Tsuru Yukimura awoke to find herself bound and gagged. In her youth and wilder days, it was a favorite pastime of hers that would precipitate an eventful night of pleasure. However this time was different as she recalled the last of her memories before her vision had turned black. Soon enough the burning sensation across her chest forced her to look down at the bandages that had been wrapped around her. It seemed in her eccentric display of defiance the Sword Saint, Averse Nine-Skies had missed all her vital organs, instead chose to nick a part of her soul for good measure. She cursed the beggar looking man for his precision with the blade but was gladdened to know that her gamble let her lived. This throbbing wound and her current predicament was a fair exchange for the escape of her daughter with Lord Hisakawa. She found a strange comfort in knowing the man was no doubt cursing her name at this very moment.

  As she laughed at the thought of his fury, another wave of pain radiated from her chest spreading across her body. The bandages stained with her blood. She was greatly weakened and it would be some time before she regained any kind of strength in her limbs. However it did not stop those who chained her from binding her further with arcane markings carved into the restraints. Even the very walls of her cells were marked with talismans. The scent of old magic mixed with dry wood filled the air. It seemed that whoever put her here, went through great lengths to make sure that any possibility of escape was as close to impossible as they could manage. Had she not been more concerned about the state of her daughter she would have been impressed with the level of care taken to seal her. With the slightest of movements, the chains tightened even further around her wrists in anticipation of escape.

  Resigned to her fate, Lady Yukimura leaned back against her cell and took some time to gather her thoughts. As she did so she studied her new living arrangements. She was sure she was underneath the imperial palace, several levels below in fact. She could not feel anyone’s presence but given what she had done there were very few places they could take her that would hold her indefinitely, somewhat. Another sign she was able to make out of her possible location was the sigil of the Kuroi Inu carved into the door at the end of the room she was in. Wild dog fangs glared at her and in their image they told her the Kuroi Inu, had chosen a side. Her eyes had adjusted enough in the complete darkness to make out some of her surroundings, but it was the appearance of a third scent, of blood and guts that drew her focus. Her mind clearer now, knew where she was. This was one of the many special playgrounds of the black dogs. Though she was unsure why she would have been brought to one of their mythical torture chambers, there was nothing they could extract from her. Yet Lady Yukimura knew better than most, that would not stop them from trying. The old woman cracked her neck releasing tension that had built, it was problematic that they had so quickly sided with Hideyoshi but not unexpected.

  With that thought she recalled the reason why she was in this predicament, and had her mouth not been gagged she would have spent the better part of her time cursing Prince Hideyoshi Sugawara’s name. Yet the aged woman knew despite wishing to do so, the silver tongued royal was not to blame. It was not his fault the Lunar Generals had been swayed, he saw an opportunity and took it. For once the coward stepped into the light and was granted his desires. Long had she had her doubts about her fellow generals, too long had they rested on their laurels on the names of those who had come before. Nevertheless could she think they had fallen so greatly that they would willingly to turn their backs on their king. That they would give the words of an outsider, a serpent, any credence. Were the hearts of men truly that readily corruptible? She laughed at the question, having almost forgotten what the Lunar Generals once were. What she had been before Taka had come into her life.

  Her thoughts were once again interrupted by the door opening, cold air rushed through the entire room as though a great blizzard had arrived. She quickly calmed herself as her entire body reacted in kind, sensing danger approaching. With the door closed behind them, they snapped their hands and sparks of flame flew out from their fingers traveling across the open air to the candles that had been placed all around. The sudden influx of light blinded Lady Yukimura for a moment and she closed her eyes to adjust. She slowly opened them again, blinking to steady her sight as she now had a better look at the man before her. The same cloaked man who had helped push her realm down the path of chaos now stood before her. She had not had a chance to notice before but he was quite tall, more so than she had thought. He quietly and carefully made his way across the room, retreating his gloved hand back underneath his cloak and soon enough he stood across from her. His face hidden behind what seemed like an abyss of darkness, the wooden bars of her cage looked to distort the darkness around him as his mere presence affected the magical seals put in place.

  “Lady Yukimura, I hope you are well?” his voice was strangely calming, almost familial in nature.

  All the Lunar General could do was stare at him with a blank expression as her mouth still remained sealed.

  “Ah I suppose talking would prove difficult in your current state.” Like a phantom he moved towards the latch of the cell, opened it and stepped inside.

  Ordinarily an action like that should have ripped him apart and bathed her in his blood, for such sealing magic was designed only to be accessed by the ones who placed it. She was sure that it was the Kuroi Inu. However nothing had happened to him, the seals did not react to his presence, as though he were not even there. What danger Lady Yukimura felt only seemed to double, whatever arcane arts this person was adorned in was greater than what the Kuroi Inu possessed. To suppress magic that was created to hold beings as powerful as the Lunar Generals and far worse was unsettling. The man undid the binds around her mouth and took them off, before exiting the cell again.

  “That should feel much better,” his tone more pleasant now.

  Lady Yukimura licked her lips. “Your kindness is appreciated stranger, but are you sure that is wise?” she tilted her head slightly, half her face still hidden in shadow. “It seems you may be unaware of who I am.”

  The cloaked man laughed, which annoyed Lady Yukimura. “Oh I know a great deal about who you are, former Thirteenth Lunar General and current Twelfth General, Tsuru Yukimura. Or would you rather be referred to as the ‘Butcher of Miyata'?”

  Tsuru said nothing as her cautious mood turned hostile at the mention of an old moniker she had thought she buried.

  The man raised his hands in defense, “do not worry you have an admirer in me." Salok Yn mockingly leaned in, "if you want my opinion, they deserved it. As powerful as blood sacrifices are-and trust me they are-the risk they possess is too great for many to contain. Especially by temple priests who wish to play sorcerers in the domain of Evil, without understanding the dangers of it. Do not be ashamed, no matter what has been said you did a good thing. The slaughter of all those children–all those people–was a kindness.”

  It had been decades since Lady Yukimura had last heard someone mention the accursed title of hers, but not once had she ever been praised for what she had done to the town of Miyata all those years ago. The Priests of Miyata sought to harness power, similar to the one that brought about the Beastmen of Laconia many millennia ago. The process of how the Beastmen were created was lost to time and what little was known was a ruthlessly guarded secret that the royal family of Laconia held within their deep crypts. Nevertheless, to this day it is still unknown how the zealous priests had come across the knowledge. Some believed they had chanced upon an abandoned tomb or uncovered it in one of their temples' deep chambers. Whichever the case, those men–those vile demons– had turned to blood sacrifice to generate the power needed to undertake what they understood to be a ritual to create Beastmen. Loyal to their cause, to bring forth a new power to finally challenge the near eternal rule of the Sugawara clan.

  The Imperial Court had only managed to catch wind of what befell the town of Miyata because of the bravery of a little girl no older than ten. Pregnant with an abomination, escaped and for five days and five nights walked through the wilderness to the nearest village. All of this to seek help and expose what had happened, before she died while the creature tore itself out of her. Choking on the innards of the very mother it called for. Lady Yukimura had been dispatched to apprehend those responsible, but upon reaching Miyata, razed the entire town along with all its inhabitants to the ground. A town of eighty thousand gone in a single night. And under the stars that glowed in contrast to the flames that swallowed the city into darkness, the Butcher of Miyata looked on. Naught knew what had truly happened, instead adopted to craft their own horrors that could scarcely compare. Such things that happened in Miyata were not for the human mind to understand. The knowledge and weight of that tragedy sealed forever within General Yukimura and her soldiers. Not even the Imperial Court with all their petty threats nor their demands of honor and duty could make her speak of that night. Not one member of the three hundred the court held. Not even the former King Eiji Sugawara himself could make her speak. She would have gladly accepted execution for her defiance, but a single letter from the Sugawara clan silenced all. None of it ever to be spoken about, neither the town or her people, or the brave ten-year-old girl whose name was stricken from all known records. Thus had the ancient house decided. Yet this person before her knew, this outsider to her lands was aware. How did they know?

  “Who are you?” was all she could muster.

  The cloaked individual stood silent for a moment as they debated whether they wished to answer the question. Upon settling on an answer they took their hands out of their cloak and pulled down their hood, revealing their face.

  “How rude of me, if I plan to throw your realm into chaos at the very least I should introduce myself.” He laughed, “My name is Salok Yn, it is a pleasure to meet you Lunar General, as I said, I am an admirer.”

  Lady Yukimura wrestled between the otherworldly beauty of the Stygian before her and the ease in which he so casually revealed himself as though there was no real desire to hide his identity. She had an inclination that the man was Stygian, the way he spoke at Nonawa about Iliad and the Stygian Civil War as though he was part of it, now made more sense to her. Whatever danger she felt about this man only seemed to triple with the new realization that he came from the legendary realm to the north. Her understanding of the ethereal beings was sparse and quite frankly she was uninterested in them, outside of use of their bodies for her own fantasies. Nevertheless seeing one here in the flesh a mere few feet away from her. The way the air seemed to move around him and his utterly mesmerizing twilight eyes, captivated her in ways that she now understood why so many who had seen them desired them in excess.

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  Salok Yn was beautiful, a well defined face with sharp and long features fitting his tall frame. As expected no blemish could be found on his Stygian skin that seemed to glow ever so faintly that only helped accentuate the ethereal moniker often associated with those from the deep north. His hair was long and braided like a dragons tail. Two long locs rested on either side of his shoulders and the rest flowed down behind him. The stars within them shined pristinely like pearl orbs amidst a sea of darkness. At the tip of his braids and at their root, golden bands had been attached carefully that highlighted a level of wealth reserved for one of noble status. She had thought his ears pierced but the jewels-which she had come to see were frozen crystals-hung below them, suspended in the air. Ever shifting in their design, undecided in what they wanted to be. From intricate patterns to simple circular shapes. Tsuru found it difficult to look away from him, especially when he smiled. Her cheeks reddened and she scowled that she could have such a reaction despite her age and the current predicament she found herself in.

  Salok Yn laughed with such an effervescent energy it was captivating. “Lady Yukimura you flatter me so.”

  She finally forced herself to look away, turning her attention to the seals placed on her cell.

  “Come now do not go quiet, I am sure you have many questions?” he sat on the floor in front of her. “The imperial palace is quite dull with the current state of things. I was sure you would be a more lively chat to pass the time. Was I wrong?”

  The aged Lunar General slowly brought her attention back towards the man who sat across from her. It was true that she found herself in quite an invaluable position. To be able to speak to the man who assisted Hideyoshi would give her great insight into what was truly going on in her home and most certainly the palace above. However for him to come here of his own volition and reveal himself to her so casually only brought peril as she felt there was a greater more nefarious play at hand.

  “Do not dwell on my presence here you are in no danger,” Salok Yn spoke as though reading her mind. “I come here of my own volition, although Lady Consort Hirata has demanded your execution for your mischievous action the day before.” He rolled his eyes, “she wishes to make an example out of you. For the perceived danger you may have put the Crown Prince under, although she makes no mention of Princess Haruka.”

  I wouldn’t expect anything less of that bitch, Tsuru thought. Crown Prince Hiei’s attitude was easily attributed to the near obsession his mother had in propping him to be the rightful ruler of Ichika and heir to his father’s throne. Despite the many trepidations that others had, which included his very father. In fact she was surprised that the Lady Consort had not pushed further to have her executed. Patience was not among her many talked about qualities. This was further proof for Tsuru that who was in true control of the situation seemed to be Hideyoshi himself backed by the Imperial Court. However, Lady Yukimura was still unsure how the Stygian in front of her, as well as the Sword Saint and the heavily bandaged boy she saw earlier, played a role in any of what was happening. There were still far too many holes in this… she did not know what to call what was happening. To call it a rebellion would make it too real, the prospects of a great wave of blood would be the result of it. However it seemed to be heading in that direction. She had no answers, and none would give it to her. She raised her gaze to meet his, except for this strange man before her.

  “Why?” she boiled down all the questions she could ask into one word. The only word that mattered, why this madness had been brought to their doorstep and the lives that it would take in the process.

  Salok Yn smiled as he tilted his head.

  “I was right to come see you,” he rested his hands on his lap. “A...very long time ago, I left several valuable items in the possession of the Nine Great Royal Houses. Quite some time has passed since then and I would like these items back. The Sugawara clan is currently in possession of one of these items. Hideyoshi Sugawara has been kind enough to return it in exchange for my assistance with his little outburst.”

  “That is all there is to it?” Lady Yukimura did not bother hiding her dismay. “All the death that will come of his foolish desire for the crown, the blood that will spilt. You will help him set Ichika on fire all because you wish to reclaim an object?”

  “You make it sound so morbid. However no, not just Ichika will burn,” Salok Yn corrected. “If he succeeds in secession from Iliad. The Stygians will retaliate, and I am sure the southern realms will be all too eager to come to the aid of Ichika. Seeing the Stygians oldest ally turn their backs on them, is too sweet a fruit for the south not to crave. This path will inevitably lead to another war, as alliances and allegiances will be called into question. In fact it may be too late to stop it if any of the other Lunar Generals have attempted to contact Iliad and alert the Stygians of what has happened here so far.”

  “Are you not a Stygian, do you not care what this means for Iliad? The suffering that will come of this, it will spark wars across all of Aurum.”

  Salok Yn shrugged, underwhelmed by such a limited thinking.

  Lady Yukimura struggled to keep her reaction sensible in the face of such indifference to the potential slaughter that Hideyoshi’s actions would bring about throughout Aurum. Despite the current state of the nine realms, Ichika was Iliad’s oldest ally. To talk about breaking an alliance that had held for nearly one hundred millennia was utter madness. War with Iliad would not be the only thing that would come of it. Such a thing would surely cause a civil war within Ichika itself as the other cities and houses would seek to exploit the chaos. These lands that the Stygians had begrudgingly given to those who hailed from the Jade Empire ages ago, under the guise that they would eternally be bound in alliance as proof that humans and Stygians could co-exist. To assist Hideyoshi in bringing about an end to such a pact was unthinkable. Lady Yukimura’s binds tightened in reaction to her growing anger.

  “I thought it impossible that there could ever be a Stygian that would hate their own people as so.” Her words were filled with disgust, “that there could be something far more valuable than your own realm and its people.”

  Salok Yn’s smile slowly devolved into a stoic expression. “Quite a duplicitous accusation coming from you Lady Yukimura?”

  The old general looked at her, “What do you mean?”

  “Your little display yesterday,” he leaned on his arm. “You made a big fuss about wanting to give the Lunar Generals time to come to their own decision. But in truth you did what you did so that your daughter could escape.” Before Lady Yukimura could respond, Salok Yn raised his hand, stopping her. “Yes, yes I know. Hideyoshi’s words were far too bold and the decree he received from the Imperial Court was weak without the king’s own seal. However it was enough for you all to heed the command, certainly enough that you all could have patiently waited for the king’s return. Yet you chose your daughter’s safety over your realms stability. You chose being a mother over a general.”

  His words cut her deep, as she lowered her eyes to her hands. Tsuru found it difficult to argue back against his claims. She knew her actions the night before were rash and unbecoming of someone in her position. To react as she did was highly uncharacteristic of her given the situation at hand. Lady Huli Jing had tried to calm matters but the moment Lady Yukimura had realized what was happening her only desire was the safety of her daughter. In that moment she cared not for what would happen except for her. However she was not ashamed by it, instead more so by her hypocrisy in what it was she accused Salok Yn of doing, knowing that she had done the same although to a lesser extent she hoped to believe.

  There was a time such an action as she committed would have been unthinkable, she who had once held the title of the Thirteenth Lunar General. The former sword of Ichika and its protector. If her younger self could see her now, she would be filled with nothing but disgust. Rightly so she thought. But with the possibility of danger befalling her daughter in any capacity, Lady Yukimura would leave nothing to chance, not when it came to Takara. She scoff at her current predicament. When was it that she had gotten so soft? She lamented the state of the Lunar Generals and how easy it was for them to be swayed by the words of Salok Yn. While she was already swayed the moment he had stepped into Nonawa. However unlike them who were persuaded to stand against the Stygians and their king, she had done so in favor of her little girl.

  “Why did you let her escape?” Lady Yukimura asked, finally finding the strength to speak again. “It is clear your Sword Saint had no desire to kill me, and although I do not know you. You ooze catastrophe worse than any Stygian I know, granted that list is small. I am sure you could have grabbed her before I put a curse on Lord Hisakawa to do so.”

  The Stygian man studied her expression, as though searching for something on her face. “For the very same reason you allowed Averse Nine-Skies to harm you: to minimize bloodshed. Had I grabbed her, you would not have left or worse, you would have. Only to rain down hellfire in an attempt to get her back at a later date. Seizing you and letting her go, means that you will not escape from here. Just like Inari Huli Jing whose daughter is outside of Ichika. The fear of what could happen in the chaos will keep you both in check. A mother’s love is truly the most terrifying magic and impossible to contain when threatened.”

  “You talk as though you have experience?” Lady Yukimura stifled a smile, choosing to look away to hide it.

  Salok Yn said nothing but could not hide the corner of his lip curling upwards. Having forced herself to peer into his eyes, she finally begun to grasp this being in front of her was far older than he appeared. Too old, ancient in every sense of the word and she shuddered underneath that realization. All endlessly spoke the near eternal beauty of the Stygians and their millennia long lifespans. She envied it and felt no shame in doing so, for who would not desire to look so ethereal? To have seen so much. However, the longer Tsuru stared into Salok Yn’s twilight eyes that beheld his hands coiled softly around an unseen object. The old general struggled to remember the benefits of such a long lifespan, for there was a profound sadness and an unwelcomed recollection that welled inside of her. Through the chaos and calamity he posed, buried below the warm smile and delicate words. She could feel the intense emptiness that emitted from his very soul. Like a wall of darkness without end in depth or distance or despair. To her own surprise, it evoked memories of Miyata. Where she watched innocence defiled, lost to madness and horrors beyond understanding. Minds broken, souls flayed and yet carefully they rocked the lifeless vessel of their unborn children. In that accursed place, at the heart of Evil, all that remained was a mother's love.

  and will come after this chapter.