The midday sun exemplified a typical Igan summer. Bright and radiant, she shines over the provinces with a warming gaze, illuminating the hustle and bustle of a mystic country. The Hakumei caravan trekked along the merchant's path leading south into O-kuni territory. The group had met for the first time in the morning. No extravagant celebration or festival was held in their honor. No wooden idols were hung or sculptures made to bring them good fortune. When the warriors gathered for the first time, it was outside of a pig farm in the central lands of Raiden. Kotori Raiden, co-leader of the Hakumei squad, greeted them all with a very direct and informal speech that seemed forced and unnatural. The 8-foot horned oni grunted disapprovingly at her. He then stepped forward and attempted to invigorate everyone with the song of his people. Before he began, he briefly explained its significance, touching on the deep lyrics that expressed what it meant to be a true warrior. It was not a pleasantly sounding song. It could be best described more as a war cry, a loud and tonally awkward roar that ended up frightening the pigs and their farm hands. When the song was done, Gaignun tugged on the reins of his giant-scaled lizard mount and bolted down merchant's path, signaling to everyone, including Kotori Raiden, that the pleasantries were over and their journey had begun.
***
Hisaya quietly trotted along the tail end of the Hakumei caravan. Her snow colored horse had a tendency to lurch whenever she got near Gaignun's lizard mount. Nobody spoke to each other. It was mostly due to their oni leader's hurried pace that didn't allow for a casual conversation, but Hisaya liked to believe it was because everyone was still trying to process what had transpired in the morning. She frowned at the absurdity of it all, noting how informal and unprofessional her experience as a Hakumei warrior had been up to this point. Her master, the Great Kagi Lord of The Tranquil Step, explained the significance behind this task force and offered her to the cause. At the time she felt it was a great honor bestowed upon her. Those feelings are now in question. Hisaya chuckled as she thought about Gaignun's performance that scared the pigs, farmers, and even herself.
Oh venerable Tranquil Step, what kind of test have you cornered me into now?"What's funny?" Hisaya looked up and spotted Kotori Raiden staring back at her. She was dressed in dark purple lacquered armor, commanding a brown-colored mare with one hand on its rein, the other, not too far from her daisho set. The elf knew all about this woman. Who didn't? She commands a lot of respect in Igan for her warrior ways, touted as the next Judon, but Hisaya was not intimidated or starstruck. In fact, Hisaya was more surprised that Kotori was back in the tail end of the caravan and not up front with Gaignun leading the way.
"How could something so monumentally important between the relations of Oni and Human not be given a more grandiose introduction?" Hisaya spoke without emotion. "No glorious ceremony within the High Halls of Emperor Hyugan's golden palace, or summoning within the nether thrones of the Great Kagi Lords? No. Instead, we are treated to a stuffy speech and a screaming oni demon."
Kotori pulled on the reins until their mounts matched the same pace. "You wish to be sent off with high praise? Thousands, cheering for you? Flower petals raining down as the fire mages spell out your names in the skies?" She scoffed.
"Considering what's at stake, at the very least, yes." Hisaya smiled.
"Respect must be earned, Pale Spider." Hisaya took offense to her words. Kotori was a human whose entire life span is only the length of what's to be considered the child years of her people. Who was she to give sagely advice to an elf that's lived more lives than she could count?
"Indeed, human." Hisaya responded, flatly. She restrained her hidden desire to goad Kotori into a meaningless back-and-forth and opted to change the subject. "How much longer until we reach the village?"
"Soon." Kotori kicked the sides of her mare and hurried forward, passing everyone including Gaignun.
"Well, that was pleasant." Hisaya said with a deadpan voice.
