Fragments of the universe

      There is a wonderful world so different from the rest. There are all kinds of strange creatures in it, plants unimaginable in their beauty. Sometimes you might think that this world is a bridge to other smaller and more distant ones. But why is it so unique? Maybe it’s because of the picturesque mountains dotted with flowers that are completely different from each other, or maybe this one is because of the island that looks like a Fiend. Or maybe it’s because, in it, you can meet creatures that are completely different from each other? From ordinary people to powerful magicians and people endowed with quirks. But if this world has been completely plunged into chaos and something more than a great force is needed to restore peace in the whole world? Who can resist a man who can take away mana and deprive people of their quirks? After all, if he wants to, you can lose your life, he can take your powers for himself or transfer them to another. Who can resist such a force? And will the “people” who are divided by the enmity of nations be able to become more than just like-minded people? And is friendship between them possible? Will these unremarkable teenagers be able to unite and become real saviors of the world?! Will they be able to understand and give each other what each of them craves the most? Will they help each other: to melt the icy heart, to ease the pain that has been lurking inside for so long, to know true friendship, or to convince a person by showing him that revenge is not the way out? What do they need to do to avoid falling into the dirt?… ***       This world is inhabited by four such different, but at the same time so similar to each other peoples. The outrages of some forced others to hide in the thickets of the forest. Others flourish and celebrate God’s mercy. And someone just simply disappeared almost completely from the face of these wonderful lands. The people who live here have long longed for peace and tranquility, but fate does not think so at all.It’s time to tell the story of each of these peoples. Humans, beastmen, “demons”, magicians, bizarre, peoples that have never lived in peace and harmony. There were times shrouded in freedom and a serene life, but there were also those that are scary to remember.       The people are rotten, those who do not know mercy are bizarre, they imagine themselves better than others, better than the whole world. They decided that they were allowed to do everything, kill, seize lands and enslave people, make them their upper slaves, that they would not be told a word. Their country is ruled by the council of the “Ten Benefactors”. Ten of the strongest people with the most powerful quirks among others, to be there is a great honor and respect. A descendant of one of those who is there can also get a place there. The state of the bizarre is very large, it occupies 1/3 of the Central continent. Their people are not as cruel as the rulers. After all, they run everything…       The Beastmen are a people of goodness and sunshine. Here everyone can find a place for themselves, find happiness, be accepted as a family and be taken care of. They are most hated by the bizarre, considering them the main obstacle to their rise. These “people” are closely connected with nature, they consider the Sacred God of the earth Aloan to be their patron. These beautiful creatures possess the power of healing, they are able to heal from a small scratch to the scrapping of a limb. They are also very strong physically because their dwellings are located above the ground long ago, high almost under the very crown of the mighty Loya trees, they have to live so high because of the rainy season, which falls on one half of the year. And believe me, it’s not pouring too much heh~heh.       Magicians are those who possessed the gift of divination, control of the elements, capable of creating the impossible. They were noble, considering it their Great goal to create world peace. The Freaks had established close contact with them, which helped to strengthen them, magicians were able to increase the power of the freakish using their spells. Their people are not like the bizarre ones. They understand that war cannot create a better world. But there is nothing to be done in order not to be destroyed, they have to cooperate with the bizarre. “But if they hadn’t signed that agreement then, everything could have been different.”       “Demons” was the name given to those who did not fit into the framework of either the bizarre, or magicians, or anyone. Driven to the island of Death or hiding among other peoples, forced to hide and hide from everyone in order to save their lives. They are those who can be both cruel and kind to the point of tenderness. The concept of fear is alien to them, pushing forward, ready to die for the sake of an innocent person, those who bravely fight for their foundations and rights, those who will not spare anyone who wants to harm them. But no matter how kind and friendly they were, word spread all over the world about their coolness and cruelty. If you ask any magician or whimsical person about them, they will answer — “They are monsters, the concept of “good” is alien to them, it would be better if their people never existed. They are the great sorrow of this world!” Let’s put it this way… They don’t have the best reputation.       Why can’t they be part of the world? Why can’t they live side by side with others? Why are they considered like that?       There is only one answer-the power that can give and take life. They can be so powerful that they burn villages with a wave of the sword, invincible wars and excellent sorcerers. The likes of them were the main main threat to the bizarre. If they could establish contact with them, they would all become strong, but they chose the path of war. ***       The “war of death with life”, was the name given to the battle between the bizarre and the “demons”. It broke out at the beginning of time, the truce that was concluded between them was violated. The Freaks started it. That’s what they get paid for.       Bizarre destroyed villages, the most unprotected places, they indiscriminately killed everyone, children, the elderly, even animals living only there, got quite a few. But the king of the “demons” did nothing. He was not up to it, he did not care about the death of his people, he did not care about anyone and everything, he was enslaved by the thought of might and power. He was sitting in his palace and preparing… But to what end? What was on his mind? What did he want to achieve? Why would he do that?       The war ended as quickly as it began. More than half of the “demons” people have been killed… Those who survived fled far away and it was as if they would never return. Others were exiled to an uninhabited island inhabited by monsters, merciless and cruel. They were made the scum of the whole world and did not listen to their pleas for mercy. ***       Death Island is a lost place. There are almost no forests and waters on it. An arid desert that is teeming with creatures. But the “demons” managed to cope with nature and learn to live in peace with monsters, they understood that if they started exterminating creatures, it would only lead to death, and this would definitely not be in their favor. If you were asked to name a place that could be compared to the second Hell, everyone would name this island. Life here is a survival that many of them cannot do. ***       Three centuries have passed since our people were exterminated. Many simply disappeared among ordinary magicians or freaks, got lost in them and hid their origin, but one group of “demons” that remained on the lands between magicians and freaks decided to build their settlement there. The village was surrounded by majestic mountains, they surrounded it with one big ring, as if hiding it from prying eyes.       This small village kept a big secret, the secret of its origin from everyone. No one, neither whimsical nor magicians, could have imagined that this small village and one very young resident of this place would be able to turn the world upside down.       In the village of “simple shepherds and farmers” — this legend suited her best, where there was a small number of courtyards, which of which was: one house, a couple of beds, sometimes there were small sheds, but for the most part they were just houses, but each with its own story. It is quite difficult to suspect such a village of something. ***       A small wooden house with a thatched roof furnished with homemade furniture, near there is a small vegetable garden with interesting and outlandish vegetables and fruits. The beds are split open, everything looks very well-groomed, an oak tree grows to the side slightly to the left of the beds, which is wrapped around lianas. Here and outlandish plants were suspended on it a homemade swing consisting of a rope woven from lianas and a thick board that was neatly tied between two lianas. Not far away, under one of the windows of the house, there is a small pond, neatly furnished with stones around the perimeter to make everything look even more neat. This house was only notable because it was located just above the slope of one of the mountains surrounding the valley, while the rest of the houses were no more than 20 pieces located below, on the plain. But it was almost unremarkable that a family lived at home, which amazed everyone. Ask why? Maybe they were rich? Maybe some outstanding “demon” lived there?       No, not at all. This family was admired by many. Firstly, it consisted of only three people, which was quite small compared to others, many lived in houses of at least 6-7 people, and here there are only three. Secondly, the head of the family was not a “demon”, Aizawa Shoto was bizarre, which was both frightening and alarming, and at the same time very admired given their position in the world, but his wife Aizawa Setsuko was one of the “demons”. It was really amazing because Aizawa Sr. knew perfectly well what would happen to him and his family if suddenly someone outside the walls of this village found out about his bonds, but he continued to hide this fact from everyone, even from his corals, to whom he was a good friend and comrade. At the time of the story, their little daughter, Aizawa Haruko, about 4 years old, lived with them.       Aizawa Sr. had hair the color of dark night, which had already grown to his shoulders, red eyes, the color of fresh blood, which most often expressed indifference and longing, but not when he was at home. Here, surrounded by his beloved and a small miracle, which was so similar to them, he was the happiest man in this world, there was always a sincere smile on his face, which was not visible to many of his closest friends.       Setsuko-san, aka Aizawa Setsuko, Shoto’s wife, had long snow-white hair, strands of which fell on her face, slightly covering her malachite-green eyes, her skin was a little paler than usual, which gave her even more beauty. She was a wonderful person, she had never raised her voice at someone, even if they had done a terrible thing. She is always very sensitive and attentive, even to the most inconspicuous things. Shoto loved her more than anything in the world, as well as his little miracle. Young Haruko was already different from the others at an early age, and her amazing appearance betrayed her even more zest. A girl who is smart beyond the weather, attentive and reasonable at the right moment, strong in spirit and physically, her father believed that good martial arts skills and a strong body would not interfere with a small miracle. Who knows what might happen to her… Haru looked like both her mother and her father at the same time, long white hair that was below her waist and a neat bang that covered her eyes a little — this was a gift from her mother, and her red eyes, like fresh blood, came from her father. Almost snow-white skin, as if the girl was almost always hidden in semi-darkness. Little Haruko loved to play in the small forest near her house, she adored mochi with strawberries, loved walking with her father to the town of bizarre nearby (the main town of Yushitsu was about 100~150 km from where their village was located). By the way, Aizawa worked as the senior deputy founder of the largest guild in their country, “Enkor”, which was located in that city.       There was no school for children in the village, so most of them were either educated by their relatives or were illiterate. Many children aged 10-11 were just starting their education, but not Haruko. She was always very curious and interested in everything that surrounds her. Therefore, at the age of 3, she wanted to study letters herself and learn to read. Justifying this by saying, “I want to read books myself so that Dad has more time to sleep!” ***       Little Haruko, already at the age of 6, knows perfectly well who the villagers are, knows the history of her people, knows about the enmity with the bizarre and about the origin of each of the parents. She knows what should be said outside the walls of this house and village, and what should not be said in any case. She has already been told everything, everything that she will need in order to survive in this cruel world. She knows that she has a power that is subject only to her, and if someone who is not cheerful admits about her, then…       Little Haruko is already well trained in using the quirk passed down from her father and skillfully used the spells that her mother taught her. But the girl had not only a quirk and a standard mana, her main strength was black magic. With her help, Haru could: move in space, make a person obey her, use any of the four elements, as well as combine them to create new quirks, for example ice + flame = water (steam), she could modify all the elements, making them many times stronger and more powerful, she could create completely different objects from “dark matter?”, that’s what it was called. But a lot was hidden from the mistress of these forces… fortunately, she was able to fully control each of her “bizarre” ones? ***       The sun is just beginning to appear over the horizon, and the village is already in full swing. Someone goes to the field because the wheat ripening season is just around the corner! And this means that life in our village will be filled with even more energy! Someone is doing the housework, just like her mom.       “Yesterday I finally turned 6 and I can go to school!” My day began with these thoughts.       Today, dad has to take her to school, because this is the first day among her peers (most of the children in the village are either much younger than her or 5-6 years older). She will remember this day forever. The beginning of March, which means that the city school opens its doors. I quickly got out of bed and tucked it in along the way, smartly put on my pale sea-green dress, it was a little shabby because of my constant running around the streets of the village, house, mountains, I even sometimes trained in it, justifying this by saying that it doesn’t matter what I’m wearing, because they can attack and when I will in a dress. Of course, one should not forget about his beloved hare, which was a gift from his mother. He was the color of a scarlet dawn and had two black buttons instead of an eye. Running out of my room, which was in the attic of our house, a second later I find myself near the stairs leading down to the first floor of our small house.       — Haru? Are you up yet? — I heard the voice of my father, who seemed to be in the kitchen right now.       — Dad! Dad! Today is my first day at school, I have to be ready from the first minute of the day! I said proudly, walking down the stairs to my father.       He was standing by the table that had already been set for me. With quick but short steps, I covered the distance between me and the chair, proudly jumping on it, and said, looking at Dad:       — Today is my first day at school, I have to show my best side! She said, raising her hand and pointing at the ceiling. — I promise that I will be the best in my class and you will be proud of me! After adding a little, I looked at my father with eyes full of hope and a desire to move only forward.       — I don’t doubt you, daughter, — my father answers, sitting me down on a chair normally, and putting a plate with rice and vegetables in it on the table — And now eat.       After his words, I began to slowly eat the contents of the plate, which turned out to be tastier than usual. While I was eating, my mother also came into the house.       “Haru honey, you woke up earlier than usual today. — my mother was standing on the threshold of the house with a basket of vegetables, she came up to the table with it and putting it aside continued — Do not forget about good manners, when you greet someone, be sure to bow as a sign of respect. — she said, patting my head, after which my hair tousled.       — Hforofo (good) — nodded her head in response to mom. My father sat across from me the whole time and stared straight into my eyes.       “I still think it’s a bad idea,” Shoto thought to himself, without taking his eyes off his daughter. ***       Now, walking through the noisy streets of the city, father and daughter are heading to the building of the local school, which was located at the other end of it. The school doesn’t look good. It was an old three-storey building. The brick has collapsed in places and you can see how the vines are trying to grip the walls of this house tighter and tighter. A cobblestone path is paved near the entrance, beautiful bushes with some yellow flowers are planted on the sides of the path. Looking around, it was possible to understand that the building, although it had been standing for a long time, was well cared for. There is even a backyard with access to a dense and large forest and a small almost collapsed fountain. Trickles of water murmured softly, shimmering in the sun and even a small rainbow appeared near the water. This school was designed only to teach science to children, there was no place for classes with quirks. Although there have never been events related to the use of quirk within its walls.       And now little Haruko and her father are standing near the entrance to the school. After a couple of moments, the door opened slightly and a pretty old woman appeared out of it. She was dressed in a rather expensive dress, trimmed with various ribbons and inserts at the edges, in a delicate pink color. My father and I bowed at the same time to greet her.       — Really, it’s not worth it — she began — I was very flattered when I found out that you still decided to send your beautiful girl to school. Don’t worry about her so much, there is no place for cruelty here. — the old lady looked at me with some warmth and care, or something, and turning her gaze to the same unflappable father, she continued — I think she is very glad that she can now enjoy enough communication with her peers, it will only benefit her.       The old lady smiled at her father, who still held my hand as if he didn’t want me to take a step away from him. Yes, he is like that. He’s afraid for me, knowing what might happen if everyone found out who I am.…       — Ahem. I have no doubt that you, Mrs. Murim, will take care of Haru. But…” he stopped and rubbed the bridge of his nose with his hand. I’ve already got in here.       — Paap, don’t worry about me like that — I said, looking with my big, full of joy eyes — I know you’re worried about me, but don’t. I’m an adult now! And if something happens, I will definitely inform Murim about this first. I said, trying to calm him down.       Dad squatted down and looked into my eyes with tenderness and love, as if making it clear that he believed me. I hugged him and stroked his back, and he returned the favor.       — What emotional Aizawa you are, after all, — Mrs. Murim said with affection. — You have a meeting starting soon, if you haven’t forgotten. Therefore, I advise you to hurry up if you don’t want to be late again.       After these words, Dad looked into my eyes once more, simultaneously stroking the top of my head, which made my hair tousle again, got up and said something to Mrs. Murim, but I was no longer listening because my attention was attracted by someone’s bright yellow eyes, so intently looking at me from one window, which was located directly above the entrance buildings. They were like two large stones of yellow amber, so beautifully shimmering in the sun, which made it seem as if they were burning. That gaze seemed to be studying me from head to toe, but it only exuded coldness. At this time, I was boring into him with my eyes, trying to understand and consider the appearance of my observer, but I only saw his eyes, his body was not visible because of the dark room. It was pretty old because it was daytime and the light was supposed to illuminate the window. As if something was preventing him from getting inside the room. I realized only one thing, this man is a boy and he is clearly older than me. I looked into his eyes with fear and surprise, which exuded only coldness and a note of contempt. We would have stood like this for a long time if Mrs. Murim hadn’t sent my father to the guild and brought me into the building.