Ichiro Level 42 (25) Samurai Hatamoto
Something was wrong with his sight.
As Ichiro tried to focus in on the three before him their forms began to swim in such a swirling riot of color that it made him dizzy. He closed his eyes and the dizziness slightly lessened, the complex vortex of color still dancing before him even with his eyes closed. He tried opening them again and now saw a shifting sea of interwoven energies flowing through the entirety of the cleansed shrine. The strands of energy were so tightly packed and varied that it was impossible to pick one out from the complex movement that danced before him hypnotically.
Braided cords of these strands formed ever-changing patterns that wove in and through every physical object in the room. Yet, as he stared, he began to understand that what he was seeing was only loosely tied to the physical realm. Reality bloomed and intertwined before him, carrying in its movements a deep conceptual meaning that linked this place and time with... everything.
As his awareness expanded, the barest hints of temporal meaning began to rise to the surface of his mind as he watched one movement, then another, in this ever-changing tapestry of color and light. It occurred to him then that what he was seeing was the very language with which Nephesh was written, past, present, and future.
Dreamily, he watched as a specific knot formed around Kuro’s mind, and a second later the lapin asked, “Lord, are you well? Is it some Debuff from your time held captive by the Abomination?” As he said the words, Kuro looked around at the husk of the dead tree in disgust, even as many of its forms collapsed into ash.
Ichiro watched in fascination as the pattern accompanying those words moved through each of those who heard and produced different effects. He was speechless at the beauty he was beholding, every interaction was a work of art, a dance of sublime grace and it was all connected.
In his daze, he did not notice the others trade anxious glances before the human spoke up.
“Come on guys, let's help him up and get out of here. I know this place has been cleansed, but honestly, it still gives me the creeps. And if you don't mind, there is one stop I want to make on our way down to the village.”
His words vibrated through the incomprehensibly complex sea of colorful threads in a much more significant manner than the previous speaker’s had and even Ichiro felt their tug on his soul. The human's soul was a dense network of cords and braids of varying diameters running out from his center, reaching in all directions.
Kuro and Nyuk came over and gently lifted him to his feet, each of them taking position under his arms as they guarded their still-healing injuries.
His mind was still reeling, overloaded by information, but he knew that he was no longer damaged… just overwhelmed. Some part of him finally came to himself and he began partially cycling his Meditative Trance.
He inhaled, centered his breath deep in his core, then expelled it, dragging distraction out along with his spent breath.
He was able to vaguely recognize the transition from darkness to light as they finally emerged out of the temple, but almost all of his augmented meditative focus was bent towards regaining some measure of function despite the exponential increase in information he was taking in.
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At some point on the journey, they stopped moving and Ichiro discovered that in a meditative state, he could cut off information from his optic meridians completely. The moment he did this, his mind was vastly more able to produce chains of logical thought and he found himself suddenly much more grounded in the present and his physical surroundings.
While he was unable to converse normally while holding onto basic meditation, he slowly shifted into his Battle Trance, allowing himself to time movements with his breathing. He took another serene breath in, held it, and then released, producing a calm monotone statement along with his breath.
“I need something to wrap around my eyes.”
Then he breathed in again calmly, careful to maintain the concentration needed to completely cut off input from his primary perception sense.
His three companions froze. Ichiro was still being supported by Kuro and Nyuk and at some point, the human had obtained a large armful of unfamiliar leaves. None of this information was seen, rather it was absorbed through a strange new passive meditative osmosis.
Inhale…
Exhale.
“I think he is coming out of it!” The human exclaimed in excitement. The lapins however said nothing. One shifted to bear the majority of his weight, while the other made quick jerky movements accompanied by the sound of ripping cloth.
Inhale…
Exhale.
“It must be wrapped around my eyes thick enough to block out all light.” He continued in his deep droning monotone.
Kuro began wrapping his torn clothing around Ichiro’s eyes and continued until a thick awkward wad covered his head above his nose.
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Ichiro began to relax the meditative restriction on his optical input and once again was rocked by the information he received even as his eyes no longer took in any light.
Cutting off any physical input did successfully lessen the load on his mind, and he found that he was able to stand on his own, even if he swayed like a drunkard.
“My lord, Is there anything else we can do to help? How are you afflicted? Are you still somehow marked by the Abomination?” Nyuk asked with concern.
His words floated to Ichiro on the vibration of many different strands of the… Weave. That is what it was called, the name settling down deep in his soul as if acknowledging what it was slightly solidified the fragile shifting state of his mind.
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This realization took him hours, and his three companions started leading him slowly down the mountain again. Then his answer came, responding to a question that he was unaware had been posed hours ago.
“The Abomination stole much from me. Many of my levels and stats have been taken, but it was unsuccessful in taking my mind. It is because of this, that I was able to witness your honorable attack against its base of power, human. While I do not understand what happened in the end, I do know that its branching taint in my mind and soul was cleansed, and in the cleansing, I was remade. Unfortunately, I believe I am greatly handicapped by my much-reduced wisdom and intelligence. I believe this results in my being unable to handle the majority of this gift. Even now, If I relax my focus for just an instant, I will be lost in the flow of my surroundings once again.”
He felt the three around him freeze as he began giving words to the thoughts he had been stringing together for hours, and they stood stunned as they processed the information. Well, the two lapins stood stunned, and the human simply muttered under his breath,
“... A blind samurai? Finally, something cool.”
He seemed unaware that each of the lapins was more than capable of hearing such a low-volume utterance at such a close distance. His insensitivity to Ichiro's condition came as a shock to the two Loggers, but Ichiro's mouth quirked upwards at the words.
“You are mistaken, human. I am not blind. Rather I have been given access to a level of awareness that is too great for my present mental abilities... I will need time and practice to adjust.”
The human’s body tensed as he realized that he had just been overheard, then he relaxed. Ichiro could not see his posture but was able to passively absorb both his physical and emotional stance through the shifting pattern before him. The human was desperately troubled but seemed to be trying to deflect himself from some deep worry. The Weave around him was vibrant and energetic, but Ichiro was beginning to notice a fraying or breaking in the pattern near his center.
“Oh, uh, sorry about that, you are Lord Hiro's son right? I wonder if he knows we are still alive. I doubt he will be expecting us to return... unharmed. Especially you." The human answered, his tone choppy and distracted.
“What is your name human?” Ichiro asked, stopping his assisted walk and standing up straight.
“Jonathan Tillman…Uh, Lord Ichiro.” He answered haltingly. His posture reeked of self-doubt and confusion of what was expected of him. It would be dishonorable to allow him to continue in such a state.
“Jonathan Tillman, I name you [Trusted Gaijin].” The other two lapins marked his statement with sharp intakes of breath. Ichiro simply continued droning in his meditative monotone, despite the unprecedented nature of his decision.
“You have given our people hope again, and in so doing, you have tied your fate to ours. It is because of this, I give you the highest honor I am able. Each of our people will see part of this title displayed over your name and it will mark you as a friend to all lapins.”
“Wow, uh… Thank you, Lord, or my Lord…uh can I ask you a question? What do I call you?” Jonathan Tillman responded, clearly distracted by the notification he had just received.
Ichiro’s small smile deepened,
“I have marked you as a friend, so you may simply refer to me as Ichiro. With my father, however, it is probably best to continue to offer him the title of Lord for now. Although with what I have just done, it is also no longer required.”
Both of the Lapins stood stiffly under his arms as he offered levels of privilege to an outsider not seen in their generation. Ichiro then slowly turned his blindfolded face towards his two faithful companions, holding his focus tightly in order not to lose his place in the present,
“And to you, I command that you keep half of the Experience that you undoubtedly earned on this quest. The other half you may give to the Promise, but no more. In my foolishness, I lost our two remaining warriors. You have shown more than enough heart to be raised to that station should that joyful day come.”
The stiffness in their forms only increased and at once they carefully stepped out from under him and offered deep bows of respect. Ichiro could sense Jonathan Tillman as he followed the conversation with interest, but chose not to speak. Ichiro marked his patience in this and inwardly nodded in approval.
None could know just how many of the strands of his people's fate now ran through the soul of this human. For better or worse, Nephesh had tied them together, and Ichiro would have him as a friend if at all possible. For his sake and theirs.
“Now I will relax my hold on the present, this will allow me to move easier as you guide me, but I will lose my ability to converse until I have a better command of this power.” he intoned, letting some of his iron control on his will loosen.
“We will see you safely to the village my lord.” Nyuk intoned.
“We are probably pretty safe here anyway. The whole forest seems to be dead after what the human… I mean Jonathan Tillman did.” Kuro continued, again coming under one of Ichiro's arms as he felt the rigid fluidity of his lord’s concentration begin to lapse.
“Guys… I told you. Call me Tilly, please. It's gonna take forever to talk to you if you keep saying, Jonathan Tillman all the ti-”
Then Ichiro was gone, lost again to the moment, floating along on the sea of destiny that was the infinite strands of the Weave.
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“Hey Nyuk, it sounds like they are having a party down there... doesn't seem right that they started without us,” Kuro said teasingly, happy to finally be within the sight of the village.
The knot formed by Kuro's decision to speak met a far more complex piece of the pattern in the distance which reacted with such violence and speed that Ichiro was jolted from his daze and found himself reentering into his Battle Trance.
With a boom of displaced air, his father had appeared before them. Ichiro felt an immense welling of emotion at the presence of his father. One that threatened to break his concentration as no other kind of pain or attack could.
He immediately tightened his focus to its maximum and disentangled himself from the two lapins before prostrating himself. What Ichiro did not realize is that he had begun moving even before Nyuk had finished speaking, and the three looked at him in confusion, completely taken by surprise at the boom of his father's approach.
From his bowed position, Ichiro declared formally.
“Father, in my arrogance, I have failed you and our people. I formally offer you my life for bringing such disgrace to our family.”
His father’s face was stone and each of his companions around him froze, not able to recognize the deep interplay of desires and fate being played out in this exchange.
Instead of answering, his father drew his sword in a smooth and dangerous motion.