Chapter two;
My eyes were closed but I couldn't sleep. The ruckus downstairs might be the issue but I am convinced that it wasn't. I have not slept for weeks now and when I drift into a dream, It turns to a nightmare. There was no end to it, there never was. The bed I paid for was rather old and was of poverty standards. I was not exactly loaded. Moving town after town in Kronvigar wasn't an easy task.
I have seen a lot in these two years. Everywhere I went I saw the husky dead faces of people. They were torturing themselves with hope. The higher ups will not look down to help, and if they do they sure will spit on the poor man's face. This was the world for the strong and powerful. Nobody cared for the dying old man on the road. I sighed as I sat upright on the bed. The floor was hot and the walls were shaking.
I was in a small hotel in Liswar. More like a brothel I tell you. A candle as my light. Even that wont last long. I took up a room for the night. People were drowning their pain in the ail while others with the women. I couldn't blame them, let them forget the bad memories. The night was cold and the only company I had was my katana. That's all I needed in this treacherous world. As I stared to drift slowly into my past, the door was knocked.
I grabbed the casing and hid it behind my back. Who is it? A drunkard maybe, but I couldn't take any risks. I slowly walked to the door, foot after foot. The timber creaking and complaining to be replaced. There was time I thought I would fall right through, naah it can hold for now.
"Who is it? I am not interested," I asked. My words went through the cold air to whomever was knocking.
"Open up and see,"
That voice! My body became stiff and I clenched my katana. He will break the door anyway, I thought. He wasn't a man to give up easily. Persistent was his nature. The last time I saw his was two years ago when we parted ways. I let out a sigh and opened the cobwebbed door. There stood a fine dressed man. He had a top hat and his clothes were neat and soft. He had a moustache , accompanied with a smile. He was 22 years now, if I remember correctly.
He hid his hands too. So he was cautious like me. "Are you going to cut me down with that axe, Uyeno?" I asked, staring cold into his eyes. This was a dangerous man. My my has he changed. The Uyeno from 2 years ago had his monk robes and kind eyes. No moustache, no fancy clothes but the axe was always around. Can people truly change? We will see.
"I could say the same," he responded, glaring at my hand. His appearance might have changed but his voice was permanent. I smiled, he smiled. He walked in patting my shoulder a little. The axe in his hands shrunk into a pebble and he placed it in his side pocket. Of course he had to sit on the only chair I had. I shrugged slightly.
"You were careless," he said chuckling.
"I had no choice. I didn't think you would find me so quickly. Your skills have improved sage," I said fixing myself on the bed and wondering. I made it a habit to call him "Sage" long ago. He is a former monk , that's how close we are.
"Well you pick up a thing or two up when you go into hiding," he said removing a glass orb from his pocket. That was a highly powerful artifact that every guardian has. Am not even going to ask him how he got it. Am sure he used that to amplify his sensory technique. He might not have himo, but he sure can sense the mahoritz in people.
He explained to me long ago that it is a basic thing that all monks are taught. Chakra, mahoritz and its eight gates were a must knowledge for the monks. Too bad, they were wiped out five years ago. knowledge is useless when you are dead. So he was the last one, a loner, maybe that's why I got along with him so well. Anyway, those weren't that bad of memories. And him being here means he noticed the same thing I have.
" Something strange is happening. The mahoritz is changing. Its not only conducting itself to the guardian seals but to some people. I haven't seen them but I have sensed them across the province," he said, his moustache moving up and down as he used a more serious tone. I sighed. So he noticed too. Liswar was in province Zuitor . The kingdom had two provinces; Axero where the capital is and Zuitor also called poverty province "PP". Just walk around, you might think it has no Baron.
"I was looking up some files in the local archives in the lower province [Axero] when I sense some weird power today. Nothing like another in Eara. Its same signature resonated with someone I knew from two years ago. That is you . So I came, am sure you were expecting me," continued Uyeno caressing his ego again.
"I released my sword for a second and you sense it from that far...you used the orb!"I retorted giving him a hard knock on his hollow head.
"Ouch! Why you hitting me??" he said turning all pink. " Because all the data in are transmitted to Central and analyzed. We have a day at most to leave Liswar you dumb sage" I answered rubbing my knuckles. I felt that one. I repeat, nobody has a hard empty head like Uyeno. Never thinks things through.
"How come you know so much about the orbs?" he asked. My eyes almost twitched but I confidently replied with I just do. Whew! He wasn't ready yet. Out of nowhere he jolted upwards and stood , firm on his expensive purple shoes.
"One is here. He is in Liswar," he relies. His aura had spread far over his head ,above the hotel and all over Liswar. He truly has grown more powerful. He added to say he knows exactly where the person is, good. So one of these strange guys is in Liswar. But I fail to understand why we should even bother. It's the guardians work to take him down and do all the hard stuff. The last thing we need is attention.
Yosh! We have agreed on the plan. Now we wait for the sun. At dawn, we met on the outskirts of town. Uyeno was pocketing as usual , waiting on me. "You're late,"
"I know, this technique isn't easy. Especially if I do it to you and me. So just understand," I answered rationally, am tired of him already. "Why are we going this way? He is in Liswar," Uyeno said impatiently. From his behavior I say he too didn't have sleep, for along time at least.
"It might take hours to work, or not work at all. Never the less lets go," I told him, "We are going to see a himo expert. Heads up, he might look like nothing you heard about him," with that I left his confused face and up the far hill we climbed.
At noon, sweating like mad dogs and weak in our kneels, we arrived. There was an old cottage amongst the trees and it had a fair amount of compound around it. Uyeno bent rubbing his kneels and thighs still making sure it wasn't dead. That amused me every time. We were a step away from the compound when a sharp wakizashi fell to my feet. It had a wooden handle and its tip was deep in the clay. That would have broken my foot bone. Tch! The leaves fell from the tress and the majestic wind carried them before our eyes. We looked up for a bit, they danced around, then whirled away. Uyeno was done panting already. When we turned to the cottage, an old man was in front of us. He held a katana in his left hand and its case at the right. He had a bright red kimono and his eyebrows were almost all white. He stood there with no stance just a big brown serious face.
His hair was long dancing to the tune of the passing wind. His eyes were more terrifying than the katana. They were cloudy and still. They did not hesitate, no flinching, nothing but a stare. Uyeno aura changed into a hostile one and then he slowly tried to reach for his side pocket. He was dead stopped by the cold stare.
"Zil?" the old man said slowly lowering his left handed katana. His face lit up with surprise. Uyeno was so surprised that he turned blue. Don't worry he shook it off later. The atmosphere lit up and I could breathe. Without a second to waste, I walked to the old man and bowed. "Long time, Shigeo Kimura sir," I said. I was too ashamed to be before him. I owe him everything, I had to show respect. He slowly sighed as he does when angry then, "Come in," he said softly as he slide the katana into the black wooden case. Into the cabin we went.
It was a small house, fit for his family. Shigeo had two sons; Jugo who was a year younger to Kazuo. Naughty kids. Unfortunately his wife died giving birth to baby Jugo, something that he blamed nobody about. The times I spent together with the kids training and having fun were momentous. Am sure they are twelve and thirteen now. If I could turn back time, I would be with them forever. They probably playing in Liswar. Such teenage energy.
The darkness always takes over. When I think of the good times, my memories flood back the bad ones. Snapping me back to reality. The truth of the matter is I have to embrace the past and protect the future. Not only for me, no but for Jugo and Kazuo.
Uyeno by my side we sat traditionally, crossing our legs on the wooden floor and facing Shigeo. "How long has it been? Seven years? They are still looking for you. You both," he said with a slow yet strong tone. Uyeno kept quiet, he could feel the situation. He tried to put the pieces together.
"I have a feeling trouble is on its way. They will be busy not worried about us," I responded, leaning backwards and folding my arms.
"You mean the strange himos that non seal bearers are manifesting?"
Uyeno was startled. I maintained my posture, shocked.
"Yes, but how did know?" Uyeno asked out aggressively.
"I am a sensory type just like you," he responded raising his eyebrows a little. It was clear he was not familiar with such a tone. This was the first time he is meeting the goofball Uyeno after all. I should have met him in another city, but he knows exactly where the himo freak is. I must bear Uyeno for now. "And also you too were blubbering all about it as you climb my hill. Am a fast spy Hahahahaha," Shigeo said sending our socks flying .
We laughed for a moment.
It was surprising that Uyeno didn't sense him wow. But what is more surprising is his ability to change moods so quickly. His smile disappeared and he looked serious. "This has not reached the higher ups yet. Only some lords and high ranking guardians know. They have been appearing since a year ago," he said stroking his bald chin. At the back of his palm was a weird shaped dark scribbles. We let it be then concentrated on the information given.
"They are called lights. This is top secret, I expect secrecy," he eyed us. We bowed agreeing. " A year back ,one of the guardians stumbled into illegal smugglers at the east, Port Elfbay. It's a truly magical bay as it gives the highest income of a port to the world government. On upholding the law, the smugglers showed himo manifestations; class Aryu. He managed to escape with his life luckily."
"So they can manifest different classes of Himo," I said. This was bad. This was really bad. What happens when the worst of the worst get powers near guardian level? The answer is nobody can stop them. If the enter population of Eara gets this power, they will misuse it and hell will be one with Eara. Rich against poor, kingdoms get human arsenals and declare war. We have to stop this! Wait... "they" have to stop this. We are here for the Intel only. That's what I first thought....
Then Shigeo turned, looking at the wall. "Did you guys come alone?" he asked.
"Yes , we came....." Uyeno failed to finish. "He is here. The one with no seal. My plan worked!"
"Our plan" I emphasized.
"Of course," his face said but his ego said it all. He was going to take the credit. I will let him be.
You are wondering what the plan was. Good. For someone with himo or sensory techniques he/she will surely sense strong waves of mahoritz radiating from two people. We lured him here. It had a very low success possibility , am surprised it worked.
We got out and stood outside to see who it can be. The prey had arrived. It was a woman. She stopped staring at the wooden handle of Shigeo's wakizashi and then picked it up. The old man didn't pick it up! What if the kids got hurt? Or if it was stolen? Nevertheless he seems very calm...too calm.
The woman had a navy blue dress no sleeves and high hills on. Her hair was very short, like a boy's and skin pale. Her bones made some crackling sound as she moved. And there was no seal we could see. Her face was dirty black and she kept twitching once in a while. She stopped ,I don't know if she was intimidated by the three gents before her or something else.
Her eyes focused and she could see the red vapor in our bodies. That was the color of mahoritz. She noticed that Uyeno and I are releasing a lot of it in large quantities. Which was odd to her.
"You too seem to be leaking," She said with a sickly voice, some saliva dropping to her chin, she wipes it off.
"Oh, let me fix that," I said. I breathed in slowly then the mahoritz stopped escaping. This was a unique technique that allows one to absorb mahoritz quickly or release it at will. Expelling it from the body. One doesn't need a seal to do that as mahoritz is in the air around us, in the hairs and in the trees too. But its tricky doing it on two guys. That's what made me late in the first place.
Mahoritz was all over Eara.
She startled then paced out . Her mind wasn't here that's what am sure. She seemed like a corpse really."Who made you like this?"Shigeo asked pushing past the chit chat and demanding her attention. The woman was surprised and excited. She looked into Shigeo and saw him. She stared weirdly at him, as if she could see his organs. So creepy. But the truth was in her eyes, Shigeo was glowing red, the vapor was covering the entire cabin and blocking it from sight. Enormous power for an old man.
"Such mahoritz old man! You see I was a simple farm girl. Am not from around this kingdom. Am originally from Vielin, I was lured here by a rumor. That one can get himo without a seal!" she stops to cough, spitting some blood then wiping it with her hand. Tch! Then she proceeds .
"Turns out it was true. I have acquired unbelievable power," she laughs her lungs out, but it doesn't last for long she coughs more blood.
"You don't look well child," Shigeo said in a soft voice. He was always welcoming and kind, am still alive aren't I? "You see I gained power but I can't infuse Mahoritz. Its frustrating, only I cant. The others can, this was my default. You have to have one,' she stopped to cough, each time more vigorously.
I slightly looked away, meeting Uyeno's eyes. He very much knew I hate blood.
"BUT don't you worry gramps, I will eat your mahoritz and grow stronger! I think I will eat you first old man," she said slowly walking towards us. She was so weak, even children had more strength compared to her. Then suddenly, she started to manifest her himo. She screamed, throwing the wakizashi to the floor. Red fumes came out from her eyes , mouth and ears completely covering herself in a big dome that took much of the compound's space.
"She can release mahoritz but not absorb it. That is truly cruel," Shigeo said balling up his fists. "Here she comes," I whispered to them as the fumes disappeared mixing with the air. There before us was himo manifestation class Aryu! Also known as body transformation. The lady turned into a hulking beast, whose head passed the height of the cabin. It was at least 20 feet high, red skin and two huge horns. It kind of looked like a bull, her face not easily recognizable.
The figure trembled the ground with a roar and heavy steps. Like trees in a storm we struggled to be firm. She turned the wakizashi into dust with a step, this was a walking death. Claws like swords, muscles shaking, aiding her towards us and of course her devil smile. She was fixated on Shigeo a mistake on her part. High mahoritz concentration means high power manifestation equaling to extremely dangerous person, the himo formula. All one needs is control.
"When I eat you! I will have enough strength to wipe that town below us. They always bothered me with the music! I will eat all of them and then rule Liswar. Soon enough I will take down the Kronvigar government then the name Himari Yui will be recognized!" she pouted and publically let out her ambitions. This woman was mad on so many levels, no need to hold back. I was about to draw my sword but was signaled to put it away by Shigeo.
" No need for that. Remember we need her alive. I will handle this," Shigeo said moving in front. Uyeno took out a pebble from his side pocket and crushed it. It glowed red and his axe fell into his own hands. "Incase you are too tired to take it down. Old man," he said with a mockery tune, swinging the axe a little to show his skill.
"Uyeno," I said.
"Yeah?"
"Don't blink"
"huh?"
In that moment, Shigeo applied maximum amount of force down to the ground with his weak legs, lowered his head a bit than whoosh! He vanished, leaping, reappearing in front of the huge Himari's face while in mid air. "Roar, Zenin!" he called out and red blinding blast covered the sky and before we could get a chance to see, a huge thud hit and we fell to the ground.
A cloud of dust scattered all over the compound blinding us for a minute.
"What just happened?" Uyeno said as I helped him up. His axe disappeared, back to its side pocket. A dark small figure could be visible in the hellish dust cloud, as it settled. "If am tired huh, pathetic," said Shigeo he released a huge laugh, standing on the body of huge Himari. His face shone of glory and both Uyeno and I were astonished. In his hand was a pure red sword, glittering due to the sunlight.
"Just who is this man Zil??!!!" Uyeno couldn't remove his eyes from Shigeo. I wiped some dust off my kimono then looked at him with a smile.
"Retired Guardian Former Squad Eleven Captain, Shigeo Kimura!" that was him. It sure brings up memories, and not bad ones I tell you
''''''''''''''''END OF CHAPTER''''''''''''''''''''
What are guardians?
Who is a captain?
What does "Roar! Zenin!" mean? And where did the sword come from?
Stay tuned to chapter three: Darkness from within
