The crowd was silent, each spectator staring in awe as their faces were filled with astonishment at what had just happened. At the center of the ruined arena, standing with many wounds and whose both ragged and torn black kemono were stained red. This, man? Could these people even call him a man? This being was standing in victory, the tips of its two katanas dripping with blood, as a lone ryu laid on the ground beaten; her eyes missing while red liquid seeped out from them.
"I- I can't believe it!" Yelled the narrator after having recovered himself from shock, "This man- No, this legend has done the impossible! For the first time in Zipangu history, someone other than Lady Suijin herself holds the title of Zipangu's strongest! For the first time, the Watchful Goddess of the heavens has been defeated! What is your name, stranger!?"
The man gave a painful smile, a smile that was of both joy and grief, and raised his two bloody katanas in the air before weakly muttering something he thought he'd never be allowed to utter again. " Kōro."
...
...
...
Kōro puffed out another breath of smoke from his buyōkiseru; giving the same painful smile from those years ago and blankly staring at the ancient seal ring on his hand. It was a small thing, a bronze-colored ring with the engraving of a tree, yet it was the most important thing in the entire continent of Zipangu, if not greater. It was the key to the mountain itself, and it was worth more than he ever would be. And despite the amount of trials and pains he had undergone while upholding his honor, Kōro still questioned if he was truly fit to have it.
And though sometimes Kōro would like to believe otherwise, it was in the end ultimately because of honor that he lived, it was only because of honor that he was exiled, It was only because of honor that he became Zipangu's strongest, it was only because of honor he could return home with his name regiven to him, it was only because of honor that he was made the leader of the Kurogane clan, It was because of honor he could not leave this mountain, and it was only because of honor that he held this ring. This key.
"Kōro? Ah, there you are." Spoke up to his wife Masume who walked up beside him; her voice and presence still peaceful and gentle since the day they met, "Why am I not surprised? You are always somewhere in thought, staring at something while you smoke that metal pipe of yours. Especially after a long day of hard work."
Kurogane Kōro's painful smile grew softer and happier as he averted his gaze from the ring to his wife. With his free hand, Kōro grabbed hers and stared her in the eyes saying, "I still don't understand you."
"What do you mean?" Masume responded with a smile.
"Why me? Someone who is cursed so that he cannot produce an heir? Someone who cannot continue his bloodline? When all of my harem left me when my curse was discovered, you stayed. Why?"
Masume chuckled a bit upon recognizing the question, "Oh this question. How many times have you asked me this? My answer is still the same. There is more to life or love than having children or 'that' type of love. After all, what would we gain if we cared about nothing but those two things?"
"I know, I just... My father, despite his faults, at least left something behind. Whether it be one illegitimate child, two mamon children, me, or a clan in ruins, or the ancient texts of our teachings in the hands of a mamono. But if I die, I won't leave behind anything. All I've done was take a title by force and prevent a clan from falling."
"Really? What of your brother? He would still have been living as another low-ranked soldier in your army if you hadn't sought him out and put him under your wing."
"Hm. Why are you here anyway?"
"I just wanted to see how you were holding up. Especially when it comes to your duties in this time of war."
"Sir, Sir!" Suddenly interrupting their conversation a messenger came running up the long flight of stairs to them; their clothes drenched with sweat yet their body shivering from the cold of the mountain.
His smile faded, the tone of Kōro's voice changed from calm to that of a leader, "What is it?"
"I," The messenger stopped; gasping for breath as he leaned onto his legs for support, "I come bringing a report of a giant in our lands."
"Sorry, a giant?" Asked Masume who turned to look at the messenger.
"Yes, a red hooded giant holding a broken sword the size of a man. Its cape seemed to have been covered with skulls and it was carrying a body." Kōro replied.
"Thank you for this information... make sure that word of this does not spread." Responded Kōro blankly, his hand letting go of Masume's as his expression grew dark; his eyes empty as if the life had been sapped from them.
Kōro turned around and began to head to the palace before gesturing to a servant who was waiting at the door. Quickly the servant hurried over and took the buyōkiseru as Kōro handed it to them. "What is it Kōro?'' asked Masume.
"I- I need to be alone for a moment, there's... something I need to do." And with that, Kōro went into the palace as both Masume and the messenger were wondering what had gotten into Kōro.
(-)
Gael trudged through another forest with his hands full; making him feel like some sort of pack-a-mule. Even still as he walked hastily, Gael could still feel the toxic poison flowing through his bod and burning his insides, but also Gael could swear he felt someone watching him. However it was not Gael himself he was concerned about, It was Petre.
Glancing over his shoulder, Gael could still see Petre was breathing; but now his veins had turned to a darkish green color. He had seen similar effects before, similar effects on those who were not undead like him yet were poisoned by the toxins of his world. Just how did these people have access to such a thing? Not only that, they had an abundant supply of it to have coated all those traps with them. Who were these people, and where was he really?
No matter, Petre was still in danger and Gael needed to keep going, even if he had already been searching for hours at this. Gael could die from the toxin, but he knew he would be revived. Petre on the other hand was not so lucky. In fact, it was a miracle that Petre was still alive.
"Excuse me," Suddenly came an elderly voice, causing Gael to stop dead in his tracks, slowly looking to his right towards the origin of the voice. Right beside Gael, staring straight up at him without any fear, was an old woman dressed in torn a white gown. She must have been very old, for it looked as though even her wrinkles had wrinkles but despite that, her hair was pure black, "Do you need help?"
"Who is it?" Croaked Petre.
Gael turned his head to look at Petre, "Someone who might help us." looking back, Gael then asked, "Yes, my friend is poisoned."
The old lady's expression became that of concern, despite of of the terrifying giant before her, "Hmm let me take a look at him." Complying, Gael put the boxes and his sword on the ground and gently placed Petre on the ground. Slowly making her way, the old lady kneeled and examined Petre. In only a few short seconds the lady seemed to figure out what was specifically wrong and pulled a small bag from... somewhere, Gael could not see from where she even pulled the bag from, "Seems you two got in some of those traps. Don't worry, I have just the thing."
Eventually after searching through the bag, the old woman pulled out something Gael was surprised to see. A blooming purple moss clump, still fresh and covered with white flowers at the top. Just how did such an item exist in this world when Gael had yet to see any of it anywhere till just now?
The old woman, either due to her seemingly caring nature or because of her body being too decrepit to have any real strength, was gentle and lifted Petre's back as she held the moss in front of Petre. "Eat." said the elder. Groaning Petre grabbed the moss and ate it, and gagged a little as he swallowed the moss.
Instantly Petre's veins returned to their normal color. "What was that?" Asked Petre, groaning in pain as the toxin began leaving his body.
"I believe your friend here would call it, 'Blooming purple moss clump'. It's rare but its the only thing that can undo that terrible poison in your system. Speaking of which." The lady turned to Gael and pulled out another one, "Here, I know you won't need it in the long run. But please, take it."
Just who was this lady? That was what Gael kept questioning in his mind, then as if reading his thoughts the women said, "Questions later. Take it." Gael was dumbfounded, his mind now even more concerned as to who this old lady was, but even as he stilled questioned in his mind what was happening, Gael took the moss clump and eat it; the toxin immediately leaving his body upon consumption, "Good, this way please."
The old lady got up and began heading off the road and headed into the woods. It was at this point Gael noticed the woman's feet were bare and yet did not appear to be damaged or callused in anyway. Petre got up and stared with confusion alongside Gael at the old woman before both followed; Petre picking up the boxes and Gael picking his sword up.
After a bit of walking uphill and through thick trees, they arrived at a very small clearing with a worn down shed at the far end of it; partly overgrown by plant life with a small unlit bonfire in front of it. The woman continued to talk as she walked on, "A long time ago, a boy came down from the mountain. He was terribly scared with some nasty wounds and, from what I could tell, had been disowned. I was not supposed to help him, but I did. I made him believe he found this place on his own. And I gave him food and water, though of course again, I made sure he thought he found it on his own."
"Where is this boy now?" Asked Petre.
The woman chuckled a little, but not of that of happiness, no it was more of a pity laugh, "Do not worry, you will meet him soon someday. Now rest here, this place is yours for as long as you need it. And if you are wondering, it's nicer inside, you can go for look for yourself."
Petre headed for the door of the shed while placing both the boxes at the bonfire, "I think I will if you don't mind."
The woman didn't say anything, that is until Petre entered the shed; leaving Gael and the old lady alone. Looking towards Gael she said, "It is good to see you. I-... We have waited so long for you to awake, and for Father to return, though I see he is busy at the moment." The old lady hobbled towards the bonfire and lit it with a flick of her wrist, "Nonetheless, for eons he has suffered in the mountain; unable to escape," The lady looked back at Gael, "And now you, Father, and that man are here, the only ones who can free him. The only ones who can end his suffering."
"Who is 'We'?" Asked Gael but the woman interrupted him and kept going.
"I know that if you enter that mountain, my sisters and Father will have their revenge. But, I- I cannot stand to see him suffer so. That is why I ask of you, that when you enter the mountain, to end his misery."
Gael asked again but this time verbally instead of in his mind, "Who are you?"
The lady's smile grew a little, her pitch black teeth showing a little and her face somewhat familiar to Gael somehow, as if he knew her, "I am Alsanna, or at least, what remains of her spirit." And then in a twinkling of an eye, she was gone; as if she never existed.
Exiting the shed, Petre had a grin, "She wasn't wrong, it's pretty nice in there. Though I don't know if... you... could fit. Where is she?"
Alsanna. The name sounded familiar but from where? Gael was certain he never heard the name nor seen them in person, yet everything about her felt familiar. As if she was family, or... a piece of him? Just who was she talking about, and who was this 'Father' she referred to? What had he gotten himself into by coming here? Gael didn't say anything to Petre.
For the first time in Gael's memory, he felt cold, and not even the painted world could do that. What did this all mean?
(-)
The cannons were roaring, spell walls rose and fell, arrows flew, stone was cracked, and bodies fell like sand from an hourglass. This was what the battle for Fort Torii had transformed into; the walls of the fort itself, barely standing.
Meanwhile at the center of the fort at its highest point of its seven-story tall Tenshu, Lord Hacchiman Tokuri watch; bow and arrow in hand. Tokuri scowled as he aimed another arrow and fired, taking down another enemy canon in a fiery explosion. The enemy had returned once again, but for some reason their resolve was even greater than before. Why was that? What were they plotting?
"Is there any sign of the general yet?" Asked Tokuri as he aimed another arrow yet again.
"No sign yet sir." Responded his second in command.
Tokuri's scowl grew deeper, this was not good. Yes they would win this battle at the current way things were going, but that could change any moment especially with the walls now barely standing and his mages exhausted from constantly forming barriers. Something similar could be said about the enemy as well. And if he or the enemy were to get reinforcements, it would make it near impossible for the other side to win.
As Tokuri thought about this, he realized something. They had not received any word from anyone since last night, and with how fast their messengers were, this meant only one thing. And that thing was confirmed with the sound of two distinct horns. One deep and the other high-pitched.
From the horizon, two banners rose from both ends of the Mozo clan forces. One banner, a crest depicting golden sun carried by the claws of an owl, the Kogazen clan. And the other banner, a crest depicting that of a rose, the Ō-Inari clan. "What!? When did the-"
Tokuri interrupted his servant quickly after the Lord fired his next arrow, "It is clear as to what has happened, the Ō-Inari have managed to block us off from all forms of communication. And therefore the enemy has gained a foothold within our lands."
"What do we do then sir?"
Tokuri looked at his second command, "Prepare the order to retreat," Then as Tokuri glanced back at the battle below and drew another arrow, Tokuri continued; stopping his second in command from asking before he even had the chance to, "We will stand guard until those walls fall, and our inner defenses breach. Any further will mean wasted lives. So until then, we will hold."
(-)
The machine's vision lit up, countless numbers and letters appearing in its eyes, giving it its current commands which were only to follow the orders of its current master. However despite it being at a hundred percent power, the machine could not see anything, but it detected noise. Noise of men and mamono screaming in pain, cannons firing, and other noises.
Then the machine realized why its vision was blocked as cloth was removed from it; causing it to see the battle field that was approximately a mile from it. In the corners of its eyes, its current master, who was designated as Kogazen Masato, spoke, "Destroy the fort, leave nothing remaining. And, make sure the leader of the Fort's defenders, Hachiman Tokuri, is dead."
At those words, new orders appeared in its vision stating, "Destroy the fort and kill the target designated as Hachiman Tokuri."
With no hesitation, the machine powered up and flew toward the fort at maximum speed; transforming its hand into a spear and pointing it straight at the walls.
(-)
Tokrui continued to give commands atop the Tenshu, and all the while the enemy at long last managed to start climbing the walls; the onslaught of cannons and arrows finally calmed down enough for them to somewhat safely approach. But still many of the invaders who approached the walls were slain.
However as Tokuri watched, the walls that were there a moment ago suddenly burst in a flash of orange light. And just like that the wall became nothing but falling rubble, crushing those within or standing atop the walls; the stone uncaring of who it crushed.
When all the stone fell to the earth, it still acted as a wall. But now, save the archers who were stationed at the nearby buildings inside the fort, his archers were now blind; unable to see their target. This was just the enemy needed to gain ground as they started to either blow holes into the rubble with cannons or climb over the steaming pile of rock. All the while, Tokuri saw hovering above the ruined wall, a strange metallic creature. A creature that seemed to be made of both man and false divine, a thing that was a demonic monstrosity to him.
Meanwhile, the invaders had gotten past the rubble and though they were being shot down by his archers, the invaders did not stop their march. Quickly the Kurogane lord fired a great arrow directly at the machine, but it did nothing; the arrow hitting a some sort of force field that revealed itself for a brief moment when it blocked his attack. The machine's single golden eye turned and looked directly at him; its right hand transforming into a spear.
Hacchiman Tokuri knew a challenge when he saw one, and with how powerful that thing was, Tokuri had no choice but to accept. Slowly Tokuri turned and headed for the stairs while telling his second in command, "On my mark, give the word to retreat."
As Tokuri descended the stairs inside the Tenshu, he stopped dead in his tracks; his nose picking up an odd scent in the air. It was the scent of something corruptive. The scent of demonic energy, and it was all around him. Most warriors who used a bow as their main weapon had a sword for their sidearm, Tokuri on the other hand was not like most warriors. Cautiously, Tokuri pulled out one of the great arrows, and held it like a sword.
Commonly arrows were too small to be used as a main weapon, but great arrows were different just like he was. They were made entirely of metal, and they were both thick, long, and sharp enough to be used as a weapon with enough strength and skill. In a flash, Tokuri looked directly up to see a kunoichi staring right back at him.
Wasting no time, Tokuri lept in the air and lodged the great arrow through the konoichi's head into the wall; lodging the body to the roof. Meanwhile Tokuri's sudden jump allowed him to avoid a blow of another kunoichi who had lunged towards where he had been. The Konoichi didn't have time to know what hit them as Tokuri grabbed another Great arrow and threw it straight down; lodging the kunoichi's corpse into the floor similar to her sister.
But the ambush was not over, for two other kunoichi appeared, running towards him from both ends of the stairs. Tokuri only smiled a sadistic grin. Was this their best? Mid-fall, Tokuri pulled out both the great arrows that were lodged in both bodies and then simultaneously blocked the kunoichi's attacks before slicing both of their necks.
And with that, Tokuri gave a look of satisfaction as he landed, before the body of the kunoichi above him fell atop him. The Lord growled a little after dropping the body to the floor. No doubt these kunoichis were from the Ō-Inari, this was their handy work all over.
Regaining focus Tokuri stopped staring at the corpses and kept heading down the steps. He had to keep going.
...
...
...
Rushing out of the Tenshu at long last Tokuri saw the battlefield raging on directly in front of him; the inner walls now being bombarded with attacks. But that was not was Tokuri was here for. As if it was expecting him the demonic robot flew directly through the inner walls, destroying the wall and was once again staring toward him with its one singular eye.
Tokuri could almost feel his heart race as he stared at the machine. One might think he was feeling love, since he never loved anyone, but this was not that. No it was an anticipation of a hard-fought battle. He remembered those words long ago now, those words he told his brother as to why he wore his mask, 'to fight a demon, I must become one.' and Tokuri would continue to do just that; reaching for his bearded oni mask and putting in front of his face before drawing his bow and arrow.
With on breathe Tokuri focused. With one breath he drew the string of his bow back. With one breath, the machine charged straight for him; tearing the earth beneath it as it rushed forward. And with one breath, Tokuri leapt over the robot and fired downward. But as expected the magical shield that he saw surrounded it before it blocked the arrow.
Seems this fight would not go well in Tokuri's favor. So as he landed the noble aimed his bow upward and fired before the machine was able to turn around. In an instant, the arrow burst into a flash of multiple colors; like the fireworks at festivals. "PULL BACK!" Echoed the voice of Tokuri's second-in-command at the Tenshu with bells now ringing erratically.
"Let's see how long we can dance, abomination," Growled Tokuri. All Tokuri needed was to get through the gaps he could faintly see within that machine's shield. No doubt it was fragile within and unable to take any real damage. Suddenly the machine began moving again before Tokuri could take another breath, its weapon drawn and its point was headed for him.
He had to block, but not yet... not yet... Now! Drawing a great arrow to block the attack, the machine pushed against him, ramming him through the base of the Tenshu. A normal man would have felt his ribs break, but through the teachings that Kōro had given him and his own body's training, Tokuri absorbed the pain.
Bursting from the other side of the Tenshu, the machine seemed frustrated to Tokuri as it began to swing directly at his great arrow; bashing it again and again until forcefully knocking it out of his hands and into the air. But the machine didn't know that's what Tokuri wanted.
As if it came naturally Tokuri used his bow to knock down the spear and then swiftly reached with his off hand another great arrow; quickly thrusting it forward and ramming it into the shield, but barely missing the gap. But Tokuri was not done. With a deep breath, Tokuri focused. His mind, soul, and body becoming one with the mana in the atmosphere around him. And by doing so, he reached for the great arrow that the machine knocked into the air, and threw it straight down at the humanoid of steel.
But still he missed, the great arrow ramming into the shield instead of going through the cracks. The machine was not amused at the slightest by Tokuri's attempt and quickly recovered before thrusting its shield; piecing his armor and through his body. Then with its other hand, the robot fired a beam of energy and therefore ripped the lord off the spear and into a nearby building in the process; turning it into rubble as it crumbled down on Tokuri.
The machine watched as the rubble fell, it watched as the dust cleared. And there was nothing but a destroyed building. "No life signs detected, moving on to the remaining objective: Destroy Fort Torii."
...
...
...
"I can't do it," Cried out a young and clean shaven Tokuri, his head low and looking to the ground at his bow in defeat, "I will never master this technique. I'm only half of noble blood, I'm not meant to be able to use it!"
Tokuri couldn't do it, he just couldn't. For a month now he had done everything and his lungs burned like hot coals. And yet he had made no progress, no success. He wasn't fit to be of noble blood, he wasn't fit to use the Kurogane royal technique. He was doomed to always be just another face in his brother's army.
But then a gentle yet masculine voice came, "Who said blood had anything to do with this?" Two heavily scarred feet appeared in Tokuri's vision before a scarred hand reached down and picked up his bow, "Here, watch me."
Watch him? What good would that do? He's only used a sword. "But, you've never used a bow," said the young Tokuri, looking up to his older brother, his only remaining family member. And the only one who right now seemed like the closest thing of a father to him
Slowly, his brother drew the bow in novice fashion; a thing which was notable even to an average archer like him. But his brother didn't seem to mind or notice how bad of a job he was doing at pulling the bow back, "As I said, watch me."
Then as his brother released the bow, the arrow went flying while also turning impossible turns and hitting each and every target one by one. Not only that, but said targets were outright disintegrated by the mana that surrounded the arrow's tip. Then after all the targets were destroyed, the arrow landed right in front of Kōro as he said with a smile, "Now just imagine what you can achieve with this. You'd become the greatest archer in the world. Who knows, you may one day not even need to use a bow one day."
Tokuri was confused. How could a novice with the bow like his brother do such a shot? It made no sense, even with what his brother was telling him, "What do you mean?"
His brother continued to smile, "Our technique allows us to interact with the mana around us and within us. So just imagine, a bow made of pure mana, of pure energy. What a powerful bow that would be, stronger than even a great bow made of divine steel. But until that day arrives, remember..."
...
...
Tokuri groaned, rising and stumbling out of the rib; ignoring the bleeding wound in his chest and his broken bones. He would not fall... not yet, not when he could still take that thing down. Limping away from the destroyed building, Tokuri kept his face down; his eyes half open as he barely kept consciousness.
Then as Tokuri felt his foot hit something, he stopped and looked to see what it was. Raising his foot, Tokuri slowly lifted a great arrow of his, probably one of the two he tried to use in his last attack. Then looking at his bow, Tokuri pulled a great arrow from his quiver but not the arrow on the ground. Then drawing his bow he yelled, "I'M NOT DEAD YET YOU ABOMINATION!"
Instantly after it destroyed another building, the Machine's head did a full one eighty-degree turn and glared at him as the rest of its body caught up; each piece turning on its own to face Tokuri.
Tokuri did not fire though, no he held the arrow back in place. Even as a bright glow began to resonate behind the robot, Tokuri held. Then like lightning, the machine rushed toward him; most likely hoping to put him down for good. But even as it rushed toward Tokuri, he did not fire.
As the machine got closer, Tokuri's life began to fade into his mind as he heard Kōro's words from long ago. The tip of the machine's spear was now almost touching him as he took a deep breath.
...
"Remember... Breathe, and attune your mind to the life force around you. Feel the mana flow through your blood, through your heart, through every part of you. Then imagine what you want the mana to do, guide it like how you would guide the direction of an arrow with your bow, and then with an exhale... release, like you would with the string of your bow."
...
Tokuri could see it in his mind, the shield itself that surrounded the machine. All he had to do was guide the arrow through the openings, and Tokuri could see the perfect path for the arrow to do it. He could do this shot, even with how close the machine was. He could not fail, he would succeed in mastering the Kurogane royal technique
...
With a sharp exhale Tokuri, with all his might, kicked upward the arrow that rested near his foot; sending it flying upward. And then with the command, he gave to the mana around him, the arrow was sent in the perfect direction; barely fitting through the shield's opening and ramming straight into the machine's torso, sending it flying upward in the process.
Then with another inhale and exhale from Tokuri, the great arrow rang before bursting into thousands of pieces; tearing the machine's body even more and leaving nothing behind but the mangled remains of the left side of the body.
Tokuri could almost feel the machine's surprise, even if it kept the same cold glare of its singular eye. Suddenly before Tokuri knew what happened next, the machine began to vibrate and right when it hit the ground, in a flash of light, it was gone.
The noble stared for a few seconds in surprise but soon shook it off, "Damn abomination," Grunted Tokuri, "Can't even die right." Without saying anything else, Tokuri took a deep breath and exhaled sharply again; causing the mana within him to begin healing him of his wounds, albeit painfully. He needed a way out of here, he needed his horse. Looking around in the burning and now fallen Fort Torii, Tokuri smiled to see the stable that contained his horse was still untouched.
Quickly heading in through the wooden doors of the stable, Tokuri leapt onto his horse before bursting through the wooden gates of said stable and riding out of the battlefield. They may have lost this battle, but Tokuri knew that the destruction of the machine, and the countless dead of the enemy would at least somewhat make up for it.
(-)
Gael sat at the now lit bonfire, the crackling of fire and the chiming of crickets the music he quietly listened to. Petre was inside the shed, which was only big enough for one person to rest in. Besides Gael couldn't even fit at its entrance. So he here he was, sitting through the night and wondering just who Alsanna was. Even after this time thinking Gael could not remember anything. He had never heard that name before.
Suddenly, as Gael stared at the flames, the bonfire went out; leaving Gael alone in the darkness of night. However this nightly darkness was not normal, for Gael could not see anything in front of him. But then in the distance, a faint light appeared. It wasn't bright enough to be a sun, radiant enough to be the moon, nor strong enough to be a torch, though. with how the light flickered, Gael could tell it was some sort of fire.
Gael rose up from where he sat, his hands pressing up against the dir- stone? Gael realized he was now standing on a perfectly flat stone floor. Looking around his surroundings again, Gael realized he was in a long corridor, and the faint light he could see in the distance was around the corner. This to Gael, made no sense... that is unless he was having yet another vision, like the one after he almost let himself slaughter that strange human city.
Moving forward the giant reached out to both his sides with both his hands; feeling the stone walls next to him. At first Gael felt nothing, but as he kept moving toward the light, he could feel things. They felt like carved out letters to the language he knew, but which one? Gael could also feel images with his hands. But no matter how close he got to the flame, Gael could not see what was on the walls.
Eventually Gael arrived and turned the corner, only to see a lone figure sitting on the floor in a praying sort of position toward a wall; a small lantern at his side. The man himself was heavily scared from top to bottom and his attire strange to Gael yet finley made. It looked like some sort of sleep wear with how loose fitting it was, and yet Gael had the feeling it was not such a type of clothing.
"You know, when I was exiled, I prayed to you," Uttered the man. Gael blinked, for he couldn't understand what the man was actually saying and yet he could her them within his mind perfectly and understand them, "When I prayed to you, I always hoped you would come. I was so desperate for it all to just be over with. One time I even tried to end my own life to reach you, but I was too afraid to do it. And then I realized something."
The man grew a faint smile, "I realized the voice had a plan for me, after all why didn't you answer my prayers unless that was the case? So I trained, I trained beyond my limits and became what I am today. I claimed the title, passed all the challenges, defended my people, became a leader, and... found love. So why," The figure's head went down; his voice starting to waver, "Why now? Unless... So that's what it is then."
Suddenly Gael felt as though the man was looking right at him as he continued, "If I may ask of you a selfish request. Could you please wait? Until I have done everything that I can do, when this war is finished, and all is said and done. Please, that is all I ask of you, Spirit of Shi." At that moment, Gael could see what was on the wall in front of the man.
It was a carved image of Gael himself, standing atop a pile of bodies.
A/N
Man I hate writing fight scenes. Also sorry if this chapter was a bit of a step by step thing in terms of writing.
Also sorry for taking so long. Excluding outside/ personal stuff and getting sick for a bit, I realized I wrote myself into a little ditch with Petre getting poisoned, as I struggled to think of what would logically happen next without being trash storytelling. So that's the main reason in terms of writing why this thing took so long.
Anyone gonna upload another chapter shortly after uploading this, something short and special.