[center] [color=#736AFF][b][h1]Ranbu no Izayoi[/h1][/b][/color] [/center] Led by Eve, Goug eventually made his way back to the Kirins, grumbling in both irritation and concern the whole while. [b]"Ack, couldn't have saved me some strain on the ol' heart, kupo? Thought I was gonna have to find me way back to Edren on my kupoin' own for a moment there."[/b] Unable to travel too much farther for the day, the battered and exhausted Kirins made camp on the dunes. When sunset came, Izayoi cleared her throat to get the party's attention before beginning to speak. [color=#736AFF][b]"I said I would explain, and I shall. That foe we faced used the corpse of the man who taught me the sword. And his skills, somehow. I am not so blind as to not recognize my own sword style, especially when used by the one who taught me to do so. The one I killed."[/b][/color] [hider=Fifteen years ago...] On her eighteenth birthday, Izayoi awoke to see her master looming over her. She blinked, one hand already reaching for her blade before the man stepped back, shaking his head. “Not today, girl. Come. Morning meal is ready.” “Master? You…made breakfast?” He hadn’t done that in years. Not since she insisted on taking over meal preparation duties, at the very least. She followed him out of her tent and into the harsh desert sunlight, wincing slightly. “Eat.” Was all he said in response, sitting himself down at the fire where he partitioned out a bowl of rice and a grilled hare for each of them. Izayoi could only sigh and acquiesce in response, sitting down and reaching for her pair of chopsticks before starting to dig in. Of course he never bothered explaining anything that wasn’t relayed to swordplay. “There’s a reason I took over cooking for us, Master.” Izayoi said between bites, a slight glower on her face. “It was kind of you to do this for my nameday, but please don’t do this again next year. The rice is mushy and the hare is half-burnt.” “Impertinent girl.” Her teacher huffed in response, finishing his meal with no complaint. “Follow me when you cease complaining.” He stood, setting the bowl and utensils aside before picking his sword up. “I will wait for you out on the dunes. Bring your sword.” ___ Ten minutes later, Izayoi stood facing her master out on the desert dunes, each of them holding a sheathed sword in their hand. “Ten years.” Her master drawled, his gaze looking down upon her from a distance. “I have trained you for ten long years. Ever since I found you in the wreckage of that caravan.” “Is this going somewhere?” Izayoi huffed, rolling her eyes. “Or are you growing sentimental in your old age?” Ignoring the fact that the pale, blonde giant of a man looked near forty at worst. “Tell me,” He continued, ignoring her complaints. “Have you ever wondered who exactly attacked that caravan? Killed your family?” “...Master?” “This is my namesday gift to you, girl. The truth. I attacked that caravan. I put your family to the sword. Every last one of them except you.” Izayoi’s breath hitched. Her pupils dilated. The grip on her sword went slack. “You…this isn’t funny, Master.” “I am not lying to you, girl. You lived through sheer coincidence. Did you honestly believe I wouldn’t have found the so-called bandits I told you were responsible? Had any existed, we would have tracked them down within mere days.” “Then, w-why did you-” “Spare you? Train you?” A cruel smirk crossed his face. “It amused me. I wanted to see what I could make of a random child that crossed my path. To see if she could be forged into a hunter. A predator. It fills you even now, doesn’t it? The hunger. To bite down on my jugular. To feel the warmth fill your mouth and run over, even as you drink deep. Good. Good…” Izayoi’s expression went feral, and she reached for her sword with a wordless scream. ___ She was going to die. Worse, she was going to lose. Izayoi had endured hellish training and combat for ten years. Her master had been practicing swordplay for at least twice that time. Oh, she was swifter than him, certainly. But not enough to make up for his advantages in reach, strength, and combat experience. “Traitor! Murderer! Monster!” Izayoi howled as her series of strikes were all parried before she was forced back on the defensive again, desperately guarding and evading. “Yes, YES!” Her master cackled in glee, nothing but joy in his eyes. “This is the battle I have wanted for so long! The challenge! Dig deeper, girl! You can give me more! I trained you better than this! Must I force it out of you?!” His sandal slammed into Izayoi’s gut, creating distance between them as he sheathed his sword. Her eyes widened. She knew what was coming. In sheer desperation, she sheathed her own blade. They met each other’s eyes. They charged. They drew. ___ Izayoi stood over her master’s dying form, her sword raised in both hands. “What’s wrong, girl?” The man rasped, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. “Finish it. Ignore any sentiment you have left. I killed your parents, your siblings. The boy screamed for mercy, you know.” “...Boy?” Izayoi blinked. “I never had a brother.” A resigned sigh was the only answer she received. Her grip on her sword slackened. “Master…don’t tell me…” “To be caught at the very end.” He smirked ruefully, closing his eyes. “How clumsy of me.” “You lied?” She spat incredulously, hurling her sword to the side as she knelt down, trying to press against the deep gash she’d put into his chest. “What in the Mother’s name is wrong with you?! Why would you ever try to make me think you killed my family?” “It was the only way you would ever face me with all of your might. Girl. Izayoi. I have wanted to die since long before we met. This empty, ephemeral world has never held a single worthy hunt for me. Nothing to provide challenge. Substance. You were my last hope. To craft my killer with mine own hands. You are not as I am. You would never have agreed to face me with all you had without sufficient motive. Without sheer rancor.” “You’re insane.” Tears began to flow from Izayoi’s eyes, unbidden. “This is…this is the worst namesday present I’ve ever heard of. You can’t just die on me. Not without making up for this travesty.” “I can only thank you. This is all I have ever wanted. To die in one last, worthy battle. The only one I have ever had in my life. Hear me, my apprentice. Endure. Survive. Live. For the rush of blood, for the time between the seconds, live. For whatever reason you forge for yourself, live. Carry what I have taught you, and take what you will from this world. That is the last gift I leave you…” He trailed off, his voice quieting as he took his last breath. Izayoi stared down at the corpse, the midday sun burning down upon her as she beat her fists against it, sobbing. [/hider] Izayoi refused to say anything further on the matter after that, turning in early for the night with nary another word. ___ Days later, with little else in the way of options, the party returned to Kugane for the moment to regroup, recover, and plan their next move. With Ciradyl and Chisaki's aid, they made their way past the Valheimr checkpoints once more and met up with Hien in a different safehouse, this time in the western section of the city. One summary of what they learned later, and Hien groaned to himself, holding his head in one hand as the other rapped his knuckles against the low table they all sat around. [b]"This is...a bit much to take in. However, I trust your word, especially that of Izayoi and Lady Ciradyl. I'll admit, I would have liked to employ your collective services for longer. But I've no hold over any of the lot of you."[/b] He rolled a map of the continent out across the table, pondering. [b]"I'll be frank: Edren is less of a going concern than the other two nations. It still bears strong leadership and signifcant military force. Drana Asnaeu's ability to withstand a full-scale invasion in search of its crystal is my foremost worry regarding this scenario. Were I the one looking in on the opposite end of this situation, it would almost certainly be my next target. Unfortunately, reports from my informants say Valheim's been reinforcing the southwest border for weeks now. You'll not be able to get ahead of them on foot, and we've little access to ships. What captains are in our pocket are already occupied with missions of their own and, hm..."[/b] He paused, rubbing his chin. [b]"Give me a day or two to make some inquiries. In the meantime, the lockdown around the city has eased up, and Reisa herself has been reported to have left Kugane for the moment. Take some rest, you all have more than earned it."[/b]