Decem 5th of 4831 AS
The morning light shone into the room of a young girl who lived in the palace of Kujyuri. As the light shined on her face, her eyelids twitched as it reflexively responded to its touch upon her face.
She slowly opened her eyes in response, still a bit sleepy but nonetheless well rested. Today felt like another usual day for her and she wiped small bits of sleepy sand from her eyes. As she was about to get dressed she realized that she was still wearing her casual clothes.
A feathery red, pink, and white dress that had feather-like ends at her sleeves and patterns sworn into the hem and seams of her attire. Each part was adorned with a feathery pattern in order to give her an elegant look as she walked forward. She had long brown hair with ribbons that adorned her two fluffy ears at the sides of her head.
Her fluffy ears twitched when it suddenly heard a knock at the door, she called out in response.
"Who is it?"
"It's me Rulu, are you ready?"
Recognizing the voice to be her brother Yashimu, she opened the door and asked in a sleepy tone.
"Ready for what? *Yawn*"
"Did you forget, today's the day we head to Shisayama."
Feeling a sudden jolt to the back of her neck, Rulu's posture straighten up as she remembered that today was the day she would finally leave the city of Kujyuri and take her first steps into the outside world from the small world she had been forced to stay in all her life.
Her fluffy tail perked up and began wagging, in the next moment Rulu rushed past her brother who was by the door in an excited panic.
Yashimu could only give a wry laugh as he watched his youngest sister runoff in such a cute and embarrassed manner.
After an hour, Rulu had gathered her luggage and got Kokona, a trusted hororon mount and friend since her childhood, ready to go.
At the front gates of the palace stood Yashimu with his four brothers, and a contingent of 20 soldiers. They were mounted on Hororon of their own and stood guard by an ornate wooden carriage as they awaited Rulu's arrival.
Riding on Kokona, Rulu met up with them and apologized with a bow of her head
"I am sorry for making you all wait. Please forgive me."
The group chuckled a bit but gave Rulu a compassionate smile in understanding, it was Yashimu who spoke up.
"Not to worry Rulu, we await your command. We can leave whenever you are ready."
Rulu raised her head and smiled back.
"Thank you, brother. If we are ready, then let us be off to Shisayama."
Excitement welled on her heart, finally she could leave Kujyuri and best of all see her beloved older sister.
Hiding his small chuck from Rulu, Yashimu nodded and directed the group as Rulu dismounted and got on the ornate carriage. Soldier then began to attach the harness of the carriage to Kokona who was entrusted to pull her carriage throughout this trip. When all was ready, Yashimu declared.
"To Shisayama!! Marc...."
"Wait!!!, Wait for us, Don't forget about us!"
A sudden voice called out from in front of Yashimu, looking over he saw a pair of people running over as they waved their hands to get his attention.
One was a girl wearing a white and blue outfit that accented her curvy figure, she had a long bow slung on her back and quiver at her waist. The other was a man wearing a military style cap and uniform which was dark blue and accented with white in its seams and hems, he had two sheathed sabers at the sides of his waist.
The two looked like brother and sister, but what really got Yashimu was the brown feathery like ears they had that distinguished them as members of the senshokenshi clan. Which was a race of humans in this world that were known for two things, honor and skill.
Yashimu questioned the two that approached him, his hand gripping his sheath with a firm grip in preparation for any trouble.
"Identify yourself! You stand before the Ordained Knight Yashimu."
The two stopped a couple paces from Yashimu and introduced themselves after they caught their breaths. The woman spoke on behalf of them both.
"I am Nosuri and this is my brother Ougi. We have been hired by Lord Ozen to assist with Lady Rulu's travel to Shisayama."
Nosuri then took about a rolled scroll from the bag at her waist and approached to hand it to Yashimu.
With caution, Yashimu observed the woman and, carefully, he took the scroll and opened it to examine the contents.
Indeed, the scroll was an official letter and signed request from his father Lord Ozen. Yashimu found out that Ozen had hired two senshokenshi from a neighboring nation as a sign of friendship.
They were mercenaries that were working in Kujyuri and had posted their services to the nearby civilians. Ozen took notice of their activities and believed they would be of use to protect Rulu and help Shizu in her work.
They were to accompany them as extra manpower and were to be transferred over to Shizu's command when they arrived in Shisayama to help combat the recent monster attacks.
Nodding in affirmation of the scroll's contents, Yashimu told the two.
"Please ride with the soldiers on their mounts."
"Wait brother, they can ride with me."
Rulu called out and interrupted Yahsimu. She then motioned the two to come aboard the carriage.
"Are you sure sister?"
"Yes, they are of the senshokenishi. We can trust them."
Yashimu remembered that the senshokenishi are considered to be honorable and trustworthy. He had heard the many honorable feats of other senshokenishi, how they would rather die than be dishonored by defeat or failure. Nodding in agreement with Rulu, he told the pair.
"Alright. Please Nosuri, Ougi. Protect my sister."
"We understand."
Said both Nosuri and Ougi, with a salute of their own. Hand crossed flat across their chest and over their heart.
After the sudden arrivals got settled, Yashimu commanded the mounted party to finally depart.
Rulu's heart skipped a beat as they exited the grand stone gates of Kujyuri. Many citizens had crowded the carriage path as they made their way through the city.
The citizens all cried tears of joy as they saw off their beloved "princess" as she was leaving the capital for the first time in 16 years of her life.
During the carriage ride, Nosuri, Ougi, and Rulu talked about the outside world that Rulu had little knowledge of. Since Nosuri and Ougi worked as mercenaries, they have traveled the Empire of Yamato for their work.
Ougi and Nosuri regaled Rulu of their tales and battles across the land which got Rulu's curiosity pumping for the most part of the trip and the trip to come.
5 uneventful but peaceful days of travel passed, due to the large size of their party it had the beneficial effect of scaring off the monsters and nearby predators. It also deterred any bandits as their party was too much trouble to deal with.
20 guards was already an incredible amount for 1 person but to also have 1 Ordained Knight and 4 apprentices just made the group seem like overkill for a party of guards.
Throughout the trip, Nosuri talked about her exploits as she stole from the rich and gave to the poor. She told of how she slayed a variety of monsters across the land with a single pull of her bow.
While off to the side, Ougi hid his chuckling out of the two's sight. The brother knew that his sister Nosuri had a tendency to play up her story. While what Nosuri said was true, a few embarrassing details were left out to ensure she did not feel embarrassed about her past blunder.
One such blunder was when she accidentally vanquished a monster but was accidentally covered by its viscous fluids as a result of her carelessness. It took her days to get the stench out of her clothes, which caused the villagers to avoid her until the stench had dissipated.
Decem 10th of 4831
It was the dead of night as the party was making its way through the forest near Shisayama. Nosuri and Rulu were again talking about the Nosuri's tales, but suddenly they noticed a red flare rise up into the sky.
The carriage had a small window at the top of the carriage door and the sudden commotion caused by the caravan's guards made Rulu wonder what was happening.
Rulu poked her head out and called to her brother.
"Yashimu, what is that?"
Yashimu looked over to Rulu and followed her line of sight to the scene in the sky, he explained.
"That is a distress signal. There must be a battle going on in that direction."
Hearing this, Rulu remembered what she learned from her father and deceased mother. Rulu mumbled the teachings to herself.
"As you are citizens of Kujyuri, you are responsible for the nation's well-being. Show compassion to others by helping them when you can."
After mumbling to herself, Rulu's resolve rose as she did not want to disappoint her mother and father. She spoke Yashimu.
"Brother, let us assist them. It is our responsibility to do so."
Yashimu grimaced at Rulu's words. He worried that if he complied, her safety would be put in danger. But when he looked at the resolve that shone in Rulu's eyes and remembered the words of his father.
They might not be able to rely on their father in the future and that their self-sufficiently was important to develop. Deep down, below his brotherly worry, he believed that this would be a chance for Rulu to grow to be her own person.
Looking to his brothers and his troops, they all gave him affirming nods which convinced him of his next actions.
"We move to aid the distress signal. Everyone, prepare for danger and increase pace. Double time!"
The caravan troops all checked their equipment and motioned their reigns to have their Hororon mounts increase their pace.
While everyone began to steel their hearts for the troubles to come, Rulu and Yashimu would find themselves unprepared for what awaited them in not only the coming moments but the years to come.
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