109th Spell: Bakotsu
"Didn't you tell me that your mother made meals?" Haru said to Rui. "Because so far, all of our meals have been served on their own."
"Not exactly," Peri said. "They're prepared by Kurōto."
"Kurōto?" Haru was confused.
"He's the Zashiki-warashi that occupies the kitchen," Rui explained. "When our father was alive, he would assist Mom with cooking meals while me and my sisters sometimes helped. But after Dad passed away, Momma was too busy at work to make meals for us."
"So Kurōto took over," added Peri. "His cooking is excellent, though it doesn't have the same personal touch that Mom's dishes had."
"But why haven't I seen him physically?" Haru asked. "I've seen Datsu, Wakaru, and the other Zashiki-warashi in this house, but not Kurōto."
"For some reason, he chooses to remain invisible unlike the other Zashiki-warashi," Gaane said. "I like to think it's because he's ugly."
"Or embarrassed because he and Mom are having a secret affair," Fuyou chuckled.
"That's disgusting!" Gyoku objected. "Mom wouldn't do something like that!"
When Haru looked confused, Rui explained, "If you haven't noticed, all the Zashiki-warashi look like children despite the fact that they live a very long time. So imagine a grown woman like my Momma kissing someone who looks like a child."
The moment Haru pictured that image Rui put into his head, it made him flinch from how gross that would be.
"But we don't know what Kurōto looks like," Gaane pointed out. "I've heard that some Zashiki-warashi look older than children if they've lived in a house for a very long time, or occupy sacred ground like the Kami Temples."
"How long have the Zashiki-warashi been in this house?" Haru wondered.
"Pretty much since the Days of the Wizard Lords, when our family ran the only secret trade route between Japan and the outside world," Peri said. "It was how the goblins that occupy Gaikin Bank came here along with things like wand and broom-making techniques."
"Then wands and brooms didn't exist here before the secret trade route?"
Shaking her head, Peri responded, "The native wizards of this land primarily used Wandless Magic, which is when you cast spells with your hands rather than your wand. I've heard it's not easy to master, but some wizards in other countries are better at it than others. And some magical beings like the House-Elves in Europe can do Wandless Magic fairly easily."
"We can use Wandless Magic too!" Datsu said, popping out of thin air next to Haru. "It's how we're able to stay invisible and move objects around without touching them physically since we're too short to reach things on our own."
"And instead of brooms, native Japanese Wizards used the Cloud-Summoning Charm to fly," Peri continued. "However, it only works if the wizard is constantly focused on keeping the cloud solid enough for them to stand or sit on which made long trips difficult to pull off."
"Yeah, but at least it's better than getting splinters from sitting on a broom for too long," complained Fuyou.
"Or thigh burns," added Gaane as she groaned.
An hour later, Haru and the Wataka siblings marched down to the beach below the cliff that Wataka Mansion was built on. There was a cool wind blowing along the sand while the waves swelled dangerously close to the shore. But Haru felt ichy in his riding outfit which consisted of a suit made entirely from Dragon-hide leather, calf-length leather boots, gloves, and a riding helmet that felt constantly damp against his pale forehead.
"There's a moisture spell etched into the inside of the helmet," Rui whispered to Haru. "It's to keep your hair from catching fire while riding a Bakotsu."
"I see," Haru remarked. "But what I don't understand is why we're learning to ride these things if this much protection is required."
"Every year, there's a Bakotsu riding competition which the most powerful Wizarding families attend to show off how talented their kids are," said Rui. "My sisters and I have always competed and won several awards, so Mom makes us keep up our riding skills to prepare us for each event."
"But it's going to be different this year since I'll be competing for the first time," Gyoku said. "I'm not sure how well I'll do, though…."
Just as Haru was trying to think of a way to comfort Gyoku, a strange sight appeared before him. From a cove next to the beach emerged the Nade Ushi ox driver Basha and he was leading a group of horses by their reins. However, these horses were just mere skeletons with different-colored flames in place of their manes and tails. Their eyes were miniature balls of fire that flared up occasionally.
"Oh, wow," Haru said with a gaping mouth. "I didn't think the Bakotsu would be so big."
"Well, they are the same size as regular horses," Gaane pointed out. "I'm guessing you've never ridden a horse before."
"No, my parents couldn't afford it," Haru answered. "I've always wanted to, but I didn't think it would be with these kinds of horses."
"You'll do fine," Rui said encouragingly. "Just stay calm and they'll trust you."
Rui then squeezed Haru's hand much to his surprise. While Gaane and Fuyou snickered at this, Peri briefly glared at them which made them look away.
"Do these things have names?" Haru asked Basha.
"Of course, Lord Haru!" Basha smiled. "Each one was given to a Wataka family member as a gift for their seventh birthday."
"Mine is named Hibana, and she burns anyone else who tries to ride her but me," Peri said as she approached the Bakotsu with the magenta flames on the far left.
"Gōka's mine," Fuyou said, patting the Bakotsu to the left of the center that had green flames. "He can be a bit short-tempered at times."
"Same with Mōka," Gaane added while heading over to the Bakotsu with blue flames next to Gōka on the right. "But she's the more easygoing one."
"And I love my Akarui!" said Rui as she approached the smaller crimson-flamed Bakotsu that was beside Hibana. "I partly named her after myself."
"So which ones are me and Haru riding?" Gyoku asked, noticing the remaining two Bakotsu.
One was a little taller than the other Bakotsus with white flames emanating from it, while the second one was smaller than Akarui and it had sunset-orange flames.
To be continued…