Sixth Spell: Yashinoki
While Haru collected as many of the coins from his mother's inheritance as he could fit in his jacket pockets, Higa explained the gold ones were called Ryōki, the silver Ginmo, and the bronze ones were called Sei. Once the vault closed, the goblin took the rail-cart down further till he reached another vault. Unlike the previous one, this vault was made of obsidian with a gold metal sun in the middle that had rays branching out.
"Vault 824," the goblin stated.
Like before, the mikari baba got off the cart and stood obediently by the vault door. This time the goblin didn't use a key to open it, and instead he traced his finger along the lower metallic rays of the sun. It made a musical sound that was both echoey and beautiful to listen to. After tracing a particular musical pattern, the rays retreated into the metal sun as the vault opened. Higa immediately entered the dark vault, and came out with a purple satchet around his neck.
"Don't mention this to anyone," Higa said as he tucked the satchet under his robe. "Otherwise I'll get into a lot of trouble."
Haru pretended to nod, though he couldn't stop thinking about what was inside the satchet that was so important. Back in the lobby of Gaikin, Higa led Haru out into Tateroji's main street again helping him figure out which shops he needed to go for the items to purchase for school. First, they went to Machi-Fujin's where seamstresses used strings made from pure magic to sew Haru's inner garments. Then for the brass scales and celestial globe, they were found at an astronomy-themed store. As for the tea set, it was purchased at Nemui-Obā's teashop which turned out to be the most expensive item on the list.
"Now all I have left to get is a wand," Haru said once they had purchased most of the items.
"Oh, that you can get at Yashinoki's place over there." Higa pointed to a building with a thatched roof made of palm trees. "You go on ahead. I'll meet up with you later."
Then Higa left before Haru could object. So reluctantly, Haru made his way into Yashinoki's. Inside was a one-room space with piles of sticks scattered about and a workbench at the back where a big man with tan skin sat carving a wand using delicate tools. Haru approached him nervously and waved.
"Hello," Haru said.
"Just a moment," said the big man in a soft gentle voice as he finished carving the spot he was focused on. Putting the wand down on the workbench, he looked up at Haru. "What can I help you with?"
"I'm here for a wand," Haru explained.
"Any kind you're looking for in particular?"
"Um, I don't know."
"Did your previous wand break?"
"What? I've never owned a wand before."
"Never owned a wand before?" the big man raised an eyebrow. "Have you been living under a rock or something?"
"You could say that. I'm an...Osozaki?"
Blinking in disbelief, the big man stood up abruptly. "Well, I'll be! I never thought I'd see an Osozaki in my lifetime! My granddaddy told me stories about them when I was your age, how they were more powerful than typical wizards with the best kind of wands to go with them. Ah, but where are my manners? The name's Gaeru Yashinoki, and making wands is my family trade! So what's your name?"
"H-Haru…Ryuji," said Haru with some hesitation.
Yashinoki looked surprised. "Aren't you 'The Boy Who Vanished'?"
"Um, yeah."
As Haru anticipated the same suspicious attitude the two men at the Tamaneko teahouse gave him, Yashinoki instead walked around the workbench and picked up Haru in a giant bearhug.
"I knew that story wasn't true, saying you had disappeared into thin air!" Yashinoki said, crying tears of joy. "Where have you been this whole time?"
"Living with…a Manai family," Haru said, struggling to breathe.
"Then your mother did die," Yashinoki muttered out loud as he lowered Haru. "I remember the day she walked in to get her first wand. She was so kind, so bright."
"Did my father come here too?" Haru asked.
"Of course he did. I know every customer who's come in here like the back of my foot!"
"What was he like?"
Yashinoki paused, folding his arms like he was uncomfortable. "A strange boy, he was. Though I never suspected his involvement with Warumo-Uragi like everyone else did."
"Is he still alive?"
"That I can't say for sure. He disappeared around the same time as you and your mother. But enough about the past! Did your Manai mom and dad bring you to Tateroji?"
"No, I was brought here by Higa."
"Rakurai Higa?" When Haru nodded, Yashinoki looked surprised. "I didn't expect him of all people to be babysitting for Headmistress Dōmeki."
"Why?"
"He has…a complicated past to say the least. Anyway, let's find you a wand!"
As Haru stood confused, Yashinoki went to a dresser behind the workbench. From the small drawers in the dresser, he pulled out a handful of wands that were beautifully carved from various types of wood with smooth inlaid handles. Then he fanned the wands out and held them in front of Haru.
"Now, close your eyes and pick the wand that resonates with you the most," Yashinoki said.
Though he still didn't understand, Haru did as Yashinoki instructed. His hand moved on its own and eventually touched a wand.
"Good choice!" Yashinoki exclaimed as Haru held up a wand that was pale tan with dark-red rings along the shaft. "That's a camphor wand with a dragon heartstring core, which makes it reliable and not likely to harm its user."
"You sound like the wand is alive or something," Haru remarked.
"But it is, in a way," Yashinoki claimed. "My granddaddy taught me: 'the wand and the wizard must be one'. That means the wizard and the wand have be in perfect synchronicity, since one cannot function without the other."
To be continued…
