Four Hundred And Ten
“Seven arrows, seven strikes. Seven of the corrupted sent back to their rest, their tortured flas purified.” Tarōbō proclaid, waving his brilliantly glowing staff. “Down in the dark, one must not miss, and be swift. Only those with such talents are fit to risk themselves, use what precious strength we can muster. We should suffer no more despoiled dead.” With those words the Tengu, even those still drunk from the previous challenges, managed respectful bows. A number of the Tengu were fetching small shield-shaped targets, while others were reaching for their bows, excited, wings flapping happily, raucous chatter and boasting, fuelled by alcohol, intensifying.
“I have a question.” I asked suddenly, and all eyes were on , Fungbō and Shungbō seeming angry, Arangbō rely watching.
“Speak then, you who will brave the darkness.” Tarōbō said mildly. “But be swift, for the challenges must soon conclude.”
“Yes, I understand.” I agreed. “So far it’s been a fascinating cultural exchange.” I’ve had dealings with the Night Parade, the Seelie, and now these Tengu of mount Atago. While they all have similarities, such as they are all extrely emotional, acting far in excess of what most humans would, there are also differences. If I treat all spiritual beings as similar, I could trip myself up… “We’ve fought a number of the damned spirits…” at those words Haanōbō looked down, hair swaying. “… and ordinary weapons and even a lot of elental attacks don’t do much to them. I doubt arrows will be effective.”
“You are quite right.” Tarōbō agreed. “Yet… I have my ways. A blessing on all those who brave the darkness and their weapons shall drive out the corrupted and cleanse the sacred fla of mount Atago once more. However, such is not infinite…” I saw his head shift a little, eyes going to the gem on his staff, so I understood. As I expected. “… so the arrow should be swift and sure, and might should be plentiful.”
I nodded then, and he continued. “So, those who would seek to strike down the corrupted, step forward, and earn your place with the other champions! For the fla!”
“You’ll watch , won’t you Akio?” Bell said, quite flirty, her smile bright. “And not just …” I could see Motoko and Natsumi unlimbering their own bows as well.
“Of course.” I grinned. “After what you all talked about during the eating contest, how could I not?” I reached out, stroking Natsumi and Motoko’s heads, and they leaned into for a mont, enjoying the closeness, before their eyes shone with professionalism and the will to fight, and they parted from . “Do your best, and I’ll watch.” I turned back to Bell. “You too.”
“Thanks.” Bell nodded. Her own bow was sowhere between a cavalry-bow and a longbow, and the shining blue string piqued my interest. On seeing that, she explained. “The bowstring is actually from my hair.” She grinned, tossing her head, her blue locks dancing. “It’s quite usual for elves, or female archers in general. Hair is strong, and our bows are crafted just for us, and enchantnts take better on our own materials.”
“I see.” I was curious, as I had dabbled in crafting myself, up until Bjarki and Ixitt took over, and I was planning to get back into it when I had a chance. “So how does that work?”
As Bell happily continued talking, I could hear Motoko and Natsumi chatting to each other.
“I won’t lose this ti, Motoko. I’ve been practising, and I think I reached enlightennt.” Natsumi said proudly, bringing a smile from her friend.
“I understand. I too…” Motoko agreed. “We must thank master Bellaera for that.”
Bell nodded. “Do not worry about it. I always enjoy teaching the eager and talented, and I have more reasons to train the two of you. Now, enough talk. I think it is ti.”
I turned to see that dozens of Tengu had lined up with their own bows. Archery seed to be a skill most Tengu knew, which made sense seeing as they could fly. The Four Directions were sitting this one out, but Arangbō snorted loudly, booming a laugh. “Not taking part? Are you not skilled?”
I shrugged. “I’m not my sister. She has the archery talent in my family. I daresay I could do all right…” With my stats alone and basic knowledge, I’d certainly be more than competent, but I have no need. Besides, I’m more interested in the ‘doing battle’ Tarōbō ntioned. “…but why rob these eager Tengu of their chance to shine? I want to watch Motoko and Natsumi anyway, I’m always impressed by their dedication, and they look quite beautiful when they practice Tsumura Arts.” I can appreciate them more now I know a little myself…
As the two girls smiled happily, Bell giggling ruefully that I didn’t ntion her, Arangbō laughed anew. “I see. How magnanimous. I too am not much of an archer, though my bow…” he gestured, and I saw he had propped up sothing huge, that looked more like a weapon you’d see mounted on a ballista. “…can pierce stone and steel. No, I await the final challenge, a battle between two warriors. Do you have the stomach for it? You had little for at and sake.”
“Oh, my stomach is strong enough.” I promised. “I’m not sure what form the battle will take, but if I could be matched against you, I’d have no complaints.”
“I daresay Great Tarōbō will make it so. Such a clash will excite the others, raise morale before the battle, seeing trample you into the mud as you trampled poor hapless Haanōbō, our little sister.”
So she was their sister. And Tarōbō’s daughter it seems too. That just makes angry. I had thought there was a good chance she was a girl, considering the feel of her when I first battled her, as well as the voice, movents and gestures. My keen senses picked up on these things, but being as she was a Tengu, it was impossible to be certain. I would never hold back on an opponent just because she was a girl, Kiku and many of the invaders of Kyoto proved that won were no more virtuous than n, and enemies had to be beaten, but as a brother too…
“As I said, getting defeated by is nothing to cry over. It’s sothing you’ll know soon…” I was unable to keep the growl out of my voice. As the girls joined the Tengu, I continued, addressing Tarōbō and all the Four Directions. “I have to say, I’m unimpressed. My sister is precious to , as yours should be. If she was beaten after trying her best…” Haanōbō twitched at that, wings drooping. “…I wouldn’t criticise her, belittle her. I’d be happy she ca back unhard, and console her, like a god big brother should. I’ve already dealt with one foolish brother who doesn’t respect his sister enough. Though not alone…” I turned to Haanōbō. “Shaeula proved to her older brother she had grown. I can see you took part in these challenges to do the sa thing.” Before she could continue, I finished my complaints. “If my sister was defeated after trying her best…” I repeated for emphasis. “Then I’d praise her, and help her train so that next ti she wouldn’t lose.”
“There is no need for that. I could not stop you setting foot on our sacred mountain. You were right…” she said softly, her voice full of thick emotion. “…we struck first, from ambush, while you were embroiled in destroying the very foes you now all partake in hard trials to face. I am indeed a disgrace to the Winter North, to Genbu, and my father. But…” she said, her white wings lifting up. She strode over to , and her brothers seed surprised. She stopped, re inches away from , and suddenly lifted her head, long violet hair parting, and I could see her hidden face. Huh, I thought Tengu were…
Yellow-gold eyes glead in a surprisingly human face. Perhaps her nose was a little large and curved, but it was still within the bounds of a girl’s appearance, and her skin was pale and free from blemishes, her lips small and glistening, her eyes big. She’s actually pretty… Gasps ca from the Tengu around us.
“Haanōbō, to show your maskless face… have you no sha?” Fungbō called, outraged.
“Only to he who trampled .” Haanōbō shook him off, waving a hand. “Besides, you called a failure and a disgrace, brother. What is one more disgrace to the already soiled and dirty?” she smiled at then, hands steepled together, her face displaying her nerves. “Your sister is fortunate. Sotis I too wish for tender care, but alas, like a frozen winter, the green shoots of such wither and die without growth. But… your words, they make my defeats burn less in my heart. So… I bid you triumph over my brothers. But more than that…” she bowed to . “…I implore you, aid Great Tarōbō and cleanse the fla. Our millennia of work cannot fail because we were too weak!”
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