After staring at the knight figure struggling to get up and then staring at the sky, Seth slowly edged closer to the stranger. He couldn’t explain why, but this knight seem so lost and sad. So, Seth walked slowly over to see if there was anything he could do to help. As if finally noticing the boy’s presence, the knight swerved around with one arm held forward at the boy. The shadows flowed from his feet and into his arms forming a sword, pointing at the boy.

Seth stared at the enigmatic figure standing before him. A wiser and more mature person would have fled and reported to local authorities immediately after seeing a black armored stranger pointing a sword at them, but Seth was most definitely not one. He was a young six-year-old boy and held all the knowledge and imagination of one.

To Seth, the stranger looked like a knight. A knight that was very similar to the ones that appeared in the movie he had just watched. The word cosplay never crossed his mind because he did not know such a word existed. To him, this was a real knight. There was no other reason to dress in armor unless you were actually a knight. If this knight was real, then that means monsters were real. If monsters were real, then that meant he could go out and kill them. That would be the beginning of a great adventure. Seth’s young mind swirled with these thoughts. He never thought what he wanted to do in his life when he grew up, but now an inkling of a goal had begun to sprout in his mind.

“Is that a real sword? How did you do that? Are you a real knight? Where did you come from? Are you from around here? Do you kill monsters?” Seth bombarded the knight with questions. His eyes sparkling with curiosity.

The knight stared at Jake. Confused by the reaction of the boy. He lowered his sword and slowly walked over to Jake and peered at the boy. The sword slowly dissipated into thin air as if it never existed. With the same hand, the knight reached for Seth’s head.

Seth watched with curiosity all the movements the knight made. The words danger and death never once appeared in his mind. When the knight’s palm stopped in front of his face, Jake momentarily thought the knight wanted a high five. That thought immediately changed when he sense something from the hand. Seth didn’t know what exactly was happening, but he felt as if something was flowing into him.

It started out as an itch. An itch that Seth could not scratch or reach for. A sensation that became more uncomfortable as time passed. The uncomfortableness grew beyond anything Seth has ever felt. This is worse than any mosquito bite thought Seth. He could his feel his body spazzing from the irritation that grew each passing moment. The irritation grew into a pressure that threaten to burst from his head. When he thought he could not take it anymore, the pressure suddenly stopped. Soon he heard a voice in his head.

Boy, where am I?

Seth gasped and stared in wonder from the voice that suddenly popped in his head. Was it coming from the knight?

Yes, the person in front of you is the one responsible for the voice in your mind. You merely have to just think the answers and I will understand. Now, my question. Where is this place? As if sensing his intentions, the knight answered Seth’s question in his mind.

“Woah that's so cool! Can I learn to do that too?”

It is possible. Now answer my question. After pausing for a moment, he added an extra word of consideration. Please.

Seth couldn’t tell what the black knight face looked like, but he could feel a stare boring into him. A feeling that wasn’t too different just before his parents punished him if he didn’t answer right away when he did something wrong. “Yes. You said you wanted to know the place. This is the park. Valley Park is the name I think.”

No, that’s not what I meant. What is the name of this city?

“Oh! That’s what you were asking? This is Oasis City.”

What year is it?

“ OOhhh I know this one. It’s 2100.”

I see. How long has it been since the invasion? Do you know of the Dawnriser? Or how about the Bastion of Heroes?

Seth stared blankly at the knight since he was using words outside his limited vocabulary. All he could do was shake his head to show his nonunderstanding.

. . .

The black armored swordsman stared down on the little boy. After a quick skim of the boy’s mind, he was able to understand the language that Jake spoke. The answers he was able to savage from the boy’s mind were meaningless, and the answers the boy gave was disappointing.

Granted, the boy was a young one and his knowledge was limited. The quick mind scan show that the current society was unfamiliar and complex. He knew he was quite lucky to have met the boy when he came out from the rift. Had he met someone else instead of the boy, the situation would be quite different. In his current injured state, he could barely stand, much less fight.

He peered at the boy and had a thought. The Swordsman needed time to heal and was unfamiliar with his current surroundings. A helper would be needed to help search for all the answers to his questions while he adjusted to the environment. Fortunately, the perfect “helper” was right in front of him.

What is your name boy?

“My name is Seth. What your name? Are you okay? What was that shadow sword thing? “

No, my body was injured from battle quite a long time ago and still requires further rest and healing. The sword was part of my abilities.

“Cool! Can you teach me that?”

No I cannot. The sword was summoned due to my darkness affinity when I have awaken.

Seth look crestfallen when he heard the reply as his head and shoulders instantly drooped.

HOWEVER, I can teach you how to be strong. I can help you awaken yourself and make you stronger. Strong enough to match any awaken. The boy had looked so heartbroken that the swordsman didn’t have the heart to tell him no.

“Really? You can do that mister?” The light in the boy’s eyes rekindled once again.

Yes. I can. But you need to help me find a place.

“What do you want me to find?”

The Bastion of Heroes. Otherwise also known as Humanity final fortress. If I can locate this place, I would be able to find answers to all my other questions. Do we have a deal?

“ Deal? What does that mean?”

...Deal would mean that if I promise you something, I would have to do it. Do you promise to help me find the Bastion of Heroes? If you do, I promise to help make you strong

“ OH! Yes! I promise!” Seth put his out his right hand with the pinky and thumb sticking out

The knight stared at the boy once again, uncomprehending the gesture the boy made. What is this?

The boy raised his hand. “This? This a pinky promise. Once you make it, you can’t break a pinky promise. If you do, you’re very bad.” Jake put his hand together with both pinky and thumb touching it’s opposite.

The knight nodded and moved his left hand to meet the boy’s.

Very well. I promise to make you strong and you have promised to help me find the Bastion of Heroes. Remember this boy, I do not forgive slackers.

“Yes! Ill train hard and help you find the base of heroes!”

The swordsman could tell that some of the words had went over the boy’s head, but most of what he meant to convey had gone through. He did not bother to correct the boy for there was plenty of time for corrections later, amongst other things. Now it was time for rest and recuperation.

And so, a deal was struck. Two hands met. One dark armor hand overshadowing the small hand of a six year old boy. A meeting that would change the fate of the world.