A/N: So I'm back, but getting back into my discipline is proving a bit troublesome. I could be persuaded with power stones. Wink wink.
-
"This place is definitely cursed."
I licked my dry lips, staring at the dilapidated old shack held together by hopes and prayers.
The thatched roof looked like it'd be gone with a strong wind, and the wooden walls were clearly infested. Beyond that, the outer wall was only as tall as my chest, and anyone could easily just blow through one of the walls instead of coming through the rusted iron gate or the shoji doors inside.
Yes, hopes and prayers indeed.
"I would assume so." Shuwen noted calmly. The sign by the door began swaying abnormally. "But nothing a good old punch won't calm down."
The sign froze entirely... at an angle.
I patted my wallet, "I got it cheap though."
"Spending in modesty is good, but there are times when you should splurge." He fixed the sign with a hand before turning his head to look at me. "I would think this is one of those times."
For a moment, I earnestly considered going back to the overly enthusiastic fat old woman responsible for leading me here but... talking to her had been enough of a chore already. I wasn't interested in a re-do, and besides, I was the one in need of a temporary home. It was just stupid to complain when the rent was already negligible... even if the place was on the outskirts of an already rural town.
"She probably thinks I'll fix it up."
People always were up to something.
"You should believe in the hearts of others more, master." Shuwen pulled on the rusty compound gate. It gave way with a grating creak that made me wince. "A person so young shouldn't be so distrustful of his peers. She is likely glad that someone will live here."
Only for ten days though, no longer. I wasn't yet ready to give up the comforts of modern living like working toilets and central heating. However, I kept those thoughts to myself. Li Shuwen was definitely some kind of cultivation elder, and he'd be more than happy to make me live in the wilderness to get attuned with nature or something similar.
No, I refused to dig that particular grave.
Inhaling deeply, I felt the cold wind drag across my face. There were mountains in the distance, past massive plots of rice fields.
"Is it colder here?"
"Such things are of little concern to a servant, but yes." He stared off into the distance, "The coast is the cause."
I couldn't help but be surprised, "You can see that far?"
"Kaka! No, I merely glanced at the same map you were studying." He chuckled amusedly.
The embarrassment made my cheeks burn.
"Well, if we're close to the sea... then, I have an idea."
I glanced at the time. There was still some time until sunset.
"Hm?"
"Lead me to the sea. Preferably with no people around."
Shuwen gave a quiet nod, and began walking. I fell in behind him.
The trek was longer than I expected, and in the end, I worked up some sweat trekking over some hills and grassy meadows that looked like they had never been touched by human hands. I even caught a rabbit studying me from within the tall grass and got harassed by a pair of crows that were then chased off by the Divine Dogs.
Shuwen wasn't tired at all, though honestly, I never expected him to be. Heroic spirits were supposed to be a height no human could reach, people who had engraved themselves upon history, and mankind as a whole. He did have a good few laughs at my expense though, especially when I tripped over.
He even saved me once by grabbing me by my collar to stop me falling into a ditch.
By the time we reached our destination, the Sun was incredibly close to setting, and I cast an incredible shadow on the calm water when I stood on it to do the obligatory Eren Yeager pose. Well, I only got halfway.
"Nope, too cold."
"Almost like it's winter, eh, master?!" Shuwen laughed as I ran out of the water.
"I don't think I like this new side of you."
"I'm told I am an acquired taste."
I sighed, smiling briefly at his words before I shook my head. "Right, I didn't just come here to see the sights."
Admittedly, when I turned to face the vast sea, I was taken with it once more. I had never seen the sea like this before. Tokyo Bay was always so close, but I'd never been able to visit it because my father disliked me being outside. In another life, I was just too absorbed in my routine to even think about taking time out... trying to make something for myself.
"What was the point of it all anyway?"
Nothing ever really changed. Life would still go on, whether I was troubled or joyful. Yet, standing there, wet up to my knees, watching the setting Sun cast a hazy reflection on the water, I couldn't help but feel that I wanted my life to be more of this than... whatever it had been before.
My second chance...
I slapped my cheeks.
"Later, that can come later. For now-"
Shuwen watched with interest as I brought my hands together, locking my thumbs together and holding out my fingers as if they were the great wings of a bird. The shadow I cast was within the waters.
"-Don't interfere, or this will be pointless."
"Understood."
My heart thumped, and adrenaline coursed through my veins at the prospect of what was coming, and what would happen if my calculations were wrong.
...It was a strange feeling.
"Nue."
A great splash disturbed the sea, and cold water drenched my clothes. My eyes widened as far as they could at the sight of the creature splashing to my right, struggling to stay afloat. An owl-like monstrosity with a white skull that looked like a mask. Its orange wings were massive enough to encompass a school bus from the looks of it, and I heard electricity snap and crackle against its head.
"It's not supposed to be that big-" I threw myself to the side, barely avoiding a bolt of purple lightning. The smell of burnt cloth made my nostrils flare as I watched the winged creature splash and let out strange howls and roars. "-but it'll work."
It was taller than I was, by a massive margin. A good metre, maybe even two at the very least. But, the shadow had been deep enough that it emerged from it entirely under the water, leaving only the tips of its wings and head above.
"Behold, Nue, the power of science!" I failed to contain the confused excitement, "If you discharge more, you're probably going to fry yourself."
It didn't matter if it was some mythic beast. The feathers were wet. It needed its wings to fly... or so I thought. After much struggle, Nue began to rise to the surface, shaking its wings and cawing... I held my breath, bracing myself, but the creature failed to take flight at the final moment and sank again.
"Master, what is...?"
"Nue. It's Nue."
"What a wondrous and fearsome creature." Shuwen's words were full of admiration, "I can not help but pity this treatment."
Nue splashed and roared.
"Yeah, blame my ancestor."
I distinctly recalled that deity offering to remove the need to fight them. That infuriating person had refused just because such would go against the principle of the Ten Shadows.
After a while of struggling in vain, Nue seemed to decide that trying to fly wasn't worth it anymore. Instead, it sank to the, admittedly shallow, depths and began dragging itself along the floor. Sadly, it simply was not built for such a thing.
The Sun had begun to set when it finally reached the shore, I pressed my hands together again. The Divine Dogs leapt out of my shadows and bit down on either wing, pressing down with their massive weight on the already exhausted creature.
"Submit, you're done." I said slowly.
Nue's orange eyes flickered and sharpened. I thought it would try to do something, but then the pupils dilated. The creature closed its eyes and lowered its head.
"I'm sorry I had to do this..." I stepped closer, going on one knee, "I wouldn't like it either."
The creature stared at me with befuddled eyes before letting out a squawk. Its massive form turned to a pillowy black smoke that then retreated into my own shadow.
"That went better than expected." I sighed in relief, falling back against the black wolf's soft fur. He grumbled against my weight.
The plan was foolproof but... if it had possessed a bit more stamina, I'd definitely have had trouble.
Li Shuwen watched me in silence, seemingly not interested in any questions. But, that simply wasn't possible.
"You can ask whatever you want." I cracked my shoulder, still sitting in the sand.
"Hm," He brought a hand to his chin, "A Mage should be secretive, but I will appreciate the trust. What was that?"
"A Shikigami."
"Shishen? I would not have thought-... It seems there is still much for me to see in this world even at this age."
I did not expect him to understand. Yet, I was happy he did.
"I had to beat it to make it submit-" I waved a hand at the sea, "-but as you saw, I definitely couldn't have beaten that outright."
"Perhaps, but with my help, it would have been brought low."
Somehow, I believed him.
"Yeah, but the technique needs me to do it alone, or it won't work."
"Interesting. How many of these creatures do you have?"
"Ten. Only two tamed."
Well, I was about to have a third.
Deciding not to delay it any sooner, I rose to my feet and beckoned both wolves.
Rabbit Escape was an uninspiring affair. I dug a tiny canal connecting the sea and the hole to fill the latter up with water before summoning the arguably weakest shikigami inside. Then, I used Nue to unleash unfiltered electricity into the impromptu pond to make a tub of fried rabbit.
A brutal method, but it was extremely efficient.
One lone rabbit did manage to make it out, and even landed a punch and a kick right on my face before one of the Divine Dogs bit down on it. The Shikigami, as it was, were much better at hurting each other than Mother Nature was.
I could not help but feel Shuwen had some apprehensions regarding my approach. Though, he kept them to himself.
-
This actual FRAUD couldn't even beat Nue outright and got tired from a few kilometre walk. HOLY BUM
You can find 7 chonky chaps ahead at patre0n.com/Bleap