Chapter 8: The Pain of a Refugee

In Windbloom, the day had come for the unveiling of the new Fuka Castle of Queen Mashiro Blan de Windbloom, shortly before a graduation battle of Otome. Corsair's bug in the basement was still relaying data back to Scion, and Urun's observer was still in orbit over the city.

In Scion, deep underneath Zipang's Kori no Kuni, the Cardinals of the Amber-Inlaid Path had called a meeting with all of the Ascended of the Brotherhood, including Corsair, and also Sanae, who was one rank below them at the level of Awakened.

"Brothers and Sisters," the Cardinals began. "…the bug's readings from the basement of the castle in Windbloom indicate that the structure is complete."

"Like the designs?" Corsair asked.

"Yes, Brother Corsair, the sightings by the Observer match the designs. Brother Yuto has, as you know, forwarded us his theories, and energy readings recorded by the bug signal that there is an activating weapon as he has theorized."

"Anything else?"

"It was a stroke of pure luck, but we have picked up some transmissions by the bug."

"Luck how?"

"The Frumentarii Legion bugs are only set to record either energy output or communications. What you took must have been fruit of a collaborative effort by the Castra and Frumentarii Legions to create a more sophisticated bug. The transmissions it picked up have indicated that there is going to be a coup in the country, for which they will use the cannon."

"Do we have enough time to warn the Queen and the Otome?" Takumi asked.

"No, Brother Takumi, we cannot get a message to either group in time; they have turned the Queen's unveiling into a trap. It will take too long for anything that can relay the warning to reach Windbloom."

"But why would Schwartz suddenly take a massive risk such as a coup?" Akira questioned. "Won't it leave them exposed?"

"Very possibly, Sister Akira, but that exposure could be a part of a greater plan. There has been some chatter about the coup being the cover for a takeover by another nation. We do not know who is taking over though, but they will supposedly drive them out and be celebrated as heroes. Brother Corsair."

"Yes?" Corsair spoke.

"We are going to give you a long-range communicator. They are only two-way lines, so the transmissions cannot be intercepted, originally designed by the Frumentarii to allow for long-distance communication. We need you to go to Windbloom and monitor the situation, but do not openly provoke anyone. We need you to remain as discrete as possible, but keep an eye on the organization."

"Yes. I will need to stop somewhere first."

"Where?"

"The Yami no Kuni Shadow Warrior dojo. I need hunger and thirst suppression pills as well as multivitamins, and since the takeover of Mizu no Kuni, that is where those Shadow Warriors who have that specialty have relocated."

"Understood, but once you have what you need, we need you to depart for Windbloom immediately.

"Lord, can I borrow a Wraith?"

"Yes, Corsair, but why?" Takumi asked, as a Cardinal handed Corsair the communicator..

"Their speed, and their cloak. Stealth approaching Windbloom will be welcome."

"We have a better suggestion," the Cardinals spoke. "We can arrange for one of our Umbra air transports to take you. It has got a cloak as well, and its speed and optimal aerodynamic shape is perfect for traveling long distance fast. It has been used to ferry Frumentarii to other areas of Earl for covert reconnaissance, and it can get you to Windbloom by the day's end."

"Thank you, Your Eminence," Corsair curtly stated.

"It will arrive at the Seminary Landing area within the next five minutes, and it will take you wherever you need to go. May the Amber guide you, Brother."

In an instant, Corsair disappeared, after which the Cardinals continued. "There is one other area of importance we have to discuss, and that is why Sister Sanae needed to be here. Sister, you are aware you are to take the Tests of Ascension tomorrow?"

"I am aware, Your Eminence," Sanae spoke. "I am prepared for whatever trials I may face."

"So be it, but know that we may need to send you off on short notice as well. Brother Corsair was already mostly prepared for this, but we need to make sure you know what is at stake."

"I will be ready."

"Brother Hikaru and Brother Katsurou will be departing, as if there is indeed a coup, there will sooner or later be refugees. We need someone to infiltrate their ranks and make sure they survive. If you ascend tomorrow, we wish for you to accompany them."

"Understood, Your Eminence. I'm the only one among us who is truly a refugee, so I know what they will feel."

"Very well, Sister Sanae. This conclave is adjourned."

As the five Ascended members there left, Takumi and Iori accompanied Sanae for a few corridors before she stopped walking. "What is it, Takumi no Kami-sama?" she asked, clearly frustrated.

"Funabashi-san, are you okay?" Takumi replied, concern in his voice.

"I hate it when people lose their homes and families. For quite a bit of my life, I've tried to be a surrogate family for so many children who have lost their families. The Zerg forced us to abandon our homes in Mizu no Kuni, and now factions in the West are planning to destroy more lives. I understand that Kaneshiro-sama saved us from walking a similar path, but we can't just sit this one out!"

"It hurts me as well. How people can knowingly cause others to suffer is one thing that saddens and stupefies me."

"Just give me time for a good night's sleep, Takumi. I need to be alone for now."

"O…okay, Funabashi-san."

Sanae resumed walking until she was out of sight, while Takumi and Iori waited. "That loss weighs heavily on her," he spoke. "I question the Cardinals' judgment in sending her to the refugees."

"She is the only one of us who can relate to that feeling. I don't like the fact that they have reopened old wounds, but she is the only one who can understand that pain."

"That is where you are wrong, Takumi no Kami-sama. I was born in Hikari no Kuni, and as you are aware, it was the first province to fall when the Protoss invaded."

"I am aware of that, yes."

"What you don't know is that my family resisted the Protoss takeover of the province. We were a proud line of Steel Warriors from Hikari no Kuni, our skills with rifles being the best in the province famed for the best Steel Warrior riflemen, and I was hoping to become one myself. But on the eve of my acceptance into the dojo, the Protoss invaded. My family was the first in a long line of casualties who didn't surrender, and I was forced to feign loyalty to their killers if I wanted to survive, and in so doing, abolish my dream."

"I'm… so sorry about that, Iori."

"The same thing will most likely happen to the people of Windbloom should they choose not to cooperate with the invaders. But even if the Protoss are saving us from the Zerg, I can never forgive them for what they have done. Urun has the blood of Adachi Steel Warriors on his hands, and I can't shake the feeling that sooner or later he will spill more blood of Zipang."

"Are you sure?"

"No matter how I try and rationalize the thought away, it keeps coming back. Tokiha Takumi no Kami Tadayori, I need you to promise me something."

"Okay, but promise you what?"

"Should Urun reopen hostilities with us, I need you to promise me to not roll over. We need to focus on the Zerg, but if the Protoss attack us, we cannot let them get away with it."

"I promise, Iori. We are much better prepared now than before, and I know Urun wants to stop the Zerg, but if he should betray us, we are honor-bound to strike back."

Elsewhere, the sun had just set for Windbloom, and a large, triangular, flat shape was by the ground near a destroyed Windbloom station. Corsair, in his black, scaly form, shot off from a rear exit in the hull, and darted through the rubble of the station into the city. He leapt from building to building once again until he saw the unveiled castle of the vain queen. There were walkers patrolling the city, and he heard gossip among the citizenry that the army belonged to the Artai Principality. There were one or two airborne SLAVEs flying around, but they hadn't noticed him.

The next day, in Scion, Sanae entered the Chamber of Ascension and took her place on the platform in the center of the Amber Spike circle, red flames engulfing her and leaving her with her skin red, her hair and nails scarlet and a vermillion kimono with a hole that allowed her new bat-like wings, red-boned with scarlet in the flesh of the wings. Lightning shot towards the platform and created the Amber Orb, beginning the Tests of Ascension. The staircase withdrew into the ground, and a sixteenth Amber Spike rose up, closing the circle.

The Amber Orb rose to the level of the spikes, but then to the level above the spikes, disintegrating after a long period of time and leaving Sanae, gasping for breath, and on her knees. She stood up, and in a flash of red flames, reappeared as her normal, black-haired self, and ascended the stairs to the waiting Cardinals, stopping to kneel in the Amber circle by their throne.

"Sister Funabashi Sanae," the Cardinals spoke, "…thou hast triumphed in the Sacred Trials and proven thyself worthy of Ascension! Thou hast proven that thy is ready to not merely walk, but stride on the Amber-Inlaid Path!" The compartment on their throne opened, and they took Sanae's Amber Tear Necklace with three tears, fitted it with two more tears to increase the number to five, and lowered it back down onto her neck. "Now rise, Funabashi Sanae, Ascended Sister of the Amber-Inlaid Path!"

Sanae stood up, and she was informed that she would move into a Haven in the Magisterium, with help being provided if she deemed it necessary. Right then, the Cardinals received a status update from Corsair that Artai seemed to be consolidating control over Windbloom: the many riverside shacks of the poor were being demolished, and the residence were being forced out of the city. There were also raids on those enclaves of the poor to find out where Queen Mashiro was.

"We thank you for this information, Brother Corsair," the Cardinals spoke into the receiver, and then turning to the Ascended in the room. "Brothers and Sisters, the time we predicted has arrived. Brother Hikaru and Brother Katsurou, get ready to depart. Sister Sanae, as you have Ascended, we need you to go with them. We will manage the move into your new Haven and direct you to it upon your return. We apologize for the lack of notice, but we have no time to waste."

"I got ready in preparation last night, Your Eminence," Sanae spoke, her voice shaking slightly. "

"Are you sound?"

"I'm fine. I- I just hate these moments of sadness."

"Should you feel compromised by this, Brother Hikaru and Brother Katsuoru can go by themselves."

"I'm fine, Your-"

"I have to agree with Their Eminence, Funabashi," Iori interrupted. "You aren't ready for this. It's causing you too much pain to think about."

"Adachi, I'm fine!"

"I second Iori's motion," Akira spoke.

"We find ourselves at a deadlock here then," the Cardinals announced. "You all feel we should not send Sister Funabashi on this calling due to being emotionally conflicted. We shall put it to a vote. Should you among the six Ascended here feel that we should retract her from this calling, speak now."

"I support this notion," Iori announced, raising his hand.

"I second it," Akira followed.

"I too feel uncomfortable with the idea of sending her somewhere if she is not mentally stable. It could only increase the pain she has suffered," Takumi declared, raising his hand. Hikaru and Katsurou kept silent.

"Very well, there are three out of the six gathered here that think you are not ready yet, Sister Funabashi," the Cardinals announced, with Takumi, Akira and Iori lowering their hands. "Should you feel that she is ready for such a calling, speak now."

Sanae raised her hand. A few minutes passed…

"I think it is right that she accompany us," Katsurou declared, raising his hand. "As she herself mentioned, she is also a refugee. They can sympathize with her, or at very least, she can know how they will function. You need also remember that she took in children who were refugees from other smaller wars. Her heart is with them, and for that reason, she is more than justified to try to aid them. I second the motion to have her join us."

"As do I," Hikaru also declared, raising his hand as well. "We will be with her should she need support, be it emotional or combative. We are Brothers and Sisters bonded by the stone of life and awakened to what lies within us. Let her come with us on this calling and see if she is truly ready. Should we feel otherwise, we can send for her to be returned here for recovery."

"We are at an impasse yet again," the Cardinals noted. "Should any of you wish to change your statements, please do so now."

"Takumi!" Sanae shouted. "You of all people should know that we eventually have to face our inner demons. You were afraid to take up the task of leading Zipang when you were required to do so, but you did so despite your fears. Don't stop me from facing my problems; I need to conquer them now by going with Kada Hikaru-dono and Kitao Katsurou-dono!"

"Funabashi, how dare you speak like tha-" Akira started, but Takumi waved her down.

"She is right, Akira-kun. This is something she needs to face. As she said, I had to become Shogun despite my initial reservations. Hikaru-san and Katsurou-san can protect her if they run into trouble. I still don't like this, but if she feels she needs to do this, we shouldn't try to stop her. Your Eminence, I retract my previous vote and abstain from the decision."

"Very well," the Cardinals spoke again. "We have three people who think Sister Sanae is ready for this, and two who think she isn't. For now, we will allow her to go with Brother Hikaru and Brother Katsurou. You will all receive the long-range communicators, but should you feel she is compromised during the mission, inform us so we can send extraction. Otherwise, we expect reports on a daily basis. The Umbra craft that ferried Corsair to Windbloom has since made it back to Scion and is refueling, but it will meet you at the Seminary landing pad. This conclave is adjourned, and may the Amber guide you all."

As everyone left the Chamber of Ascension, Sanae whispered a 'thank you' inside Takumi's ear. He wasn't comfortable with something like this, but she made sure he knew that this was a trial she had to face.

At the landing pad, they found the Umbra aircraft ready, with Yuto standing right by it. Before returning to the Sanctuary, he requested that Katsurou have the pilot fly by Windbloom's Castle and get a good look at it. Once that was out of the way, Katsurou, Hikaru and Sanae boarded and were on their way out of the Porta Lucis entry point, and to Windbloom.