I Want to Go to the Beach

Me and Crimson walk through the bustling dirt paths, with booths on each side with either food, games or shops. Paper lanterns drift through the air in the caveside village. The festival is going strong.

I was skeptical yesterday when I got here, but I find it pretty hard to turn down the festivities.

“LInk, you HAVE to try these! My mom makes these every year they’re the BEST!” Crimson runs up and grabs two sauce covered meat skewers from a nearby booth.

I grab one from her hand and take a bite of the first chunk of meat.

“Wow… I can’t stop…”

“I know right?! The sauce is her special recipe. She doesn’t share it with anyone but one day she said she’d pass it on to me!” She bounces around playfully.

I devour the skewers in an instant and grab seconds from the booth. The sauce is sweet but not to the point it overshadows the meat, and the meat is so tender the sauce seeps right in.

I can’t get enough of the night air in this cave and the atmosphere in general. Crimson is running from booth to booth grabbing snacks. I take a look around and see Midnight watching me from a distance. I decide to push through the crowd and speak to him. Zion told me he was the villages chieftain so he must be a pretty big deal around here.

I weave through the crowd, the music and laughter fading with each step I take toward him. Midnight doesn’t move—doesn’t even pretend he wasn’t staring. Up close, he’s impossible to overlook. His hair is jet black, cut short and neat, a sharp contrast to the curved white horns rising from his head, and he has light stubble on his face. The black cloak draped over him blends into the cave’s shadows, making his pale eyes stand out even more.

“Yo! Sweet festival dude, I heard you put a lot of effort into it.” I give him a short wave as I walk over.

He hesitates for a minute, then turns his head to look away from me.

“So, Crimson told me you knew me when I was a kid. That true? I figured maybe you’d know something about my childhood I didn’t know…” I decide asking him is probably worth a shot.

“Do not speak to me as if we’re friends.” He finally says.

I’ll admit, that caught me off guard. I turn my head.

“Did I do something? What’s your deal?” I ask.

He uncrosses his arms and fully turns to me.

“Don’t act like you’re one of us, half-blood. You think just because you were let in here and spoken to like one of our own it makes you a true oni? You barely even lived here as a child. I don’t accept you here. Now get out of my face.” Midnight says to me before turning his back and walking off towards a nearby hut.

Not a true oni? I mean yeah I AM only half but… Do I really not belong? And he said I barely even lived here as a kid, how close even was I to these people?

“Don’t take it personal. Midnight can be quite harsh on those he deems outsiders.” I heard an old friendly voice from behind me.

Zion stands there in his white robes with golden linings. His white horns stand tall on his head and his silver hair drapes behind his shoulders. He smiles at me warmly.

“He’s a figure-head of our community, he really is a great influence on the villagers here, I hope the two of you will settle your differences.” He smiles, and hands plastic cup with a red liquid in it.

“What’s this?” I ask.

“A special village brew. Don’t drink too much, I can’t have Samara yelling at me for getting you lot drunk.” He chuckles brightly.

I take a sip and taste the warm, slightly fuzzy nectar-like liquid. It’s good so I take another sip.

“Wow, it’s pretty damn good!” I smile.

Zion laughs and takes a seat on a nearby bench. He pats the spot beside him.

I sit and the two of us look out at the crowd of onis enjoying the festivities. I see Crimson playing some sort of rock throwing minigame with a group of kids.

“It’s called Ember Blossom wine. It’s said to have slight healing properties and is a popular drink in this village when we’re sick.” He explains.

“Ember Blossoms… Are those the flowers I’ve seen on the trees around the village?” I look around at the flowers on the trees glowing a faint orange in the night sky.

“Yes, we extract their essence and use them in the wine. The flowers are filled with Emberis, which is an energy used to nurture and calm arcanas, returning strength. The flowers are sacred in our village. They can only be found here or in other oni communities. ” He tells me.

I look up at the flowers once more. They’re orange, and pulsating slightly with an orange glow. I didn't know such an amazing flower lived here.

Zion stands up and begins to talk into the crowd. He flashes me a smile.

“They’re very important. Bad people may want to get their hands on them. Especially now, when the festival is taking place. Their nectar is stronger now.”

“Huh? Why are you telling me this? Zion?”

But it’s no use. He ignores me and goes off to talk with Samara and Midnight.

Why would he tell me this? Is he telling me to be on alert? But why?

I suddenly feel an impact against my back, and arms wrap around me from the back of my neck. Blood red hair drapes over me.

“Hey! How is it?! Don’t tell me grandpa was spoiling your present!”

“Woah-! Crimson! Present? Wait, I’m getting a present?” I turn around and face Crimson.

Her eyes immediately go wide and she covers her mouth.

“Oops- He wasn’t? Good! I mean, I probably wasn’t supposed to say that! Haha…”

I’ll ignore that for now.

Crimson is wearing a red kimono with orange flowers blooming across the design. They must be the Ember Blossoms Zion was just telling me about. 

“The festival is great. I’ve honestly never experienced something like this before.” I smile at her.

Her expression goes sad for a second.

“Well, you experienced it all the time when we were kids. We held it every year.” She says to me.

I raise my eyebrows slightly.

“Oh, shit, my bad . I’m sorry about the memory thing… I don’t get it myself.”

She smiles at me.

“Hey, it’s okay! We can make more memories! And I’m sure we’ll get your old ones back too!” She says brightly.

It all makes me think about things. Am I staying here? No. I can’t. Emerald, everything, I can’t just abandon what I was trying to do. I want to know that black mist Klein dissolved into and I want Kamikaze to die. How am I gonna tell them?

Crimson nudges me with her elbow.

“You wanna go find somewhere to sit? I know an amazing spot.” She giggles.

I smile.

“Sure thing, lead the way.” I say, and she starts laughing.

—-

Down in Kamikaze’s dungeon, the stone walls glimmer off eachother and two demi humans sit, one behind bars.

“I’ve been supervising you a few days now and you’ve barely said a word. It’s honestly quite boring…” The silver haired demi human says to the green one in the dungeon.

Aito’s face inches closer, his eyes almost shut, he refuses to open his eyes fully.

“You know, I put in a good word for you to the king.” He says.

Emerald looks up slightly.

“He didn’t care of course, but I told him about your good behaviour. Keep it up inmate.” He grins, his silver tail swaying behind him.

Emerald stares at him with discontent, her anger visible.

“Who knows, if I keep vouching for you, maybe he’ll be a little nicer to you? I’m quite high ranking you know.” He paces back and forth in front of her cell.

“You know of the endurance boosters yes? I heard you and your friend had a little run in with the king over one quite some time ago, yes? I’m actually the one who makes them.” He smiles and crouches by her cell.

“You? You didn't strike me as a science nerd.” Emerald glares at him.

This makes his smile wider.

“Oh it’s nothing, really. I use a flower. The Ember Blossom. I extract the Emberis from within and inject it straight into the drug. The results are perfect. That one on Miss Scarlet’s mountain? That was simply a prototype. I don't fully understand their effects yet myself, but it involves tapping into the innate oni strength from within.” He chuckles.

Emerald’s ears twitch at the mention of Scarlet.

“How high ranking exactly are you?” She asks.

“Wow, this might be the most you’ve spoken to me this whole time we’ve had you here. Well… to answer your question… My endurance boosters have made the king quite happy so naturally, he holds me to quite a high standard. I watch over his dungeon as his primary dungeon master. They call me The Sage.” Aito whispers.

Emeralds eyes widen.

“One of the four…”

“Subordinates? Yes you can say that. The Burning Witch, The Assassin, The Ripper, and of course me, humble Aito the Sage.” He gives a small bow. 

A small bead of sweat trickles down Emerald's forehead, which Aito immediately takes notice of.

"Oh, am I making you nervous? I do apologize, that was not my intention." His grin never falters. 

"Truth be told, we've actually been out of Ember Blossoms for a few weeks now. They're quite hard to come by you see... And those oni folk, well they're no pushovers, they'll defend those things with their lives, King Kamikaze confirmed that himself..." He chuckles. 

"Confirmed himself...?" Emerald starts.

"He killed them. The oni is quite a powerful race, so he conducts harvesting raids himself. We've only ever destroyed one oni village because they hide themselves very well, but one village supply is enough for countless months of endurance booster production. Perhaps I shouldn't be saying this, but I like you so I don't see why not. Thanatos has actually located one more here in Kesmia... A stroke of luck if I do say so myself, I was thinking we'd have to begin searching Jinoshi for them..." Aito explains.

"...Why are you telling me this?" She finally asks.

His expression goes serious for a second, unreadable, before he quickly returns to form. He waves his hand almost dismissively and begins turning to leave. 

"I just thought it would be a shame if we never got to know each other yes? I do hope you'll return the favor when we next meet. Trust is an important thing.  I look forward to your continued cooperation." He says before fully turning his back and starting up the stone staircase.

He turns to her once more.

"Until next time." 

He shuts the dungeon door, returning Emerald to darkness.

---

Me and Crimson sit on top of a tree branch high above the village. She wasn't lying, this spot IS amazing, I can see the entire festival. 

The festival is in full swing at this point, and the sounds of laughter echo throughout the entire cave. 

"Y'know... Thanks for this. It's been a while since I've been able to just chill out and have fun... so, thanks." I say to Crimson while watching children through rocks that look way too heavy for their small sizes at a makeshift dunk tank. 

Crimson looks at me and tilts her head.

"Really? I've been meaning to ask, what have you been up to since last time I saw you? Pa said you were pretty disoriented when he found you..." She asks, looking concerned. 

"Well, actually, I was fighting in the Arcana War..." I answer.

She pauses for a few seconds, seemingly not knowing what to say. Finally, she speaks up.

"The Arcana War... What's that?" She asks.

"...Huh?"

She doesn't know about the biggest country wide war in all of Kesmian history? How isolated is this girl?

"I didn't know you went to war... That's awesome! I had no clue you turned into such a badass!" 

I'm honestly at a loss for words, but I can't help but smile at her reaction. I compose myself and accept she comes from a different background and culture, and I might as well explain. 

"Well, uh, every 50 years two powerful people are nominated to battle over the position of King of Kesmia. I was fighting for a man named General Klein, but when I realized how awful of a person he was... I defected." I explain to her.

Crimson's eyes go wide.

"Defected? Like to the other side?" She seems super interested.

"No, he's a piece of shit too. I actually joined a rebellion that was working towards taking both sides down. We succeeded in taking out Klein but that asshole Kamikaze is still out there, and worst of all he's king now."

I suddenly remember the gravity of my situation and feel guilty for sitting here having fun when Emerald can be anywhere right now still fighting.

"Holy shit..." Crimson is at a loss for words.

We sit in silence for a moment while I let Crimson process what I just told her. Finally, she looks at me.

"You're so lucky... That sounds like... The most fun in the entire world..." 

I look her in the eyes in shock, and her red eyes stare back at me. She's dead serious I can tell.

"...What? I don't understand-"

"I want to go to the beach." She cuts me off.

I decide to shut up and let her talk.

"I always have my entire life, I want to go out, I want to do things, I want to see things. My whole life I've been in this village, and I love it here, but this is all I've ever known. I've never swam in the ocean. My mom used to read me stories of the outside world and the beach always caught my attention so much! It looks so open and free! I want to see it... You're so lucky you got to travel and have so many adventures. Even if the outside world is dangerous, I've always wanted to see it... It's my dream." She looks down at all the onis enjoying the festival, she has a somber look on her face.

"You've never left this cave? Why?" I ask her.

"Midnight says onis are extremely rare, especially here in Kesmia. Going out is risky since we don't know what the humans or other races would do to us if they had the chance... Whenever we need supplies, Midnight does supply runs himself so nobody else needs to put themselves at risk... Midnight and Pa are the only ones who are allowed to leave."

Wow.. I had no idea. Crimson...

"I'll tell you what, one day I'll take you there myself. I promise. I'll find a way to convince Midnight to let you leave." I smile at her reassuringly.

Her eyes widen and her smile grows 5x bigger.

"Really?!?!?!? You'd do that?!?!? Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" 

She wraps her arms around me in the tightest bear hug I've ever felt. My face goes a little red and I can't tell if it's because I'm flustered or because my blood circulation is being cut off.

"Urk! Y-yeah, no problem...!" I force out. 

Me and Crimson begin making our way back down to the festival when I see and hear something I never thought would happen. 

One of the oni guards, with medium length purple hair and white horns comes desperately limping inside the cave, his body covered in blood and bruises. He struggles to form a word, until he finally manages.

"A...A-ATTACK!!!!!" 

Me and Crimson stare at the man in shock along with the other villagers, when suddenly, a sharp, thin, steel needle-like spear shoots through the entrance at supersonic speed, impaling him through the throat before he collapses forward, lifeless.

"N-No... No way..." 

It can't be. It can't be him, there's just no way. 

Armoured soldiers with glowing purple eyes begin storming in through the front. The stomp over top of the dead oni"s body and begin slashing at random onis within the festival grounds, while others rush in carrying large metal contraptions that look like they're made for derooting trees. 

A large, hulking figure steps inside the cave, and as soon as he does I feel like my heart stopped. The warped metal plates of his armour scrape against the cave walls. Glowing purple horns spread upwards from the helmet that hides his face completely, his purple eyes are the only things visible. He has countless thin throwing spears holstered on his back to the point it's obsessive, there's no way he'll ever run out. 

He steps over the dead oni and yanks the spear from his throat, before extending his free hand towards the body. A purple glow emanates from his hand, until suddenly, the oni guard opens his eyes. 

He stands, with glowing purple eyes just like the other soldiers and his killer, before joining the others in attacking civilians. 

A zombie.

Why the fuck is Kamikaze here...?

End of chapter.

CHARACTER PROFILES

NAME: Kamikaze

RACE: Human

AGE: 46

HAIR COLOUR: Unknown

EYE COLOUR: Purple

ARCANA: Corpse Dominion -

Allows user to reanimate any entity killed by his hand as mindless slaves so long as the body in intact.

WEAPON OF CHOICE: Needle-like throwing spears carried in countless holsters across his armour.

ATTIRE: Heavy, warped black armour fused and scarred by battle, oversized pauldrons and reinforced plating throughout, paired with a full face helmet with glowing purple horns permanently connected to it.

                                                                Xenophobia: Episode 5

"We meet again dear reader, and in a new arc no less! I'm truly sorry for my extended absence, in more ways than one. But! I return to you along with my wonderful narrator to give you the very next episode of Xenophobia! Bravo! Bravo! Did you miss me? There's simply been so many twists recently I don't even know where to start! Don't you agree narrator?" 

Anon is just lazy.

"Hey! Not what I asked! Anyways, we have lots to discuss so let's hop right in shall we?"

Anon sits at his cluttered desk, fingers intertwining to make himself look more professional than he really is. The paper bag on his head has a stain from last nights dinner, chicken curry. It clearly needs a wash. His suit is untucked and his soulless, void like eye twitches in irritation. 

"...Heh... You're really asking for it today huh narrator? Leave me alone, my washing machine is broken!" 

Which you insisted you would get fixed last month.

"Shut up! Anyways, it seems Link wasn't who we thought he was at all was he? An ONI? I did not expect that. Well, maybe I did, heheh. I wonder what's up with his missing memory? What could have happened? Personally I think the most obvious explanation was that he was dropped on his head as a child. Yes, that makes sense." 

He nods to himself approvingly.

"Not only that, but we also have some new faces! Crimson has quite the personality. Gives me a headache from time to time but what can you do? Zion clearly knows more than he lets on and Midnight is... well, kind of an asshole. Hopefully he grows on me but I personally hate his type."

You need to be nicer.

"Yeah, yeah I'll try. Poor Emerald, all alone in captivity, Link needs to get off his ass and go save her. Well, at least she's not totally alone, she has one of her own to keep her company. Who would've thought The Sage is a demi-human just like Emerald!? I don't trust that sly fox Aito one bit, I hope he gets his." 

Anon plays with a figure of Aito on his desk, it sits on the edge, threatening to fall off.

"But we NEED to talk about that ending. The king himself crashing the party? Definitely not on my bucket list. He must be here for the Ember Blossoms... Where will this go I wonder... Well! I'm getting a little carried away here so I believe it's time to bid you farewell! I'm so excited to see what more Arc 2 has in store for us, I just know things are about to get good. Stay tuned folks and I'll see you next time!"

Goodbye reader.

"Yes! Toodles!"