Chapter Text
The forest is not as still as it leads one to believe. In the daytime, perhaps, there is nothing but the dancing of leaves and singing of small birds. However, as the moon appears over the vast forest, there is different dancing, different singing. Creatures large and small come out to bask in the moonlight. Some are ugly beasts, some are strange animals. There are beautiful things, too. But the beautiful things are not as benevolent as their appearance leads one to believe.
Thankfully, Shimazaki wasn’t easily fooled by appearances. It was one of the few advantages to his blindness.
In practically all other ways, though, it certainly wasn’t as helpful. It was the reason his family hadn’t kept him as a child. It was the reason he was forced to wander from village to village. It always seemed to be an issue to others, but it never inconvenienced him. This was especially so after he got involved in the dark magics. On that fateful day he had met the very powerful sorcerer Suzuki, Shimazaki had discovered he was capable of much more than any ordinary person.
Suzuki was the High Priest of an order called Dragon’s Claw (although most simply called it Claw). The sorcerer had taken in many students and showed them the dark arts, but none learned as quickly or became as strong as Shimazaki. He had even mastered a technique his teacher couldn’t perform -- that of teleportation. He’d learned psychic ways to sense his surroundings and predict others’ movements.
Still, nothing could have helped him predict his encounter in the Western Wood.
A few days before he stepped foot in the forest, Shimazaki was strolling into the local tavern. He breathed in many less-than-pleasant sounds and scents. He was used to all that though, and worse. Life on the road had given him experience with the horrid smells of dirty people, drunk people, reeking animals, and their manure. His ears had rang with boisterous shouts, screeching children, and clashing weapons. A noisy tavern was nothing to him now.
With his powers, he could sense the people moving about in the room. It was especially easy to spot his companions, as his magic picked up on their own with crystal clarity. He sat at their table.
Suzuki spoke. “Good. You’re here. I have an assignment for you.”
“Sheesh,” the teleporter’s tone was as laid back as ever, “can’t a guy get a drink before we talk about anything boring?” He nudged Hatori in agreement, but the man was too focused on the little clockwork device he was fiddling with. Shimazaki wouldn’t have known what the hell it was if Hatori hadn’t explained the entire mechanism to him the other day.
“Already got you something,” Shibata passed him a tankard of mead. From what he’d been told, Shibata appeared normal at a passing glance. Whenever he got serious enough to show his true strength, however, people could easily tell that he was half giant.
“Aw, thanks!” Shimazak kicked his boots onto the table and leaned back in his seat. He could hear a waitress walk by, and made sure to flash a charming smile in her direction before taking a sip.
“As I was saying ,” the High Priest snapped, “I have a job for you.”
“Why me? You’ve plenty of your little goons all over the place. Make one of them do it.”
“This is something that only someone of your skill set can accomplish.”
Shimazaki was flattered, but still unconvinced.
“I need you to escort someone into town with your powers. It’s our newest recruit.”
That certainly caught his attention. There was so much mystery around this potential recruit Suzuki had recently been visiting. The two would always meet in private as he attempted to sway them to join his cause. Shimazaki would only be racked with more curiosity, as the leader would return from each meeting with stories of their extreme power. Once, he’d gone so far to say their abilities rivaled the teleporter’s.
No one rivaled him. If Shimazaki were being honest, not even the High Priest himself. Needless to say, he’d been dying to meet the newcomer. What he wouldn’t give for the chance to size them up and put them in their place…
“Listen,” Suzuki continued, “this escort is not to be taken lightly. The one you are dealing with is not human. They are dangerous. You must have your guard raised every moment you speak with them.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay. So where do I go? What’s the deal?”
“They reside in the Western Wood. As you know, the Ginger River splits and rejoins inside, resulting in a region of the forest that is completely encased in running water.” Suzuki paused. “They need your assistance to cross it.”
Shimazaki’s smile faltered. There was only one creature he knew about that was unable to pass over running water. When Suzuki said they weren’t human, he’d assumed they were another giant, like Shibata. Or perhaps they were a spirit raised from the dead. This changed things.
“They’re… a fae?”
“Indeed. That won’t be a problem for you, will it?”
Shimazaki had always heard harrowing tales of the fae, about how their trickery and magic caused many their demise. However, if one of them were planning on joining Claw, that meant they’d already decided to hold off on some of their demise-causing schemes for the time being. Even if not, Shimazaki was always up for a challenge. His smirk reappeared.
“Not in the slightest.”
The forest was not as still as Shimazaki was led to believe.
He teleported to the edge of the river, and was shocked by the great many creatures he could sense around him. Many of them had weakly magical presences, others were just odd animals he didn’t recognize. Nothing seemed too close, but he kept his senses on high alert.
He had chosen a place where the river was the most narrow: only a small trail of softly bubbling water would separate him from this otherworldly being.
The man was debating on whether or not to call out to them and risk attracting some unsavory creatures when he felt an aura approaching.
Now, Shimazaki was very used to the auras of normal humans and animals. Those ones are simple, faint. They feel like no more than the brush of cloth over one’s body. Magical beings have much stronger presences. They range from feelings of crackling hearth fires, reverberating church bells, or the roar and motion of carriage wheels.
But this was something he had never experienced before.
Although their aura was quiet compared to others’, it demanded reverence. It felt like an endlessly vast, peaceful ocean. Like a freshly farmed field that smells sweet and earthy. They were like a soft, pure snow that fills the sky and settles on your skin. They were the potent heat of the midday sunlight. They were the scent of rain that follows a storm.
Shimazaki kicked himself for becoming so distracted already. He had to focus. It also didn’t help that this new aura spread outwards from its source, to fill up all the surrounding plants. He could feel it within the grass under his feet, in the trees by his side, in the leaves overhead.
The man sensed their bare feet walking carefully toward the water, followed by a trail of sprouting flowers where each step touched the ground. He couldn’t help but be enamored at the fragrances floating from that side of the river. He’d never smelled flowers as full and as fresh in his entire life.
They paused at the edge of the stream and spoke. “Good evening, traveler.” Their voice sounded oddly ordinary compared to such an unearthly presence. They sounded completely disinterested in what they were saying, as if every word were scripted. “It is awfully late at night for someone such as yourself to be this deep in the forest.”
Despite feeling intimidated by the sudden enveloping of power, Shimazaki replied just as nonchalant as usual. “Oh don’t you worry, I’m stronger than I look.”
The fae’s words were twinged with annoyance at his arrogance. “Is that so? If that is the case then I wish you well on your way. Good evening.” They turned to leave.
“Actually, I’m sort of here for you.”
“For me?” They paused, still not sounding as if they could care less. “May I have your name, traveler?”
“No, you may not.” Shimazaki smiled. “But that was a nice try. Call me Shimazaki. What about you?”
“You may address me as Minegishi Toshiki.”
“Mmm. Minegishi Toshiki …” Although he had meant to sound mocking, the man found that the name flowed almost musically across his tongue. He was tempted to say it again.
He clenched his fists. It must be the faerie magic working on him. He had to remain on guard.
“Now,” the fae said, “I assume you have come to escort me? If not, I demand to know why a mere mortal would call upon me.”
“That is why I came, but hang on.” The teleporter put his hands in his pockets and assumed a relaxed stance. “What’s the issue if I was here for no other reason than to call on you? Surely it would be nothing but flattering if someone came to court you?”
Shimazaki bit his tongue. He had come here fully intending to intimidate this new recruit -- to be slick and charming but make it clear that he was the more powerful of the two. He wasn’t sure what had driven him to act with only the slickness and charm -- this wasn’t another townsperson he was trying to smooth-talk. This was an enemy.
“It would be anything but flattering.” Their words became sharp. “How dare a mere mortal think themselves worthy of me. Their egos would be laughable if they didn’t irritate me so much. I hate mortals -- I’m disgusted that I’ll be working with you at all. But the idea of conquering the world, of putting petty humans in their place… that is quite attractive to me, so I will bear it.”
Blaming his uncontrolled emotions on the fae’s powers once more, he was refilled with determination. He spoke up with smug confidence, hoping to once again get a rise out of them.
Perhaps it was unwise to antagonize a new ally. Perhaps it was unwise to antagonize a fae. But Shimazaki had never been known for his wisdom -- only his strength.
“You think I’m just a mortal? I’m much more than that, and you better not forget it. I’m one of the most powerful dark mages in the kingdom. Have you heard the stories of the dark mages? We are terrifying. Strong. Practically invincible. No one dares cross us. And what are you fae known for? Merely your annoying trickery and dainty beauty,” he lied. “And I can’t even vouch for the latter.”
A dry laugh escaped them. “You don’t think I’m beautiful?” Shimazaki wondered why they sounded more curious than hurt. As someone who thrived off of attention and reactions, Minegishi’s apathy was driving him crazy.
He opened his empty eyes with a shrug. “I have no idea! So if you want me to know how you look you’re going to have to tell me yourself.”
“No, I do not wish for you to know.” Their voice turned displeased once again. “Now, are you going to stand there and boast all night, or are you going to take me to town?”