Chapter 11

CHAPTER SIX “Shin Canaan Praeses.” Meanwhile, Shin was in the chamber of the matriarch of the village of Canaan. Watch fires burned there in the majestic chamber. Two fabric banners hung at its very back, and in the chair between them sat an old woman. She was bundled up in a traditional robe, and long years had carved deep wrinkles on her face. The matriarch was the ultimate authority in the village of Canaan, and two guards flanked her. “First, I acknowledge the pains you took in order to retrieve the clavis.” Shin knelt a few steps away from the matriarch, listening carefully to her words. “However, you committed an error,” she continued. Shin gulped. What on earth could he have…? “A man and a girl from the surface are making for the Gate of Life and Death, with a clavis in their possession.” He didn’t understand. His mission had been to retrieve the clavis, and he’d done that. “But the clavis is right—!” It’s right here. Shun’s body had been retrieved and laid to rest by the Topsiders, but Shin had stolen it before the Arch Angels could despoil it. He had burned it himself, and at the time, he’d felt as though he was the one burning. He really had recovered the clavis from Shun’s corpse. It was right here. In that case— “They possessed a different fragment.” “______?!” Shun was speechless. That was ridiculous. Inconceivable. A clavis fragment? Did such a thing even exist? Claves were given only to those who were chosen; the word valuable didn’t even begin to express how priceless they were… And she was telling him that Topsiders had a fragment of one? The matriarch went on in a hoarse voice. “You knowingly invited Topsiders into Agartha. It was a grave error.” “B-but I did what I was supposed to—!” His role had only been to retrieve the clavis, and he’d done that. However, Shin was interrupted—and not even by the matriarch. It was her attendant who spoke. “No excuses! Must you have everything spelled out for you?!” “……—” True, if his mistake had been letting Topsiders into Agartha, then it was a serious blunder. But he couldn’t sense the breath of the clavis; if he didn’t know where it was, what could he have done? The matriarch went on in her musical way of speaking. “Our erstwhile prosperity is but a distant memory, and we are living through a long twilight. Our desire is to dissolve into Astral, the endpoint of all life. However, should the gate be opened, Topsiders will flood into Agartha once more, and our peace will be lost.” As far as Agartha was concerned, that was bitter history. The people had no military might to defend themselves from the Topsider invasion, only their wisdom. They had been shot, murdered, and robbed, and the power they had lost was far rarer than military might. “We cannot carelessly forget the suffering to which we were once subjected,” the matriarch said sternly. “How lamentable. Your coming of age ceremony is nearly upon you, but your eyes have not yet opened. You are unable to see through the eyes of the Quetzal Coatls, and you cannot sense the breath of the clavis. Your elder brother had a natural gift, but a karmic illness strengthened his yearning for the surface.” My brother—, Shin thought. I was proud of my brother. Shun had been able to see through the eyes of the Quetzal Coatls when he was just six years old and had become the youngest in history to receive a public duty. However— Maybe it was because death had been a familiar presence in his life after his illness as a child. In the end, his brother had been afflicted with another malady, one he had inherited from his teacher when he was young, and it had eventually proved fatal. A longing for the surface. Shin, they say on the surface, when night comes, you can see “stars” in the sky. Stars? Yeah. People who die become stars, and they watch over us. They do…? Father and Mother, too? Of course. You can see them shining in the sky. Huh… I bet the stars are beautiful. …… Just once, before I die, just one time… I want to see a sky filled with stars. After Shin had left the matriarch’s room, as he was walking down a stone-paved road, a girl came running up behind him. “Shin!” she called. Her long hair was pulled back tightly, and she wore a ceremonial robe. Shin didn’t even glance at her. “You’re in the middle of your duties, Seri,” he said sharply. “It’s just for a little while. It’ll be all right.” The girl he’d called Seri began walking ahead of him. Shin hesitated just a little, but Seri had been a friend since they were children. He should tell her. “Seri, about Shun—” “I know.” Seri didn’t wait for Shin to finish. Or maybe she doesn’t want to make me talk about Shun’s death. Shin muttered quietly. “…I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” However, Seri shook her head slightly. “No. After all, even if it made his illness progress faster, Shun probably saw what he wanted to see.” “……” Shin didn’t respond; his emotions about that were too complicated. Seri watched him with worry. “Shin, you’ve been given another duty, haven’t you?” “Yes. I have to track down some Topsiders and take their clavis.” Seri’s expression clouded over even more. “But—” “I wasn’t told to kill them or anything.” Shin smiled, trying to reassure Seri, but then he grew more serious. He’d never been the lying type. “If it comes to that, though…” Seri’s voice rose in a panic. “But you could get hurt—or worse! And they’re sending you by yourself?!” “After our parents died, the village raised my brother and me. I have to repay them.” With that, Shin turned away from Seri. “You can’t afford to be away from your post any longer than this, can you? Hurry on back.” “Shin…” Seri called after him, but he didn’t turn around. Once he was back in his room, Shin took out his short sword. He gazed at the weapon, which was still in its sheath. “Shin, I’ve got a present for you.” On the day Shun had finished his “last duty” and returned home, he’d given his younger brother a gift, wearing the same kind smile as always. “Someday you’ll be given a duty, and I thought you’d need this then.” It was brand-new, and yet it felt easy to use and familiar in his hand. It had probably been very costly. However, he genuinely couldn’t have cared less about how much money it was worth. Shun had given it to him, which made it priceless. Plus, it was the last— Shin shook his head. He couldn’t afford to get sentimental now. If it was Shun… If Shun had been given a mission like this, he definitely would have made it look easy. Shin quickly gathered his long hair at the back of his head, then roughly sliced through it with the short sword. He made for the stables, mounted his favorite horse, and set off. Perhaps he was chasing after his brother, trying to catch up—although he never could. “Go on, eat.” The dinner Morisaki had made was, once again, steamed potatoes. Of course, she had absolutely no complaints. In the world’s current age of plenty, foraging was very nearly forgotten knowledge, but their journey had reminded her that being able to eat real food meant you were fortunate indeed. “Thank you very much.” When Asuna accepted a potato and began to eat it, Morisaki took a bite as well. “Here, you want some, too?” He offered a bit of potato to Mimi, who was sitting on his knee. That was really unexpected. She’d thought that Morisaki was less…sentimental—or at least less inclined to dote on animals. After all, at the beginning of this journey, he’d said they might not be able to take Mimi all the way to the end. Morisaki noticed Asuna looking at him. “Hmm? What?” He sounded rather mystified. Asuna pointed to Mimi, who was busy eating the potato. “Oh, um, I was just wondering when you became such good friends.” Morisaki’s response was simple. “Well, if it comes down to it, cats are technically edible.” “What?!” Asuna gave a startled cry, and Morisaki said “Kidding” in a tone that did not clearly suggest that he was kidding. …Was he really kidding? Morisaki did belong to the Arch Angels, an enigmatic organization that made her think of the military. Did they actually eat cats, if they had to? She thought about it for a little while, but she couldn’t believe Morisaki would do any such thing. Back when they’d first begun their journey, though, she might have reached a different conclusion. “……” Asuna kept eating her dinner for a little while, but then, she suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Morisaki.” She’d needed courage to open her mouth, but she couldn’t keep this inside. Morisaki had noticed something odd about her behavior. “What?” he asked dubiously. Asuna wasn’t sure where she should begin. But she’d started this conversation, and she couldn’t back out now. “My father died when I was little.” Morisaki put another piece of potato in his mouth. “And your mother works at the clinic. You’re a typical latchkey kid, but it’s definitely been helpful on this journey. I should thank you.” “—Oh, no, you don’t have to…” “No.” Morisaki shook his head. “I’ve been on my own for quite a while, too. I’m pretty sure I’ve got what it takes to live. Plus, I was active with the Arch Angels, so I have plenty of experience with sleeping rough. But…” He shared another bit of potato with Mimi. “I’m not sure how to put this— Let’s see.” Morisaki thought for a minute. “For now, let’s set aside questions of necessity. The thing is…” He paused for a little while. “If you hadn’t been here, this would have been a much harsher journey.” You’re the one who made it richer. That word had occurred to him, but he’d avoided it. Why? It might have been because this was a journey for Lisa’s sake, and he felt there was no possible place for “richness” in it. “—I’m sorry. I started talking about myself. You were about to tell me about your father.” “Oh, um, yes.” Asuna gazed at the potato in her hand. It was steaming, speckled with grains of salt. It was a rough, wild meal. Not that it would have been any different if she’d made it. “What I meant was that I don’t really know what fathers are like. I remember the lullaby mine used to sing to me, but almost nothing else.” “Hmm?” Morisaki sent her a glance, signaling for her to go on. Asuna paused for the space of another breath and then spoke again. “Mr. Morisaki…” She had to say the rest all in a rush. “If—” Her voice cracked. She tried again. “If I had a father, I think this might be what it would feel like.” Her voice grew softer and softer, like a deflating balloon. “……” Morisaki seemed stunned. And then… “Don’t be silly,” he said, blunt but honest. That night, Morisaki dreamed about the time he’d been laid up with a fever. Raven-haired Lisa was sitting by the bed, quietly playing a hand-cranked music box. “This is unusual. You almost never get sick,” she said, noticing that Morisaki had opened his eyes. “Collapsing is usually my job.” “I’m sorry…” Lisa giggled. “If you’re really sorry, would you promise me one thing?” “…What is it?” “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself, even after I’m gone.” Only now did it occur to him that Lisa had already been prepared for her own death, even back then. In fact…Morisaki might have been the only one who wasn’t. “Lisa… The next mission will be over quickly. Once I get back, let’s go to my country together. If we do, I’m sure your illness will—” “That isn’t what I meant.” Despite the interruption, her voice was kind. “All people die someday. There aren’t any exceptions.” Lisa set the music box on the desk. Next to the paper bag with all those pills. “The only difference is whether it happens earlier or later.” He didn’t want to hear this. “For me, it’s going to be just a little bit sooner than it will be for you.” I especially don’t want to hear it straight from you. “It’s already decided.” Morisaki gazed at Lisa. His eyes were solemn. “Lisa…,” he said. “That’s not true. You won’t go away. I’m not leaving you, either.” Then, gently, he squeezed her hand. “I’m not saying good-bye now. Not ever.” Meanwhile, Asuna was also dreaming. Her dream was about the music she’d heard just once. Up on the outcrop, in a pleasant spring breeze, she’d tuned her radio, and the music had leaped into her ears. The moment she heard it, the land of Agartha had opened up before her eyes, and two memories connected. She finally understood. “Oh… The land I saw when I was listening to the radio was Agartha.” As she murmured to herself, she realized that Shun was sitting beside her and smiling as kindly as ever. He stood, holding out a hand to her. “Let’s go, Asuna. This is a journey to learn how to say good-bye.” Asuna took Shun’s hand and stood up— “Asuna! Wake up!” At the sudden shout, she opened her eyes. What was going on? Morisaki was right in front of her. Beside him, Mimi was glaring up ahead, her eyes sharp— Up ahead. When Asuna sat up and looked in that direction, she saw a grotesque monster. It’s not like the Quetzal Coatls, she realized in the space of a moment. She couldn’t have said exactly what was different, but she knew it wasn’t a Quetzal Coatl. It was gray all over. It had six legs—no, four. It stood on the ground with four legs and held two arms out toward her, as if it was beckoning. It gazed at her with red, glowing, pupilless eyes. Other similar monsters surrounded them. “Run, Asuna!” She couldn’t respond. As Morisaki pulled her along, she mutely ran after him. Mimi jumped up onto her shoulder. The gray monsters moved slowly, but they were tenacious pursuers. The three ran across the grassy plain, climbed a rocky slope, and cut through a ruin. She had no idea how far they had gone when the time finally came. “Asuna, come on!” “…!” Morisaki was still pulling her arm. She wasn’t even conscious of running anymore. She just staggered along, putting one foot in front of her, then putting the other foot down to keep herself from falling. However, there was a big difference in stamina between a very ordinary girl and a man who’d been an active Arch Angel. Asuna did her best. But— As Morisaki tried to pull her forward, Asuna stumbled on a rock. The monsters didn’t let the opportunity go by. A monster leaped at them, swinging its arm down and separating Asuna’s and Morisaki’s hands. Their situation only got worse from there, as monsters swarmed between the two of them. “Asuna!” Morisaki drew the gun from the holster on his hip and fired. It didn’t seem to affect the monsters. Even when the bullets hit home, the wounds promptly closed back up. “Run for it! Go, now!” With Morisaki’s voice in her ears, Asuna started running again.