THE YELLOW FLASH

MINATO

So I suppose we are heading to a place where you will begin collecting your Duergats. Einar finished eating fruits as they walk around a stone formation overseeing an entire village of rare human breeds called ninjas.

Yes, aren't you excited to meet your ancestors? They're called ninjas, you know with the poof and hoof! She made her sword appear. This is a weapon inspired by these people. It's called a shinobigatana.

I'm aware. He closed his eyes and felt the breeze flutter around his ear, gently steering his sight towards a central structure ante stone faces. Einar could hear people even from their distance but this certain entity stood out. Whoever that is, Einar knew it's heading towards their direction.

Do you sense something familiar from all these people? Olga asked.

Yes. He looked at her, quite curious of his role on her mission. Is my job sensing the Duergats?

Partly. I can't do things such as that. She answered nonchalantly while observing ninjas jump from roofs casually. So ninjas don't use sidewalks.

That's a stereotype. They're probably on a mission.

Oh... She unsheathed her weapon and waded away several pointy objects thrown from a distance. A triple-pronged blade successfully ripped through her palm and sensed foreign runes embed on her skin.

I noticed strange presence here and I knew you are not citizens of this village. Said a young blond man who appeared before them. He immediately recognized Olga but remained composed. In his dreams, she was the person whom he called the queen -- someone he would serve for the rest of his existence.

He's lightning fast. Einar murmured and looked at the tome he is now entrusted with. His name is Minato Vaakuna, the hero and leader of this village.

Are you an enemy? Minato inquired, despite knowing the pair have no purpose other than to meet him.

She is. Einar pointed Olga in a playful banter. She pulled his arm in protest. A handsome blonde-haired, blue-eyed ninja -- quite different from the usual people she knew of the same race.

Minato sighed and scratched his head. He could not resist the thrill coursing in every fiber of his being, but was sober enough to conceal it from them. He was someone from a distant past, a being tasked to repress a persistent deity trying to consume a king's consciousness. Olga is someone he will serve for and is one of the descendants to carry on a noble duty for the new king. And while pondering about for some time now, Minato realized their presence would most likely conclude his current life.

Anyway, I can't sense the djevel . Olga murmured and looked around. Usually, her presence would attract the giant serpent and try to consume the duergat djevels reside in. She stared at Minato and became aware of his Sealing techniques. Did you defeat that serpent?

Yes. He nodded. Two weeks earlier, a slithering creature began to materialize and invading his space. Fearing for the safety of his pregnant wife, he waited for days until it completely manifested. Their struggle was intense he had to teleport to a more desolate space, far from prying eyes and innocent civilians.

Incredible. Djevels are serpents born as part of Odin's curse against Duergats. While these creatures lay dormant, the only condition to awaken is when a descendant of the Wolf King comes in contact with the Duergat. The latter must be able to defend himself before he gets consumed or he must at least survive until the King's descendant banishes the serpent for good. While this is the norm, few of exceptional Duergats are believed to have the ability to control, if not get rid of the fiend.

You also put a seal on me. She raised her palm.

Sorry, it's just out of habit. Minato answered politely, also finding himself kneeling before the woman.

Perv. Einar whispered. Olga's endearing expression of appreciation to someone showing respect towards her may be mistaken as having physical interest on Minato.

I apologize, I am not able to accommodate you at this time. Minato handed her his special blade. But should you need my presence, you can just use this... And instructed her few hand seals to instantly transport them to his place using the weapon. The pair waited for him to leave before trying out the Kunai against her blade.

Einar and Olga practiced fighting with blades throughout the village, minimizing damages but with increasing speed each time their blades clash. Einar never had experience fighting, but traveling through time and space enabled Olga to train him. Just as how Ryoubou awakened her descendant's ancient powers, he was able to do so, but systematically; finally empowering him to defeat the physical form of the djevel. As night fell, both sensed an evil presence lurking just outside the territories.

x.x

A walking catastrophe - she thought. She and Einar shall always come to summon the Duergats before their fated deaths or departures from their current lives. For Minato, the greatest did before departure came in the form a villainous legendary beast lurking within their village. It was released by a traitor out of their own people.

That thing is looking at you, right? Einar walked back as the humongous nine-tailed beast faced them, so huge they could fit in its eyes. Still controlled by someone, it indiscriminately released a massive ball of exploding energy towards their direction. Behind her is a group of young ninjas eager to defend their village. She was not supposed to interfere on any events in any location, save only if it directly affects her Duergat. However, she was yet to seal her contract before anything happens to Minato.

Ms. Princess! Maximizing his thunder god speed, Minato carried her fast to the face cliffs and immediately executed hand seals to teleport the massive explosion. The written language of the contract seal translated into Nordic runes, hence adding immense effect, resulting for the transported explosion to a farther area. Minato was surprised with the distance but then realized it must have been due to his connection with Olga through the contract seal he earlier laid on her palm.

That was impressive. She murmured and failed to notice her palm glowing. His borrowed power took minute amount of her stored energy but enough to save Minato's village. Behind them, soon appeared a man in mask, forcefully separating him. Olga was left to face the enraged beast.

Meanwhile, Einar stood at the clearing, watching the same group Olga saw, arguing about fighting. The younger ninjas declared their intent to fight but the elder ones barricaded. He realized that Minato is going to leave his village in a state of chaos. Eh? Among them was a silver haired young man looking back at him. Olga once told him he could remain invisible from everyone unless he decides to manifest himself. He did not.

Minato defeated the village infiltrator and was able to free the fox beast from his control. While one threat was eliminated, he knew the greater danger looming to his own people. He returned to Olga still on a stare down against the beast. It has not so far attacked as it visualized worst threat from the woman's core. Instead of leaving her on the site, Minato then brought her to his wife and child's house, both waiting to reseal the fox inside his newborn child.

Stay still and try not to interfere Ms. Princess. He quietly uttered while preparing the altar where his newborn rested. Beside him was his exhausted wife frantically restoring her energy as the beast draws near. We will survive this discord and proceed with life as it should be. He knew he will only get to see his son for few more moments. Let me protect my village and family... After this, I will follow you.

She waited... Olga watched how the parents struggled to save their child. She waited as he formed a contract seal to divide the beast's power so that sealing it into the child would be easier. She bit her lip and pinched her arm just to hold back when they used their own bodies as shield from the angry beast's claws. They are just humans compared to a creature made out of pure energy, hence, death is inevitable for those who choose to sacrifice. And for a child, a parent could do so much...

With their bodies pierced, her only chance was to take Minato's soul before he dies. It is a complicated process she had to learn the longest time in order to avoid premature extraction that would affect the Duergat's memory. Had she chosen the easier method, all Olga had to do was to erase their memories to give way for their ancient consciousness. She wouldn't.

Thank you for waiting, and I'm sorry for witnessing this. Minato wiped her cheek and smiled. His body illuminated soon as he made contact, Nordic runes surrounded and soon engraved his skin, which reads;

...when some thane would harm me

in runes on a moist tree's root,

on his head alone shall light the ills

of the curse that he called upon mine.

He never looked back once the rune was embedded in his body. He will live a different life from thereon. He shall be the King's protection from all curses and Olga's loyal comrade. It wasn't bad at all because Minato somehow sensed a blissful familiarity towards her. A portal soon emerged and the pair waited for Minato to follow.

Welcome to my family. Olga touched his forehead, his clothing transformed into charcoal and crimson shozoku - an old eastern spy garb worn by Minato's far ancestors. Ancient memories began pouring into his consciousness while they travel across time, inside a horizontal pathway surrounded by colorful lights representing people, places and memories.

His ancestor was one of the Duergat's high priest specializing in seals and runes, capable of protecting the royal family from all kinds of curses and from Odin's charms. The current Wolf King's Duergat perished, hence, leaving him highly vulnerable. Minato will soon meet his king... but before that, he is yet to complete his other half.

~end~