Chapter 98 - Vol. 2 - 63

Keiko

Finally, Keiko and her teacher arrived back at Jade.

And with that arrival, their time together came to an end, for now. 

Keiko hopped off of the horse first, but Haruna remained on it. The Zayama adjusted her bag and looked back at her teacher, who was smiling proudly at her. She almost felt embarrassed, but she was ecstatic over it all. 

The trip to the castle had been a veritable success.  That said... She thought.  I do need to go back and challenge my parents' floor someday. Make things right. 

"Thank you, siya," Keiko bowed. "I... I couldn't have done any of this without you." 

"No need to thank me, seiyo. You had it in you to succeed, all I did was push the process forward a bit." 

"... What will you do now?" Keiko asked. 

"What else? Teach," Haruna shrugged. "I'm sure they miss me dearly back at the Compound." 

Hearing that made Keiko remember her grandmother's face. She found herself fighting back a scowl. 

"Someone's got to whip those kids into shape, and, well, I've always enjoyed it. And you?" Haruna asked. "You have this newfound strength, your techniques, what will you do?" 

Keiko grinned. 

"I have to let my friends know, of course. After that, I'll decide where to go from here." 

"I see, by the way," Haruna added, "when you can, take a trip to the Compound and show that book to your grandmother." 

"Hm? Why?" Keiko asked. 

"People who beat the Zayama Castle are given a special title and mark. Something that sets you apart from the average Zayama, in status. Even..." Haruna sighed. "Even if she dislikes you, your grandmother cannot deny it to you. If you head back and tell her of your success, she will have to grant it to you."

"I... understand," Keiko took a deep breath and nodded. 

"Good, well then, goodbye, Keiko. It was a pleasure and an honor to help you." 

Keiko bowed and with that, the two parted ways. 

For a moment, Keiko's heart was slightly torn. She'd gotten a bit used to her master's familiar presence over the course of this last week, but it was time to get back to work. 

And her duty, her responsibility was to be by Ash and Kaori's side. Her own growth meant nothing if she couldn't translate it into a valuable experience for the Saviors to learn from. So, she walked up to a guard. 

"Excuse me, could you take me to the Spirit Garden's District?" 

---

A few minutes later, she was walking up to the Savior House. She stood in front of it, alone, the sun warming her body under her black and gold outfit as she nodded to herself. 

Walking up, a smile on her face, she knocked on the door. The guard who led her here was still behind her, raising a brow, confused. 

No one responded. 

She waited a bit and tried again. 

Still, no response. 

Huh?  Keiko tilted her head. Did they go somewhere?

"Uh, lady?" The guard said. "The Saviors aren't here." 

"What?" Keiko turned and asked. "What do you mean?" 

"Another portal appeared up north. By Sapphire." He explained. "If you're looking for the Saviors, they're probably all there." 

Hearing that, Keiko nearly dropped all of her items. 

"A... Another portal?" 

"Mhm, terrifying, how quickly these things appear." The guard shrugged. "Sorry." 

With that, he almost walked away. 

"W-Wait," she called out. "Do you have a key? S-So I can drop my things, I mean." 

At that, he recoiled, blinking twice. 

"Ma'am, I'm not going to open that place just so you can go in and rob it. What kind of idiot do you think I am?" 

"No, no, I'm a Zayama, I was staying here, training the Saviors!" Then, she got an idea and reached into her bag, pulling out the ID she'd gotten at Onyx. 

She showed him the card. 

"Hm..." He looked at it, sighing. "Come with me to the palace, if you are their trainer or whatever, you can get a key yourself." 

"Alright." 

---

It took more running around the city than she would have liked, but eventually, she was approved and given a key to the Savior House. Once she had it, she went back and entered, her bags weighing heavily on her now. 

As she dropped them, she saw that the building was indeed desolate.  So... they went up to Sapphire.  Keiko thought, moving her things in and dropping them on a couch. She sat down on a chair and lowered her head. 

"They left without me..." Keiko muttered. 

Remaining still for a moment, she shook her head.

No,  she told herself,  don't start. It's their job, Keiko. It doesn't mean they don't like you. 

She looked at her bags. 

The answer isn't to get mad, she thought. You have to go up there! They might need you! 

"R-Right!" She got up. "I, the portal, I need to be there for the fight!" 

She was still registering that a portal had even been made, but she understood that she had to move quickly.  What do I need? What do I...? 

Pieces of a plan started to mold together in her mind and she paced around the living room, her hands on her head. 

I can... Right...

Nodding to herself, she took her bags to her room. Here, she dropped off anything she didn't need to carry to Sapphire, assuming she'd find the others and they'd give her some clothing for the future. So, she ended up with just her books, as all of the food she'd packed was already gone. 

The kitchen had ingredients, but nothing she could pack, really, so she needed to buy some snacks and meals as well. When she headed out of the building, she was carrying her father's sword and her bags, much lighter though this time. 

With them, she began to make a beeline for the Compound, the only part of the city she vaguely remembered how to get to. 

She didn't know how she looked, really, but something must have changed in her, as every citizen she passed would look at her for at least a few seconds before turning away. Keiko disregarded them. 

She glared her way through the streets. In her mind, she was trying to steel herself for the coming conversation. She needed to ask someone for something, and she knew it wouldn't be pretty. 

But, right now, she didn't care. Chances were that she'd change her mind on that once she was face to face with her, but still. At this moment, a burning determination was all Keiko felt. 

She reached the Compound's gates and a few guards stood by, quickly opening the way when they looked into her eyes and saw their color. Keiko didn't say a word to them.

In the open halls of the Compound, she saw Zayamas, most without blindfolds but a few who had them on, walking around. She moved past them, heading straight for her grandmother's office. 

And once she reached the door, she froze. A few guards stood next to it, who recognized her, stepping aside.

Here, she finally felt the weight of what she was going to say. 

Over the course of her life, not once had Keiko asked her grandmother for help. 

Not because she didn't need it, but because she knew she wouldn't get it. 

So, anytime she was hungry, anytime she was confused as to a technique she was learning, anytime she was feeling sad, she never went to her grandmother. However, this time, that was something she'd have to do. 

If she wanted to get to Sapphire relatively quickly, she'd need a horse. And, well, right now she had no money to her name. So, she needed her family's assistance in order to get herself to her friends in time. 

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. 

"Come in," a firm voice said, on the other side, and Keiko fought off the urge to walk away. Instead, she pushed the door and walked inside. 

The office was a small place, with just two bookshelves at the sides as decorations, a carpet leading from the door to a chair in front of her grandmother's desk. There was a weapons rack next to her as well. 

Here, Keiko saw two swords, one of which, she recognized. It was a model similar to the one she was carrying on her person right now.

Keiko took a few steps closer and her grandmother looked up at her. 

The instant she saw her, she glared. 

Usually, even when she was blindfolded, Keiko could feel her grandmother's stare. During these moments, she'd shrink, trying to become as small as she could, cowering. 

This time, she returned it, narrowing her brows at her as she balled her hands into fists. 

"Siya," Keiko muttered. 

"..." Her grandmother stared at her. Then, she let go of the pen she'd been writing with and leaned back. "What do you want?" 

"I'm happy to see you too," Keiko replied, "grandmother." 

"If you are here for no other reason than to waste my time, I suggest you walk away. I have no need for it." 

"I will gladly leave. I need something first. Some crowns," she said. "I need to buy weapons and a horse. That's all I'm here for." 

To say her grandmother looked disgusted would be an understatement. She looked as though Keiko had offered to slap her. 

"And what exactly have you done to deserve any of that?" Her grandmother asked. 

"You mean, aside from working with the Saviors against the demons?" Keiko asked. "Maybe this will let you know." 

She reached into her bag and pulled out the two books she'd been given. Placing them on her grandmother's desk, she saw the older woman make no attempt to look at them. 

Instead, her eyes remained locked with Keiko's, the entire time. 

"Hmph." Her grandmother huffed and looked away. "And what exactly is that supposed to prove?" 

"That I went through the Ancient Zayama Castle, cleared out each floor, and was rewarded for it. So?" Keiko crossed her arms. "Are you going to help me or not? And, of course," she said, remembering what Haruna had said, "I'll be taking my mark." 

Her grandmother listened for a few seconds and then put her hands on her chair's armrests. She stood up, and Keiko had to turn her eyes up, as she was taller than her. 

Her grandmother took a few steps closer to Keiko and stood in front of her. 

Then, she raised a hand and slapped Keiko in the face. 

...

Keiko was stunned. She barely registered it. Her lips parted and she looked at her grandmother in disbelief. 

"You truly are everything your mother and father were not," she spoke with a low tone, "no talent, no promise, I had thought you possessed at least some amount of respect, but you walk in here and you ask, no, demand these things of me as though I were some lowly servant. You fool," her grandmother said, "born into a family of legends when you should have been birthed amongst the rats. By the time your parents were your age, they were already wandering the land, making our family proud! And you..." 

She was shouting at this point. 

"You are a stain on our legacy. You... You have relied on nothing but sheer luck to get as far as you have. And you won't be getting any farther, I suspect. So, sure," she chuckled, "I will give you your crowns. Buy your weapons. Hell, I will gift you a horse to travel with. Maybe wherever you go, the world will finally rid me of you." 

She reached into a small compartment on her desk and then pulled a few things out. She tossed a couple of white crowns at Keiko, along with some sort of silver badge. She made no effort to catch them, letting them drop to the wooden floor. 

Instead, she stared at her grandmother, in disbelief still. 

Her grandmother turned. 

"Now, go back to being a glorified tutor, where you won't sadden your parents' spirits any more than you have." 

Keiko's bottom lip trembled. 

Then, she narrowed her eyes and charged forwards. 

She tackled her. 

"Agh!" Her grandmother cried out.

Pinning her grandmother to the ground, Keiko mounted her, flipped her over, and raised a fist.  Then, she brought it down, punching her grandmother in the jaw as she held her with her other arm. 

The guards outside were there before Keiko could get a second hit in.

They pulled her off. Keiko kicked and screamed at her grandmother as they did. 

Her grandmother slowly stood up. 

"Let me go!" Keiko yelled. "Let me fucking... AGH!" She tried to shake the guards off but was unsuccessful. 

Her grandmother reached up and touched her jaw, her eyes reduced to slivers due to the intensity in her scowl. Keiko felt a fire in her heart engulfing her entire being. All she wanted right now was nothing more than to punch her grandmother at least once for every insult she'd ever received. 

She was nearly snarling at her as her grandmother casually picked up the coins and the badge. She picked up Keiko's books as well.

She walked up to Keiko, searched her body for a pocket, and when she found one, dropped the coins in there, and put the books in Keiko's bag, all without a word.

Then, she reached up and wrapped her hands around Keiko's neck. 

She leaned in, her eyes locked with Keiko's. 

"Take your coins, your badge, your horse, and leave."

Waving her guards away, they dragged Keiko outside and dropped her, as her grandmother closed the door and locked it. 

As soon as she was let go, Keiko stormed off. 

That... I've fought monsters, but she's more demonic than any of them! 

She was practically growling as she walked through the halls.

However, the rational part of her mind guided her. She had two places to go to, and then she could leave. Hopefully, never to come back to this place. 

The Zayama's had their own blacksmiths, ones who didn't just craft weapons but sold some pre-made ones as well. Keiko went to one of them first. He was a burly man, dressed in a black robe as he smacked away at an anvil. 

Still, angry, Keiko's voice was firm as she said:

"Blacksmith, a naginata, and two neviries." 

He looked up with a scowl. 

"And who exactly are you to..." When he saw her, he stopped. 

Keiko leaned in as close as she could. His hand clenched around his hammer, but she didn't care.

The next words she spoke she said through gritted teeth, and she hissed them so lowly, they almost came in a whisper. 

"The Elder's fucking granddaughter, now, give me what I asked for." 

She said, planting the coins on a counter next to him. He stared at her for a bit and nodded. 

"Aye."

---

Next up was the horse. 

Keiko couldn't buy too many weapons, so she went with ones she thought could cover for her sword's weaknesses. The naginata for enemies that were too fast for her, and the two neviries for long-range and quick short-range trades.

The Neviry was a blade-and-whip, comprised of a small, kunai-like blade attached to a rope. She had asked for two, as the techniques in the book, required the use of two of these, simultaneously, in order to perform.

Once she had them, she walked to the stables. Here, a few women tended to the majestic beasts the Compound was known for having. Black horses with gold manes, who were said to be the strongest and most hardy in all the land. 

She walked up to the oldest, who recognized her with a glance. Everyone did. 

"I need a horse," Keiko said, looking straight into her eyes, challenging her to deny the request. "My grandmother has gifted me one." 

"..." She opened her mouth to speak but Keiko glared harder. "Right away,  siya." The woman bowed. 

That was the first time in her life that Keiko had ever been called that. 

"Do you have a preference?" She asked. 

Keiko took a deep breath, trying to calm down. She was still feeling testy off of what happened earlier. 

"Which do you recommend?" She asked, cooling her head. 

"These three are fairly powerful creatures," she gestured at some of the animals. "Trained well and tested. They would each serve you well." 

Among them, Keiko saw another with the exact opposite colors. A dark-golden body and black mane. She noticed another thing, it was missing an eye. Keiko walked towards it. 

"What's this one's name?" 

"Ilyrum. She's... Well, she's had a hard life. She's not one that we raised," the groom admitted, "she belonged to some mage mercenaries from Amber. Suffered a few injuries in her time with them. But, she's tough. That much, I can promise you." 

Keiko reached towards it and the horse started smelling her hand. Then, Keiko slowly placed it over Ilyrum's head. The horse looked at her through her good eye and Keiko nodded. 

"... I'll take her then." 

"Alright."

"By the way," Keiko said, "do you, ehm, happen to have a map?"

---

Several embarrassing minutes later, where Keiko was refreshed on the bare minimum fundamentals of horseback riding, Keiko led Ilyrum out of the city.

As a child, she'd been given a few lessons, as even blind Zayamas needed to learn how to ride horses. She'd never been good at it though, and she hadn't really taken the lessons to heart. 

Now though, she was pretty glad to have received those. 

She didn't want to ride her just yet though, instead, she wanted to give the horse at least an hour or so to get used to her presence. 

With her naginata at her back, her neviries, and her sword at her waist, Keiko looked at the road ahead, then looked at her map, and nodded. 

Okay, I think I get it. 

"Come on, girl." She said to Ilyrum softly and led her forwards.

I'm on my way.