Skilled Ninja (Book 1 of SN)

A long time ago angels rained down from Heaven and came upon this earth to oversee the human species. To live as humans and understand them from within. Understanding them allowed them to grow amongst themselves.

Many villages soon began to develop, and the angels adapted to their surrounding environment. Their wings dwindled, and they became more human-like every generation. Their armor evolved to a great extent since they were big on war and trade.

Two brave soldiers of their time, my ancestors, princess Calista and the great warrior Sapphira, founded my village and claimed it as their own. To what is known as Fortstone village. A combination of their last names: Fortune and Rimestone.

Sapphira is known for carrying her ancient sword, jocale, which directly translates to “jewel” or “jewelry” in Latin. It also happens to translate to “plaything.” So naturally, many people have mistaken her for carrying a toy instead of a sword around.

Princess Calista Diana Fortune is considered a mage with the power of immortality. Ever since she accidentally spilled an immortal potion on herself, she’s remained looking like a seventeen year old forever. Even though she’s roughly around two hundred and forty-eight now.

Flashback: 8 years ago— At home

I cover my eyes and bow my head. Quickly, I announce,”28..29..30. Ready or not, here I come!” I sprint and peek behind a tree, eager to find my friend. “Found you, Alexandra!” I shout.

“Hey! You cheated!” She argues, pouting. Her brown eyes narrowing in on me, disappointed.

“I did not! My eyes were closed!” I shoot back, stomping my feet.

She crosses her arms, furious. “No they weren’t! I saw you peeking through your hands!”

“I didn’t peek through my hands! You’re just a terrible hider!”

“Kids, supper’s ready!” My mother, Elizabeth, inturrupts, banging two iron pans together to get our attention.

“Coming!” My friend and I reply simultaneously.

“Zack! Emily! It’s time to eat!” I call out.

My brother, Zack, whines,”Already?! But we just started!”

My mother replies, unfazed,”You can continue playing after dinner, Sky.”

“Awwwww!” He complains once more.

He runs inside as my friend and I soon follow behind. We all grab dinner and sit down at the wooden table. My mom and Zack share a meal while Alexandra and I share the other. I notice my mom searching around the room, looking behind cabinets and frantically turning her head. Predictably, she asks, confused,”Where’s Emily?”

I shrug and respond, a little worried,”I don’t know. I assume she was right behind us.”

“Me too.” Alexandra nods her agreement.

“I’ll go find her,” Zack quickly offers, already pushing out of his chair. It gives a loud screeching sound, and I wince. I loathe that.

Wanting to help, I begin to stand up, replying within a heartbeat,”I’ll come with you.”

My mom nods her head, her violet eyes full of worry,”Be careful you two. It’s starting to get a little late.” She glances out the window, and I follow her gaze. The sun set is light. We have plenty of time.

“We will, mommy,” my brother says, shooting her a small, heartwarming smile.

As Zack and I hurry through our village, searching everywhere, I yell, hoping my voice reaches my friend,”Emily! Emily! It’s time to come inside for dinner!”

“Emily?!” Zack shouts, concern trailing his voice.

Suddenly, I hear some faint sobs near the school. Zack cautiously approaches behind it, his chest bent down. He presses his hand against the brick wall as he slides down, and I make sure I’m out of their line of sight. I don’t want to upset or overwhelm her, so I let my brother do the talking. He’s always the best at that.

“…What’s wrong?” He queries, his face sad; yet comforting.

She sniffles, and replies, staring down at the grass,”I’m tired of this.”

“Of what?”

“Being poor. Not being able to go school. Having to share meals because there’s not enough food to go around. Being away from everything; everyone. I can’t stand it.” She curls herself up in a ball, her eyes teary and red. She then rubs her bare feet and pluckes at the grass with them.

I hang my head low in shame.

He scoots closer to her, giving her the brightest smile he can manage. “Hey, don’t focus on those things too much. Yes, it sucks and all. But think about all the things you do have.”

“Like what?” She asks, peering up at him, her eyebrows furrowed in distress.

“Like me, Maya, Alexandra, your mom, my mom, and everyone in this village. We’re all here for you. It’ll get better. I’m sure of it.”

“Really?” Her voice squeaks, and she closes her mouth immediately after, embarrassed.

“Of course. You know how our armor and weapons improved a lot over a hundred years?”

She sniffles again and wipes her eyes. “…Yeah.”

“Well…I think the same will happen with our money and our shops and our food and our water. And maybe we’ll make more schools. It just takes time. Wait it out and you’ll see.”

“But that could be in a hundred years from now. Will I be alive to see it?”

“Yes, you will. Because it could happen sooner than you think.”

“I really hope so,” she replies, smiling and chuckling to herself. Then says after,”Thank you, Zack. You always know the right words to say. I look up to you.”

“No problem…and…Emily…I look up to you too. You always see the world for what it really is instead of what you want to see. You’re not fake. You’re real.” His violet eyes twinkle with happiness and determination.

She rubs her face and leans over to give him a hug. Gladly, he returns it.

I smile to myself and soon emerge from behind the corner. My expression lights up, hoping to also cheer her up,”Hey, it’s time to go back. My mommy and your cousin must be getting really worried about you. And aren’t you hungry?”

She lets go and laughs. “I’m starving.”

“What are you waiting for then? Let’s go eat!” I announce, grabbing her arm and running back home.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Zack yells, trying to keep up with our sudden take off.

Thinking about it now, that was probably the last time I got to see her before she went missing. The last time… before everything went south.

Two years later…

My mother had died only a few months ago. She was stabbed by some man, and I…I watched it happen. He ran away, never to be seen again. I held my mother’s hand while she managed to get some sentences out and they were: “Never forget your true worth. Always remember your name and what it means. Because I’ll always be with be with you in your heart. I love—.” Then she was gone. She never got to finish her sentence that day because she had too much to say. She always loved to talk.

Sometimes I wonder if I would ponder about her last words less if she finished them. Maybe it would have been less meaningful to me if she did. Who knows. I’ll find the answer when the time is right though.

Flashback: 8 years old— Moments before the bombing

I carry a bag full of food, water and a shovel for my short trip.

My grandpa asks, his eyebrow cocked. “Did you pack everything like I instructed?”

“Yes, grandpa,” I answer robotically, not wanting to check for the hundredth time.

“Perfect.” He nods his head in approval. “Just remember to go across the hills, through the city, go near the mountains, and to the left side dig a hole until you a clank. You should find the Waterway katanas there,” he explains, drawing an invisible map with his index finger, hoping that I’ll follow it.

I grin, excited and a little sad to go. “Thank you. I will do so.”

As I pull my straps tighter around my shoulders, people from my village call out reassuringly. “Bye Maya! Have a good time!” An old woman from one of our local shops exclaims.

Another one follows, even more enthusiastic. “Good luck! We’ll be waiting for you when you get back!” I give the man a wave.

My siblings and the others wave back. “See you soon, Maya!” Zack yells.

“I wish you a safe journey!” My eldest sister, Audrey, says, blowing me a kiss.

My smile only grows, and I return her gesture. “Thank you all! I will!”

“Star, one last thing,” I turn to my grandfather, my eyes wide with excitement. I already feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins because I can’t wait. I won’t let them down. “If something happens to me, promise me you’ll keep the katanas for yourself.”

My face drops, and I furrow my eyebrows, lost. So I question him immediately,” Why would something happen to you?”

He practically brushes it off, responding with all seriousness,”Just promise me.”

I swallow nervously as something like dread gets caught in my throat, but I merely nod. Without hesitation, I say,”Okay. I promise.”

It was an odd request back then, but I didn’t think much of it. I understand why he said that now. Because those very words would change my life forever.

Flashback continued: 8 years old—

Right when I make it over the hill, and I excitedly run down the other side, I feel an odd gust of wind blow past me. I climb over the hill again and what I see shocks me: the mass destruction of my village. Horror runs through my body as I head toward it and find nothing but dead bodies. I gasp loudly as tears stream down my face. I fall to my knees in defeat, wondering how this all happened. How everything was fine a moment ago. In the corner of my eye, I spot Audrey and Zack rushing toward me. As it seems like they’ve come out of nowhere.

I query, stunned, my voice shaky and my hands trembling,”How—how did you two survive?”

My sister’s response is automatic and stated so matter of factly,”We dug a hole and hid in it five minutes before this place was blown up.”

“But how did you know this would happen?” I ask as my heart nearly stops. It’s beating so fast now that I feel it’s going to explode any minute.

Zack says, unfazed,”I had a gut feeling something bad was gonna happen, and my instincts kicked in just in time.” His expression remains neutral, and I have no idea how. Not when so much destruction and despair has crossed our paths. Has ruined our lives.

Questions bottle up inside me, catapulting at once to my brain. My first concern is: Why do I feel like he’s not telling me the truth? There’s no way he could’ve known what kind of attack it is to know what action to take. But he’s not the only one. Grandpa…he knows this is going to happen. But how? And why doesn’t he do anything to stop it? It doesn’t make sense…

Audrey and I glare up at the statue as my brother stands as still as a one.

My sister inturrupts the silence with such urgency, it’s hard to recognize. “…It’s time to go.”

“What? Why?” My head snaps in her direction, my nostrils flaring.

“What do you mean why? This place is no longer suitable for living conditions. We can’t stay here.”

“Yes, we can,” I blicker, planting my feet. “We’ll just rebuild everything like how it was before.”

“Just the three of us?” She shakes her head in disapproval and sighs. “Three little kids? I don’t think so.”

“Audrey please—“

“No Maya. We’re leaving whether you like it or not. It’s not safe. There’s nothing left for us here. You need to accept that.”

“NO! I’m not going!” I shout at the top of my lungs as they fill up with hiccups. Because this isn’t real. This is all a dream, and I’m wishing—wishing—for someone to wake me up. I begin to shake my head aggressively.

“Don’t make me drag you,” she warns.

“Drag me all you want! But my home, my life, is here! And only here!”

She throws my arm over her shoulder and throws me on her back while Zack sadly follows, his head down.

I scream, rambling on and on, unable to help it. I can’t keep my feelings inside. I want to be heard. I want the world to hear,”Let me go! LET ME GO!!! Please! You’re making a huge mistake! Audrey! AUDREY!!!” I kick and cry, tears pouring out from the depths of my soul. I remember, calling out the names of everyone I know. Of everyone I value the most,”You can’t do this!!! PLEASE! Mom! Alexandra! Emily! Grandpa! Reece! I need to stay with them! I NEED TO!!! PLEASE! My life is here…with my family and friends. I’d rather die than live anywhere else! No matter where you take me, my one and only home, will ever be… Fortstone village!”

Zack glances at what used to be our village and suggests,”…Why don’t we bury the bodies? That way they’ll all be able to rest peacefully.”

And so… my siblings and I buried all the bodies and said our prayers. We tried our best to find as many flowers as we could and place them on the gravestones. In memory of all the innocent lives taken, of who they meant to us and their role.

Afterwards, we all left without looking back at what is now our past. Waiting for a new journey ahead.

Audrey left my brother and I once she knew we could take care of ourselves. We survived by doing what we had to do. Some of it wasn’t pretty, but we made it through.