Cloak and Scalpel

THE CADIA ARC: Tears

Author's Note:

I would like to address the recent MLBB lore retcon regarding the Scarlet Shadow. Originally, the Scarlet Shadow was located between the rock walls of a mountain, or in a mountain's face, and was north of the Cadia Riverlands. The game released a new map of the Land Dawn recently, and now the Scarlet Shadow is located south. I don't think it's located between rock walls deep within the mountains anymore as it's now described as a "Land of cherry blossoms and timeless waterfalls," so I'll be basing my rendition of the Scarlet Shadow on that instead.

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The Present Day
The Scarlet Shadow in the Cadia Riverlands
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The sun was setting now, and as the last rays of daylight dipped beneath the horizon, I could hear a melodic buzzing. For a moment, I tried to recall what it was. Ah, of course...

Cicadas.

I sat still on the veranda, listening to their serene song. For some reason, the cicadas sounded familiar, like the refrain of a melody I'd once known. And then, a scene flashed in my mind.

Waking up to a sky of gold, pinks, and reds. A sunset sky with the drone of cicadas in the background. The feel of grass tickling my naked skin, as the warm breeze played with my hair.

What was this memory? Or, more accurately, when was this memory? I had no doubt it was a memory—probably one of the memories I'd lost. Something else happened in that forest, a meeting...

I met...

Who did I meet?

In my mind's eye, I could see myself waking up in that sunset forest. Saw myself turn towards the trees as I heard...Voices...? Who...?

My head throbbed gently as it always did when I tried recalling snippets from the moments I'd lost. I massaged my temples as I took in a deep breath.

It was almost as if there was something in my mind—a pressure? A block?—that kept me from looking too closely at my lost memories. I wanted to hold onto that scene, but the more I held on to it, the more it slipped away, back into the recesses of my subconscious.

"Are you alright?"

I glanced towards the open shutters just as Kagura entered the room. She had a little tray of food in her hands. When she saw that I was sitting outside instead of in my room, she smiled at me.

"I'm glad you're going out more!" She knelt on the veranda beside me, setting the tray between us. Upon it were several onigiri and two cups of steaming tea. She handed me an onigiri, a smile on her face. "I brought snacks! Hayabusa bought these in town. He keeps saying they're the best onigiri he's had."

Hayabusa...

I tried to test my memories of the game lore. Hayabusa...

In the Cadia Riverlands existed the Scarlet Shadow. Located south of Cadia, it was a land of cherry blossoms and timeless waterfalls. It was also home to the ninjas. Hayabusa was the second son of the Shadow Sect's leader. He had been sent to the Scarlet Sect as a child to train with them. There, he met Hanabi, his childhood friend and rival. Both wanted to be the Akakage—the strongest ninja—of their time. Hayabusa's older brother was originally thought to be the next Akakage. However, Hanzo killed his brother...

There.

My memory of Hayabusa's lore seemed intact. Whose lores were I missing? I felt like I was missing several...