Chapter 5: Homeward Bound

Asa wakes like usual this morning, rising easily from her dreamless sleep as the sun peeks above the horizon with a sense of purpose. She washes and redresses, thinking back on yesterday with gratitude and apprehension. Asa exits the tent with Inei's journal in hand and the keys in her pocket, looking around the camp to see if Hoen or any of his aides are awake yet. To her surprise, she finds Jaemi up counting supplies. He notices her approach and greets her with a wide smile and a friendly wave.

“Good morning!” he says, “You're up early today.”

“I am usually awake at this time. I slept badly yesterday, is all,” Asa clarifies before she asks, “Do you have a change of clothes that would fit me?”

Jaemi looks her up and down with a thoughtful hum, his hand on his chin, before he nods. “I'll see what the smallest thing I have is. Give me one second.”

“Thank you,” Asa replies. She waits by the supplies patiently and after a few moments, Jaemi returns with some folded clothes.

“Here you go. These are the smallest soldier’s trousers and tunic I could find. I hope these work,” Jaemi explains, handing them over.

Asa accepts them with a nod. “Thank you, these will suffice.”

Asa then heads back to her tent to change, having to roll the legs and sleeves up to fit her properly but making do. When she exits her tent, Jaemi is nearby with a bag. He spots her and walks over.

“Here, I thought you'd want something to carry your journal in,” Jaemi explains, offering Asa the bag.

“Ah, thank you. This is helpful,” Asa says, accepting the bag and adjusting the strap across her body before putting the journal and keys inside.

Then, Jaemi asks, “Do you have more clothes in the palace, Asa? You can go in and get your belongings before we leave for Sehchoh, you know.”

“I'm alright,” Asa responds, “I have no belongings in the palace. The clothes I wore in the palace were not my own.”

“Really? What do you usually wear, Asa?” Jaemi asks curiously.

“The clothes we wear in the mountains are more like this,” she explains, gesturing to the clothes Jaemi gave her to wear, “I'm comfortable in these.”

“Ah, right. You're from Ba'atan, yes?”

Asa nods.

“I see,” Jaemi starts, continuing without pause, “So do only the warriors dress like this or does everyone in Ba'atan wear clothes like this? I've seen the traders come down from the mountains in similar clothes but do they wear them because they're traveling or just because they're normal Ba'atan clothes? Or are only warriors from Ba'atan allowed to be traders? They always come down alone right?”

Asa is silent for a moment, overwhelmed by Jaemi’s sudden talkativeness, but before she can answer, Toge takes Jaemi away, having overheard his barrage of questions.

“C’mon–finish your work so we can leave. Everyone is up and getting ready to go as soon as possible,” Toge grumbles as he drags Jaemi behind him as if he's done it thousands of times before.

“Oh– see you soon, Asa!” Jaemi waves goodbye as he's dragged off.

Asa waves back, standing there a moment longer after they’ve left when she feels a sense of unease come on at having nothing to do. She decides to go back to her tent to pass the time, her fingers drumming anxiously against her bag as she settles down onto the cot. Her mind starts to drift to her time in Naiténoza–to when Inei was still alive.

“Asa...Asa?” Inei calls out.

Asa looks up from the board across the table in the reception room, Inei staring back at her.

“It's your turn. Do you need help?” he offers.

Asa shakes her head and looks back down at the board, still thinking about her move. Inei sighs.

“The game isn't so important. Let me teach you again” Inei says, more insistent this time, already leaning over the table to assist if Asa accepts.

Asa caves under his scrutiny and nods, leaning back to watch him explain Go to her again. Her gaze lands more on Inei than on the board, her thoughts racing as Inei patiently goes through strategies and plays.

“Did you get it that time?” Inei asks her, looking up from the board to see Asa’s reaction, “I’d like it if you could beat me soon so you have to learn properly, okay?”

Inei makes a move for Asa and collects his own pieces to give to her before making his own move carefully.

“...your advantage is too much, yet you say you want me to win…” Asa mutters under her breath.

Inei looks up and raises an eyebrow at her and Asa averts her gaze to the board. “...sorry,” she says.

“What is there to be sorry for?” Inei chides gently, gesturing to her, “Your turn.”

Asa doesn't reply and studies the board, realizing Inei made a disadvantageous play on purpose so she could capture his pieces. She makes her move hesitantly, glancing at Inei as if asking permission. Inei glances up at her hesitance and then chuckles at her expression.

Asa keeps looking down at the table. “…you could be a good king if you tried.”

Inei just laughs at that and Asa glares at him in response, saying, “That wasn’t a joke.”

Inei replies in a low grumble that speaks to his easy confidence, “I know. That’s what makes it funny.”

Asa doesn’t reply and studies the board silently once again, making her move on her turn after a lot of thought. Inei easily counters and Asa frowns, making Inei laugh even louder than before.

Asa then says, “You’ve done good things. I’ve seen you.”

Inei is silent for a moment, his gaze on the board, before he responds, “I was never meant to be king. From the moment I was born.”

Asa tilts her head at that, waiting for him to elaborate, but Inei simply says, “It’s your turn.”

Asa focuses on the board again and mumbles, “I don’t understand…”

Inei doesn't respond, instead making a move for her. He doesn’t make his own move for a long while, though, letting the silence settle over them as he thinks of an answer Asa would understand. “...even if I could be a good king, I much prefer playing games with you.”

Asa looks up at him with a frown but Inei is looking down at the board making his move.

“Since you want to lose so badly, here,” Inei jokes before capturing one of Asa’s units on the board.

Asa sighs and replies, “You would win no matter what if you took this seriously.”

“Why take it seriously? It’s only a game,” Inei says softly, under his breath in a defeated sigh. Asa looks up at him at his unexpected tone, but Inei doesn’t meet her gaze this time, gesturing to her. “Your turn, Asa.”

“Asa? Are you in there?” Hoen calls out from just outside the tent.

Asa’s fingers pause their rhythm on the leather bag as she’s broken from her reminiscing and she stands, meeting Hoen outside the tent. He smiles at her.

“Ah, you’re awake, good. We’ll be leaving soon, the soldiers just have to pack up the last of the tents and supplies. Do you have all your things?” Hoen asks, looking her over.

Asa nods and says, “Yes, I have no belongings besides this.” She points to the bag slung across her body, meaning the journal within.

Hoen tilts his head at her. “That’s all?” he asks with concern, shaking his head, “We’ll have to get you properly fitting clothes and a weapon once we get to Sehchoh. Jaemi and Toge can help you with that later– for now, we can rest in the carriage while the soldiers finish up. We’ll leave soon.”

Asa nods and follows him to a grand looking enclosed horse-drawn carriage. Seeing Asa study it so closely, Hoen explains, “We usually don’t travel like this but we were originally sent on a diplomatic mission, you see. Hence the formality.”

“I see,” Asa replies, “I’ve never seen a carriage like this. It belongs to the Coalition rather than yourself, am I right?” Asa looks to Hoen for confirmation.

Hoen smiles and nods. “Yes, you’re correct. The Coalition has many resources, but even I think this is a bit too much given the circumstances under which we came. It does have plenty of room inside, however, so get comfortable. Everyone but Jaemi is inside already.”

Hoen opens the door and extends his arm toward the carriage with a small bow of his head in invitation. Asa bows back to him before boarding. Seeing Toge on one side and Wen and Shou on the other, Asa sits next to Wen who greets her with a smile. Shou and Toge also direct their attention toward her.

“I’ll be back with Jaemi soon,” Hoen says before he closes the carriage again.

“Good morning, Asa,” Wen says, ‘I hope you slept well last night. You didn’t look too good yesterday.”

Asa nods to him in greeting and says, “Good morning. I slept well, thank you. I hope you all slept well, as well.”

Wen’s smile widens at Asa’s seeming receptiveness to conversation today and replies, “I slept well, too! Thank you for asking, Asa.”

Shou just nods with a hum in affirmation and Toge grunts out, “Slept fine.”

There’s a moment of silence before Wen hesitantly speaks again. “...I hope it wasn’t because of us. You know…since what happened with King Inei was because we arrived here and all…”

Asa tenses at the mention of it, but after observing Wen wringing his hands and his tense expression Asa huffs out a breath and forces herself to relax.

“...it wasn’t anyone’s fault–it surely wasn’t yours–it just happened,” Asa reassures him, her posture still tense but her gaze sincere.

Wen smiles softly at that and nods before making himself brighten up with a deep breath. He gestures to Asa’s bag.

“I noticed your journal yesterday,” he starts, “may I ask what you write about?”

“I don’t write anything. It isn’t mine…it belonged to Inei. He wrote poems sometimes,” Asa replies, her expression somber.

“Oh…” Wen seems to shrivel at his blunder of somehow bringing up Inei again, even if inadvertently. Though Asa's mention that the journal was Inei’s gets Shou and Toge’s attention and they share a silent look before they both look out the carriage window again. The group sit in silence, Wen awkwardly and the rest perfectly self-composed. Soon, the carriage door opens again and Jaemi and Hoen come aboard, Toge scooting over to be near the door and Hoen sitting between Jaemi and Toge.

“Hello again, Asa,” Jaemi greets cheerfully. Asa nods in response with a soft “Hello.”

“We’ll be leaving soon, everyone,” Hoen announces as he settles into his seat. Jaemi jumps right back into questioning Asa excitedly, but while he’s talking Toge subtly leans over and whispers to Hoen who nods before they resume their previous relaxed demeanours.

“So,” Jaemi says, “about my questions earlier–does everyone in Ba’atan dress so practically or just warriors?”

“Most people in Ba’atan are laborers of some sort, so most people dress modestly,” Asa replies.

Wen seems to perk back up at the discussion of Ba’atan’s culture, something few people in the Midlands outside of Ba’atan truly knew about.

“I see,” he starts, eyes watching Asa curiously, “so there isn’t a large class division in Ba’atan?”

Asa shakes her head. “There is no class in Ba’atan. There is your occupation.”

Jaemi jumps back in spiritedly, “So what about the jewelry? Ba’atan produces jewelry of very high value–does everyone wear the same jewelry since there’s no class division or is it just an export?”

“...everyone wears jewelry,” Asa answers hesitantly.

Though, either not noticing or simply not caring about her apparent unease, Jaemi asks further, “Everyone? Is it some sort of tradition?”

Asa just nods.

“What kind of jewelry does everyone wear? I noticed your earrings but I’ve never seen earrings like that sold by any merchants I know. Are they a Ba’atan exclusive tradition?” Jaemi continues.

Wen goes to stop Jaemi’s onslaught, but to his surprise Toge joins in the questioning. “I’d also like to know. You said before that ‘no Ba’ata would keep their earrings and lie to you’ or something after that Bam girl left. Are the earrings some honor thing or what?”

The carriage jolts suddenly, signifying the start of their journey back to Sehchoh. The group stays silent, however, as they await Asa’s answer, Wen now looking at Asa worriedly.

“...they are,” Asa replies simply, realising there’s no easy way out of their prying.

Jaemi asks, “If they’re an honor thing, is it only warriors who wear the earrings?”

Shou cuts in, “The earrings probably distinguish the warriors from the common people since they all dress the same.”

Asa sits in tense silence as they talk amongst themselves, her mind drifting to her home, her allies, and the recent fires on the mountain–the more they say, the more her anxiety rises. Hoen seems to notice her silence isn’t just her typical reserved nature and speaks up.

“Asa, I’m curious about something in the palace. Who or what were you looking for that you asked for our help?” Hoen asks.

Asa looks up at him, silent for a moment before realising the offered way out of her predicament.

“Ah– I was looking for Kuiyang. His main residence is still in the capital, so I thought he’d be at the palace,” Asa explains.

“Kuiyang?” Hoen asks, “I’ve heard that name before. He was an advisor to King Inei, correct? From what I remember, he wasn’t of very high rank.”

Jaemi adds on, “Isn’t he that industrialist? The one whose family started and runs that huge workshop in Rita?”

Asa nods and says, “That’s correct. He was not of high status or rank by traditional means but had high influence amongst Inei’s advisors because of his influence in Rita.”

“Uhm, why were you looking for him, Asa?” Wen asks hesitantly, afraid to ask something wrong again.

“...he has something of mine,” Asa answers, her tone grave as she thinks back to their past encounters.

Hoen smiles at Asa. “We can certainly help look into him for you.”

Asa nods and says, “Thank you.”

Toge then speaks up loudly, “Well here’s something I want to know–what exactly were you doing in the palace at all? You’ve made it clear you aren’t from Naiténoza, you're from Ba’atan, but the first thing you did was ask about the king when I found you. Then, when you took my sword you told me to go find his body for you. And you said you were being punished–there’s just too much about you that still doesn’t make any sense.”

Wen hisses a quiet “Toge!” while Jaemi snickers when Toge mentions his sword getting stolen, receiving a silent glare from Toge in return.

Asa responds simply, “For the keys.”

Toge frowns at her in confusion. “What?”

Asa repeats, “The keys. They were in his robes so I told you to take me to him so I could get the keys.”

Toge huffs and replies, “But what were the keys for? You didn’t even use them!”

Wen asks softly, “Are they related to what Kuiyang has of yours? Was he punishing you together with Inei, Asa?”

Asa shakes her head. “No, Inei wasn’t fond of Kuiyang. Kuiyang was only popular amongst Inei’s court and advisors. He and Inei would not work together, especially not for something like that.”

Hoen’s eyebrows raise at that. “He wasn’t popular with the king but still had a lot of influence?”

Asa hesitates before she nods and says, “Yes. King Inei was…disinvolved with many things. He mostly did as he pleased and left the rest to his advisors.” She avoids eye contact with any of the men, looking guilty as if Inei’s faults were somehow her responsibility.

Hoen and Shou share a look and Shou nods before looking out the window of the carriage again.

Jaemi asks, “What were you being punished for?”

“And what were the keys for?” Toge adds on quickly.

Asa hesitates but then says, “I wanted the keys for his journal. One was for the drawer the journal was in, the other is for the journal itself.”

Toge sighs. “...fine. So the keys were for his journal. But why were you at the palace?”

Jaemi quickly says, “Wait, why were you being punished, Asa?”

Asa ignores Jaemi’s question once again and thinks for a long time before she says, “I had a duty to Ba’atan that required me to stay in Naiténoza. That is all.”

They all look at her, wanting to hear more but realizing she likely isn’t the type to reveal anything without enough prompting.

“...what duty requires you to stay with the king?” Shou asks bluntly.

“...I was much like you all, in Naiténoza for diplomatic reasons. They were encroaching wrongfully on the mountains and my stay ensured that they ceased thanks to Inei,” Asa responds, and then adds after some silence, “Kuiyang took something from me as a sort of… guarantee that I wouldn’t cause more trouble.”

Hoen’s head tilts at that, catching her words. “Wait, more trouble?”

Jaemi catches on quickly as well, adding, “Do you get into trouble often, Asa? Is that why you were being punished?”

Asa quickly shakes her head. “No, I don’t get into trouble often…I had lost my composure after the fires on the mountains. I’d suspected they were Naiténoza’s doing and came to the capital and…” Asa hesitates before admitting the next part in a shameful tone. “...I challenged the soldiers and forced my way into the palace.”

They all look at her in shock, silent for a moment before Toge exclaims loudly.

“You forced your way in? Past all the soldiers? How?”

“...I defeated them all.”

“All of them?” Shou asked.

Asa hesitates but eventually nods, rushing to clarify, “I didn’t kill anyone.”

Her clarification did nothing to soothe their shock, however.

Wen asks after some silence, “...perhaps–are you Gifted, Asa?”

“...I may be,” she responds evasively.

The men all take a moment to re-evaluate her, the silence stretching for a long time.

Only a handful of people throughout history are exceptional enough to be called Gifted. There are tales of heroes fated from the Old Age and perhaps beyond who could perform feats that no one else could with strength and skill that could only be explained by magic. This is a trait that is rarely seen, but those who have this trait are referred to as Gifted–as those receiving gifts from the Age of Gods.

“...so why were you being punished?” Jaemi asks once again.

Asa takes a deep breath and sighs. “...I’d threatened one of his advisors during a meeting for disrespecting him and Kuiyang suggested I be detained during meetings henceforth. Inei agreed to soothe the worries of his court that a ‘Gifted mountain warrior would go on a rampage at a single word wrong.’ I take the time willingly to reflect on my actions.”

They are all silent for a moment before Hoen smiles and says, “Perhaps you should sit out the meeting when we get back to the Coalition, then. I wouldn’t dare detain you, but feel free to do what you must.”

Asa nods, her gaze trained down in solemn reflection. “If you wish for me to stay out, I will. I understand my mistakes well.”

The men nod at her offer and the ride settles into a comfortable silence for a long while after that, each of them settling into the plush carriage seats for the journey ahead.