Ballad of the Sea and Storm

By Djenny Floro

Novel For All - Second Booklet

This short story is about the foundation of Fujiwe in Draticornix Universe. I aim to one day make it into a visual novel.

~ Enjoy ~

I was the only women of the Red-Light District allowed to come and go from the district since I was a free woman but any new face in the militia would give me some troubles. Usually, I would go to Commander Cerberus and tell him his soldiers were annoying me. He’d tell them that I was a free woman living in the Red-Light District, and they would then let me go, which was almost a routine now.

Today through, the matter was different, the two newcomers caught me out of the district, and they brought me back for whipping on the public place. Because of them almost injured me I was waiting for the right moment. Just as they let go of me, I stood back straight, and I kicked the first. The second got his share. As he flashed his sword at me, I used his rough slash to cut my ties. And I grabbed his sword, knocking him off.

“What’s going on here?!”
“Captain Blayze, a courtesan was about to elope, and she’s making a ruckus on the public place!” called a man while I was fending off with the second whose swordsmanship wasn’t half bad and escaping the whip.
“Everyone cease this farce at once. What are you doing to my future wife?!”

The soldiers grew pale, and so did the whipper. I turned in surprise to his words, and I suddenly understood. He didn’t have the authority to make a decree that I was a free woman. He could hold off the whipping saying I was one, but he would have to take me away, and then Commander Cerberus would have to decree me a free woman to settle it legally. But a captain could never spouse a courtesan. As a matter of fact, nobody could unless they had brought their freedom, which would mean I was a free woman anyways.

Thing is, he meant it as a way to mend the situation… but then the District Master showed up. I was at ready to get him out of troubles, but the District Master went and said that since it was like that, he gave his permission that I lived in the barracks, so that people would stop importuning me.

The other Captains laughed until they were rolling on the ground crying when they heard the news, and we felt like two idiots. They finally stopped to laugh after Commander Cerberus coughed to signify he wanted calm.

“Blayze…” said Commander Cerberus who waited that the Captains to quiet down. “There’s something that caught my attention in your report…”
“Yeah, because of that she will have to live here for a while until we figure out how to make things straight.”
“Not that…” he answered. “Aren’t the new recruits your best swordsmen so far?”
“Indeed, they far surpass the others, but well, they’re veterans after all.”
“But you just reported that she had disarmed one and was fending off with the other. Doesn’t that mean she’s herself quite strong?”
“My family and another are having a vendetta where they joyfully kill each other. So my father had me sent under the guise of being a boy to a mercenary camp from five to seventeen, the commander there noticed I was a girl, so he had me become a battle medic, and taught me how to fight stronger people,” I admitted.
“Eh… that’s…” he said dumbfounded.
“But while I was away, the other family had won, and my entire family has been killed.”
“I can’t believe it! Then do you think the murders committed recently are linked to you?”

The others were surprised at Captain Blayze’s remark, but Commander Cerberus wasn’t astounded. I reflected a bit before nodding positively.

“Well the woman looked like me before I became a celesta. Thankfully, I’ve changed and even became a celesta, so I’m nothing like what the other family knows about me.”
“We should let them know where you are, and trap them.”
“Yeah thanks, I’ll be killed the minute they know,” I retorted. “I came to the Red Lights district. It’s small and I could retain every face, so when someone comes in that doesn’t belong I know immediately, and I can check if he’s from the family that’s after my life or not. They don’t know I’m a trained military so they are not looking for the right person. But that’s why I am still alive. I can’t just rush out like that, I must find a sound plan and carefully see that they will not wake up and decide to kill me nonetheless.”
“Since they massacred your family…”
“I don’t really care about my family,” I cut him short. “I’ve been estranged from them for so long I don’t remember their face. And I’m not so fond of families that engage in vendetta, all so more that I know my family actually did half as much to the other.”
“I have a plan,” said Commander Cerberus. “It does entails that we reveal who you are, but since you will be living here as Blayze’s wife here, you’re in security. First of all, the soldiers wouldn’t let a stranger inside the post, and then if they dare attack the Household Master of the Semalion Family, they will find out that his father didn’t had him inherit the household for nothing.”
“If they come all the way to me, he’s the last of their problem,” I grunted. “But I don’t see where your plan lead in the long-term so I don’t really like it.”
“Hum…”

Commander Cerberus explained me that the Semalion family was a vassal of His Imperial Highness Shawnsa Renwa, who was born from the Concubine Mina Renwa. Attacking the Semalion Family was directly attacking him, and since he was in high favor being the only celesta amongst the princes, he was named the heir by His Imperial Majesty.

“Let me be clear, I don’t mind being associated with him, but his position is delicate. If, from a celesta, he turns into an exalon or celestial, there is no saying how his father will react. And at that moment, the family after mine will turn against me with the additional bonus to do a favor to the Royal Family, they might even add Captain Blayze to their list.”
“This part has already been seen through,” he announced.
“I won’t ask more than I should know,” I answered.
“I see. Well anyways, as Blayze’s wife you’re safe.”
“Oh, well. I’ve got the skills to survive, and this is the best option I’m given,” I answered. “I’ll take the hand he’s stretching out to me.”
“Then I’ll prepare some festivities for our marriage,” he answered joyfully.
I stayed somewhat in awe before how he just he said that so casually. At first it was acting as his future wife, then act as his wife, and now he had jumped on the wedding… I looked at the ceiling for a moment. This man was as wild as fire. Once he had igniting stopping him was dangerous and difficult.

The Semalion Family highly welcomed a true warrior such as myself by the side of their master. Fact is, my feat of war as Silverline, and the fact that thanks to my work as a battle medic we had no casualties during the Janeen Campaign worked greatly in my favor. My past was known, too, but they all said that they’d take on the household after me so I could focus on being a Semalion.

Commander Cerberus, and while briefly, even His Imperial Highness Shawnsa Renwa, were present. The other Captains had brought their whole household.

Captain Blayze drunk, suddenly attacked his brother. At first, I let it go, but suddenly, just as everyone gasped because they had missed their counter and were about to injure each other. I used the shadow step that teleported me right between the two, and my train that I hardened through magic, as swords to keep them at bay. It was a cheer magical act, but for me it wasn’t a feat through.

“Cleanse!” I called, and my magic purified their system from the alcohol. “Captain Blayze… aren’t you a little too engaged?” I asked as he was still applying pressure on my hardened train.
“Oh, sorry, sorry!” he said backing off.
“Seriously… you damaged it…” I said looking at it.

His sister instantly came over and she quickly had a maid give her a thread and a needle then she stitched my train quickly.

“Ah, ah. Well, I think I can be at peace. With you by his side, my son can go as wild as he wants on the battlefield. There will be no stopping his prowess!”
“Fa… father…” I said my eyes downcast and feeling a flare on my cheeks.
“I’m jealous,” said Captain Haze. “Blayze has a beautiful wife, which can fight, and cure him… that’s too much for him alone.”
“Don’t look down on me,” I said smiling at him. “With my skills, even Captain Blayze can’t occupy me a whole battle long, of course I’ll take care of his sworn brothers, clan, and ally clans too.”
“Sound like a plan,” he smiled.
“Oh my… I’m drunk too,” I said going back to my seat.
“But because of you… I’m not drunk anymore,” said Captain Blayze.

He so proceeded to drink again, but I think that this time, he kept it reasonable on purpose. My days with Captain Blayze were going to be chaotic, but the idea of being so welcomed was something I had never felt in my lifetime, so it felt very warm.

After the festivities, the guests left, and the servants got everything off, and began to clean while dead tired, Captain Blayze grabbed me and we ended up in the bedroom. For a moment my heart almost stopped, right if we were married it would come down to that… my vision blurred from the panic, and I fainted.

Captain Blaze had a panicked face when I opened my eyes, he was calling my name, and it waked me up completely. I checked on myself.

“Good I didn’t hit my head when I fainted,” I said relieved.
“How can you be so calm?! What happened?”
“I’m a virgin, and given how drunk you were, I got afraid because or rather violent memories I have of the officers drunk at geisha places, so I blacked out. I would have been fine if I wasn’t drunk, but since I was drunk, I couldn’t think rationally. Sorry.”
“Eh, well… I guess that I was pushy… then now that we aren’t drunk anymore, will you let me take your body?”
“I have no objections,” I answered.
“There’s no need to think, no need to stress,” he whispered as I came near him.

He softly kissed me as he pushed me on the futon, and he gently stroked my skin, over, and over. Until I was more at ease with it. Slowly… carefully, he waited that I was relaxed each step of the process, and he held me tenderly… I suddenly felt extremely tense, and I realized that my body was ready for that moment… Captain Blayze had led me to the point where I wanted it, and when he felt that, we united.

“See? I told you,” he said me. “It’s all natural when it’s not forced.”
“It was… agreeable…” I said surprised.
“It has to be… we’re husband and wife, of course I wouldn’t do something harmful to you.”
“When I’m drunk, I don’t think very rationally,” I answered.

As I heard a sound behind the door, I jumped and picked my sword, gearing up through teleport. But Captain Blayze jumped at me, and held me, saying it was just a maid who was taking shift and had sat behind the door. Since I was not used to live with somebody there, it alarmed me highly.

“There isn’t a single assassin that can make it alive to my bedroom,” he affirmed. “My whole family is already up and getting ready for the eventuality since we know your past.”
“It will take me a little time to get accustomed to that.”
“I’d rather you stay alert nonetheless, just learn about the usual sounds and those who aren’t,” he announced gearing up himself. “We’re to return to the Red-Light District before lunch, Commander Cerberus and the others have already returned.”
“Fine, I can go anytime.”
“Let’s take breakfast first.”
“I don’ take breakfasts,” I answered.
“Why? You’re my wife you can eat as much as you wish.”
“Eh? It has nothing to do with this. I only eat twice a day, but I take extremely nutritious preparations. That way my body don’t lack energy, but I don’t eat up too much. I can be alert at any time. It takes years to be able to digest such food, but once you are, you get sick if you eat otherwise. Yesterday’s banquet already takes its toll on my body, and I’m very unwell.”
“Ah! You should have told me!” he said. “You ate all that I presented you too…”
“I’ll take a medicine that allows me to digest such quantities, and all will be fine.”

To my disarray that’s the first thing he told his parents and family when he met them. His father looked at me, and asked if it was so I could feed the wounded on low rations when I was on the battlefield, and I nodded. He had heard of my company’s medic abilities and ways, so he knew about this.

“And once you have lived like that for years, your body has taken on it,” said father. “So yesterday must have been tough on you.”
“Nothing to worry, it’s always the day after that it takes its toll. However, I’ve got medicines for that. May I ask if I can make the preparation please?”
“Sure, I’ll send our herbalist to get what you need if we don’t have it.”

Their garden was well-kept so he had exactly what I needed, and I could drink the preparation right away. I also made something for his younger brother who had a headache. Then we left and joined back the Pleasure District’s barracks. Everyone welcomed me with deference, I was a Semalion now after all.

“Are you alright?” asked Commander Cerberus.
“Yes, I’d be a joke as a medic if I wasn’t, seriously.”
“Oh, sorry,” he answered nodding.
“He was more worried about something called the blue day that brides experience the day after their marriage, where they are very out of it due to their first experience.”
“Oh, no I’m fine. Having been on the battlefield, I’ve experienced range of despair and anger that pretty much immunize me against such phenomena. Plus, it happens to brides whose husband is ugly and force them down to it, so no troubles after a marriage that even their soul refuse, so not my case, don’t worry I’m functional.”
“I had no idea it was a mental matter,” said Commander Cerberus, “I heard it was physical.”
“Just think about it. If you were, because of your duty, forced to marry a woman by twice your age, that has not a speck of redeeming feature, would you feel all so well on the next day?”
“It would need to involve the nation’s salvation for him to accept such a bride,” said Captain Blayze. “Even so…”
“No, I wouldn’t feel well at all. I’d push everything out of my mind, and rule it as my duty as much as I can.”
“That’s the exact definition of marital duty,” I sighed. “Those poor women just push it onto the marital duty, and try their best to keep it at that, else that would be rape.”
“I have to say, you have a point,” said His Imperial Majesty, getting out of the Meeting Room. “The picture that came to my mind was so depressing I felt unwell. I now get what these women must feel… I pity them.”
“Your Imperial Majesty,” I said falling onto one knee.
“You are Blayze’s wife, you may simply bow,” he answered.
“May I ask if something is on the move?” I asked.
“A woman that’s used to battle sure is easier to get along with,” he smiled. “Indeed, soon enough a large regrouping under my command is going to arrive in the capital, disseminated in all the capital.”
“As I thought you are at the Breaking Line…” I said worried. “So, the signal will be your father’s announce?”

His Imperial Highness looked at me in the eyes for a moment, and nodded positively. He said that a lot of people in the pleasure district would be invited to join for he needed civilians and military. In the towns all over the capital, the pleasure districts masters that he placed at the head were going to take the resident away, and they would march right toward the ocean were ten boats were awaiting them.

“For the central continent… so those who you are taking with you are celesta who can stand the place’s magic…” I said to myself.
“How quick-minded you are,” he said surprised.
“You’ll need sea-sick herbs by quantity,” I told him. “Every person involved must collect as discreetly as possible the herbs for his travel. Not everyone will be sick, but if we face a sea battle, you’ll need them to be able to cast water spell.”
“If an herb grows missing from the collect…”
“There are six different herbs,” I said. “Two of them are only usable to sea-sickness, it would give you away. But the rest is also used as a disinfectant, which is common in red lights districts where courtesans don’t want to catch their customer’s sickness. They can collect it not from market but from their shops, on a very discreet manner.”
“Fine, give me the list. I never thought you would be that useful, but I’m glad you are in with this.”
“She had guessed about you before espousing me,” said Captain Blayze. “It’s why it wasn’t a problem.”
“That’s good to know,” he answered.

He left after I gave him the name of the plants, and Commander Cerberus smiled. He told me that my ex-unit was part of this too. I somewhat felt relieved, I would have fought them if needed, but that I wouldn’t have to was a nice thing to know.

His Imperial Highness evolved a few weeks later. I had made sure to have the stocks of medicine that I needed, and I had connected to the different medics, so we’d elaborate on the medical strategies to take. They proved to be very obedient, my step-father helping in taming them, as I explained him everything about what I was doing, and as his life was saved in Janeen thanks to my unit’s medication.

Slowly, we began to evacuate the prostitutes. It was discreet, through many transfers, the District Managers had emptied the capitals of all the celesta courtesan that had evolved, and of those who showed clear signs of being about to evolve. To my utmost surprised, the Supreme Priest of the country was involved. He had hypnotized his body-double to make sure it wouldn’t be apparent.

“I see…” I said looking at him. “So, you are about to become a celesta…”
“I cannot deny this,” he answered. “And priests are extremely prone to evolution after becoming celesta.”
“Well, magic is a gift of the heavens, but humans refuse to think that some are gifted when others not. Jealousy is just that ugly.”
“I will make sure that the embarkation is done safely.”
“Take this,” I said him. “This is a magical talisman made of celesta plants.”
“Herbs who evolved?”
“I can’t really explain you right now. However, if you feel like you are going to evolve, yet still need to use magic, and the moment isn’t right, it will delay your evolution by a few hours. Since you’re used to contain magical surges, it won’t be a problem for you… but don’t give it to anyone else.”
“You have my word.”
“You know how to do writing invocation, when we arrive at destination, we’ll need texts that haven’t been stained by the eyes of mere humans. Please, make sure you stay safe. We need to walk in the gods’ steps to see through this journey safely.”
“In the gods’ steps…” he repeated.

I told him about the passages of the different sacred tomes that our journey made me think about, when the gods guided the chosen to the land of Valhalla.

“No such massive movement would be possible without the gods consents,” I said. “And His Imperial Highness is an extremely powerful war leader, despite the consanguinity forbidden by the gods and proved to be detrimental, that means… He’s a chosen of the gods too. Following him, we can’t be wrong.”
“You… are absolutely right,” he said his eyes wide open. “Thank you, Miss Heike.”
“Ah, ah, don’t thank me, I am not that great.”
“You always have a word for everyone, you keep all the morale up.”
“Because I’m the head medic, it’s my duty to keep everyone healthy and fine until our destination.”
“I heard that you had a boat at ready beyond the coastline and hidden with a lot of things that you sent fetching restlessly?”
“Eh yes… this boat… I’ll protect it with my life if needed. It’s our safe-line whatever awaits us once arrived. And it will prepare our bodies to bear with that land’s magic… when the time comes, I hope that your priests will make the people confident enough… it is celesta animals, some might be reluctant to eat it, but if I’m not wrong, it’s all we’ll find to eat on that island.”
“Oh… I see… I will prepare my priests mentally. Sure, we’ve considered them sacred for so long…”
“We are those the gods have chosen to fill in Fujiwe,” I said. “These animals, we could capture and stock them because the gods gave their consent. Else we’d have died chasing them.”
“Fujiwe?”
“In tarots, Fu is the sacred land, and Jiwe the magician…”
“I see. The Sacred Land of Magicians… is how you see that land. You would have made such a good priest.”
“Priestess,” I smiled. “In the new land, please find women too to uphold the faith, so that Fujiwe leaves no one behind, nor the women, nor the men. I don’t know if I won’t have to die in this quest… but please…”
“I swear you that if I step onto these lands and you don’t, I will definitely make sure that women and men breathe the same liberty, feel the same blessings.”
“And don’t let other women step on the battlefield, unless they have the benediction of the God of War. Only such women should step into hell.”
“As a battle medic, you must know that the best, I’m sure.”

On those words, I let him go, he had a long travel to do to the coast. It wasn’t long before even the District Master left for a trip… and that’s when our mission really began. Reunited in the Headquarters, which felt empty, we got told by Commander Cerberus that we would free His Imperial Highness, and flee by another road than everyone, since the latest boat would only depart in two days, and we didn’t want to rate him away. We’d take another boat solely for us, before joining the rest.

“Usiu,” I said once we were alone.
“Fay?” he asked obviously surprised.
“We will live through that all,” I told him.

Cutting my hand, I traced symbols on both our faces. And I chanted a spell. A small bit of the life energy of the other would be used to cast a revive spell on the one who’d die, so to say, it would take to kill us both to make us die before our lifetime was over.

“This is our secret,” I told him. “Don’t tell a soul about it. Not even to Commander Cerberus, unless someone sees that work. Do you get it? The least people know about that, the more unaware our enemies will be of this ace that we can use in the direst situation.”
“That’s between my wife and me, this has nothing to do with anyone.”

Our bodies became one for the second time, before we got in gear.

His Imperial Majesty had said that we were forbidden to come, surely knowing we’d free his son, so the guards wouldn’t let us pass, it’s why we decided to attack a back gate.

“Wait for me,” I said, “I’ll make sure there is nobody on the other side of the door.”
“How…”

I placed my hand on the door to feel it, and I used a form of teleport that led me just on its other side. I scouted the surrounding and found nobody there, so I made everyone pass the door with me. It tired me, but I said nothing, and followed everyone.

Commander Cerberus told me to rest myself in case we’d need my powers, and Blayze gave me a bit of his magic. I did a slight bow to him and we continued. We arrived all the way to the dungeon where His Imperial Highness Shawnsa was, and there, I held back everyone.

“Take those medicines,” I answered, “It’s an antidote. Blayze, go give that to His Imperial Highness. Signal me as soon as he has drank it. I’ll put all of the soldiers to sleep at once so that they won’t give the alarm.”
“You can do that?” he asked.
“I’m a medic sleep powder is a basic.”

He grabbed the bottle and with Commander Cerberus consent, we went on with my plan. A bird’s song elevated and Commander Cerberus gave me the signal. I threw my sleep bomb, and used a wind spell that propagated it into the whole place and put everyone to sleep.

As we passed by them, I sent the both sentinels to eternal sleep, and Commander Cerberus looked at me. Blayze swung his sword off his sheathe, and so did the other Captains.

“I see, you never intended them to wake up.”
“It’s just that they can’t give the alarm. But it will be that much less pursuers as we escape. And they won’t suffer or agonize that way.”

And so, we did not let the soldiers survive that escape. It created a chaos as the palace thus was lacking some troops, those we hadn’t killed being still too deep asleep to be awaken. Some would die of this sleep powder. We were fine through, thanks to the antidote I made.

And that’s when I realized that there was an easy way to escape… I picked my compass, and proposed that we’d go through the sewers. Everyone looked surprised, but His Imperial Highness jumped in the sewer, and everyone followed. As celesta, we were capable to see in the darkness of the sewers something humans weren’t capable to do, especially during such a dark night outside.

We closed the sewer’s mouth… and we silently went on as Blayze lit up a torch with fire magic. I knew we were heading west, so I followed that direction. Here and there, we would peek out the sewer, and that confirmed we were going in the right direction. We made it through the whole capital without being noticed despite the chaos that was outside.

We ended up just at the river’s level, and I jumped in the water, flushing my magic in my aura to prevent myself from being soaked. Once on the other side, I made a gesture as if I was firing a bow, and it made a magical arrow appear that froze the lake on its wake. Captain Haze consolidated it, and they all hurried. Since we heard patrolmen, Blayze melted the bridge.

Following this, we came back to the harbor unnoticed, using sewer mouths to hide when necessary, and we reached for the small, discreet, black embarkation meant to lead us all the way to the coast. Captain Kaiser used an invisibility spell on us, so we could go quickly.

“Blayze, can you warm me please?” I asked. “I’ve used too much of my magic to swim…”

He was more than happy to put his hands on me, and use some heat from his fire magic to warm me.

Following the water, and using Lord Isander’s Wind magic, we arrived in a matter of days to the coast of Hadjata, and then after a bit of chaos since our small boat wasn’t meant for it, we managed to join the boat that was meant for us. The celesta animals were divided between these two boats, so that we wouldn’t be completely out of food if something happened to the other.

First reluctant, the people we embarked quickly came to be convinced by the priests, who were doing a great job at exalting our journey to the holy land. What we did not envision was that the word spread that His Imperial Majesty was going to lead the Celesta to the Holy Land. Celesta of all kind and shape, including a few boats of the marine, joined us.

It was His Supreme Holiness’ doing. He had hypnotized priests to say that to all the celesta they met. And the word went fast, so boats continued to get to us.

“Won’t enemies slip in?”
“I have a spell around the most important boats,” he answered. “The protection of the gods is granted to these boats… You know, it’s thanks to you that I could cast them. I was sure the gods had abandoned us… so I wasn’t going to use divine magic… but in the end… yes, indeed. The gods can’t possibly be against us. Else we’d have failed on so many places… this plan was definitely too vast to success without the gods’ consent, and the priests agrees this readily.”
“Ah, ah. No, I’m not that great. Sure, once I’m shown the way… I may be capable to find and figure things out but the whole operation was His Imperial Highness… Oh, no. We should start calling him His Imperial Majesty of Fujiwe… well it was his plan.”
“His… Yes. I guess we’ll need someone who establish us as a country. Else we’ll face all kind of troubles.”
“That said, before we do that, we must make sure there is not already someone there who’s at the head of this place. The gods won’t tolerate violence in their lands against their chosen natives.”
“I will not claim any leadership if it’s not my due,” said His Imperial Majesty Shawnsa. “If there are people, I will ask that we are welcomed, else we will find another place.”

And we sailed using magic, and therefore getting there much faster than any fleet despite our size. But I had all the boats to stop.

“What’s wrong?” asked His Supreme Holiness.
“Don’t you feel it?” I asked. “The magic has risen… we have entered the Island’s perimeter. From here on, we must proceed carefully, and advance only as the people’s body gets used to the ambient magic.”
“I see… Commander Cerberus, make sure every boat has the word!”
“Yes.”
“The ideal would be to find part of lands which are already here, and then spread as we get accustomed to the ambient magic,” said His Supreme Holiness.

And that’s how a few days later, we set foot on some ground, after a trip that went smoothly. Everyone was now filled with energy, and the scouts we went to the mainland began to come back saying there was no sign of civilization. They were all capable to summon beasts who could fly, so they covered the whole island in so little time that I could only look at them amazed.

“I wish I could use such magic…”
“What are you saying?! We made it this far despite the sicknesses and all because you have incredible healing magic!” said one of the scouts.

A month later, we ended up in the mainland with almost everyone, spare a few people whose body couldn’t handle the magic, and which decided to establish a small fishing village on the bit of land they were on. There was women and men, all celesta, we left a few soldiers with them… but if they were attacked, we knew they would stand no chance.

“Is that alright… after we came so far…” I asked myself.
“Even today boats still arrive that follows the trail of wind magic we have left. There are enemies amongst them, but we are capable to filter them… and there’s boat at large with humans whose body cannot bear the Holy Land’s magic. This natural barrier will protect us, but only until they too, get accustomed to it, but by then these fishers will already be on the mainland,” said His Imperial Majesty.
“I see…”

Blayze and his household had already begun to construct what would be our house until we reached a place we’d construct the capital in, and I began to research the place’s fauna and flora… we’d have to use the local plants for medication, and that wasn’t going to be easy. The other medics all put their efforts into that too, and I created a register where we’d write all that we’d do together.

“Blayze… how about we have a child?” I asked him as we reunited in the tent on the court of our future mansion.
“What?!” he asked totally baffled.
“Let’s make a child,” I repeated. “Be that a girl, be that a boy, let’s entrust your household an heir which will inherit both our experience and knowledge, and give this child the undying strength to survive and go ahead no matter what happens. An ally for His Imperial Majesty that he can count on no matter what.”
“Where does that come from?!” he asked.
“Haze already has Siederiel, and Commander Cerberus has Ensiel. And they’re born a celesta too… I want my own child, I want someone I can teach all that I’ve learned too!” I said annoyed.
“Eh well… Fine. Let’s have a child. But I don’t know if that will be easy. Ensiel was born on the boat before we arrived in this land. But we’ve got to try harder from right now.”
“Everything is an excuse to you!” I sighed.
“Having a child is the best one I’ve had so far, don’t you think?”

He laughed as he embraced me, and we joined once again. I felt like it had given some life into Blaze who was nothing but worried recently.

Two months later, I used a spell to verify what I suspected… I was pregnant. Blayze pressed me to go to the pregnancy bubble that I had created for the women who were so, but I refused. I ate more celesta animals, and I changed slowly my regime, who soon contained much more magic.

“Are you sure it’s alright?” asked Blayze.
“Yes, because we both are extremely powerful celesta, then my body protects the baby. Look at this magical circle around my navel. I check with it that the baby is doing fine.”
“Is it very reliable?”
“I’ve been using it since our arrival on the women of our settlement, and there is no doubt, it’s reliable. Neiji will be a healthy baby who will be adapted to this island. We’re the guarantee that he will be!”

Even Blayze’s father usually on my side, was worried, but he did not voice against me. The clan had accepted me even more as the Master’s wife, and even as the secondary master, so they respected my decision. Neiji was born much sooner than a baby should, but there was nothing wrong with his health. I checked and the Supreme Priest did divination… but nothing was wrong.

“It’s because we are celesta,” I suddenly realized. “His body is already that of a celesta, he has developed faster than normal… We must review what we know. On this island; babies of celesta are born faster!”

All the other doctors then decided to check on that within the population. Beside this, we had also noted that most humans had become celesta. This land was just that charged into magic. Not all, but most of them. The fisher village soon came back to the coast its inhabitants having evolved.

And just like that, our life went on. We were almost finished constructing Espya, when the first report of boats bearing Isiria’s flag, and heavily armed with numerous soldiers were in approach. Priests were chanting protections over them so that they would not be affected. Hearing the news, I turned around and saw Neiji and my step-father. I dashed to them.

“Father, as the strongest fighter in this household, I entrust you Neiji. Blayze and I will be fighting with all our might. Given the large fleet, there will be casualties. Take all the women of the household, and that of the village, along with the other households’ women and a few warriors, as well as the non-battle priests. Carry the bubble away in the forest. Find a glade where you will be easily able to hide.”
“I understand,” he answered.

Blayze made a head sign to signify the same as me, and soon the other Captains of the Crimson divisions ordered their eldest soldiers to follow my step-father, who was the most in age of fighting and thinking quickly of our elders.

If we had been the number who left Hadjata, this battle would have been lost in advance. But boats of celesta, of celestials, and of exalons continuously arrived, and we had not only a fleet of boats, but also numerous warriors of all shape and form… all able to use magic.

“They have battle priests…” I sighed.
“So do we,” said His Supreme Holiness. “I am glad I formed them… and they’re all powerful magical beings too.”
“Oh, is that so? You managed to consecrate them even in this island and so soon after evolving?”
“I think that I had the will too, and your words stayed in my heart. That we were offered this land by the gods, protected from the jealousy of humans… and led by the Chosen of the Gods… so I held, I refused to part with this world before I had seen the kingdom to be born out of this, and granting it unbiased divine scriptures.”
“That’s so like you…” I smiled. “But I’m afraid our men will be reluctant to kill priests… even battle one.”
“A priest who support such an invasion is not walking the path of the gods. We who solely protect ourselves and the land given to us, have the divine favor. And I’m a supreme priest, the best they have is a single High Priest leading them. I won’t lose.”

His determination spread to all the other priests, who said they would defend the lands of the gods, and then His Majesty, who was proclaimed King of the Sacred Land of Fujiwe, made a speech that riled us to our highest.
All of the soldiers on our side were veterans of the continent, who had seen the wars there in their best and worse side. Even I, for as young as I was, had seen them. Their army, to be that massive obviously had some newcomers, they would be overwhelmed by the battle.

“Everyone! Show off as much as you can right from the start. For an army of this size, it’s made of newcomers with veterans… if we stifle the newcomers by making them think we are too overwhelming, then their veteran will have to canalize them, and we’ll gain an advantage!” said Commander Cerberus.
“Ah, ah… I almost pity them,” said Commander Silice. “These guys sure were thrown against wolves and sharks. Even our sea fighters are riled up…”
“Sure, brings back memories,” I said. “But this time. We’re in every right to teach them not to mess with us!”
“Definitely. This time, it’s not about greed, it’s about survival, and that’s a terrain everyone in this army has excelled at since they managed to make it to this land.”

Priests embarked in our ships too, that sung to lower the enemy’s resistance spells. And except a few of our boats, which were cloaked in spells and protections, the others were further away. What they aimed at was the illusion of our boats. We knew full well this would happen someday, and we had spread our boats away while making illusions for each of them.

As the boats disappeared, theirs advanced… and suddenly from behind them… appeared our fleet. Too far to be reached by their canons, but close enough for the spells we had at our disposal. This was not a war of regular firearms, even their guns were pointless. We all had spells on this side, there wasn’t anyone to mow down with guns, firearms and cannons.

“Blayze, Fay, you take on the two units who have landed!” ordered Commander Cerberus.
“Yes, Sir!” we answered as one.

Facing us was about twenty people, and a single priest. Against the ten celestials we took with us, that wasn’t even a fight.

“What’s this?!” asked a soldier. “Aren’t they just criminals who have gathered?! They’re fighting like soldiers.”
“We were imperial soldiers of Isiria. Before Isiria betrayed us, that is,” said Blayze.
“Mons… monsters…” said a soldier as I passed him by the sword.
“Yeah, we are, and you have stepped on our lands, awakening the worst side of us.”
“You infidels to the gods, be burned!”
“Or not!” said Blayze manipulating the flames to go back against the priest.
“The gods gave us this country, they will not help you take it away!” I yelled.
“This is Fujiwe, the Sacred Land, and we will make no concession in its defense! Everyone, make no prisoners! We will not tolerate a single intruder in the lands of gods!” announced Blayze.

How this word passed on to His Majesty, I would not know, but that soon became the orders of the whole army, and I even saw priest recommend their enemy’s soul to the gods while killing the enemy. The enemy was on boats, and they would have died famished anyways, so their morale seeing us so determined was low; When our marine sank the last of the boats, they weren’t even trying to resist. The victory was ours.

Neiji was past his forty when his grand-father was old enough to be bedded for his last sleep. He had accompanied us on countless defensive battles, and he was even granted his own charge, and then evolved like Ensiel and Siederiel. He would be the Masamune Household’s master one day.

“Fay… as a step-daughter, there is nothing you have lacked. Your knowledge has made our household even stronger, and Blayze has survived countless battles already. I am glad I lived old enough to see your son become such an accomplished battle medic. You were the blessing that the gods granted this household.”
“You saved my life by taking me in. Far from this vendetta, I only had to focus on being a wife. Back then your decision to accept me was what gave me faith we could survive.”
“I can leave this world with no regret. Neiji, approach my dearest grandson.”
“Yes, grand-father?”
“The gods have freed us from so many burdens by giving us this land… I’m glad you haven’t known what the continent was like. But never forget that their greed and beliefs goes beyond reasons. You must not indulge into kindness toward them… Fujiwe will grow, become prosperous… but they will never cease to want it.”
“Mother and Father gave me their memories of the continent a while ago. I swear you grand-father, I will protect this land, never will I allow that they do to Fujiwe what they do in their country. Those savages will never get my sympathy.”
“Then it’s good,” smiled his Grand-father… “Fay, can you give him my memories too? I want my experience to be passed on him too, so that it’s that much more on him for his survival.”
“It will… make you pass away. In your state, it’s going to be the last deed.”
“I am fine. That will be my gift as his grand-father.”

I did what I was asked, and Lindi passed away. But we did not cry. In fact, we were happy that he could die here, of old age, and relieved that he could see the birth of Fujiwe as a Kingdom. Neiji did cry, but we didn’t blame him, it was good to know that he wasn’t damaged to the point he couldn’t cry anymore.

Our turn came, about a hundred years later… and as my departing gift, I gave Neiji the secret of the spell that held us, his father and I the ability to survive all the battles that regularly set ablaze our coasts. And while celesta, exalons, and celestials still came flowing into Fujiwe, making it grow at an incredible rate, we felt like we had done a great accomplishment, and beside a few researches… I did not felt regrets as I felt my life leave me slowly. I had grown old in a country that cared about each of its citizens, women and men alike.

End