V2 Chapter 7 The world behind the Mirror

Hikaru POV

Water went by me in a fast motion before everything slows down and I'm slowly falling from the sky. I could see a clearing and in the middle was a small tree, from its branches to its leaves was made out of glass but it was in a weird shape. It looks like the middle part of the tree was hacked out. Thick-shaped glass tree reflected the light coming from the sky as I was slowly falling from it. I soon landed next to it and I never felt weirder. I knelt and touched the soft green grass, which I landed on. It's normal grass but the tree. ..... I thought as I came closer to it to have a closer look. Its texture and its looks were all like a tree but it was clear see-through glass. I then noticed roses, purple-tinted glass roses glowing red which lit up the leaves and branches near them a strong apple red color.

" Beautiful isn't it?"

V7 asked in a soft dazed tone.

I turn to V7 who was standing behind me with his eyes on the tree. How beautiful it was... V7's face with a dazed look with a small grin. His eyes shined an emerald green that complimented the dim sunlight that was hitting his face. Suddenly, his eyes found mine and a sudden panicked feeling ran through me as if I did something wrong.

" Yes.... what is it?"

I asked as I avoided eye contact.

" This is the new world tree. It's said to come from the land of the gods, but because of the selfishness in humans, it was dragged down here... where it's struggling to survive... It's said that only those who are acknowledged by the gods are able to see the true beauty of the tree. This is the place I come to regularly which made it my default setting. "

V7 explains as his gaze returned back to the tree.

I may not be acknowledged by the gods but I saw it and it didn't come from any weird cursed trees.

" Alright enough of this. Come on Rookie, I'll give you the grand tour."

V7 gestures for me to follow him and started walking. I followed after him but I soon noticed the sky. It's as if the sky was a shattered mirror under clear water. Only some parts of the sky were reflecting what looked to be sunlight, the rest was just a mix of hues from night sky blue to morning sky blue. The darkest blue was separated from the lightest blue but any blue in between wasn't in order and was jumping all over the place, making it very easy to see the pieces of broken glass since it pieces of glass had their own blue that was harmonized by the clear water that held them in place. Looking closely now, I noticed small waves rippling through the water.

" You're falling behind Rookie."

I turned back to V7 who was walking towards me, he grabs ahold of my hand and gently pulls me along with him. I could feel the warmth from his soft hand, my eyes were soon following the lines of his light muscles to his arm. It looks like he's been training and yet he's so light.

I thought as I recalled carrying him this morning. I soon found myself staring at V7's shoulder where his hood hanging off, it was swaying a little with each step he took. V7 suddenly turns to look at me and I am suddenly drowned with this panicked feeling.

" Too weird for you Rookie?"

" No... I'm good... it's just so...."

My eyes immediately avoided his and that's when I realized that we were in a long hallway that had mirrors hanging everywhere under each mirror was a number. Why am I suddenly so shy? Is it because he caught me staring at him a couple of times? Why am I staring at him anyway? Is it because he is handsome?.... No that's not it... Well, he is... I guess... he is.... well .. good looking but..... there's something. ..

" Captivating?"

Exactly!

" Yeah. That's it!"

There's something captivating about him! Wait a minute, I didn't think that. Oh wait... that was V7... what are we talking about? We continued down the path. He then turns to a mirror with the number 270620.

" This mirror leads to Katusha's Town."

He says as he touches the mirror. The mirror that once showed our reflection, under his touch changed to the sight of a dark room filled with objects and beyond that another door.

" Well... the basement of a shop that's out of business. This is how we are going to be sending them across. We'll send them through at dusk and hopefully, it wouldn't raise suspicion."

" It won't since fewer guards are patrolling and everyone was warned to stay indoors after the kidnapping incident started."

" Great! Now continuing our tour."

We walk further down the hallway to a room that had a chair in the middle of the room and in front of it was a numberless mirror. It was very weird since this is the only room after hallways filled with rows of numbered mirrors and yet this is the only place that has a mirror without a number. V7 walks up to the mirror, takes out a key, and waves it above the mirror, a water barrier soon appeared and moves aside to let V7 pass. Revealing a familiar little cottage close to a river. He enters the mirror, walks up to the cottage, and uses the same key which pushes back another fire barrier from the door while unlocking it. He opens the door and gestures for me to go in. The place was dark and very... ordinary. As soon as we entered could see a kitchen to my left and the seating area to my right, pretty normal looking with a fireplace. Right in front of us were staircases, one leading to the second floor and the other leading to the basement. Huh... never thought this place used to look so ordinary and so empty. ... there isn't any furniture at all.. maybe this is before Version 1 became lazy?.... I then noticed a layer of dust on every which is the first time seeing it here in this cottage. Where's the library? Did I go back further than before? Maybe this is a time before he made this his home?

"Looks like you built it quite some time ago."

I commented as I walked in, looking around.

" Built it?! Na, I bought it."

He corrected me as he waved me off.

" Bought it? Isn't this part of the world behind the mirror?"

" Nope, we left it as soon as we walked through that second barrier."

He then gestures to the sky where it was a normal sky.

" When I was working as an assassin, I used this mirror as a shortcut to my targets, but when I was fired due to my enemy, I fashion it as a prison. This cottage in the forest near the forbidden mountains of Ralux, I put up a magical barrier. Where the only way in and out of here is through my mirror, but after realizing that trapping him here won't get what I want. I undid most of my work which returned it back into my shortcut.

I undid my old barrier and placed a cloaking barrier instead, so it's safe from wandering humans since we are close to the village."

" There's a village up here? so far north east?? Aren't we awfully close to Everburn?"

I questioned slightly shocked to know that there was a village so far out here.

" Well... it's a very ... frowned upon Village, which is why this village isn't on the map and unknown to the rest of the continents. This village was formed around the time of Rhane god of love before the demons turned upon us."

As V7 explained, it finally hits me.

"... you mean... there's..."

" Yes, a half-demon village. Living peacefully with humans, elves, and demons hidden away from any Demon Slayer or any others that are against the idea."

".... But your dream of becoming a Demon Slayer... So why?"

I asked with a smile, knowing that he didn't want to harm people just living their lives.

" Why let them be? Because it isn't time yet, but when the mission comes I'll be ready to kill off every last one of them for committing such a heinous deed. This is why I brought a cottage here in the first place, well before I was replaced, and decided to lock him up here with all the other heinous beings where he belongs. Come on, we have much to prepare before we can transport the villagers."

V7 lies through his teeth trying to hide his true emotions with a yawn. He turns and walks back the way we came. Disappearing through ripples of water. I followed behind him, but instead of walking through water, nothing happened.

" Wait what?"

I thought as I had a look around. I still could see the cottage behind me and I could see the river but this time I could see the different forest beyond the portal. The area he barrier off is the same, I guess that's the only thing he didn't expand on. Walking further down I then noticed a beautiful meadow, this is where the farmlands will be..... it's so weird seeing this place without a barn. I can't believe how much will change before I meet him..... I thought as I recall the first time I met him during the demon war.

Flashback

The original path of fate.

I groan as I headed towards the barracks after standing guard the whole night at my post right outside the Kingdom of Leighdal. We were ordered to storm the area and take captive Misaki the demon creator.

" Hey! Hikaru! We have been ordered to the field!"

Walter, my bunkmate yelled from our room door.

" *Groan* Why?"

I groaned as I forced myself off my bed wishing for a moment of rest.

" It seems General Matilda Cashew was ordered to take control of the new post that's deeper into Leighdal. Our batch is being taken over by Arena Fighter. "

Walter informs me as he pats my back, draping his arm over my shoulders and dragging me along toward the gathering area.

" Arena Fighter?!* Sigh* Why do those brutes always get the promotion. ..... how did this bozo get the job?"

" Not sure.... but he goes by Shinigami, the Grim Reaper of Ralux. They said that no one can kill faster than him."

" Great, another idiot swinging a sword around. .. I know I complained about being under a girl general but now... Please don't go! Matilda! I would rather be under a girl than an idiot who only knows how to send people to die without accomplishing anything."

I sigh as I dragged myself to the field.

" Maybe he isn't that bad?"

Walter suggested trying to get my hopes up.

" We have been under an Arena made General before. Do you remember what happened? We were lucky enough to survive that but we lost almost our whole team! Now our team is filled with Rookies and we are being sent to a place where even the trees are out to kill us!"

I remind him with a huge sigh.

" Well, maybe our death might help make a path for the other team?"

" Oh! Yeah! That's the solution to everything!"

I yelled, drawing our whole batch's attention.

" Hikaru!"

Walter called out trying to stop me, I ignored him, shrugging him off me and moving a distance away to face him.

"Sending waves and waves of people to die and learn from their death just to make it to another path of the forest for the next wave of people to die!"

" That's a terrible solution!"

Someone finally agreed with me! Unfortunately, he was standing behind me. Either way, his support is much appreciated.

" Obviously! But that's all Arena made General do! I'd rather have back Matilda! At least she is able to keep more than half of us alive. "

I exclaimed, making my point to Walter as I watched his face turn pale.

" Um..... Hikaru. ..."

Walter called out with a dazed look and that was when I realized he wasn't looking at me.

" What?"

I demanded. He then points to the new General that was standing behind me... Oh... Crap... We immediately stood straight and saluted to him.

" Seems like you men have been through a lot. I may be unworthy of being your General, but I will do my best to win this war and make sure each and every one of you make it back to your homes alive."

At that moment, I could feel great confidence coming from him even though I couldn't see his face... He nods to us and heads towards the platform in front of our whole team.

Flashback Ends.

V7 lead us through Leighdal with ease, not one man was left behind. Even though none of us knew his name nor saw his face... we trusted him with our lives but that was before he leads us straight to Misaki's Castle and locked us in there while he when to face the Demon Lord! Alone! He was victorious but since he had served the purpose he was created for, he was disposed of by V0.

Flashback

" It is time V7."

V0 informed V7, her blue eyes were as cold as ice.

" Is it? Aren't I supposed to prove myself a worthy leader of Versions by leading them to victory against the Demon Lord and his army before finally claiming my rightful place as Version Leader?"

" Situation has changed, there is no longer a need for you, now that you have found Misaki's son."

"..... No longer a need for me.."

V7 says with a shocked depressed tone as he gazes at me.

"Then...Yes... I suppose it is."

V7 says with a sigh before giving me a sad smile.

"I hoped that my cycle would never end.... but looks like it was shorter than I expected... Hikaru....."

He turns to me and gives me a hug as he whispers into my ear.

"I'm proud of you..... my only friend. You're the only decision I made and I'm grateful that it's you. Thank you. "

" V7... Please. ..."

I begged him as I held his arms.

" This is my fate, I did my best."

He informed me with tearful eyes.

" You did indeed V7, truly a model version."

V7 stared at V0, he looked like he was rethinking his life. I waited for his outburst of reason, for him to stand up, for him to make his own decision, to live his life for himself! To screw taking orders for the first time and fight V0! But instead, he grabbed her hand with tears in his eyes.

" Thank you, V0."

Without any emotions, V0 looked at him.

" Deepest apologies V7, duty calls. "

And right there and then she killed him. Everything happened so fast, I fell to my knees lifeless as I held his dying body in my arms.

Flashback Ends

Normal rank versions are made for only one life-threatening mission. .... they train and study every second for that mission just to be disposed of when the mission is completed or when they are no longer needed. He didn't even get to say goodbye to his 4-year-old daughter... to see his daughter for the last time. .....

" There you are, next time follow right behind me."

I was immediately pulled back to reality. I gave a sad smile to V7. I will save you this time V7.

"... Sorry..... but why didn't I go through the portal ?"

V7 then turns me around, I then noticed the pathway to the cottage was blocked by a weird frame.

" Is that the back of a mirror?"

" Yup, I actually barrier like 50 acres of land and placed the portal here instead of the edge of the barrier. I needed to bring in some furniture and stock up the cottage before locking him here anyway. It made life easier with the portal right here, but that meant a smaller portal door. Alright, keep up this time Rookie, or do I have to hold your hand kid?"

" Well, I want to decline but seeing how it is the most effective way to keep me from being left behind."

I answered as I rub the back of my neck awkwardly while avoiding eye contact with him. V7 laughs at my reaction and patted my back as he shook his head.

" Keep that up and I might go back calling you kid."

" Come on, Master Rookie! Cut me some slack. It is my first day after all."

I begged, not wanting to be called that again.

" Right oh! Right oh! Now, let's see how well you'll do on a Demon hunt. "

He smiles as he pats me on the head. He then walks through the portal, and I immediately follow him.

" What about preparation for transporting the villagers?"

I asked once, we were back at his caravan.

" I can get it ready with my eyes closed and I'm kinda curious about your fighting style. "

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IC V2

V2" Today our special guest is V7. So V7 please tell us what's it like to have your first student?"

V7" Well, the feeling is overwhelming and unbelievable. I mean me? A master? I never taken care of anything other than my horse. This will be a challenge but it's one I'm looking forward to. What was it like for you?"

V2" Me? Annoying, both of them are just *groans* I never want another student ever again. ... unless it's you my lovely little 7!"

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