▬▬▬ thou finest ichor, a no-life nobility

AT THE FIRST CRACK OF DAWN, the early morning sun dappled the forest, enhancing the vibrant autumn that was almost falling into the ocher hue. Most of the trees were evergreen, but the longer the travel was, several deciduous trees were offering beautiful fall foliage.

The traveler you met, whose name was Tengen, really became your companion on the road.

His name sounded like that of a respectable, middle-aged man. He said that he was a sorcerer in the Sunrise Land. He left his country to preach about the foundations of the thing he called Jujutsu. From time to time, he would share a story about his nation. Although he was usually a quiet man, once he spoke, it always had meaning. You could notice that he was mimicking your accent, and it gave you a real impression that he was new in the country of Kálíkhaan. His personality seemed to be honorable for the most part, and seemed to be philosophical, but you didn't really understand him. He was probably an unexpectedly great man. His name even meant 'star'. You didn't know exactly why, but it felt like his life had a perfect significance in this world.

You also told him your story, your sins, and the reasons why you were deserving of death.

"That must be the Reversal Curse Technique," he explained. "Thou mayest not aware of it, yet thy body acted on thy own and healed thee."

"How? I knoweth thyself that I was left to die . . . Such technique could bringeth someone back to life?"

"I suppose not." He grinned subtly. "Surely, it is a part of thou ability, and there is more about thine young lady's true nature of thou power."

You really didn't understand him.

Curse? A form of power?

Then he told you that curse energy was born from negative emotions such as grief and anger, and it wasn't some kind of summoning a demon. You found it quite accurate. You were filled with anger. Anger. Anger. And anger.

You certainly rejoiced in your death, but there was a probability that you unconsciously manifested a curse technique in your days of being alive.

"Is there also a possibility of being cursed by other people?"

You were cursed. End of story.

"Yes." He nodded his head once. "Just as what I told thee, a curse is manifested from cursed energy as a result of the negative emotions that flow out of humans."

"Yet thy people hoped for thine Highness even in their graves."

"I dared say, forced hope to thine Highness," he corrected you. "I suspect it was a curse clothed in despair."

A hope born out of despair.

Despair. A negative emotion.

Curses are created when cursed energy leaks from humans as a result of their human emotions. Cursed energy builds up like sediment until a cursed spirit takes form.

"Listen, lass," he prompted, garnering your attention, "If I were to ask, I could classify thee as a Vengeful Cursed Spirit."

You only angled your head sideways, lifting a brow because of utter confusion.

"Vengeful Cursed Spirit?"

"A cursed spirit created when a human such thee become a curse after death. Those whose deaths are cursed have the possibility to have their spirit corrupted and transformed into a vengeful spirit . . ." He provided you the explanation in simple terms. "Yet thine Highness' case is special."

"What doth thee mean special?" you spoke in a low tone.

"You, young lady, for someone specified as a curse, a huge part of being a human remained in thee."

For a curse's nature was to destroy and harm people, so he said.

"I'm expecting thee to ignore humans for a time being."

Certainly, he would be cautious.

You continued walking, nonetheless. The path didn't care about the terrain—it was still a path—that was for you to deal with. So whatsoever came to the path, you and your traveling companion kept going. The travel was arduous and took a day of walking without even a destination. He also bought you a new cloak and headpiece to protect you from the glare of the sun. There would occasional layovers that the man would make just to help those who were weak and provide small things at the best he could. You only watched him performed his ways: healing such wounds, exorcising cursed spirits, and exhorted about the Jujutsu.

Well, you could freely admit that his ways were much way better than the immoral customs of your clan.

He said that he was glad for the people's gratitude that afforded him and leaving with inner contentment was profound.

He was the exact opposite of you.

The travel continued afterward. Not only accompanying him in the walk, but you also felt the calling of vistas new. It is neither running from nor running to, yet a sense of liberation of gentle curiosity and growing knowledge of the world was granted to you.

While you were traveling, you determined to maintain this for as long as you could—not associating with people. Albeit to your road companion, Tengen, he never strayed to his purpose and true to his words.

The days had stretched into weeks; through the searing sun and hurling rain; as the wind cooled; and the animals grazing the waters and land. You also had seen the abandoned settlements and farms. The farmers must have left their lands, not only because of the poor harvest, particularly to the wars as well.

"At where thou place heading?" you questioned him. It now appeared that you were exhausted from the endless walking.

He kept looking forward, not even glancing back on you when he answered, "First, we're heading to a city, and after that . . . I, myself, don't know."

You responded by clipping a nod and forced your legs to move further.

"Getting tired, young lass?"

"Yes," you exhaled.

"Get along." His voice incited motivation. "We are almost there."

You sighed heavily and followed the tiring path. Traveling was sure rewarding, only if not by foot. Soles moving upon the solid ground, you made a bold progression out of your vulnerable self.

Where were you, by the way? What place you were now?

Then, after a while, Tengen deliberately halted his pace. You did the same. The path ahead was suddenly alive; the city was bustling with people. She grinned, her fatigue was easing.

It was almost late afternoon.

The waning sunlight was flowing to the trees and grass.

"The Land of the Rulers," Tengen introduced the country to you. "As known as Kemi."

Your shoulders sunk, as your exhale became heavier. After all of those grueling journeys, it was only here where you arrived.

"Why thy place Kemi?" You grumbled.

He chuckled at your reaction. "For some reasons, I guess."

"Particularly to?"

"Two reasons–" he gestured his hand, lifting two of his fingers– "first, to see if bringing thee here could stir thou negative emotions and go berserk."

You scowled at him appallingly. "I held negative emotions not in thy place."

If there was an emotion you could offer for the nation, it was gratitude.

"The second—"

You cut him and said, "To spread the cornerstone of Jujutsu, doeth it?"

"Affirmatively."

The two of you carried on walking. You only silently hoped that no one would recognize you in this place. You were confident that you wouldn't be. The priestess from the nation Kálíkhaan had died; and within this number of people in the marketplace, it would be impossible.

The country was sure graced. You knew the Land of Kemi well; it was one of the nation's you had studied before. A city situated on a hill that rose on the river of Lein. The hill was rocky but gently sloping on the sides and had an extensive, flat on top. The site development plan consisted of a narrow strip of fertile, alluvial soil along both banks of the Lein River; the only country which, by means of the Nero Sea, commanded outlet and inlets for foreign trade. The Lein River itself was of untold value, not only as a trade route and means of communication, but also chiefly because its overflowing and fertilizing waters made lands into fruitful fields. From time immemorial, the people of Kemi founded their cities, both for the living and the dead, through royal burial tombs and priestly temples. The pursuit of learning astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy was continuously carried on, especially by religious leaders.

The concepts of the structures and trades were almost the same as the Kálíkhaan. There wasn't much difference.

As for the social and industrial conditions in Kemi, they were largely determined by the inflexible rule of an omnipotent government. Their craftsmanship was very highly developed, too, attaining great skills in weaving, pottery turning, metalworking, and in making musical instruments, jewelry, and furniture, thus the economy was always progressive.

Not only with the trading of crafts, but as well as the slave-trading.

It was prominent.

"Prisoners of war?" you asked Tengen, pertaining to those men and women wearing the same dirty white attire while being bound by iron shackles on their necks and wrists.

"Perhaps." He continued walking, nonetheless, his staff thumping on the ground along with his footsteps. "Here, people are goods to buy and sell."

Trading in human lives.

It had always been.

There were a lot of them. Some were imprisoned inside a carriage made out of timbers, looked after by the common guards wearing padded skullcaps and leather tunics on their chests.

There was even a live auctioning, and you listened to the tenderer.

"Hearken ye! Hearken ye!" The person being sold was a woman with sorrowful eyes. "Thou woman came from thy Land of Kálíkhaan, a fallen country! She testified that she was once a chambermaid of the dead Highness, the priestess! The price starts with ten silver coins!"

You got alarmed with the declaration of the tenderer!

One of the mine chambermaids?

Hurriedly, you pulled the brim of your headpiece lower and averted your attention to somewhere.

You had to get out of here quickly. Some might have recognized you.

To think that some of your clans still survived. Then you scoffed. Of course, they wouldn't just be annihilated that easily.

You walked close to Tengen, trying not to get separated from him on the crowded streets.  Yet, due to an unfortunate moment, you bumped into someone.

You attempted to push the person away, but he shadily laughed at you.

You were caught off guard with his creepy smile, and all of the sudden, he grabbed your arm and began dragging you.

"W-What . . !" You snarled at the man. You tried to look for Tengen among the multitude, but he unknowingly disappeared from your sight.

As the knave got your arm, he hauled you to a narrow alleyway.

"Unhand me!" You angrily said, your eyebrow forming slits.

He quickly obliged, his unnerving smile was still etched on his face. "Calm thyself, young lady."

You held your facial features stern, giving him the impression of authority.

"I hath something." He sounded like he was giving you a deal, taking out a small wooden box from his large sling bag. "I hath something especially made for thee." Then he opened the semi-circular lid.

You saw the contents of the box: bluish-black beads-like food. From the looks of it, they were edible sweets.

"Thine sweets hath capability to open thy door to bliss," he filled out the question forming to your mind. "Here, try some."

"What are these?" You usually had your stately accent, but since you were now one of the commoners, you tried to speak like one.

"Mystiah, my lady. Mys-ti-ah." His unwavering freakish smile never left his face. "Eat one, and thou shall forget sorrow and fear."

"Forget sorrow and fear . . ." you muttered.

Of course, you knew it was a sham. You sounded like you were diversing to his temptation, well, in fact, you were only finding a way to escape from here.

"Right, right." His deceptive eyes were convincing, and his voice dripped a sweet venom. "Never again be troubled by the misery and suffering of thy world."

Mystiah was not something to flirt with, you were aware of it. On your right side view, you saw a couple of people sprawling on the dirty cobblestones almost lifeless. A hallucinogenic substance, the Mystiah. Eating one would bring the spirit into a euphoria, then the soul would abandon the body and wander aimlessly in the darkness. Once the spirit returned, more and more of the Mystiah it would desire, until finally, death.

"Have one, my lady." He loomed closer to you. "No need to pay me; it would be thine pleasure."

You pretended that you were getting one. And when your fingers were about to touch the paraphernalia, you abruptly tossed the box away!

The situation turned over. The rotten medicines were left to be sullied on the ground. As the shady man had his attention occupied, mad at your imprudence, you took the chance to flee away!

You went along to the flow of the mass, and when you felt you ran a quite distance, you stopped. You studied the crowd forming in front of you, beside you, and behind you. Much to your bewilderment, your irises didn't seem to have that emotion. Your lips formed into a thin line as you concentrated, glaring at what was in the heap of the crowd. You were lost. You and your road companion got separated. It was enough reason to be on guard. This market district of Kemi was not safe for a young traveler like you. Slave-traders were just around the corner. Then there was you, who had nothing but your insignificant life.

Having no choice, you proceeded to walk. Tengen's purpose was to preach the word about Jujutsu, therefore, finding him would not be that hard. Hopefully. If ever you heard something related to Jujutsu, positively or negatively, you could gather information by then.

But you didn't have the leisure to dawdle; you had to find him as soon as possible.

You once heard your brothers before, pertaining to a practical skill in locating someone: one must go to a high place to broaden one's field of view.

Somehow, you were propitious that you were able to find him. Tengen had a distinct aura for a human. You sometimes notice a strange stream growing out of his form. You theorized it as curse energy he regarded to.

People walking, the streets were rich brown and soft yet bold hues. It was a marriage of sounds, from hoovering steps of the horses, to cart wheels, to chattering market-goers.

It was summer in the city. You meandered under the shades of the stalls. The people that passing you slightly irritated you. Ahead was an intersection of the avenue. The sun was about to set now, there would be no enough time to enjoy the entourage.

You reached the terraced-slopes area of the city. The wind felt fresh here. There were erected high walls, supported by stone pillars and planted by what was called a pensile paradise, and replenishing all sorts of trees.

Now, now, you wondered if you were able to catch Tengen here.

Another gust of the wind blew from the north orientation. It was perplexingly, but the scent of the air was quite different now. The roads were empty at this time, too, no odd movements in the shadows in a distance, your body automatically turned a half-circle.

A frown elevated on your forehead.

No matter where you cast your eyes, there was no single thing in the area. The eerie sounds calmly echoed along with the soothing howling of the wind in your ear. Paranoid thumps were mixed at the tempo of your heartbeat. It was a beautiful city, so serene and peaceful, at first you believed, except it wasn't.

Instincts or natural paranoia.

You weren't sure which, but there was this shiver raised on your nape. Then it gave you the impression of being watched. Not a single soul was seen, and yet the malice from a pair of eyes had made you frantic.

You let out a huff as you chose to ignore the prickle all over your skin. Then you simply turned to your right and paced down the slope. You needed to merge with the crowd, remaining alone was never a good option for you.

After a few steps of sauntering, you bolted down the slope with all your might. What was even surprising when you heard multiple heavy footsteps behind.

You craned your head, glancing back. Confirmed. You were being chased. Not only one, but three of them.

You were quick to delineate their attire: similar to the slave-traders.

You gritted your teeth at each stride you took with irritation.

Had they always been eyeing on you since they knew you were alone?

Now, you had more reason to run faster. You run, expecting to save yourself. Being chased by these traders was as potentially deathly as it already was. Thus, you needed to escape at any cost. You had to focus. You had to think while in the middle of a frightening situation. You deal with the trauma later, or you didn't have to at all. Survival had its merit . . . One thing you should settle because you had to.

Ahead of you, you had three choices where to go. It must be an instinct, and you took a sharp turn on your right.

Good signs, for you reached the downtown area of the city where the commercial units were. You could enter one of them and hide.

You regretted it after—

"AHH!"

—a squirm.

It was your squirm; you hit a person, head bumping into something hard.

You almost lost your balance because of the impact, causing your headpiece to be thrown away—arching in the mid-air in slow motion. Then it fell on the paved ground, while you were able to regain your composure. Not losing any seconds, you scrambled on your feet and went into a unit near you. A shop that was selling silks and fleeces . . . You hid at the very corner of the shop, sitting down, and legs pressed on your chest.

With your widened eyes and weary stature, you kept your harsh breathings in a low tone. Your head went a little bleary after all the running, but you were aware that three voices were professing their confusions.

"Where did she go? She couldn't just disappear!"

"She must have hidden inside the shops!"

"You! Surely you've seen a maiden. Tell us where she went!"

Panic was shrouding out of you. They were asking the man whom you bumped into. All you ever did is to hope that he wouldn't give your whereabouts.

"Thy maiden fled to the second alleyway from here. Perhaps, you all will still able to pursue her."

A sensation of relief rushed over you, once this stranger saved you from the hands of those lowly traders.

Just a little while when you heard footsteps approaching. You stayed sitting, your pulses returning to their regular beating.

As your head tilted down, you saw a pair of shoes in front of you.

"Is thy maiden doing fine?" The way he uttered his words had a quiet gentle signification. "Ease now; the pursuers are gone."

You knew; because of him. You were grateful, but you couldn't afford to let your face be shown, so you hid your face on your knees.

The man understood what you meant. He even had your headpiece; he picked it up for you when it fell. Then he gently put it back on your head. It was a plain headpiece with a brim, no accessories or ornaments of nobility.

Such an unfortunate day. You were damned. You were separated with Tengen and some low-lives wanted to sell you out.

The sun would set soon. You had no idea in what place you would stay. At least you had some coppers with you, your food for tonight was secured.

"Is there a way I could help thee?" The man was still here and felt benevolent to offer you help.

Moping here wouldn't do you good, so you stood up.

"Thou kind man hath already helpeth me," you told him while shaking off the dust on your cloak. "I couldn't disturb thee any further."

You went past him without paying him a glance.

You sort of anticipated that he would be still following you. "Thine maiden a traveler?"

Now you had exited the shop and took the path forward, not paying attention to him.

"If the case shall be that way, then I apologize to thee, thine maiden."

His words caught your attention. There was nothing to apologize for . . .

"Why?" you replied.

You sensed the glee in him once you talked to him again.

"A new king hath crowned recently, then the king's personal attendants proposed to the king saying that let a search be made for beautiful young maidens for the king."

You already had the idea what was the cause why you were in pursuit. So you scoffed and timidly shook your head.

"This advice appealed to the king, and he did so," he continued explaining. "He appointed commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the house of women at the citadel of Kemi. Then let the young woman who pleaseth the king be queen, and to those who brought her shall receive wealth."

Not only slave-traders, but also a slave to a vain thing as wealth.

They would seem to lose their humanity when it came to wealth.

Pity.

You secretly peered at the man but weren't able to see his face for he was taller than you.

You shrugged it off.

"Well," you then prompted, "doeth a man like you is the same as them?"

He chuckled, "What doeth maiden think?"

Instead of being provoked by your question, he regarded it as humor.

"Then, you mayest leave thine maiden alone." You dismissed him off, speeding up your pace.

You saw how the people setting up torches outside their houses or establishments. No wonder; the sun was now resolutely low from the horizon.

Inwardly, you sighed. You would just have to spend the night in the forest.

"I could offer a place to sleep for thine traveler," he proposed. "Or some things that delight thee."

You could tell that he was a resident here and had a role in this country, thus you could trust his motives . . . But you also had a valid reason not to.

"For someone who hath no name such as thyself, doeth thou kind man becoming a little too familiar with me?"

"Now, now." The man pursed his lips, his eyes twinkling with a knowing grin. "It's not the time to discuss the fine hairs of ethics, isn't it? Thine traveler, thine maiden, must be idealistic and face facts."

It was like slicing your own throat that you could hardly believe his words without an ulterior motive.

You had decided. You didn't need his help.

And before you could turn down his proposition, someone interrupted you two.

"Isostress!"

Huh?

A familiar voice.

Ever since coming here, you considered having your path crossed with someone you knew before. And you weren't expecting it sooner.

You faced what was behind you, then remained unmoving.

You didn't understand why, but the three of you went silent a while longer. It seemed like the world returned to its earlier tranquility. Holding fast within a silence . . . As you all stayed upright, the beautiful sky was slowly drained of its brightness. Over the trees surrounding nearby, delicately dripping with soft leaves, the darkness seemed to creep slowly.

The rumble of a cart reached your ears from the distant road. You imagined some villager setting off with his load of potted goods that he had to sell at the market.

At that sound, the man who helped you broke off his oblivion and pivoted abruptly to his feet, like one who was restored to life.

"Mykerinos!" he greeted back. "Thine brother."

All of the sounds you were hearing are rejected by your ears.

"What is it?" Certainly, he had the name Isostress.

"We ought to be off," answered him. "The days hath grown a good deal longer recently, but the evening's rapidly approaching while you saunter here idly."

"Perhaps thine brother is right."

You had the chance to flee from here, yet your legs felt heavy and your feet were seemed to be plastered on the patchworks of the pavement.

"Thus," Isostress spoke to you, "thine maiden would accept thy offer?"

Ludicrous, for your state of being able to talk, was taken away from you as well.

"Who is she?" Now it also came to Mykerinos to find it strange that his brother, Isostress, would be entranced to a certain maiden who was bound in a journey.

"A lone traveler," Isostress said, facing you.

The gesture did make you particularly perturbed. This was partly due to your own rather ignorant attitude, and felt that Isostress's tone was cheerful to excite joy. And so smiled. You detected no irony in his expression and felt a distinct genuine pleasure at his sense of confidence.

"And she, thine maiden, will be the queen."

DAMNNNN FINALLY DONE!!!

is the story fast paced?

if not, then good.

if yes, then good as well. bc i want this over olredi lmaooo

pls tell me what you think of this story, what to improve; what to correct. roast my ass if you wanted to hahahaha

what was even your reaction while reading this? bc i myself was surprised, ngl. i don't plan/plot my story like most writers do, bc i wanna give myself that 'whooooaaah' factor lmao

ancillary notes:

• citadel - a city on a hill. e.g., Acropolis in Anthens. acro means height, polis means city

• Isostress - i like the name lmao. leik I(m)sostress(ed) yep.

now im gonna think for a new chapter title again hahaha :< and the next chapter will be a lot of work

— HANDTHE;REND —