A Familiar Face

Iki: “Cancel all the events for the next 2 weeks. Have the surrounding villages evacuate to the north in less than 5 days. Head to any of the farmlands and let any town within those areas that people will be coming there for just a week. If Lorenzo’s forces invade, I could care less about him destroying the villages. Make sure the people are safe.”

Yahiko: “Sir, it is a 97% chance that we defeat them and have no casualties. Is this really necessary?”

Natsuki: “Should they really be going to the farmlands? Reports have shown that all the lovely animals have disappeared. They are already suffering.”

Iki: “Dammit! Didn’t I have Beatrice and Raphael give them supplies?!”

Yahiko: “That is true, but having that much influx of people is going to cause problems. Statistically, 99% of families are not going to share food with outsiders, especially since they have their own to feed.”

Iki: “Cut the rations for the guards. Tell Beatrice and Raphael to make the trip again. Give each family a distribution of petals too…Johan, what other problems are there? Give me everything one by one.”

Johan was a writer for The Association.

He was a smart young kid that had worked for them for a few years. Every problem was reported to him first, then relayed to Iki alongside a man named Ruka. He was extremely efficient even at the young age of 15. He didn’t choose the life of the sword, but dedicated his life to helping The Association.

Johan: “Lets see…Like sir Yahiko said, the animal population has decreased 83%. Nobody can track where they are going. They end up at the sea and when they enter the water, they disappear. No mana can be tracked either. There were reports of animals killing each other on the way as well as raiders killing them. Hours later, the raiders were found dead in a different location and the animals bodies were not found. Other reports say that they have seen a man with dark blonde hair raising animals from the dead.”

Iki: “Tch! This is stupid. A man with dark blonde hair? It’s the guy from before that you saw Yahiko. I’m positive. Wally and Yahiko, I want you both to go towards the sea until you find an animal. Kill it and wait. I don’t care how long it takes. You both camp out and wait until a man with that feature shows up. Pin him to the ground, then bring him to me.”

Wally: If I may intervene for just a moment, I realize that I have messed up young master, and I do not wish for that. I want to make it right. We do not need to venture out to the sea.”

Iki: “What? What do you mean…?”

Wally: “Remember my pet Koro? The Spriglet made of moss and acorns that didn’t fully grow. Well, he never died. I had a witch temporarily extend his life with her chaplet ability, but I kind of had to force her before she went into hiding.”

Iki: “Huh?! You got a witch to do what? Hold on, we will discuss that later and you will be punished, but what are you saying?”

Wally: “I want to show my love for this Association. I am willing to kill Koro to bring that man here.”

Yahiko: “That…That is a good idea, young master. I say that we gladly accept Wally’s offer.”

Iki: “Fine. I accept your loyalty. We will do that in a couple minutes. Johan, give me the rest of the list.”

Johan: “A rumor has spread that isn’t confirmed, but Michiaki Sen, 1st Reverend, the All Mighty Weapon, Conqueror of Evil has requested that the Great Swordsmen gather.”

Natsuki: “Michiaki?!”

Wally: “Him?!”

Yahiko: “R-Really?”

Iki: “What the hell? He hasn’t even introduced himself to me. What does he want? I was told he was done with swordsmanship.”

Johan: I do not know sir, but it is just a rumor.”

Iki: “Okay. Is there a date that he wants?”

Johan: “3 weeks on the dot at high noon at the Temple of Time.”

Iki: “Set that date and I will gather who I can. No promises on anything. What’s next?”

Johan: “One more thing, young master. Some people throughout the land are claiming that someone is holding chaplets for ransom. Many common and uncommon chaplets are hard to find because one figure is targeting and keeping them. Although, there really isn’t any evidence of someone doing this as we can’t track who has what chaplets.”

Iki: “Well, that’s not really a crime, but I understand that people would get mad. He can’t be that strong. Have my group track him and give him a warning. If he continues to do it, then we will send him to Wallchester Prison. That’s it?”

Johan: “Actually, there is one more thing. I apologize, but I wasn’t going to mention it considering what is going on right now.”

Iki: “Go ahead, spit it out.”

Johan: “Hundreds of people have complained about a figure that walks at an extremely slow pace. He has a frightening appearance and when you try to talk with it, it doesn’t respond. Nobody really knows what it is, but everyone has been calling him ‘The Wandering Corpse.’ He hasn’t really affected anyone specifically, but people are afraid of him. Apparently he only walks forward and that’s it. He appeared out of nowhere.”

Iki: “Ah, probably just some creep. Leave him alone for now. As long as he doesn’t mess with anyone, then we did our job. Alright, Wally, go get your little pet whatever it’s called and everyone meet in the hall.”

Wally went to grab the small creature that was beyond cute. Its eyes were made out of green leaves. It was innocent, but didn’t have much longer to live anyways according to Wally. It was to be dead in less than 2 months, so he did not have a problem parting ways with it in order to help Iki.

Their main hall was where Iki’s large white and gold plated sat upon stairs that led down. The place showed what wealth they had. The ceiling extended 500 feet into the air where flags hung down representing their place. White pillars lined the sides and a white and gold rug stretched down from the throne to the doors, which led to the hallway to the other rooms. Some furniture lined the sides, but Iki liked the room somewhat empty because it gave him time to think.

Wally took the small animal in his hands, feeling awful, but made the decision to kill the small being quickly with his blade.

Its leafy eyes closed softly.

Nothing happened for a minute straight.

Iki became frustrated right away and figured that this man wouldn’t come. “He’s too afraid,” Iki responded as he headed back to his throne to wait, but then the man showed himself.

Matching that description, he walked in through the front doors with a sword that was not like anything that any of them had seen. In fact, none of them even knew who he was. Iki turned to Johan and told him to evacuate his men quickly. The man slowly walked forward with an expressionless face.

Wally: Halt! Do not come any further. Bow in the presence of the young master.”

Yahiko: “Wow I can’t believe that this is the person that is causing the animals to disappear. He actually came. Ha! What a joke. 4 on 1 is never a good idea, isn’t that right boss? B-Boss…”

Iki was glaring menacingly at the man that stood before them. His appearance and dark eyes glared at the 4 of them. His clothes gave it away, even though the sword and appearance was different.

Iki: “Tell me…Tell me how you came back from the dead, Dante Retsu?!!”

Yahiko: “Dante?”

They all questioned Iki intensely, not knowing what this was about. The 3 of them had not known of Iki’s mission going to the Land of the Stiff to kill off Dante. This was something that he did alone with other men to ensure no danger in the future. It was kept quiet in case word got around to a select few people that would’ve caused them some trouble.

Iki thought back to that day before talking again.

Iki: “That day…I know I killed you. Speak! How are you alive and why do you look like that? What is that sword?”

Wally: “Boss, what’s going on?”

Iki stood behind Wally, Natsuki, and Yahiko, but began to approach. The man did not say his name, but immediately burst through the three of them, heading towards Iki. He swung his sword towards Iki’s eyes. He was going to block it, but the three of them got there first, deflecting his sword as sparks flew in the air.

Wally: “Oh no you don't!"

Yahiko: “Don’t you dare touch the boss!”

It knocked them all back from the sheer power.

Only Natsuki remained face to face with the man with the shard lighting up and knocking the man back. He finally introduced his name as Isamu instead of Dante, along with his intentions. His voice was deep and scary. His cockiness was most frightening with the way he used his words. He wasn’t all talk at all. He had the skills to back it up.

Isamu: “You purposely killed that animal, did you not? Did you not expect this to happen? After all, this was to summon me, correct? Do not look at me with such pity faces then…Rise, young creature. Come to me.”

The Spriglet became alive once again, but something was different about it. It seemed…Darker. It ran towards Isamu and climbed up into his clothing. “It’s okay,” he said. “Relax there. Take a nap. I’m almost done here.”

Iki: “Listen up, all of you! This man does not leave this place! I don’t care what you have to do! Destroy this place if you must! He does not leave, do you understand that?!”

“Yes sir!” they all replied and locked in for the battle ahead, awaiting who would make the first move.

Isamu: “Do you know what it’s like?”

Iki: “Know what?”

Isamu: “Do you know what it’s like to be oppressed? You kill innocent creatures everyday to eat. For what? What does nature not provide already? What reason is there to do that? You kill innocent animals for fun as well. Tell me. What benefit is there to do that?”

Yahiko: “If I may speak, that is the circle of life. It has been like that for thousands of years. Do animals not kill each other in nature all the time to survive?”

Isamu: “It’s you humans that have made that happen. Long ago, before any of you existed, animals lived in peace. They ate grass, fruits, vegetables. All natural foods that they could live off of. Some even worked together to protect themselves from storms and floods and natural disasters. However, one day, man was born and quickly learned the art of tools. They harmed these animals until they had to separate and fend for themselves. Nature wasn’t enough and they turned on each other. Who’s fault was that? Man.”

Iki: “Before we were born? Just how old are you? Plus, don’t involve us in events that unfolded thousands of years ago. We didn’t start that. You have no right to take it out on us.”

Wally: “Regardless of that happening, animals turned on each other. They weren’t strong enough to protect themselves. They could’ve teamed up to defeat mankind, correct? Why didn’t they?”

Isamu: “What would you do when your family is threatened by tools beyond your understanding? Would you go to protect someone else that you don’t know or would you protect your own?”

Natsuki: “Quite honestly, I don’t care what Wally would do. Sacrifice is needed in order to move forward. You are a coward if you cannot protect what is yours and what isn’t yours. If you have to make a choice, then that is different. However, I agree with the men on my side. Your story doesn’t make sense. Look at the creatures of the world. They are big enough to have teamed up and defeated mankind back then before swords became so powerful. Did mankind even know of powerful chaplets back then? Probably not. Those animals reap what they sow.”

Isamu: “People like you do not understand. You take in certain pets and show them comfort and deny other pets that you cannot tame. Mankind has become too strong for their own good. I will not sit here any longer and discuss pointless conversations. You all will never understand and you will never stop harming animals. I will not let that slide. I have a little time before my next stop. Why don’t I slice off all of your heads first?”

Isamu pointed his threatening sword at them, prepared to kill them all swiftly. His eyes were dark and he meant what he said. The tension in the room rose to an all time high. Iki looked at Wally to ensure that nobody was still in The Association or within 3 miles.

He nodded his head to confirm this, signaling that a battle would ensue.