City of Culture IV

Shortly after finding Kayin and Narada in the dark alley, Heitsi’s human form emerges through his large murder of crows, and looks down upon his victims.

Lying on the floor, with his long thick clothes now completely torn apart, and having multiple wounds all over his body, Narada tries his hardest to breathe in and out, but struggles intensely.

Not too far from him lies Kayin, also severely wounded, but managing to at least stand on his knees.

“Wow. Color me impressed. I didn’t think you’d still be alive by the time I arrived.”

“Just so you know,” Kayin manages to say as he swallows in some air, “I’ve been through a lot worse than this,”

“I’m sure you have,”

With another flick of his wrist, Heitsi inflicts another wave of pain onto Kayin’s left shoulder; but this time, the cut appears to be a lot deeper than usual.

Kayin screams out in pain.

“Yikes. Now I can even see the bone,”

Heitsi lifts up his fingers towards Kayin’s right shoulder.

“What are you waiting for?! Just kill me already!!”

“Hold on, now, boy. Didn’t I already tell you before? I’m going to make this as slow and painful as possible,”

Kayin grits his teeth.

“I thought you’ve been through worse?” Heitsi asks with a devilish grin, “Just keep hanging in there. I’ll be sure to change your mind,”

Kayin, bloodied and bruised, turns to his battle axe, “Oshé!! Wake up, Oshé!!”

Heitsi begins to laugh.

“How pathetic! Are you truly the former king of the world’s greatest empire?!”

Just as with the left, Heitsi inflicts a wave of pain towards Kayin’s right shoulder, causing him to shriek in pain once more.

“Are you not the grandson of the most frightening ruler this world has ever seen?! Where’s your fighting spirit?!”

Heitsi now attacks Kayin’s right leg, while moving towards him with a determined expression.

“You’re nothing without your weapon! And even less than nothing without your god!”

Heitsi attacks Kayin’s left leg.

“Just the same as everyone in your filthy bloodline! A bunch of pathetic beings that believe themselves to be as great as the gods!!”

Kayin lays on the floor, now having deep wounds inflicted across all of his limbs.

I…can’t move…

I’m done for.

Kayin looks upon the night sky, which bears no cloud in sight. None for the sake of rain, and certainly none for the sake of thunder and lightning.

…he’s right.

The reason I’ve made it this far is because I’m so desperate to have him back at my side…

Because without Shango…

I am nothing.

Heitsi stands over Kayin and looks down towards him.

“Alright. I guess I’ve had enough of my fun. It’s time to end this.”

Kayin closes his eyes. A single tear trickles through the white cloth, and down his face, ever so slowly.

Heitsi looks around, and notices Narada still breathing, but barely.

“If you want to know the reason for why I’m doing all this…the city, the laws, the placements…”

“Everything…ties back to your grandmother…”

Suddenly, Kayin recalls a conversation he had with his grandmother when he was young, after having a quarrel with Shango.

“He just doesn’t get it, grandma!”

“It’s you that doesn’t understand, Kayin…”

“Shango isn’t just a god that controls fire and lightning. He’s not just a god with a heaven’s realm weapon.”

“Even with everything he has, why do you think everyone refers to him as the god of justice?”

“Because it’s a fancier title!”

Kayin’s grandmother, Monisola, slaps Kayin across the backside of his head.

“Kayin. Shango was once a human. He once bore the same blood that you have now. And yet, he is now a god.”

“There is a great reason for why he is especially powerful amongst the gods, even as a former human.”

“And that reason…lies in his unwavering spirit for retribution.”

“Doesn’t that just add to how hot-tempered he always is?”

Monisola laughs.

“Shango is indeed hot-tempered. And I’d say you tend to be a little more on the opposite side. It’s a good balance, don’t you think?”

“...hmmm. I don’t know…”

“As an avatar wielder, the number one question you should always ask yourself is: why were you chosen? And why by that god specifically?”

“Shango was many things. But an unfair ruler was never one.”

“So then…Kayin…”

“What do you think he sees in you?”

Kayin’s expression changes, as he recalls the words his grandmother had spoken directly after that conversation…

“Once you find the answer…then you will truly be able to become one with your god,”

Suddenly, as if the sky itself is in a fast forward motion, dark clouds immediately begin to gather directly above the city, forcing Heitsi to look up and feel a mixed sense of both confusion and awe.

“...hold on…you aren’t supposed to be able to do that!...”

Lightning roars loudly within the clouds, striking fear into the hearts of those situated within the city. A face appears within the dark clouds, and peers directly down towards Kayin.

Heitsi slowly glances downwards, and sees the white cloth wrapped around Kayin’s eyes slowly unravel.

Beneath them are balls of fire where his eyes are supposed to be, as vessels of lightning begin to circulate slowly around his face, and then around his body.

“What is the meaning of this?!” Heitsi screams out.

In his desperation, Heitsi conjures up a massive cut of air, and attempts to strike it down to finish Kayin off.

“I ask for mercy from the true king! For I need to do this here and now!”

However, just before the strike lands, Kayin vanishes right before Heitsi’s eyes. Heitsi looks up to where Narada is situated, and sees him barely managing to hold up one of his hands.

Narada manages a soft smile.

“You should…have just killed me…”

Heitsi becomes enraged, and flies quickly towards Narada, with his hand now transfigured into a sharp claw.

“Well there’s no time like the present!!!”

schwing!

As soon as Heitsi reaches Narada, a katana appears directly in between his sharp claw and Narada’s body, with an oni appearing slowly out from the shadows, holding tightly onto the weapon.

The oni forces Heitsi away from Narada, and Narada barely manages to turn his neck and look to see his rescuer running towards him.

“She-demon!”

Kimiko grabs Narada by his ripped up collar, and shakes him around aggressively.

“Call me that again, and I’ll kill you before he does!”

***

Shortly before Kimiko reunites with Narada, she was wandering around the city aimlessly, searching for the child she had been sharing a room with.

How?

How could she just disappear like that? In the middle of night?!

“Where are you going in such a hurry, missy?”

Kimiko stops, as a few men by the side of the road had called out to her.

“I’m looking for a young girl! She kind of looks like me, but about half my age! Have you seen her anywhere around here?!”

The men pause, and for a few seconds, Kimiko notices the strange shift in their expressions, before they return to their normal selves.

“I’m sure she must have just gone out somewhere to potty. Don’t you worry too much about it, missy. Crime is completely out of the question in this city.”

Kimiko scowls.

“...sure.”

Kimiko continues searching all around, but is unable to find a single trace of the girl.

Now taking clear notice of the fake demeanor that the citizens have towards themselves and to her, she refuses to speak to any of them, regardless of what reasons they may have in wanting to stop her.

There’s something very off about this place!...

And it seems the only ones that are aware of that are the three of us!...

An image of Narada’s face pops into Kimiko’s head.

And it seems the only ones that are aware of that are the two of us!

Suddenly, Kimiko notices a strange and frightening aura emitting from a large building with an open rooftop, to the back of the city. Thinking that perhaps someone had angered Kayin, most likely being Narada, she decides to try and sneak into the building and take a look for herself.

And she is left completely dumbfounded by what she finds.

Strapped to the walls of the hidden building are lots of children, and a few young men and women. Their eyes have been removed, and their faces appear lifeless, as if already being dead. In the center of the building is an altar, where a large red and black hole seems to be held up like a mirror in the middle of it.

Chills race along Kimiko’s spine, followed by an extreme spike of rage, as she glances up to a certain part of the wall’s assortment.

The girl she had been looking for is up there with the rest of the young children.

Kimiko attempts to rush towards the girl, but as she does, a few men slowly reveal themselves from all corners of the building, and glare towards Kimiko with overwhelming intensity.

Even the men she had spoken to earlier are among them.

Kimiko unsheaths her katana, prepared to take them all down for the sake of saving the girl.

However, the large dark clouds and heavy sounds of lightning suddenly emerge above the skies, forcing everyone present in the building to look up towards it.

I’ve felt this sensation before…back in the dungeon…

It’s Kayin!

Don’t tell me…he’s in trouble again?!

Kimiko glances over towards the frightened men, and then towards the young girl strapped to the wall.

What…should I do?!...

Kimiko’s mind races frantically, as she’s forced to choose between potentially saving the girl and potentially saving Kayin. She looks towards the girl once more…

Before turning around and racing out of the building.