Chapter one;
One by one the drops hit my head. The road was muddy and the atmosphere smelled of dirt. I would rarely find myself looking back for there is nothing to go back to. This was the life I choose and a burden I have to bear. My kimono was wet from the downpour sticking to my body, I would slowly wipe my face time to time with my right hand as the other had the weight of my katana’s case. My vision was already blurry and my muscles were worn out from the fatigue. It felt like hell really.
The only thought that propelled me forward was that the town was not that far off. The warm beds and the tasty ail, don’t get me started about the women. Liswar’s women are truly angelic. Their curved waists and smooth skins would cast a spell upon whomever has eyes to see, but they aren’t cheap I tell you that. Then again nothing in this world is free. It would save you a lot of trouble to keep that in mind.
As I paced up the road ahead, the rain continued giving its unwanted blessing upon my every being. Taking a corner on the path, I see two horses on the ground and a destroyed cart by the side of the road. Then I smelled something. Blood! I looked at the beasts and deduced my conclusion. Blood flowed from their wounds, mixing with the mud into a violet; pinky color. Their eyes were screaming in pain and their muscles still stiff. These horses were killed in an instant….and not long ago. Probably a few minutes back. I angrily clench my Katana case then proceeded onwards. This was a robbery.
“I..gave you…all I have…please!,” there, I looked. Up the hill to my right there were people there. There was an old man who was dangling mid air supported by a huge muscles packed man. The old man had simple clothes and was pale white. His strangler had torn bloody clothes with a broad blade on his waist, and in his hands was fixed around old man’s neck.
Beside him was two more shady looking men. They held blades in hand and were smiling like mad dogs ,watching with excitement as their tall friend squeezes the old man. Unlike the guy in front, they were short. Shorter than most people. Don’t let that fool you, they had killer eyes.
“I don’t believe you. We the Edomura gang have been robbing this road for years now,” with a thunderous voice that matched the storm around the brute said. They climbed to the hill to protect themselves from the rains, figures. They took advantage of the weather to plant an ambush here. They are clever I give them that.
I know this kind of people very well. Even if they stand here in the rain for a thousand years , their hearts will remain pitch black,rotten and dirty. Tch! Some scum are better in the ground I tell you. At least there they wont harm anybody. The picture of the dead horses and blood flooded my mind. I truly hate violence as it lead to blood and anybody who knows me, knows I hate blood. But it cant be helped now….
“This is the only road that leads to Liswar from the south you see. The merchants and the nobles too use this. Fufufu..its the Edomura gang’s gold mine. We have seen men like you, who lie even if their life hangs by a thread. Its admirable really but truly pathetic,” the brute continued as he slowly increased the grip nearly suffocating the old man. He tried to kick around but a quick jab to the stomach from those big fists sent his hope and energy into nonexistence. I had to I guess. Who is to say they would let me go if they were to spot me. Those jackals have to mercy to begin with? I will just save us some time and….
“Oi! Scum! Let go of the old man,” I roared with anger standing at the road , in the violet mud. I made sure they could hear me from the hill. They turned to me instantly, smiling their yellow rotten teeth.
“ We have a new customer Gamanju. I call dibs on his kimono. Its wet but am sure I will dry it,” one of the smaller guys said looking to his small comrade.
“ Fine! Then we cut his head, Bamanju. I will take his Katana from his corpse,” Gamanju replied. The brute put the old man down then gave the signal with a nod, the two black dressed goons rushed down the hill ,roughly throwing mud around and recklessly destroying the small plants with their fast steps. They chuckled all the way down. They were fast! Their movements were nearly the same.
In a flash they were before me. I wiped my face with my hand and my vision improved. They looked a lot alike, maybe siblings, no they looked a lot alike. They were actually twins. That’s why they moved so alike. Similar training, I guessed. “I take it that you two were the ones who slashed the horses, the bigger fellow smashed the cart from behind and dragged the old man out,” I said my eyes fixed at the two. I cant afford an injury here, besides am fighting for the old man and myself. Tch!
“Nice deductions, an average person would have not guessed that much less call us down. You are not average are you? Fufufu,” Bamanju said smiling all over. I could feel his lust for blood. His whole aura was toxic and dangerous. A true goon I say. It made me sick to my stomach. I have to end this quick, its almost night time and I don’t want to catch cold in this rain. “The big fellow is Ichirei. I wouldn’t mess with him if I were you. But you won’t need to worry about anything , you are dead already!” Gamanju said eagerly. He was clearly the maddest of the two.
“Big words from a small man,”
“WHAT DID YOU SAY MEAT?!” Bamanju shouted impulsely with rage. He held his sword tightly hurting his hand.
“Now now Brother, don’t talk to a corpse! It is not classy,” Gamanju said chuckling as the background is lightened with a flash from the storm. They are coming, I have to end this quick.
I don’t know the power of their swords or if their himo is that sword….but that never stopped me. I slowly removed my sword from its cold blue case and held the case in my left hand and sword in my right.
I breathed slowly and then focused.
A lightening bolt rose its head among the dark gloomy clouds, swimming like an eel in the water. Then it suddenly rushed to the ground.
I sprinted at them.
In a blur, before either could move, I was already behind them and my sword was wet with blood.
The lightening struck the ground miles away, shaking the land for a bit.
I swung my blade slightly and the blood stain fell to the mud mixing to be violet.
Bamanju and Gamanju turned pale, shocked. I disappeared! They turned around and saw me placing my sword into its crimson blue casing. Their body caught up and pain hit them, they looked and saw a huge cut running diagonally on each ones chest.
BAMANJU: /*right to left slash*
GAMANJU: *left to right slash *
I had to swing upwards twice... Tch!
Blood spouted out and they fell face in to the mud. I could only imagine the pain. I could still hear their heart beats , good. They weren’t dead. I turned to look at the hill at the old man. Ichirei was gone and the old man too. Tch! I was too slow again. I search around, up the hill, to the sides and even up the trees but found nothing. Like a ghost they disappeared. I went back to the road and found only one body. Gamanju,who was seconds from dying.
“I guess he was right, you are not average….…You are not a guardian….You have no seal…how can you have a himo and no Emperor’s seal?!” Gamanju said still trying to process the events.
Normally when a guardian uses his Emperor given power, Himo, the seal glows a certain color depending on the owner. But that’s not in my case. It’s a long story that I wish I had forgotten. Gamanju forces the universal question out…. “Then who are you?” he asked. This was his last request. There was no issue is telling a dying man who I am…or who I was.
“All this time I have hid myself for 2 years now. Travelling all over the world of Eara, not staying in one place for too long. I shall grant your question with an answer,’’ I said with a sigh. I slowly remove my katana.
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Gamanju watched as I disappeared into the road until I was far from sight. He was shaking, trembling and in that moment the pathetic life of Gamanju of Edomura , came to an end. A request that shortened his minutes and showed him that indeed….Eara has yet to hear some tales. Strange tales indeed.
And I am one with strange
.............END OF CHAPTER.........
Chapter two: bad memories.
