*Everyday is the same…

  Get up. Go to school. Come back to the orphanage that’s called home. You help cook dinner, get homework done. Getting into petty fights for the honor of those you care about.

  But this can all be changed. Only if you choose to listen, and accept…*

  His eyes snapped opened and he shot up from his beanbag chair he’d fallen asleep in. A controller on the floor and the game he’d been playing had a blood splatter across the screen in game with the words ‘YOU DIED’ on screen as well. He merely scoffed at this.

  “As if I could be so lucky.” He said to himself pulling on his blazer and grabbing his bag and slipping on his shoes

  Popping the window he slipped down a self made rope latter and was down the street in no time. He didn’t want to get another lecture from Martha over sleeping in and going to bed late. Or sneaking out and going into the city when he wasn’t supposed to…

  *‘No I’m not gonna think about it today.’*

  He told himself this lie. It was like trying to swallow a pill that didn’t want to go down. You can feel it dissolving and only making the taste worse in your mouth. Closing his eyes and gulped hard and forced it down as he entered the front gate of the school and went to his first class.

  The class president next him as usual.

  “You almost missed the gate being closed. Again.” Reina said as they were writing

  “Mhm.” He replied simply

  She sighed heavily pushing up her glasses as she turned her attention to him now.

  “The least you could do is take this serious. You’re going to graduate soon.” She said a little more seriousness in her voice

  “Oh really? I didn’t know. It’s not like I have reminders everyday.” He retorted focusing on his writing

  “You’ve been gone for all yesterday. You’ve got to pick yourself up and focus on your future.” Reina said louder this time

  “Look Reina. I’ll be alright. Did you ever think I didn’t want your help.” He said closing his booklet as he walked to teacher handing in his book as he excused himself

  It still felt like that pill. Now it was taking affect, you could feel it’s effects and hated it. Even with a can of iced coffee or a cigarette didn’t make it any better or watching the kids in gym class running or swimming. Today was the boys turn to run while the girls turn to swim. Reina was among the girls now, she was their star swimmer and going to take them to nationals

  No doubt Taiga Ayanami was practicing Kendo instead of swimming. She was going to take nationals as well for them. Two star champions was a rare thing indeed. Mai Takenashi was going to take over her family clinic so she had to keep studying. Meanwhile his friends Ace Orion and Aaron Ryuuto were just as much delinquents but they made off like bandits when it came to testing. So they’d be alright come graduation.

  He could easily spot his other friends, misfit toys like himself, Reina, Taiga, Aaron, Ace and Mai. Haru Izinski and Liliana Haruka. The two lovebirds, hiding under the bleachers again, how the teachers never seemed to notice them missing was truly peculiar. Almost like they vanished from sight, but Cole and the others could always spot them.

  “So… what brings you back up here? Thought you quit?” A familiar voice said as it belonged to one of his friends, Ace and with him was their friend Aaron

  “I don’t remember saying such a claim. I said, I’d cut back. And I have.” Cole clarified “So who sent you this time to tell me off?” He asked seeing through his friend

  “Taiga, she said a lot. Mai was just pissed.” Aaron asked as he was always a kid of few words even now in high school

  “I see.” Cole said mildly impressed still leaning against the railing before sighing knowingly letting this pain hang around for any long and not tell would only continue to fester “I finally found them. Slipped into Martha’s office and found my file, found the hospital and finally found them in the big city of all places.” He finally explained

  “How’d that go?” Aaron asked getting to the point knowing him well enough as well this was going to keep eating at him if he didn’t get it out now

  “Said they never wanted kids. Just couldn’t live with abortion. And they asked me not to get in contact with them.” He recited their exact words

  “Listen. Not much I can say there. But if you want my extremely honest opinion. Screw them. They just can’t see how cool you are. I’ve known you a long time. We’ve been through some crap together. I can understand, mine aren’t that much better. But you can’t let it weigh you down. Prove them wrong. Show them you’ll do better than they ever could.” Edge said to Cole flatly as he always had been honest when it was needed

  “I, agree. Besides, you’ve always got friends here.” Aaron added

  Cole looked down at the cigarette and flicked it away sighing as he finished his coffee.

  “Thanks for that. I’ll be back for shop class and the rest of classes too.” Cole assured him as he got up

  “Alright. See you soon.” Ace said leaving with Aaron now as they went to find Mai and Taiga

  Taiga was also dating Aaron, they’d always gotten along after getting off on the wrong foot their first day of high school. Aaron always had that menacing look and when he bumped into Taiga by accident she sucker punched him, even knocking him on his ass and breaking his nose while she broke her hand in the process. But after a couple days in detention together they grew to understand each other. Realizing they weren’t so different, he was always seen as intimidating while she was made fun of for her small stature.

  As for Ace he was always a wild child and Mai was the no-nonsense type who whipped him into shape, and getting his grades up. But he showed her it was alright to have fun and live. She’d never admit it but she liked him.

  Cole now stood about to leave, he spotted the two other lovebirds leaving the bleachers to get back to class before the bell. Haru and Haruka. They’d always been together since elementary school. Haruka was the kind and understanding one, while Haru was the true gentleman to her and had gotten into fights when she was picked on. But there wasn’t a day where they weren’t sneaking off to make out somewhere. They were meant for each other. Everyone already knew he was gonna propose the moment they graduated. It was a feeling of knowing it would be so.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Cole threw his can away and slipped his cigarettes back into the inside pocket of his bag and headed back to class.

  Awhile later after school had ended he was studying up on what he’d missed and filling out his homework. That’s when the class president entered and sat next to him.

  “You’re getting these few wrong. Here.” Reina said simply checking his work

  “Thanks.” He said softly checking himself correcting his mistakes

  “I won’t ask about it. It’s rude. But you’ve always got people here as well.” She said softly now as she helped him work

  “I am grateful. I’m just tired is all. Tired of people expecting the best of me and nodding and saying they understand. They do sometimes but they expect me still to just get over whatever the problem is instantly and be a model citizen.” He replied softly looking outside again

  “I understand more than you think…” she whispered as he looked her way “We all have our own struggles.” She added as he understood to a degree feeling his own

  “Cmon ive kept you too long. It’s getting late. I’ll walk you back.” He said closing his notebooks and placing his things into his bag as she did the same

  Walking back together through the small seaside town and back to her place which she shared with Taiga and Aaron.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow Cole.” Reina said

  “Take care prez.” He said walking off

  As he arrived back he went straight to his room without dinner. Looking out the window at the setting sun. He sighed. This was life. He wanted to be angry. But he couldn’t anymore. It didn’t matter anymore, he was the only dragging this around. He didn’t want to touch his video games and laid down for the night…

  As he closed his eyes letting his mind wander he quickly fell into a deep sleep. Quicker than he expected his head feeling fuzzy and could only hear static.

  *‘Wake up.’

  His eyes opened and he was somewhere else entirely. And he was floating. And it was absolutely silent.

  “Huh?! Whoa whoa whoa! What in the hell is this?!” He called out

  ‘Hush. You’re alright boy.’ A male voice said

  ‘You’re in the space between space. A realm we can only talk.’ A female voice added her pronunciation more fluid and and precise

  ‘Oh Cmon! He doesn’t need to know specifics! He’s just needs to know where he’s going if he accepts!’ A third female said much more loud and rambunctious

  ‘Cole… we have searched for one like you for a long time. You perhaps have some questions and we are here to help you understand and offer a path.’ The third female stated her tone more calm and understanding

  His head was spinning at all this information. He didn’t know where to start asking because he indeed had questions, just too many.

  “What exactly are you?” He finally managed to say

  ‘We four are gods of creation. I myself am the goddess of Light, Ligeria.’ The third goddess said

  ‘I’m the goddess of Earth and Fire! Terra!’ The second goddess called out happily

  ‘You may call me Juno, goddess of wind of water.’ The second goddess added

  ‘Tsukuyomi. God of darkness.’ The male god said as well as he was the kind to not waste words

  “So it’s you I’ve been hearing? In my dreams?” Cole asked

  ‘Yes it has indeed. We’ve been calling out to you for some time… hoping you would hear our voices.’ Ligeria explained speaking softly

  “So what is it you’re hoping I can do?” He asked

  ‘We’re not praying for you at all or going to give you the powers like ours. All we can offer is a simple gift. The gift of Phoenix. It’s up to you to discover what it’s true power is. Find the basilisk and your own way to defeat it.’ Tsukuyomi explained ‘In exchange… we can give you a new life. Reborn, how you choose to live and break the cycle of fighting is up to you.’ He added

  ‘This is, if you accept of course.’ Juno added as Cole was now confused

  “I have a choice? Wait why even me? Why?” Cole asked still lost on all of this

  But all four gods fell silent on this question for what felt like a long time.

  ‘You’re one of billions. We chose you. But if you really need a reason why, find one and cling to it.’ Terra explained to him as the others agreed

  Cole was once again speechless. He really didn’t have a response to this.

  “Alright. I’ll do it.” He said simply

  ‘You understand boy? There is always a beginning. There is no end.’ Juno clarified as Cole absorbed this

  “I understand.” He said still committed to this

  ‘Very well . Let us begin…’ Ligeria added

  His eyes closed again and began to fall…*

  As he awoke it felt like a waking from a long dream. He could recall his life here so clearly so vividly. Running around the village being a rascal always up to no good but helping out in meaningful ways. But he had a friend, a friend who always was there for him. He was a simple farm hand who lived out of the barn since he was too old to be taken in by the church.

  “Cole! There you are! I’ve been worried sick about you!” A girl his age said as she came running towards him a simple white dress her hair cut short and a silver as were her eyes but the most distinguishing features being her cat tail protruding from her lower back and large cat ears perched atop her head and she hugged him

  “H-hey… sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you.” He said confused as he slowly hugged her back

  “Cmon! The festival is about to start!” She said excitedly as she pulled his arm running back towards the village

  The village was now celebrating and a group of varying men and women were all armed and geared up. But then an older man in a faded black suit with slicked back silver hair stepped forward and the crowd slowly died down in noise.

  “My fellow villagers. I know the story of our village has been passed down for many generations. But I will tell it once more.” He said loudly

  But Cole was no fool, he could tell he was some kind of leader of this village.

  ‘Edgar Kalikori.’

  Cole now found himself feeling confused. He knew this man’s name, like he’d heard a hundred times over and knew this man’s face well from the times Cole himself had been scolded by the leader.

  “Long ago after the Great War, we were a people looking for our own settlement. Far away from the establishment of Falconia and those that seek only violence. When our forefathers arrived, they saw the tree of death. Many men over the generations have tried and none so far have been able to fell this great tree. But we still hold to the legends foretold of a beautiful White Oak tree blooming and breathing hope into our lands once more.” The mayor recited to his people as they listened in awe

  Cole could almost see what the mayor was saying. Like he was painting his words in the minds of all. He could see a tall tree with pure white bark and white leaves that rained down gently and the village full of green and other bright colors.

  “Come tomorrow morning. Our newest initiates will be taken out into the wild’s for their trials to become full members of the Kalikori Ranger’s.” The mayor added as the whole town cheered and Cole even clapped happily impressed that his friend was amongst the initiates

  Awhile later the people were all dancing and drinking while a band played homemade instruments. The people drank and merry-made through the night. Cole was away from the party and up on a hill watching with a tankard of homemade wine.

  “The view is rather nice up here.” Saeko said surprising him

  “I guess. Can’t deny it.” Cole said simply “So you’re going to be a ranger?” He asked probing her a little

  “Oh yeah! It’s been my dream for as long as I could remember.” She said happily as she smiled even more before taking her bow from her back and examining and looking at it “It’s been a sacred tradition for our people. The men and women of this village giving their time and lives for the sake and safety of the people of this area. Seeking neither praise nor pageantry for their work to keep those monster’s that seek to destroy us at bay. As they turn down none who offer their skills and can earn their place. Even for me, a Kushan. But they took me in when I had no place to call home. The only thing I did have was my father’s bow.” She explained to him as well

  She had that far away look in her eye as she continued to examine the now. He had a mostly shocked and lost look across his face, but he listened nonetheless.

  “I guess I can’t speak too much about that… I never knew my own parents. And I’ve never been one for having any real aspirations.” He said carefully and speaking softly

  She smiled his way as she placed her bow on her back again before resting her hand on his shoulder.

  “Destiny is often a cruel mistress.” She recited as she looked into his eyes

  “What the hell does that mean?” He asked confused as she chuckled

  “Maybe you’ll understand someday. When you walk through the hall of our forefathers, the first Kalikori Rangers. You feel that history. You feel what they intended truly for the people. Their memories, their thoughts, their feelings, the love and protection they wished to foster in their descendants.” She explained to him as well referring to the the church that was once the great hall of Lord Kalikori

  Saeko now turning her gaze out at the people of the village celebrating still.

  “Look at them. Happy, thriving, living. They may worry about tomorrow but tonight they’re happy.” She added as well

  And he too looked down at the people and could see this. Saeko was right. Maybe there was something for him here. That’s when he felt her hand again on his shoulder.

  “I’ll see you around Cole. May destiny guide you towards your path or grant you a swift death.” She said lastly leaving him with this