I LIIIIIIIIIVE! Okay, yeah, that joke got tiring after the second time. So yeah, sorry about the delay everyone. I haven't posted ANYTHING in monthes and I actually have a decent reason this time; I am currently studying aboard in Sweden now. Yeah, big change alright. It was a looooong process to get me applied and ready to come over, so I didn't have a lot of time for writing. Didn't help that I had horrible writers block for this story in particular. But I'm here now. I will see if I can set into some kind of upload schedule over here. Regardless, I felt so bad that I uploaded for this story and one other tonight, so yay! Hope you enjoy both of them! Have a nice night everybody and it is GREAT to be back!
"This means I am speaking"
'This mean I am thinking'
*This is a sound effect*
This means this is a flashback
This means it is a combat line from the game in the speaker's language
"{This means someone is speaking in their native language, latin, japanese, etc}"
For Balance, For Honor
It had been a day and a half and Rin could not wait for the voyage to be over.
It was a myriad of factors feeding this agitation. First there was the sea itself. Rin could say she didn't mind sailing(at least she wasn't the worst in that regard on this ship), but after the first day of rocking back and forth with nothing to do it got more than a little old. It didn't help that the vessel, while not the smallest Viking ship she had ever seen, was far from the largest, meaning she only had so much space from the rest of the passengers before she would be jumping into the water.
Then there was the food, if she could even call it that. Training to become a Samurai had prepared her for less than luxurious conditions and the meals that come with them if at all. But she was starting to wonder if boiling leather would be any more appetizing than the slop the Viking savage she was being forced to call a captain was so fond of.
And that thought led into the worst of the issues by far, the rest of the "crew". As stated before, it was a relatively small ship, one that had to be shared with three warriors. In any other circumstance, Rin would be wiping their blood from her sword.
Yet here she was, hand resting on the rudder and keeping the ship pointed on the overcast horizon ahead from where the sun rose that morning, heading East as instructed by the Jormungandr(ordered, but Rin would rather drown than admit that). She and the two men were trying to get some rest against the bow or sides of the ship.
Rin's eyes landed on the other woman(if she could even call her that, having the tact and grace of a boar rolling in muck), burning with contempt as she cursed her misfortune. What deity had she insulted to suffer this indignity, to be forced to survive amidst her enemies in a narrow vessel? Partake of their foul meals? To save the life of the one who had endeavored to crush her skull, a barbarian whose ilk had pillaged, burned and desecrated her home?
If only her reason hadn't pushed her to reach out and grab the other woman's hand before she plunged into the icy waters. Then she would have at least had the satisfaction of watching her die first before she went out herself.
Sensing her rising temper, Rin shook her head and took a deep breath.
No. What was done was done. She shouldn't dwell on such anguish. She only needed to cooperate for a while longer. If it took using her enemies as the tools of her survival, so be it. Once she returns to her native soil, then all of her frustration will be released in a flurry of swift, silent death.
'An end more merciful than they deserve.' She noted with a touch of venom.
To that end, Rin had been mentally preparing herself, her eyes taking fleeting glimpses of her future opponents whenever they weren't looking, feinting recuperation when she meditated or rested . An Orochi was, afterall, an ambush fighter. Her specialty was finding her foe's weaknesses and exploiting said vulnerability with swift efficiency.
First there was the Warden. His strengths was his practiced skill in wielding his longsword, a heavier blade than her own katana as well as the full set of iron plates, mail and leather gambeson underneath, factors that Rin was all too familiar with from their last duel. But much like a crab's shell, she only needed to find the spot in his defenses so she could leverage and deal the killing blow.
Next on the list was the Jormungandr. Just like the rest of her Northern kin, her combat style was wild and sloppy, lashing out recklessly and running on pure adrenaline rather than any form of measured and precise strikes. However, while said crude savagery would leave her open to potentially lethal wounds, it also made the Vikings unpredictable and this particular beast's physical power was not to be trifled with, having the strength to move the ship all by herself. Considering how close Rin had been to getting her skull reduced to a red paste the other night, she knew that she needed to exercise caution when fighting her again.
Lastly, but not least was the Shaolin. Paradoxically, while the late invader was the sole reason none of the ship's passengers had come to blows yet, he was the one that put Rin most on edge. She knew nothing of his fighting style, techniques or even his motivations. She had never fought the Wu Lin's warrior monks, but had heard tales of their martial prowess and discipline, rumored to rival and even surpass that of the Myre's own schools.
Yes, she would be keeping a close eye on this Shun.
"Hey."
Rin blinked, jolting as the self proclaimed Edric greeted her. She cursed her carelessness, having been so preoccupied with her own thoughts the knight had walked over to her without her noticing, now leaning against the port side not five feet from her. Arms crossed, he had a bored, neutral expression on his face, his helmet by his feet and his longsword strapped to his hip.
"What do you want?" Rin asked, doing her damnedest to keep her anger under wraps. She will not let her enemy think he got the better of her.
If he did so, he didn't show it, merely a shrug of his pauldrons. "You can only count so many clouds before the numbers all blend together. Is it so hard to believe that I just got bored?"
"Considering that you are trying to make small talk with a sworn enemy, yes, it is."
He chuckled a little. "You said it, not me." Then his smile faded and he leaned in closer. "I've been thinking. Thinking about what is going to happen once we reach the shores." He whispered.
She raised a brow and he took it as an invitation to continue. "Look, I know that you have little reason to trust me and I you." He took a furtive glance towards the bow. "But it's just… that monk is too calm and kind for me, he has to be hiding something."
"So you find me a more pleasant alternative because I've held no illusions as to my resentment towards you?"
"Certainly plays a part." He admitted, shrugging. "I don't particularly trust anyone here as far as I could throw them, we're only working together because it trumps drowning or starving to death, it will not take much for us to be at each other's throats once more. At least with you, I know what to expect. Him, however… I don't know about you, but I can't trust people who smiles like that. Those manners of his. Bowing his head, asking for names. Just an act I say.
As for the Viking…" His lip curled and Rin noted the burning in his eyes. "...well, I'm sure we both have stories we can share of their savagery. The constant raids on our shores, killing or stealing away our people and pillaging our food and coin. There is no way I could trust her not to kill me the second my back was turned, nor her lack of subtlety."
"What's your point?" Rin snapped impatiently.
Edric stiffened slightly, glancing again to make sure the other two warriors hadn't heard. Then he turned back and leaned in closer.
"I propose we make a truce."
If Rin hadn't been such an expert at steeling her emotions, she would have gawked. She settled for a slight narrowing of her eyes.
"Excuse me?"
"Sorry, do you not have that word in your language? It means-"
"I know what it means." She snapped irritatedly. "I'm just questioning your sanity."
He frowned a bit at her abrasiveness but pressed on. "I know it might sound insane, but hear me out. The moment we make landfall we are going to turn on each other. As sure as I am that I have a decent chance at defeating any one of you on your own, I am not so confident about all three at the same time." He admitted, making Rin scowl. Seems he forgot how close she came to beheading him the other night. He continued.
"Surely you have considered the same thing. With that in mind, let us team up, work together to get an advantage over that barbarian and the invader. Then, once they are dead, we can go our separate ways." He paused, eyes flicking to her sword. "Or… if you so wish… we finish our duel. Without interruptions. What do you say?"
Rin broke from his gaze, weighing the possibilities. For a foolish crusader, his idea had merit. She found herself agreeing with his sentiments about their mutual foes more than she liked to admit.
"Why should I trust you?"
He smirked a little, placing his mailed palm over his chest to act as if he had been wounded.
"Did I not show you a modicum of honor, last we fought? I'm not sure you can say the same, sneaking up on me while I was trying to board the ship. Even so, I still deigned to save you from getting your skull crushed like an overripe pumpkin, under that brute's foot."
Rin clicked her teeth and crossed her arms. "You give yourself more virtue than is earned. Is there any honor to be found amongst heathens and fools?"
"But I am right, am I not?" He implored. "I've given you more reason to trust me at my word than either of them! Ask yourself, is this not the most logical course of action?"
She humored him, silently mulling over the question. The loud, vengeful voice in her head screamed at her to decide against it, to instead draw her sword and plunge it between the plates under his arms.
But begrudgingly, the pragmatic part of her knew it made at least a bit of sense.
"What is that saying? "Better the devil you know?""
"You wound me my lady."
Rin glared. "Do. Not. Call me that."
He held his hands out placatingly. "If you so choose. Do we have an accord?" He asked, offering his hand.
Rin eyed it for a moment before letting out a weary sigh.
"Know that I only agree because I wager you will at least have the decency to try to stab me from the front rather than the back."
"It's a deal then." He nodded and they reached for each other's palm.
*KRA-KOOM!* They both halted and leapt as a great boom and rumbling rocked the air. Standing straight, they looked up to see the sky before them, black and roiling clouds rolling towards them.
There was a loud snort and the one called Siv startled awake. "Ugh..." She groaned, standing up, her head whipping about before she froze, looking in Rin's direction. "What… are you two doing?"
Thinking fast, Rin's foot lashed out at the back of Edric's knee, getting a pained shout from the knight as he toppled over.
"Just Ashfieldans doing what they do best, talking big and always falling short."
"Gah! You bitter little…" Edric spat, nursing his leg.
The viking stared for a moment before smirking.
"Heh. Finally, something we agree on Swampfoot." She chuckled before turning her attention to the horizon.
Shun chose that moment to wake, wearing a pained grimace as the ship pitched to and fro. "What…" He swallowed the potato rising in his throat. "...did I miss?"
"Looks like Thor's ghost wants to sink us! Let us deny him the satisfaction!" Siv laughed. "To your places, weaklings! I will not die thanks to a green faced crew!" She ordered, brusquely shoving past Rin's shoulder on her way to the till.
She scowled, taking a moment to brush herself off. She glanced down to Edric kneeling on the floor. Their eyes met and she gave him a small nod. He returned it and they moved to their stations.
While not at the same insane strength as the storm that had forced them on their little voyage, the sudden squall that hit the small ship was still considerably more threatening than any Rin had survived thus prior.
The heavy rain pelted the deck and the waves surged, threatening to pull the small ship under as water cascaded over the side.
Rin grunted from her position on the , gripping the riggings to help steer when Siv barked her orders. Easier said than done with how slick and taut the cords now were. Her wet gloves hardly helped either, considering her armor had been soaked through. She stood there shivering with every gust of cold wind that tried to slap her in the face.
'Could be worse.' She acknowledged, taking a glance at her newly found conspirator, who was obviously exhausted as he repeatedly filled a bucket with the sea water pooling on the deck to pitch overboard. His armor served only to encumber him, with how much the wet layers of plate steel, chain mail and cloth padding weighed him down. She could swear she could hear his teeth chattering as he swore, constantly wiping water from his brow.
The only one worse off than both of them however was Shun. Rumors had reached Rin's ears before that the lands of the Wu Lin were arid and mountainous. It certainly explained why the monk seemed so far out of his element with how much he had spewed over the side since the voyage had begun. Siv had deemed him completely useless in their current whole group was fine with him sitting at the bow and trying not to fall overboard or vomiting over them as they worked.
The only one not affected, predictably, was the Viking among them. Siv was completely drenched but didn't so much as quake from the cold, or the rampant peals of thunder and lightning. If anything, just like back in the great storm, she seemed to be enjoying herself, her wide grin flashing with every bolt.
The ability to order Rin and Edric around didn't hurt her mood either.
"Faster Buckethead! If that water reaches my knees I'll make you get on yours and drink it all!" She yelled. Any retort the knight was going to give her was lost as his sabatons skidded the wrong way across the slick deck, sending him sprawling in a mighty crash. Siv let out an obnoxious guffaw. She held something to the sky and squinted, then turned her attention towards Rin.
"Pull harder on that line, Swampfoot! We need to turn over the waves, not through them!"
'I swear, I'm going to run YOU through once we've landed, you brute!' Rin thought angrily to herself as she acquiesced to Siv's orders, pulling the line enough for the sail to angle the ship towards the right side of an oncoming wave. The nose lifted up over the edge and for a moment Rin felt like she was in free fall. Then gravity slammed them back down, sending water crashing over the deck, spraying into her face.
She swiped at her eyes with one hand out of instinct. This had the unfortunate consequence of the rope slipping through her weakened grasp. Rin leapt forward to correct her mistake, grabbing at the escaping cord.
Her fingers scrabbled, yet they found purchase! She failed to account for the force of the wind on the other end however, as she found herself getting yanked across the deck! Her sandals failed to find purchase on the wet boards and she was slammed against the side.
The ocean heaved, as if redoubling its efforts to drown Rin specifically, the entire boat listing on one side as she toppled over.
At least if something hadn't grabbed hold of the back of her cuirass. She could feel her neck almost pop from her shoulders as she was hauled back onto the ship.
Rin turned and blinked in surprise to see her horned savior.
"You… you saved me?"
Siv snorted as she pushed past to grab the rope from her with one hand, biceps flexing while she pulled it back through the belaying hole. "Enemy or not, you did the same for me. We are even in that regard." She said, briskly tying the line back into a knot. "A captain's duty is to her crew." She muttered on her return to the rudder, the conviction in her voice giving Rin pause.
She had never expected to see a Viking have(dare she say it?) actual principles. Even though she knew it was most likely out of practicality, of having another able-bodied crewmate, Siv had instead claimed it was out of paying for debt.
Honor.
"Is there any honor to be found amongst heathens and fools?"
Rin shook her head. She couldn't afford to entertain any delusions of a pillaging northman having any form of integrity.
It would just make the eventual betrayal more difficult.
Nevertheless, she could afford some modicum of respect.
"I…" She hesitated and pressed her mouth into a straight line. "I'm not thanking you."
Siv set herself down on the bench and chuckled. "Wouldn't dream of it. Now back to your station!"
Rin's eyes narrowed. Well, there went any guilt.
She returned to her position, ready to reach for either of the lines should it be needed. Meanwhile Shun heaved over the front again, making sounds that shouldn't be coming from the human mouth.
"I don't know what is more ridiculous." Edric muttered under his breath, throwing another bucketful of water back into the sea. "That the Viking has any idea of where we are going or that he still has something left in his stomach to lose."
"Hah? What was that tin boy?! You doubting my sailing?!" Siv yelled, shaking her fist.
Edric stopped and gave her a sour look. "Yes, actually! I find it very hard to believe anyone could find their way through this mess, let alone a backwards people like you. There's no sun, no stars, no landmarks! How could you ever tell which way we are going?!"
Rin paused and looked to Siv. That was a valid question. The clouds blotted out any hints of light from the sun and the constant tossing and turning of the sea made it impossible to maintain a reliable heading. For all she knew, they had been spinning around in circles for the last hour or so.
Siv's lips curled into a sneer. "There's much about us you plated oafs don't know about us. While your forebears thought they owned our lands and thought us dead, we were on the seas, exploring, discovering new lands and things. We have our ways of forging through a paltry storm."
Her hand slipped into one of her belt pouches and retrieved a small object. "Here's one of them." She said, holding it next to her head between two fingers.
Rin squinted and blinked in confusion. It appeared to be a small, black stone disk, marked with a circle of white, branching lines along the edges. Set in the centre was a rectangular prism of polished gemstone or glass, constantly shifting from being translucent to light orange with every movement.
"A… rock?" Rin uttered in disbelief.
"Nay, a Sólarsteinn!" Siv retorted. "This little gem can find the sun through any storm cloud! No sailor worth his sword leaves home without it!"
Edric scoffed. "You have to be joking. Magic rocks? That's how you've been navigating this whole time?"
"Do you have a better option, than following my magic rock?" Siv shot back, waving the stone mockingly.
Edric clicked his teeth and fidgeted. "N-No, I can't say that I do, but this is just madness!"
Rin gave him a quick elbow to the side. "Leave the Viking to her work. Her people are masters of the sea, if nothing else. You can give them that much."
The knight seemed to want to protest, just to realize he didn't have a retort. Shaking his head and grumbling, he brandished his bucket and went back to work.
Siv huffed. "At least one of you recognizes you're out of your depth."
"There is no shame in acknowledging the strengths of your foes." Rin replied, earning a narrow glance.
"There's wisdom to those words, I'll give you that. Back to your post."
It was about another hour by Rin's estimation before the clouds began to lessen and the sun appeared overhead towards their backs, meaning they were still on the right course much to Edric's consternation. The waves weakened shortly after. Soon the sea was calm once more and Shun's nausea abated, at least a little to everyone's relief.
Her task complete, Rin slumped and slid down the side of the ship, laying on the deck in a wet heap. The air took a turn for the humid as the temperature rose, leaving the warriors hot and sticky with salt.
Rin was less bothered by it than the others. The feeling reminded her of home, of the warmth under the trees, minus the insects nipping at her skin thankfully.
'If it's like this, then we are getting close to shore.' She thought in equal amounts of hope and unease.
Soon she would be on solid ground and they would all turn on each other, surely. Her eyes flitted between Siv and Shun.
If Edric was true to his word, then they would turn on the others the second they made landfall. The question now was how they were going to go about it. Ambush the Viking before she has a chance to react, or perhaps the monk while he recovers from his seasickness? Or maybe they would attack each of them separately and if so, which one should she take?
Rin gripped her sheathed katana as she focused on her plan of attack.
A thud on the wood made her jump. She spun her head to see Siv standing up from her seat. Her eyes scanned the horizon, a deep frown etched on her face.
"What is it?" Rin asked.
"I don't know." Siv murmured, her voice taking Rin aback due to how quiet it was. "Something… something doesn't feel right."
"Don't tell me you really got us lost." Edric grunted scornfully as he pulled off one of his boots and water splashed out.
Siv didn't rise to his provocation however and that worried Rin more than anything else.
"What do you mean? Are we lost?" She asked.
"We shouldn't be. Anytime now we should be seeing the edge of the Myre." She said, stepping and leaning over the railing next to Rin. "Yet… something is off. I can feel it. The air, the sea…" She reached down and cupped some of the water in her palm, her eyes narrowing at it. "It's all too warm. It's… it's as if we are further South-East than should be possible."
Rin tilted her head, still not getting the point. "So the storm took us further than we thought, that's not a big problem if we are going to hit the Myre eventually anyway.
Siv shook her head, shaking off her hand and straightening her back. "That's exactly the problem. If we have traveled as far in this direction as I feel, we would be right in the middle of the swamps."
Rin looked at the Viking incredulously. "That doesn't make any sense."
Siv slammed her fist on the railing with a bang. "I know! That's what is killing me!"
Before Rin could open her mouth to reply, Shun called out from the bow.
"Um… "Captain"? I think I see something!"
Edric perked up, clambering to his feet. "What? Really? Is it land?" He asked eagerly, hopping on one foot as he pulled his boot back on while making his way to where the monk stood looking over the bow.
"No. Not land. But it's something." He repeated ominously, shaking his head.
Rin and Siv shared a glance and both pushed themselves off the side to walk to the front. Settling next to Shun, she peered out.
Slowly rolling towards the ship was a blanket of fog, floating over the water and blotting out the horizon. What was more concerning was the field of debris surrounding it. Wood in the form of shattered planks, tiles and torn tree branches alike was most common. Interspersed among them were various scraps of cloth of different sizes, from shredded sails to smaller bits of clothes and rags.
Rin's blood turned cold when she spotted the tattered remains of a banner floating by. A red blossom with kanji in its center, on a field of white.
"What… what is this?" She heard Edric questioned, aghast. "Did a fleet crash in the storm?"
Shun stepped higher, balancing himself on the bowhead to scan their surroundings. He jolted and pointed. "I think I see bodies!"
They followed his finger and sure enough, humanoid shapes floated on the surface, dozens of them. One was approaching the left side of the ship.
"Quick, pull it up!" Edric said.
Shun grabbed his staff and as the body passed the bow, he hooked the prongs under it's collar. He grunted and levered the body up for all to see.
It was the body of a grown man. Water dripped down the ridges of his wooden plate armor. He had no weapon, likely sunk to the ocean bed by now. He appeared to have been dead for a while now, if his bloated, bloodless face and stench was any indication.
"This man drowned." Siv stated.
"Oh really?" Edric remarked.
"Very funny! But more importantly, it looks like he's been out here for a while, a couple days maybe." She glared. "Dump him. Return him to the sea."
Shun seemed hesitant, but eventually relented, lowering his staff and releasing the corpse back into the water. "So what, did he perish in a naval battle?"
"If so, who were they fighting?" Edric stroked his beard in thought.
"I don't know…" Shun stood up and glanced around again. "All I see are Samurai, no-one else."
"Might had been Knights. The bodies could be weighed down near the bottom thanks to all the armor." Siv suggested.
The Knight and Viking continued to theorize while Shun returned his gaze forward. All the while Rin stood off to the side, mind racing.
What could have happened here? Was it as simple as a ship crash or skirmish? She didn't think so. Neither event would explain why that banner would be floating out in the ocean. That kind of flag belonged on a castle wall or rampart.
A terrible thought came to her. The storms. The wreckage. No sight of land.
A sinking sensation filled her stomach, as if it was one of the waterlogged corpses surrounding them falling to the ocean floor.
'No… no, it can't be!' She thought, her heart starting to race.
"Uh… guys… there's something you have to see." Shun's voice echoed out, getting all of their attention. Edric and Siv looked out first, getting in Rin's way.
"What the..?" Edric gaped.
"What is it?! Out of my way! Let me see!" Rin demanded urgently, pushing past Edric, then Shun. The latter gave her a worried, sympathetic look as she stepped up to the front of the boat.
Her eyes widened and her pupils shrunk to pinpricks.
Standing almost defiantly, but still pitifully was a lone platform of stone brick. A wooden fence ringed the edge, its red paint faded. The ends of two wooden bridges poked out on its left and back, joined with nothing else. A large iron brazier stood in the center, the kind meant for being lit in warning of enemy invasion, its belly cold and dark. Looming overhead was an aging cherry blossom tree. It appeared ethereal, its pink petals drifting down to land in the water, leaving it half naked in the light. There used to be a second, smaller tree, judging by the stump standing next to it. It appeared to had been split down the middle, its insides scorched and still smoldering.
The Knight, Viking and monk didn't know what they were looking at. But Rin did. For she had passed by this tower, marveled at the beauty of the twin trees dozens of times.
"No… it's… that's impossible." Rin's knees hit the deck as she stared in disbelief.
Her three companions turned to her.
"What? What is?"
"Is that a marker of some kind?"
Rin shook her head. "No. It's worse than we thought."
"What is?"
"The… the storm…" She swallowed. "The great one, that destroyed the Viking lands… it wasn't just there."
One by one their eyes widened as they each reached the same conclusion in their own time. Edric knelt, giving her an imploring look. Begging her to not say what he feared she would, terrified of the implications. "No… you don't mean…"
Rin nodded remorsefully. "The Myre… it's no more. Washed away in the same storm as Valkenheim. I know where we are."
She swallowed and stared at the lone blossom tree, trying to keep herself together.
"Sanctuary Bridge. Kyo City."
TO BE CONTINUED…