Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 10
Chapter 19: What a Way to Run a Railroad!
(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)
It had been a week since the birth of Minara's newborn daughters as he was later brought back to New Capua on Claudius in which I was glad that they were safe at home. Still, I was receiving letters on a daily basis in which I was also reading and going through what went down on Alecrast. Letter after letter, I was reading how Shigeru was holding up as I felt concerned about going back on the battlefield in which I had to do something and aid his forces, for this was something that I had to do in order to put the damper on the Four Steward Houses' plans. When I placed the letters into a folder, I noticed Castiel appearing out of nowhere as he was concerned about the state of Alecrast and the others that were entwined in the Ashizoka System, for he was also fearing the worst of the eternal winter that was still up in the air.
"There's been an update from Lord Shigeru," he said to me.
"That's a surprise coming from him," I said.
"His forces had just taken out a weapons depot that belonged to House Dunford, but he didn't do it alone."
I got up from my chair in the sitting room as I sensed something wrong the moment I rushed outside to feel the cool air coming from it. To my shock, I saw a familiar face that I hadn't seen since our last encounter in the shrine near Jomon Village. It was Gordon Walker as he wasn't here to fight, for he had a warning to give me. Even Castiel rushed to my aid as he didn't trust the former vampire hunter who was turned into one of the creatures he hated the most, only to be made into something more, for he had a higher place where he was now.
"Sam Winchester in the flesh," he said as he stood firm. "It's been a while since I last saw you in Jomon Village near Mahoney land."
"Keep your distance, Gordon," said Castiel as he unsheathed his sword. "The Sam you know has been dead for centuries, for your audience with him is futile."
"Castiel… The last time I saw you, you were a drooling mess in Purgatory. And yet, you sport the Edward Elric look with that arm and leg. And another thing, you're looking at the King of Purgatory in front of you, so I suggest that you show some fealty."
"If you're wanting to tell us something before you leave, then I'll hear it," I said.
"It's about Shigeru Mitani and his habit for being a thorn in the side of House Arkhelios and the other Steward Houses that have been taking losses after that terrorist attack last year. A week prior, he went to a weapons depot and aided the resistance. Most recently, he had help with one of my own kind in which he got the leftovers when the pointy-eared menace was making strides just for your brother to ascend to the throne. Still, this threat of eternal winter is spreading all over not just Alecrast, but Drakonus, Westeros, and Valinor as well. For the record, the Alecrian Emperor must ascend to the throne before the end of the summer, for we can't let it slide much longer."
Gordon left without a trace as Castiel and I returned to the villa and went back to the sitting room. We looked at the letters that Shigeru sent me as they were the details and updates about the effort that he spearheaded as the battle against the Four Steward Houses was getting much worse. Still, there was hope in returning our family back to power as the time to put a damper on House Arkhelios' plans to tighten their grip on Alecrast's citizens, for we also had to offer up our support as soon as possible.
"Shigeru's way in over his head right now," I said.
"Lord Shigeru is fighting for your homeworld's freedom and the integrity not to erase the Alecrian royal family from existence," said Castiel. "His ways and means have caused the ire of what the Four Steward Houses have been doing over the years and it's not just the wars. It's about maintaining power and even taxing everyone there in which they refuse to hand over succession."
I noticed a few pages detailing a cake recipe as I looked at it carefully. I noticed Shigeru's handwriting on it as he was no stranger into making cakes from simple mixes to those made from scratch. All I hoped for was to pray for his safety as he was desperate to oust the Four Stewards from power, for this was a way to prevent the further threat of the eternal winter that was looming in the distance…
One week ago on Alecrast…
Shigeru was at the teahouse in Akatsuki as he was formulating a plan for his next raid. Even though he was travelling incognito, he was keeping up with his success to be a thorn in the side of the Four Steward House as they refused to relinquish power to the Alecrian royal family. By the time he finished his tea and paid for it, he left the teahouse as he walked towards the train station the moment he covered himself in his cloak and mask in which he noticed what was left of House Maitland's retainers still looking for him. He was no stranger in hiding in the distance as he went towards one of the rotgut rooms and began to formulate a plan to flush out those who were still refusing to relinquish power to the Alecrian royal family, for he was the one who first discovered what was buried for years while the Stewards were busy living off the fat of chieftains and other citizens.
"Well, Sammy, you must've been a hot-button issue back in the day…," he said to himself.
At that moment, Shigeru heard the sound of footsteps approaching as he went further into the underground area that connected to the rotgut room he was in. Armed with his sword, he was eager to strike as he ran towards a group of refugees that were arriving here in which he also spotted a familiar face leading them away, for she had to get everyone to safety as soon as possible.
"Ellen…," he said as he put his sword away. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Iago sent what was left of House Maitland to look for you," she said. "Matsuo and the others stayed behind to protect the Mitani Clan homestead in which he had to send his family away to Erebor."
"That's good to hear, but what about Jo and Ash?"
"They also stayed behind to protect the homestead in which they didn't want was left of House Maitland to ransack it like what happened in the Kingdom by the River."
"They could've went with you! Gramps always said that no elderly person gets left behind to travel alone."
"Ellen didn't travel alone," said Airi as he was there with the refugees. "Thankfully, Matsuo stayed behind to secure the homestead, but the Stewards have been wanting to tighten their grip on power because of what you found in which Sam and the others in his family also happen to be of royal blood, but serving in the Order all those years ago."
"We should settle here in the underground for now. As soon as I report in, I'll go and shut down what House Dunford is doing. Around here, they have a weapons depot in which they won't stop until they erase any trace of Alecrian royalty off the face of this planet."
And so, Shigeru directed the refugees to the further levels near the rotgut room as he was thankful that Ellen led the charge of getting them to safety. Even though the Mitani Clan homestead was next on the docket of Iago's temper tantrum, the worst would come in a bitter form as Shigeru was ready to go on the mission to destroy the weapons depot, for he couldn't let the Stewards get their way in this lingering mess imaginable…
The next morning, Shigeru was up as he was dressed in his cloak and mask. He was also eager to check up on the refugees who fled with Ellen as he had to know more about the situation that was going on in which the Stewards' ignorance of the terrorist attack was the last straw the moment they also ignored the continuing prophecies that the oracles have spewed out, only for karma to set forward in the form of cold spots, for the signs of the eternal winter was just the beginning of further woes imaginable. When he went to one of the rooms to check up on everyone, he noticed Airi standing guard as he was more than likely to be guarding Ellen for a while, for he didn't want anything bad to happen to her right now.
"You're up early," he said.
"At least Ellen and the refugees are safe for now," said Shigeru.
"Our homestead had taken a beating in which Iago still goes apeshit over anything that has to do with the deposition of the Alecrian royal family. Also, I'm glad that I had to get Ellen to safety in which she's no stranger to battle."
"And her past self lost her life during the Apoclaypse in the Elder Days just like Jo. Ash also lost his life in the Elder Days when the roadhouse burnt down. After that terrorist attack, instead of comforting the survivors and grieving families, the Four Stewards did nothing but stick their fingers up their asses just to ignore the Zenith Vectors and their hate-filled power trip."
"The battle against the Stewards didn't start with them ignoring the attack from the Zenith Vectors, for it started when we found something in the catacombs near Chekiang. It's been said that the Alecrian royal family have visited there before the time of the Morality Movement occupying the place for seven hundred years and kept everyone isolated. It was also the time that the Alecrian Emperor visited the chieftain who lived there at the time in which he offered food and medicine for those that needed it, but had to do it in secret. Still, traces of the Alecrian royal family were relevant in which the oracles have visited the outskirts of Kanto Village and found leftover tomes that were hidden by Henry-John, Clayton, and Carter for safe keeping."
"And may they rub the Stewards' noses in their own piss…"
Shigeru made his way to his study in his hideout as he got out some paper and a pen. He was writing a letter as he also wanted it to be addressed to me in which he was making sure that I was okay on Valinor. At the same time, he was fighting for the restoration of the Alecrian royal bloodline as he also couldn't shake the fact that most of the chieftains who ruled their regions have called for the return, but was met with opposition from the Four Stewards. With the looming threat of an eternal coming, he had to act swiftly as he was ready to act on dismantling House Dunford's weaponry in the process, for this was a time to cripple the efforts of the Four Stewards and bolster the support of the chieftains who lived and breathed all over Alecrast.
"You're really taking a bold risk," said Ellen as she entered into the room.
"After the war ended, we thought that the worst would be over, but we were wrong," said Shigeru as he finished writing the letter. "At that time while managing everyone in the Kingdom by the River, I did some digging in which the Four Stewards have been fleecing from the chieftains for years even after the ouster of the Alecrian royal family. Of course, everyone lived in extravagance, but the bulk of it had to go to the Karens who run this popsicle stand."
"Even though the Four Stewards have ruled during the First and Second Galvanic Uprisings, the battle against the Army of Cain, and the battle against the Elect, they still hold the keys to the kingdom just to hold onto power."
"For years, the oracles have tried to warn them not to deny the restoration of the Alecrian royal family to power, only to have their throats slit. And to top it off, we have the rise of cold spots on this planet as karmic retribution from the gods in which the only way to alleviate the problem is to restore the Alecrian royal family to the throne."
"Before I sought refuge with your grandfather in the Mitani Clan homestead, I was looking into further prophecies in which Dean is poised to be the Emperor here while being protected by a pair of silver dragons: one male and one female. The oracles have said that the future god and goddess of the Ashizoka System will emerge in the form of those silver dragons and vanquish House Arkhelios once and for all. We can only hope for the best, but we also know that Iago and Desdemona won't go down quietly. They're not the type that can let things go so quickly in which they already lost the support of House Maitland."
"And it's 'cause of the fact that the head Karens won't go away quietly. Still, we move towards the weapons depot in the region of Chiros where the town of Tiburon is located. It's a coastal town, but it's also got problems dealing with the Coyotes who up and fled after the war started and ended. We can take the train and get to it, but it'll be risky."
Shigeru was concerned about what was going on as he had a gut feeling that he would soon end up going solo to take out the weapons depot that was there. He was also thinking about driving the Impala as he missed that car, but it was far away on Valinor for now. Still, he had to focus on the mission as he had no other choice but to go it alone until he was stopped by a group of resistance fighters who had the Winchester Sigil painted on their robes, for they refused to let him go solo on this crucial mission.
"There's no way in hell that you're going alone," said Airi as he removed his hood.
"This is a very crucial mission here," said Shigeru.
"We can't stand by and let Alecrast be overrun by a group of Karens forever. This is our time to act or else we'll be spending the rest of our day playing hockey."
"Then, we'll do it… The train to Tiburon arrives in thirty minutes in which we'll board it and take out that weapons depot that House Dunford keeps on the sly."
And so, Shigeru got out his sword as he was putting on his cloak in which he was ready to put the clampdown on the Four Stewards. The train ride to Tiburon was already planned out as he led his group out of the rotgut room and upwards to the train station. When they saw the train approaching, they got into it as they were ready to put a stop to the weapons depot in their destination, for they weren't about to stop until they ousted the usurpers once and for all…
Meanwhile, back in the present…
I was still reading the letters as I was taking a break in the sitting room after taking care of the younger children in the nursery earlier. The correspondence I collected painted how Shigeru was still trying to hold himself together in which I also heard about what happened to the Mitani Clan homestead. I was also hoping to the gods that everyone got out safely in which I also lived and trained with Ippei at the time, for I felt concerned about what happened during my departure. Putting down the letter, I slowly got up as I went out into the backyard where the children were playing the moment I saw Fuyuka sitting on one of the swings, for she was missing her family after being separated from them after the attack at her home.
"I'm worried about Daddy," she said to me.
"I'm worried about him, too," I said.
"I hope that the big meanie with the bad temper doesn't hurt him… He's so scary…"
"Your father is a brave man. I also fought alongside him when I first met him in Gurusha on Gehenna. He was a good man who was there when the chips are down, but I can't get to him…"
I was worried about Shigeru as he was still busy putting his life on the line. Still, I prayed for his safety as I wanted to reach out to him in which I was trying to process on what happened during my absence. When I went back into the main house, I noticed Reuben standing in front of me as he was concerned about what was going on, for he wasn't here to address another assessment right now.
"There's been a shake-up," he said.
"I heard about the destruction of the weapons depot that House Dunford had," I said.
"I wasn't talking about that, Sam. From what I gathered, a cold spot was detected in the Drakonar city of Zetian where the ambush occurred. The weather there decreased to a cold thirty-five degrees with a harsh wind chill. Emperor Wan has issued a state of emergency after what was seen earlier, but we don't have much time left before the eternal winter freezes this place. We all know that Shigeru's busy busting his ass to put the kibosh on the Stewards, but we all know that he can't do this alone in which he's shouldering the burden in restoring Dean to the throne. Yes, the crown is heavy, but it's the price we're willing to pay if we're gonna be pulling our weight against both the Stewards and the Zenith Vectors.."
"House Arkhelios attacked the Mitani Clan homestead." Reuben gasps in shock as he heard this coming from me. "What Iago and Desdemona are doing is a personal vendetta not only to Shigeru, but to us in general. Once my furlough is up, I'll go and assist Shigeru in which I won't leave him hanging, nor let him fail in his efforts to stop the Stewards and end their reign."
"You're not going anywhere, Sam," said Castiel as he appeared out of nowhere. "Lord Shigeru will be safe, for he hasn't been fighting his battles alone in which most of our allies from the Order and other clans on Alecrast are aiding him as we speak, so there's no need to worry."
I went outside as I walked towards the harbor in which I saw the influx of trawlers bringing back their catch for the day. Still, I was thinking about Shigeru as I was praying that he would be safe from harm, for he had a much heavier burden when it came to leadership in general…
One week ago…, again!
Shigeru was on the train as he was on guard in which he had to tread lightly. He was on a passenger train to Tiburon as he was still keeping himself cloaked in order to avoid suspicion. When he saw the compartment door open, he saw Airi enter as he had his own weapons with him the moment he was eager to put a damper on the Stewards, for he was also wanting to restore the Alecrian royal family back to the throne before Alecrast ended up becoming like Gehenna. With the pressure mounting on the usurpers, they weren't going down without a fight as this was a battle that was crucial in order to prevent the eternal winter, for this situation has gotten from bad to worse right now.
"So, we're going to Tiburon," said Shigeru.
"We should tread lightly in which there's been some bad blood between the Four Steward Houses and the local government, so I suggest that we tread lightly," said Airi cautiously.
"I guess that King Karen must've went in and got into the cookie jar way too many times…"
"The local government and chieftain are on our side after what happened in which they literally despise Iago for causing this mess. Therefore, we've got help in the form of our small group in which we're not giving up our fight to restore our in-laws to the throne where they belong."
BOOM!
Without warning, a round from a rocket launcher rang out as it took out the bridge where the train was supposed to cross. Shigeru was fearing the worst as he saw several Zenith Vectors on another train while the rest were on an osprey. He had a gut feeling that the mission was going sideways as he was running out of options until he saw a dragon emerging from the sky in which it caught the train with everyone in it and carefully placed it on a different track. Shigeru looked out the window as he saw the dragon fly towards the Zenith Vectors on the train and attacked them with its claws, along with the ones in the osprey the moment it exploded in midair. He also saw another silver dragon coming as it didn't want anything bad to happen to him and the other passengers on the train, for he was thankful that he was safe from harm. Even Airi was shocked to see the two silver dragons protecting everyone as he was thankful that a tragedy was averted, for he was blessed to see them come to everyone's aid in the end.
"What the fuck just happened?" said Shigeru as he was stunned to see the silver dragons fleeing.
"This is what the prophecy told us about," said Airi.
"Those silver dragons saved our asses in which I can't wait to tell Sammy about this once we put the kibosh on House Dunford's weapons depot."
"As soon as we reach our contact, the better… For a long time, Iago and Desdemona called the shots behind the scenes, but the calls to relinquish power to the Alecrian royal family keep ending up on deaf ears. In the end of it all, if we don't bring the rightful heir to the throne back before the year is up, then this planet will suffer from the effects of the eternal winter that won't stop just here."
"I hear you there… The greedy Karens won't stop, but they're getting a taste of karma that'll bite them in the ass in the end."
Shigeru was now back on track as he had a mission to fulfill. Still, he had to stay on the mission as he also had to tread carefully when it came to the Zenith Vectors coming and going without warning. When the train stopped in Tiburon, everyone got off as they were safe after surviving a terrorist attack that was averted earlier. By the time Shigeru and Airi stepped out of the train, they were seeing smoke coming from the weapons depot as they had a gut feeling that the party started without them the moment they rushed over there. When they reached their destination, they noticed several retainers dead on the floor as they had their hearts removed in which Shigeru knew what killed them, for there were a group of werewolves that beat him to the punch in which he was thankful that they only got the bad guys in this mess.
"Looks like our backup went in for the all-you-can-eat buffet here," he said.
"Normally, werewolves often kill random prey, but they decided to order takeout," said Airi.
"Wait…" Shigeru pauses briefly as he realized who orchestrated the attack. "There's only one werewolf clan who has the gall to issue a kill order on any bad guy and that's House Fitzgerald. This isn't the first time they went in and pigged out in which they took out a few Zenith Vectors in their wake."
"In the Elder Days, the main progenitor of that clan was once Terran until he turned into a werewolf. Still, he had morals that he stuck by as his descendants chose to kill in the shadows instead of harming the innocent."
"Leave it to Garth and his descendants to lend us a helping hand… Still, we have to get rid of the weapons that were here in which we're not about to play possum. For the record, we got a job to do, for it's high time that the usurpers get their asses handed to them soon enough."
It wasn't long until they noticed a group of surviving retainers emerge as they were armed with their guns in their hands. They were eager to defend the weapons depot after they saw their comrades getting killed, for they refused to surrender like House Maitland did. They were also desperate when they were willing to defend the weapons depot, for it was one of a few that House Dunford had at its disposal right now.
"Look what the dog dragged in," said Shigeru as he unsheathed his sword.
"You don't scare us," said one of the retainers. "By the way, how's your daughter doing? Oh, Iago and his own retainers are longing to touch her once she's brought to Isildur…"
"Don't you dare put my little girl into your sick mess! Besides, you don't know where she is right now!"
"Oh, I already know, for I'll tell Iago once I reach him…" The retainer's eyes flash black as he was standing there with a smirk on his face. "You don't know what future your precious little girl has with House Arkhelios, do you? Once she is captured, then she'll be bearing children once she comes of age!"
"Is that what the Stewards obsess over? By wanting to molest my niece that is far away from our homeworld?" said Airi as he kept his distance. "You also had to slink into a dead man's corpse before your friends ended up becoming puppy chow in which the rest of them are even scared of the karmic consequences that the gods imposed."
"Oh, I've already told Iago anyway in which he also refuses to go to El Anillo del Fuego on Valinor after being banned from going there. Once Daddy's little girl is out of the village, then she'll be the belle of the ball and in the bed of the head of the Four Stewards."
Shigeru was trying to hold it together as he was concerned about the safety of Fuyuka. He wasn't about to let the demon in retainer's clothing get the better of him as he had to be careful when it came to being riled up in anger. It wasn't long until another mountain Orc arrived as he got off of his warg the moment he shot an arrow into the retainer's shoulder. What Shigeru and Airi didn't expect was that the Orc himself had arrows with Devil's Traps etched into them as he wasn't about to let the demon flee so shamelessly, for he wasn't about to let him go quietly.
"You're not running away this time," he said as he was ready to recite the Rituale Romanum when he got off of his warg. "Exorcizamus te, omnis immundus spiritus; omnis satanica potestas, omnis incursio…" The demon begins to struggle as it was trying hard to hold onto its host. "Infernalis adversarii, omnis legio, omnis et secta diabolica. Ergo draco maledicte, et omnis letio diabolica adjuramus te. Cessa decipere humanas creaturas; eisque aeternae Perditionis venenum propinare. Vade, Satana; inventor et magister omnis fallaciae, hostis humanae salutis. Humiliare sub potenti manu dei, contremisce et effuge; invocato a nobis sancto et terribili nomine, quem inferi tremunt. Ab insidiis diaboli, libera nos, Domine. Ut Ecclesiam tuam secura tibi facias libertate serviere te rogamus, audi nos. Deus Israhel ipse virtutem truderit et fortitudinem plebi suae. Benidictus Deus, Gloria Patri!"
The demon fled from the retainer's corpse as it was gone for now. As for the Orc who stepped in, he looked at the retainer's body as he closed his eyes forever and folded his arms, for he later prayed to the dead to go peacefully. Even Shigeru and Airi were aware of how the mountain Orc stepped in as he was huntilng for the stray demon who possessed that retainer, for he was also glad that the worst was over. When the rest of the retainers tried to flee, they were caught by members of the resistance who arrived in the nick of time, for they were screwed the moment House Dunford's weapons depot would soon be dismantled and inoperative after this.
"I finally exorcised the bastard," said the Orc as he pulled the arrow out of the retainer's corpse.
"Whoever you are, you sure must've picked up some tips from those popular Supernatural books," said Shigeru. "For someone who up and came here, you showed up late like the rest of us."
"This late bloomer has a name and it's none other than Unwin Fordyce of the Fordyce Clan who had friends and family members here and they've been wanting to flush House Dunford out for a while now."
"Well, the lunkheads from House Fitzgerald ended up pigging out on some of the people here before we arrived to flush out the rest," said Airi.
"The demon who housed the retainer had a knack for his spilling the beans, but he also knows that House Arkhelios has been banned from going to that village on Valinor after what Iago did to Emperor Esteban's widow. The bastard has a terrible reputation when he comes and goes to that planet just to ruffle the feathers of those caught in the crosshairs. The worst was when he was arrested, only for his sister to throw a tantrum if he wasn't let out. Therefore, Beryl Beauchamp had the gall to force the Dowager Empress Sayaka into releasing Iago out of his jail cell by using blackmail to disclose her medical records."
"That goes against the privacy between doctor and patient in which Reuben lays the smackdown on those who would resort to blackmail with this shit," said Shigeru. "House Arkhelios did more than just play with fire when they advised Beryl Beauchamp to use blackmail to get Iago out, but they've also kicked the hornet's nest for having one's medical records being dangled over them like a fish being attracted to a lure. They're not just resorting to blackmailers, but those who are fighting for their cause not to let go of power. The cold spots throughout the planet aren't just a sign, but a warning in which winter is coming and it won't go away quietly."
Shigeru was making his point clear as he was more than likely to be ready to scrap the weapons depot. When he went towards the rooms where multiple caches of guns and bullets were kept, he examined them carefully as they were unused, but corroded with age. When he saw Unwin enter, he was aware that everyone wanting to raid the depot have been had as he later noticed a hatch that had a lock over it. Using his large sword, he cut the lock as he opened up the hatch in which he saw that there was a stash of further weapons that were made for monster hunting, for it was yet a vault that was kept hidden, but unused by the Stewards. Even Shigeru was impressed to see such old weapons that were safe as he picked up a sword that shimmered as if it were forged with diamond dust. The katana that he found was crafted with brilliance as he read about such weapons that were crafted and left behind by the Draaza, for they made such tools for those who would follow the hunter lifestyle.
"I've heard of this weapon before," he said as he decided to take it with him.
"It's known as the Diamond Cutter," said Unwin. "It was made during the time of the Kamakura era in which creepy-crawlies crept all over while the unsuspecting Terrans were busy fighting against the Yuan Dynasty up until the Sengoku period where they fought amongst themselves for honor and land grabs. A Draaza weaponmaker crafted this using not only silver, wrought iron, salt, steel, and aetherial metal, but diamond. One such precious gemstone was crushed into a powder to add into the craftwork in which it made the sword more tougher for any samurai to wield back in the day. The last one who used this died alongside his master in which it was entrusted to the ones who crafted it before they left Earth. From what was heard, the man who wielded the Diamond Cutter wasn't from Japan, but was taken as a slave from his homeland before serving his master who reunited his country."
"I bet that he's resting easily now that his sword has a new master now."
Shigeru looked at the Diamond Cutter as he was happy to find it. Still, he had to find and secure the leftover weapons that were there as he later noticed a door that was unopened until he ended up unlocking it with a lockpick to get it open. When he got inside, he found himself in a room that was similar to that of a freezer. What he didn't expect was that there were seed and ovum samples that were in good condition as he noticed an empty vial that was on the ground. What he found was the smoking gun as he saw the words, "Yasuke né Eusebio of Mozambique, 1579," in bold letters. Still, he had to find out more about whoever housed the seed of the Diamond Cutter's former master as he saw a piece of fabric that had the motif of a stag on it, for he knew of whoever was here served the Mahoney Clan on Valinor.
"Did you find something?" asked Airi as he entered into the frigid room.
"Someone must've been here taking shelter from the time of the Orc Wars," said Shigeru. "As for whoever was here years ago, she must've been serving the Mahoney Clan in which later left for Valinor once the coast was clear."
Unwin entered into the room as he saw the fabric that was left behind in which he remembered the Lorien Elf who was stuck in the crossfire before she returned to her homeworld. He also saw that the fabric was crafted in the time when Torune Mitani was facing off against Lucifer in which he banished the archangel to his cage for all eternity, for this was an old find that was never brought to light until now.
"This fabric belonged to Lucinda Thibodeau," he said. "She was a Valinorian diplomat who grew up in an orphanage and made a name for herself. Her only flaw was when she encountered this place long before we were born in which she was artificially inseminated by the genes of a historic figure who died alongside his master."
"So, the Thibodeau Clan emerged in the form of a foreign retainer who served in the Sengoku era on Earth," said Airi. "I bet that Bruce and the rest of his clan don't know of this revelation."
"According to Gramps, Lucinda Thibodeau returned to her homeworld, but was with child in which she gave birth to a Half-Elf whose children later married other Elves over the centuries, but remained in service with the Mahoney Clan just like the real progenitor who served his lord till the bitter end. And by the way, the Diamond Cutter's former master had a name and he went by the name of Yasuke. Even though he's long gone, his legacy is a very conflicting one in which every moron who cries 'get woke, go broke,' were willing to erase his memory."
It wasn't long until a mixed group of the Order and the Alecrian Army arrived as they were astonished to find what was there. Shigeru was eager to report in as he was also there to secure the vault from those who would abuse the weapons that were found, for he had his reasons to tell the truth and take care of the Diamond Cutter that he now brandished. When he left the vault, he saw the influx of House Dunford's retainers being detained as he noticed them being put into a Sohma paddy wagon in which he was glad that the worst was over. Even though he got a break from the battle by aiding the resistance, he was staring at the sky as he was eager to see the twin dragons who came to their aid once again, for they were an omen that couldn't be ignored after all…
Meanwhile, back in the present…, again!
I was still busy looking over the letters as I also read the details about last week's raid on the weapons depot. To my surprise, I saw a sketch of a pair of dragons in the air as I had a gut feeling that I ended up travelling there, but not having any memory of what happened earlier. As for the other silver dragon, it was a female as it accompanied the male the moment they were sketched in taking out some of the Zenith Vectors that were causing havoc. Still, I was feeling hazy about my unmentionable activity as I also noticed Reiko entering into the sitting room in which she was wanting to confess to something, but to what? I had to hear her out as she couldn't hold it in much longer, for she was harboring a secret just as much as I did.
"I need to confess something, Sammy," she said to me.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Yes…" Reiko feels her hands shaking as she wanted to get something off of her chest. "A week ago, you and I returned to our homeworld in which we turned into dragons. After that, we returned back here in which we don't remember what happened next."
"From what Shigeru wrote in his letters, he saw the silver dragons bust up some Zenith Vectors that blew up a bridge near the town of Tiburon, only for one of them to take a train and place it on another set of tracks. The other one was making sure that Shigeru and the other passengers were safe and unharmed by those terrorists. The prophecy of a pair of silver dragons did save Shigeru from an early grave in which he's still going while having to deal with what was left of both House Maitland and House Dunford."
It wasn't long until I went towards the door as I saw a letter being slipped into the drop slot on the door in which I picked it up. Yet again, it was a letter from Shigeru as I opened it up and got more news about him crippling some of the Steward Houses' resources in which he was also aware of the cold spots that were slowly spreading on our homeworld. What I didn't expect was that he found further information about the Thibodeau Clan and their connection to a foreign retainer who once carried a Draaza's sword with him until his demise, for it was now in the hands of its new master on the horizon. I also noticed a photo of the sword that Shigeru found as it was made in the same wavelength as the Demon Killer, for it was something that was left untouched until now.
"You really opened up a can of worms, didn't you, Shigeru?" I said.
"You're right, Sammy," he said as he appeared out of nowhere. "I really did open up a can of worms."
"It seems that you visit from time to time, but you also have to manage the resistance."
"It's a tough job, but someone's gotta step up and put the kibosh on the Stewards. Sadly, the demon who occupied the depot told House Arkhelios about Fuyuka's whereabouts, but King Karen and his shitty sister refuse to step over here in which they've been banned from coming here, which is a godsend."
"It's because Lyra refuses to allow them footing after what Iago did to her. Till this day, she hasn't wavered nor took another spouse after Esteban's death. She's always watching after El Anillo del Fuego in which she harbors a hatred towards House Arkhelios more than anything."
"That's a good thing. The demon who spilled the beans never expected to see a ban in which he's banking on my little girl leaving the village, but she's too young to be out and about outside of it.
"Daddy!"
Fuyuka arrived as she rushed into Shigeru's arms. He was glad that she was safe as he was also pleased that House Arkhelios never came here so they couldn't invoke Lyra's wrath on the sly. Still, he had to return as he also didn't want to risk bringing her back home right now. I was also happy that Iago hasn't gone here after Lyra imposed the ban as it was also a blessing that kept Fuyuka safe, for she was protected by us who were all over the villa.
"You're far away from home," she said.
"I know, sweetie," said Shigeru. "Once Daddy stops the bad guys, you'll return to Mommy and Yagyu, but not now."
"I can't go anywhere anyway because those bad people won't come here because of Granny Lyra."
"That much is true…" Shigeru sheds tears as he was looking at Fuyuka. "Daddy's gotta go right now, sweetie… As soon as I stop the bad guys, the better we'll unite as a family again…, alright?"
I saw Shigeru vanish without a trace as I noticed Fuyuka crying in which I comforted her. I also had high hopes in what happened next as Shigeru was fighting a battle that was crucial in preventing the lasting effects of the eternal winter coming, for the threat of it was just the beginning of preventing the further fate that was in store for all of us in general.
"Your father is brave, but he's making sure that you're safe," I said.
"I know…," said Fuyuka as she wiped away her tears."
"We should bake a cake together," said Reiko as she was out into the sitting room. "It would be best that we do something together so that you wouldn't be sad all the time."
"That sounds great! We should find a decent cake pan other than the one that looks like a funny-looking rocket ship."
"A funny-looking rocket ship?"
I was embarrassed at what Fuyuka said as I also didn't want to use the one that was mentione earlier. Still, we had to keep her safe as she was happy that she was here with us, for she was also looking up to the ceiling with high hopes for the future.
"Don't worry, Daddy; you've got this," she said as she gave the thumbs-up.
To be continued...