The Tengu were gathering lumber from the forests on the northern slopes of the mountain, piling them into firepits dug into the stohere was no she of fallen trees wrecked itles the Tengu had trying to hunt boars, but the forest was already regrowing slowly but visibly. The Boundary sure is a strange pce, especially in areas of higher ether density like Kyoto… my Eye could pick up some of the ether being absorbed into the nd, helping the trees regrow and the scars on the mountain gradually heal.

  “I’m afraid I ’t take part in this oher.” Natsumi said. “We learned wind, didn’t we Motoko?”

  Motoko nodded. As the girls talked, Bell ruled herself out as well. Daiyu was also g in fire element. Soon it was just Haru-san remaining, and she looked at the piles of lumber, pensive. After a while she turo me. “Akio-san… do you wao win one of these challenges? Will it help you?”

  “Win?” I raised an eyebrow. “You think you beat me?” I joked.

  Haru-san pouted, brown eyes wry. “I’d say you won’t be popur if you tease women like that, Akio-san, but I’d be a liar, it seems. You know what I mean, just as you and Haanōbō both won the first challenge, I believe that I reach whatever level Tarōbō decres as a pass. Likely him too…” she Summer, whose body nguage was eager, wings fpping, we didn’t eveo see his face to know.

  “Really?” I asked, running through my head the ways that Haru-san might be able to summon fire. Is that it? She’s a smart woman, she’s probably figured it out… “If you make a good showing, I think it would be quite the helpful move. Besides…” I frowned. “…it seems that you o impress Tarōbō enough to be eligible to take part in sing the corrupted fme, and I want you for that more than anyone.”

  “That’s rather bold of you.” Kana smirked. “You have firlfriends here, a you’re clearly flirting with Haru-!”

  “No I’m not.” I protested. “I’m just… oh, you’re teasing me, right?”

  “I suppose a man with so many girlfriends had to get it eventually.” Kana smiled triumphantly. “So, why Haru-? Not that I mind, but…”

  I briefly expined about the ability of the fme in more detail, and Haru-san frowned. “But the corruption worries yht? That’s why you wanted Na-san ao leave. But…”

  “Yeah.” I picked up on her point. “Just leaving it so near Kyoto isn’t an option. It’s about more than just seg fme element now. Though I really want it, it would increase our options. So… you’re fident?”

  “Quietly so. I do practise now and again. It’s not like I o sleep. Which is strange, as they say death is the lo sleep, don’t they?” her lips quirked into a smile. “Besides, there seemed to be no criticism of the losers of the boar hunt. It’s a no-lose situation, and you like those, right Akio-san?”

  “I do. Oh well… guess it’s up to us two this time.”

  As we were debating, so too were the Four Dires. Arangbō shrugged his massive shoulders, wings fpping, as he bowed out. “I use the Southern Formation as well as any, but I’ll not show myself up against you, Shungbō.” He addressed the red-robed Tengu, who nodded, long-nosed mask bobbing.

  “This is why I am the favoured of the Four Dires.” Shungbō, which must have been Summer’s actual name, said softly. That ent made Haanōbō look away, and Fungbō snorted loudly.

  “Keep telling yourself that, brother. We may worship the fmes, but no dire is more sacred than any reat Tarōbō is the tre, above all. You almost make me want to test your mettle, but…” he too paused. “… this is your ce to shine as brightly as our sacred fme. However…” the red-masked Tengu turowards us, and I could feel their eyes on me. “… don’t uimate him like North did.”

  I see. I’m getting regarded as a rival, am I? sidering how they insulted Haanōbō for its defeat, it would look bad if they lost to me as well. Stepping forwards, Haru-san following, roached the small group taking part in this trial, a few Tengu profit with fme element waiting, and Shungbō of the South joined us.

  “You as well?” he said, looking at Haru-san. “I sense no fme from you. Perhaps you enjoy humiliation, or are simply bored?”

  “She’ll make you eat those words.” I promised, as the words of support from our panions echoed in our ears. “But we are all w towards the same goals, right? sing the fme?”

  Shungbō snorted. “We need no help from outsiders. If I had been the oo e upon you intruding on the shores of our mountain, by the Vermillion Bird, Suzaku, naught would be left of you but ashes. I shall aste the dirt, I shall soar on high forever more.” With that he turned away.

  “Oh really…” I muttered. “Is that so?” These Tengu certainly are belligerent, but… I looked over to Tarōbō, who was holding his staff, the jewel withiing an intensifying glow. He seems a little more reasonable…

  “Those who kindle fme, I pray you rekihe purity of our sacred charge.” Tarōbō decred, now that the firepits were done. “Step forward, the first of those who cims to know the secrets of the fmes.”

  Oengu swaggered over proudly, and raising a hand a surge of yellow elemental energies scattered. Fme kindled, and with a roar it hurled the fmes into one of the pits, wood catg, and soon a great bonfire was burning.

  “Not bad.” aengu muttered, and the sario was repeated a half-dozen times by other Tengu, with one being clearly superior, his fmes hotter and brighter, the wood being ed in moments, the fmes dimming and then fading away. Then it was the turn of Shungbō, arode forwards to cheers and even a few stray fireworks exploded overhead, as though he was a wrestler entering the ring. There was none of that for Haanōbō. I feel guilty again, though I really shouldn’t…

  “Shungbō, of the Summer South…” Tarōbō looked down, his ornate mask hiding his expression, but his words were approving. “I have no doubts you are worthy to uake the trial, but prove it here and now, show our superiority, those of us who have boured at our task for millennia. Show these outsiders the might of the Tengu of mount Atago!”

  The Teed in further cheers and frenzied celebrating around us, and more energy was drawn into the staff Tarōbō held. Shungbō merely bowed low, before taking to the air on his dark wings, h above the arena.

  “I need no others to build my formation…” he muttered, and flickering lights of fme scattered from him, burning with citrine brilliance. I could see Daiyu watg ily, the fme reflected in her onyx eyes, as she studied the position of every fme. “Watch well, interlopers, and know you are well-beaten!” he cried, before beginning a familiar t.

  “Suzaku, Lord Of Summer…”

  “Hey haven’t we seen this one before?” Kana said cheekily, and Natsumi was giggling, nodding. Seems like it’s not just me who thought so… I noticed his gaze hardening, eyes looking at me glimmering balefully. His t tinued uninterrupted though, the fmes around him bzing like a steltion of stars. Holy, he’s skilled. His fire element is certainly strong, but…

  “… Master of Fme, He Whs Forth Summer… I call on the bright fme of the summer sun, ie the humble wood below, bring forth light a, show these impious outsiders…”

  “Hey, now it’s different…” Kana said, and I suppressed my own smile, watg until the end.

  “… that the sacred mountain will never fall, that the fme will be renewed, and tio burernally. Bze forth, Endless Fire Festival, Hi-matsuri!”

  At his words the fmes around him burst into a brilliant light, ed by the torrent of fmes that poured down from him. Multiple pits full of logs burst into fmes and the ground was scorched, the air around us unbearably hot for a moment. As the tide slowly dimihe cascade taking half a mio subside, around us the Tengu were cheering, even as they bliheir eyes, near blinded by the brilliant glow.

  “Great Tarōbō, these fmes burn in your honour…” Shungbō bowed, still in the air, his red robes flickering with little tongues of yellow fme, his wings and mask likewise. Below him a dozen of the pits were lit, though the closer fires had already died out, their fuel spent, but the outer ones were burning cheerily. “… I will lead the vanguard, the damned of the fmes will be purified by my own!” he then looked down at me, and I could hear the smirk in his words. “…if you wish to withdraw, now is the time. You already defeated all ers in the first challenge. But if you let pride blind you, the shame will be your only reward. For fire is in our blood…”

  “I thank you for your kind advice.” I said. “But there’s no shame i if ories their best, is there? There’s not only one winner each time.” I Tarōbō, who actually ined his head in aowledgement. “Besides, you don’t have a monopoly on fme.”

  “So be it.” The Tengu sniffed, nding, stepping aside, the fmes around him dying down. “Struggle futilely thehe gulf between us…”

  “The thing is…” I said, looking down at the empty pits, only ashes remaining. “Fme needs fuel, I agree. But what fuel a fire is more than merely wood…” If Shiro was here, she or Tan could show them a thing or two. But holy, Haanōbō was hardly weak, aher is Shungbō. But they have the usual problem… they have been isoted a long time, missing out on the way the world has ged, frogs in a well. “…and there is more than one way to use fme…” I gestured dramatically, and hungry yellow and red fmes formed above my hand, moving and quivering like liquid or some sort of living slime. “…this is Foehn, and it is more than ready to free your fme, ing any impurity as it es all! Burn, my Foehn!” I sshed down my arm, and Foehn bsted out like a beam, pierg the ground, stone ah vitrifying to shimmering volic gss, even that starting to heat up a, flowing like cy. Wood ignited, sooty e fmes scattering sparks, before they were swallowed up by the liquid, creeping fmes of Foehn, now bzing white as well. The nearby pits caught fme from the heat, but the pit that taihe Foehn was still burning, and as everyoched in silehe fmes tio grow, eating into the stone around it.

  “It’s Akio’s on of mass destru.” Kana giggled happily. “I’d like to see them top that.”

  “My barrier… I’m not vi could hold it off, even now.” Na muttered, and Daiyu was watg me now, a tented smile on her face.

  “But is it enough?” Motoko asked. “If not… I believe Akio do more?”

  As the only sounds to break the silence were the chattering of roup, every eye was on the Foehn as it tio burn. The other fire pits had died down, their fuel ed, but to Foehn, it could find fuel almost anywhere. It was weakening, the volic gss it had fused the rock around itself into little in the way of nourishment, but even so it tio shed light and fierce heat, mier minute, until Tarōbō banged his staff down.

  “We have seen enough. Your fme is indeed powerful. And not of this pce.”

  “Yes, it is from a far-off desert nd. But I have more fmes, should you o see them.”

  “That halo…” Haanōbō muttered, remembering.

  “No, I have seen enough. The two of you are more than…” Tarōbō began, but I interrupted him.

  “My apologies, but Haru-san is yet to go. She wishes to dispy her fmes.”

  Tarōbō paused. Arangbō and Fungbō snarled, livid I interrupted Tarōbō, while Shungbō was merely watg me icily. “My apologies. You are quite correct. I was merely… distracted… by the dispy.” He gestured at the still-burning Foehn. “By all means.” He addressed Haru-san. “Let your fmes sing as a prayer to the sacred fme, may it be rekindled pure as ever.”

  Haru-san shrank in on herself a little as all eyes turo her, yellow light from the Foehn refleg off her body, before she closed her eyes for a moment, calming herself. On opening them she shrugged. “Fire is a strahing. I always thought it was merely aic oxidisatioion. It isn’t a thing in itself, though the effects are real. But I’ve learhat just because I know something, doesn’t mean it holds true everywhere. But what is true is… I don’t have any talents with fire…”

  At that, several Tengu looked ed, and Shungbō shen why do you profahis sacred challenge?”

  “Because I ant to show you something. I think most children have do at oime or aake a magnifying gss out in summer and focus the beam…” she looked at me, her smile gently mog. “I hope you weren’t the sort to burn bugs with one, Akio-san.”

  “No way.” I said, realising my guess from before was right. “I don’t like is all that much, but I’m not the sort to indulge in such things. Besides, it would have upset Eri and my sis.”

  “An expected answer.” She ughed a little. “So…” she addressed Tarōbō. “… let me show you a little human wisdom. I’m sure a human ghost still ts as human.” With that she raised her hand, and a brilliant aura of indigo streaked with gold radiated around it. Looking at the most distant pits at the edge of the arena that had escaped the destru of Foehn and Hi-matsuri, she pointed, and fine, focused beams of light sprang out, striking the pits one by ohe intense heat of the narrow rays of light ignited wood, and soon the remaining pits were bzing away, sparks and smoke filling the air, drifting on the unusual breeze. The wood was ed slowly as the fire spread, but Haru-san nodded, well-satisfied. “I thank you for your patience.” She said, like the professional bureaucrat she was.

  As the surrounding Tengu burst into a buzz of versation over her feats, Shungbō snorted. “Weak. My fmes would devour that feeble light in an instant.”

  “I see. In that case, how would yours fare against that?” Haru-san smiled as she poio the Foehn, which was still burning away nearly unged. “If it’s all about might, Akio-san has you beat, I’d say.”

  Shungbō paused, uo e up with a ter, before Tarōbō’s staff once more smmed the ground. “An impressive feat, your name was Haru, no?”

  “Yes, I’m Suzuki Haru. I’m afraid I don’t have any business cards to hand out.” she said. “I’m a Vassal of Akio-san here.”

  “I see. Your demonstration was iing.” He looked at his Tengu, especially Shungbō. “Her fme was weak, ent eve kindled a number of bzes. Yes, I ot decre it the winner, I fear that honour…” Shungbō tensed, as Tarōbō swung to me. “… goes to these great destructive fmes which burn unquenched even now.”

  Shungbō seemed to colpse in on himself, wings and posture drooping, head bowed, but his eyes were still hot and angry. Arangbō and Fungbō were torween e at his defeat and amusement that he too had lost to me, while our party rushed up to gratute us.

  “I knew you could do it.” Motoko decred proudly, before turning to Haru-san. “You were most admirable as well. Our trol of wind is nowhere near as precise as yht.”

  “It’ll e in time.” she promised, before Tarōbō’s staff thumped down again.

  “Akio, you have already earned your pce against the threat to the fme. Now none gainsay you. Shungbō of the Summer South, Haru. You shall join him and Haanōbō of the Winter North.”

  He’s giving Haanōbō a title again. I suppose this proves I’m no pushover, so its defeat isirely on it. The watg Tengu, face still hidden by hands and hair did seem to be standing up straighter. As the Tengu around us celebrated, I noticed that the boar I had killed, as well as a number of others, had been cooked and were now being brought back, carried by many Tengu, some pierced by spits, but the rgest, those killed by me and Haanōbō, were butchered expertly and the meat id on ptters, the great heads trepieces to the dispy.

  “Yet do not fret, those who have not yet offered their prayers of challearōbō boomed. “Food is the fuel of the body. Eat a until your fmes burn no more. Those whose prayers are the greatest will have the right to join the victors!”

  Haru-san and I exged puzzled gnces. Aing test? Really?

  *********

  “It is hardly the press of battle, or a challenge of skill, but I shall take part.” Motoko said. “I have always had a healthy appetite pared to other daughters of nobility who seldom move their bodies. You are the same, are you not, Natsumi?”

  “I certainly do enjoy food. But I’m careful not to put o that might hamper my training.”

  “That’s right.” Kana said mournfully. “I don’t want to get fat. Besides, we’ve already eaten a ton at the festival. It’s not stopping the Tengu though…” Nearly every Tengu present artaking in this challenge, an atmosphere of festivity and joy spreading. As it did so the jewel on Tarōbō’s staff was growing ever more brilliant, and I was beginning to have my suspis that was the point.

  “ you eve fat, eating food when you are in a spiritual body? Besides, men like women with a bit of meat on their bones.” Yasaka-san said, sighing.

  “Oh really.” Kana said dangerously. “Maybe you ought to sult that book of yours about how to talk to girls. Nobody likes to take ces with their weight. Especially sidering…” she shot me a sideways gnce.

  “You know you’re perfect just the way you are.” I grinned. “But… he has a point. It seems a shame not to give it a try. Worst case is we do some exercise ba the Material. W up a sweat together sounds nio?”

  “Not until we’ve had a few more dates!” Kana insisted, but her temper improved. “I know what kind of sweating you mean, you ’t trick me!” We all took pces around the colossal boar I had hunted. All around us the atmosphere was festive once more, and several Tengu were talking to Prince Shōtoku, more friendly than previously. At that moment, Tarōbō gave another speech.

  “These boars were hunted by those brave enough to step forward and try to defend our fme, our way of life!” he shouted. “Would that I could send you all into the deepening rifts, for you are warriors all! But battle there is not like battle in the skies and on the mountaintop. We Tengu are not creatures of earth and stone…” Haanōbō fli those words, and it was seated not too far from us, at its own butchered boar, pte loaded with meat. I was handed a heaped pte by Motoko, who was humming to herself, happy to be serving me in the way a wife of nobility would, and the fragrance was intoxig. I looked around for a drink, and pitchers were set up. I poured myself a wooden mug, only to find the tents were water. Iing. Is it because alcohol would interfere with the eating, or… no, I know how this goes. So that’s , huh? I’ve a good feeling about that ohen, this… not so much.

  “No, down there in the darkness, where only fme light the way, only the bravest, the greatest of us, those with their prayers heard by the sacred fme…” he gestured to it, and my Eye shone once more, pig out the dark flickers of the fme that was said to be from Naraka w their way within. “… will be able to exert their will. No, I ot send you all to your deaths, lest you return as the damned and cursed, to take lives you once protected. But I hear your wills, and am proud!” he shouted, his staff shining, and as the crowd cheered anew he absorbed more power. “So, eat a, take into yourself the life taken so that champions may be chosehat life fuel your owhose who burn brightest will have the ce to set foot in the abyss beh us, along with the champions whose prayers our fme has already heard!” Eyes were on us, and I smiled regally.

  “This is not my challenge.” Arangbō boomed, ughing. “But none shall defeat me.” He gred at me then. “Least of all you. You are small and look as if you could barely eat a mouthful.”

  Really? This is what he wants to beat me on? I doubted it had much ce, but since I had won two challenges, I could afford to be magnanimous, yet the big Tengu aggravated me. “Fine. You’re right, I’ve never been a big eater, but I’ve found my appetite is nowadays. So…” as Tarōbō decred the battle of eating open, I reached for my pte, but was surprised to see that Motoko was already ferrying food to her mouth with both dainty grad speed, chewing steadily. Well there’s something you don’t see every day…

  ShipTeaser