The Four Wheel Saga Book 1: THE LEGACY TRIALS

Chapter 4: Crows Come to Roost 2

The Mikashita palace entrance, like other kin-lord estates, faced towards the Shibai Sharin temple. A fenced garden, flush with buttercups, anemones, and honeysuckles, surrounded the palace. The estate elongated into fruit orchards to the north, while on the south-end was the training grounds- an egg-shaped field surrounded by a stone pavilion. This day, it was brimming with seventy-seven out of ninety-five members of the household. The absentees were out for essential work. The household staff, including Chief Gotou, were a total of fifteen. The kin-members were seated on an arc of the pavilion, while Overlord Senju stood on the grounds, facing them. Mitsu joined her husband's side.

Kento and Nagumo proceeded to squat with their thirty-eight juvenile cousins. Juno (fourteen), Akako (sixteen), Goro (fourteen), Kotone (thirteen), and Shigeo (fifteen) sat around them. Nagumo was his only sibling; including the older ones, they had forty-five cousins. The seven older cousins were employed in village government and did not mingle with the teenagers. That made Kento the eldest in the gang, and hence, the de facto leader. The uncles and aunts flocked separately on another side of the pavilion arc. The leader of the teenagers dictated that it was time for gossip.

Kento: "Shigeo, go ahead."

Shigeo was a bespectacled fifteen-year-old who was rarely found practising taekkyon on the training grounds. Taekkyon was the flagship martial arts of Karasuma village; its progenitors were the legendary fighters- Byeon and Subak of the now-extinct- Joseon kin. Every kin member was drilled in the art from the age of six. Shigeo's talents, however, lay elsewhere. Every news flash, sensation, and hearsay- he was the one to ask about. He would hang around the offices and pluck anything vital that he overheard or found in writing. He would hunker at the citadel library during his leisure, reading about history, magic, and agriculture. This day, he was in higher spirits than usual.

Shigeo: "Kento. Brothers and sisters. I have some thrilling news. It is about the Legacy Trials."

The Mikashita kids set to mutter amongst themselves.

Akako: "If I am not wrong, they are held every three years. The next trials will be held after two years. What is it about them?"

Akako was Kento's first cousin, the daughter of Raiden Mikashita (the second eldest among the Mikashita, after Senju). With sea-green curls and an athletic frame, she was a bold, sharp fighter. Her boldness spilt over to her personality, making her out-spoken and blunt, which, to be fair, was a common trait of the members of the mightiest kin in Karasuma.

Shigeo: "That is correct, but hear this- the Village High Council was convened last weekend. The Overlord was present, along with Lord Heydrian and Chief Strategist Hakaku. Some critical financial issues were discussed by the Hyougi, including our stocks of grains, legumes, salted eels and iron. I also read a banking article from the Karasuki bulletin that talked about balancing budgets prior to spring and-"

Kento: "Shigeo. Why not tell us the thrilling portion of the news first?"

The young prodigy nodded and pricked his eyeglasses up his nose bridge for dramatic effect.

Shigeo: "The most significant topic was the need for expanding the Legacy unit, for the services of which, Karasuma charges the highest commission. Other villages pay over five gold coins for hiring a double stripe squad. Some zealous decisions were taken.

First- the Legacy Trials will now be held every year."

instant surge in

"Every year?"

this why

will

down. I will share everything I know. Second. The age bar for entry into the Legacy Trials has always

"Fifteen!"

this a

"Impossible!"

The gang erupted into talking so loudly that Gotou had to come over to quiet them. They settled down, as every child was scared of the Chief's temper. They continued their deliberation through whispers

"Does that mean- Kento, Akako and

going

Most of Kento's cousins were under fifteen. A speech was warranted from him. It was no secret that Kento needed to clear the Legacy Trials if he ever wanted to succeed Overlord Senju. It

appear in the Legacy Trials?

Mikashita kids started chattering all over

"No way, Kento!"

"Please reconsider!"

is wrong

only I were

"Kento, you are the strongest taekkyon fighter among us. Why would you forgo? This

seasoned fighters- who are better gifted in kitsu, seiton, and shuzen. Even young adults from the

The

broad-shouldered man in his mid-thirties. He had a pale, square face and was completely bald. His years of service in the Legacy Unit and the military had given him sunken eyes and an older visage than his biological age. But he was extolled as a legendary warrior, the likes of which had never been seen before. Perhaps, only Lord Heydrian came close to him

the hard work and cooperation of members of all kin. But I must apprise you that these are difficult times. A recent survey by Chief Strategist and Economist Hakaku Yamazaki, brought

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