Lower Gates of Qaelang,

Gutter rats,

“Hold up Davi.” Culus slowed, pulling Davi by the arm to the side.

“What are you doing Culus? Don’t slow down, we’re nearly there!”

“Wait a moment brother. If we just push through, we’ll be trampled for sure. Let’s head to the sides.”

“Are you mad?” Replied an exasperated Davi. “They’re whipping from the sides!”

“Exactly. You want broken bones or a lashing?”

“Dammit Culus, our bundles will burst! This is what I get for following you out of the city today, we should have never left the walls. Everyone’s been saying we were long overdue a Beast Wave.”

“Oh Davi, stop. Everyone is always saying something. Last month it was Mermen invaders trying to come up the river to steal our womenfolk and don’t get me started on that drivel of metal being hidden under the mountain. In all likehood, it was just a corpse that got snagged in a fisherman’s net and gossip did the rest.

Please show me a rumor or gossip that’s ever accurate enough to actually do some good, and by the First, I didn’t force you to come with. Takers Pits, I haven’t been able to shake you for three days now.”

Davi rolled his eyes but moved to follow.

Yeah buddy, fat chance of that happening. I know you are up to something?

“Ok Davi, get behind me and stay low. And don’t let go of my hand until we pass through the Blessed Gate.”

With the freshly cut bundles of grass held tightly under their arms, the boys pressed into the heaving throng. The cries of alarm and pain intermingled as the crowd drew nearer the gate. Every forager, grass cutter, woodsman, peat harvester and all those who supplied the City of Qaelang its many sundries, heaved as one to gain entry.

The great unwashed and unloved coreless masses.

“Keep moving! No blocking of the gateway.”

The Gatesman yelled over the press of the throng, whipping any and all who came close enough. As junior Watchmen, their strength of Cultivation was deemed sufficient enough to guard a gate traversed almost entirely by the coreless peasantry. Still, it was not enough to survive venturing too deep into that throng.

“Oh come on you dirt shovellers. There’s more behind you, keep it moving” Called the second guardsman as he waved the hand-sized, monk's lantern. At this stage, he was just going through the motions and could barely hear the screaming ornate wooden box over this rabble.

In the madness of the rush and the struggle to keep it orderly, the gates Watchman failed to take note of his box going silent. Too late did he realise, that that odd purring sound was coming from the monk lantern in his very hand.

Horrified at the realisation, he immediately shook it in disbelief. Fervently looking about for the attack, he could sense nothing, nor could he find the threat within the crowd. Panic seized him by the throat.

“Si.. Sir… SARGEANT! Lepratic, we have a ...!

Desperately he blew on the gate horn.

With a resounding slap on the back of the guardsman’s head, a red-faced Sergeant responded in record time.

“Silence you fool.” He barked, yanking the horn out of his subordinate's lips. He raised his arms placatingly holding the horn up, desperately calming any signs of panic.

Quick to swat down any of the coreless who appeared on the edge of hysteria. As soon as the flow of traffic returned to ‘relative normalcy’, he grabbed the guardsman by the collar.

Merciful Giver man! Are you trying to start a stampede on the Emperor’s Ascendant Road? Think man! His wagons are still out there.

But Sir the beetles, they...

“Give me that,” growled the Sergeant as he snatched the lantern box, filled with cicada beetles.

Giving it a quick shake, he frowned as none of the beetles within protested the maltreatment. It was a fresh one from just this morning, he knew. He’d brought it down himself.

Activating his Cultivation aura, the Sergeant waded through the startled crowd, easily clearing a path single handily.

Cries of protest went up as people were crushed and shoved aside, but he ignored them all. Focusing his attention instead on any nearby powerful aura signatures.

Nothing.

None, but his men came anywhere close. Still actively Cultivating, he felt something had definitely passed through, but it was gone now.

Ah, Shi-bal.

He had hoped to have been quick enough, but whoever the carrier was they were already long gone. They hadn’t stopped and must have pushed on through the crowd in a rush.

They were aware.

Grinding his teeth, he looked up the thickly packed Ascendant Road and then back out the Moor Gates where the Emperor's Wagons were rapidly picking up their harvest.

Double Shi-bal.

With a wave approaching it would be better he take his own head for leaving his post. Making up his mind he grabbed the offending guardsman.

“I want you to listen very carefully, Watchman. Go now to the first platform and inform them we need more people to help manage the flow of bodies. Then quietly inform whoever the Sergeant is, that after a ‘certain incident’ here, it is critical that a Night Watch is immediately despatched up at the Third Gate.”

“You’re going to get laughed at and that’s ok. After he’s done laughing or cussing you say exactly; It would be best if the Night Watch brings his personal Lantern with him. Can you do that?”

“Sir?” Replied the panicky guardsman. “First Platform? That’s the Salamander Sho…”

“I know whose platform it is you damned fool! Do you want to run to the 80’th instead? We’re on a time frame here, get yourself together man! You need only approach it, it should be surrounded by Sergeants. Deal only with the first one who approaches you.

Now get out of here before I write you down as the sole reason for this total failure in duty.

Shoguns Platform,

Second Wall,

Cries of alarm from panicked citizenry rose as the Gate Horn blew discordantly. Those who had made it this far pressed desperately against the crowd as hundreds further out quailed in dismay.

The gates would shut regardless of the number on the wrong side of them and yet the great spiked doors remained wide.

High above a parapet, far more richly adorned in pelts and ivory than any other along the second wall. The only person with the authority to have them shut glanced over to the sound of the unauthorised alarm being violently silenced.

Bad enough that control was slipping soon, his irratation was made even worse for the part he had played in allowing it to happen.

Damn those wagons. Give a hand, and they’ll take your soul. Bastards.

With a casual flick of his wrist, he beckoned two of his most powerful Preafects closer. With a practiced eyebrow and gentle tone, the Salamander used this opportunity to paint a picture of his liking.

Carefully crafting his words for the benefit of the new Noble blooded Captains, who shared in the glory of his association.

“Out there beyond the walls of civilisation, my dear Captains, the Emperor's Servants have had adversity come against them in their monthly harvest. Who here amongst the strongest and finest equipped, will go out and assist in the safe return of the Emperor's wagons?

An awkward silence fell on the young captains as worried and confused glances were exchanged.

He can’t be serious? Leave the city and step into that filth, how can he ask that of us? The goods are lost, blood washes off easier than shame.

Kept safe and near for the time being, the Shogun understood that the families of these pampered young men expected great things to come of them. Their purses had demanded it. They had yet to be assigned posts or even receive Keys of command.

The ugly truth of it was they were far from ready for the courage of leadership, and at this stage stood more of a chance of being offed by their own men in the thick of battle.

Carefully he studied their expressions and was pleased to note the lack of a single openly hostile stare.

Thank the Giver, no High’s in this batch.

Admittedly he could have checked the lists for himself, but he’d had a manservant for that and had long since fallen out of the habit. Perhaps a suitable replacement would be found here.

Unlikely.

Most would be dead long before the year was out, and no few due to the blades of ambition. Such was the curse of young blood.

The Salamander had long since perfected his theatrics to help save them from themselves. Molding them into the positions their families had paid for. And so, close they remained, for as long as their benefits outweighed their costs.

“Kido,” addressing the more violent of the two Preafects. “Which family do you serve?”

“The Watch, Seo-sang,” he answered without hesitation.

With a smile the Salamander stepped forward and rested a hand on the mans shoulder, looking out past him at the towering wall of billowing mists. He could already feel them within.

“Then you are fortunate my Sacred Artist. For the only family gathered here on this day of battle, is that of The Watch.”

“I want you to go out there and assist the Emperor's wagons in an immediate return. I should like very much to close the City gates before the wave gets here.”

Judging by the faces of the true recipients of his words, he felt his point was made. No leadership was safe from the politics of Qaelang and he preferred not sharing a platform with blades not yet Oathsworn.

Mentally though, the Salamander sent out a more direct command. His true anger at being snubbed by the royal waggoneers almost overwhelmed the Preafect.

Those fecal peddlers of a wretched child think it within their right to defy me? Beast shagging Pyeanchi’s know damn well what the red banner signifies. Never again will I make consideration for them. Their blatant disobedience cannot stand, the insult is too much!

Kido! You are permitted to instruct them of an immediate return to the City by any means necessary, but you may do so verbally only once. Should their acquiescence be lacking in any form, I expect you to instruct in a more vigorous manner.

The Shogun paused, steadying himself with a gentle smile

But for Taker’s sake. Don’t lose a single wagon.

“Your will Seo-Sang.”

With that, he leapt for a lifeline.

With perfect balance and arms wide, he ran smoothly across the rope all the way to the first Wall. Even before he reached it, the men parted for him as he leapt without pause over the giant catapult and right off the viciously spiked high wall.

The eyes of those standing ready atop the first wall turned and followed the man who flew off towards the mists. Clearing vast distances with leaps and bounds, he drew on his core. Bearing one of six of the Shoguns banners, he was the personified message of intent.

Ascendant Road,

Rice Fields of Qaelang,

“Giver be merciful,” Davi rubbed his sore spot. “Bastard hit me for no reason,” he whined.

Culus gave the boy an incredulous look as he pulled him into the slower moving throng.

“That’s what you get for being fat! And you’re lucky that’s all you got with that blond hair of yours showing through again. Seriously Davi, the eyes’ and the hair? You like an Oni, now cover up.”

“Who you calling fat?” Davi threatened, grudging obeying and tucking loose strands back under his conical rice hat.

Both boys had them, but somehow Davi’s kept coming off.

Culus just chuckled. There wasn’t a single fat orphan in all of Qaelang that he knew of, so when you took Davi’s unique heritage into account and his slightly larger shoulders. He was it.

Having passed through the first and second gates, the boys now had the fun part of the trek ahead of them. All the way back up the mountain city of Qaelang.

“Ugh,” muttered Culus. “I bet if they had more of those baton-wielding Watchmen along the road, we would get there so much quicker.”

Davi was about to give his choice opinion on said baton wielders, but the sudden blast of the Gate horn silenced him. Both boys paused, looking at each other in shock and then back out at the panicking crowd. There were still hundreds.

“Move, move.” Culus grabbed Davi as the boys surged forward once more picking up the pace, neither wanting to be trampled.

The crowd understood the alarm and picked up the pace quickly, unfortunately that pace wasn’t much of an improvement though.

Culus felt a nauseous dread rise in the pit of his stomach, it was made worse at the thought that they had only just escaped that fate for themselves. Sparing a glance at the poor souls still outside he noted the gate still open even though the horn had stopped, yet still, he felt nauseous. He didn’t know those people, nor was he in any way responsible for them.

Life was hard in Qaelang, made even worse for orphans and runaways. Though he encouraged a sense of decency amongst his thieving nest, he was surprised at himself for feeling this strongly about those unfortunates. Whilst cutting it close, everyone was well aware those gates closed often on the peasantry.

Any caught on the other side of the wall would have to wait on the caged gauntlets to open, passing safely through the Shoguns Arena. It was their only way in and yet that was still no reason for him to feel this strongly about it.

What was with this unease?

Only when he heard Davi and some others nearby begin gagging did he realise something seriously wasn’t right. And then he saw it.

His nausea felt like a hard-pressed boot to the stomach, as his eyes locked onto the cloaked figure, its rice hat slightly larger and showing little wear. The figure glided through the crowd with an unnatural ease and the air above seemed to warp like rising steam. Worse it was heading right towards the boys.

People bent over clutching their stomachs, some collapsing entirely as the mystery person moved through the crowd rapidly, indifferent of their cries. He watched as some poor soul keeled over dropping his load. Even though he was barely touched, the man still threw up violently.

The hairs on Culus’s arm suddenly rose, whatever was under the cloak had paused and looked up directly at him. It was as if the figure could feel Culus’s eyes. Realising what he was looking at, he almost choked in fear, squeezing on Davi’s arm in panic.

Beneath the cowl a pair of red eye’s glowed briefly as they fell on Culus, their quarry found. Realising it was being watched, the figure lowered its gaze once more and surged forward with an increased pace. Culus was having none of it.

Pulling Davi forcefully by the arm, he yanked him over the shorter terrace and into the giant rice paddies that covered the entire climb of the mountain city.

“Hey! What are you doing?” Davi protested as he tried to pull his arm free. “ Whoa, there are Pyeanchi in these paddies, Culus. Let go. STOP.”

Culus did no such thing, sprinting onwards. Dragging Davi after him, away from the Ascendant road and deeper into the rice paddy. Until all eyes could see them clearly without effort, the passing peasants were deeply nervous. Only fools would dare trespass into the rice paddies of the Six Noble families.

He had never seen one with glowing eyes before, but he knew a Lepratic when he saw one. He also knew he didn’t stand a chance against it and so he bet everything on it preferring not to expose itself. If it persisted and came for them, then he would scream to the high Nines out in the Noble’s rice paddy. That sort of ruckus got an armed response pretty quickly.

How in the Pit had it gotten through both Gates, they were supposed to check for this exact thing.

The cloaked figure slowed as it drew upon the area the boys had just been, quickly searching about for the one who had spotted it. Snarling beneath its rags, it spotted the pair of grass haulers far out in an awfully exposed rice paddy.

Pausing for only a second, she felt a terrible hunger for one who had spotted her first. For some reason, he was covered up in rags from head to toe, almost as much as her.

Davi finally had enough, turning on Culus for his insane behaviour, he paused as soon as he saw Culus’s eyes suddenly go wide in fear. Then it was his turn as Culus instantly ducked and pulled him along, face first in the rice paddy’s filthy waters.

Turning just in time to see it had reached where they had been moments ago, he watched as it raised an arm and pointed directly at him.

“Shi-bal!”

Culus ducked pulling Davi below the muddy waters, with great resolve he stayed submerged even as he felt the many small creatures within, swim and bump into his exposed face. He held the thrashing Davi down for a second longer and with a frightened vindication felt as a wave of heat and disgust blew over them. Davi’s thrashing stopped.

About to swear blue murder, Davi’s anger turned to shock as he felt the air burn and warp above him. His struggles in the muddy waters stilled completely as he trusted in Culus’s rashfulness once more. He didn’t have to wait all that long before he was yanked out of the shallow waters.

Filthy water glistening off his face, he immediately looked where Culus had been staring and saw a shadowy figure slip into the crowd and disappear.

“Are you ok?” Culus hissed as he vigorously patted him down, searching for any taint or burning.

With a slap, he was shaken out of his daze and could hear Culus once more.

“Hey! What the Pit?”

Culus sighed in relief. “Good, you’re ok.” His scowl quickly returned as he noted his friends face contort.

Davi grimaced in fright as he raised a shaky finger, and pointed at Culus’s face.

Culus reached for his face gingerly, right where he’d felt something brush past him whilst he had taken his dip in the paddy.

“Ah! Get it off! Get it off!” Frantically Culus pulled at the fat stripy blood sucking leech. His fingers unable to secure a firm grip of the slimy critter.

“Aagh!” Davi quailed as he too freaked out. “I’m not touching that. It’s a… it’s a Pyeanchi!”

“It’s not a Pyean..!”

A second toothy maw sprouted on the little bloodsucker and immediately latched itself onto Culus’s exposed cheek gorging itself.

“Aargh! Davi. IT’S A PYEANCHI! Do something!”

Both boys screamed, hopping in the paddy as the slimy leech wriggled and swelled, Davi almost dancing on the spot. But as soon as he saw a third bulge begin to swell and grow, he reached back and swung true.

With a resounding smack, a head came loose, dazed from the blow almost as much as a stunned Culus. Davi didn’t let up and quickly delivered another in a series of slaps until the little monster finally fell free.

As the slimy vermin hit the water it burst into steaming white flame. Both its heads writhing and screeching as its jaws gnashed wildly seeking some purchase. In mere seconds it was dead, still sizzling and floating on top of the water.

Shocked Culus felt at his face, tenderly wiping away the flowing blood with his fingertips. Struggling against the urge to strangle his best friend, he reminded himself he too had helpfully slapped Davi earlier.

But that thought only made him double-check his friends eyes for any hint of mischievousness, finding none he dropped it. As excessive as those slaps had been, he was far more embarrassed about it.

“Uhm, okay,” he muttered. “So… clearly they can survive the Ki waters before they mutate. I keep telling you how much those monsters have it out for me. This proves it. Damn thing suicided itself on me.”

“Uh, Culus?” Davi intoned, stepping away from his floating bundle of grass. “I think there might be more than Ki in here.”

Culus looked to where Davi pointed and shuddered. Quickly looking for the cloaked figure once more. The Fallen was long gone... He hoped.

“Don’t touch it!” Culus pulled Davi back as the boy reached for the smoking bundle.

“Leave it alone buddy, you can have mine. Let's get out of here before it spreads. Some rich prick is about to be very angry at their failed crop.”

The boys hurriedly made their way back towards the Ascendant road, minus one bundle of grass.

“Culus, was that a...”

“Oh, don’t you dare! Don’t you dare say it Davi. The last thing we need now is your Takers kissed luck bringing about our ruin. You know damn well what that was.”

He felt Davi’s grip on his arm loosen and nearly fall away as he suddenly slowed. Surprised Culus rounded on him, noting the genuine fright on his younger friend's face.

Instantly he regretted his brusk manner, only now realising Davi didn’t care one bit for the embarrassing Pyeanchi episode. Clearly, he was far more upset about the Lepratic. Culus cursed himself silently, he should have remembered how bad a reaction Davi had had the last time the boys had seen them rampaging around the city.

“I’m sorry Davi, I guess I’m just kinda shook up too. Listen, we’re alive and well and that’s all that matters. We need to get back to the others, then we can discuss all of this. With the Beast wave happening, they should all be gathering already.”

Davi just nodded quietly before Culus gently pulled him towards the road.

“Nest and safety first, but yes Davi that just happened. Fortunately, it’s a problem that has absolutely nothing to do with us coreless citizens.”

He glanced about nervously, as the soaking wet pair stepped back onto the Ascendant Road. Luckily none protested their presence as they moved back into the crowd. Some even went as far as to make a space for them, although Culus put that down as simply not wanting to press up against a drowned rat.

None here would look for trouble, it was not the coreless way.

Out in a rice paddy, the waters slowly churned as a dropped bundle of grass blackened and curled on its own. Disappearing beneath the water, a dark rainbow sheen rose from its watery grave, spreading along the surface. Where the dark sheen spread, smaller creatures within the water floated to the top, upside down.

The tainted waters didn’t spread all that far, but where they did, it killed almost everything it touched.