The Distant Memory of a Distant Past
The memory of those distant days now rises only faintly, like a half-forgotten dream.
There had been times like this before.
Warm sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A few lazy clouds drifting freely across the sky.
The faint, earthy scent of grass rising slowly from the ground.
The chirping of insects carried on the breeze, tickling my ears.
And finally, Grandfather’s hand—wrinkled and rough, yet somehow soft—resting gently on my head.
I would lay my head on his thigh like a pillow, surrendering to the heavy pull of sleep while listening to his old stories.
Now those tales were nothing more than history passed down by word of mouth.
The legend that our clan’s ancestor, Ahrirang, had saved the entire continent from the Yokai.
Even though the story was always the same and should have grown stale, it never failed to stir something new inside me.
Every time I heard it, I would fall asleep clutching the quiet wish that one day I might become like him.
Yes. This is the story of a boy who wanted more than anything to become the protagonist.
“I hope… my death does not hurt you too much.”
“Good. Then let’s go take it all back. Everything we’ve lost.”
“I am his blade. Until I am broken, no one shall dare touch him. Now… come.”
“Did you know? As long as my brother is by my side, I will never lose to anyone.”
“It is not only this continent. Today the entire world has gathered here at your call. Now… please give us your final command.”
.
.
.
This is my story.
“Th… is… voi… ce…”
“Ugh… seriously.”
I dug irritably at my ear, annoyed by the hallucinations that had grown more frequent lately, and brushed it off as nothing important.
Huuuuuuuuuuu—
A furious wind tore violently through everything in its path.
The place where I now stood was the center of the village we called home.
We were waiting for someone who would guide us to the nearest city.
That was because everyone in our clan had to leave their birthplace around the age of fourteen or fifteen and head out into the vast continent.
Because it was late, the biting wind squeezed between the distant buildings and relentlessly assaulted our skin.
The flesh-cutting gale made my younger sister Maru and my friend Teraden pull their clothes even tighter around themselves.
But Grandfather alone looked as if he were standing in the middle of summer. He simply let out low groans and kept wiping the cold sweat that soaked his black hair.
“Brrrr! Aigoo, Grandfather! You really do worry too much! Are you afraid we’ll run into trouble out there? There’s no way that’ll happen, so stop fretting already!”
Perhaps because his face looked so tense, Teraden—who had been shivering and clacking his teeth together—tossed out a light joke.
“Hmm… What this old man is most worried about is how many people are going to suffer because of you in the future…”
“Hey! Come on, Grandfather!”
Teraden scratched the back of his neck and shut his mouth, muttering that it was pointless to worry.
How much time passed in that fierce cold? Eventually the sound of horse hooves echoed from far away, and two shadows appeared.
Because the sky had grown dark, Grandfather did not easily lower his guard.
Before long, two men riding horses emerged from the swirling snowstorm.
Once he confirmed their faces, Grandfather finally relaxed his stance. He stepped forward and offered a respectful bow.
“I greet the great Pillar of the continent.”
The man called a Pillar appeared to be a young adult who had only recently passed his twentieth year.
What stood out most was that he possessed an appearance that would draw every eye no matter where he went.
Hair the vivid blue of a clear autumn sky, tied up neatly.
Skin so pale it was impossible to guess his age.
Blue eyes that shone brightly even in the darkness.
Combined with the dignity and grace he carried, the man’s entire presence felt almost mystical.
At Grandfather’s polite greeting, the man quickly dismounted and waved his hands with an awkward laugh.
“Haha, that is far too much. On the contrary, it is I who am honored to escort such distinguished guests.”
When the young man got off his horse, the warrior who had been riding behind him hurriedly dismounted as well.
“And please, speak comfortably. Are you not the descendant of the one who saved the continent long ago?”
“I am merely a worthless old man. I could never presume to speak so casually to a Pillar.”
After tasting the polite refusal, the man clicked his tongue softly and turned his gaze toward us, who stood a little distance away from Grandfather.
“So these are the ones. The new generation.”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“And there are three of them, no less.”
For some reason the man seemed to carry a faint spark of expectation. The warrior with the stiff expression leaned in and whispered to him.
“Pillar, we should hurry.”
The man nodded as if he understood.
“Then I shall take my leave with them now.”
“Understood.”
With a slight nod, the man walked past Grandfather and approached us.
“It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Ren Lan. I will be escorting you for a short while.”
Ren Lan. His first impression was incredibly powerful.
There was something indescribable in his voice that captured us instantly.
“Wow! Mister, your hair is blue? Maru thinks it’s super amazing!”
Maru, whose long black hair was braided neatly on both sides, expressed her awe instead of a proper greeting.
She widened her already round eyes even further as she stared at him.
Her big eyes and tightly clenched fists were incredibly adorable.
“So your name is Miss Maru? It is nice to meet you. And may I ask the names of the young lords?”
Ren Lan turned next to me and Teraden.
“Whoa, one of the Seven Pillars? What the hell is going on?”
When Ren Lan asked for his name, Teraden didn’t answer. He simply stood there looking dazed.
It was understandable. The Seven Pillars referred to the seven strongest people on the continent. Meeting one of them wasn’t quite like plucking a star from the sky, but it was still no easy feat.
Yet here one of them was, personally acting as our guide. I could fully understand how Teraden felt.
“Calm down, Teraden.”
I settled my friend’s excitement first, then introduced both of us in his place.
“This is my friend Teraden, and I am Haru.”
“Ahrirang Haru. A fine name. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
After the brief introductions, Ren Lan gave us a short explanation of the plan ahead.
“The land you stand on now belongs to the Seo Kingdom. From here, I will escort you to Seo-Wangdo. Though our time together will be short, I look forward to traveling with you.”
Ren Lan drew a gentle curve with his eyes and extended his hand.
“Yes, we’ll be in your care as well.”
I reached out and firmly clasped the hand he offered.
“Then shall we set off?”
Ren Lan politely gestured toward the horses he and the warrior had ridden.
At his signal, Maru and Teraden climbed carefully onto the horses with the warrior’s help.
I hesitated.
Before mounting, I turned to take one last look at this place, wanting to burn its image into my memory.
“What? Did you forget something?”
Teraden tilted his head, puzzled by my sudden stop.
“No. Let’s go.”
I slowly shook my head, then climbed onto the horse behind them.
Prrrt. Prrrrt!
The horses snorted once, then slowly stepped forward into the swirling snow.
We were finally leaving the place we had grown so attached to. A new story was about to begin.
But this would not be my story alone.
It would be the story of all of us.