"Grandpa!"
The elder Gabriev paused for a moment as he turned to see one of his grandsons trailing behind him. Smiling as the youth stopped in front of him, gasping for air, he kneeled down to look at the boy face-to-face.
"Yes, what is it?"
"Is it true that you're leaving?"
"Only for a little bit, but after that I won't be leaving anymore." He smiled as he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Really?"
"I promise. Now you be a good boy. Don't give your Grandma any problems."
"Yes, sir." The boy nodded.
"That's my grandson," Elder Gabriev chuckled messing up the boy's hair with his hand. "The company won't be arriving for another hour, so how about I tell you a story or something till they come?"
"Okay,"
"Hmm, so what do you want hear then?" he remarked scratching his chin in thought.
"Tell me the Legend about the Kouma War?"
"Again? You heard it over a hundred times."
"But I like the way you tell it."
"Very well then," he sighed as he sat down on a nearby bench as his grandson took a seat next to him. "You'd better not fall asleep half way through this time."
"I won't."
The series of incidents that would later be known as the Kouma War started out a lot differently then many had imagine it would be in the beginning. Back then the world was populated by numerous nations of great technological and magical achievements lost to us now. Many heroes existed back then from each of the different nations; some scholar proclaimed that time to be a Golden Era.
However a dark pall came over this world.
Tension started to break out between once peaceful neighbors as disagreements quickly turned into enmity between leaders. Many nations started to build up their arms forces in preparation for coming conflicts or even war, but many of the people still didn't believe such a situation would arise. Skirmishes along the borders increased as borderlines become increasingly thin.
Soon, war broke out among the nations as they warred for even the smallest reasons, hurling away the image of peace for one of blood and death.
Like a wildfire, it just seemed to spread, as the other nations couldn't help but to hurl themselves into conflicts. Families battled against each other as elves, humans, and dwarves clashed among each other using their different tools to devastate their foes.
Amidst all of this war and strife, the Mazoku slowly emerged from the darkness that they had hidden in for all this time. Quietly they strode out from their hiding places and quickly retreated back before anyone noticed their presence. No one could have noticed the arrival of the Mazoku amidst all of the battling of the war.
All the while the Ryuzoku merely sat and watched. This war to them was of no concern of theirs, this war was not of matters important to them.
The Mazoku had blinded all sides to their involvement in this, veiling everyone's eye to the true depth of this war.
But just as suddenly as this war started, it stopped. No one is quite sure how that managed to occur, but almost over night the fighting stopped. Leaders from all the nation and races suddenly met together and signed an alliance of peace.
It was then that this war gained its name as "The Kouma War", with the union between the elves, humans, dwarves, and Ryuzoku, the forces turned their attention against the Mazoku that had instigated it all. Massive battles were fought as the different forces clashed against the overwhelming might of the Mazoku as the demons finally showed their hands.
But it was too late for the Mazoku; the Shinzoku had already became aware of their true goals and circumvented them already. With that final blow to their schemes, it was the end for the Mazoku as they quickly crumbled apart. The Mazoku Lords quickly splintered apart after that, each fleeing to escape the encroaching armies.
It was then this war was considered over and the union between the different races was intensified even more. After that the lines between nations blurred away to nothing as they were dissolved, the world soon came under the rulership of the Dragon Council as the armies were redirected into dealing with all of the remaining Mazoku in the world.
Now almost thousand years since the war, all of the Mazoku Lords have been imprisoned along with the rest of the Mazoku race. Peace and tranquility has pretty much returned to most parts of this world as the land has finally healed from the scars of the war.
"But Grandpa, if all of the Mazoku are gone, then how come we still have an army around?"
Chuckling at his grandson's question, he answered, "Despite the fact that the Mazoku threat is no more, we still have to be wary of other things. There are still quite a few powerful monsters out there that can cause a lot of problems. As well as those people who worship the Mazoku, they would want to free the Mazoku from their prisons."
"Oh."
"Don't worry about it,"
"Grandpa?"
"Yes, G?"
"When I grow up, I want to be a swordsman like you and Daddy."
"Maybe you will someday,"
"Will you teach me then?"
"I'm not sure if your grandma would approve of that."
"Grandpa."
"Just kidding, sure I'll give you some pointers."
The sounds of several hooves drew their attention away as they turned to see a large contingent of soldiers on horseback come riding up to them. They came to stop in front of the two, as the lead horseman saluted to the elder Gabriev.
"Commander Gabriev," the lead horseman remarked, "it is time for us to go."
"Very well then," the Elder Gabriev sighed as he turned to his grandson. "Go help your Grandma."
"Okay," the kid nodded as he got up and started to run off. "Bye Grandpa."
"Goodbye, Gourry." He waved the smile from his face fading as the boy disappeared from view.
"Sir, we must make haste."
"I know."
The clouds darkened in the sky as the rain started pouring down like tears from the clouds as they soaked the land. Lightning lit up the sky and thunder left a deafening passing as the winds blew down across the grasslands.
A young boy stood before a lone stone marker as the pouring rain pelted him furiously. Tears and rain dripped down the sides of his face as he looked toward the marker.
"Grandpa..." he muttered as lightning flashed behind him.
Suddenly the rain stopped falling on him as he looked up to notice that there was someone standing by him holding an umbrella. He couldn't quite make out the person's face in the darkness, but there was something strangely gentle about this person.
"Your grandfather was a good man," the stranger spoke as he looked toward the marker. "His death is quite a loss to us all."
"Why? Why did he have to die? He promised he'd come back," the boy sniffed as tears streamed down his face.
Kneeling down to the kid, the stranger spoke, "He died to protect the people he cared about most. He did this for his family, you."
"Me?" the boy choked.
"Yes."
"Who are you?"
"A friend of your grandfather's," the strange replied as he stood back up and reached into his cloak. "There was something your grandfather wanted you to have should he ever pass away, his sword."
Revealing a sheathed blade under his cloak, the stranger presented it to the boy. The kid hesitantly accepted it as he looked over the sword. His grandfather had worn this blade for over a hundred battles as he could recall watching his grandfather practice with it.
"Here take my umbrella too," the stranger offered as well and the boy accepted it as well.
"What about you?" the kid asked as the stranger pulled a hood over his head.
"I'll be fine, you should get inside before you catch a cold," the stranger warned as he turned and started to walk off.
"Okay," the boy said as he gripped the sword closely.
"We'll probably meet again Gourry Gabriev," the stranger called as he walked off into the storm.
"Who was that guy?" Gourry remarked scratching his head.