King of the Tempest

Chapter 1

A steady wind howls

Breathing of cold, dark horrors

Always forgotten.

Tenshi looks up from where he knelt. The night air was quiet, as always. He rises to his feet, grace rippling from his every movement. He walks to his door, silently sliding it open. The cold night air met him. Leaving his katana in his house, he begins to walk through his little village. At this time of night, almost every light nearby is turned off. The town square had one lantern lit, and the night guard was in the light, reading a small book.

Upon closing the distance, he recognized the man. He waited until he was within whispering distance before speaking. "Ah, John. You have the night shift this week?"

John looked up from his book. "Tenshi? You're up late. Just exploring the world?"

Tenshi nodded. "I keep getting a feeling that the world is off. But as I walk, it's nothing." He straightened, stretching. "Have a good evening, John." Tenshi began walking, not really for a purpose, but just to have something to exert some of his restlessness. He walks to the edge of the town, and he looks at the dark countryside. As he expected, the hills were the same as always.

I'm honestly rather disappointed, he thought. I'd love for something to break up this constant monotony. He turned back around, making his way to his house. The first thing he notices is that the man standing in front of his door. Tenshi scowled. He walked up behind the stranger, unseen and unheard. He quickly throws his hand over the man's mouth, clenching hard to prevent any form of noise. His other hand grabs the sword at the man's waist and unsheathes it, dropping on the ground. He steps inside of his house and throws the man inside, sliding his door shut.

"What are you doing here?" Tenshi demands. He reaches to the sword leaning against the wall just inside the doorway.

The man blinks, slowly rubbing his mouth. "I can have you arrested for assaulting the kings courier."

In one fluid moment, the katana flew from its sheath to beneath the couriers neck. "No one will find out." He scowled, and sheathed the sword. "You were outside my house at night. What is your message?"

"It is urgent! I had to contact you as soon as I got here, regardless of time!" he protested.

"What is your message?" Tenshi repeated.

"His Majesty requires you to go to the capital."

"What for? I assume he doesn't just want to gawk at my face."

"He needs your services. He wants you to train soldiers."

Tenshi hesitated, gripping the hilt of his blade. "I'm not a teacher. I am not a guru. I am not even a soldier. I am just a man. Just... a poet. A writer."

The courier scoffed. He started to stand. "A poet? A poet wouldn't have attacked a courier outside his house. A poet wouldn't have been able to. A poet wouldn't be viewed as the most powerful warrior in the kingdom. A poet wouldn't have a king trying to hire him to train his soldiers."

"Well you are wrong." Tenshi muttered. "I don't want to fight." He set his katana into the ground, leaning against it. "I have never wanted to fight."

"I was there when you won the tournament a few years back. It was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen. If you can train our army..."

Tenshi waved his hand, cutting him off. "Do I have an option? If I don't go, will he just kill me?"

The courier looked down. "No. But... I have orders to place you under arrest. If I don't return, or I come back without your signature, you will be put in the red list."

"You wouldn't be able to arrest me." He walked to his table and looked to the courier. "Give me the document. I'll sign it. I have no desire to be at war."

The courier pulled a document out of the bag on his hip. "I'm sorry to have to do this to you. I've always respected you. I never knew that you were such a pacifist."

Tenshi scowled and scrawled on his name. "I do not blame you. I apologize for assaulting you, but there was a strange man at my door... I pray you understand." He rolled up the letter and tied it, handing it to the messenger. "However, I must insist you leave. I would like to retire for the night."

The courier gave a quick nod of acknowledgement, then quickly left the building. Tenshi's face darkened as the door slid shut, leaving nothing but the silence in the man's stead. Tenshi turned, kneeling at his writing table. So the King thinks he can use me to train his soldiers. Why? Is Aritha not at peace? Aritha hasn't been at war in over a hundred years, so why is he now desiring to strengthen the army? There's so many unanswered questions. Is this what I keep feeling? This... Darkness... Is it war?

He fell asleep in this way, kneeling and lost in thoughts.

Tenshi exhaled, scowling as always. He had slipped out of town before dawn, to avoid anyone noticing his absence. The townspeople knew him as a recluse, so it is likely they wouldn't know him gone if no one saw him leave. All he had on him was his katana, a week's ration of food, a small coin purse hidden within his robe, and some papyrus. And his armor, of course, strapped to his horse like everything else. The dirt path was worn from years of travel. He didn't need a map to guide him, this wasn't the first time he'd made this trek.

The countryside was the most interesting thing he could see. Nature is beautiful, poetic. My words could never live up to the beauty of the world. In the distance, he saw the tiny dirt path he was walking along open into the big road that merchants traveled along. The roads that lead to the big cities. His scowl deepened. I hope no one can recognize me. It's been a few years, maybe I look differently.

As he got on the merchant's road, he saw a lone man pacing, staring at a large sheet of papyrus, twisting it every which way. Naturally, Tenshi switched to the other side of the road, hoping the man wouldn't ask for his assistance. Luck, it seems, would not be on his side.

"Excuse me, sir, do you happen to know your way to Tyreth?"

Tenshi found himself looking down at the short man. He was an eccentric young character, constantly shifting, and he had a strange habit of pulling at the skin on his hands. His clothes marked him as a member of the Tsendaren Warriors. He wore a sleeveless black tunic tucked into shin length leggings. He wore a metal armguard on his left wrist, and two metal shin protectors that doubled as boots. The red cloak he wore with the hood pulled over his head is what marked him as Tsendaren. He also had a light skin complexion, but completely featureless. His short black hair was in his face. His vibrant green eyes and pale complexion marked him as Ravarian. Odd that a Ravarian is around here... And even odder that he's Tsendaren, Tenshi couldn't help but notice.

"Ah, sir? Do you?" the Tsendaren asked.

Tenshi blinked, unaware of how long he'd taken to respond. "Yes, I do. Follow this road. You'll come across a few forks, but there will be signs to point you in the way to go." He pointed towards the city. He hesitated. "Though... I suppose I could take you there. Tyreth is my destination as well." He scowled slightly, not enough for the man to notice.

"Oh really?! Thank you so much!" The man exclaimed, energy pouring out of his being. He held out his hand. "I appreciate it. My name is Jiao-Long. As you already know, I am a Tsendaren Warrior." His eyes narrowed at Tenshi. "If you think I'll be a problem, don't worry about me. With those directions, I should be able to find my way there by myself."

Tenshi arched his eyebrows, unable to conceal his surprise. "How did..." For the first time in weeks, he smiled. "You're quite the character, Jiao-Long. I will guide you." He looked around. "Where are your belongings, precisely?"

Jiao blinked, looking around. "I have no idea. How odd. This is a problem..." he muttered.

Tenshi's smile faded. "I may have enough supplies to last us the trip. It'll take about five days' time, if we move briskly. There will be a few towns on the way, so if we run out, I can stop and pick up a few extra supplies." He turned, walking towards the capital. "By the way, my name is Tenshi."