The Ninakami market was the most frequented in the region. In this maze of alleys, characterized by tall buildings, one could find all kinds of riches. Some merchants displayed fabrics from all over the world, while others offered weapons or armor. Rare ingredients were sold, as well as everyday items.
To protect this crowd, the guards were constantly called upon. They made sure that nothing went wrong: the market's reputation was at stake. With so many goods and money circulating, no one was safe from a scam, an argument, or an assault.
Fortunately, such incidents were rare. The members of this guard had a certain notoriety: each had been trained in combat from an early age, with a rigor rarely equaled.
They handled swords and spears like no one else and were skilled in ranged weapons such as the bow, crossbow, and blowpipe. The latter was especially used to stop outbursts that could no longer be contained peacefully.
Thanks to the protection of these men and women, business could continue without fear.
"Come and see my weapons! I have weapons for everyone: bronze for beginners, steel for experts, and obsidian for connoisseurs! Authentic obsidian weapons from Aresha!"
Soon after his announcement, a dozen people, mostly adventurers, flocked to the stall that had just unveiled its products. After all, Aresha's weapons were known to be among the best blades in the world and virtually indestructible!
"How much for an obsidian spear?"
The shopkeeper looked the customer up and down. He seemed rather well off, with fine leather armor, jewelry on his hands, and new shoes. He gave a small smile before exclaiming:
"Three hundred gold pieces, sir!"
The customer's face quickly paled before he replied:
"Three hundred? But just a few months ago, it was almost half that!"
The merchant tried to explain, gesturing with his hands.
"Sure, sir, but since then, the price of the material has gone up! The obsidian coasts are hotter and more dangerous than ever! And the sea is dangerous too, with all those pirates! Three hundred gold coins is the best price I can give you!"
The adventurer looked down and thought.
"Come on, I can do it for two hundred and eighty gold pieces, but I can't go any lower, or I won't be able to break even!"
A small gleam appeared in the customer's eyes.
"Very well! In that case, I'll take it..."
He stopped talking abruptly, standing still. His complexion paled even more, and his body tensed abruptly. He tried to turn around, but all he could see was a woman behind him, a dagger in her hand, stabbing directly into his back!
Only after a few seconds did he feel the pain, as if a thousand bees were stinging him.
The other customers quickly noticed the scene and several cries of distress could be heard:
"Help! Murder!"
A few seconds were enough for the guard to arrive on the scene. There were three of them, two men and a woman. With sabers strapped to their belts, blowguns hanging from their arms, and equipped with heavy leather armor, they approached the people who had called them. One of the men stood out in the group. His long hair was dark, and his eyes were deep black. He had a stern expression on his face, though his childlike features betrayed his young age.
"What's the problem?"
When people saw the young man, they began to whisper among themselves. Some were even excited as if they had just seen a celebrity.
"Look! It's Eiji Kawasaki. The youngest captain in history."
"We're saved!"
Captain Eiji ignored these reactions and looked around. He saw the woman with long black hair, a knife hidden in the sleeves of her dress, and the dying adventurer on the ground. A stream of drool dripped from the woman's mouth, and her eyes glowed with a scarlet light. Her movements seemed mechanical, or at least unnatural. She let out a few grunts, interspersed with the hiss of her heavy breathing. Seeing this, the guard did not hesitate to draw his sword.
"Hana, Isao, look. Her eyes are bloody." He said in a deep voice.
At these words, the two drew their blades and surrounded the woman.
"We have no choice. We must execute her like the others. There is no way to reason with them when they are in this state. Cover me. I'll take care of putting her out of her misery."
Eiji was sorry. He was supposed to protect the citizens. Not end their life. There was no honor in that.
Sword in hand, he charged forward. Quick as the wind, he came face to face with the attacker. With one fluid motion, he cut off her head. Suddenly, he shook his sword, wiping the blood from the blade before sheathing it. He turned and retreated.
"Isao, Hana. I'll leave you to take care of the body. I'll report back. Don't forget to treat the guy on the ground. He's not dead yet."
"Understood, Captain!" greeted the two subordinates.
He stepped into the darkness of an adjacent alley before disappearing. He walked, although slowly, towards the guard headquarters, only a few hundred meters away. It took him only ten minutes to reach the doors.
The building, like the rest of the city, was gigantic. Made of dark wood and carved stone, its imposing architecture, though simple in its cubic forms, commanded respect. It faced the august stone statue of the city's patron deity, Kibouhito.
The doors of the structure were carved, depicting the Ninakami Guard and the Maeda clan that had ruled the city for several decades.
With a heavy step, the captain entered the building. The walls were dull, and the stone joints were still visible. There were few windows, and even during the day, the only sources of light were the torches hanging from the walls.
He walked through several corridors before stopping in front of a door with two unusually large wings. He pushed it open with both hands and entered a room so bright it blinded him. The architecture of the room was modern. There were decorations in bronze but also obsidian and gold. There was only one person in the room. Sitting at his desk, scratching out a few words with his black ink-soaked quill on parchment, the man with hair and eyes the color of the night seemed unaware of the young man's presence.
"Commander Kawasaki. I've come to report!"
The caller raised his eyes and looked at his subordinate, revealing his uniform with its many decorations.
"Eiji, it's you. You're finishing your shift early, tell me. Has something happened?"
Captain Eiji stared at his superior, still with that serious look on his face.
"A new case. A woman with bloody eyes appeared at the market."
Surprised by this information, the commander widened his eyes.
"A new case, you say?"
His face quickly frowned. He lowered his head, lost in thought.
"This is the thirty-seventh case this year, fifty-one in all. The frequency of this phenomenon is increasing, and we still do not know the origin of this evil. People who were previously innocent start attacking other people for no reason. They lose their minds and attack on sight. Their only symptom is their bloody eyes..."
At the end of his sentence, the commander slammed his fist on the desk. He, too, was sorry. He walked over to Eiji and put his hand on his shoulder.
"Listen, Eiji. Go back to our house. Help your mother prepare dinner. I won't be home tonight. I will prepare a strategy meeting with the other commanders. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes, Father."
Eiji greeted his father before he retired. When he came out, the sun shone on the horizon and painted the city with its glowing light. He walked through the bloodstained streets. He crossed the market again, where the merchants were packing up their stalls. He bought some onions and a turkey.
He continued towards the west of the city, before reaching a suburban area of wooden houses. Passing a few houses, he came to a building more imposing than the others, guarded by two guards.
"Good evening, Yoshio, Daisuke. I hope your guard tour went well."
The two guards stepped aside and opened the gate.
"Good evening, Eiji. Nothing special happened today."
He entered the compound of the residence and went straight to the main building. About twenty meters long and half as wide, it housed the entire Kawasaki clan, while the guards lived in a small building nearby.
He pushed the door open and was immediately greeted.
"Eiji!"
A young girl in a long black tunic threw herself into his arms. Eiji stroked her head gently. Her long black hair was soft and fine, which was rather rare in this windswept and dusty land.
"Ruka, you shouldn't run around like that."
She raised her head and stared into his eyes, revealing her pale face with a slight smile and obsidian eyes.
"Don't worry, big brother. I'm fine today."
Eiji returned the smile and opened the bag where he had kept his purchases.
"Look. Today, Mother will cook your favorite dish for you."
"Is that true?" She looked inside, more out of curiosity than skepticism. "Thanks, big brother!"
While they were talking, a second woman approached.
"Good evening, Eiji. How was your day?"
He turned to her but couldn't meet her eyes.
"Good evening, Mother. My shift was... complicated. We had a new case at the market."
She looked pained, sympathetic.
"It's all anyone's talking about on the streets lately. The number of attacks is only increasing."
"Let's move on, Mother. Father won't be home tonight. He has a meeting. I suggest we start preparing dinner. We shouldn't keep the little ogre waiting."
Realizing what his big brother had just said, Ruka pushed him away sharply before complaining.
"Hey! I'm not an ogre!"
Eiji and their mother laughed heartily. Ruka on the other hand sulked.
"Alright, I'll leave you to fry the onions and prepare the meat while I wash the rice." The mother finally said.
They quickly prepared the meal and ate together. The night was well underway when they went to bed.