resolve. “First we need to search my house for something.”

The next morning, after spending a fitful night at Zara's place, Kido returned to the ruins of his old life. The shop was still smoldering, the stench of burnt wood and magical residue hanging heavy in the air. He picked his way through the debris, his heart aching with every step. It was all gone – his home, his family, his sense of security.

Zara stayed close by his side, her presence a comforting anchor in the midst of chaos. She helped him sift through the wreckage, searching for anything of value, anything that might offer a clue.

"What exactly are we looking for?" she asked, wiping soot from her face.

“A hidden compartment. In my father's desk,” Kido explained. “He kept secrets. I could feel it. I’m sure there is something of value.”

It took hours of painstaking work, but finally, they found it. A false bottom in a drawer, concealing a small, wooden box. Kido’s hands trembled as he lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled on a bed of faded velvet, lay three items: old journal, a silver amulet identical to the one Kido wore around his neck, and a folded piece of parchment.

“What is it?” Zara breathed, peering over his shoulder.

Kido carefully unfolded the parchment. It was a map, intricately drawn and labeled with strange symbols. He recognized some of the landmarks – the Whispering Woods, the Crystal Peaks, the Azure River – but others were foreign, places he had never seen or heard of before. The words were the same from the dream he had about what he was. “You are the White Legacy”.

He also looked into his dad's book. There are some sentences written for him

"Dear Son,

Unfortunately, if you are reading this I never had time to tell you about what you are about to become. Your mother and I tried our best to give you a normal life. But the world doesn't do that now. There is an evil organization that wants to get rid of the White Legacy's as we are the only ones who can stop them. You have the capability to do extremely special actions never before seen. Only the most righteous are destined to have this action. The White Legacy has been passed down from each generation the most righteous that has the strength to hold the potential. The person that you need to get Is Silas he will train you to show you your potential. Also, trust no one at the Hunter Guild they will eventually betray you"

Kido felt the word betrayal as he now realizes Zara's parents were also part of the people that had to die.

He looked at Zara and said "This is the training location!"

"Where are we going?" she asked, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What is all of this?"

“I think…” Kido said slowly, “I think we’re going on a journey.”

"Your mom was going to also give tell you these secrets. I knew it. I just had to find it"

"Silas?" Zara asks.

Kido explains on all the stuff he just read, Zara listens carefully and asks for it but Kido wants everything to be safe and sound as no one can know his potential.

That night, under the cloak of darkness, they left Astoria behind. Kido clutched the map and journal tightly in his hands, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. He was leaving everything he knew, venturing into the unknown with only his wits, his courage, and the spectral presence of his best friend to guide him.

They traveled for days, following the winding paths and treacherous trails marked on the ancient map. The landscape changed around them, morphing from rolling hills and verdant forests to jagged mountains and windswept plains. The journey was arduous, testing their endurance and pushing them to their limits.

They scrounged for food, sleeping under the stars and evading dangerous creatures that roamed the wilds. Kido found himself relying on his instincts, honing his senses and pushing his physical abilities further than he ever thought possible. He ran, scout ahead, and came back for Zara for help.

Zara proved to be an invaluable companion, her illusion magic providing cover and protection when they needed it most. She also used her knowledge of the land to their advantage, leading them through hidden passages and warning them of impending dangers.

As they traveled, Kido began to notice subtle changes within himself. His senses were becoming sharper, his reflexes faster, and his strength increasing exponentially. He could feel the amulet around his neck pulsing with power, feeding him energy and guiding him forward the amulet. He also felt like he was never alone.

He pushed Zara to show him her "new" powers and she showed him that if any magic goes by her echo of the magic comes up and appears as a silhouette. The is very useful, it does not help in combat but it lets them know if theres strong magic around them.

One evening, as they camped beside a crackling fire, Kido confided in Zara.

“I think… I think I’m starting to understand,” he said, gazing up at the star-studded sky. “The White Legacy… it’s not just about power. It’s about something more.”

“What do you mean?” Zara asked, her eyes filled with curiosity.

“I don’t know exactly,” Kido admitted. “But I can feel it. A sense of purpose, a connection to something bigger than myself. It's like, with this I am destined to be here."

Zara smiled, squeezing his hand. “I think you’re right, Kido. You’re not just some magicless kid anymore. You’re something… special.”

After weeks of travel, they finally reached their destination: The entrance to Silas' home in a place called Everglow Forest. it looked like a regular house but Zara sensed an enormous amount of magic around it.

Kido stepped cautiously toward the house with no response.

The wards are protecting him.

Kido yells "Uncle Silas.. its Kido.. Your Sister's Son.. I am here to ask for your help!"

The forest was silent for long making Kido believe this was all a waste of his time

All of a sudden the front door opened.

A tall, muscular man with a grizzled beard and piercing blue eyes stepped out onto the front porch. He wore simple, practical clothing, and a sheathed sword hung at his hip.

“Kido,” he said, his voice deep and resonant. “I’ve been expecting you.”

To Be Continued

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