Mountain of Shadows

Chapter Four

Mountain of Shadows (Kageyama)

Arashi looked on by the entrance to the Phoenix Hall, while Akishi and Kagami made their way over as well.

“My apologies for taking too much time, immensely sorry to have caused you to wait.” Kagami didn’t want to risk irritating Arashi.

Arashi glanced at Kagami’s face, and proceeded to lead the group inside without saying a word.

Kagami couldn’t help it but had to admire all the woodwork and stonework she saw along the way while they were walking to the chancellor’s office. (Hitomi had spent four years in the school woodshop back then, taking woodwork courses from Grade 9 to Grade 12.)

“Kageyama is but a shadow of her former glory.” Arashi’s voice was soft and light, with a hint of sorrow and longing. “Centuries ago, Kageyama was filled with gallant souls, and left the rest of the world in her shadow. And now, it’s mostly scholars shut in their studies, content with research. I want to reignite Kageyama with my zeal, and have the world look up to Kageyama in awe again.”

With such words, Arashi now stood at the door of the chancellor. After three knocks, the door was opened by the chancellor herself.

An old lady with silver hair, the chancellor welcomed the three. “Thank you for taking the trip to bring in a new student, dear Arashi and Akishi. You have done well. Welcome to Kageyama, dear, may you fulfill your ambition.”

“Thank you, chancellor. I am called Kagami; I will work hard. Please take care of me.”

“Glad to see you here, Kagami. Now, who would like to help Kagami get acquainted with the academy please?” The chancellor looked at Akishi, knowing she’s the more probable candidate for the task.

“Please allow me the opportunity, chancellor.” To everyone’s surprise, Arashi came forward.

Kagami was delighted. (“Maybe she likes me already. Possibly some years later, when I’m 14 or 15, I can explicitly tell Arashi that I like her. I’m certain there’s a good chance that Arashi will stay on faculty when she’s eighteen, so I don’t need to put a hard deadline on myself that I must tell her that I like her before she graduates the academy. When I’m over eighteen, we can be in a relationship! Certainly I can put in my best effort to have my happy ending in this world ~~ ”)

“Thank you Arashi. I’ll entrust her to your care, then.”

“The pleasure’s mine, Chancellor. If you may excuse us.”

The chancellor nodded, and the two left the office.

“Akishi, isn’t it pleasant to see a gentle Arashi, though it’s much to one’s surprise?”

“Chancellor, Arashi has always had kindness in her, but it is refreshing, indeed.”

“Is there anything that you would like to see first? We will have lunch soon, and the tour of the academy afterward.”

“I want to see where students practice swords, please, Oneesama.”

“This way, then.”

At the end of a serpentine trail, what came into view was a rocky area. Kagami saw boulders and rocks and pebbles and gravel and sand. Some rocks have moss growing on it.

“One cannot dictate the situation in which a blade is drawn. We must be ready to combat in different terrains. Starchy water is poured onto some of the rocks every evening, so slippery moss can grow on them.”

“May I see you use your sword, please? Arashi Oneesama?”

“When I give demonstrations with the practice swords, yes. But my personal sword here, no.”

“You must treasure it with all your heart, then, Oneesama.”

“To lay down rules of life is part of swordsmanship. To not use the blade casually, is one of the rules I laid down for myself.”

“I want to dedicate my life to swordsmanship as well, Oneesama. What advice would you please kindly offer me on the rules of life?”

“Rules are to remind ourselves that there are things we will not do. They are to help us stay focused. To help us re-orient when we might at times feel lost.”

“I gratefully receive the advice. Oneesama.”

“When you are a sword, everything is waiting for you to cut them in half. You decide which, where, and when.” Arashi started to walk back, and let these words drift into Kagami’s ears, as a light breeze carried them to Kagami.

It was time for lunch, and cafeteria was next to the Pheonix Hall.

“Most students prefer upper levels for the view, whereas I myself enjoy the tranquility of the ground floor.”

An attendant came to the table side, and Arashi informed the attendant that it would a small portion of everything, so the new student could try things out.

(“Ah, Rin the highly efficient medical student... just like her. It would waste too much of her time to recommend items on the menu, whereas to inquire my preference and match it to what the cafeteria offers would be unreliable to guarantee desirable outcomes.)

Soon, small plates started being placed on the table, and the food looked appetizing and familiar.

There was fluffy fish cake (hanpen)

Sweet boiled mushrooms (shiitake satouniru)

Fried pastry with filling (spring rolls)

Steam bun with vegetable filling (baozi)

Grilled fish (saikyou yaki)

Beef short ribs

Pork back ribs

Pastry with spinach (spanakopita)

Baked roll with cheese and meat (cannelloni)

Baked beans

Casserole

Pickled cabbage (sauerkraut)

Spicy beans (chili)

The food was so familiar that Kagami wondered if this world would also have pickled herring in mustard sauce with orange and honey (senapsil med appelsine och honung), which was once Hitomi’s go-to comfort food.

[Hitomi’s mother was once a nurse working in the operation room in a Swedish hospital. When offered an opportunity to permanently settle in the country, however, she had to decline due to various family circumstances.]

“I take that you liked them all.”

“Yes, Arashi Oneesama. I love them all. Do you have favorites, please?”

“I don’t think I’m particularly selective in terms of food, though I like flower pastry for dessert, and I have a small amount of fruit wine when relaxing.”

That brought back memories for Kagami. When she was invited to visit Rin’s home, Rin served steamed pastry with laurel flower garnish, accompanied by a cup of plum wine (ume shu). Kagami had an urge to tell Arashi that they were once in a different universe, and they had been dating for two years, so that Kagami could tell her all the things about Rin and all that they did together. 

It’s difficult being alone in a new world, for Kagami’s fear of uncertainty -- how would others treat her should she inform them of Hitomi’s world -- prevented her from opening up to anyone.

(“It’s difficult making friends when I have to pretend to be someone else.”) Kagami longed for the day when the ties between her and Arashi would become strong enough that she could feel safe confessing her past life to Arashi.

If a sense of “something is missing in the relationship” caused the rift between them in the previous world, to withhold an even larger piece of herself from Arashi would be unwise and counterproductive.

(“There is the risk of telling her too early when the relationship is not strong enough to endure such stress, but there’s also the risk of saying it too late when I cannot hold up my camouflage anymore; she might severe all ties to me before I get a chance to explain...”) Kagami went back and forth on the issue.

“Your mind is wandering.”

“Ah, sorry, Arashi Oneesama. I should be mindful at all times.” (“well, burdening myself with those thoughts on my first day is hardly helpful. Back to the Present.”)

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End of Chapter Four, Everyone!

Mini Theatre One

“Arashi Oneesama, I will not let my talent go to waste, nor squander my youth in idleness. I will strive and push myself beyond. I will one day stand shoulder to shoulder with Arashi Oneesama, and not be in anyone’s shadow. I will not relent until I surpass Arashi Oneesama. This is the promise that I make to myself.” Kagami knew what would please a teacher, and knowing Arashi’s zeal, she thought of earning some brownie points by displaying how inspired she was.

“I eagerly look forward to that day, the day when you officially challenge me with your sword.” Arashi’s eyes softened, and then she departed from Kagami, leaving Kagami standing by the dormitory.

Kagami stood there, until Arashi was out of sight, and hopefully, safely out of earshot, “Yay!” Kagami jumped up. (“Did you see that? Did you see! She had a shimmering warmth in her eye, a glimmer of smile! Her facial expression didn’t change visibly, but she smiled at me with her eyes! Happy ending, here I come~~~ ”)

*********************************

Mini Theatre Two

Arashi’s eyes fixed on Kagami’s, as if she’s looking directly at Kagami’s soul, “you spent your entire life in a cave with other children and daycare workers, and yet your favourite story isn’t a children’s fairy tale. You have your favourite actress and singer, which also makes me wonder what luxury you must have enjoyed in that cave. Above all, you talk like an academy instructor. Explain yourself. I eagerly look forward to hearing your improvised reasoning.”

“Arashi Oneesama, you don’t sound like an eleven-year-old girl either. Do you know that? I’ve never heard of anyone ordinary who can make a sword sing for joy at age six, ever! So, Arashi Oneesama, what are YOU?”

“Damn You... Don’t you know how little I usually talk? I said all those words to you. Don’t you realize what it meant? Didn’t you see I had a faint smile on my face!”

Arashi stomped off, thinking, so much for starting a conversation for the first time in her life.

“Oneesama~ Please forgive me~~ I apologize~~~ Oneesama~~~~”

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And Mini Theatre is done!

My apologies for having to mentally translate sentences into English...

So many expressions don’t have fitting translations, *sigh*

I’m sorry and I do not have excuses. (moushiwake arimasen.)

Hitomi