On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor Side One Hundred And Forty-Six – Zhao Daiyu / Izumi Kana

Side One Hundred And Forty-Six – Zhao Daiyu / Izumi Kana

Daiyu watched intently as the strange Tengu, Shungbō, the one in red representing Sumr and the South, gestured to his fellow Tengu, the ones that were still sober at least. Perhaps I am too young or sheltered to understand the appeal of drunkenness. No, more likely it is my training regin and sense of asceticism. Cultivation requires a clear mind and a strong, healthy body. Drinking toxins for pleasure seems a little odd to , unless it has so dicinal benefit, such as certain rare herbs. Though the honoured Patriarch, my father, he did indulge in moderation… perhaps a little is not so bad. Akio looked as if he was having fun, and Daiyu wanted to be a part of that. She had drunk a little, and had to admit it tasted pleasant, though she did not feel particularly strange. Perhaps it is my newfound stronger constitution, or the blessing of Chang’e.

The Tengu gathered around Shungbō were in very specific positions, holding clearly selected objects, and Daiyu’s onyx eyes narrowed as she observed them. As the Tengu began his chant again, fire elent surging around him in shimring waves of yellow, Daiyu’s mind was working. Yes, I thought so. This is very reminiscent of Cultivation Formations. Though they use no jade plates or talismans, the positioning follows very similar principles, and if a plate was inscribed…

“Nervous?” Kana said beside her, and Daiyu twitched, her concentration broken. On seeing that, Kana misunderstood. “ too. Everyone’s watching, and the fires…” Kana’s eyes reflected the brilliant blaze that was filling the pit. It was incomparable to before, the strength of the Tengu around added to Shungbō’s own. Just like Formations. Yes, it is indeed remarkable, how the strengths of others, properly placed, can make a greater whole. Just like us…

“…I’m scared of getting burned, but worse…” Kana let out a nervous giggle. “…what if my clothes burn off? I’d be exposed in front of everyone, I don’t want that.”

Such a strange worry. Although… Daiyu took pride in her appearance, even if she found the praise exasperating in the past, almost a subtle form of mockery, as for a Cultivator, power was above all. Now though, she found herself wanting to be beautiful for her Dao Companion, and to not lose to the others. How we all change. Before, I would have paraded naked through the halls of my Sect were it a guarantee of more strength, womanly pride and sha be damned. Now though… the thought of such upset her, so she did understand Kana more than she expected. With a faint smile, she tapped the armour under her dress.

“You have this Brigandine too, no?” The blacksmith Bjarki had constantly been creating more with Hyacinth’s aid, and was increasing in proficiency, able to create a set swiftly with the proper materials. “I doubt this will be destroyed by the fires of this Tengu, although…” Now Akio had stepped up, and the hungry blaze of Foehn was pouring from his hands, joining the flas. “…Akio’s fire burns hungrier. But should the worst happen… he is a jealous man. I suspect any who behold your naked body would find his wrath falling upon them like the breath of a dragon.”

“That’s right.” Kana said after a mont. “He really didn’t seem the sort when I first t him, but… yes, I think it’s cute. He’s very possessive. All right then…” Kana slapped her cheeks, grinning. “I’d best not get burned then, else I’ll be responsible for the great massacre of mount Atago, when Akio kills or blinds everyone who saw naked. So… you have a plan?”

Daiyu looked around at their fellow competitors. Chen Na was waiting silently, uncomfortable, but Daiyu knew how she would act. The others…

“You have no need to compete, Haanōbō of the Winter North.” Tarōbō was saying to the violet-haired Tengu, her white wings flapping. I am not sure how Akio has not noticed yet. From the body structure, the posture of movent, the gestures… that Tengu is clearly female. Or perhaps he has noticed and it does not matter to him. If so, that is good. An enemy is an enemy, whether a man or a woman, and an ally likewise an ally regardless. What matters is, if she is facing this challenge, then my idea should be plausible…

“No, I shall redeem myself. I wish to challenge his fires again.” She was looking directly at Akio, despite her face being hidden. “This ti I will win.”

“You think so?” Fungbō said, his white robes dyed yellow and red by the flas. “No, I shall be the one to triumph. The Autumn West shall not falter, unlike you.”

As the two squabbled, Daiyu observed the couple of other nervous-looking Tengu who stepped up. It seems this challenge is not popular, no wonder. Compared to the others, it was extrely dangerous. As Tarōbō asked who would go first, Daiyu stepped forwards. There is advantage to going later, seeing how the other competitors fare. But there is honour and glory in succeeding before any others, and as a Cultivator, while I am following in the footsteps of my ancestors, I always strive to break new ground, besides… seeing her Dao Companion smiling at her, a mixture of pride and worry on his easy-to-read features, she felt warm inside. I was lost, abandoned and broken, but now I am whole again. No, more than whole. Power surges through , my Foundation solid as the roots of Mount Tai.

“A word of advice.” Akio said warmly as she stepped forwards, the heat of the massive firepit hot on her skin. “You’ve seen my Foehn. If you treat it like ordinary fire, you’ll get burned to the bone and worse. I’d rather not have your beautiful face or body wounded.”

Daiyu felt her face heat, and not from the flas. With a nod, she declared that she understood, and of course had a plan. “Leave it to . I shall not let you face this rift without .”

“Then let our first challenger of the fla face the wrath of the furious side of fire. For fire gives warmth, offers sustenance, but it also rages, consus.” Tarōbō banged down his staff once more. “Have you the strength, young one?”

“First small, now young. Both may be true, but I am no weak child. I am Zhao Daiyu, Matriarch of the renewed Incorruptible Jade Sect, and Dao Companion to Oshiro Moonstone Akio! I shall not falter, this fla is but one more foe I shall trample on my way to the pinnacle!” she declared proudly. Rembering the talk she had with Shaeula and Hinata recently, she smiled. Their idea, it is… ambitious. I do wonder what Akio will think of it. But… I believe I shall lend them my aid after all. The idea appeals, I confess…

“Then show us your devotion to the fla!” Tarōbō declared.

“Good luck.” Kana said to her. “I’ll be watching, so… I know what I’m going to do, but I’ll take any hints!”

“Burn it into your eyes.” Daiyu smiled slightly, before drawing upon her Qi. The trick to this is simple in theory, but to do in practice requires incredible senses. Fortunately, my Qi Perception has strengthened massively, as has all of … spreading Qi externally, she felt the heat of the flas flare through her senses, uncomfortable. Blotting out the phantom pain, she narrowed her focus. There. Qi Perception was for detecting others, their Qi visible to other Qi, but was that all? Qi is aether, refined and made fitting for Cultivation. So Qi can sense aether, and the flas…

As she stood motionless, the annoying Fungbō scoffed that she had lost her nerve, but Akio supported her, telling him that would never happen. The warmth now moving from her face to her heart, Daiyu strengthened her concentration, scattering more Qi, until… There. I have it. Akio, I understand. You have done your best to aid us. There were three competing fires. Natural, ordinary fire, from the fuel in the pit, which was fading and contained no Qi, so was largely invisible to her senses. Perhaps if I was using fla Qi to sense… the other two were the fires of Shungbō, and Foehn. Able to tell them apart, she saw that Akio had carefully poured the Foehn into the pit, forming a corridor where the Foehn was lightly concentrated. Perhaps he ant to leave a clear pathway, but like all flas, Foehn does as it wills. Even so…

Stepping forwards, her senses now perceiving the position and type of flas, Daiyu perford her next feat. This is not true Cultivation, but… power is power. I disdained the Divine Favour of Chang’e until it saved my life when I drifted in the ocean close to death. I seldom make the sa foolish error twice. And I have been observing… while her Dantian naturally helped process aether and elental energies into Qi, she had been studying, listening and learning. If I pull water elent from my … sacral chakra, he called it. We Cultivators understand the Chakra network, ridians and acupoints, but we focus more on the Dantian… an orange glow ford, brilliant and deep, and her body was suddenly soaked, her dark hair clinging to her face and back. The heat from the fires diminished, insulated, and she focused her strength in her legs, marvelling at how much stronger she was now.

If I was like this before, that bitch Sun Lisha and her Party dogs could never have defeated , not even with their guns. Qi can stop steel once more. Akio has proved it. I can prove it. Simply leaping the fifty-tre pit would be possible, but ignored the trial, which was to brave the flas. “Sear this into your eyes. I am Incorruptible!” Daiyu shouted, before plunging into Shungbō’s flas. Imdiately her water elent surged, water boiling around her instantly. It wasn’t Spirit Water, she could create only a fine trickle of that, but her water elent was still magnificent, containing the strength of the treasure she had taken from London, as well as all the Spirit Water Akio and Shaeula had bequeathed her.

“Hot…” she said, before regretting it as while her shroud of water elent she was projecting prevented the fla from entering her, heat still seared her throat, though her blessing quickly regenerated scorched tissue. It is hard to think… The blazing hell around her was boiling off her water elent as fast as she could supply it, and her skin was starting to burn, though it was healing, leaving her hot and itchy.

I have to go. It was impossible to move at her full speed, the path through the Foehn narrow and hard to notice unless one expected it to be there, and the Foehn itself was writhing as if alive, constantly spreading. Each step took but a mont, pushing through the blaze, her vision dyed red and yellow. Once she reached halfway, she realised why so few Tengu had stepped forwards. In the other challenges, defeat ant little more than scorn. Although the hunting trial perhaps could have led to injury or death… Her thoughts were distracted, and she realised the incredible heat was affecting her judgent. Intensifying her water elent, she pressed onwards, following the narrow winding path, only to stop in panic as the Foehn shuddered, spraying a blaze in front of her.

That was close. Leaping over it, she pressed onwards, and soon there was but ten tres to go, a distance she could clear with one leap, except… There’s no clear way out. No, caution is better… her water elent was running out, but she had enough. Twisting her body she crept forwards. Ten tres. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six… Suddenly the Foehn roared up, consuming so of the other flas around it, and a scattered explosion of droplets showered her. Imdiately her water elent started to fail, and with desperation she disregarded caution. There is no choice but to break through and risk the consequences!

Her legs flexed, and she shot through the burning hell, striking the Foehn wall as she passed, one arm wreathed in flas. She landed on the other side in an undignified heap, her hair and back shimring with Foehn, one arm wrapped in the hungry flas. For a mont she rolled around, trying to quench the fla before she snapped back to her senses, realising such wouldn’t work. Seeing Akio wishing to co towards her, but being stopped by the raised staff of Tarōbō, she revelled at the panic and care in his eyes. As it should be. But I am not weak. Not anymore. I have planned for the worst…

The water elent she was wrapped in burst, cascading the Foehn away, leaving it burning around her like a hundred small fires. Her hair was still smouldering, and she quickly cut her locks, black strands falling to the ground like burning embers. There were traces still burning her arm, and she washed them away, heedless of the scorched flesh, cloth and armour both burned away, though the Brigandine was already starting to repair itself slowly, just as her hair was regrowing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Wincing, as her damp burns closed up, she bowed to Tarōbō.

“I believe I passed your challenge.”

“You did.” There were cheers and applause from the crowd. So of the Tengu who had decided to brave the fla had backed off, and now it was only Kana, Chen Na, and the two from the Four Directions that were left. “You have passed through the flas and found yourself anew. Do you feel stronger for it? Fire renews…”

Daiyu looked down at her healing arm. “No, I renew. But I shall not forget the touch of the flas.” She looked at Akio, a teasing smile on her face, an expression she seldom showed anyone. “The fire of Sumr was weak. It was only your flas that could burn , Akio. Just as you burn my heart, my Dao Companion!”

“Sorry about that.” Akio grabbed her, and Ether Healing soothed her remaining injuries, and she found him stroking her regrowing hair. “You have such lovely hair. It seed a sha to cut it…”

“Since you like it, I shall keep it so. See, it regrows.” She continued to smile before turning back and addressing Kana across the firepit. “I fear you will not have learned a great deal from my efforts. You will not be able to replicate what I did.”

Kana shook her head. “Oh you’d be surprised. I could see you moving strangely.” She tapped at her eyes. “They have to be good for sothing. And at the end there… that water burst. You just watch , I won’t lose!”

Daiyu held out a hand. “I await your arrival.”

“So, who shall pass through the flas next?” Tarōbō asked. “Those that have withdrawn…” the pair of Tengu slumped guiltily. “…there is no sha. Nor is there now. The sacred trial has been passed, the ons are good.”

“I shall go!” Haanōbō called, her voice sohow both loud and soft. “Great Tarōbō… I do not fear the fla, only failing you and mount Atago. I will not fail again!”

“Is it a failure?” Arangbō said, surprising everyone. “I have been watching, the sa as anyone with eyes to see. The newcors are hardly weak. I would still triumph, as you shall see…” he boasted. “…but perhaps having such strong allies to aid us was the fla itself calling to them. Take heart sister, when it cos to the battle, we will stand side by side, the Four Directions, each protecting the others as always.”

Akio nodded as the Tengu called her his sister, as if perhaps his suspicions were confird. The violet-haired Tengu flinched, before she nodded. “I tasted the earth, was trampled humiliatingly. It is a sha I can only expunge by victory. So watch , brothers, father! Watch , you who put under your feet…” Daiyu could tell she was glaring, despite her hidden features. “I am Haanōbō, of the Winter North, and by Genbu, I will brave the flas!” She began her chant, and a bubble of water surrounded her, mimicking what Daiyu had done. Then the water began to freeze, ice of pretty shades shimring as it froze over her, forming a glacial armour.

“Into the flas…” Haanōbō cried, leaping into the blaze. With her Qi still extended, Daiyu observed her keenly, and as the fire lted the ice, it refroze, working in layers so that she was always protected. Clever. But against Foehn…

As soon as Haanōbō was caught by the hungry fla her icy armour started to crack, Foehn worming its way down. With her Qi perception, Daiyu couldn’t see her clearly, just the Qi, but what she saw impressed her. Just as I did… the icy armour shattered, shedding the top layers, and most of the Foehn was expelled. Further water bubbled from her, and while the raging flas made it impossible for her to freeze the water into more rapidly lting ice, it protected her sowhat.

“Caution is wise, but the longer one tries to avoid it…” Daiyu began, and Akio looked at her, understanding.

“I knew you’d see it, Daiyu. You’re a smart girl.”

Feeling a warmth at his praise quite unlike the blazing heat of the flas, she nodded. At Tarōbō’s quizzical expression, Daiyu closed her mouth, holding her silence, before deciding to show Tarōbō a little face. “Haanōbō understands too. The thing about fire is, especially Akio’s, the longer you fight it the weaker you beco, and the stronger it becos. Act swiftly, but with asured calm.”

An explosion of steam erupted as Haanōbō was propelled out of the flas. She landed heavily at the feet of Shungbō, who looked down, the set of his shoulders and wings scornful. Her icy armour was shattered, and tongues of Foehn were still trying to consu it and her. Shungbō raised his hand, trying to dismiss the flas, only to find that he could not.

“Here.” Akio leapt to her, and Daiyu’s Qi detected a strange sight. Akio was withdrawing the fla elent from the Foehn, though the effort seed to be greatly fatiguing for him, and as the Foehn dimd, flickering and winking out of existence, he was also working Ether Healing, which made Daiyu groan softly to herself. Predictable. He is far kinder to won. I have no objection, I wish him to be kind to us, but… it makes feel a little less special.

As Haanōbō’s burns healed, she looked up at Akio, face still hidden, and thanked him in a tiny whisper. As Tarōbō declared that she had also triumphed, beginning another long speech about the rits of fla, Daiyu’s eyes t Kana’s, who was fidgeting nervously, her brow flecked with sweat…

********

“… only by fighting a pure fla, can one ever hope to defeat a cursed, corrupted one…” the old windbag Tarōbō was saying. He does like to hear himself talk, but then… I guess we do too. Thinking back to their conversation during the eating contest, Kana shook her head. I guess it’s shaped all our lives, our etings with Akio. For , it was overturning my world, a complete one-eighty. I went from hating my shrine and my gifts, to being proud, glad to have them. For Motoko, Natsumi and Daiyu, it shattered their stale, barren worlds even more. No wonder we love to talk about it fondly… but…

Kana felt a tinge of annoyance as Akio was healing that Haanōbō girl. She is a girl then. I did wonder. It’s a good job Shaeula isn’t here, she’d be loving this. Oh well, I guess as a fellow girl I can allow her to be healed. Nobody wants burn scars. Worst kind of scars…

“…challenge the flas next?” Tarōbō bood, his staff glowing, and Kana winced.

“Damn, that staff is abnormal. To my sight, the gem blazes brighter than the sun.” she muttered.

“You then? Step forward.” Tarōbō said, and for a mont, Kana panicked. Wait a minute, I’m not ready…

“Kana, you can do this.” Natsumi said, and beside her Motoko nodded, mopping her sweat after their exercise.

“I have every faith in you. Akio has faith in you.” She told , pointing, and I turned to see Akio, worried but proud, and I suddenly felt stronger. That’s right. Whether I go now or later, I’ve still got to do this. I took Kṣitigarbha’s Favour, which is sothing unique in the world. I have to prove I’m worthy of it, of his trust, and not just for him, but for myself too. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Yes, I’m ready to brave the flas. After all, I’ve been taught earth beats fire, and I’m the shrine maiden of an earth-aspected shrine, so…” I’m babbling, need to calm down, deep breaths. It does feel good him worrying about though… I just wish he’d have stopped teasing and admitted his feelings for earlier. Not that it was ever in doubt. I’m Izumi Kana. I may be shallow, selfish, a bit of a bitch at tis, but I’m confident that he’ll not regret choosing , no man would…

“Kana, you’re right. But… a stronger fire will still beat weaker stone.” Akio warned her. “And I don’t like to boast but…” That’s totally a lie. Yes, for a guy Akio’s actually not too much of a braggart, but when it cos to boasting about us, or his abilities he’s worked hard for, he loves to show off… it’s kind of cute. “… my Foehn is one of the most dangerous fires there is.”

“I know. Shirohebi told you nearly burned our shrine down with it once. And I’ve seen it in action. But…” she pumped her fist. “…it’s not just and my dad, struggling alone with pathetic talents anymore. No, it’s everyone together. And we make each other stronger. So I won’t be the one to lose, letting the side down. If you want to cleanse the fla, to help Haru-chan, I’m going to be there!”

At that Haru-chan smiled, and tears glimred in her eyes. She’s really sweet. When I rember what nearly happened to at the shrine, with those yakuza... to know what she’s suffered… I just hope she can be happy. But she’s got Akio in her corner, so I’m sure she’ll have a bright future ahead of her. So, for Akio, Haru-chan and my fellow idiots in love with Akio… “Let’s do this. This favour is perfect for . Shirohebizumi is a fertility shrine, and the earth… the earth is a womb, just as Kṣitigarbha says.” The ground under her rippled, stone and earth lting like wax. “It’d be easy if I just went under the flas, but I know that’s not the point. Otherwise, you could all flap your wings and go over the top, right?” she said to Fungbō who was standing near her. He rely glared silently at her, eyes hard behind his long-nosed red mask.

“All right, I get you don’t like us. But your Great Tarōbō lets us take part, and since these rituals are sacred, you have to abide by them, right? I get it, I’m a shrine maiden to the kami you dislike so much.” Kana taunted. “Just watch triumph too, so you can’t complain about being here!” she turned to Akio. “One thing I’ve learned from you, from Shaeula, Hyacinth, Haru-chan, Shiro… from everyone… is that power is just that. Power.” I may not be the best at school, but I’m not stupid. I can learn. “Recently I’ve been practising constantly. I had ti while you were in England.” She giggled. “I was lonely. Those of us left behind all were. So this trip, we have to make the most of it. If I can’t hide in the womb of earth, then… I bring the womb to ! It’s all just earth elent, right?”

The ground flowed like wax, and Kana was swallowed by it. The fierce heat was cut off, and she grinned, knowing no-one could see her. No, Akio can, if he uses his Eye. So… “You just wait. When the ti is right, I’ll…” she touched her own belly, where her womb would be, face scarlet. So embarrassing!

“All right then… here we go. It won’t be this simple, I know that.” The ball of mud, earth and stone that contained Kana moved forwards, and she felt her stomach lurch as it fell into the burning pit. Imdiately she started to sweat, the inside heating up. “I just have to keep flowing more earth in. Foehn may be greedy, but I only need to manage for a few monts…”

The stone shell rolled forwards, and Kana struggled to judge the distance. It was getting hotter and hotter, and he eyes widened as the stone started to crack, and she let out a bitter laugh. “Damn, Akio. Give a girl a break! I’m trying my best here.” As she could see bright fla starting to drip through, she concentrated, earth elent flowing from her as she pointed to the cracking do and walls of her protective bubble. “The Gods are just like the kami. Gods are kami, just not necessarily ours. They give power that they understand. But what we choose to do with it… depends on us!” Underneath her feet, more mud and stones were pouring in, forming long spikes which pierced the gaps, lting into a gloopy sealing substance. The ordinary heat of Shungbō’s flas were blocked out safely, but Foehn was not so easily halted.

“Damn it, Akio! I know you’re greedy for , but this goes a bit far!” Knowing he was likely watching her, she joked. “But I’m not beaten!” The earthen womb picked up speed, and she slamd into an obstacle, losing her balance. She squealed in panic as Foehn droplets narrowly missed her as she stumbled, but quickly regained her concentration. Ever since that ti the yakuza attacked, I’ve been more clear-headed in tis of trouble. Tarōbō is right. Sotis you need to get burned to grow…

The ground exploded, and she was propelled upwards, coming crashing down as her protective shell shattered. All around her there was burning mud and rocks, and she hurriedly staggered to her feet, panicked, as a puddle of Foehn was burning next to her. Seeing Akio, she leapt up and into his arms, finally feeling safe, relief coursing through her.

“Good job. You were very brave.” Akio said, and she sagged against him, feeling it was all worth it. It was then Akio leaned in close, his breath tickling her ears, and whispered “Don’t make wait too long, all right?”

Akio, you…! Flushing as red as a tomato, Kana let out a relieved giggle. “Not as soon as you’d like, but sooner than you think.” She promised, before looking at Daiyu, managing a victorious smile. “Looks like I was the one to get out unscathed after all.”

“Yes, your clothes remain unburned.” Daiyu flourished her ragged sleeve. “That was quite clever, if sowhat similar to our attempts.”

Kana stuck out her tongue playfully as she glanced back, seeing the rest of her party clapping and cheering for her. “How else would you do it? I doubt extinguishing the flas by collapsing the walls of the pit would be in the spirit of the challenge, and it might not stop Foehn anyway.”

“True.” Tarōbō declared, waving his staff. “If it was rely a challenge to douse the flas, such asures would suffice. But no, we seek not to douse, but to purify. And all these challenges, they purify the spirit.”

Akio and Daiyu looked shocked at that, glancing at each other, before Daiyu gave him a sweet smile. Feeling left out, Kana spoke up a bit huffily. “What is it? You look like you’ve understood sothing.”

“I have.” Akio said, his expression wry. “It looks like we’ll be gaining sothing, Daiyu and at the least, even if our alliance here doesn’t pan out. It’s a sha Shaeula isn’t here…”

“I see. I don’t get it, but I’m pleased you’re happy.” Kana said. “Just Chen Na then.” Kana was a bit wary of that woman, as she was an unknown, and was their enemy until Haru-chan had bound her, but since Akio wanted her on this mission to give an extra layer of safety for them, Kana had so good feelings towards her, as her presence was proof of Akio’s care.

“It should be easier for her. Her power is specialised for this.” Akio pointed out, but before Chen Na could go, Fungbō stepped up. Kana looked away as he glared at her, his eyes narrow behind his mask.

“You may have succeeded in passing through the flas, but you were inelegant, unsightly.”

“I thought you cut a beautiful sight, as always.” Akio said, and Kana held in a giggle. Look, he’s trying to be all serious. It’s an not letting him…

Fungbō was thrown off by that, before visibly gathering himself. “Laugh, outsiders, when you see the might of the Autumn West!” Kana noticed the aura around him brighten in her vision, as he began his chant. “Byakko, Lord of Autumn, Master of tal, He Who Oversees Autumn… I call upon the impenetrable sheen of iron. Render impervious to the flas, aid in proving I am worthy to stand as your champion!”

Kana looked impressed as a silver sheet of tal covered the Tengu, who sneered. “tal does not fear the flas, for it is both of fla, and of the earth that devours flas!” With that he plunged into the pit, and re seconds later he was out, the tal red-hot, Foehn clinging to it, but as he discharged it, he was left standing proud and arrogant.

“That is truly how one braves the fla.” He laughed loudly.

“True. Your performance is most impressive. But we have one left, Fungbō of the Autumn West.” Tarōbō said mildly, and as everyone watched, Chen Na swallowed, eyes darting around before she was covered in a shimring bubble of force. She too leapt into the flas, before erging out of the other side seconds later, her barrier a ball of flas. It blew apart, Akio calling up a barrier of earth to deflect the scattered Foehn from us, and Chen Na was left gasping and panting on her hands and knees, blinking weakly.

“Nice work.” Akio said, and Kana agreed. With that, it just ans that Natsumi and the elf haven’t won the right to participate, since Prince Shōtoku and Yasaka-san aren’t interested… She locked eyes with Natsumi, who shrugged. I hope the next trial suits her. Being left out hurts, I know…

“So, we have those who have braved the flas, so in struggle and strife…” Tarōbō looked at Kana, Daiyu and Haanōbō. “…and others with much ease.” His look took in Fungbō and Chen Na. “As for who triumphed… Fungbō, you did well.” As the Tengu puffed himself up, Tarōbō’s words were stern. “…but your victory should not lead to arrogance. It was close between you…” he nodded at Chen Na. “…and the denizens of the foul rift are dangerous indeed. All will need to work together.” He raised his staff, which was blazing with energy, and Kana could see rainbow ribbons of power being drawn from the cheering crowds. “Now let the final two trials comnce. As swift as fire, let arrows pierce the hearts of our enemies, and let those whose inner fire can illuminate the cramped, dark realm do battle to show they have the might to face those that would defile the flas!”

Archery huh? Couldn’t be more perfect I suppose… Kana thought as she saw the elf Bellaera-san and Natsumi both leap up, excited. Turning to Akio, who looked equally pleased, she managed a smile. But I’m done. I’ll leave those sorts of challenges to the battle fanatics… Still, Kana couldn’t help but smile, knowing Natsumi, Motoko and probably Akio too would get their chance to show off…