Illumi: “What is a monster like him, teaching in the Daigaku? I am grateful that he saved our lives, but I
am horrified that he is allowed in our midst.”
Akako: “Hold your tongue, Illumi. He’s our teacher. Warriors live to kill, and to die. Isn't that something
from the warrior code? Who cares about the number of lives taken? I’m sure all our elders who have
been in the military, have killed a few. That is an undeniable truth. And who believes in curses these
days?”
Kafu wanted to offer a rebuttal, but Daigo spoke over him.
Daigo: “Nonsense. Demons and curses don’t exist. Warriors have to fight with blades and kitsu. And in
dire situations, with their bare hands. The weak will perish and the strong will live on. But I am curious
to know, Shigeo- where do you think Keiji-sensei’s powers come from? I am outright sure that you have
a theory.”
Nadeko: “Tell us, please!”
Shigeo: “I do have a theory. Ginko-sensei, in an appendix to the book, mentioned rare humans, born
during a certain alignment of the stars, who, when awakened, gain passage to a transitional world
between ours and Meido. Mugen-sekai, the world without an end. It is said to be brimming with kokyu-
mugen, the anti-matter. And those cursed with the affliction, can do incredible feats without kitsu.”
Chiyo: “But how does it work? Those lamias exploded as he touched them. And, beyond doubt, he ran
on water.”
Shigeo: “That was not explained in the book. Ginko sensei himself, never met a mugen user. It is
rumored that there are, at best, five mugen users in the entire continent of Kinheni.”
Akako: “That sounds fascinating. Does that mean- Kento can be a mugen user as well?”
Shigeo: “Unfortunately, we have no way to know. Four out of ten children are kitsu-blind. But, mugen
users are rare- perhaps, one in a hundred thousand people. And most of the cursed ones never
awaken their abilities. Those who do, live very short lives. Mugen is corrosive to the human soul, writes
Ginko-sensei. It is not malleable energy like kitsu, but a miasma that undoes matter. Imagine what it
does to the soul. Now I have to disclaim, that all of this is my speculation, based on Ginko-sensei’s
work.”
Kafu had a vein throbbing on his forehead. He finally broke character and voiced his opinion.
Kafu: “Ginko was a fool who did not believe in the goddess.”
The priest was speaking from his knowledge of history. Ogino Ginko had been incarcerated for his
scepticism of the goddess Shibai Sharin. He wrote books and preached discourses that the goddess
was an imaginary figure, a monogram of the temple, concocted to establish its authority over the
people. Sadly, Ginko was dragged through the streets, beaten and then sent to the temple to be
subjected to an exorcism. The priests claimed demons possessed him. The scholar spent his last days
in captivity, starving, diseased, and in the end, lost his mind. It was reported that he died of the white
death. But, nobody could affirm what really happened to him.
The group went silent. While teenagers were sceptical of the existence of gods and goddesses, they
had been instructed since they were old enough to understand, to not speak against the Shibai Sharin
for fear of retribution from the priests. There were no stories as tragic as Ginko’s, but there were cases
of how violators disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Shibai Sharin was the centre of civilisation in Kinheni. And particularly in Karasuma, she was revered
and feared. Religion and politics had mixed amicably. Even the Overlord and the other kin-lords paid a
weekly visit to the temple.
The forest cover parted, and the canoes entered a creek segment, which expanded on either side to
form a vast circular bank. About half a mile onwards, the circle closed to create a linear stream again.
About two dozen floating houses were anchored to the banks, away from the creek current. It served
as the home of the Wajin tribe, which Karasuma governed. The village-nation’s territory extended to
any land touching the three rivers- Reisui, Mizusashi and Kurosashi. There were several other tribes
and communities interspersed throughout the plains and marshes.
The preceptor and sub-squad canoes closed in from both ends.
Yuuki: “It's late afternoon- the sun will set soon. It is ill-advised to sail in these parts after dark. We will
be staying as guests here, for the night.”
The aspirants anticipated a night halt, but the location of their temporary sanctuary was entirely
unexpected. The Wajin tribe was not a very friendly group. They had frequent tussles with the Kin-
Council (the assembly of kin-lords) and the Hyougi (members of the Village High Council) over mining
and forest rights.
The foundation of the floating houses was made of hollow logs, and the entire structures were tethered
to the bank with oiled, hemp rope. The larger ones had ambulatory space around the houses for
clothes-lines, children to play, and lounges. The Wajin people peeked at the outsiders- from their
windows, open doors and sun-decks. They wore necklaces made from claws and colourful dresses
with headbands made of feather. Some painted their faces. It was a new experience for someone like
Kento, who had had restrictions on travelling since he was a child, on account of being the heir to the
Overlord.
They drifted towards the house that was the largest and most elaborate, with a small tower and
seemingly twenty or more rooms. The enormous weight of such a large establishment was evidently
displaced with kitsu. Dahlias and fire lilies grew in vases on the gyre that surrounded it. Glade vines
hung down like streamers from the roof. Children frolicked around, engaged in games; women and
men went about their daily chores. A few aged people rested in the sun on bamboo chairs.
Akako: “Whose house is this?”
Keiji: “You will realise that soon.”
A small dock house adjoined the main building. It harboured all the sailing vessels. As the canoes
approached, two men with painted faces and the Wajin attire approached and bowed. They proceeded
to help them tie-up, and come onboard the floating house. One of the men pointed to a boy standing on
the dock house path, which led to the main building.
Man 1: “The young master has a message for you from Lord Hakaku.”
Shigeo: “This is Hakaku Yamazaki’s place? The Chief Strategist-Economist of Karasuma ?”
Keiji: “And we are lucky to have been granted a night’s stay.”
The sailing party approached the boy referred to as ‘the young master’. The latter bowed courteously to
the preceptors. He had his face painted as well- a beeline of black dots, with a white line running down
the middle of his face. He seemed to be the same age as Kento and Akako.
Boy: “I have come to welcome you on behalf of Lord Hakaku Yamazaki. He is waiting for you in his
reading room.”
Yuuki: “We are grateful. And who might you be, child?”
Boy: “I am Uzziah Yamazaki.“
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