Titen's POV
The search for the trinket was over before it even began, thanks to the special abilities of my partner for the exam. The water was our next stop, falling from the sky isn't clean business especially in this fog filled forest.
After we dried ourselves off from that strange feeling of water, we lit a fire to cook the fish that for some reason swam to Akiyon hands. All I can say about what I saw was that I wished I had met Akiyon earlier, earlier than that old bastard I call master. We grilled our willing meal over the wood fire. My stomach was upset after the fourth fish I devoured, Akiyon was still eating his tenth fish without a care in the world.
The truth is I could be eating my tenth fish as well, it's just something is wrong with it. In fact there is something wrong with this place that we are seating on, I looked around and settled my eyes on the stars. A beautiful sight indeed but something caught my eye, a constellation. Not just any constellation, one that should only appear in the northern hemisphere, and we are in the south.
I turned my attention to my clueless companion, but I'm certain now. We are in an illusion or someone's space, and one person comes to mind when it comes to something mysterious.
"Titen you get some rest and I will watch for any predators while you sleep." Akiyon said as he completed feasting on his eleventh fish and grabbing his twelfth and hopefully last.
A blatant lie by my companion, I'm sure of it now, he has known since the moment he asked me if I sensed something wrong about the forest. I won't let you have all the fun, anyway these individuals aren't going to go easy on you.
"How about we both wait for our guests to come to us together, I'm very impatient." I said as I sat down next to my companion and stared off into the forest opposite us, where our stalkers lurked.
Akiyon decided to pick up his staff that was on the ground. The root end of the staff released two containers. Akiyon passed to me one of the containers made from a dried leaf, he then proceeded to penetrate the container with a stick. He sucked on the stick and the sound of liquid moving was pronounced, he gave me my own stick. I observed the stick with a cylindrical hole in the centre, and copied Akiyon's early display.
To my surprise the contents in the leaf container were tasty, it was alcohol, no it was Berumja berry juice. Ooh I've only had this twice before, the Berumja berry ferments when it ripens. The juice is amazing but the alcohol is the star of the show, it's unlike any wine percentage.
I sipped away on my alcohol and couldn't help but wonder my eyes to Akiyon's weapon. The wooden staff was a sheer beautiful dark brown oak, polished in some areas and dry in the orange oak. Magnificent piece of wood I have ever seen, the contorting roots added to the design and one would say were the main attraction.
He said Koba was his last name, and by the sound of it I don't think he knows what his last name means in Terra. Something I won't burden him with, that will happen in time by someone meant to tell him.
"Hey Akiyon, who gave you your staff? It's quite remarkable. I had assumed it was your spirit weapon but upon further observation I see wear and tear. Spirit weapons heal after you absorb them back." I asked after I quickly finished the contents of my leaf cup. "Don't tell me it was a walking tree."
"It wasn't a walking tree but the spirit of the Great Ark tree."
"You mean a dryad, a real dryad."
"Yes, why do you ask."
"I mean the kind of spirit that can fly and walk through objects."
"Yes, Ogriv does that alot."
My mind really doesn't want to hear what this guy is saying to me right now. He can be talking about a literal phantom or something of that sort and he wouldn't know it.
"Are you sure Akiyon?"
"Yes, don't you guys have spirits, Ogriv told me there are lots of them out here in the real world." He said but began to rub his chin. " But I haven't seen one yet."
Hearing the real world from his mouth reminded me of when I would have talks with my mother about travelling the real world. I was a child on vacation with my family on our ancestral home, the Terragon islands.
I guess there is truth to his words, they remind me of my innocence and ignorance. I was the same at one point, and what does this Ogriv mean by there are many spirits in the world.
"Now come to think of it, I also thought that the haunted shelter was not really haunted by rats like I thought." I lied.
"Spirits do haunt people in the outside world!?" My partner's eyes brightened up as he said this, the excitement was emanating from him. One might assume I'm about to tell him a grand tale, but I'm only talking about rats making noise in a shack.
"Yeah, we call them ghosts."
"Like the scary stories Ogriv told me about." The boy squirmed. "I've always wanted to be haunted by ghosts, Ogriv is not very scary."
"Oh, you don't want to be haunted by a ghost, those guys don't ever give up." As I said this his eyes widened along with his grin. Whenever he looks at me with his innocent eyes, the pit in my soul would deepen. This feeling felt like that one when I… argh how I hate feeling guilty.
Sooner or later Akiyon's power will be recognised and put to use for the intentions of adults, they won't feel guilt. To them raising a weapon isn't shameful, shaping one to be a killer is honourably and worthy. The Creed is no different from people who do this, because the Creed is the entity that fuels these indoctrination. They are the ones that benefit from children being told that saving lives and taking them are intertwined. Focus Terragon, the gods blessed you with a weapon unlike any other. Use it, use him to help you kill the strongest Terragon.
The first day of this exam has been too easy, both me and Akiyon haven't concealed our chi signals. It could be because he doesn't think he needs to hide but I also don't want to hide, I'm looking for a fight myself. I thought when I landed here I would be swarmed by opponents who want their first taste of a Terragon. The confusing part is I can sense everyone else's chi signals and they are everywhere but where me and Akiyon are, in fact I can sense chi clashing. The fights over trinkets began for a while now and I had assumed I wouldn't need to look for an opponent, they would come to me.
I guess I will have to make due with the Terragons stalking us, hopefully someone not too strong is going to fight me.
Akiyon's focus was on the air for some reason, he even turned on his beastly eyes. He observed the space of nothing like he was looking for something, something in the air. I placed a hand on my throat because it felt like there was sand in my throat, I wanted to throw up. So I did so, sand with blood and a volatile smell came from my body. There was only person that came to mind right now, sand, mystic illusions and the stalking—Spade.
Akiyon looked very confused at my regurgitation, as if he had never seen someone throw up.
"Why are you expeling good sand Titen?" He asked
Good sand? Don't tell me he knew we were eating sand and worse don't tell me he finds that normal.
"What do you mean by good sand?"
"The sand you're vomiting it has a lot of chi for some reason, not even the Salakar Desert doesn't have this much chi in its sands and doesn't taste as nice."
Taste as nice? You know at this point I'm not surprised by what my companion can do.
"You don't say, well it doesn't agree with me just like this place." I said as I wiped my mouth.
"There is something in the air."
"Yes, I figured that much with how you were observing it. I know who might be behind it, I don't know why they don't attack us immediately. I'm tired of waiting for some action."
"Yes there are six of them, Titen."
"Seven of you count the guy at the back of them, he is the one who casted the illusion. His sand is high in chi because of the Perdita blades, so don't carelessly engage him. In fact Akiyon don't approach him, you are under any circumstances not to fight that man. Though I can't force you…"
"I'll listen to you Titen." He interjected. "Don't fight the illusion sandman."
"Let's deal with these small temee." I said as I stood and held out a hand for Akiyon to grab so I could lift him up. He did so and together we drew closer to the front three stalkers approaching us.
Our stalkers clearly surrounded us and approached us slowly. I checked if there were chi signals from the coliseum, to my surprise there was none but I recognised someone. The illusion broke and instead of the rocky river bed where me and Akiyon had set up camp also and the river turned to sand. The illusion on us faded as well. It showed us completely covered in sand and dust, of course this is exactly the result Spade wanted.
"Temee huh!?" A face I haven't seen in a while, spoke in the dark cover of the forest trees. The more his frame illuminated as he set foot in the desert I stood on. "I thought you were the only bastard here, shogun."
"Well if it isn't Isamu, what brings you here?" I asked jokily.
"I've come for you of course." The chi he's emitting tells me everything, something not right about his Venalicium.
"That's a shame, I like where I am though."
"I wasn't asking, Titen!"
Akiyon took out his staff from its bandages and revealed fully the dark and light orange oak the weapon was made from. The top of the staff looked as if it was the roots of a tree but instead of growing underneath the ground slowly. The roots were growing or should I say moving very quickly, this movement increased as the roots formed a spear tip immediately. Akiyon spun and swung the spear, showing everyone he was adept with it. I guess he must have figured Isamu isn't here to talk.
I drew my sword from its sheath and laid the sheath on the ground, and ran a finger on its edge. I only looked at my finger and then the sword, I sucked on my bleeding appendage. I have not mastered it. A true master of the sword shouldn't be able to be cut by his own sword. Isamu fully appeared with a woman and a tall skinny man standing next to him, he had his rose gold sword unsheathed. A family heirloom of the Mamushippo house, my grandmother's house, the former queen Hayami Shibuya. Grandfather would never send Isamu to come collect me, that would be stupid. The finding me part is the easiest thing about this mission, seriously everyone knows where I am.
But leaving with me, is a different story, this country is the home of the fastest beings in the realm. I'm sure of it now, I'm being set up to fight and kill Isamu right now. He finally wants me to do it, after such a long time too.
"I thought since you and I are old friends we may come to an agreement."
"You are not my friend!" Isamu lunged forward and our swords clashed, sparks flew from the impact of his rose gold and my black katanas. "Bronze Rocks, I don't want to be disturbed!"
"That's it Isamu, give in to your anger! Hahaha!" I shouted
Isamu POV
After Spade parted ways with me I decided to part ways with the Bronze Rocks and leave the palace grounds. Scum crawled on the once prestigious grounds of the royal castle everyday, it is hard for me everyday to not just kill one of them. The thought never evolves but is the most present as ever in my mind, draw your sword and strike your enemy down. Hayake followed behind me and gave disgusted looks at the Tarragon men eyeballing us as we walked on the castle grounds. The sight of swines increased the more we made our way to the gate
"Open the gate!" Hayake shouted at the top of her lungs.
Two men turned the cog lever and the gate rose higher with each turn. I made my way out of that infested place and was introduced to the bustling of my capital. Aianmeiden is a beautiful place even under the rule of the Terragons, it's truly worthy of a capital. The castle stands at its centre and the highest point in the city, the Nekomata Temple, next to the castle stood as the second tallest point. Eight major roads laid out in all the cardinal directions throughout the city connected to the piece of land the castle and temple stood. The castle was surrounded by a shallow depth trench filled with Koih and Chilei fish, the only way to cross unwet was to walk on the four bridges at the four castle entrances.
The bridge in the front gate is always lowered in fact it has never risen in the 16 year rule of the Terragons, a message from them to the citizens. Unlike the old regime their door is open to any and all at any given time, this gesture has mustered a lot of local support to the usurpation. Houses such as my own are seen as villains and corrupt extremists that want to restore their power at no matter the cost. Other civilians are loyal to the old regime, a time when Metallum wasn't the home of infinite scum and monsters. They are loyal to the freedom that came as a Metallumian, the beautiful parades and festivals, the picnics in the royal sakura gardens in the beginning of spring.
Me and Hayake crossed the bridge and set foot on the pebble stone that covered the pedestrian paths while carriages and coaches travelled on the paved road. The more we walked farther from the centre of the city the more the buildings went down in size. The giant houses or smaller castles that surrounded the Tungsten castle were replaced by modest homes and markets. The further you went farther from the castle the more smiles you saw on the children, even adults who haven't had anything to celebrate ever since the fall. I couldn't help but wonder how Metallum was before the fall, but the stories I've heard are of an alien land to me.
I can't imagine the pain of losing your utopia and the feeling of despair knowing there's nothing you could or can do about it. I was born before I could see such times, before I could see my own father. This city is not only the capital of Metallum but of our culture, struggles and power. Some buildings are even older than the royal castle itself, all national treasures were bought and stored here by my forefathers. This is how special this place is to us and that's why I imagine so many people stayed because of that reason, rather than running to the countryside where Terragon rule is lax. The people would rather pray to one of the twenty three shrines in the twenty three districts then run.
Walking into the food market was refreshing, as we were greeted by the laughter of children and the shouting of clerks. The open market was crawling with clerks with product in hand, customers and soldiers and even Terragon scum. In this part of the city, no trouble is permitted to be caused by anyone. The market is Reitess Terragon territory in the city, everyone knows not to incur the wrath of the strongest in the land. The market is heavily guarded by Terragons on the rooftops, their eyes doing all the work. My eyes connected with the surveyors of spies and traitors in the market,I returned focus on my path. The clerks were shouting throughout the market how fresh their produce is or what new item they have in store. The customers were eagerly searching for what they need before the day ends and curfew is in effect in every street, including this one. The soldiers in the market were split into two different factions, those still loyal to the old regime and those in favour of the current ruling power.
"The guards have drastically increased in the central market?" Hayake retorted.
"They haven't, I guess the hub of information won't be that for long, it's the old bast… it's the reagents' plan to control the movement of information."
"I guess he doesn't want his plans leaking to the Creed."
"If that's all you've figured out, Hayake, then you truly don't understand the man that sits on top of the throne. Not just any man could ascend to the throne in a city protected by one of the strongest clans in the world. Especially one scraping away on a futile journey, he isn't preventing information leaks, he is controlling them. I'm sure the Creed has already figured that most of their spies are double agents with a knife on their necks." The knife being the fear of coming home to the ashes of your loved ones.
"Are we really going to bring him back?" Hayake asked once we were out of the market.
"We have no choice, it's either that or my clan will be wiped out."
"But will Lady Mamushippo agree?"
"You say that as if she has the power to oppose the reagent or force my sword into Titen's chest."
"Are you to tell her that you will spare his life?"
"We'll tell her what she wants to hear, I don't care how disgusted she is with me afterwards."
I led us the entire time through the streets and alluring gardens and fields, the children in these parts were much louder and plentiful away from the Terragons. How are they laughing and enjoying life right now? We lost our home sixteen years ago. Even at a young age I understood I was born into age, that this place I call home should be as it is. Maybe it's how we were raised, I was raised to be a warrior, a fighter. I'm nothing more or less, while they are being raised to be…just people. If fate would have been kinder to me would I also…?
My thoughts were interrupted by the sight of my home, the Senbon Tree, the Mamushippo castle. The old vandalised castle had seen better days, and was said to be the most beautiful house in the land. I drew closer to the giant red door held by tall mountain rock walls. Where a large big man in samurai armour stood and a petite woman in her shinobi clothing.
"Lord Mamushippo, welcome back." Aina greeted me with a bow from her post.
"Keh pha huuu!" The fat man beside Aina whaled.
"Am I to be expected by the Lady." I asked not caring to entertain meaningless breath.
"Word of your departure from that castle was delivered, the lady is waiting for you in her quarters. She is unwell today."
"How unfortunate, has the doctor been summoned?" Hayake asked concerningly.
"Yes." Aina.
"I would like to see the Lady now."
"Of course, forgive me. Lord Isamu." she gestured to Orleg and he proceeded to pull open the right door.
"For what?" I said as I walked into my home, the woman and man simply bowed.
The Mamushippo front yard greeted me, the beautiful Copper lilies my mother grows in honour of my father were as beautiful as ever. Whenever the Terragon scum come here to investigate for treasonous acts in my home, the flowers are always trampled. My mother plants new ones and nurses the one that can still live. This entrance, this entire front yard used to be the grandest in the land, now only memory.
The statues of the Mamushippo crest, the battle armour siren were present everywhere. Some still in good condition on the front grounds and others in pieces or vandalised. These statues are more than marble and jade to the rest of us, but a reason to hold our heads high even in these trying times. We were stripped of everything, our power, our money, our army and our home was ransacked. The worst of all isn't the fact we lost blood but we also lost people to fight for a better future for.
The balconies were lined with soldiers and shinobi still loyal to our house even though we have nothing to pay them with. Opinion about me has been brought to question by even my men, some think of me as a Terragon more than a Mamushippo.
How could I align myself with the very same people that destroyed my life, my bloodline was wiped out by those Terragons. What I'm about to convey to my mother will change the dynamic of the clan, or there won't be a clan any more. I stepped into the grand hall of the castle, where events would be hosted here. A large area with a high ceiling, stairs to the second floor stole the view immediately. I climbed the stairs after passing the three maids waiting at attention.
"Hayake, go pack our essentials." I turned to the woman beside me.
"Yes Lord Isamu. You two are with me." She bowed to me and left with two of the three maids.
The third followed me up the stairs until I made it to the third floor, where sleeping quarters resided. I made it to my mother's quarters, the chambers of the leader of the house. My arrival was announced and I was directed to the meeting room, where the maid laid a mat for me outside the closed door. A candle lit through the tatami walls of my father's office, I kneeled before it.
"Lady Mamushippo." I greeted. "I pray for your good health." I said with a bow on both knees.
"Isamu, what do you have to report today?" The woman's voice asked coldly.
"I've been ordered to retrieve the shogun."
"Then you must not fail at your task boy, don't allow this moment to pass."
"Do I, a son of Mamushippo, have the blessing of the lady to carry it out?"
"If it means the scales of this war will be heavily tipped, then yes. Carry out your mission, don't allow the consequences to sway your blade."
"If all goes well this will be our last encounter, is this how you wish to…?" I formed a fist and tightened it till it quivered.
"Indeed the Mamushippo house won't fall willingly to the Terragons. The clan may be near extinction but with you still living, there is hope for the restoration of house Mamushippo."
"I don't care about that!" I shouted startling the maid. "I want to know if this is how you want to say goodbye to your only son!?"
I wanted to break down this door and embraced my mother for the first time in forever. I heard noise on the opposite side of the door, it opened to the sight of my mother. Tears ran down her sick face till they landed on her purple kimono with pink blossoms patterning. This is the kimono she said was her first gift from my father, she wore it the day we were ignominy.
Her swollen red eyes and shambled black hair told me she wasn't just sick, but must have been crying for a while now. It was the first time I've ever seen the calm and stoic lady Mamushippo cry tears. The woman many said didn't even flinch at her husband's funeral, and yet here she is crying in front of me. She fell to her knees and held my trembling fist, she held my face and then began to cry on my chest. I could only embrace her in her time of weakness, no words were said, because we said too much.
"You don't stop running, you master your sword and you live a long life after this. Do you understand me child!?" She said after she composed herself.
"Yes mother, I'll take the appropriate action as the head of the Mamushippo house."
"Make your father proud as you have made me, Lord Mamushippo. Our years of planning have placed us here, do not waste the opportunity."
I stood and headed straight to my room, leaving my mother to cry by herself. Hayake had already packed everything I would need on the trip in a bag and stood guard at my door. I glanced around my room, this is the last time I'm seeing it for a while, or maybe this is the last time. The windows had holes from stones thrown to them by Terragon sympathisers, the walls were scratched and my roof would occasionally leak in new places. This room holds many bad memories, but it's the only space I had to myself.
"Let's go Hayake, nightfall is approaching." I said as I took my bag from her.
"Of course lord Mamushippo."
I walked slowly down these halls, for today would be the last day I see them, it will be the last day they see me. I don't want to leave but a man has to do what he has to do, even if he doesn't agree to it. As I made my way down the stairs that lead to the entrance hall, I was greeted by a sight. The family servants had formed up and seemed to be waiting for someone, so I just set foot on the tiled floor. I proceeded to walk through the two rows of women unfocused on either of them.
"Have a safe trip, Lord Mamushippo!" They all said in unison after I had walked past them, I turned around to the sight of them bowing to me.
I carried on to the door and opened it to another sight I've only seen reserved for mother. The warriors of Mamushippo had gathered on the grounds, the remainder of them of course. I just kept on moving forward and we passed an individual, they stood straight and held their sword firmly. A sign of great respect to us Metallumians, a sign that the sword they carry is carried for only that person's master. This happened till me and Hayake were at the gate, we came just a few minutes ago and now we are leaving.
Our way to the Tungsten Castle was less imposing, curfew would be in effect in the next hour. Shops and restaurants were beginning to clean and close their stalls, the central market was no different. Once filled with the screaming of clerks and marching of pedestrians, now was akin to a ghost town. The only noise that filled the streets was from the castle grounds by those barbarians. We walked till we made it to the bridge connected to the main entrance.
"Open the gate!" Hayake shouted. We were answered by silence for a while but the gate eventually opened. They wanted a reaction from me.
The smell of booze was the first to greet you, though it irritated my nostrils and I grew used to it. Ever since I've been a Venalicium, my bodily systems are all too perfect. I can't get sick and I can even reattach certain severed limbs. The only appendage that would mean instance death is well my head, getting drunk is a chore. The amount of sake I drank would have been enough to kill a man, but I was simply wobbling for a few hours. How many barrels the Tungsten Castle goes through every year is our nation's financial heel. On these grounds everyone is a Venalicium, predominantly a chi Venalicium. How I started out until I was chosen by the reagent one day after fighting tooth and nail in a tournament he held.
Inside these walls you fight for your position, whether to obtain it or keep it. The strongest of us Venalicium is Spade's brother, he and others just as capable are dual Venalicium.
The eyes followed me just as they usually do, these men are nothing more than foot soldiers. The truly dangerous individuals live in the castle, people whom I fear would unleash unrealistic disaster upon the realm. These fools look at me because of envy, they would do anything to kiss a Terragon's foot. I only achieved my position to better the position of my family, to protect my mother and my love…
They envy my power because not just anyone could do what I did at my age, and Titen will soon find out the difference in our skill. I'm insulted that the reagent considers me a match for that infant. My steps in the tungsten halls were audible to all, each step more violent and malicious brought me closer to where I wanted to be. My path to the throne room was undisturbed and I believed it would remain that way until a presence I truly despised blocked my way.