Act 2: Bitter Memories

While everyone was sleeping. Juto was still thinking of his past. The memories of bitter torment.

He closed his eyes and saw as if it was just yesterday,

Twenty years ago.

Winter was upon them. The river dried, and massive rocks were visible. At the bank of the river in a perfect location.

The kids were running in the streets of the city Greegath, playing with their wooden swords, a battle of kids; everyone was little warriors, defending their Raa(Ruler of the Empire Yusho) from the invaders. They were enjoying and mimicking their elders.

"Warriors we need to defend our Raa from the enemies", Screamed Shuto, two years younger brother of Juto.

Juto was the elder and strongest of them all, so he was acting as the Raa of their city.

"I will fight by your side my warriors, do not lose your hope", raised his chest, looking at the enemies with proud eyes.

"As you command my Lord, prepare to follow our Raa, warriors" ordered his warriors by raising his sword towards the sky with a loud voice by Shuto who was acting as Nura(Leader of the guardians).

They attacked the invaders, wooden sounds all over the place, they were wonderfully acting as if they were really fighting a real battle.

Suddenly the unexpected happened, a sound of alarm was raised. Hell was upon them, this time it was real.

"The siyns' men are attacking, save yourself, save your kids" a young man in a horse screaming and running house by house and street by street.

They came like a storm and like a fire spreading in a jungle, they were equipped with axes, swords, and knives. Hundreds of them. They were bloodthirsty. Savages they were, looters they were.

They outnumbered the city defenders and caught them surprised.

"Kill them all, show no mercy, "cried Seiyn. He was their leader.

He was a terrifying one eyed huge beastlike savage with a long beard and was wearing some type of leather made from a snow leopard.

His warriors ravaged the city with their ruthlessness. They killed everyone on their path. They plundered the city with their polluted steps. Furthermore, they showed no mercy, even on little kids and women alike. The city guards fearlessly defended their city, but it was only a matter of time that the guards were killed one by one due to being outnumbered and outflanked.

Among the guards, a fearless leader was fighting like a wolf. His sword was sharp and fast, filled with the blood of Seiyn's men, but his warriors were almost finished who were following his bravery. He was the Nura of the City.

(Although he was merciless when fighting. He would kill his people's enemies without hesitation. He would do anything to save his Clan but he never married or loved another woman. His wife died while giving birth to Juto her name was Judy. Duro never told Juto about what really happened to her mother. Juto only knew that his mother died of a plague.)

"Retreat, retreat run towards the city hall" screamed the brave Nura. He was the father of Juto. His name was Duro.

He led his few surviving guards towards the city hall, where some women and citizens were hiding.

"We need to get them out of here" Duro Screamed to a guard defending the Hall.

"But your son's sir! They are not here," replied by the guard.

"One must fight for the Clan, and we are the mighty Yusho's, we stay together and if we are weak and alone we create our own path towards greatness, My son's will survive and if not, then they'll be remembered as Martyrs"

Duro spoke to the guard and to all the surviving Yusho's. These words gave them courage and hope. They were all ready to die with Duro defending their city. Duro ordered the City hall guard to retreat with what's left of the Clan.

"My lord, your son," A voice raised from the backside of the Hall.

It was Shuto and some other kids who crawled out of a secret hole in the City Hall.

"My dear son, my little wolf..., where is Juto?"

"Father they have killed all the kids" Shuto with almost the last breath barely talking while crying.

"Where is Juto, have you seen him?."

"We were chased down by a man, he told me to reach city hall through this passage and he himself teased that man and ran towards the snowy mountain."

Duro then took a deep breath and ordered the hall guard to retreat with his son and the surviving clan. They all bid farewell to the brave guards and left their once peaceful and happy city to be defended by a handful of guards led by Duro.

Duro with his few guards made a stone blockade in Seiyn's way to give their Clan some time to make their retreat to a safe place.

They fought like lions and fiercely, one by one the guards fell to the ground but with them almost killed half of the Seiyn's looters. Not only that, but they almost fought for an hour but eventually The Seiyn threw a spear towards Duro which pierced his chest. He grabbed the spear and took it out bearing unbearable pain. Brave Duro finally fell to the ground on his back. He was severely injured.

(The brave Nura was breathing his last. He could not hear anything only the gentle and soft musical voice of his wife Judy. Duro closed his eyes and saw her in a place with a waterfall coming from skies. She was running towards him like a gazelle. Her hair was shining black. Her face was glittering like full moon. She was wearing white dress. She touched Duro's face with her beautiful gentle hands)

Nura again opened his eyes to see the Seiyn with a sword near him. Seiyn raised his sword and stabbed in the heart of the Nura.

The Seiyn's killed them all and looted everything they can, burnt the whole city and left back to their hiding spot with plunder and making several Yusho's women and children slaves.

After a while full silence in the city with only death talking and noise of flees and crows over the fallen guardians and citizens.

"Father! Father where are you," a crying voice echoed in a martyred city. It was Juto's voice.

The scene was terrifying. Dead bodies were all over the city. Children, women, old and young once happy and living faces are now ruined and left from this world.

Juto was looking for his father hopefully alive to give him comfort but Alas! He found him dead with a spear through his body. This once a mighty warrior, a fierce leader, a loving father now dead, martyred with all other brave guards around him.

Juto cried hugging his father's face.

"Thudd!..." A voice from a bush.

"who's there? Show yourself" screamed Juto while still crying.

A small girl came out of the bush, bathed in blood. Juto was still crying,

"Who are you?" Juto questioned her.

"My father and mother died too," replied the small girl.

"What is your name?," Juto almost stopped crying.

"I am Khoja," she replied with a soft and invisible voice.

"Let's get out of here, this place is dead now," Juto raised and looked at the sky,

"I swear to God! One day, I will avenge you father" Juto in his heart with tears still running down his eyes,

Juto woke up from the dream and walked out of the hut in the middle of the night. Juto while looking at the sky whispering,

"Father! Should I survive, live like this or avenge you, God guide me."

"Can't sleep huh…. Again that dream?" Khoja's voice from his back.

"My father was killed by a Seiyn, my brother is lost, my clan has vanished, and I am here surviving, hiding like a bird."

"My love don't worry, my heart tells me your brother is alive and safe, once we will find our people, by God we will avenge ourselves. Now let's go sleep, it's late."

Meanwhile, in the opposite of the green mountains 10 days walk from Juto's hut. A powerful young man was fighting with two guards in a ring of mud.

"Shuto! Shuto. Shuto" crowd cheering.

"I am a wolf, come to me my sheep. I am hungry, come to the mighty wolf," Shuto moved swiftly and looked in their eyes while chanting.

He grabbed both of the guards by their necks with his hands, raised both of them in the air. While screaming,

"I am the mighty wolf..."