Pilgrim 3, p.23
Pilgrim 3, page 23
“Pack your things, son,” Oiwa told Shimaru. “I’ll visit as soon as I can.”
****
Danzen and his companions set off, Shimaru now with a walking cane provided to him by his father. It wasn’t long before they were well past the edge of the village, terraced fields starting to slowly smooth back into the landscape and then rise again, rocks changing shape and growing in jaggedness. The area beyond Odval was striking and bleak, the mountains to the north so large that it was hard to see their crests. From the vantage point, the plains to the west seemed to stretch to infinity, the air crisper with each step, Danzen appreciating the starkness of the place but at the same time missing the vibrant green of Genshin Valley.
As they walked, Jelmay recalled in great and hyperbolic detail what had happened the previous day, Kudzu listening intently. It was at the part that the bakeneko claimed he had personally run into the haunted Monkurenji Temple to save Danzen that Yato interrupted him.
“That’s not how it happened.”
“What? You weren’t there.”
“I was right next to you,” she said with a lighthearted laugh. “How can you say you went in there to save him?”
“By saying it. That’s what happened.”
“Why do I not believe you?” asked Kudzu.
“What do I have to gain in lying about this? It’s not like the bard who is one day going to write about our adventures is here now taking notes. I’m simply, you know, making the story interesting.”
“He burst out of the rooftop and landed in front of us with Shimaru in his arms,” Yato said. “What’s not interesting about that?”
“I don’t remember any of that,” said Shimaru, who walked slower than the rest of them, still trying to get used to his newfound blindness. He hadn’t complained about it yet, Danzen wondering if his demonstration had perhaps had an effect on the young men.
Only time would tell.
They stopped several times for Kudzu to comment on the landscape, or Jelmay to rest and complain about how much he had eaten and, oddly enough, how he was hungry again. It really seemed as if Danzen was starting to rub off on Yato, as if she were mirroring his overall demeanor. He didn’t know if he should be flattered by this, if he was overanalyzing things, or if it was something of concern.
Years upon years of a life spent in the shadows, of fluidly operating in the underworld, of training, of being witness to countless deaths, all to be followed by two years of wandering mostly through the south had made Danzen the quiet man he was today. He didn’t know if this was a good thing, and one of the reasons he enjoyed being around Jelmay and Kudzu even with their bickering was that they brought life to his life, the two adding a spark of distraction to his silent existence.
Purple hills in the distance, rock formations so chiseled that they looked like ancient buildings, hawks soaring overhead, empty expanse—their location was otherworldly, and the nunnery, practically carved into the mountainside, seemed to stand out even more than it had the last time Danzen had visited. Perhaps it was because the sun was brighter, or that summer was setting in, but there was something most foreboding about the way it just sat there, an island in the sky.
“Absolutely gorgeous,” Kudzu said. “I’d heard the north was striking, but this was not what I expected.”
“Eh, you get used to it. I don’t know about any of you, but I’m ready to get back to Odval,” Jelmay announced.
“You can’t be serious.”
“Of course I’m serious,” he told Kudzu. “Now that I’ve thought about it, I don’t know how much fun it will be to stay at a nunnery in the first place.”
“It was partially your idea to come north.”
“By north, I meant Bahlingar, and maybe Odval if I felt like really taking advantage of some dimwitted locals—no offense, Shimaru.”
“You always have something to say,” Shimaru told him. “I’ve noticed that.”
“Understatement of the week. We came all the way here, and now you want to simply turn around?” Kudzu asked.
Jelmay observed the hillside nunnery from a distance. “It seems like I could do more damage back in the village than I could at the nunnery. After all, someone has to fund this little operation. Unless you think the nuns are up for a few games.”
“You can’t seriously be thinking of taking advantage of a bunch of poor nuns…”
“We don’t know if they’re poor yet!”
Danzen pressed ahead, and eventually his companions caught up to him, Jelmay and Kudzu having a heated, but often playful conversation. It was clear that he was egging her on, and that she was letting him, that they were getting closer and closer to finding a happy medium regarding their often-volatile working relationship.
It was another forty minutes before they reached the flower-filled courtyard of the nunnery, the women all in the same light-gray robes that his mother wore. A few of the younger ones gathered on balconies, watching the new arrivals with curiosity and glee. The other nuns went about their tasks, two of them quickly moving into the largest building and returning with a third, who Danzen assumed was Menya, the woman his mother had put in charge during her absence.
“You are Shodren’s son,” she said with a little bow, the nun in her mid-thirties and with a demeanor that instantly revealed her kindness. She brought both hands in front of her mouth and bowed several times to each of them, thanking them for making the journey to the nunnery.
“Where else are we supposed to go?” Jelmay asked. “Also, what do your nuns think about yokai?”
“We get yokai visitors occasionally, and they all know to respect them and treat them as one of their own,” she said.
“In that case…” Jelmay dropped his hands and as he did he began to shrink in size, back to his bakeneko form. “I’m Jelmay, and this one’s Kudzu. Go on, change.”
“Right here?” Kudzu asked.
“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the nun said, a light in her eyes. “All are welcome here. You may call me Menya.” The nun placed her hands just beneath her chest and bowed again, her eyes remaining downcast. “It is an honor to meet all of you.”
A few of the younger nuns perched on the balconies laughed at Jelmay, especially after he crossed his arms over his chest and yawned.
“You’re making a fool of yourself,” said Kudzu.
“A fool? These nuns are eating it up. They love me. Just transform.”
“Later.”
“You… You’re yokai?” Shimaru asked.
“You didn’t know? Oh, that’s right, your vision. Check it out.” Jelmay approached Shimaru, his arm now close enough to the young man’s hand that Shimaru was able to reach out and touch the bakeneko.
“How do I know you’re not just hairy?” Shimaru asked.
“I would let you touch my ear, but I am not that kind of cat. I don’t like to be petted. But I think Kudzu does, you can pet her later. She transforms into a fox.”
“Did you say you’re a cat?”
“I am much more than that, but yes, I suppose I am also that. But much more. Don’t you forget that I saved you from that temple.”
Rather than correct Jelmay, Danzen reached into the front of his robes and retrieved the note his mother had given him. It was now next to the remnant he had taken from the Monkurenji Temple. “I have this message for you,” he told Menya.
“Thank you,” she said with yet another bow. “I’ve been worried about her. Is she all right?”
“Mother Pilgrim is perfectly fine,” Jelmay assured her. “Actually, she’s kind of cramping his style a little bit, which is why he came here. It is a little strange, if you think about it: she’s at his monastery now, and he’s at her nunnery. What are the odds?”
“Is there someplace we can take him?” Kudzu asked as she stepped over to Jelmay and placed her hand on his shoulder. “He’s hungry, and when he is hungry, he talks too much.”
This caused Menya to laugh. “Of course, of course.” She called for one of the nuns, and a thin woman with a long neck dashed over to them. She led Jelmay away, the bakeneko not at all opposed to eating again.
Once the bakeneko was gone, Menya returned her attention to Danzen and his companions, just in time for Yato to introduce herself. As she did, she procured a small box and gave it to Menya, who bowed her head as she took it.
“It’s for him,” Yato explained. “Shimaru is Oiwa’s son.”
“Shimaru? Is that really you?” Menya came forward and examined him, shaking her head as she took in his bandages. “I haven’t seen you since you were a toddler. What happened?”
“We can explain everything, but to summarize it now: Oiwa has asked that you let him stay here for as long as it takes for him to adequately learn to bend his echo, so he can use it to see,” Danzen said. “Do you remember the woman I fought here?”
A hint of fear came across Menya’s face. “I watched from up there, with the younger nuns. That was… I hope to never see something like that again,” she said, referring to the moment Danzen’s demons were unleashed.
“Yet you remember the woman, Nomin?”
“I do. She was remarkably gifted.”
“That’s what I mean by teaching him to bend his echo,” Danzen said. “If he can learn to bend, perhaps he can learn to see in some limited form.”
Menya offered him an exceedingly cautious nod. “Very well. We will gladly take him in for Oiwa and do what we can. She has done so much for us here. I suppose we should join your yokai friend for a meal. You can go into greater detail then. I also want to know how Shodren is doing. She truly is missed around here.” The nun motioned for them to follow her. “We will get a room set up for you in the meantime. And this goes without saying, but you’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.”
.Chapter Two.
Provided a proper bed, with a window that overlooked the expansive valley outside the nunnery, Danzen was in for a solid night of rest. As he lay in bed, he watched black clouds dance in the sky, which reminded him of his Blade of Darkness and the shadows he could command. It had a hypnotic effect, one that pushed him into a deep sleep.
No birds the next morning, nothing to indicate that the day had reset. Once Danzen was out of bed, he dressed in a fresh set of robes provided by the nuns, Danzen recalling his mother telling him that they kept clothing around for hermits and other wayward visitors.
The thought of his mother sparked a replay of the conversation he’d with his father before the ancient alcove, Tengir Gantulga claiming that he didn’t rape Shodren, that they were lovers, and that he had promised to not play a part in Danzen’s life. He had yet to confront his mother on these allegations, and he didn’t know if he ever would. It was quite the allegation, and bringing it up in conversation would likely end poorly, but it was something he would need to do, at least to hear her side of it.
While she hadn’t said it outright, Shodren had essentially told Danzen that the easiest way to rebuild Sunyata would be to kill his father and take the throne. Of course, she didn’t flat out say it like that, but he understood what she was suggesting in the conversation they’d had before he left Genshin Valley. Did his father know of her intentions? What was Tengir Gantulga actually capable of in this realm?
As he finished dressing, he also remembered that his father offered to give him a taste of his power, that all he needed to do was say his name. While it was clear to him when he left the monastery, it was even clearer now that he was away from it, on the outside looking in to some extent: his parents were, in their own way, playing mind games with Danzen.
He sensed a presence at the door and placed a hand on the grip of his weapon. A light knock told him it was Yato, that or Kudzu, but Danzen had a feeling it was the young assassin looking to bend her echo alongside him.
“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” she said as he opened the door, Yato also in a pair of nun’s robes, which were a bit loose on her tiny frame. They needed to have their echoes tested later today; if she was going to continue down the path of the warrior, she would need to enhance her power through bending her echo, which would boost her strength. This was something that would come in handy if and when she faced off against a powerful opponent.
“I know a place.”
Once he was ready, Danzen led her to the end of the hallway, and from there to a set of stone steps. They passed through the kitchen, where a pair of older nuns were busy kneading dough for the morning meal. They both bowed at Danzen and Yato and continued their work.
It wasn’t long before Danzen and Yato were standing across from one another, in the same place where he had killed Nomin, the white flowers gone now, replaced by yellow ones which occasionally released petals into a light wind.
“I would like to learn more about what you did yesterday with your eyes closed.”
“I’m not able to teach that,” Danzen told her.
“You were able to teach it yesterday, well, in a way. I suppose that was more of a demonstration.”
“I just wanted to show them what was possible.” He withdrew his blade. “Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
Skrrict! Skrrict!
Her gauntleted blades locked into place, Yato brought her fists up. She moved into her stance, Danzen slowed his breathing, letting all the oxygen leave his lungs as he gripped Astra. He shifted forward slowly, their session beginning as Yato bent backward to avoid his strike. Twisting at the waist, she brought her fist forward and changed her trajectory a mere six inches away from Danzen’s face.
He trusted her, even as she came in again, this time with a slow-motion uppercut. Danzen stepped around her and Yato swiveled to address him, energy swelling within them as he lifted his leg to perform a kick, Danzen locking at the knee and setting it back down. Yato responded by crouching and pressing forward again, as if she were moving through water.
She closed her eyes, and as soon as she did Danzen took her feet from beneath her.
“Eyes open,” he told her as he helped her up, his voice just a few hairs away from activating his Demon Speak. There was no room for error in what they were doing, and while he appreciated her wanting to improve her skills, she was not at the level where she would be able to fight him with her eyes closed, even if she wanted to.
Yato got to her feet and nodded respectfully. “It felt natural.”
“What happens to me if you cut me is anything but natural. I’m interested in perhaps testing it in the future, in consciously summoning my demons, but not here. This place has…” Danzen took a quick look around, the flowers, and from there to the old stone buildings, everything quiet all around them, none of the nuns awake yet aside from the two they’d seen in the kitchen. “This place has seen enough.”
“That, it has.”
It was as if he had been there all along. Standing just a few feet away from them, surrounded by yellow flowers and his purple-black armor was Danzen’s father, his golden odachi in an elaborately detailed scabbard at his waist, Tengir Gantulga’s hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, a look of pleasure on his eyes he observed Yato.
Danzen moved in front of her. “You aren’t welcome here.”
His father looked to one of the stone buildings fondly. “Is that so? Why, I’ve been here more times than you have.”
Danzen brought his sword to the ready; Yato stepped up next to him, both of her blades drawn as well.
“It really is remarkable, you know, something even I couldn’t have seen coming. How delightful. You have yourself a student here, and a beautiful one at that. Tell me, dear, do you know who I am?”
Yato looked at Tengir Gantulga defiantly. “I don’t care who you are.”
His father offered her a sinister smile. “You will one day care who I am, when you arrive in Diyu. The question is, when will that day come? Could it be today?”
“You’re…” Everything dawned on Yato in that moment, but rather than lower her arms, she kept them up, her eyes narrowing on Tengir Gantulga.
Danzen’s father threw his head back and laughed. “You really love to see it, or, you will when you one day take my throne, son. That’s one thing that separates demons from mortals and yokai, for that matter. There is this look in their eyes, a willingness to sacrifice everything. A demon would know better than to raise their weapon at me, let alone their voice. Demons have seen the results of their infractions.”
While Yato certainly had started to shake, she kept her arms up. Danzen knew she would be useless in a fight against someone like Tengir Gantulga, yet he took pride in the fact that she was still standing strong.
“Lower your weapons. Neither of you are going to attack me, but you are going to do something for me, something I need done in these mountains,” Tengir Gantulga said, barely able to hide a sneer on his bearded face. “If you don’t do what I ask, the usual threats apply, but we don’t need to go into those, you already know what I am capable of. Now, for taking care of my little problem, I will grant you something, something that I believe you will like. But only after the task is complete. What do you say, son? I guess it really doesn’t matter what you say, but it feels right to give you an option.”
Danzen gritted his teeth. “What do you want us to do?”
“It’s quite simple, really. In fact, it’s so simple that I think I’ll make it challenging for you.” Astra disappeared, as did Yato’s gauntleted blades, stripped right off her arms. “Yes, a challenge. Especially now that you have a student to impress. No weapons this time, and any weapons you do try to use will turn to dust. Now, here’s what I’d like you to do for me…”
****
Once his father was gone, his instructions clear, Danzen slowly looked to Yato, not able to hide the shame he was feeling. He’d been staring at the spot where Nomin had died, no desire whatsoever to look his father in the eyes and his gaze remained there, his cheeks burning.
“What… What do we do?” Yato asked, just now catching her breath.
