Pilgrim 4, p.32
Pilgrim 4, page 32
He sent the sword whipping forward, and hit his target once again. He could tell now that there was something different in the way the blade had been propelled. The energy was moving through him and out the tip of the weapon, the power of Sunyata aiding the weapon’s delivery. Perhaps Astra had been used like this for so long that the sensation was hard for him to notice. Or maybe it had to do with Danzen not bending his echo until later in life, only now understanding the subtleties.
Once again he retrieved the weapon manually, not yet ready to call it back.
Danzen continued to practice hitting his mark, and only after several more tries did he finally try to do something different. It was time for the sword to return to his hand. Danzen flexed his fingers wide, as he had once done with Astra, aware that he could lose a finger if he wasn’t careful.
The blade began to shake. It pulled itself loose from the board and fell, never flying back to his hand. Danzen retrieved the weapon and stepped back to where he had been standing just moments ago. He struck the board with it and extended his hand yet again, the same way he would with Astra.
The sword pulled itself loose much faster this time, making it halfway to Danzen before arcing toward the stone ground of the courtyard.
Again and again, he tried to recall the weapon to his hand.
It got closer, but it could never make it all the way back, Danzen forced to focus on his echo yet again, the power that tethered him to the weapon. Once this didn’t work, he ended up bending his echo alongside Yato, the two amplifying his power before she stepped away.
It was a strange dance, and an even stranger task that he had set out to accomplish. But he desperately needed his weapon to operate in this way.
Once he was done reigniting his echo, he sent the sword forward again. His weapon struck the board, Danzen could feel a surge in power as it yanked itself out. It came to him so quickly that he jumped to the side, the force too powerful.
But it was close.
This happened a second time, the weapon coming at Danzen so swiftly that he barely managed to duck it. He was too afraid to reach out and grab it, the sword moving just about as fast as anything he’d ever seen move before, faster than Astra.
“Steady your breath, focus on your echo, and catch it this time,” said Abbot Monpo.
Danzen nodded.
The sword slammed into the board and pulled itself out immediately. Danzen shot his hand out to grab it on the return. He misfired, the blade passing just beneath his hand, the sword bringing a slash mark across his palm.
The power, the sudden flourish of animosity.
Portals began to open up around Danzen.
Nomin and Yato launched into action, the blind assassin pulling one of the demons out and slitting its throat before tossing it back in. Yato fearlessly cut them down, one by one, Danzen eventually joining in once he got hold of himself. Every time he drew blood, even after he’d gained control over his demons, he could never stomach the sudden burst of power as it collided with instinctual apprehension.
They ended up slaying seven of them, Danzen finally stealing a glance at Kudzu, who exhaled audibly.
“Perhaps that is enough for now,” said Abbot Monpo. “Let’s test your echo, have our breakfast, and be on our way. We can continue training tomorrow.”
“I can do more,” said Danzen.
“I’m sure you can, but something tells me that this will come more naturally if we give it time. There is no need to rush a skill like this. It takes extreme precision and concentration, and we see now what can happen when one of those things isn’t perfectly aligned. Your concentration is there, but the precision of the return will take some more work.”
“The sword is faster than Astra.”
“I thought so,” said Kudzu.
Yato agreed. “I can barely see it when it moves through the air. With Astra, I could at least see it.”
“These things take time,” said Abbot Monpo, the man clasping his hands behind his back. “But you have made good progress today, and I am certain by the time you meet Ginza that the sword will be able to perform in the way that you would like.”
“But if it isn’t, be prepared to use it in a more traditional way.” This comment came from Nomin, always the realist.
Danzen returned the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds to its scabbard with a nod. There was still work to be done.
****
Danzen expected more, especially with what he had been able to do in the Outer Regions. He wasn’t quite disappointed with the results of his echo test, because as Abbot Monpo and Menya said, he would likely be able to repair the stone soon and move up a tier.
He simply expected more from himself, even more so with how quickly he had moved up in earlier tests.
The journey that was to come would take several days, first toward the northern passage, and then to the west from there, over marshlands. Danzen and company had packed accordingly, leaving little behind at the nunnery aside from the remnants they had collected thus far. It was going to be a large group to travel with, as it had been when they’d first pushed through the unknown region, Danzen joined by Yato, Kudzu, Nomin, Sansar, Jelmay, and Galzo.
Once they dealt with the nue, Galzo would return to Asura Forest and meet with his pack of wolves, who would relocate to the northern passage to secure it. Abbot Monpo had wanted to journey with them to the northern passage, but leaving their growing collection of remnants behind at the nunnery was becoming increasingly risky.
Hopefully, by this time, Danzen would have dealt with Ginza. And while he wanted to do this alone, his companions were insistent that they join him, all but Jelmay, who still had his reservations.
“I’ve been thinking,” said the bakeneko after they’d been walking for a handful of hours, “it may be important for someone to hang out in the northern passage for a while and scout around, you know, see what’s there. I’m not saying that it should be me, but I am pretty savvy, and some would describe me as clever when it comes to finding treasure.”
Kudzu didn’t take the bait.
“What I’m trying to say here is I might just get in the way once we get to Arsi. What could Ginza possibly do against three assassins? And what about Soko? That horrible witch didn’t exactly take my tail, but she instructed someone to. I personally think it would be smart to utilize her as best we can. You haven’t thought of that yet, have you, Pilgrim?”
“What do you mean?”
Jelmay winked at Danzen. “Simple. Meet Soko and use her as bait for Ginza. Then the three of you swoop in. Kill, kill, kill!”
“I will be there as well,” said Kudzu.
“And do what? Not that you aren’t a good fighter there, fox, but maybe you should leave the killing to those that have been trained to do it since childhood.”
“I plan to help.”
“And I plan to build a log cabin outside of Bahlingar where I can escape for the summer. Har!”
“I know this isn’t what you are arguing about,” Yato said, interrupting Jelmay, “but why Bahlingar?”
“Because it’s an up-and-coming place, Lady Pilgrim.”
Nomin let out a little half sigh at the statement.
Danzen knew that the blind assassin had spent a considerable amount of time in Bahlingar, and that she was well-versed in its underbelly. This was one reason he had wanted her to accompany him when dealing with the Penumbra clansmen. Had she been there, he would have been able to gather more intelligence in the city itself.
He was curious why Penumbra had chosen the woods surrounding it, especially if they were interested in remnants, which they were hoping to gather from the Outer Regions. Maybe it was because of the size, yet Odval would have been a better option in terms of location with its proximity to the Outer Regions. He also wondered why Soko and he hadn’t encountered any of the invisible men. Were they a private group within Penumbra? And if that was the case, how big was the organization?
Danzen tuned back into what Jelmay was saying, the bakeneko explaining what he would do if he was in Elder Bahjee’s place, how nice Verba would be. “Just imagine a boardwalk, waterfront restaurants and hotels, a tourist destination, a nice row of pleasure houses filled with delightful pillowers. It would be a place where the rich could come for spring and summer, the middle class in the fall, and the poor in the winter, when there would be some sort of ice festival. I can see it now. I really should kill Bahj.”
“Perhaps it would be best to leave Verba alone,” said Sansar, the raven currently perched on Danzen’s shoulder.
Bawa nodded in agreement. “He’s not wrong. While Elder Bahjee may be an unconventional leader, he has the backing of the Sundiyu Sect. Otherwise, they would likely have done something about him by now, especially with his proximity to the territories they oversee.”
“I’m sure they would come to like me, especially once the bribes started.”
“I don’t get it,” said Kudzu. “You act like you’re so loyal to our cause and invested in rebuilding Sunyata, yet you’re constantly scheming something up. It’s confusing.”
“People are complicated.”
“You’re not a person.”
“Yokai are even more complicated. I mean, look at how many different types we have. There are ones that can talk, demonic types, and others that are stupider than a pair of inbred yamachichi. Then there are ones like our sworn enemy, Usagi.”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to call him a sworn enemy, but he is definitely someone we need to keep an eye on.”
“One day, fox, you and I are going to eat that rabbit and it’s going to be amazing. Not only that, he’s bent his echo, so that could add to his flavor. I don’t know. Don’t hold me to that one.”
“Perhaps we should move faster,” said Galzo. “We want to reach the fog by night and the nue tomorrow.”
Because of the onset of fog, Galzo acted as their proverbial leader, the canine’s sense of smell arguably the best of the group. Bawa had joined them to be the runner, able to quickly return to the nunnery once they defeated the creature while Galzo headed south to Genshin Valley to summon his pack. It all made sense, especially when Jelmay would lead them from the northern passage to the marshlands alongside Nomin, who had used the area before as a quick means of travel.
Danzen wasn’t going into the upcoming fight against Ginza thinking that it would be easy, even with Nomin and Yato as backup. All of them had a very good chance of perishing, and that was without getting Soko involved. He also wasn’t the type to use someone as bait, even if he had a checkered past with the female assassin.
Perhaps the next morning, after he had worked more with the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds, he would consult with Nomin and make a final decision as to what he should do with Soko. He knew that Kudzu would want a say, but there was a nuance here that she didn’t quite understand. Soko wasn’t a good person to have on one’s bad side. Allowing her to join in the fight may push out the inevitable for the time being, perhaps toward new Brotherhood contracts, keeping her away from Danzen and his companions. He didn’t know if a real truce would ever be possible between the two of them, but not having her constantly gunning for him would be a benefit for all.
There was always the chance that she could betray him at any time, including as he stood before Ginza, ready to kill the half-blooded monstrosity only to be blindsided by the female assassin.
It was truly a situation he didn’t want to put himself in.
Danzen was reluctant to discuss it much further, yet he knew that the guidance and thoughts of his companions would be paramount when it came to the sticky situation that was to come.
He just wanted everyone to make it through the eventual fight with Ginza.
****
Without Astra, Danzen wasn’t going to be able to hunt the way he used to. He was reminded of this once they’d made camp for the night, on the edge of the fog, the distance obscured.
While Jelmay worked on a fire, Danzen set out with Nomin, who would do much of the work in finding a meal. The two of them working together were a powerhouse unlike anything the others could imagine. Danzen didn’t give this notion much thought, but he once again sensed that telepathic link between the two of them when it came to doing what they did best.
Keeping low, now crouched behind a bush, Danzen waited with his eyes closed, chin tilted forward. Nomin was perched on a branch above him, so still that Danzen could barely register her presence even with the glow her echo was giving off. There was a small opening in the trees ahead, one with a stream passing, the perfect place to find something coming for water.
They waited, Danzen moving as the wind changed directions. They didn’t want to go too far from the campsite, but they needed to be far enough away for the others not to disturb two of them while they hunted. Kudzu had offered to help, and Danzen knew she was clearly capable of finding something, but they had a lot of mouths to feed, and they were hoping to bag something larger, like the elk that finally stepped out into the opening.
The elk’s ears twitched as it lifted its head, looking right at Danzen, who was still hidden behind the shrub. He remained motionless. The elk slowly returned to the stream as Nomin dropped from her tree, startling the creature, which caused it to charge in Danzen’s direction.
Danzen waited for it to pass before shouldering into its side, avoiding the antlers as he expertly slit the elk’s throat.
“Good catch.”
He offered Nomin a rare smirk when she approached him. “Hopefully, this is enough for Jelmay.”
After they’d drained most of the blood, Danzen hoisted the elk on his shoulders, the beast easily five hundred pounds. Returning to the campsite brought a series of nods from their companions, all impressed that Nomin and Danzen had killed such a large creature and had been able to bring it back with what looked like little effort.
“I knew it was better to send you out than to send the two foxes here to bring back some rabbits.”
“Rabbits are good food too,” Kudzu told Jelmay.
“I’m well aware of that. Remember, I was one who caught them for us in the Outer Regions. And if you’re referring to Usagi, then I agree with you.”
“Can you really turn into a rabbit?”
“It’s rude to ask a bakeneko what they can turn into.”
This caused Kudzu to laugh. “Since when?”
“Since now.” Jelmay rubbed his paws together and motioned to a place that he had cleared near the fire. “Look at those antlers. I don’t know how I’m going to cart those with us the entire way, but I’m going to try. Maybe I can make a hat out of them. What do you all think?”
“Maybe it’s best if you just leave them here,” Galzo told the bakeneko. “We don’t need things like that getting in our way right now.”
“Maybe…” Jelmay procured a knife from one of the bags and went to work. “I guess it isn’t legendary or anything, not like a hihi’s horns. I can probably lie and say that they are the horns of some yokai. Know of any yokai that look like this?” he asked anyone who would listen.
No one responded.
“Bah, if no one is willing to talk to me, I’ll just talk to myself. Speaking of which, Jelmay, I wonder what we will be able to get from the nue once we kill it. I’ve yet to really think about what we may really loot from it, what about you? I don’t know. What was it supposed to look like? Tail of a snake, body of a tiger? What am I missing?”
“Head of a baboon,” Galzo said as he watched Jelmay strip meat from the elk’s carcass. The bakeneko left the hide on the ground to prevent the meat from getting too dirty. While Nomin and Danzen had hunted, Yato had used a collapsible wooden bowl to bring water up from a different stream. She proceeded to clean the meat before preparing it for the fire.
“The yokai has to be worth something, some part of it, anyway. And don’t get me started on selling yokai parts. It’s the circle of life, it’s not like this nue is doing anyone any favors. Bird, I’m sure you know more than you’re letting on. It always seems to be the case, like your little tanuki buddy out there meditating in the mountains…”
“I honestly haven’t encountered this yokai we are set to face,” said Sansar, “but I suspect there may be something of value there. I don’t know. Perhaps we should focus on getting to it and killing it first, hmmm?”
“Again, and I don’t know why I keep having to say this, but I’m going to refer you, and everyone else, to the assassins that have joined us on this little expedition.” Jelmay pointed a bloodied claw at Nomin and Danzen. He then tilted his head toward Yato. “I knew that when we first started, when it was just the original team of Sunyata builders, that we were required to fight more. But now, we don’t. I would say this is the circle of life but I already said something about that.”
“Is that what you are calling us then? Sunyata builders?” asked Kudzu. “I don’t remember you ever using that term.”
“I don’t have a name for what we are, but you know what I’m saying, fox. We had the vision, well, mostly me, but you and Pilgrim have put the work in as well.”
Yato started to laugh, the young assassin now cooking up the first skewer of meat. “So you’re saying this was all your idea.”
“Whose idea would all of this be if not mine?”
Danzen knew better than to press this. Jelmay had asked this question with conviction in his voice, and he was fairly certain that the bakeneko had convinced himself that rebuilding Sunyata had all been his plan from the get-go. Rather than say anything, he helped Yato by preparing another skewer as Jelmay continued to claim that he had come up with the idea to rebuild Sunyata.
“I can’t believe you’re taking credit for this,” said Kudzu. “That’s just like you.”
“When the bards sing about us in the future…”
“Stop.”
“I can see it now, in the limited visions I’ve had I can definitely hear them mentioning a white fox, one with a crisp sparkle to her coat and a sour attitude. The rest of you, I don’t know. Well, of course they will sing about Pilgrim because he’s going to be the one that does it. I’ve made some bad bets in my life,” Jelmay said, “but this is the one I’m most sure about. We’re going to do this, the world will be better because of it, and somehow, I’m going to get even richer along the way.”
