Six Words [Chapters 45-47] Progression Fantasy

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The map is more complete now.

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Best,

Shami

Chapter Forty-Five

“Learn more than facts.

Learn how to seek out new knowledge.

If you do, you cannot be misled.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            I flew down the narrow stairway until I came to the floor with Ketsu’s room. While I knew he was still recovering, I wanted to see him before I headed out into the crowds. The castle servants were cleaning the floors and hanging decorations as I ran by. They attempted to bow their heads, but I was too fast—by the time their heads were lowered, I was already at the end of the hall and turning.

            In my haste, I threw etiquette to the side. When I reached Ketsu’s room, I slid open the door as fast as it would allow me.

            Ketsu sat awkwardly at his desk, using two pillows instead of one. When I burst into his room, he leapt up from his spot, gasping as he went.

            But something was wrong—I almost gasped at the sight of him.

            He had animalistic features. Or perhaps it was better to say he had monster-ish features. Ketsu didn’t have human ears, but the ears of a fox. His fingers were black, as though they had been dipped in dye. And his eyes were a bright gold—far from the brown he had before.

            “W-What’s happening?” Ketsu demanded.

            He smoothed his hair and rubbed his hands across his white robes, his body shaking. In an instant, the bizarre monster features receded into his body. He regained his normal ears, eyes, and fingers, and appeared as he had always had.

            I stared at him, my eyes wide.

            Ketsu’s face reddened. “Rimon-nox. It is a pleasure to see you, as always.” He spoke each word as though they were painful.

            “What was that?” I whispered. Then I gestured to his body. “What—”

            “I’m fine,” Ketsu hissed. He crossed his arms, practically hugging himself. “But I wanted to rest in here during the festival, if you don’t mind.”

            I pointed to his ears.

            “I’m half-Hanthan,” Ketsu finally said.

            “And that means you look like an animal?”

            “I don’t look like an animal! That’s just—those are just signs of—nevermind. They’re normal. I’m normal. While in the company of others, I keep them hidden, so you have no need to worry.”

            I didn’t know what to say. Did he also have a fox tail? Fox feet? Whiskers?

            “Haven’t you seen a Hanthan before?” Ketsu asked.

            I shook my head. Ritmo City didn’t have anyone from the Hantha Imperium within its walls.

            “They all… look like that,” Ketsu finally said. “It’s perfectly normal.”

            “I see.” After a deep breath, I came to terms with it. “I apologize for barging into your room. That was unnecessary. And I apologize for comparing you to an animal. I’m not aware of what half-Hanthans look like. It caught me by surprise.”

            My earnestness seemed put Ketsu at ease. He relaxed, and even allowed his arms to fall to his sides. “No need to apologize to your historian. Obviously, this is a failing on my part. I’ve known of your upbringing for some time now—I should’ve helped you along in your education of the world.”

            “I would appreciate that,” I said.

            The thump of drums and the strum of string instruments penetrated the walls. The festival would continue with or without me, it seemed.

            “You’re late,” Ketsu chided. “Most unbecoming of a new lord, if you’ll excuse me saying so.”

            I half-closed Ketsu’s door and lingered for a moment. “Will you be joining us?”

            “No.” Ketsu fidgeted with his robes, even adjusting the silk sash belt until it was higher on his waist. “I’m… in capable of walking correctly. And I itch. I assume, given your magic, this is all a side effect, and I can live through it, but I will not embarrass myself by being in public.”

            “Ah. Yes. That’s fine.”

            “Stay close to your bladekeepers,” Ketsu stated. “Mazun knows all the events you should attend, if they haven’t happened already. Do not mingle with random individuals. Everyone will be watching you today.”

            I understood what he was trying to say. If I wanted their respect—if I wanted to look like a capable lord—I would act like it. Ketsu didn’t need to worry. That was what I intended to do.

            “Rest well,” I said as I slid the door shut.

            “The darkness will be with me,” Ketsu muttered right before the clack of the wood frame cut him off.

            Then I left his quarters and immediately went for the entranceway. To my surprise, and delight, the moment the doors opens, they revealed a bustling world of life. The air changed immediately—no longer the cool, shadowed stillness of the keep’s stone corridors, but a warm, lively breeze filled with the murmur of voices and the distant beat of festival drums.

            The Eye and the Molar hung in the sky, with occasional clouds to lessen the severe heat of summer, as though Ozeon himself wanted to make the day a little more bearable. I slipped on my sandals, thankful for the weather.

            Then I stepped forward past the door soldiers. They bowed deeply as I continued, my sandals crunching against the gravel of the castle’s inner garden.

            The bushes were in full bloom, a riot of pink and white blossoms spilling from the perfectly trimmed branches. Some of my shrine maidens were here to greet me. They bowed, but each of them did so with a knowing smile. I replied in kind, happy to see my family here.

            When I finally made it into the festival proper, I realized Mazun was waiting for me. He immediately stepped close, as though protecting me from the crowd. It wasn’t needed, but I appreciated him.

            “Rimon-nox—the people have been patiently awaiting your arrival.”

            “Why didn’t you come get me?” I asked.

            Mazun straightened his armor. “When I banged on your door, there was no answer. The spiders said you needed the rest, so we didn’t intervene further.”

            “Ah. Yes. I did need the rest.”

            I was still excited about my new strength, and glanced at his weapon.

            “Do you mind if I hold that?” I asked.

            He eyed me with a frown. “My… blade?”

            “Yes.”

            “Perhaps now isn’t the time for that?”

            Disappointing, but perhaps he was correct.

            “We should be moving,” Mazun added. “Everyone should see you before you declare yourself the new lord in front of everyone.”

            “Hm,” I muttered. “Of course.”

            Brightly colored lanterns hung from every awning and post, swaying gently in the breeze. The air was thick with the smells of grilled fish and sweet rice cakes, mingling with the sharp tang of incense burning in several of the stone shrines built on top of the walls. People lined the walkways, dressed in their finest robes, their faces bright with anticipation as I made my way past.

            “There he is,” one man whispered.

            “He’s handsome,” a woman quietly replied.

            “Different from our last lord.”

            “Is it true his magic allows him to control demons?”

            Word had already gotten out. I appreciated that, but wasn’t I supposed to demonstrate my control over Saiki to convince the people of the castle? I glanced around the crowds, looking for her distinct white hair and striking eyes. She was taller than most women, and I quickly spotted her on a strange expertly crafted from oak.

            My carpenter had been busy, it seemed.

            Ryota, dressed in his bladekeeper armor, complete with a helmet and demon face mask, walked around the stage. He conducted himself like a showman, waving his hands to Saiki, and then to the crowd gathered around the stage.

            “As you can see, our lord has full control over this demon.” Ryota pointed at Saiki. “She will not harm you. In fact, she will help you when needed.”

            Saiki wore robes of black silk, with a white belt that shimmered in the afternoon light. Her white hair was tied upward with colorful string and small metal rings. It didn’t look like a web when it was all bundled together, and she looked more human than ever.

            “Our lord loves all of you like family,” Saiki announced to the crowd. “Which means, I love you as well.”

            Her statement caused me to cringe. Her acting… it was terrible. Saiki spoke the words with all the earnest of a hunter talking to a rabbit it had cornered, whispering about how it wouldn’t be harmed.

            I hoped the crowd didn’t notice.

            As I made my way over to the stage with Mazun at my side, a child called out from the audience.

            “Do you eat children?” she asked.

            “Only little boys and girls who don’t obey their parents,” Saiki sweetly replied with smile.

            The girl blubbered something in fear, but Ryota quickly stepped in front of Saiki, one hand raised. “Of course, that would never happen to the fair people of Rovik—who have the most disciplined children of the empire.” He ended his statement with a nervous chuckle.

            Then I stepped up to the stage. The eyes in the crowd lit up as strode over to Saiki.

            She knelt before me on both knees, a sign of extreme submission.

            “It is our lord,” she said, a purr in his tone.

            The audience around the stage gasped.

            “There’s no need to fear,” I said, especially eyeing the girl. “As the new Ring Warlock, I have control.”

            “Why have you done this?” a woman demanded. She grabbed the little girl from earlier and held her close. “Demons… They’re not to be trusted.”

            But I wasn’t flustered by her question. I already knew what I would say.

            “Demons are powerful, and starting from this day forth, Wist Castle and its people will be seen as competent, resourceful, and without equals.” I held up the hand with the ring. “We won’t be tormented by the demons who roam the far woods, nor will we be harassed by brigands. We will add the might of others to our own—or eliminate them. There will be no other outcomes.”

            Silence descended over the people around the stage after my proclamation.

            For a moment, there were whispers and murmurs. I heard some of their words, about how we couldn’t trust strangers, and how the world was filled with cheats and swindlers, but then there was a ripple of acceptance.

            “Garrain never made us stronger,” one man harshly stated. “He was always away!”

            “He neglected the fields,” a woman said.

            “Perhaps this is better.”

            “Stand,” I said to Saiki.

            She immediately got to her feet, her smile coy. “Of course.”

            “Apologize to the girl.” All my statements would be commands—to ensure Saiki complied, and to I made my point clear. I was in control.

            My demon quickly turned to face the girl from before. With a bow of her head, Saiki said, “My deepest apologizes, child. Spiders sing to one another, and I’m not yet accustomed to human speech. I hope you will forgive me.”

            “Spiders… sing?” the girl asked.

            “They pluck the strands of their webs and send vibrations to other spiders, the hum of the cords matching their thoughts, and translating to songs that others cannot hear.” When Saiki lifted her head, her smile seemed genuine. “It is beautiful. A shame humans cannot experience it for themselves.”

            Royta crossed the stage and took his spot at my side. “I didn’t know spiders played music,” he said under his breath.

            I shrugged. “They also have fuzzy little paws. They’re adorable.”

            Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something troubling. An elderly man with a broom whacked away at a stack of wood, both furious and frightened. He was ten feet from the crowd—a worker setting up a bonfire, likely for this evening. At first, I thought little of it, but then Saiki shrieked.

            “No!” she screamed. “Leave her alone!”

Chapter Forty-Six

“Good advice is good advice no matter where it comes from.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            Saiki leapt from the wooden stage with such force that she cracked some of the planks. With strength far beyond a humans’, she sailed over the crowd and landed near the wood pile with grace.

            Her sudden arrival startled the elderly man, who stumbled backward and fell, both his arms over his face.

            “Ah!” he shouted.

            Saiki growled, her human form rippling, threatening to rip apart and reveal her demon body. She flashed her teeth, which were now all fangs, and her lips spread back farther than any normal person’s could. She looked… feral. Furious. Wild.

            Part of her robes had ripped when she leapt and landed, as they were too restricting for such movements. One leg was exposed, and the white fur of her spider-demon body protruded up through the skin, quivering with her rage.

            Saiki reached for the wood pile and quickly withdrew a coin-sized spider.

            Half its legs were crushed, but it still moved when she cradled it close.

            “My daughter,” Saiki whispered. She stroked the fat abdomen of the arachnid. “Look what you’ve done to her.”

            The crowd around the stage shouted and attempted to move further away from the terrifying Saiki. Mazun grabbed the hilt of his blade, but I held up a hand and stilled him.

            “Saiki-rah,” I shouted.

            Determined to show I had control, I, too, leapt off the stage. With my improved speed, strength, and endurance, I easily went over the crowd and landed near the wood pile. That elicited gasps from my people as well, their shock pleasing to hear. They hadn’t known how powerful I was.

            “Her legs are broken,” Saiki whispered, her shoulders shaking. When she turned to the man, a tear streamed down from one her eyes. “And what if I struck you, unrelenting, until your legs broke? What then?”

            She grabbed a log from the pile, her grip so powerful, her fingers crushed right into it, creating dents. Then she lifted it above her head.

            “Stop,” I commanded.

            And she did.

            I knew she couldn’t have struck the man. I had already told she couldn’t—but that didn’t matter. The crowd was watching.

            “Kneel,” I said.

            Saiki once again knelt, dropping the log at her feet. She kept the female spider close to her heart. When she glared up at me, it was with the same feral expression as before, as though she were on the verge of fully transforming into her demon spider form.

            “I’m supposed to watch as he kills my family?” she hissed.

            “Oh, no,” the Warden sarcastically said, faking some sort of concern. “You have a problem! How awful.”

            Everyone around watched with unblinking eyes, their intensity of their curiosity almost unnerving.

            “You promised me revenge for my family—a safe place for my children.” Saiki practically spoke each word with an exhale, her rage so apparent it was almost infectious.

            I turned to the elderly man near the wood pile. He sat on the ground, his broom clutched tightly in both hands.

            “It-It was a spider,” he whispered. “I didn’t want to get bitten.”

            Returning my attention to the demon, I said, “Saiki the Spider Mistress, you will order your children not to bite the people of Wist Castle. In exchange, I will make it known to these people that your children are not to be harmed.”

            I spoke so loudly, everyone in attendance could hear. They seemed shocked—their eyes wide, some covering their mouths in silent gasps.

            But I didn’t care how strange it was. Saiki wanted her family, so I would keep them safe, at least while they were here.

            Saiki calmed a bit. Her teeth reverted to normal, and her contorted into the standard human shape. When she took a breath, it seemed to smooth her features. Then she stood.

            “Of course, my lord,” she said, curt. “I will always do as you say.”

            “Mazun-rah,” I called out. “Order the soldiers to deliver that message. I want everyone in the castle to know. Erect signs. Place shrines. Do whatever you have to in order to make sure this is done.”

            My bladekeeper bowed deeply at the waist and then headed off the stage. I knew it would get done now—Mazun was meticulous.

            The people around me said nothing. I assumed they were displeased with this turn events. After all, most people hated spiders. They were scary, though I never understood exactly why. Spiders were small, and easily killed with a powerful swat. How could someone fear a creature they could so easily kill?

            It was venom, they feared, obviously, but even then, the threat seemed minimal.

            When I shot the elderly man a glower, he bowed his head several times in quick succession.

            “Yes, Ring Warlock. Y-Yes. I won’t hurt any more spider. You have my word!”

            Then I glanced at Saiki.

            “I have no choice but to do as you say.” Saiki kissed the little spider in her hands. “I hope your humans will obey.”

            The old man got to his feet, still shaken. “I-I apologize.” He bowed at the waist to Saiki. “I didn’t know. Please, forgive me.”

            With narrowed eyes and tightly pressed lips, Saiki examined the man. “Hmph. You’re lucky I can repair my daughter. I can forgive you. This time.”

            Ryota stepped down from the wooden stage and then hurried to me. With a motion to the road, he said, “There are more events to oversee, Rimon-nox. As well as a feast for this evening. Perhaps we should get to them sooner rather than later.”

            No one else said anything. They watched from afar, still making up their mind about what happened, it seemed. That was fine. No one was harmed, and I had made my point. Everyone would know I had full control of the demon now.

            “Very well,” I said. “Let’s go.”

            I headed for the street. Saiki took a position on my left, and Ryota on my right. Flanked by two of my most powerful soldiers, I headed through the crowds. Once we were away from the stage, and through the second wall, things were more spread out. Soldiers were giving demonstrations, and freshly grilled food was being passed around on sticks.

            When Saiki walked, she drew attention. At first, I thought it was because of her beauty, but murmurings told a different story.

            “Her hair is ghostly. It betrays her true nature.”

            “Her eyes…”

            “What does she look like when not wearing the skin of a human?”

            Ryota stepped close to me and motioned to the merchants near their stalls. The fine cups, bolts of silk, and fruits from neighboring prefectures were all on display. I thought Ryota wanted to peruse them, but I was far from correct.

            “We should speak with merchants,” he stated. “They will travel the Tze Empire and speak of the meeting.”

            “Truly?” I asked.

            “They are the gossipers of the empire, and the spreaders of new information. Once the other Ring Warlocks have heard of you, several will send envoys. You want them to have good first impression.”

            “Which means I should be impressive to the merchants,” I said, following his train of logic.

            Ryota smirked and nodded.

            That was fine. Whatever I needed to do, I’d do it. Speak the emperor? Impress merchants? Ward off other Ring Warlocks? Kill demons? Absorb the life essence of anything that would give me more power?

            I’d do it all.

            Saiki placed her injured spider daughter into her hair. “There, there, little one.” Then she licked her lips and pointed to a stall that sold honey. “Oh, yes. This will do.”

            “Do spiders eat honey?” Ryota whispered.

            I shook my head. “I have no idea. Perhaps?”

            “What is that?” someone shouted.

            Ryota and I turned our heads at the same time.

            At first, I saw nothing. Then someone pointed up. Then another. And another.

            The sky darkened in a way that no storm cloud ever could, a pulsing, shifting black mass that moved with a dreadful purpose. Something flew between us and the twin suns, casting an ominous shadow over the ground. A distant hum finally reached my ears and sent shivers down my spine.

            The hum turned into a buzz, faint and ignorable, but as the black mass in the sky grew closer, the sound became a deafening roar—a thousand wings beating as one.

            “What is that?” I asked.

            A woman screamed, and people of the castle began running. Saiki and Ryota stayed close to me, neither shaken by the current events. Ryota drew his lunar silver blade, his stance wide.

            “Locusts,” Saiki said with a perverse smile.

            The locusts descended like an inevitable tide, blotting out the sun as they poured over the surrounding castle territory, their sheer number overwhelming in its terrible grandeur.

            From the castle walls, the farmers had already begun to shout warnings, their cries blending into the general cacophony of panic. Those in the fields, nearest to the ripening crops, abandoned their tools and ran toward the keep in vain hope of outrunning the swarm.

            The locusts hit the first fields like a wave crashing against the shore, their bodies a writhing carpet of destruction. Stalks bent and broke under their weight, leaves shredded by the relentless chewing. The crops, brought to life through my agreement with the forest spirit, were devoured in mere moments.

            I ran for the wall, practically shooting across the ground with my supernatural speed. The only other person who could keep up with me was Saiki. She tore more of her robes as she matched my pace, her strange eyes on the locust still swirling in the sky.

            “Oh, no,” the Warden sarcastically said a second time. “Yet another problem? On the day of your ascension? How tragic.”

            I ignored him. I had to.

            With all the power I had, I bounded over the castle wall. Sailing through the air, I saw the fields clearly. The black mass of insects was so disturbing, my stomach twisted.

            The swarm advanced with the merciless efficiency of a wildfire, their hunger knowing no bounds, their appetite insatiable.

            From the castle citizen’s vantage, there was nothing to be done. The soldiers stood helpless, gripping the hilts of their swords in futility, for no blade could stop this enemy.

            I hit the ground and ran straight into the swarm. The insects battered me with their bodies, some trying to fly straight into my eyes. I held up an arm, shielding my gaze.

            Then, with an exhale, I unleashed my Heat Death, killing every single locust within a few feet of me, a perfect bubble around my body. Their deaths were instant—they barely had any life force to take—but the sheer number of them left me shaken within a few moments.

            Thousands of locusts fell to the ground around me, their corpses forming black mounds. I maintained my power, pushing through the flood of locust life essence, trying to harm as many as I could. The corps around me died. The insects in the dirt beneath me died.

            A chill hung in the air, getting colder and colder as I held my power. The pile of insects grew so high, they nearly reached my elbows.

            Then I had to end my magic, the pain of the life essence too great. My vision blurred.

            Saiki hissed. “Command me to transform and I will devour them whole!”

            “Do it,” I shouted. “Kill them as fast as possible!”

            Saiki leapt into the deafening buzz of the locust swarm. She disappeared into the black cloud, engulfed by the insects within half a second.

            Then, a spider emerged.

            A gigantic, massive beast—a true demon. Her white body was bright in the sunlight, and it stood in harsh contrast to the terrible locust that circled around her. Her eight long legs stretched out, her black eyes glittering. When Saiki roared, it sounded like a piercing shriek, so high pitched, it lanced into my ears.

            Half the locust fell from the sky, somehow shaken by her magic.

            Then Saiki’s abdomen pulsed, and she gushed webbing that splattered on the ground. I thought that insane—how it could it help?—but the webs wiggled and writhed, as though they had a life of their own.

            “It’s her magic,” the Warden explained, a smile in his words.

            Manipulating the webs, they moved like they were their own creature, shooting out over the fields and catching hundreds of locusts by simply existing and being terribly sticky.

            Saiki opened her maw and slammed it down in the air, catching another couple hundred locusts in a single crunch. The guts of the insects exploded outward past her mandibles, spirting the ruined crops.

            And while it was painful for me to move, I leapt into the swarm a second time.

Chapter Forty-Seven

“One truthful man will cause chaos in a crowd of hypocrites.

Fools often side with the majority, thinking sheer number makes them right.

Be the one who sees a speaker of truth hidden in the crowd.”

- A quote from ‘The Teachings of Shoki’

            Using my magic, I siphoned the life right out of a thousand more.

            It was too much.

            I cried out and hit the ground, shaking. That was when hundreds of the insects rushed over me, their legs skittering across my skin, some slipping under the fabric of my robes.

            Then they bit me. If I had been an ordinary person, their mandibles would’ve pierced through my skin and tore away flesh. But I wasn’t an ordinary person—my skin was as hard as bark, and the locusts struggled to harm me. Instead, they chewed through some of my clothing, frantically trying to harm me.

            These weren’t normal locusts.

            The locusts that roamed the Tze Empire were herbivorous insects. They ate vegetation, and even when they swarmed in the millions, never bothered humans. What were these pests?

            Oh, but I already knew…

            I swiped my hands over my body, crushing the bugs against my skin, killing as many as I could in my rage.

            Webbing lanced out across the ground, covering some of the crops. Tendrils of webs lifted into the sky like the arms of an octopus. Wherever they waved, they grabbed more locusts. The webs were white, but they quickly became black with writhing insect bodies.

            The locusts didn’t spare the castle.

            Some thousand flew over Saiki and then the walls, washing across the soldiers and plunged down into the castle town. The locusts clung to the thatched roofs and filled the air with a maddening whirl of wings.

            The locusts moved as one, a single living mass that shifted and turned in perfect unity. Their wings glistened like shards of obsidian in the afternoon light.

            They weren’t normal at all.

            Despite the agony of the life essence, I turned on my heel, waded through the bodies of dead locusts, and headed for the castle. I couldn’t let those pests hurt the citizens. I couldn’t…

            Shouting and screaming pierced through the buzzing of the swarm. My heart fell into the depths of my gut as my imagination filled in all the blanks. I rushed forward, and tears in my skin appeared across my legs and arms. With a gasp, I stopped.

            It was like I was bursting from the seams…

            “Too much life essence,” the Warden said. “What did I say? Your body is a tea cup, and those bugs are rocks.”

            Blood wept from my injuries, but it was much. I grabbed my arms and held them for a while, hoping this would pass.

            When I glanced up, I feared I’d see dead soldiers on the walls.

            But that wasn’t the case!

            Monster spiders—Saiki’s children—leapt onto the walls and the roofs of houses. Their webs were coating a vast majority of Wist Castle, and each locust that touched one was caught so thoroughly, it was incapable of movement.

            Saiki’s hundreds of children rushed out of hiding—probably just invisible, watching the festive—and attacked the locust swarm before they had done much damage. Even Kumo, who was slightly larger than his siblings, had hurried to the aid of my people.

            As I was forced to rest and recover, I bore witness to the conflict. The spiders coated the walls and homes in webs, catching the mindless swarm like only spiders could.

            The hum and buzz of the accursed swarm rang in my ears.

            But it couldn’t drown out the Warden’s chuckling.

            “What misfortune,” he playfully said.

            “This was Nizuka’s doing, wasn’t it?” I asked through gritted teeth.

            The locusts could’ve been a natural disaster, but my heart knew the reality. The Ring Warlock made of insects, with full control of disgusting bugs, sent this black plague upon me.

            “You think I know everything Nizuka does?” the Warden sardonically asked.

            “You see everything from your ring. You are the ultimate witness to her wrongdoings. Tell me—was it her?”

            The locusts’ buzzing filled the sky. There had been millions, but the number was quickly dwindling. They couldn’t fight against the spiders.

            “Nizuka’s spies told her that you found the spider demon and kept it,” the Warden replied. “So she decided to punish you for your insubordination.”

*六つの言葉*

            I stood in the audience hall of Wist Castle, my vision blurred at the edges. With anger in each step, I stormed back and forth, pacing so furiously I would soon leave a furrow in the wood flooring.

            The locusts had done their damage yesterday, during the start of the festival. So far, the spiders managed to kill off all those pests, but their insatiable hunger had taken a good portion of our crops. Thankfully, the locusts could feed all Saiki’s children for a while, but that wasn’t enough of a positive.

            Nizuka thought to punish me for me not immediately handing over a demon? No. She wasn’t just punishing me. She had intended to harm everyone in the castle. Everyone.

            I had called together my advisors, because I couldn’t let this stand.

            “More than four-fifths of the crops were ruined by the locust swarm,” an older man said. He was one of my advisors…

            What was his name again?

            I turned on my heel to face him. He sat at the long table for my advisors, with Ketsu next to him. He was larger man with a gut, and his head was bald.

            He was the Magistrate of Agriculture.

            “His name is Polin,” the Warden said. “From the Tsu family.”

            “Polin-rah, will there be enough for the harvest? So that no one will starve?” Could the spirit, Mori, help me recover this?

            Polin bowed until his head almost touched the top of the table. “It will be difficult, Rimon-nox. We may have to make hard choices.” When he sat up straight, he frowned. “Those insects weren’t normal. It usually takes locust swarms a whole day to devour that many plants. These ones acted much faster.”

            “They were sent by Nizuka,” I stated.

            Ketsu straightened his ivory-framed glasses. “We don’t know that for certain.”

            “I know. She’s angry that I haven’t given her the spider demon.”

            “We have no proof. And without any proof, we cannot justify retaliation.”

            My bladekeepers, Mazun and Ryota, stood on either side of the throne. They didn’t comment, and they both wore masks over their face, so I wasn’t even certain what they were thinking.

            Saiki, on the other hand, also sat at the advisor’s table. She was away from everyone else, and closest to the throne. While everyone else sat on pillows, she half leaned on top of the table, allowing her white hair to spill over her shoulders.

            She didn’t look comfortable.

            Actually, she looked like she was just barely holding her human form together.

            “We could inform the emperor of what she’s done,” I said. “Shouldn’t he be upset? Isn’t it the law that Ring Warlock not openly fight one another?”

            “Locust swarms are considered an act of nature,” Polin pointed out, keeping his voice soft and non-confrontational as possible. “If Nizuka denies sending them, then the emperor will not punish her.”

            And she would deny harming me, of course.

            “Then we strike back at her,” I said, cold and certain.

            “If you openly engage with Nizuka, you’re going to anger the emperor,” Ketsu said. “And since one of his followers died here, the emperor will already have an unfavorable opinion of you.”

            I took in a deep breath, calming myself. There was no need to yell, but I wanted to.

            “Then we strike at her covertly,” I said. “Just as she did with us. If she can get away with sending a swarm of locusts to my castle, then I can do something to make her regret every decision that her to his situation.”

            My advisors all exchanged questioning glances. It was only Saiki who turned to me with certainty, a slight smile on her face.

            With a nod, she said, “Yes. We should rid the world of that bug.”

            “You magic isn’t exactly subtle or covert,” Ketsu said. He sat a little straighter. “You don’t have the magic to just… send something to harm her. Your magic is of death, and unless you’re personally involved—or one of the closest followers is personally involved—I don’t understand how we’re going to make her regret anything.”

            I stepped forward, grabbed the end of the table, and hurled it to the side. My own strength surprised me, but my rage kept me from reacting. The table flew over Saiki’s head and then crashed near the wall, one of the legs snapping in half from the awkward landing. The bear’s life essence had considerably empowered me…

            Now the long advisor’s table lay half shattered, the wood splintered along the edge it landed.

            I didn’t care.

            My advisors all stared at me with wide eyes. All except Ketsu. He had a colder expression—something neutral.

            “I don’t want to hear reasons why I can’t do it,” I said, my tone calm, even though I felt nothing but heat boiling in my chest. “Give me solutions.”

            Royta shifted his footing and cleared his throat.

            I turned around and faced the throne, narrowing my eyes at him.

            “We could sneak into Banth Castle,” he suggested. “As long as we aren’t spotted, we could kill her effortlessly.”

            Ketsu huffed and shook his head. “Nizuka’s magic is clever. She has prevented many assassination attempts in the past. Unless all the insects that make up her body are destroyed, she will simply recreate herself at full strength.”

            “What do you mean?”

            “I mean—if you sneak into her castle, and kill the main portion of her body, the centipedes she keeps in the garden will scurry away, only to reform as Nizuka. She’ll know what you’ve done. This plan isn’t good enough.”

            Ketsu was right. We couldn’t let her get away.

            I like the idea of killing her, though. I always knew I’d have to do it. She was the kind of Ring Warlock that I hated—the type who wanted to use her power as a weapon against everyone.

            She could do that to others, but she couldn’t do it to me.

            “Fire,” I said.

            “What?” Ketsu asked.

            “Insects can’t fly when there’s smoke around. It inferiors with the wings. And if there’s a fire, the insects on the ground will burn up.”

            Ryota nodded once. “An excellent plan. Banth Castle is made mostly from wood, with only stone walls and a stone foundation. There’s also two forests on either side of it.”

            Ketsu suddenly stood. “No. That’s a terrible idea. We can’t use fire.”

            Everyone turned their attention to him.

            “Why?” I demanded.

            “This is the season of Ozeon’s Curse! One of the hottest summers ever recorded! Where do you think those two forests go? They travel northeast, straight to Wist Castle. If you set Banth Castle on fire, you will destroy half of Rovik Prefecture, mark my words. We can’t use fire. We can’t.”

            Hmm…

            Ketsu was correct. Fires always burned brighter during the hot summers. And if the forests were connected, the flames would carry for a long time.

            But fire would kill Nizuka. That much I was certain.

            “Additionally,” Ketsu said, drawing me out of my thoughts, “if Nizuka senses a fire coming from the forests, or even is one breaks out in the lower rooms of her castle, she will flee immediately by taking to the skies. She can fly.”

            That was also a good point.

            But I wouldn’t let this go. I had an idea. One that involved me and those tethered to me…

            “I know how we’ll stop her fleeing,” I whispered. “Ketsu-rah, please make arrangements for me to leave Wist Castle.”