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Hikari stares in wonderment as endless forest divides, letting him view a lively town. Vegetation and flora co-exist with humanoids. Nature is a deity here. Worshiped in a sanctum by a clan of humans, elves, and druids. Leaflands. Many a traveler has described extraordinary beauty –and each account is right.
Flourishing orchards and plants contour stone faces and wooden structures. Glass trinkets and hand-crafted offerings glitter from curtains of green. Every flower known to man is weaved into every cranny creating something more eye-catching than a double rainbow. It clearly shows the painstaking efforts the villagers take to honor wildlife. It’s so different from Sai and Ku…
The exiled swordsman is on a journey to find allies so he can establish a better world. To do so alone is not only foolish but a losing battle. But his plights are stacking up. Hikari ran out of cash and nothing can be done on an empty stomach or coin pouch. So he travels searching for jobs as a guardsman. An honest way to help him achieve his dreams.
In Leaflands he’s heard that the princess needs protection. The king is a master tailor –and his status is obvious by the clothes he’s dressed in. Fine silks, seamed together by proficient stitches, and designed to be practical and fashionable. The king is a druid. Humanoids attuned to nature’s invisible processes and adorned with elegant antlers. The women, like his daughters, have smaller rounded horns like a goat’s.
The royalty lack gold or silver in their outfits. Instead they weave crowns of flower, wood, and plants. For armor they wear light plates of bronze. Hikari now understands why so many humans are captivated by druids. They are almost ethereal!
Hikari lines up with other competitors. Fighters from all walks of life stand next to him. Meaner. Tougher. Scarier-looking. And all wanting the title of guardsman.
King Garud eyes them warily. His daughter has rejected hundreds of apt fighters before. When would she stop sacrificing safety for individuality? These men and women are mostly gladiators. People who enjoy violence and blood-spilling for sport. He hopes one would be loyal and strong enough to protect the princess from danger.
A messenger flies out from big oak doors. Out of breath he declares the arrival of princess Agnea and Pala. Hikari stifles his shock when his eyes land on Agnea. She’s blind.
Princess Agnea has bandages wrapped around her eyes. A beautiful red rose is fashioned to one of her horns and her long fluffy brown hair is tied back in a braid. She walks with ease which Hikari credits to her being in a familiar territory.
“One of you will be provided ample pay in exchange for being my daughter’s bodyguard. If you fail, your head will be served to Duorduor, our guardian deity.”
The line of men tense fearfully. They are experts in fighting men, not beast-hunting. And there are no Beastlings standing here.
Agnea goes up to the first man dressed in heavy armor. She asks each person why they fight.
“For the pay,” one answers.
“For the thrill!”
“Because I’m the best –no one has defeated me in the ring.”
Her sweet smile wanes further and further. Finally, Agnea reaches Hikari. The swordsman feels lighthearted around her. He guesses it’s because of her pretty voice –a tone that reminds him of a lively violin. “Why do you fight?”
He straightened proudly. “I don’t want to fight.”
Agnea’s lips pursed thoughtfully. She’s never heard that come from a fighter’s mouth before. But his voice indicates unapologetic candor.
“But I do so if I must. I envision a bloodless world where none have to draw a weapon to settle arguments.”
The others sneer or laugh or scoff. “Then why be a swordsman? Be an artisan or priest!”
A raised hand silenced them. None had the guts to openly defy the king. When their jaws had snapped shut, Agnea continued. “What is your name?”
“Hikari Ku, your majesty.”
She smiled brighter than the scorching sun above desert sands. “I appoint you as my guard, Hikari.”
The throne room is stunned silent. King Garud blinks several times. Do his ears deceive him? His daughter finally chose a bodyguard! Hikari is a mere stick compared to the bulky combatants here but he looked sturdy and dedicated whereas most only wanted the coin that went with the job. “The princess has decided. The rest of you are dismissed. If I may Hikari, stay and I shall explain what your job entails.”
Pala gives Hikari a tour afterword and then he is quickly returned to Agnea, who is sitting outside in the gardens. To her left is her bedroom which has a paper sliding door and small tea room. A servant delivers food and drink, plates stacked high with delicious mouth-watering pastries and boiling herbal tea, before exiting the scene.
“It’s me, Princess.” Hikari walks over to stand across from her. Agnea laughs and he feels his heart afflicted by ceaseless flurries.
“I know. Your footfalls are different than the others’.”
He’s about to help her sit and pour tea when she waves a hand.
“I’m alright, Hikari. Leafland’s layout is printed in my brain like fresh ink to paper.”
Agnea gracefully takes a seat on a floor cushion and takes a sip of tea. “Please, help yourself to the feast. I can’t eat all this by myself.” Her hand hovers over the baked goods before clamping down on a blueberry muffin and pulling it to her plate. Hikari nervously mirrored her movements, unsure of himself in such a relaxed setting. He was once royalty too but Ku’s traditions and characteristics are based on combat and war.
Lowering her teacup, Agnea raised her hands. “May I? You’re a new face and-”
Hikari hastily nodded, forgetting that the princess can’t see. “Go ahead.”
Soft fingers tap and glide across Hikari’s face. Agnea pauses by prominent features. A lean nose. Almond-shaped eyes. Sharp jawline. Thin but masculine lips. Her fingers fall over two scars on the swordsman’s face. One given by his best friend, the other by his brother who killed their father for the throne. Bitter betrayals that wound Hikari’s heart more than his body. Agnea retracts her hands and felt her way back to the muffin.
“You must have traveled from faraway,” she said. “And been through many adventures. Can you tell me a story?”
Hikari isn’t the best storyteller but he’d try. One never succeeds if they don’t brave the uncertain darkness.
“There was a prince that came from a kingdom isolated in barren sands. His kingdom is hundreds of years old and has seen many a war. And even though his people didn’t have much he was proud to call it home.”
Agnea listened intensely to the story while snacking.
“The royalty despised the poor who sacrificed mind and body to the Kingdom’s endless wars. The prince however, wanted change. He wanted to unify his kingdom and bring peace. But his best friend and brother who had fought alongside him betrayed him. They tried to kill the prince. But they failed.”
Hikari found it hard to take a breath. Agony squeezed and stabbed his heart. “Disgraced and exiled, the prince left his home, vowing to restore honor and peace to his kingdom. As he followed the sinking sun in the horizon he wondered if he could achieve his lifelong dreams. But he has no room for doubts because if he fails then his people’s lives, and others’, would be forfeit.”
Princess Agnea senses extreme sadness tint Hikari’s voice. She guesses that the story is about his journey and suffering. “Do you call that a story?”
“What?”
She smiled, her bottomless compassion outshining Hikari’s hopelessness. “A story has to have an end, Hikari. Otherwise it isn’t a story!” She cut apart another pastry in half and offered it to the swordsman. “I have faith that this prince will make his dream a reality. He’ll go home as a hero and save his people.”
Hikari’s heart skipped. Most think his dream is just that. Maybe it is, realistically. But if he does die Hikari will die without regrets. Without honor or peacekeeping, people will be nothing but heartless creatures.
“Mr. Ku?” A young maid hovers by a door frame. “Detective Temenos would like to talk with you.”
The dark-haired man is ushered to a small office in town. Along the way Hikari’s sharp gaze memorizes several pathways. Who knows what dangers could be lurking? Or what roads could be useful for an escape?
Temenos is strange to put it shortly. For starters, he wears a pin (a servant to the Sacred Flame Hikari guesses) on his buttoned coat. Not many venture out from the Flamechurch territory, but this man seemed a worldly and inquisitive sort, and might be a good friend for Hikari’s journey back to Ku. This white-haired man carries a foxlike glint in his eyes, like he’s making jokes at your expense or planning your downfall. Either way, Hikari is unnerved around him, but maybe for a detective that’s a good thing.
Oh and he has a sidekick. A forgettable or a stealthy assistant because Hikari almost didn’t notice him sitting next to the detective. The knight is dressed in heavy armor and is supplied with a longsword. His nervous and clodhopping demeanor doesn’t match the title of brave knight either. What a strange pair.
“Welcome lost lamb. It is of utmost importance that I talk with you. Hikari, is it?”
“Yes.”
“Oh wonderful,” his tone makes Hikari unsure if he’s being serious or sarcastic. It ends up coming off as insulting.
“A man of short answers. I hate wasting time.”
“I am Temenos. First-class detective and dutiful inquisitor. This is my slow-witted and jumpy sidekick Crick.”
Crick sighed, apparently used to and tired of his partner’s quirks.
“The king told us to extend our current knowledge to you.”
“About?”
“Princess Agnea.”
The detective-priest takes a book from his long coat. “A year ago Princess Agnea was attacked by an unknown intruder.”
“It was an assassination attempt,” Crick added.
“Born from jealousy maybe? That is my guess,” Temenos said.
“Agnea’s mother was a world-wide dancing sensation. A star. An inspirational performer. She died a while ago. Her daughter wanted to follow her footsteps.”
“But then the princess was attacked…”
Temenos nodded.
“She had been traveling from city to city. Certainly gaining many a fan in her travels –and indignant, hateful eyes upon her too.”
“Climbing the ladder to stardom is surely an unsteady one,” Crick said. “I am glad to be a knight. My job is simple.”
“One day, while Agnea was out practicing her dance moves in the adjacent woods she was blindsided by a bright light –clerical magic supposedly. Or a good fakery of one.”
Hikari let the somber information calm; let his words rest on his tongue before speaking. “Agnea was blinded by magic? And no herb could cure it?”
“Precisely. We’ve a list of suspects but don’t have enough evidence to act. So be guarded, Hikari. This foe is a dangerous one.”
“I’ll defend the princess with my life.”
“It’s night isn’t it?” Agnea strolled back to the gardens and listened to Hikari practice his sword swings. Every stroke landed and hewed wooden stand-ins for enemies.
“I hear the owls. The mice actively scurrying in the grass. The moths’ strong wings. And I can feel a chill in the air.” She pulled a shawl around her shoulders. “Do you hear it, Hikari? Nature’s nocturnal opera?”
Sheathing his sword he took a moment to listen. Every living thing has its own instrument. Something wonderful that was absent in Ku. “It’s nice. Like poetry.”
Agnea stands and smooths out her long dress. “How about we go somewhere? I’m tired of staying in this stuffy castle.”
“Where do you want to go?”
The pair walks along a quiet road into town. Agnea carries a wooden staff with her, carved with decorative elegance. She seemed troubled and restless.
“Do you like to drink, Princess?” Their destination is a pub.
“No. I just miss traveling.”
Empathy pierced Hikari’s heart. Since the attack, Agnea must’ve been stranded close to the Leaflands.
Entering a bar they find it mostly empty. A man was tending the bar and wiping the counter. He looked up and smiled. “Hello. What can I do for you?”
“A drink for the gentleman, please. And a meal for us. The usual.”
“Non-alcoholic, please.” Hikari wanted to stay sober. He is Agnea’s bodyguard and he is wary of an ambush.
The bartender smiled. “Comin’ right up.”
After finding a table (and helping her to her seat) a man approached them. His has shoulder-length blond hair and is smoking a cigarette. Hikari instinctively rests his hand on the sword hilt.
“Agnea! It’s been a while since we last crossed paths. How’ve you been?”
“Gil! Is that really you?”
The princess introduced Gil to Hikari. How on her many adventures she saved his sinking bar and inspired him to not give up on his dreams as a songwriter and pianist.
A burning fleck of jealousy glowed in the swordsman’s heart. Hikari wondered why. He is not betrothed to the princess and his main duty is guarding her, putting her life before his own.
“I decided to travel and I’m staying in Leaflands to study their musical arts. Thanks to you I’ve been practicing a lot more. You gonna dance on stage?”
Her smile faltered but she quickly recovered. “I’ll sing.”
“Great! Do you know the song…”
“Yes, I love that one!” She turned to Hikari and extended an arm. “Guide me? I…still trip on things from time to time.”
Hikari smiled warmly. “Gladly.”
On stage Agnea’s light mends and inspires. Gil’s spirited and buoyant music compliments her lighthearted vocals. The bar’s atmosphere instantly changes. It becomes lively pandemonium. Men and woman shout or applaud, rising their mugs in joy. Some get up and dance with partners. Even the stony Hikari finds himself tapping his foot and drumming his fingers on the table along with the music. He feels strong enough to take on an army single-handedly.
Coin donated by visitors is generously given away. Agnea doesn’t keep a cent. She lets the bartender and Gil take her shares. “You take it. For upkeep and the servers. And for your studies, Gil. You guys need it more than me.”
“You’re too kind princess,” Gil shook his head, grateful for such charity.
“I’ll be waiting outside, Hikari.”
Gil grabbed Hikari’s arm and asked, “Stay a moment?”
Hikari wordlessly complied, curious about what Gil had to say.
The musician smiled. “You’re a lucky man, Hikari. Agnea is special. She’s a star. Not like the popular first-class nobles or celebrities. She helps those in need and brings ‘em light again. Inspiration –what a wonderful tonic to hopelessness.”
He sounds tipsy but Gil means it wholeheartedly. The swordsman nodded. “Agnea’s one of a kind. She is the most selfless person I’ve met along my journey. And sweet,” he blushed as his heart fluttered. Agnea’s face came to mind. Fuzzy warm butterflies.
“You guys come back soon. I’d like to share some stories next time,” Gil said as he departed. “Goodnight, Hikari.”
The princess and swordsman walk home. Woodland stretches endlessly on both sides of the road. Hikari slows his pace, feeling needles on his back. Something’s unnerving about how the shadows twist and turn. The way the wind slices through the leaves. Agnea tenses next to him, sensing his apprehension. “What’s wrong?”
In a breath Hikari pushes Agnea away, saving her life. Drawing his sword up he parries an axe that screams as it dives by. Sparks leap onto Hikari’s skin, burning him as he lock’s his opponent’s weapon with his. He can tell instantly that they have no intention dealing with him –they are only after Agnea. But he meets every strike with his blade.
Metal sings as they clash. “This’ll be your only warning. Withdraw now or your life will be forfeit!”
“Confident words for a dead man!” Next to the robed figure is a staff. The stone atop starts glowing with gleaming light magic.
Hikari acts fast. Twirling his sword he disarms the assassin –or at least the staff. It flies and lands uselessly in the grass. The mysterious attacker lunges at Hikari and goes for his throat. With his weapon, Hikari swerves it and the knife blade cuts across his arm.
“Leave him alone!” Strong blade-sharp winds surround them both. The assassin screams as his body is cut to slivers. Unable to win the fight he flees, leaving a trail of blood. Hikari calls for guards that patrol Leaflands before helping the princess.
“Are you okay?”
She’s crying. And her body is heaving as she sobs. “You’re hurt because of me.”
“It’s okay. It’s my job to protect you, Agnea. And I’m a swordsman, injuries are a certainty. You saved me too, with your wind magic. Come on now, it’s too dangerous to be here. Let’s go back to the castle.”
It’s a restless night. Nobody feels like sleeping. At least Detective Temenos and Crick are searching for the assassin. They couldn’t have gotten far with wounds like that. Hikari is sitting by the gardens again, watching Agnea slowly apply a bandage to his wounded arm, waiting for his tea to cool. Agnea had chased the nurses and apothecary away so that she could heal Hikari herself.
“There. Did I do a good job?”
Hikari turned his arm over. “Perfect. But you didn’t have t-”
“Yes, I did.” She sighed, shaking angrily. Hikari is surprised and his jaw hangs slightly ajar. Agnea is always a bright positive person. He’s never seen her angry before.
Her once-sprightly voice became a faint depressed whisper. “Everyone treats me like a clumsy useless baby, Hikari. I do stumble and fall but I always get back up. But I’ve been thinking. About my dreams. I…I don’t think I’ll ever be a dancer now.” She shook her head, fighting tears. “Dad said my stubbornness is my greatest quality and flaw. It hurts. It hurts knowing that no matter how much I try, no matter how much I get used to this, I’ll never be surefooted enough to dance again. Maybe I should’ve never left home to chase my dreams.”
“That’s not true, princess.” Hikari spoke up after a brief silence, letting Agnea’s words sink in. “If one gets comfortable with inaction he always loses. You’re much more than your blindness or you’re dancing. You’re kindness is an elixir to the soul, Agnea. You helped Gil get courage to chase his dreams again, you aid those who are hurt or lost, and you bring a smile to everyone’s faces. And you bravely stepped into danger to save me. It isn’t your talents that should be remembered and honored but your heart –and your inner strength.”
Shock paints Agnea’s face. Then she smiles. She wipes tears from her scarred white eyes. “Thank you Hikari. You’re wonderfully sweet. I guess life has changed a lot but that doesn’t mean I have to forget my dreams.” She stands up and offers a hand. “Care to dance with me? We’ve no music but that all that fades out when you’re dancing with someone you like.”
Blushing, Hikari put his hand in hers. “I’ve never danced before…”
“That’s okay. Even if you step on my toes, I’ll always feel safe in your arms, Hikari.”