PRESENT DAY
In Japan,
Theres a young man named Aido Takeshi is working in a minimarket.
And as usual, he works to find money like every human does.
He works with his colleague, Aimi Hayakawa.
Both of them do their works properly and serve the customers with a good manner.
During their break, Aimi was watching the latest news update about the Phantom Hunters on YouTube.
Aimi said, "Wow! Phantom Hunters are really amazing. They're strong and resilient. Whether they're men or women, all of them are brave heroes who are willing to sacrifice themselves for humanity."
After that, Takeshi asked, "Are they really that cool?"
Aimi replied, "Of course! They're the heroes of the world, you know. They fearlessly fight and eliminate those terrifying monsters with their own hands and determination. Especially when the Phantoms first appeared on Earth, they were the ones who saved us. They truly know no fear."
Takeshi continued, "If you admire the Phantom Hunters so much, why don't you join them?"
Aimi answered, "Me?! No way, I can't!!"
Takeshi asked, "Why not?"
Aimi replied, "Because I'm afraid of the Phantoms! They're all so terrifying and dangerous! There's no way I could defeat them!"
Takeshi said, "I see."
But suddenly, there are three thieves goes inside the minimarket and threatened them to give the money.
The thieves are holding a bat.
Aimi is afraid and she goes to the cashier to give them the money, but Takeshi holds Aimi's arm and says to her, "Don't give them the money, Aimi."
Aimi trembles and replies, "But if we don't give them the money, they will hurt us."
Aido says, "If we give them the money, we'll get fired, just let me handle this. Just prepare yourself to call the cops."
Aido says loudly, "AS LONG AS I'M HERE, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO STEAL THE MONEY !!!!!"
The thieves gets impatient and they immediately attacks Aido.
Aido also attacked them.
He punches one of the thieves, but after that he got hit by the bat and three of the thieves beats Aido with the bat they hold.
Aimi panics and screams, "STOP IT !!!!!"
As Takeshi got beaten by the thieves, Aido says in his mind.
He says, "Ah, I got beaten like this, it's because I'm weak. And because I'm weak, I can't save my sister."
Then, he faints.
As he faints, he sees a young female teenager in front of her.
Aido says, "Haruka."
Then, she looks back and she smiles towards him and says, "Ohayou, Oni-chan."
Suddenly, Aido awakes and he says, "Haruka."
As he awakes, he sees himself on a bed in the hospital.
Aimi is beside him.
She was asleep, while holding his hand.
Then, Aido wakes her up.
As Aimi wakes up, she looks at Aido and immediately hugs him.
She cries and says, "You fool!!, you don't have to get yourself hurt to protect me and the money!!, it's just a money, don't get yourself hurt because of it, money could be gained on many ways, but if you died, we can't gain our life back, so don't risk yourself just because of money, you fool!!"
Aido replies, "I'm sorry, Aimi."
Aimi keeps on crying.
Aido then says in his mind, "I'm sorry, Aimi, this is because I'm weak, WEAK. I should have been strong."
After that, Aimi stands up and says towards him, "Alright Takeshi-kun, I'll visit you again on the weekends, take care yourself, alright."
Takeshi replies, "Okay Arigatou, Hayakawa-san."
Then Aimi blushes and says, "And by the way, thank you for protecting me."
Takeshi smiles and replies, "Yeah, no problem and thank you for taking me to the hospital."
Aimi blushes and nods.
After that, Aimi leaves the hospital.
Not long later, Takeshi watches a news on the TV that tells about the thievery incident in the minimarket last night.
The news tells that the three thieves have been arrested by the cops and the minimarket is safe.
Takeshi then says, "It's a relief that Aimi and the minimarket are safe. But still if I'm strong, I could beat those thieves. (he speaks while also looking on his hand)."
Then, Takeshi is doing checkups by the doctor and the nurses.
And finally is night time, Takeshi lies on his bed and looks on his hand and he says, "I wish I could be strong, so I could protect the people that I care."
After that, he falls asleep.
During his sleep, he has a strange dream.
In his dream, he sees himself in a beautiful garden.
Aido says, "Ah, where am i? what is this place?"
Then there's two white doves are chirping and flying.
Aido looks around the garden.
There's a lot of beautiful flowers and trees.
The air is purely fresh and the sky is clean.
The nature is healthy, because the sun shines so bright and there's no pollution.
Then he sees there's a sheep.
Aido confused and says, "Why there's a sheep here?"
Then that sheep starts walking.
Suddenly there's a voice from a man says, "Follow the sheep."
Aido replies, "Follow that sheep? Well, I don't know where to go. Guess I just follow the sheep. But where is that voice coming from?"
He keeps following the sheep until suddenly he sees a beautiful white fountain.
The fountain also decorated by a lot kind of flowers with different colours.
Then he sees there's a man sits on the fountain.
The man has a neatly trimmed black hair, long sideburns, and a beard.
He also wears a white robe and holds a brown staff.
There's twelve sheep surrounded the man.
Aido says, "A shepherd? Why there's a shepherd here? Hmm, wait perhaps he knows this place. I gotta ask him."
Then he goes towards the shepherd and says, "Excuse me, sir. Can I ask you a question?"
The shepherd looks at him and smiles.
Aido says in his mind, "His smile is so beautiful."
Then the shepherd replies, "You may."
Aido then asks, "Actually I'm not from here and it seems that I'm lost. So, could you tell me where am I right now?"
The shepherd says, "You're not lost, my child. And you will never lost, because I'm always keep my eye on you, Aido Takeshi."
Aido surprised and replies, "How could you know my name? Who are you?"
The shepherd answers, "I am called by many names. But one thing for sure is that I am what I am."
Aido confused and replies, "Hah? What do you mean?"
The shepherd says, "You will know me soon, my child."
Aido says, "Okay, I become more confused. Alright, I ask you one more time, sir. Where am i?"
The shepherd replies, "You're in my place."
Aido says, "Your place?"
The shepherd replies, "Yes, my child. You're in the Garden of the Gods."
Aido surprised and says, "THE GARDEN OF THE GODS?!!!! Wait am I dead? Am I in heaven?"
The shepherd chuckles and replies, "No, not yet. It's not your time yet."
Aido says, "So why am i here?!!"
The shepherd replies, "The reason I brought you here is because I chose you to be the hope for humanity. The one who will bring salvation to your world and Exeria."
Aido says, "Wait what?! Me?!"
The shepherd replies, "Yes, my child. Your life's purpose is more than you could ever imagine. And for that, you should become a phantom hunter and struggle to grow stronger until to the level that I could give you the authority of the grand holy fire. So prepare yourself. Aido Takeshi."
Aido says, "I'm become a phantom hunter?"
Then the shepherd stands up and leaves with all the sheep.
Aido says, "Hey! Where are you going? I'm not done talking with you."
The shepherd says, "We'll meet again soon, my child."
Aido then runs towards him and says, "Hey wait! I still have questions!!"
As he almost touches the shepherd's white robe, he suddenly awake from his sleep.
Aido then says to himself, "Oh it's just a dream."
But suddenly he got a notification from his phone.
As he sees his phone, he sees that the notification is coming from an email from the Phantom Hunter Association.
Aido says, "An email from The Phantom Hunter Association?!!"
TO BE CONTINUED.........….