Chapter 6
No More Meditation or Masters
Though she didn't plan on leaving the town for another few days, Akali felt a certain pain at the thought of going away from its charming plazas and winding streets. It didn't seem to be a place where much crime festered—in fact, she didn't think she had ever even heard of anything foul happening here. Perhaps it wasn't the best place to find people in need of reckoning, but she still decided to try and ask the locals if there was any trouble afoot.
A tired schoolteacher—she taught mana restoration by the looks of her long cape and glowing skin—was the one who finally said something to catch Akali's attention.
The busy woman had taken a minute to walk out of the stone training ring where her class was practicing. She had nervously turned her attention to the assassin—whose resting face probably did look a bit angry and impatient as she waited.
Akali was sure to give the stunning woman a gentle smile, to show she wasn't someone who was going to start trouble. She explained her situation earnestly.
The mage offhandedly remarked about how a new creature had taken refuge in the mountains, and that it was only a matter of time before it got hungry. Before Akali could ask more though, the teacher had quickly flashed to help a student gain control of his magic, her long white hair flowing in tendrils behinds her.
I wonder what kind of beasts reside in the rocky pass. Should I wait to go through with a supporting mage? What if they recognize me—I don't know what to say if someone calls me the Fist of Shadow...maybe I'll I be able to make it through alone...
While letting her thoughts run, she eventually ended up back at the little lodge she had seen when first entering the town. It seemed nice enough, and Akali rather enjoyed the runic markings on the shutters. Not only did they add decoration to the otherwise plain building, but they showed the owners cared enough to at least magically ward the place.
After assessing the building for another moment (and eventually deeming it safe), she walked inside to see a young woman—whose long slit skirt showed off her two cloven deer legs—singing quietly behind a counter made of a large slab of stone. The room was quite well-lit from lanterns strewn about, and Akali assumed from the distant hum there was a lounge or bar of some kind in the basement. She walked up to the counter, garnering the woman's attention.
"Something I can do for you, Miss?" The lady gave a sweet smile while pushing her tawny brown hair behind her floppy doe ears.
Akali explained that she needed a room and went on to question her about the revel downstairs.
"Ah yes, indeed Miss. We have a little lounge downstairs. There's ale and other refreshments once dusk hits, but until then there is just an angry crowd readying for the barkeep to serve them. There is quite the rowdy bunch of mercenaries down there at the moment, so you may want to avoid enjoying yourself there for tonight." She glanced towards Akali's weapons. "Though I suppose you may be a member of their party?"
"No, I happen to just be passing through for the night."
The conversation continued, and Akali found herself enjoying the young woman's company. She eventually got the keys to a room on the second floor and made her way there.
Shen's reverberating blows shook the punching bag. Despite his unwavering denial that she wasn't coming back, he had neglected physical training since Akali left two days ago. He hadn't called his spirit blade in quite a while, and the blue energy that had built up was giving his hits intense strength. He wasn't completely in control of his emotions whenever he thought of her, and it was more than quite a bit frightening.
The Eye of Twilight had not been afraid for a long time.
Nonetheless, he was trying to be rational about how to proceed. Gauging what Akali felt the last time he had seen her was the most difficult part of all. He would usually rely on intense meditation to give him answers, but recently even that had failed him. His mind was too full of her.
He ended the training early, not wanting to draw too much attention with his angry workout. He had noticed acolytes, who were sparring amongst themselves, begin to glance over at him. He couldn't let them suspect anything was wrong.
Shen found himself wanting to take off his mask. Wanting to show them he was human too. That he needed help just as much as they did. Of course, the thought was swept away like trash.
He turned a corner and found himself running right into a lean form. Glasses fell to the ground, shortly followed by the figure himself. Shen stooped down, noticing him to be a new scribe they had hired for the Kinkou archives.
The man fumbled for his glasses. "Gosh, I thought you ninjas were a bit more careful! You truly are some of the mo-"
The scribe, now with his thin, circular glasses resting on his nose, realized who he was talking to.
"Oh um hello Eye of Twilight. Master Eye of Twilight? Master Shen Eye of Twilight Sir?"
"Master Shen is fine. I apologize for not being on high alert." It really wasn't like him at all to not be in balance, and Shen supposed it was messing with his senses. He ordinarily would have never had such dampened reflexes. Besides, the size difference between the lanky scribe and broad-shouldered ninja was almost comical, and Shen really was a little worried he may have hurt the man.
"It's alright Master Shen. I was just making my way to the training rooms. Master Akali had said I needed to 'bulk up' if I wanted to be in the Kinkou. Where is she anyway?"
Shen tensed up at her name. "On a mission. It's classified." He said the words a bit too tightly.
The man was sure to take note of that.
Unfortunately, Shen didn't.
Sorry for the wait everyone! I was rather ill this week! Remember to leave reviews; they brighten my day. 😉
