I'm glad I asked for that alone time. All things considered, this time I spent finishing up the wall was far more relaxing than it had any right to be. Between the whole Officer North and Fang Leung stuff, this was the first time I got to just… be for a little while. No thoughts, no desires. Just me, some aura-infused bricks, and mortar.
"Too bad I can't play any music…"
Just like I'd realized earlier that transmigration meant having Fang Leung's body, only now did it hit me that it also meant living in a time period far removed from my own. None of my music, no television, no games, and no more barbecue... That might've been the worst one of all. In the grand scheme of things, it was minor, but that still hammered the harsh truth into my thick skull once and for all.
This was my home. Milkat was my home planet. Azure Tide was my territory, and the Leung Clan was my people. This was my life now.
Quest Complete: The Northern Gate Project
+5000 Renown
+1000 Charisma
+100 Diplomacy
I sat by the wall I'd finished and observed the town. Most of the faces that met my own were pensive. There was lingering anger there, fear, and a hint of something else bubbling under there. Hope? It'd only been one day, but it'd been a long day–for all of us. The town still looked like the nicest city in Philadelphia, which was to say it looked like shit. A stench of animal droppings, sweat, and dirt lingered in the air, forced into my nose by the evening breeze. That was all fine. I'd make this place better. Somehow.
I yawned. "You guys might… hate me now, but I'll… make this the best… goddamn city Milkat has ever seen…" As my exhaustion from a day spent working began to take hold, I spoke aloud. "Just you wait."
***
My nap was cut short by a sudden, stabbing pain in my shoulder. Right in front of me stood a little girl with tall, vertically-pointed ears like a fox with large hazel eyes, shoulder-length brown hair with a large bushy tail the same color, and tattered brown robes similar to the ones Harold wore. She scurried back as we made eye contact, ears flattening and fangs bared as she narrowed her eyes at me. I focused on her.
Kimiyo Kuroki, Mystic
There are few records on the girl known as Kimiyo Kuroki. What little is known apart from her Vulpian heritage is that she was born in a Mystic Forest somewhere in Yinchao. It should be noted that Ruvians generally advance more slowly than other species, yet are capable of exhibiting more power at each stage of advancement.
I rubbed sleep from my eyes and yawned. "What are you doing here, kid? It's late."
"Kuroki. My name is Kuroki."
"Right. Kuroki. What are you doing here?"
The little fox girl inched closer to me, sniffing loudly as she did so.
"U-um–"
"You smell different." She said, staring daggers at me.
Shit. Did this kid know about my transmigration? What would happen then? Would she report me to the Major Clan? Would I get sent to Oblitus? The little I was able to glean about that place from the Data Packs and from conversation suggested that it was the Milkat equivalent of Alcatraz. I did not want to get sent there!
"I-It's because I've been here all day! I'm not gonna smell like roses after spending a day in the sun."
She shook her head. "It isn't just that. It's you." Kuroki inched closer to me and sniffed again. She pointed at me. "You don't smell like Fang Leung. You are different. You act differently. You talk differently. There is something about you that has changed."
"Oh, that?" I stood to my full height and stretched, doing my best to appear indifferent. "That's because I had a change of heart recently. The whole 'Tyrant Thief' thing stuck with me. That wasn't how I wanted the world to remember me, so I'm trying to be the kind of person whose death would mean something."
"I see," Kuroki said. She began pacing about, not taking her eyes off of me once. "Can I tell you something, Fang Leung?"
"Go for it."
"I usually hunt my food in the forest outside the Eastern Gate. The possums there are fat and plentiful, and the Igrin usually leave them alone. Sometimes, though, they just don't come out when I need them to. On those days, I sneak into your palace and take some frozen ducks out of your freezer. A few weeks ago, I took a duck and some shrimp from you all while you were each occupied. As I was leaving, though, I heard your wife. She was laughing like a maniac, so I snuck around to see what was going on. That's when I saw it."
"Saw what…?"
"You! You were wiggling on the floor in the dining room while your wife laughed at you. You tried to crawl away, but she crept behind you like she was the Spirit of Execution! You tried to attack her, but she dodged it and…" She paused, looking around as if for any eavesdroppers. Once she confirmed there were none, she leaned forward. "She hit you with a Forbidden Spell! Kobal's Unrelenting Comedy! Everyone knows that one, it's the one where you laugh uncontrollably. You know, they said the person who made that spell was a doctor. Now it's only used in torture… and I can see why. It was terrifying! You just kept laughing while she beat you like a dog. Your butler dragged her away and healed you, then he took you to his room, where your handmaiden was with a woman from the Demon Tribes! I saw it! She was tall and had blue skin and horns and stuff! The demon and your handmaiden held you down and did stuff to you while you tried to fight back. But after a while, you just… stopped fighting back."
So not only did she witness Azurine hit Fang Leung with Forbidden Magic, but she'd also witnessed the entire transmigration. She'd even managed to catch a glimpse of "Shorsy Myrlor", the woman Justice warned me not to bring up. Perfect. My only option was to gaslight the kid into believing she was seeing something she wasn't, but considering the look she gave me, I wasn't sure she'd buy anything I gave her. Still, it was worth a shot.
"I'm sorry you had to see all that with Azurine and Dai Yuhan and… the demon woman…That was just… y'know… When a man and a woman love each other very much–"
"It wasn't that. You all had clothes on. Besides, your wife hates you. She always looked miserable when you guys were together. The only woman who looked like she liked you was your handmaiden." She tilted her head. "Fang Leung's always staring at her, and she's always staring at him when he's not looking. I even remember one time when I was looking for other stuff to steal from the palace, I watched her take a robe from his room when he was gone. She looked all nervous when she did it, so I don't think she took it just to clean it… Also, I remember watching them speak in the courtyard once. They were really close that night." She leaned close. "I think Fang Leung might've been cheating on his wife with his handmaiden."
That was news. I didn't know they had that kind of relationship. The Data Pack mentioned Dai Yuhan being the unwitting getaway driver in Fang Leung's raid of the Yanlin Clan, but now that I knew they were somewhat close, it explained that little detail a bit more. I'd have to talk to her about it someday. For now, though, I had to deal with the problem still in front of me.
"Why are you saying 'Fang Leung' might've been cheating? I'm Fang Leung, and I did not cheat on my wife!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure! I'm the one who'd do it!"
"No, I mean, are you sure you're Fang Leung?"
"Yes!"
She gave me an appraising once-over, resting her chin between her thumb and forefinger. "I don't know. I mean, one day you're robbing the Yanlin, bullying the townspeople, and cheating on your wife, and now you're kowtowing in front of the townspeople and glancing at your wife every time she looks away from you."
"What are you trying to say, Kuroki?"
She took a step back, placing one hand on her hip as she pointed an accusatory finger at me with the other. "I think they gave you amnesia! Nobody but your handmaiden liked you, so they decided to wipe your brain and make you someone else!"
I blinked, considering her words. Then, I laughed. "No, Kuroki, I don't have amnesia. I still remember going through the palace and getting my ass beat by Azurine. If you really wanna know what happened, she found out about me and Dai Yuhan and called in some favors to get me beaten up by a demon. Nothing fancy. Just a simple lover's spat."
That could work. It accounted for everything she mentioned. There was absolutely no way that–
"But you still smell different." Her smile, which hadn't dropped, twisted into something far more mischievous. "That's fine. I guess I can ask the Ban Clan about it and see what they think."
"Wait!" I called after her, grabbing her arm.
She turned to face me, a shit-eating grin plastered on her face. "I mean, I suppose if you just tell me the truth, I could keep it to myself? But if you don't tell me anything, I'd have no choice but to ask the experts! If no Forbidden Magic was used to change you in any way, then there'd be nothing to worry about." She narrowed her eyes and raised her eyebrows. "Right?"
I unhanded her and sat on the ground, refusing to look at her anymore. "You little asshole."
She laughed and sat beside me. "I can keep secrets, Giovanni."
I turned to her, somehow unsurprised to hear her call me by my name. She spoke in answer to the unasked question.
"I heard them call you that a few times today. You're a transmigrator?"
"If you knew all that, why'd you put on that whole goddamn performance?"
"I wanted to be like The Watch and see if I can get you to admit it. Did I do a good job?"
I couldn't help myself. I laughed, and she laughed along with me. "No clue who The Watch are, but sure, Kuroki. You got me. Now what? You gonna snitch to the Ban Clan?"
"I said I wouldn't tell them if you talked to me. Besides, I think it's a good thing Fang Leung is gone." She leaned close. "He was a huge asshole."
"Hey!" I said, flicking her on the forehead. "Language. Kids don't need to be swearing."
"I'm only saying what you said."
"Don't be like me, then."
"Fine. But…" She stood up. "Aren't you curious about where Fang Leung is? Transmigration goes both ways. If you're in his body, that means he's in your body right now, too."
I… hadn't considered that. My last moments on Earth involved me getting Swiss-cheeseed in the middle of the afternoon on a dirty sidewalk. It wasn't impossible to think that Justice could repair my body if he was also capable of doing "Soul Surgery" to remove Fang Leung's memories from his body. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to feel about him living in my body. Based on the way he acted here on Milkat, though, my hopes for him weren't high.
"What do you think is happening to him, Kuroki?"
She giggled. "He's probably trying to bully people there, too. Can you imagine it? I can already hear him 'I am Honored Ascendant Fang Leung, and you will honor me as such!' then getting punched in the face."
"Yeah, pretty sure people'll just assume he's high out of his mind half the time." I laughed. "I hope he doesn't try using any techniques in a real fight. He'll get killed again!"
***
Azurine knew that it was only a matter of time before Fang Leung revealed himself, and she couldn't wait for it. The chance to finally be rid of him was far too alluring. She was the heir to the Boro Clan, yet she'd been reduced to some manchild's emotional punching bag. The worst part, Azurine felt, wasn't that it happened. It was that she couldn't do anything about it. If she'd fought back, Fang Leung could've complained to the Ban Clan about her and had her sent to Oblitus. More than that, she'd fail the one mission her parents gave her. And so, she had to endure him. For two unbearably long years. It was so unbearable, in fact, that she decided to solve it herself.
The solution had always been there. Despite being married, the two never shared a bed. Still, Azurine knew where his room was. She knew Dai Yuhan's patrol route and schedule. She knew when Claude was asleep.
She knew when to kill Fang Leung, and she was smart enough to figure out a way to get away with it. Not only had he ruffled the feathers of the Yanlin, but he'd also been talking about raiding the Demon Territory. Two perfect scapegoats to pin her crime on.
Preparing for the deed was simple. She studied the "Shadow Blade" spell, which she Runed onto her left shoulder, waited for the window of time where Dai Yuhan bathed at night and Claude was fast asleep, and snuck into Fang Leung's room. He'd been resting, unaware that Azurine had been looming over him. Unlike the Yanlin, Azurine knew how to be stealthy. Fang Leung hadn't sensed her approach, not even after she summoned her Shadow Blade. Things began to change as Azurine slowly raised the dark spectral blade over the Young Master's body. She'd been guided by her rage up to this point and had relied on it to carry out the task she'd given herself. It wasn't that she was getting cold feet. No…
It was because she didn't perform well in front of an audience.
Death Spirits, Judgement Spirits, Shadow Spirits, and even Lust Spirits danced about the room in anticipation of Azurine's grim task. The most terrifying one, however, was the Spirit of Execution. It was a lanky Igrin-looking creature with unnaturally long arms, clawed hands and feet, legs bent like it was crouching, and a head like a sabertooth. Azurine remembered the terror she felt when she'd unintentionally summoned it. She remembered it placing its hands atop hers, whispering encouragements into her ears. She would've saved the city. She would've been free to return home, or perhaps leave them behind entirely and start a new life! It told her exactly how to kill him and told her how best to react if she made a mistake. She remembered what it'd said would happen the instant she killed him: that it would make Azurine its Ethereal, and would personally guide her to Ancient – and if she desired it, it could even make her a Ruler.
She'd left the room, overcome by terror at what she was becoming. Death and murder were both parts of life in the world of Aura Manipulators. Azurine wasn't afraid of taking a life. No, what she was afraid of was becoming an Executioner. That… that wasn't her. Azurine was a student of Milkat. A learner. An academic. Was she seriously so blinded by fury that she'd been ready to throw that all away? In her anger and confusion, Azurine allowed her body to lead her to Claude's room, where she broke down and confessed everything that'd happened to her. Rather than chastise her like a small part of her wanted him to do, though, he'd instead come up with a different solution:
"Let's say I knew someone capable of performing the Transmigration Spell to get rid of Fang Leung. Would you want that? Before you ask anything, know that I cannot answer a single question you have. All I want from you is a 'yes' or a 'no'. If you say yes, I'll begin with the proceedings. Say no, and we can drop this conversation here, and I'll finish what you started."
Lady, the clone of Dai Yuhan who usually watched over Clan Elder Lynn, had overheard the conversation while on patrol. With the added context of Paimon's Breadth, it now made sense to Azurine that Lady agreed with and encouraged the plan despite Dai Yuhan's obvious feelings for Fang Leung.
In the end, things went on without a hitch. They worked with Clan Elder Lynn to develop a paralytic poison strong enough to work on the poison-resistant Fang Leung, and when the day of the transmigration came, Claude brought some woman from the Demon Territory to the palace to carry out the transmigration. Despite the academic in her wanting to ask the woman questions, Azurine kept them to herself as she'd been instructed. She remembered following the demon as she carried her "husband" to his bed and tucked him in like a child. She'd kissed him on the forehead and ruffled his hair, then told Azurine to call her if the transmigrated Soul turned out as bad as Fang Leung. Azurine had nodded politely and absently said she would, and that was the last time she'd ever seen Shorsy Myrlor, leader of the Demon Clan.
That'd all been just a week ago. In fact, it was likely a week from right now, she thought as she walked to the Northern Wall. Every time she looked at Fang Leung, she remembered that night with the Spirit of Execution. She remembered what she'd almost become. What he'd driven her to. Returning just a bit of her malice that day was incredibly cathartic, but seeing his face following his "transmigration" threatened to bring her right back to those depths.
"You seriously don't know about any sports here? Not even the Tourney Circuits? Everyone knows about the Tourney Circuits."
"How would I watch sports without a TV?"
Azurine found herself hiding behind a building, eavesdropping on "Gio" and his conversation with a local Vulpian child. It felt childish, but this was a decent opportunity to learn more about Giovanni as a person. It wasn't like she was gonna go out of her way to get to know him more. Not with that face.
"People listen to the games on the radio at the bars."
"Please don't tell me you've been going to bars, Kuroki…"
"No, I have my own radio. I got mine from one of those Ban caravans. They always cut through this area when they're going to Zhaoning because it's a shortcut for them."
"So they just gave it to you?"
"W-well…"
"Kuroki…"
"They always have good stuff! They're rich! They can afford to get more."
"How many caravans have you robbed?"
"Not a lot…"
"..."
"Sixteen."
"Holy shit, Kuroki!"
"If they didn't start looking after three, then they don't care! Besides, it's not like I take big stuff. I only take food and spirit herbs."
"Fine. Just… don't do it again."
"Yeah… sure. I won't. Promise."
"Kuroki!"
"Fang Leung didn't feed me, so I fed me! I don't see what's so bad about that, Gio."
"Gio?!"
Azurine revealed herself, causing both Gio and Kuroki to jump. The little Vulpian girl hid behind Gio as her ears flattened. Was she… hiding? From her? Why? And more importantly…
"Why is she calling you Gio?!" Azurine shout-whispered.
"Because you called me Gio."
She… mince! She had called him Gio. Multiple times! But she'd only done so at his insistence! Azurine stepped forward to try and get that through his thick skull, only for the Vulpian girl to growl at her with fangs bared.
"Relax, Kuroki. She's cool." He smirked.
Gio stepped to the side, leaving Azurine to face the diminutive Kuroki. The girl looked like she hadn't eaten in days despite her previous claim of robbing caravans for food. Her hair was unkempt, her arms had no fat, and her cheeks were a bit too sunken in. Just being around her made her hatred of Fang Leung stronger. How many kids like her were in Azure Tide?
"Hello," Azurine bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Azurine Boro, heir to the Boro Clan and wife of Fang Leung."
"Don't you mean 'wife of Giovanni Kivela'?" Kuroki asked.
Azurine tried not to gag. "By technicality, I suppose I am." She rose from her bow to find Kuroki giving her a mischievous smile and decided to change the subject before this conversation could get out of hand. "Now, it's quite late. You need to go home."
"Yeah, gotta agree with her there, Kuroki." Gio grabbed her hand. "Come on, I'll walk you home. Your parents are probably worried sick."
Kuroki's ears fell. "I don't… have parents."
Gio paused. "But we were just talking about them?"
"I used to have parents. They're dead now."
Azurine watched as sympathy made its way to Fang Leung's face. The unfamiliarity of it all made it difficult for her to contend with her own sympathy for the girl.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Kuroki." He scratched behind her ear a little bit. "I lost someone who was like my mother recently, too. We're both gonna have to fight on and make them prouder then, right?"
She leaned into his hand. "Yeah…"
He smiled. Smiled! It even looked genuine!
"Now, where are you staying? I'm sure you have someone worried about where you are right now."
"I don't… I'm… I don't have a house."
"W-well, where have you been living?"
"You know the Sleeping Turtle?"
"Isn't that the bar Claude likes to hang out in?"
"I think so. Claude mentioned it earlier while we were working. That's a bar, right?"
"Yeah. They have a pretty big closet they don't use a lot, s-so…"
Gio's awkward smile faded, replaced by a new expression Azurine hadn't seen on his face before: determination. For the briefest of moments, Fang Leung looked like a man who was responsible for his citizens. She'd heard from Dai Yuhan about Gio's speech to the townspeople, but seeing this side of him in person was… something. An emotion grew in Azurine as she witnessed it. Awe? Shock? Relief? She'd attempted to make heads or tails of it, but Gio snapped her out of it when he focused his resolute gaze on her.
"Hey, you came here to tell me dinner was ready, right?"
"I-it isn't ready, but it's going to be made once you arrive at the palace."
"That works." Gio bent down and carried Kuroki on his back and smiled. "Lucky you, you get a meal and a bed. Aren't I the gentleman?"
"Really?!"
"B-but," Azurine cut off. "There isn't enough room in the palace for her."
That was a complete lie, but Azurine wanted to see what he would say in response. There was absolutely no chance that Fang Leung would offer–
"She can sleep on my bed. I'll take the couch. I've slept in far worse places." He looked over his shoulder at Kuroki. "You won't mind being my roommate, right?"
"Thank you!" Kuroki cheered, hugging Gio's neck.
"This goes against protocol–" Azurine started, only to be interrupted by Gio again.
"Fuck protocol! I'm not leaving a kid out on the damn street."
"Yeah! Fuck protocol!"
"Kuroki!"
"You said it first! I'm just copying you!"
Gio shook his head and sighed. "Be honest, Azurine. Is Dai Yuhan a good cook?"
"She… Everyone's taste buds are different. It isn't my place to say whether she's a good or bad cook."
Kuroki leaned into Gio's ear and whispered, "That means she sucks."
"Hey, no such thing as a gross free meal."
"But you're paying for it. She's your handmaiden."
"Shit. Let's hope it's good."
"Shit! You're right."
Just like that, Azurine was left dumbfounded as he watched the two walk back toward the shining palace at the center of the village. Once again, she recalled the man who subjected her to years of turmoil. She recalled the night when she'd been prepared to end it, nearly throwing her life away for momentary gain. She recalled the day when she'd successfully poisoned Fang Leung. The evil, borderline lustful vindication she felt as he writhed in pain on the palace floor. She recalled his screams, which turned to pleas, then cries. She remembered the joy she allowed herself to feel and participate in that night, as disgusting and embarrassing as it was in hindsight. She compared the man who was at the center of those thoughts with the man who walked ahead of her, carrying a hungry child to the palace to give her a meal and a bed.
"It's… It's only a matter of time before Fang Leung reveals himself… I just know it. I can't let my guard down…!"