Sasha awoke to the sound of birds, their music waking her from slumber. The light shined from the window and into Sasha's eyes. "Just how long have I been asleep?" Groaned Sasha as she got up, rubbing her eyes. Groggily Sasha looked about the room, and to no surprise, Yami was nowhere to be found but... was she in bed? Did Yami put her here? Yami didn't have to do that, but she appreciated the gesture.
Forcing herself out of bed, Sasha stood up before noticing the window was still open a little bit. The wind was barely noticeable as it slowly blew in. Sasha went over and closed the window shut, until looking down at her desk to see her own letter. Picking it up, Sasha scanned the letter to see if anything was done to it before turning it over.
"This will make us even." Read the words on the back, making a small smile form on Sasha's face.
It seemed everything was settled then, there was no reason left for her to keep pretending. Though her heart was heavy with fear, Sasha knew she had to now admit when the moment arrived. Though God had forgiven her, she still had to face trial.
Grabbing her cane, Sasha left her room and down the hall. Normally in the morning, the orphanage was live with activity. Children playing, doing their chores, or talking amongst themselves. She had wanted these children to become respected adults, so on some days, she'd try to give them some form of education. Education of course was not cheap, so Sasha chose to do it herself.
However, there were so many things she had to do on her own. That is why she assigned some of the children to assist her in certain tasks. Making her life easier, but also building their characters. And when she was gone to the place where she had her mamono children, the kids here would have more to do. But the children didn't seem to mind.
Though today was quiet, which was rather odd to Sasha. She was expecting at least some sort of yelp or child to suddenly walk out of their room. But nothing of the sort happened. Maybe all the children were all in on some sort of joke or prank.
As she went down the stairs, however, Sasha's theory was proven wrong. Drinking from a cup of tea, Commander Capri sat there. His face looked young and strangely familiar with bags underneath his eyes, "Hello Sasha, was wondering when you would come down."
"Commander Capri, what a...pleasant surprise. Apologize, I didn't recognize you at first. Up until now, I had yet to see your face," Spoke Sasha as she reluctantly sat down on the other side of the table Capri was at. As Capri took another sip of the tea, Sasha noticed the children up at the wall. They all had a nervous look at them.
"It is you I will have to apologize to. I have not had much rest, and these children were giving me a headache. So I convinced them to stay still and be quiet. I hope you understand," As Capri finished his sentence, Sasha now noticed the two men who were with him before at the front door. Capri took a long sip, finishing his cup of hot tea, "So, may I ask. What was it that you wanted to tell me?"
Taking in a deep breath, trying her hardest to remain composed, Sasha spoke, "Before I do, do your words and the words of those two men still hold today?"
"Of course."
"Very well. The trust is..." Sasha paused as she started to doubt herself again. Now she was beginning to wonder if Yami was actually going to save those children. She was wondering if she had perhaps misplaced her faith. Or should she really be doing this?
"Is it?" Spoke up Capri, taking Sasha out of her thoughts just like yesterday.
What was she thinking? She had to do this, for all the harm she has done. "The truth is that I helped the monsters. I...am the traitor."
Silence, that was all Sasha got in response. She could not only feel the daggers from Capri's eyes but also the two men. The two men unsheathed their blades, but Capri stopped them with a raise of his hand as he rose from the chair, "Is there anything else you wish to tell us?"
Getting up as well to look Capri dead in the eyes, Sasha replied, "Yes, deep in the forest I have been taking care of countless monster children. I also have saved the lives of monsters who were scheduled for execution."
"But why are you telling us this? If you truly are a traitor, then it makes no sense that you do this?"
"Because I have learned the errors of my ways! I thought that the order was enacting unjust hatred and harm towards monsters. But as God left me, punished me by placing me in this condition, seeing the effects that my actions did to innocent lives, and seeing what 'love' is to the monsters... I cannot bear this guilt anymore! I know now God has forgiven me, but I still must face trial!"
Disbelief was all over Capri's face, like a child who sees someone's true nature. In fact, he didn't immediately respond and had her killed on the spot. Within Lescete it was normal that the Order does that. But this man was not from Lescete, Capri was from a different state, a different part of the Order. "I see... Men, get a squad and search the forest."
One of the two men spoke up, "But sir, what about you-"
"I gave you an order!" Yelled Capri, interrupted them. Not wanting to risk punishment for disobeying a superior officer, the two men left quickly. Leave Sasha and the children alone with Capri. Slowly Capri looked at Sasha as a cold sweat went down her forehead, "You will face trial at Eleries, but not here."
Turning away from Sasha, Capri began to leave. As his hand reached the handle, Capri stopped and looked at Sasha, "When the order army arrives, you will be brought to Eleris. Until then you will be under watch and under house arrest"
And just like that, Capri left. Though at this point, she'd assume that they were going to put her under house arrest. Even still, Sasha could tell the man was being merciful. He could have killed her then and there, the Order would have been fine with that. Or he could have had her face trial here at Lescete, but that would be suicide since she was the cause of all their problems at this point. But he didn't, and he had given her time to prepare.
Just why was he so merciful to her? Yes, she had asked him to give Sasha their word, but, but it felt as though there was some other reason behind it.
Who was this Capri really?
(-)
The forest was surprisingly dark and dense, filled to the brim with all sorts of plant life. Whenever there wasn't a tree, there was a bush or a root sticking out. Indeed it was no surprise to Yami that the Order was not able to find Sasha's mamono children. In fact, if it wasn't for Sasha giving her some form of direction, she herself probably would have gotten lost in this part of the forest.
There was one thing Yami could not understand though. Why was Sasha turning herself in? Yes, Sasha gave her an explanation, but was that really it? How could you betray those you swore to serve, and then turn yourself in for betraying them? It made no actual sense to her.
Passing by a white stone with a pair of wings drawn on it, Yami knew she was still on the right track. Eventually, after following many white stones, Yami made it to a clearing in the forest.
Scanning the clearing, Yami spotted a cottage in the center with strange structures near it. "Hey...some help...please..." Came a weak voice, causing Yami to notice three men tied to a tree next to her. All of them looked to be on the edge of death, appearing worryingly thin. Yami could see the ribs of the thinnest one of the three. "Idiot... she's one of them monsters...look at her tail…." Spoke one of the men.
"Who did this to you and why?" Coldly asked Yami, towering over the three.
The one in the middle looked up at her, "It was some sort of monster, not you whores, Nah, it was one of the real ones. Tied us up and left us here for dead. Those disgusting kids haven't freed us, fed us, or anything for that matter. The only thing we get is water, and that's from the rain."
That made Yami curious. There was only one creature that she knew could be described as a monster of old. She needed answers, "Explain, what did the monster look like?"
The man bit his lip as if trying to think of how to describe the monster, "It looked like a giant. Had this HUGE beard and a red cloak thing on it. It smelled bloody awful too, like a rotting corpse."
Now Yami's suspicions were almost confirmed at this, but why did they spare these three? The only person she had known until now that was spared was herself, and that was only because he swore not to kill her, "What were you doing?"
"Well, ya see-"
Yami pulled out a steel dagger and placed it on the man's throat, which caught him by surprise since he probably expected the usual demonic steel, "I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to him at the back. He hasn't said anything," Spoke Yami, gesturing towards the tied-up man to the right.
"He's mute," Spoke up the man at the left side, drawing Yami's attention to them. Her eyes bearing the knives that could kill.
"I see, then you answer."
A nervous expression appeared on the man, Yami noticed his breathing began to get an increase in pace, "Uhh...well... we were gonna...just have a bit of fun. Till that monster ruined it all."
"With who?" Asked Yami. The human did not reply, not able to flat out say his intentions," I guess there is no reason to free you three then. Goodbye." With that Yami walked on by, deciding to leave the three to whatever fate had in store for them.
One of the men yelled in desperation, "Wa- Wait!" But it was too late. Yami was already a good distance away and was fully ignoring their cries for help.
As she walked to the cottage, Yami wondered what the strange structures nearby were. Eventually, the urge became too great as she went to check one of them. It was some board with chains on the sides, which were connected to a metal pole. Suddenly Yami heard something behind her and turned sharply, her hand tightening around one of her daggers.
However, it was a dragon mamono child, looking at her with golden eyes. Yami exhaled as she realized she almost attacked a child. Thank Hel that she didn't though. "It's called a swing." Spoke the child.
"Oh? Never heard of it." Replied Yami. It was the truth, where she was from such things never existed. Their time as kunoichi since the moment they could walk and talk was training. Breaks and spending time, and having fun were always brief and short for young kunoichi. Most of their free time however was usually with family, which was part of the reason why kunoichi siblings were always so closely attached to each other. It was only when a kunoichi returned to a husband did their training become optional, as they then had to focus on procuring children and raising a family while also being a good wife. As for actual missions, married kunoichi rarely went out, usually acting as backup or support for another kunoichi.
As for the one who trained them, that was the leader's responsibility who was like a second mother to them. The girl gave a confused look at Yami, "Never heard of a swing? Not even a slide for kids like us? What part of the world are you from?"
"Not here, that is for certain." Grunted Yami.
Briefly, Yami forgot why she was there as she stared at the swing. Wondering how much of her life was wasted in order to have a husband. How much of her childhood was spent on training. The child however reminded her, "Why are you here?"
Turning to look at the child, Yami replied, "Sasha Fullmoon has sent me, you and the other children are to follow me."
The child thought for a moment, giving a hard look at Yami as if unsure. Eventually, the child spoke up in a cheerful manner, "Well, if Mistress Sasha trusts you I guess I can trust you. Be right back!" The dragon mamono ran off into the cottage as Yami stood there, slowly reverting her attention to the swing.
From where she was, Yami could hear the children. Talking among themselves before suddenly she heard a series of footsteps behind her, "Alright, we are ready!" Yelled the dragon mamono.
Yami looked at each of the children. Each of them with a look of uncertainty, but Yami knew they had to leave. Or at the very least she needed to repay Sasha for the kindness she had done, "Good, now stay quiet and follow me. This will be a long journey, and we must hurry. Now come."
With that, the mamono followed Yami. Leaving the place they knew for their entire life and entering a whole new world for them.
(-)
Corpses, rotting corpses, and ruined ships. That was all Gael could see across the beach. It was as if there were two oceans before him with one being of water, and the other an ocean of death. Not to mention the crows, all of them consuming and eating away at the dead bodies. But the one thing that made him feel off was that they all stared at him when he passed by.
They didn't fly away, instead, they would stop eating and turn to face him. Gael tried to ignore it all, looking straight ahead and walking by. But then he could feel their eyes, the eyes of the corpses looking at him. All of them asked him, "Why?" But he ignored them. Death was common, there was no reason for him to feel guilt at this.
There was nothing to suggest that he did this. But then...he saw it, something that broke him. A small child... a dead baby wrapped around the arms of their deceased mother who was leaning up against a wrecked ship. When he looked at them, his mind began to flash with memories. He remembered the days when there was no war to fight when he was an executioner. Those who were heretics declared by the way of white, they were innocent. They... There were even some days where there were children... he had to kill, as they looked up at him with a face of confusion. "No... I don't want to remember..." Uttered Gael.
More memories flashed, back in the days of the first war. They and a group of slave knights killed a dragon, and all that was left were their eggs. But they hatched before they could destroy the eggs...and they thought Gael was their mother. But he had his orders, and he had to kill them there and then.
"What do you want!?" Yelled Gael in his mind, falling to his knees.
Then another memory. When he was known as the Red Hood. He remembered... slaughtering children. It was the dark forcing him it couldn't have been him... He was just doing what he thought was right, that it was for the greater good, that in the end, the world would be a better place. It was the dark's fault... not his! It was never his fault! He never had a choice! There was nothing he could have done! Then the courpse of the mother looked up at him, her dead eyes staring into his soul. She uttered one single word, "Lies."
Gael grunted as more memories flashed, before seeing not only the woman and the child disappear, but the crows as well. Even the bits of flesh the crows ripped off the corpses were back where they were. All was silent, all but for the sound of the waters and the wind.
A small tear ran down Gael's face. Was this what the woman wanted? For him to see his consequences? And was... and was he becoming the same monster again? No, was he becoming something far worse? Then he understood another part of the woman's words. He had always been a tool for death. Not once in his whole life, was he able to make a choice. Not once, save for his lady. But the Dark...
If the Dark had hold of him again, the lives lost would be too many. He couldn't let them take over again, though yes they were not giving him their power. He knew they were there, watching, and waiting. He had to cross the sea, and see this journey that was given to him to the end.
Rising to his feet, Gael bowed a little to where the body once was. Gael had to cross the sea, but he didn't have a boat. And there was another problem. He had no experience in travelling the sea.
Well, that was not completely true. He had been on a boat before, but only as cargo. And so Gael began to search again. This time careful not to accidentally defile or ruin the bodies. Then he heard it, the voice of a man. "Well Petre, you've just got the best 'luck' in the world."
Scanning across the area and listening hard, Gael eventually pinpointed the area he heard them. As he got closer to the sound, he noticed a ship that looked in far better condition than the other ships on the beach. In fact, it looked to have no damage at all, save for it being on the ground. In front of the boat was a man, leaning up against it and drinking a bottle.
Keeping his distance, Gael listened in.
(-)
Petre took another chug of his wine, its disgusting contents going down his throat, before raising the bottle up to the sky. "'Thank you' so much Bacchus, for getting me dependant on this trash!" Spoke Petre, throwing his bottle at a nearby rock and shattering the bottle into pieces.
These past few days, was just 'perfect'. First, they ran aground, but then a bunch of those mersharks snatched at least half of the crew. Then a horde of cancers and merrows came by and seduced the rest of the crew, right after they finished repairing the ship too. Which just left him, and none of those ocean whores were going after him for some reason, thankfuly.
He could guess why, but it was not that he wanted those monsters to come for him. "Blessing," Scoffed Petre, as if being dependent on alcohol was a blessing, even when you wanted to be free of the stuff. Though, he could try and go through the forest. But, he was NOT going to test that. Petre was in monster territory, and if he took a step in that forest, he'd for sure be snatched up.
So Petre was stuck here on the beach, with no way to go. "If only I had a crew to push this ship out, at least I'd be able to get out of here," Muttered Petre as he slouched. Guess he'll die here, or well, Nah. They'd come for him and take him to a bar or something. They wouldn't let their drinking buddy die here. Though deep down he wished he did just die. At least he'd get away from them.
Suddenly Petre felt something, sensed something. Something that only one word could fill his mind to explain it, death. Looking up at Petre, standing in front of him. A nine-foot-tall giant, with bloody armour and a bloody sword. Their hood hiding their face. They looked like some sort of glorified executioner to him. "So... have you come to end me? To take me away from this mortal realm?" Asked Petre, a smile on his face.
The giant didn't say anything though, it instead just looked at him. Or at least he thought it was looking at him. Eventually, it spoke, "Can you ride a boat?" Asked the giant to Petre's surprise. He wasn't expecting that sort of question.
Petre scoffed, "Yeah, though I kinda am stuck here though," He patted his hand on the boat behind it, "Can't do it since this boat is stuck in the ground. Had a crew who could have pushed it out but, heh, they left."
Once again the giant said nothing, merely giving him a blank stare. It was getting awkward as the wind blew by until it decided to speak again, "Will you ride this boat?"
"Well, if I could I would. The boat is kinda stuck as I've said before." Replied Petre.
Again, silence. The giant just looked at him. Was it trying to decide what to do with him? If he was worth its time. Then the thing bent down a little as if trying to look at him eye to eye, "Why do you not run from me, or fear me?" It sounded curious like it wasn't used to anyone actually not scared of them in the slightest.
Petre pulled over a case of wine that was up against the boat, "Look, I've seen stuff ok. You are a first for me, but I'm no stranger to the unusual or the otherworldly for that matter."
The giant turned and walked towards the rear end of the boat. Putting their blade down, the giant placed both hands on the boat, "Get on the boat."
He sighed. What was this giant thinking? Petre looked about, weighing his options. 'Drown' in the sea and possibly get raped, or go to the forest and possibly raped, or did what the giant was telling him to do. Kinda obvious now that he thought about it, besides, either way, she was going to find him, "Fine, I'll bite." Getting up and climbing onto the boat, Petre left behind the case of wine. There was more in the ship anyway.
Petre didn't think the giant had the strength to push the boat, it was a decently sized vessel for trading across the oceans. His belief was proven true that the giant wouldn't be able to push the boat...that is for about 5 seconds. With a loud grunt, it pushed the boat into the ocean. "Hey! How are you supposed to get in the boat- '' The giant disappeared and Petre backed up before bumping into the giant behind him.
"Is there any land beyond this ocean?" Spoke the giant suddenly.
Petre calmed down, guessing the giant somehow used teleportation magic without him seeing it. "Yeah, Zipangu, a small island country. Though to be honest with you, I only know a bit of their culture and language but that's it."
The giant turned away from Petre and looked towards the horizon, "Take me there then."
"Well," He scratched the back of his head, "got nothing better to do," Petre went up to the wheel of the ship, "to Zipangu!"
As the boat began to head towards Zipangu, Poseidon was still watching. At this point, she would have attacked the Red Hooded beast. But that man, Petre, just made things more complicated for her. She'd have to think of a solution fast.