Chapter 3: Strength in the Wind
"Welcome to the annual 'Strongest in Endiness' Hero Competition, held right here in your very own Lohan! For over one thousand years this has been THE test of strength and courage! Who will be this years champion!? Who can say! Watch and find out for yourself! Round One begins in EXACTLY five minutes! Find your seats ladies and gentlemen! Non-stop thrills right here, don't miss out!"
The cloaked figure who stood in the doorway to the arena ignored the loud and overzealous voice of the announcer. She suspected that the announcers were chosen every year strictly by who had the most annoying voice. Tuning out the rest of the announcer's sales pitch, She mentally when over her pre-battle checklist. She had sharpened her double katana, Shaiton, the night before. Her armor was freshly mended and polished, the items she might need stowed away in belt packs. The bracelet around her wrist contained an anti-poison charm and her necklace was enchanted to keep her mind clear, just in case someone decided to cheat. She expected no difficulties but it would not do to be caught unprepared. She had never been allowed to participate in these kinds of competitions before but now that she was freed from her other responsibilities there was no reason not to. Besides, battles helped take her mind off how useless her life had suddenly become.
Before her thoughts could travel down that path, however, the announcer appeared beside her, telling her to hurry out into the arena. The cloaked woman hesitated a full minute before moving, just to show that no one - no one - commanded Airashii Shiden.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Round One of the famous Hero Competition!" The crowd roared in anticipation. Since Airashii had hesitated, her opponent was introduced first.
"From the far reaches of the brutal Death Frontier, I bring you the Berseeeerk Waaaaaarrior Ziiiraaaaaan!" This showoff was a crowd favorite, as the cheers that followed his name illustrated. He strode out, waving his arms to the crowd and growling in mock anger, much to the delight of the onlookers.
"And his opponent, right here from our very own United Endiness Empire, former Head of the First Knighthood and Protector of the Princess Regent Alisa, Siiiiiiiiiiiir Airashiiiiiiiii Shiiiiden!!" No cheers greeted her name, no clapping or whistling, only a dead silence. She could almost here their whispers to each other. "Her, that knight. The only who let Princess Alisa die." She felt anger rise within her but she kept it locked firmly away as she strode into the center of the area, emerald green cloak flowing out behind her. She stopped in the center of the arena, waiting for the signal to draw her weapon. The announcer waved a hand and Airashii reached for Shaiton-Alpha. It was a long and slender katana worn on her right side, thrust horizontally on her belt, hilt resting just below her elbow. She drew it from it's sheath with her right hand, naturally in a reverse grip, and turned her wrist so that the blade pointed away from her. Her left hand wrapped around the sheath of Shaiton-Omega which was thrust vertically through her belt at her left hip. She pushed up on the guard with her thumb, loosing the second katana in it's sheath. Bringing Shaiton-Alpha down until the end of the hilt touched Shaiton-Omega, she turned her wrist suddenly and the was an audible click as the two weapons connected to form Shaiton-Infinity, her unique double bladed katana. She pulled Shaiton from the lower sheath and spun the weapon once in front of her before tucking it under her right arm, bringing her left arm up in front of her right shoulder and closing her eyes. This brought cheers of recognition from a group of off-duty knights sitting on the row but everyone else remained silent.
"BEGIN!" The announcer shouted from the safety of the judge's box.
Airashii did not hesitate put leapt forward, bringing Shaiton around and planting it point first where her opponent had stood only seconds before. The berserker managed to jump backwards out of the way but had no time to react before Airashii used Shaiton to support her weight and slammed both feet into his chest, sending him flying back almost to the wall of the arena. As he started to rise, Airashii had pulled Shaiton free from the ground and struck upwards, blade leaving a wide scar across his chest armor from left hip to right shoulder. She then followed her momentum and brought the bottom end of the double katana up to strike in the exact same place, weakening the armor there further. Ziran stumbled backwards, trying to bring the shaft of his axe up to block the next blow. But Airashii hesitated, spinning Shaiton above her head. The berserker made the unwise decision to attack at that moment and in the time it took him to draw his axe back to strike, Shaiton slashed downwards, leaving a third scar, this one in the opposite direction, marking a large X on his chest. Airashii brought Shaiton around and tucked it under her right arm once more, left hand held out defensively. Her face was an emotionless mask she regarded Ziran.
"You know what they say." She said quietly, as if asking the time.
"What?" Ziran growled, starting to lower his axe.
"X marks the spot." In the few seconds it took the man to decipher the meaning of that, Airashii had already surged forward, the point of Shaiton striking the center of the X on his chest and piercing the weakened armor. The blade continued to move forward, blood gushing out of the wound as the double katana stuck in the wood of the arena behind him and pinned him there. With a nonchalance that defied what she had just done, Airashii pulled her weapon free, allowing the man to slump to the floor, placing one hand on the hilt of each of the two katanas and rotated her wrists. With a snap the two katanas broke free and she spun them both twice before sliding them into their sheaths, Shaiton-Omega still dripping with blood.
She crossed her arms and closed her eyes as the medics came out with a stretcher and carted Ziran away.
"And uhh… Sir Airashii Shiden is the winner of this round. She moves on to Round Two."
The announcer's voice had a notable lack of enthusiasm as he said this, not that Airashii really cared. /Bloody Knight Shiden you call me./ She thought as she walked back to the waiting room, arms still crossed. /A name I well deserve./
She waited in the doorway with eyes closed, totally unconcerned by the bloody katana at her side as the other contestants fought the first rounds. She had seen death and blood before. She had been the Head of the First Knighthood when it had been dispatched to suppress the Independent Tiberoa Insurrection, almost four years ago now. She had slaughtered men and women who barely knew how to hold the swords they had raised against her. That had been under orders though and she had spared all that she could. However after the death of Princess Alisa she had grown steadily more moody and violent until she had been politely asked to leave the Knighthood, stripped of her position as Head of the First Knighthood and had the Province of Seles taken away from her, making her nothing more than a lowly knight once more. Her hands tightened into fists and her eyes squeezed closed a little tighter.
"See no evil." Came a deep but amused voice behind her.
"Hear no evil." She replied, voice tight.
"Speak no evil." The voice replied.
Airashii opened her eyes and turned to face the man, bowing at the waist. "Advisor Sept. I'm surprised to see you here."
Royal Advisor Dyson Sept was a tall man, his once blonde hair now gray with age, making him seem dignified. His ice blue eyes seemed almost regal and some wondered if he did not posses royal blood from some line of kings. He wore black robes with a hood that was pushed away from his face, his hands hidden in his robes. He was something of a mystery. He had been serving the Emperors and Empresses of the United Endiness Empire for nearly fifty years now but no one knew quite where he had come from, or who exactly he was.
"How could I not come to see the Empire's greatest knight battle in the arena?" He asked, his deep voice holding a teasing note that angered Airashii.
"I am no longer a knight." She growled, turning away from him.
"Ah, yes. I forgot. That bad bit of business with the Heiress."
"Bad.. bit.. of business..!?" Airashii choked out, hands shaking with a rage she could barely contain.
"How was it she died?" His voice was annoyingly calm, as if the death of the sole heir meant nothing to him. "Ah, right. Those Serido Resistance Faction members caught her. I heard she didn't actually die for days-"
Without really knowing how she got there, Airashii found her hands around the Advisor's throat, hot tears flowing down her cheeks.. "Shut up! Don't talk about Alisa! You have no right-" Her words came to a halt as she felt cold metal against her throat.
"That's quite enough of that, Knight Shiden." The firm, cool voice was familiar to Airashii, who nodded carefully and released Sept.
"How could I forget the dear, devoted Lady Adar?" Airashii asked, her voice filled with scorn as she brought a hand up to touch her neck, and lowered it back down to her side when she found no blood.
"You will have to forgive my Knight, she can be a bit overprotected of me at times." The Advisor showed no ill effects from his brief loss of air and didn't seemed offended by it.
"Sorry, My Lord." Lady Nueve Adar said, sheathing her dagger and bowing briefly at the waist before moving to stand behind him.
"What do you want with me?" Airashii asked bluntly as the crowd roared behind her. They were fighting the last first round match, it was time for the second rounds began.
"I want the Empire's finest knight fighting to protect it once again." Sept replied just as bluntly.
"Impossible. The Knighthood doesn't want 'bloodthirsty vigilantes' in it's ranks. Remember?" Her voice was thick with bitterness as she turned away. "I have to go into the arena now. If you wish to pursue this nonsense I will speak more when I return." Without waiting for an answer, Airashii strode out into the stadium.
"Welcome to the annual 'Strongest in Endiness' Hero Competition, held right here in your very own Lohan! For over one thousand years this has been THE test of strength and courage! Who will be this years champion!? Who can say! Watch and find out for yourself! Round One begins in EXACTLY five minutes! Find your seats ladies and gentlemen! Non-stop thrills right here, don't miss out!"
The cloaked figure who stood in the doorway to the arena ignored the loud and overzealous voice of the announcer. She suspected that the announcers were chosen every year strictly by who had the most annoying voice. Tuning out the rest of the announcer's sales pitch, She mentally when over her pre-battle checklist. She had sharpened her double katana, Shaiton, the night before. Her armor was freshly mended and polished, the items she might need stowed away in belt packs. The bracelet around her wrist contained an anti-poison charm and her necklace was enchanted to keep her mind clear, just in case someone decided to cheat. She expected no difficulties but it would not do to be caught unprepared. She had never been allowed to participate in these kinds of competitions before but now that she was freed from her other responsibilities there was no reason not to. Besides, battles helped take her mind off how useless her life had suddenly become.
Before her thoughts could travel down that path, however, the announcer appeared beside her, telling her to hurry out into the arena. The cloaked woman hesitated a full minute before moving, just to show that no one - no one - commanded Airashii Shiden.
"And now, ladies and gentlemen, I bring you Round One of the famous Hero Competition!" The crowd roared in anticipation. Since Airashii had hesitated, her opponent was introduced first.
"From the far reaches of the brutal Death Frontier, I bring you the Berseeeerk Waaaaaarrior Ziiiraaaaaan!" This showoff was a crowd favorite, as the cheers that followed his name illustrated. He strode out, waving his arms to the crowd and growling in mock anger, much to the delight of the onlookers.
"And his opponent, right here from our very own United Endiness Empire, former Head of the First Knighthood and Protector of the Princess Regent Alisa, Siiiiiiiiiiiir Airashiiiiiiiii Shiiiiden!!" No cheers greeted her name, no clapping or whistling, only a dead silence. She could almost here their whispers to each other. "Her, that knight. The only who let Princess Alisa die." She felt anger rise within her but she kept it locked firmly away as she strode into the center of the area, emerald green cloak flowing out behind her. She stopped in the center of the arena, waiting for the signal to draw her weapon. The announcer waved a hand and Airashii reached for Shaiton-Alpha. It was a long and slender katana worn on her right side, thrust horizontally on her belt, hilt resting just below her elbow. She drew it from it's sheath with her right hand, naturally in a reverse grip, and turned her wrist so that the blade pointed away from her. Her left hand wrapped around the sheath of Shaiton-Omega which was thrust vertically through her belt at her left hip. She pushed up on the guard with her thumb, loosing the second katana in it's sheath. Bringing Shaiton-Alpha down until the end of the hilt touched Shaiton-Omega, she turned her wrist suddenly and the was an audible click as the two weapons connected to form Shaiton-Infinity, her unique double bladed katana. She pulled Shaiton from the lower sheath and spun the weapon once in front of her before tucking it under her right arm, bringing her left arm up in front of her right shoulder and closing her eyes. This brought cheers of recognition from a group of off-duty knights sitting on the row but everyone else remained silent.
"BEGIN!" The announcer shouted from the safety of the judge's box.
Airashii did not hesitate put leapt forward, bringing Shaiton around and planting it point first where her opponent had stood only seconds before. The berserker managed to jump backwards out of the way but had no time to react before Airashii used Shaiton to support her weight and slammed both feet into his chest, sending him flying back almost to the wall of the arena. As he started to rise, Airashii had pulled Shaiton free from the ground and struck upwards, blade leaving a wide scar across his chest armor from left hip to right shoulder. She then followed her momentum and brought the bottom end of the double katana up to strike in the exact same place, weakening the armor there further. Ziran stumbled backwards, trying to bring the shaft of his axe up to block the next blow. But Airashii hesitated, spinning Shaiton above her head. The berserker made the unwise decision to attack at that moment and in the time it took him to draw his axe back to strike, Shaiton slashed downwards, leaving a third scar, this one in the opposite direction, marking a large X on his chest. Airashii brought Shaiton around and tucked it under her right arm once more, left hand held out defensively. Her face was an emotionless mask she regarded Ziran.
"You know what they say." She said quietly, as if asking the time.
"What?" Ziran growled, starting to lower his axe.
"X marks the spot." In the few seconds it took the man to decipher the meaning of that, Airashii had already surged forward, the point of Shaiton striking the center of the X on his chest and piercing the weakened armor. The blade continued to move forward, blood gushing out of the wound as the double katana stuck in the wood of the arena behind him and pinned him there. With a nonchalance that defied what she had just done, Airashii pulled her weapon free, allowing the man to slump to the floor, placing one hand on the hilt of each of the two katanas and rotated her wrists. With a snap the two katanas broke free and she spun them both twice before sliding them into their sheaths, Shaiton-Omega still dripping with blood.
She crossed her arms and closed her eyes as the medics came out with a stretcher and carted Ziran away.
"And uhh… Sir Airashii Shiden is the winner of this round. She moves on to Round Two."
The announcer's voice had a notable lack of enthusiasm as he said this, not that Airashii really cared. /Bloody Knight Shiden you call me./ She thought as she walked back to the waiting room, arms still crossed. /A name I well deserve./
She waited in the doorway with eyes closed, totally unconcerned by the bloody katana at her side as the other contestants fought the first rounds. She had seen death and blood before. She had been the Head of the First Knighthood when it had been dispatched to suppress the Independent Tiberoa Insurrection, almost four years ago now. She had slaughtered men and women who barely knew how to hold the swords they had raised against her. That had been under orders though and she had spared all that she could. However after the death of Princess Alisa she had grown steadily more moody and violent until she had been politely asked to leave the Knighthood, stripped of her position as Head of the First Knighthood and had the Province of Seles taken away from her, making her nothing more than a lowly knight once more. Her hands tightened into fists and her eyes squeezed closed a little tighter.
"See no evil." Came a deep but amused voice behind her.
"Hear no evil." She replied, voice tight.
"Speak no evil." The voice replied.
Airashii opened her eyes and turned to face the man, bowing at the waist. "Advisor Sept. I'm surprised to see you here."
Royal Advisor Dyson Sept was a tall man, his once blonde hair now gray with age, making him seem dignified. His ice blue eyes seemed almost regal and some wondered if he did not posses royal blood from some line of kings. He wore black robes with a hood that was pushed away from his face, his hands hidden in his robes. He was something of a mystery. He had been serving the Emperors and Empresses of the United Endiness Empire for nearly fifty years now but no one knew quite where he had come from, or who exactly he was.
"How could I not come to see the Empire's greatest knight battle in the arena?" He asked, his deep voice holding a teasing note that angered Airashii.
"I am no longer a knight." She growled, turning away from him.
"Ah, yes. I forgot. That bad bit of business with the Heiress."
"Bad.. bit.. of business..!?" Airashii choked out, hands shaking with a rage she could barely contain.
"How was it she died?" His voice was annoyingly calm, as if the death of the sole heir meant nothing to him. "Ah, right. Those Serido Resistance Faction members caught her. I heard she didn't actually die for days-"
Without really knowing how she got there, Airashii found her hands around the Advisor's throat, hot tears flowing down her cheeks.. "Shut up! Don't talk about Alisa! You have no right-" Her words came to a halt as she felt cold metal against her throat.
"That's quite enough of that, Knight Shiden." The firm, cool voice was familiar to Airashii, who nodded carefully and released Sept.
"How could I forget the dear, devoted Lady Adar?" Airashii asked, her voice filled with scorn as she brought a hand up to touch her neck, and lowered it back down to her side when she found no blood.
"You will have to forgive my Knight, she can be a bit overprotected of me at times." The Advisor showed no ill effects from his brief loss of air and didn't seemed offended by it.
"Sorry, My Lord." Lady Nueve Adar said, sheathing her dagger and bowing briefly at the waist before moving to stand behind him.
"What do you want with me?" Airashii asked bluntly as the crowd roared behind her. They were fighting the last first round match, it was time for the second rounds began.
"I want the Empire's finest knight fighting to protect it once again." Sept replied just as bluntly.
"Impossible. The Knighthood doesn't want 'bloodthirsty vigilantes' in it's ranks. Remember?" Her voice was thick with bitterness as she turned away. "I have to go into the arena now. If you wish to pursue this nonsense I will speak more when I return." Without waiting for an answer, Airashii strode out into the stadium.