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Dazzling lights and laughter concealed Hayabusa better than the moonless night. His tracks went unnoticed among the hundreds of footprints in the sand leading to one location. The beach was emptied as the crowd was funneled to a large ramp. Everyone was crammed inside an anchored ship in their fancy hats.
Hayabusa climbed on a nearby ship’s mast, a perfect vantage point of the harbor. Behind the cover of sails, he could observe the ferry where the party was being held. One by one he identified the nobility dressed in fine clothing and jewelry. None of them was his target tonight, but he knew that wherever the wealthy went, security would follow.
As Hayabusa prepared to climb down, the crowd suddenly went silent. A high-pitched sound pierced through the air, catching Hayabusa’s full attention. It was a single, powerful, note. All eyes turned to a dark-haired man in a black coat. In the crowd of colors, he stood out as a striking figure. How had he evaded Hayabusa’s eyes earlier?
Hayabusa watched as the man played the wooden instrument against his shoulders, drawing a stick across the strings. He couldn’t help but watch as the musician moved his body with the song's rhythm. The instrument was similar to the kokyu in Cadia Riverlands, but the sound was sharper, deeper, and more intense.
There was a knot inside Hayabusa’s throat as the song stirred old memories - his family, his home, and the older brother he missed dearly. The music was somber at first, but it eventually hastened and swelled into a passionate piece. He shuddered, feeling the hairs of his skin rose as the notes climbed higher. It was a mix of everything, of opposing forces, pushing and pulling. Anger and peace. Destruction and healing. Hate and love.
But while he listened, his mission waited. Every second he spent longer might cost him success. Hayabusa signed and began to climb down. But before he could look away from the party, the musician turned his head to Hayabusa’s location.
“Damn it!” Hayabusa swiftly hid behind the sails, his pulse quickening. That look was too precise to be a coincidence. He cursed and reflected on his mistake. Enough delays, it was time to go.
Granger saw it. Something was on top of the ship’s mast, hidden behind the sails. A man, a woman, or a demon? He watched the mysterious figure climb down and disappear into the shadows.
It saw him too.
Whatever it was up to, he had to finish the song. Just a little more. He increased the tempo of the final chorus and closed his eyes, focusing on the sound of his violin against his ears. When the piece ended, Granger opened his eyes to a cheering crowd. He bowed and exited the stage in a hurry.
He did not intend to draw so much attention in the first place. “I’m sorry, I have to go,” Granger said politely.
“Only one song?” A nobleman pouted. “I will pay for your time. Do you charge per song or minute? I’m fine with any.” He offered with a hearty smile.
“My apologies, but duty calls.” Granger shook his head. If he stayed longer, he might lose any trace of the stranger. More importantly, he couldn’t stand the noise of the party. “I was just here to buy this violin and test it.”
A lady hurriedly approached him. “Have we met before? In Princess Silvanna’s birthday?”
“No,” he paused and he shook his head slowly. After another courteous bow, Granger ran to the empty beach. He could not have them gossip about his real connection to the princess. Now where to start?
While he was not here as a peacekeeper or a bodyguard, as a knight he had sworn oath to protect the citizens of Moniyan from demonic forces. All he wanted to know was whether the entity was human or not. While he was not gifted in magic, his years of military training taught him basic spells in detecting the enemy.
Granger started with the row of villas near the party. Some drunks stumbled to the door with their friends or partners. Some lay on the sand, assisted by their worried servants. No demons have been detected so far. There was none in the garden either. Further east of the dock were the cargo ships and the warehouses storing goods, his last stop. If Granger found nothing, he would rest for the night and report the suspicious incident to the barracks.
As Granger stepped into the cargo bay he knew something was off. Too quiet. Normally, there would still be night shift workers in the seaside warehouse. Stacked crates and containers were the evidence of so much trade and business taking place. He noticed the muddy footprints on the concrete floor, fading in an instant without any indication of a change in direction. It was as if the bodies vanished in thin air. A broom was left on the floor with a freshly spilled bucket of water. A few meters away lay a cigar that was half consumed, too expensive to be thrown away. All the traces of activity served as a trail.
The place was massive but barely lit. In the absence of good vision, he listened. Years of music and war allowed him to acquire a unique skill of detection. He heard movement against metal, coming from the stack of containers. A soft thud against the hard floor. A breath in the air. He buried his hand inside his coat, clutching the handle of his pistol.
Before Granger can pull the gun from his holster, strong arms were around his neck. He tried to gasp for air but the assailant tightened his hold and pulled him down. Granger fought by planting his feet firmly on the ground.
A man whispered behind Granger’s ears. “I promise I won’t kill you. Just stay put, please.”
He only had seconds before losing consciousness. This headlock will cut off the blood supply to the brain. But from all the combat training with Alucard, he knew how to break free. With every bit of strength, he shoved his hand between his neck and the attacker’s arm, breaking the hold. Fortunately, the large violin case on his back acted as an additional buffer. He lowered his weight and used his elbow to hit the opponent behind him, creating space and pushing him off.
As soon as Granger was free, he pulled his gun to shoot. In a split second, he saw his opponent's blade, shining silver against his pure black clothing. He pulled the trigger and felt a searing pain against his shoulder at the same time. A knife was stuck out just above his collarbone, while the man before him was hunched and clutching his shoulder. Ignoring the pain, Granger aimed for another shot at his opponent.
The second shot fired at a shadow-like figure that disappeared in a flash. Another one was on Granger’s left, and he fired his third. When Granger was about to pull the trigger another time, he heard muffled screaming deep within the containers.
“Don’t shoot!” The man shouted desperately, raising his hands.
“Don’t move!” Granger ordered at the same moment.
It was hard to discern the man’s features with his face mostly covered, with only his eyes visible. Blood dripped from his wound to his body, some red drops tainting the floor. He looked back to the bullet hole that pierced the metal container and back to Granger.
Granger kept his pistol aimed at the man whose eyes were a reflection of the terror he was feeling. The noises from the metal container quieted down. A lump formed in his throat as he thought of the worst.
“Your master is going to be displeased if you damage his goods,” the man said with contempt. His accent was undeniably foreign.
Granger frowned, still disturbed by discovering human cargo. The sick feeling inside him grew stronger, thinking of what he might have done. He would rather die than hurt an innocent person. He took a deep breath and tapped the container, shouting at the top of his lungs. “Are you alright? Please, answer me!”
The foreigner spoke in his language, presumably translating what Granger said. Female voices responded with cries and pleas, with some words audible. Hayabusasama? “What are they saying?”
“They’re alright, nobody was hurt.” The foreigner spoke gently, catching his breath. “Hayabusa? That’s my name.”
Granger breathed a sigh of relief but kept his weapon aimed. He still couldn’t trust this Hayabusa guy. The whole situation made him uneasy. He knew how to follow orders and shoot monsters, but human trafficking? Not his job. This was the jurisdiction of the peacekeepers. Who should he tell about this? Can the authorities be trusted? He wished his captain, Tigreal, was there to tell him what to do. “Whatever this is, I’m not a part of it. Explain.”
“I’m here to bring them home,” Hayabusa answered calmly, but his eyes looked weary. “They were promised work, but instead, they were deceived and shipped here.”
“By who?”
“I don’t know yet. Likely the ones in the party earlier.” Hayabusa walked carefully towards the container door, keeping eye contact with Granger. He slowly reached to his back to touch the hilt of his sword. “Please, let me see them free.”
“Stop! Keep that sword down.” Granger ordered coldly, his finger ready to pull the trigger if needed.
“Alright.” Hayabusa complied and raised his hands in the air again. His eyes were striking - the color of crimson - and showed no fear at all. It was as if he was sure he was in full control.
Granger could not let his guard down against someone like this man. The foreigner was too deadly and perfectly positioned to kill him earlier. What if Hayabusa was the smuggler? There was only one way to find out. “Tell them to stay back. I’ll open it.”
As soon as Hayabusa translated the instructions, Granger shot the padlock sealing the container. A total of three bullets were needed. The metal door opened to reveal more than a dozen women huddled in the corner, so pale and thin, terrified and unable to speak a word. But they were not women - only girls who just entered their teens. As soon as Hayabusa showed himself by the door, the girls ran to him, tears and relief in their eyes, some bowing in gratitude.
“Who are you?” Granger eased himself and lowered the gun. Hayabusa received reverence that a mercenary would never get. They didn’t seem like family either. He had more questions than answers after the container was opened.
“I can ask you the same. Why is a musician visiting a deserted building with a loaded gun?” Hayabusa looked back to Granger, seemingly smiling.
“I saw you on that empty ship, watching me.”
“And that’s the reason you followed me all the way here?” Hayabusa asked as he wrapped a bandage on his bullet wound.
“I asked you first,” Granger answered, annoyed. He pulled off the knife sticking out of his body. Thankfully, the wound wasn’t deep.
“Fine,” Hayabusa shrugged. “Let’s go for now. You see, I didn’t kill the guards.” He sighed, as if regretting his decision. “They might wake up soon.”
Every bit of noise scared the girls, even the coconuts that fell unto the ground and the sound of fishing boats rocking against each other. Granger couldn’t blame them, as he had known this fear since his childhood. The shadows that surrounded them were dancing and had taken various shapes of both man and monster. Any of them could be a hidden enemy, waiting to strike. He knew the constant anxiety that the darkness brought, but years of training had given him the presence of mind to deal with the situation. “Don’t worry, I’ll watch your back.” He assured them as he escorted them away from the docks.
Hayabusa’s getaway boat was strategically placed near the edge of the island, concealed by a rocky outcrop. A woman guarded the boat, masked just like Hayabusa, and she wielded a large weapon. The teenage girls bowed to greet her, and she ushered them to board the vessel.
Granger met the gaze of the woman briefly. She was cold and distrustful, frowning at him. Unlike Hayabusa’s interaction with the girls earlier, this woman seemed to be on equal standing with him. Hayabusa spoke to her in their language and this seemed to have caused her to relax.
Seeing that the girls were safe now, Granger eased himself. He still had a lot of unanswered questions, but it mattered less than what he had to do. “I’ll tell the princess about what happened here. I think all the ships and warehouses need a clean sweep from the proper authorities. ”
“Princess Silvanna?” Hayabusa raised an eyebrow. “You can get an audience with her?”
“I have connections.” Granger briefly looked away.
“Pretty handy. She’s in Lumina City, right? I’ve always wanted to see that place. Moniyan Empire is fascinating...” Hayabusa’s eyes glowed with excitement for a brief moment. He coughed and put his arms on his hips. “I know we started with a misunderstanding and wounded each other, but I’m glad it turned out well in the end. I don’t know if we would cross paths again. But if you ever visit Cadia Riverlands, know that Hayabusa of the Shadow Sect is your friend.”
Granger rubbed his chin.“So, are you a kind of priest? Or a lord?”
Hayabusa laughed softly. “Definitely not a priest. I don’t think there is a direct translation, but the second one is close enough. The families of these girls gave me their trust and loyalty. Thus, I repay them with protection. I took that oath and will fulfill it until the end of my days.”
Same as him. Granger extended his hand and Hayabusa stared at it first, unfamiliar with the gesture. Eventually, Hayabusa did the same but unsure of what to do. Granger went ahead and gave him a firm handshake, surprising the other man. “I’m Granger of the Imperial Army, also a knight of the Lightborn. If there are any problems with demons in your country, perhaps we can help each other.”
“Demon? One comes to mind.” Hayabusa uttered a foreign word, or a name, but didn’t say much more. “You being a knight? That explains some things. But that music-” He was about to say something when his companion called with urgency in her voice. The anchor was already pulled up and the boat was ready to sail. The girls were waiting. “I wish we could talk more, but it’s time to bid farewell. Thank you, for your help.” He straightened his posture and gave Granger a bow.
“Have a safe journey,” Granger nodded back. He wondered if bowing back was the right courtesy. The custom was in some of the books he had read, but he was not sure how to do it. He just waved his goodbye as he watched Hayabusa hop and sail into the night.
The only thing Granger wanted was to head back to his hotel to sleep. The noise from the party would make it difficult but he needed rest. By sunrise he had to catch the first train to Lumina City. What he discovered needed urgent action and he couldn’t trust anyone else but Silvanna. He yawned and breathed the fresh breeze, relishing the smell of the sea.
Rustling sounds and soft footsteps alerted Granger. He quickly hid behind the crates to listen. A group of people was the source, but they were too far from him to see. He followed the noise as quietly as he could and then realized he was retracing the path he came from. He cursed under his breath upon realizing they were heading to the last location of Hayabusa. Too close.
Granger followed the sound and heard the roar of engines. He ran as fast as he could to get a brief glimpse of the strangers. None of them wore a uniform showing their allegiances but they wielded expensive weapons - swords, staff, and large guns - funded by a wealthy master for a purpose. By the time the group was within the range of Granger’s guns, their boats had left the shore. Three speed boats left a trail sea foam, splashing water on Granger as an added insult.
“Damn this!” Granger looked around for available boats but each was anchored or tied down. Other ships were too large for a single man to operate. He drew his pistol to shoot but they were already too far. He kicked one of the wooden crates and screamed in frustration. How could he waste so much time?
Then a blinding light caused Granger to cover up his eyes. The brightness seared only for a moment before the stars were visible again. He looked around to see the lighthouse not too far away, briefly illuminating every part of the bay it touched. It will give him the vantage point and his only chance to help. Only when he had reached the top floor of the building did he feel his lungs about to explode. Several flights of stairs seemed to have passed too quickly.
Even with the cover of darkness, Granger was able to see Hayabusa’s boat. The vessel was running slow, navigating through the rocky parts at the tip of the bay. The speedboats in pursuit were faster and catching up every second. Gunshots were fired.
Granger was unsure why or how it started, but he had to stop it. He could fire his pistol but did not have enough ammunition for the entire mercenary group. With a switch, his violin case was converted into a firearm. Three high-powered bullets were loaded inside, reserved for the most powerful of demons.
He aimed at the first boat closest to Hayabusa and fired. The bullet hit the engine and caused the vessel to stall. A small fire burned and to Granger’s delight, the back of the boat exploded. The blast illuminated the beach for a moment, just giving the right visibility for Granger to see a boat flip in the air, with passengers thrown into the sea. Fire spread on the water, burning through the spilled fuel. As men swam away to avoid the flames, the boat trailing behind avoided the inferno with a sharp turn, crashing into the nearby reef.
Two boats one bullet. Granger smiled. One more boat was left, sailing fast into the open sea. His second bullet hit but did nothing to stop the movement. He cursed under his breath, regretting his early celebration earlier.
One bullet left. This was going to be his only chance.
Cold sweat formed on his face. A drop rolled down from his head to his eye. He winced as the salt stung and quickly wiped his face. He steadied his aim despite his beating heart. The more he waited, the farther his target would be. He rarely prayed but he did so as he pulled the trigger.
All he could do was watch. Then he waited, and waited but there was no fire or explosion. He tried to listen but only heard the crashing waves. A beam from the lighthouse swept through the horizon, showing the trail of destruction that he made. Boats were upturned, mercenaries clung on the rocks, and the inferno dissipated by the waves. Then the lighthouse shone on a single boat far away, safe and free.
Granger almost breathed a sigh of relief when he saw light heading this way. “What the-”
A projectile hit the part of the lighthouse a few meters below Granger’s location. He reached for his pistol instinctively to fire back. The building shook and he held on tight on the railing as much as he could. It didn’t matter who fired back or where they were, he had to leave this place. Fire blocked his exit and the stairs were reduced to rubble. He looked around for other options but the coconut trees were too far away to jump on. Below him were dark waters and the white foam from the waves broken by rocks. It was hard to see a safe landing.
In an instant, his feet left the concrete floor. Flames were all around him. Debris flew past his face. There was a brief silence before noise overcame his ears. The loud bang was followed ringing that never seemed to end, hurting his head. Then all he saw was a dark canvas and small specks of white. Stars or water? He wasn’t sure what direction he was facing. Then everything just disappeared - his vision, hearing, and the burning sensation on his skin. Soon, even the pain faded, and there was only nothingness.
It hurt so much. His head, throat, chest, and skin were all hurting. Something was crushing him over and over, increasing the pain in his bones. His body jerked forward with so much force, expelling everything from his stomach and his lungs. He could taste saltwater, acid and blood pouring out of his mouth. He curled on his side, coughing, and wheezing until he could breathe again. The cold air inside his throat brought instant relief, and he inhaled as much as he could, desperate for more.
“Granger?” A male voice called.
Granger clutched the ground under his bare hands, feeling the rough sand. He became aware of the sound of water close by. Slowly, he opened his eyes and noticed his singed clothing, his sleeves burned up to his elbows. Faint lights were around him, showing a blurry figure hovering close. He looked up to see a man wearing black, with a red scarf around his neck. “Hayabusa?” He said weakly.
Something was quite different this time. Hayabusa’s mask was pulled down, exposing his face. He was seated on the beach with his back hunched, hair flattened by water, chest heaving as he caught his breath. He looked at Granger with a hint of fear, so unlike the composure he had earlier that night. “I thought you were gone… You weren’t breathing. I had to…”
Granger tried to talk but coughed more, and every time he coughed, his chest hurt. He gently touched the source of pain and groaned. Some of his ribs seemed to be cracked.
“I must have overdone it.” Hayabusa sounded apologetic.
“No,” Granger shook his head and then laid back on the sand, exhausted. He rubbed his face and thought of the few minutes he couldn’t remember. He drowned. He was dead. This was a second life. “I know what you did… Thank you.”
“I’m the one who should thank you,” Hayabusa replied quickly. “Our boat was not fast enough. We could have lost one of the girls if you didn’t help.”
“I don’t know exactly what happened after I fired my last bullet.”
“They blasted your tower. You fell all the way down.” Hayabusa moved closer to lift Granger’s head from the ground, checking for injuries. There was a large bump just above his right ear, bleeding slightly.
“You came back for me.”
“A boat ride or a life? As I have said, you are now a friend of Shadow Sect,” Hayabusa insisted and used his scarf to wrap Granger’s head wound. Without a mask, Hayabusa’s smile was fully visible, radiating kindness. After finishing the first aid, he stretched his legs forward and straightened his back. “Besides, I can’t believe I could swim that far. It’s good to find out one way or another.” He reached to his other side to retrieve an item. “I saved your instrument too.”
Granger sat up and received his brand-new rosewood violin. Seawater poured onto the sand as he tilted it, and a small crab scuttered out. So much savings were spent on the violin only for it to be ruined forever. Even if he dried it, the wood would never be the same. Even so, Hayabusa seemed so proud of fishing the violin out of the ocean, blissfully unaware of the reality. It was better not to ruin the moment. “Thanks for this too.”
Hayabusa shook his head. “Can you imagine if you stayed in that party? Good food, expensive wine, pretty ladies, a hot bath and a dry bed to come home after the feast?” He asked in a teasing manner, poking fun at the situation.
“I don’t like parties,” Granger interjected. He stared at the stars and thought of the last few hours. His decision brought him to this moment- injured, with a substantial loss of money, entangled in criminal activity, stuck with a foreign man who is a skilled killer, and most importantly, without regrets.
“Is that the reason you followed me all the way to the warehouse?”
“I had to do my job, had to make sure you’re not a demon.”
Hayabusa narrowed his reddish eyes. The colors contrasted with his pale skin, dark hair and soft facial features. “Did I look like one to you?”
Granger wasn’t sure if the easterner was offended. “Demons don’t always look like hideous monsters. Sometimes they can have the most beautiful faces.” He added as an explanation.
There was a slight curve in Hayabusa’s lips. “And… I am?”
Granger frowned as a response, his cheeks a bit hot. Hayabusa was getting smug and holding back his laughter. He had to defend his actions.“You made yourself look suspicious. Hiding in the dark and staring like an assassin looking for a target?”
“Fair,” Hayabusa sighed and shrugged. “But I can’t help it. Your music just made me… feel things. I just remembered someone important to me.” Unlike his playful demeanor earlier, his eyes stared far away in reminiscence.
Silence fell between them. Granger closed his eyes to listen to the waves and the gentle rustle of the leaves. So peaceful. They both needed a break like this, even for a few seconds. He could sleep now and just rest, but they couldn’t stay. Too much had happened, and soon the authorities will investigate. Certainly not the right ones. It was still better to go to the one woman he trusted. “We need to leave, it’s not safe here.”
“I agree. I made a mess.” Hayabusa quickly sprang up. Granger noticed a few wounds on the man’s arms, evidence of a battle he did not witness.
Granger used his elbow to push his body off the ground, using all his strength and enduring the pain in his body. “How will you go home?”
“Don’t worry about it, I’ll find a way.” Hayabusa offered his hand and pulled Granger up. “Maybe your connections can help?” Granger nodded and Hayabusa supported him as they started to walk away from the beach, taking it slow due to his heavy steps and weakened body. Thunder rumbled in the sky and Granger looked up. The stars were gone. Cold drops touched his skin, and one by one the rain poured, soaking both of them in water once again. Both of them groaned and cursed under their breaths. Hayabusa whispered, “I can use a place to crash too.”