Ch 1
Years before this war was not even a thought, I was born in the royal courts of my father, the first lord of the western lands. I was born and raised in the clan of Inu, powerful dog demons who were raised to be wise and loyal to their family and friends.
I grew up around demons and humans, but the humans were of my father's subjects whom were loyal servants to our family who were paid and lived each generation to protect and help preserve the noble household. I was never allowed to talk to them or interact with them as a pup, which I never fully understood.
My own Grand-shire had told my many stories before his death about how life and nature was in a perfect balance when humans and demons co-existed. There had been hayou half-breeds in the mix, but no one was judgmental back then because they were just as strong, if not stronger than their own counterparts. Those days almost seemed none existent to me as a pup. But as I watched my own father and relatives turn away from the old ways with malice and power hungry agendas, our own house became divided by the political views.
Slavery was beginning to occur when the local lords began cheating in their contracts with their indentured servants, whining that they didn't pay-off all the years of dept. Humans and demons began to separate into their own social classes and taking their own kind if slaves with them. Then trouble began when one human took a free demon as a slave by kidnapping him from his tribe, the next day both were found with the estate burned to the ground and the bodies from the rest of household were dead as well. The royal courts were outraged and both sides planned to become enemies to destroy one another, the efforts were halted by my own grand-shire and the shogan himself. A war may have been prevented, but the tension was still lingering within the minds of not just the rulers, but the common people as well.
No matter how many years I have guarded and fought for my family's territory, I have always had a curiosity of what was outside the protocols of my father's court. Like my grand-shire before me I was fascinated by the human race and wanted that perfect picture of peace to be created once again. I had to hid my dream deep in my heart and mind as I continued to grow and learn my responsibilities of becoming the next lord over my family's clan. I had to earn my loyalty among my elders and peers, strive to make myself better than average to my demanding father. I traveled to the main land to learn of their language and customs of demons that often wanted to conquer our lands. I proved my honor in the eyes of their human emperor and was given the robe of the red fire rat was a noble and useful gift from his own hands. I continued my journeys around my homeland to build myself to become a better ruler than my narrow minded father. I went to the young smithing apprentice, Tottosi, to pull out one of my fangs to create a powerful sword. I found the wise young monk Hakurai to teach me who to better my demonic abilities. I even met a famous demon slayer named Takio-san, a human who became a trusting friend and ally, whom taught me better swordsmanship. I still kept in contact with my mother and her father, my grand-shire, for their wisdom and hidden support in my journey. I was both respected and feared by humans and demons alike as I continued to walk and fly over the western lands. I main mission was knowledge, knowledge that would benefit me and my subjects as a better ruler.
Unfortunately, my quests and deeds only confused my suspecting father and he decided to put a leash on me like a common animal. When I returned he gave me more responsibilities that didn't allow me to leave the palace grounds to even hunt or stretch my legs. But I used this to my advantage once again by being the quiet and obedient son who could easily find the secrets that my father and his followers might use to destroy our ways of life. I was also able to use the records in my father's private office to insure that the servants, demon and human, were given a higher wage. I was also able to change the work schedules and kitchen gardens to grow more food behind the buildings of the south side of the palace so it was out of the way. I was shocked when I learned that all we ever fed our human servants was herbs and vegetables without meat and rice. And they had limited the water supply because my father was too lazy to give orders and funds to the palace workers to repair the wells within the palace grounds, instead resorting to sending children to the streams outside of the palace because there wasn't even a pond within the palace gardens. My father didn't wish to improve his new home when it was created before I was born because he just wanted to focus on gaining more land and funds to become rich.
To keep myself from being bored and irritated, I began my side projects to improve and repair the neglect the household didn't bother to question. My mother was thrilled by the new plans for elegant gardens that demanded that a stream be dug from a section of the mountain near the eastern side of the palace grounds which already had a river flowing into the valley miles away. It would also attract more game to hunt near the estate as well to feed demons and humans alike. It took a year to complete all my plans to better the estate, and there was a sense of accomplishment by what was completed.
Visiting nobles and lords praised my father for his lovely home, but all our servants, subjects, and local merchants praised me for my efforts and support as a great future lord. I began to notice a new snarl on my shire's face whenever I arrive for meals or sparing practice with my relatives.