Chapter 407 - EPISODE: Aiko, The Blooming Flower

Akitein, the land without summer. Days where the sunlight bathes the humble land below are sparse, but the people don't mind. 

That's because, even in the cold, the flowers of Akitein bloom with more beauty than any other land. 

One might believe the scenery of colossal mountains encircling the entirety of the land may become a dull sight, but none such thoughts occur as the mountains, carved by deities and maintained by Tanjou, flourish year round with an array of magnificent flowers. 

In Akitein, the isolated kingdom is kept stable by three, united figures: the benevolent primordial, Tanjou, who oversaw the protection of the kingdom's walls. The graceful Emperor Asagao, who through a pact with Tanjou, has served as the kingdom's most just ruler for centuries. 

Last, but certainly not least: the iron-skinned, immutable Shogun Hisashi, the strongest warrior in all of Akitein who oversees their military growth. 

Amidst the walled-off kingdom, prosperity has flourished through the perfect unison of what the people of Akitein refer to as the 'Three Seraphic Powers.'

I love it. The mornings in Akitein are cold, but the morning dew always smells so pleasant.

She sat on an engawa, an edging extending from the home, free of tatami matting that let her casually sip on a cup of tea while experiencing the brisk, calm morning. 

It was a scenery present for everyone in Akitein, one she never found herself tired of: the famous mountains that wall in the region, flourishing with splendid waterfalls. Even as the god-formed mountains sat at such a distance, obscured by a light veil of mist, their verdant, natural coat scaled with flowers of all shades: violet, gold, crimson, sky-blue and all, its beauty wasn't diminished by distance. 

The scent of light mint filling the brisk air always comforted her as she watched the violet-leaved trees sway in the passing breezes, watching as the swept away leaves danced across the still pond. 

The sliding door being opened caused her to glance back as a familiar man joined her on the quiet deck that overlooked the lavish backyard. 

"Uncle Atsushi," she greeted him.

"'Morning, Aiko," the man with well-kempt, beige hair just as hers greeted with a closed-eye smile.

He sat himself beside her on the slightly damp, wooden edge. There wasn't much of a presence he held; though he had a face etched with scars, he exuded a gentle aura from his soft smile and benevolent, purple irises. 

Uncle Atsushi, contrary to his connective title to her, was young, being a full decade younger than her father as he sat in his early-thirties. 

It was a frequent occurrence, his morning visits on the engawa, one she looked forward to at the start of each week. 

Uncle Atsushi is one of the few permitted adventurers of Akitein. I heard it's extremely difficult to pass Great Tanjou's trial to be given permission to pass through the Cloudborne Walls of Akitein. I had him tell me the story a hundred times when I was younger; apparently you have to summit the Cloudborne walls, walking amongst the clouds in order to leave Akitein, she thought. 

"How're things holding up?" Uncle Atsushi asked with a small smile. 

She swung her legs slowly as they hovered just above the grass below the engawa, answering while looking towards the damp, morning grass, "Father is fine. At least...his condition hasn't seemed to worsen." 

Uncle Atsushi shook his head slightly, leaving a pat on his niece's head, "I mean you, Aiko. How're you holding up? It's a lot of responsibility you have...I regret that I'm not around more often, but with the density of monsters getting through the barriers...I've been awfully busy." 

"Please don't feel guilty, Uncle...it's alright," she assured him with a smile. 

The tired-looking man accepted her words with a small smile as he turned his gaze back to the morning gray that inhabited the skies. 

As she looked at him, she found herself as curious as always about the abundance of bandages his body was wrapped in beneath his all-white kimono. 

Uncle Atsushi is a frail man...I guess weak bodies run in our family...I'm no exception. Even so, he didn't let it stop him from pursuing his dreams, no matter how much grandpa and grandma tried to stop him. 

He trained me and brother in everything we know--I aspire to be like him, she thought, not a single time in my life have I heard him fall back on his frail body as an excuse for his shortcomings. 

Each time he failed, he'd simply smile and tell people--"I'll do better next time." 

"...Aiko, it may be time to consider becoming the head of the Sumire estate," Uncle Atsushi spoke somberly. 

She quickly spun her gaze to him with her amethyst eyes almost taking on a glow of emotion as she fervently rejected the idea simply with a look. 

"No...that's just as good as admitting that my brother is dead!" 

"You must be realistic, Aiko!" Uncle Atsushi yelled sternly in return. 

It was rare for the gentle man to yell--that much was crystal clear as the look in his eyes settled with guilt the moment after the words left his lips, seeing the frightened expression present on his niece's face. 

"Aiko. You're a kind girl, but you're also hard working. Not to mention, you are looked at kindly by the spirits--that's a sign that you're worthy...no, it's a sign you're one that Akitein would be lucky to have as one of the leaders of the great houses. The Sumire family would flourish with you at its head," Uncle Atsushi spoke gently, watching the gray clouds above, "I'm not saying today, or tomorrow, but someday...it might fall into your hands. I just want you to be prepared." 

She knew what the secretive meaning to his words was, an unsaid reality they both feared equally. 

He knows...Father might not be around much longer...I know that, but still...She thought. 

"...We can't give up on them, though. Not Father, not Isamu," She spoke faintly as tears lined her eyes. 

Though the next words to come from her uncle were unexpected, at the very least: 

"Tomorrow, at dawn, I'm going to leave Akitein. I'll look for Isamu," Uncle Atsushi informed her. 

They were words that lit up her heart with joy as she looked at him with wide, bright eyes, though he purposefully averted his gaze--that look was a known weakness of his. 

"You will?!" She asked. 

The man nodded, "I feel responsible...it was my recommendation that allowed Isamu to become an adventurer. But, Aiko...while I'm going, there is something you can do." 

"What is it?" She looked at him. 

Uncle Atsushi mustered his words from a reluctant place deep inside of him, "I spoke to a friend of mine...I've retrieved for you the role as this year's candidate for Purgatory, Aiko. You don't have to do it...I'd rather you not, but if you truly want to do something--I want to make sure I can help you to the best of my ability." 

Of course, I accepted it gratefully. After a lifetime of acting as the prim-and-proper daughter of the Sumire estate, I finally had the chance to do something with my own two hands. 

Uncle Atsushi knew that, he knew how badly I yearned to do something to find Isamu--even if it meant risking my life, he wouldn't deny me a path. 

It was only after Uncle Atsushi left on his expedition to find Isamu that I learned who that 'friend' was he acquired my rite to set out for Purgatory. 

The man I saw as grand, but humble--though I admired him, I didn't know just how famous he really was. 

That request was made to Emperor Asagao himself...a personal request to a friend from the 'Garden of Blades', Atsushi Sumire--the man supposedly revered as the 'Fourth Seraphic Power.'

However--it wasn't a free pass that simply allowed me to talk out of Akitein. Before that, I had to reach the 'Tengokuden' which sat atop the legendary 'Mountain of First Blossoms'. 

[Shizukana Village, North Akitein]

Standing at the steps at the base of the moss-laden mountain, shrouded by wisteria, she found herself intimidated by the imposing aura that exuded from the mythical mountain. 

Looking up, it seemed to stretch up endlessly with its summit being hidden in pale fog that disguised themselves as clouds. 

"I have to do it, right…?" She asked herself as her breath left in a mist. 

"That's right!" 

--The masculine voice was definitely not something she expected as she was sure she was alone in the quiet, empty woods that led to the tucked-away entrance to the mountain. 

"Huh?!" She jumped back. 

Standing at her side with a bright smile was an adolescent man who seemed to have a year or two on her, with wild hair that mixed between crimson and light-brown. 

It was clear he ventured on the more reckless side of life as he wore a bandage across his nose, and another over his left eyebrow. 

His garments were anything but ordinary; though he wore a lengthy, umber scarf wrapped around his neck and shoulders, he wore a short-sleeved, leather-armored tunic made of red fabric beneath the protected sections. 

Continuing the pattern of garments aimed for warm weather, he wore black shorts that seemed to hold many trinkets; his outfit was finished with worn, dark-brown boots he likely used quite a lot.

"Sorry, did I scare you? I have a bad habit of sneaking up on people! Ha-ha!" He laughed, ruffling his own hair. 

Parting his eyelids after his one-sided laugh, he looked at the perplexed girl with his bright, orange irises, extending his hand that was dressed in a fingerless, crimson glove. 

"I'm Beniyoshi, nice to meet ya'! Oh, I'm an adventurer, if you're wondering," he introduced himself with a smile. 

She looked at his hand for a moment, still suspicious, though the innocent, childlike smile he held convinced her to accept his hand. 

"...I'm Aiko. Aiko Sumire," she introduced herself quietly.

"Aiko? That's a good name! Ha-ha!" Beniyoshi spoke with such volume that it made the empty, overgrown forest feel lively. 

He's...interesting, she thought. 

Looking at him for a moment, a single question came over her mind as she watched the eccentric young man adjust his striped, metal-plated headband. 

"Why're you here?" Aiko asked, "I mean...the Mountain of First Blossoms is dangerous. " 

Beniyoshi set the thin, black pole that he held over his shoulder down against the ground, leaning against it as the silver rings attached to it jingled. 

"I was going to ask you the same question," Beniyoshi responded, "you look a little too young for a place like this." 

With her youth put into question, she felt challenged as she sharply replied, "You don't look much older than me!"

Beniyoshi laughed playfully, "Ha-ha! You're probably right, but I'm a certified adventurer--see?"

He reached beneath the vest of his leather coat, showing her the shining, silver insignia embroidered with an emerald gem. 

"You're a silver-rank?" She asked. 

"Yup! Pretty awesome, right?" Beniyoshi smiled. 

Even though he was showing the insignia to the girl, he looked enamored with it himself as his gleeful, orange irises glistened at the sight of the badge. 

Aiko pressed him with her words, "You still didn't answer the question. Even if you are an adventurer...why're you here?" 

"I'll tell you after you answer my question," Beniyoshi flipped his badge before tucking it back under his coat. 

"But I asked first," She followed. 

"So?" He smiled, "as I see it, a helpless, little girl is trying to trespass onto a dangerous mountain. It's within my jurisdiction as an adventurer to escort you away--that's unless you have a reason for being here, of course." 

Beniyoshi winked as it was clear she was now all out of rebuttals. As she looked at him with an annoyed furrow of her pale eyebrows, she gave in with a huff. 

"I was chosen as this year's Purgatory candidate! Great Tanjou personally requested for me to meet her on the Tengokuden!" Aiko answered with an annoyed tone. 

Hearing this, Beniyoshi raised his light-brown, almost hazel eyebrows out of astonishment before whistling. 

"Purgatory candidate? I didn't realize they came so small," he teased. 

A sharp punch landed against his right arm, causing him to wince as he held it, laughing even then as followed up, "I deserved that one, he-he." 

"Satisfied? Now, it's your turn." 

Beniyoshi straightened himself out, picking up his blunt staff, spinning it before setting it on his shoulder, "Alright! I'm on a quest to find a lost pet that just-so-happened to find its way up this mountain--supposedly." 

Explaining this with a boisterous announcement as if it was some grand, world-changing mission, he was met with a stale, disappointed look from the beige-haired girl. 

"Huh?! Don't look so disappointed!"

"Lame…" She sighed. 

Beniyoshi sighed as well, "Anyway...if we're both heading up, why not help each other out? It's pretty dangerous, I hear." 

As he spoke of this, a howl cascaded down the tremendous, ominous mountain as both of their gazes looked up with a bit of worry. 

...He has a point, she thought. 

"Alright, Beniyoshi," she agreed, "but I'm ditching you if you slow me down." 

"Awesome!" He celebrated before stopping, "wait--wasn't what you just said kinda' messed up? That's mean!"

Even though their words were settled, it was still a giant step before them to cross onto the fearsome mountain. 

Guarding the mossy, stone entrance to the spiritual, rocky domain were many talismans acting as wards to keep whatever inhabited the mountain at bay. 

"Ready?" He asked. 

"Mhm…" She nodded. 

Though they both shared a cautious sweat, together they took their first step onto the cracked, stone steps of the Mountain of First Blossoms. 

She couldn't realize why, but these memories surfaced to her mind in the situation she was in--walking alongside the bloodied and bruised, snowy-haired young man. 

No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No.

I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to. I don't want to.

Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please. Please.

Don't let me remember that.

"Aiko…!" 

She was snapped out of the entrapment of her own memories by the sharp, rugged call from the one at her side. 

"...Ren," her voice came out shaky. 

He cupped her cheeks with his blood-covered gloves in order to shake her free from whatever she was dealing with in her mind. 

"Are you alright?..." He asked, barely able to speak. 

"Yeah...sorry," she nodded her head. 

Though she did her best to ignore the resurfaced memories that were once repressed, she was still left shaken, but she forced herself to continue marching, for the sake of her injured friend. 

I can't stop now, she thought.