[Kanji_The_Wanderer]

TATSU

The guards formed a nice little perimeter around us. For such a small unit, they were able to assemble quickly. Their dark armor gave off an eerie glow as the candle flames danced about them.

Brandishing silver long swords, the men moved in closer. Nozomi, who was weaponless, backed behind me. She firmly grasped my arm, and put her head behind my shoulder. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at her, she was afraid. For one of the first times, fear had come over her. Why was she so scared? Has being in this place for all this time stolen some of her humanity?

I grip Sora firmly. "Drop your blade worm!" The lead guard hissed.
"You are the worms! Vile peasants of Shakura! You place sin upon humankind with your weak minded ideals of freedom! Do you seriously think that Shakura is protecting you?! You think as long as you do her bidding then you are free from her tyranny?! Think again you fools! When she claims the land do you think she'll let you survive?!"

The guards resentment grew. "You cur! How dare you speak such poisonous words against the Empire! In the name of her Holiness Shakura, we will cut you down, and display your head to her on a platter of gold!"

With blades drawn, they creep in closer. I hunch over, and bend my right leg, and maneuvered into a battle position. The lead guard snickered, and charged at me head on.... "Fool" I muttered. With ease, Sora cut through his armor, and tore asunder his flesh and bone.

My enemy fell, face down. He had no time to react to my blade, he was dead before he even stepped. The other guards followed suit, and joined their commander in the otherworld. The ground was now lined with corpses and fresh blood. The candles shined in the pools of red creeping across the ground, and illuminated a path...

Quickly, we had found an exit. I was surprised that no other troops had come to investigate the commotion on the basement levels. I guess it's too be expected at this time of day. The day usually switches with the night shift right about now.

Outside a breeze of cold air rushed by us. Chills ran up my back. My clothes were still mostly damp from the rainstorm earlier. I would have to find a change of clothes.

Back out in freedom, Nozomi's spirit returned, and she started to jump about "It's so nice out here! Don't you think Tatsu! Oh it's so nice to be outside! I was in there for too long!" I gave her a smile, as she was flailing her arms about. "I'm starving too! We have to find some grub!"

I gave a hearty laugh. I was so nice to be like this with Nozomi again. I never thought happiness would shine down on us again. I don't know what it was, but being in that place, well, it sucks all the life and spirit from you. That feeling made me think if there was some sort of darkness spell cast on the prisoners as they entered.

It no longer mattered. The moon and the stars were guiding our way, and outside, with the soft grass padding our feet, everything seemed pleasant....
I looked about. We would have to move west, past the Dragon Mountains, to leave the Dragon Empire. South is the Headquarters, the Dragon City, so it would be best to travel into the mountains, and try to rendezvous with the others. Perhaps Swiftant had better luck than us, and found other troops to help us launch a secondary attack on the dragons. Asgard turned out to be a total loss. Nothing good came out of that ordeal.

"Nozomi, let's move west. We have to leave the Dragon Territory if we want to be fully free. Let's go to Disan."

Nozomi looks at me and shakes her head "No! Disan is a bad place! It's a trade town, someone might notice us and go and tell the Dragon Army where we are! Without doubt we definitely have bounties on our heads by now!" This is true. Disan is far too risky.

"Then what do you suggest?" I ask curiously. "Let's go to a town south of Disan. A little town. A friend of mine, named Aisha lives there. She helped me, when I didn't know anything, she let me stay with her, after my "birth"."

"Okay, let's go then!" I call forth Gana, we climb upon her back and begin our climb into the sky, west to the Dragon Mountains!