9 Shadows Of The Past

A large chariot, built with brown and exquisite wood, designed with a golden serpent… more like a wyrm, intricately carved along the lower end of the chariot. It's windows wre rectangular and the glass was darkened.

The chariot was being pulled by two powerful steed, they were black in color, the hair of their mane, braided and flowing downwards. They had dark eyes that hinted of a savage fury, despite being used as mounts, they were menacing and unapproachable.

The carriage stopped in front of a stone built building. It was clearly of an appearance that belonged to the regular fantasy world but there was something more.

It wasn't just this building, it was the same with every other one around there city.

Each building had their own beauty and the way they came out to be genuine. The City itself was built at the shadow of the western part of the same forest North was named after.

Its charm was matched by a backdrop of rich, luscious field which have come to contribute to the stand of agriculture in the city.

The skyline was packed with elegant yet antique buildings that reached desperate for the sky, built with colored stones and granites but skillfully carved out to resemble a futuristic skyscraper.

Each building came out in its own uniqueness like that, obviously built with concrete but somehow managing to desperately look magnifying.

These desperate attempt of each building however gave them their appeal and made the entire city a lovely visage to behold. Flowers were aligned beside the road, the ground was tiled and the street was slightly crowded.

People wearing casual outfits, something that seemed mixed between a civilized, modern yet medieval era. Most of them just went about their business and there were some that stared at the carriage for some reason.

Perhaps because of the beast… or the emblem that was engraved on both sides, right at the edge of the dragon.

A middle aged man with lustrous black hair, sitting in front of the chariot and controlling the steeds stepped down, his two swords hung on one side of his waist hitting each other.

He bowed and gently opened the door of the chariot to the front of the tallest building in the city. This particular one even had a watchtower atop it.

And was so large that it occupied the center of the city, every other building was erected around it and much were scattered behind, leading back to the base of the forest.

A boy with an alabaster hair and deep grey eyes stepped out of the chariot. In contrast to what anyone would have expected, he was short and his facial features were cute to boot.

Regardless, the middle-aged man composed himself with respect.

The young boy was donned in a white cloak that had the same emblem as the chariot, a circle, the head of gryphon engraved inside the circle but its beak slightly made to protrude out of it. Then small carvings of wings were on the sides of the circle.

It was an emblem everyone knew and respected.

-Milhguard academy.

-But what was a child from Milhguard academy doing in a remote city like this one?

-Would Milhguard even send a chariot and an escort with a student?

-Isn't that a protector? Look at his uniform…

People talked this and that as they passed the chariot but the young boy didn't seem to mind. The man behind him on the other hand worriedly looked around.

With his voice coming out rough on the line, the boy spoke childishly:

"Let's go in!"

He marched in without any cares of the world.

The building's interior was just as amazing as the exterior. There were plush sofas place around and black glass tables in the middle.

Some people were silently sitting, enjoying a meal or two, some taking alcohol, some others, chit-chatting.

At first nobody paid attention to the young boy but immediately the middle-aged man entered, people started looking.

They said the same words as people outside just from recognizing the man's black 'Victorian era' uniform.

It was because of how incredibly strong people that put on that uniform are. They were a reckoned force that not only protected the walls of the academy but also the borders of the central plain, killing any beast that dare to cross over from the dark continent.

They were well respected and valued.

For a person of such caliber to be escorting a child… people figured the child must be very important.

The young boy leaned back and whispered to the man.

"See… I told you, you should have changed your clothes."

The man responded with a helpless sigh but still stood rigid in every composure. He scanned the area while the young boy headed to the counter that was on his right.

The attendant was a lean man that looked like he was in his early twenties. He was dozing and hadn't even noticed that new customers were in.

Not until the boy stood on his toes and knocked on the counter.

He jacked up and quickly put himself together.

"Welcome sir…" His eyes first went to the man and then traced down to the boy not even as tall as the counter table. "...and sir?" His voice sounded unsure.

But the young boy didn't seem to care at all.

"Where is Gilbert? Is he around?"

The bartender looked at the boy with a confused show on his face, before correcting.

"Oh you mean Sir Gilbert?"

"Yea. I know what I said alright. Go tell him Rughsbourgh is here. I don't like to wait by the way."

The bartender still looked confused, he looked at the young boy and looked at the man not sure how exactly to put the message.

Just then, the door opened and two people strode in.

One was a dark haired man with a scar over his nose, the other was a beautiful boy with snow-white hair and blue eyes.

He quickly stopped to attend to them.

"How can I help you?"

The man spoke as they reached the counter.

"I have come to take the evaluation test for my son."

Both the young boy's and the protector turned their heads slightly when they heard what the man said but tried not to make it obvious.

'Another aspirant for the school huh'

The young boy mused in his head while the bartender responded to the new entrants with elation.

"Oh my goodness! Wait a minute, I'll go fetch the Headmaster for you!"

He quickly ran into the door behind the counter and disappeared – a different energy as compared to when the young boy had asked him.

But it was understandable. It's a joyous occasion when people come to be tested as to whether they have talents and what the details of their talent are.

Although that joy can quickly become depression when people learnt of how useless their talent is.

But still it always begins with a joy.

Silence ensued between the unacquainted party as they both waited for the bartender to come.

Then after three or four minutes, the protector turned his head… and frowned slightly. He hesitated before opening his mouth.

"Shin?"

The scarred man and his white haired son both turned their heads. Immediately a hint of recognition appeared on Shin's face, but a frustrated look followed it.

'Of all people, I could have run into today, why did it have to be this one…'

Shin became chagrined. It could be vividly seen on his face that he didn't like this person… perhaps the encounter itself.

'I wonder who he is?'

Maybe this was a link to one of the secrets his parents were hiding. Northern wondered, observing the rigid man.

He was fierce in appearance, the air that surrounded him was also pressurizing. Northern had never seen him fight or didn't know anything about protectors.

But merely looking at the man, he could tell that he was going to be dangerously strong person. He had the presence of a mighty warrior, even far greater than his father's.

Northern observed in silence while his father turned to the man and tilted his head.

"Sorry, do I know you?"

Shin tried to deny but was very bad at it, even his son was disappointed at such lame attempt.

He had given himself away the moment that he got shocked at the mention of his name.

Clearly, it was written on his face that he recognized this man, why be senseless and deny it?

Northern shook his head tiredly but minded his business ‐ didn't even turn to look or try to hear their conversation.

The man's voice was gentle and forebearing, coming out with a soothing calmness.

"Don't be like that Shin, I know it was a rough ride but you were a part of us too."

Shin sighed and turned away from him, looking at the door.

'Will this guy just come out already'

He ignored the rigid man.

Eventually, the kid next to him asked after seeing how he was being ignored.

"Someone you know?"

The protector leaned towards his ears and whispered inaudbily. The next second, the boy's eyes widened.

"Ohraaa ohraa, its you! The crazy Scion of the Kageyama clan."

Shin slightly turned his head and fixed him with an arctic stare, eyes glinting like shards of frost ready to pierce the soul.

Immediately, the boy showed some repulse but the protectors countenance changed.

He held his sword, brows furrowed.

"You will show respect to the master…"

Shin's icy stare shattered the moment he heard the word. There is only one person in this world that a protector such as the caliber of this man would call 'master'. His eyes widened as the realization dawned on him.

Simultaneously, a big man with full beards and roughened hair came out of the door behind the counter with the bartender.

"Wel…"

He was going to talk but the moment he sighted the boy in a cloak and the protector behind him, he paled, all color disembarking from his face.

Then his eyes narrowed a second later. He easily grabbed the bartender by his shirt with his muscled hand, lifting him up he asked with a serious tone:

"Why didn't you tell me there was another visitor?"

"I'm sorry, I thought the evaluation test was more important…'

The bartender pleaded, struggling effortlessly in the powerful grip of the beastial man. He was large and wide in all areas, with a rippled muscle frame.

But his face was wrinkled slightly, and he wore a rectangular glasses.

He dropped the bartender, people were already glancing at their direction and the least he wanted was to gather any attention.

He lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

"Welcome. But I have told you several times to at least use the body of an adult when coming here?"

"What do you mean. I love this body… do you know how much it took me to create it. Besides, it's amazing how you always manage to recognize me regardless of the body I come in."

Adjusting his glasses the head master sighed helplessly and looked at the protector.

"Welcome Danzo, it must have been a lot coming with this old fart."

Danzo smile politely and bowed his head, not saying anything. Then the man looked at the two other people by their side.

"You lot must be the ones that came for evaluation test. I'll assign an instructor to you." He turned to the bartender, "fetch that drunkard for me."

"Yes sir"

He hastened to through the back door and disappeared once again.

"Well, then shall we go upstairs? Somewhere private. I presume you didn't just come here to show me a new body."

The boy allowed a crooked grin and picked his nose then blew it off.

"While you are with the master, is it okay if I see someone."

The man seemed shocked for a while. Danzo was the kind of person that wouldn't step away from this person in question even when he was begged to. However, he wants to see someone.

The man smiled and commented:

"That someone must be important. Don't worry, it's not like anything can harm him anyways."

The young boy looked at Shin and looked at Danzo, his brows furrowed slight but eased up less than a second later then he left without any concern.

Danzo watched the two of them used the stairs that curled itself around the pillar that stood next to the counter.

After they had gone, he turned to the scarred man beside him and said nicely.

"Shin… please let me talk to you."

Shin gritted his teeth.

'This is what I hate about him. His the worst incarnation of wickedness and yet he sounds so nice… it's so inconvenient, very inconvenient.'

Northern raised a brow and looked at his father who was still deliberating.

"Dad. I think you should go with him, I'll be fine on my own."

He obviously didn't speak because he thought Shin was worried about him. This was him telling his father to go.

And Shin quite understood the message already. Having lost before he even started fighting, he exhaled.

"Alright then. See you in a minute."

He turned to the protector who was admiring the kindness of the boy. Danzo turned to him and nodded frantically.

"Follow me," He uttered and moved gently with grace.

Shin, for a minute felt like he was back being a protector and receiving orders from Danzo again, the tone in which he spoke was very annoying but he followed in silence until they were outside.

Shin folded his hands.

"So… what is it?"

Danzo smiled, he looked back at the door.

"Is that you and Eisha's son?"

Shin didn't look surprised as he mentioned his wife's name. Of course, he had been with Eisha since he was a protector, everyone sort of knew about her… even his family.

He responded unceremoniously.

"Yes."

"Shin, I know it's been a few years and it's hard to forget what happened but we need men like you back at the border. The old days, how the five squads would plunge into the wilderness to battle beasts. Don't you miss that?"

Shin frowned darkly.

"Excuse me Danzo. As much as I'm trying to not be disrespectful to you… don't test me. You missed it? My entire squad was killed because of politics play which you decided to turn a blind eye to and you want me to come back?"

"Things are being put in place, it's getting better, Gramdmaster Rughsbourgh is dealing with it."

"Like that would bring back my dead squad" Shin stopped and lowered his eyes, he lingered before saying but with a softer tone. "It means nothing Sir Danzo, respectfully I decline your offer. I have a family to cater for, it's dangerous at the border…"

Danzo looked inside, Northern was already talking to some red-haired lady with a bottle of booze held within her armpit.

He turned back to Shin with a solemn expression.

"He most likely would be coming to the academy soon, won't he?"

Shin scowled at him.

"What are you trying to do?"

"I'm not trying to do anything Shin. You know how it is… being a protector gives your family an edge over everything. See, what matters is that we miss you at the front and we would like to have the body double Shin back, your skills, your abilities are not for this place… they are for the war front. That is where you were forged."

After giving the speech with his hands coming on Shin's shoulder in between, Shin looked at him with irritation, removing Danzo's hand away from his shoulder like he was taking off dog poop.

Danzo allowed a ghostly smile and added.

"Think about my offer. I hope I see you around."

He tapped Shin's shoulder again and walked inside. Shin stayed outside, sneering at his tall frame from behind, then went inside as Danzo climbed the stairs.

"Hey… where's my son?"

The bartender paused the glass of wine he was cleaning.

"Oh, he is with Instructor Annette, she'll be conducting his evaluation test. You can wait around for him while you order a bottle or two of alcohol."

Shin looked at the guyish bartender with a fake smile and walked away, later settling down on a white sofa not too far from the counter.

"What? Would a bottle hurt that much…" The bartender mumbled to himself.

—

Northern stood opposite the red haired lady with an eyepatch. Ready to go through with the first test… physical test.