Watch Officers Tent:

Final Night before the Red Wave.

Your Sergeant was born Hyu Han, and never did a more stubborn bastard live but that was not his name. Not after Naming Day.

“Han? Of the Noble Han Clan?”

Irked, Tsea-gong levelled a look of disdain on the newly minted fool, waving off his Preafect from punishing the boy.

“You are new to your position and the breeding that is expected of you, so I will forgive your interruption only this once. Do not do so again of your Seniors, Captain. They will delight in your punishment. Yes, ofcourse House Han, fool! Who else would be walking around with another Houses name?"

Tsea-gong had forgotten how bothersome it was to speak to infants who knew nothing of the Ages. It was bad enough speaking to one just over a century, but this child before him was more boy than Junior.

Tsea-gong sighed heavily, grieved that the Watch had fallen on such dire straights as to resort to the recruitment of Enkindled Seedlings.

"This was long before their fall from grace," he tried again. "Back when there were eight Clans. Nevermind their name, it is forbidden and cursed, but it was this eighth Clan that was at the heart of the Heretic wars.”

“This House was exclusively of round eyes and pale skins, harboring strange colorations to their hair. It’s why over a hundred years later, we still recognise those bizarre-sounding names with that of heresy. Even though all can see them in the sky, this Clan brazenly denied the deity of the Twin Sisters and was known to partake in foul practices...”

Tsea-gong snorted in humour.

“… more so than usual of the Nobles. Unfortunately, these rumours proved to be wildly underestimated, no one knows how long they had been building such strength. None were prepared to face honourless witches in battle, their foul magics tainting the Cultivation of noble Cultivators. In the beginning, it looked like they might actually win against the other five houses, launching a surprise attack and bottlenecking the Houses Sacred Artists in the lower levels. They quickly overwhelmed many Deep-rock outposts, pushing right up to their Castles and slaughtering thousands in foul rituals.”

“It was only when the Sacred Artists broke through, paying a devastating price in Noble blood, that they were finally brought to heel. Their foul magics deftly countered by the remaining Sacred Artist's Runes.

Tjien was shocked. He had never even heard of a round-eye clan, let alone them having Noble Lineage. It was preposterous.

The Shogun continued after taking a swift drink of the strong spirits.

"The dishonour with which they fought earned their entire Clan obliteration and annexation from the Emperor's annuals. They were slaughtered down to the last Cultivator. It was only amongst the various Clans whore houses, that a remnant of this house survived. Kept as trophies thanks in part to their monstrous hair colour variations and even then, only as Coreless young woman.”

“As a young man Hyu, fool that he was, committed the sin of all undisciplined young men. He fell in love with a whore, some redhead.”

“Together the pair hatched a plot, dying her hair gradually and convincing the painted Mistress that it was natural for her hair colour to fade over time. The Mistress agreed to sell the slave girl before she lost all value and the pair quickly eloped.”

“When Hyu’s father found out, she was already heavily pregnant with child. Furious at the wilfulness of his son, he disowned him. There might have been some few attempts on her life too, but this just brought Hyu into the arms of the Watch. The Houses were still heavily crippled by their civil war and there still was much fighting over the fallen Houses relics, whereas the Watch was at its zenith under Miki-yeoseo. Hyu and his family were safe so long as he served faithfully.”

“Due to his age of only eighteen, he could not be raised to a Captaincy even though he was of noble blood and was instead given a sergeantcy. Highly comical due to his timid nature."

Tsea-gong saw the young man’s disbelieving frown and snorted.

“He was a different man, Captain, and younger than you when his journey started. It was only after he changed his name that death lost its hold over him. The first Wave under his new heretic name, one of his men fell right off the wall. It was a miracle alone the fool wasn't impaled on the way down, but he survived with a broken leg and cowering under the walls defensive spikes all the while hollering like a baby.”

“I would have shot him for the disgrace and cowardness he displayed but apparently taking the new name Kevin, made Hyu an even greater fool. He tied a rope around his waist and went straight over. In the middle of a Beast Wave! Straight down the wall and then had the men pull them back up with the disgraceful soldier on his back. His men loved him for his reckless abandon, his behaviour at odds with what we have come to expect from Nobles. From that day onwards, the men would speak of him as that Sergeant who chased his own death at the point of a spear.”

Tsea-gong retrieved the Doa dagger belonging to the late Sergeant and tried to unscrew the large Beast Core attached to the end. With a grunt and a silent curse he broke it off. The damn thing had been glued on, most likely a self-repair job over the ages.

The audible crack was enough for Tjien to cry out in dismay at the damage done to the priceless dagger, his Sergeants honour-bound blade.

“Oh shut up, you fool." Tsea-gong replied exasperated. "It’s a Doa dagger Core, literally the definition of an aged Core used by a single individual. After decades, this thing is entirely attuned to Kevin alone. Its only use now to anyone else would be as a paperweight.”

Tsea-gong placed the Core into the young Captain's trembling hands and pushed him closer to the glow of the lanterns.

“Hold it up to the light, junior. Do you see the engravings?”

Tjien frowned but nodded when he saw that familiar sought of scratching on it.

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“Well? Read it then!”

“I… I can’t read my lord.”

The Shogun snatched it back, muttering sarcastically. “Ofcourse you can’t.”

“Arch-tenant could you please spell it out for our godless, suicidal arbalist.”

The man snatched the throw, holding it up with a scowl before arching an eyebrow in surprise. Dutifully he read it out loud.

“K. E. V. I. N.” The Arch-tenant frowned. "It's old script. That means this was his Naming Core.

Tjien scowled as Shogun's servant returned the core to him. Carefully he examined it again, as if he could somehow determine whether they were telling the truth of it. There were indeed five scratches on it.

“Happy now, junior. Your Sergeant was always an honourable warrior of the Watch and we were blessed to have him for so long, but he suffered adversity towards round eyes or their peculiar names. Quite the opposite really, as the Temples never forgave. The Shogun stated.

Tjien felt conflicted and overwhelmed by that which he did not fully understand. Even if they were telling him the truth about these letters, there was so much they had left out.

“But why choose Kevin, my lord Salamander? It just sounds... terrible."

The Shogun snorted. "All the names heretics sound terrible, Tjien."

“As a younger man, I asked him that very question one night, I was a Captain back then. Although I should add that he was also heavy into his cups at the time. The man would often drink his whole squadron under the table. He was dreadful. Would you believe he said it was so that no other women would tolerate being pushed into a marriage with him? Technically he was still a Noble even though he had been disowned by his House, so Miki-yeoseo couldn't force him to remarry. He had ”

Tjien frowned in confusion at the Shogun, who noticed immediately.

“You should be aware, it is common practice amongst the Watch to ensure all officers have families and thus act honourably at all times. We will hold off on you this week, but if you have no one in mind then you will be provided with a wife next week. We can't have our officers seen frequenting whore houses and you won't be paid enough for the Painted Houses until you pay off your officers gear.

Tijen’s confusion only deepened. “He really had no interest in any woman currently, life just hadn't permitted him these dalliances. Nor was he thrilled to hear about this imminent arranged marriage, but right now that was the lesser concern. Had he heard wrong?

"Forgive me, Shogun." Tjien stammered. " Why should the Sergeant remarry?”

Caught in surprise at the junior’s question, Tsea-gong leaned back and looked to his equally confused Arch-Tenant.

“You don't know, boy?” Tsea-gong took the blank expression as confirmation and sighed as he reached for his bottle once more.

“She’s dead boy. That whole name-changing thing was around the period she died. She..."

"NO!"

Astounded at the insolence of the interruption, even his Arch-Tenant was slack-jawed at the audacity.

“That can't be... He said.... that's why they beat me... thieves... I have to get it to her. No!”

Tsea-gong watched in confusion as the insolent swine descended into madness. Fumbling with his torn garments around his neck, trying to pull something out.

"See!" He yelled, holding something clenched in a raised fist. “I have to bring it back to her! He said I have to bring it back to her! To tell her…”

"Silence!" The Shogun's voice boomed across the tent and just in time too as Kido had already approached the fool with his blade half drawn.

Tjien collapsed to his knees, holding up the pendant before the nightmare that was the Shoguns Prefect.

After a moment of silence and some unseen signal, Kido sheathed his blade and plucked the pendant from Tjiens up raised hand, placing it in the Shoguns as the man leaned forward. Tsea-gong opened it up, his face not changing in the slightest as it slowly spun, dangling from his fist.

Tsea-gong broke the silence.

"The prison guards tried to take this from you?"

Still on his knees, Tjien nodded in silence. Not daring to lift his head.

A knowing look passed between the Shogun and his Arch-tenant. No soldier of the Watch would ever dare pilfer an heirloom from a fallen comrade, it was a guaranteed way to get stabbed. Let alone the sole surviving Arbilist hero in jail, that is, unless someone with authority commanded it so. Someone like a Monk.

"And Kev... your Sergeant told you to bring this back to his wife?"

This time Tjien did raise his head, almost pleadingly as he nodded again.

The Arch-Tenant and the Shogun sighed out loud at the same time, one busying himself with his papers and the other pouring another Soju.

"Well, I hate to tell you this boy, but the woman on this pendant is definitely his wife... His long dead wife."

Tjien put his face in his hands, clawing at his scalp as he pulled his hair.

She's been dead almost a hundred years boy. She died in childbirth, her and the child."

Tjien hands became wet as the Shogun droned on, all he could hear were his Sergeant's last words.

Tell her I'm coming home.

The bastard had known he was dying...Ofcourse he had known. Tjien hated himself for how stupid he had been, how utterly oblivious he had kept firing away on the arbilist whilst his Sergeant died quietly beside him.

He felt torn asunder, wracked with guilt, relief, and at a loss of what to do now. The click of the pendant closing drew his focus and he reached up as the Shogun moved to hand it back.

Tsea-gong was not pleased to find his new young Captain so emotionally shallow and had the brief urge to strike him for the woman he was.

"It is not uncommon for an un-Cored woman to suffer in childbirth,” Tsea-gong explained

"For their funerals, the Monks refused to pray over a heretic and her dead child. They too had gotten involved in the war and had lost well over half their number. Hyu however, would not accept it. He even managed to get himself thrown out of the two biggest Temples and then banned from all the others once word of his mission spread."

“It was only when he came of age, that he was finally granted admittance and brought before the monks for Naming Day. Miki-yeoseo was there too, as is the duty of every Shogun. Observing the ritual infusion of Essence we provide our Captains, as well as ensuring the materials provided aren't misplaced as one moves from a Seedling to Cored Cultivator.”

“The monks might have refused Hyu, but they dared not refuse Miki-yeoseo. Wilful fool that he was, Hyu set in place a grievance that day that would come to involve thousands and go on for almost... well, let us hope it is now finally finished. ”

“Before all the gathered crowd Hyu completely renounced his name. Instead of adding to it, he took on a new one. One he had carved into that very Core and placed in the Abbot's hands. The foolish Abbot, too wrapped up in ceremony, spelled it out loud before he realised just what it was he was spelling. I suppose it helps that Hyu had used old script, regardless the Abbot couldn't undo what was already spoken so publically and so was forced to swallow his pride and complete the Blessing in front of everyone.

As heaven decrees, those who choose a new path must let the old one die. And so, an official Death lantern, with a prayer to heaven was lit that day for Hyu Han and Kevin was born. It was amazing they let him leave the Temple grounds with the Death Lantern, but such was the... nature of Miki-yeoseo. It was well known that he had relieved no few heads lesser Nobles, unwise enough to upset him with paltry threats and so the Monks did not press their claim to it.”

"Taking the lantern, he scratched out the engraved name and carved his old one into the rock, beside his wife. You see, the boy's name was to be Kevin. It was the name his wife had long chosen and since both had died in childbirth birth he couldn’t undo her wishes, but he could swap the burden of reaching heaven without a prayer for the little one. After swapping names, he placed it over the child's grave and lit the lantern. Sending it to the beyond with the prayer still inside."

Tsea-gong scowled in silence. He could smell the strong scent of salt coming from the boy's face. This emotional weakness would need to be rectified swiftly, it would not do to have unbalanced officers. Turning to his Arch-tenant, he shared a few words and had the man scribbling on parchment once more.

"Junior, This emotion you so shamelessly flaunt is a weakness is a weakness I cannot tolerate amongst my officers. If this man meant so much to you then do your duty to him, but do not shame him with your sniveling.”

Tjien rose unsteadily. Unsure and angry with himself, keeping his face to the ground.

The Shogun was right.

"A thousand apologies Shogun. I don't understand, I... don't know what to do now."

"I have no interest in the apologies of wailing peasants. Keep your apologies and do your duty as an Officer of the Watch."

“If it is her grave you wish to visit, take this note of admittance. She will be buried with the rest of her kind, and that section of the city has long been sealed off. You will only be allowed in during the day. Don't even think of approaching the gate after dark. No other Clan or guild would permit her and the boy to be buried within their own sites. What you will want to do is head towards the giant red bridge. Luckily for you, it's broken and the graveyard just before it."

"DO NOT try to cross over and climb any higher. There is a fallen monastery up there, which I recently had the misfortune of learning still exists with some very few surviving members. They are not to be trifled with let alone trusted.”

Tjien bowed and was allowed to depart without another word.

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