Young Writers Society

Chapter 3: The Children of Light and Mist

The Past

Just as Hana was able to communicate with the spirits, so was her son. However, he was outcast by the children of the other women, as he was different and his hair grew in lighter than theirs. As the years progressed, the differences only became more apparent. The children of the other women began to show violence toward each other and enjoyed playing rough, physical games. They were also fiercely loyal to each other. Hikaru, however, only wished to wander about the forests and speak idly with his mother. He loathed violence and sought peace with the others. He also seemed to accept his loneliness like a bitter ally.

However, that began to change when the other children began to grow older, they began to have feelings toward each other. The children began to age as well and by the time that all of them were 72 seasons old (or eighteen years as we’ve come to understand), Aren and Sano had already vowed themselves to each other and were trying to reproduce. Soon enough, each of the other Ningen chose their mates (some chose from the new Ningen that were birthed from the earth and some chose from the Ningen created by Osorezu). However, Hikaru was left with no one as no one would ever desire to be close to a man who saw and spoke to spirits. They laughed, in fact, and told each other cruel things such as, “He should marry one of those spirits. They are the only ones that could love him.”

Just as the others predicted, not much time passed before Hikaru fell in love with a spirit. He could always be seen in the meadow, basking in the light of the moon and speaking to nothing, but seeming in pure bliss. The others only teased him more as they dubbed him insane for speaking to the air. Aren even stepped forth to Hikaru and said, “If you will show us your mate- assuming that she’s not imaginary- we’ll leave you alone.”

Hikaru could not immediately produce her, so the tormenting continued. Then, on the night of the full moon, a dazzling light touched the meadow and all who saw were filled with a majesty that they could not imagine. The spirit that stood before them was the moon, hair sweeping at her ankles and her skin as pale as ivory. She had narrow hips, but when she turned slightly, it could be seen that she was with child.

“This is impossible!” Aren cried as she backed away from the spirit and her mate. “Hikaru is a black sheep! He is nothing! How could the moon love him?”

The moon tilted her head very slightly before glancing to Hikaru, “Love is not restricted to the few who are high in status nor is it restricted from those who are different. Your love is not the same as Hikaru’s. His love comes from tranquility and understanding. Your love from the need to procreate and gain power. This is why you have not seen me before as I stand before you.”

The other Ningen stumbled back and hurried away. They never bothered Hikaru again, but they still attempted to avoid him as well as they could. The child was born and was dubbed a Child of Light. However, he was far more alike the others than his father and the others gradually grew to accept him. As time went on, the children and grandchildren of Osorezu came to respect the children and grandchildren of Hana and the line between the two became more and more blurred.