After sending her soldiers to rest in the village barracks, Shizu made way to the village chief's house. Her father Ozen should be there and she was planning to report to him about the recent hunt they had concluded.
It was easy enough to find the said house due to its sizable frame in comparison to the others. While not made to be extravagant in its decorum, it could be described to be homely. Sliding the front double door open, she stepped into the tatami mat entryway.
A servant greeted her as she took her sandals off. Being told by the servant of the house that Ozen was in the house’s study, Shizu rushed over to see him.
Her appearance before him would be highly irregular to Ozen, Shizu knew that. Yashimu was supposed to be in charge of giving the final report on the finer points of the recent events, but Shizu desired to give the report so she could make a request of her father.
Her entry sounded by the parting of a pair of white screen sliding doors, her father looked up for a moment and back down to the table he was sitting at one the far side of the room. On the wide wooden table were stacks of papers and disposable wooden messaging tablets.
Like many recent years since his ascension to the throne of Kujyuri, he was going through official documents, reading reports, and writing responses. As king, almost all matters of the nation of Kujyuri had to be run by him at least once.
There was a council who discussed and could pass decisions. They could put forth plans, but all matters of national topics needed to be adjudicated by the King himself.
Shizu’s mind went back to Azi's comment days before about kings sitting on their thrones as other people did the work in the field. She didn't want to admit it at the time, but his words held some rugged truth.
Her father was preferably a hands-on kind of person before he was seated as king. Many times had he admitted to Shizu that being on the frontlines or in the fields with his fellow man were the hay days of his youth. In a way, he was jealous of her freedom, though he never openly expressed that fact. Shizu found it ironic that they each desired each other’s position in life.
While the idea that Ozen could switch with Shizu seemed viable, Ozen took the matters of his nation seriously and put such an idea to rest. He was chosen to be a leader by the emperor and his people. It was his duty, yet it was one position he’d say was not his style.
In fact, during Ozen's initial appointment as King of Kujyuri, he was still trying to be an outgoing man everyone knew he was. But before all of this, he was a commoner like the rest. He made a name for himself fighting off wild monsters to reclaim land for his clan out in the sticks.
It was decades ago before his appointment as Ordained Knight and then King. Getting noticed for his deeds, Ozen was loved by the people of Kujyuri. His tale of rising in rank was a staple among the people.
Still a young man he was at the time, he struck out for glory and in doing so gained increasing amounts of his clan’s favor. The population grew as a result of his deeds and Ozen was sooner than not known to everyone in the nation of Kujyuri.
In time he was given a title to lay on with his Kingly status, the highest honor any citizen of the empire can achieve. It was as one of the Emperor’s Great Generals, along with the alias of Great Reclaimer, which was a play off his unofficial moniker as Land Reclaimer from his people.
The reason for such a grandiose name and honor was that he had secured a notably enormous swath of land that had been infested with monsters.
What was auspicious about this event were the enormous ruins found there. Confirmed by the Emperor’s own mouth, the ruins were from the age of divine strife. Ozen retook it in the name of the Emperor and discovered that these ruins held many gifts which he graciously bestowed to the Emperor as thanks for all he had been given.
The number of relics caught the Emperor’s notice and while it might seem Ozen had done so to curry favor, it was in truth done to establish long lasting bonds with the Empire’s capital for the sake of his people. Ozen could’ve asked for anything in return for the relics, instead he gifted them willingly, a sentiment that the Emperor found great character in.
Incentivized, while also seeing through Ozen’s game, the Emperor graciously appointed Ozen and opened many trade routes to his far off nation in the south west.
The moniker the emperor gave him was only an added bonus, and granted higher respect over other minor kings or lords under the Empire.
Shizu considered her father's feats and his legends in high regard, though now it almost seemed like the honors were shackles in a sense. Not exactly forced servitude but a staying hand on what Ozen could really do.
As a Great General, Ozen was considered one of the hands of the Emperor's will. Any citizen of the Empire would want that kind of fame and power, yet in truth it was another burden Ozen carried, at least, not alone.
The name for the collective hands of the emperor were commonly known to be the 8 Pillars of Power. Each held a great amount of merit and expertise in varied fields of statesmanship, war, or economics.
In any situation that the Empire faced, the Great Generals only acted at the order of the Emperor. It was both their duty and honor to be given this title as it represented that the awarded recipient was considered to be a trump card of the divine god of the Empire.
But should a powerful man, a living weapon and hand of god, be rifling through papers all day? It seems demeaning.
Shizu, witnessing her father doing paperwork, admitted that for all the glory behind his name, he was like a sheathed blade that would only be brought out at the call of the Emperor. Like a dog heeding to a master.
Brief disappointment crossed her. A part of her wanted that honor he had, she idolized the heroics, though another part of her didn’t want to be so bogged down by rules and conditions, it seemed suffocating.
Ozen suddenly let out a heavy sigh, no doubt annoyed at his work and was probably griping in his head.
This wasn’t the first time. Her father’s constant griping about his paperwork annoyed her, and she thought him to be a big baby at times. Ozen regarded Shizu with a smile that held a yearning to do something else.
Shizu didn’t understand the intent behind her father’s expression. It was a point Ozen had tried to rectify with her, how being King meant more than the fame and responsibility that went with it.
Inattentive to each other’s thoughts, Shizu shook off her discomfort. Her mind came back to the purpose of why she was here. She shunted all distractions away as she straightened herself.
Recomposed, she moved to stand across from her father, no, her king, approaching in a formal and measured manner. Standing at attention, as to not break etiquette, she then gave a small bow and changed her tone to the one she used in matters of official business.
Elegant and Bold, two traits and tones Ozen could see exuding from her.
"My King.” She said. “I have returned with news."
Keeping his eyes on the paperwork, Ozen motioned her to come closer to the desk. He didn’t miss her measured steps or her way of addressing him as, my King. She was up to something.
"I am glad you have returned Shizu, make your report." Ozen kept his head down and turned the conversation over to her to skip over the part where he’d asked why she was here, and had her get to it. He wasn’t in the mood for mind games or word play.
“At once.” Shizu said and took a map from her bag that she then laid out on the table. Pointing to certain areas surrounding the western mountains of Shisayama, she began.
"Firstly, our team found a kengiri in the western forest and we are still waiting for the eastern forest teams to return. We suspect that the cause of the increase in monsters was due to the kengiri scaring off other monsters away from the nest it built in the forest. With its death we believe the monster attacks will lessen as they will no longer be driven out of the forest.”
Informing Ozen next of Yashimu’s current and changed objectives, Shizu noted the somewhat grimacing reaction on her father’s part. He needed proof. Taking a piece of the Kengiri's carapace from her bag, Shizu laid it on the table as proof of her findings, to which Ozen’s expression renewed into a focused countenance.
He palmed the large white scale. “Proceed.” He said. Acknowledging, Shizu inhaled to catch her breath.
"Ahem! Secondly, we have found and eliminated a kengiri. We believe its nest might be nearby, and by their usual behaviors it entails that there may be more. We should mobilize some soldiers from Shisayama or make a request to Yamato to exterminate any remaining kengiri or anything of equivalent strength. You and Yashimu will have business to attend to back in the capital, so this line of request would be prudent.”
“Indeed.” Ozen huffed. “Much work is ahead, and I do not see it ending.
Taking a pause to allow her father to examine the kengiri carapace thoroughly, Shizu continued when he looked up and made eye contact with her. He had that gaze that was asking her to hurry up and get to the key point, so she did, and finished up this little front of her’s, acting as if she didn’t know any of his thoughts.
“Thirdly, Yashimu will be returning with the spoils of the western forest in a day after he finishes his final sweep. Additionally, there were no casualties in our investigation of the forest."
Ozen’s brows twitched as he thought he heard wrong and was confused by her last point. This was the kicker, it was what Shizu knew was going to draw him in, Ozen knew and braced, tensing his shoulders.
He had received different news from Yashimu and believed that Azi was fatally wounded. His gaze grew deeper on Shizu.
"Do you speak the truth? You aren’t lying? What of Azi? Did he not pass on?"
Shizu shook her head.
"Initially yes, we believed that Azi would not recover from his wounds. He was pronounced dead, but the apothecary and thaumaturge reexamined him and found that their initial findings were incorrect. Luckily, he recovered on his own."
A relieved smile found its way onto Ozen’s face, he was delighted by the good news. The boy’s life would have been taken prematurely in his opinion. The situation Azi was in already seemed unfortunate as it was. He frowned somewhat, regarding Shizu with a tinge of disappointment.
"That is good.. BUT!!” Ozen’s demeanor changed. Shizu glimpsed the raw power and aura seeping out of her father, no, her king. He was projecting himself, both selves. A father and ruler. “Tell me, why did you bring an amnesic boy on a hunt to fight monsters?! Just how reckless can you be with the lives of others?!"
Shizu flinched back at his harsh tone. Nonetheless, she remained resolute and kept her posture and bearing.
"I believed we would’ve been fine. Kajima suggested teaching Azi about forest survival and a number of other topics. With myself and Kajima with him, his protection was of no concern."
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“Hmmmm..” Ozen narrowed his eyes.
While he thought to berate Shizu for thinking so highly of herself in protecting someone when there was proof that she had not done so, he reconsidered. Shizu was highly skilled in combat and had no equal to any other Ordained knight of Kujyuri. His head cooled, but only by a degree to probe for details.
Shizu had bested even himself in a sparring match, so it was possible that her failure did not have a correlation to her combat strength. He inquired about Yashimu to test her on what she’d say. Would she pull the blame away from herself? How would she involve her peers on this matter?
"Did Yashimu not inform you of any of the potential dangers?” Ozen asked. “Did he not give you specific instructions? I find it odd that a complication like this happened, especially since Yashimu is quite the methodical man."
"No, he did not.” Shizu replied. “Yashimu said we were short on time so he only told everyone that we were to only investigate.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes father. He gave only the basic rundown and we went in as is.”
Ozen couldn’t detect any lie in Shizu, she didn’t flinch, nor were there any of the telling signs of fidgeting hands or fluctuations in her words. This was the truth.
"That damn boy." Ozen whispered, he sighed and put his hands together to steady them as he trembled in irritation. He wasn’t going to let himself explode into a rage, he’d only do that in times of great outrage, and now wasn’t one of those times.
"In any case, I understand who else is at fault Shizu, but this does not dismiss the fact that the boy you were to protect was harmed. I will give you a fitting punishment for your failure in taking care of him. You will not be given leadership on the next hunt or any military operations for the foreseeable future. Instead, I will have one of your younger siblings have a chance to prove themselves."
"I understand."
Shizu said reluctantly, gritting her teeth. This was a forgone conclusion she knew was coming. It would shorten her number of chances to earn more merit for her own goals of becoming queen. It stung, but Shizu kept her ambition hidden behind her stoic lips.
"There is more to the report.” She said. “May I continue?"
Ozen nodded to her and she began to retell her observations of how intelligent Azi had demonstrated himself to be. The boy seemingly dove headfirst into studying and Shizu likened him to be on par with the lowest of their own court scholars, which was of note to Ozen.
A peasant having such intelligence on the level of the lowest of his court was worthy of acknowledgement.
Shizu continued about how Azi had a wild side, how he went berserk during the fight with the kengiri, and managed to kill 3 gengiri on his own without any prior military or combat experience of note.
Embarrassingly, the retelling of how he then protected her from a possibly fatal strike from the kengiri made her want to look away in shame for her carelessness. Ozen scrutinized every tone and movement Shizu made. Being king, he needed to treat his servants and citizens with a level of care, even if they were his own flesh and blood.
“Are you positive that it was the same boy, Azi? He really did all that?”
“I am sure father.” Shizu said. “Kajima is a witness and I have no reason to lie in this case. In some twist, I owe Azi a small debt, though I’m not going to let him know that.” She strained a grin from forming on her face and Ozen sighed in exasperation.
Yeah, that sounds like something she would do. But.. impressive. Ozen thought. His decision to help this unknown boy was already showing possible potential.
"Astounding.” Said Ozen. “For a boy that young to do that much, we can put him to a variety of work in the future. Perhaps I should find him a wife from the village. I would prefer to have him hitched to grow his talents here in Kujyuri.” Ozen relaxed in his chair and was breaking his kingly character as he spoke more openly.
In matters about his own citizens he couldn’t help to have a soft spot for them.
“Umm, father, I believe that will be difficult.” Shizu cautioned. “The matter of Azi’s age is in question.”
“Whatcha mean? A young man like him should have no problem finding a partner.”
Feeling that his throat was parched, Ozen reached for a cup. As he did, Shizu realized as it dawned on her that she forgot to mention her findings on Azi’s age. Her voice timidly lowered.
"H-here’s the thing f-father, Azi is actually 27 years old. He’s an adult."
Ozen choked on his drink mid swig, coughing reflexively to get the knot water out of his system.
"Tw-twenty.. S-seven.. Twenty Seven years old? You must be joking!"
"I’m sorry but I’m not. I heard it from Azi himself and Kajima believes it as well. It does explain his higher than average intelligence. He’s a man, not a child. I wouldn’t rule out that he isn’t naive though, Azi does have a childish quirky side to him which is overly fascinated in almost anything he reads or takes a shine to."
“I-I.. suppose so.” Ozen said.
His face fell. If Azi really was 27, then his idea to get him married to a citizen of Kujyuri had little chance of happening. The women and men of the Empire usually only married when between 15 to 25 years old as this was considered the prime age for marriage.
Anyone married after 25 were known to be those that marry out of circumstance rather than actual familial bonds. That didn’t seem beneficial for an amnesic person like Azi, especially since emotional connection would prove to help indoctrinate him into Kujyuri’s lifestyle.
Right now, if anyone discovered Azi’s potential, they’d snatch him up. ozen had to act fast, but how would he tie Azi down to Kujyuri if not by marriage. It was drastic but that was just how desperate he was for talented individuals in his court. Ozen could appoint him directly but that had its own disadvantages, notably the jealous members of the court.
The idea of arranging a noble daughter came to mind, though was quickly shot down. Azi was still a commoner so it was out of the question, no noble lady was willing to debase themself, and those that were willing were already hitched.
Still, Ozen thought that Azi’s young features could be used as a way to fake his age but doing so would erode the relationship Ozen wanted Azi to have with Kujyuri. His people's happiness was his concern.
As Ozen tried to think of a different way, Shizu interrupted.
"Father, there is no need to worry about trying to keep Azi in Kujyuri. Marriage isn’t the only option, friendships can tie bonds as well. Kajima has taken an interest in the boy and they seem to get along well. They constantly talk about medicinal herbs, foods, and a variety of other topics that will keep him here in the village. So I’d bet he’s willing enough to stay."
"That's good to hear.” Ozen nodded. “But it would be better to have a more concrete connection to keep him here. Someone other than Kajima would be preferable since your Uncle needs to stay in Shisayama to continue his work as a blacksmith and his duty to the nation."
Ozen‘s attention drew to the map on the desk.
"I expect that Azi will want to visit other nations to figure out his past. Additionally, I want to give him the chance to travel like I have given the other young seeds. People like him need to gain experiences and skills that can't be found in Kujyuri. This way they will be able to return to share what they had gained from their foreign experiences.”
“You mean like our personal guard and attendants?” Shizu asked. “You mean to make him a close confidant?”
“Exactly. Increasing our population is a main concern but we need people in specialized trades. Merchants, skilled soldiers, craftsmen, and so on. We can only obtain those, and more importantly those loyal, through the method I have in mind.”
Ozen and Shizu were referring to their close associates. Court members who held unofficial power but favor with Ozen and other nobles.
“We would need people we can trust to keep an eye on all the ones we find.” Ozen brushed his hand through the two fall trails of his graying mustache. There was an ever growing shortage of people he could assign to such a role.
His youngest sons were busy managing the outer village, Yashimu had his hands full attending to inner village matters with Shizu, and Ozen’s personal contacts were on missions of their own already.
“Kajima will do for now when Azi is in Shisayama, but Kajima cannot travel due to his work. I will have to think on who to move around to pair with the boy if I do decide to bring him into the fold.”
"I think I have an idea.” Suggested Shizu.
"Go on?”
Shizu smiled and Ozen didn’t like that. His daughter’s smile looked as if a mischievous cat was ready to eat a mouse. And what Shizu said next dumbfounded him.
"Father, I would like you to station me in Shisayama as Azi's combat instructor. He will be my apprentice and I would like to nominate him as a potential candidate for my hand in marriage."
Ozen’s eyes suddenly snapped open, so wide that he thought this was a dream. The prospect of Shizu offering to become Azi's combat instructor was already out of left field, but never could he have predicted that she would choose him as a marriage candidate.
He believed the two got along like water and oil after their first interactions. And now this? Just what is she up to? Noticing her small smile again, Ozen’s surprise subsided as he remembered that his daughter had found Azi interesting.
The boy could take a hit from her and was willing to trade arguments, her title be damned or not. Maybe that brash behavior of Azi’s was because of his lack of knowledge of how nobility worked in the Empire but the boy’s demeanor seemed carefree from the beginning. He was a match for Shizu’s own brazen attitude.
With his surprise subsiding and getting under control, Ozen clasped his hand together and closed his eyes to think on if he should really humor Shizu’s a plan of action. Did she truly love the boy? The answer was no, and that was a red flag.
Nurturing healthy relationships was the road to success. But, conditional relationships were possible if the pros outweigh the cons, and he suspected that Shizu wasn’t serious about the marriage part of her plan.
After a few moments, Ozen opened his eyes and looked sternly at his eldest unwed daughter.
"Let me ask, I know the answer, but humor me. Do you love him?”
“No, of course not.” She said bluntly. “I see him more as an annoying kid, or even a pet. The marriage idea was only if he showed potential.”
“You think he has it?” Ozen asked and noted the pet comment she made.
Shizu paused and moved her hand to rub her left shoulder. There was a bruise there and she got it after Azi crashed into her while defending her from the kengiri.
“Yes.. He’s shown true heart in combat, especially for a novice warrior.”
“And are you sure this won’t make people get the wrong idea?” Ozen paid attention to Shizu’s injuries. “He is only a peasant. If you become his combat instructor, you’re pretty much asking him to be your apprentice from the get go. With your background and the rumors running around about yourself, it will be as if you’re declaring to marry him. This will cause friction with the other ordained knight families. Will you be ready to deal with the backlash of your actions?"
"That is why I will train him and see what he can do. You must remember that there are trials my potential candidates must pass to have my hand in marriage. First is a trial of survival, the second is a trial of strength, the third is a trial of wisdom, and a final fourth is a trial of character. Each trial is based on my own opinion and since I set the bar high, it is likely that the candidates that can pass these trials will become an ordained knight at the least. If he fails but still shows potential, I’ll add him to my personal guard, that or he’ll be my pet punching bag."
Ozen sighed at the whimsical and picky nature of Shizu's standards.
"Please, don’t torment the boy.” He warned. “I know he gets on your nerves but he’s only a quirky kind of person.”
He sighed again, this time remembering all the heartache Shizu caused with her last marriage candidate.
“I have forgotten how picky you are with men as well. But.. you make a good point. If you move to Shisayama you can keep a closer eye on Azi. Should he intend to travel, you can go with him and there has been a rise in issues in this part of the nation. Having you out here will take the burden off of me somewhat, but..”
Ozen took another few moments to deliberate on the pros and cons of Shizu's proposal. There was finally one important question.
“What about Rulu? You’ll be leaving her in the capital for a long time. Are you sure you can bear to stay away from our darling little star?”
“It should be fine.” Shizu replied. “I can exchange letters and have my personal guard send me reports on her health. I can also visit since Shisayama is only a couple days travel to Kujyuri’s capital by foot.”
“Hmmm.” Ozen gave a grunt. “If it’s you, you’ll probably make that trip in less than a day with how much you love Rulu.”
“Oh of course!” Shizu tilted her chin up. “I’m her big sister, and I’ll always protect her. Whenever and wherever she needs me, I’ll be there.”
Ozen smiled and after another few seconds he came to a decision.
"I will allow it, but the work you left in Kujyuri will be sent to you here in Shisayama. Make sure you take care of that and be sure to not get the boy killed from here on."
“He he, I understand,”
Somewhat giddy that her request was accepted, Shizu let a small smile curl her lips as a building excitement welled up in her chest. Oh the kinds of fun she could have in messing with Azi, or well, probing for his talents.
"Thank you father, I will do my best."
Seeing the look in his daughter;s eyes, Ozen hiddenly prayed that Azi would survive his time with her. He knew of absurd lengths Shizu would go to test and hone her candidates into “capable” citizens. Grueling was the word, more grueling than the basic training in the Kujyurian army.
She is a good teacher though. Ozen thought. And she has a good reputation, besides the whole man killer rumor.
[Meanwhile, in Azi’s room.]
“Achoo! Ugh!” Azi groaned. He laid flat on his bed with the blanket wrapping him up into a warm cocoon. Why am I sneezing? He mentally asked himself. It’s not even that cold? Allergies maybe? He sniffled and then a big yawn made him turn on his side. Everything ached all of sudden, and his stomach seemed to feel.. Cold.
Freaky, is this like those times where people are talking about you, and you somehow know it?.. He paused to deduce the actual possibility of such a potentiality. A second later he mentally shook his head. Nah, that’s crazy talk.
Another yawn caught him off guard and he dozed to sleep. Oddly, he heard a girl laughing in his head. It gave him the creeps.