The Grand Daion Khanate Part 3

The campfire popped and crackled under the night sky as its orange light bounced off the side of the cargo container and its smoke fluttered up into the air without a care. The trio of Hikari, Chad, and Bataar sat around it watching its glowing coals coalesce into spattering flames over the ring of rocks. Yet no matter how many times Hikari watched a fire it was still a mesmerizing thing in its own subtle way. Crickets and other such tiny creatures filled the night ambience with their nocturnal song. Bataar had taken a marmot he ran over during the drive and was cooking it in a pot over the fire. Hikari of course felt sorry for the thing and Chad didn't exactly look enthusiastic about eating it yet that was what's for dinner that night, that and Bataar would meander back to the truck and pull a few bottles out of a cooler. “Since I'm not driving until tomorrow morning, what's a few beers between friends.” Bataar stated with a smile as he passed the bottles around. “Beer, what's it made from?” Hikari asked before trying to get the steel cap off the glass bottle. “Grains, most likely barley but some are wheat.” Chad responded and Bataar chuckled and handed him a bottle opener. When the opener was passed Hikari happily opened his bottle seeing as it was likely the only nourishment he'd get today beyond breakfast. Taking a swig from the bottle, it was bitter, but not half as much nor half as strong as the sake back home. Compared to that, this beer was like a refreshing breeze compared to the onslaught of a typhoon. Overall Hikari liked it and happily drank his dinner as Bataar and Chad set about the roasting marmot in the pan. “Sorry for not having anything for you to eat Hikari, if it makes you feel any better I wasn't planning on eating until we got to Tos Baaz. It's just that this critter died anyways and it'd be a shame to let him go to waste.” Bataar apologized between bites. “You don't have to apologize to me, I'm fine missing a meal or two. I thought we were going to Khüdriin Baaz though” Hikari responded with a smile, the beer hiding the growl his stomach wanted to release. “Yes but it's days away still, and even then once we hit Khüdriin Baaz it'll probably take days for you two to actually get to Vilnipolya. The Grand Daion Khanate is the biggest country in the world by size and it still takes days to get around even by vehicle. Must have taken months to do by horse back in the day, and I can't imagine it being possible at all on foot. You'd probably starve before you got anywhere. Never mind that though, I just wanted to apologize because I understand the whole not eating meat thing to a higher degree than most my kin do. My wife isn't big on meat either, and she'll only really eat it when I'm home, otherwise she's vegetarian like you.” Bataar continued as he finished his marmot meal and hucked whatever couldn't be eaten into the fire so as to not attract anything in the night. “Shit it's gonna take days still? What was I thinking we could get across Daion in a few days?” Chad remarked as he did the same with his half the marmot. “You sure you weren't sneaking into my secret cooler beforehand.” Bataar laughed as he drank his beer with Chad and Hikari doing the same. After a couple beers between everyone Bataar would sleep in his bed, Chad would sleep in the cargo container, and Hikari would sleep on top of the cargo container and drift off to sleep watching the brilliant night stars over the endless sky of the open steppes.

The next morning the trio would set off across the steppes again and by dinner time their rig would pull into Tos Baaz. While the bulk of the settlement was made up of individual circular tents, motorhomes, or trailer campers pulled behind trucks there were larger permanent buildings made of dull gray concrete that surrounded great steel net spires that shot flames from their summits. Along with what looked like truly colossal hammers that swung up and down all day which would move some sort of pulley attached to its tip. Yet what got Hikari's attention the most was the awful awful smell, the air smelled even worse than the big city, like the worst hot spring in the world times a million and a biting chemical rot smell that burned nose hairs. “First time in an oil field I take it, smells like death made love to a rotten egg under an electrical fire doesn't it?” Bataar laughed as he drove down the dirt road which was flanked by workers going about their various business and their numerous tents which they and their families lived in for now. Bataar refueled the truck along with its extra tanks and talked to the pump attendant in their Daionian language before pulling out and comparing maps. After the talk and filling up was done Bataar would lead Hikari and Chad to a large tent with a cooking set-up similar to the dinner from yesterday only smaller. Hikari would have some noodles with sauce and few meager vegetables, while Chad and Bataar both had different meat centric dishes like dumplings or a meat pie. After lunch Bataar chatted up a few workers on their dinner break going over the maps again before everyone packed back into the truck. “Well a few camps moved around on me, it'll cost us a day just to ensure we keep fueled but we'll make it in good time.” Bataar assured the two before he put pedal to metal and made the foul smelling camp disappear behind them.

Thus was a new rhythm of travel set. Drive across the steppes for a day or two until you hit a new camp erected around some sort of resource, be it oil, mineral, lumber, etc and have a meal in town after they refuel. Hikari would have the damndest time getting fed well in this land however, food here revolved around meat and dairy almost entirely and neither of which he ate. Instead having to make do with noodles and rice when he could. Still he was losing weight, and weight he couldn't much afford to lose either on account of not having a heavy set trucker gut like Bataar or the usual extra layer that came with a modern civilized lifestyle like Chad. Though he'd make a point to try and hide it so as to not upset or be a burden on Bataar. Though one day when they were sent ahead by Bataar to go get them a table Chad would call him out on it. “You plan on just wasting away, boy?” Chad asked before Bataar made his way to the dining tent. “I don't know what you're talking about.” Hikari responded, lying badly as he still had no knack for it. “I see it in how you move. I'm a professional, remember? There ain't squat for vegetarian options here so you've been half starved and trying to hide so you don't worry Bataar. You're going to fall sick sooner or later doing that, and what would either him or me think then? Either you eat a real meal around here or I let Bataar know what's going on and have him buy you a sack of rice.” Chad reprimanded which sent Hikari into an internal panic, knowing that Chad was right but feeling like he was trapped between a rock and hard place. “The beef, you sure it's farm raised and not hunted right?” Hikari coyly asked. “There's no such thing as wild cows anymore, I'm sure their herders put lots of work into raising them. Are you going with some beef then?” Chad asked after he elaborated. “Y~ya… that beef noodle soup Bataar likes to get. If the villagers around Kibatani village can eat meat and still cultivate then maybe I can too.” Hikari answered sounding like a beaten dog as he still wasn't sure if eating meat or essentially forcing Bataar to trade goods of unknown cultivation for him was the greatest offense. Bataar came into the tent and Chad told him Hikari’s new order and Bataar would order for the three of them as usual. “Now you're getting into the adventuring spirit Hikari, good for you.” Bataar mentioned before going to chat up some other truckers eating lunch at the tent before their food arrived. When their food arrived Hikari hesitated over his bowl of soup, steam wafted off its surface of deep dark brown broth and thick egg noodles, and of course the copious amounts of bloody red beef cut into thick strips and laid into the broth alongside a small smattering of onions and carrots. Still Hikari took his chopsticks and began to eat as he usually ate noodle soups, by slurping it down as a compliment to the chef. It was good, in fact it was so good deep down it kinda pissed Hikari off because he knew now what he'd have to resist when he got home. The beef was savory, in fact it was the most savory thing he had ever eaten, knocking mushrooms and tofu out of the water by comparison. The broth was the same way but with an additional richness from the onions and carrots among other unseen spices that all soaked into everything in the bowl. Hikari still hesitated but at least he was breaking cultivation for something that actually tasted good, he could make up for it when he got home. Though later after everyone had piled back into the rig Hikari's stomach would fully rebel against the meal as his stomach growled and grumbled like a mountain bear. “We need to stop now!” Hikari shouted as felt his bowels raged against him. Bataar stopped immediately and Hikari practically jumped out Chad's down window and expunged the meal from his body all over the grass. “Ah damnit how could I forget!? If you're a vegetarian for too long, eating meat can make you sick as a dog. Shit Hikari, I should have warned you before, can you forgive me?” Bataar worried as Hikari knelt face first over the grass and vomit below him. Tired and running on empty the next day, Bataar himself would insist on buying Hikari a sack of rice. Hikari still tried to refuse but Bataar wouldn't have it and that night everyone would share in a basic meal of rice. Hikari in turn was deeply worried about his cultivation and the next morning found he could only draw his sword with a dull glow on account of committing both offenses and not having been in the fields for weeks now.

Eventually the rig would make it Khüdriin Baaz, a great big tent camp centered around some sort of giant open pit mine and all its building size machinery on room sized wheels. Bataar would pull up to not the usual gas pump but in the center of a series of tents that made up a storage depot. “Welp, I suppose this is the end of the line for us boys. It was a damn fine trip if I say so myself, and it would have been damn dull without you two.” Bataar exclaimed as put the truck in park. “You're a lifesaver Bataar, it might have taken weeks to get here if we tried to bounce from car to car. I don't think either of us can thank you enough.” Chad thanked him with a smile as he stretched. “You're the best man we've met since we've come here Bataar.” Hikari thanked as he nodded to Bataar in respect. “Don't mention it, now you two get out and have fun. I think the carnival is on the other side of camp, if they aren't packing up right now maybe I'll go visit you two.” Bataar exclaimed as he opened his door and got out of the truck. Chad opened his door and Hikari grabbed his pack and followed him out before double checking everything was still inside it and hadn't fallen out. Bataar and the traveling duo both waved each other off as they walked away from each other. Hikari was sad knowing that he'd never see Bataar again, or any of the other of his traveling companions beyond Shinzo when he got home. As they walked he'd reflect upon their journey with Bataar but he'd also think of Old Man Kou back home or the Old Widow in Kibatani village. Eventually as they passed the rings of white circular tents and the raw humanity of the people who inhabited them. Chad would lead the pair to a series of striped multi color open air canopies and tents that were surrounded by odd looking mortals of all species and races along with, alongside the air of odd music playing off of speakers. Chad would talk with the first man who actually properly answered him in Daionian and who actually worked for the carnival as well, who would then lead them to what Hikari assumed was the leader of the carnival. The man was old as was told by his white mustache and long flowing windswept white hair, yet his body was kept youthful as he walked without a shirt on to show the numerous impeccable and well toned muscles all over his body that was only punctuated by numerous tattoos and scars across them. Him and Chad talked, Hikari couldn't understand them but with all the exaggerated pantomime he wasn't so sure how well they understood each other either. Eventually they'd shake hands and Chad would turn to Hikari. “We got lucky, they're heading out tomorrow and they're losing their local workers. So they're willing to hire us on.” Chad translated as he followed the leader and Hikari followed him in turn.

Chad ended up being led to direct some game in which people threw little wooden hoops trying to get them around the tops of glass bottles in which they always seemed to veer off clear of the bottle at the last moment. While Hikari not speaking a word Daionian or Vilnipolyan was just directed to haul whatever crates he was pointed at to wherever another crate hauler would have him follow. Of course Chad being a special agent and able to lie as naturally as he breathed excelled in center stage position as a carnival conman. Hikari meanwhile ended up being worked like a dog, all running around here and there carrying crates of who knows what to who knows where for who knows what reason. Back and forth all day and late into the night with hardly any time to catch his breath. While he was no stranger to physical labor this pace of work here was alien and brutality incarnate to him. Back home there was never any reason to rush field work as all it meant was just lounging around the house with not much to do, so everyone went about it at a leisurely pace, taking breaks whenever they felt like it. Here it was go go go as fast as you can as much as you can before you drop. Otherwise someone starts shouting, though Hikari had no idea what they were saying these Vilnipolyans were awfully loud and shouty people. The hazy dust cloud riddle day phased into dreary heavy night and Hikari had barely seen Chad in passing and wasn't lucky enough to have seen Bataar at all, his muscles ached to the bone and his mind was practically shot. Overall everything was damn miserable and Hikari sorrowed about having to travel maybe days within this miserable menagerie. As the night deepened and the hazy red moon shined in half closer to the horizon, everything began to slow allowing Hikari a moment to think. And what he thought about was how homesick he was, how he wished he was watching some improv program on the TV with Shinzo and their Father, while their mother made them tea or some sort of snack in the kitchen. He also wondered how Shinzo was making out with the Hunting Tribes, he hoped his brother was doing better than he was right now. Hikari was making his way back to the storage tents when he got turned around in the hazy midnight and stumbled across a tent with an open flap where he'd see something familiar for the first time since he came to this land, a fan dance like what plays on the programming on tv sometimes. Being as there were no shouting Vilnipolyans around Hikari stuck his head in through the tent and watched the fan dance more intently, that and a bowl of stir fried rice would be exactly what he needed to straighten his head out. A small crowd, mostly older folks who wanted a break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of carnival, watched on benches as a half dozen Muryowa women danced about with the grace of butterflies in the spring breeze as they held their fans about. One girl in particular got Hikari's attention, she was beautiful, the most beautiful girl Hikari had ever seen in his life and she couldn't have been much, if any younger than he was. There he stood gobsmacked in her presence like a slack jawed fool, he had to talk to her, he had to or he'd die of heartache. Chad, this damn carnival, and everything else can wait, Hikari went and sat in a folding chair in the very back of the tent and watched the rest of the show. Half his mind absorbed in her serene grace as she danced about with the fan, the other daydreaming their imaginary life together where he'd convince her to travel with him and Chad before he'd bring her home and marry her, and they'd have six kids together with everything being grand and beautiful in accordance with rightful cultivation.

When the show was over the girl whom he fancied gave Hikari a wink from behind her ornate fan. She noticed right away how he was looking at her like a lovesick puppy and how earlier he had been hauling supplies behind the crowds for the carnival. Hikari’s heart practically jumped with joy and after the crowd dispersed Hikari found her lingering behind the tent with a lit cigarette in her hand. Hikari tentatively approached, just barely keeping himself from shaking in his sandals. “And so my secret admirer has come to unveil himself. You're the first Muryowa I've seen in this carnival that wasn't a woman, what's your name?” The fan dancer asked before she took a few puffs from her cigarette and blew the acrid gray smoke into the dusty night air. “Hikari, Y~Yasuo Hikari… I'm from uhh out East my parents are real traditionalists…” Hikari stuttered and stumbled over his story, he didn't want to lie to this idealized potential future wife before him but he couldn't risk what happened in the city happening again. The fan dancer just smiled thinking Hikari's love struck sputter was endearing if nothing else, even if spoke like some sort of geriatric. “Nanami Aiko at your service. So Hikari, what brings you to join this little traveling carnival?” Aiko asked as she inspected Hikari and his old fashioned clothing made ratty and dirty by all the travel. “Traveling with a friend across the continent, heard this carnival was going into Vilnipolya.” Hikari stated trying to meet her gaze but not overcoming the struggle of it. Aiko chuckled a little before giving off a few more puffs of smoke into the night air. “Ahh that's why he stuck you on grunt work then. Judging from that outfit I would have guessed you were aiming for performer. Still I'm surprised he didn't make you try to put on some show with that sword on your hip.” Aiko stated as she reached out and felt the handle. “A fancy sword that too, an old family swords I'm guessing?” Aiko casually as Hikari practically glowed in the dark from how red he was. “Y~ya of course…” Hikari stuttered again to where Aiko would just sigh lightly. “You haven't talked to women much have you?” Aiko asked as she stood back up. “No….” Hikari shrank in response. “Just talk to me like any other person you've met and we'll get along swimmingly ok? Your accent is so thick it's already hard enough to understand you before you stutter.” Aiko reassured him with a smile before giving her cigarette it's last puff and stomping the butt down in the ground. Hikari took a deep breath out and agreed to where the two would sit out in the grass and talk as they watched the stars. Aiko didn't shy away from deep talk either, talking about how she grew up on a farm with an abusive father until she ran away a few years ago to join this carnival as a performer. Being a performer suited her fine but she'd like to find a better stage and audience than a travelling carnival. Hikari in turn talked about how after he saw the world he just wanted to get married and settled down on a farm of his own some day.

Their talk took them well into the night and it'd be Chad who'd end up hunting down Hikari instead of the other way around. “Hey you're having a better time than I thought, here's you cut for the day and we're sleeping on some cots in the store tent with the big red patch sewn into it.” Chad tossed Hikari a small wad of paper cash before nodding and walking off back to the now more subtle noise of the carnival. Hikari and Aiko would go back to chatting for a bit until a cool breeze put a little freeze into both their forms. “So we're going to Vilnipolya tomorrow, whats it like?” Hikari asked Aiko as he looked up at the sky. “It's a war torn pit, that's half of why I want to get away from this carnival and find a better venue to perform at.” Aiko grumbled through chattering teeth. “And how far are we going into it?” Hikari asked again also chattering his teeth but not wanting to end the conversation. “Who knows? You can just strike out on your own with your Henrikan friend once we start heading the wrong direction.” Aiko answered as she started to get up. Hikari hesitated for a bit, he wanted to ask her to come with them but it was to soon to do so and he knew. He got up and decided the rest of his free time while he was stuck in this carnival was going to be spent getting close to Aiko and when they leave only then he would ask her to come with them. “Look it's getting chilly out, I think I'm going to go to bed. See you around Hikari.” Aiko said as she turned around and sauntered to the tent she was performing in. “Ya, see ya around.” Hikari responded before getting up and making his way to the tent with a red patch and plopping down exhausted on a canvas cot behind some crates. Soon they'd be in Vilnipolya, and Hikari was far from excited from it. At least Aiko was here to keep him sane.