.Chapter 11 - Arise From the Depths
In the span of a few months, the atmosphere within the Coral Palace had shifted radically.
Tsuyuko knew that belief to be deeply false. It was merely the impression that most lords of Watatsumi held when entering it for the first time. She did not blame them; each summons during these troubled times was a test of their resolve. It was no surprise that the current environment affected them so easily.
The truth was that the atmosphere within the Coral Palace was always tense.
Another sigh escaped the shrine maiden's lips as she walked through the quiet, iridescent halls. The late afternoon's sunlight filtered through the tinted glass, displaying abstract hues of blue and pink on the floor and walls. Long ago, she would have found the sight to be eerie and captivating. Now she could only spare a thought for the beauty of things as she made her way to the deepest part of the palace.
The sound of her footsteps became less and less clear, resonating and running up the walls as the halls in front of her gradually increased in size. It was never big enough to make one feel small, however, and she had come to understand why after serving here for so long. The shrine was a sacred place, and it didn't need to display it to the undiscerning eyes of visitors – they only needed to listen. Each sound of life being amplified thousandfold within the echoing walls gave the impression of being underwater, where mankind's true powerlessness was revealed.
The beliefs of Narukami and Watatsumi were different in this way.
Tsuyuko kept walking solemnly, nodding to the guards as she entered the throne room. Even the centerpiece of the Coral Palace had undergone change. And in this case, the change was the absence of Her Excellency's pearlescent throne. Naturally, the removal of her sole symbol of power had made the elders' hair stand up on end, but the Divine Priestess knew her priorities. If they were marching to this war with the intent of winning, her people could go without a few ceremonies for as long as necessary. When asked how she would hold and provide counsel without her throne, she simply looked up at the questioning official and answered in the simplest of manners:
"Who exactly would quibble about the circumstances of an audience with me when the drums of war are beating at our shores?"
To this day, she had yet to receive an answer. And on the very same day, the throne was removed.
In its place, a long table made of maplewood had been raised in the room's center. The throneless room was vast, large enough to contain a small assembly of advisors, but each breathing space was busy on this day. From around the central table to the walls, captains, counselors, lords, and guards huddled in this space, all eyes on the various colored pins and detailed maps of the major islands of the archipelago. Carved blocks of wood represented the Shogunate and Watatsumi's troops, banners, landmarks, and all points of interest that had been carefully highlighted by any able hand.
The men at this table all came from vastly differing backgrounds and families, yet no distinction was made between a clan elder or a lowborn here. Selfish aspirations and personal grievances had no place at the strategist's table, as each and every person present was well aware that their island's survival depended on their ability to cooperate fully with one another.
In this room, the faint whispers of the palace's hallways had died down. Papers rustled, pens scratched against the paper, and figures made of wood slid against the table. Huddled together, eyes converging towards the one seat that was illuminated by a wax candle's dancing flame, mouths shut, their fingers forming a steeple or frantically taking notes, they were all listening to the sound of pure genius at work.
Leaning over the table, her indigo eyes darting attentively around the map, Sangonomiya Kokomi naturally drew everyone's attention to her. Each man and woman at this table respected her as the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi in times of peace, but at the present moment they found another reason to follow her:
Sangonomiya Kokomi was also the most brilliant military strategist of her time.
Her finger trailed along a rough outline representing the planned route for the Shogunate's troops, stopping to tap lightly on a wooden block. "It took a great deal of effort to push the enemy's forces away from the entrance to Musoujin Gorge, but even keeping them at bay is only a temporary solution," she said, raising her voice slightly as her gaze swept across the room. Her finger traveled further west, navigating between bright purple pins in the heart of Yashiori Island. "For obvious safety concerns regarding the Balethunder phenomenon, the entirety of the gorge is also unsafe for our troops as well. To put it simply, we are defending a chunk of land that we cannot take advantage of."
There was a beat. But as expected, no one expressed displeasure or discouragement at the news.
"That being said, we are not at a total disadvantage here."
She grabbed a pointing stick, pushing blue wooden blocks closer together at two precise points on Yashiori Island's map.
"The number of our troops stationed at Fort Fujitou can't compare to the multitude of soldiers sent from Narukami, but we have been on this island for much longer than they have. Adapting to the harsh environment, learning and memorizing the optimal routes for on-foot travel, and even taking advantage of the landscape to launch surprise attacks from critical positions are tools we have at our disposal. We have the knowledge and experience of this battlefield, while their newly-dispatched troops are only beginning to realize how treacherous the island can be. Despite our current predicament, we mustn't forget that time is with us, and against them."
Her words resonated with confidence and resolution, uprooting any potential doubt that could have remained in the hearts of her advisors. The Divine Priestess nodded to herself in satisfaction when no voice rose against hers, her observations welcomed by a general murmur of agreement that flowed across the table like a breeze.
Mastering the art of war wasn't everything. Even a flawless tactic could easily crumble apart if the ones supposed to carry it out lacked trust in their leader. She had painstakingly built this relationship with each of her generals, subjects, and advisors, one strengthened by past experiences when her foresight had prevented great disasters or led to incredible victories. Thanks to her efforts, their trust in her had become almost natural, and they had subconsciously come to believe that she could find a way out of any situation. That trust was of the dangerous kind, because if she ended up failing, a major blow would be dealt to their loyalty toward both her and her cause.
Yet danger was where she made her mark, where her strategies came through and were the most effective. The Divine Priestess was nothing without her people's trust, and she knew better than anyone that in war, results mattered most. If she could lead her troops successfully, no one would remember the risks taken along the way.
"For now, we just maintain our current stations and keep them at bay, then." One of her generals perked up - quite literally, his canine ears twitched slightly as he spoke. "Our infantry is fully capable of pulling it off. The men at Fort Fujitou are brave and in great physical condition. They fully understand how and why they must chip away at the Shogunate's forces."
She nodded. "General Gorou, I fully trust that keeping up this assault will be taxing on you and your men, but the determination the infantry has shown is nothing short of exemplary. Watatsumi Island thanks you for your service."
The ever-reliable Gorou took a humble bow. Out of all her generals, the youngest had somehow become the one she entrusted with the most difficult tasks. He hadn't just earned her trust by being quick and efficient on the battlefield – she knew to look past outstanding physical qualities when so many lines were on the line, but he knew how to utilize and interact with each soldier on a personal level. Sometimes, simple advice or even blunt words in the heat of the moment could play a major role in turning the tide of a desperate battle. Though he lacked self-confidence, Gorou could still make use of this skill, and so she put him in charge of the largest unit, where it would shine most.
Yet today, she saw an unusual shadow over his face. The infantry general was fidgeting, and though his tail didn't betray much emotion, she felt something was amiss. By the general's side, almost hiding in his shadow, she noticed a gray-haired man avoiding her gaze. His left hand and forearm were wrapped in gauze and held in place by a cloth wrapped around his neck. He had an absent gaze, simply listening to what was being said around him and nodding without saying a word.
Kokomi leaned slightly over the table to take a better look at him. "Excuse me, sir, but unless I am mistaken, you're a part of the infantry, yes? Of which squad are you captain?"
He flinched slightly when she called out to him, but he forced himself to stand up straight and give a salute with slight difficulty. "Captain Kosuke, of the Mizuno clan. I am, well, I used to be in charge of the Herring I squad."
"Herring I… specializes in reconnaissance and scouting. How come one of our most crucial sources of intelligence has remained silent for the greater part of this meeting?"
The captain seemed uneasy, and sent a pleading look in the general's direction. Gorou glanced at the Divine Priestess before giving his comrade an encouraging nod. Finally, Kosuke cleared his throat.
"Two months ago, Herring I conducted a long scouting mission while the Shogunate's troops were encroaching deeper into the island. To not be discovered by the enemy, we had no choice but to hide on the flanks of the Musoujin Gorge." He made a weak gesture at his injured left arm. "While we were stuck there, I tried to push further in for reconnaissance and ended up falling in a crevice, where I broke my arm. Praise be to the Omikami, I survived the tatarigami poisoning with no further complications, but I've been unable to rejoin the frontline since. In my absence, one of my soldiers has been made acting captain of Herring I. That soldier is a descendant of the Yuna clan, Shirakawa Teppei."
The strategist leaned forward and supported her chin with her hand, her interest suddenly piqued. "A son of Yuna, in the infantry? Wouldn't his natural talents as a whalesinger be better utilized out at sea, with the navy's forces?"
"As far as I'm aware, Teppei cannot commune with the deep. He hasn't shown the ability to manipulate whalesongs that his clan is renowned for. However, he shows great battle prowess and reliability when needed. I frankly believe that he has the makings of a future captain." Kosuke shared another glance with his general before continuing. "Teppei is an amazing soldier, but... he was separated from the rest of Herring I during a recent mission. The rest of the squad made it back to Fort Fujitou without him, meaning our reconnaissance capacity is crippled once again."
"Do we have confirmation of his death, captain?"
The captain shook his head. "It is impossible to know at the moment. The Shogunate's troops have become too active around the area to even hazard a guess concerning where he could be, if he is indeed alive."
Kokomi gave both of them a warm gaze, taking the opportunity to look at the rest of the attendees. "Take heart. Our soldiers are brave, and if this one truly is a warrior from the Yuna bloodline, he won't yield easily in combat." There was a brief beat, but before a murmur could rise, she spoke up again with a slight smile. "Besides, it is also in our best interest to take back the island. What do you say we push the soldiers of the Narukami back to the eastern islands where they belong, my comrades?"
A soft breeze blew as the men looked around at each other. Starting from a general in the back and gradually spreading around the table, a collective cheer rose. It only lasted for a few seconds, but it was enough for her to notice the one man who seemed dissociated from the sudden wave of optimism. That alone wasn't a problem, but the man in question had already warranted her attention in the past.
The Divine Priestess kept the same even smile upon her lips as she turned to him. "What of you, Lieutenant Nathan? Does the second navy have any good news to share with the rest of us?"
The lieutenant seemed surprised, and even slightly rattled at having suddenly been made the center of attention. He opened his brown eyes wide, carefully considering what would come out of his mouth next.
"As per your prior orders, the second navy remained on the lookout in Mumei's waters. The ships are still in great condition, and the Shogunate isn't making any moves regarding their own navy. The waters are safe so far."
She knew that. In fact, the navy was the only domain where they outshone the Narukami's forces in terms of both power and their troops' experience. Because it was so important, she went to great pains to ensure that they maintained this advantage over their enemies. Yet for a foreigner like Nathan to have climbed their ranks so quickly without her noticing... something was amiss.
It was a simple gut feeling, but maybe she hadn't protected that advantage well enough.
As with all things, she wouldn't get very far without a proper strategy. All the pieces weren't in place for her to act yet, and as foolish as it sounded, this matter was not her top priority at the moment.
So rather than keeping her intense gaze fixated on him the way a creature of the depths stalked its prey, she maintained her composed smile once again and moved on from the topic. Subtly, without disrupting the current atmosphere. Like he was just another officer at her table.
"Now then, the distribution of supplies from Borou Village…"
Another lord took the lead, yet she only listened with one ear. As always, her mind was racing towards the next objective.
Slowly, step by step, she mustered up the patience to bide her time on all fronts, until the perfect opportunity showed itself. One moment of distraction, one unnecessary word, one wrong move from her enemies. She only needed one opening.
The second it happened, Sangonomiya Kokomi would bare her fangs and dig in.
The skies were darkening overhead. Gradually, light rain began to fall on the tree leaves above him. Teppei held his spear slightly closer to his chest, trying to control his breath and not make any noise. He could still hear the footsteps all around him, but the rain now made it difficult to pinpoint the location of the enemy soldiers. He had already lost track of the days he'd spent out here, at the mercy of the elements, but at least enough time had passed for him to assume that the rest of Herring I made it back to camp safely. And yet, that thought didn't bring him much comfort when his own body was getting weaker and more exhausted. The little amount of food he'd foraged wasn't nearly enough to sustain him, but if he tried to find fruit-bearing trees, he'd inevitably stumble into enemy territory.
After having so many close encounters with the Shogunate's men, Teppei was now certain of one thing: they wouldn't take him prisoner. The army had become more ruthless as of late, and in the fragmented bits of conversations the wind carried to him, he understood that they were more optimistic as of late. Something probably happened beyond the frontlines, something that could be potentially dangerous for the resistance. But if he never made it back to Fort Fujitou, that information would be lost along with him.
The distant voices and footsteps stepping on mud and hardened soil came closer. He leaned back against a tree bark, letting out a shuddered sigh as he closed his eyes for a moment. There was no more time to think about what could happen if he got too reckless. Worse things would happen if he stayed here. Gathering the remainder of his courage, Teppei steeled himself.
"With or without my comrades, I'm still a warrior…" he muttered to himself. Whether or not he actually believed it at the moment didn't matter, just knowing that he was capable of saying it was enough.
Right now, his best bet was still to make his way to the beach and try to put as much distance between them and himself as possible. It would be a desperate effort out in the open, without any cover to shield him, but it was probably his only chance. Clinging to his weapon with slightly more resolve than before, he began counting down in his head. The soldiers were definitely drawing closer, and now their voices had gone silent. They were onto him.
Sharing nothing but a glance and a nod, the men began to split up, each of them keeping at least two of their comrades in their sights. They managed to take it slowly and meticulously despite their heavy armor and equipment, silently stalking past the trees, their heads and eyes searching all around for any sign of life.
Suddenly, a shadow darted between the trees.
Teppei heard the clamor of the men as they immediately rushed after him. His ears were buzzing, and the low tree branches scratched the unprotected parts of his arms and legs, but not for a moment did he slow down. He wouldn't be given another chance if he hesitated for even a moment. Nimbly, without a glance back, he took a great stride and sailed over a fallen tree trunk. As he kept going, the surroundings began to clear up, and he soon felt the earth and mud under his feet gradually give way to coarse sand. A gust of saline wind hit his face as he exited the forest and ran down the beachline.
The ocean was roiling with furious waves that crashed against the shore, and water droplets trickled against his uniform and his skin. Behind him, Teppei heard the sounds of pursuit get farther and farther as he outran them. And yet, he didn't feel relieved. His instinct was screaming at him that they had probably stopped running on purpose.
Which sparked a whole new problem.
The first arrow sang way over his head, falling into the water and getting swallowed up by the waves. The second one was much closer, just missing his right shoulder and landing in the sand. One by one, more arrows rose into the sky and began to rain down all around him. He was unscathed for now, mostly because the strong wind made ranged shots unreliable, but his opponents were still the Electro Archon's men: they had to be capable of fighting through a storm. Once they got used to the wind's strength and direction, their shots would become a lot deadlier. He had to cover as much ground as possible before that happened.
The very second he had that thought, he felt a sharp pain in his leg and lost his footing. Teppei rolled and tumbled in the sand with a cry of pain. A lucky arrow was stuck deep below his knee, rendering his left leg useless. He tried to stand, but the overwhelming pain in his limb prevented it from supporting the rest of his body in the slightest. His knees gave out from under him a second time, and his face landed in the sand. Coughing, he pushed himself up and tried to remain on all fours.
In the distance, the soldiers began to chase after him again. In his wounded state, running was simply out of the question. Like a wounded animal, cornered and scared, Teppei began to crawl away.
Each raindrop that hit his face felt heavy, the sand seemed to swallow up his forearms and knees and sap their strength. The shouts were getting closer. He heard their loud, strong voices that shouted orders, saw their armor heave with each step, and the glint of their weapons as they advanced forward. He kept crawling, even though they were closing the distance rapidly, his breath growing more and more desperate with each passing second.
He was drenched. In rain, sweat, or maybe tears.
He was also suffocating. The pain, sand, and dehydration all made breathing difficult.
His brain and his body were both in a panic. Subconsciously, his eyes were darting around, searching for an even remotely comforting sight. Something he could look at to feel slightly at peace while he died.
Sand, trees, waves, dark clouds, seashells. And then, his eyes fell on a boat.
On the shoreline, a few hundred feet away from him, there was a lone, abandoned rowboat lying on its side. Even at a glance, he could tell that it hadn't been here for a very long time. It was made of Inazuman cedar, or 'peacock wood'. Had his father owned the same type of boat for fishing? Probably not. Peacock wood was found mostly on Narukami Island, and was considered pretty scarce in the eastern islands. In fact, looking back on it, he was pretty sure his father's boat was made from an otogi tree. Yes, that was probably it. As a child, he sat on a rock and watched his father hack away at the thick tree trunk until it eventually fell. He watched as his father cut down that tree with ease, all while explaining something about the natural oil of otogi trees being able to repel mosquitoes. Little Teppei was fascinated by it. That was a fun story.
As a soldier's spear was about to pierce his back and end his life, Teppei remembered that fun story.
...
"That boat looks brand new. Did someone arrive on the island recently?"
...
The sudden sound was deafening. The flash blinded him. A sudden streak of lightning tore the skies above him in two, followed by an intensely loud, booming thunder. When the initial shock of surprise wore off, Teppei slowly came out of his flinching position on the ground and opened his eyes. He was still at his enemies' mercy. The sudden lightning strike was terrifying, sure, but they had ample time to finish him off now. They were the Electro Archon's men, capable of fighting through a storm.
That didn't mean they were capable of fighting a storm.
Teppei turned around and sat up in disbelief. Twenty men fighting under the Shogunate's banner, all having survived intensive training to join the army, and overcome even more hurdles to end up on the frontline. A fighting prowess hardened by an unshakeable will, and a devotion to their god that made them unafraid of reckless sacrifice.
All of them were defeated in an instant by a strange force that descended on the battlefield like lightning. Teppei's heart thumped in his chest as he looked up at the man who stood amidst the unconscious bodies. An outlander, by face and by clothing, with a white cape thrown over his left shoulder and a golden braid that fell to his waist. Faint arcs of lightning coursed around his blade before he dismissed it in a flash of gold.
Aether breathed calmly as he turned around and crouched down next to the injured warrior. "Don't try to pull that arrow out, unless you want a chunk of your leg to come off with it. The Shogunate's arrowheads are designed to stay in the enemy's flesh and keep their wounds open for as long as possible. I can remove it, but we'll have to find somewhere safe first."
Teppei reared back ever so slightly, his hand slowly searching for the staff of his spear in the sand. A stranger had suddenly come and obliterated the enemy in an instant, and now he extended a hand towards him?
Was this real?
"What… what exactly are you?"
The look on the outlander's face didn't change. "Just a helping hand. A friend sent me here to support the resistance and lighten your Divine Priestess' load." He gestured at the red and pink charm that was pinned to his cape, which bore the symbol of Narukami Island's shrine. "But we can discuss that later. For now, let's take care of your wound before it gets infected."
Without waiting for another word, the blond pulled a bottle of alcohol and a cloth from his bag and got to work on cleaning the wound around the arrow. The soldier flinched slightly at first, but didn't move once it was clear that he meant no harm.
He still kept a cautious grip on his spear, though.
He wasn't sure of the man's intentions, but from the way he spoke and carried himself, Teppei could tell that this one was a true warrior—as if the impressive lightning strike from earlier wasn't enough to go by. A Vision bearer who'd fled the Hunt perhaps?
All things considered, he was probably dealing with a mercenary hired by someone important on the main island. Or maybe he too stood to gain something from helping the resistance. He had heard a few rumors among the higher-ups concerning an anonymous organization supplying them with weapons and supplies. Maybe bringing him back to the fort and asking a few questions wasn't a terrible idea. The generals would certainly know what to do.
Teppei finally spoke up, causing the blond to stop briefly. "I'm Teppei, acting captain of Herring I. I didn't expect to find an ally this deep behind enemy lines, but I'm grateful for your kindness. What's your name?"
The outlander let the question hang for a few seconds, before he continued the cleanup with a slight smile. "Aether. No affiliations."
He kept expertly treating the wound for a while, focused on his current task. He had definitely done this before, and not just for himself. Seeing him like this made Teppei think of his brothers-in-arms, who probably presumed him dead now. The thought of them made his heart ache a bit.
Suddenly, the outlander stopped everything and looked out at the ocean. His eyelids narrowed as they tried to perceive something, which caused Teppei to shift around and look as well.
"What's going on? Did you hear something?"
Aether peered further into the fog and nodded slowly. "Yeah. There's a ship here."
The soldier looked in the same direction, but there were only gray waves as far as his eyes could see. The veil of fog was slowly getting closer to the island, so seeing anything beyond that was simply-
"Huh?"
Just at the fog's lip, for a brief moment, a large wooden hull slipped through the waves. Aether was right. A ship was going silently along the island's shore with its sails killed. A faint breeze blew, pushing the fog back just enough to make out its massive outline. It wasn't a vessel from the Shogunate, or Watatsumi's navy. In fact, it wasn't an Inazuman ship at all. It was Liyuean in make.
"Could it be… pirates?" Teppei murmured with slight apprehension.
Aether threw Teppei's arm over his shoulder and slowly stood up, his expression gradually breaking into a smile as he realized what was going on. The wind picked up in speed, and the Alcor's flag breached through the fog. After all these hardships, he'd completely forgotten that she still sailed in these islands. Her timing was surprising, but perfect.
Had he known what Beidou's business was from the very beginning, maybe he would've stuck with the crew for a while longer.
"These ones are not pirates," he chuckled. "A few hotheads from an armed fleet, led by a fearless captain. Personally, I call them my friends."
He saw the puzzlement on Teppei's face and just gave him a reassuring nod as they began to walk, one leaning on the other for support.
"Let's take my boat and catch up. You don't have to expect allies anymore, Teppei. They're right here."
