Six Words [Chapters 48-51] Japanese Progression Fantasy

Hey peeps!

Happy Halloween!

If you want to start this story from the beginning, go [HERE]. 

This will probably be the end of book 1. I'll upload chapters of book 2 shortly, so if you enjoy the story so far, you get to keep enjoying, lol

Aethon signed me for 3 books in the series. Hopefully it does well!

Shami

Chapter Forty-Eight

“Don’t ask for life burden’s to be lighter.

Ask for the strength to carry them.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            I sat in the audience hall with just Saiki. My bladekeepers gathered a handful of soldiers, and prepped the palanquins while my advisors made announcements to everyone in Wist Castle. No one was to leave while I was away.

            Two people stood before me in the audience hall—Saiki and Vistra, the merchant.

            Vistra wore black robes, his large gut hidden by the dark coloration. His hair was slicked back, and he stood with such confidence that it honestly impressed me. Most people were intimidated by Ring Warlocks—but not this man.

            Or perhaps he was just excellent at hiding it.

            “Vistra-kain, I’ve called you here because I’m in need of your service,” I said.

            The man waved his hand around in a flourish. “I already know your request, Rimon-nox, and considered me honored that you would think of me.”

            “You already know?”

            He stood straight, all smiles. “Of course. I saw the swarm just as everyone else did. As the Ring Warlock of this castle, I assume you need to purchase rice and other produce from neighboring prefectures in order to get by.”

            I narrowed my eyes. “Quite astute of you.” It made me wonder if the man had known the swarms were coming ahead of time. Was that why he had traveled to this castle?

            Vistra must’ve recognized my contemplative expression. He shook his head. “Please now, Rimon-nox—no one can know when locusts will strike. They are a plague that comes and goes with the seasons.”

            He made the statement like there was no other possible interpretation, which made me think he wasn’t aware of Nizuka’s magic.

            I’d have to send someone with him, just to watch and make sure he wasn’t up to anything.

            “Yes,” I finally said. “I was hoping you might negotiate on behalf of Wist Castle. The prefecture to the southeast is Undland, and it’s known for its lush fields of produce.”

            “I was there once,” Vistra said. “Many years ago.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Which Ring Warlock should I speak with?”

            “Urisu is the Ring Warlock who uses his magic to grow mass amounts of food. However, I’ve never met the man, and I have no relationship with him…”

            Vistra’s eyes lit up, but he didn’t show any other emotion. His lips didn’t move; his eyebrows didn’t twitch—but he knew what I meant.

            If Vistra went as my agent, it would be seen as a grave insult. Ring Warlocks were meant to deal with other Ring Warlocks—no one else was their equal. If I sent a lowly traveling merchant to Undland Prefecture to gather food for my people, I had no doubt that Urisu would either kill Vistra to make a point, or charge quadruple as punishment for my failure in etiquette.

            But if Vistra just went as a merchant, and didn’t mention me at all, he could likely purchase as much as he wanted at a fairly standard rate.

            “You trust me to handle this matter, Rimon-nox?” the merchant asked, his tone skeptical.

            “I need to trust someone,” I replied.

            “You could go yourself.”

            “I’m afraid that’s impossible. I’m… required elsewhere.”

            No one else could kill Nizuka but me. I would need to go there immediately, but I didn’t want my people to suffer any longer—hence why Vistra had to go.

            “Why me?” Vistra asked.

            I exhaled. “As a Ring Warlock, I will always need information from the other prefectures, and I’ll always welcome high-quality goods. Which means I should make friends with a few talented merchants. And didn’t you say you were an exceptional merchant when you were first introduced?”

            Vistra’s lip tugged up in a coy smile. “I did, yes.”

            “So wouldn’t it be in my best interest to build a relationship with you? You’ve travelled most of the Tze Empire, isn’t that what you also said?”

            He bowed his head in affirmation.

            “And wouldn’t it behoove you to have a Ring Warlock in your debt?”

            That was when Vistra stood straight, his expression more cutthroat than before. “Oh, it’s terrible to have a Ring Warlock in your debt, actually. They’re the only people in the entire empire that can renege on a debt and no one can do anything about it.”

            “So you won’t help me?” I asked, cutting straight to the heart of the issue. “Because I will inevitably betray you?”

            Saiki paced around by the broken table, examining the splintered wood. When she heard my question, she glanced up and offered Vistra a sneer.

            “I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you,” Vistra said, smoothing his robes. “I just said I don’t want your debts. If you want me to purchase food for you, then you’ll need to pay me up front. Or at least, the majority payment up front.”

            Which meant I had to trust that he would uphold his end of the bargain.

            “You saw that I control a demon, didn’t you?” I asked in a quiet tone.

            He nodded.

            “And you’ve heard of my magic?”

            “They say you deal out death like a cook deals out stew.”

            “Then you know what will happen if you betray me.” I ran a hand through my black hair. “We have a deal—I’ll pay you up front. And you bring back food according to my magistrate’s specifications.”

            I didn’t know how much coin was housed in Wist Castle, but Ketsu said we had some funds.

            Besides, there was a good chance Banth Castle had coffers filled with coin, and I intended to take it once Nizuka was dead.

*六つの言葉*

            Once the details and money were paid to Vistra, I focused on Saiki. She had been with me since the locusts attacked, sticking close and remaining rather quiet. Much like… a spider.

            Alone in the audience hall, I stood next to her near the ruined table. Supposedly, Yoshimasa, my carpenter, would have this fixed within a day or two. I wasn’t certain how he would do that, since I had shattered so much of the wood with my unbridled strength, but at least it would be fixed before I arrived home.

            “I’ll need the help of you and your family,” I said.

            Saiki glared a hole in the toppled table. When she finally turned her gaze to me, it was with the same intensity. “It’s quite dangerous to assault a castle of a Ring Warlock.”

            “Are you saying a spider is afraid of a pile of bugs?” I asked.

            She tensed and gritted her teeth. “Never. But humans are quite callous, and her soldiers have hunted my children before. You want to fight them all? At once?”

            “No,” I quickly stated. “I don’t want to engage in combat. I want to make sure they can’t escape when I burn that castle to the ground.”

            My statement seemed to calm some of Saiki’s rage. She tilted her head and relaxed her jaw. “So… you want my help to trap them?”

            “Yes. Exactly. If my plan works like how I imagine it, there will be little fighting. You and your children will walk away from this encounter without casualty.”

            Saiki combed her hand with her slender fingers, a smile creeping across her face. “Oh, yes. I see I’ve taught you well. Traps are the best way to handle your prey—and your enemies.”

            “But we will need the assistance of your children. You understand that, correct?”

            She slowly nodded. “They will be safe?”

            “As safe as I can possibly make them. I can’t guarantee none will be harmed, but I promise it is my intention that they won’t be.”

            “Very well, my lord. My children will be there, answering your call to war.”

            The door to the audience hall slid open. I turned to find that Yuna had entered, and immediately found myself fighting a smile. She stared at me without hair in her face, and her eyes were wide. No longer was she covered in a strange scab—her eyes functioned just as well as any other.

            With giddiness in her step, she made her way over to me. Then, halfway there, she slowed her steps, almost as though she had been afraid of tripping and needed time to recover. Smiling, Yuna finally made it to my side.

            “Rimon-nox,” she said, her tone joyous. “I know you sent for your physician, but Nikko sent me in his stead. I’ve been helping ever since my eyes healed.”

            Yuna touched the corner of one eye, her fingers grazing her smooth skin.

            “Thank you for coming,” I said.

            Saiki eyed her and offered a coy smile. She said nothing, but seemed amused by our conversation.

            With a formal bow, Yuna asked, “What do you need, Rimon-nox?”

            “I need ointment that will cause numbness. And an ointment that will help someone’s burn. Can you get me as much of both of those as you can?”

            She stood straight and nodded. “Of course. I can get those both right away. We have several jars, and if you need more, both are easily prepared.”

            “Enough for four people would be appreciated.”

            “At once, my lord.”

            Yuna was about to turn and leave, but I held up a hand.

            “Wait,” I said. “I haven’t much time, but I’d like to use some of to speak with you.”

            Yuna’s eyebrows lifted. She stood in front of me, her eyes searching mine. They were so crystal clear, and a fascinating shade of dark oak. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

            “Yes?” she finally asked.

            “You’re getting along well? Your eyes give you no trouble?”

            Yuna once against touched the very corner of one eye. With a hesitant smile, she said, “Sometimes, I get lost, and then I need to close my eyes to help reorient myself. Seeing colors so bright gave me a headache at first, but Nikko helped with that. The more I see, the more I want to explore—to put a picture to the things I only ever felt.”

            “You could see when you were a child, couldn’t you?”

            She nodded. “Yes. But those memories have been blurry for years. Abstract. The world appears new to me now. Brand new.”

            “What has been your favorite thing you’ve seen so far?” I asked, wondering if the gardens impressed her, or perhaps the majesty of the forests.

            “My favorite things I’ve seen…  is you, Rimon-nox.” Yuna blushed slightly, and then avoided my gaze. “I never imagined you to look so handsome…”

            An odd chuckle escaped me. She found me attractive? All my life living in a brothel had reinforced the notion that only women were anything special to gaze upon.

            “Forgive me,” Yuna quickly stated. “That was entirely inappropriate.” Yuna bowed again. “I meant only to praise you in a way befitting your station.”

            “You needn’t apologize. I was just caught off guard. No one has ever said that to me before.”

            Despite my explanation, Yuna bowed again before heading for the door, her face redder than ever. Saiki and I watched her go. It was only after the door was slid shut that Saiki turned to me.

            “Humans are so strange,” Saiki muttered. “Demons and spiders handle these matters in a straightforward manner. I prefer that.”

            I shook my head. “Humans are more complicated.”

            “That’s what I just said. Strange.”

            I shook the thoughts aside. Right now, I had to focus on Nizuka.

            Though I did reflect on the conversation with Yuna from time to time…

Chapter Forty-Nine

“You’ve only failed once you’ve decided to give up.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            Once arrangements had been made with the merchant, and with the spiders, I sent Mazun, Ryota, Saiki, and a few dozen of my soldiers down the road toward Banth Castle. They had instructions to prep the area. While they headed toward Nizuka, I went another direction—off the road, and to the forests themselves.

            I was faster on foot, and my heightened endurance allowed me to run for some time before needing to rest. I could thank the spirit guardian bear for most of that. He had been a fountain of strength that flowed through me.

            The summer was oppressive, and I stuck to the cool, forgiving shadows.

            With my custom naginata slung on my back, and supplies tied at my belt, my confidence soared.

            Wildlife flourished all around me, and occasionally I spotted interesting animals—badgers, smaller deer, and even a large cat—but I didn’t stop for any of them. My sights were up at the sky. I peeked through the leafy canopy whenever I could, trying to spot my target.

            The twin suns made the heat almost unbearable as I dashed through the forest. I sweated enough to drench my silks, and more than once I had to stop and drink.

            Ketsu was right. A fire in these conditions would be unstable.

            Despite that, I pressed forward. I knew what I needed to do, and that involved an inferno of epic proportions.

*六つの言葉*

            It took me three days of searching, but I finally found the scent I had been searching for.

            The sulfuric odor of the dayvu was distinct and unlike anything else. Once I caught its trail, it was easy to follow through the south, and then into the mountains that separated Rovik Prefecture from Granvil Prefecture to the west.

            The mighty dayvu soared the skies near the peak of the mountain, its trail of ash mixing with the snow. It was a beautiful sight when the harsh fires of the phoenix were juxtaposed against the cold ice of the peaks.

            That didn’t matter, though. As soon as I could see the beast, I knew I was close enough.

            “It’s time,” I whispered, standing on the hills at the base of the mountain.

            “You’re taking a great risk,” the Warden said, no mirth in his voice.

            “I know.”

            “You think killing Nizuka is worth it?”

            I rotated my right shoulder and prepared myself to run. “I think freeing Rovik Prefecture of her influence is worth it.” After all, wasn’t the stated duty of a Ring Warlock to protect their people? That was before all the Ring Warlocks became wrapped up in their own bizarre perversions.

            Nizuka had gone too far—and messed with the wrong person.

            I activated the magic granted to me by Axraksii and syphoned the life of a small lizard stuck between rocks. It was nothing I couldn’t handle—I just needed a little demonstration.

            The dayvu shrieked, its voice piercing the sky.

            I ran.

            The massive phoenix turned in the sky and angled itself toward me. Instead of trying to find a place to hide, I ran out in the open. I headed for the main road in the north, which would eventually lead to Banth Castle, and I pushed myself to new speeds.

            No normal man could’ve done this. I was the only one who could pull off this deadly stunt.

            When I hit the main road, I took off east, deeper into Rovik Prefecture. When the smell of the dayvu grew weak, or I could no longer hear its shrieks, I used my magic on something small and trivial, with little life essence. That enraged the phoenix all over again, and soon the heat of its wing beats was upon me.

            I didn’t dare glance back. Even as I ran down the main road, passing small turn-offs toward villages that were nestled at the edge of the northern forest, I never looked over my shoulder. The dayvu was following me—I didn’t need to see it.

            The heat…

            It was midday, and even as I flew over the ground at speeds that made my eyes hurt, the wind was of no comfort. The dayvu’s anger obviously made it hotter. When it was gliding over the peaks of the mountains, the snow had maintained, but now that it was chasing me like a dog, its flames burned ever brighter.

            I gulped down air, the small of ash almost causing me to choke.

            Despite that, I pushed myself. Once I saw the signs for Banth Castle, I turned into the woods and headed straight for my destination.

            Soon…

            “It’s gaining on you,” the Warden said in my ear.

            I couldn’t reply. I was too busy breathing deep and trying to maintain my focus.

            I was almost there, and I hope Saiki, Mazun, and the others were prepared.

*六つの言葉*

            The trees thinned abruptly, and I dashed from the shelter of the forest into the open, the world before me unfolding in a flash of sunlight. Banth Castle loomed ahead, its stone walls rising from the earth as if born of the very land itself. Jagged peaks crowned the turrets, their dark silhouettes sharp against the sky.

            Below, the river wound its way around the base of the castle like a natural moat, its waters dark and swift. Across the expanse, the forest lingered at the castle’s back. The trees stood tall, their branches swaying gently in the arid breeze.

            “Made it,” I said, breathless.

            “You’ve only just begun,” the Warden replied.

            The castle’s roofs, sharp and curved like dragon wings, gleamed faintly in the dying light of dusk. Even from this distance, I saw Nizuka’s banners fluttering in the wind, emblazoned with a crest of insects. Her soldiers stood guard at the gates, on the walls, and even on the road that led up to the castle.

            The river’s reflection danced on the stone, and for a moment, the whole place seemed serene.

            But then a screech filled the air, and the castle was abuzz like a beehive that had been violently shaken.

            I wiped away sweat from my forehead and slid down the slight hill until I hit the dirt road. Once again, I used my magic on something small, and the phoenix was driven mad.

            And its rage was worse. For hours I had dragged it along, taunting it with the power of Axraksii, and now the dayvu was hotter than ever before. The phoenix wanted me dead—or perhaps it wanted all traces of Axraksii eliminated—but either way, its goal would be the same.

            The soldiers at the gate all had their eyes on the massive phoenix, their heads tilted back so far, they almost stumbled backward. While they were distracted, I ran by and then leapt over the wall, just as I had leapt over Wist Castle’s walls many times before.

            I landed hard in the first courtyard that surrounded the castle, my breathing rough, my throat hurting. The air was devoid of water. Even my eyes hurt whenever I blinked.

            The phoenix screamed and then dove toward me.

            Embers and ash rained down in equal amounts. I waited, because this time I wanted the creature to get close, and I shielded my gaze as the bright light of the beast flooded the area.

            “It’s a demon!” someone shouted.

            Bells clanged across the castle grounds.

            “Run!” someone else yelled. “Run for your lives!”

            The phoenix landed on the roof of Banth Castle, its talons flashing as it caved in a portion of the roof.

            This was what I had wanted. There would be no escape for Nizuka, not when a dayvu sat perched above her. The flames, and the smoke, would prevent insects from fleeing, and the pyre the phoenix created would kill anyone in its wake.

            The monstrous bird bent low, and from the haze of heat and ash, its head emerged, an abomination against nature’s design. It had no eyes, only hollow, gaping sockets where they should have been. Its beak, impossibly long and forged from something that shimmered like molten steel, parted with a grating screech, revealing the nightmare inside.

            There, nestled within its monstrous gullet, was the face of a man.

            But this face was no ordinary one—it was human in form, yet grotesquely magnified and twisted by pain. The mouth quivered, lips peeling back in a silent scream of torment. The eyes, wide and unblinking, stared forward, locked in perpetual agony, unblessed by the mercy of eyelids.

            The creature moved with the hunger of an apex predator, sniffing the air like a bloodhound. Yet, behind that monstrous beak and those tortured eyes, there was a deeper, darker intelligence—a fury. This was no mere animal… It was a wretched force born of flame and metal, driven by something far more malevolent.

            Its body blazed with eternal flames, but its talons and beak glistened with the hard, cold gleam of steel. Its insides, however, were something else entirely: flesh, twisted and raw, burned but never consumed.

            And when it flapped its enormous wings, the fire it conjured rained upon the castle, igniting everything in its wake. The flames spread like a plague, devouring the rooftops and racing through the village below, as if the very air itself had caught fire.

            The castle wilted under the onslaught. Heat rolled off the dayvu in waves, melting stone and turning the ground beneath it to molten slag. With each beat of its wings, the inferno grew larger, its devastation more complete.

            There was no escaping this—no running from the devastation that this beast unleashed. It wasn’t simply hunting. It was ending.

            A river of black smoke wafted into the sky. The red of the sunset streaked through, casting everything in a scarlet darkness unlike anything I had ever seen.

            What manner of cursed creature was this? If the dayvu were this twisted, what horrors would the felheen be? If I had gazed upon them, would their forms have haunted my nightmares for all time?

            This dayvu’s would…

            “Burn,” the dayvu said, its voice heartless and rough. The human face spoke within the beak mouth. “Burn bright…”

            Embers burned small spots on my skin, but I managed to back away until I was under the burning edges of a house.

            “It can speak?” I asked through a wheeze.

            The Warden laughed. “Of course. The felheen can speak, can’t they? So can the dayvu.”

            The phoenix smashed its way down the castle, screaming as it went.

            Soldiers fleeing the castle came out while on fire. Some of them only made it a few steps before collapsing and grabbed at their face. Their eyes melted the fastest.

            The heat was intense, but I was able to withstand it. My body—my essence—was far greater than an individual, which was why I had done this alone.

            “My fire will cleanse the world,” the dayvu said as it placed a talon into the garden that surrounded the castle. Its talon melted the stone walkway, and its mere presence set the perfectly manicured shrubs ablaze.

            Standing next to the castle, the dayvu was almost as tall as all four stories.

            Something smashed out the window from a section of the castle. It was the size of a man, but it had wings like a dragonfly.

            I stood straighter, my heart racing.

            “That’s one of Nizuka’s bonded,” the Warden quickly stated. “He’s trying to escape.”

Chapter Fifty

“Time is not a stalking predator, but a companion.

It teaches you to cherish every moment.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            I stared at the man fleeing, realizing he wasn’t a man at all. He was some sort of human-dragonfly hybrid—a freak of nature akin to a monster. He wore a simple robe with a belt, no pants or sandals. The man flew awkwardly to the wall, landed on top, and then flew again. The fire and smoke had to limit his movements.

            The dayvu smashed more of the garden, and then the front doors of the castle.

            This was what I had expected… If Nizuka was using her magic within the castle, she was inadvertently summoning the phoenix to her. If she kept doing it, she’d be cooked alive.

            But that meant I couldn’t use my magic, or else I would draw the creature’s ire. I wanted it to burn Nizuka so thoroughly there could be no hope of regenerating. If I drew its attention, there was a chance she could flee, and that was unacceptable.

            “Her servant is trying to escape with a grub of hers,” the Warden said, urgency in his tone. “If you want to succeed, you can’t allow him to escape.”

            No!

            I dashed toward the wall, my eyes squinted. Embers hung in the air like fireflies and the smoke clogged my throat. Coughing and wheezing, I leapt for the wall just as the dragonfly-man attempted to land in the nearby forest.

            I slung my naginata off my back and gripped it tight with both hands. With anger fueling my concentration, I leapt off the wall and gave chase into the forest. The embers of the dayvu were close behind us, floating onto the leafy canopy from the inferno of the castle.

            Ketsu was correct—he was mostly correct about a lot of things—and I was thankful for his foresight. I had a plan to deal with the spreading fire, but that could only happen once I made certain that Nizuka would be killed.

            The man’s wings buzzed in the smoky air, flickering like blades of light through the dark underbrush. My breath came in ragged bursts, the heat of the dayvu’s inferno close enough to singe the leaves, but also so bright that it kept the area lit. The nightmarish glow of the fire cast monstrous shadows, but I didn’t falter.

            The man-beast darted left, and I pivoted sharply, naginata poised. He moved like an insect—erratic, unpredictable—but the fire and smoke weighed him down, and I knew he wouldn’t outrun me for long.

            I leapt up, landed on the trunk of a tree, and shot forward through a clearing between the trees. The length of the naginata served me well. I swung wide and clipped one of the beast’s wings.

            The bug-man screeched and then hit the ground. He was on his feet in another moment, but his torn wing prevented him from flying.

            I rolled across the ground as I landed, and then I, too, got to my feet, my weapon still in hand. I coughed and spit out a glob of smoke and debris, my breathing pained.

            This man…

            He was some sort of twisted creature, his human flesh gone. He was mostly insect, with a hard exoskeleton, a face dominated by giant eyes, and antenna that twitched independently of one another, perceiving his surroundings in ways humans couldn’t.

            “What… happened to you?” I asked.

            “I told you,” the Warden said. “When you allow magic to flow through your body—it changes you. Nizuka bonded with this man, and her magic changed him.”

            The bug-man hissed. Was he even capable of human speech?

            Without warning, he leapt forward. His hands still had fingers, but they reminded me of the spindly legs of an ant. In his palm, however, was the freakish bulge of a stinger unsheathed from his flesh. The stinger was the length of a dagger, ending in a fine point that oozed a clear liquid that I could only assume was venom.

            The insect freak attacked me with great speed. I leaned to the side, avoiding his stinger, but then he slashed with it, clearly just trying to puncture my skin.

            I rolled, got to my feet, and swung wide. Ryota said not to let my enemy to get close—and that was exactly what the insect was trying to do. It leapt forward again, trying to close the distance between us.

            But I was stronger—far stronger than this creature—and when it got close, I decided to launch myself at his chest. I slammed into the man and sent him tumbling backward. When the insect got to his feet, he buzzed his wings. Embers floated in the air around us, and each breath was torture.

            It was so hot…

            “You’re not leaving this forest alive,” I said.

            With an inhuman screech, he launched himself at me. I parried the strike, the force of the clash reverberating through my arms. He was faster than I anticipated, but his desperation made him sloppy.

            My naginata pierced a portion of his arm’s exoskeleton, and dark ichor gushed from the wound, spilling across the dry forest floor.

            The bug-man sprang at me again, his wings buzzing angrily as his stinger sliced through the air. This time I sidestepped, keeping my footing steady, slashing upward with my naginata. I clipped his hand, cutting through the palm.

            When the insect flew by, I whirled on my heel and stabbed the man through the back. His exoskeleton made him far tougher to skewer than a normal man, but my heightened strength effortlessly defeated his heightened defenses.

             The bug-man hit the ground, my naginata through his chest. I walked over, coughing as I went, the blaze of the dayvu creeping our way. This forest would be ablaze soon. I had to make sure Nizuka was dead before I hurried to the others…

            To my shock, the insect-man swung wide his good arm, a stinger aimed at my leg.

            Acting on instinct, I leapt so hard and upward, I hit the leaf canopy above.

            I should’ve paid more attention! An average man would’ve been killed by a naginata through the chest, but bugs were difficult. Damn bug lived through a great deal of punishment…

            I landed, jumped again, and this time brought the back of my heel down heavily on the bug’s head. I hadn’t been expecting the explosion of ichor and fleshy insides, and the resulting squelsh caused me to shudder.

            After another round of wheezing, where my vision blurred at the edges, I knew I had to get out of the smoke, at least for a moment.

            “Don’t forget the grub,” the Warden said, no emotion in his voice.

            Though my eyes watered, and it was difficult to take in breath, I knelt next to the headless insect-man. I patted his robes, trying to feel for something. In a matter of moments, my fingers grazed a fat, pulsating worm. Or perhaps it was a caterpillar—it was covered in white hairs, and its chubby legs writhed around as I tore it from its hiding spot deep in a pocket.

            I stared down at the caterpillar in my grasp.

            “No,” the tiny creature hissed. “No. Put me down, maggot. You are not fit to touch me.”

            “You made your last mistake when you attacked me,” I whispered.

            Then I squeezed my fingers around its head until it popped like a pus-filled pimple.

            Green ichor coated my hand. I turned to run—and meet up with the others—when I noticed that the caterpillar body was withering away. It practically melted, revealing a black ring with red gemstones glittering on the underside.

            Nizuka…

            That had to have been her last insect…

            My heart hammered. The power of the ring was just as hot as the fire spreading my way.

            After coughing for some time, I slid the ring into a pouch on my belt. Then I headed away from the flames, east to where my companions were surely located.

*六つの言葉*

            I ran through the northern forest until I reached an area completely coated in spiderwebs. The smoke hadn’t yet reached this area, and I took a moment to breathe. The webs were here to catch any of Nizuka’s followers who might’ve fled the castle before the dayvu could destroy it. In order for my plan to work, no one could be allowed to escape who saw me at Banth Castle.

            The southern forest had a massive river, and Saiki was there, using her gigantic spider-demon form to fell trees and redirect the flow of water to cut off the inferno.

            Here, in this forest, I turned on my heel and prepared myself for the incoming flames.

            I could use my magic to snuff them, and since they had no real essence that would eventually incapacitate me, all I had to do was act as a shield. I had to personally halt the fire before it spread to Wist Castle…

            Ryota, Mazun, and the others were here in this forest, beyond the spiderwebs, creating a clearing. It wouldn’t stop the fire, but it would, in theory, slow it, and that was all I needed. They were also out there to warn travelers about the fire. They were meant to be my failsafe, and to also help Saiki with the southern forest as much as possible.

            I waited, my attention on the sky.

            The dayvu was easy to see, even if some of the leaves were in the way—and even though it was night. The massive phoenix was like a third sun, and when it flew upward, all the forest was bright with daylight.

            Since Nizuka was now dead, and her magic ceased, I suspected the dayvu would leave, just like it had with me near the river. And I was correct. The creature flapped its wings and headed back toward the mountains, its strange nature calling it to other places.

            The Warden said it was lost in thoughts—but what could a beast like that be contemplating?

            It didn’t matter. I just had to wait. Once it was gone, I could start my duty.

            The fire spread, and a sinister orange glow emanated from the distant trees closest to Banth Castle. Even after the dayvu was so far away I couldn’t see it, I waited. I couldn’t risk drawing it back to my location through the use of my magic, so I made extra certain it wouldn’t detect me.

            As the inferno raged east, I took a deep breath and rushed into the forest, heading back through the smoke. When I came upon flames, I exhaled and targeted my magic at them.

            Whoosh.

            With a slight show of power, the fire was snuffed. I could clear several trees at a time, if I focused properly, and once the fires were instantly quelled, it seemed as though the other flames had trouble spreading over the same area.

            My magic snatched away the last of the life essence, and then it evaporated, not even filling me.

            I ran between the trees, stopping the fire as I went. Occasionally, I had to leave the smoke to get fresh air, but since I was so fast, and had so much stamina, I was able to create a line. I hoped that Saiki would be able to control the rage of the southern forest, at least until I was done here. If she hadn’t helped me, I never would’ve been able to contain this all…

            And if I managed to stop the fire from spreading…

            Then perhaps, I could get away with the murder of another Ring Warlock. But I had to concentrate, and not allow the smoke to be the enemy that ultimately defeated me.

Chapter Fifty-One

“Be wary of people who tell you that the truth doesn’t matter.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            I was exhausted.

            Mentally. Physically. Spiritually.

            The level of death and destruction was so great, I would never get them from my memories. The smells were worse, especially with my heightened senses. Charred flesh, dead trees, and ash made for a terrible combination.

            It had taken nearly a day to stop the fires from spreading, and once it was done, I returned to Mazun and collapsed.

            He and the others managed to bring me back to Wist Castle, but in my dreams, I vaguely heard the voice of the Warden, scolding me for entrusting my life to them. Despite his chiding, I slept well. Mazun and Ryota wouldn’t hurt me, and Saiki was under orders not to do me harm—who would strike out? I was in good hands.

            Perhaps if they knew I carried a second ring, one of them would’ve taken it for themselves, but I never mentioned that to anyone.

            The palanquin ride felt like it only lasted two seconds. I was asleep the entire trek, and once back to my home, I only managed to climb the stairs to my bedroom before once again embracing the sweet comfort of slumber.

            I awoke some time later, at night, and I was in such a haze, that time felt like an illusion. How long had I been dreaming? Why did I still smell of smoke? Would that dreaded scent never leave me?

            With a dire urge to relieve myself, I managed to get off my bed and do my business. When I returned, however, Nizuka’s ring fell from my pouch just as I was climbing onto my pillows. The black piece of jewelry landed on my blankets with a heavy thud. Had it moved on its own?

            Disturbed, I reached out to pick it up, but stopped mere inches from the metal band.

            The ring…

            What if… I put it on? What if I bound myself to yet another felheen? Would I get a second set of powers? Another six words to shout into the darkness?

            I hesitated, my thoughts groggy.

            No. Axraksii had only given me two warnings. He had said to be cautious with his power, because my human body was frail. And he also said to never wear a second ring.

            Axraksii had been right about the first warning—it had taken me some time to adjust to his powerful Heat Death ability…

            “What will happen if I put this on?” I asked, seemingly to myself, but I knew the Warden never left me.

            He didn’t answer.

            “Why won’t you tell me?” I demanded. “Why do you only tell me some things, and not others?”

            The Warden’s dark chuckle didn’t amuse me. “The almighty Axraksii told you to never bind yourself to a second felheen, and for good reason. What you do with his warning is up to you.”

            The Warden’s cryptic answer intrigued me.

            Why did he say it like that? He didn’t say, you can’t wear a second ring—he said, never to bind myself to another felheen.

            With the ring held in my hand, I rested my head back on a soft pillow. My eyelids were heavy, and the night still young. It was cool, and quiet, and with each even breath, I slipped further into unconsciousness.

            Just one more day of sleep, and my fatigue would finally leave me.

*六つの言葉*

            I sat in the audience hall with my bladekeepers and advisors.

            Ketsu held a letter that had been addressed to me, and the others watched on with serious expressions.

            Reading aloud, Ketsu said, “Ring Warlock Rimon Wist, your aid is requested in the southern half of Rovik Prefecture. Banth Castle has been razed by the might of a dayvu driven mad, and Ring Warlock Nizuka Banth has yet to emerge from the ashes. She has recovered from devastating attacks in the past, and the shrine maidens have full faith in her recovery, but until then, the citizens are without guidance.”

            “Tell them we’ll send aid,” I said from my throne. Despite my extra sleep, I was still tired. It was unfortunate, but it seemed I had pushed myself to breaking, and I needed just a little more time.

            Despite that, I couldn’t help but smiling. It was a small smirk—nothing undignified.

            Nizuka would never be seen again.

            “Who wrote this letter?” Rein, my Magistrate of Justice, asked.

            “It is signed and sealed by Watanabe, one of the southern lords who once answered to Nizuka,” Ketsu replied in a matter-of-fact tone. When he turned to me, it was with a smirk of his own. “You should summon his family here to the castle to receive your aid. Perhaps you can strengthen your relations with the southern portion of the prefecture. That way, you will always have eyes on whoever becomes the next Ring Warlock.”

            “What if the ring is never found?” I asked.

            The room grew silent a moment after I finished speaking my last word. Everyone exchanged tense glances.

            Ketsu finally straightened himself. “The emperor will send his most elite bladekeepers to search for it, I assure you. It won’t be lost long. And, if I recall correctly, the longer it goes without a wearer, the more other Ring Warlocks can sense its location.”

            “Is that true?” I quietly asked—not to anyone in the room, but to the Warden himself.

            “It is,” he replied. “You have about a year to keep it to yourself, if you wish. At that point, it will call to other nearby warlocks, whispering its location.”

            “You mean you will be whispering its location,” I said under my breath, irritated.

            The Warden chortled. “Quite right, Rimon-ves. You’re so clever.”

            “I thought you wanted me to gain power? Wouldn’t it behoove you to keep this information to yourself?”

            “Ah, but I can’t let you grow stagnant. You should either use the ring or give it up—keeping it is no fun at all.”

            Use it?

            I shook the thought away. The ring remained in my pouch tied to my belt. It wouldn’t leave me until I decided what to do with it.

            “The emperor also wrote us, requesting you come to the capital before the end of the season, which is earlier than we were planning,” Ketsu said. “I suggest we write him back and include this message from Watanabe in our communications.”

            I nodded once. “Do so. And tell the emperor we will keep an eye out for Nizuka on our travels to his palace.”

            My advisors darkly chuckled at the statement.

            “And make certain my soldiers are the ones down south, helping with the devastation,” I said.

            Just as a locust swarm could be considered a “natural disaster,” so was a dayvu attack. So long as there were no witnesses to my involvement, the emperor could not pin this death on me. It was just an unfortunate event. Nothing more, nothing less.

            And perhaps, if I strengthened the prefecture on my own, the emperor would come to see me as a powerful and capable Ring Warlock, one worthy of praise and fortune.

            “Perhaps you should just personally take this letter, and some of Nizuka’s people, to the Ebon Capital,” Rein said as he smoothed his mustache. “They can explain the terrible event in their own words—and recount how you aided them. The emperor would surely appreciate hearing it from the source.”

            “Normally, sending a message ahead of time is proper etiquette, but going yourself can also work,” Ketsu muttered.

            I nodded along with his words. “Yes. That’s a good plan. When I see him, I’ll express my condolences, and I’ll have the southern citizens explain the story.”

            Saiki smiled, and I met her gaze for just a moment. She mouthed the words, “Thank you,” and then returned to her leisurely seat at the advisor’s table. No one had been as overjoyed as Saiki when it came to Nizuka’s death. The insect warlock was no more, and now her children would flourish across the prefecture.

            “When you return from the Ebon Capital, you must consolidate your power, gain favor with local lords, and develop your army,” Ketsu said. He penned the list in great detail as he spoke. “We are two prefectures away from the waters controlled by the Hantha Imperium, and once the neighboring Ring Warlocks hear of Nizuka’s death, they will no doubt attempt to move border lines or even have people relocate to their safer lands.”

            “I understand,” I stated. “I won’t allow that to happen.”

            This was my home, and I was going to protect it—for anyone and anything that wanted to do it harm.

            The second ring weighed heavy in its pouch.

            The urge to put it on was great…

            But perhaps, there was another way to gain power… Something unheard of, and game changing…