The Book of The All-Seeing
by Ralph Jason Del Valle
Once upon a time, two Samurai siblings, Dakota and Aptos, received a letter informing them that their mother had fallen seriously ill. Dakota, the elder brother, a skillful samurai master, and Aptos, his younger brother currently training under him, decided to return home immediately. Their small house was situated at the northeastern corner of Hokkaido Island.
Upon entering their home, they found their mother in a critical state—unconscious, weak, and unable to utter a single word. Despite trying every possible herbal remedy from the mountains, none proved effective. Reluctantly, they turned to city doctors, despite their family's skepticism about their efficacy. Yet, no doctor in town could heal their ailing mother, who remained unconscious but miraculously alive after four days.
In a twist of fate, an old woman with a big stick appeared at their doorstep one day, begging for food and drink. The brothers welcomed her, even conducting a tea ceremony. After some time, the old woman began to reveal a mystical tale.
"Along the highest point of Mt. Fuji lies a hidden cave guarded by three elemental dragons, and behind them is 'the book of all seeing... This book contains the secrets to man's biggest desires, eternal youth, how to turn a stone into gold... and most importantly, the cure to every disease there is. However, you may only use it once, and it comes at a great cost. Bring this with you, a magical compass previously wielded by Japan's strongest Samurai. This shall point you in the right direction."
Aptos received the compass, and the old woman vanished upon contact with his palm. With science and medicine failing, the siblings embarked on a desperate journey to find a cure for their mother.
After three days, the compass guided them to the top of the mountain, where it glowed, pointing towards a large rock. They uncovered a hidden cave, as the old woman had described.
Inside the cave, two of the elemental dragons attacked them, but Dakota, the samurai master, was prepared and defeated them. The last dragon, the strongest, presented a formidable challenge. The dragon proposed a choice: one of them must sacrifice their life, and the survivor could take the coveted book home.
"For a very long time, this book has remained untouched. I commend you two for making it this far. If you want it so badly, I'll take one of your lives for it, plus it's been a long time since I ate humans," the dragon said.
Without hesitation, Dakota sacrificed himself, fulfilling his promise to the dragon. The dragon, true to his word, handed Aptos the book of all seeing. Aptos, battered and injured, crawled out of the cave, only to be betrayed by the old woman, who revealed herself as a witch. She pushed him from behind, beat him to death with her big stick, and seized the coveted book.
Despite their portrayed goodness and unwavering determination, the entire family—Dakota, Aptos, and their mother Binoke—met a tragic end.
The End