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Part 78: Cathedral

Info

Writer

Dougurasu

Character Introductions

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Character Deaths

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Arcs

Hikari Crystals Arc

Nagata's Trial Arc

Timeline Entries

The Story

Endless Rain

Part 78: Catherdral

© Dougurasu

Mr. Shikai's troops stood at the base of Hiyou Lake at a loss. There was virtually nothing in sight apart from the lake. Nowhere they could've fled. From a distance Sasaeru kept them in his sight. The four soldiers were conversing about something, but he couldn't understand the words. Suddenly one of them left the group and ran back the way he came.

“Crap!” Sasaeru whispered, “I think we have to go further down this cave. One of them is leaving, probably to get a boat.”

“Down there?” Moyasu asked looking at the eerie darkness, “That reminds me... what exactly is in this tunnel? I remember seeing Hitori enter it a few weeks ago, and she said they found the Pearl of the Ocean in there, but other than that...”

“True,” Gaia answered, “This cave once was Mermaid's home, but when the Sendo entered it, they broke everything down. It's in ruins now.”

“That's not the only thing this tunnel leads to...” Mermaid said mysteriously, “Maybe it's time we showed some of these Light Bearers what they should truly be afraid of.” She turned around and started climbing down the stairs. “Follow me.”

The evening had fallen. Nagata's trial was fully underway. Yamome was still defending Shousha's murder and Hana was again defending Nagata. Mr. Shikai had recovered from his tantrums and was leading the session; the final session to decide whether Nagata would be banished or not. Kino, sitting in the audience, was paying close attention to the entire thing. After his talk with Pyro he hadn't made any headway in his investigation. He had tried to interview Shikai, but the council member was constantly busy and on the move.

“So, we have a boy, Nagata, made temporary Master of the Mikomi Tribe by Lady Hitori, who was in no condition to make any decision whatsoever and then this so called leader leads his troops into battle and uses this opportunity to get his horse Lightning back,” Yamome summed up, “After he himself admitted he was going to do everything to get his precious horse back, how can there be any more doubt in your mind that it was Nagata's fault my husband perished at the hands of a Sendo warrior?”

“There is no proof that Nagata could've done anything to save Shousha!” Hana objected.

Nagata had said very little. He knew that it could well be true. That he was responsible for his death. It's not at all impossible. In any case he was negligent in his duty. Does that warrant being banished? He couldn't decide.

“But there is a way we can find that out,” Yamome smirked, “We can always ask mr. Phoenixtruth. If there is anyone who knows, it is him.”

Pyro had been looking uncomfortable for the entire duration of the trail and hadn't said a word. He continued not doing so.

“Mr. Phoenixtruth.” Shikai asked.

“Yes?” Pyro finally answered.

“Was there anything Nagata could've done to save Shousha? Was it Nagata's fault that Shousha was killed?”

Nagata looked up. This was it. The answer to this question would decide everything.

All eyes were set on the quiet Pyro. If the silence had been a sword, it would've killed a dozen men with one strike.

“Well?” Shikai said through his teeth and glared at the Guardian.

“Yes. Yes, if Nagata would've made Shousha climb back into the Village instead of going to his horse Lightning, he would not have been killed.” Pyro finally answered.

Nagata's eyes widened. That was it. He was guilty. “Oh my -, I'm so-” He tried to apologize but he couldn't finish his words. He felt his eyes becoming wet and the drops of water falling on his legs.

“Well, then. I see no reason to continue,” Mr. Shikai said, his voice almost shaking the entire hall, “Could the seven council members please choose whether they are on Yamome's side or on Nagata's side?”

Pyro slammed his fists on the table. “DAMN YOU, SHIKAI!” Then he vanished.

There was a short moment of disbelief that the small Guardian had cursed at the leader of the council. Then the seven council members stood up and choose a side. Not one went to stand with Nagata.

“Mr. Nagata. As of today, you are banished from the Mikomi Tribe. You may never set foot in this village again, you shall never contact any of its inhabitants and you shall never wear the Mikomi emblem. Your belongings will be taken in and divided over our people. You are not welcome here anymore. Guards, take him and his horse Lightning away.”

Hana tried to intrevene. “But, you can't base-”

“Hana, I have told you before. Your arguments carry no weight as long as you're not a warrior and not a council member.”

Not resisting Nagata let himself be taken away and thrown outside of the gates. He had nothing. Nothing but the clothes he was wearing and his best friend, Lightning. The wooden gates closed behind him.

“Lightning...” he said to his horse, “Come... there's nothing left for us here.” He saddled up and slowly drove away into the sunset.

“There has got to be a mistake. You can't just banish a man like that. It's not right,” Kino mumbled under his breath. He followed Shikai into Lady Hitori's old room, but before he could speak to him he saw that Pyro had appeared in front of him and Kino quickly hid.

“What you did there just now was taking an enormous risk!” Shikai growled.

“You just banished an innocent man from this village! And I had to lie to him so you could do that!” Pyro snapped.

“If you don't want Moyasu to be hurt, you better lower your voice now!”

“SHUT UP!!” Pyro yelled. But immediately after, he grabbed his head.

“Remember what I did two days ago?” Shikai smirked, while Pyro dropped on his knees. “Just before that idiot Afrain made that timestop? I made Moyasu go temporarily nuts.” Pyro screamed in pain. “You know what I'm capable of. I can break her head just thinking about it! It doesn't matter how far away she is! You don't want that, would you?” A few drops of blood landed on the floor. “And besides you didn't lie to Nagata. He could've prevented Shousha's death. If he had gotten to him sooner he could've been taken care off and healed, but my Mindbreaker ability had caused enough damage that he wouldn't have survived long anyway.”

'Oh my god...' Kino thought. 'Shousha's death, the burning headaches from this morning, Nagata being banished, it's all his doing! What is he?!' Slowly Kino turned and moved away from the scene, unnoticed.

Pyro stood up, his nose bleeding like crazy. “Am I done now?! Have I done all your dirty work?”

“Yes, Pyro, you've done fine. I have full support from the tribe now, thanks to the trial. I think I might even have that Yamome woman falling for me. The moment I told her that I knew you, she immediately wanted to use your ability against the murder of her husband. I just had to push here and there. Make her a little more angry. It was all so easy. Now all I have to do is get that final Crystal from that Chi girl and we shall free Layou!”

“You will never get away with this, Shikai!”

Shikai looked out the window. “I already have. You better make yourself invisible or others might start asking unnecessary questions.”

“Then I'll be leaving now,” Pyro smirked.

“By the way,” Shikai turned around, “I'll call you when I need you again.”

“You'll... call me?” Pyro stammered.

“You know very well how I would call you,” Shikai smirked.

Pyro's eyes widened. “Damn you Shikai! Don't you ever lay a finger on Moyasu, EVER!” Then Pyro vanished. 'I hope you'll act wisely, knowing this information, Kino,' he thought, 'Don't do anything stupid.'

“What?!” Hana exclaimed, “Shikai is after the leadership of the Mikomi Tribe?”

“Yes,” Kino explained, “He used the trial to gain popularity. It was actually him who killed Shousha, not any of the Sendo.”

“There's one thing I don't understand, though,” Hana pondered, “When Tebok attacked, our heads were almost exploding. Was that Shikai too?”

“I have no idea, maybe it was that girl's doing, or Tebok's. But in any case, we have a problem. We can't tell anyone else about this. The more people know, the more people there'd be in danger, especially Moyasu. Besides, if word gets out we might even be talking about a civil war if we're not careful.”

“What is this?!” Moyasu gazed into the enormous space underground. An enormous Cathedral was standing firm in a cave that far under the ground. It seemed impossible. They had finally climbed all the way down the stairs through the maze and even further down under Hiyou Lake. The rising water from the surface had filled the bottom up with water, but it wasn't high enough to reach the draw bridge connected to the entrance of the gigantic room and the Cathedral itself.

“This is Afrain's Cathedral,” Gaia said, “It's the only thing left of our Fairy village. The only thing that Afrain could save.”

“What's up there?” Sasaeru asked with Ezra silently sitting on his lifted arm. He pointed at two long rows of stairs that winded itself around the Cathedral like a vine and ended up at the very top of the building.

Mermaid smiled. “Why don't we have a look?”

“I've gathered you all here,” Hana started, “because I'm about to make a decision. I can't tell you what I have based this decision on, but it's important that you make a decision on your own, based on what I'm going to say.”

Kino's house was filled with Mariko, Wevles, Wevlum, Wevli, Zesshou, his head wrapped in bandages, and Kino himself. All were listening carefully to Hana's words.

“I have reason te believe that Shikai cannot be trusted and that he might lead this village to ruins. With Kino and Nagata out of the council and my voice carrying no weight anymore, there is only one option. It won't take long for Shikai to turn against us and probably imprison us. We should do the same as Moyasu and her friend and leave this village, now that we still can. I know that in any case, I'll be going with Kino and we're taking Hitori with us. The question is... what will you do?”

After having climbed at least half an hour long they finally reached the top of the Cathedral.

“So what's this?” Moyasu asked as she walked towards a ridge. It was like a big water put, but the top was covered with glass and you could stand on it. Moyasu looked down. Immediately she jumped off. “What the hell?!”

“What's wrong?!” Sasaeru asked almost terrified as he saw the look in her eyes.

“Down there. All the way down. It was so far down, but I couldn't see clear enough to make it out. It was a monster. An evil monster! I could feel it's anger just by looking at him!” Moyasu said trembling on her feet.

“That monster you saw,” Mermaid said, “was none other than the demon Layou.”

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