So I will be getting surgery in the upcoming weeks. Fun! š
In other news, new Investigations are up for Farzin, Lorik, Tala, Nash, and Sierra. Oh, and there's a new poll up in my Suikoden VI forum! You can find the link to the forum on my profile page, but if you're not able to vote in the poll I'll copy/paste the poll here. You can leave your vote in a comment and I will count it towards the final total:
Wedding Poll #3: Who should conduct the ceremony?
- Farzin
- Keiran
- Tamara
- Sloan
- Eresh
Happy voting!
Part Three
The Emperor's New Clothes
The Cast
Narrator: Bright
The Emperor: Suna
Swindler: Azul
Peasant 1: ZĒsĆØ
Peasant 2: Kuro
Child: LÄla
"ā¦Is this a joke?" Lanny asked, gaping at the program.
"Woo-hoo!" Sharon cheered, clapping her hands. Futch put his thumb and forefinger in his mouth and whistled.
The spotlight shined on Bright, who stood at front stage right. "Kuueeeeee!" Bright roared. "Kuueeeeee!"
The lights came up on the stage to reveal Suna hovering in front of the closed curtains. "Keeeeeeuu!" Suna roared. "Keeeeeeuu!"
Azul flew onto the stage from stage left. "Keeuuuuuu! Keeuuuuuu!"
"Keeeeeeuu!" Suna responded.
"Keeuuuuuu!" Azul swung its head back slightly before swinging it forward again. "Keeuuuuuu!"
"Keeeeeeuu!" Suna roared
"Keeuuuuuu! Keeuuuuuu!" Azul replied.
"ā¦I have no idea what's going on," Allise said softly.
"Kuueeeeee!" Bright roared again, startling a few people. "Kuueeeeee!"
The scene changed to ZĒsĆØ, Kuro, and LÄla hovering in front of a cityscape. Suna then flew onto the stage from stage right. "Kuuuuuuuu!" ZĒsĆØ roared.
"Keeeeeeee!" Kuro roared.
"Kuuuuuuuu!" ZĒsĆØ replied
"Keeeeeeee!" Kuro roared again.
"Brother, I have a headache," Arin complained.
"Me too," Daunte admitted, patting him on the arm. "But don't worry, it will be over soon."
"Ki," LÄla roared, flying to hover in front of Suna. "Kiiiiiiii!"
At this point most of the audience had their hands over their ears from all the roaring. Sharon and Futch were amongst the few unmoved as they watched the performance with big smiles on their faces.
"Kuuuuuuuu!" ZĒsĆØ roared, flapping its wings dramatically.
"Keeeeeeee!" Kuro roared.
"Kuueeeeee!" Bright roared as the stage lights came down. "Kuueeeeee!"
Then the lights turned off. Sharon and Futch jumped to their feet clapping and cheering while the rest of the audience sat in their seats dumbfounded.
"ā¦Huh," NÄį¹aka said as she observed the less-than enthused reaction from the audience. "Nadir said he had a hit with a show of dog actorsā¦"
"We have a special guest joining us this morning," Sanji reported. "Please welcome Nagarea's preeminent news reporter, Quasim!"
"I'm pleased to be here," Quasim responded. "And now that we know that the Holy Army can't listen in on us anymore, I'm here to report that Lord Daunte is taking another trip to the Northern Continent today!"
"That sounds like fun!" Bax said.
"Yes, our Lord Daunte is following a lead on possible new recruitsā"
"Hey," Gertrude interrupted suddenly.
"Yes, what is it?" Quasim asked her.
"Are you a legitimate reporter or a wannabe who peddles gossip?"
"E-Excuse me?"
"Gertrude has a fair point," Bax said. "You were in fact the person who wrote that inflammatory story about former Sheikh Tamara Nuoriā¦"
"I-Iāmy article was based on information given to me by the High Clerics!" Quasim said defensively. "I had no reason to doubt the information when it came from people I had believe spoke to Nagar Himself!"
"But you've also written unflattering articles about the Liberation Arm before," Sanji said, tsking at him. "How can Lord Daunte truly trust that you are on our side given your history?"
"W-What kind of question is that?! Did you all invite me here for me to report the news, or to ambush me with "gotcha" questions?!"
"It's a legitimate concern," Gertrude said.
"W-Well, I resent the question given that there are MANY people here with a history of standing agains the Liberation Army and I don't see you questioning them!"
"ā¦Fair point," Sanji conceded.
"W-We're going to Dunan again?" Arin asked. Kibbeh was in his arms.
"Yes," Daunte said, hoisting a bag over his shoulder. "Oboro cannot investigate across the sea but Umeko recommended that we go back there."
"Maybe she's homesick?"
"Maybe." But she was kicked out of her village, Daunte added silently.
"Who will be coming with us?" Arin asked. "A-And who's gonna watch Kibbeh while we're gone?"
"I will probably need to have Xi An in my active party as she's become quite attached to Hero and James," Daunte. "Definitely Umeko, because this trip was her idea. I would like to invite Jantu as well since he's from Dunan and fought in the Dunan Unification War. And I promised Pesmerga that I would take him with me on my next quest. As for the last personā¦" Daunte's voice trailed off as he thought about it. After a moment he shrugged. "Maybe Eresh? I need a spellcaster and I don't know if she's ever been to the Northern Continent before. As for Kibbeh, I can see if Georg would be okay withā"
There was a quick knock at his door and Surya entered. "Oh, hello Daunte! You'll be leaving shortly for the Northern Continent, right?"
"Yes," Daunte said. Kibbeh jumped out of Arin's arms and ran for Surya. "Oh, hello Kibbeh! How are you?" Surya bent down and scratched his ears.
"Oh, maybe Surya can watch Kibbeh!" Arin exclaimed, jumping up and down.
"I-I don't want to put you on the spotā" Daunte said.
"Oh no, it's fine! We don't have puppies in Sol-Falena so I would love to hang out with Kibbeh!" Surya scooped Kibbeh up into his arms. "Mokuren will certainly love hanging out with him!"
"I appreciate this, thank you," Daunte said.
All three of them went up to the war room, and Daunte had to refrain from rolling his eyes when he witnessed Yuber and Pesmerga staring each other down again. "Come with me, please," he said to Pesmerga. "I promised to take you with me on my next trip, so I'm taking you with me to the Dunan Republic."
Pesmerga remained silent, but Daunte thought he heard Yuber snort obnoxiously with laughter. They entered the war room to find Caesar, Chinmaya, Gunther, Allise, Varnaz, Lorik, Keiran, Mihr, Tamara, Eamon, Israfil, Sloan, and Adalgiso. Surya moved to stand beside Surya. "Good morning, Lord Daunte," Caesar greeted him. "I know you're leaving for the Northern Continent today and I regret to inform you that I won't be joining you on your trip this time."
"You won't?" Arin asked. "Why?"
Caesar gestured to Chinmaya. "Because our Secondary Strategist has never left this country. It would be imperative for Chinmaya to leave and see the world. Broaden her horizons and mind. You know. I'll stay behind this time and Chinmaya will be your strategist for your trip."
"I don't like your phrasing," Chinmaya said. "But I would certainly like to see the Northern Continent. And if our leader is still trying to decide on the best form of government for Nagarea, I will support him in all his endeavors."
"For future trips you can choose either of us to go with you," Caesar said. "But this time I think it's best that Chinmaya goes with you."
Daunte knew that he could agree or disagree but he didn't want his Strategists to look bad by disagreeing with them in public, even if it was under contemplation. He nodded. "I'll be happy to have Chinmaya come with me."
"If you would like someone to be the acting Commander in your absence, I will support them accordingly," Caesar said.
"Thank you, Caesar." Daunte looked over at his lieutenants. His eyes fell on Sloan and he did want to choose him, but he hesitated in choosing Sloan because of how recently he joined the Army. And how recently he had attacked HQ.
I will give him leadership another time, when everyone becomes more comfortable with him. For nowā¦
"For the trip, I choose Xi An, Pesmerga, Umeko, Jantu, and Eresh," Daunte said.
"I'll summon them," Chinmaya spoke up before Caesar could. The other Strategist shrugged. "Go for it."
Pesmerga said nothing but everyone was summoned in a timely manner.
"Dunan?" Jantu asked, his eyes brightening. "I will if I will meet Lord Ridley on this trip!"
"I-I have a good feeling about this trip," Umeko said. "I won't let you down, I think!"
I think? Daunte though to himself.
"Of COURSE I'm coming!" Xi An cheered. "I always want to fly in the skyship!"
"Eresh came when the bearer of the Rune of Restoration called her," Eresh said. "Eresh is eager to see the singular country that was once eight nations."
Eight nations? Daunte looked at Caesar but Caesar shrugged. Daunte decided to brush it off. "To lead the Liberation Army in my absenceā¦I choose Lorik."
"Me?" Lorik asked, his eyes widening. "Y-You trust me with this?"
"Well, most of us have done it before," Gunther said.
"I haven't," Allise said softly, though she was smiling.
"Come over here," Gunther said coaxingly. "In my arms you'llā"
"Hey, could you bring me a souvenir from Dunan, Lord Daunte?" Allise asked, shouting to drown out Gunther's voice.
"If Lord Daunte is successful in getting recruits, that would be the best souvenir," Keiran said.
"I won't let you down, Lord Daunte, I swear it!" Lorik said, bowing.
"Excellent," Caesar said. "Best of luck, Lord Daunte!"
Viki teleported the group to Hero's Island without issue and less than an hour after arrival they had taken off and were flying towards the Northern Continent. Xi An and James still argued over who would sit upfront with Hero, and Hero did nothing to diffuse their argument. In the end James won out though, and Xi An was left sulking in the front row across from Daunte and Arin.
"This isā¦really amazing," Chinmaya said, looking out the window. "How did this become a lost technology? This is so much faster and more convenient than walking or sailing!"
"It was from Sindar!" Hero called over his shoulder. "Most everything from Sindar is a lost technology! There was probably dozens of skyships like this sailing through the sky at one point!"
"Dozens of skyships?" Jantu asked, his eyes widening. "Sharing the seas is almost too much for some ships! I wonder what it was like for skyships like this to share the skies!"
"Oh, there were probably collisions," Hero said nonchalantly. "Inexperience and ego. Of course, collisions in the sky are FAR deadlier than collisions of carriages on land or sea-ships on the ocean! Passengers in both vessels would be lost!"
ā¦Maybe that's why it became a lost technology? Daunte thought warily.
It was strange to Daunte, though. Even though the trip still took roughly a day the trip seemedā¦short to him. I must be getting used to flying, he surmised.
"We just flew over the Toran-Dunan border!" Hero called over his shoulder.
"Oh!" Daunte snapped away and looked out his window. It was mid-morning and overcast. He couldn't see anything below them.
"Iāare you sure?" Chinmaya asked. "I can't see land!"
"I'll pretty sure!" Hero retorted. "Here, I'll fly lower!"
The skyship abruptly dipped forward, nearly sending everyone into the seats in front of themselves. Daunte clung to his seat as he looked out his window. For a few moments he couldn't see anything but grey clouds. Then they broke through the clouds and he saw land below them.
Unfortunately, as they hadn't flown over Dunan before, he didn't know if they were in fact over Dunan. Before he could say anything though, Jantu shouted, "OH! That's Dunan Lake!"
"See?!" Hero snapped.
"Land in that field!" Jantu insisted, jabbing his finger against the window. "We'll be directly south of the HQ for the Dunan Army during the Unification War!"
"Oh, can we visit there?!" Arin asked, grabbing Daunte's arm. "Please, Big Brother?!"
"S-Sure," Daunte said.
"Dunan looks so different from the air," Umeko said thoughtfully. "I think I can even see Rokaku Village in Banner Pass!" She laughed briefly before she stiffened and her face when pale. "Ohā¦I shouldn't have said thatā¦"
Hero directed the skyship to a smooth landing in the field between Dunan Castle and South Window. Daunte looked towards the sky warily though as he disembarked the ship. "Will the skyship be okay with rain?"
"It sure will!" James said positively, slapping a hand against the side of the ship. "A little rain won't bring it down!"
"Lightning will though," Hero muttered.
"Two River is to the west," Jantu said, looking towards the horizon in that direction.
"Would you like to go to Two River?" Daunte asked but Jantu shook his head. "While it would be nice to see Lord Ridley, it wouldn't be a good idea. My parents would not be happy to see me."
They won't? Daunte wondered, but he shook his head before he said the question out loud. "Maybe on our next trip here?"
Jantu nodded and managed something of a smile. "I would like that."
"Eresh is pleased with the flight this time," Eresh said. Daunte had more questions but didn't voice them. "W-We seem to be close to Dunan Castle. Shall we head there?"
Per usual, Hero and James stayed behind with the skyship as the group headed north towards the former HQ for the Dunan Army. Admittedly Daunte was excited to see Dunan Castle and wasn't that bothered with the number of random encounters they had with monsters on the way to the castle. When they reached Dunan Castle however, he was surprised to see a gothic fortress in a slightly dilapidated state. There were two guards on duty at the gates, but beyond them he could see a sizable population of people in good spirits. That lifted Daunte's mood.
"We saw an anomaly from the sky," one of the Dunan guards said. "Was that you?"
"A-Ah, yes," Daunte said. "We flew here from the Southern Continent. I'mā"
"Oh, you're Lord Daunte!" The second said. "We heard about your last visit! Welcome to Dunan Castle!"
"Oh right, come right in!" the first said. "Lord Ridley arrived yesterdayā"
"He did?!" Jantu exclaimed. Without another prompt he brushed past the guards and raced through the front courtyard.
"Huh," the second said. "That Kobold must have served under Lord Ridley at one point."
"You shouldn't make assumptions like that," the first scolded him. "For all we know, he could be from Toran!"
"Oh crap! He didn't hear me, did he?!"
"Ah, actually he did serve under Lord Ridley during the Dunan Unification War," Daunte interjected.
"Oh thank God," the second breathed a sigh of relief.
"This castle looks fun," Xi An said.
"ā¦It looks the same," Pesmerga said.
"A lot of people have died here," Eresh said bluntly.
"Oh, I need a drink," Umeko complained softly.
"Who is the lord or lady of this castle?" Chinmaya asked.
"Lord Shilo," the first guard said. "He's hosting another gambling tournament tonight if you would like to attend!"
"Gambling?" Arin asked.
"Lord Shilo hosts gambling tournaments every weekend," the second guard explained. "They are wildly successful and earn lots of Potch for Dunan Castle. B-But please don't ask Lord Ridley if he came to participate, because he will get very offended."
"Let's go and see Lord Shilo," Daunte said. "I don't know if I'll be as successful with gambling here like I was in Zexan and the Grasslands, but I could try at least."
Daunte and the group headed north towards the Main Hall. A cry from above them caused them to stop in their tracks, and Daunte grabbed Arin and shoved him behind him as a griffin sailed down from one of towers and landed on the ground with a thunderous "BOOM". The group drew their weapons, but Daunte quickly noticed that the residents were unfazed by the presence of the griffin and raised his hand. "Wait!"
The griffin looked at them with curiosity and made no move of aggression towards them. Daunte fumbled for his satchel and pulled out the listening crystal. "H-Hello," he said, holding the crystal up.
The crystal didn't react and the griffin looked at the crystal in confusion. Daunte also looked at the crystal in confusion. W-What?! This worked on Ćt! Why isn't it working now?!
The griffin gave a toss of his head and just as quickly took off flying. Daunte heard a soft clang and looked towards the ground while his companions watched the griffin fly away. His eyes widened and he scooped down to pick up the object. It was another listening crystal!
"Hey!" Daunte called, turning in the direction the griffin flew, but he no longer saw it. He showed the crystal to Chinmaya. "H-He left this behind!"
"Perhaps he didn't need it?" Chinmaya asked.
"Feather took a shine to you, did he?"
Daunte turned towards the main building and saw a man in his early forties approaching them, followed by Jantu and a Kobold that Daunte assumed was Lord Ridley. The man in front was chewing a long piece of straw, his posture was lazy, and his hair was spiky and two different colors. Bright blonde on the top and fading black underneath.
Isā¦Is that Lord Shilo? Daunte wondered, glancing at Chinmaya. She looked more visibly unimpressed.
"Well if Feather didn't attack you then you're not a damn group of ruffians," Shilo said, grabbing Daunte's hand and shaking his hand rather aggressively. "Welcome to Dunan Castle, brat! For whatever reason President Teresa made me lord of this castle. Not that I'm complaining because it's made me RICH!" He laughed loudly and obnoxiously.
"Lord Shilo, please refrain from referring to Lord Daunte as a "brat"!" Chinmaya snapped.
Ridley coughed. "It would beā¦prudent to not refer to a lord as a "brat", Lord Shilo."
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Shilo waved a dismissive hand as he let Daunte go. Ridley moved forward and shook Daunte's hand. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Lord Daunte. I know you must be a man of integrity if Jantu places his faith in you so wholeheartedly."
"Jantu is a valuable asset to my Army," Daunte said. "He acts as the Army's combat trainer, and he taught me duel etiquette. He's one of the best soldiers in my Army."
Ridley nodded in approval and looked at Jantu. "You've made all of us proud."
"T-Thank you, Lord Ridley," Jantu said shakily, saluting him.
"Jantu gave us a quick rundown about why you came here," Shilo said, drawing Daunte's attention back to him. "You'll staying for tonight's tournament, right? It's a round-robin of Chinchirorin, and the first prize is 100,000 Potch!"
"Ah, sure," Daunte said. "We have Chinchirorin games at my HQ all the time. Maybe next time I come to Dunan I'll bring Yaman with me? He's a gambler who hosts the games."
"He's probably not as good as me at Chinchirorin," Shilo said dismissively. Daunte didn't quite know what to make of someone who was so casually insulting.
"Heh."
Daunte looked over his shoulder at Pesmerga, who hadn't said a single word since they left Nagarea. "Oh hey, I remember you," Shilo said, peering at Pesmerga. "You wereāaw, damn it, what was your name?"
"Pesmerga," the man in question responded coldly. There was an uncomfortable pause before he said, "You have not changed."
Shilo shrugged. "I guess I haven't. What about it?"
"You still lack manners," Pesmerga added.
Shilo's brow rose. "Oh really?"
"He has a fair point," Ridley said softly.
"Eresh agrees," Eresh said. "Eresh feels a pain in her head from your crude form ofā"
"Say!" Daunte interjected loudly, holding out the listening crystal to him. "Feather dropped this before he flew away!"
"And why would I want that?" Shilo asked, his tone still obnoxious.
"Eresh presumes the bearer of the Rune of Restoration wants to give that back to the griffin," Eresh said stoically.
"Bah, keep it." Shilo waved a dismissive hand. "It obviously didn't meant too much to Feather if he let himself lose it!"
"Butā"
"Hey, you!"
The angry shout startled everyone and Daunte turned. From the west of Dunan Castle's main courtyard he saw a familiar face running towards them and he waved. "Viola!"
"I need you to come with me," Viola said harshly, grabbing Daunte's arm. "You need to return to Muse with me and tell President Teresa that this was all a big misunderstanding!"
"Here we go," Shilo grumbled.
Daunte blinked in confusion. "I-I don't know whatā"
"The President found out about your offer!" Viola hollered. "She heard that you offered me to join your Army, and do you know what she did?!"
Chinmaya grabbed Viola by the arm and wrenched her away from Daunte. "Don't put your hands on my Lord like that!" she snapped.
Viola looked like she was about to retort against the teenager, but then she saw the glares from the rest of Daunte's party and her shoulders drooped slightly. "ā¦I apologize," she said reluctantly. "But you caused me considerable problems!"
"W-Were you fired?" Daunte asked fearfully. "I'm sorry, that wasn't my intentionā"
"President Teresa gave me a permanent leave of absence!" Viola snapped. "I am a lieutenant in the Dunan Army! I command my own unit! And because someone told her of your proposal, she told me to leave the Dunan Army and help you! And! And she won't let me return to active duty until you win your bloody war!"
"Ah, see?!" Umeko exclaimed, pointing. "I knew it was a good idea to return here!"
"That was awfully generous of President Teresa," Chinmaya said thoughtfully. "Perhaps we should go to Muse to thank her for giving us a new recruit?"
"If we go to Muse, it's only to get myself reinstated in Dunan's Army!" Viola said sharply.
"Hey, can you shut up?" Shilo asked rudely, rubbing at his ear. "Your damn voice is getting on my nerves!"
Viola's face turned purple but she didn't dare talk back to Shilo as he was a lord.
"Well, would you like to join us?" Daunte asked her. "Obviously President Teresa believes enough in our cause to grant you a leave of absence."
Viola scoffed angrily, but after a moment she peered at Daunte closely. After a long moment she reluctantly nodded. "You're a higher level than you were the last time we met. I guess I feel comfortable joining you."
"Thanks for the confidence," Chinmaya said sarcastically.
"Welcome to the Liberation Army," Daunte said, shaking her hand.
"All right that's settled," Shilo said, clapping his hands. "Now let's focus on important things! Like my gambling tournament!"
"I will not be participating," Ridley said coldly.
"Brother, you can do it!" Arin cheered, hugging Daunte's arm. "You won so much money for the Army before!"
"I-I will give it a try," Daunte said, nodding to Shilo. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Daunte lost 30,000 Potch in the gambling tournament. It was hugely embarrassing for him, especially with how much money he had won gambling with the Lottery before. Thankfully no one laughed at him when he dropped out of the tournament, though a riot almost broke out at Dunan Castle when Shilo won the tournament.
Well you win some you lose some. I was bound to lose eventually after winning 11 million bits.
"What a bunch of drunken buffoons," Chinmaya scoffed as they headed back towards the skyship the following morning. "I hope not everyone in the Dunan Republic is like that!"
"We're not, Miss Chinmaya," Viola said curtly. "Lord Shilo is an exception. Many are still puzzled as to why President Teresa named him lord of Dunan Castle."
"That is actually the reason why Lord Ridley came to Dunan Castle," Jantu said. "He told he wanted to see how bad things had gotten at Dunan Castle and is actually going to go to Muse to file a complaint with the President."
"Why would she choose a gambler to run a castle?" Umeko wondered aloud. "I mean the booze was good there, butā"
"It's because President Teresa couldn't find anyone else to take the job," Viola said sadly. "Despite being the HQ for the Dunan Army during the War, it was also still the site of a huge massacre years agoā¦"
"Vampires and zombies," Eresh said bluntly.
"ā¦That's correct," Jantu said uncomfortably.
"There's the skyship," Daunte said, pointing ahead of them. "I lost all of my money yesterday so I'm going to wander around for a few hours to replenish my Potch. It will exchange for a higher rate in Nagarea at least."
"Oh, I heard about this!" Viola looked excited as she raced towards the skyship. "Everyone in Dunan was gossiping about a giant ship in the shape of a bird that could sail through the clouds! Is this it?"
"You got another one?" Hero called from the top of the skyship. He shook his head. "So long as you're not as annoying as the last few ones, you're welcome aboard!"
"I'm going to fight in a couple of random battles!" Daunte called up to him. "But we'll be back this afternoon!"
"Sounds good!" James called back to them. "We'll be here!"
"So will I!" Xi An announced, skipping towards the door to the skyship. "Let that loudmouth lady fight with you!"
"What?!" Viola snapped.
"L-Let's just go," Daunte interjected. "We can wander the plainsā"
"Go to the southwest," Pesmerga interjected.
"What?" Daunte looked at him. "Why?"
"The Cave of the Wind."
Daunte waited for him to finish but he didn't. "W-W should fight monster in the Cave of the Wind?"
Pesmerga nodded curtly.
"It's a dangerous cave," Umeko said, rubbing her arms.
"Hopefully the monsters drop a lot of Potch," Daunte said, looking at Arin. "Stay here. We'll be back in a couple of hours."
Arin nodded. "Be careful, Brother."
"I'll stay here as well," Chinmaya said. She clearly looked disappointed with how the trip was going.
With Pesmerga's guidance they found the Cave of the Wind in less than an hour, but Daunte quickly saw what Umeko was talking about. The monsters that roamed the dark cave were strong and fast. They primarily fought Mimos and rabid Griffins, but they were tough and carried a lot of Potch. After fighting ten groups of monster, Daunte had already recouped his gambling losses.
But these same battles were within the first two areas of the cave.
"I got my money back," Daunte announced to the group. "Would you guys like to go back?"
"Wait!" Umeko shouted, hurrying forward. She stopped in front of a broken rock along the wall and touched it briefly. "ThisāI know this! I know what weapon caused this damage!"
"Really?" Viola asked. "What weapon damaged this rock?"
"T-This is from a kusari-fundo!" Umeko shouted, looking up at Daunte with wide eyes. "L-Lord Daunte, one of my ninja brethren is here!"
"Really?" Daunte asked.
"But how can we be certain that this damage was recent?" Jantu asked.
"That damage occurred four hours ago," Eresh said bluntly.
"How do you know that?" Viola asked her.
"Eresh knows." was all Eresh said.
"Then let's keep moving," Daunte said. "Maybe we'll meet your comrade deeper in the cave?"
Umeko however looked both excited and dismayed as she stood up. "If it's himā¦he'll be so angry to see meā¦"
Daunte expectedly to wander the gave for hours searching for the ninja, so he was completely taken by surprise when they entered a corridor with high winds and he saw a man in his early twenties dressed in a black and green ninja garb hanging on for dear life to a chain wrapped around a black rock that was in the center of three rocks. The man looked towards them, and Daunte saw thick chocolate colored bangs and hard brown eyes staring back at him. "I would advise you to stay back!" The man shouted to them. "The winds are overwhelming!"
"Masaru!" Umeko shouted, almost rushing forward. "Masaru, what happened to you?!"
"U-Umeko?!" Masaru's eyes widened when he saw her. "What are you doing here?! Our intelligence said you went to the Southern Continent!"
"I did! I joined the Liberation Army of Nagarea! Here, is this Lord Daunte!" Umeko gestured to him. "He's the commander I'm serving!"
Masaru's eyes slowly narrowed again. "ā¦Why would anyone hire you?"
"EXCUSE ME?!" Umeko shouted. "How dare you talk to your cousin like that!"
Cousin? Daunte wondered.
"This is why you were banished!" Masaru snapped at her. "You cannot keep a secret to save your own life! You are either incapable of processing information taught to you, or you are too LAZY to make the effort to understand! You're an embarrassment to our family!"
"Oh, I'm an embarrassment?!" Umeko snapped back at him. "Look who got caught in the winds of the Cave of the Wind!"
"At least I didn't spill intelligence to a target!" Masaru retorted.
"Okay, both of you STOP!" Daunte snapped. "Sir, you appear to need help. I would like to help you."
"I would not advise that," Masaru warned him. "The cave's winds are much stronger today. So strong are they that they blew away the boulders that usually stand firm in this path. They've all blown to the bottom of the passage, and at the rate the wind is blowing if you were to be blown into those boulders your body would be crushed."
"I'm still going to try to help you," Daunte said.
"You want to help me?" Masaru genuinely looked surprised by the offer. Finally he nodded. "Okay. Someone should get as close to me as they can and stretch out their arm to me. I might be able to jump back and wrap my kusari-fundo around their arm, and then you can pull me in. The arm may break but if you have any healing spells then it shouldn't be a problem."
"I'll do it," Daunte said, nodding. "I'm leader and have the healing spells. And I've broken both arms before so the pain shouldn't bother me."
"Oh, when you were in the prison mine?" Umeko asked.
"ā¦Yes," Daunte said slowly. Most of the party gave her dirty looks.
"I'll hold your right hand," Jantu said, taking Daunte's wrist. "I won't let you go, Lord Daunte. Just focus on saving that young man. Everyone else, hold on fast to me and don't let go!"
Everyone wrapped their arms around Jantu's waist, except for the Eresh who hugged Jantu around the knee. Daunte inched his way towards Masaru with his left arm stretched out, hugging the wall as he did so. He felt the blast of wind hit him in the face like a punch and he squeezed his eyes shut as he concentrated on getting close to Masaru. He could feel nothing but the wind, and for a moment he thought Jantu had lost his grip. He looked back at Jantu though and saw that Jantu still holding onto him, though he was straining.
"That's far enough!" Jantu shouted. Daunte looked towards Masaru and saw that he was two meters away from Masaru. "IāIs this good?" he shouted to Masaru. He almost couldn't hear his own voice.
"It will do!" Masaru shouted. He planted his feet on the rock his kusari-fundo was wrapped around, and after a long pause he wrenched the chain up and over the rock. His body immediately launched backwards but he swung the kusari-fundo towards Daunte, and to Daunte's relief the chain wrapped around his arm. The chain snapped violently as Masaru was stopped in mid-air, and Daunte saw stars as he heard the familiar crunch of his arm breaking. The pain was familiar but so intense that he lost his breath. Jantu yanked him back as hard as he could, and as they flew backwards Masaru was pulled towards them and out of the danger zone, slamming into the ground hard. But just as quickly he was on his feet and unwrapping the kusari-fundo from Daunte's now broken arm.
"H-Howl!" Daunte managed to force out, raising his right hand. The spell from the Rune of Restoration washed over all of them and in an instant his broken arm was healed. He let out a shaky breath and looked at Masaru. "Are you all right?"
"A life for a life," Masaru said, and suddenly knelt down before Daunte.
"What?"
"Had you not come along I would have surely died in this cave. You saved my life. Therefore I am indebted to you for giving me the blessing of extending my life. I must now repay you for saving my life."
"Look you don't need to repay me," Daunte said. "I decided to help you. You don't owe me anything."
"But I do. I must repay you for saving me. You are a lord, correct?"
Daunte nodded stiffly. "I-Iā¦I'm fighting a civil war in my country, trying to overthrow a tyrannical government."
"The prison mine Umeko mentioned. Your government put you in that mine?"
"That's what they did to any child convicted of a crime," Jantu said grimly.
Masaru stood up. "Then you fight for a noble cause. That emboldens me even more to join you. I am your servant, Lord Daunte."
Daunte swallowed hard. "Iā¦"
"You may as well take the offer when it's for free," Umeko said. "Masaru usually charged 300,000 Potch for his services."
"That's because I'm worth it!" Masaru snapped at her. He sobered though as he turned back to Daunte. "I will also join you to show you that the ninja of our clan are not as careless and disgraceful as her. I must restore our honor with you!"
"I'm very honorable!" Umeko shot back at him.
"Iāuhāyes," Daunte said, shaking Masaru's hand. "Welcome to the Liberation Army."
"Eresh believes that the trip home will be interesting," Eresh surmised.
"We may as well head back to the skyship," Viola sighed. "It's nearly afternoon and it will be impossible for us to go further in this cave with the winds as strong as they are."
"I told you this trip would be worth it!" Umeko gloated. Masaru facepalmed behind her.
"Thank you, Umeko," Daunte said. "Let's go."
They were flying back to Nagarea within a few hours. Umeko and Masaru thankfully sat separately from each other, and Masaru was distracted by the wonders of flying. Viola had seemed excited at first, but for whatever reason (whether it be the height or the motion) Viola threw up quite a bit during the flight. Hero was nonchalant and compared it to seasickness, but the cabin had an odor for most of the flight.
Overall, the trip to Dunan lasted less than a week but it was a fruitful experience.
"Excellent job!" Caesar greeted them in the war room. "You brought us a lieutenant from the Dunan Armyā"
"I wish to be a foot soldier here," Viola said. "And it's my duty to inform you that my presence is not equivalent of an alliance between your Army and my country. President Teresa sent me here due to a misunderstanding."
She received a few peculiar glances from the Liberation Army lieutenants, but Caesar's smile didn't waver. "We're still happy to have you. And we are especially happy to have a legitimate ninja from Rokkaku Village here!"
"Hey!" Umeko protested. "I'm a legitimate ninja!"
"No, you were banished," Masaru pointed out. "As I belong to a ninja clan, that makes me a legitimate ninja."
"But this was a resounding success," Keiran said brightly. "Excellent job Lord Daunte, Lady Chinmaya."
"Don't thank me," Chinmaya scoffed. "That was all Lord Daunte. I was not impressed with the Dunan Republic. They made a vulgar gambler a lord!"
"Wait, they made Shilo a lord?!" Caesar exclaimed. "I thought that was a rumor!"
"Someone you know?" Allise asked wryly.
"No, but Shu talked about him a lot. Never anything good."
"How were things while we were gone?" Daunte asked, and Lorik stepped. "Ah, yes my Lordā"
There was a knock on the war room door and Oboro breezed inside, Shou trailing behind him. "Ah, welcome back Lord Daunte! And just in time, we have news!"
"News?" Daunte asked.
"Oboro has been following rumors of Holy Army activity," Caesar said.
"After my intelligence failure before, I swore that this would never happen again," Oboro said with a smile. "And our efforts have paid off." He pulled out a pristine white piece of paper. "We were able to lift this from Sloan Faakhir's former Garrison."
"From my understanding, one of my more violent subordinates was appointed Sheikh in my place," Sloan said. "But as many of my soldiers either died in the battle or defected to the Liberation Army, the Garrison has been mostly deserted."
"It was very easy to steal that," Shou said bluntly. He looked at Masaru. "Oh, you got another ninja? Is he as annoying at Umeko?"
"Hey!" Umeko shouted.
"You really have dishonored our name," Masaru sighed sadly.
Daunte took the paper from Oboro and read it with Caesar and Chinmaya. What he saw shook him to his core. "TāThe Holy Army reinstated the draft!"
"Eh?!" many shouted in the room.
"Wait, what?!" Chinmaya cried out, clutching the paper in her hands. Her eyes and mouth widened in horror. "Oh Nagar! They set the draft rating to Level 10!"
"Level 10?!" Varnaz shouted.
"That's the highest rating!" Tamara cried out. "That requires anyone over the age of 15, regardless of gender or social standing, to report to active duty! I-I don't even remember the last time they set the draft to Level 10!"
"It was before the Great Earthquake," Keiran said, his tone quiet and his eyes also wide.
"That doesn't sound good," Caesar said, though his tone was calm. He took the paper back from Chinmaya and read further. "Ah, the Holy Army is distributing new weapons! The Sheikhs have been ordered to stand down at their Garrisons until further notice!"
"New weapons?" Daunte asked. He looked around the room and saw how concerned everyone was and cleared his throat, forcing his own unease down. "It will be all right. We know what they're up to so we'll be prepared this time for when they attack."
"But is that even a legitimate notice?" Surya asked. "What if that was bait to lure us into a trap?"
Masaru took the paper from Caesar. He looked at one side carefully, and then flipped it over to look at the other side. "ā¦This paper has been treated," he said. He held the page to his face and inhaled. After a moment he said, "I can smell lime, with a lingering burning smell."
"I smelled that too," Oboro said. "They did in fact treat this paper, as they probably did with all other notices."
"Does that mean then that it is a trap?" Daunte asked.
"If it was a fake, then they wouldn't go to the effort to hide anything," Masaru said bluntly. "This note is real."
News of the Holy Army's activities quickly spread throughout HQ, but Daunte removed himself temporarily from the situation and head down to the basement. There was something on his mind that he wanted to hopefully get answers on.
Hopefully Lady Leknaat can help me with Yuber.
"Hello, Bearer of the Rune of Restoration," Eresh greeted him when he left the elevator. Daunte was surprised to see her. "Eresh is happy with her living quarters."
Daunte looked at their dark surroundings and then looked at her. "Iā¦you're welcome."
Leknaat smiled as he approached. "Hello, Lord Daunte. Your new companions have joined the Tablet."
"I'm glad," Daunte said. "How are you feeling?"
"I am feeling much better. You have a favor for me, yes?"
"I do," Daunte said. "The visionā"
"You would like me to examine the vision Piccolo gave you about Yuber," Leknaat surmised for him.
"That's correct."
"I am sorry for making you wait this long. I will help you with this vision."
Daunte quickly became excited and he had to refrain from jumping up and down. "Thank you, Lady Leknaat."
"Come forward, please." Leknaat spread her arms in front of her, and with a burst of light a crystal ball appeared before her. "I will use my powers as a Seer to seek out his fortune, and I will dissect the fortune to find the three people who will humanize Yuber."
Daunte nodded but coughed in embarrassment. "Thank you again, Lady Leknaat."
Leknaat hovered her hands over the crystal ball. It began to glow with a blue light. "ā¦I see the the fortune. Hereā¦" Leknaat leaned forward. The color of the light turned black. "ā¦'Black. There is black, a chilling coldness to it. Magnetizing power, old power.' That is one of the visions read for you."
"That's right!" Daunte exclaimed. "I-I think I know who it is, but do you see them?"
"Yes, I do." Leknaat's brow furrowed. "The personā¦the black in this visionā¦I seeā¦8."
"ā¦8?" Daunte asked. "The number 8? Is that another riddle, Lady Leknaat?"
"8ā¦Teniā¦"
"Teniāthat's one of the Stars of Destiny!" Daunte shouted. He stood in front of the Tablet. "So 8 must beā"
ā
8. Teni Star
Pesmerga
ā
"YES!" Daunte shouted, pointing at the Tablet. "Number 8, the Teni Star. It is Pesmerga!"
Leknaat smiled. "I shall pull up the other fortune." The light in the crystal began to glow white. "ā¦'A floaty white, like a puffy cloud. Faint.' When Piccolo gave saw this visionā¦he couldn't sense the White very well."
"Can you, Lady Leknaat?" Daunte asked, returning to her side.
"I can," Leknaat confirmed. Her brow furrowed again. "Itā¦is no longer faint. The White I seeā¦ah, I see another number."
"Yes!" Daunte raced back to the Tablet. Please please PLEASE let me have recruited this person!
"There!" Leknaat exclaimed. "The numberā¦78! TheāThe Chitatsu Star!"
"78!" Daunte quickly looked towards the Stars of Earth. He saw that there was a name listed, but the name he saw made his jaw drop.
ā
78. Chitatsu Star
Viki
ā
"Viki?!" Daunte almost shouted. He gaped at Leknaat and then gaped at the name. "The White who will humanize Yuber is VIKI?!"
"That is what the vision says," Leknaat said.
"But Yuber hates Viki! Heā¦" Daunte scrubbed a hand over his face. "Never mind. Yuber hates Pesmerga too and he's the Black from this vision. Oh Nagar, how am I going to work this out?!"
"I see the last one," Leknaat said. The light in her crystal ball glowed red.
"Good," Daunte said, looking at the Tablet warily. "I-I'll look for the third person as soon as you see the number."
"ā¦'Striking red, like the color of blood. Very strong, I can feel a pulse.' I can feel the connection from this one, Lord Daunte. It is very powerful."
"Okay, good," Daunte said, nodding. "Hopefully this person can get along with Yuberā¦"
"I seeāyes!" Leknaat burst out. "The number! Oh, Lord Daunte this is quite incredible!"
Daunte left the Tablet and returned to her side. "Please tell me, Lady Leknaat. Who is the Red from this vision?"
Leknaat was silent for a moment, but a smile rose to her lips as she finally spoke. "1."
Daunte went still. His heart started slamming against the wall of his chest. He swallowed hard, almost forgetting how to breathe. "Iā¦you're sure?"
"I see it clearly," Leknaat said. "The number 1. The Tā"
"I know," Daunte interjected softly. He stumbled backwards, almost tripping over his own feet. "Number 1. The Redāis me."
Ramiro Lažov looked up from the letter he was reading. "Well, this is interestingā¦"
"What is?" Tazwir asked him.
"This letter from the capital," Lažov said, holding it up for his brother-in-law to see. "The High Clerics have received a message from Nagar. Per His command they are reinstating the draft, set to level 10."
"Level 10?!" Tazwir exclaimed, his eyes widening. "That's the highest draft alert!"
"That is correct," Lažov said. "This notice will be distributed as of tomorrow, so we should expect to be bombarded with "deferments" from the weak and pathetic. Clearly the High Clerics are looking for retribution for losing Sheikh Faakhir."
"That also means we'll have our hands full training new recruits that are not suited for the Holy Army," Tazwir scoffed, shaking his head. "Is there anything else in the letter?"
"Yes. The capital is also sending us new weapons. They will be shipped all across the country and further instructions will be given with these crates. We're to stay put and devote our time to training in the meantime."
"Well at least they're compensating for the numbers we'll be receiving from recruits."
Lažov tossed the letter on his desk and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I don't like this."
"You don't, Sheikh?" Tazwir asked.
"No." Lažov pressed a hand to his side. The wound had healed but the area was still tender. Healers had never seen an injury that the one caused by the projectile that had hit him. "Those heathens attacked me with an abnormal weapon when I was doing my duty to wipe them all out. Now I'm to sit here and just wait?! I'm not allowed to avenge this injury that nearly killed me?! I'm not allowed to finish the sentence that should have been carried out on my dirty ex-brother-in-law?!"
"He chased us quite a distance when we retreated," Tazwir said. "We should be careful around him. Heathens like Behzadi do not act honorably. He is violent and irrational, which makes him unpredictable."
"He shares blood with a worthless woman!" Lažov spat. "My family had always been good to their family! By Nagar, they wouldn't have gained the influence they did in the capital without my family's help! And how do they repay me?! By tricking me into marrying a wench who was BARREN!"
Lažov grunted as his shout caused a stab of pain to ripple through his body. "I have a better life now," he said through gritted teeth. "I'm a Sheikh married to a woman who could actually give me childrenā"
"My sister," Tazwir said in a warning tone.
Lažov relaxed somewhat, but he was still seething. "All that bastard had to do was die with the rest of his accursed blood but he couldn't even do THAT properly! And now we have to just sit on our hands and wait?!"
"ā¦What should we do then?" Tazwir asked. "These were direct orders from the Cabinet of High Clerics. They speak to Nagarā"
"And they sent us out to attack in direct violation of our holy day!" Lažov snapped. "They can blame that dead Cleric all they want, but the written orders I received were signed by High Cleric Yuuto! You saw them too, Tazwir!"
"Yes, I did."
"I suffered this humiliation because of them and I will not be humiliated further!" Lažov slammed his fist onto the table. "Whatever plan they're coming up with won't work. I just know it. It's high time we take matters into our own hands! WE will attack the Liberation Army!"
"Attack in defiance of the High Clerics?" Tazwir said. He suddenly smiled dangerously. "That's actually a brilliant idea. The Liberation Army will undoubtedly intercept intelligence that the draft has been reinstated and that the High Clerics are planning something big. They will work to prepare for that. They will NOT expect us to attack them!"
"Exactly!" Lažov slowly surged to his feet and crumbled up the letter. "We'll wipe out the Liberation Army while they are distracted, and then we'll soak up all of the glory! For Nagar!"
"For Nagar," Tazwir agreed.
There was a knock at the door then. "Sheikh Lažov?"
"Private Thea, get in here!" Lažov snapped. "How nice of you to show your face to me after you failed to protect me!"
"I apologize, Sheikh," Thea said, bowing as she entered the room. "I am here as requested."
"Good," Lažov said. "Spread the word throughout the Garrison. We're going to march."
"March?" Thea asked, her eyes widening. "B-But we still haveā"
"Are you defying the orders of a Sheikh?!" Lažov spat.
"Not at all, Sir. I was only thinking of the injured from the last battle."
"Well then, the healers need to work harder to get them healthy! This next battle will be crucial to us!"