Chapter twentyeight: The misty seas

Now with the marriage complete all the guests have left an ominous red letter from the guild arrives. Hi stands up in the morning and is greeted by mail. "Ugh, Mail first thing in the morning." Hi says opening the letter. He reads the text and finds out about an urgent quest to slay a giant snake on a misty sea isle. Together with Otsuki and Tatsuya they are tasked to slay the giant snake and the attracted monsters and demons gathering under it. Erik oversees the whole process and will research alongside them. "What´s going on?" Aria asks him only waking up now. "Work, The guild wants my help." Hi answers putting his armor and weapons on as well as his red dragon katana. "I´ll be off then shouldn´t take too long." Hi says giving her a kiss on the cheek. "See you later." he says teleporting off. There´s knocking on the door. "May I have a moment ?" a servant asks. "Just a moment." Aria answers getting dressed. She opens the door and the servant greets her with a bow. He looks around and doesn´t find Hi. "It would seem master Hi is out. We need you to do some paper work as new lady of the house." he says. "Alright, I´ll do it." Aria says sighing following him. "It´s unfortunate that master Hi needs to be out right now but such is the life of the heirs of fire. Always seeking the thrill of the hunt." he says. Hi is now at the misty seas capital. He makes his way to the dock as instructed by the letter. He makes his way through the capital covered in low mist with just magic lanterns lighting up the path and the sun peering in. He makes his way through the busy city market bustling with traders, fisher and all in between. The market is filled with freshly prepared meals and laid out fish as well as other spoils of the sea as well as some local fruits and hunters trading. He finally finds some stairs leading to the docks filled with sailors carrying their catch to the market. He finds some hunters, sailors and researchers from the guild as well as Erik at the dock waiting for someone. Hi waves to Erik who comes up to him. "You finally arrived. It looks like we can get started now. Have you read the brief?" Erik asks. "I´ve read it big snake and monsters." Hi says. "Not just any snake. A legendary seven headed one, named Yamata no Orochi." a hunter says coming up. The hunter is an experienced black woman. She has one scar across the nose across a triple slash scar across the forehead and one across the left eye. Her left eye is purple and her right eye is read. She has her white hair put up in a pony tail with some strands coming down in her face. She has slightly pointed ears and sharp fangs for teeth. She wears a Kimono with some light scale armor and over the the armor a large haori. The clothes are blue and gold with some white fur on top. On her back is a long katana wider and as long as she herself. She is half a head smaller than Hi but that´s still over the average. Next to her is a man with short white hair and asian heritage. He wears white and cyan clothes with some light armor underneath his haori. He has a kitsune mask on the side of her head. He also uses a long katana. He looks less expierenced but still as skilled as her partner. "Let me introduce you to Otsuki and Tatsuya. Otsuki has a long history of hunting almost as long as Sozin´s and her hunting partner Tatsuya has joined recently and is under her care to becoma a master hunter." Erik explains. "You look stronger than expected and smell kinda like burnt wood. An unusual smell but not unwelcome." Otsuki says sniffing the air with her pupils that are like a cats dilluting. "You look strong too." Hi answers. "So you are the legendary rookie Hi trained by Sozin." Tatsuya says. "You still have a long way to go If you want to become a legendary hunter like me!" Otsuki says giving him a pat on his back. "Guess you´re right I couldn´t even sense your aura from afar." Hi says. "I noticed your presence since you got here and your smell." Otsuki says. "I wouldn´t put it past you. She is so good with her aura control that almost nothing leaks outside. I do that too but not as well." Tatsuya says. "We should get going, my blade is thirsty for some blood!" Otsuki says with her sword giving off a faint red glow. They all get on the ship and the captain greets them. He is an old man as tall as Hi with a white beard and short white hair wearing a captains uniform with big captain coat hangin from his massive shoulders. He wears a sailors hat and is smoking from a pipe. "So you are the younguns I need to get to that bloody snake infested island." he says. "We are." Hi says. "Well, hold on then it´s gonna be a wild ride!" He says laughing and gathering his crew to set sails. The ship is big and covered in a blue wood and metal with a mermaid at the front of the ship. The ship sets sail into the misty seas. The further they get in the more fog there is. "Don´t worry the captain is an expirienced one. He has sailed these treacherous seas a long time. He knows all the ins and outs of the currents, weather, islands and monsters." Erik explains. In the fog there is a long and windy leviathan very snake like but not quite. It´s just swimming around surfacing every once in a while to see what is going on. As fast as it appeared it disappears into the sea again. They get further in and hear some loud and low pitched humming from under the water. "Those must be the bluescale whales. They swim in these sees. You can tell from their distinct hum, reflective blue scales and large horn for fishing." Erik says. "Sounds scary." Hi says. "Most of them aren´t scary as long as you are on a big ship they´ll keep away thinking you´re just another one of them. As soon as you fall into the water though you are most likely dead within seconds." Erik says. "I don´t like the ocean." Hi says. "Land!" a sailor from the top of the mast yells. "Get ready to anchor!" The captain tells them loudly. "Aye, captain!" they say rolling the sails up and getting the anchor ready. They drift closer to the shore and then the anchor is dropped into the sea. "There we are. Prepare to get on some boats to get closer." he says lowerin some hunters and researchers into the sea. They take the hard way and row close to the island. Otsuki and Tatsuya jump first onto the island. Hi follows soon after. They step foot on the island´s sandy beach already covered in footprints. "It´s quiet.... almost too quiet with no monsters in sight." Hi says. "Shhh! Master is picking up something" Tatsuya says. Otsuki´s ears are stealed eyes sharp and her nose picking up a scent of monsters. She takes one look at the footsteps and knows where to go. "This way!" she says following a trail of aura and scent. "How did you do that?" Hi asks just picking up the scent and aura. "Just visualise them, the magic traces and the smell that should help." Otsuki says. Hi follows her advice and can see the same thing she was talking about. "It actually works!" Hi says. "What did you think I´m a legendary hunter for show or what?" Otsuki says annoyed at the comment. "Right, I won´t doubt you anymore." Hi says. They get further in into a thick and giant jungle towards a giant tree in the middle. "Follow me!" Otsuki says jumping onto the trees. Tatsuya follows and they start running atop the branches with Hi managing to keep up. They arrive at the giant tree and find some grooves of something slithering around. There are monsters prowling around the giant tree and some demons along them commanding them around. "Demons too." Otsuki says analysing their behaviour. Hi is ready to attack but Tatsuya stops him. "You´ll just give away our position." Tatsuya says. "Our position is already given away! Dodge!" she screams jumping away. They do it too and a giants seven headed snake jumps from the giants tree toppling the trees and letting a out a loud and intimidating scream that gets the demons and monsters closer. "I´ll keep the snake busy you deal with the rest." Otsuki says. "Alright let´s raise some hell!" Hi says. "Be careful not to burn the whole forest!" Tatsuya says converned. "I won´t!" Hi says charging in. Otsuki sheathes her blade which is now glowing in a bright red light. She points her sword at the snake. "My sword wants your blood. Yamata no Orochi!" she says with a strong predator´s bloodlust. Yamata no orochi responds in kind and attacks with it´s seven heads. One of them gobbles her up. To be continued....