Thunder Chronicles: Path of Light (Volume One)
Prologue - #1 The Day Everything Changed
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The beginning of summer was marked by the graduation celebration of the Tardes Academy. Representatives of various nobility from all corners of the world came to the capital of the Land of Winds, the city of Windhelm.
The annual event of the Tardes graduates is held on June 3rd in the Senate Square of the capital, and the award ceremony is personally conducted by the feudal lord of the Winds. In this, the seven hundred and twentieth year from the great war of Liberation, the feudal lords of Waterfalls, Snows and Fires also came to the celebration. Preparations for the event began a month in advance, so now the entire city is decorated with banners, garlands, and other paraphernalia.
Raito Hakami also completed his training this year.
Preparations have already begun in the Senate Square. The students began to gather near the Church of St. Helles, the hero of the Liberation War and the founder of Windhelm and the Land of Winds. At half past seven, the orchestra began rehearsing. People gradually gathered at the stage in front of the Senate of the Winds.
It was not quiet in the Eastern District either. Music was playing from almost every window, boats were taking people along the St. Gerhard Canal, and so-called "magicians" were showing children tricks with elements. The most expensive tricks were those with the element of fire, they were in the greatest demand.
—Damn, where are my shoes? —Raito said, sorting through things in the closet. —I put them here.
Nervously rummaging through the closet, Raito tried to remember where he had put his shoes yesterday, prepared especially for the celebration. However, his thoughts only convinced him that he had put the shoes right on the edge of the bottom shelf of the closet in his room. Having finished sorting through his things, Raito wiped his forehead and decided to go down to the first floor, where his mother was getting ready at that time.
—Shoes?—His mother asked, approaching the exit, where a pair of black shoes stood right on the threshold. —Here they are, I prepared them right away.
—Oh. —Raito exhaled, standing on the wooden stairs. —Thank you.
Raito was in a hurry since there were about four minutes left until the tram, the stop of which was located several blocks away. Raito began to run. Noticing the dress uniform of Tardes Academy, many passersby looked around. A neatly tucked white shirt, complemented by an elegant black jacket, attracted the attention of people going about their business. Many understood where Raito was heading, and some who knew him congratulated him on the holiday.
Having jumped on the fourth tram, which had already pulled away from the stop, Raito approached the controller, handing him three marks for the fare. However, he rode for free because, on the occasion of the holiday, Tardes students were given free travel on the tram.
Raito stood at the exit on the right side of the carriage, holding on to the handrail. It was literally a ten-minute ride to Senate Square - there are not many stops in the Eastern District. Gradually, the view of the streets gave way to taller buildings. Senate Avenue appeared – the widest in the city. Raito was even afraid to stand at the very edge of the carriage, so he went a little deeper. The number of banners and other decorations was simply off the charts. The tram that passed by was also decorated, mainly with banners in the colours of the Tardes Academy faculties. Raito's mood gradually became more and more festive.
At the same time, almost all of Raito's classmates gathered at the Church of St. Elles, on the opposite side of the square from the Senate of the Winds. This year marks exactly seven hundred and twenty years since the end of the Liberation War, so the Church of St. Elles has been under repair since the beginning of April. However, services are held there. The church spire, reflecting the sunlight, seemed white, although it was black – the sun was so bright that day. Senate Square, paved with cobblestones, gradually filled with people.
At ten minutes to eight, Raito arrived at the square.
—Hakami, finally. Are you planning on being late on a day like this? —asked the teacher, who looked to be about forty. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and tucked into beige trousers.
—Forgive me, Professor Stein. I would have been here at the beginning anyway.
—Okay, forget it. You're leaving right after Faus. Is your speech ready?
—Mine? Do I have to give it?
—The director of the academy chose you as the representative of the graduates of the economics department. Didn't Vergil send you a letter?
—It would have been better if the director had told you in person, I haven't received anything from Vergil. —Raito said nervously, dropping down to adjust the hem of his pants.
—Damn him. Okay, think of something. —Teacher Stein said. —Has anyone seen Rimel? ...
—What should I think of?... —Raito whined, turning towards the rest of the students.
There was a slight tension in the air - the long-awaited holiday for all the students had finally arrived. The celebration gradually began, and people in the crowd began to applaud. This meant the arrival of the feudal lords, who would be present at the celebration. The teachers had scared the students in advance with the fact that the feudal lords would be present at the celebration, so everyone stood at attention and were afraid to make an unnecessary move.
Although Feudal Lord of the Winds was not the head of the country (the Senate and the Supreme Senator were above him), his status was too high to be ignored.
Raito walked past his classmates, greeting each one along the way. That's how he reached Faus, who was mumbling something under his breath. After standing there for a few seconds in bewilderment, Raito was finally able to attract Faus's attention.
—What are you doing? —Raito asked.
—Do you want me to switch you? —Faus said.
—For what?
—I spent the whole night thinking up a speech, so I won't embarrass you.
—Thanks, but I can handle it myself.
—But you don't have anything ready, how will you go out?
—It's not hard to improvise. A basic "everyone did well" and "thanks to so-and-so" will do just fine. —Raito said, taking a small piece of paper out of his bag. —Do you have a pencil?
—But you were planning on improvising. —Faus said, opening his bag at the same time to find a pencil. —Here, take it.
—Thanks. —Raito said, taking the pencil from his comrade. —A simple plan wouldn't hurt anyway. I'm performing in front of the whole city, after all.
—That's true. I can give you my notes.
—Yes, that would be nice, thanks.
—Okay, hold on a second, —Faus said, rummaging through his bag. Not finding the notebook, he began sorting through his things right on the ground. He literally gutted his bag before he got the ill-fated notebook. —Phew, here it is. Take it, you'll find it a little further down.
—Thank you. —Raito said, taking the notebook in his hands. The first three pages contained drawings, apparently of some kind of machine tool or something like that. —Not bad drawings.
—Ah, yes, these are sketches of a lathe.
—Why do you need them?
—I was trying to understand its structure, so I copied it from a picture in a book I found in the library. The drawing seemed very confusing to me, so I started thinking about how to make it easier.
—Interesting, I don't even think about such things. —Raito said thoughtfully, taking the pencil in his mouth.
—You don't need it, it will make life harder. —Faus said.
—Probably. —Raito said, starting to write the text, squatting.
The celebration began. The Wind Orchestra performed the most beautiful pieces from the most famous composers of these lands. Ian von Hebelg, Felix Grimmelstein, Ellin Hause, and many others were performed by the Wind Orchestra today. Famous compositions were even sung along by the crowd that came to today's event.
At the same time, Raito was peacefully squatting and writing a short outline of his speech. He had no problem improvising, so he quickly sketched out what he would say in front of everyone. Vergil, who had distinguished himself in front of Raito by not delivering the director's letter, approached Faus.
—Why are you on the ground? —Vergil asked.
—I'm writing here... —Raito began, not immediately paying attention to who was asking him, continuing to sketch out his plan. —Hey, Vergil, how timely you are. Don't you want to say anything?
—What are you talking about?
—The director's letter. Where did it go?
—Damn it, man, I'm sorry. It so happened that I lost it...
Raito thoughtfully peered into the slightly swarthy face of the brown-haired Vergil, who was carefully trying to explain the whole situation.
—Okay, don't make excuses, I don't care.
—Why did you pick on me then?
—Well, you did something wrong before me, so I had the right to pick on you. —Raito said, looking up at Vergil again. —By the way, you styled your hair really well.
—Thanks, that's the style that Johnsen gave me two years ago.
—Damn, he really hasn't used it since graduation?
Raito was surprised, but then he remembered the image of his friend Kobo Johnsen.
—He washes once a week, what kind of style are you talking about. —Faus said.
—No-o, I don't think it's like that. —Raito said, standing up and stretching his back, slightly cracking it. —He trains every day.
—Hey! Quiet down; the national anthem is playing! —Professor Stein shouted.
The orchestra's performance ended with the Song of the Winds, a sort of national anthem. Everyone in the Land of Winds knew it, so the choir, it seemed, from all the residents sounded throughout the city. The previously mentioned Kobo stood out from the crowd, he didn't even realise that it was an anthem.
After the Song of the Winds ended, Noru, a nineteen-year-old feudal lord of the Land of Winds who was also a graduate of the Academy, came onto the stage. White royal clothes, a long beige cape on top, brown hair down to his shoulders - the young Lord Noru came onto the stage. His name belonged to the Nea clan from the Land of Waters - the hereditary clan of the element of wind, although the lord himself was from its side branch, now even more than the main one in terms of the number of active members.
The young feudal lord's slight smile was directed at the guests, whose number was already measured in hundreds, if not thousands. The bright old buildings that stood around the senate and the square were probably built three centuries ago, and two or three faces looked out of each of their windows, very interested in watching the celebration.
But Lord Noru didn't even have time to say a word. Shouts began to be heard in the square, and people began to run in different directions, causing crushes in the alleys. The students standing behind the Church of St. Helles did not immediately understand what was going on because the view of the square was blocked.
—God damn, what is this? —thought Kobo, who was in the crowd.
Looking around, Johnsen saw only the frightened faces of people who understood no more than what was happening. The feudal lord left the stage and the square accompanied by guards, as indicated by the absence of his carriage.
A man in a grey-beige kimono with red edging fell into the crowd like some kind of projectile, and on his legs were hakama pants. This entire outfit indicated belonging to the Land of Thunder, which, for twelve years after the revolution, had not declared itself in world space.
A man who looked about eighteen years old and had a clean-shaven head threw the crowd in different directions with his landing. Rising after landing, his gaze was directed straight at Kobo, who was in no hurry to understand what was happening.
—Haa. —The man from the Land of Thunder was surprised. —White hair, fair skin. You could be Katari, but you're definitely Johnsen!
—What are you so surprised about? —Kobo asked. —Who are you anyway?
—I was assigned to the Purge a few months ago, and now I'm seventh on the list. —The bald guy said it proudly, with a wide smile.
—What does that mean? —Kobo was confused.
—Are you completely stupid?
—Me? —Johnsen exclaimed, his eyes wide. —You throw around all sorts of random terms, and I'm supposed to understand something from it? You're the one being stupid!
At the same time, the Wind Army units closed in on the academy students, who were already pretty scared.
—Why are you writing a plan?! —Faus screamed, frightened.
—I'm just drawing. —Raito answered calmly. —It's calming.
—Guys, there's Kobo! — Vergil shouted, standing a little further away.
— Kobo? — Raito and Faus asked in unison, but with different levels of concern.
Raito stood up and approached Vergil. In the now more deserted square stood a man in a grey long sweater and dark jeans, whose hair was dishevelled—it was Kobo. In front of him stood the man who apparently attacked the city. There were not so many people in the area, but explosions and attacks of various elements were clearly heard along the streets.
—What a terrible day for an attack. —Vergil said under his breath.
—How calm you are. —Raito said with a small grin.
Six people appeared in the square in clothes similar to the attacker's, only their kimonos were a darker shade, and their pants were black. On their backs was the symbol "seven".
—What in the world is your Purge? —Kobo asked rudely.
—Yeah… — the attacker said with a slight mockery. —It's rare that I get to communicate with people who aren't from Thunder.
—Go ahead and answer.
—Okay, okay, since you asked. We are engaged in identifying criminals within the country and report to our leader, Senzo, whose personal initiative the Purge is.
—And how did the Land of Winds come into his initiative?
—It's simple. —The man laughed. —Now we are looking for traitors who left the motherland twelve years ago.
—Traitors? —Kobo thought, turning towards the Church of St. Helles, where the students were still. —Raito and Miss Hakami, does that mean they are now in danger?
Raito was looking in the direction where the dialogue between Kobo and the attacking criminal was taking place. Suddenly, a blue aura of the water element fell from above, stopping next to Johnsen. A man in a black cape and dark pants appeared to the right of Kobo. His hair was neatly styled and slightly thrown back. The man was about one meter eighty-four tall. It was Ren, a mutual friend of Raito and Kobo.
—Another one? —The criminal grinned.
—The seventh. —Ren said, raising his back. —If I'm not mistaken, his name is Notoro.
—Ren? —Kobo was surprised, jumping slightly to the left. —Where did you come from?
Ren did not answer, but continued to look at his opponent.
—Shadows? —The man exclaimed. —Were we really able to stumble upon you so quickly?
—That's right. —Ren said in a very heavy voice. —I am the third in the Shadows.
—The third? Well then... —the attacker said sadly.
Squatting down, the man began to run his finger back and forth along the pavement.
—Master Kogaku! —He shouted.
—Kobo, get out of here. —Ren said.
—What, I can't help?
—Of course not! —Ren shouted loudly. —It's too serious, it's better to help the academy students.
—Can you handle it alone?
—What use will you be in a fight? —Ren turned to Kobo.
—Okay... —Kobo said sadly after thinking for a moment, and quickly left the square.
The students were still surrounded by the Wind Army fighters, and a new figure appeared in the very middle. The girl standing in front of all the students was dressed in a white kimono and black hakama pants, which her snow-white hair almost reached. She was not an enemy, quite the opposite - she came to help the students get out of the square.
Kobo landed next to her, but did not understand at all who she was. Apparently, the girl had just arrived to the students and had not yet managed to explain the purpose of her arrival.
—My name is Kaisa Kiri. —She said. —I am a member of the organisation that today has the honor of protecting the capital of the Land of Winds.
—Are you from the Shadows? —Kobo asked, falling from above.
—Exactly. —Kaisa said calmly.
—Seriously? —Faus asked, sitting on the curb. —Is it that serious?
—We were attacked by the Purge. —The girl said
It became absolutely quiet around, and a cold passed through Raito, and his heart seemed to stop.
—Purge? —Hakami asked loudly.
—Yeah... I see you're from Thunder, boy. —Kaisa said, looking at Raito, who had risen.
—Yeah, I was born there. –Raito said nervously.
—Well, then we should move out as soon as possible. —Kaisa said, turning towards the long street. —We need to wait for my colleague, and then we'll this place.
Few people had time to understand anything - everything was happening so quickly. The Purge squads in dark beige and dark purple clothes cut through the streets of Windhelm like a knife through butter, leaving behind either terribly frightened or killed people.
The purpose of their visit is the inhabitants of the Land of Thunder, who left the country twelve years ago, fleeing from the terrible revolution staged by the current emperor of the country, who on that day in the year seven hundred and eight in a large-scale battle defeated the previous ruler of Thunder - the feudal lord Maori.
For many years, their organisation, under the simple name "Purge" carried out only internal work, eliminating all sorts of criminals or people who were inconvenient to the emperor's court. The leader of the organization is the second person in the state, carefully hiding his appearance under the mask of a kitsune, he calls himself Senzo, which means ancestor. On this day, he only showed up in the capital of the Land of Winds in the evening, giving himself away near the Central Exit, where he was noticed in the presence of two members of his personal Purge squad.
Two and a half hours later, Raito managed to find himself outside the island of Windhelm, on which the capital was located. Having stopped in a small forest near the river, the students met with many others who had left the city. Among these people were the parents of the graduates, who were in complete horror. Raito could not find his mother.
—We should move towards Braden. —Kobo said, approaching Raito.
Raito was standing on a dirt path, next to which there were a huge number of people making a lot of noise. There was only a forest around.
—Have you seen my mother? —Raito asked.
—No, but she's probably here.
—I don't see her at all.
Suddenly, there was a crash, as if something had landed very loudly.
—Johnsen! —Notoro, the seventh in the Purge, a guy with a clean-shaven head, appeared and screamed at the top of his lungs.
—Damn, this bastard. —Kobo said, turning to the side.
—Who is this? —Asked Raito, who a second earlier had flinched slightly from the enemy who had suddenly appeared. —Oh, he was in the square?
—Yes, that strange guy again.
—Didn't Ren take him on himself? —Raito asked.
—Lord Kogaku will deal with him. —Notoro said, finding himself in the crowd opposite Raito and Kobo.
Raito and Kobo stood rooted to the spot.
Notoro looked at the boys in silence, and then squatted down. A light laugh sounded, causing Kobo to grab his sword, which he had managed to take from home on the way out of town.
—Stone disclosing… —Notoro said in a naive voice…
Kobo began to take out his sword, and Raito froze in place.
—Clearing of boulders.
With incredible speed, boulders began to appear in the clearing, swallowing up the people. Almost no one had time to react, so soon many found themselves inside huge stones.
Kobo and Raito were able to jump high and end up on a tree, which was knocked down by a giant boulder a moment later. Kaisa was on a neighboring tree, gesturing for the boys to come to her side. On the same tree was a partner who had joined Kaisa - a guy in a red t-shirt and a white unbuttoned shirt, who also had medium-length white hair. On the branches just below were Faus and Vergil, who had dodged the attack with the help of Kaisa and her partner. Raito and Kobo, pushing off with all their might, clung to the branches of the tree and found themselves on the desired tree.
Notoro's fist clenched, and all the stones flew into tiny pieces, leaving no one and nothing behind.
—This guy is completely out of control. —Kaisa said. —Even for Purge.
Dumbfounded Raito looked at the countless holes left by the stones, in the place of which there used to be people fleeing from the enemy attacking the city. Many of his classmates became victims, and even Professor Stein could not avoid Notoro's attack.
—Ludwicht, watch them, and I will deal with the bald one. —Kaisa said, jumping down from the tree.
—Hey, I don't have to obey you!
Raito looked up at Ludwicht, who was two heads taller than him.
—Is all that usual for him? —Raito thought.
A fight ensued, in which Raito couldn't see anything - only bright flashes of emerald lightning - the rarest element that Kaisa had received.
Stone spears appeared in the sky, which were immediately shattered by thunderclaps directed by Kaisa. After several lunges, Kaisa found herself at the very neck of her enemy.
—Damn, you're strong.
—Out of your league, huh? —Kaisa asked, smiling through her teeth.
Notoro clenched his fist behind his back and almost dropped several stone pillars on Kaisa, but she managed to jump back. The haze from the attack cleared, and there was no one left – the enemy had retreated, but the sounds of fighting could still be heard from the city.
Kaisa wiped her forehead and approached the tree where the survivors of the attack were located.
—How could he use such a large-scale technique but not defeat you? —Ludwicht asked, jumping off the branch.
—No time for jokes now. —Kaisa said, raising her head to the tree. —We need to find a cart and get away from here.
—Where are we going?
—We can go to Braden, it should be safe there. —Kobo shouted.
—I don't think so, they probably got there too, it's better to move north. —Kaisa said, her face either worried or puzzled.
—We're not taking them to the estate, are we? —Ludwicht asked.
Kaisa looked up at Ludwiht and looked at him for a few seconds, lost in her own thoughts, before turning back to the tree.
—They'll be much safer there, —she said. —especially since this guy is from Thunder.
Raito seemed stunned and wasn't listening to the conversation at all. His eyes were pulsing violently, his lungs were hot, and his heartbeat was incredibly high.
Hakami's eyes rolled back in his head, and he passed out, falling to the ground.
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Johnsen read like [Yonsen], it's not from the name John