Age of Strife Book 0: The Path of War

Chapter 12: Chosen by Default

In the last two days Hiryu had experienced the pleasures the town of Centura had to offer, from playing games of throwing horseshoes to competing in a small fishing contests he had enjoyed himself thoroughly and felt the six blades hold on him loosen to a degree. Though that did not stop the dreams, it at least made his waking moments significantly less miserable. As it is afternoon Hiryu wandered the streets and watches the people preparing for today's festivals, but a crowd gathering around the central square of the town piques his interest. Walking into the crowd he sees the town's mayor on stage, portly and well-dressed seemingly eager in waiting for the Defenders and Sisters. Suddenly hearing horses and carriage wheels in the distant, the mayor stands up and prepares himself by standing tall. Horses bolting pass the town's gate began slowing down as they approached the central square, the carriage attached to the horses reigns opens to reveal a middle aged woman in a azure dress and a middle aged man cladded in armored robes walking out. "Welcome Grand Defender and welcome Mother Supreme to Centura, I hope your trip was well." The mayor says as he bows. The Grand Defender looks around him for a moment before answering "Yes, well... there were few troubles along the way but none to be worried about now. Thank you for the welcome." The Grand Defender answers. "The sentiment is shared with the Grand Defender, but your welcome is certainly made it all the more better. Thank you." The Mother Supreme says as she raises the mayor's head and takes his hand to shake it. Giving him a kind-hearted smile the mayor stutters out "We- Well... I hope you find the festivities and our town to your liking! Please allow me to show you and your company the commendations." At the mention of company, two armor cladded men walk out of the carriage along with two women dressed in ornate uniforms. Hiryu recognize the women in ornate uniforms as Verdant Guards, even more so an older Kasumi who along with her partner giving kind-hearted smiles and wave to the townsfolk before joining the Mother Supreme. The two armor cladded men however scans the crowds methodically, giving off an intimidating presence they join the Grand Defender at his side. The guests of honor follow the mayor of Centura, and the crowd slowly disperses as the Grand Defender and Mother Supreme leave sight. As the sun begins to set Hiryu returned to the inn he, Balyek, and Ry'ar are staying at until tomorrow. As he entered the inn Hiryu sees Balyek and Ry'ar standing in the lobby discussing about the recent arrival of the Grand Defender and Mother Supreme. "It's surprising to see the Grand Defender Zeryas and Mother Supreme Geneva besides each other, from what I heard the two have ill-will towards each other." Ry'ar remarks. "Indeed, but let's not allow this to interfere with our night. It's the last day before we return to the monastery, and the festivities are going to be in full swing. So we should -Oh Hiryu! Your here." Belyak says before noticing Hiryu's arrival. "Everyone is talking about the arrival of the Defenders and Sisters; I take it you want to avoid the Tournament's Choosing?" Hiryu says while walking towards them. "I'd certainly want to, our presence here can imply many things if they discover us. So let's just enjoy the celebrations, eat some local dishes, play some parlor games, maybe get a stiff drink, and then return here to rest till sunrise." Ry'ar says nonchalantly. "So, shall we?" Hiryu says with a smile on his face. The three leave the inn and walk toward the town square where the festivities are now picking up in momentum as the booths start selling sweets or grilled goods, games become available for children and adults to play alike, and of course entertainers performing their most awe-inspiring acts. Though the amount of people at the square was small it would no doubt gain in size as time went on. Starting with the games Hiryu had played a variety that ranged from feats of marksmanship to tests of strength, he would win a few games but just as much have lukewarm results in some. As Hiryu enjoys himself and seeing his seniors tasting the local dishes and drinks, he walks toward a stand until he would hear a familiar voice. "Hello, Hiryu... fancy seeing you here." Looking behind him he'd see Kasumi still dressed in her ornate uniform, her expression bearing a smile. But it either being a friendly smile or a predatory one he could not tell, as she would look at him with a discerning look. "Hmmm... you look well. I suppose you being at that school brought something good after all." Kasumi comments on. "Pardon?" Hiryu says baffled at the statement. "Oh, don't mind me just musing aloud. But seeing you here... why are you here?" She says as the smile fades. "Pleasure, came to relax and see the local town. Didn't realize there was a celebration happening so... stuck around and here I am." Hiryu says as he turns to buy a grilled skewer from a nearby stall. "Is that so? Are you alone?" Kasumi asks joining him in buying a grilled skewer. "Mm... No. Two of my seniors are nearby, also enjoying the local delicacies." Hiryu says while pointing at Balyek and Ry'ar discussing. "So... you here on leisure, and not here to... oh I don't know... gain a participating role in the Imperial Tournament?" Kasumi asks with a playful tone. "Listen here, and listen well me and my seniors are here on leisure, no more no less... I already know our presence here is a problem. But let me assure you that we have no stake in the initiations for the tournament. Swear on it." Hiryu says confidently before biting into his grilled skewer. Kasumi would look at Hiryu firmly for a moment before chuckling a little and says "That is very much like you Hiryu.... You may have gotten older but you certainly haven't changed since the last I saw you properly." Hiryu looking at Kasumi who is eating her skewer asks "And when was it you saw me last? Two years ago?" "Hmm... you've forgotten after all this time?" Kasumi says melancholy. "It has been years I suppose but still.... I had hoped...." Hiryu seeing that Kasumi is sad tries to console her but she rejects the gesture. "I'm sorry Hiryu... I just... I just can't right now." Kasumi quickly walks away into the crowd and disappears from Hiryu's sight. Had he said something wrong Hiryu wondered, Kasumi genuinely look hurt when he asked that question. She knew who he was, but how is the question as there was only one other... person. Hiryu looks back at the direction Kasumi walk in, and begin to walk through the crowd in hopes of finding Kasumi again to confer in who she is. As Hiryu walks through the crowd he eventually finds himself standing before a stage with fivewell-armed men on it standing in confidence, looking behind the stage is mayor walk on stage and prepares to speak. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope a fair night has found you given the festivities?" The mayor asks the people gathering their attention. Hearing this, the crowdsurrounding lets out a set of cheers at the mayor's question. "Excellent, now unto the center of the celebrations and festivals, I give you our potential champions!" The mayor proudly announces. The crowd stirs with excitement and cheers as Hiryu now realizing that the initiationprocess is in progress tries to leave, but is unable to due to the people surrounding him. Having no choice Hiryu watches as the Grand Defender, and the Mother Supreme walk out onto the stage greeting the crowds in the town square. As the two give a speech to the crowd regarding how strength is not in an individual but united and the like, Hiryu hears shoving in the back and people whispering "Hey!", "Watch it!", "How rude!" initially ignores it. Until he felt a bump on his back and someone grabbing his shoulder, removing the hand to focus on the speech a slurred angry voice lowly utters "Move it!" Turning his head Hiryu sees a drunken man, towering over him by mere inches trying to move him out of the way. "I can't, there's no room." Hiryu says in a low hushed tone. Turning his attention to the stage he then feels his shoulder being touched and nudged again, once again in response in annoyance removes the hand. "Move it you insufferable whelp!" the drunken man says again but much more loudly before shoving Hiryu causing him to stumble forward to the stage. Stopping himself by using the stage, Hiryu turns around to see the drunken man swinging at him with a glass bottle. Dodging the swing the bottle shatters and the drunken man points the bottle at Hiryu then begins threatening him haphazardly. With no other choice but to climb the stage he backs up from the drunkard while saying "Sir, this is a bit of an escalation already. You're at the front." "Shut up, you didn't listen the first time! I've been aggrieved!" The drunk loudly yells. Before long two town guards manage to break through the crowd to reach the drunk and arrest him, after some physical resisting from being cuffed he is escorted off. Hiryu looks in relief for a moment before realizing he is on the stage where the tournament initiations are being held. The Grand Defender looks at Hiryu with a discerning eye whilst the Mother Supreme gives a comforting smile, unsure what to do Hiryu says "Apologizes, uh... Grand Defender and Mother Supreme for this interruption, I did not intend to disturb the ceremonies for the initiations and I shall take leave off the stage. Once again, apologizes." Beginning to turn around to walk off The Grand Defender calls out "Wait... turn around and let me see you." Hiryu wincing in uncertainty turns around to face the duo once more. "You're... clothing its...familiar. Tell me, where do you train?" The Grand Defender asks. "I am but a humble disciple of martial arts, sir. A wanderer, no more nor less than that." Hiryu answers quickly. "Is that so?" The Grand Defender retorts clearly not believing in the answer. "Then you would not mind if these fine men were to fight you here and now?" The Grand Defender added. Hiryu grimacing at the thought still answers "If there were to be a valid reason...." The Grand Defender gives Hiryu an analyzing look before saying "I propose a test then, the five men will face off against this man and whoever is first to defeat him will be given the position of participant." The five warriors look at each other before nodding there in agreement, and drawing their weapons on Hiryu. Hiryu backing away from the five warriors calls out "Can we not simply talk this out?" Before long an axe slash is aimed toward Hiryu causing him to back step, and suddenly manifest on of the six swords to his waists. Guarding from the sudden attack Hiryu pushes the warrior that attacked him first back and with an inversed grip guards himself. Hiryu now on guard waits for the warriors to make their attack; two swordsmen cut at him but are blocked by reflex. Though having his chest cut with no damage was sustained as Hiryu grabbed one of the swordsmencloser allowing for a pommel strike in the stomach, and punching him at the side of the head to knock him out. Two spearmen try to pierce at him but catching one of the spearhead by stomping on it to the ground, Hiryu cuts the spearhead off and pommel strikes the spearman in head before throwing him over the shoulder. The other spearman tries to pierce at him again, forcing Hiryu to block at the last minute but the spear point has pierced his left his left arm causing him to cry out in pain. Forcefully closing the distance Hiryu use his sword hilt again on spearmen to hit the stomach before head-butting him to knock him out. Soon feeling cuts being inflicted to his back Hiryu, turns his attention to the other swordsman who now wields a dagger in his off-hand. Hiryu wincing in pain slashes at him causing the swordsman to back up; however before he could do anything the axe-warrior punches the swordsman square in the face and throws him into the crowd. "Look at you all softened up, makes my job all the more easier" the axe-warrior says before swinging his axe down at Hiryu. Hiryu dodging the attack counters with an upward slash, but the axe-warrior gives a cocky smile and blocks the attack. However Hiryu responding to the block sweeps at the axe-warrior's legs and force him to fall to the ground. With his blade at the warrior's throat, Hiryu punches him square in the face to knock him out like the others. Taking a deep breath, Hiryu felt his mind be almost... lightened as the fight had almost revealed something to him, and the swords hold on him has eased. Hearing clapping coming from in front of him, Hiryu sees The Grand Defender applauding him whilst the townsfolk of Centura look agape in silence. "Well done, quite the performance. I believe I know whom I'm dealing with, or at least what type of person I see before me." The Grand Defender says in a knowing tone. "Indeed... such a... grand display of martial principle." The Mother Supreme says with a content expression, though her tone tells all as she too knew who Hiryu was now. "I must say for a "wandering martial artist" your skill is almost uncanny against those you've just faced. I daresay... that by default you are chosen to represent Centura." The Grand Defender says with goading tone. "You did just defeat this town's finest did you not? It's only right to take responsibility." Hiryu looking at the townsfolk sees the look at him anticipation, some with contempt but nevertheless anticipation for his answer. Looking around further he sees Balyek and Ry'ar looking with shock and motioning to not take the initiation, but with the eyes of the people on him all Hiryu could say was "I accept the responsibility." The crowds erupt in a surge of whispers and mutters as Centura's champion is not one of their own, but rather an outsider who simply came into town. Hiryu looks around the square with uncertainty in his face and feelsonly the looming dread of what his new role would be.