《The Wind Blades》


 CHAPTER ONE

    Countless hours had been spent studying Tatsuya¡¯s movements, analysing his patterns, and trying to predict where he might go next¡ªand that frustration showed now in the way hurried footsteps dogged his, hardened leather soles tapping their frenzied dance against the stone-laid streets of the village, Ravenwood. Elusive he might be, his luck had finally caught up to him as¡ªthough the bastard of a lord, Kuro, sent his attack dogs here to investigate sightings of the Wind Blades¡ªsome had noticed him and were were determined to catch and bring him to justice, their own special brand of justice. Tatsuya¡¯s father had not survived it, and he had no doubt that should he be caught, this day would be among his last.


    They were highly trained, each with their own unique sets of skills and specialties, but so was he; even as he stumbled amongst tables and chairs in his way, tumbling wares in his desperate fleeing¡ªcertain that, sooner rather than later, his legs would be unable to hold up his torso, exhausted from exertion¡ªhe was still able to keep ahead of them while avoiding the rotten produce thrown at him by disgruntled marketers seeking compensation. His body was not too nimble but, aided by his control over the element of air, he was able to leap from side to side, dodging (from wall to wall) over people¡¯s heads and scaling outstretched poles to swing past windowsills, his tattered and dirty cloak billowing with every motion.


    Tatsuya scurried onwards, sometimes on all fours, smarting fingers scrambling to find purchase at whatever sill passing by him, air currents manipulated by his bare, bloody feet an extra springboard to launch himself further from his pursuers.


    He knew he was increasing the distance between them but, simultaneously, also knew every second he remained in the open was a second they could use to recover, set up surveillance, and prepare an ambush. He couldn''t allow that; though his kind, other elementals, was not built for endurance, lacking sturdy limbs in favour of gangly ones, he was built differently and only had to make it to where the fighting was¡ªas that way led to the Wind Blades, his freedom from his pursuers, and more importantly, a chance at fulfilling his promise and life¡®s purpose. As such, passing scenes of fears and frightful cries, lobbying shouts, and pointing fingers faded into any easily forgettable drone as he made haste over rooftops lit by the sun above.


    Intense.


    At that moment, he felt the true extent of his injuries: from the cuts on his face to the wicked bruises that dotted his flank, and the burning agony in his side and calf. His adrenaline was the only thing keeping him going and it was almost depleted¡ªhe knew he wouldn''t be able to keep up with such a pace for much longer as his steps grew heavier and heavier.


    Yet, he kept running. He couldn''t stop¡ªhe would run through the pain.


    Listening past his stomping feet and harsh pants, the sounds of fighting drew closer; the frustration of not being able to catch him and the fear of returning empty-handed had reached its peak. They would soon resort to using their element¡¯s long-ranged attack, uncaring about the poor saps milling about in the wrong place at the wrong time, and if asked why they did so in such a crowded area, they would simply blame him. Sad, poor saps, cowed by Kuro¡¯s iron-clad authority, would not say otherwise. They dared not.


    He knew he could stop and play hero, stop the impending massacre before it even occurred, but one among the many had brought this onto themselves¡ªhad, somehow, sighted the Wind Blades and snitched¡ªand so, he didn''t look back. He shook his head, steeled his nerves, and aimed upwards.


    Within himself, he reached for his control over air and fed it power, feeling the currents around him grow in might. A rush of compressed air slid down his legs, and with a mental compulsion, he was pushed away from the thatched roofs and sent airborne.


    His arms were a stabilising force in his short-term flight, and though he was focused on the sensation of the air around, rushing around his form with an intense, horrible sound¡ªlike the wail of a widowed wife¡ªhe was also aware of the figures cutting through the space behind him. He didn''t have the concentration needed to manipulate the air to impede their efforts as he escaped, but his passive ability, an instinctual awareness of the currents within his control range, allowed him to know the exact moment they stopped and got into a familiar stance.


    His scars itched from behind the bandages wrapped around his form in memory, but he was able to force the past, the baggage of loathing and pain, to the back of his mind and spun mid-air to face them. His mind worked in overdrive; his eyes tracked every individual jaw clench and tick in that split second, each extended arm and tightened muscle; his nose smelled the unmistakable scent of ozone, and his mouth tasted something metallic within.


    Lightning.


    Unfortunately, as soon as the thought crossed his mind, the element was generated between them and, with minimal movement, shot simultaneously in such a way as to combine into one larger, more powerful bolt¡ªand though it was only charged for a short time, there was no doubt of its lethal capability, and so, he couldn''t afford the attack landing.


    In theory, air could affect the direction of lightning¡ªa concentration of the currents could draw the charges away from his person¡ªbut, in practice, before he could even widen his eyes, he was struck by it, and a loud boom followed in its wake.


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    It was only his passive that allowed him to surround himself with, hopefully, enough compressed air as he fell back on ingrained skills¡ªrelaxing his muscles as much as possible¡ªso, instead of dying immediately from a simultaneous cardiac and respiratory arrest, he only suffered from the other bodily damages. If Tatsuya could, he would have delivered a sardonic chuckle at that; as it was, however, his vision went blind, and he cried out as his body seized up in tight contraction before letting it draw to a quiet pain-filled hiss.


    Although it was hard to focus his thoughts, this wasn''t his first time dealing with lightning; he had enough presence in his mind to react appropriately. Air was expelled violently beneath him to, literally, fling himself in a random direction, hopefully far away from the attack dogs, to guarantee his safety.


    He wouldn''t have attempted such before, but now, with the other option being falling unconscious where he could easily be captured, again, broken bones and rent flesh¡ªhell, even landing in a trash heap and having his wounds infected¡ªwas highly preferable. However, because he could do nothing to soften his landing, he blacked out after the first impact against a rooftop.


    Although he still had the characteristic grey eyes of an air elemental, as those were indicative of the elements they manipulated and constant, Tatsuya was different from the norm; where others were usually lithe and flexible, shaped by his ordeals, his muscles were pronounced; he was of average height and tawny in contrast to their tall, pale figures; and deeply scarred (hence the need for bandages) where most of his kind could go their entire life without receiving major injuries¡ªand, so, when his mind came to full awareness, and he blinked his eyes open, he knew he had not been unconscious for long. The sounds of fighting, closer now than it was before, supported that assumption.


    For a moment, as he lay motionless on the ground, he tried to regain his composure¡ªthe fallen roof of the building he crashed into creating a mosaic of fractured wood and shattered tiles around and beneath him, an intricate jigsaw puzzle of destruction. However, that proved harder than expected as despite his hardier constitution, his injuries were debilitating enough that every haggard breath he took accompanied a pained hiss. Salty tears, mixed with the bitterness of iron, fell from his torn, weathered face¡ªwhich hinted at a life filled with hardships¡ªin minute drops, spurred on by the blood drumming to the ferocious beat of his heart.


    Though less of a concern at the moment, he couldn''t help but note his lips were parched, his thirst made worse by the golden glow of the sun and the dust-choked air.


    Yet, regardless of his body¡¯s wishes, he knew he could not remain where he was forever. To do so would be to accept death, and until he fulfilled his promise (achieved his life¡¯s purpose), it was unlike him to be compliant.


    One step, his mind whispered in tandem with each shift of his tortured muscles, urging himself to stand¡ªa simple task that, ironically, took all he had to accomplish¡ªuntil he rose to a kneeling position and from it to his feet. Throbbing pain from the dozen wounds barely registered, drowned out by the single-minded focus of his mind, heightened by the unacceptable possibility of failure. Nothing else mattered as he soldiered on; not his exhaustion, the guilt he bore at his actions, nor his legs, shattered from the rough landing, could temper his tunnel vision. He simply dragged the limb behind him.


    Outside the dilapidated building (isolated, it seemed, from the rest of the village and amidst a scene of collateral damage), he could smell, above the acrid concoction of sweat and unwashed bodies, the pervasive scent of death carrying through the air from broken and mangled bodies pinned underneath large chunks of debris, their frantic cries growing increasingly weak with each passing second¡ªand even above that, the cries of men amidst a sticky sea of red; the odd ring of sharpened steel; the meaty thwack of harsh impacts from crashing and twisting figures; and most importantly, the arcane howls of the elements, the very powers of nature themselves brought to bear by both sides.


    All around Tatsuya was nothing but a whirlwind of violence and suffering, a clash of ideals, of the ever-romantic view of right and wrong, born from the wills of a megalomaniac king and the desperate yet organised (and some might say, righteous) gamble of a group seeking to end the tyranny.


    He didn''t like them¡ªdestruction unfailingly dogged the Wind Blades¡ªbut he didn''t need to like them or truthfully pledge allegiance to their cause (whatever it was) to use them. While they focused on the king¡ªfoolish, really, as no sane person wanted the royal family¡¯s attention on them¡ªhe would go after the owner of the attack dogs, Kuro. He would kill, no, murder the bastard; he had promised himself, and until he satiated that particular thirst, he would not rest.


    But how would he integrate himself with the group?


    A hand shakily came up to keep himself from falling as he stumbled upon a scene, a man in a battered uniform standing over the kneeling form of a woman hidden in the shadows of an artificial outcrop¡ªpale, greatly injured and, most importantly, unintentionally separated from her allies¡ªand a grimace worked its way to his lips as the answer to the question dawned on him.


    He would save one of the members from certain death, and that life debt, plus his present state, would ensure they take him with them when they eventually escaped the confines of Ravenwood. He would deal with gaining their trust when he reached that bridge.


    One last attack was all Tatsuya was capable of now, but it should serve as a sufficient distraction.


    Positioned so that only the woman could see him, he reached for the last of his strength as her eyes locked on his. Even as the man freed a weapon from its holster and raised it with both hands, lightning coating the short blade for the extra fuck you, her gaze remained fixed in an admirable display of control, despite the visible fear, a plea for help, written in the lines on her face.


    One deep breath and he obliged her silent request; his shredded cloak fluttered around the debris-littered ground. A summoned gust lifted one particular slab, and a jerk of his hand (compulsory due to his state) sent it flying to the man¡¯s head. The weapon fell from the man¡¯s grasp, but he didn''t remain awake long enough to see what happened next as his body was unable to resist his exhaustion any longer. However, the sudden characteristic swoosh of flames and the subsequent smell of char and scream, masculine and high-pitched, painted a macabre picture he easily understood.

 CHAPTER TWO

    Instincts born from years spent living in danger made Tatsuya¡¯s sudden awareness, as he woke up nude and lying twisted like a cut marionette on an incline, an unpleasant experience¡ªthat, and he found himself enveloped on all sides by things that, with each bodily twitch, squished, cushioned, and prickled. Yet, he didn''t open his eyes, but instead, being careful not to change the rhythm of his breathing, listened and tried to take stock of the unfamiliar surroundings through his other senses.


    Not unlike the rest of his body, his nose felt assaulted, almost to an absurd degree; the air around him was thick with the scent of death, the pungent aroma of decay of rot, and above that was a, frankly, eye-watering level of buzzing carpeting the area, interspersed by ticklish sensations crawling within and over him.


    More than a little worried, he forced his rusty and heavy eyes open, and though, at first, his vision was blurry, once his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the moon¡ªand the small torches held aloft¡ªpanic and disbelief set in; he found himself lying amidst a pile of dead bodies, their cold, lifeless bodies pressing against him from all sides. Some were missing limbs, while others had gaping wounds that spilled their entrails onto each other, and feasting upon them were maggots, their tiny bodies wriggling and squirming.


    The sight was enough to make him gag, the taste of bitter bile rising in his throat, and he tried to turn away from the stench, from everything really, but his limbs refused to cooperate. It seemed the minor innate healing factor elementals possessed couldn''t do much for him, and because he had not fully recovered, he was trapped in a hellish landscape of death and decay, vomit trailing from his upturned face.


    The realisation that he had been presumed dead heightened the despair he felt bubbling beneath the surface, and only his anger at his helplessness kept it at bay. He wanted nothing more than to free himself from the pile of corpses¡ªthe stench was suffocating, and the insects were relentless, their tiny bodies covering every inch of his skin¡ªand, ensuring to breathe only through his mouth, began the painful process of rolling onto his stomach. The crunch of bones and the squelch of flesh under his hands, he could do without, but he endured the disgust (along with the pain he felt) and pulled off the manoeuvre.


    Unfortunately, he was left feeling winded; only his head and arms moved now and with a great deal of effort. Fortunately, the new position afforded him a greater view of his surroundings, and he realised he was in a small clearing in a dense forest, with the only signs of civilization being a narrow path that led out of said clearing and (to his shock) the shapes of hooded figures milling a fair distance away. He wasn''t able to make out any specific features, apart from the lack of a general uniform beyond the cloak they all wore, but they were most likely the village¡¯s undertakers¡ªthough why they were five, he didn''t know¡ªand, assuming him to be another corpse among the many, they paid him no attention to his dismay.


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    He sought to dissuade them of that notion, but his voice was barely audible, even to his ears, and he found himself slumping where he lay. At that moment, giving up seemed so easy. After all, he was trapped, immobilised in his own body, with the pain and helplessness threatening to overwhelm him¡ªbut he had not come this far just to quit. His ploy had failed; the Wind Blades had not acted in the way he had imagined, had hoped, but that didn''t mean all was lost. As long as he was alive, another opportunity would rear its head, and so, regardless of the metaphoric weight on him¡ªtelling him to accept this slow and disgusting demise¡ªhe would endure the pain, find a way to survive, and fulfil his spirit-damned promise.


    With a desperate groan and the hopes he would notice something that could help him, Tatsuya forced himself to spread his senses further. Immediately, regret flashed across his mind as he allowed his nose to do its job again, but the feeling was muted by his usual single-minded focus. Beyond the smell of death were those of musty air, damp earth, and the tang of metal. He pushed past the rough and sticky texture of the bodies around him and the sensations of movements in and on him until, though hampered by said bodies, he felt the ripples in the nearby currents skirting the ground, the odd tremor of shifting earth.


    Even if he thought they were Kuro¡¯s attack dogs in cover, sifting through the corpses for him, that just invalidated the opinion, and he was glad for it.


    Renewed strength and determination surged through him, and he slowly got his arms beneath him, finding he could push his torso a few inches off the makeshift ground¡ªand though that was all, it was enough for him to look in the direction of the nearby, suspected earth elemental. His arms shook stupidly, but he gritted his teeth and ignored the thickly intensifying pain assaulting his body, praying to the spirits he held himself long enough to gain the hooded figure¡¯s attention.


    Sadly, it wasn''t to be, and unable to keep his arms still, he collapsed. He tried to catch himself, but lacking the required strength and with no hands to soften the impact, his open mouth welcomed the mess beneath him. Again, he retched, and at that moment, he cared not for anything other than ridding himself of the foul texture on his tongue.


    His body was a disastrous whirlwind of movements as he frantically scratched at his tongue and throat, and even as his vision deteriorated and the small, lucid part of his mind knew his reaction was over-the-top and self-destructive, his mind¡¯s greater whole cared not for his injuries or that his actions were exacerbating them¡ªan ironic coping mechanism. The ordeal was too much for him to handle, so his mind fixated obsessively on the one thing he could handle, the shit in his mouth.


    Thankfully, there was a silver lining in his mental breakdown; he was finally noticed by one of the hooded figures¡ªand even amidst his flailing, though it was starting to taper off in favour of unbearable agony, he could make out a pale hand emerging from beneath the folds of the cloak. Fire bloomed to life on the upturned palm, just enough to light up the area, and a gasp loudly sounded.


    ¡°You are alive?¡±


    The pale woman Tatsuya had saved earlier spoke in a low, hurried voice, shock evident, and without waiting for a response¡ªnot that he could give one in his state¡ªnor a second thought, it seemed, she came to his rescue, hauling him out of the heap to lay him gently on the ground. His last sight before sweet darkness claimed him was the strange beauty of her face, the sharp angles of her features, and the amber eyes that seemed to glow in the night.

 CHAPTER THREE

    Seated on a bedroll under the open sky, in nothing but tattered shorts and bandages, Tatsuya stared unblinkingly at the dry woods and leaves crackling away in the fire, his mind slowly coming to terms with the previous night''s events. Even the smell of cooking meat and spices¡ªmingling with the sounds of nickering horses and low chatters of conversations¡ªwasn''t enough to draw his attention away from his thoughts.


    The memory of the experience plagued him¡ªthe sensation of the insects crawling over his skin, one he would never forget¡ªand he had to ask himself, was his life¡¯s purpose truly worth it? In the span of a day, he had endured more horrors than most would in their entire lifetime, and it was his luck that the Wind Blades had enough healing potion on hand to prevent his death¡ªand wasn''t that a sobering realisation? Without their interference, he would have eventually succumbed to his injuries or infection (whichever came first) and died and, afterward, burnt to ashes and buried with the other corpses.


    Tatsuya was no stranger to death¡ªin this world, on this continent, Tartaria, especially, even children weren''t spared from such horrors¡ªand, unlike most, he didn''t care what happened to him as long as he fulfilled his promise, yet it seemed the almost surreal spectacle surrounding this particular brush with death had thrown him for a loop.


    Even though it had ended up working out for him, it still left a bitter taste in his mouth, a constant of his mortality¡ªhuman fragility¡ªmore so than any other near-death experiences he had in fights or tortures he endured.


    Eventually, the strain got to his eyes, and he found himself drawn to the man¡ªlightly tanned, sandy-brown hair and strong features set in a heavy-set body¡ªapproaching him: Jao, the earth elemental and leader of the Wind Blades. Though Tatsuya didn''t make it obvious, despite the lingering aches and stiffness, he was prepared to fight, and so too was this man, green eyes friendly but fingers tapping around the shaft of a war hammer strapped to his belt.


    However, once Jao was a comfortable distance away, he spread his arms wide, implicitly showing he had no intention of attacking¡ªand, even as Tatsuya quietly exchanged greetings and accepted the bowl of broth with gratitude, he didn''t let his guard down.


    However, he wasn''t so paranoid as to resist help, and once the unsaid permission was granted, Jao knelt, and his strong fingers rose to adjust the bandage wrapped around Tatsuya¡¯s face (as the man was the one to nurse him back to health), and create enough of a gap for his mouth before settling down beside him.


    Tatsuya¡¯s stomach growled appreciatively as he finished, having drunk the broth straight out of the bowl, but he knew it wasn''t satiated yet; his gaze was drawn to the fire again, though this time, it was to the meat roasting on a spit. When was the last time he tasted such?


    Jao laughed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you can have more broth, but wait so we can see if it will stay down.¡± The man caught Tatsuya¡¯s eyes straying back, lingering for a few moments in thoughtless contemplation, and his demeanour became more serious. ¡°Your body isn''t ready for solid food yet. It will just come back up.¡±


    ¡°What do you want?¡± Tatsuya¡¯s tone wasn''t rude, merely curious, yet it seemed to affect the man all the same as he leaned in, uncomfortably close¡ªenough to pick out the faint silvery lines of minute scars etched into his skin and the prickly unshaven whiskers.


    A tiny, tiny insecure part of him¡ªlong since thought buried and forgotten in the recess of his mind¡ªcouldn''t help noticing that, unlike him, the scars seemingly accentuated Jao''s natural charm.


    ¡°Why don''t you explain why you rescued our little Farah?¡±


    Tatsuya was grateful for the question, even if it took him by surprise¡ªwhich shouldn''t have happened as it was expected to be asked sooner or later¡ªbecause it dissauded him from treading that old line of thought, though he was able to hide the tell-tale reaction from his face skilfully, maintaining his composure with a control he usually reserved for his element. Not that it was needed, he supposed, as every inch of his body was swathed in bandages and, as an earth elemental, Jao had a truly broken passive ability: should the man need it, constant awareness of every twitch people made (due to minute vibrations) as long as a part of them touched the ground.


    It made reading people easy, at least for those that trained the passive, and Tatsuya had no doubt Jao did. Even though it was a purely arbitrary rank, he was sure every member of the Wind Blades was a master of their elements in their own right, with or without specialties, or else they wouldn''t have lasted this long.


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    ¡°I¡ª¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡± A hand was raised, and although the man¡¯s words were directed at Tatsuya, his face was turned toward the two watching them curiously. One in particular, Leia, the resident, bandaged, lightning elemental¡ªa striking blond with untamed hair that mirrored her boisterous character¡ªhad no shame and was making her eavesdropping obvious.


    Jao shook his head with a frown before returning his gaze to Tatsuya. ¡°I think we should take this conversation somewhere private.¡±


    Jao gestured for him to follow, and Tatsuya slowly complied, staying close to the man as they walked to the outskirts of the camp. The frustrated groans from Leia, loud and obnoxious, went ignored, but the subsequent sounds¡ªchatter, as their interest shifted from him to more mundane topics¡ªhelped ease his tension and relax him somewhat.


    As he was led to a tent, its front pulled open and back, he noted the absence of Farah and another member, Zoel¡ªa dark-skinned, bald vine elemental (usually wearing a wide-brim hat of unknown make) with an odd seal for a companion¡ªbut the arching forms of vines over the treetops was enough of a clue as to why.


    Within, cushions were arranged in a vaguely circular pattern, and as Jao took the nearest one that faced the entrance, he motioned for Tatsuya to sit. Ensuring the entrance was kept similarly in sight, Tatsuya did so¡ªexcept his seat was a fair distance away from the man¡¯s¡ªand as he shifted his weight awkwardly, a sardonic chuckle escaped his lips. How far had he strayed from the air elemental¡¯s teachings that an earth elemental¡ªone of those famed for their rigidity in characters and the element they manipulated¡ªcould easily sit, legs fluidly crossed, while he was stiff?


    The answer was as obvious to him as Jao¡¯s confusion at his action, but a wave of his hand dispelled both, and before the man could take the reins of the imminent conversation and pose the question again, Tatsuya quickly tried to think up an appropriate answer.


    Though the Wind Blades were out to get the king (for reasons only they knew), which meant they would have to deal with opposition from the various lords, including Kuro, the group didn''t go out of their way to fight them. In actuality, they were known to flee the moment the attack dogs were sighted, and due to this behaviour, most thought them cowards.


    However, Tatsuya was of the mind that they were pragmatic. Fighting the lords would be a bloody and drawn-out affair they would eventually lose, so it was easier to avoid them (unless impossible) and focus on securing that one golden opportunity to murder the king¡ªwhich meant that should he disclose his goal, he would be sent packing.


    He couldn''t tell them the whole truth, but anything would be preferable to a straight-out lie; apart from Jao¡¯s passive making such action difficult to execute without coming off as unnaturally stiff, he wasn''t also in a great position to bargain.


    It was true he had rescued Farah, and due to their negligence, he was almost burnt and buried (and definitely traumatised), but all debts were considered paid once he was given the healing potion. The product was not freely distributed in Tartaria, as it was embargoed by the royal family, along with every other sorcerer-made product¡ªand he doubted the king had authorised his enemies to have any¡ªso the group must have smuggled it in, most likely from said sorcerers, and that would cost more cowries than he had ever possessed.


    Also, they had used a significant, if not all, portion of it on him, which was (unfortunately for him, yet honestly speaking) an equivalent enough exchange and levelled the playing field.


    So, what could he do?


    ¡°Why did you rescue Farah?¡±


    Tatsuya could beg, discarding his pride and dignity in pursuit of fulfilling his promise, but that had less chance of working than paying them off, and even the latter wasn''t an option he could even consider since he currently lacked every basic living necessity. The alternative was to go after Kuro on his lonesome, but though he knew he was skilled, he wasn''t so blinded by his hate (or delusional, he might add) to believe himself a better combatant than the bastard.


    At this moment, he needed an answer that would not only satisfy Jao but also get them to help him; however, as he racked his brain, no viable idea came forth.


    ¡°I saved Farah¡¯s life because I¡­¡±


    Maybe he was going about this the wrong way. Getting them to help him directly against Kuro wasn''t possible now, but what about later? What about indirectly?


    His mind recalled an earlier question he posed internally: how would he integrate himself with the group? Sure, the option of saving a member and joining as a favour was gone, but what if there was another?


    His thoughts screeched to a halt, a veritable eureka moment like those seen in the plays, and, he allowed a grin to form on his lips. However, although relief eased the weary droop of his face, reality demanded minute, uncertain shifts in his expression. He knew there was a possibility his idea might not work, but it was the only way he could think of that would allow him to remain with the group and prepare himself for his eventual fight against Kuro¡ªand maybe, just maybe, if things panned out well, he would gain enough of their trust to persuade them to join in the fight when that time came.


    So, even as he continued his words with false confidence, the reason he had quickly constructed¡ªsprinkled with the truth, or, at least, half-truths to fool Jao¡ªflowing out with an ease that belied his thoughts, he found himself hoping it worked. The die was cast, and either a new chapter of his life was about to unfold, or this was his end, and spirits knew he preferred the former.

 CHAPTER FOUR

    The silence was long and deafening, a heavy stillness hanging in the air ¡ª as if the normal breeze had taken a leave of absence. Despite his assumptions, Jao ended up remaining quiet, and though Tatsuya quickly found his patience wearing thin, he dared not open his mouth and break the silence yet. He had decided on a course of action, and couldn''t risk damning himself, so he swallowed back his words and kept his eyes on the man, whose stare was intense, eyes hard with an unidentifiable emotion ¡ª and at that moment, Tatsuya swore he saw something in the man¡¯s eyes, then, it was gone and Jao sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose.


    The change in action had him relaxing slightly ¡ª annoyance was preferable to whatever the fuck he had seen, or worse, suspicion ¡ª and, unsurprisingly, he was caught off-guard, a strangled gasp escaping his lips, when the ground below him rose to envelop him, leaving just his head free of the element¡¯s hold. It was then he realised his mistake; for all that the Wind Blades were friendly and willing to help most, they were still a group of elite warriors. They weren''t stupid.


    The leader, Jao, had ¡ª whether through his own machinations or he had simply taken advantage of the spirit-given opportunity ¡ª taken Tatsuya away from the other members, potential hostages should the situation devolve, to a secluded area where he could freely act with no disturbance; where Tatsuya could be brought without arousing any suspicion; where the only thing protecting Tatsuya from direct contact with the ground was a flimsy, albeit soft and comfortable, cushion.


    This wasn''t some normal conversation; this was an interrogation, and Tatsuya had willingly walked into it. He didn''t know whether to baulk at his stupidity or commend the man¡¯s foresight.


    ¡°You expect¡±¡ªJao¡¯s brows drew together and he frowned¡ª¡°me to believe you saved Farah¡¯s life, while also on death¡¯s door, just so we can train you?¡±


    Tatsuya would have shrugged his shoulders if he could, but he was as still as a statue and so settled for levelling a flat gaze at the man in lieu of a proper reply.


    ¡°Spirits, I wasn''t born yesterday. Tell me the entire truth, or I will assume you are a spy and act accordingly.¡±


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    Jao had just shown that he wasn''t a foolish man; he must have known that air elementals had an instinctual awareness of the currents, through which they could sense movements (and thus, people), and most didn''t need their extremities to manipulate the element ¡ª which, when combined, meant that trapping him, rather than immediately killing him, didn''t mean the other members of the group were safe ¡ª so it was possible the man was banking on speed being the deciding factor.


    Although the man didn''t know he was skilled and, so, capable of sucking the air around him out or affecting another area that was within his control range (to a limited degree), Jao must have considered such a possibility and worked around it. After all, regardless of an air elemental¡¯s considerable speed ¡ª due to using the element to augment their capabilities ¡ª there was none faster than a thought.


    A single thought was all that was required to perform basic feats with one¡¯s element, and, enveloped as Tatsuya was, it wouldn''t take much effort to crush him before he tried anything. Even as his mood worsened, he could admit a part of him was impressed by the foresight, but the greater part was stuck between cursing at the spirits for his foul luck and cursing at Jao for being brilliant.


    ¡°For the last time, I will ask again.¡± There was so much pressure being exerted on his body, especially his bones, that it took all he had not to scream out loud. Still, he couldn''t help the tears that welled up at the corners of his eyes, thankfully hidden from view by his bandages and lowered bangs. ¡°Tell me the entire truth.¡±


    They both knew he was well and truly fucked, and so, not willing to die, Tatsuya admitted the truth through gritted teeth.


    ¡°I want to kill Kuro.¡±


    If he couldn''t even defeat Jao, what hope did he have of defeating the bastard? And wasn¡¯t that another sobering realisation? He wasn''t even able to defeat the attack dogs, and though his condition had played a part in his retreat, the point still stood.


    He chuckled quietly. ¡°I wasn''t lying when I said I needed training, but you can''t blame me for withholding some information. If I told you I''m going after Kuro, you will send me packing. The best option, the only option I could think of, is to ask for training so I can do the deed myself.¡± His words were choked out in a barely audible voice, the strain of admission apparent. ¡°I see now that I''m truly in need of it.¡±


    As silence ensued once more in the tent, he could feel all the composure he gathered waning. At that moment; if he could dig his fingernails into his palms until they bled, he would do so; if his breathing wasn''t hampered, his chest would have felt like it was going to explode with how fast his heart pounded; if he was stronger¡­


    Taking strength in the currents ruffling his hair from the open flap, he forced himself to relax ¡ª as much as he could in this situation ¡ª and raised his head, levelling a look at Jao.


    ¡°I can tell that you suspect the training is also a ploy to gain your group¡¯s trust so that I can convince you to help me kill Kuro, and I won''t lie, it is ¡ª but believe me,¡± his voice was still quiet, but he tried to make it steady and determined as possible, almost daring the man to challenge his words, ¡°if you train me until I''m strong enough to kill the bastard, I won''t ask you to fight with me. I''ll do it myself, and after I''m done, I promise I''ll help you kill the king ¡ª I¡¯ll willingly sacrifice myself to see your plans come to fruition.¡±


    A pause to catch his breath, then;


    ¡°So, what do you say, Jao?¡±

 CHAPTER FIVE

    The Wind Blades had decided, somewhen in the night and without Tatsuya¡¯s input, to depart before the first rays of the morning sun made an appearance ¡ª and so, after a short breakfast (a day-old bread and cheese), all signs of the camp was erased; the tents were dismantled and packed away, the last night¡¯s ashes were spread into the trees, and dirt and leaves covered where the campfire had been.


    Tatsuya could tell Jao was anxious to have everyone moving, in case Kuro¡¯s attack dogs were searching for them, as the man¡¯s narrowed eyes scanned the surrounding woods in the clearing ¡ª even as he barked orders and proffered bundles of clothes for the group. As a tentative member himself, Tatsuya was thankful for said bundle and rushed to replace his tattered shorts with a shirt and pants. Although they were baggy enough to fit him half-over, they were in a better condition and, if necessary, a spare piece of twine would keep them up.


    While clothes weren''t strictly needed, as air elementals knew how to regulate their body temperature with their breathing, it (along with the cloak; coarse yet clean and definitely not his) would hide his full-body bandages from curious bystanders ¡ª at the expense of suspicion, maybe, but that was manageable, and there were bound to be others in similar wear.[1]


    He wasn''t given any sandals or boots, but it also wasn''t needed; they were going to be riding and his feet were calloused enough to handle any stretch of the journey that necessitated walking.


    Satisfied, he approached the group as they gathered around Jao, mindful of the whisperings and furtive looks cast his way.


    ¡°We¡¯ll be heading for the capital, Eldria,¡± the leader said, glancing at everyone individually before settling his eyes, momentarily, on Tatsuya, ¡°but our horses are still tired, and won''t be able to travel far in the meantime, so we will stop at Elmwood and lodge at an Inn for some time.¡±


    The thought of a warm bed and warmer food made him ache, but he dared not dwell further on it. The Wind Blades were, technically, criminal rebels, which meant any notice of them was to be reported immediately ¡ª and failure to do so was, usually, punished severely.


    Tatsuya flicked his eyes toward Jao a few times, trying to impart his line of thought; the man, as had shown, was quick on his feet and didn''t need longer than a few seconds to decipher the expression sent his way and answer.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this isn''t our first time sneaking into a village. We won''t be reported.¡±


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    That was the last of it; soon after, everyone but Tatsuya wrapped clothes around their heads and over their mouths to hide their identities, and with a few more whispers, it was decided (without his input again) that he would ride with the last male member, Rei; dark-skinned and tall with a low haircut and piercing blue eyes.


    There were no objections from either of the two and, with a sharp bark from Jao, the group was off, weapons visibly on their person.


    The journey to Elmwood was slow, the road long and dry, the sun above a merciless weight that brought with it a heat only a few members were able to ward off with their elements. The dust rose with each horse¡¯s hoof falls, coating most of their clothes and skins in a thin layer of dirt and grime.


    The journey was tough, but they were tougher. They were elite warriors used to travelling, after all, and even Leia, the most outspoken member, only complained half-heartedly to stave off boredom. Others were silent, focused on keeping eyes out for any ambush because the road was dangerous, too. Since they were far from the capital, bandits roamed the woodlands, preying on weak travellers and caravans alike, taking what they wanted and, in most cases, leaving the rest to die ¡ª and so, there was a certain tension in the air, an undercurrent of peril (real or imagined) that was suffocating in its rising intensity as time wore on and kept them on their toes.


    Tatsuya was still sore from the previous day¡¯s interrogation ¡ª the damage minor enough for his healing factor to handle it ¡ª but even he, when (to his annoyance) he wasn''t distracted by Farah¡¯s riding form, was making judicious use of his element to detect subtle changes in air pressure within his range.


    It was just after the group had stopped briefly to rest the horses and give themselves a break, on a barren plain, that they encountered trouble.


    They had noticed a cloud of dust rising up in the distance and assumed it to be a caravan or another group of travellers, but, as it got closer, they saw it was a band of four raiders, armed and mounted on horses, their faces similarly covered with scarves.


    The moment of hesitation ¡ª thoughts of if the raiders were just in haste, and the Wind Blades weren''t actually their target ¡ª cost them as the band opened with an attack that raised the earth and sent them flying off their horses.


    The Wind Blades were not the only group with a mix of elementals and so, Tatsuya wasn''t surprised when a slash of air slammed into him before he could regain his composure mid-air, courtesy of another air elemental with a bo staff. Only a quick burst allowed him to land safely, rolling to his feet in one smooth motion.


    The raider, decidedly female, didn''t speak but instead charged at him ¡ª and Rei, he realised; the man had landed nearby ¡ª brandishing her weapon. Even as he rushed her, faster than the water elemental, just for a moment, he was aware of the two groups, spread out in the plain, clashing in a frenzy of elements and skills, before he focused his mind on his fight.


    In a world where the very elements were manipulated at the behest of every man, woman, and child, it was believed that people had cried out to the spirits to instil some form of individuality and uniqueness, and the spirits had answered in the form of another blessing: specialities ¡ª an aspect of one¡¯s character manifested by the mostly unique way their element was used. There had been numerous studies done on specialities by scholars over the years, but none could provide any logical explanation or reason for their existence; many could go their entire lives without unlocking it, regardless of their challenges or mastery over their elements, while others would wake up and, in the midst of practise or battle, perform a previously-unheard feat.


    However, it seemed the air elemental had unlocked hers as, with a mere twirl of her staff, a spirit-damned tornado bloomed into existence around Tatsuya, and it took him ¡ª twisting and spiralling at the whims of a natural disaster ¡ª an inner strength he didn''t think he had to keep himself from hurling out his meagre breakfast.


    Fix this!

 CHAPTER SIX

    Tatsuya had always been fascinated by storms; the way the sky turned dark and ominous, the sounds of thunder, flashes of lightning, and the rush of turbulent winds. Now, pulled off his feet as he was and tossed into the air (before he could even think of a way to escape) that fascination was replaced with a healthy dose of fear.


    His mouth and eyes were sealed, breathing laboured, and his ears were accosted by the apocalyptic droning, a deafening howl that drowned all other sounds; his clothes whipped around his form, torn and stained by the sturdy and steady bombardment of the debris trapped in the tornado.


    His senses were overwhelmed thoroughly and he was struck with inconsistency and incoherency in his thoughts. He couldn''t focus; his mind was too fixated on his immediate experience, yet he barely registered the impacts and lacerations anymore. Maybe if he had the same speciality as the raider or one that trumped hers, and greater mastery over the element, he could have taken control of the tornado and turned it against its summoner ¡ª but what hopes did he have of accomplishing that if he was unable to even discern the direction he was swept in.


    He tried anyway, forcing himself past the fear to bring together what few brain cells he had left ¡ª the ones the debris had not removed ¡ª to spark up an escape plan. He needed to get out of the tornado or, best case scenario, he would be flung to the ground so hard and fast he probably wouldn''t survive the impact. If he somehow remained in its swirling updraft, however ¡ª and if he didn''t suffocate first ¡ª he would die from sharp force trauma.


    Neither option sounded appealing, so how does one beat a natural disaster?


    The short answer, no matter how bitter its taste in his mouth, was that he couldn''t, especially since he was not a master of the element yet. The long answer, on the other hand, was that the tornado would overpower every attempt to control it with its vigour. If he wanted to survive, the best thing to do was to use his hands to protect his head and neck as much as possible when he was eventually thrown out.


    However, it seemed the spirits had other plans for him as, one moment, the tornado was like a living creature ¡ª a massive, wreathing, and unyielding serpent of wind and debris ¡ª and the next, the temperature plummeted sharply, and the tornado froze solid.


    It was only his luck that he wasn''t frozen along with the air, though he was still within the confines of the icy construct.


    There was a brief feeling of weightlessness and, for a moment, a split second really, panic and confusion gripped his heart, even as he marvelled at the sheer scope of Rei¡¯s feat ¡ª because what other water elemental could have helped him. Then, everything not frozen in place fell, and his nerves became steel. He regained his composure, using his newfound freedom over his element to reorient himself, and pushed all pain to the back of his mind for the meantime.Stolen novel; please report.


    Creativity hit him and he found himself getting his focus back on track, angling his fall toward the majority of the debris. One large and sturdy-looking rock caught his attention, and in his haste to get to it, he used the other rocks as stepping stones, moving up with incredible grace and agility despite his injuries.


    With each leap, Tatsuya felt himself grow confident in his plan. It was a decidedly simple one, but cut off from the rest of the Wind Blades for spirits knew how long ¡ª and so, unaware of the results of the clash ¡ª he couldn''t afford to waste more time. He finally reached the particular rock, and as he landed lightly on it, a minor shift of the surrounding currents rotated them until he was acceptably positioned, and a push from his feet sent it careening at the construct.


    Even as he turned the momentum into a flip, he allowed a small smile to play on his lips as a loud crack sounded. His feet touched another piece of debris, and though this one was flimsy compared to his makeshift projectile, it was sufficient for him to kick off it. A controlled blast was released at the last second, giving him that extra push to propel himself forward sharply and with a loud boom. He spun himself as he shot off like an arrow toward the site of the crack, and the air responded hungrily to his movements (as if ready and willing to serve after failing him earlier) and formed a vortex around his body ¡ª minuscule and lacking than the tornado, maybe, but certainly able to do its job.


    Thin, cloudy shadows fell across him as he broke free from the icy construct: shards of ice catching the glint of sunlight, the dissipated remnants of the vortex ebbing and swirling around his form, and the drops of blood from his latest cuts. The air whipped his hair and clothes in the opposite direction, displaying his torn bandages and scars (numerous lines and splotches of faded silvers and bright reds) to any who dared look up and risked their opponents capitalising.


    A vortex formed around him again on his way to the ground, towards a flagging Rei ¡ª the feat must have taken a lot from the man ¡ª and the raider. She was turned away from him and distracted, but an air elemental was always aware of their surroundings, so he gave her no time to react, kicking at the empty space behind him with enough force to send him blitzing. He had the opportunity to pay the raider back for her stunt, and nothing was going to stop him from delivering his reprisal; she slammed into the ground so hard she bounced, bones cracking audibly and breath escaping sharply.


    Rei graciously stepped aside, not that the man was given much of a choice, as Tatsuya pressed his advantage before the raider could even think of regaining her bearing, picking up her bo staff from where it clattered and, in the same motion, raising her with the currents.


    A quick strike to her head with the staff dissuaded her from trying anything and a low sweep fell her, before a downward smash robbed her of any cohesive thought and, lastly ¡ª flipping from the sheer force of the previous attack and using air to add power ¡ª a downward strike with the weapon¡¯s butt ended her life.


    In that precious second, just before she died, her grey eyes locked onto his, glistening with unshed tears and silent pleas for mercy. He didn''t look away as he brought the staff down (didn''t even flinch really), instead committing the sights and sounds ¡ª the sickening crunch of her skull exploding on impact, the splattered bone fragments, brain matter, and other bits of gore ¡ª to memory.


    However, there was no satisfaction to be had in her death, even though he couldn''t stop the small upturn of his lips as he leaned heavily on the staff, limbs slightly trembling and mouth open, harsh pants escaping, and body caked with sweat, dust, and dried blood.


    He eventually collapsed on the corpse, strength having deserted him in one fell swoop (and it said something about his pain tolerance that he didn¡¯t pass out) but he didn''t care for his further desecration of the raider¡¯s corpse as he raised his eyes to be met with a scene of total devastation, a stark reminder of the power of the elements, aspects of nature itself, they manipulated; burnt corpses interspersed amid thick outgrowths of the ground and green vines, tall enough to shade the vicinity from the sun ¡ª and, dotted around said scene, were the Wind Blades, in various positions and states of undress and injuries, looking exhausted but triumphant.


    It was obvious a great battle had taken place, and the part of him not concerned with remaining unconscious wished he had bore witness to it rather than the tornado he experienced.

 CHAPTER SEVEN

    Elmwood, a motley assortment of buildings (loosely fenced in and patrolled by a militia), waved out a late-night welcome to the exhausted Wind Blades from behind some rushes lining a bank to their left ¡ª and, under the cover of darkness, the moon hidden by thick clouds, not a whisper of their dragging feet could be heard. In the distance, they could see the outline of the inn, and Tatsuya allowed himself the minute relaxation of his shoulders.


    He dared not believe it was over yet as, despite their precautions, their cover could be blown, but he couldn''t deny the relief he felt. The horses were too injured from the raider¡¯s attack and, sadly, had to be put down, so they had to trek the remainder of their journey with their surviving belongings.


    It was not an experience any of them would like to repeat.


    As they got closer, the inn came into full view; a small, cosy-looking building made of wood and stone, with a thatched roof and a signboard swinging above the entrance. The only light came from a few flickering torches outside, and it was clear that the inn was closed for the night.


    Jao limped forward from the group with his arm around Leia¡¯s shoulders, every movement eliciting a barely perceptible whince from the lightning elemental. Sans him, more so due to his time in the tornado and the debris than the ensuing fight, the group had little-to-no injuries ¡ª and their healing factor had taken care of what it could at the expense of their stamina ¡ª so, basing his assumption on the woman¡¯s rumoured strength and any visible damage, it was likely her injuries (self-inflicted and internal) had to do with her speciality.


    If he remembered correctly, hers was the ability to increase only her speed and reaction with lightning (and spirits knew how that worked), but regardless of how admittedly awesome that was, there was a noticeable, serious drawback: nerve damage over time.


    The leader raised a hand, and they took that as the signal to stop. He took a moment to scan the area carefully with his eyes ¡ª and his passive ability, no doubt ¡ª before whispering, though loud enough for every member to hear:


    ¡°The innkeeper and his family may be friends of ours, but make no mistake, we still have to be careful.¡± There was no doubt the warning was for Tatsuya, and though he already knew that, he made no move to speak up and assuage the man¡¯s fears. There was a right time and place for that, and now wasn''t. ¡°One mistake, one glimpse from a ¡®concerned¡¯ villager, and we will have a repeat of Ravenwood.¡±


    Hoping not to draw attention to themselves, the group was led toward a side entrance of the inn, where they could see a faint light coming from a window, and Jao moved to knock on the door lightly.


    After a few moments, the door creaked open slightly and a round face, with a bushy beard and moppy brown hair, appeared. There was a brief moment of hesitation as the man (probably the innkeeper) eyed each member in turn, certainly taking in their bloodied and torn clothes, before opening the entrance fully.


    ¡°Come in, quickly,¡± the innkeeper whispered, beckoning them inside the building with a wave of his hand.


    The group complied, and Tatsuya (being the last to enter) closed the door behind him before returning his gaze forward, greeted immediately by the warm glow of a fire in the hearth, and the comforting smell of cooking food in the main hall.


    The innkeeper, portly in the low light and wearing night clothes, gestured for them to sit ¡ª and everyone spread themselves out around the fireplace, their belongings dropped in a heap in the corner ¡ª and, after making sure everyone was comfortable, offered them food and drink. His words were met by their weary yet grateful cheers.


    As a few words of greetings, and slaps on the back from the latter, were exchanged between Jao and the innkeeper, Tatsuya, who had chosen to seat on the floor beside Zoel and her seal, legs folded ¡ª a personal goal to regain his flexibility ¡ª couldn''t help but overhear their ensuing conversation. To lessen the guilt, he blamed his action on the currents that drew their words to his ears.


    ¡°Where¡¯s Leo?¡±


    ¡°I''m sorry, lad, but you just missed him. He''s gone on his own adventure with his group, but that''s by the way.¡± A pause and the innkeeper leaned in to whisper, ¡°Rumour has it that the king is in talks with sorcerers  of the far East about the Legend, and¡ª¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Furtive eyes met Tatsuya¡¯s intruding ones from across the room, and he hoped the hasty nod he sent would allay the (correct) suspicion. However, though the innkeeper mirrored the action, the narrowed green eyes, subsequent whispers to Jao ¡ª too low to be carried by air ¡ª and looks sent at Tatsuya suggested otherwise.


    Thankfully, before either of the two earth elementals could walk up to him, a set of twins in matching night clothes appeared with trays of food and drink ¡ª held aloft in the air with flat pieces of circular stones ¡ª but, based on the weight of the stare he could feel at the back of his neck as he turned away from them, words would be had for his eavesdropping.


    He ignored the tiny voice that said he deserved it and turned his attention to the young girl before him, bright eyes, and a friendly smile on her face as she offered the last tray to him.


    ¡°Here you go, sir. A bowl of hot stew, bread, and some ale to warm up your bones.¡±


    Smiling gratefully at her, he slowly placed the tray on his lap. ¡°Thank you.¡±


    However, once she walked away, the expression fell, and one of hunger replaced it. Food had been among the belongings that had not survived the raider¡¯s attack, and so, he dove into the food with vengeance, scarfing down as much as he could without much thought for decorum or good manners ¡ª and from the audible sounds of chewing, and the accompanying moans, the others weren''t much better.


    As he ate and drank, he felt his mood lift, and the lines on his face and weariness in his bones fade. The food and drink were just what he needed, what they all needed, after the ordeal.


    The young girl returned to him sometime later in the company of a young boy, her twin brother, and both of their eyes were filled with curiosity.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir. Is it true that you are a new member of the Wind Blades?¡±


    The boy¡¯s voice was filled with awe and Tatsuya (having not been in the presence of children for years) was taken aback by it. He had to wonder what it said about the state of the world that children were so innocent yet so eager to embrace the grim and hostile culture.


    He stunk to high heaven, battered and covered in grime (and blood) as he was, yet they made no mention of it as normal children were wont to do. He could excuse them for not mentioning it when they were serving, but even then, they had not shown any panic about the (technical) criminal rebels and killers in their midst; instead, it seemed they were happy to see and talk to them


    Admittedly, he had paid them no mind until the girl approached him, but, surely, if they had reacted negatively, he would have known. There were no signs to show that their reactions had been anything less than positive.


    If one really looked at it closely, they would see that it was all kinds of fucked up. But he supposed, based on the average life expectancy ¡ª especially for those living in the villages ¡ª it was some kind of widespread, maybe ingrained, societal, coping mechanism, which was honestly understandable. Death and destruction were a constant, and some people (specifically, the younger ones) weren''t able to handle it; in the case of the twins, the lack of negative reactions, and the non-judgemental acceptance, could be their mind¡¯s unconscious way of stopping them from being overwhelmed.


    Anger welled in his chest and his appetite disappeared. He was grateful for the food and shelter, but he couldn''t help wondering if it would cost the children greatly ¡ª because, regardless of the state of the world, one could avoid most problems if they didn''t associate with groups like the Wind Blades.


    He wondered if the innkeeper thought the probable cost was worth it. He wondered if the reasons for his decision made any sense.


    Aware that he was taking more time than necessary to reply, Tatsuya finally nodded, taking a sip of his ale. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± Well, tentative, but for all intents and purposes, he was a fully-fledged member, so they didn''t need to know that meaningless trivia.


    The twins¡¯ eyes grew even wider, and the girl leaned closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper.


    ¡°I''ve always dreamed of joining the Wind Blades, going on adventures, and exploring new places!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really?¡± Judging by the grimace Zoel sent his way, he wasn''t able to keep the sheer incredulity and anger the girl elicited from creeping into his words.


    ¡°Yes! So do you think we can join?¡± the boy continued in his sister¡¯s stead. ¡°We have been practising all the time with the other elementals in the village square, and now, we can control multiple pieces of stones. You saw it! We used it to carry the trays.¡±


    Tatsuya was kept from answering, thankfully, by the innkeeper¡¯s well-timed intervention, and as they acquiesced to his instructions to go to their room, he decided to also retire ¡ª as was Zoel, it seemed, as the woman (and her seal) stood up alongside him; something he was silently grateful for as he didn''t know which room was meant to be his.


    A brief stop to speak with the innkeeper was had before she led Tatsuya upstairs to two rooms at the end of the hall, adjoined by a door unlocked from each side.


    The room was clean and warm, a fire in the hearth already burning, and immediately, his gaze drifted to the bed pushed against the wall, the soft-looking mattress and quilt beckoning him. However, a hand on his shoulder kept him from diving toward it, and startled, he turned to Zoel, the owner of said hand.


    ¡°Don¡¯t think too much of it.¡± Seeing his inquisitive stare, she continued, ¡°The children¡¯s aspirations.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± he said, more so for a lack of reply than anything else as confusion warred with curiosity within him. ¡°Okay.¡±


    The woman nodded, once, and without saying another word ¡ª though her seal gave a farewell bark and yapped all the way ¡ª excused herself from the room.


    A few moments were spent, in vain he might add, trying to understand the interaction they had, and the reasons behind her cryptic instruction, before he gave up and chalked it up to general weirdness. Unlike her seal, she was a woman of few words and, despite being the strongest of the group, no one really knew much about her. Maybe this was her way of telling him to mind his business.


    He snorted, a yawn escaping his lips. Yeah, that was probably it. He was a bit too nosy for his own good sometimes.


    Idly scratching his side, he closed the door behind him and sauntered to his bed, but rather than crawl into it like he wanted, he decided to sleep on the floor. After all, he was filthy and didn''t want to stain the bed as he had no strength to wash. Even the fact that he considered it was almost sacrilegious to his exhausted mind.


    Curled on the hard surface of the floor, arms as a makeshift pillow and cloak a blanket, he closed his eyes and soon fell into a fitful sleep, dreams plagued by his ordeals.

 CHAPTER EIGHT

    Everything was too warm. Tatsuya clawed at the barrier surrounding him, but his hands stuck to it, suddenly tangled and trapped. He couldn¡¯t breathe. No matter where he shifted or kicked, something was tightening around his legs, pulling taut against his face. A tearing sound and the whisper of cool air jumbled together until his eyes finally snapped open, realising the quick gasps of panic were his.


    Both hands were embedded in his cloak like claws, rigid out of fear. The blood from the day before had become rust-coloured stains, sticking to his skin and cheap clothes alike. In his sleep, he had rolled under the bed, the echo of heat maddening when he was still mostly dressed and wrapped in the damned cloak ¡ª made worse by the golden, vibrant glow of the sun bathing his vicinity through the bedroom window.


    It felt like falling through a fever dream.


    Beyond the open shutters, the clouds drifted slowly across the sky, and underneath them, the green leaves of trees danced and swayed in the crisp breeze. In the distance, the sounds drawn to him by the air currents, the villager¡¯s voices could be heard as they went about their daily routines, along with the occasional barking of a dog or the bleating of a goat.


    It was honestly chaotic, but there was something about the laughter and chatter ¡ª the sounds of children playing, and the smell of roasted meat and freshly baked bread wafting through the streets ¡ª that he found soothing and comforting.


    As he stood and stretched for better flexibility, listening even as his limbs quivered (unused to such exercises), an intense feeling of calm developed in his gut and took flight fully in his chest. His eyelids closed as he drank in the feeling, relaxing a soft sigh in the process. Moments like this were rare, reminding him somewhat of his childhood, and he couldn''t help but pause midway his stretches as, unbidden, memories wedged their way to the forefront of his mind. Like the harshest of tides, they rose and forcefully dragged him back to the reluctant past, to his days in his village, Havenwood, before everything.


    Life in his village, despite the relative wealth of Tartaria, was hardly one of leisure and comfort, or even restful slothfulness for that matter. In fact, life among those unfortunate to be born poor and farmers, even during times of harvest, was nothing less than hell; it was one of hardship, pain, and suffering. Individuals, irrespective of age, had to do back-breaking work as laziness led to starvation.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    It wasn''t a lie to say it was the same old grind day after day, and the repetition was enough to drive one insane, yet Tatsuya had loved working the land. He had inherited the farm from his father, who had inherited it from his father before him, and even though Tatsuya was barely out of his teens, he had known every inch of it. The land was rich and fertile, and he took great pride in the crops he had grown.


    His was a simple life ¡ª not so poor as to starve, but not so rich as to enjoy prestige ¡ª and, yet, trouble had found him. He knew, though he hoped not with all his heart, that the peace this village, Elmwood, felt wouldn''t last, and there was no doubt that the Wind Blades ¡ª  that he ¡ª would be involved in its eventual ruin.


    Resisting the urge to sigh, he opened his eyes and turned his attention from the window to the door as a knock sounded. He opened it to see the young boy, one of the twins from the previous night, rolling a small wooden tub into his room. The boy, who he learned was called Finn, left, only to return a few minutes later with a large bucket of water. The innkeeper¡¯s wife, Sif, a short homely woman, followed with a kettle of hot water, but it was rejected as Tatsuya preferred washing with cold water.


    Instead, he accepted the clean pairs of clothes she brought, though the former were slightly worn and small on him. They must have belonged to Finn as the innkeeper¡¯s hand-me-downs would have been too big, but beggars couldn''t be choosers, and he wasn''t one to be picky.


    ¡°I heard most of your belongings were damaged because of the raider¡¯s attack, so here, take.¡±


    He had no belongings ¡ª Sif must have mistaken Farah¡¯s surviving belongings as his ¡ª but he kept his mouth shut as he was handed a folded handkerchief, bearing a sweet-smelling soap, and a small jar, the woman remarking that the foul-smelling liquid within the latter would kill any bugs.


    Injuries and filth were a terrible mixture, unless one enjoyed an agonisingly slow and painful demise, so, once Sif excused herself from the room, Tatsuya waged a personal war against the layer of grime and blood caked on him. He scrubbed himself raw, taking comfort in every forming bruise and burning sensation as they were one less site for infection.


    Soon, he was feeling cleaner than he had ever felt in ages, just in time too, it seemed, as Finn returned with a roll of bandages and a salve smelling faintly of peppermint. A medicinal salve; a less potent version of a healing potion (purely scientific in nature, or so the scholars claimed) used to supplement the elementals¡¯ minor healing factor.


    As he couldn¡¯t go out looking for Jao, or even Rei, Tatsuya settled for the boy, and though there was much gawking ¡ª horror shedding the boy¡¯s innocence with each sight of his scars, green tingeing his cheeks ¡ª it was a welcome help.


    Maybe it would serve as a wake-up call to the boy that the life of the Wind Blades wasn''t all glamorous, and that if, Tatsuya, a new member, looked this fucked up, what about the others? He knew they didn''t look as bad as he did, not even close, but Finn didn''t know that and would probably never do, so his imagination would run wild.


    A part of Tatsuya was banking on it.


    The moment they wrapped the last of the bandage, the boy all but ran from the room, almost forgetting to remove the tub, and finally alone, Tatsuya didn''t waste time releasing the feelings he held in the form of a sharp laughter. His body was a disgusting sight to see, and despite already accepting his scars for what it was ¡ª physical reminders of his ordeals with his nightmares as mental ¡ª his stomach had still dropped with displeasure at Finn¡¯s reaction and he couldn''t help but replay the incident continuously.

 CHAPTER NINE

    Tatsuya was snapped from his thoughts by a knock on his room door, and wondering if it was either of the twins seeking forgiveness for Finn¡¯s reaction or Sif with his breakfast, he took a moment to regain his composure, clearing his throat and smoothing down his clothes. If it was the former, or even the latter for that matter, there was no need to appear unsettled.


    Like the morning breeze, he was crisp.


    Then, he stood up from the bed and made for the door, opening it to a tall, cloaked ?gure standing on the other side.


    ¡°May I help you?¡± he asked, unsure of what to make of the stranger, and it was only the sounds of laughter and chatter down in the main hall that prevented him from immediately going on the offence.


    The ?gure pushed back the hood of the cloak, revealing a familiar face, Jao, and a lot of questions crossed Tatauya¡¯s mind upon the revelation¡ªwith if this was about his eavesdropping being the most pertinent of the bunch.


    ¡°Sorry to bother you,¡± the man replied, ¡°but I need to talk to you in private, and as you can probably hear, there are guests roaming the inn. I can''t take the risk of any of them recognizing me.¡±


    ¡°What about?¡± Tatsuya asked, still feeling wary. Jao¡¯s eyes were intense, and they seemed to be searching his face for something.


    The man stepped closer. ¡°It''s about your training.¡±


    Tatsuya¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, his wariness instantly replaced by happiness, and he quickly stepped aside to let the man in, closing the door behind him. Tatsuya sat on the edge of his bed, almost eager, while Jao sat in the lone chair across from him.


    ¡°I''ve already talked with the others, and they have agreed to also be involved, especially Leia. It''s been a while since we had a new member, and the thought of training you¡ªand learning, in turn, from you¡ªis, admittedly, exciting. More so, since you promised to help us ful?l our goal.¡± The man¡¯s tone mirrored Tatsuya¡¯s expression in the beginning as he spoke, slowly growing serious. ¡°But we can''t yet.¡±


    Tatsuya frowned. ¡°Why?¡±


    Jao visibly hesitated before replying. ¡°The raider¡¯s attack was an unforeseen complication, and it has severely impacted our plans. We were only meant to stay here for a night, at most, but now, we have to remain here until we amass enough cowry shells to fund our journey¡ªwhich we really shouldn''t do.¡± The man paused to gather his breath. ¡°Regardless of our precautions, we are bound to slip up at least once, and once is enough. If any of the Lords hear that Bran allowed us to stay in his inn, there would be signi?cant collateral damage in the ensuing con?ict. We need money, and we need it quickly.¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    Though Tatsuya understood the gravity of the situation¡ªafter all, he had thought of the possibility only minutes earlier¡ªhe didn¡¯t know how he was meant to help and asked as much.


    However, before Jao could respond, a realisation ?ashed in his mind¡¯s eye. ¡°You want me to go on a quest.¡±


    A shaky nod. ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Elmwood¡¯s different as you have to be legally authorised before you can go for a quest, and they tend to have a better reward than those done under the table,¡± the man replied, ¡°but we can''t afford to waste time on an of?cial quest.¡±


    Tatsuya¡¯s brows scrunched in confusion. ¡°I thought those had better rewards.¡±


    ¡°They do¡ªcan I explain myself,¡± Jao said. ¡°You keep jumping to conclusions.¡±


    ¡°Right, sorry for that.¡±


    The man sighed heavily, slumping into his seat. ¡°Thank you.¡± His voice had softened. ¡°I won''t get into much detail now because Zoel usually helps me with the plans, but what I can tell you now is that you would be breaking into the village hall. You are the best suited for it, and we don''t want anyone connecting you to us as such would risk the villagers¡¯ safety.¡±


    Tatsuya¡¯s jaw couldn''t have dropped any lower, even if he tried. ¡°What? Do you guys do that whenever you come to Elmwood?¡±


    Jao shook his head, laughing softly. ¡°We have someone that goes on of?cial quests for us while we stay a mile or so from the village, but he isn''t around.¡±


    Even as pieces of the puzzle fell into place in his mind¡ªthere was no doubt the ¡®he¡¯ in question was Leo and his disappearance had to do with the so-called Legend¡ªand his curiosity piqued, he dared not pursue that line of thought. It really wasn''t his business; it had nothing to do with his goal, and despite the insistent need to ?nd out what the Legend was, Tatsuya took a deep breath and, instead, considered the man¡¯s words.


    There was no doubt that he was going to help them; although thievery could be dangerous, potentially even deadly, they both knew that the conversation was more of a formality at this point than a necessity. He needed that training, and after his ordeals, it was obvious to anyone that he was committed to seeing his goal through to the end, no matter the cost¡ªbut that didn''t mean he couldn''t be cautious. He had to know what to expect to better prepare for the unexpected when it eventually occurred.


    Tatsuya clapped his hands once, sharply. ¡°What about the village militia? If they get involved, things will be dicey.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry; we will deal with that. You just have to focus on completing the quest.¡±


    ¡°Okay, and after that, what''s next? Are we still going to the capital?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Jao said. ¡°Let''s just say there''s more of a reason for us to go there, but we were planning to regardless¡ªand don¡¯t worry, you will be trained on the way.¡±


    That was good enough for him, but one thing remained:


    ¡°What else can you tell me about the quest?¡±


    Jao¡¯s words came out in a rush as he voiced the few pieces of information he could; details on the village leader, their movements, weakness, connections to the Lords¡ªand Tatsuya listened intently, processing every detail, weighing the risks and rewards of each potential course of action.


    Once the man ?nished, he stood. ¡°As I said earlier, I''ll be back with Zoel, and we will discuss plans.¡± He smiled, and it only seemed to emphasise the tired lines on his face. ¡°See you after breakfast.¡±


    Tatsuya nodded, watching the man quickly leave the room before standing and walking over to the window, his eyes ?nding the twins below, pillars of earth moving ?uidly around their forms.


    He was afraid, not about the quest¡ªhe was strong and had the skills and knowledge needed to accomplish it¡ªbut for them. He didn''t know how his actions would affect their life, didn''t know if they would suffer because of it, and yet, he couldn''t say no to Jao. He needed the Wind Blades¡¯ help, and it sucked that he would have to jeopardise the people of Elmwood to get it. It sucked that, once again, he wouldn''t stop and play hero, stop the impending massacre before it even occurred, but he already knew he was a hypocrite.


    One moment, he could talk crap about the state of the world and how it affected the children, and the next, he was directly contributing to the death and destruction.


    It sucked, it truly did, but all he could do¡ªall he would do¡ªwas to keep moving forward; he would stay focused, stay committed, and, regardless of the distractions that came his way, never give up on ful?lling his promise, his life¡¯s sole purpose.

 CHAPTER TEN

    In an ideal world, for this type of quest, Tatsuya would have all the time in the world to prepare as he would need it; he would study the place the target was stored and ?gure out the routine of the guards, if any, and their weaknesses, and strengths. He would wait until he was comfortable with the quest, until he ?gured out how to get close, how he would do the deed, and how he would escape afterward.


    He would work out another plan, a third one, then a fourth, and then ?gure out what he would do when the plan inevitably went wrong.


    He wouldn''t go half-cocked like he was now.


    Resisting the urge to scowl, he settled for a sigh as he, devoid of his staff (in favour of a set of lock picks) and with his cloak ?xed to him by the currents, hung grimly tens of feet above the highest spire of one of the village¡¯s sparse lofty towers.


    His only saving grace was that this wasn''t an of?cial quest¡ª after all, thievery, especially from a person as important as the leader of a village, the chief, was met by rapid sanction and a thorough beating from the village militia and the chief¡¯s personal guards.


    The things he did for his life¡¯s purpose.


    The line of thought was almost enough to get him chuckling, but he instead turned his mind to Jao¡¯s plan¡ªas he couldn¡¯t afford to call attention to himself¡ªbecause though it was simple, in theory, executing it would be a bitch and a half.


    The village hall, itself a symbol of the village¡¯s wealth and prosperity and the chief¡¯s house, also doubled as a treasury; within it, in a secure vault, was enough cowries to tide them over for the next few months if they spent wisely. However, because it was common knowledge, the only entrance was through a spiralling stairwell, scarcely two men wide, that the chief¡¯s men could not defend.


    As a stranger to the general populace, his status as a (tentative) member of the Wind Blades unknown, he was able to be among the inn¡¯s patrons in the main hall, though he happily sulked in the shadows rather than mingle, strategically sipping his weak ale slowly to stretch out his time. Information was his aim as Jao and Zoel had known little and told him all they could, so he patiently listened through the gloriously amusing yarns of adventure and debauchery until he caught one particular tale he was grateful for.


    Though they didn''t manipulate only one element, the chief¡¯s men were comparable to Kuro¡¯s attack dogs and of considerable numbers, which made a frontal assault impossible and only offered one viable avenue: sneaking in as a distraction from one or two of the Wind Blades (in disguises, of course) occurring far from the inn, draws the militia and, hopefully, some guards away. If things pan out rightly, the group would escape in the scuf?e and reconvene with him a few miles from the village¡ª where their belongings and a few borrowed horses sat, courtesy of the innkeeper, Bran.


    To sneak in, however, would require a skill that had saved his life countless times.


    He had read somewhere that climbing was an expression of con?dence and the utter faith that your ?ngertips would hold, that your toes would not slip. Lose that con?dence, and you will lose your grip and perish. An apt sentiment, though in his case, ¡®perish¡¯ was replaced by ¡®be found out¡¯; a possibility due to the likelihood of an earth elemental or two being among the guards. Still, Tatauya was not easily cowed. He swung his arm easily and climbed up, foot after hand, after foot, after hand, until his grip ?nally gained the ?nal purchase and drew himself up into a low crouch, blending enough with the night to avoid being discovered.


    A small courtyard garden lay before him, elegantly trimmed trees and bushes ladened with ?owers arranged beautifully around it, and he was struck by the realisation that despite its size, the village was more well-off than others. Than his. Was this what being connected to the lords brought? Wealth and prosperity?


    He didn''t know and couldn''t afford to waste time pondering, especially since the questions made him regretful. Would he have lived a better, much happier life, if he had pandered to Kuro (or any other noble for that matter) rather than try to kill the bastard? He dared not follow that train to thought to its completion¡ªnot that it even mattered, if he was being honest; he had already committed himself to this course, and it wasn''t like he could go back in time. That was impossible.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    He shook his head, buring the regret in the deepest recesses of his mind as, at that moment, his gaze landed on the armoured men circulating on their prescribed path, spears at the ready and glinting in the light of the crescent moon. None passed near him, but he didn''t doubt their passive ability¡¯s range and waited for the distraction¡ªand said distraction came in the form of an explosion of ?ames, Farah¡¯s handiwork. Once the attention was turned away, he immediately ?itted over the wall into the courtyard to sink into a darker patch of shadow on the roof.


    The guards had recovered relatively fast and were moving again, closer now, but rather than stay silent as they were, they whispered to each other, a discussion of what was an elemental attack to them. The whispering was good; Tatsuya could place them without looking and save his eyes for the pressing matter of determining his route forward and his mind for using his passive to dull any noise he made.


    However, when they fell quiet, without focusing on the currents around him, it was much harder to locate them.


    Eventually, he stopped directly above a veranda, and as he peeked from the edge, he could see the window, ajar, and within, a lamp that burned too bright for a stealthy entrance. A controlled blast of air from his lips struck it out, con?dent that no one would think it suspicious. After all, lamps blow out all the time, especially when kept in a place with ventilation.


    There was a moment when he had assumed he had been sighted, his heart in his mouth, as he heard footsteps¡ªa single guard, taken by surprise, could be handled silently and ef?ciently; not two, at least not without raising the alarm¡ªbut, fortunately, they were of the indoor patrol. A greeting, a hurried conversation, a shared stilted laughter, and the two guards were on their respective ways.


    Tatsuya, spread motionless across the ceiling above where they had just stood, listened to the departing footsteps with a muf?ed sigh of relief, then dropped to the ground with all the noise of a falling leaf and crept inside the building. Hopefully, his luck would persist and he wouldn''t have any other close calls.


    The doors were bolted, the ?rst serious attempt at security aside from the guards¡ªbut that was to be expected as they were likely entrances to sleeping quarters and private of?ces¡ª so all he could do was stealthily move down the passage, no audible footfalls from him. The further in he went, the decorations grew more elaborate, the displays of ?owers more exuberant, and the intermingling scents almost intoxicating.


    Maybe he shouldn''t have nursed a cup of ale, regardless of if it was weak or not, as it seemed to be impeding his senses slightly.


    He froze. Guards. Three of them, idling and gossiping at an intersection.


    Tatsuya tilted his head around the corner, straining his ear to catch every word. They were discussing the ?re, each with their own theories, increasingly weirder than the other, of the source. Despite experiencing another close call in relative succession, a tentative smile appeared on his face; the treasury must be near. Still, he wondered how he would get past the guards. There was a good chance he would be noticed once he started moving, even if they were distracted¡ªunless they were hilariously incompetent, but he doubted that¡ªso what could he do?


    Understanding crossed his mind and his smile faded into a grimace.


    The guards weren''t his enemies; they were simply earning a livelihood in a setting no doubt mind-numbing and tedious. It was no wonder they were more interested in their conversation than watching for suspicious behaviours and happenings. They did not commit a crime by being at the wrong place at the wrong time, but sadly, the reality was that they were obstacles to his goal. He had to go through them.


    Hardening his heart, he checked for any incoming footsteps and, ?nding none, went on the attack. He would have to deal with them before they could react and use their elements, so he ploughed head?rst into the ?rst guard. Like a domino, the three smashed hard to the ground in a jumble of limbs and confused hands.


    His sandal slammed hard on the ?rst guard¡¯s face, and as the remaining two tried to recover, wheezing all the way, a moment was all he needed to steal a short blade from one. With grim ?nality, the blade sang cleanly through their throats, and blood spewed in crimson arcs as he rolled to his feet.


    With nary a look back, he was off, forsaking stealth for speed as the altercation was surely heard¡ªdeath throes weren''t exactly quiet¡ªand burst through the last doorway. His eyes zeroed in on four more guards (a choked gasp on his lips) only a second before they saw him, but by then, he was already skidding on his knees to avoid the hasty ?ames sent his way. A raised hand threw the blade at the guards, even as he drew the air in abundance to extinguish the element, and he smoothly transitioned to running and ?ipping, just in time to avoid the retaliatory well-?ung spear.


    Vaulting from the ceiling, he rolled on the ?oor to dodge another jet of ?ames, and though he was able to weave around the subsequent attacks¡ªde?ecting them with swift ?icks of his wrist and feet¡ªhe was mindful of the lone water elemental. Fire and water were powerful elements, and, in the enclosed passage, both guards could easily cover each other¡¯s backs.


    Still, there was a silver lining to be found. Their helmets didn''t hide the colour of their eyes¡ªan observation he was grateful for as it allowed him to note that the remaining two guards were earth elementals. Cut out from their element by the building, they would be deadweights in the altercation and so sought to serve as the last line of defence should the attacking guards fall.


    Not that it made them any less dangerous, especially in an enclosed space where a stray spear could end him, but it made him less tense. The chief¡®s personal guards were comparable to Kuro¡¯s attack dogs, not because of their individual strengths¡ª neither group, for all their skills and specialities, if any possessed one, could pose a threat individually and in a fair ?ght¡ªbut because together, they were a formidable gestalt.


    Sidestepping another blast of ?ames, Tatsuya launched his own attack at the group, hoping to incapacitate all of them at once¡ª but the water elemental released a stream of their element from their person and froze the space in their front, creating a makeshift shield that prevented the compressed air from knocking them off their feet.


    However, the shield shattered on impact, but in a show of quick thinking, the water elemental stilled the icy shards before they fell and sent them at him.


    Tatsuya created a powerful whirlwind to deal with the projectiles and was, as a result, unprepared for the wall of ?ames rushing towards him. He tried to de?ect them with the currents, also, but it was no use. A pained hiss escaped him as he was swept off his feet, the smell of char blooming within the passage, and the ?re elemental closed in for the ?nal blow, amber eyes blazing with the intensity of their element.