Lawrence left the theater hall not quite sure what to do next. If he was to find the boy or Sakura, where would he go?

Where should I look?

He was now standing on the hardwood patio in front of the theater in a courtyard with an encircling roof in front of him. Beyond the area a group of warriors was approaching.

They had seen him. There was no use in running.

The failed mage stood his ground, nudging the katana at his hip a few inches forward. He was going to have to use the weapon.

The warriors—most of them wore leather armor, some scale and a few none at all—fanned out, barring his escape. He narrowed his eyes, wondering if he even had a chance. He felt good, had a lot of power coursing through his body.

His eyes would no longer be glowing, but some of his luminous runes across his forearms might still be visible if it weren’t for his kimono.

In the group of warriors was a giant samurai wearing an oni mask. The mask was not that of the horned race that had adopted the name, but a mask representing an actual oni demon.

The big one sauntered straight toward him. “I am general Muji,” he said, his fingers tightening around his katana sheath at his hip. “Who are you?”

Lawrence had heard of this general before, though couldn’t recall any information about it, other than that he was a talking point—a foreign general with battle prowess, success, and a force of warriors who idolized him. And a sheer terror in a duel.

This should be interesting… Does it matter what I tell him?

“Ecnerwal Kciwzac,” he said. The amusement wasn’t lost on Lawrence, even in this lethal situation. In fact, it seemed even funnier than before for some reason.

He watched as the huge samurai glanced about, probably working his mouth silently around the name behind his mask, and failing. Evidentially he had decided not to attempt to repeat it, because when he addressed Lawrence, he didn’t do so by name, as was considered honorable between warriors, even opposing warriors such as himself and this samurai. Hopefully. “What are you doing here?” He waited a moment and then drew his sword. He pointed it menacingly at Lawrence, who said nothing. “I ask again, intruder. What are you doing here?”

The failed mage eyed the group surrounding him. He wasn’t going to escape, and there really was no reason to lie. “I’m looking for someone,” he said. “Someone I lost.”

“Put down your sword and you will be allowed to live, gaijin.”