In the morning of the second day, Asata just had a breakfast under a tree before he continues his walk again.

  The weather is nice today, the road to Qinjin is pretty wide with sparse trees on either side of the road. A little squirrel just ran past his feet, when Asata stops his steps.

  Asata: I know you guys are there, just show yourselves if you’re not a bunch of cowards.

  One man steps out from behind one of the trees, followed by another man from a different tree, and another one until there are 4 men and 1 woman blocking Asata’s path. All of them have blonde hair.

  Asata: What a way to start the day. What the hell do you want? You didn’t drag yourselves all the way from Brirene just for fun, did you?

  Woman: You stole something from my men; I want them back.

  Asata: Well, damn. That guy stuck around long enough to blab, huh? Too bad for you—I’m not handing these back. Bet you lot swiped them from somewhere anyway, right?

  Woman: Then, I’ll just have to take them from your cold dead body. Boys, attack him!

  Asata draws his katana as 4 men approach him.

  Two men shoot fire bolt at him, Asata dodges both of them easily.

  The other two men shoots cold beam to him; these too are easily dodged by Asata.

  Asata slashes one of the men who use fire magic twice, his chest and belly got cut and he is bleeding from his mortal wound.

  One man once again shoots a fire bolt from close up, Asata blocks that fire magic with his katana.

  The two men shoots cold beam at him again; Asata jumps side way to avoid them.

  Asata swings his sword horizontally; it cuts one of the ice casters’ belly and that man fall to the ground.

  The fire magician shoots a fire bolt at Asata, just like before Asata managed to block this magic with his katana.

  The ice magician casts his ice magic at Asata; this time he ducks to avoid it.

  Asata swings his sword to the man who use fire magics, it hits him right in the chest and that guy fall to the ground, not moving anymore.

  The only remaining magician shoots his ice magic at Asata, who quickly dashes to the side, both to evade the magic and preparing to attack himself.

  One slash from Asata cuts cleanly through the last magician’s midsection, and that man also falls to the ground.

  Asata turns to the woman, who is still standing on her place.

  Asata: Start talking—now. Who the hell is Noma? And where the hell is she?

  Woman: Heh don’t act as if the fight is over… because it isn’t.

  Just as immediately as the woman says that Asata can feel a strong pain in his head, he reflectively touches his head with his free hand.

  Asata: Darn it… psychic attack? A mage like you is a pain in the butt.

  Woman: It’s perfect to fight you, you’re more of a muscle person anyway.

  That woman uses his psychic attack again and Asata’s head feels a stabbing sensation; the pain is making him unable to move.

  Asata: Darn you...

  That woman is about to drive his psychic attack, when all of a sudden, a sharp block of ice stabs her on her right arm, and then another one stabs her right leg, making her limb but still standing.

  Asata is free from the pain in his head; he turns to look at the magician. It’s a girl with a long blonde hair, she wears fancy clothes in blue, and a flute hangs on her waist.

  Asata: Who are you…?

  Girl: Before I answer that, don’t you wanna deal with her first? She can still fight.

  Asata quickly slashes the psychic woman; she fell to the ground and is no longer a threat. Asata cleans his sword, sheathes it, then turns to the girl.

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  Asata: I met so many people from Brirene these last few days. Who are you?

  Girl: I believe the first thing you should say is “thank you”.

  Asata: I can actually beat her without your help, but you did help so I guess I owe you, my thanks. Thank you for helping me. Now, who are you?

  Luna: My pleasure. My name is Luna Autumnmoon, and as you can guess I’m from Brirene. I’m just a wandering bard.

  Asata: You have such a great magic for a bard.

  Luna: Don’t you know that everyone in Brirene has high affinity for magic? If you’ve met people from Brirene, it should be no surprise.

  Asata: Of course, the Queendom of Magic… Brirene is the home of strong magicians. I guess it’s just normal for a girl from Brirene to have such strong power.

  Luna: Anyway… what’s your story? Why are they attacking you? They are clearly not bandits, so what kind of problem do you have with them?

  Asata: If you want me to explain it shortly, it’s: None of your business.

  Luna: Aww don’t be like that, whatever it is I’m sure it’s a story I can turn to a song.

  Asata: Why in the world do you wanna turn it into a song?

  Luna: So I can sing it everywhere in my journey. Your tale will be known by many, and you’ll be a legend.

  Asata: I have no interest in becoming a legend.

  Luna: So, what are you interested in?

  Asata: Stopping a shogun assassination.

  Luna: What? How did you know about this?

  Asata: I happened to eavesdrop on two men of this gang from Brirene, they said something about assassinating the shogun. They also carried these two: a small scroll and a magical orb.

  Luna: Those two are definitely not from Brirene, I wonder how do they get their hands on them?

  Asata: How do you know they are not from Brirene?

  Luna: Look at this small symbol at the edge of the scroll? That’s a symbol of Hodora, this scroll must be from there.

  Asata: That religious kingdom to the north? Did they steal the scroll from there? That’s amazing. What about this orb, then?

  Luna: I could be wrong, but that orb might be the Dragon’s Tear, a magical artifact of Su. I only ever know about it from books, though.

  Asata: Is that so, what are they planning to do with these?

  Luna: I don’t know, but… what’s your plan now?

  Asata: My plan?

  Luna: As long as you still carry them, these guys will always come after you. What are you gonna do then?

  Asata: I just want to go to the shogun to warn him about the assassination. If anyone is in my way, I’ll just have to slash them.

  Luna: What a simple man. I’ll tag along with you then.

  Asata: Why? I already said this is none of your business.

  Luna: And I already said that this will be a good story to tell, so I’ll come along.

  Asata: Do what you want. I make no promise to protect you, though.

  Luna: Don’t worry, I can take care of myself.

  After some time walking, both of them finally arrive on Qinjin, a border town between Su and Kai. The only way to go to Kai from here is to ride a train, the big magical transport vehicle invented by the nyxari, the race with a big magical affinity.

  Luna cannot hide her excitement when they arrive at the train station. Her eyes widen with curiosity as a train approaches.

  Luna: Oh wow! I’ve never seen a train before! So, they use this a lot in Kai, huh? I’m sure the biggest metal box at the front is moved by magic, and it pulls the other boxes behind him.

  Asata: That is called a locomotive, yes it uses magic to ride on the tracks, but also some nyxari artificer’s engineering. Even for them, this technology is still new, so we only use it on main travel routes.

  Luna: I’m surprised it can generate magic powers strong enough to carry all the other boxes behind it. Whatever they use must be some advanced engineering.

  Asata: Why are you so surprised? Don’t you have nyxari in Brirene too?

  Luna: Nyxari in our queendom focuses on using magical powers to their limit, instead of crafting machinery like this, so we don’t have anything like this.

  Asata: Oh yeah, I think he mentioned about it once.

  Luna: He?

  Asata: I have a nyxari friend, that’s why I know a little about these things. Anyway, we chat long enough, let’s go.

  Not long after they bought tickets and sit at their seats, the train departed for Kai. Luna and Asata are now inside Asata’s room in one of the cars. Luna can’t hide her excitement as the train runs on its tracks, she keeps looking outside the window, it’s as if she is sitting still and the scenery outside is the one running past her.

  Luna: Wow! This carriage is as fast as a horse, even though it carries so many more people in it. I wonder if the magic energy ever needs replenishing.

  Asata: I can’t believe it; you really sound like a kid with her new toy.

  Luna: Pardon me for being excited by something I just saw. It is my first time going to Kai.

  Asata: I thought you’re a traveling bard.

  Luna: Mostly travel in Brirene, most people from Brirene don’t go to Kai anyway. Oh, except the generals and diplomats who meet other nobles.

  Asata: Oh yeah, I think I’ve heard about entourage from Brirene going to Kai a lot.

  Luna: Oh yes, a general from Brirene is on a diplomatic mission to Kai, he was invited to some kind of party from what I’ve heard.

  Asata: What? He? Do you mean the general is a man?

  Luna: Yes, General Raas is a rare person, the only male general our queendom has had in a long time.

  Asata: He must be really special for the queendom to have acknowledge him to the rank of general.

  Luna: Yes, he’s probably the strongest male magician in the entire queendom. His power even rivaling many of female mages, but talent alone doesn’t guarantee a male to rise to general of Brirene, so his success is actually-

  Asata: Can you stop? I’m not interested in history lessons.

  Luna: Let’s talk about the important thing then, what are your plans after we arrive at Kai?

  Asata: This train’s last stop is at the capital, then I can go to the castle, to tell Shogun Nobusuke himself about this assassination plan.

  Luna: Will it be easy? Can you just go to the castle and meet the shogun? I don’t think a normal ronin can do that.

  Asata: I… I used to be Princess Tomoko’s guard when she… when she was alive, so… I know a way. A way to get in without being detected.

  Luna: Ooh, a secret passage?Asata: Yeah, it was originally built to be an escape route for the shogun, just in case the castle was attacked. But the castle was never attacked even after the civil war ended, the route was never used, so nobody else knows about it.

  Luna: And… you’re gonna tell the shogun about his assassination?

  Asata: That’s the plan. If he knows someone is after his life, he can strengthen the defense, so-

  Luna: Are you alright, Asata?

  Asata: What the hell are you talking about? Of course I’m alright.

  Luna: The color of your face changes when you talk about your past, and also when talking about the shogun. Did something bad happen when you were in Kai?

  Asata: I don’t wanna talk about it.

  Luna: It’s okay, I’m not gonna force it out of you. It’s still a long way until we arrive at the destination. Why don’t we talk about something else?

  Asata: No.