The Four Wheel Saga Book 1: THE LEGACY TRIALS

Once the aspirants had left, Keiji and Yuuki enumerated in detail the purpose of their visit. Their destination- the Bokuso glades had had an insurgency of bandits from the outlands. The preceptor duo had been given the charge to oust them. The Overlord had, after some deliberation, granted permission to include the aspirants in the proposed training exercise. It would help the young ones receive hands-on experience of the Legacy Unit’s work.

Bandits were strong and cunning adversaries. Being survivors of the stateless, dog-eat-dog outlands, they were hardened, cold-blooded and could navigate any terrain with ease. But among them, rarely anyone was familiar with kitsu manipulation, which was a tremendous disadvantage. A kitsu-trained child could make a grown bandit bite the dust without breaking a sweat.

The lamia story was intriguing for Hakaku, who tugged on his beard several times during the narration and stared into nothingness as if solving cyphers in his mind. Finally, he spoke.

Hakaku: “While lamia do prey on humans, they don’t possess the brute strength to dislodge a kitsu-infused boat. Added to that, kitsu is disorienting for their taste. You said that you touched them, Keiji? Did you perceive any raiki in their bodies?

Yorokobi: “Raiki in beasts?”

Keiji: “When I seized them from the water, I sensed they had dense, unstable kitsu cores, which reacted to my mugen, and their bodies exploded or disintegrated.”

Hakaku: “I see. Lamia are mindless creatures, lacking the perseverance to chase boats upstream for long periods- as it happened today. Perhaps someone fed them kitsu-fortified meat, which would usually cause them indigestion. Another more realistic possibility is that an outside agent controlled them.”

Yorokobi: “Is that even possible?”

Hakaku left his seat, rifled through some documents in a chest, and picked up a scroll. He returned, holding up the unfurled paper to display its contents. The scroll had a caricature of the face of a vile-looking man. A Karasuma seal with kill-on-sight decree was splashed across it.

Hakaku: “This is Akuma, a notorious bandit from the western outlands. He is infamously known as the beast whisperer. The miscreant is capable of kitsu-manipulation and has obliterated several of our military squads over the years. It is believed that he possesses a kitsu-art through which one he makes beasts submit to his will.”

Yorokobi: “Impossible!”

Hakaku: “But it has been a long time since he made his last appearance and if he is indeed in Bokuso, your mission will not be an enjoyable time.”

bring the young ones with us against such a formidable criminal? Especially the Mikashita

been cast, Lieutenant. We cannot turn back now. It would be disheartening to my students,

Yuuki: “Almost.”

Yorokobi: “But-”

the scroll

preceptors believe in the abilities of

yes, you are right,

send a squad from the citadel to control the lamia population. We cannot have such incidents happen so close to the village. It would be detrimental to

is concerned about, and we preceptors support his position

“What is this

you reconsider sending Uzziah

Senju and I disagree on something. I am aware that Yamazaki-kin aspirants are training in the citadel with preceptors. My family and I may bear the Yamazaki name, but we are banished. It would be dishonourable to join the rest of the kin aspirants in the citadel. Besides, Uzziah was raised here, trained by me, Midori, and the Wajin tribe. Our battle tactics and values are different. We would not want him to start all

surely, citadel-trained warriors are

and break that mould. Shall we put your claim to the test, then, Lieutenant? (To Keiji) If

Lord Hakaku. The children will be thrilled. A contest is just the thing they need, to take their minds off

have the bout tomorrow, at the break of dawn. I have planned a

privileged information. Lieutenant Yorokobi, will you excuse us

Yorokobi: “Certainly.”

bowed and left the reading room, sliding the panelled door

you are already aware, Lord Hakaku,