Pond Miya, under the rain

I begun my new life as 'Shiro'.

Old man Fujimoto taught me lots of things, from cooking, maintainance, sewing and even the general gidst of how to use a spear.

He said I was too good at it for a novice, but I didn't had a reason to pick up martial arts... so I didn't train with him.

But most importantly, he taught me what exactly my eyes were.

"Empyrean eyes are an innately born ability, where an individual's eyes can perceive special properties outside of normal vision.

For us, we can see Magical Energy as clearly as we can see the flow of water. This is the reasom why you were able to perceive Cursed Spirits clearer than any normal person, Shiro.

All things contain magical energy, if you are able to utilize your eyes and perceive this hidden reality, then you'd be able to do many things...."

"Like what?"

"Outside of just having superior vision, you can predict your enemy's movements by the way they use their magic energy, or you can make your sorceries more efficient...

But you are not a fighter so there is not much use of it to you, I suppose.

My eyes have weakened with age. I could hardly see as clearly as I was able to, but even then my sense of perception is still amongst the best in this world. This is how much difference there is between someone with an Empyrean Eye and someone without it.

But don't use your eyes too much, it makes your head hurt."

At the time, I practiced as much as I could in using my Empyrean Eyes...

Yet I could never use it to do anything at all.

My eyesight was supposed to be extremely good, but there are no real advantages to that.

____________

Gradually I got used to life at the village, and in the blink of an eye years had passed.

It was a very simple life, I deal with most of the chores with help from Haruto, and by lunch time I'd have the entire day free to myself.

I am not old enough to work yet Fujimoto said, but it is about time for me to start thinking on what I want to work with in the future.

"You'll be a great hunter." He said.

One time he was out hunting birds and I tagged along with him as training for using my eyes. After finding a flock of pigeons, he handed me his bow on a whim.

"You know how to shoot this right?" He whispered.

"Mmm... A few times, with Haru."

"Then try and hit those birds."

'Are you serious? But we went through all the trouble to find them!' I thought in my mind.

I knew that if we spoke anymore we'd scare away the birds, so all I could do now is to just take my shot.

I wasn't confident in my ability to hit my target... but my eyes did not lie. I decided to aim for the biggest pigeon in the crowd...

The thing about archery is that the arrow flies in an odd arc higher than the point that you aimed at. It's what makes bow difficult to use.

I haven't taken any shots with this bow before so I only made a rough guess of the arrow's path. It did have similar draw strength to the one that Haruto used, so it's range and power should be similar.

"Hah...."

I took a deep breath as I draw on the string of the bow. It took all I had just to pull the string, but I managed to fully draw my bow..

"Hmph!"

'Fwssh!' The arrow slice through the air, and hit right on jackpot.

The other birds quickly flew away, leaving only the fattest and tastiest one behind.

"Great job Shiro, it seems I was right."

"What do you mean?"

"One trait of people with Empyrean Eyes is their superior vision. While this doesn't naturally mean you'll be a great shot, it does help out.

At this range, I'm not sure if I'd have hit my target either. You were going for the biggest one specifically right?"

"Yeah..."

"Then you might be extremely talented in shooting. Even moreso than martial arts.

It's up to you whether or not you'll train properly as a shooter or not, using a bow or a gun... any talent that isn't nurtured will fester into decline after all. If you truly want to be good at something, you'll have to practice it."

I never did practiced shooting.

____________

Fujimoto and the Chief of the village shared a common history, as people who hailed from the Takeda Clan. They were brother in arms, as generals of the clan.

After the First Sengoku Period has ended, they retired to a remote village outside of Edo, in the middle of the Sea of Trees.

"Fujimoto, that girl that you took in, what was her name again?" The village chief asked to the old man.

"It's Shiro."

"Since she's white? Haha, you are oddly funny despite being so quiet all the time."

"You jest. I am not the one who came up with the name either... Haru did."

"The boy gave her a nickname huh. Fujimoto, do you want to officially adopt her as your own?"

"...What's this all of a sudden?"

"While this is a small village in the middle of nowhere, some paper works will still have to be submitted to the Civil Ministry....

If you were to adopt her, I'd have to turn in the paperworks for the record. It's just a formality of course, I doubt anyone will care about the background of her."

"I see... But I will have to discuss it with her first."

"There's nothing to discuss isn't there? She likes it here, and we don't know where her family are."

"But still, she deserves to know what I'm about to do at least, I will not force her to treat me as a father."

"Hmm, is that so? Well you are a strict person after all, there is nothing wrong with that.

I will be waiting for your response. My servants will quickly get the paperworks done I believe."

_______________

People are simple creatures, they're drawn to places where they're familiar and feel loved in.

Fujimoto-san asked me if I want to be officially be accepted into his house as his adoptive daughter.

There really was no need for any discussion, this place feels just like home now.

"Are you sure about this, Shiro? You can still live here for as long as you like even if you don't want to treat me as your family."

"No. I like it here."

"I see... Then I'll have to give you an actual name if I were to adopt you. Back then I called Haruto "brat" before I adopted him, so it's only fair for you to receive a name too.

Amemiya - Gracious Night of Rain."

The name resonated within me... It was as if I had heard it before.

"Why did you name me that?"

"The place where I found you is called the Miya Pond... And it was clear just after a morning rain. I had this in mind since the day I took you in."

"Mmm. If that name is what you have decided on, then I will take it Fujimoto-san."

His lips curved up gently. I actually haven't seen this old man smile before, so seeing him grin slightly was heart warming.

"Welcome to the house, Amemiya. But it is a mouthful to call you that, so you'll have to be Shiro for us."

"Thank you, Fujimoto-san."

"Don't mention it." He said as he placed his hand on my head.

____________

I do not know anything about my past life, or who my actual parents were. Even if I we're to remember my own name, I doubt it's possible to find my family.

But I don't need to be afraid, now I have a family here in this village. It's all that I need. I don't need to return home when I'm already home.

There was really no need for any discussions.

I am ready to settle down here for the rest of my life.

But heavens had other plans for this village.

_____________

"Zzz..."

It was just the usual - I was sleeping in my mattress when Haruto shoke me awake.

"Uu..?"

"Wake up Shiro..."

"Urgh... What's going on...?"

Before I could even get my bearings I immediately recognized the hint of worry in Sora's voice. He only ever talk like this when he does something that'll get him in trouble.

"Did you do something bad again?"

"No, it's serious. Ji-chan is gone from his room.... and I noticed his spear is missing."

"What? When did this happened?"

"I don't know... some distant commotion woke my up from my sleep, and he was already gone then."

"What could he be doing outside so late at night...?"

I peeked out of the window in the room. It was dark outside, the usual moonlight isn't here tonight to light up our surroundings.

"Hmm... Shall we go and find him then? You must be too worried to go back to sleep right?"

"You know me too well.... Let's go, for a night time adventure!"

And so in the middle of the night after Fujimoto headed off for the village, we sneaked out to the village as well.

It was midnight, but all the villagers are still up and about, and seemed to be in a rush to do something... they are bringing their farming equipment along as well.

Something doesn't feel right.

"What happened? Why is everyone out so late at night?" I asked out to Haruto.

"....Let's hurry up and go find grandpa."

"Yeah..."

Amidst all the armed adults, we ran down the streets looking for old man Fujimoto. Normally if children is seen out so late, we'd be scolded by basically everyone. But no one is paying any attention to us right now.

Something is happening in the village, and it's not a good sign.

(Chapter End)