Chapter 8 - Petal Grove

Six days ago. On the road to the Village of Ichonodo.

"There were very few places in the capital that our group has never been to, and those places are mostly within the Palace District—the backyards of the rich and powerful who run the branches of government. They perform the functions that were not assigned to any clan or house. These branches of government are best run by kashin—the members of the population of the Five Kingdoms that do not belong to a clan for one reason or another. Our clan is mostly responsible for this, we oversee keeping the messages secure and confidential throughout the entire continent of The Old Orient even the lands not under the rulership and protection of the Five Kingdoms. It still surprises most people but not all places in the lands of The Old Orient are under the Celestial Empire. The bulk of these unruled territories are within the boundaries of the Goruumshimi—a land of blood and ash that is also known as The Land of Restless Anguish. I used to deliver messages on behalf of my clan when I was around six or seven. The rest of the group would travel me as I went around the capital delivering messages. We got to explore the different places in Heung while delivering messages. As we grew older, I started delivering messages outside of the capital as part of my training.

"Izrik suggested that we go to the location where the converted palace notes are to be delivered. Unfortunately, the converted notes can be redeemed from any town, village, or city if they have the Writ of Order that proves they were the people who requested for that job. The note conversion may be weird for Mingmei to do, but it is a common transaction in the Five Kingdoms. Each of the kingdoms has different financial systems and currency, thus, merchants prefer to carry with them currency notes that can be sold and bought in any finance headquarters, broker shop, or message centers. The first is completely controlled by Mingmei's clan and the third is controlled by my clan. Broker shops are mostly privately owned by kashin. Despite the services that the clans provide for each kingdom, there are still people who do not agree with the system of having clans. They believe that the clans are being given too much power and freedom that can easily be abused. They believe that a system based on honor is not a reliable system than can ensure the stability and peace of the kingdoms. Thus, broker shops were founded more than two-hundred years ago to provide services similar to what Mingmei's clan and my clan provides; the only difference is that it is owned by a kashin and will always be owned by a kashin. They offer their services to anyone—kashin or not—and they compete with clan services by providing a personal customer service that most people prefer.

"Since we cannot trace the transaction, we based our next steps on what we already know. Since Mingmei's group has gone through much effort to maintain anonymity, they are likely under disguises. It is not wrong to assume that they need to keep their true identities secret and they need to be completely untraceable. Izrik suggested that we visit the nearest village that has a temple that provides a Cleansing Ritual. Guunnar knows just the place because it is a popular tradition for their clan to undergo a Cleansing Ritual before they take The Trials.

"We immediately left on horseback after we met in the Midmoon Stables and traveled along the Merchant Road. Even though the Pilgrim's Way route to Ichonodo is shorter, that road is smaller. The recent festival promises that the Pilgrim's Way will be busy and filled with travelers for at least a deck or two. Traveling through the Merchant Road may be slightly longer, but we can travel faster on horseback compared to traveling through the Pilgrim's Way on horseback. We traveled just outside the road and followed the route of the railroad for a few hours and then turned southwest. Railroads are being built and they will connect the major towns and cities of every kingdom. It is one of the major agreements that the Five Kingdoms have reached when they decided to create a railway service for the public sixteen years ago. Prior to that agreement, the railway service was strictly for government use only—not even nobles and the rich can avail of the service. Once the public railroads are completed, traveling across the Five Kingdoms will be faster and safer and anyone can access the service.

"It normally takes around two days to reach Ichonodo from the capital. We were able to reach it in a day and a half thanks to Guunnar's horses. Since their clan travel regularly to Ichonodo, they have a clan house on the outskirts of the village. We stopped there to leave the horses and then walked for a few minutes to enter the town.

"'Why don't we undergo the Cleansing Ritual as well?' Izrik suggested as we entered the town.

"'I'm actually surprised that you suggested it,' I said as I turned to Izrik.

"'Well, if we're joining with the others, we should make sure that we don't compromise their cover,' he replied thoughtfully.

"'But your weapon. That will be destroyed by the ritual,' Guunnar explained briefly.

"'I know. The mission should come above everything else, right?' Izrik replied. Guunnar and I nodded back at Izrik as we silently walked into the village. I started to wonder if there was anything that changed during the past few days that changed Izrik. He would be weaponless until he can forge another weapon after we complete the Cleansing Ritual. His training and discipline forbid him to use any other weapon. It has to be made exactly to his personal specifications and has to be forged by his own hands.

"'We went straight to the Market Circle—famous for its street food. It was lunchtime and we were starving after being on the road for almost two days. We had nothing to eat but dried fruits while traveling and we ate while on horseback. The sweet aroma of food getting cooked filled the air as we entered the Market Circle and it made us even hungrier. Before we can pick which street food to buy, Izrik chuckled loudly and pointed to a funny building sign.

"'Breakfast and Gin. Now that completes my day,' he said while still laughing.

"'Let's eat there then,' Guunnar suddenly suggested and walked towards the establishment without warning. It was a four-story building with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor and what looks like rooms for rent on the upper floors.

"'You know, it'll be your treat since you suggested the place,' I teased Guunnar. To my surprise, he agreed without even thinking about it. Guunnar has never been picky about food and he never prefer to eat indoors. He would rather eat outside where he could enjoy a meal with his horse, Tuesday, as much as possible. Even Izrik stared at me with a puzzled look. I shrugged my shoulders back at him helplessly.

"As soon as we entered the bar side of the ground floor a loud voice filled the entire floor, 'Guunnar! Welcome back!' Since it was still noon, there was no one in the bar, although the restaurant half is obviously filled. There is a broad arched doorway that joins the restaurant side and the bar side of the ground floor.

"'Master Hondar, these are my childhood friends, Izrik and Anika. This is Master Hondar, my uncle's best friend. He owns the Horseshoe Bar in the Artisan's Way back at the capital, but he is here most of the time,' Guunnar explained to us.

"'I might have to ask you to stop calling me Master Hondar after what happened here last night,' Master Hondar said with a smile. He then led us to a table with comfortable cushioned seats despite our puzzled looks.

"'Why? What happened here last night?' Guunnar asked curiously as Master Hondar started to order the house specialty for us.

"'There was a group of travelers, three females and two males. They made the village bullies look like kids. Even when I was at the capital, you'd rarely see skill of that level. The two male companions remained sitting and ate dinner while the two females watched. One of them made six bullies look like helpless children and scared their leader off my bar!' he narrated excitedly. 'I wouldn't be seeing those bullies here for a long time, that's for sure!' he added. We all looked at each other and suspected the same thing. Guunnar's and Izrik's face suddenly looked flushed with excitement.

"'What did the bullies do, Master?' Izrik asked.

"'They were bullying a traveling old man. He was a hunchback and they made fun of him,' he explained. 'The group was sitting there at the restaurant and eating their dinner peacefully but overheard the commotion and came to the rescue of the old man without warning,' he continued and then sighed. 'You'd never see such honor in such young people nowadays anymore. Our kingdom needs more people like them,' he added with a nod. The food that he ordered for us started to arrive one by one, but our hunger was suddenly pushed back by the tale that Master Hondar told us.

"'Do you happen to know where this group went, Master?' I asked quickly. I was sure that Guunnar and Izrik were about to ask the same thing, but I beat them.

"'Well, they stayed here for the evening, but left extremely early for the Cleansing Ritual,' he replied. 'Cleansing Ritual that early could only be the Ritual of Full Cleansing. That type of cleansing can be only be done before dawn,' he explained. 'They never came back here even though they paid for two evenings! And the old man's too!' he added with a smile.

"'What do you mean, the old man's too?' Izrik asked after we looked at each other. I expected that they'd undergo a Cleansing Ritual, but I never expected that they'd do a Ritual of Full Cleansing. It is powerful enough to destroy even the most powerful enchantments and spells.

"'Well, they paid for the old man's room for the whole week with full meals too! Such generosity and kindness to old folks! You'd never see anyone like that, I say! Nope, not anymore! And they're pretty ladies too!' he replied in the same excited tone. The rest of the food arrived, and I was surprised at how much food was served in the time that Master Hondar told his story. 'I should leave you so that you can eat in peace. Call me if you need anything!' he reminded us as he stood up from Guunnar's side and left.

"'The Ritual of Full Cleansing? Why would they go to such an extreme?' Izrik asked right away as soon as Master Hondar has left.

"'That could only mean that they are expecting a powerful opponent,��� I explained as I stared at Izrik. 'They wouldn't overcompensate caution unless they are expecting something or someone so powerful,' I added when Izrik fell silent.

"'Should we undergo the same? If they are expecting a powerful foe then we need to meet them as soon as possible!' Guunnar said. He is a man of few words, but Master Hondar's story has made each one of us worried about the safety of our friends and it has made Guunnar more vocal than usual.

"'I think we should verify first,' I suggested. 'I want to be certain without a single ounce of doubt that the group Master Hondar was talking about are indeed our friends and not someone else,' I suggested. 'Let's talk to the old man that they defended so that we can be sure,' I added. Izrik and Guunnar each agreed with a nod then stared at each other briefly.

"'I agree. I do not like the idea of our friends getting into this level of danger,' Izrik replied.

"We ate the meal that was prepared for us in a hurry. Guunnar then asked which room the old man was staying. When he got back to our table, he told us that Master Hondar said that the old man left before lunch for the Petal Grove at the back of the temple. We thanked Master Hondar for the information and left. We hurried to the Petal Grove as soon as we left the Breakfast and Gin. Fortunately, Guunnar was familiar with the Village of Ichonodo so we were able to reach the Petal Grove right away.

"When we arrived, we immediately saw the old man lighting up incense at the grove. He did have a hunchback just as Master Hondar said. We entered the grove silently and kneeled near the old man and waited for him to finish what he was doing.

"'Have you come for me or you wanted to light up an incense to the Mistress of Fire?' he said. We were the only people in the grove, so we were sure that he was talking to us.

"'If it pleases you, Master, we would like a moment of your time to talk,' I said politely. Guunnar and Izrik turned to me with surprised looks. I rarely speak formally, and I doubt that they have ever heard me talk that way before. It was a manner of speaking that I learned from travelers from the continent of the Untamed West.

"'No need to be too formal,' the old man replied with a chuckle. 'And yes, I will be with you shortly,' he added and became silent for a time. He finished a silent prayer and lit a few more incenses after he was done. He then got up from his kneeling position and walked to where we were kneeling as well. He gestured for us to follow him and he took us to a clearing on the northwestern side of the grove. 'What do you need to talk to me about? If it's about snake oil, I'm afraid I don't sell that,' he said with the same chuckle. He then paused and studied us carefully. 'Interesting. Interesting indeed,' he said as he raised his left hand into the air.

"'What is it, Master?' I asked with a puzzled look.

"'You came to me seeking one piece of information, but you need two. Unfortunately, you are unaware of your need for the second information. I shall give you both of this information plus one more if you agree that you shall ask nothing more and that your friend here with the twin swords would answer the information I seek. Swear this on your honor and you shall get exactly what you seek,' he explained patiently and then smiled as he waited for our reply. We stared at each other and nodded in agreement amongst ourselves.

"'We swear on our honor to agree to these terms,' we all said in unison.

"'Very well. You are friends with the young people who helped me last night. I know this because you all look to be of the same age as they are, and you all come from the same kingdom judging by the weapons that you and they carry. Needle, kodachi, dagger, staff, and butterfly sword. And now a polearm for our big warrior here and tessen for our lovely lady here. All weapons coincidentally belong to major clans of the kingdom of Zeiken-Shi,' he then paused and nodded. We were surprised by his knowledge of the different major clans of the kingdom. 'Your friend here, though, is an enigma. Just like I am to you, right? Answer me this young man,' he said as he turned and walked towards Izrik; his walking stick gently crunching the dead leaves on the ground as he walked. 'What were you told about your brother, Azra?' he asked slowly. His left eye narrowed slowly as a thoughtful smile crossed his lips.

"Izrik's face suddenly turned red. His hand reflexively moved towards his weapon, but he stopped it halfway. It must have taken him a tremendous amount of willpower to stop his reflex in the middle of executing a movement that he has done for years. I know from his quivering lips that Izrik wanted to know how the old man knew about Azra, but he couldn't ask because of the oath of honor that we made to the old man. I suddenly realized that we wouldn't be able to know his name unless he voluntarily tells us. 'He is the reason why our house was dishonored,' Izrik said under gritted teeth. Sweat started to flow down his face as his entire body shook.

"'Forget what you have been told about Azra. You must seek out my nephew. He is the first step for you to know the truth about the fallen House Kojima,' he said as he stared straight into Izrik's eyes. 'You must be wondering how you would know who my nephew is. That is the second information that I shall give you. A technique that is known only to my nephew and me and now you and your friends only. It is called The Fundamental Defense.'"