A lady ran through a field of rice, away from something. She was young and frail with dark brown hair and a patch of light skin around her left eye. She was panting and scared. She looked back as she ran and saw two green eyes shining within the mist. She turned her head in terror and quickly jogged through the wet fields. She heard a roar from behind. The sheer volume of that sound vibrated the grass blades. When the roar ended, the sky cleared and the moon shined like evening sun. She stood there in the middle of the field as she felt the impact of each step the monster took to approach her. She was too scared to run or even look back. It stood right behind her as she could felt every breath it took on her head. She slowly turned back to find a ram headed monster.

*Kan 'A' tsoro*

It's mouth was drenched in blood and it's hands were also dripping of shiny crimson serum. A drop of which fell on her face from one of its long twisted Horns extended beyond its head over her's.

The beast lifted it's hand to slam the woman, but it looked at the point of view like breaking the forth wall and said, in a deep raspy voice.

"KEEP YOUR MOTHER OUT OF THIS!"

The beast squished her as it plummeted it's palm on her, her spine penetrated out of her body from behind, her leg bones poked out of her knees not Abel to withstand the sudden weight, her skull was flat to her neck level, ribs crunched, squeezing out the organs through the gaps, blood squirted out of every possible openings. She was completely disfigured. The beast repeated the bang, this time spreading her on the ground like an airless baloon. All the organs flattened, blood slashed all around her mush of flesh. The grass blades were painted red in that area, the beast lifted it's hand for one more hit.

"MOM!!!" Aoki Screamed, bursting out of his blanket.

He was sweating and breathing heavily. He looked around and calmed himself before covering his face with his palms. He was Soaking wet with sweat. He lowered his hands to look at the clock, it was 8:38. A slight sighed and he pulled his leg out of the blanked with pain. His legs were sore and painful, not only his legs, his entire body felt like it was covered with wood splinters because of the physical training he's been doing for the past couple days. He sat on the bed half naked reflecting on the nightmare he just had. His head felt heavy like he was wearing an iron helmet. The weight was pulling his head forward. He stood up and let his body loose in curiosity, that's when he noticed that his body tended to fall forward without any reason. The weight on his head was making him lean forward. He stopped caring as very move he made caused pain in different areas of his body. He yawned with minimum motion and limped his way to the bathroom.

***

"I shall leave soon" Shisuke said.

Him and Tarou stood on a roof top looking at Aoki's house. Tarou didn't reply, Shisuke looked at him and continued.

"Zenbara was caught using magic inside his cell. I don't know how thats even possible but....gaurds said so. There will be an investigation and questioning at the Province. My attendance is requested"

Tarou just nodded lightly and spoke nothing while his eyes bounced on and off of Shisuke suspiciously.

"What happened?, What is it?" Shisuke asked

He looked away and sat down on the roof.

Should I tell him?

"I don't know, I'm I doing it right? Captain?" He asked and bowed. "I know there's a dispute weather to even consider a half blood or not, but that actually doesn't bother me, if he flies...he's an Airentine. The details can be neglected" he added

Shisuke wanted to weigh in but he sensed more coming.

"What im...Nervous. About is... being a mentor to someone again, especially to someone who will some day bring peace to the infinite verses. I...I.. lack confidence. Captain! Aoki is a good person and he is of the Matsumoto bloodline but... still, he has legendary shoes to fill, and I'm the one going to mold him? That's tough, even for you isn't it?" He explained as he removed his coller pin and fixated his eyes on it.

Captain walked up to Tarou and sat next to him.

"On the final round of the recrutement match, I was over confident, I pegged you against Senjuko, I was drowned in pride and ignorance, but i was wrong. Senjuko lost! Even if you didn't mean to, you humiliation him. You didn't know and didn't care about who or what your opponent was, you just had to beat him to accomplish your goal, your determination fascinated me. That's when I realised, I over estimated him because he was my son, and I underestimated you because you were from  down under. You opened my eyes to the real meaning of skill and talent, which can come from any nook, verses bloodline and Inheritance. You taught me not to judge a book by it's cover, a cliche notion yet a truthful one. No matter who trains him, Aoki is a mage now, a very capable one at that"

Captain placed his hands on Tarou's shoulder and continued.

"Trust me, I don't think anyone can ever match Hinaro Otsukoshi. I honestly don't want anyone to do so. Aoki Matsumoto shall be a new and modern Combat Master. He shall make a name of his own. I can practically see it. That's when you'll make me proud, initially it's going to be tough, but his birth right is undeniable and he'll receive the opportunities he deserves, I'll see to it myself. Just stop self doubting and be the best possible teacher, but more importantly be the better version of you, the rest tags along"

Tarou's face gained a new glow, like his perspective was shifted. Shisuke gave him the much needed confidence, the confidence that he lost during the tiering 17 years of solitude.

"He asked about Zenbara once" Tarou said as it suddenly occured to him.

"That's up to you... remember he's one of us now, and I think he deserves to know the truth"Captain replied.

"He's not ready yet. He has accepted his weaknesses and has been living with it, he's humble and tolerant, a cry baby at times, so...I can't bring that up now. I will give him a physical and mental makeover, before that, he'll need to know all the basics, starting with channeling" Tarou said as he stood up.

"Look at you, talking like a responsible Sensei, that's the spirit. He'll turn out great under your guidance, I'm sure of it. Send him my regards, I'll be on my way now" The captain said and turned away from Tarou.

"About Kyoten, do you think he's ?" Tarou began to ask but paused.

"Yes, he might have crossed the gates of hell and back, the ones behind him are yet to be discovered, resurrection of Ark 'A' ton is due after all.... It may be a human or a mage. for now it remains a mystery"

The captain took a pause and continued.
"Kyoten is plotting somthing. I have this feeling that someone from the inside is helping him, his surrender is not believable in the slightest. I want to personally double check his prison arrangements" Tarou agreed with a nod and sighed before they locked eyes.

"I can sense the feeling you have, your afraid that the history is going to repeat itself" Captain said as a portal opened behind him.

Tarou was well aware of what he was insinuating, it was true, he was indeed scared, but he decided to keep it to himself.

"That's behind me, I couldn't fullfill my responsibility, mistakes were made and that has lend to the creation of the man I am now" he said with athority.

"I don't know what the right amount of confidence is, but this seems about right... I guess"

The captain said and lifted his hand as he walked through the portal and disappeared.

The portal closed with a gentle breeze, behind it was a slender figured boy, with nearly shaved head and a dog next to him. Tarou instantly recognised them "Is she okay?" He asked Without ovations.

"Yes...she's infused within him, she's officially his embodied spirit" the boy said. Both of them exchanged lite nods at each other and turned towards Aoki's house.

***

Aoki had freshened up and was heading downstairs.
He entered the kitchen and relieved the maid.

He closed the door behind her after packing all of the food she made. He plated some in a bowl and placed it on a tray along with a glass of water and a small medicine box. He carried the tray to a room led by a hallway outside of the kitchen.

There was only the light of the television illuminating the whole room as it was dark and gloomy. Aoki forced the door open with his foot and entered.

The room was dusty, there was a desktop computer stright ahead and a book shelf next to it. There was also a small old style vaccum tube television at the bottom of the shelf followed by a series of cupboards all along the walls ending at the corner window. The window was fully covered by thick curtains. In the opposite corner was a bed, with a hight adjustment mechanism. On it was a weak and frail woman with a visible light skinned patch around her left eye, she produced audible wheeze everytime she breathed.

He glanced at the TV playing an old wedding tape on repeat. He sighed. The woman slowly moved her eyes to look at Him. "What's that on your head?" She asked.
"Nothing,... just take your medicine" he said like he didn't care for anything she said.

He placed the tray next to her bed and straightened her pillow proceeding to move her so as to lay her upright. He pulled the curtains apart and the rays of sunlight light illuminated the entire room revealing many framed photos of the both of them. Happy and full of love, quite the contrary to their current relationship.

That lady wasn't his mother. She is...but she is also not. Aoki used to love his mother, but the one who came back from the mental hospital was not the same person. She had changed, or they changed her. Now; she acts cruelly.  Foul mouthing  her husband, pretending to be carefree of her son, she  even asked him to end her life once. Worst of all. She genuinely accepted that she did kill her father, it was  like she had been programmed to be this way. even though Aoki was an infant when it happened, the mother who raised him would never do it, atleast, that's what he believes. Now...He hates the person in front of him.

Aoki switched the TV off and handed her a tablet with a glass of water. "Did you glue that on to your head or what? it looks hideous" She said. "Could you just make it fast, I have to go" He continued to ignore her remarks.

"You have to go?... where?...don't tell me you have actually befriended people, I mean who would want to be friends with you? Your father abandoned his family, mother is a murderer yet you shamelessly continue being so awfully positive, like you have any purpose in life"

she emptied the glass.

"Let me guess, off to find new bullies? I forgot that besides running away from them, you can fly away now, that could be quite the spectacle"She said.

Aoki did not respond. He just kept a straight face, trying hard not to make any eye contact. He swiftly placed the glass and the medicine on the lamp table to got out of there.

"Oh did that hurt?..I can do worse and I won't stop until you poison me one day my dear son" She screamed out and laughed at the end of her taunt.

Aoki shut the door behind him and he leaned against the door and tilted his head up to hold back tears."Where are you mom?" He whispered even though she was  right in front of him.

Suddenly he felt a sense of pressure coming from the the roof. He went towards the door and opened it. Tarou as well as the boy and the dog were waiting at the gate. He cleaned his eyes and opened the door. "Your sensory abilities are on point Aoki... impressive"

Tarou said in a calm tone, but he was actually surprised that Aoki could sense them even after Aura shielding.
"can you connect with mel now?" He asked "Goodmorning to you too Sensei. And no. No sign of her, whose that?"
Aoki replied. Tarou felt an unusual amount of energy coming from Aoki's house as he entered the compound.

The boy and the dog also got defensive, the dog morphed itself from a pug to a great dane. Aoki was startled.

"Tarou what's going on?" He asked

"Haven't you felt that?"

"Felt what? Exactly, I've been living here my entire life, you've been here too...like yesterday"

"It's not a negetive pressure, it's just a point of irregularity, a source of connection from this universe to another universe"

"Honestly you seem to make less sense day by day Sensei,  its ridiculous"

"Maybe it's because of his magical projections, over the years" the boy added to the conversation.

"The kid's been using magic only for a few weeks now max, it's something else" Tarou answered.

"Guys I felt it too that day"

Mel said, her voice was audible to everyone but only visible to Aoki "Why are you glowing? And where were you all these days?"

"I was re enforcing your sou... you know what?.. you won't get it"Mel replied.

"She will be only visible to you from now on Aoki, she'll appear with a glow because she's a personal spirit of a mage, that's just natural and I am Maximus Everwell by the way. You can call me Max, and this is Tonik my shape-shifting buddy" Max explained.

"Ummm questions...like, a lot of them" Aoki expressed his confusion.

"So we're just going to ignoring that unusual aura, Okay...cool" Tarou said sarcastically.

"Aoki, Max is from the Spirits and soul protection authority division of Heavensworth, he'll be with us for a while to monitor the situation between her and the Demon" Tarou added.

The dog morphed into a pug again and climbed on top of the boy. Tarou continued on with his "Acknowledgement speech"

"remember.  The chains represent your willpower to stay in control, you can only break one at a time, what captain taught you is absolute..."

Tarou continued on but Aoki slowly phased out of the present. He held on to his smiling face, that's what he is very good at, He becomes a completely new person infront of others, hiding his scars and resulting pain, he has forgotten to express his actual emotion to people, or he doesn't want to. He left behind the whole exchange with his mother at his house But Mel realised it. She is the only one who sees the drastic shift in his personality under Various circumstances, his inner conflict, his mother's harsh words, the pressure of being an half blood and a combat master candidate, it's all swirling up inside him. Mel got to see it first hand, but as per the decree she is not allowed to intervene With the emotional cortex.

"Ok then, let's begin today's training, activation of spirit magic!" Said Tarou as he ended his speech. Aoki closed the front door and followed Tarou, Max remained staring at the wired aura of the house. Tonik jumped off of him and turned into a golden retriever. He snapped out of it and joined the others.

Two demonic figures appeared on the roof of Aoki's house as all of them left. One with a head of a Toad and body figured like a normal human but textured similar to a reptile. Joining it was a tall muscular brown fur coated man horse, also human figured but with horse like features. Both dressed in lite armour at every joints of their limbs, interwoven by leather and chain mail, their whole outfit is disguised by a piece of cloth like a cover up, A strong breeze tries to blow away the cover revealing their weapons on their back, slightly illuminating with magical luminance.

"They almost got us, you said we were well shielded Mustang! " said the toad man. Mustang glared at Tarou and the others as they departed from the the perimeter.

"Let's finish it quickly, our presence is noted and will be inspected. Heavensworth dose not breed fools. Get to it"
Mustang ordered.

The toad man nodded and slowly descended down through the roof like it was water, but before his head went through - "Remember Anura, we are not allowed to release her soul, handle her gently and erase the memories at the end without fail" Mustang added. Anura went all the way in.

He lurked within the shadows of the room which was barely lit, he made his presence very clear to Aoki's mom, she was not even phased. "I've seen more horrifying things than a measly frog man, cut this shit and show yourself"
She said, without moving her head.

"Ayame kizuki, the rebellious spouse of Zenbara Matsumoto, that's what you want everyone to believe isn't it? Who are you really?" Asked Anura.

"So...you chose to be a frog or, were you thinking of them when they incursed you?" Ayame asked with a serious expression.

Anura pulled out one of his daggers, the blade of it had three holes on the side, each of the holes thrusted steam like gas out of it rhythmically, it was clear that if he were to stab someone, all their insides would burst out

"I don't think you understand the seriousness of the situation" Anura intimidated.

"I already prefer the one on the roof. You really suck at this. I know you know that you don't have the jurisdiction to even touch my hair follicle, so you're kidding me with that relic?" Ayame said.

Mustang entered the room bowing his way in as the door was too small.

"Yet I've killed hundreds of you and I can probably do it again. Also get away with it. if  I wanted. So don't make me. Just tell me where she is and I'll let you live your fragile and pathetic life in this sad disgusting reality" Said Mustang as he entered the room.

"How disappointing! So many deaths and no lead on her, same goes here by the way, I do not know where she is" Ayame said without any care for her life.

Mustang didn't speak a word, he simply sighed and walked up to her bed. Anura knew exactly what was going on so he stepped back, Mustang reached out his hand towards her head while Ayame was ready to die as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. But Mustang simple pulled a strand of hair.

"We can't allow a damned soul to jump around universes, in fact you coverings for her is an offense punishable by live blood boiling. So... it's totally fine if you don't know where she is. You just have to tell me which universe you are from" Mustang said as he tied that piece of hair around his index finger.

"I genuinely don't know, why won't you belie..."

Mustang cracked his finger with her hair tied to it. The gap between her middle finger and index finger continued to split wider, the flesh tore and blood sprayed out. She screamed horridly.

Zenbara. The man in the cage from before  opened his eyes while he was meditating "Tarou" he whispered.

Tarou who was training Aoki heard the voice in the back of his head. He quickly teleported and appeared inbetween Ayame and Mustang with a steaming ice sword and slashed Mustang but it was blocked by Anura. Mustang was in total surprise. Tarou and Mustang had a brief eye contact in slow-motion. Mustang pulled a huge axe from behind over Tarou's head as it was going to hit his forehead, he let go of the sword and swiftly shaped his fingers, stopping everyone in time except him.

He then removed himself from the action and turned towards Ayame. He reversed time on her hand and recovered her. He then looked back at Mustang and anura with a frown and disappeared.

He reappeared close to Aoki who was surprised to see his mother in Tarou's hands. He gently placed her down in front of them. Aoki and Max came closer and enquired on the same. Tarou turned to Max "Helldwellers. Two. at his house, one ranks well above me, if it wasn't for the element of surprise I wouldn't be here"

"What the hell is going on? What happened to her? Why is she here" Aoki questioned.

"What kind? Did they have relics?"
Max asked. 

Tarou stood up and said, "A herbivore and a reptile, both with weapons"

None listened to Aoki. He turned back and walked away from the conversation.

"That was the wierd aura but how did you know? From so far away" Max asked.

"It's a fail safe. made by my senior, His father" tarou said as he gestured his thumb to Aoki.

"We'll have to get rid of them. Quickly. I haven't released the time  yet, I'm sure they'll break out soon. We have to report this first and engage within in a shielded environment, get ready to fight, and Aoki..." Tarou stopped and looked around to find that Aoki was gone.

***

Aoki was flying towards his house.

"I thought you were scared and introverted, what has gotten into you?" Mel said while Aoki remained silent.

"Didn't you hear what Tarou said, one of them out ranks him. What do you think that means?" She reasoned.

"I DON'T CARE. They tried to hurt her" he shouted.

She had only seen Aoki like that only once before, when he killed kiske. She realised that nothing could convenience him. She entered his spiritual plain and stood in front of the tied up Demon as she actively regrets it.

***

"Who is this women?" Max asked.

Tarou didn't know what to say. He sighed
"It's complicated" he replied after a pause

"You know what?, Go for it. Try me" Max challenged. Tonic sat down beside him.

"Ok. Fine...A version of this person is the most important human being of the prime universe" Tarou said.

"Okey...! And my question remains unanswered" Max said

"I'll explain later, get her to safety, remember when I said important human being, I really really meant it, so go!" Tarou warned.

Tonic transformed into a Giant Siberian husky. Both Tarou and Max strapped her on tonic, after which they took off deeper into the woods. Tarou Turned away and teleported.

***

Aoki slowly landed in front of his house, his mother's bedroom section had a hole in the wall. He took slow steps. Suddenly Tarou appeared in front of him.

"Where is she?" Aoki asked.

"Safe, for now." Tarou replied.

"They're here because of my father aren't they?"
He asked, panting.

"No, he has nothing to do with this" Tarou said.

"HE DOES! Everything that's happened since I was born is because of him. He betrayed mom. Killed grandpa,and abandoned me" he rambled.

"AOKI!" Tarou raised his voice higher "They're here for your real mother" he said after calming himself.

"Why? To kill her?, Are they from Heavensworth? Or...?"

Aoki paused mid sentence. He looked at Tarou slowly, eyes wide open. Rain started to pour down on them. Aoki's eyes filled up.

"What do you mean Real?"

He asked in a low tone, each word was spaced out as he uttered.

"I can explain it later Aoki" said Tarou trying to pull him out of the realisation. Before Aoki could react Mustang appeared inbetween them facing Aoki and punched him in the gut, he was thrusted across the streets and through walls of multiple residences.

Tarou did not register what just happened, he soon conjured up a sword and tried to swing but Mustang cought him by his throat and lifted him up to his face level.

"Airentines" he said and spat on Tarou's face.

Mustang humped high up above from where they was standing and took a free fall all the while holding Tarou in his death grip. He gained momentum as he fell and slammed Tarou on the ground with all the built up speed.

Tarou was unable to breath. All of his spine might be broken. He was bleeding from the head and mouth.

Mustang took his hand off of his throat and stood up straight.

"Deing is the next thing you do after trying to attack a Helldweller is unsuccessful. You my friend, froze me in time and bailed...fine smart move, but COME BACK?, no no no, big mistake mage"

He said and crouched down facing Tarou while getting uncomfortably close.

"YET!... You are not dead, WHY? Well...you noticed that twig of a boy that I just blasted into oblivion, he happens to have a mother, come on you know what I'm talking about..."

He toyed with Tarou  who was still breathless and coughing blood.

Mustang tilted his head forward a bit and  he saw Aoki standing right in front of them. Mustang was genuinely surprised and was hiding it. He didn't even remotely register Aoki's presence or movements. He was just there suddenly and Threateningly With a blank expression and glowing green eyes. Somthing about him was completely off.