Chapter : 02
The Beginning of Everything, Part 1
Omniscient POV
Arsalan was taken to the hospital where his grandmother was admitted. A police officer accompanied him.
On the bed lay an elderly woman in her late fifties. But due to chemotherapy and various treatments, she looked far older than her actual age, extremely weak and frail.
Her skin had lost its glow, hair had fallen out, and she breathed heavily with the help of life-support equipment.
When Arsalan entered the room, he noticed another elderly person standing beside her.
“Are you Mr. Komori?” the police officer asked.
A/N: “Komori” can mean “guardian of the trees.”
“Yes. I’m the one you spoke to on the phone,” the elderly man replied, then turned his sharp, unfriendly gaze toward Arsalan.
“The child of Maya, huh? Sit there. Your grandmother is asleep from the medication, but she will wake soon.”
Arsalan silently sat down and stared at the weakened woman on the bed. Even though he was meeting her for the first time, he sensed a resemblance to his mother. That thought brought tears to his eyes again.
The elderly man stepped outside to speak with the police officer. A few minutes later, the officer returned.
“Take this. My number is on it. Contact me if anything happens. I’ll check again later. Stay strong, boy.”
Although Arsalan had already been handed over to a guardian, the officer planned to continue visiting. Arsalan nodded quietly.
After the officer left, the elderly man returned, sat beside him, and observed him with curiosity.
“I’m your grandmother’s cousin, Hiro Komori. I’ve arranged her medical care. Have your parents told you anything?”
Arsalan didn’t understand and stared blankly. Hiro clicked his tongue in frustration.
“No family in London? If you want, I can arrange for you to go back.”
He shook his head. No one was left.
Hiro rubbed his temples and sighed.
“We have some time until your grandmother wakes. Talk to me a little. Tell me about yourself.”
But the conversation didn’t go well. Arsalan had lost too much and was exhausted. Seeing this, Hiro shifted the topic.
“Do you know why your mother never showed her face?”
Arsalan lifted his head.
“This house is cursed. Because of that wretched tree, nothing good ever happened here.”
Hiro continued as Arsalan listened intently.
“That tree is evil. Never go near it.”
A weak voice interrupted them. They both turned to see that the grandmother had awakened.
“Isn’t life cursed enough? What happened to Maya and my husband? What happened to you?”
“It’s not related to the accident, and not my illness either. Bad things happen, but there’s no need to blame anything else.”
“Do as you like. Just don’t drag this child into your nonsense. He might run away like Maya did.”
Her expression clouded at the mention of her daughter and son-in-law’s death, which she already knew.
“I’m going for a smoke. Talk with your grandson.”
“I thought you quit smoking? Your lungs aren’t well.”
“Mind your own business. I’m still better than you.”
She left the room.
“She seems strict, but she’s not a bad person,” the grandmother said gently, extending her hand.
“I’m Sumiko Komori. I’m your grandmother. Come closer. Let me see your face properly.”
Arsalan approached, and she gently stroked his cheeks and hair.
“You have your mother’s eyes. And even inherited the odd-eye. She loved her own eyes so much.”
He nodded.
“What does your name mean?”
“Arsalan means ‘fearless.’ Adeon comes from Latin ‘adeo,’ meaning ‘toward divinity.’ And Arv in Alvendis comes from Old Norse ‘heir.’”
“A beautiful name. I can tell how much thought went into choosing it.”
They gradually opened up to each other and eventually shared tears.
“I’m sorry. Truly. I wasn’t a good mother. If only I had realized sooner…”
While embracing, Arsalan wiped his eyes with his shirt and the golden tree pattern on his chest was revealed.
“Ars, what is that tattoo? Maya hated it.”
“Ars” was his nickname.
“I don’t know. It was already there when I woke. And this mark on my hand too.”
He showed the three red lines on his left hand.
Sumiko gasped at the mark on his chest. It was the family’s record mark, the sign of a beginning.
If genuine, it explained how he survived the plane accident unharmed.
“Do you know why Maya left home?”
He shook his head.
“For six thousand years, we’ve protected the World Tree. That is our duty. In return, we bless and protect those who believe.
But for hundreds of years, no one with the Guardian’s Crest was born. Faith waned. It was called superstition. Blessings and protection disappeared.
I too was driven by desire. Your mother hated it and left. The leaves of the tree have medicinal properties. If I hadn’t eaten them, I would have long since died.”
“Withdrawing protection? Killing those who don’t believe? Did you kill my parents?”
Danger laced his voice.
“No! It’s not evil. I just don’t protect those who don’t believe. I protect those who believe, out of goodwill. People like you can even perform miracles. But there are limits, and not everyone is the same.”
Arsalan wasn’t satisfied.
“Guardians show marks like yours. It’s proof of a connection to the World Tree.”
“What nonsense are you feeding him!” Hiro shouted angrily.
After the argument, Arsalan was taken to his grandmother’s house.
It was an old house, like a shrine. Behind it stood a massive, beautiful tree. Its bright green leaves were streaked with gold.
“That is the cursed tree. Don’t go near it. Search the rooms. I’ll go buy food.”
Hiro hated the tree. Treatment had cost him most of his wealth; only the house and the tree remained.
She had relied on the tree to survive and to apologize to her daughter.
After Hiro left, the house was covered in dust. The rooms were many, and the roots and branches spread as if enveloping the house.
The house had gas, electricity, and running water.
Arsalan lit the stove and set paper on fire. Then he began throwing the burning pieces at the massive ancient tree.
