A Legend's Legacy

A New Ally

"She just needs rest, and food. She must have refused to close her eyes while she was captured." An elderly woman told Jin as they stood by the door, observing the sleeping Mari.

With better lighting, Jin could see her beaten state a lot more clearly. She had bruises around her face, and he knew that was but a fraction of it. Besides that, she was not skin and bones, but it was clear in her rugged appearance that she was not fed. He wondered what would have become of her had he not heard about her?

"Is there anything else I can do to help?" The Ghost asked kindly. He had just met Mari, but his concern extended to her just as he would for any local of Tsushima. After all, she risked her life helping them while other foreign traders would rather avoid their occupied island.

"There is no need for you to do more, my lord."

"I insist." He looked to the side as he heard the other villagers talking about needing to hunt and fix a few houses after having been attacked by the Mongols. "After what has happened, I want to help as much as I can."

The elder inhaled deeply and nodded. "The boars can be elusive. And with less people able to hunt, perhaps you can help us hunt a few."

Jin nodded. "I will return soon. Please let me know when she wakes up," He looked to Mari's sleeping figure once more. "I have questions for her."

"Yes, my lord." The elderly woman bowed, to which Jin returned before taking his leave.

The villagers watched as their savior made a beeline for the nearby forest as if on a mission. They could tell just by the way his eyes kept its sights ahead that he was thinking deeply—but about what was a subject of mystery.

While on the hunt, he recalled their small conversation. Mari mentioned that he was the infamous Ghost the locals and the Mongols spoke about. Did this mean she understood the Mongols' language? This tidbit proved the trader was more than who she said she was. It was one thing to know the language of your customers appropriate for trading. But stories that involved terror was another thing. Or maybe he was just thinking too much.

Either way, he wanted to be sure to rest his questions.

Jin Sakai delivered one boar after another until the village's need for it were fulfilled. He was to spend the night in the village. A good thing—just in case the Mongol raiders returned to pillage them again. He would suggest to move to a temple but since Khotun Khan's defeat and his efforts to thin the remaining camp proved working, coming across patrol were fewer than before, making moving to the temple somewhat redundant. All he had to do was keep doing what he was doing.

That evening, sitting at the edge of the village with his own little campfire, he looked to the horizon. The stretching plains quiet with only crickets chirping, the soft crackle of fire and leaves shivering in the light breeze. It was almost like there was no invasion—if not for the smoke rising behind the hills.

The blaze of the campfire lit up his eyes. He watched as the flames danced, gracefully tossing its embers. Jin wondered how long he would have to do this. What awaited him at the end? Would he ever see his beloved island the way it used to? Would he see the day his people no longer feared to walk out of their homes?

He chugged down what remained of his drink from the gourd in his hand. Merely thinking about the end both relieved and scared him. Scared him because he was uncertain of what to do. After Tsushima no longer needed the Ghost, who was he going to be? He had thrown away the life he used to have. There was no family nor estate he could return to. His little band of friends went their separate ways. Sensei Ishikawa had his dojo. Lady Masako could be anywhere, maybe repairing her relationship with Mai. Norio stayed with the monks. And Yuna—he did not know where Yuna was.