Step by step. Step by step Metsuhai walked across the unchanging brick outer city wall. He was wearing his chainmail armor and carrying his sword (in the sheath) and his shield on his back. His brown strap was gone, no longer on his left shoulder.
To his right, the sleeping half modern half ancient city was seen, somewhat far away. If he tried hard he could see a car passing by from time to time. Of course, by protocol, he should only and all the time look to the outside, which was at the moment to his left.
The outside was unbelievably boring. Since this was a curve in the wall, the view was partially blocked by the nearby guard tower and other higher segments of the walls. The beautiful ocean was hardly seen. It was obviously the worst spot to be positioned in, yet Metsuhai didn't blame the other guards for placing him there. From their perspective he was a novice, an outsider. They even didn't get to replacing his equipment to be like that of a usual guard. But the unpleasant hours were worse. From twelve to four in the afternoon and from midnight to four in the morning. Meaning he had to catch up on his sleep during daytime, or at least at what used to be his most productive hours. It was only his second day in his new, demoted position and his schedule and training routine were ruined. As another unpleasant addition, bringing his usual phone (not the battlephone) with him during a guard shift was strictly forbidden. They would punish him for this with extra shifts.
For anyone who never guarded a city wall before, alone for four hours, it's hard to explain just how mentally draining this boring (and pointless in this location) job really was. Metsuhai finally understood the stories of guards who began drinking or broke regulation in other ways thus getting themselves into trouble. For now though, Metsuhai managed to occupy himself with thoughts. The thoughts weren't pleasant.
He vividly remembered his last encounter with Ando just a day and a half ago.
…
"You are a disgrace!" Ando shouted on him "You disappointed us all. Brought shame on Lezner and myself. I was counting on you, with my career on the line! How could you…"
Metsuhai stood silently, his eyes staring at the floor of Andos office. He knew he couldn't answer, that would be the last straw. The order was extremely strict and unforgiving. And Metsuhai did feel a bit guilty for dragging Ando into his mess. But the blatant unfairness of the situation really stung, filling Metsuhai with rage more than equivalent to his shame.
"…You are now Redavoi again," declared Ando, ripping the brown strap off his shoulder, "And you will stay Redavoi to the end of your days. You shall get a job befitting to your kind. You will guard the wall, you will live guarding the wall. You will die guarding the wall. And you will never be anything but one of the wall guards. And you will never be promoted again. You should feel lucky your memory wasn't erased. Lucky for you, the Generalisimus Goh-oh-sama stepped in for you again. Now get out of my sight!"
…
Andos words echoed in Metsuhais mind again and again. Metsuhai couldn't have expected this personal retribution. Kagehiroto really put the punishment system to work.
At first Metsuhai really tried to give his best to the guard duty. He looked to the right and left, walking across his lonely route, far above the roofs of houses. Sharply gazing into the distance, awaiting movement that never came. Everyone knows no one ever attacks the capital. It was fortified, isolated, filled with fierce warriors and positioned beneath the strongest most reliable section of the barrier. In addition there was a powerful magical line stopping all who are unwelcomed. The order had so many weakness points- areas where the barrier was especially weak were prone to attack. Large populated areas, some of them far from order bases. Wide forests, uninhabited swamps, mountains and caves. The demons were not stupid, striking where the order had hard time dealing with them.
So it wasn't long before Metsuhais consciousness was swept away to distant planes. He spent his time pondering and thinking, barely doing the minimum of his guard requirements. Either way, there wasn't much to do. Metsuhai finally came to the realization that this job was even more pointless than guarding Kagehiroto. At least there was a shred of a chance one day Kagehiroto will be attacked as unlikely as it is… but this is complete crap.
The most pressing concern was Metsuhais depleting funds. He barely had enough medicine for another week, and it was losing efficiency for sure. His paycheck was coming only in two and a half weeks. It was reduced now significantly as well.
The good new are after Mordon I can loan as much as I want without even explaining why. The bad news…
Another wave of strong pain went up his arm, like acid melts his skin, consuming his body. Out of habit Metsuhai held himself back from making a sound, although there was no one around to listen. Metsuhai reflected on yesterdays meeting with doctor Kin.
…
It was an unpleasant experience that Metsuhai brought upon himself. He laid on a hospital bed wearing only his underwear (and his bandage over the sickle and hammer symbol), electrodes attached to his entire body. Doctor Kin was personally monitoring his condition, writing intensely in his small notebook. And this was after the many blood tests and injections and (the less annoying) smelly ointments. All this torture cost Metsuhai a small fortune (recently loaned) and he had to personally interrupt the doctor during his workday, risking even more trouble. And now the good doctor was about to deliver his sentence.
"I have good news and bad news," doctor Kin said calmly "the good news are you assisted the order, humanity and myself more than you can imagine. I collected tremendous amount of data about infernal venoms, data that will save lives. I can write a whole thesis about what I learned here… The bad news are I don't have a cure for you. The poison is too powerful, stronger than you. And… it is spreading unusually fast. At least for someone on medication. It will take years to find a countermeasure. You have but a few months at best, even with the medicine. I even feel guilty about taking your money. I am sincerely sorry."
…
Ando was right in one thing… I will die a walls guard. Metsuhai couldn't find a single point of light in this eternal night. He couldn't even save 'The Persian King'.
Metsuhai couldn't forget…
He stood at the fancy clean street, surrounded by four guards- two from each side. There were loud sounds of heavy machinery. Tractors and demolition vehicles were on the job, destroying the restaurant, smashing it to bits. The old restaurant owner was forced to see his lifes work destroyed before his very eyes. He was crying.
Somehow this memory weighed on Metsuhai more than his approaching death. Perhaps because deep in his heart he still believed he could be saved. But this belief was fading fast.
Metsuhai peeked at his battlephone. It was a bit after three in the morning. From Metsuhais short experience on the wall it was always cold this deep into the night. The chainmail armor was a perfect conductor, becoming cold as ice as the hours pass. At least this night wasn't windy. Just one more hour, he tried encouraging himself unsuccessfully. The last hour was always the hardest. Metsuhai yawned, covering his mouth with his hand. It was deep in the night and he wanted to sleep.
Suddenly Metsuhai heard slight sound of steps. Am I so tired that I start hearing things?... no, that was real. But who will come to this section of the wall at this hour of the night… is someone actually breaking in, how did he get passed the line?… and indeed something was moving down there, beneath the wall.
Finally something to distract me from my sorrow.
Metsuhai looked to the left, trying to see through the night. A stranger covered in brown robe was making his way towards the wall. Another hooded guy, just like the bastard who put me here. I had enough of Kagehiroto to the upcoming end of my life.
Metsuhai drew his sword. The hooded guy went right towards the wall and then to Metsuhai's amazement walked up the wall as if it was part of the floor. He was closing in fast. Metsuhai knew that he was supposed to call for reinforcement, blowing the guard horn he was given when he got the job. But he cared about procedures no more. I am much stronger than your average guard. I am a battle hardened veteran. Maybe it's an assassin sent by Kagehiroto for my life, which would explain how he bypassed the line. But he will not get his wish so easily.
Soon the hooded guy acrobatically maneuvered through the air, landing not too far away from Metsuhais sharp blade. He was a head taller than Metsuhai and stood with confidence not drawing his sheaved blade.
Am I not lucky. No one ever attacks this place. I almost feel like I won a million dollars. I'll send one more opponent to hell before departing myself.
"You better be careful before you do something you will regret for a long time," the hooded man spoke in a somewhat familiar tone.
Where did I hear this voice before, can this be?
The stranger removed the brown hood. Beneath the hood was the face of a middle aged Japanese well built man. A bigger version of Metsuhai wearing a tired disappointed expression.
"Father?!"
For a very brief moment Metsuhai considered the possibility of a shapeshifter demon. They were incredibly rare and dangerous. Buy how could one cross the line, approach the right person on the right inner section and to even be wearing his father's expression. No, this was for real.
Gin Fugughuu smiled his warm rare smile, meant only for family.
"I know you must have a lot of questions. Let's talk."
…
Metsuhai and his father sat on the wall one across the other, comfortably positioned on their knees, holding hot cups of tea. The steam slowly rising from the cups. Between the two was only the teapot.
"I haven't seen you in so long. You have grown in more ways than one. I'm so proud."
Metsuhai said nothing. Simply drinking slowly from his hot cup.
"I was looking all over for you. You disappeared as if vanished into thin air. I couldn't imagine out of all places you were all this time in my old work place."
"I tried calling you and mom many times. And even before that, why didn't you tell me about the war, the order- all of this?"
"These days I work as a mercenary, outsider for the order. The order typically taps mercenary's phones. If our conversation had been intercepted I would be in great danger and so would you. The order knew who you are from the very beginning."
Gin took another sip from the tea, breathing out steam into the cold night air. "Not telling you was a decision both me and Hikari made together. I regret it from the bottom of my heart. I felt it was wrong but caved in. Your mother wanted normal, calm life for you. We planned for you a life where the order plays no role. We wanted to free you of this burden and keep you safe. We wanted to spare you from all of this. We even gave you the amulet as a line of protection in case something goes wrong. But the day baron Phaulin and his army attacked Tokyo our plan backfired. Hikari was on her way to get you when she sensed Phaulin's presence. She took a long detour and by the time she came, the apartment was destroyed and you were gone. We failed you son. You must have been through a lot."
Metsuhai sat quietly, digesting the new information. "How did mom managed to cross the city unharmed?"
"She is more powerful than you think. Your mom is one of the most talented sorceresses in the world. Yet the official treatment of sorcerers by the order puts us in constant danger. It gets worse… Just as the sun has inner eruptions which are hotter and more dangerous than the surface itself, so do the order policies get influenced by inner factions. You may have heard about the 'Paladins of Clarity', the strongest and most radical sect of anti- sorcerers. They are ruthless as they are obsessed. Claiming every bad thing in existence is due to their forbidden arts. They even blame on mages the initial creation of the first and strongest layer of Inferno. The initial force, they claim it was a failed spell…
But our conversation went off course. You have achieved so much in such a short time. You have become strong, defeated the invincible Mordon- I have seen the fight. And you even ruined your relationship with the Arisu. You showed great courage facing Mordon. I was so impressed. Everyone in the order saw that fight. I wish I could tell them it was my boy."
"Why did you quit the order only to become a mercenary working for them? Isn't quitting supposed to be impossible? How is it they think you died?"
"One day I was sent on a mission to recruit a mage, the strongest one ever lived. It didn't go well," Gin looked down in frustration "…the order was overloaded and someone had to be sent fast before Magnus disappears into the shadows again. We miscalculated the power difference. My threat of violence as result of refusal didn't make much impact. We fought… It wasn't a fight. It was a one sided machoistic beating. As I was lying on the floor wet from my own blood Magnus was going away. Then I did a mistake. I forced myself up pushing through the pain. I preached to him about justice and responsibility. The mage flew into rage. I don't know why. He put a seal on me, locking away my power. Next moment he was gone. I returned defeated and weak. I was mocked by men whom I considered friends. They couldn't comprehend the mage's power. Raging in fury I quit the order planning never to return. But I did return, with a false name and an adjusted look. After all doing battle is what I do best. Even after Magnus, I had some power to go around although a fraction of my true self. So there I was, a mercenary. traveling the world, searching out powerful healers, wasting millions trying to set things right. But none of them succeeded. Though I don't give up. I believe there is a way. I believe there is a future for me."
"Don't you want to make Magnus pay?"
"This is pointless and impossible. We better leave Magnus alone… besides, he vanished. He is gone."
Metsuhai wanted to think about all of this later on his own. For now he changed the subject.
"I hate Kagehiroto. He doesn't deserve his title. I can't believe he is Chizue-san's brother…"
Gins face was full of surprise, so Instead of saying anything he drank some tea.
"… And now because of him I'm gonna be stuck on this stupid wall for the rest of my life."
"I know guard duty is no fun. Surely not when you are the rooky. But at least you are completely safe. Isn't this okay?"
"No. I must return to the battlefield as soon as possible." Gin wasn't shocked but it was clearly not the answer he expected.
"Why is this so important for you?"
"I cannot tell you, father. It's a matter of life and death."
"It seems you have become quite the patriot, taking the core values to heart. I can understand and respect that. But you should know how your mother and I met. As you know she grew up in a small village. Discovering her gift very early on. It must have been difficult being the only enlightened person in her settlement. But her family accepted her at least. One day demons crossed the barrier, attacking the village. She practically defended it on her own. But soon the order sent warriors to investigate. To be more precise, they sent me. I found Hikari and we began talking. Then I reported to my commander. He belonged to the Paladins and commanded me to kill her. In the order the word of the commander is sacred. Unlike some sorcerers, blinded by power and pride, she was soft and sweet, innocent like a child. I couldn't bring myself to do it so we concocted a plan.
We faked a fight by disrupting the battlephone and I returned to my commander with a magically modified goblin skull. My commander took the bait and even promoted me to a new rank for deceiving him. With my just deed I earned it. So you see, technically the order tried to kill your mother. Does this knowledge change your mind about your need to fight?"
"No," confidently but without pride answered Metsuhai, "and I cannot explain why."
"Fine, even these days I can find one of my past comrades from time to time. General Nekamanov owes me. I think this is the last time he'll come to my aid. You will be sent back to battle. I just hope you made the right choice for the sake of us both…
… there's much more to discuss but as I see it our time is coming to an end.
Gin jumped off the room and disappeared into the night of the fortcity.