"Echoes of the Past" [Part 16] Tengu Origins - An Infinity Kingdom Story

🔷 Introduction

Welcome to part 16 of my new Tengu series. This will be inspired by the new release of Tengu in our game and incorporating his legend within the realm of Norheim.  His story will be roughly based on his historical legend with a twist from within the game we know and love.

I will be bringing 1 or 2 new episodes per week so stay tuned for more!

🔷 Recap Part 15:  “The First Test”

After leaving the forge, Tengu encountered a massive goblin horde led by a towering mechanical goblin and was forced to put his newly earned Thorn Armor to the test. During the battle, he discovered that the armor could absorb the force of incoming attacks and unleash it in a devastating counterattack, scattering the horde and alerting an ancient enemy that the Thorn Armor had returned.  

🔷 Part 16:  “Echoes of the Past ”

Tengu returned to the village just before sunset. The sight of familiar rooftops brought a rare smile to his face. Children raced through the dirt roads while merchants packed away their goods for the evening. Smoke drifted lazily from chimneys, and for the first time in many weeks, everything felt peaceful.

The moment villagers spotted him, excitement spread through the streets.

"Tengu is back!"

People gathered quickly to welcome him home. Some greeted him warmly while others immediately noticed the dark armor woven around his body. Metallic thorns curled across his shoulders and forearms, their jagged edges catching the fading sunlight. Several villagers admired the armor from a distance. Others seemed less certain.

The village elder stepped forward and studied the armor carefully. His eyes lingered on the black thorns before narrowing slightly.

"There is great power in that armor," he said quietly.

Tengu nodded. "There is."

If only they knew how much.

As darkness settled over the village and the celebrations faded, Tengu slipped away toward the forest's edge. The familiar sounds of the village became distant behind him. A cool breeze moved through the trees as he stood beneath the moonlight, enjoying the rare moment of silence.

Small silver lights began to appear around him.

Nine glowing wisps drifted through the air.

Ninetails had returned.

"You survived the trial," she said.

A faint smile crossed Tengu's face.

"Barely."

The fox spirit lingered near him, her attention drawn to the Thorn Armor. For a moment she said nothing. Then her voice softened.

"The Briar Titan chose well."

Tengu studied her carefully.

"You know more about this armor than you're telling me."

Ninetails remained silent.

The pause felt strange.

Before he could press further, a sudden pulse surged through the armor. The metal tightened around his arm. Pain flashed through his chest, sharp and unexpected.

Tengu staggered backward.

The world disappeared.

Fire consumed the sky.

He found himself standing upon a battlefield unlike anything he had ever seen. Mountains burned in the distance. Rivers of molten stone carved through shattered valleys. The ground was littered with broken weapons and the remains of countless warriors.

At the center of the devastation stood the Briar Titan.

The colossal beast roared as thousands of black thorns erupted from its body. Entire armies were swept aside beneath its fury. The sheer force of its power shook the world around it.

Yet something stood against it.

A figure cloaked in living darkness.

Its shape shifted constantly. No clear form remained for more than a moment. It was as though shadow itself had taken life.

The Briar Titan charged.

The darkness met it head on.

The collision shattered the earth.

Tengu watched in stunned silence as the two titans clashed. Every strike unleashed destruction on a scale he could barely comprehend.

Then his attention shifted.

Another figure stood nearby.

Silver light surrounded her.

Nine glowing tails swayed behind her.

Ninetails.

Not as he knew her.

Younger.

More powerful.

And afraid.

She was there.

She had witnessed everything.

The vision shifted once more.

The Briar Titan lay dying.

Its massive body was covered in wounds. The shadow creature stood victorious above it.

Ninetails knelt beside the fallen titan. Tears streamed down her face as she placed a trembling hand against its scarred hide.

Then she slowly lifted her head.

For a single impossible moment, it felt as though she was looking directly at him.

The vision shattered.

Tengu gasped as reality returned.

The forest stood unchanged around him. Moonlight filtered through the branches. The village remained quiet behind him.

Ninetails stood nearby.

Watching.

She already knew what he had seen.

The realization struck him instantly.

"You were there."

Ninetails lowered her gaze.

"Tengu..."

"You were there," he repeated.

The fox spirit said nothing.

Anger began to rise inside him.

For months she had trained him. Guided him. Protected him. Yet she had never spoken of this. She had never explained the Briar Titan. Never explained the shadow creature. Never explained how she knew so much.

"What was that thing?" Tengu demanded. "What is the Briar Titan? Who was that enemy?"

Ninetails remained silent.

The wind around him began to stir. The Thorn Armor reacted to his emotions as dark thorns slowly extended from the metal plates.

Tengu took a step toward her.

"How long have you been hiding this from me?"

Ninetails looked away.

The answer was all he needed.

His jaw tightened.

His voice echoed through the silent forest.

"No more secrets."

For the first time since they had met, genuine anger burned in his eyes.

"You owe me the truth."

Ninetails stood frozen beneath the moonlight.

And for the first time, she looked afraid.

📄 Recap Questions

1. What vision did the Thorn Armor show Tengu about the Briar Titan and the mysterious shadow creature?
2. Why did Tengu become angry with Ninetails at the end of the chapter?

🔷 Conclusion

After returning home, Tengu experienced a powerful vision through the Thorn Armor that revealed an ancient battle between the Briar Titan and a terrifying being made of living darkness. When he realized Ninetails had witnessed those events and had been hiding the truth from him, he confronted her and demanded answers about the secrets she had kept for so long. 

See you next week!

🔷 Hades, Press Officer.

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