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  Daiyu watched ily as the straengu, Shungbō, the one in red representing Summer and the South, gestured to his fellow Tengu, the ohat were still sober at least. Perhaps I am too young or sheltered to uand the appeal of drunkenness. No, more likely it is my training regimen and sense of asceticism. Cultivation requires a clear mind and a strong, healthy body. Drinking toxins for pleasure seems a little odd to me, unless it has some medial be, such as certain rare herbs. Though the honoured Patriarch, my father, he did indulge in moderation… perhaps a little is not so bad. Akio looked as if he was having fun, and Daiyu wao be a part of that. She had drunk a little, and had to admit it tasted pleasant, though she did not feel particurly strange. Perhaps it is my newfound stronger stitution, or the blessing of g’e.

  The Tengu gathered around Shungbō were in very specific positions, holding clearly selected objects, and Daiyu’s onyx eyes narrowed as she observed them. As the Tengu began his t again, fire element surging around him in shimmering waves of yellow, Daiyu’s mind was w. Yes, I thought so. This is very remi of Cultivation Formations. Though they use no jade ptes or talismans, the positioning follows very simir principles, and if a pte was inscribed…

  “Nervous?” Kana said beside her, and Daiyu twitched, her tration broken. On seeing that, Kana misuood. “Me too. Everyone’s watg, and the fires…” Kana’s eyes reflected the brilliant bze that was filling the pit. It was inparable to before, the strength of the Tengu around added to Shungbō’s own. Just like Formations. Yes, it is indeed remarkable, how the strengths of others, properly pced, make a greater whole. Just like us…

  “…I’m scared of getting burned, but worse…” Ka out a nervous giggle. “…what if my clothes burn off? I’d be exposed in front of everyone, I don’t want that.”

  Such a strange worry. Although… Daiyu took pride in her appearance, even if she found the praise exasperating in the past, almost a subtle form of mockery, as for a Cultivator, power was above all. Now though, she found herself wanting to be beautiful for her Dao panion, and to not lose to the others. How we all ge. Before, I would have paraded hrough the halls of my Sect were it a guarantee of more strength, womanly pride and shame be damned. Now though… the thought of such upset her, so she did uand Kana more than she expected. With a faint smile, she tapped the armour under her dress.

  “You have this Brigaoo, no?” The bcksmith Bjarki had stantly beeing more with Hyath’s aid, and was increasing in proficy, able to create a set swiftly with the proper materials. “I doubt this will be destroyed by the fires of this Tengu, although…” Now Akio had stepped up, and the hungry bze of Foehn from his hands, joining the fmes. “…Akio’s fire burns hungrier. But should the worst happen… he is a jealous man. I suspey who behold your naked body would find his wrath falling upon them like the breath of a dragon.”

  “That’s right.” Kana said after a moment. “He really didn’t seem the sort when I first met him, but… yes, I think it’s cute. He’s very possessive. All right then…” Kana spped her cheeks, grinning. “I’d best not get burhen, else I’ll be responsible for the great massaount Atago, when Akio kills or blinds everyone who saw me naked. So… you have a pn?”

  Daiyu looked around at their fellow petitors. Na was waiting silently, unfortable, but Daiyu knew how she would act. The others…

  “You have o pete, Haanōbō of the Winter North.” Tarōbō was saying to the violet-haired Tengu, her white wings fpping. I am not sure how Akio has not noticed yet. From the body structure, the posture of movement, the gestures… that Tengu is clearly female. Or perhaps he has noticed and it does not matter to him. If so, that is good. An enemy is an enemy, whether a man or a woman, and an ally likewise an ally regardless. What matters is, if she is fag this challehen my idea should be pusible…

  “No, I shall redeem myself. I wish to challenge his fires again.” She was looking directly at Akio, despite her face being hidden. “This time I will win.”

  “You think so?” Fungbō said, his white robes dyed yellow and red by the fmes. “No, I shall be the oo triumph. The Autum shall not falter, unlike you.”

  As the two squabbled, Daiyu observed the couple of other nervous-looking Tengu who stepped up. It seems this challenge is not popur, no wonder. pared to the others, it was extremely dangerous. As Tarōbō asked who would go first, Daiyu stepped forwards. There is advao going ter, seeing how the other petitors fare. But there is honour and glory in succeeding before any others, and as a Cultivator, while I am following in the footsteps of my aors, I always strive to break new ground, besides… seeing her Dao panion smiling at her, a mixture of pride and worry on his easy-to-read features, she felt warm inside. I was lost, abandoned and broken, but now I am whole again. No, more than whole. Power surges through me, my Foundation solid as the roots of Mount Tai.

  “A word of advice.” Akio said warmly as she stepped forwards, the heat of the massive firepit hot on her skin. “You’ve seen my Foehn. If you treat it like ordinary fire, you’ll get buro the bone and worse. I’d rather not have your beautiful face or body wounded.”

  Daiyu felt her face heat, and not from the fmes. With a nod, she decred that she uood, and of course had a pn. “Leave it to me. I shall not let you face this rift without me.”

  “The our first challenger of the fme face the wrath of the furious side of fire. For fire gives warmth, offers sustenance, but it alses, es.” Tarōbō banged down his staff once more. “Have you the strength, young one?”

  “First small, now young. Both may be true, but I am no weak child. I am Zhao Daiyu, Matriarch of the renewed Incorruptible Jade Sect, and Dao panion to Oshiro Moonstone Akio! I shall not falter, this fme is but one more foe I shall trample on my way to the pinnacle!” she decred proudly. Remembering the talk she had with Shaeu and Hinata retly, she smiled. Their idea, it is… ambitious. I do wonder what Akio will think of it. But… I believe I shall lend them my aid after all. The idea appeals, I fess…

  “Then show us your devotion to the fme!” Tarōbō decred.

  “Good luck.” Kana said to her. “I’ll be watg, so… I know what I’m going to do, but I’ll take any hints!”

  “Burn it into your eyes.” Daiyu smiled slightly, before drawing upon her Qi. The trick to this is simple in theory, but to do in practice requires incredible senses. Fortunately, my Qi Perception has strengthened massively, as has all of me… spreading Qi externally, she felt the heat of the fmes fre through her senses, unfortable. Blotting out the phantom pain, she narrowed her focus. There. Qi Perception was for deteg others, their Qi visible to other Qi, but was that all? Qi is aether, refined and made fitting for Cultivation. So Qi seher, and the fmes…

  As she stood motionless, the annoying Fungbō scoffed that she had lost her nerve, but Akio supported her, telling him that would never happen. The warmth now moving from her face to her heart, Daiyu strengthened her tration, scattering more Qi, until… There. I have it. Akio, I uand. You have done your best to aid us. There were three peting fires. Natural, ordinary fire, from the fuel i, which was fading and tained no Qi, so was rgely invisible to her senses. Perhaps if I was using fme Qi to sehe other two were the fires of Shungbō, and Foehn. Able to tell them apart, she saw that Akio had carefully poured the Foehn into the pit, f a corridor where the Foehn was lightly trated. Perhaps he meant to leave a clear pathway, but like all fmes, Foehn does as it wills. Even so…

  Stepping forwards, her senses now perceiving the position and type of fmes, Daiyu performed her feat. This is not true Cultivation, but… power is power. I disdaihe Divine Favour of g’e until it saved my life when I drifted in the o close to death. I seldom make the same foolish error twice. And I have been … while her Dantian naturally helped process aether and elemental energies into Qi, she had been studying, listening and learning. If I pull water element from my … sacral chakra, he called it. We Cultivators uand the Chakra work, meridians and acupoints, but we focus more on the Dantian… an e glow formed, brilliant and deep, and her body was suddenly soaked, her dark hair ging to her fad back. The heat from the fires diminished, insuted, and she focused her strength in her legs, marvelling at how much stronger she was now.

  If I was like this before, that bitch Sun Lisha and her Party dogs could never have defeated me, not even with their guns. Qi stop steel once more. Akio has proved it. I prove it. Simply leaping the fifty-metre pit would be possible, but ighe trial, which was to brave the fmes. “Sear this into your eyes. I am Incorruptible!” Daiyu shouted, before plunging into Shungbō’s fmes. Immediately her water element surged, water boiling around her instantly. It wasn’t Spirit Water, she could create only a firickle of that, but her water element was still magnifit, taining the strength of the treasure she had taken from London, as well as all the Spirit Water Akio and Shaeu had bequeathed her.

  “Hot…” she said, befretting it as while her shroud of water element she rojeg prevehe fme from entering her, heat still seared her throat, though her blessing quickly regeed scorched tissue. It is hard to think… The bzing hell around her was boiling off her water element as fast as she could supply it, and her skin was starting to burn, though it was healing, leaving her hot and itchy.

  I have to go. It was impossible to move at her full speed, the path through the Foehn narrow and hard to notiless one expected it to be there, and the Foehn itself was writhing as if alive, stantly spreading. Each step took but a moment, pushing through the bze, her vision dyed red and yellow. Once she reached halfway, she realised why so few Tengu had stepped forwards. Iher challenges, defeat meant little more than s. Although the hunting trial perhaps could have led to injury or death… Her thoughts were distracted, and she realised the incredible heat was affeg her judgement. Intensifying her water element, she pressed onwards, following the narrow winding path, only to stop in panic as the Foehn shuddered, spraying a bze in front of her.

  That was close. Leaping over it, she pressed onwards, and soon there was but teres to go, a distance she could clear with one leap, except… There’s no clear way out. No, caution is better… her water element was running out, but she had enough. Twisting her body she crept forwards. Teres. Ni. Seven. Six… Suddenly the Foehn roared up, ing some of the other fmes around it, and a scattered explosion of droplets showered her. Immediately her water element started to fail, and with desperation she disregarded caution. There is no choice but to break through and risk the sequences!

  Her legs flexed, and she shot through the burning hell, striking the Foehn wall as she passed, one arm wreathed in fmes. She nded oher side in an undignified heap, her hair and back shimmering with Foehn, one arm ed in the hungry fmes. For a moment she rolled around, trying to quench the fme before she snapped back to her senses, realising such wouldn’t work. Seeing Akio wishing to e towards her, but being stopped by the raised staff of Tarōbō, she revelled at the panid care in his eyes. As it should be. But I am not weak. Not anymore. I have pnned for the worst…

  The water element she was ed in burst, casg the Foehn away, leaving it burning around her like a hundred small fires. Her hair was still smouldering, and she quickly cut her locks, bck strands falling to the ground like burning embers. There were traces still burning her arm, and she washed them away, heedless of the scorched flesh, cloth and armour both burned away, though the Brigandine was already starting to repair itself slowly, just as her hair was regrowing at a speed visible to the naked eye. Wing, as her damp burns closed up, she bowed to Tarōbō.

  “I believe I passed your challenge.”

  “You did.” There were cheers and appuse from the crowd. Some of the Tengu who had decided to brave the fme had backed off, and now it was only Kana, Na, and the two from the Four Dires that were left. “You have passed through the fmes and found yourself anew. Do you feel stronger for it? Fire renews…”

  Daiyu looked down at her healing arm. “No, I renew. But I shall not fet the touch of the fmes.” She looked at Akio, a teasing smile on her face, an expression she seldom showed ahe fire of Summer was weak. It was only your fmes that could burn me, Akio. Just as you burn my heart, my Dao panion!”

  “Sorry about that.” Akio grabbed her, aher Healing soothed her remaining injuries, and she found him stroking her regrowing hair. “You have such lovely hair. It seemed a shame to cut it…”

  “Since you like it, I shall keep it so. See, it regrows.” She tio smile before turning bad addressing Kana across the firepit. “I fear you will not have learned a great deal from my efforts. You will not be able to replicate what I did.”

  Kana shook her head. “Oh you’d be surprised. I could see you moving strangely.” She tapped at her eyes. “They have to be good for something. And at the end there… that water burst. You just watch me, I won’t lose!”

  Daiyu held out a hand. “I await your arrival.”

  “So, who shall pass through the fmes ?” Tarōbō asked. “Those that have withdrawn…” the pair of Tengu slumped guiltily. “…there is no shame. Nor is there now. The sacred trial has been passed, the omens are good.”

  “I shall go!” Haanōbō called, her voiehow both loud and soft. “Great Tarōbō… I do not fear the fme, only failing you and mount Atago. I will not fail again!”

  “Is it a failure?” Arangbō said, surprising everyone. “I have been watg, the same as ah eyes to see. The newers are hardly weak. I would still triumph, as you shall see…” he boasted. “…but perhaps having such strong allies to aid us was the fme itself calling to them. Take heart sister, when it es to the battle, we will stand side by side, the Four Dires, each proteg the others as always.”

  Akio nodded as the Tengu called her his sister, as if perhaps his suspis were firmed. The violet-haired Tengu flinched, before she nodded. “I tasted the earth, was trampled humiliatingly. It is a shame I only expunge by victory. So watch me, brothers, father! Watch me, you who put me under your feet…” Daiyu could tell she was gring, despite her hiddeures. “I am Haanōbō, of the Winter North, and by Genbu, I will brave the fmes!” She began her t, and a bubble of water surrounded her, mimig what Daiyu had doheer began to freeze, ice of pretty shades shimmering as it froze over her, f a gcial armour.

  “Into the fmes…” Haanōbō cried, leaping into the bze. With her Qi still extended, Daiyu observed her keenly, and as the fire melted the ice, it refroze, w in yers so that she was alrotected. Clever. But against Foehn…

  As soon as Haanōbō was caught by the hungry fme her icy armour started to crack, Foehn w its way down. With her Qi perception, Daiyu couldn’t see her clearly, just the Qi, but what she saw impressed her. Just as I did… the icy armour shattered, shedding the top yers, and most of the Foehn was expelled. Further water bubbled from her, and while the raging fmes made it impossible for her to freeze the water into more rapidly melting ice, it protected her somewhat.

  “Caution is wise, but the longer ories to avoid it…” Daiyu began, and Akio looked at her, uanding.

  “I knew you’d see it, Daiyu. You’re a smart girl.”

  Feeling a warmth at his praise quite uhe bzi of the fmes, she nodded. At Tarōbō’s quizzical expression, Daiyu closed her mouth, holding her silence, before deg to show Tarōbō a little face. “Haanōbō uands too. The thing about fire is, especially Akio’s, the longer you fight it the weaker you bee, and the stro bees. Act swiftly, but with measured calm.”

  An explosion of steam erupted as Haanōbō ropelled out of the fmes. She nded heavily at the feet of Shungbō, who looked down, the set of his shoulders and wings sful. Her icy armour was shattered, and tongues of Foehn were still trying to e it and her. Shungbō raised his hand, trying to dismiss the fmes, only to find that he could not.

  “Here.” Akio leapt to her, and Daiyu’s Qi detected a strange sight. Akio was withdrawing the fme element from the Foehn, though the effort seemed to be greatly fatiguing for him, and as the Foehn dimmed, flickering and winking out of existence, he was als Ether Healing, which made Daiyu groan softly to herself. Predictable. He is far kio women. I have no obje, I wish him to be kind to us, but… it makes me feel a little less special.

  As Haanōbō’s burns healed, she looked up at Akio, face still hidden, and thanked him in a tiny whisper. As Tarōbō decred that she had also triumphed, beginning another long speech about the merits of fme, Daiyu’s eyes met Kana’s, who was fidgeting nervously, her brow flecked with sweat…

  ********

  “… only by fighting a pure fme, one ever hope to defeat a cursed, corrupted ohe old windbag Tarōbō was saying. He does like to hear himself talk, but then… I guess we do too. Thinking back to their versation during the eating test, Kana shook her head. I guess it’s shaped all our lives, our meetings with Akio. For me, it was overturning my world, a plete oy. I went from hating my shrine and my gifts, to being proud, gd to have them. For Motoko, Natsumi and Daiyu, it shattered their stale, barren worlds even more. No wonder we love to talk about it fondly… but…

  Ka a tinge of annoyance as Akio was healing that Haanōbō girl. She is a girl then. I did wonder. It’s a good job Shaeu isn’t here, she’d be loving this. Oh well, I guess as a fellow girl I allow her to be healed. Nobody wants burn scars. Worst kind of scars…

  “…challehe fmes ?” Tarōbō boomed, his staff glowing, and Kana winced.

  “Damn, that staff is abnormal. To my sight, the gem bzes brighter than the sun.” she muttered.

  “You then? Step forward.” Tarōbō said, and for a moment, Kana panicked. Wait a minute, I’m not ready…

  “Kana, you do this.” Natsumi said, and beside her Motoko nodded, mopping her sweat after their exercise.

  “I have every faith in you. Akio has faith in you.” She told me, pointing, and I turo see Akio, worried but proud, and I suddenly felt strohat’s right. Whether I go now or ter, I’ve still got to do this. I took K?itigarbha’s Favour, which is something unique in the world. I have to prove I’m worthy of it, of his trust, and not just for him, but for myself too. Taking a deep breath, I nodded. “Yes, I’m ready to brave the fmes. After all, I’ve been taught earth beats fire, and I’m the shrine maiden of ah-aspected shrine, so…” I’m babbling, o calm down, deep breaths. It does feel good him w about me though… I just wish he’d have stopped teasing me and admitted his feelings for me earlier. Not that it was ever in doubt. I’m Izumi Kana. I may be shallow, selfish, a bit of a bitch at times, but I’m fident that he’ll nret choosing me, no man would…

  “Kana, you’re right. But… a stronger fire will still beat weaker stone.” Akio warned her. “And I don’t like to boast but…” That’s totally a lie. Yes, fuy Akio’s actually not too much of a braggart, but when it es to boasting about us, or his abilities he’s worked hard for, he loves to show off… it’s kind of cute. “… my Foehn is one of the most dangerous fires there is.”

  “I know. Shirohebi told me you nearly burned our shrine down with it once. And I’ve seen it in a. But…” she pumped her fist. “…it’s not just me and my dad, struggling aloh pathetic talents anymore. No, it’s everyoogether. And we make each other stronger. So I won’t be the oo lose, letting the side down. If you want to se the fme, to help Haru-, I’m going to be there!”

  At that Haru- smiled, and tears glimmered in her eyes. She’s really sweet. When I remember what nearly happeo me at the shrine, with those yakuza... to know what she’s suffered… I just hope she be happy. But she’s got Akio in her er, so I’m sure she’ll have a bright future ahead of her. So, for Akio, Haru- and my fellow idiots in love with Akio… “Let’s do this. This favour is perfee. Shirohebizumi is a fertility shrine, and the earth… the earth is a womb, just as K?itigarbha says.” The ground under her rippled, stone ah melting like wax. “It’d be easy if I just went uhe fmes, but I know that’s not the point. Otherwise, you could all fp your wings and go over the tht?” she said to Fungbō who was standing near her. He merely gred silently at her, eyes hard behind his long-nosed red mask.

  “All right, I get you don’t like us. But yreat Tarōbō lets us take part, and sihese rituals are sacred, you have to abide by them, right? I get it, I’m a shrine maiden to the kami you dislike so much.” Kana taunted. “Just watch me triumph too, so you ’t pin about me being here!” she turo Akio. “Ohing I’ve learned from you, from Shaeu, Hyath, Haru-, Shiro… from everyone… is that power is just that. Power.” I may not be the best at school, but I’m not stupid. I learn. “Retly I’ve been practising stantly. I had time while you were in Engnd.” She giggled. “I was lonely. Those of us left behind all were. So this trip, we have to make the most of it. If I ’t hide in the womb of earth, then… I bring the womb to me! It’s all just earth element, right?”

  The ground flowed like wax, and Kana was swallowed by it. The fierce heat was cut off, and she grinned, knowing no-one could see her. No, Akio , if he uses his Eye. So… “You just wait. Wheime is right, I’ll…” she touched her own belly, where her womb would be, face scarlet. So embarrassing!

  “All right then… here we go. It won’t be this simple, I know that.” The ball of mud, earth and stohat tained Kana moved forwards, and she felt her stomach lurch as it fell into the burning pit. Immediately she started to sweat, the inside heating up. “I just have to keep flowing more earth in. Foehn may be greedy, but I only o manage for a few moments…”

  The stone shell rolled forwards, and Kana struggled to judge the dista was getting hotter and hotter, and he eyes widened as the stoarted to crack, and she let out a bitter ugh. “Damn, Akio. Give a girl a break! I’m trying my best here.” As she could see bright fme starting to drip through, she trated, earth element flowing from her as she poio the crag dome and walls of her protective bubble. “The Gods are just like the kami. Gods are kami, just not necessarily ours. They give power that they uand. But what we choose to do with it… depends on us!” Underh her feet, more mud and stones were p in, f long spikes which pierced the gaps, melting into a gloopy sealing substahe ordinary heat of Shungbō’s fmes were blocked out safely, but Foehn was not so easily halted.

  “Damn it, Akio! I know yreedy for me, but this goes a bit far!” Knowing he was likely watg her, she joked. “But I’m not beaten!” The earthen womb picked up speed, and she smmed into an obstacle, losing her bance. She squealed in panic as Foehn droplets narrowly missed her as she stumbled, but quickly regained her tration. Ever sihat time the yakuza attacked, I’ve been more clear-headed in times of trouble. Tarōbō is right. Sometimes you o get buro grow…

  The ground exploded, and she ropelled upwards, ing crashing down as her protective shell shattered. All arouhere was burning mud and rocks, and she hurriedly staggered to her feet, panicked, as a puddle of Foehn was burnio her. Seeing Akio, she leapt up and into his arms, finally feeling safe, relief c through her.

  “Good job. You were very brave.” Akio said, and she sagged against him, feeling it was all worth it. It was then Akio leaned in close, his breath tig her ears, and whispered “Don’t make me wait too long, all right?”

  Akio, you…! Flushing as red as a tomato, Ka out a relieved giggle. “Not as soon as you’d like, but soohan you think.” She promised, before looking at Daiyu, managing a victorious smile. “Looks like I was the oo get out unscathed after all.”

  “Yes, your clothes remain unburned.” Daiyu flourished her ragged sleeve. “That was quite clever, if somewhat simir to our attempts.”

  Kana stuck out her tongue pyfully as she gnced back, seeing the rest of her party g and cheering for her. “How else would you do it? I doubt extinguishing the fmes by colpsing the walls of the pit would be in the spirit of the challenge, and it might not stop Foehn anyway.”

  “True.” Tarōbō decred, waving his staff. “If it was merely a challeo douse the fmes, such measures would suffice. But no, we seek not to douse, but to purify. And all these challehey purify the spirit.”

  Akio and Daiyu looked shocked at that, gng at each other, before Daiyu gave him a sweet smile. Feeli out, Kana spoke up a bit huffily. “What is it? You look like you’ve uood something.”

  “I have.” Akio said, his expression wry. “It looks like we’ll be gaining something, Daiyu a the least, even if our alliance here doesn’t pan out. It’s a shame Shaeu isn’t here…”

  “I see. I don’t get it, but I’m pleased you’re happy.” Kana said. “Just Na then.” Kana was a bit wary of that woman, as she was an unknown, and was their enemy until Haru- had bound her, but since Akio wanted her on this mission to give ara yer of safety for them, Kana had some good feelings towards her, as her presence roof of Akio’s care.

  “It should be easier for her. Her power is specialised for this.” Akio pointed out, but before Na could go, Fungbō stepped up. Kana looked away as he gred at her, his eyes narrow behind his mask.

  “You may have succeeded in passing through the fmes, but you were i, unsightly.”

  “I thought you cut a beautiful sight, as always.” Akio said, and Kana held in a giggle. Look, he’s trying to be all serious. It’s mean not letting him…

  Fungbō was thrown off by that, before visibly gathering himself. “Laugh, outsiders, when you see the might of the Autum!” Kana noticed the aura around him brighten in her vision, as he began his t. “Byakko, Lord of Autumn, Master of Metal, He Who Oversees Autumn… I call upon the imperable sheen of iron. Render me impervious to the fmes, aid me in proving I am worthy to stand as your champion!”

  Kana looked impressed as a silver sheet of metal covered the Tengu, who sneered. “Metal does not fear the fmes, for it is both of fme, and of the earth that devours fmes!” With that he plunged into the pit, and mere seds ter he was out, the metal red-hot, Foehn ging to it, but as he discharged it, he was left standing proud and arrogant.

  “That is truly how one braves the fme.” He ughed loudly.

  “True. Your performance is most impressive. But we have o, Fungbō of the Autum.” Tarōbō said mildly, and as everyoched, Na swallowed, eyes darting around before she was covered in a shimmering bubble of force. She too leapt into the fmes, before emerging out of the other side seds ter, her barrier a ball of fmes. It bleart, Akio calling up a barrier of earth to deflect the scattered Foehn from us, and Na was left gasping and panting on her hands and knees, blinking weakly.

  “Nice work.” Akio said, and Kana agreed. With that, it just means that Natsumi and the elf haven’t won the right to participate, since Prince Shōtoku and Yasaka-sa ied… She locked eyes with Natsumi, whed. I hope the rial suits her. Bei out hurts, I know…

  “So, we have those who have braved the fmes, some in struggle and strife…” Tarōbō looked at Kana, Daiyu and Haanōbō. “…and others with much ease.” His look took in Fungbō and Na. “As for who triumphed… Fungbō, you did well.” As the Tengu puffed himself up, Tarōbō’s words were stern. “…but your victory should not lead ta was close between you…” he Na. “…and the denizens of the foul rift are dangerous indeed. All will o work together.” He raised his staff, which was bzing with energy, and Kana could see rainbow ribbons of power being drawn from the cheering crowds. “Now let the final two trials ence. As swift as fire, let arrows pierce the hearts of our enemies, ahose whose inner fire illumihe cramped, dark realm do battle to show they have the might to face those that would defile the fmes!”

  Archery huh? Couldn’t be more perfect I suppose… Kana thought as she saw the elf Belera-san and Natsumi both leap up, excited. Turning to Akio, who looked equally pleased, she managed a smile. But I’m done. I’ll leave those sorts of challeo the battle fanatics… Still, Kana couldn’t help but smile, knowing Natsumi, Motoko and probably Akio too would get their ce to show off…

  ShipTeaser