Acis merely grunted, a tight sound, as she subtly shifted away from Marichi. Blutsatchel cast a glance her way, a flicker of irritation barely concealed in her gaze.
"You wouldn't want to worry your older brother now… would you?" Marichi's voice softened, a tender probe.
"No… He's seen enough…" A fragile confession, Acis's voice fractured.
"He's been through enough…" Her voice forced.
"Then tell me… both me and Blut are here." Marichi's hand reached, a gentle anchor on her other shoulder.
"The thing is…"
"That man…" A shiver coursed through her, the words themselves a struggle.
"The way he seemingly came back from all those wounds…" Her voice hitched.
"He got his head cut off…"
"Even got a part of him blown up with all his insides spilling out." Her body convulsed, a phantom echo of the horror she had witnessed, playing out behind her eyes.
"And with you and Blut…" Her hands flailed, a desperate pantomime in the air, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I-I just…" Her breath caught, words failing.
"No… No… Don't worry." Marichi's whisper was a soft balm.
"Even when I faced him at first…"
"I felt exactly how you felt." Marichi's face tilted, a curtain of his hair swaying to veil the empathy in his eyes.
"The things we all saw… weren't normal in the slightest."
"But the only thing that was normal in there…" He pointed to the ground, a grounded gesture.
"Was how we looked out for each other." His finger swept around them, encompassing their shared space.
"What was normal was me knowing that if we could be like that in there…"
"That there's nothing that can scare us as long as we're together…
"And not letting the past drag us down." His words were a steady hand, guiding her gaze to his face. Her eyes, once brimming, now locked onto his, while Blutsatchel rolled hers, a silent, exasperated sigh.
"C'mon Marichi, see why I said taking her in wasn't a good idea." Blutsatchel's scoff was a rough, dismissive sound.
"Hey!" Marichi's sharp retort cut through the air as he turned on her.
"She's a young girl with no grit. She can't possibly survive like this."
"Especially in our world." Blutsatchel leaned in, her gaze a challenge.
"But isn't this why a family exists?!" Marichi's hands swept wide, embracing a larger concept.
"To make up for each other's shortcomings?"
"But Acis carried herself pretty well out there."
"Not sure you'd be this snappy if she didn't stitch your wound." He delivered the barb with precision, and Blutsatchel's jaw clenched, her silence a reluctant surrender.
"She's actually proved that she can handle her own alone… So I don't understand what you're saying." He added, standing, his fierce gaze pinning Blut before he brushed past her.
Acis watched, a renewed admiration blooming within her. Marichi seemed to radiate a quiet, warm energy as she gazed at his retreating back. She wiped her eyes, then stood.
"No… It's alright…" Acis chuckled, a fragile, watery sound.
"I'm okay now… You guys can stop…" She winced, a faint tremor in her voice.
"Hey, what's going on?" Kacis's voice drifted down, a soft landing, his feet never touching the ground. People passing by paused, then resumed their paths, quickly losing interest.
"Oh, it's nothing." Marichi's face smoothed instantly, the serious lines dissolving into a mellow ease.
"So what did you see?" He walked past a sulking Blut, approaching Kacis.
"Uhh, nothing but patrols and some bandit encampments." Kacis huffed, raising an eyebrow, his shoulders relaxing.
"But for the bandits, they were pretty spaced out from each other…"
"There was even one really close here…" He sighed, his gaze hardening as he looked to his right.
"Then we can't stay here for too long." Blutsatchel's grunt was a low thrum of agreement.
"I even have to go back really soon." Marichi stretched his arms, a weariness seeping into his posture.
"Don't want to arouse suspicion… Just got in there." He gently snapped his neck, massaging it.
"How was Jorel?" His brows suddenly drew together, his voice deepening with concern.
"Unconscious and not fully healed when I dropped him." Kacis offered a faint smile, a glint of teeth.
"No one saw you, right?" Marichi leaned in closer, his voice a low whisper.
"Yeah, no one saw me, it was actually easy."
"Dropped him off at a tree close to the main gate." Kacis made a slight, repetitive downward motion with his hand, a silent reassurance that Marichi needn't worry.
Marichi sighed, then clapped his hands. "Let's get going then."
"Kacis, we'll travel through the air." He tapped Kacis's shoulder lightly, and an easing sensation flowed through Kacis.
"But… Supplies?" Acis asked, slowly stepping forward.
"Yeah, she's right, not sure when next we might be able to rest." Kacis seconded her.
Marichi quickly considered, then nodded.
"Fine… Supplies… Then we move out."
"Blutsatchel and Acis, follow Kacis into town to get stocked up." Marichi pointed deeper into the town's heart.
"What about you?" Acis asked.
"I'll just hang around by myself… You're not the only one that's been recollecting." He smirked, nudging his head.
"And don't worry… I can handle myself." The smirk widened into a confident grin.
Kacis, Acis, and Blutsatchel nodded in agreement, heading deeper into the town while Marichi walked the opposite way.
…For a second there…
Thought she was turning into a Burtu…
The way they both seemed to have a sort of…exhaustion…
But I wouldn't blame them…
What they went through…
Marichi looked at his clenched fist, knuckles white.
Sorry Burtu…
Sorry you went through all that…
But don't worry… I'll pay for what I did.
He stopped walking, his hand dropping, as the wind, heavy and mournful, blew around him.
I'll be joining you in hell soon enough.
He lowered his head, a short, grim chuckle escaping him, then resumed walking.
…
Meanwhile in the Jonke region, just due southward of Slov and Tanten, the Ujochi estate stood as an enduring testament. It comprised multiple houses, some tiered with more than one layer, the increase in their height subtly marking progress deeper into the grounds.
Red Blumens, vibrant against the green, danced across the fields, rustling in the wind. The rhythmic clanking of wood echoed from where figures in training armor wielded wooden swords.
At the very heart of the estate stood an exquisite mansion. Its traditional aesthetic, beautifully decorated and ornamented, blended seamlessly with the pristine white that spanned its fifteen soaring layers.
On the middle layer, the eighth floor, a room lay with its door slightly ajar. The space within was pristine, adorned with paintings of the Ujochi clan symbol on its walls. A lone central bed occupied the cool, silent air. The wind, stirring the drapes, whispered through the room, its rustling and cool touch gently rousing the occupant.
…
Slowly, his eyelids fluttered open, greeted by the crisp wooden boards of the ceiling above.
A low groan rumbled in his throat as his body stirred, sitting up on the side of the bed. He placed a hand to his head, massaging his eyes and brows, trying to clear the lingering haze of sleep.
How did I get here…?
Last I remember…
Images flashed: Lezschill, Burtu, and Marichi, whom he recognized as Ten.
A jolt of realization brought his head up. He looked around, his initial shock quickly settling into the familiar comfort of the room.
…How did I get to the medical wing?
He thought, rising. He noticed he had been cleaned and fully healed.
Walking towards a mirror, he saw his crisp white shirt and black hakama, and observed that his golden-brown hair was a little unkempt. He then walked farther and stepped out of the already open door into a hallway, his body still weighted with weariness, his eyes still droopy as he yawned. He rounded a corner and bumped into an older woman carrying a tray with a plate.
"…You're awake?!" She cried, pure startlement in her voice.
"S-Sir Jorel?!" She stuttered, the tray in her hands quivering.
"I'll go tell everyone!" She exclaimed, then dropped the tray to the floor and hiked up her gown, scurrying away as fast as her old, short, stubby legs could carry her.
"He's awake… He's awake…" She murmured to herself, opening another door and disappearing, leaving it slightly ajar.
"Hmm…" Jorel yawned, gently kicking the tray aside as he continued walking.
He reached the door at the end of the hallway and simply pushed it wider, stepping through. He was immediately greeted by maids who bowed low, and even small children followed suit.
Well, that was quick…
Jorel thought, mildly surprised, as he continued his descent.
This scene repeated for a while, even as he moved down the stairs. It only stopped when he reached the first floor, the grand hall.
The grand hall was adorned with valuable pottery, exquisite paintings, and countless designs of the Ujochi clan insignia. Soft cushions lay on the ground, serving as seats for a large crowd. At the forefront, a grand dais held a large board, behind which designs fit for thrones were carved. On one of these sat a rather tall, red-haired, buxom woman.
The moment Jorel walked down, gracefully dismissing servants who inquired about his well-being, she immediately rose. She rushed forward, her high, traditional royal sandals, almost entirely covered by her large, flowing kimono---decorated with a vibrant flower representing life---and her neatly packed-up hair with its pins, bouncing with each hurried step.
"Jorel…" She softly breathed, extending her open hands, a tender smile gracing her red-lipsticked lips as she drew closer.
She then leaped forward, enveloping him in a tight embrace, massaging his head as his face was buried in her chest. She wept, holding him closer. Jorel returned the embrace, holding her as tightly as she held him.
Mother…
He sniffled, a profound relaxation settling over him.
"My sweet boy!" She burst into fresh tears, clutching him even harder.
…So this is it…
This is how home feels like…
How could I almost forget.
Jorel thought, tears freely flowing from his own eyes.
---The end of chapter 50---