"Where! Where did this abomination go?"
He was in a rush, normally he wouldn't be, but the idea of an unwanted abomination being sent away, survival of said abomination would not be guaranteed. So, he rushed and tracked down the council.
They scoffed at his request.
"Why bother? A child like that will soon die anyways!" they protested. "It couldn't be controlled, it acted all wild and in rage, no doubt if it had been left to its own device it would have caused some damage." One said with great disinterest.
In other words, it's the very thing the cult was hoping to achieve.
"Where… was it sent?" he asked calmly.
"The Hida region."
Hida region… why did that sound… wait…
"Where the Toorus not heading in that direction?"
They all snickered. "Simple minded fools, they have tried to cleanse that land for years, they have lost more of their own clan then they have saved doing so!" laughed one.
"Indeed, fools until the end…" snickered another.
He couldn't help but agree, at the same time, Kenjaku perhaps kill two birds with one stone. If this abomination they speak of strong, perhaps it can eliminate the Toorus for him, taking one out and then, he can use the child to his advantage.
But what is it capable of is the question.
He had to track this child, he has to see for himself what it can do, what it is capable of!
#
It took years, partly because Kenjaku could hardly leave the emperor's side, he was called upon constantly to advice him. It got to a point where Kenjaku faked his death yet again just to get out of the responsibility! Yet, he managed to obtain an old body, one with wisdom and experience that people looked up to. So despite the older appearance, he would use it to his favor.
In the new body, he was able to research and learn about the abomination sent out. Reports had come back months after its departure that the guards and horses were killed on the journey. After an investigation, they learned that the abomination child killed and ate the horses, yet the guards were killed in an ambush style of attack.
The child could not be found.
But soon, there was word.
He happened to be lingering when the emperor got a message from the Hida region. There was a clear look of confusion upon his face. "What is this?!" he demanded aloud from the messenger.
"My Emperor?"
"What kind of message is this? This region has done nothing more than to beg and plea for help… why is this a thank you message!?"
"I don't read the messages sir," the messenger said meekly. "I merely deliver them to his majesty…"
"Call the council, I want answers!"
So he spent the better part of that day merely listening in. Not even the council could understand the message, but they knew that the writing was not from the pervious person in charge.
"Look at the seal at the end of this… the mark is different… in fact… it looks like…" suddenly, the council went pale.
"Well?" the Emperor demanded.
"It's… the Tooru's seal."
This shocked even Kenjaku.
A region that vast is impossible to cleanse, the Tooru family he knows has been reduced to a mere handful, it is not possible…
"Go and see what has happened, I want a full report!"
Kenjaku was already making plans himself to see what has happened, he maybe in an old body, but he still has a trick or two up his sleeve…
#
He traveled alone.
Making his way to the Hida region, Kenjaku noticed how much… calmer it was.
He had taken this path many times before, just out of curiosity as to how bad the situation was. The curses there were powerful, grade one and special grade mainly, even an army of sorcerers would have trouble putting these curses out of their misery, and yet… how did this happen?
He was getting closer, he could feel it and yet, there was something that caught his attention.
Two young men were out and about, perhaps… it was time for a new body.
Kenjaku kept a close eye on them, the two appeared to have been troubled by something and yet, there was something off about this.
"Please, you can't! Brother!"
"It has to be done!"
They were no more than young adults, barely pass their teenage years and yet…
Kenjaku approached. The eldest of them stood at the ready and yet he kept his brother behind him. "What's with that stance? I am but an old man…"
"Tch, you think I would believe that? I've sensed you coming miles away, I don't like the aura you have been expelling!"
Aura? Does he mean his curse energy signature?
"Oniichan…"
"Well, it appears we have had a misunderstanding, perhaps we can start over? You two appear tired…"
His guard was not lowering… Kenjaku began to wonder if this sorcerer sensed his murderous intent.
"I know who you are," the eldest boy said. "At the same time, we are in no condition to fight…"
"Oh? You already sense the difference between us then?"
"It's obvious, and I know either way, what will become of me. I am the strongest here, am I not?" he asked as his curse energy became unleashed. He felt the power of this youth. It wasn't a lie.
"You are…"
"Then we need to make an agreement."
"Oniichan, please, don't…" the brother pleaded.
"Take me!" he called. "I know you are searching for a new body, then take mine!"
This… caught him off guard.
"How does a youth like you know what I am after?"
The child went silent at first, he sighed but peered away. "My grandfather spoke of a sorcerer who had curse energy that felt heavy and thick like oil. I have yet to encounter someone like that until now… you are the first to have such an effect. I could only assume you are the one grandfather spoke of."
Grandfather?
"Oh… You are Toorus aren't you?" he asked and smirked at the notion.
He nodded. "Sorcerer… We make an agreement here and now. You can take my body, but you do not harm my younger brother! No tricks, no outside help… my brother is spared after this transaction!"
Something wasn't adding up here.
"Why just your brother? Why not ask for the safety of your clan, child?"
He sneered. "If you are the kind of person, grandfather spoke of, the answer is simple. The price is too low for you to even consider it. As well, no one would spare a clan for the sake of one body… not even the likes of you, correct?"
He snickered, the child was a lot smarter than he appeared to be!
That… should have been a warning to him. At the time, Kenjaku thought nothing of it.
But a deal was made and reached. The young brother was spared. Kenjaku put in a condition as well, the younger brother cannot speak of what transpired here and will forget, however, he didn't want to leave his older sibling behind. It got really tiresome until the eldest brother embraced his young sibling. Shortly after, he got his courage together and ran.
As the eldest turned to him, Kenjaku struck him.
A small shot of curse energy to his brain made quick work of the boy. "Now, let's see what a Tooru shell is like…"