Fifty-Six Years Later

The Small town of Naebashi with a population of no more than three thousand was near the farthest northern reaches of the Kuro Empire. Well known for providing pelts of various wildlife and beasts that stalked the northern forests Naebashi acted as the final stop of what was considered a civilized country beyond the untamed wilds outside the empire.

The trees of the great northern forest were so large that small villages could fit on their branches; they were immense and strong like iron. Deep in the forest near the base of the trees the light filtered sparsely from the canopy above were two figures cloaked and waiting in the bushes that dotted the forest floor. Smaller what one would call normal sized trees dotted the floor between the larger mountain sized trees. Of the two cloaked figures the larger man was in his late twenties his back was large from drawing extremely strong bows for years making his shoulders broad and powerful, he wore gloves that covered his wrists with small holes cut into them allowing the tips of his fingers to protrude.

Crouching besides him was a young girl no older than six years old. Her small frame looked even smaller next to the bulky hulking man who was her father. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail tied by a red ribbon that was given to her by her mother. Her most striking features was the piercing ice blue eyes that glared ferociously at the clearing where the duo’s prey stood grazing in the nearby grass.

The creature was known in this area of Kuro as a common Dern, a deer-like creature that had antlers and a long lizard-like tongue to grab berries and other foods into their mouth on its rear was a long whip-like tail it used for basic defense when threatened. They were typically herding animals, but during the mating season the males would leave and try to form new herds.

“Mei” the man’s gruff voice said in a surprisingly gentle way, despite his overall demeanor he was quite a gentle soul who was always kind and slow to anger. Mei looked at her father as he knocked one of his arrows to his large bow that was taller than Mei herself. “Mei, remember what I said about not hesitating when you have a chance to catch your prey?”

Mei nodded with a small grin coming across her face “yes papa” she said lovingly taking mental notes of all her father told her. In her mind, her father was the wisest man she had ever met and protected and led their family without fail.

“Good, because just like hunting, life doesn’t hesitate if you don’t take a chance when it shows itself you will miss it and then…well you may not get a second shot” and just as he finished speaking those words he pulled back the bow and let loose the arrow. It sailed through the air landing exactly where it was meant to impaling the Dern right where its heart was. Before the Dern could react it collapsed heavily to the ground, dying instantly from the impact of the arrow. A smile was on her father’s face as he stood up and emerged with Mei towards the downed Dern.

Kneeling down besides the Dern he spoke a quick ritual prayer giving honor to Femir the god of the hunt before strapping the Dern to his back. While the Dern was large it wasn’t anything too difficult for her father who was a bulky man with a solid frame and he slung it over his shoulders carrying it easily himself.

Mei looked at where her father had expertly struck the Dern, it was impressive and made Mei beg her father regularly ofr her to train her on how to use a bow, but her father said that he would take her when she was older. Plus he didn’t find hunting to be something he wanted for the future of his daughter. He was naturally overprotective of his girl, but in a frontier village like Naebashi one couldn’t keep their children innocent long.

Mei however had no desire to be “lady-like” and dreamed of being a great hunter just like her father, at least in the wilderness it didn’t discriminate like the other children of Naebashi who would tease Mei for her azure eyes. Though it was tame compared to other parts of the empire the village was still not open to people who were broadly considered cursed.

This unwillingness to settle down and learn womanly things concerned her mother, but that couldn’t be helped; it was who she was. Mei was a fierce girl with a quiet, but domineering personality. Something that many of the village women considered not housewife material at all which was what most women in Naebashi aspired to in such a remote location.

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Walking down the forest path after about two hours of traveling they made it to the edge of Naebashi village which was bustling this time of the year with fur merchants who began to arrive just before the spring hunting season would begin. Mei loved hearing about the outside world from these merchants who would come to town. Stories of wars and adventurers would fill all the children’s ears as they heard about the vastness of the Kuro Empire. It gave many of the children what their parents called delusions of grandeur.

If all the merchants were in town that meant only one thing, that her favorite person that came from out of town would be here. His name was Mr. Itakura, a merchant who came from unknown parts of the empire to collect Naebashi’s high quality furs. He had been purchasing almost exclusively from her father as long as she could remember. Telling her tales of adventure and life in the grand cities of Kuro.

“Papa! Can I see the old man Itakura? He should be in town by now!” Mei said excitedly. Her large blue eyes made her father’s heart melt every time as his face would inevitably soften and capitulate.

Whoever says blue eyes are signs of a curse never had such an innocent beautiful exotic eyes look up at them. He thought to himself.

With a hearty laugh he waved her away “Alright you little rascal! You may go, but don’t be late for dinner and be sure not to call Mr. Itakura an old man! Is that understood?” he said, patting her on the head brushing her hair out of her face.

With a smile Mei jumped up with excitement giving her father a swift hug “thanks papa!” running towards where the old man Itakura always set up his cart, Mei waved bye to her dad.

Her father watched as her little head ran at top speed down the street.

In the corner of Naebashi near the eastern entrance an old man and his slightly dilapidated wagon were setting up the shop that operated from it which would then sell various goods while bartering what he had gotten from other villages and towns on his way here. The old man had a short gray beard that had specks of gray and black with a white base layer. His body was medium build with not an ounce of fat on it. It was clear he lived a quite mobile life not one of extreme luxury, but not wanting for basic needs either. Besides the wagon laid an enormous horse sized boar that pulled his wagon and also worked as a useful deterrent for bandits. While he unpacked his supplies he would hook the extension to the wagon itself giving the set up a proper shopping stall feel.

“It’s a good day to be in the frontier isn’t it Borus?” he said looking kindly at the large boar while stroking its bristled head. Itakura was a man who enjoyed coming to this town most of all ever since he first discovered it many years ago. In fact it was so long ago he couldn’t remember the exact date.

“Mr. Itakura!” a small voice came from down the street causing Itakura to smile to himself not bothering to look. It is about time that the rascal showed up, he thought to himself.

Turning towards the little girl who approached Borus with more confidence than most people would, she gave the giant boar a big hug on its oversized snout.

“If it isn’t Miss Seito Mei what a lovely sight to see you’ve grown even more beautiful since I last saw you last year!” looking behind where the girl came from he smirked “where is your father?”

Borus snorted blowing up a bit of dust causing Mei to let out a soft sneeze *Aaaachoo* “Sorry Mr. Itakura, my father just got a Dern from today’s hunt and is going to clean it. I think he will come by tomorrow!”

“Ehh well make sure you tell him to come by tomorrow morning so we can discuss the proper exchange.” Itakura said, his voice giving an old cracked sound as if he was trying to be the cranky old man, but it wasn’t in his nature so it came across as if he was pretending.

Mei nodded happily “Of course Mr. Itakura…” she paused thinking about what she wanted to ask “Mr. Itakura please tell me what is happening around the empire!”

Just as she spoke those words Mr. Itakura’s smile faded “I apologize Miss Mei. Unfortunately this year I don’t have much good news to share with you. You may be a little young to understand, but the empire is on the brink of war with its neighbor Kalimdah and internally there are a lot of factions who oppose conflict and are now vying for power within the empire itself.”

Mei didn’t understand all of that, but she knew that based on his tone that outside Naebashi it was not pleasant like Mr. Itakura had spoken about it in the past. “Mr. Itakura, is it really that bad? Will something happen here as well?”

Itakura smiled, messing up her hair a bit. “Don’t worry kiddo I doubt this quiet little town on the opposite side of the conflict will experience much at all.”