Hello everybody.
Sorry for the short delay. A few of my friends told me to get Black Desert Online and I was like "Sure, why not. I don't like MMOs anyways so I probably won't spend too much time on it." Then before I knew it, I had spent a good two weeks doing nothing but playing that flipping game.
Oh, and to clarify, "Soul of Tempest" is a rewrite of "Blade of Tempest" because I was dissatisfied with some mistakes I made with the plot early into the story
In any case, thank you guys for all the support, hope you enjoy!
Chapter 4: Branching Paths
"Ho-" Tatsumi started.
"-ly" Hayami continued.
"SHIT!" Yoshiro yelled loudly, earning a lot of glares from nearby citizens, and there were a LOT of them. They stood amongst the millions of other people within the Capital walls.
The Empire, a nation with over a thousand years of history and culture, encasing millions of acres of land, said to be the largest nation in the world. Its capital city, aptly named 'The Capital', cannot be considered anything less than a miraculous human accomplishment.
It has been a little over a year since they departed from the village where Sayo and Ieyasu lived. Arthur wasn't lying about the scenic route, they got to see lush green forests, beautiful-snow covered valleys, vast blue oceans, and dry scorching deserts.
That's right, they went around the entire country before finally arriving at their destination. Tatsumi couldn't help but sweatdrop, thinking back to what Arthur said when they asked him if it was okay to take such a big… detour.
"It's not urgent," Arthur said. "Probably…"
As they traveled the country, they occasionally met groups of people that terrorized villages. An abnormal tribe, a corrupt merchant, and several bandit groups. They even got caught up in a miniature uprising half a year ago.
It happened when Arthur caught wind of an uprising planned in a nearby village. The village was under heavy taxes by the Empire and was stricken with poverty. The straw that broke the camel's back was the corrupt official that extorted what little the villagers had with his authority. Arthur decided it was a good chance for the kids to gain some combat experience and joined in with the uprising, helping the rebels side. The kids immediately accepted after hearing about the terrible poverty, without knowing the background of the official.
The rebellion failed and the villagers were suppressed by force. The village was destroyed by the imperial army but all of the innocent villagers were relocated to other villages by Arthur, who had fully expected the failure. It was an inevitable outcome, the Empire wouldn't lose to something like this. But it did its job by sending a message to the world.
People will not stay silent under the oppressive forces of corruption.
The kids were saddened by the fact that they had failed to save the village. But failure is what motivates growth. What they had gotten out of that failure will help save the future of this country. They recovered from their failure a week later and continued traveling around the country for half a year.
A few days ago, they arrived at the edge of the Capital where they stopped to rest. Walking from the edge of the Capital to the Royal Palace took nearly an entire day. The capital is split into sections by towering walls. There were three walls that split the city into sections. The outer wall surrounded the entire city while, the central walls split the suburbs from the urban areas, and the inner walls separated the royal palace from the city. As they walked towards the inner walls, the density of population and how lively the city was increased exponentially.
Finally, they found themselves at the base of the mountain on which the Royal Palace was built. They could only stare in awe at the sea of people. There were people everywhere! People on the streets, people in alleys, people in shops, they were half expecting people to be flying in the sky. After a few minutes, Arthur snapped them out of their trance with a clap and they continued towards the palace. Yoshiro and Hayami began interrogating Tatsumi.
"Tatsumi, are you sure you've never been here before? I thought you grew up in a rich family." Yoshiro asked curiously. Tatsumi folded his arms and tried to recall ever being here. Ever since he lost his parents in the incident three years ago, he constantly recalled the memories he shared with his parents. Along with his mother's ring, it was all he had left of them, and he would make sure he never forgets. But the Capital was nowhere to be found in those memories.
"Nope, definitely not. In fact, now that I think about it, my parents might've deliberately avoided the Capital." Tatsumi said after a few moments. Hayami tilted her head cutely.
"What do you mean?" She asked. Through the side of his eyes, Tatsumi spotted a dango* stand. His stomach growled loudly in response so he moved towards the stand, pushing through the crowds of people walking up and down the brick-paved streets, explaining his thoughts on the way. Yoshiro and Hayami followed.
"You see, my family lived in a city in the west of the Capital. In fact, our estate should probably still be there. My father was an incredible businessman, we traveled the Empire looking for opportunities and possible business partners. North to south, east to west, I've visited several large cities, but never the Capital." Tatsumi said.
The kids finally reached the dango stand. The owner greeted them warmly and they ordered some dangos. The familiar smell and red, white, green pattern of the item aroused Tatsumi's appetite and he hungrily dug into it. Yoshiro and Hayami, who have never seen a dango in their lives, hesitantly bit into the pastry. They were pleasantly surprised by how delicious it was. But the food could not drown their curiosity.
"Why would they deliberately avoid the capital?" Hayami asked. Tatsumi stopped right before a bite and slowly placed the dango down. He looked towards the rich, blue, cloud ridden sky and closed his eyes. He turned his face back towards Hayami.
"A good question, one we'll probably never know the answer to…" Tatsumi said with a sad smile. Hayami frowned. She didn't mean dig up old wounds. She apologized quietly.
"Sorry." Tatsumi smiled and shook his head. He bit into his dango once more, relishing in both the taste and the memories of a similar experience. His father, after hearing about how Tatsumi wanted to eat dangos for the new years, traveled a few hundred miles to invite a nationally renowned dango chef to their estate. His parents live on in his heart, and just knowing that can bring him out of any despair.
"It's fine, I've moved on already, they wouldn't want me drowning in despair for the rest of my life." He said with a smile after swallowing his food. Sitting to the side, Arthur could not feel happier.
It seems Tatsumi's parents were righteous and honest people… No doubt they'd be proud of how much you've grown, Tatsumi. He thought.
His eyes drifted to the royal palace and his expression changed to one of suspicion.
Rumors are that a revolution is brewing in the Empire. To call me back at a time like this… A mission, probably a suicidal mission. He thought to himself. He let out a silent sigh, this was within expectations, if he were to be honest.
It was about time… I was wondering how long they'd let me roam freely. After all, I'm a Teigu user, they'd want it back in preparation for possible upcoming war. He peeked back at the kids, a sad expression flashed across his face
The road we walk together… it's reaching its end.
The royal palace of the Capital of the Empire.
Combined with the red sky and setting sun, the very image was breathtaking. The epitome of human architecture and art. It was overwhelmingly beautiful, its presence screamed of royalty, yet it felt oddly oppressive.
Arthur and the kids stopped outside the gates of the palace, the only visible entrance through the towering walls that surrounded the gold, green and white decorated royal palace. Arthur turned to the kids and crossed his arms.
"Alright kids, you guys have the rest of the day off to roam the city. Do your best to stay out of trouble okay?" Arthur said. The youth group pouted in unison, they huffed and turned away with their arms crossed.
"We aren't kids anymore." Yoshiro said as the representative. Hayami and Tatsumi nodded deeply in agreement. Arthur chuckled and rubbed all their heads. They wanted to move their heads away, but they couldn't resist the unexplainable comfort a good head pat provided. Among Arthurs eighty-one secret taming techniques, the head pat was definitely the most fearsome.
"Meet me back here before midnight, ok?" Arthur said. The kids cheered excitedly. That gave them several hours to roam the world's biggest playground. Where should they even begin? The shops? The street stalls? A park? There were so many options and so little time!
Satisfied with the kids' response, Arthur walked up to the gates and showed the guards an emblem. The guards quickly opened the gates and he disappeared into the glorious palace. The kids turned to each other and grinned. They threw their hands up into the air and ran towards the city with vigor.
"TO ADVENTURE!"
This was probably the true beginning of their story.
Several guards led Arthur through the familiar halls of the Royal Palace. The walls of the hallways were made of marble, polished to the point you could see your own reflection. The floors were sparkling clean and each step echoed through the long hallways. The interior structure of the palace was a labyrinth to anyone not familiar with it, with beautiful architecture befitting of the palace's breathtaking outward appearance.
But as an ancient saying goes, the redder the rose, the sharper the thorns.
Soon, Arthur arrived in front of a large, golden double door. The doors slowly opened without a single sound, revealing a large audience hall. The room was huge, the roof was so high you couldn't see it without concentrating and was wide enough to fill at least a hundred men with room to spare. Nearly a dozen white pillars supported the roof and the empire's emblem decorated the walls of the room. A large red carpet led from the door up a set of stairs and stopped before the throne. Upon the throne sat the emperor of the world's largest and most powerful nation.
Arthur walked forward a few steps before kneeling on the red carpet, his head bowed down low.
"Your majesty, my name is Arthur Pendragon. I am a former General of the Imperial Army and the former Captain of the Empire's Elite Assassins Unit." Arthur introduced, his eyes turned towards the floor. A few moments later, a young voice replied.
"Umu**. You may raise your head, General Arthur."
"Thank you, your majesty." Arthur said before looking up at the Emperor.
The child that sat on the throne as the emperor couldn't be older than seven. His hair was dark green, his eyes greenish-yellow. In his hands, he held a golden scepter, and on his head, he wore a crown that seemed too large for his stature.
This child was the Emperor of the greatest nation in the world.
Arthur held in a sigh, instead turning his gaze to the man standing beside the throne. It took all of Arthur's willpower to keep an indifferent expression. The man was around his fifties or sixties, sporting shaggy gray hair, a gray mustache, and a long gray beard. But what stood out about him above all else was his obesity and hungry pig-like gaze.
The true ruler of this Nation. Taking advantage of the young emperor's naivety and incompetence, he's the one manipulating the country to do his bidding. The source of corruption in this nation. A tumor that has grown too large, too dangerous. A tumor deep in the heart of the nation that can't be removed.
"General Arthur, I've heard many great things about you. Not only have you led our army to victory against multiple rebellions and invasions from foreign countries during my father's rule, you served the nation from the shadows as well. As the leader of this nation, I give you my thanks." The emperor said. Arthur bowed his head once again in gratitude and responded.
"You are much too kind your majesty. Your father was a magnificent ruler, under his wings, this nation flourished. It was my honor to serve under him. It was a tragedy that he passed away at such a young age and I still grieve to this day. I sincerely believe that you will be able to take up his mantle and continue his legacy." Arthur said. Inwardly, he scoffed at his own words. The emperor visibly beamed at Arthur's words.
"Yes, I agree with you. I am still an immature ruler, but having the Prime Minister and my advisors by my side, as well as faithful generals like you, I can rest assured that my nation is safe until I obtain the same wisdom as my father." The child responded with a smile.
Arthur silently bit his tongue to stop himself from saying anything unnecessary. Ever since the mysterious death of the previous Emperor, a righteous man and successful ruler, this country's political system has been infested by scumbags who care for nothing but their own interests. Yet the ignorant young emperor sincerely believes that Prime Minister Honest and his group of corrupt advisors are doing their best to keep this country safe.
"Ahem, my lord, I believe we should move on to the main business." Prime Minister Honest said. The emperor nodded, motioning for Honest to speak.
"General Arthur, I believe we called for your return a little over a year ago, may I inquire why it took so long to return to the Capital?" Prime Minister Honest asked curiously. But the malicious tone in his voice did not evade Arthur's ears. He was digging for something, and Arthur wasn't going let him succeed.
"Yes, as you know, I've retired and have been wandering around the country for years now, so my location has been rather obscure. It was about seven months ago when I received your royal summoning, I was in the east past the mountains at the edge of the border, heading south-west towards the deserts when your messenger found me." Arthur explained. He had prepared this story long before reaching the capital. The empire had little to no information on him, the messenger they sent was disposed of in an 'accident'. It was a flawless excuse.
"When I received your letter, I immediately headed back towards the Capital. But on my way back, I was caught up in a rebellion in the east. After the rebellion was suppressed, I decided to stay in the area for a few months in case the rebellion revived. After ensuring that the threat was gone, I rushed back to the Capitol." Arthur finished. It was true that his group was involved with the rebellion, just not on the Empire's side. But the Empire did not know that.
"Umu, your loyalty and diligence is admirable." The Emperor commented. Arthur, once again, bowed in thanks.
"Yes, very admirable. Moving on to the reason why we called you back, we have a few offers for you." Prime Minister Honest said. Arthur raised his head, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"General Arthur, would you be interested in reviving the elite assassins unit?"
Tatsumi frowned. Their fun little adventure around the city had ended an hour early. The sun had set over an hour ago. As the sky darkened, the bustling streets cleared out unnaturally quickly. While the red light district and the districts with lots of bars and restaurants were still populated, all other parts of the city were dead silent.
The exciting and adventurous atmosphere diminished and they began running around the rooftops with their guards up. The city at night felt dark, mysterious, and dangerous. As the time neared midnight, drunks began wandering around the streets, only reinforcing the dark image of the late night Capital.
That's why the kids weren't too surprised to stumble upon a terrible scene.
Tatsumi, Hayami, and Yoshiro were discussing going back to the palace when they heard a small scream. They spun around and quickly headed in the direction of the scream, hopping from roof to roof until they stopped at the edge of a building. They peaked down into the alleyway, the dim moonlight lighting up the scene.
A group of men in their 20's, surrounding a girl.
The girl was no older than 15. She had violet-blue hair tied in a ponytail that trailed down to her waist, and wore a light blue dress that complimented her hair color. Her legs were hidden behind black-knee highs and her hands were covered by gloves that reached her elbows. She stood with her back against the wall, in her hand clutched a small purse. Her eyes were blurred with tears. Her scared face only served to increase the men's lust and the kid's anger.
"Hehe, little girl, why don't you come home with me?" The man in front, likely the leader, said. His face was flushed, whether from arousal or from alcohol it didn't matter. The kids didn't care. The man took a step forward and the girl flinched. Her legs gave out and she slid down the wall, collapsing onto her butt.
"P-please, d-d-don't. I-I-I have to go back." She whimpered, looking at the men with begging eyes. Large, disgusting grins appeared on the faces of the men as the man in front slowly approached her.
"It's okay, we'll take good care of you." That was the straw that broke the camel's back. Without a single word, Hayami, Tatsumi, and Yoshiro all dropped down from the roof. They landed between the girl and the man, who stumbled backwards in surprise. He tripped over his own feet and landed on his back. The man pushed himself back up and dusted off his clothes, a scowl on his face thanks to the embarrassing fall. He glared at the assailants, his eyes filled with shame and anger.
"Hah? Who the fuck are you brats?" The leader spat. His scowl didn't change until he saw Hayami and a perverted grin returned. Hayami shivered in disgust. Just the sense of that perverted gaze on her made her feel tainted. Maybe she should destroy that gaze once and for all?
"Oh? Do you want to t-" Before the man could even finish his sentence, Hayami had already disappeared from his view. A single kick to the stomach sent him flying backward, knocking over a few of his companions. The two men who didn't get caught up in the kick reacted quickly.
"Wha- Little bastards!" They charged at Hayami, but only managed to take three steps before they found themselves on the ground, out like a light. Without mercy, Yoshiro and Tatsumi stood on the unconscious bodies. Their eyes were fixed on the remaining conscious men, their killing intent in full blast.
The men screamed, several pissed themselves, others ran out onto the street desperate to get away. The few that stupidly tried to fight back found themselves with a dislocated shoulder or a shattered collarbone.
less than five minutes later, the only conscious man who was still in the alleyway was the leader.
The kids took a moment to observe their handiwork before slowly walked towards the leader, who sat on the ground, paralyzed. It wasn't until they stopped in front of him that he finally snapped out of his fear-induced paralysis.
"D-don't come closer!" He screamed, trying to push himself away only to be stopped by a wall behind his back. Tatsumi and his companions loomed over the man, glaring coldly. The man will not receive any hint of mercy from them, not if he begged on his knees. The man, on the other hand, had of intentions on begging.
"D-d-d-do you know who my father is!? He's the great Al-" He tried to threaten with his finger pointed at the kids. But before he could finish, Hayami grabbed his finger and broke it. He screamed in pain, clutching his bleeding and mangled finger.
"Hayami, Yoshiro, I'll leave this man's fate to you." Tatsumi said. He turned around and walked up to the girl who hadn't moved an inch. Behind him, Hayami and Yoshiro dragged the man screaming and kicking to a different alleyway. They weren't going to kill him, but he wasn't leaving with just a few bruises.
Tatsumi held out his hand to the girl. She flinched and attempted to move away, despite having her back against the wall. Tatsumi didn't mind the rude gesture, the girl had full rights to be suspicious and afraid. He reassured her in a calm and gentle tone.
"It's okay. My friends and I won't hurt you." After a few moments, she cautiously touched his hand. Tatsumi pulled her up on to her feet, making sure she was steady, before taking a step back.
"Are you okay?" He asked quietly. She nodded slowly, her body was still trembling. "My name is Tatsumi." Tatsumi introduced. Hopefully, if he can get a conversation going, it will distract her from the traumatic experience. He wasn't an expert therapist, so this is the best he could do for the girl.
"M-my name is Yuika. Thank you for saving me." She thanked with a small, nervous smile. Tatsumi smiled back. Good, she's recovering. He thought happily.
"No need to thank us. We would never stand by and watch that happen to anyone." He replied. Light footsteps approached Tatsumi. Hayami and Yoshiro dusted off their hands and clothes and stepped back into the alley. Tatsumi turned back to Yuika and gestured to his companions.
"These are my friends, Hayami and Yoshiro." He introduced. Yuika did a quick bow and introduced herself. After returning the gesture, Hayami immediately placed her hands on her waist and changed into lecture mode.
"Yuika, you shouldn't wander around so late at night." Hayami advised. The city late at night is obviously not safe no matter how you look at it. A childlike Yuika should never be alone at night, much less wandering around the city. That's just looking for trouble. Yuika shook her head before looking down at her bag which she had picked up.
"I-I was on my way home." She stuttered. Hayami was about to retort, saying she shouldn't be outside this late, but Tatsumi stopped by placing a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll take you home." Tatsumi offered. This girl is definitely intelligent and rather mature, she must have her own reasons for being outside this late. Yuika nodded thankfully before leading the way. Tatsumi and his companions followed her. They walked a long way, a dozen miles or so. As they approached the central walls of the city, the houses became more worn and dirty. Eventually, they reached a small building by the central walls of the city. It looked old, abandoned and gave off an unpleasant vibe. Yoshiro stared at the building with a hint of sadness.
"This is… an orphanage?" Yoshiro asked hesitantly, some unpleasant memories returning to him. Yuika nodded sadly.
"Yeah… welcome to my home." She bowed to us and walked inside. Through the open doors, Tatsumi saw several kids huddling on the floor at the end of the hallway. Several of them were crying, the others, trembling.
Slowly, the doors closed behind her and Tatsumi burned that view into his mind.
"…and then we went to meet you at the palace gate." Tatsumi said as he finished recounting to Arthur what had happened during their adventure through the Capital.
Arthur was waiting at the palace gates when the kids came back. He took them to their residence - a hotel room that resembled a house more than anything. It had three bedrooms and a room with both a kitchen and a living room. After they settled down, the kids told Arthur about everything that had happened during the day.
"I see… this is a good opportunity." Arthur said grimly after a short pause. He motioned for the kids to sit down. The aura he gave off was one of dread and anger. The kids all held their breaths. Arthur, their gentle and occasionally stern teacher, has never acted like this before. They quickly sat down and Arthur began to speak.
"What do you guys think of the capital?" He asked. The question was seemingly normal despite Arthur's tone. Unsure how to answer, Yoshiro and Hayami turned to look at Tatsumi who sighed. Of course, it fell on him to answer the hard questions. He scratched his head while searching for words to describe how he felt today while wandering the city.
"It's… normal? People roamed the city during the day, thugs and evil lurk during the night. I grew up in a city, albeit a smaller one, so I know that's how city life works. If there was anything unnatural, it would be the way people disappeared after sunset. We didn't even see a single delinquent wandering the alleys at night." Tatsumi analyzed to the best of his abilities, using his past experiences as a reference. Hayami, having grown up in a peaceful village, didn't understand why it was unnatural.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Hayami asked. Delinquents are young thugs and the like right? If there aren't any at night, doesn't that mean the city is peaceful? Tatsumi shook his head.
"Though wandering around at nighttime is dangerous, it's usually after midnight that the streets are finally clear. Delinquents are common during nighttime. It's as if the people here are sure that it's dangerous to be outside at night. Not to mention the only people we saw were either drunks, people who were rich, or both." Tatsumi explained. The way people acted indicated they were afraid of something. But what?
"Very good observations and deductions, though it's thanks to your knowledge from growing up in a city." Arthur complimented. Tatsumi grinned and stuck out his chest proudly while the others pouted. Arthur then narrowed his eyes and looked at the kids with the most serious look he's ever shown them.
"Listen carefully. I've spent the last three years teaching the three of you all I know. This is my last lesson." The following words were engraved into the hearts of the three children.
"The Empire is hell on earth."
Three men walked up to the small, old building located near the middle wall of the Capital of the Empire. It was pitch black outside, the only source of light within miles was the dim moonlight that shone through a thin layer of clouds. Without hesitation, they kicked the door open.
"Hey! Time to pay up!"
Yuika slowly brought her eyes up. Her eyes were lifeless and without a tinge of hope. She walked up to one of them with a bundle of cash in her hands and handed it to the man. The man took a look at the money and scoffed. He brought his fist up and slugged her right across the face.
"What the fuck is this?! You think this is enough?!" He yelled, his eyes glaring down at the girl who had crumpled to the floor. The girl trembled, not out of fear, but out of despair. Once again… she had failed.
Behind her, a dozen kids slowly stood up and stumbled out the door, knowing their fate. Behind them, younger kids sobbed quietly, knowing that they will never see their older brothers and sisters again. The men glared one last time at Yuika and left.
The door slammed shut and Yuika collapsed onto the floor. Her nails pierced their way deep into her palm. Several younger kids knelt down beside her and huddled beside her, attempting to ease her pain.
How… why did this have to happen?! She screams internally.
Tears of regret continued to flow down her cheeks even after she blacked out.
Tatsumi, Yoshiro, and Hayami were seated across from Arthur on a large couch. Arthur himself was sitting on a small, one-seater couch. A small rectangular table about one and a half feet tall separated them. They gulped in unison as Arthur began teaching them his last lesson.
"A thousand years ago, this land was split into hundreds of smaller countries and nations. The first emperor of the Empire spent half his life conquering and uniting all of those smaller nations into the Empire as we know it." Arthur started. As he spoke, his hand reached towards the tea set, which consisted of two tea-cups and a jar full of tea, that was sitting on the table. He opened the lid to the jar and picked a small handful of tea, placing them in the cup.
"The first emperor, dreaming of an eternal empire, gathered the greatest minds and strongest warriors to create fifty weapons. These are not ordinary weapons, but weapons of great power, many defying the known laws of our world. These weapons were given the name - Teigus."
With the teacup still in his hands, he stood up and pointed at his feet. A pair of armored boots adorned his two feet. White wings decorated the sides of the boots, pointing backwards and extending out his heels. The wings looked as if they were made of real feathers, but were hard as steel. The three of young warriors had long since noticed and acknowledged the intricate design of Arthur's boots, but never bothered questioning it.
"Speed of Gods – Mercury. This Teigu grants me the ability of high-speed movement." Arthur said. The kids' eyes widened and they looked up at Arthur with eyes full of surprise.
"That's one of the 50 weapons?" He nodded.
"As an old general of the Empire, I came to possess this Teigu." He explained. Suddenly, Arthur vanished from their vision and a gust of wind blew past the kids. They hurriedly turned around, looking towards to kitchen, to find Arthur nonchalantly pouring boiling water into his teacup.
The young heroes were beyond shocked. Even though their kinetic vision and reaction times weren't enough to keep up with Arthur, they had always been able to at least see a glimpse of his shadow when he moved at top speed. But in that instant, he had disappeared completely from their sights.
I-is this the power of a Teigu? They thought in unison. Arthur, as if reading their thoughts, continued speaking.
"Not everyone can wield any Teigu as they please. Teigu's are weapons that can accept or reject their wielders. Even a thousand years later, the inner workings and full potentials of Teigus are still complete mysteries." He explained before disappearing again. A hand landed on Tatsumi's head. Arthur took a sip of his tea, which mysteriously didn't spill a drop despite the instantaneous acceleration and deceleration. Arthur lightly rubbed Tatsumi's head with a gentle and proud, fatherly smile.
"With that being said, you kids are extremely talented. I'm sure one day you will obtain your own Teigu." He said before ruffling their hair in turns. The kids giggled in delight. He sat down again across the table and placed the teacup on the table. The warm and hopeful mood was not, however, able to drown out the nagging feeling of dread inside Tatsumi's heart. After a few moments, he raised the topic that began this conversation.
"Shishou, why did you say the Empire is hell?" Arthur paused and sighed, a sad look crawled onto his face. The answer dug up bad memories accompanied by regret, yet it was an answer the kids must know.
"Five years ago, the previous emperor died of a mysterious illness. The current emperor was only two at the time he ascended to the throne. Too young to understand the rights and wrongs in the world, several government officials began to do whatever they liked, led by Prime Minister Honest." During his story, he pulled out several pictures. The first picture was of an old man in his early forties. The crown of the emperor on his head indicated clearly who he was. The second picture was that of a child, wearing the same crown. Beside the child stood ane extremely fat man. Sporting a long grey beard and shaggy grey hair, he had a beastly and unruly look that contrasted his close position to the Emperor. With a single glance, the children decided that he was their enemy.
"In a mere five years, the Empire has become so corrupt that justice no longer exists. As long as you have money, connections, or authority, you can do whatever you want with no consequences to speak of. If you don't have any of those, you are at the mercy of others' sadistic pleasure!" Arthur yelled and slammed his hand onto the table, crushing the teacup under his fist. Tea spilled all over the table and dripped onto the ground. The sudden outburst caused the trio to jump in fear. This was the first and last time they will ever see Arthur's anger.
Arthur instantly regretted scaring the kids. His chest expanded once, taking in a deep breathe, and the deadly aura around his body receded. He shook the tea off his hand and checked it for wounds, but luckily, he wasn't bleeding. He apologized to the kids, who shook their heads to deny the need for an apology. Arthur, who was now calm, resumed speaking.
"What you saw today, no matter what he did to that girl you saved, those bastards wouldn't have to face any consequences just because their leader is the son of some merchant with connections." Arthur said. The trio all looked at Arthur in disbelief. How could anyone allow for this to happen? They didn't have a shred of doubt that Arthur was right and the disturbing truth was enough to send the kids into confusion. What should they do now that they know the truth?
"W-we have to do something!" Hayami exclaimed. She didn't know what or even how, but that doesn't mean she will just sit around and stay silent while people are suffering every day. Arthur smiled proudly. Just the reaction he was looking for.
"Yeah… you guys will definitely do something." He said quietly. That's what he trained them for. Ever since Hayami joined them as a new member of their family, they all showed incredible growth and talent in the art of combat. They brought light to Arthur, who decided that he couldn't possibly keep them for himself. They have the potential to change the world.
Apparently, he had zoned out for a few minutes, lost in thought, and the kids had begun to get nervous due to the silence.
"S-Shishou?" Yoshiro said as the representative. Arthur snapped out of his train of thought and continued.
"I can somehow tell, each and every one of you will play a huge role in the upcoming war." He said proudly.
"War?" That was a word the kids never thought they'd ever hear.
"Yeah. Recently, a rebel group called 'The Revolutionary Army' has been on the rise. It won't take long at this rate until the rebel group starts a civil war." Arthur revealed. The kids looked at each other with hints of doubt. In the end, what could individuals do in something as large-scaled as a civil war?
"B-but how can we be of any use?" Hayami asked nervously. Arthur stood up, walked over to them and patted her head. It's only natural to doubt their own abilities. Confidence is not something you can build up instantly.
"You kids have your own strengths and weaknesses. How you utilize your strengths will determine what type of path you will walk. You will have to decide which path you walk on your own." Arthur said softly. Arthur's choice of words was beginning to make Tatsumi anxious. The type of path he'll walk on his own?
"W-why are you speaking like you're going to leave us?" Tatsumi asked leaning towards Arthur. Arthur sighed and looked at the kids sadly. His mouth opened and the children despaired.
"The Empire is sending me on a suicide mission."
A Few Hours Ago - Imperial Palace
"General Arthur, would you be interested in reviving the elite assassins unit?"
Arthur's eyes widened. He never saw this coming and it was honestly the worst type of surprise. He already knew his answer, but he definitely needed to know more about something as foreboding at this.
"May I hear the details?" He asked quickly, pretending to be interested. Prime Minister honest nodded with a face-splitting grin.
"Of course. As you've mentioned, recently, rebel groups have reared their ugly heads and threatened the peace of the Empire. In light of the situation, we've decided to raise elite assassins from orphaned children. Over one hundred children have already been prepared and a trial to isolate those with potential has already been planned to commence in a week." Prime Minister Honest said. "As the leader of the previous Elite Assassins unit, we thought you'd be interested in leading and raising assassins for our country."
Arthur grimaced inwardly. Essentially, this was his last opportunity to serve the country. If he accepted, he'd be under constant surveillance while raising the new assassins and when he's done, he'd be executed or sent on a suicide mission. But if he refused right here, he'd be executed or sent on a suicide mission and someone else will be in charge of raising the assassins. Either way, he's going to die.
"I humbly apologize, I will have to decline your generous offer." Arthur said. If he's going to die either way, he will at least defy the Empire one last time. The emperor frowned at Arthur's answer.
"And may I hear the reason as to why?" The young Emperor inquired. Arthur lowered his head once again in a gesture of apology and submission.
"Of course your majesty. It's been decades since the disbandment of my assassins squad. I've been fighting on the front lines as a general and soldier ever since. I'm afraid my skills as an assassin have become dull and I am unworthy to lead such an important group." Arthur explained. Hearing Arthur's well-reasoned argument, the young emperor sighed in disappointment.
"That is truly a shame, and there aren't many better candidates around." Arthur quickly apologized in response. In contrast to the Emperor's disappointed frown, the Prime Minister sported a large grin.
"In that case, General Arthur, we have a different mission for you." Honest said. His grin widening and a sadistic glint appeared in his eyes. Arthur braced himself for the suicide mission that he would inevitably face.
"Recently, we've sent emissaries overseas to the distant land of Archana. They've brought back terrible news: that Archana is a land of barbarians who've refused to forge peaceful relations. Our emissaries were attacked and we can't help but take that as a declaration of war."
Back when Arthur was still a general working under the previous Emperor, he had full access to the Imperial Archive Chamber, a large library within the castle that contained essentially all the information known to the country. Arthur had studied several subjects as a hobby, and from what he had read, Archana was a country far east of the Empire on a separate continent, sharing borders with a country called Wakoku. Arthur held back a scoff: like he'd believe such bull-shittery. The Empire's intentions are as obvious as stains on a canvas. This country was not enough, they want more.
"We've been secretly sending troops into the country, and many report that the country has an incredible strategist. Your mission is to assassinate the strategist and the ruler. Our troops will then conquer this country and reform them." The Prime Minister announced grandly.
With clenched teeth and no other options, Arthur stood up and saluted.
"Yes sir!" He replied. The emperor nodded, satisfied with Arthur's response.
"You are to head towards the eastern port, the next wave of troops will depart in two weeks. I expect great results." The emperor ordered. Arthur nodded and saluted once more.
"You are dismissed. Bon Voyage." The Prime Minister said with a sadistic grin. Arthur turned around and marched out the door, his fists clenched. As soon as the door closed behind him, his facade broke and a scowl emerged.
The day he feared has finally arrived.
"S-Shishou, you have to go fight in a war?! And assassinate the enemy's most important units yourself?! That's absurd!" Yoshiro yelled whilst slamming his palm on the small table, causing the tea set to clatter from the vibrations. Arthur sighed lightly and rubbed the back of his head.
"That's the point. They want me dead. The Prime Minister and his corrupt cohorts suspect my loyalty to their rule. As a Teigu user, that makes me a huge hindrance. They confirmed that when I refused their offer to train kids into assassins for the Empire." He explained slowly with a soft tone, as if to soothe their anxiety. It didn't work at all. In fact, hearing him speak of his own death in such a matter of fact manner only made the kids anxious for him.
"B-but!" He held out his hands to stop them. He slowly crouched down so that his eyes were level with theirs while they were sitting on the couch.
"I knew this day was coming. The day our paths would separate." He said, pulling the three kids into a hug. They returned the hug tightly.
"Shishou." They said in unison, tears welling up at the thought of their teacher, their savior, leaving them to die in a distant land.
"Don't cry, although it is a little too soon, I wouldn't have led you guys by the hand your entire lives anyway." He comforted. Yoshiro and Tatsumi wiped their tears while Hayami continued to let it out. By no means was she emotionally weaker. Arthur's teachings to the boys were 'true men do not leak tears easily'. Tatsumi and Yoshiro wanted to live up to his teachings. After another minute, Hayami broke the silence.
"W-we'll go with you." Hayami said. Yoshiro and Tatsumi were about to nod in consent but Arthur shook his head.
"You guys must be the ones to decide the paths you walk. Do not let my fate affect yours." He said. He stood up and stepped back. His gentle, fatherly demeanor was replaced by the stern demeanor of their teacher.
"Yoshiro, Tatsumi, Hayami. As of this moment, I will be assigning you your last mission." He said in a loud, commanding voice. At his voice, Hayami wiped her tears and the three straightened their posture. The last mission they will receive from their beloved Shishou, they will accomplish it no matter what it takes.
"Use all of your wisdom, wits, talents, and resources. Bring about the downfall of this thousand year Empire."
The next morning, the trio decided to check on Yuika. Their temporary home in the Capital was by no means close to the outer wall where the orphanage was. After walking for nearly an hour, they finally arrived at the run-down orphanage where the young girl lived. There were a few reasons for their visit. First and foremost, they wanted to make sure Yuika was okay after what had happened the previous night. Secondly, they wanted to ask about the crying kids Tatsumi had seen last night.
"Hello?! Is anyone home?!" Tatsumi yelled as he knocked on the door to the orphanage. The sun was nowhere to be seen, hidden by an endless layer of light gray clouds. Tatsumi honestly hated this type of weather the most. The boring, endless greyness made his head feel fuzzy and the world seemingly loses its color.
"Be there in a minute!" A familiar voice muffled by the door, followed by footsteps and the door opened. The one that greeted them was a familiar young girl with violet-blue, silky long hair.
"Tatsumi, Yoshiro, Hayami – What brings you here today?" Yuika asked cheerfully. Hayami smiled at the fresh and cheery attitude of the young girl, glad that the previous night hadn't affected her as much as they had feared.
"Nothing much, we just wanted to - Yuika?!" Hayami began, but her eyes were attracted to the obvious bruise on Yuika's cheek. Her clothes were also ruffled and dirty, her eyes were red and slightly puffy, and there were light tear marks on her cheeks. All in all, she looked like a mess.
"Yuika, what happened?!" Tatsumi yelled in alarm. Yuika only smiled and shook her head.
"I was a little… tired last night and tripped…Haha…" She laughed sheepishly. But the sadness in her eyes and slight quivering of the lips did not escape the trio's attention. Something was definitely going on, but they decided not to push for an answer. Instead, they followed her inside with the intention of figuring out what had happened.
The orphanage was very old and bland. The walls were all a dirty gray, just sitting in the room was enough to cause Tatsumi's head to go fuzzy from boredom. The wooden floorboards creaked under the pressure of each step, there were small holes in the roof where water would leak during a rainstorm. Most of the younger kids were still asleep in their ripped beds, some of the older kids were asleep while sitting against the wall with only a single blanket covering them.
It was a sad sight. While none of the three have had a 'good' life, they at least had the luxury of pillows and sleeping bags at worst. Seeing dozens of kids suffering before us struck a chord within us.
I-is this a result of corruption? Tatsumi couldn't help but think that after Arthur's lesson last night. That's when it struck him. The kids...
"T-the kids from last night… I haven't seen them…" Tatsumi said quietly. Yuika froze on the spot while Hayami and Yoshiro tilted their heads in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" Yoshiro asked. Yuika let out a nervous laugh.
"Y-yeah… w-what do you mean?" Tatsumi narrowed his eyes. Yuika was acting extremely suspiciously. He had no doubts something was going on, but why was she hiding it?
"Last night, as you went inside, I saw kids huddling at the end of the hallway. They were scared and crying. I bought some candy for them to cheer them up and I was wondering where they were." Tatsumi explained. The candy part was a lie, he had nothing with him, but it had its intended effects. Yuika opened her mouth but not a single sound came out. Slowly, water droplets dripped onto the ground. She tilted her head down and brought bother her hands to her chest.
"T-t-thank you… But those kids.. they won't-" Hayami pulled Yuika into a warm hug. Her eyes widened at the gesture. She slowly returned the hug, crying into Hayami's shoulder. Hayami waited until she was finished crying before she spoke.
"Please. Tell us what's going on." Yuika hesitated, but when she saw the concerned look in Hayami's eyes, tears welled up again. After a few moments, she began.
"...This orphanage used to be warm and happy. We were poor, but the caretakers loved all the children with all their hearts. But… just a little under a year ago, both our caretakers d-died... We were told they were criminals who evaded taxes, obtained money through illegal means, and that they were executed. Ever since then, every month we have to pay a huge sum. If we couldn't pay, they'd take the kids away and sell them to cover for the rest of the cost." She slowly choked out. Hayami stomped her foot into the ground, smashing a hole in the floorboards. Nearby, a few younger kids screamed and several huddled together, shivering in fear.
Words could not describe the storm of emotions rampaging inside the trio's hearts. How could human beings possibly be so evil and cruel? How could anyone, in their right minds, allow for this to happen without consequences? How is it possible for a country as great and advanced at the Empire to fall so deep into corruption? Their thoughts were drowned out by the light sobbing coming from the poor girl. They may have lost our families once, but she's constantly losing people precious to her.
In unison, the three of them vowed at that instant.
They will complete their mission and end this evil infested country.
"In three days, I'll be heading east to the port." Arthur suddenly said at dinner. The trio had spent their day playing with the other kids at the orphanage and comforting Yuika. That was all they could do for her.
They were silently eating at the table, thinking about what they should do when Arthur announced his departure. Hayami slowly lowered her chopsticks and her head.
"… Is there no other way?" Hayami asked regretfully. Arthur shook his head. If he runs, he'll become a highly wanted criminal. The kids would definitely follow him and that will ruin their chances to accomplish their mission. No, even before that, Arthur would never become a criminal against the country his good friend, the previous emperor, had ruled.
"..."
No one spoke for the rest of dinner.
The trio sat in a circle after dinner in their dark bedroom.
They didn't know what to say to each other. The obvious answer to their problem was following Arthur to the other country and fight with him. But was that the path they were meant to take? Their mission was to overthrow the Empire. So would following Arthur to another country be of any use?
Tatsumi couldn't hold back a chuckle. Overthrow the largest country in the world? They were ten-year-olds. What a joke. His light laugh echoed in the dark room. Hayami and Yoshiro looked at him oddly, before a light giggle leaked out of Hayami.
"Hehe…hahahaha!" They all burst out laughing. They laughed at the absurdity of their mission. They laughed at their helpless situation. They laughed at their painful past and laughed at their bleak future.
"Alright!" Tatsumi yelled out, standing up. The others smiled and hopped up onto their feet.
"We have three days. Three days to create what may or may not be our last memories together with Shishou. Whatever paths we walk after these three days, we will walk with these memories with us on the way. What do you say?!" Tatsumi yelled out.
"Yeah!" Yoshiro and Hayami cheered.
That night, they slept with each other as company.
Three days flew by in an instant and the kids lived out each day to the fullest. They abandoned their training to play all day long, dragging Arthur across the city and explored every inch they could. The weather reflected their bright mood and the sun shined brighter than ever before.
Tatsumi's decision was made. The path he will walk. With an objective in front of him and memories behind, the answer seemed obvious. The connection he couldn't severe. A temptation he couldn't ignore.
Finally, the day of departure arrived.
"What are your decisions?" Arthur asked.
The trio nodded to each other.
"Our paths branch out from here. We've decided where we have to go." They replied in unison. How should they best utilize their strengths to prepare for the future? What was the role they had to play in order to bring the downfall of this empire? Once they laid down their strengths, weaknesses, and option, the answer came to them like divine revelation. No matter what they planned, they couldn't do it together. They had different roles to play and different preparations to make. Therefore, they had to walk different paths.
Yoshiro stepped forward.
"I want to infiltrate the Empire." Yoshiro said. Arthur's eyes widened immediately. From Yoshiro's strength in stealth and his quick-wittedness, he would make a good spy. Yet a spies job was not a walk in a park by any means. Every action might be something that gives your identity away, and one mistake marks the end of it all. Yet Arthur had no intentions of stopping Yoshiro.
"How?" He asked instead. Yoshiro smirked.
"The assassin's trial. With your training, I'll definitely be able to pass. From there, I will slowly crawl my way up the power ladder. If I can become an important general, I'll be able to access intel too." Yoshiro explained. He had planned this from what Arthur had mentioned when he told them about Prime Minister Honest's offer. Arthur nodded, this is a very good plan with a high chance of success. But this plan creates one last major consequence.
"It won't be an easy path. You will kill innocents, rebels, and many other while hiding your emotions. Are you sure?" Yoshiro clenched his fists and nodded. Hayami squeezed his hand in comfort, and Tatsumi patted him on the shoulder. They've decided to support each other's decisions.
"I… I will carry my guilt and regret with me while I live and drag this empire down to hell. Then, I will join them." He said sadly, but with every drop of determination in him. Arthur was silent, but he finally nodded after a minute. Yoshiro had thought about his words, taken everything into account, and made his decision. To Arthur, that was more than enough.
"If that's the case, I will make sure you make it into that trial." Arthur's eyes turned to Tatsumi.
"The Tempest Peak." Tatsumi stated. Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"You mean the one back in the village in the mountains?" Tatsumi nodded.
"Whatever's up on thatcliff. It's calling me. If…no, after I pass that trial, I will train and wander this country until the time comes for me to fight, either on the front lines, or in the shadows." Arthur nodded. Tatsumi's strengths lie in his combat capabilities. If his growth continues, he will definitely reach Arthur's level before hitting the age of thirty. Finally, he turned to Hayami. She showed him a bright smile.
"I'm coming with you." She said with a hint of mischief. Arthur sighed, before showing a small smile.
"I knew at least one of you will be coming with me. I know your answer won't change, but might as well ask anyway, are you sure?" She nodded. Just like Tatsumi and Yoshiro, this was the path that she chose to walk.
"Fighting in a war, I'll be able to use that experience when we come back." She explained shortly.
He then turned to look at the trio, a proud smile on his face. Taking into account their strengths, they chose the perfect paths for themselves. As their teacher and father-figure, he couldn't ask for anything more. With this, he can leave the country without worry. Of course, he didn't plan on leaving without giving them a little something.
"Lastly, I wanted to give you guys a small present." Arthur said. He stepped into his room and dragged out 3 cages. Inside each of them was identical bird-like danger beasts. They were medium sized, with the wingspan of an adults arm length and short beaks. The only difference between each was the shade of gray their feathers were.
"These are highly intelligent messenger danger beasts. Not only can they track each of you based on scent, they have specially trained landing procedures to ensure secrecy." Arthur explained to the kids before pulling out a pin.
Arthur pricked Tatsumi's index finger with the pin, allowing a tiny bit of blood to flow. He then told Tatsumi to bring his finger up to one of the birds, which licked the blood off. Arthur then told Tatsumi to pull off a strand of hair before bringing it to the nose of the other two birds. As he did so, he said his name loudly and clearly.
"Now, the bird that licked Tatsumi's blood is essentially connected to him. After a few days, it will be able to find him no matter where he is. The other birds have memorized his scent and will be able to smell him from hundreds of miles away. Yoshiro, Hayami, you will have to do the same."
After Hayami and Yoshiro performed the same procedures, Arthur taught the kids how to call for the birds. He brought his fingers to his mouth and a distinct whistle that resembled a birds call echoed through the air. It took the trio a few minutes, but they were quickly able to mimic the call. It was not consistent, but with a few days practice, they would be able to master it.
"Now, to call for the bird, just perform that whistle. Then, say the name of the receiver. They will bring the message to the receiver and when they arrive, they will imitate that bird-sound. If you hear the sound, whistle to call for the bird. They will linger around for days in wait." He explained.
The kids nodded in wonder, shocked that there was such an efficient and safe method of message delivery. Where did Arthur even get them? They wanted to ask, but it was unnecessary. This was the last gift from their teacher and nothing else mattered. Arthur knelt down before the kids and wrapped them in a big, warm hug. The kids huddled up and closed their eyes, engraving the feeling of security deeply into their minds.
"I'm proud of you guys. If fate allows it, I hope we will meet again one day. Do what I couldn't. End the suffering of millions."
"Got it. Leave it to us." It was a promise. A lifelong promise to their teacher.
Their one and only teacher.
Thank you all for reading! Hope you enjoyed.
*Dango is a type of spherical japanese pastry
Ex. What Akame was holding after Sheele's death, saying it was her favorite dish.
**Umu - This is onamonapia that conveys approval, usually used by royalty.
Ex. "Umu, you did well. I will reward you handsomely."