CHAPTER 6 - The Road to Rufley
"Where are we going?" asked Sakura from Syaoran's back. "And why are you carrying me?"
"Because you'll be too out of it to walk yourself," said Kero in answer to the second question.
"I don't think so," said Sakura adamantly, then ruining the effect by yawning.
"Just relax," said Syaoran. He felt her breathing become soft and unwavering, and Kero waited until he was sure she was back asleep before speaking.
"Where are we going, anyway?" said Kero.
"To Turento," Syaoran replied.
"That's a long ways away."
"Yes, but I think it'll be worth it. From there, I can use the seals of the King to make people think we are of a noble family. Then I think we can make it so Turento launches an attack on Maghin and the evil King."
"You want to attack the most powerful empire in the world?" said Kero. "That's going to take quite a force. Besides, the King isn't the evil one, he's being controlled by Clow."
"Who is does this Clow think he is, anyway? I beat up a guy who had strong magic and said he was the King's advisor, could he be him?" Syaoran thought back to the scene in the courtyard. He didn't believe the fireball he made was his own, but it seemed to have taken a lot of frustration, anger and sadness with it. He hadn't felt as depressed as he had before.
"If you beat him up, as you say," said Kero, "I doubt you fought Clow. He is the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen. He made me, a fact I'm not too proud of, though. Doubtless, Clow was behind the whole thing, even if you didn't fight him in the courtyard."
"Then who was it I fought?" said Syaoran. "Because the fire he hit me with hurt a lot. I'd never seen anything like it until my own fireball."
"I wonder if Clow has more sorcerers and magicians in his army," mused Kero. "Although, where could he find them? It's not like magic is all that common these days."
"Never mind that. I think we can get help in Turento." Syaoran paused, and then noticed the sun was returning for dawn. "Time to set up a camp for the day." Sakura wasn't exactly a heavy load, but it was still tiring walking with her on his back. When Kero agreed, he let out a breath of relief, and they chose an area where a large group of trees grew close together.
"It's likely they're send out patrols after us, so we have to stay hidden," Kero had said as they left Maghin initially.
When Sakura woke up next, she immediately offered to help make some of the tea Mizuki had provided in one of the big packs Syaoran had been carrying in addition to her, but Syaoran and Kero denied her the opportunity.
"I feel fine!" she said, more forcefully than before. And this time it wasn't even punctuated with a yawn. "Really, I do, although...I do feel a different kind of fine. It makes me feel happy."
"It must be Kaho's magic," said Kero. "It's starting to meld with your own."
"I hope she'll be okay, without her magic. I don't want to be responsible..."
"You're not!" said Kero, a little quickly and loudly. Syaoran and Sakura both turned to look at him. "She made the decision herself, its her fault." Kero turned to the cured meat Syaoran was roasting over the small fire, giving Syaoran instructions. Syaoran, for his part, didn't think he was doing anything wrong. Sakura felt like she needed to get some energy out of her.
Sakura stood up, wobbling at first, but she soon had a steady step. "I'm going to take a little walk," she said, but Kero and Syaoran didn't seem to hear her, as both were arguing over the meat. Not wanting to get involved in the middle of that, she left them silently and examined the trees around her. A small squirrel that jumped from one tree to another right overhead made her yelp, but that was the only highlight of the trip. When she returned, she realized she was trying to push herself too hard, and felt very tired again. Kero was going to remind her of it, though.
"What are you doing, running off like that!?" he demanded, scolding like a parent. "That's dangerous by yourself no matter what, and with your condition..."
"Calm down, Kero, I didn't go far." Sakura let out another yawn, and lay down in the grass by the warm fire. The day seemed to have a chilly air to it.
"Before you go back to sleep," said Syaoran. "You should eat something. You should be hungry, since you must've not eaten much in the prison."
Sakura did suddenly feel very hungry, now that Syaoran mentioned it. "She didn't get anything the whole time I was there," said Kero. "The guard would normally eat any food sent down, or throw it on the ground if he wasn't hungry." Sakura looked downcast, remembering it as Kero told it. "And she only had a little bread since she got out. You'll eat this, now!" said Kero, himself forceful and adamant.
"Okay, okay!" said Sakura. "Don't worry about me so much, I've lived for long periods of time with only Mizuki's bread to sustain me. I'll be okay."
"But you don't have to, not anymore," said Syaoran in a subdued tone.
Sakura accepted the meal and she and Syaroan ate in silence. Kero refused to accept any food, as much as he wanted it, because he didn't really need it. It was going to be a long trip, and food had to be conserved as much as possible, according to him.
When night fell once again, the three set out again to continue the journey.
*************
In three weeks, Sakura had slowly gained back all the energy she had before Mizuki's magic entered her. Kero said her body was used to the magic and had combined it with the internal magic she already had. As they passed through various small towns, quickly of course, and only to resupply, because they were still a part of the Maghin empire, Sakura and Syaoran both saw new sights they had never seen before, such as the traveling acts that provided entertainment in inns of small towns, and the more frightening drunken brawls that sometimes provided its own form of entertainment in inns of small towns.
The next big town they were scheduled to visit was called Rufley. Kero was amazed at how well Syaoran knew his geography. "I thought you were just a homeless kid?" he asked.
"I wasn't always one," he said.
"What happened?" asked Sakura. Then she looked embarrassed when she saw his grim face. "Sorry! If you don't want to tell, that's okay."
"No, you might as well know. Remember that night we met, and I told you I forgot my last name?" Sakura nodded, and he continued, "Well, I didn't forget, but I wanted to. It was Li."
"Li?" Sakura said. "I've heard of that name, I think. Famous for their skill with magic."
"That's not surprising, they are very famous in the world."
"And based in Turento..." said Kero. "Wait. I know of the Li clan. They had affiliation with Clow Reed."
"Yes," sighed Syaoran. "They helped him do things that they should have instead condemned because he promised to get them control over the throne in Turento in exchange for their help. And they accepted his offer. The Li clan offered advise in Clow's ascension to King's advisor, and helped with any killings or otherwise shady dealings Clow required. It was very unlike the Li clan, but my mother is not a good judge of what is right and wrong."
"You talk as if you are not one of the Li clan," said Sakura.
"I am not. I was disowned."
"That's terrible," said Sakura, trying to make her voice soothing.
"My mother said I was too weak and useless. She always said that. That I would never amount to anything worthwhile. I got tired of hearing it. When Yamazaki told me he was going to Maghin, he also explained that I was only a few days away from being kicked out of the Li clan in front of everybody. So I begged him to allow me to stow away on one of his wagons, and he agreed to.
"We came to Maghin, going seperate ways, and I lived in the streets for a year or so before I dug out the cave. Before I knew it, I was helping other kids survive out there, and the place was soon filled with poor children whose parents had either died or who had kicked them out of the home. I did amount to something, but not in power. That's what my mother was concerned about."
"Power isn't everything," said Sakura.
"To my mother, it is. Wrong or right, that's how it is. So when I found the guards had killed all the kids, I thought about how weak I was, and how I couldn't protect them."
"You weren't even there to do anything about it. In fact, that's why they did it when you were gone." Syaoran started to ask how this was supposed to help, but Sakura wouldn't let him talk. "They knew you would be strong enough to make what they did differently. So they waited until they knew you'd be gone for a day or so to do it."
"Then I never should have left!" he said, resenting himself.
"No, you had to leave sometime. No one can just stay in that cave forever."
"You're right. Aneko, the one I trusted with them all, was really on Clow's side. He knew what I was doing for such a long time. And he waited for the perfect time to do it. I should have figured it out, but I didn't. I wasn't smart or strong enough to see it."
"Who would have guessed?" said Sakura. "I doubt I would have noticed, either."
"You have more power than you or your mother seem to believe," said Kero, suddenly entering the conversation again. "I can feel it. But you, like Sakura, have a lot of it hiding somewhere inside of you, needing to be drawn out."
"But, how do we draw it out?" said Sakura.
"Well, you have to use magic to make it stronger."
"I don't know how, though."
"I need to find out how to get you to use it. Usually someone doesn't start casting magic at your age, they do it much sooner. That's because the longer you wait, the harder it is." Seeing Sakura hang her head, he said quickly, "Don't worry, though, if anyone can get you casting magic, it's me!" Turning to Syaoran, he said, "Obviously you can cast magic. But if you keep relying on the magic contained in those papers you carry, you'll never achieve your full potential."
"But...the Li clan always uses the incantations and they are considered the strongest magic users in the world after Clow himself," said Syaoran.
"Then you can outdistance them all," said Kero.
"It looks like both of us have a long way to go," said Sakura.
The next day, the three entered the town of Rufley, with Syaoran's mind still on the Li clan and his mother.
*****************************
Continued in Chapter 7
"Where are we going?" asked Sakura from Syaoran's back. "And why are you carrying me?"
"Because you'll be too out of it to walk yourself," said Kero in answer to the second question.
"I don't think so," said Sakura adamantly, then ruining the effect by yawning.
"Just relax," said Syaoran. He felt her breathing become soft and unwavering, and Kero waited until he was sure she was back asleep before speaking.
"Where are we going, anyway?" said Kero.
"To Turento," Syaoran replied.
"That's a long ways away."
"Yes, but I think it'll be worth it. From there, I can use the seals of the King to make people think we are of a noble family. Then I think we can make it so Turento launches an attack on Maghin and the evil King."
"You want to attack the most powerful empire in the world?" said Kero. "That's going to take quite a force. Besides, the King isn't the evil one, he's being controlled by Clow."
"Who is does this Clow think he is, anyway? I beat up a guy who had strong magic and said he was the King's advisor, could he be him?" Syaoran thought back to the scene in the courtyard. He didn't believe the fireball he made was his own, but it seemed to have taken a lot of frustration, anger and sadness with it. He hadn't felt as depressed as he had before.
"If you beat him up, as you say," said Kero, "I doubt you fought Clow. He is the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen. He made me, a fact I'm not too proud of, though. Doubtless, Clow was behind the whole thing, even if you didn't fight him in the courtyard."
"Then who was it I fought?" said Syaoran. "Because the fire he hit me with hurt a lot. I'd never seen anything like it until my own fireball."
"I wonder if Clow has more sorcerers and magicians in his army," mused Kero. "Although, where could he find them? It's not like magic is all that common these days."
"Never mind that. I think we can get help in Turento." Syaoran paused, and then noticed the sun was returning for dawn. "Time to set up a camp for the day." Sakura wasn't exactly a heavy load, but it was still tiring walking with her on his back. When Kero agreed, he let out a breath of relief, and they chose an area where a large group of trees grew close together.
"It's likely they're send out patrols after us, so we have to stay hidden," Kero had said as they left Maghin initially.
When Sakura woke up next, she immediately offered to help make some of the tea Mizuki had provided in one of the big packs Syaoran had been carrying in addition to her, but Syaoran and Kero denied her the opportunity.
"I feel fine!" she said, more forcefully than before. And this time it wasn't even punctuated with a yawn. "Really, I do, although...I do feel a different kind of fine. It makes me feel happy."
"It must be Kaho's magic," said Kero. "It's starting to meld with your own."
"I hope she'll be okay, without her magic. I don't want to be responsible..."
"You're not!" said Kero, a little quickly and loudly. Syaoran and Sakura both turned to look at him. "She made the decision herself, its her fault." Kero turned to the cured meat Syaoran was roasting over the small fire, giving Syaoran instructions. Syaoran, for his part, didn't think he was doing anything wrong. Sakura felt like she needed to get some energy out of her.
Sakura stood up, wobbling at first, but she soon had a steady step. "I'm going to take a little walk," she said, but Kero and Syaoran didn't seem to hear her, as both were arguing over the meat. Not wanting to get involved in the middle of that, she left them silently and examined the trees around her. A small squirrel that jumped from one tree to another right overhead made her yelp, but that was the only highlight of the trip. When she returned, she realized she was trying to push herself too hard, and felt very tired again. Kero was going to remind her of it, though.
"What are you doing, running off like that!?" he demanded, scolding like a parent. "That's dangerous by yourself no matter what, and with your condition..."
"Calm down, Kero, I didn't go far." Sakura let out another yawn, and lay down in the grass by the warm fire. The day seemed to have a chilly air to it.
"Before you go back to sleep," said Syaoran. "You should eat something. You should be hungry, since you must've not eaten much in the prison."
Sakura did suddenly feel very hungry, now that Syaoran mentioned it. "She didn't get anything the whole time I was there," said Kero. "The guard would normally eat any food sent down, or throw it on the ground if he wasn't hungry." Sakura looked downcast, remembering it as Kero told it. "And she only had a little bread since she got out. You'll eat this, now!" said Kero, himself forceful and adamant.
"Okay, okay!" said Sakura. "Don't worry about me so much, I've lived for long periods of time with only Mizuki's bread to sustain me. I'll be okay."
"But you don't have to, not anymore," said Syaoran in a subdued tone.
Sakura accepted the meal and she and Syaroan ate in silence. Kero refused to accept any food, as much as he wanted it, because he didn't really need it. It was going to be a long trip, and food had to be conserved as much as possible, according to him.
When night fell once again, the three set out again to continue the journey.
*************
In three weeks, Sakura had slowly gained back all the energy she had before Mizuki's magic entered her. Kero said her body was used to the magic and had combined it with the internal magic she already had. As they passed through various small towns, quickly of course, and only to resupply, because they were still a part of the Maghin empire, Sakura and Syaoran both saw new sights they had never seen before, such as the traveling acts that provided entertainment in inns of small towns, and the more frightening drunken brawls that sometimes provided its own form of entertainment in inns of small towns.
The next big town they were scheduled to visit was called Rufley. Kero was amazed at how well Syaoran knew his geography. "I thought you were just a homeless kid?" he asked.
"I wasn't always one," he said.
"What happened?" asked Sakura. Then she looked embarrassed when she saw his grim face. "Sorry! If you don't want to tell, that's okay."
"No, you might as well know. Remember that night we met, and I told you I forgot my last name?" Sakura nodded, and he continued, "Well, I didn't forget, but I wanted to. It was Li."
"Li?" Sakura said. "I've heard of that name, I think. Famous for their skill with magic."
"That's not surprising, they are very famous in the world."
"And based in Turento..." said Kero. "Wait. I know of the Li clan. They had affiliation with Clow Reed."
"Yes," sighed Syaoran. "They helped him do things that they should have instead condemned because he promised to get them control over the throne in Turento in exchange for their help. And they accepted his offer. The Li clan offered advise in Clow's ascension to King's advisor, and helped with any killings or otherwise shady dealings Clow required. It was very unlike the Li clan, but my mother is not a good judge of what is right and wrong."
"You talk as if you are not one of the Li clan," said Sakura.
"I am not. I was disowned."
"That's terrible," said Sakura, trying to make her voice soothing.
"My mother said I was too weak and useless. She always said that. That I would never amount to anything worthwhile. I got tired of hearing it. When Yamazaki told me he was going to Maghin, he also explained that I was only a few days away from being kicked out of the Li clan in front of everybody. So I begged him to allow me to stow away on one of his wagons, and he agreed to.
"We came to Maghin, going seperate ways, and I lived in the streets for a year or so before I dug out the cave. Before I knew it, I was helping other kids survive out there, and the place was soon filled with poor children whose parents had either died or who had kicked them out of the home. I did amount to something, but not in power. That's what my mother was concerned about."
"Power isn't everything," said Sakura.
"To my mother, it is. Wrong or right, that's how it is. So when I found the guards had killed all the kids, I thought about how weak I was, and how I couldn't protect them."
"You weren't even there to do anything about it. In fact, that's why they did it when you were gone." Syaoran started to ask how this was supposed to help, but Sakura wouldn't let him talk. "They knew you would be strong enough to make what they did differently. So they waited until they knew you'd be gone for a day or so to do it."
"Then I never should have left!" he said, resenting himself.
"No, you had to leave sometime. No one can just stay in that cave forever."
"You're right. Aneko, the one I trusted with them all, was really on Clow's side. He knew what I was doing for such a long time. And he waited for the perfect time to do it. I should have figured it out, but I didn't. I wasn't smart or strong enough to see it."
"Who would have guessed?" said Sakura. "I doubt I would have noticed, either."
"You have more power than you or your mother seem to believe," said Kero, suddenly entering the conversation again. "I can feel it. But you, like Sakura, have a lot of it hiding somewhere inside of you, needing to be drawn out."
"But, how do we draw it out?" said Sakura.
"Well, you have to use magic to make it stronger."
"I don't know how, though."
"I need to find out how to get you to use it. Usually someone doesn't start casting magic at your age, they do it much sooner. That's because the longer you wait, the harder it is." Seeing Sakura hang her head, he said quickly, "Don't worry, though, if anyone can get you casting magic, it's me!" Turning to Syaoran, he said, "Obviously you can cast magic. But if you keep relying on the magic contained in those papers you carry, you'll never achieve your full potential."
"But...the Li clan always uses the incantations and they are considered the strongest magic users in the world after Clow himself," said Syaoran.
"Then you can outdistance them all," said Kero.
"It looks like both of us have a long way to go," said Sakura.
The next day, the three entered the town of Rufley, with Syaoran's mind still on the Li clan and his mother.
*****************************
Continued in Chapter 7