《Whispers Of Chaos [Dark Fantasy - Sword&Sorcery]》


 Chapter 1: Hanamei - The Warlords Concubine

    Spring ¨C 842 AQE


    Hanamei sat in the blackness, dressed in little more than a light, silken gown that left her delicate shoulders and long, elegant neck exposed. Hair fell down her back, straight and every bit as black as the room where she was seated. The young woman¡¯s face was painted white, with brilliant red lipstick and bold, golden markings swirled over her smoothly etched features. The slightest bit of red streaked her half-closed eyelids.


    A flash of lightning from the rain-streaked window masked a candle being lit across the room from her. It cast her surroundings in a dim, soft light and gleamed against her sleek train of unbound hair. She glanced up at the man who had lit the candle, and the faintest trace of fear shivered across her otherwise expressionless face.


    Warlord Tzulan was an older man, tall and powerful. His short-cut hair was more brown than hers and streaked with a fair amount of gray, but it was still dark and straight. Right now, he was only wearing a pair of silk pants, fastened at the top with a wide, gold sash. The smile on his broad, wide-jawed face brought another fleeting glimmer of fear to her eyes.


    ¡°Hanamei...¡± He breathed her name as he approached slowly, his fingers working free the sash as his expression turned hungry. ¡°The daughter of my archrival, waiting in my bed.¡± His grin grew more sinister as he stopped and stared down at her with baleful eyes.


    She tried to maintain her blank expression, but the fear made her bottom lip quiver. She knew if she wasn¡¯t careful, she would succumb to the mix of emotions whirling unpleasantly in her belly. Here stood the enemy of her people, the man who had waged war on her homeland for the last decade. Long had he wanted to possess her father¡¯s territory, and long had the primitive tribes defended it...


    Until now. When her father had looked upon his wounded people and war-torn land and lost heart. Some called it senility. Others cowardice. But the truth was their great leader, who had stood with them in every battle, finally saw the futility of their plight and realized his only course of action was surrender. He made a pact with the Warlord, swearing fealty, and in exchange was allowed to keep a figurehead position over the tribes who had rallied to him. But there was one more thing the proud man had to relinquish... his only surviving child.


    Hanamei felt the tears prick her eyes as Tzulan¡¯s fingers touched her chin, tilting her face upward. She willed herself not to cry, not to let him see any of her weakness, but what she saw in his eyes made her very heart quiver.


    Her people allowed her to suffer so their suffering could end. And she knew, with a single glance, that Tzulan intended to make her pay dearly tonight for all the trouble the Taiku tribes had caused him over the last ten years.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    His fingers traced along her jawline, moving slowly until they were tangled in her black hair. She could feel his hot breath against her cheek as he leaned in close, and all at once, the fear was replaced by anger.


    How dare they! She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to keep herself from trembling as his lips brushed her soft skin. They sent me here; they abandoned me... Father sent me to the monster¡¯s lair! My sacrifice was expected... I wasn¡¯t given a choice...


    Hanamei pulled away without thinking of the consequences, turning her face from him in defiance and disgust. She didn¡¯t have a chance to fully realize her mistake or consider begging forgiveness before he made her pay the price for such insolence.


    A rough yank on her hair caused her to let out a cry of despair. This outburst was met with a slap that nearly sent her off the bed and onto the floor. Had it not been for his grip, she undoubtedly would have collapsed.


    ¡°I will teach you obedience, savage...¡± His words scorched like fire, threatening, warning, promising.


    Hanamei was certain it would be easier to give in, to surrender just as her father had, but the anger coursing in her veins gave her courage. ¡°And I will teach you humiliation...¡± she whispered, her voice quiet and smoother than the fine silk she wore.


    Before he could react, she reached up and pressed her palm against his face, summoning a power she had spent her whole life burying deep down. She had been born with a curse nobody in her tribe had understood. Not the medicine woman or her father. Perhaps that was why he had sent her to suffer this fate, because she was considered tainted? Had they figured it was better to let her pay their price than allow such a bad omen to exist among them?


    Now was not the time to contemplate such thoughts. Hanamei felt the sweet, tantalizing energy flood her body, warming her skin and causing her eyes to turn a solid, fathomless black. That same power flowed out of her hand, caressing the Warlord¡¯s handsome cheek for the briefest of moments and then searing his flesh in the next instant.


    He cried out in agony as the spell spiraled across his skin, scorching a strange but elegant pattern across the side of his face and down his neck, shoulder, and even licking his chest. Despite the intense pain he must have felt, he managed to clobber her in the face with his fist, knocking her off the bed this time and onto the floor. He staggered back, still gasping and groaning.


    ¡°Heathen bitch!¡± he bellowed in anguish.


    Hanamei gathered herself up, coming shakily to her feet. Blood almost as red as her painted lips trickled down her chin. Fear reached out to grab her again, but now the power she¡¯d carefully concealed kept her anger and courage fueled as well.


    ¡°Burn, you bastard!¡± she shouted back and then raised her hands to hurl a blast of raw energy straight at him.


    Much to her dismay, he leapt out of the way, and the blow that would have surely obliterated him missed the mark. It did slammed into the wall and tore it to pieces. Splinters and smoke filled the air. There was no way Tzulan¡¯s guards hadn¡¯t heard that, which left Hanamei in a frustrating position. She wanted to stay and fight the Warlord to the death. She didn¡¯t understand this desire, but it was there, and it very nearly overrode her good sense to run while she had the chance!


    Letting the sweet power slip away, she dove into the billowing smoke toward freedom. Tzulan¡¯s enraged screams harried her escape like a pack of wolves.

 Chapter 2: Hanamei - Savior In The Mist

    The chilling spring storm poured fury down upon Hanamei as she desperately fled through the thick underbrush of a decaying forest. Her gown was in tatters, her makeup mostly washed away by the heavy sheet of rain that was barely halted by the scraggly canopy above her head. Her once smooth hair was soaked and fell down her back in tangled waves.


    She had barely managed to escape the Warlord¡¯s palace and was now fleeing for her life in what had once been a beautiful, emerald glade. Now it was but a husk of its former glory. Nothing grew here. There were only the remnants of thorny vines and twisted, rotting trees.


    Her lungs and body ached, protesting her headlong flight and demanding she stop to rest, but she knew that would only end in death. She had to keep moving, had to take advantage of every second she¡¯d bought by surprising them. There couldn¡¯t have been a better time to escape, when the soldiers were bloated with food and alcohol after feasting all night. Nobody had expected this, not from a meek little heathen woman.


    But that stupor would not have lasted long. When Tzulan called upon them, burned and furious, his soldiers would have rallied behind him, which meant they were undoubtedly right behind her.


    As if on cue, the baying of hunting dogs split through the night, causing a tremor of fear to escape her in the form of a frightened gasp. After a few minutes, she was able to hear the sound of horses, but she couldn¡¯t tell in the torrential downpour where they were coming from. The weather was getting worse, and she was growing more and more exhausted. Whatever power had been inside of her was silent now, and a feeling of dread tightened around her heart.


    She blindly stumbled out of the brush and onto the road, just as a clap of thunder struck so close it nearly shook her right off her bare feet. Exhaustion won where the weather had failed, causing her to collapse to her knees in the mud. Gasping for air and trembling from head to foot, Hanamei leaned over, her unkempt hair falling in a matted wave around her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering from the chill and wet.


    It took her several moments before she realized there were a pair of shoes in front of her. Not the heavy boots worn by the Warlord¡¯s men, but expensive footwear made for a nobleman. She should have been frightened, but she was too weary to do much more than raise her face up, her violet eyes slowly taking in the man who stood before her.


    He was taller even than the Warlord. His clothing, a mix of white, cerulean, and teal, was just like his shoes: stately, rich, immaculate. Even in the rain, he was the most beautiful creature she had ever laid eyes on. Long auburn hair was drawn up into a high ponytail, with only a mess of unruly bangs hanging around his perfectly chiseled face. Shimmering ocean blue eyes glowed down at her, filled with curiosity and power. The latter of which sent a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with how cold she felt.


    Behind her, the sound of cavalry drew her gaze away from the mysterious man. Her muscles protested as she half turned just in time to see a contingent of soldiers and hounds swarming toward them. Breath catching in her throat, Hanamei let out a strangled cry and attempted to rise, but her legs wouldn¡¯t cooperate. She floundered, falling back into the muck as she fought her exhaustion in a final effort to scramble away.


    Much to her dismay, she¡¯d made it only a foot before the dogs began to circle, and moments later, the horsemen spread out around her as well. She shrank away from them, aching for that power to return, but the strange, mystical taint remained dormant.


    A man rode forward, no doubt the lieutenant, and eyed the stranger warily. ¡°Stand aside. We only want the girl,¡± he commanded.


    Hanamei¡¯s eyes flashed to him. She had almost forgotten his presence, but now she was desperately drawn to him. The power inside him, could it save her? He was obviously somebody of importance, of wealth; perhaps he would take pity on her? Without hesitation, she fell against him, her muddy hands grasping at his silken clothes. She fully expected him to recoil from her filthy touch.


    ¡°Please, my lord,¡± she pleaded, unable to stop from shivering as the surprising warmth of his body seeped into hers. She clung to him all the tighter. ¡°Please, don¡¯t let them take me back!¡±


    ¡°Foolish, heathen wretch!¡± The lieutenant swore and spat on the ground before swinging his leg over his horse¡¯s withers to dismount. ¡°Nobody is going to save you, not after what you did!¡±


    The stranger tore his eyes away from her face and turned them on the advancing soldier. Something about him changed, something that made the dogs cower back and the horses begin to whinny and fidget nervously. Hanamei felt it too and knew she should be afraid, but oddly, she found the surge of power comforting.


    ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± His words were spoken softly, and yet they could still be heard over the storm. They also stopped the lieutenant in his tracks.


    Hanamei watched him from over her shoulder as he struggled between fear and duty for a brief moment before the latter finally won out.


    ¡°Who you are doesn¡¯t matter, stranger. She is the property of Warlord Tzulan.¡± He put a hand on his weapon. ¡°And you will not be permitted to interfere. Stand aside. I won¡¯t warn you a third time.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Ignoring the threat, the man graced him with a slight smile, caught somewhere between polite and amused. ¡°I am Lord Akihato of the Zozatai.¡± He gave a slight bow of his head as though he were greeting them all in some lavish court instead of the middle of the road during a thunderstorm. ¡°It does not appear this young woman wishes to depart with you. Perhaps...¡±


    The lieutenant¡¯s eyes were wide with terror, but he swallowed it down. His sense of honor must have been strong indeed for him not to flee at the mere mention of the Zozatai. They were an order cloaked in mystery and rumor. Horrifying tales of the power wielded by those among them were also prevalent; what wasn¡¯t were the casters themselves. Living, breathing Zosara were rare, gracing the court of noble rulers and the halls of only the most wealthy warlords. Very little was known about these mystic beings, only that they possessed a great and terrible magic.


    ¡°Her wishes do not matter.¡± His voice was not nearly as confident as before. ¡°She has dared attempt to assassinate the Warlord, and for that, her life is forfeit.¡±


    ¡°This woman?¡± Akihato shifted his gaze back down to Hanamei and tilted his head to one side out of curiosity more than skepticism. ¡°How could one so delicate and frightened have made any serious threat against your warlord¡¯s life?¡± There was no disrespect in his tone; it appeared he genuinely wanted to know.


    Still clutching the hilt of his straight-edged sword, the lieutenant frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not sure... The captain said his wounds were strange... Burns and yet not burns.¡± His furrow grew deeper. ¡°It must have been her heathen witchcraft...¡± He spat the word, obviously repulsed at the thought, but also reminded of who else stood before him. ¡°I¡¯m sure you would know better than I, Zosara.¡±


    Akihato gave a slight shrug. ¡°The Taiku medicine women are renowned but not my area of expertise. I can assure you their practices do not include use of the elements, however.¡± He held out his hand, palm up, elegant fingers gracefully extended. ¡°That power,¡± when he spoke a small stream of blue water gathered from the falling rain and then crystallized into ice on his palm, dancing and playing in the shape of a curvaceous woman, ¡°lies solely within the Zosara.¡±


    Finally, the lieutenant recoiled, horror openly spread across his face. ¡°What evil is this?¡± He gasped, his whole body shaking. For a moment, it appeared his fear would finally win out over his honor and he would flee rather than face the Zosara¡¯s might.


    His resolve was commendable. Hands still tremoring, his expression turned hard and unbending as he deftly drew his sword. The action was enough to solidify his decision, and just like that, his fear was vanquished. He straightened to his full height, his soldier¡¯s instincts and valor taking over the fallible man who had wavered just moments ago. ¡°You have been warned.¡± His voice was strong, commanding. ¡°Men! Seize the girl. Kill the traveler if he continues to interfere!¡±


    Hanamei was not frightened by the display of what she could only describe as magic. On the contrary, she was enamored with it. The frolicking, glacial dancer on Akihato¡¯s palm stirred the strange power inside her, making it twist and writhe like a hungry serpent. Her eyes were fixed on the twirling, leaping figurine, wide with fascination and wonder.


    She wanted to surrender to this primal urge, to let it fill her and then feel the sweetness of release as that power rushed forth. Her mind went back to the Warlord¡¯s bedchamber, to how it had felt to take control, to no longer be just a woman, just a heathen, just a mortal...


    You can be anything with this strength. Nobody would ever beat you down again... Give in... Give in to chaos... the voice came from a dark, hateful place. A place that frightened her more than anything she had ever faced, and yet she could not fault the desires of her own heart. She had been shunned, cast aside, and forgotten until finally, her people had found a use for her. Did her father even miss her? Did he regret his decision? Or was he breathing easy now his war had ended and his ¡®unfortunate¡¯ child was gone?


    Anger and sorrow surged in her chest. The magic rose with it, ignited by her outrage, by her despair, but she fought to keep it down. Last time she had felt certain, in control, but now she felt as though she were spiraling downward, losing to the essence that not so long ago had seemed to save her life. What am I doing? She wanted to scream but found her voice refused to obey.


    Suddenly, Akihato tore his gaze away from the lieutenant, and instantly the woman of water vanished. Hanamei was jolted out of her dark thoughts and, in an instant, took in what was happening around her. The soldiers were approaching cautiously but came to a halt when they saw the water dissipate.


    Then she noticed Akihato was staring at her with concern. Did he somehow know what she was thinking and feeling? Could he not only create ice but read minds as well? She shivered at the notion but still did not have the urge to pull away from him. For some reason, despite his great power, she felt safe here at his side.


    ¡°I¡¯m afraid,¡± Akihato¡¯s voice caused the soldiers to tense up, ¡°that we must take our leave. Forgive me, lieutenant, but I am revoking Tzulan¡¯s claim upon this woman. If he protests, tell him to take it up with the Conclave.¡±


    He didn¡¯t even get the chance to finish his message before the warrior was already commanding his men to attack. Akihato, however, did not seem the least bit concerned. With a huff of a sigh and a rueful shake of his head, he gracefully raised his arm, hand stretching toward the charging lieutenant. Hanamei was certain the soldier was about to be impaled by an ice shard, but with an elegant, circular sweep of his arm, the magic she was expecting came instead as a plume of dense, creeping mist. In seconds the area was fully covered, blocking the soldiers from view.


    Hanamei felt the urge to escape into the thick fog just as she had amidst the smoking remains of the wall she¡¯d destroyed in Tzulan¡¯s palace, but Akihato did not seem the least bit rushed.


    He held out his hand to her. ¡°Shall we depart?¡±


    Glancing from his hand to his face and back again, Hanamei wasn¡¯t sure why she hesitated. Part of her wanted to trust him, but the other part was still riled, still aching to be released, to cause chaos and destruction. And yet... Here he was, offering to save her. She would be a fool not to accept. This thought made her decide, and she gently laid her delicate hand in his.


    They paused for just a moment, staring at one another as something warm passed between them. Hanamei saw him reaching toward her, and her heart skipped a beat. She should fear this motion, and yet, for some reason, she welcomed it. But it was not the soft caress she was expecting.


    Akihato gently touched the top of her head and whispered, ¡°Chigu.¡±


    Before she had a chance to make sense of the action, a powerful urge to sleep swept over her, and all at once, she simply couldn¡¯t keep her eyelids open. The last thing she remembered was slumping against the stranger and then falling into a deep, magical slumber.

 Chapter 3: Akihato - Escape From The Rotted Wood

    As the woman succumbed to his incantation and her body went limp, Akihato carefully scooped her into his arms. She weighed very little, thin and slight as she was, but what he had sensed within her... That was a far different burden, a heavier one he feared would press upon many were it not carefully managed.


    But it was a concern for another time. Right now, he needed to focus on escape. To those within the mist, it would appear as though he simply vanished in the blink of an eye, though it was more likely they would assume he snuck off using the fog as cover. Either way, there would be enough confusion to prevent them from being pursued further.


    Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Akihato reached for the ebb of magic that always hummed gently in the back of his consciousness. It responded instantly, quivering in excitement as it flowed and swirled in his mind¡¯s eye. Bright blue with a myriad of silvery-white flecks, the essence was the embodiment of water and spring, the two foci Akihato was attuned with. He could shape and mold that power with merely a thought, guiding it to perform supernatural tasks most beings could only imagine and even more feared. For him, it was as simple and easy as breathing, though coming to this point had taken years of dedicated training. There was much he was still learning, even after a decade of practice, but what he needed to accomplish now would take little effort.


    His eyes opened slowly, the magic having sufficiently coalesced as a result of his concentration and guidance. Speaking softly, he wove a careful, practiced web within his mind. He imagined each aspect of the spell, imagined the ripple in reality as time slowed almost to a complete stop. If he had taken a moment to pause and observe his surroundings, he would be able to see the slightest movement in the mist, in the soldiers frantically trying to find their bearings. It would have been like watching clouds move in the sky, but Akihato did not waste a second of his borrowed time to watch the effect of his spell.


    Gently adjusting his grip on the unconscious woman cradled against his chest, the Zosara turned and began to casually stride right through the heavy fog as though his vision was not impaired at all. Anyone else would have fumbled blindly and been lost until the mist evaporated, but Akihato, and by association, his new ward, stepped through unimpeded.


    He had to stifle a grin when he glanced at the soldier who was standing just beside him. The goofy expression half-formed on his face was quite amusing. It was one of blind terror as he stumbled backward into an ally and was startled by the unexpected contact. Akihato imagined in the next moments, a girlish shriek would escape the man¡¯s throat, and he would quickly flail around only to see an equally scared face staring back at him. The mental image did him in, and a wide, almost boyish grin spread across his face.


    Knowing full well he couldn¡¯t linger to see the moment play out, Akihato kept moving, heading for the tree line. Once he got some distance from the soldiers, he could open a portal back to his tower, but that was not something he was prepared to do if there was any risk of being followed through it.


    When he disappeared into the scraggly, rotted forest Akihato let out a small sigh of relief. Glancing back over his shoulder, he could tell the spell had worn off. The soldiers were clamoring about, and sure enough, that womanly screech split the air, causing Akihato¡¯s grin to return wider than before.


    Called it!Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    He didn¡¯t stick around to listen further. Instead, he turned and quickly headed deeper into the woods. The dogs were starting to howl somewhere behind him. He hoped it was because they were equally disoriented, but in all likelihood, they had picked up the trail again.


    ¡°Blast...¡± he muttered. This spot would have to do, though he would have preferred to put more distance between them and their pursuers.


    He paused in a stand of decaying conifers and carefully laid the woman upon the barren earth at his feet. The preparation required he have his hands free. Calling on the magic once again, he began to draw a circle with the toe of his shoe around himself and the still unconscious Taiku maiden. The line he¡¯d drawn glowed a strange mix of red and blue laced with violet where the colors collided.


    Taking position in the center, standing above his charge, he resisted the urge to rush the process as he weaved a new, much more complex spell. This incantation was one of the first he¡¯d learned about but had taken the longest to master due to all of its intricacies. Portal magic was incredibly difficult and, if done incorrectly, highly unpredictable. The most reliable, and honestly the only way the vast majority of Zosara could harness such spells, was by using a bonded trinket as a focus.


    Like many others, Akihato had chosen a place of safety and familiarity, and collected a piece of that location to carry with him. Dirt, pebbles, blades of grass, and other similar elements were quite popular as foci. For Akihato, his haven was an old abandoned tower he had taken over after completing his apprenticeship. The amulet that rested underneath his shirt, pressed gently against his skin, held the fragments of stone taken from the rubble before the tower was reconstructed. This would guide him back home.


    His hands swayed, forming a visual component of the incantation as ancient words fell softly from his thin lips. The patterns his fingers wove in the air caused shimmering lines to materialize in their wake so that the pattern hung suspended for a few moments before dissipating and giving way to the next.


    While one hand traced, the other seemed to collect something, as if holding a dozen imaginary threads taut between his thumb and index finger. Trace, collect, trace, collect. Over and over until finally, all of the complex pieces were neatly gathered. The spell was primed, ready, and waiting for him to cast it forth. This was a critical moment, requiring a great deal of concentration and precision. The energy that coursed invisible at his fingertips could backfire if he were interrupted or made a mistake.


    Spells going awry had many disastrous consequences; in this case, he would be lucky if he simply opened a portal to the wrong location. At worst, however, he could end up flinging himself and the woman both into another dimension, or they could even just be ripped into pieces. Neither of which he fancied in the slightest. Graphic stories passed down from his masters were more than enough. His curiosity did not require firsthand experience.


    He focused intently, drowning out the sound of the woods and the slowed spattering of rain that signaled the storm had spent its rage. Closing his eyes again, he imagined his destination. The tower, small and quaint, but perfect for a solitary Zosara, nestled amongst a quiet stand of oaks, maples, and magnolia trees. When that image was perfectly fixed in his mind, Akihato cast the spell.


    It was a simple motion. He released the invisible threads and softly blew them away. In his mind¡¯s eye, he saw them spinning and twisting as they merged into a crystalline sheet of pure energy. Then, at the apex of their outward path, a shimmer of that magic became visible to the naked eye. Seconds later, so fast it would be missed in the mere span of a blink, the portal opened.


    Akihato smiled faintly, then knelt down to retrieve the woman before stepping out of the grounding circle and strolling casually forward. He passed from one location to the next as though he were stepping through a doorway. One moment he was in the Rotted Wood, and the next, he was striding with confidence toward the front door of his tower.


    Behind him, the portal vanished, the magic dissipating so the only sign of its presence was an icy ring in the mud.

 Chapter 4: Bankiro - The Soldiers Reward

    They were gone. Bankiro knew that long before the mist finally faded. There was no doubt in his mind the magic had only been for concealment. That somehow, the Zosara had duped them and managed to escape. All without killing or harming a single man. Well, except for accident-prone Kiyon, who had backed into a comrade and nearly scared himself to death. With the power to manipulate water and ice, why not simply wipe them all out? He clearly could have done so effortlessly. Why hadn¡¯t he?


    Feeling unsettled, frustrated, and mildly impressed, the lieutenant spun on his heel, turning his back on the spot where their prey had stood just moments ago.


    Such questions were not his concern. He had heard the hounds baying and knew they¡¯d picked up the trail. Unless the Zosara had other tricks up his sleeve, the pair of them would be caught again soon. Satisfied with that and determined to rejoin the pursuit, he paused his stride long enough to begin shouting orders. He barely had a chance to part his lips when one of his men cut him off.


    ¡°Sir, approaching cavalry! It appears to be¡ª¡±


    Bankiro waved him to silence, having seen them a split second later. ¡°That is the Warlord¡¯s flag. Assume formation, men!¡±


    In an instant, they obeyed, hurrying into two neat rows across from one another, leaving enough room for a horse to easily pass between them. Every one of them stood at attention but would be ready to drop to the ground in a subservient bow the second a superior approached. Only Bankiro would remain standing, and even then, he would bend at the waist to show respect.


    It was a time-honored tradition to display fealty to one¡¯s master by bowing in their presence, but in Tzulan¡¯s army, it was law. Those who failed to show the proper respect were penalized severely. Bankiro had once seen a fellow soldier killed because he glanced up as the Warlord passed by. It was a mistake Bankiro ensured none of his men would ever make. He had drilled this procedure just as much as every combat formation and battle technique. There was no point in losing good fighters over such an insignificant slight. Outward defiance should always be punishable, but curiosity was no sin. At least in the lowly gaze of the lieutenant.


    The approaching contingent, almost thirty men, came to a halt. As the two lead horsemen continued forward, leaving the soldiers at their backs, Bankiro¡¯s troops called out the sacred mantra of Tzulan and deftly fell to their knees, faces so low they almost touched the muddy earth. Waiting until the pair of horses were halfway up the line, Bankiro followed, bending at the waist and lowering his head in submission. He did not speak or move; he held the position until Tzulan¡¯s captain commanded him to rise.


    ¡°Lieutenant Bankiro, is it?¡± The captain was a brawny fellow, thick from neck to calves, like a meaty tree trunk with equally meaty branches as arms and legs. His face was scarred, his nose bearing the signs of having been broken on more than one occasion. When he spoke, his voice was raspy and gruff, the result of a Taiku spear tip that had nearly slit his throat. Any average man would have surely died, but Guo had defied death.


    ¡°Yes, Captain.¡± Bankiro made a point of not looking over at the Warlord but kept his gaze steadily fixed on Guo.


    The behemoth glanced about, a frown forming on his face as he surveyed the area. ¡°Where is she, lieutenant?¡±


    Bankiro¡¯s jaw tensed, but he kept his expression neutral. ¡°We tracked her here, sir. But there was an unexpected complication, and she escaped.¡± The words were like bile on his tongue, but he refused to lie. He would tell the truth about their failure and suffer the consequences.


    ¡°You let her escape?¡± Guo exclaimed, his voice sounding more like a croak than the booming thunderclap it should have been. ¡°What the hell kind of complication¡ª¡±


    ¡°It was a Zosara, sir.¡± He knew better than to interrupt but did so anyway. He wasn¡¯t about to just stand there and take a verbal beating, not when his neck and each of his soldier¡¯s necks were on the line. ¡°He protected the woman and¡ª¡±


    Guo let out a rough growl, and for once, his old injury aided in making him sound even more dangerous. ¡°A Zosara? They¡¯re just a fairytale! Something old women tell little children to frighten them. Be a man, lieutenant, own up to your failings and accept the punishment with honor!¡±


    ¡°Bankiro isn¡¯t lying!¡± This came from the men who should have still been prone on the ground. Kiyon had come to his feet, trying to speak out in his commander¡¯s defense, but Bankiro knew exactly where this path led.


    ¡°Be silent, you fool!¡± Bankiro tried to warn him, but the young, brash man had already sealed his fate.


    Guo twisted in the saddle, peering back at the soldier with a rage so intense it was as though he thought Kiyon had just called him a motherless son of a boar! He opened his mouth to rebuke him, but Tzulan cut him off before a single word was formed.


    ¡°What was this Zosara¡¯s name?¡± There was a lace of pain in those words, as though the Warlord was barely maintaining his composure. Still refusing to look directly at him, Bankiro noted from the corner of his eye that his head was covered by a thick, black cowl. Was this because of the wounds the woman had inflicted upon him?


    ¡°He called himself Lord Akihato, sir,¡± Bankiro answered, keeping a tight rein on the fear in his chest. He knew this night would only end in bloodshed.


    ¡°Akihato...¡± Tzulan breathed the name, pondering it, mulling it over in his mouth for a long, tense moment. If he recognized it, he gave no indication that he did. Instead, he slowly dismounted, moving stiffly as he dropped to the ground and then passed the reins to Guo. ¡°Akihato the Zosara!¡± He let out a mirthless bark of laughter. ¡°Akihato...¡±


    Bankiro felt a strong sense of foreboding, and it took every ounce of his self-control not to act on the trepidation squirming in his stomach. He felt helpless as he watched Warlord Tzulan approach his men, knowing someone was going to pay dearly, and he knew that someone was going to be Kiyon.


    ¡°So,¡± Tzulan paused in the dead center of the bowing soldiers, ¡°she ensnared herself a Zosara,¡± he mused to himself, that undercurrent of pain still audible with every word. For several long moments, he stood there, muttering and chuckling like a mad man before he finally turned to face Kiyon, who had suddenly realized his mistake.


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.The young man glanced to Bankiro, terror making his dark eyes wide. He was silently pleading for help, for guidance from the leader he had come to love and respect. Emotion, duty, and honor warred inside the lieutenant as he tried to make sense of this moment and how it had gone so horribly wrong so quickly.


    ¡°Rise.¡± The command brought each of the soldiers to their feet almost as soon as it was spoken. They held their positions, standing at attention, though each one had to be trembling inside with fear.


    ¡°Disrespect. Failure. Insolence!¡± Tzulan rattled off the words, sounding more and more outraged with each slight he listed. ¡°I have given you everything. I pay for your service; I supply the food in your belly, the clothes on your back, and a warm, secure place for you to sleep! And how do you repay me? By letting my would-be assassin escape!¡±


    Bankiro steeled his resolve, just as he had when faced with the Zosara¡¯s power. He would not back down here; he would not stand idly by while his men suffered. ¡°My lord, please,¡± he interrupted, stepping from his position and approaching the Warlord. He stopped a few feet from him and dropped to one knee, leaning forward on his fist with his head bowed. ¡°These are good soldiers, Lord Tzulan. The blame for this failure is not theirs to bear. It is mine. I am their commander, and I accept the full cost of this failure.¡±


    The Warlord half turned, his face still obscured by the cowl covering his head. He seemed to be considering the lieutenant¡¯s words, and then he abruptly moved again, motioning to the captain.


    Immediately Guo responded, dismounting his own horse and signaling his soldiers to action as well. While one man came to take the horses, four others moved to join their commander as he swept down the row of Bankiro¡¯s troop. He knew exactly what they were doing, and his heart sank. Every third man was ordered out of line and sent to kneel before Tzulan. Kiyon had been the first and was soon joined by three of his comrades.


    ¡°On your feet, lieutenant!¡± Guo croaked.


    Two soldiers came to flank Bankiro as he rose and was then redirected so he was standing just a step behind Tzulan. This way, he had a clear view of the four frightened men kneeling in the mud.


    Each one looked to him, and all he could do was try to appear strong and resolute. He was certain he failed the second his gaze met Kiyon¡¯s. He was the youngest, and while his clumsy nature had been frustrating at times, Bankiro had admired his dedication and spirit. This was not the end he deserved... None of them deserved this!


    ¡°My lord, I beg you, have mercy!¡± Bankiro pleaded once again, but his words were met by a cruel laugh.


    Guo retrieved Kiyon¡¯s sword and then moved slowly to the other end of the line. The blade rose above the first man and a second later fell with far less force behind the blow than one would expect was necessary to sever a head from somebody¡¯s shoulders.


    Bankiro tried again, urging for mercy, but Tzulan did not budge, and so Guo moved down the line, felling one young soldier after another. Each one felt like a knife blade twisting in the lieutenant¡¯s chest, each moment of death and gore engraving itself in his mind. The rolling heads, the gaping faces, and limp bodies. He had seen death and slaughter, but this was something far worse. This was needless, senseless, and he was helpless to stop it.


    Finally, only Kiyon remained. Those intense eyes still staring, filled with tears and horror. They questioned him, begging him to do something! Bankiro wanted so badly to look away, to shut his eyes as the blade was raised one last time, but he remained steadfast. He gave the young man a slight nod of comfort, certain that in moments he would be joining him in the afterlife.


    ¡°Stop this, Tzulan!¡± he shouted, taking a step toward the Warlord with the intention of grabbing his shoulder and spinning him around. The two soldiers at his back quickly acted, restraining the lieutenant and dragging him back. ¡°Enough, this is madness!¡± Bankiro fought against them, but they held him fast. He cried in outrage, but nobody was listening.


    A second later, Kiyon¡¯s head toppled into the mud, and Bankiro released a bellowing shout of frustration and fury. Still raging and fighting, a spew of angry insults flew in Guo¡¯s direction. The behemoth dropped Kiyon¡¯s sword next to his decapitated corpse and turned a chilling grin to the struggling Bankiro.


    It was Tzulan who addressed him, however. He finally turned to fully face him, and for the first time, Bankiro got a look at what he was hiding beneath the cowl. There was an ugly, welted burn on his cheek, swirled into an elegant pattern that might have been pretty were it not seared into a man¡¯s flesh. The eye on that side of his face had changed colors. The sclera was bloodshot, and the iris glowed a sickly yellow-green.


    ¡°Strip his rank,¡± he commanded. ¡°This wretch is not fit for my army.¡± From his belt, he drew a dagger and motioned the men holding Bankiro¡¯s arms.


    They forced him down to his knees as Guo approached. He took up a position behind the lieutenant and clutched the bound topknot secured on his head. Accepting the knife from Tzulan, he pulled the hair taut and began sawing through it despite Bankiro¡¯s desperate scream of protest.


    The next few seconds were a hazy blur. Bankiro had imagined death was near, but this? Like all true warriors, he had pledged an oath to fight and serve his master, whoever that may be, with honor. As a sign of that commitment, it was forbidden for him to cut his hair, or he would forever be shamed. For seven years, Bankiro had upheld that vow, and now it had been forcibly severed.


    His soul was in torment, his mind reeling. Death would have been a mercy, even a death of humiliation. When he saw Tzulan standing over him with the dagger, he thought for sure an end was coming, but there was only to be more pain.


    Guo tangled Bankiro¡¯s now short, dark hair in his sausage-like fingers and yanked his head back roughly. The former soldier let out a growl, but the fight had gone out of him, and it sounded more like a defeated grunt.


    ¡°This I inflict upon you myself,¡± Tzulan pressed the tip of the dagger into Bankiro¡¯s cheek, the sharp blade slicing through the skin as the Warlord began to carve as though the man¡¯s face were a hunk of wood.


    Gritting his teeth, Bankiro refused to cry out. The pain ignited his fury again, and hot tears of anger stung his eyes. Four bloody lines - one for each of his men that had been slain - were cut into his cheek, just under his left eye.


    When it was over, Guo and the other men released him so he slumped forward, almost face planting into the muck. Above him, Tzulan told him coldly, ¡°Never forget your failure.¡±


    Bankiro remained motionless, struggling with the weight of everything he had just endured. Around him, the Warlord and his soldiers rode away, his former men refusing to even look at him for fear of sharing his fate. He couldn¡¯t blame them. Had things been different, he would have cautioned them to give the shamed wretch a wide berth. The thought caused a humorless laugh to escape him. For seven years, he had been a loyal soldier, and due to a single circumstance where it had been impossible for anyone to come out ahead, he had been cast out, marked as an outsider. A warrior without a master, without allegiance...


    Uncertain how long he had been kneeling in the mud alone, Bankiro finally forced himself back to his feet. Despair weighed heavily on his heart, threatening to crush him under its girth. He bent over beside the lifeless bodies of his innocent comrades, wrapping his cold, stiff fingers around the hilt of Kiyon¡¯s sword. There was one thing he clung to, one thing that kept him from taking his own life in an attempt to regain some measure of his stolen honor...


    Fingers trembling around the hilt, fiery pain searing his cheek, Bankiro howled in the direction the monsters had gone. He screamed until he nearly passed out. He collapsed to his knees again, still clutching the tainted weapon, and panted for breath.


    ¡°I swear...¡± he whispered, his voice now hoarse. ¡°I swear, that with this blade, I will have revenge!¡±

 Chapter 5: Hanamei - Tower Of The Water Zosara

    Hanamei woke slowly, her mind regaining consciousness as though she were waking from a pleasant dream. She felt warm and cozy, nestled beneath a thick blanket with a soft mattress under her slender frame that easily could have been a cloud. Never before had she been fortunate enough to rest in such luxury. As such, she was reticent to leave the safety and comfort of the borrowed bed, but between her ravenous stomach and the memory of the previous night returning, she had to grudgingly get up.


    Throwing the covers back, she slipped to the edge of the bed, expecting a chill as her bare feet touched the floor, but it wasn¡¯t cold at all. There was a plush rug stretched out beside the bed. She smiled, once again pleased, this time by how good the thick fibers felt beneath her skin.


    Where am I? Am I dead? Or did the stranger bring me here?


    She glanced down and realized her clothing had been changed. The tattered remnants of the silk gown she¡¯d been forced to wear for Tzulan were gone, replaced by a simple but finely made linen dress. Instantly she blushed, the thought of a man seeing her naked a great source of embarrassment.


    ¡°You needn¡¯t worry,¡± a melodious, female voice startled her. ¡°It was I that changed you.¡±


    Hanamei jerked her head up and gasped. The speaker was tall, with eyes that shimmered like clear mountain ponds and dark hair tinted sea-green and cerulean. The smooth tresses fell in a single wave down her back, flecks of color gleaming as the locks swayed in rhythm with her graceful steps. Poking out of the shimmering strands were delicate, pointed ears the likes of which Hanamei had never seen. The woman¡¯s pale skin resembled the frothy white of seafoam and shimmered silver when it caught the light.


    She stopped in front of Hanamei and bowed her head in a respectful greeting. ¡°Good afternoon.¡± Her words flowed like music, and now that they were so close together, Hanamei could feel a soothing warmth radiating from the strange being. ¡°I am Ren. The master has instructed me to attend you.¡±


    When all Hanamei did was stare at her dumbfounded, Ren held out her arm, offering the garments draped over it. Having been so swept up in her unusual appearance, she hadn¡¯t noticed them before. ¡°Oh... I don¡¯t...¡± She had no idea what to say.


    Thankfully, Ren offered an obvious statement of fact that helped to jar the young woman out of her stupor. ¡°Your present attire is not suitable for an audience with Lord Akihato. You must change.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡± Hanamei nodded, shaking the final remnants of fog from her mind. She stood up and accepted the clothes from Ren. Immediately she could tell they were made of silk and other fine materials, materials that even as a chieftain¡¯s daughter she had never owned. Her father had always been very practical, never wasting his time on luxury or finery, even for his only daughter.


    She started to hand them back, but Ren was no longer paying attention to her and instead occupied herself with straightening the bed. Biting her lip, Hanamei hesitated a few moments longer, uncertain she should accept such things, especially from a man. In the end, she relented, deciding she could wear them long enough to request something less extravagant.


    When she started to dress, Ren returned to her side in order to assist her. There were several layers she wasn¡¯t familiar with. The white undergarment was more what she was accustomed to wearing, and so she had managed to get it properly put on. Ren proved invaluable, however, in the next steps. She expertly wrapped a simple yet elegant gown around her that was secured just underneath her breasts with a colorful belt. Then she ushered her over to a chair and began brushing through her long, black hair. Ren wanted to go further by styling it, but Hanamei wasn¡¯t used to being fussed over so much and insisted that leaving it down would be acceptable.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    Finally finished, Hanamei was led out of the room and through the halls. They weren¡¯t opulently decorated like she thought they would be. There were a few paintings spread about and even a tapestry depicting a frosty spring landscape that made her shiver. It became clear, from the solid stone and by glancing out a few small windows, that she was in some sort of old fortress. A palace or tower, perhaps? She wasn¡¯t entirely sure, but she guessed the latter.


    After a few flights of spiraling staircases, Ren led her into what was obviously a massive library. The walls from floor to ceiling were lined with books, and the handful of workstations were piled to overflowing with more of the same. There was one area devoid of anything, just a huge circle in the exact center of the space that didn¡¯t even have a rug laid down to cover the dark stone.


    How strange... she mused as her eyes were drawn to a raised level near the back, opposite the door. Like the rest of the library, it was cluttered to overflowing with books, scrolls, and manuscripts, at least as far as she could tell from where she stood just inside the door.


    Ren cleared her throat, gaining Hanamei¡¯s attention once more so she could guide her through the crowded space and up the flight of metal steps to the second level. As they approached, she could hear talking and recognized the voice as the man who had saved her.


    ¡°No, no, Jin,¡± he sounded mildly flustered, ¡°it¡¯s not in Genqian¡¯s text either! Try that one. No, Jin, that one, the blue one... The dark blue one. Yes! Yes, bring it here, please!¡±


    As she took the last step, the sight of Akihato surprised the young woman. He was seated directly on a table, the chair next to him stacked dangerously high with books. There were even more books in his lap and scattered about him on the table. He looked nothing like the noble lord who had rescued her the night before. He wasn¡¯t dressed in fine clothing, and his hair had been quickly tied at the base of his neck instead of high on his head. When Ren had said she was having an audience with Akihato, she had expected a court filled with nobles; instead, there was just a library and a young man who was so engrossed in his task he had yet to notice their presence.


    ¡°Here, my Lord.¡± Another exotic-looking servant, this one definitively masculine in appearance, approached Akihato laden down with a new heap of scrolls and old tomes. ¡°As you requested, I have br¡ª¡°


    ¡°Yes, thank you, Jin.¡± Akihato didn¡¯t glance up; he simply accepted the books and piled them on top of the others in his lap.


    Ren cleared her throat before Akihato had a chance to get completely lost to his research again. ¡°Master, the young lady has awakened and is¡ª¡°


    ¡°Excellent!¡± Akihato waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Bring her to see me when she¡¯s up to it, would you?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Master,¡± Ren spoke without a trace of impatience, making Hanamei wonder if she was capable of emotion at all. After a momentary pause, she added flatly, ¡°She has been prepared and awaits your attention.¡±


    This seemed to snap him out of the pages he was pouring over. ¡°She what?¡± He straightened up, then twisted around, a look of surprise on his face. ¡°Oh. Oh! Blast it, Ren. Why didn¡¯t you just say she was here!¡± He scrambled to free himself from the pile of books while simultaneously getting down off the table. It took him a few moments, but somehow he managed to do so without breaking his neck.


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s not good.¡± He nearly fell to the floor almost immediately after standing. ¡°Oh, not good at all!¡± Hopping up and down and wiggling his entire leg, Akihato continued to swear. ¡°How blasted long did I sit up there, Jin? My whole damn leg fell asleep!¡±


    Hanamei watched him, partly amused and partly confused. The contrast between him and the courtly, confident man from before was night and day. She told herself she had just caught him off guard, but she could tell there was clearly a youthful, boyish side to him as well, just in the way he flashed her a sheepish grin. There was also the scholarly part of him; that much was obvious with a mere glance around his library. He must have been very dedicated to his work... whatever it was exactly.


    ¡°My apologies.¡± He cleared his throat and stood a bit more erect. He was quite tall, towering over Hanamei even when he was partially stooped down, still rubbing his leg. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure when you would awaken. Normally my sleep spell wears off after a few hours, but you were out for almost three days.¡± He finally abandoned his leg and straightened to his full height, studying her closely as he did so. ¡°You must have needed the rest...¡±

 Chapter 6: Hanamei - Proof Of Fealty

    Three days!


    Had she truly been asleep that long? It barely felt like a night to her, but maybe that would explain why she felt so well-rested. She couldn¡¯t remember when she¡¯d last slept soundly if she ever had. Since her father¡¯s war with Tzulan had begun, they¡¯d been forced to move from place to place, trying to stay one step ahead of their enemy. Sometimes these moves were planned; other times, they came unexpectedly. She¡¯d lost track of how many times she¡¯d been startled awake or been forced to stop what she was doing in order to retreat.


    ¡°Do you have a name?¡± If Akihato saw her shiver, he graciously did not call attention to it.


    She nodded, feeling suddenly shy and uncertain. Was she truly safe here in this strange place, with these strange creatures and even stranger man? Could she trust him, or was he just as evil and twisted as Warlord Tzulan?


    ¡°Hanamei,¡± she whispered, deciding she could tell him that much at least.


    ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure.¡± He bowed his head, then swept his arm toward the stairs. ¡°You must be famished. Lady Hanamei, would you dine with me?¡±


    Her stomach answered for her, rumbling obnoxiously before she could even open her mouth. Akihato grinned at her, but had the good sense, once again, not to comment. Even still, she couldn¡¯t stop herself from blushing. She bowed her head and fixed her gaze on the floor. ¡°Yes, Lord. I would be honored.¡±


    ¡°Excellent.¡± He beamed at her, and she wasn¡¯t sure if he was genuinely pleased or if it was all just a big show. ¡°Ren is an amazing cook. She¡¯ll prepare the best food you¡¯ve ever eaten!¡±


    While Akihato guided her out of the library, Hanamei glanced back over her shoulder at the unusual woman keeping pace a few steps behind them. One glance in those glowing, watery eyes caused an uneasy shiver to run down her spine. She didn¡¯t know why, just that these seemingly emotionless creatures unsettled her despite how well-mannered and subservient they acted.


    As if reading her mind, Akihato explained, ¡°Don¡¯t let them frighten you; they¡¯re gwazemi; water spirits specifically. You¡¯re sensing the magical energy that has allowed them to manifest in a human form. They¡¯re gentle as kittens to all who are permitted within these walls, but they become fearsome combatants when dealing with intruders.¡° He winked. ¡°You¡¯re perfectly safe, I assure you.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡± She nodded, not sure his explanation had really comforted her any. At least not right away. She still didn¡¯t fully understand their purpose or why he didn¡¯t have normal servants, but for some reason, she felt what he said was true. She was safe within these walls. Or at least, she wanted to feel that way. There was still a part of her that was very unsure about all of this. ¡°Does anyone know I¡¯m here?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± he answered without hesitating. ¡°Do you have family? Would you like me to send word to them that you¡¯re safe? I¡¯m not comfortable bringing them to you, but I could accompany you if you wished to¡ª¡°


    She firmly shook her head, sending ripples down her silky black hair. ¡°No! No, that isn¡¯t necessary.¡± Again she looked away from him, not wanting him to see the emotion warring across her face. Finally, in a quiet, clipped voice, she added, ¡°I have no family.¡±


    Akihato was quiet for a long moment, perhaps mulling over his own demons or maybe just giving her the space she seemed to need. Either way, she appreciated that he didn¡¯t pry any further.


    They strolled back down the winding staircase to what Hanamei was certain was the ground floor. It was a small space, filled with simple furniture and the same unassuming but elegant artwork.


    Curious, that a lord lives in such sparse conditions...


    He led her into another room that was obviously a dining hall judging by the large cedar table and chairs arranged in the center. A pair of tapestries hung on either end of the space, one depicting what looked to be seven mythical dragons and another the seven matching elements. She frowned, studying it more closely, surprised to see so many of both. She had always thought there were only five elements. What were the other two meant to be?This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    That old magic stirred in her belly as she stared at the embroidery. The dragons she wasn¡¯t familiar with were black and white, respectively, their scales shimmering with turquoise and violet. The longer she stared at them, the more the power squirmed inside of her to the point she had to rip her gaze away lest it blaze out of control. She thought she saw her host watching her from the corner of his eye but couldn¡¯t be certain.


    Akihato directed her to a chair next to the head of the table, helping her to get seated before taking his place next to her. Ren disappeared through another doorway that no doubt led to the kitchen. A few moments later, the sound of dishes and pans clanging together and drawers and cupboards being opened and closed created a welcome background noise to drown out the silence.


    Finally, the Zosara broke the quiet. ¡°What part of the Taiku territories do you originate from, Hanamei?¡±


    The answer flashed through her mind. In her oldest memories, it was a beautiful place, lush and green, filled with lily ponds and serene meadows. In recent memory, her birthplace looked much different. The ponds were stagnant or filled in with dirt or rubble, the meadows destroyed after a decade of hosting battles. ¡°The south,¡± was the only response she gave.


    It seemed that was enough to further pique his curiosity. ¡°Truly? The land of the chieftain?¡±


    She hung her head and nodded slowly.


    Raising his eyebrow inquisitively, Akihato was studying her again, and this time it made her feel incredibly uneasy. ¡°Forgive me,¡± he said after a moment, ¡°My curiosity often gets the better of me.¡±


    ¡°No.¡± She nibbled at her bottom lip, afraid she might have offended him. ¡°There is nothing to forgive, my Lord. I know you meant no harm.¡±


    Silence fell between them again. Hanamei wanted to say more, but she was once again wondering if she could really trust him or not.


    ¡°If I might ask this, however,¡± Akihato didn¡¯t seem willing to give up on finding out more about her, ¡°how did you come to be with the Warlord?¡±


    Hanamei¡¯s entire body tensed, and she tilted her face away again, trembling as the memory of that night came back to her. The look in Tzulan¡¯s eyes, the malice and carnal longing. It terrified her even now that she was beyond his reach. ¡°My father.¡± The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop them. She needed to get it out, to tell someone of the injustice that had befallen her. ¡°He made a deal with the Warlord, and I was demanded as proof of his fealty.¡±


    The chair creaking told her Akihato had shifted his position, but she did not expect to feel his hand on her shoulder. She jumped, turning to shyly gaze up at his face. There was sympathy, kindness, and understanding written plainly there. He didn¡¯t need to speak a word; the gesture and his expression conveyed enough. Foolish or not, Hanamei gave in to the urge to trust him. He had already saved her, brought her to his home, was caring for her needs, and now he was granting her a gift she¡¯d never known before - empathy.


    She moved her hands out of her lap, holding them up above the table and staring at them as though she didn¡¯t recognize them. ¡°I don¡¯t know how I did it...¡± She answered the question he had to have been dying to ask. ¡°There was this power inside of me; it has always been there, ever since I was a child. All I remember is that I didn¡¯t want him to touch me. I wanted him to burn...¡± Her fingers were trembling, tears welling in her eyes that she fought to keep from falling. ¡°I wanted to make him suffer!¡±


    Akihato reached for her hands, collecting them gently in his and squeezing firmly. ¡°You are safe here, Hanamei. Tzulan can scour the world, and he would not find us. My magic, the very magic you possess also, shields this place from being stumbled upon. He would have to know its location or be told its location in order to find you. And trust me, there are few I have revealed my home to, let alone given directions on how to find it.¡± He squeezed again. ¡°You are safe with me.¡±


    A tear escaped, falling down her cheek as she stared into Akihato¡¯s cerulean eyes. She believed his words, took comfort in them, but all of this was foreign to her. Her people had kept her at arm¡¯s length, afraid to get too close, afraid of the power she possessed. Even her own father had never fully trusted her. For a complete stranger to accept her so easily was something she could not completely comprehend.


    ¡°Why?¡± she whispered, ¡°Why are you helping me?¡±


    This caused him to smile. ¡°I already told you, Hanamei.¡± He leaned back in his chair, withdrawing his hand as he did so. ¡°You have magic within you, and we Zosara look after our own.¡±


    A surprised gasp parted her lips. ¡°Me?¡± She gazed at him in shock. ¡°A Zosara?¡± The notion had never occurred to her before. She had always assumed the power was something strange, something that had never been seen before. But perhaps it wasn¡¯t. Perhaps it had a name and could be controlled. She risked a glance at the tapestry, at the unknown elemental symbols that seemed to call to her.


    Akihato graced her with a broad grin. It lit up his features, making him appear even more handsome than before. ¡°Yes, Hanamei. With training and dedication, you will become a Zosara, too.¡±

 Chapter 7: Akihato - A Lesson In Magic

    Ren brought breakfast out to them a few minutes later. On the plates, arranged in a beautiful fashion, was a poached egg, toast, and fruit. She laid the meal out in front of them, gave a polite bow to Akihato, and then departed. A couple of moments later, she returned with fresh-squeezed juice she placed on the table along with a pair of glasses.


    Once the gwazemi was gone, Akihato leaned forward and began to eat. He was mindful to keep his gaze off Hanamei, studying her without staring. The story she¡¯d told made him feel a great deal of sympathy for her, but there was more she¡¯d kept to herself and that had caught his attention.


    She had not come right out and admitted she was the daughter of the chieftain, but he¡¯d deduced as much. This made everything else he¡¯d learned especially curious. There were tests he needed to run, things he needed to be sure of before he proceeded. Perhaps he had been too hasty in telling her she could be a Zosara. The look on her face, however, the fear she had of her own power, had urged him to give her some measure of peace. She was not a monster or a witch; she was something far greater.


    ¡°Are you enjoying the meal?¡± he inquired, finally shifting his blue eyes to look at her again.


    Hanamei nodded, raising a hand to swipe a trickle of fruit juice from the corner of her mouth. ¡°Thank you. You are a generous host, my Lord.¡±


    ¡°And you are a gracious guest.¡± He winked, pleased when she offered him a soft smile in return.


    They went back to the meal, exchanging few words until well after the food was gone and the pitcher of juice had been nearly drained. Finally, Akihato, whose curiosity was nagging more incessantly at him, pushed his chair back and rose.


    ¡°Are you interested in learning more about sorcery?¡± he asked, holding out his hand to her.


    She eyed it warily. ¡°I¡¯m not sure... The last time I accepted your hand, you enchanted me to sleep...¡± There was a hint of seriousness to what she said but a faint, teasing twinkle in her gaze.


    The latter brought a boyish grin to his face. ¡°I am sorry about that, but I could sense you were about to be overwhelmed. It was more expedient, as well as easier on you, to simply have you rest. I hope you understand my intent?¡±


    Hanamei didn¡¯t respond immediately. She weighed his words for an uncomfortably long minute before coming to a decision. Finally, she laid her hand in his.


    He grinned again, helping her to stand up before guiding her to the door. On the way, he explained, ¡°I will begin with the basics. There are five primary sources of magical energy: metal, fire, wood, water, and air. A person is always attuned to one of the five elements, and within those schools of magic is capable of unique, additional feats. Such as portals, scrying, even minor time manipulation. Are you following so far?¡±


    The young woman nodded, so he continued. ¡°There are many ways to determine an individual¡¯s magical aptitude. Most are unreliable, archaic methods long since abandoned, while others are far too invasive or even painful. The easiest, most reliable method is called stone testing.¡±


    While he had been speaking, Akihato led her through the tower once again. From the main living quarters, which he honestly never used except rarely to eat or sleep, up a level to where his workshop was located. The whole third floor was dedicated to his extensive library and rare artifact collection, the latter of which he kept under a very tight lock and key.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.


    His workshop was every bit as cluttered as the library. Books and manuscripts were strewn about as well, along with all sorts of instruments and vials. There was even a large pot in the back for use with some of the more ancient and outdated spells. He rarely had a need for such antiquated methods, but he¡¯d been taught to always be prepared.


    ¡°Stone testing,¡± he went on, pointing her to the only chair in the entire room, ¡°is incredibly simplistic. Though I won¡¯t lie and say it¡¯s wholly without discomfort.¡± He rummaged through one of the cupboards, hunting for a small coin pouch. ¡°Ah-ha!¡± he exclaimed when he found it, snatching the navy blue pouch out from under a pile of dusty scrolls. ¡°Here we are...¡±


    Akihato turned back to Hanamei, a satisfied smile quirking his thin lips. ¡°These are elementally infused stones. A rather basic and ordinary thing, truth be told. Novice Zosara train with them, but after a point, they¡¯re little better than common trinkets.¡±


    ¡°Then why do you keep them?¡± Hanamei inquired timidly, almost as though she were afraid interrupting might earn his wrath.


    The thought caused a momentary frown to crease his brow, but he swiftly hid it away. He didn¡¯t want her to be afraid of him or of speaking up. It was something she would have to overcome if she were to learn about magic.


    ¡°Sentiment,¡± he answered, letting a smile return. ¡°These were a gift from one of my masters.¡±


    Collecting a wooden bowl, Akihato emptied the contents of the pouch into it with a clunk. He held the bowl out so she could see inside of it. The five stones were rather plain, each one more or less a dull shade of color: yellow, red, brown, blue, and green. They were every bit as unimpressive as he had described, at least while they were sitting idle in the bowl. He knew from experience in the hands of a Zosara, these stones would change radically, and that was why they were useful for screening would-be casters.


    ¡°Allow me to demonstrate what we¡¯re looking for...¡± He reached into the bowl and carefully withdrew the blue stone. The second the stone was no longer touching the bowl, but held only in Akihato¡¯s fingers, it began to glow. The color of the surface changed as though a light were shining brightly from within. A watery palette swirled inside of it, and there was a significant source of cold radiating outward.


    Hanamei stared in wonder, her eyes wide beneath her dark, delicate lashes. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± she gasped, the awe in her voice bringing a grin to Akihato¡¯s face.


    He discarded the stone back into the bowl. ¡°Indeed it is. As you might have guessed, my attunement is to water. Which means,¡± he braced himself and withdrew another stone, this time the red one, ¡°fire is my opposing element.¡±


    The stone did not change this time, but the fingers touching it began to smoke as the extreme heat smoldered furiously against his unprotected skin. The discomfort was mild as the power within the stone was not significant, but there was still a level of displeasure and a subtle feeling of revulsion that only grew in intensity the longer he held the smooth rock. When he was certain Hanamei understood the visual lesson, he dropped the stone back into the bowl.


    He was surprised when Hanamei reached for his hand. Her touch was gentle as she inspected his thumb and index finger more closely. The full effect of the stone¡¯s negative energy was more obvious now as small blisters marred his skin. Whatever she was thinking, she kept it hidden behind an impassive mask, but when she glanced up at his face, he saw a trace of uncertainty.


    ¡°Is this the discomfort you spoke of?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± He knew better than to lie; there was nothing to be gained by hiding the truth. ¡°It¡¯s mild, I assure you. You¡¯ll know an element is opposed to you almost immediately, and as such, any damage will be minimal.¡± He hesitated before adding, ¡°Should you have a severe reaction, I will be here to help you. There is certainly a reason to fear, but much more is to be gained by discovering the source of your power. Trust me?¡± It was a stretch to think she could since they had barely met, but she¡¯d followed him this far; perhaps she would be willing to follow him a little further...

 Chapter 8: Akihato - The Chaos Stone

    Just when Akihato was sure she would be too frightened, she surprised him and reached for her first stone. He was impressed she went for the red one after seeing what it had done to him. He had not expected her to be so bold.


    How curious...


    She breathed a visible sigh of relief, however, when the stone remained opaque.


    ¡°Well.¡± He grinned. ¡°We can rule out fire. And likely water as well. Try the brown or yellow next.¡±


    With a nod, she returned the red stone and plucked up the brown one. Nothing happened.


    ¡°Not so unusual,¡± he remarked. ¡°Try again.¡±


    She reached for the yellow. Once again, nothing happened.


    Hanamei looked at him inquisitively, silently asking what to do next, but the truth was, Akihato had no idea. This was incredibly unusual. In fact, he had never heard of anything like this happening before. It raised his suspicions about her, but he kept those hidden well beneath the surface. ¡°Interesting... try the blue and green. It¡¯s not unheard for the opposing elements to shift around.¡±


    She obeyed, this time with far more confidence. But neither one of the stones had any reaction either.


    Leaving Akihato with one option. The only problem was... he wasn¡¯t sure if it was even possible. That¡¯s what he¡¯d been studying. He could sense a great power within Hanamei, bubbling below the surface of her conscious mind. She had been hiding it, trying to be normal, and that had caused the power to grow without guidance. If she wasn¡¯t careful, if she wasn¡¯t taught, then she could have another outburst. This one far worse than attacking a Warlord.


    ¡°I wonder...¡± he mused, turning away to stare at his cabinet as though it held the answer. There was a strong possibility it did.


    He glanced down into the bowl at the five stones, wondering briefly if perhaps he had gotten it wrong. What if Hanamei¡¯s power was not that of a Zosara but something entirely different? No. He brushed the notion out of his mind. New magic didn¡¯t just appear. There was a logical explanation for this, even if the possibility was slim. Perhaps her magic was just too weak at the moment to affect the elemental stones. If that were the case, all he needed to do was give it a little help.


    That made his decision. He approached the cabinet again and began rummaging about once more, this time for something else. The stone he was looking for this time was far different than the others, but with it, he could determine one way or another what element she was attuned to. This time he tugged out a grey pouch that was a lot bigger than the first, but he didn¡¯t place its contents into a bowl.


    Akihato turned back to Hanamei and gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°This will help,¡± he continued explaining, loosening the drawstrings and dropping the much larger stone onto his outstretched palm. ¡°It¡¯s a chaos stone. Zosara use them for complex, ritual spells to either boost the power or channel their focus. This one is more of a trinket...¡± He held it up for her to see. It looked like a smooth, black rock.


    ¡°You see,¡± he went on, ¡°each element of magic, every living and unliving thing really, is also made up of void and chaos. These two opposing elements have always been vital to the natural order of the world and take shape in many things. Such as man and woman, light and dark... You get the idea.¡±


    She nodded slowly.


    ¡°What I¡¯m about to ask you might be a little difficult, but just do your best.¡± He extended the stone to her. ¡°Hold it in your hand and try to reach for your power. Imagine it filling you and flowing into the stone, then¡ª¡°Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    As he was speaking, she reached out to take the stone from him. The instant it left his skin, it reacted to her touch, filling with glowing light that momentarily blinded him. She let out a startled cry and recoiled from it, dropping the stone to the floor. As it fell, it returned to its natural state.


    Akihato stared in shock for a moment before quickly reaching out to inspect Hanamei¡¯s hand. ¡°Did it pain you?¡± he asked, sounding more gruff than he intended. There were no burns or marks on her skin, but her fingers were still warm where they had been touching the chaos stone.


    She shook her head. ¡°No... it felt...¡± Fear and confusion warred on her face. ¡°It felt good.¡±


    He couldn¡¯t keep a frown off his face. Could it truly be possible? He reached down and retrieved the stone. ¡°Try again. It¡¯s all right; you did nothing wrong.¡± He did his best to reassure her.


    Hanamei hesitated for just a moment before setting her jaw and taking hold of the stone once more. It filled with light, shimmering and glowing just as strongly as before. Now that he was prepared for this reaction, Akihato grabbed the bowl from where he¡¯d sat it earlier and motioned for the woman to hold out her other hand.


    If she is truly attuned to chaos, then all five of the elemental stones will react to her touch now... One by one, he dropped a stone into her waiting palm, and one by one, they glowed when they came into contact with her skin. She winced when the metal stone touched her, and Akihato noted it took a little longer than the others for it to react. It never did glow as brightly.


    Having seen enough to be convinced, Akihato allowed her to return the stones into their respective pouches, and then he put them back in the cabinet. He took that short moment to compose himself, to keep his apprehension and uncertainty from showing. All Hanamei needed to focus on now was learning to control her magic. She needed a teacher and guidance, not to be worrying over what it meant for the world that she even existed. It seemed she¡¯d borne that weight long enough, and he was determined to alleviate the burden.


    ¡°You¡¯re full of surprises,¡± he finally said. When he turned to face her again, he was grinning widely. ¡°Do you want to know what your attunement is?¡±


    ¡°Not metal,¡± she commented, a slight frown marring her brow. ¡°It didn¡¯t seem to agree with me...¡±


    ¡°Yes, a very astute observation.¡± He nodded, his grin spreading. ¡°You have a special gift, Hanamei. I¡¯ve never heard of a Zosara attuned to chaos, but I¡¯m certain you are. This gives you an incredible amount of power. It means,¡± the more he spoke, the more excited he became as he pondered the possibilities this opened up for her, ¡°your limits will be few. What others must learn through hard work and study, you will know instinctively. You will not be capable of creating the elements, but you can manipulate and control them, which is arguably just as powerful.¡±


    It should have made her feel better, but as she listened to his words, there was only fear spreading across her face. ¡°I¡¯m not... I can¡¯t wield such power...¡±


    Akihato shook his head, crouching down in front of her. He placed a hand on hers. ¡°No, Hanamei, right now you can¡¯t. But I can teach you how. That is all you need, someone to guide you, instruct you. That is all any Zosara needs. With training, you will have nothing to fear.¡±


    ¡°I may not,¡± she said, ¡°but even with my limited knowledge, I am certain such power is dangerous. Others will have cause to fear me, and rightly so... What if you teach me and all you succeed in doing is creating a monster?¡±


    The words hit him hard, her insight surprising him. He had no way of saying for certain she would never harm an innocent, that her incredible power wouldn¡¯t corrupt her heart and cause her to commit terrible acts, but perhaps... ¡°I cannot know the future; none of us truly can. Even an air Zosara has limits to what they can divine. But I believe being aware of the responsibility you face is an excellent sign your heart will remain pure and strong.¡±


    He squeezed her hand and rose. ¡°Now, enough of this dark talk. I will ask Ren to give you a proper tour of the tower and the grounds. You are welcome to make this your home until you decide whether or not you wish to remain here under my tutelage. Should you decide to part ways, I will take you wherever you wish to go and do my best to assist you in starting a new life.¡±


    Offering to help her up, he guided her toward the door. He had a great deal of research to do. Finding out if there were other Zosara like her was now his chief concern. It was also necessary, he knew, to seek out the Masters for their blessing and wisdom in taking on a new student. There was undoubtedly insight to be had there as well.


    As he strolled down the hallway beside Hanamei, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a strange mix of apprehension and excitement. Whatever the future held, he knew the world was heading toward drastic changes, and he would be right in the center of them.

 Chapter 9: Hanamei - We Will Never Be Yours

    Hanamei was only half listening to Ren as she led her around per Akihato¡¯s request. She was providing an awful lot of detail about the tower, how Akihato had rebuilt it after it had sat abandoned for centuries.


    Apparently, this practice was rather common. Once there had been a great number of Zosara, all allied with the Enclave of Zozatai and, now that their numbers had significantly diminished, there were places such as the tower that had been abandoned.


    ¡°Jin and I chose this place as our refuge long ago. The Master awakened us with his presence...¡±


    The stories were interesting, but Hanamei¡¯s mind was simply elsewhere. She couldn¡¯t stop thinking about the surge of power from earlier, about how good the energy felt coursing through her veins. Akihato had seemed confident, even excited, that she would grow into a fine Zosara, but she couldn¡¯t be so sure. At least not now. Just a few days ago, she¡¯d been an unwilling concubine to a tyrant, and today a man was offering her power the likes of which she¡¯d only dreamed of.


    ¡°Summers are the longest season here,¡± Ren was saying proudly. ¡°Weather magic has altered the grounds, allowing for a harsh but brief winter and giving way to a more gentle but cool spring. Like now.¡± She swept her arm as they strolled through the courtyard.


    Hanamei just nodded, glancing at her surroundings and noting the budding beauty without reacting to it. If Ren noticed her distance, she didn¡¯t comment and instead led her to the garden. It was not obviously manicured; rather, everything had been placed where desired and then allowed to grow naturally. Whether that was the intended effect or not, it was still absolutely beautiful.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°The Master is partial to water lilies,¡± Ren informed her, stopping at the edge of a large pond in the direct center of the garden. There were a number of flower-less pads sitting on the water¡¯s surface, though one or two showed signs of the first blossoms beginning to peak out.


    ¡°Well, he is a water Zosara...¡± Hanamei remarked, feeling certain that was why Akihato was so fond of them. For some reason, imagining him reading beside the pond when they were in full bloom made her smile softly.


    The gwazemi regarded her closely for a moment. ¡°I am merely a servant,¡± she spoke sternly all of a sudden. ¡°My brother and I have pledged to aid the Master. We protect the tower, care for his needs, assist his work. If he commands me to look after you, then that is what I will do. If he chooses to allow you to remain here, then we will serve you should he desire it, but do not forget... We will never be yours to command.¡±


    Hanamei was taken by surprise and could do little more than stare in dumbfounded shock as Ren spun on her heel and started heading back toward the tower. ¡°Come,¡± she called over her shoulder as though she were talking to a disobedient puppy.


    Frowning, but not possessing any desire to argue with a water spirit she was pretty sure could just turn her into a person-shaped ice block, Hanamei decided to let it go. Trailing after Ren, she firmly decided it didn¡¯t matter. If this was going to be her new home, providing she decided to let Akihato train her, then she would have to learn to get along with the gwazemi.


    The magic squirmed in her belly. At least for now...


    The malice in the inner voice caused a shiver to run down Hanamei¡¯s spine. In an instant, her mind was no longer on Ren¡¯s warning but wondering if a monster lurked inside her own heart.

 Chapter 10: Akihato - The Chaos Zosara

    Akihato spent the next several days buried in research, hunting down every possible mention of a Zosara attuned to chaos. If it weren¡¯t for the gwazemi, he would have gone the entire length of time without food or rest, becoming so engrossed in his work he completely forgot about such mundane things. Ren kept him fed and adequately hydrated while Jin watched the time and ensured his master was taking frequent breaks and getting at least a few hours of sleep each day.


    During this time, he barely saw Hanamei. Not out of a desire to avoid her, but because he was simply swept away in his books. Ren¡¯s assurance that she was taking care of their young guest was enough to allow Akihato not to worry about her for now. Eventually, if she so decided, he would have to begin teaching her and soon. Her early lessons would need to be about control and concentration.


    From what meager information he could find, he had pieced together that should a person possess chaos attunement, they could easily be consumed by their own darkness. Otherwise, there simply were no accounts of any who had actually existed. So far, all he had really uncovered were myths and theories, but nothing concrete to say one way or the other what to expect. After the long days spent in study and contemplation, Akihato had hit a wall.


    Breathing out a sigh, the young man reached up to rub at his eyes and face. ¡°Jin, old friend,¡± he commented wearily, ¡°I have one of the most impressive libraries in the world, and yet, with all this knowledge readily at my fingertips, I have turned up nothing... How do you explain that?¡±


    The water spirit was busy sorting books in preparation of returning them to their respective places on the shelves. It was a task Akihato often neglected, hence the many tomes and scrolls scattered across nearly every surface in the library. When posed with his master¡¯s question, Jin glanced up and tilted his head to one side. ¡°It would seem, Master, that your collection requires expanding.¡±


    Akihato let out an amused chuckle. He had come to expect such obvious answers from the gwazemi. They were intelligent, but subtlety and nuance were foreign to them. However, they were also honest and forward, unlike so many humans. ¡°Of course, Jin, of course,¡± he conceded, rising slowly out of the chair and succumbing to the urge to stretch.


    ¡°Well then...¡± he let out another heavy breath, ¡°that means I have one option left, doesn¡¯t it? Time to visit my old mentor and see if he can shake something lose from that ancient memory of his.¡± Akihato patted the spirit on the shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll leave first thing in the morning.¡±


    Jin cocked his head to the side again. ¡°It is already morning, Master. You studied through the night.¡± A pause, followed by a mild rebuke. ¡°Despite my urging you to bed on multiple occasions...¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Akihato stopped short. That would certainly explain his weariness. ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯ll settle for a hot bath and a quick breakfast, then be on my way. Please make the necessary preparations, Jin. Starting with the bath, of course.¡± He flashed a grin that the gwazemi did not return.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    He bowed. ¡°Certainly, Master.¡±


    With Jin leading the way, Akihato headed for his bedchamber. He very rarely came in here anymore, it seemed. He had no need for the place except to sleep and bathe. All of his other activities were done in the library. Even his meals were taken there more often than not. Perhaps if Hanamei became his student, he would have more of a reason to dine with her rather than spend his time locked away with his nose stuck in a book.


    But that was getting ahead of himself. He needed to focus on the immediate issue, and that was determining what Hanamei really was and how best to train her. For that, he needed the insight of someone older and wiser. Master Okan was such a man. He had taken Akihato under his wing when he was an angry adolescent without a purpose. He¡¯d tempered him, taught him self-control and self-reliance, turning him into the man he was today. Akihato owed Master Okan a great deal that could never truly be repaid.


    These thoughts hung in his mind as he began to undress. Jin busied himself preparing a bath and laying out fresh clothes for his master before he disappeared to make travel arrangements. With the gwazemi gone, Akihato was alone in his thoughts, which had not strayed from the question burning inside him. Why can¡¯t I find any mention of a living chaos Zosara?


    Slipping into the porcelain vat, the young man relaxed into the steaming hot water. His mind was filled with everything he had read. From books on testing aptitude to articles related to attunement and every manuscript he could get his hands on pertaining to the origin of magic. Most of which were presumptuous theories or boring treatises on how dragons had trained the very first Zosara to use magic. The one passage he had found that mentioned anything useful held merely a name: Mujona the Forgotten. The entry had simply read: Shall the name of chaos and death never again be spoken.


    ¡°Curious...¡± Akihato whispered to himself, having gotten so lost in his own thoughts the water was now cold. He shivered, slipping his hands beneath the surface and muttering a spell that would heat it back up, much in the reverse of how he could turn it to ice. It made his fingers tingle pleasantly, and seconds later, the bathwater began to warm gradually until it was once again steaming.


    He was just settling back into the water when Jin appeared again, holding a dry towel at the ready. ¡°Master,¡± he greeted Akihato with a bow, ¡°I have finished your travel preparations, and Ren has breakfast waiting for you. The young woman, Hanamei, has requested an audience.¡±


    Akihato raised an eyebrow, wondering why Hanamei would need to speak with him. Had she come to a decision already? If she chose to leave, what could he do or say to delay her? Until he knew exactly what she was, he didn¡¯t feel comfortable letting her leave the tower. He needed to be sure, but he couldn¡¯t come right out and tell her after all this time, he knew nothing about her magic.


    ¡°All right, I¡¯m coming,¡± he sighed, finally reaching for the bar of soap. While he scrubbed his body, Jin laid the towel down and assisted by washing his master¡¯s hair. By the time they were done, the water was already starting to get cold again, making it far easier than it might have been otherwise to leave it behind.


    Ever helpful, Jin was waiting with the towel again and offered it to Akihato quite promptly. Having an extra set of hands was always useful, but it still made Akihato feel a little uncomfortable at times. He was a properly titled lord, he should have reveled in having a servant to attend him constantly, but there were just some things he was capable of doing on his own. Like getting dressed.


    ¡°That¡¯ll be all, Jin, thank you.¡± He smiled at the spirit to let him know he wasn¡¯t displeased. ¡°You can return to tidying the library or doing whatever you wish.¡±


    Jin raised an eyebrow at him. ¡°I will double check your travel arrangements, Master,¡± he insisted, and then, as requested, he left Akihato to finish up on his own.

 Chapter 11: Akihato - Slathered In Fresh Syrup

    It didn¡¯t take him long to dress in his courtly attire, even though the get-up was far more complicated than the simple clothing he wore around the tower. As he pulled on the vestments of his rank, Akihato¡¯s demeanor slowly changed to match. The boyish scholar gave way to the noble Zosara, a mask he had donned long ago to impress his colleagues and gain prestige. Both of which were highly important within the secretive Conclave of Zozatai.


    Building contacts and forging alliances was a necessary aspect of the hierarchy, one Akihato personally had no taste for but that many of his other peers embraced wholly. In spite of his feelings on the matter, however, he played the game. He let everyone see the side of him born to nobility, the courtly, stoic part of him that did not suffer fools. As such, he had earned the title ¡®Wintertide¡¯ among his colleagues, of which there were few who dared to test his temper or power. He also had no true friends. Allies, certainly, but he made no mistake that allies and friends were two very different concepts.


    When he was finished getting dressed, Akihato swept through the door, heading for the dining room. He would eat a quick meal, speak briefly with Hanamei, and then be on his way. The idea of leaving Hanamei on her own for too long didn¡¯t sit right with him, so he was determined to make this excursion a short one. That meant leaving sooner rather than later and then returning the moment he¡¯d learned what he needed to from Master Okan.


    He was rather pleased to find Hanamei seated at the dining table waiting patiently for him or for breakfast; he wasn¡¯t sure. The sight of him brought an expression of pleased surprise to her face. It was quite possible that she hadn¡¯t been expecting to see him all dressed up. By the way her gaze inspected his impressive formal tunic, it seemed she was expecting an exhausted, rumpled version of him instead.


    ¡°My Lord,¡± she started to rise, but Akihato quickly stopped her.


    ¡°No need for that.¡± He flashed her a brief smile, letting her see he was still the same man, even if a much more fancy version of him. ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    She shook her head. ¡°We were waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°My apologies, then.¡± He took a seat beside her. No sooner did his rump hit the chair than Ren swept out of the kitchen, two plates steaming with food. The water spirit bowed to Akihato as she placed his in front of him, then she turned and laid Hanamei¡¯s down as well.


    Naturally, it¡¯s slathered in fresh syrup... he groaned inwardly. The messiest breakfast imaginable while he was wearing his finest clothes.


    Hanamei must have been thinking the same thing, for he caught her trying to stifle a grin. It was good to see her smiling; she had been so sedate and stoic the few times he had interacted with her. When she wasn¡¯t pensive or sorrowful, she was distant, as though she existed elsewhere while her body remained behind.


    She has a lot to mull over, he reminded himself. Being careful not to drip syrup all over the place, he whittled away at the flat cakes and fruit before him. Going much slower than he would have liked but sacrificing speed for cleanliness. When he¡¯d consumed about half, he finally pushed the plate back, signaling he was finished.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Somehow Ren always knew. She promptly entered from the kitchen again and moved to take the plate. Seeing that he hadn¡¯t finished, she cocked an eyebrow. ¡°Was it not satisfactory, Master?¡±


    ¡°It was excellent, Ren, thank you,¡± he assured her. ¡°It was also quite filling.¡±


    The gwazemi stared at him for a long moment, considering his words before she shrugged and carried the dish back to the kitchen.


    Akihato waited patiently for Hanamei to finish, though she didn¡¯t make it much further than he had. Once her plate had been retrieved, he finally prompted her, ¡°Jin said you wished to speak with me?¡±


    She nodded, nervously straightening her clothes. ¡°Yes, my Lord.¡± She bit at her lower lip.


    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± he insisted when she didn¡¯t continue.


    That seemed to be what she needed to hear. She took a deep breath and started speaking again, though she remained rather tentative. ¡°I am very appreciative of your hospitality, my Lord, but I must confess while your home offers many amenities and comforts, I find myself with little to do...¡± She stopped, studying his face intently as though she expected him to take offense and start yelling at her.


    Akihato was truthfully relieved. This was not what he¡¯d thought she wanted to discuss with him, and so he offered an easy smile both to express that relief and to calm her nerves. ¡°Of course, what is it you would like to do? If I don¡¯t have the supplies on hand, I can easily obtain them, I¡¯m sure.¡±


    Hanamei quickly shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t want to take advantage¡ª¡°


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Akihato quickly interrupted that direction of thought. ¡°Speak with Ren. If you wish to earn your keep and whatever supplies you need, then she will give you chores to complete.¡±


    They heard a sneeze from the kitchen, and then Ren popped her head into the dining room, her expression suspicious. ¡°Do you need anything, Master?¡±


    Akihato rose from the table, nodding. ¡°Hanamei wishes to help with the chores in exchange for...¡± He paused, glancing to the young woman. ¡°What is it that you need?¡±


    ¡°M-maybe paper... and paint...¡± Her voice was barely audible. Her timidness made Akihato uneasy; he did not like seeing her so fearful of him. Of anyone, really, but especially him.


    ¡°We have limited supplies of both, Master,¡± Ren informed them. There was something strange in her expression, making him wonder if having Hanamei help the spirit with her work had somehow insulted her.


    Akihato didn¡¯t have time to deal with it right now, but he made a note to speak with Ren when he got a chance. She was very accustomed to being the caretaker of the house, and he could understand why she might feel threatened by the presence of another woman. ¡°It should be enough to get her started. Perhaps the two of you can work out an amicable exchange. Hanamei can help with the chores, and you can help Hanamei with her art. Acquire whatever she needs we don¡¯t already have.¡±


    Ren¡¯s mouth shifted into a hard line, but she nodded affirmation. ¡°Of course, Master.¡±


    ¡°Hanamei.¡± He bowed his head in her direction. ¡°I am leaving for a few days to speak with a colleague of mine.¡± Her sudden expression of fear caused him to swiftly add. ¡°Ren and Jin will take good care of you in my absence.¡±


    Even though she nodded, the biting of her bottom lip told him, like Ren, she was mildly dissatisfied as well.


    Wonderful, I¡¯ve managed to make a mess of things. Hopefully, the two of them will get it sorted out on their own. If not... Then I suppose I¡¯ll deal with it when I return. Rather hoping they would manage without him, Akihato took his leave of the two women. He had much bigger concerns to occupy himself with. The pair of them were simply going to have to make do.

 Chapter 12: Akihato - Nothing Is Ever That Complicated

    The grounds of Master Okan¡¯s dwelling were just as overgrown and ratty as Akihato remembered. It hadn¡¯t been more than a couple of years since he¡¯d visited his former teacher, but for some reason, he always expected the place to look different, even though it never did. It had been a long day¡¯s travel. First, he had walked from the tower to a nearby village and from there rented transportation to the river town of Gosaiji, where he took a ferry downstream to a monastery that acted as a cover for Okan¡¯s school.


    His parents had sent him here, hoping he would learn discipline and self-control. Little did they know their son had the power of sorcery and that he would learn much more, not under the careful instruction of a monk, but an Onzara that was himself a legend. They had expected him to return a changed young man, ready and able to begin the process of taking over his father¡¯s holdings. Instead, he had surprised them by announcing his status as a Zosara.


    At first, they had thought he¡¯d lost his mind, and then, when he had proven his power just as he had with the Warlord¡¯s lieutenant, they¡¯d realized he was someone to be feared. He had not seen them since. They had not disowned him but rather chose to tell everyone he had decided to become a monk. Akihato retained his title, and they promised if he ever desired his inheritance, they would not stand in his way. He had rejected it on principle. As a Zosara, he had his own way of obtaining wealth, and it was not by taxing lowly peasants into poverty.


    Shaking his head, he knocked briskly on the door.


    It only took a moment or two before the door swung open. A small child, no more than six or eight, was there to greet him, looking dirty and rumpled, as though he¡¯d been playing in the forest. The green eyes and tug of soft magic told Akihato this young child was to be a future student, which, judging by the smudges of dirt on his cheeks and the twigs in his unruly brown hair, he guessed him to be wood attuned.


    ¡°Greetings,¡± he said, softening his voice, ¡°I am Lord Akihato. I have come to speak with Master Okan.¡±


    The little boy didn¡¯t get a chance to answer. An older man called out to him with a croaky, gruff voice, ¡°Well, who is it, boy? Let them in, and then it¡¯s off to the bathhouse with you!¡±


    The child scrunched his face up at the mention of a bath but obeyed despite his obvious desire not to. Opening the door wide, he gave Akihato a hurried bow and then rushed off toward the monastery proper.


    Akihato¡¯s smirk faded when he heard approaching footsteps. He shifted his gaze back to the house, just in time to see a familiar, wizened face appear in the doorway. Nothing about Okan had changed. His hair was still the purest white, and his blind left eye a milky blue. Deep lines wrinkled his face, some from frowning, but most were laugh lines.


    ¡°Ahh, Akihato!¡± The old Zosara gave him a toothy grin as he moved outside. His steps were far more sprightly than one might have guessed by looking at him. Though the one change Akihato did take note of was that his gate was just a little stiffer than he remembered from his youth. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± Okan brushed at his overgrown mustache. ¡°What brings you to see me?¡±


    Bowing respectfully, Akihato took a step out of the way, allowing Okan to determine where their discussion would take place. The old master led him toward the garden, which was the only part of the exterior he bothered having tended. The young lord knew well Okan¡¯s study was hidden in the gardens, disguised as an old shed. All of the students, monk and Zosara alike, knew better than to venture anywhere near it unless Okan gave explicit instructions to be met there.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°I must have rehearsed the answer a million times on my way here,¡± Akihato finally began when they reached the garden. ¡°But now I¡¯m not entirely sure where to begin.¡±


    Okan raised a wizened, shaggy eyebrow at him. The look made him feel every bit like an apprentice again, and he had to fight an urge to squirm underneath his master¡¯s scrutiny. ¡°Nothing is ever that complicated, boy.¡±


    Knowing when he had been rebuked, Akihato simply accepted it with a humble bow of his head. ¡°Certainly, Master,¡± he answered, then took a deep breath and started from the beginning. ¡°Master Yimuji asked me to perform a few tests on the Rotted Wood. He has been attempting to restore it, as I¡¯m sure you know, and his research led him to believe that¡ª¡°


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He waved him to silence. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of Yimuji¡¯s restoration efforts. Every other word out of his mouth is conservation this or preservation that...¡± Grumbling about his colleague completed the image of a cranky old man, which caused Akihato to grin faintly.


    ¡°You find that amusing?¡± Nothing slipped by Okan.


    ¡°Not at all, Master.¡± Akihato¡¯s grin widened ever so slightly.


    Shaking his head, Okan directed them to one of the benches nearby and settled himself upon it, his old bones creaking like a hundred-year-old oak tree in a storm. ¡°Are you going to tell me what brought you all the way back here or not?¡±


    ¡°Well, I was attempting to,¡± the younger man teased lightly, sitting down next to him and flashing that same grin, ¡°but someone interrupted me...¡±


    Okan shifted, turning his whole upper body to gaze sternly at his former apprentice. His bushy eyebrows were raised, and the glint in his eye spoke a warning that, as a teenager, would have cowed Akihato instantly into submission. Now that he had regained himself, however, he did not feel quite so much like a headstrong adolescent. He stood his ground, holding his playful expression until the old man finally relented, letting out a low chuckle and shaking his head.


    ¡°Fine, fine.¡± He settled back into a comfortable position. ¡°I¡¯ll keep my yammer shut.¡±


    Smirk sliding away, Akihato¡¯s thoughts returned to Hanamei and the reason he had sought out his former master. ¡°While I was there, I stumbled upon a young girl. Rather, she stumbled into me. I had felt magic nearby and gone to investigate when she dashed out of the woods and collapsed in front of me... She¡¯s barely seventeen, but I sense tremendous power within her.¡±


    ¡°Have you tested her?¡± Okan appeared very interested. ¡°What is her attunement?¡±


    Purposefully sidestepping the answers to those questions, Akihato let out a sigh. ¡°She was running from Warlord Tzulan. From what she has told me, and what I have gathered from a few witnesses, she used her magic against him.¡± He quickly explained what further details he knew, watching his former master¡¯s face carefully as he absorbed the words.


    When he was finished, Okan took a long moment to answer. Finally, he shifted his gaze to the younger man. ¡°Strange burns, huh? So she is attuned to fire.¡±


    ¡°Not... exactly.¡± Akihato held Okan¡¯s scrutinizing stare. ¡°I tested her. The results were... abnormal. The stones did not respond to her touch, not until¡ª¡°


    ¡°If they didn¡¯t react, then she¡¯s not a Zosara. Whatever she did was not with mag¡ª¡°


    Interrupting in kind, Akihato swiftly finished his explanation. ¡°No, Master Okan. I thought that perhaps her attunement was simply weak, despite what I sensed. So I gave her a chaos stone, hoping to amplify her magic...¡± He paused, having no idea what sort of reaction to expect. ¡°It reacted as though she were attuned to it. The glow was blinding. There was no mistake. While holding the stone, the others came alive, all of them.¡±


    Okan said nothing. He looked away from Akihato, his eyes staring out at the foliage across the path from them. Waiting for just a moment to see if he had something to say, Akihato pressed on when it became apparent he didn¡¯t.


    ¡°I have searched all of my books and found nothing, not a single article or passage explaining chaos attunement. The only source I found mentioned someone called Mujona. Mujona the Forgotten.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°But the entry was rather cryptic... Who would do that, Master? And why?¡± He wanted to ask more, to say more, but he forced himself to stop and wait for some sort of reaction. Okan was being too quiet, and it was making Akihato nervous.


    The old man finally moved after what felt like a lifetime later. Okan heaved a heavy, weary sigh and then rose from the bench. ¡°Come with me,¡± was all he said.

 Chapter 13: Akihato - Mujona The Forgotten

    Akihato instantly obeyed. He stood up and followed the old Zosara through the gardens in silence. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived at his workshop and were inside the dusty, cluttered shed that either said a word.


    ¡°This is an unfortunate discovery, Akihato.¡± Okan summoned light with the flick of a switch. His attunement was air. He had found ways of translating that magic into electricity, a technique many air Zosara had adopted and used for themselves or even sold their services to other Zosara who wanted to make their lives a little easier.


    ¡°Mujona...¡± He snorted. ¡°I¡¯ve not heard that name spoken in decades. Not since I obtained the rank of Onzara. Normally, I wouldn¡¯t be allowed to tell you this, but under the circumstances, it is going to be necessary...¡±


    Akihato frowned, his concern rising. ¡°Who was Mujona? What could he possibly have done to¡ª¡°


    ¡°The story goes that Mujona was a promising pupil,¡± Okan interrupted him. His face was cast in shadow as he turned and moved toward the back wall where there was a row of cluttered workbenches. ¡°Gifted, powerful, and firmly attuned to chaos. He was nearly unstoppable. No other Zosara could stand against him, for he could drain their power and take it for his own. As such, he grew swiftly in might and nearly brought destruction to the entire world. The Conclave itself suffered irreparably.¡±


    The old man stopped and glanced back over his shoulder. ¡°It is because of Mujona we have become so secretive. He attempted to unite us and the common folk by allying himself with Emperor Qinsuto, but it turned into a blood bath instead. The Emperor betrayed him, using the knowledge he gained from Mujona to train assassins for the express purpose of hunting down and killing Zosara; the Circle of Shadow they called themselves.¡±


    Shaking his head, Akihato took in the information like a blow to the gut. ¡°Obviously, something happened to stop the Emperor and Mujona both, or the Conclave wouldn¡¯t exist at all.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Okan nodded slowly as he began to mix and pour various substances together. ¡°When Mujona learned of the Emperor¡¯s treachery, he mounted a one-man assault against him. Even his elite assassins were no match for a chaos Zosara. In the end, Mujona obliterated Qinsuto and claimed the Qin Empire as his own.¡± He stopped talking, focusing entirely on whatever it was he was brewing.


    Impatiently, Akihato waited for him to continue, knowing full well the story had not reached its conclusion.


    Finally, when he was pouring the final concoction into a glass vial, Okan picked up where he had left off. ¡°Mujona¡¯s rule did not last long. The remaining Conclave, of which there were only three Onzara, banded together and devised a plan for overthrowing Mujona at long last. With the aid of a Taiku woman who had become one of Mujona¡¯s most trusted consorts, they poisoned him...¡±


    ¡°Poisoned?¡± Akihato frowned. ¡°With what exactly?¡±


    Okan turned from the workbench, leaving the vial sitting there behind him. The contents were a cloudy violet. ¡°The poison did not kill him. Its purpose was to strip his considerable power, to drain the magic from his soul, and leave him as an ordinary human. This was the only way they could make the world safe again and slowly begin to repair the damage he had wrought. Regretting her treachery, the heathen woman dragged him out the nearest window, killing him as well as herself.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.


    ¡°With no leadership, the Qin Empire shattered into fragments, becoming a divided land ruled by barbarians and warlords. As you know, a few have risen to power, but none have ever managed to claim the title of Emperor in the last 800 years.¡± The old man shrugged. ¡°Curious, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    Akihato nodded half-heartedly, his mind whirling with everything he had just learned. There were so many tragic details and so many new questions that had been raised as well. The chief of which he spoke aloud, ¡°Yes, it is curious... But even more curious is how it¡¯s possible I have never heard this story. How could such a significant event simply be forgotten?¡±


    ¡°On purpose,¡± Okan assured him, flicking his glance back to the workbench. ¡°The Onzara forbade discussing or recording the events. Only the three of them were permitted to speak of it and only in order to present the tale as a warning to each new generation of Onzara. Breadcrumbs were left, like in that book of yours, to bring curious Zosara to us. Generally, it¡¯s someone who stumbled upon the name, and we simply brush it off as poor record keeping. But in this case...¡±


    Okan reached for the vial, which by now had completely changed into a clear liquid. ¡°You are destined for greatness, Akihato.¡± The abrupt shift in conversation made the young man frown momentarily, but he did not interrupt. ¡°I know someday you will join me as an Onzara. Leadership and nobility are in your blood just as magic is.¡± Okan¡¯s expression turned sorrowful as he held out the vial. ¡°But leadership is a heavy burden... After Mujona, we can¡¯t afford to take any risks. Chaos Zosara are far too dangerous, to themselves and to the entire world.¡±


    Akihato could only stare at the vial for a long, unblinking moment. The weight of what was said took several seconds to sink in, and when it did, an expression of horror captured his features. ¡°Master, you don¡¯t mean...¡± He shook his head. ¡°She¡¯s just a girl; she means no harm to anyone, surely she deserves a chance to¡ª¡°


    ¡°To tear the world asunder? To further destroy the Conclave before it has had a chance to recover from the last tyrant?¡± Okan furrowed his bushy brows and shoved the vial into his former pupil¡¯s hand. ¡°I get it; this is ugly business.¡± His voice was especially stern, the same unbending tone he used when Akihato had misbehaved as a student. ¡°But it is necessary. Many come through this school. Some are simply not capable of wielding the power of magic, whether due to aptitude or temperament. The Masters have always faced a hard decision in dealing with such students, and we afford them all the chance to thrive before taking such drastic measures!¡±


    Swallowing the lump in his throat, Akihato couldn¡¯t tear his eyes off the potion in his hand. ¡°What about me... Did you face that decision with me?¡±


    Okan looked momentarily taken aback, but he quickly shook his head. ¡°Of course not! You simply needed to be taught discipline, and once you learned it, you were the best apprentice I ever tutored.¡± He put a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Never doubt that.¡±


    The younger man heaved a sigh. ¡°This feels wrong, Master... She¡¯s being punished for crimes she had nothing to do with!¡±


    ¡°I know.¡± Okan looked suddenly very old, as though the weight of this decision had increased his age by a hundred years just in the last second. ¡°But that¡¯s how it should feel. That is how we keep such a decision in perspective, how we prevent ourselves from taking it too far.¡±


    When Akihato didn¡¯t answer right away, Okan added, ¡°This will be better for her as well. It will give her a chance to be free of a magic that will sunder her soul. Without it, she¡¯ll have the chance to live as an ordinary woman. You are protecting her from a dark end just as much as you are protecting the world. Do you understand?¡±


    Akihato tightened his grip on the vial, wishing it would shatter in his hand, wishing he could refuse the order he¡¯d just been given. ¡°Yes, Master Okan.¡± He once again felt like a foolish little boy. ¡°I understand.¡±


    But I don¡¯t like it...

 Chapter 14: Hanamei - Stay Out Of The Way!

    It had been two days, and Ren still had not warmed up to her. Hanamei was feeling incredibly discouraged, wanting to be on good terms with the gwazemi, but feeling what she desired was impossible. She¡¯d tried everything. At first, she had tried to help with the chores, but Ren would never let her get very far before taking over a task and coldly informing Hanamei she had no skill at performing it. Then she tried to include her in painting, but short of bringing her the supplies, Ren would have nothing to do with any of her projects.


    Hanamei considered simply giving up, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to do so. For some reason, this had come to mean a great deal to her. She wanted to accept Akihato¡¯s offer to be his student. She liked the tower, and she liked the few moments she¡¯d spent with the young Zosara. It felt peaceful and safe. The thought of leaving and going back to a world that would hate and shun her provided her a lot of incentive to make things work here. That meant finding some common ground with Ren.


    Though there wasn¡¯t much to be done when the master of the house was gone, Ren still kept herself busy. Hanamei stubbornly trailed her all over the tower, watching intently, eager to jump in and offer assistance despite being shut down time and time again. As they moved into the kitchen together, Ren carrying a huge load of linens and curtains that needed washing, she tried to hurry around her to the wash bins on the far side of the room, hoping to be of some use.


    Ren saw her and quickly snapped, ¡°Stay out of the way!¡±


    Hanamei stopped short, instantly hurt as she was whenever the water spirit snarled at her. But this time, she was also fed up. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to help; you don¡¯t need to be so rude! I¡¯ve done nothing to you!¡±


    She threw down the load of laundry and spun to face Hanamei. ¡°You are dangerous. You threaten everything simply by existing. You have no place in this world!¡±


    Taken off guard, Hanamei hung her head in shame. She was used to this sort of treatment, used to being shunned, but never so blatantly. ¡°Oh... I see...¡± she conceded, the fight having gone out of her. She couldn¡¯t refute what she felt was true.


    Ren opened her mouth to continue but stopped short. She regarded Hanamei for a long moment as though she didn¡¯t understand why she was upset or why she had so easily been defeated. Whatever had given her pause, she quickly shook it off. ¡°Put the linens in to soak,¡± she ordered, turning her back once again and moving to collect the soap.


    Confused, it took Hanamei a second to do as she had been told. Once the words had sunk in though, she snapped into action, gathering up the dropped pile of curtains, towels, and other various linens into the vat bubbling with fresh, warm water. She hadn¡¯t more than halfway finished when Ren returned.


    The gwazemi promptly began to mix the rough bar into the bin until it dissolved, watching Hanamei from the corner of her eye the entire time. After a moment, she let out a growl and shoved the girl out of her way. ¡°Too slow!¡± She snatched the remaining towels away and dumped them all into the basin, sloshing water over the edge that splashed the both of them.


    Running out of patience, Hanamei shoved Ren right back, though she instantly regretted it when she saw the flash of anger on the spirit¡¯s face. She started to apologize, but the damage was done. Ren gave her a harder push and, unwilling to back down anymore, Hanamei steeled herself and pushed again, too. Back and forth they went until Ren shoved Hanamei so hard she slipped on the wet floor. She tried to catch herself, but a nudge from Ren sent the girl sprawling into the bin of water. Suds and linens flew everywhere upon impact. Hanamei sputtered water out of her mouth and brushed wet hair from her face.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    Ren was grinning, her irritation completely gone for the moment. She must have felt satisfied with herself, as though she had won, because she stretched out her hand to Hanamei. ¡°Serves you right,¡± she started to say, but for Hanamei, the fight was far from over.


    She latched firmly onto Ren¡¯s outstretched arm and yanked with every bit of strength she had. Utterly surprised, the water spirit didn¡¯t have even a second to react, let alone brace to prevent being tugged face-first into the vat beside Hanamei. Spluttering and flailing, she retaliated even before she had fully recovered.


    They got lost in a war of shrieking and splashing until a disgruntled male voice caused them both to freeze in place. They were both soaked from head to toe, still sitting side by side in the wash bin like a couple of naughty children.


    Standing over them, his face contorted into a disapproving frown, was Jin shaking his head. ¡°Get this cleaned up,¡± he ordered, ¡°The master could be back at any moment. Is this how you would like him to find you?¡±


    Ren instantly lowered her head, accepting the rebuke. Her cheeks were flushed red with shame, and she refused to look anywhere but down at her water-filled lap. Hanamei, on the other hand, looked around at the water sloshed all over the floor and splattered across the nearby walls and counters, then to Jin¡¯s stern expression, and she just couldn¡¯t help but laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of the whole situation. The problem was, once the giggling started, it became harder and harder for her to stop.


    Beside her, Ren was staring at her from the corner of her eye in horror. She gave Hanamei a sharp nudge with her elbow, but all that did was send the girl into even more giggle fits. It must have been infectious, for the longer it went on, the harder it became for Ren to resist laughing herself. She started out with a snort here and a giggle there, continuing her attempts to stop Hanamei, but eventually, the silliness overcame her, and she too erupted into deep, shoulder-shaking laughter.


    Jin watched in confusion, clearly not understanding the hilarity of the moment. With another shake of his head, he turned and walked out, leaving the two crazy females to their absurdity.


    After several minutes, when tears were streaming from their eyes and their sides ached, they finally lapsed into silence. It took them a bit longer before they truly regained themselves, and when they did, Hanamei started to rise out of the water. She was surprised when Ren helped her to stand up and glanced over to see the gwazemi staring at her searchingly.


    Expecting more of the same treatment as before, Hanamei¡¯s heart began to sink, but Ren surprised her once more. ¡°You are still so young,¡± she tilted her head, a confused frown creasing her brow. ¡°Perhaps... there is hope for you.¡±


    Tears of gratitude welled in Hanamei¡¯s eyes. Nobody had ever said such a nice thing to her before. They had all feared and distrusted her, so had Ren until now. Something had changed her mind, but what? Dropping her chin to her chest, the young woman didn¡¯t know how to respond, so she said the only thing that seemed appropriate. ¡°Thank you, Ren...¡±


    Tenderly, Ren patted her shoulder. ¡°Jin is right. We would be ashamed if the Master found us like this... We will have to clean up.¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course,¡± Hanamei nodded, reaching down to start ringing out her soaked dress. ¡°Then perhaps,¡± she added tentatively, ¡°later I could show you my project?¡±


    Ren didn¡¯t seem to be listening, so Hanamei glanced over at her, suddenly afraid again. Immediately she saw why, however. The gwazemi was concentrating, her hands held up in front of her chest in an elegant manner, her gaze glowing more intensely than normal. Before Hanamei¡¯s eyes, Ren took on a whole new visage, her hair becoming as a flowing waterfall and her skin glistening with tiny dewdrops. Around the room, every stray bead of water began to coalesce around the spirit in swirling streams. Even the moisture in Hanamei¡¯s clothes was summoned forth! Once every bit had been collected, the gwazemi lowered it without a single splash back into the washbasin, leaving the room looking as though it hadn¡¯t just been drenched.


    Gradually, Ren returned to the way Hanamei was used to seeing her, the magic she had evoked fading as well. After a moment, Ren nodded in reply as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. ¡°If you complete your chores before supper, then yes, I will help with your project.¡±


    A beaming grin was the only answer Ren received, but it was adequate in conveying Hanamei¡¯s delight. If one person could change their mind about her, then perhaps others could as well. It was a hope she was determined to hold onto.

 Chapter 15: Akihato - Greatness Does Not Come Without A Price

    Dread hung heavily in Akihato¡¯s chest. He knew that he could have taken a portal back to the tower at any time, but he opted instead to return the mediocre way. Somehow, the use of magic felt tainted for him. He hadn¡¯t expected to be weighed down by the knowledge he¡¯d gleaned. Knowledge was supposed to free a person, but the dark truths seemed to have wrapped chains around his heart and mind.


    Master Okan¡¯s parting words had been meant as encouragement, but they¡¯d felt more like a pressing command. ¡°Remember your duty and look to the future, for yours is bright, Akihato. Greatness does not come without a price.¡±


    He was willing to pay a price for power and for knowledge both, but it was unfair Hanamei should have to pay in his stead. That single point kept him at the rowdy, dingy inn of Rotetsu village for two days, fighting with his sense of duty and his sense of honor. If he didn¡¯t obey Master Okan and Hanamei became everything the Onzara feared, there would be dire consequences. Not only for Akihato but the entire world. Could he put the lives of thousands ahead of a single woman? Ahead of his own soul?


    It was on the third night of wallowing in indecision that Jin had come in search of him. The gwazemi was dressed in a hooded cloak, his strange features hidden in the shadows cast by the drawn hood. He spotted his master sitting at the bar right away and breathed a visible sigh of relief before hurrying to Akihato¡¯s side.


    The Zosara had mixed feelings about being hunted down by his servant. He knew he had probably caused both of them concern as he¡¯d said he would only be gone for a night at most and that number had now been doubled. At the same time, he had hoped it would take them longer before they sent out a search party to drag him home.


    ¡°Master.¡± Jin gave a swift bow, no doubt hoping not to draw too much attention. ¡°Ren and I were greatly concerned when you did not return on schedule. I am glad to have found you so quickly. Are you well, Master?¡±


    Akihato wanted to shake his head no, but he nodded an affirmative instead. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Jin. I just needed some time alone to think.¡±


    ¡°And to drink, Master?¡± He shifted his gaze pointedly to the cup in Akihato¡¯s hand.


    ¡°Just tea,¡± came the response. ¡°Alcohol tends to impede thinking, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Despite himself, he winked. He didn¡¯t want his servants to know what was going on. He didn¡¯t want anyone to know. The whole idea made him feel incredibly ashamed. Part of him wanted to ask Jin what he would do, but he knew the answer without having to speak the question. The gwazemi who chose to serve a Zosara were dutiful and honorable. They would carry out any order voiced by their master. If he asked, they would poison Hanamei for him unflinchingly.


    The thought certainly had some appeal, but the uneasy squirming in his stomach made Akihato immediately reject it. This was his burden, and he alone would bear it.


    ¡°Will you be returning home with me, Master?¡± Jin asked, his tone almost tentative.


    Akihato wanted to say no again, but with a sigh, he nodded. ¡°Of course, Jin. I believe I¡¯ve had an adequate amount of time to think...¡± When it came right down to it, there was no escaping duty, and with that conclusion drawn, it meant he had no other decisions to make.


    Right... I now have only to perform an action that goes against my very nature... Marvelous.


    Paying off his tab and room, Akihato led the way out of the inn. Together the pair walked in silence back to the tower. It was well after dark when they arrived, and Akihato was feeling no better about his decision than when he had settled upon it. He caught Jin glancing with concern in his direction several times but offered nothing to assuage the water spirit¡¯s unease. Surely he sensed his Master was struggling and desired to help, but this was something he had to handle alone.


    As they moved through the front door, Akihato began to give instructions. ¡°Have Ren escort Hanamei to my study, please. I need to discuss¡ª¡± The rest of his comments were drowned out by animated chattering, causing him to frown.


    He turned his gaze away from Jin and started in the direction it was coming from. Stepping into the main living area, he was met with an unexpected sight. Hanamei was standing on a stool, her arms stretched out on either side and a partially mended gown hanging from her slender frame. Ren was hovering around her, taking measurements and marking the fabric with a piece of white chalk. The expression on Hanamei¡¯s face was bright and happy, and even Ren looked as though she were enjoying herself. Akihato had never seen an gwazemi express enjoyment before!The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    It made his heart sink all the way down to the floor. Imagining what she could become, the destruction and pain she could inflict, is what had given him the strength to make his decision. Now that he was actually in her presence again, all he could see was a bright young woman whose future was just as fluid as his own. As she was now, he couldn¡¯t imagine her becoming a monster under any circumstances. Had those around Mujona felt the same way about him once? Or had he always been rotten? Akihato had no way of answering such questions, and the lack of that knowledge made him feel incredibly helpless.


    The vial tucked inside his shirt seemed to burn against his skin, weighing almost as heavily as the decision he¡¯d been struggling to make. He hated the feel of it there, hated the idea of what it was and what it was meant for. However, there was no denying that being in possession of it afforded him some measure of control. He could begin Hanamei¡¯s training, and if he saw signs of darkness, signs of corruption, then he could put an end to it with a clean conscience...


    ¡°Master!¡± Ren was the first to see him. ¡°I am glad Jin was able to find you.¡± She bowed her head as she was already stooped over.


    Hanamei saw him next, her face lighting up with a smile that nearly knocked Akihato right off his feet. ¡°My Lord, you¡¯re back!¡± she exclaimed, wiggling with such excitement it forced Ren to hurriedly empty her hands so she could help Hanamei free of the fabric.


    Before the two women could complete their task, Akihato swept out of the room again, heading straight for his study. This was why he hadn¡¯t come home straight away. How could he think when Hanamei was right in front of him? Once inside, he shut the door, locked it, and pressed his back against the solid wood as though some terrible monster were pounding on the other side, attempting to break in and consume him.


    ¡°Blast...¡± he muttered, reaching inside his shirt for the vial. The hand that grasped it began to shake. He hated the feel of the glass on his skin, as though the very container were just as cursed as the potion within. He knew the truth in that moment; he couldn¡¯t do it. He had to give her a chance at becoming what she was born to be. After everything she had endured, Hanamei deserved that much out of life.


    Strolling to the other side of the room, he pressed his hand against a hidden panel and summoned frost to his palm. The action opened a secret vault only he could access. Here is where he would keep the vial; he hoped for all eternity. It would be safe, and he wouldn¡¯t have to think about it, see it, or worst of all, touch it unless absolutely necessary.


    He would tutor her here, in his tower, far away from the rest of the Conclave and the world. She would be his secret apprentice until he was absolutely sure her heart was pure. When the time was right, he could present her to Master Okan as proof not all chaos Zosara were dangerous.


    The Master had been right; Akihato¡¯s future was bright, but not if he poisoned a girl out of fear and prejudice. Perhaps this way, with Hanamei¡¯s power on their side, they could change the world for the better, put an end to evil men like Warlord Tzulan, and truly unite the land. Such a thing had never been of interest to Akihato, but it seemed fate had placed Hanamei in his path for a reason, and he could imagine no better cause than that.


    A timid knock at the door made Akihato jump. He swiftly resealed the vault and then stepped over to unlock the door. As he¡¯d expected, Hanamei was waiting there, appearing uncertain and demure. Her eyes were glittering, however, reminding him how happy she was that he was finally home.


    He tried to forget the vial, hidden away like a baleful viper behind him, by putting a smile on his face. ¡°Ah, Hanamei, I was just coming to speak with you.¡± It wasn¡¯t really a lie; he had fully intended to talk with her after taking time to compose himself first. ¡°I see you and Ren have sorted everything out.¡± That much was a relief.


    Hanamei nodded, shifting out of the doorway so Akihato could leave the study. He closed the room off, still feeling the tingle of apprehension at the back of his neck, then led the way toward his quarters.


    ¡°Yes, we did,¡± she answered, speaking as they walked together. ¡°I also... made a decision about my future.¡± Her steps faltered, and she slowed to a halt. ¡°I¡¯d like to stay...¡± Her words came out so softly he could barely hear them. She quickly added, ¡°That is if... you¡¯re still willing to train me...¡±


    Akihato didn¡¯t let her see the relief that washed over him. He smiled, but there was a measure of weariness still on his face. ¡°I am glad to hear that, Hanamei. Truly.¡± He reached out and squeezed her shoulder gently, intending the gesture to punctuate his statement, to properly convey his feelings were genuine. ¡°We will begin your training tomorrow after breakfast¡ª¡±


    Whatever he was going to say was drowned out by an excited exclamation from Hanamei. An instant later, she had thrown her arms around his neck and was hugging him. Even standing on tiptoe with him somewhat bent, her soft cheek was barely able to brush against his. Caught off guard, it took Akihato a moment to react. He awkwardly patted her back, not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm despite how very weary he¡¯d become in the last several minutes.


    ¡°Thank you, my Lord,¡± Hanamei whispered, her voice cracking with emotion. ¡°I swear I won¡¯t disappoint you!¡±


    Akihato prayed that was a promise she¡¯d be able to keep.