"Tomo Kaze! You've been summoned by the village elders! Report to the village centre immediately."
Kaze looked at the messenger in confusion. He wondered what the village elders wanted with him.
A ball bounced off his head. He saw his sister quickly hide behind a large tree, giggling.
"Can I take her home first?" Kaze looked back at the messenger who squinted her eyes.
"Can you delay the elders?" the messenger replied sassily.
'How rude!' Kaze thought.
He sighed, "No… Leini, can you do me a favour and take her home?"
"I'm on the job," Leini looked behind Kaze to see his sister curiously peeking at her from the tree cover, "But I can spare some time… Not because of you but because your sister is so dang cute!"
"I appreciate it either way," he said smiling, gesturing to his sister to come.
Mei Mei ran as fast as her stubby feet could take her.
"Leini!" She hugged Leini's legs.
"Mei cutie! Hup!" Leini lifted Mei into the air, spinning her round. Her expression fell as she looked back at Kaze, "Shoo on, they're waiting for you. And don't implicate me." She said as she started to walk away, cooing at little Mei Mei.
"Crap," he cursed as he started to sprint through the village.
Yukimura was a small and quaint village in Fae'lor. It was the fairly peaceful home of the Hito people. But aside from the rare yordle visits and Ionian festivals, nothing interesting took place.
As he ran, he was greeted by his friends and acquaintances wondering where he was off to. He dismissed them respectfully before speeding off again.
Soon enough, he arrived at the village centre. He entered the temple styled building and was welcomed by the receptionist.
"Ah, Tomo, right this way, sir!" he said as he led Kaze through the building.
Kaze had never been this deep into the centre. His parents weren't close to the elders, so they hadn't come here often. When they did come, Kaze wasn't with them.
Ever more so, Kaze hasn't seen the elders from a fair distance. Well, his parents tell him they greeted when he was born but of course he doesn't remember that. Even at festivals they were elusive.
That's why he was surprised when he found that he was in the presence of all 7 elders. Its chances were almost similar to the chances of seeing a yordle in Noxus, except for the crazy Kled.
'Something really important must be going on. Something to do with me.' Kaze thought as he performed a deep bow, "Greetings, elders."
"Rise, Tomo Kaze, son of Tomo Kage." An elder said.
And so, Kaze did. He glanced around the room noticing all their gazes. They were observing him as much as he was observing them.
"Tomo Kaze, how much do you know about Yukimura's history?" The only female elder in the room asked.
"Not enough, elder." he answered, maintaining eye contact.
The elders looked among themselves and nodded. What they were agreeing on, Kaze was clueless.
They didn't mind his obvious humility. "Allow us to enlighten you…" the elder continued.
"Although our village is relatively small and quiet, our history goes back millennia."
Each elder spoke a different sentence. Forcing Kaze to look at each speaker.
"Ionia is a magical land filled with all sorts of magical creatures. Humans, Yordles, Vastaya, and other spiritual beings live together in this sacred land in harmony."
"However, Akana threaten this balance. Tomo Kaze, what do you know of demons?"
'Not enough?' he wanted to say.
"Demons are evil spirits that harm humans from the stories, elder." Kaze replied.
"Very good, but more importantly, Akana also harm the spiritual balance between every race on Ionia, and they are very real. That's why Demon Hunters exist. They're legendary figures looked up to by all of Ionia. You obviously know of them, right?"
"K…"
Kaze thought back to the numerous folk tales of demons and their killers as he nodded.
"Yukimura, ever since its inception, has taken an aggressive stance against these demons."
"Generation upon generations, we have produced Demon Hunters to slay all types of Akana."
"And you are to be the next."
Shock held Kaze. 15 years of life hadn't prepared him at all for this revelation.
"Stand proud Kaze. What you will be doing will benefit all of Ionia."
"Ka…"
Kaze wasn't one to shy from excitement and challenge. He could be scared. He could lose. He could die. He was still a child. But it didn't matter to him.
'It's not like I can reject this. So let me embrace it. Let me be special. Let me shape this wild world.' Kaze was still a child. In the future, he wouldn't wish this path on his worst enemy.
"It is an honour to be chosen for this position. I will do my best and not disappoint, elder!" he closed his eyes as he bowed again, this time more deeply. He tried to obstruct the elders from seeing his smile, but they knew.
"Kaze…"
"Rise, Tomo Kaze, the Hasago. Now, you bow to none. Lest you get possessed by an Azakana." The elder chuckled at his own joke.
'Ah, what will my parents say?' his smile faded as he rose.
"Report again tomorrow, and don't tell anyone. Child Hasago!"
"You are excused."
"Thank you, choryon!" Kaze almost bowed again. He turned around left.
"Wake up, KAZE!" Vander yelled, shaking his shoulders violently.
Kaze returned to reality, albeit slowly.
"Huh? Vander? What are you doing here?" Kaze could barely see the outline of Vander's face.
"Nu-uh! I'm gonna be asking the questions. What the FUCK happened here?" Vander got off Kaze, crossing his arms. Vander's broad shoulders made way for Kaze's vision which was slowly focusing.
It was dead of night, Kaze knew because he could see through the wall. Not through a window. A broken wall, broken chair, broken coffee table, broken mirror, broken glass and blood on the floor. A conflict had clearly happened.
Kaze couldn't remember. But one detail stood out to Kaze more than the others.
"Where's Rin?" Kaze asked with a worried face.
Vander's face gave more answers than any words could.
"I don't know…"