"That's it! Keep going!"
Asia could hear her older sister call from her spot on the porch.
She twisted her foot and thrust her practice sword towards her older brother.
Akane and Riser sat on the porch, watching the two spar. Riser lay his head on her lap while Akane focused on watching their movements.
It was the day before the festival and Akane and Shin decided to take a break from training in the woods. But that didn't mean that they stopped altogether. Their younger sister deserved her time in the sun and so, Shin had been sparring with her all morning.
Ravel served as their referee and watched their spar closely.
To be honest, I should probably train too. I call myself Akane's student but Shin and Asia are making leaps and bounds… she thought.
Shin twisted his body around the blade before driving his elbow into Asia's cheek.
Asia stumbled to the side, almost falling face-first on the ground.
Her jaw throbbed in pain but she did not let that deter her. Her instincts were still as sharp as ever and her hair stood on end.
Her body vanished into thin air, narrowly avoiding the shots Shin had taken at her back.
Shin aimed Failnacht at her rapidly moving form, firing several rapid shots at Asia.
Asia swiped her practice sword, deflecting several of Failnacht's bolts. Though, she didn't have to worry. Akane had asked Shin to use Failnacht but make sure to use low-powered bolts meant to stun small animals.
And though the bolts were not lethal, the pain they delivered upon impact was not something she wished to experience once more. The slowly darkening bruises on her arms and legs were proof of the pain she had been subjected to for the past few weeks.
She flashed to different areas, avoiding the bullets as she made her way towards Shin.
"There's an opening on his right. Though, I'd be careful if I were you."
M- Mori!?
The translucent spirit manifested above her.
"The boy's style is still evolving and adapting but I can already tell that this style is multifunctional so be careful. He might flip on the drop of a hat," Mori warned.
Asia nodded and darted to Shin's right, narrowly avoiding a bolt that cut several strands of her hair.
She thrust her blade to Shin's unprotected right flank but true to Mori's prediction, Shin switched tactics and transformed Failnacht into a practice sword.
Asia smiled, seeing that Shin had fallen for her feint and immediately changed course, pressing the practice sword against Shin's throat.
"Stop!" Ravel announced.
The two stopped fighting.
Shin smiled, feeling the wooden surface of Asia's sword pressing against his jugular vein. His left hand had Failnacht's barrel pressed against her abdomen.
"That was good. Good work using a feint, Asia," Akane said, standing up from her seat.
"Yeah, I didn't expect her to feint," Shin said, smiling sheepishly.
"I told you to expect anything in combat," Akane said, crossing her arms as she walked towards them.
"Ahaha. My bad, my bad," Shin laughed, withdrawing Failnacht's barrel from Asia's torso.
Asia removed her blade and fell on her butt, panting. Sweat dripped down her chin and her shirt was soaked in it. She had never worked herself this hard in her entire life. Ever since coming to Serikawa, her training sessions had become more intense.
The training sessions she had with Sophia were hogwash compared to the torture she was subjected to daily by her own family. Now she understood how a monster like her older sister could exist in this world.
And Asia loved every second of it.
Sparring with her adoptive parents. Training with her older siblings. Learning Mystic Gear with Kureha.
Though with that last part, it was much harder due to Mori not budging on her stance of taking the next step. And so, Asia knew that even though she had a Black Talisman, conjuring a Mystic Gear was going to be far more difficult than she anticipated.
"You're still hesitating when making your moves. A second between your sword strokes is a gap between life and death. In a real battle, people will not stop when you hesitate and will capitalize upon your weakness. Also, your form is a little stiff in your legs. Loosen up a little more and it will help you fly freely around the battlefield. Otherwise, you're advancing at a faster rate than I originally anticipated," Akane said. "Congrats."
Asia smiled, feeling her older sister's hand softly petting her hair.
"She's improving at an extremely rapid rate. It almost reminds me of the Red Dragon Emperor. I think she'll be able to defeat a High-Class Devil on her own by the end of the week if she keeps this up," Riser said, placing a hand on his chin.
"Issei and I aren't the only ones determined in our training. Don't forget that our Asia has a natural talent for the Onigari-Ryu so we can't completely discount that. And… Asia did hold her own against Kokabiel for a little bit and against all those magicians at the Three Factions Summit," Shin praised.
Asia blushed, feeling the warmth of her older siblings flowing through her.
"Well, as for you…" Akane walked over and flicked Shin in the forehead, causing him to stumble backward.
"Ow! What the hell!?" Shin protested, rubbing his forehead.
"I told you to watch your opponent's movements. And don't use not having my senses as an excuse. Any fighter could see that Asia was clearly going for a feint on your flank but you fell for it and went in anyway. Don't underestimate her because she's still learning. An amateur can kill a skilled fighter if they give into their arrogance," Akane said.
"R- Right. My bad," Shin said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"Seriously, you don't need my senses in order to keep track of your opponent, Shin-chan," she said.
"Ahaha, my bad, my bad," Shin said sheepishly.
"Still, good job, Shin-chan. You're making fast progress with the whatever-it's-called Onigari-Ryu," Akane said, patting him on the head.
"O- Onee… I'm too old for these kinds of things," he said, flushing in embarrassment. "And it's called Sousei Onigari-Ryu!" Shin added indignantly.
"Mmm? Sousei? Oh, you really are going away from me. Even your naming style is the opposite of mine." Akane pressed her hand against her cheek, adopting a forlorn expression. Though, her tone contradicted her face.
"Opposite?" Asia asked.
"It's clever wordplay between me and Shin-chan," Akane answered.
Akane removed her hand from his head.
"We'll stop here for now. We'll pick up after the Festival since… it's the night before-" Akane was interrupted by a jingle coming from her pocket. She pulled her phone out and read a text that had popped up on her screen. She furrowed her brow and began furiously typing.
"Who is it?" Riser asked.
"Caspian." Akane typed a text and waited for a reply. The reply came almost instantly and she sighed.
"Riser, can you imagine this guy?" she fumed and showed her boyfriend her phone. "Read it!"
Riser raised an eyebrow and read the text before bursting out in a fit of laughter.
"Stop laughing! I'm serious! He wants me to go to Romania now of all times!?" Akane said.
"Pfft, I'm not laughing at that. I'm laughing that he wants you to interrupt your vacation," Riser said.
"Seriously, I've been covering for him for half a year and now he wants me to come and take over? This dumb bastard, I swear, when I get my hands on your blonde ass I'll rip you a new one before throwing you into the Mediterranean," Akane said. "I don't care if Lady Ananke has to find a new Contractor."
"Don't be so harsh on him. He did help us a few times, especially covering for us when we wanted to… you know," Riser said suggestively.
Shin raised an eyebrow before turning green at the implication.
Akane sighed and pulled on Riser's ear, though her cheeks had turned a bright shade of red. "We're with Asia-chan and Shin-chan right now. Can you shut your mouth for a few seconds?"
"Ow! I… I know a few ways you can shut me up," Riser said.
Akane frowned and pulled harder, eliciting a pained yelp from Riser.
"Ow! Ow! Akane, my ear!"
"Excuse us. Riser and I have to go deal with some issues then head up to the Shrine," Akane said.
She turned around and dragged Riser by the ear into the house before shutting the door loudly.
"I'm going to go to the creek with Vivi and Ran and practice there. Oh right, don't go in the house," Shin said.
"Eh? But I need to get changed," Asia protested.
"Well… shit. Just uh, if you hear anything weird just… ignore it, okay?" Shin said.
"Um… sure?" she replied. Why would she hear anything weird, she thought.
"Master, you're far too pure and innocent for this world," Mori said.
What do you mean? Asia asked.
Mori said nothing and chose to hover in the air between her and Shin.
"In any case, if you need anything, just call me. I'll be by the creek with Grandpa," Shin said.
"Oh. Okay! I'll be with Kureha-nee in the woods behind the house," Asia said.
"Kureha? She's not blackmailing you or anything right?" Shin asked.
"N- No! She's not doing anything as heinous as blackmail!" Asia said.
"Alright. I'll be back in the evening. Onee and Riser will be gone by then and I can make us dinner. Don't stay out for too long, okay?" Shin said.
"I won't! Kureha will be with me if anything happens!" Asia said.
With that, Shin nodded and turned around before leaving the yard.
"Master, did you have to lie to your brother like that?" Mori asked.
Asia stayed silent and walked through the forest, taking the path that Kureha had shown her earlier. It was easy to memorize. All she needed to do was follow the devastation her mother left when she was a child. The Mori-no-Ko had grown accustomed to her presence and even approached her on a few occasions. The sounds of their singing and the natural sounds of life within the brush soothed her.
"Master?"
"Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just lost in thought," Asia said. "Did you say something?"
Mori's gaze made her slightly uncomfortable. The girl was staring at her so intensely and Asia couldn't discern what was going through the spirit's head right now.
"Er… Mori?"
Akatsuki…
Asia's image briefly overlapped with that of another woman with violet hair.
Mori blinked and shook her head. "Sorry, Master. It appears that I too became lost in my own thoughts."
Asia smiled and nodded. She continued her trek. She picked up a stick along her path and began carrying it like an errant child.
"Master, are you still trying to use your Mystic Gear?" Mori asked.
"I'm not going to force you if you don't want to but yeah, I am," Asia said. "To prove myself as a member of this family… I need to be able to…" Asia tightened her grip around the stick.
"More proof?" Mori hovered next to her. "You still need to prove to them that you're one of them even after they've accepted you without question?"
Asia remained silent.
"Or is it to the village?" Mori asked.
Asia didn't reply and instead kept moving forward.
Mori followed after her and let out a deep sigh. She figured she'd be doing that a lot today. As she watched the girl's blonde hair sway in the breeze, she couldn't help but be reminded of another person she had known so long ago.
"You never told me about yourself," Asia said.
"What's there to say? I'm a spirit from the base of Mount Benizakura. There's nothing more to be told," Mori said.
"You and I both know that I won't fall for that. I've been watching you since we got back. All those weird little things you said. The way you stare at the village and at the mountain, that's not something a 'normal spirit' from Mount Benizakura says," Asia said.
"And how do you know what spirits say, Master?" Mori asked.
"Because… you just sound like someone who gave up a long time ago," Asia said. "It… reminds me of myself…"
Mori raised an eyebrow at what she had said.
"I never told you this but I used to be part of the Catholic Church. I spent my entire life as a nun and was revered as a saint," Asia said. She hopped on top of a log and began walking on it.
"..." Mori followed after Asia as she continued down the path. "It must have been… a wonderful life to have been revered and loved so dearly by others, Master."
Asia smiled sadly and shook her head. "It… It was far from it…"
Mori raised an eyebrow when she heard a hint of misery and melancholy within Asia's tone.
It was odd for a human not to crave attention and the feeling of superiority, much less for people of an organized religion or a supernatural entity. She had witnessed time and time again the cruelty of others. The need for supremacy and domination over other living beings was something both man and supernatural had sought over each other for countless centuries.
And she remembered the pain it caused to those who were in the way of others.
Especially…
Mori shook her head and glanced at her Master.
"I never liked living in the Church even if I did worship God," Asia said. "I prayed every day to a God that was apparently long dead for a family. A family that would love me. Friends that would be with me. Everyone considered me a saint of the highest class and a demon of the most profane order… all because of this."
She held up her hand and gazed upon the very objects that had dealt her so much misery in life yet had granted her so much joy at the same time.
"So what did you do, Master?" Mori asked, now curious as to how her tale would unfold.
Of course, Mori was accustomed to stories made to garner sympathy from others. She had seen the land develop long before this child was born and would see it die long after. But… Mori couldn't help but wonder why this child was telling her such a tale nor why she reminded her of someone she knew so long ago.
"I… I did nothing. I accepted what was dealt to me, believing that God had a plan for me in the future. I continued my life, living as a doll. I wasn't myself. I was never what I wanted to be," Asia said.
"I wanted to be normal. I wanted a life outside of the abbey. Seeing children play and be loved by their families. That was the first time I ever experienced envy in my life," Asia said.
"I see…" she said.
"And then one day, whether it was a blessing or a stroke of misfortune, I healed someone. I healed someone who I didn't know was an enemy of the Church. A Devil," Asia continued.
"I was unaware that Devils could even enter places sanctified by the Biblical God," Mori said.
"It was outside the abbey. They were extremely wounded so naturally, I went to heal them. But… in reality, what I healed was a Devil. Word got out. You know how humans are…," Asia said. "We're opportunistic. We'll take any advantage afforded to us and use it for our own benefits even if it means trampling on the lives of others. And because of that, I was branded as a heretic. A witch."
Asia hopped over a small creek in one bound.
"And so… after years of living in the only home I ever had, I was suddenly deprived of it. Of course, it came as a shock. Denial. I begged them to not abandon me. I even promised that I would never disobey the scripture and teachings ever again. I vowed to dedicate my life to God and to Heaven but… I was denied in the end," Asia said. "In the end, I had nothing…"
Asia stopped walking and brought her sleeve up to wipe a few tears from her eyes. "That was until recently…"
"Recently?" Mori asked.
"I arrived here not too long ago. I turned to the Fallen Angels for aid. I believed that by working with them, I could get back to the only place in the world that I thought would accept me as me," she said wistfully.
"And what happened then?" Mori said.
"I died."
Mori's eyes widened considerably at her statement. Her master had died?
"It's weird, right? I've brushed death yet here I am standing and enjoying a life I'm afraid will be ripped away from me at any moment," she said.
"A Dark God gave me life and these wings because of a prayer made by someone I hold dear. I'm forever grateful to that person and I've grown to love them for their one-track dedication to their friends. Well, love is a strong word. I think I admire them and their resolve.
"And I was granted the one thing I've longed for by another person. A family. My older brother and older sister. I think you've seen them. They're the people I respect most in this world and… I want to be just like them. I want to be strong enough to protect what I have," Asia said.
"You know?" she continued. "I've always been taught that being selfish was a sin and that I had to give myself in service of others but… now that I have what I want. I never want to let it go. I want to protect what I have. After all, humans are inherently selfish so it's fine for me to be selfish every now and then, right?"
Asia turned around and gave Mori a bright smile.
Mori's eyes widened as Asia's image briefly overlapped with that of a violet-haired girl.
"Mori! I want to protect the happiness I have right now. As the Vajra of the Twelve Guardians, a disciple of Master Douman, I will do whatever it takes to protect the life I've been blessed with. Kiryu… Master…and you!"
"How odd of you. A priestess and an exorcist speaking in such a manner. Aren't you taught to surrender yourself in service of others?"
"It's the nature of man to be selfish. So it's fine, right? It's fine for me to be selfish every now and then."
"Mori?"
"Huh?" Mori shook her head and saw her Master looking at her oddly.
"Are you okay? You zoned out for a second there. Was my story boring?" Asia asked, smiling sheepishly at her.
Mori closed her eyes and smiled. She shook her head in response. "No, Master. I was merely recalling an old memory."
"An old memory?" Asia asked.
"An old friend of mine."
"Can you tell me more about them?" Asia asked.
"Maybe one day. You remind me of them. You two were both fools who wanted to keep what was yours. She always prattled on about how beautiful the world was and that what made it beautiful were the things we cherished," Mori said, picking a sakura petal off the ground.
"In the end… she lived and died by the ideals she followed. Her daughter followed in her footsteps as well," Mori said. "I think if you and her daughter met… you would have been very good friends."
"Really? I wish I could hear more but I guess this is a story for another time?" Asia asked.
Mori placed a hand on her chin and decided to indulge her. The girl had been honest with her thus far. It wouldn't hurt to talk about herself to her master.
"After that, we can try syncing again for the Mystic Gear," Asia added.
"Heh? Is the Mystic Gear more important to you than hearing my stories?" she teased.
"H- Wah! No! I want to hear more about Mori too!" Asia said, waving her arms frantically.
Mori let out a laugh at the sight of her master acting so childishly. "You're just like her… just like Akatsuki, ahahaha!"
"Akatsuki? Is that the name of your friend?" Asia asked.
"Mmm. She was just like you. She was a girl who had everything robbed from her. Her tale isn't a happy one but even amongst the misery she called her life, she found something to be grateful for. Akatsuki was a fool… but she was a fool who made the best of what she had and died protecting what she loved," Mori said.
"She sounds like a wonderful person," Asia said.
"She was. Which is why it makes me sad to see that… the land Akatsuki loved so much has become rife with petty conflicts and power plays," Mori said. "In the end, her legacy and memory has been twisted for the reasons and selfish goals of others."
Asia remained silent, mulling over Mori's words. She glanced at her and for a split second, Asia's image overlapped with that of a violet-haired woman.
Akatsuki… Mori smiled sadly.
"This land… perhaps you're…" Asia trailed off and banished the thought from her head. No, that's ridiculous, Asia. There's no way.
"Perhaps I'm what, Master?" Mori tilted her head and hovered in front of her master's confounded face.
"No, no, what you just said reminds me of an old legend in the village," Asia said, retracting her previous statement.
"Old legend?" the floating girl said.
Asia nodded.
"In this town, the town reveres a woman who has the same name as your friend. Akatsuki Furude. My adoptive family's ancestor and… well, she's also my ancestor via adoption," Asia said.
Mori remained silent and sat down on the log next to Asia.
"They say that Akatsuki died defending the village from an Evil Dragon named Moryo but from what I've read and been told, Moryo was the Shikigami and battle partner of Akatsuki Furude. The two traveled Japan and slew many demons while Akatsuki was under the apprenticeship of Ashiya Douman, the rival of Abe-no-Seimei," Asia said.
"Technically, that makes our clan a rival to the Five Clans, the adherents of Abe-no-Seimei, and rivals to the Tsuchimikado Clan, the descendants of Abe-no-Seimei," she continued.
"After the death of her husband, it was said that Akatsuki settled down here in this land and established a family with her daughter, Ouka Furude, and the children she rescued. With the power of the Evil Dragon on her side, Akatsuki defended this land and the children she raised. But in the end, because of jealousy of her growing power, the Evil Dragon-"
"Began to covet the power Akatsuki wielded. So, in an act of cold blood and jealousy, Moryo attempted to slay Akatsuki but failed, leaving her wounded in her home. She would then go on to rampage across Japan. She leveled mountains in a single blow, slew the greatest Youkai for her own amusement, and boiled the seas and lakes with a mere breath. In the end, Akatsuki Furude made the ultimate choice and slew the dragon she once called friend in the place where it all started. This valley and Mount Benizakura were all created by the Ama-Kakera-no-Ken," Mori finished.
"Y- You know this story?" Asia asked.
Mori nodded, smiling wistfully at the valley before them.
"I've heard it a few times over the countless centuries I've been alive," she said in a nostalgic yet sad tone. "Unfortunately, reality and fantasy don't coincide with one another. This legend has become nothing more than fuel for the growing vanity of this village and its residents…."
"You sound like you were actually there," Asia said, half-joking, half-probing her Shikigami for more answers.
Mori merely remained silent at her question. After a few seconds, she spoke up. "The greed and selfishness of others doesn't change with time. I've seen this village and the people within it twist and warp the dream of the person they revere so much.
"Reverence. Love. Kindness. All of it are just tools used by people to win over the hearts of others and in the end, rob them of it all," she said.
"Suzaku! Why!? What did I ever do to you!?"
"I've always hated you since the very beginning, Akatsuki. Our allegiances have nothing to do with this. This… This is personal…"
Mori closed her eyes before turning to Asia. "Be sparing with the faith and hope you feel for the people you live with now, Master. You don't know of the day when… they'll suddenly turn on you or sell you out."
Asia frowned at her statement. "Don't talk about my family like that. They're truly kind people. And I don't believe what you just said. I believe that people can truly be kind. There's hope out there for others even in a world like this."
She glared at Mori intensely, feeling a bubbling anger that she had normally never felt deep within her.
Mori looked into her master's eyes for a few seconds before turning away.
"I apologize for my crass words but I do hope you open your eyes soon, Master. Life is too short for us to make mistakes… and losing the people you care for is an agony worse than death," Mori said.
"Maybe you should take a leap and learn to trust people more. It will make your life better than it is right now," Asia said, poking at the grass with the stick she had found.
"I don't think Akatsuki would have wanted you to turn out this way…" she whispered the last part so that Mori couldn't hear her.
"Did you say something, Master?" Mori asked.
"Nothing. It looks like we won't get anywhere today regarding our Mystic Gear so luckily, I brought a backup," Asia said, pulling something out of her pocket.
There were several blank talismans in her hand along with a small brush and an ink case.
"Mmm?" Mori tilted her head slightly.
"I'm going to work on making some charms for use in the future. Then, after the festival, I might put in a request for a sword," she said.
"A sword?" Mori bristled at the thought of her Master using another weapon other than the one born from their Mystic Gear when she remembered that… she had yet to consent to a fusion of powers.
"I don't have a Mystic Gear and I can't overexert myself all the time making light weapons. I need something more permanent," Asia reasoned.
"You're going the extra mile just for them?" Moryo raised an eyebrow.
"I told you before, didn't I? I want to- no, I need to become stronger for their sakes and for mine. I'm going to be selfish with the one thing in this world that I've always wished for," Asia said.
"And I… I don't want to be the one being protected anymore. I want to protect them too… I want to catch up to the two people I admire most and stand by their side. Maybe you can call me insecure… about my place in this family." She looked up at Mori, a fire blazing within her emerald eyes.
You really are just like Akatsuki, she thought.
Mori stayed silent as her master began running her brush along the blank paper. The gentle caress of the summer forest breeze tickled their faces as the Master and Familiar sat in a tense, yet comfortable silence.
Yasuo sat in his office, enjoying a cup of tea. His eyes were closed yet his senses were scanning the entirety of his home. He could hear the footsteps of all the servants and the idle, unremarkable whispers of the members of his clan.
A presence appeared in his office, causing him to crack open an eye.
A cloaked figure kneeled in front of his desk. His face and body had no defining features due to being covered from head to toe. A tag with the kanji for "End" rested at the peak of his hood and covered his face.
"Leader, we await the order. Our forces are ready and waiting. Multiple Gates have been set up and ready to use in order to take the impure by surprise," the cloaked figure said.
"This better not be a repeat of what happened at Furude Manor. Honestly, those three were beaten back by the spawn of Akari and her husband. The product of impure blood. How embarrassing," Yasuo said.
"Sire?"
"Tell the others to await my command. Once the eve of the festival sets, we shall make our move. Our target and our final sacrifice shall be that wench in Furude Manor," Yasuo said.
"But Sire, there are barriers set up all over-"
"The barrier was erected by a Devil and a girl of impure blood. For pure-blooded descendants like us, such a barrier is mere child's play," he said, waving off the cultist's concerns.
The cultist clenched his jaw tightly, knowing full-well of the reputation that "girl of impure blood" had.
Nevertheless, he remained silent, lest the glorious sire be angered and he did not want to face this man's wrath.
The sheer killing intent and bloodlust this man radiated rivaled their desires for a pure and clean village.
"I understand, Sire," the man said.
"Then go and await my signal. May Divine Providence be granted unto thee by the Ancestor," Yasuo said.
"May Divine Providence be granted unto thee by the Ancestor," the man said.
A violet light appeared underneath him and he was swallowed by a vortex of black and violet smoke.
Yasuo stood from his chair and walked over to the window of his office, observing the village beyond. A twisted smile appeared on his face as images of the events he had planned flashed through them.
"Soon…" he mumbled.
We're nearing the end of this mini-arc for Azure. Pretty soon, within the next 4 or 5 chapters, we'll be returning to Kuoh and moving back on with the story. The second chapter will go up today a little later after this one. The updates will be the same. At least once a month... with the exception of this month because I just felt like publishing 2 chapters. That's what I'll try at least. I hope you all can understand. Well, remember to leave a review if you can.