The Four Wheel Saga Book 1: THE LEGACY TRIALS

Illumi: “What is a monster like him, teaching in the Daigaku? I am grateful that he saved our lives, but I am horrified that he is allowed in our midst.”

Akako: “Hold your tongue, Illumi. He’s our teacher. Warriors live to kill, and to die. Isn't that something from the warrior code? Who cares about the number of lives taken? I’m sure all our elders who have been in the military, have killed a few. That is an undeniable truth. And who believes in curses these days?”

Kafu wanted to offer a rebuttal, but Daigo spoke over him.

Daigo: “Nonsense. Demons and curses don’t exist. Warriors have to fight with blades and kitsu. And in dire situations, with their bare hands. The weak will perish and the strong will live on. But I am curious to know, Shigeo- where do you think Keiji-sensei’s powers come from? I am outright sure that you have a theory.”

Nadeko: “Tell us, please!”

Shigeo: “I do have a theory. Ginko-sensei, in an appendix to the book, mentioned rare humans, born during a certain alignment of the stars, who, when awakened, gain passage to a transitional world between ours and Meido. Mugen-sekai, the world without an end. It is said to be brimming with kokyu-mugen, the anti-matter. And those cursed with the affliction, can do incredible feats without kitsu.”

Chiyo: “But how does it work? Those lamias exploded as he touched them. And, beyond doubt, he ran on water.”

Shigeo: “That was not explained in the book. Ginko sensei himself, never met a mugen user. It is rumored that there are, at best, five mugen users in the entire continent of Kinheni.”

Does that mean- Kento

And most of the cursed ones never awaken their abilities. Those who do, live very short lives. Mugen is corrosive to the human soul, writes Ginko-sensei. It is not malleable energy like kitsu, but a miasma that undoes matter.

Kafu had a vein throbbing on his forehead.

“Ginko was a fool who

for his scepticism of the goddess Shibai Sharin. He wrote books and preached discourses that the goddess was an imaginary figure, a monogram of the temple, concocted to establish its authority over the people. Sadly, Ginko was dragged through the streets, beaten and then sent to the temple to be subjected to an exorcism. The priests claimed demons possessed him. The scholar spent his last days in captivity, starving, diseased, and in the end, lost his mind. It was reported that he died of the white death. But, nobody could affirm what really happened

existence of gods and goddesses, they had been instructed since they were old enough to understand, to not speak against

was revered and feared. Religion and politics had mixed amicably.

on either side to form a vast circular bank. About half a mile onwards, the circle closed to create a linear stream again. About two dozen floating houses were anchored to the banks, away from the creek current. It served as the home of the Wajin tribe, which Karasuma

The preceptor and sub-squad

afternoon- the sun will set soon. It is ill-advised to sail in these parts after dark. We will

tribe was not a very friendly group. They had frequent tussles with the Kin-Council (the assembly of kin-lords) and the Hyougi (members of the Village

made of hollow logs, and the entire structures were tethered to the bank with oiled, hemp rope. The larger ones had ambulatory space around the houses for clothes-lines, children to play, and lounges. The Wajin people peeked at the outsiders- from their windows, open doors and sun-decks. They wore necklaces made from claws and colourful dresses

of such a large establishment was evidently displaced with kitsu. Dahlias and fire lilies grew in vases on the gyre that surrounded

“Whose house