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Chapter 17: The Road to Nakazawa

  The sky darkened as thick clouds gathered, and a steady rain began to fall over the settlement. It was the kind of rain that seeped into the bones, carrying the scent of wet earth and the whisper of distant tempests. In the dim-lit workshop, Tsunamoto sat comfortably in a sack of soft hay, his arms folded as he gazed at the wooden ceiling with a thoughtful expression.

  Kamau, a boy of fifteen, approached with a wooden tray of local fruits—plump mangosteens, peeled lychees, and a freshly cut dragon fruit. Tsunamoto’s expression softened as he took a piece.

  “Good boy,” he said, ruffling Kamau’s hair before popping a slice of dragon fruit into his mouth.

  On the other side of the workshop, Kofi meticulously inspected the last batch of arrows, running his fingers along the smooth shafts and the sharp iron tips. Satisfied, he leaned back and exhaled.

  “Done,” he announced, tossing an arrow up and catching it.

  He walked over to Tsunamoto and plucked a lychee from the tray, biting into it with a crunch. “So…” he started, leaning forward, “hey—”

  Tsunamoto ignored him.

  Kofi frowned, then smirked. “What? You don’t like talking? Or do you only speak when it rains?”

  Still, Tsunamoto remained silent, his eyes distant.

  Kofi clicked his tongue and taunted further. “Maybe you’re just too old to have a conversation with us young warriors.”

  At that, Tsunamoto snapped. His voice, low and sharp, cut through the sound of raindrops drumming on the roof.

  “Shigen-dono must be making a huge mistake sending you to Lord Kanzaki.”

  Kofi blinked. “Wait… What? It wasn’t my suggestion. I don’t even know the guy.”

  “That’s exactly the problem,” Tsunamoto said, his tone grave. “You are completely oblivious to the magnitude of that man.”

  Kofi opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Kamau, trying to keep up with the conversation, looked equally puzzled.

  Tsunamoto stood and strode toward the entrance of the workshop. He turned his head slightly, his sharp eyes catching both Kofi and Kamau. His voice carried weight as he spoke.

  “During the 5th Yao-Tanna War, about fifty years ago—”

  Kofi cut in. “Fifty years?! We weren’t even born yet!”

  Kamau started counting with his fingers, but quickly lost track.

  Tsunamoto scowled. “Hey! Don’t interrupt me while I’m talking.”

  Both nodded sheepishly.

  Tsunamoto resumed, his voice steady. “Fifty years ago, the father of King Tannagork II, Tannagork I, appointed Lord Kanzaki as the commanding officer of the Reconnect Campaign. At that time, Tanna was at its weakest—even the city-state of Jeju had footholds on our islands.”

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  Kofi and Kamau exchanged glances.

  “Lord Kanzaki took it all back,” Tsunamoto continued. “He single-handedly drove out every last invader and slayed General Liao Piao of Yao—the terror of East Asia.”

  Kofi swallowed hard. “And now? What happened to him?”

  “Nothing. He retired.”

  Kofi furrowed his brows. “But who is—”

  Tsunamoto cut him off. “He is the last of the Hakken Shikikan in Tanna.”

  A rush of excitement surged through Kofi’s veins. He clenched his fists. “I’ll get going now.”

  He grabbed his belongings and turned to Kamau. “Tell Lima to stay back when I return. I’ll need to organize the work.”

  As he mounted his horse, Tsunamoto crossed his arms. “Do you even know the road?”

  Kofi, full of bravado, waved a hand dismissively. “Of course—”

  Before he could finish, the horse suddenly reared back, sending him tumbling to the muddy ground.

  Kamau and Tsunamoto burst into laughter.

  “Great start,” Tsunamoto said, shaking his head.

  As the rain intensified, Tsunamoto finally explained the route. “Take the eastern road past the rice terraces of Senkawa. Cross the wooden bridge at Hakuto Stream, then follow the riverbank until you reach the old shrine at Wakamura. From there, continue north through Kaigen Forest. Be careful—it’s easy to lose your way. At the end of the forest, you’ll reach Nakazawa Province.”

  Kofi dusted himself off, now drenched and irritated. He mounted his horse again, this time successfully. With a final nod, he rode off.

  The rain poured relentlessly as Kofi pressed forward. Yet, despite the downpour, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him.

  Why him? What was Shigen’s reasoning for sending him to the last Hakken Shikikan?

  As he pondered, he spotted a wagon ahead. The driver wore a tattered cloak, obscuring his face. Kofi tensed, reaching for his sword.

  Suddenly, the figure leaped out of the wagon, shouting, “Boo!”

  Kofi yelped and nearly fell off his horse again. The cloaked figure pulled back his hood, revealing a grinning Sawai.

  “HA! I got you!” Sawai laughed, clutching his sides.

  Kofi groaned. “Sawai! You idiot! I almost drew my sword!”

  Still laughing, Sawai slapped his back. “Relax, I was just testing your reflexes.”

  They traveled together, making camp at the crossroads by nightfall. As they sat by the fire, Sawai sighed.

  “You ever wonder what life is all about?” he mused.

  Kofi glanced at him. “Not really. Why?”

  Sawai leaned back. “Osaka… She told me she was the granddaughter of some guy named Shigen.”

  Kofi nearly choked on his tea. “BAKA! That’s our Shigen-dono’s name!”

  Sawai snapped upright. “EH?! No way!”

  They laughed, sharing stories over their meal. As the fire dimmed, Kofi lay back, gazing at the stars. His thoughts drifted.

  What really is love? And will I ever find it?

  Sawai snored beside him, mumbling incoherent words.

  Kofi sighed. “It’s time to sleep.”

  By morning, Sawai climbed onto the driver’s seat of his obsidian-stone carriage. Kofi, atop his brown-maned horse, sipped his morning tea—a strong, smoky Sencha blend.

  Sawai turned to him. “So… where are you really going, all alone?”

  Kofi took another sip before answering. “Shigen sent me to Lord Kanzaki.”

  Sawai squinted. “Kanza-what?”

  Kofi’s expression hardened. “We may not meet for a while… but until then, don’t slack off.”

  Sawai nodded solemnly. Then, with a grin, they chopped their knuckles together—a warrior’s farewell.

  As the road forked, they went their separate ways.

  The journey had only just begun.

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