Chapter one: and unwelcomed arrival
1866-03-26
Japanese archipelago, Tokugawa shogunate
Tōkaidō (region), Kazusa Province, Jōzai Domain
Outskirts of Jōzai jin'ya, capital of the Domain
It was a warm, clear morning in Jōzai Domain, the sunlight filtering through the branches of ancient trees and casting shadows on the stone paths that wound through the estate. The capital of the domain, Jōzai jin'ya, was the main administrative and trade center of the feudal domain, as one would expect from a capital. Although Jōzai Domain was not the wealthiest of the feudal domains, it was certainly enough for the Hayashi clan, who had been entrusted with its management 40 years ago due to their loyalty to the Shogun and their assistance in repairing Edo Castle after recent damages. As a reward, they were granted a domain located near the capital, even if it was not the most fertile land.
At that moment, a group of samurai made their way through the crowded streets of the outer market on horseback. They appeared to be surrounding a man of importance, positioning themselves as if guarding him from any potential threats. This, however, was not surprising, as the man they were protecting was none other than Hayashi Tadataka, the fourth son of the first lord of Jōzai Domain, and the younger brother of Hayashi Tadakata, the current lord and head of the clan.
Hayashi Tadataka was a 17-year-old youth, standing remarkably tall for a Japanese man at an impressive 6'3". He had a slim build, dark hair typical of his people, and deep black pupils. His hair was styled in the traditional chonmage fashion, as was customary for men in Japan. He wore a light blue haori and hakama, with his family's crest embroidered on the back of the haori. Beneath this, he donned a simple white kimono, unremarkable in design, while a jingasa—a wooden helmet bearing the family crest—rested on his head.
On his right hip was his daishō, a matched pair of swords consisting of a katana and a wakizashi, the iconic symbol of a samurai. His guards were similarly equipped, wearing comparable clothing and weapons. However, Tadataka's attire and arms were of noticeably finer quality, befitting his status.
"Well, it's a nice day, isn't it, my lord?" a voice beside Tadataka spoke up. He turned his attention toward the source of the voice to see Shin smirking at him.
Kinoshita Shinjiro, or Shin for short, was a retainer of Tadataka's brother and the captain of the family's personal guard. Shin was also Tadataka's closest friend since childhood, having come from a family of retainers and lower-ranking samurai. Despite his playful nature and occasional tendency to goof off, Shin took his duties seriously.
Shin stood a bit taller than Tadataka by two inches and had a strong, muscular build, in contrast to Tadataka's slimmer frame. Another notable difference was his hairstyle; unlike the neatly styled chonmage of Tadataka and the other guards, Shin's hair was rather messy, reminiscent of a warrior from the Warring States period.
"You can say that again," Tadataka replied with a smile of his own. "Spring seems to have arrived much earlier than anyone expected. Let's hope the harvest this year will be better."
Tadataka then scratched the back of his head and asked, "Although, I don't see why we needed to bring such a… entourage. After all, we're not in Edo or the western provinces—we're back home."
Shin's smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression as he looked straight ahead. "That's true... it's probably much safer here at home. But given the times we're living in and the direction things are heading, I wouldn't be so sure—especially since we're so close to the Tokugawa." Hearing that, Tadataka couldn't help but sigh deeply. He knew all too well what Shin was referring to.
Thirteen years ago, an incident occurred that would change the nation forever: the Kurofune Raikō, or the Arrival of the Black Ships. This event turned Japanese society upside down, as the isolationist policy was forcibly dismantled, and "free trade" was imposed by the Western powers. By "free trade," however, what was meant were unequal treaties and what Tadataka would call legalized plundering. Yet, there was little they could do about it. Their "partners" were technologically advanced, financially superior, and possessed greater military experience and knowledge. After all, Japan had been at peace for 266 years, and as a result, much of its military prowess had been lost, while what remained was woefully outdated for the modern era.
In response, the Tokugawa shogunate enacted a policy of learning and emulating Western technology and advancements. This policy, however, brought more Westerners into the country, sparking outrage across all social classes—whether rich or poor, samurai or merchant. The tension finally reached a breaking point when the Emperor publicly supported the expulsion of foreigners from Japan, a declaration that brought with it a new wave of problems.
Since the Heian period, the Emperor had been little more than a figurehead with no real political power, although he was nominally above the Shogun. But with his declaration, the Shogun had no choice but to comply—until Western naval forces bombarded Japan's coastal cities, forcing the shogunate to abandon its anti-foreigner stance.
This led to further divisions among the daimyos, with some calling for the Imperial Restoration, advocating for the Emperor's return to power, while others remained loyal to the Tokugawa shogunate. Still others chose to stay neutral, wary of picking a side. The result was a fractured nation, governed both by the Imperial Court in Kyoto and the shogunate in Edo, with tensions escalating daily.
Now, Japan teetered on the brink of civil war, the likes of which it hadn't seen since the Warring States Period. In this context, Shin's concerns were more than justified.
"Great, Shin, now you've reminded me about the world of politics," Tadataka said with a deep sigh. "There's a reason I went out on this stroll—to get away from all that… just for a bit."
"My lord, you and I both know that as the heir and brother of the daimyo, you'll have to partake in that world, whether you like it or not," the retainer replied, turning his attention back to the younger man and heir to the Hayashi clan.
"That still doesn't change the fact that it's a pain in the ass," Tadataka muttered under his breath.
He and his entourage were just about to turn around and head back to the castle, which served as both the family's residence and the central administrative building of the domain. But before they could, a powerful and deafening sound shattered the calm—a crash so loud it seemed to shake the very ground beneath them. The force was followed by a violent tremor, something Tadataka could only liken to an earthquake.
When the shaking subsided, the Hayashi heir looked around, his heart racing, and saw the source of the chaos.
A kilometer from the outskirts of the capital stood what appeared to be a massive gate. The problem, however, was that it was foreign—unlike anything Tadataka had ever seen before. Its design was unfamiliar, and, more unsettlingly, it seemed to radiate an odd, almost otherworldly aura that could be felt even from this distance.
The streets quickly descended into chaos as common folk ran in every direction, either trying to hide or panicking outright. Amid the turmoil, Tadataka found his curiosity piqued. Without giving it a second thought, he blurted out, "Shin, I'm going to see what the hell this thing is," before spurring his horse and riding off as fast as he could.
"Wait, my LORD!" Shin shouted, but it was no use. Tadataka was already galloping toward the strange object at full speed. Without hesitation, Shin and the rest of the guard followed closely behind, determined to catch up with the heir and stop him from doing something that could threat his own life.
Meanwhile, Tadataka pressed onward, his horse carrying him swiftly toward the unnatural structure. Within a few minutes, he arrived at its base. The unsettling feeling that had been gnawing at him from a distance grew stronger now, almost palpable. It wasn't something he could easily describe, but it felt… wrong, as if the very air around the structure was out of place.
He began studying the so-called "gate," trying to make sense of it. The massive structure appeared to be made of a dark, stone-like material, standing an imposing 18 meters tall and 24 meters wide. Its design was simple yet alien, entirely unlike anything Tadataka had encountered before. At the top of the structure, he noticed what seemed to be a gate mechanism—perhaps a room or chamber that could open and close the massive doors. Before he could investigate further, the sound of hooves pounding against the ground signaled the arrival of Shin and the rest of the family guard.
"Have you lost your mind, my lord!?" Shin exclaimed furiously as he closed the distance between them. "Do you have any idea how recklessly you're acting right now? Who knows what this thing is, or what dangers might be lurking inside it—or even around it!"
"For heaven's sake, calm down, Shin," Tadataka replied with a dismissive tone, clearly unbothered by the lecture. "Nothing has happened yet, and if it were truly dangerous, I'm fairly certain something would've happened by now."
"That doesn't change the fact that what you did was reckless!" Shin shot back, his frustration evident. "And what do you think your brother would have to say about this?" His voice was firm, showing no intention of dropping the matter, though Tadataka was growing visibly annoyed.
"He'd probably be supportive of me, Shin," Tadataka replied nonchalantly. Without waiting for a response, he turned his horse around, preparing to head back toward the city. "Now, let's get moving. I have a feeling my brother will be very interested in what we found today."
End Done!
Well, hello there, readers, and welcome to the first chapter of Echoes of the Shattered Sky! I do hope you enjoyed it. This story has been sitting on my PC for at least two years now, and since it's already finished and polished, I figured now's the perfect time to post it. It's been a while (four months, to be exact), and I wanted to give you all something new!
As you can see, I've taken a unique spin on the our world—AOT world genre (if you can even call it a genre!). Even my previous work, TNO x AOT Story: Rise of the Siberian Phoenix (which you should definitely check out!), was set in a world where our technology is far more advanced than Paradise. But this time, things are different. Instead of a European country, I chose the humble nation of Japan, during the final years of the Edo period, to see how this unusual connection between worlds would play out.
In the first part of the story, Japan will play a much more significant role than the world on the other side of the gate. The story is set in 846, during the operation to retake Wall Maria, but we'll get to that in due time. After all, I barely have time on my hands.
As for TNO x AOT Story: Rise of the Siberian Phoenix, I promise I'll have it out before the end of the year for those who have been waiting.
Well that's all for now, I'm Signing off.
DukeJmes OUT!