Chapter XXVI:
The room within the Kolima Village inn remained silent - quite eerily so. The sun had already set some time ago, and the dim moonlight behind the fog and clouds barely lit up the evening sky – though this light didn't manage to penetrate the darkness of the room, for the thick, heavy crimson draperies blocked out whatever bit of light there was to be had. The only source of light came from the fireplace in the corner of the room, its flame crackling menacingly in the prolonged silence.
Amiti slowly stirred awake, as he opened his eyes and glanced around the room confusedly. It took him several moments to remember where he was, and how he'd gotten there to begin with. The events that had taken place on the Zenith Isle and in the forest with the Waelda seemed so surreal and distant – as if it never happened at all. He sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he did so. Taking one glance towards the window told him that it was already quite late – far later than he'd intended on sleeping. The only thing he could find to blame was the Dream Leaves: the ones that Karis had coerced – no, tricked him into drinking. Amiti let out a sigh as he turned his head towards the other beds in the room and was partly surprised to see that none of the others returned; perhaps it wasn't quite as late as he had initially thought.
His emerald-green eyes were then drawn to the metal trunk by the fireplace, not the trunk itself, but the clothing that lay rested atop it. He hoped that they had been placed there for him; for goodness knew he didn't want to try wearing that dancer's skirt ever again. Once was quite enough, and besides that, it had been tattered and relatively destroyed upon their arrival to the village. Regardless, wearing it didn't seem much of an option, and he was rather grateful for the new, warmer clothes that had been laid out for him.
As he pulled the royal-blue sweater made out of a thick, woolen material over his head, his thoughts strayed towards Karis and their awkward conversation that had taken place only moments before he had fallen asleep. By her troubled demeanor and the hardness to her words, Amiti thought that he'd perhaps offended her, though he couldn't even begin to imagine how. Everything he'd said was perfectly sound, or so he thought –
"Unless," Amiti thought bitterly to himself as he ran his fingers through his dirty locks of aqua-blue hair, attempting to straighten it out in any possible way that he could, "she doesn't wish for me to care for her."
This thought stung Amiti sharper than the piercing cold in which stung the air; after all of their conversations, after Amiti had tried so hard to open up to her…
Amiti shook his head, attempting to rid the thoughts from his mind. If Karis didn't care about him in the same manner in which he cared for her, there was nothing he could do about it – except hope that overtime perhaps he could persuade her.
Once he was done dressing and lacing up the new boots that he'd found alongside the trunk, he turned the brass knob of the door and swung it open. The cool air whipped his face ruthlessly, with the hall outside of his room being much colder than it was in his room. Having only ever lived in Ayuthay, Amiti wasn't accustomed to the colder climates, and though he was a Water Adept, the harshness of the winters up north were giving him quite a thrashing. He figured he'd get used to it – in time.
The hall beyond was dark, with only the dim lighting from candles illuminating the hall around him. The wooden floorboards beneath his feet creaked and groaned with each step that he took, as he made his way towards the staircase and the voices that trailed from below.
Many things were swarming through the Water Adept's mind as he silently made his way down the hall, his emerald eyes fixated on the stairs. The most pressing matter of all was the fate of his kingdom. Though the situation with the pandemic was dire, Amiti could never forget about Ayuthay, no matter how hard he tried. His uncle had put so much of his energy into maintaining the kingdom, and within the first week that Amiti had possessed it he'd destroyed it. He hadn't the slightest inkling as to what was happening in the small, prosperous kingdom now, and what had become of his people. He only hoped that it all would manage to withhold until he could return – whenever that would be. He honestly didn't know; he frankly didn't know if he'd ever return. Amiti shuddered slightly. It was a thought that he didn't like to entertain.
Resting a hand on the wooden railing, Amiti went down the steep, narrow steps. Though he tried to descend noiselessly, the wooden steps refused to conform as they squeaked and groaned noisier than ever. He let out an exasperated sigh as he reached the last step, and was able to visualize the room around him.
The large, circular room of the inn was dark, though not as dark as the hall had been. The room was vacant, except for the innkeeper that stood behind the counter and a woman on the opposite side of it. They spoke in merry, cheerful tones to one another as the innkeeper was counting out coins and piling them in heaps on the countertop. An odd practice, Amiti thought to himself, that an innkeeper would display his earnings so openly. Though like most things during these times, Amiti chose to disregard it – for there were obviously more pressing matters at the forefront of his mind.
Upon his entrance, the innkeeper glanced over, as well as the auburn-haired woman before him.
"Oh, hello again! You look more rested – and, erm, dressed at that," the innkeeper muttered, attempting to keep a straight face. Amiti ignored this as well, as he gave the innkeeper a slight nod in return.
"Yes, much," he answered in response. "Have you seen my friends pass through here?"
The innkeeper ran his fingers through his long, scraggly beard as he mused over Amiti's question momentarily, as though not entirely certain how to respond.
"Oh, yes," the woman answered for him, offering the young king a slight smile, "they were headed over to the café for a late dinner – or snack, I'm unsure of which. They said to let you know where they were if you woke up while they were gone, so that you could join up with them if you wanted to."
"Thank you," Amiti said, as he quickly strode over towards the front door and pushed it open, again to be assaulted by the cold, sharp winter air.
This air was far colder than any that was to be had within the inn. Snow covered the ground for as far as the eye could see, and not a single tree remained with leaves – with the exception of the Dream Leaf Tree, that still was in full bloom as it had been the first time they'd seen it mid-autumn.
It didn't take a very large scan of the village around him for Amiti to spot the café, as Kolima Village had a rather small population and there wasn't much to be seen. With Kolima Village being directly connected to the forest, all of the buildings and homes were made out of hollowed-out trees, carved with the utmost care and decorated to the finest quality. Overall, it was a beautiful – and rather unique – sight to see, though Amiti could only imagine the peril that would ensue if there ever were to be a fire; all of the homes and hard work would be demolished within only a short period of time.
"Let's just not make Tyrell mad," Amiti thought, chuckling to himself at the thought as he arrived upon the café at last and swung open the door.
He hadn't meant to open the door quite as forcefully as he had, and felt slightly embarrassed when the bell flew off of the door and onto an elderly couple's table. A waitress, who stood only several paces away, glanced up at him irritably as he muttered quick apologies.
"I'm so very sorry – I hadn't realized –" he began, but got cut off as he heard his name ring through the café.
"Amiti! Hey, Amiti! Over here!"
He whipped his head around wildly as he searched out the source of the voices, and saw Matthew waving at him frantically from a table across the room, seated around him were the other Adepts – and one that Amiti definitely hadn't expected to see –
He made his way over to the table in long, meaningful strides, his expression emotionless as he met with them. A tension filled the air as they all looked at one another awkwardly, awaiting the bonfire, when the unexpected Mars Adept leapt up from his seat and offered a hand out to Amiti.
"Hey there, your Royalness," the large red-head said with a smirk, his cocky tone having been fully intended as he watched Amiti's expression carefully.
"Hello, Eoleo," said Amiti in a tone filled with malice, one that made the Mars Adept back up as he raised his hands defensively.
"Whoa, man, I was only kidding. Since when have you been unable to identify sarcasm?" He grinned in an obnoxious manner, as Amiti ignored him and sat down on the opposite end of the table between Rief and Karis – the two people that probably wanted the least to do with him at that very moment.
Eoleo leaned back in his chair, still watching Amiti with observant brown eyes as he raised an eyebrow.
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, apparently," Eoleo muttered, as the Water Adept proceeded to ignore him. "You're telling me that after everything we've gone through you still don't like me?"
Amiti let out a sigh as he crossed his arms, turning to face the Fire Adept irritably.
"I have nothing against you specifically, Eoleo," Amiti finally managed to say. "It's your practices that I do not agree with."
"Ah, of course, of course," Eoleo said, turning back to face Matthew in front of him as he offered the blond Venus Adept a wink, "I'd forgotten that his majesty is rather prejudice against pirates."
"They're thieves," said Amiti obstinately, "no matter how you choose to classify yourselves. It's still the very same thing – and shouldn't be looked upon any more righteous than the former –"
"Well, I tell ya," Eoleo said loudly, interrupting the Water Adept mid-sentence as he turned his head upwards to gaze at the ceiling. "When someone's raised with servants and golden pillows it's really hard for 'em to understand the meaning of deprivation and hardship. Do you know what those two words mean, your Highness?"
Amiti began to open his mouth to retort when Karis broke in, "That's quite enough, you two. We don't need to rehash hard feelings like this. There's more important matters for us to discuss – like the fate of the world, if you all haven't forgotten."
Her tone was harsh and cold, very much unlike the manner in which she normally spoke. Amiti also couldn't help but observe Karis being careful to avoid making eye contact with him, though he hoped that this was only a part of his imagination. Amiti nodded curtly, as he dropped his gaze to the oaken round table in which they sat at. Eoleo harrumphed, though didn't continue to further argue.
"When did he get here, anyway?" Amiti asked in a tone of indifference, as he averted his gaze from the Mars Adept entirely.
"Before you did," Eoleo said smugly, resting his chin upon his hands triumphantly. "Really, I never thought you'd sleep past seven in the morning –"
"We found him in town," Matthew interjected, hoping to avert Amiti's attention from the pirate before there was bloodshed. "He was passing through – though, Eoleo, you never told us why you were passing through Kolima."
The Venus Adept turned his cerulean-blue eyes upon Eoleo expectantly, while waiting for a response that never came. At last, Eoleo grunted, "Business," and left it at that. Matthew hesitated briefly before flitting his gaze back over towards the Water Adept, who fought to remain serene despite his great desire to lash out at the pirate sitting across from him.
"Anyway, we've got good news," Matthew continued, all eyes remained fixated on him at this point. "We've got our ride to Lemuria."
Amiti blinked, unsure as to whether he ought to be happy or discouraged by this statement. He must've failed to hide the perplexity from his expression, as Karis broke in to add, "Eoleo found a Lemurian-crafted ship at the docks of Port Rago."
Amiti's expression darkened as his eyes dropped to the table once more.
"We'd be stealing someone's ship," he said shortly.
"No, no, it's not like that," Matthew said, shaking his head fervently. "I mean, yes we'll be borrowing without permission, but –"
"But we have to!" Rief broke in, vocalizing his opinion for the first time since they'd left Zenith Isle. "The fate of the world depends on it! Surely anyone who owns that ship will understand!"
Amiti remained silent as he mused over it for some time, bringing his elbows onto the table and lacing his fingers together whilst resting his chin upon his hands. He hated doing things the illegal way, and for some reason whenever he traveled with this group he always managed to do things in that manner.
"I wonder," Matthew said, breaking the awkward silence amongst them, "who this ship belongs to. Could it be Piers's, you think?"
Amiti considered this for a moment, and then shook his head; his greasy aqua-blue bangs falling gently into his face.
"I don't think so," Amiti said at last. "Unless Piers had traveled though the cloud passage with Nowell upon docking, because they found me back in Angara."
"I don't know where Piers had docked, unfortunately," Kraden said sadly, his eyes fixated on the coffee mug before him. "We had all met up in Harapa, but I don't know where he had docked his ship before that."
"Either way, we've still got us a ship in Port Rago," Eoleo broke in, offering Amiti a wry grin. "So long as our member of royalty here consents -"
Amiti quickly shot Eoleo a glare as he turned to face Matthew once more, his eyes kindling a fire that was otherwise never present.
"I suppose so," Amiti said slowly and with great reluctance. "If it really is Piers's ship, I think he would understand."
"He most certainly would," Kraden said in agreement.
"And the benefit would overall outweigh the damage," Amiti continued, as he mentally tried to psyche himself up into thinking that stealing under their certain predicament would be acceptable.
"Absolutely," Matthew added. "And once we're done in Lemuria we'll bring it back. Simple."
"I just hope no one really needs it and we'll be borrowing it without their permission," said Amiti with a sigh, as he brought his hands down onto his lap. "I would feel terrible about that."
"Relax a little," Tyrell said, reaching over and giving Amiti a pat on the arm from the opposite side of the table, nearly knocking over his mug of coffee in front of him as he did so. "Everything'll be fine. We're doing this for everyone's well-being, remember that."
Amiti nodded and remained silent – he didn't feel it his place to further argue, and without a doubt the Adepts were right: they needed to retrieve the stones, even if it meant breaking a few rules to do it.
"Good, now that that's settled," Eoleo said slowly, as he raised his coffee mug to take a swallow, but stopped in mid-air, "we've just gotta decide when we're leaving. How soon do y'all want to go –"
"Wait," Amiti interrupted, raising a hand to silence the pirate. A few sets of eyes turned to him, including Karis's. Amiti felt his face go hot under her scrutiny, though he ignored this as he watched the pirate doubtfully. "Why are you helping us, anyway? What is in it to benefit you?"
Eoleo hesitated, as he watched the Water Adept apprehensively. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, his expression remaining calm as he responded.
"I just want to help," he said in a rather convincing tone. "You – or at least most of you – are my friends, and I want to help you end this pandemic. From here on out, we're in this together. You guys saved my life – true, some of you did it begrudgingly – but ya did it just the same, and I couldn't call meself a true friend unless I was willing to return the favor. So, you see? I want to help, even if it takes me to my grave. So…"
His brown eyes turned to towards Amiti upon this, as he awaited his approval. "What do you say, Amiti? Will ya have me?"
Amiti shot him a mere glance before looking away, his gaze slowly observing the rectangular patterns on the tablecloth spread out before him.
"Of course we'll have you," Karis replied, answering for him. "We could really use your help – besides, you've already helped us in finding this Lemurian ship."
After a moment's hesitation, Amiti nodded, turning his head slightly in Eoleo's direction, yet refusing to bring his gaze up to meet his.
"Yes, you are more than welcome," he said in a tone filled with resentment, and Karis knew that he didn't mean any one of those words – though she was glad that he said them all the same.
Eoleo's expression brightened slightly upon this, as he beamed at the lot of them.
"Awesome! So then, when do we set out?" he asked, turning his gaze towards Matthew upon this, assigning over leadership to him once more as he'd done during their travels to end the Grave Eclipse.
Matthew offered Eoleo a grin, as his gaze traveled over the members of their party; how much it seemed like the days when they had strived to end the Eclipse, with the exception of a few missing from their number: Himi, the princess of Yamata City, and of course, Sveta; queen of the Beastman and all of Morgal. It just wasn't the same without the two, no matter how much Matthew had tried to make it be so. Matthew, snapping his attention back to the present, asked the group, "When do you want to leave, guys? How about tomorrow morning after we get a good night's sleep?"
Most heads nodded in consent, including Amiti; though he doubted he'd be able to sleep that night, given the fact that he'd practically slept that entire day. He wasn't one to complain, however, and didn't mind the idea of returning to a normal human's sleep pattern of being diurnal.
"Tomorrow it is, then," Kraden said, his blue eyes twinkling in the dimly lit room. "For now, we should try to get some sleep; lord knows we all could use some after a rough couple of days."
Everyone pushed their chairs back as they all began to rise from the table. Amiti went along reluctantly; despite the fact that he was normally the oddity out of a group, he didn't necessarily take pleasure in it.
~(*)~
The fire crackled deep into the night, illuminating the room around them with an orangey glow. After much struggle with attempting to fall asleep, Amiti opened his eyes. He'd been tossing and turning for hours, and despite how tired he felt, and as hard as he tried to get his mind to cooperate, he just simply couldn't fall asleep. He turned his head to observe the room around him; though he didn't need to turn his head in Tyrell's direction to discern that the Fire Adept was sleeping; his snores echoed throughout the room, making it almost impossible for anyone to fall asleep after him. He slowly sat up, thinking that perhaps he'd take this opportunity before they left to bathe – for Amiti was one all about cleanliness, and it had been some time since he'd properly bathed. His hair was greasy, and he just felt an un-cleanliness about him that he didn't enjoy in the least, and thought this was a better time than any – at least he'd manage to get one in before they departed.
Amiti slowly slid from under the covers and out of bed, creating no sound until he stepped onto the wooden floor, its planks letting out a loud squ-eeek under his weight. He froze in place as someone stirred, and he heard Kraden mutter something quietly in his sleep. After a moment of silence passed and he was certain that everyone was still sound asleep, he crept on tip-toe to the other side of the room and carefully turned the brass doorknob – relieved that at least 'it' didn't creak or squeak.
He was halfway down the dark hall when someone sprang out in front of him, nearly causing him to yelp in surprise. His heart pounded a thousand miles a minute as he raised a hand up to his throat, calming himself as he recognized the silhouette of the young Water Adept that stood before him. Rief gave a slight jump as well, as he hadn't been expecting anyone to come passing through the dark halls of the inn.
"What are you doing?" Amiti asked him breathlessly, though the very same could've easily been asked about himself.
"I couldn't sleep," Rief answered simply, in a tone barely more than a whisper. "And you?"
"The same," Amiti replied, leaning against the wooden wall of the carved-out tree trunk. "I was heading off to find the baths."
Rief let out a soft chuckle, as he made a motion with his arm up near his face – one that Amiti presumed to be him pushing his glasses up his nose as he frequently did.
"You don't do well with being dirty, do you?"
"No, I don't," Amiti replied in a rather indifferent tone, "I don't take great pleasure in smelling vile, unlike some in our party."
Rief broke out in laughter upon this, as he leaned against the same wall of bark that Amiti was against.
"I certainly don't blame you," said Rief. "I sure wish Tyrell would bathe more –"
Amiti struggled to keep his tone neutral as he said flatly, "I wasn't referring to anyone in particular. I only said some in our party –"
"Oh, but it was obvious who you were referring to," Rief interrupted him, as the two both broke out in laughter.
After a moment subsided, Rief rubbed his eye as he turned to face his cousin hesitantly.
"Amiti," he began softly, "I think I owe you an apology."
"An apology?" Amiti asked, hoping to pass his tone off as one that held great puzzlement, only he didn't think that he managed to succeed in this very well. "What for?"
Rief tucked a lock of aqua-blue hair behind his ear apprehensively as he watched the other Water Adept with wide eyes.
"You mean you seriously hadn't noticed?" he asked incredulously, as Amiti blushed under the scrutiny of his accusation.
"No – I mean – I – well… Alright, I suppose I had noticed you acting a bit indifferently towards me," Amiti admitted. "Though I am unsure as to why."
Rief looked as though he'd rather disappear than have the conversation that he was partaking in with his cousin as he leaned further back into the wall made of tree bark, shrinking down several inches from his normal height.
"Well, okay I'll admit it – I was just… surprised when I found out who your father was," he said in a tone barely audible, though the silence throughout the dark inn made the words comprehendible for the Water Adept alongside him.
"Oh," Amiti said softly after a long moment's silence.
"And anyway, I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I never had anything against you or anything. It was just… I didn't know how to take it. Alex is a traitor to my clan, and I've always had ill feelings towards him, and to think that you were his son –"
"It's all right, Rief. I understand," Amiti interrupted, his heart sinking with each word that Rief spoke. "You probably didn't know how to take me anymore, what with me being the said traitor's son. You probably didn't know whether to hate me or –"
"No, Amiti! No! I never hated you, not for a second!" Rief said quickly. "I just didn't know what to think. I was confused. But, now that I've had more time to sort through my thoughts, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for treating you poorly. And – and I'm proud to have you as my cousin, regardless of how you came to be that way."
Amiti's lips quivered slightly upon Rief's words, feeling lost for words himself. Rief was… happy that they were cousins? It was more than he could ever ask for. He didn't think Rief would ever speak to him again; much less accept him as his cousin.
"I – I thank you, Rief," he said in barely more than a whisper. "You have no idea how much – how much that means to me."
Rief smiled, and Amiti could make out the glint of his pearly-white teeth against the darkness of the room.
Oh please, it's nothing really," said Rief, blushing slightly. "But I hope that you'll find in your heart to forgive me one day, and that perhaps we could actually – be cousins for real?"
Amiti radiated a smile from ear to ear, his eyes glowing with an expression that Rief hadn't seen present in them for quite some time – an expression that he could only discern for as joy.
"Of course, Rief," Amiti replied, still smiling. "I would be honored to call myself your cousin. For real."
Rief took a step forward precariously, rubbing his knuckles together as he did so.
"You really… mean that?" Rief asked incredulously. "You really would want to - ?"
In answer, Amiti swiftly took a step forward and, to Rief's great surprise – though not displeasure – wrapped his arms around him, his chin resting on the top of Rief's head. Though Amiti wasn't tall under any terms, Rief was still a head shorter than him – he partly wondered if it was something of which ran in the family.
Rief returned the embrace hesitantly, his arms slowly wrapping around Amiti's waist. His cheek brushed against the wool of Amiti's sweater, as he silently blinked away tears that forced their way into existence.
"Thanks, Amiti," he whispered softly, his voice being muffled even more by the sweater.
"No, thank you, Rief," came Amiti's reply, his voice too sounding strained and distant as he added, "I'm proud to call myself your cousin, too."
Despite how he came to be that way.
~(*)~
Dawn finally broke through the parted curtains of the Kolima Inn, marking the Adept's time of departure. It didn't take long for everyone to prepare to leave, for they didn't have very many belongings to pack up anymore. Most of everything that they had owned was now lost within the remains of the airship, which now rested somewhere within the mass forest. Gone were their supplies, the Soarwing, Amiti and Karis's clothes and – worst yet – their weapons. Amiti's Verdant Sword had been in with the lot, and now it was lost forever – the sword that he had carried through many battles of hardship and valor, the sword that brought them victory so many times and had aided the Water Adept in so many situations was now gone. Lost forever; never again would he feel the warmth of its hilt in his hands, or feel its blade slash through his enemy. This couldn't help but pain Amiti slightly, as he'd been rather attached to that sword, despite the fact that it was merely a possession, one he could certainly learn to live without it.
He'd replaced the sword with another one that he'd bought in town: though it was sturdy and reliable, it was nowhere near the same in quality or fashion and could never mean the same to him.
Amiti and Kraden were the only two that remained in the room at the inn – the others having already left for breakfast before they made their final departure from the village. Both packed their things noiselessly, without even offering a glance to one another. It was Amiti that finally broke the silence, as one of the questions that kept forming in his mind finally made its way to his lips.
"Kraden, may I ask you something?"
Kraden hadn't glanced up from his packing, though his expression turned thoughtful as he nodded his approval.
"Of course, Amiti. What is it?"
"Well," Amiti said slowly, tucking a lock of hair behind his ear subconsciously. "I've been wondering about these dreams I've been having, and I just cannot help but wonder if – if there's some truth or reality to be found within them. They are not like the normal dreams that I used to have."
Kraden suddenly looked up, meeting the Mercury Adept's gaze sharply.
"Have you still been having those sorts of dreams, Amiti?" he asked him seriously. "Like the one that you'd had about your mother?"
Amiti watched the elderly scholar apprehensively, as he then shifted his eyes from him, continuing to pack his things as he answered softly, "No, not recently -"
The severity of Kraden's expression relaxed some, as he let out a soft sigh and turned his gaze back to his pack on the bed.
"That's good to hear," he said finally, causing Amiti to cringe from the inside out. What he'd said had been a lie – he still had been having vivid dreams that had to do with events and his mother, only he didn't know why, and didn't very much feel like arousing Kraden's concerns over it.
"I'm just curious though," Amiti said, breaking the prolonged silence that had emitted between them, "if I was still having those sorts of dreams, what would it mean?"
Kraden did not answer right away, as he zipped up his traveler's pack and swung it over his shoulder. His pale blue eyes met Amiti's emerald-green ones, as he offered the Adept a warm smile.
"I'm afraid that even I wouldn't know its meaning, Amiti," he replied softly, walking up to him and patting his shoulder. "I can only presume that it would only mean something ill –"
Kraden couldn't help but notice Amiti tense upon this, as he smiled again and tightened his grasp on his shoulder.
"But don't worry, Amiti. Perhaps it would even mean nothing at all. Dreams are very strange things, and I cannot even begin to interpret them."
Amiti nodded painfully, biting back the urge to come forth and tell him about the dream he'd had with Alex and Veriti, and how it had been so similar to the one he'd had only a short while previously. He only nodded, however, as he sealed up his own bag and shifted it over his shoulder.
Kraden let go of him, still watching him momentarily as they both stood in the dim morning light.
"Now then, let us go," Kraden said softly, slowly making his way towards the door, with Amiti close behind him. "The others are surely waiting –"
Amiti nodded as Kraden exited the room, falling short behind him as he stole one last glance at the inn room. Beyond this point only lied graver danger than they had yet experienced, and it was quite a harsh reality that they might likely not return to tell the tale.
At least they had each other – and that alone made a world of difference.
Author's Note:
Okay, hope I haven't lulled everyone to sleep yet :P Things will begin to get more interesting pretty soon – especially for those that are interested in seeing what will happen with Amiti and Karis. I think you might be surprised – or perhaps you've been expecting it all along :D But, I hope that you enjoy it nonetheless.
I hope that I'm giving each character enough attention, despite the fact that this is becoming a larger group. It's quite a struggle, and I'm sure that I'm favoring some characters over others – it's just inevitable. But I hope that my favoritism isn't too great and it's still enjoyable to read.
Now then, I have some concerns regarding the plot line… Does it all make sense so far? Have I left anything great out that you all are scratching your hands about at the moment? Someone brought it to my attention that I'd left a bit of an opening during the first several chapters in the plot containing Kaocho and the issues with the pandemic. I hope to answer some of those missing pieces in later chapters, but in the meanwhile I hope it wasn't too farfetched to believe? I know Kaocho causing trouble or otherwise being a threat to anyone is rather hard to believe, but it's more of a political game of words and power rather than a physical threat – except for Ayuthay, whose defenses were practically shot after the Eclipse and anyone going to war with them would be perilous. Also, I recall that in the game many of Kaocho's soldiers were farmers and other civilians within Kaocho. When I had referred to Kaocho having some of the best-trained men within the Ei-Jei region, I was referring to their well-trained soldiers and their generals – whom miraculously survived much of the damage that had occurred with the Eclipse. It's a bit of an… eh… stretch, but I figure it works. Right? :D
Oh, and Daedalus370… how do my hyphens look? Any better? I'm going to keep practicing on them until I turn into a mad hermit :P hehe.