THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 301: 301. THE KAI’S DECISION

”Finally, someone worthy of killing with my blade,” Sagiri said in a cold voice before he moved. He stared straight at Kai of the south, his head lifted slightly, before a smile appeared on his face.

He rolled Nokai once in his hand. The canyon went silent. As the two stared at each other. The general maintained his stance, and the men beside him did the same. How very honourable. Perhaps he and Felunka could go to war, and he could learn a thing or two about a demeanor befitting of a general.

Then Sagiri moved.

He stepped onto the very edge of the wall. He simply lowered himself slightly into a crouch. He swung Nokai and rested the blade on his naked shoulder, where the fore had eaten away his clothing. His wounds had healed, but his shoulder was still slightly tender. For a moment, nothing happened, and there was silence. Then suddenly the stone beneath his feet exploded.

The wall cracked outward as Sagiri launched himself into open air. He dropped quickly this time. He couldn’t wait to face the man standing below. He was sure he could be an honourable man to fight. His body cut downward through the canyon with terrifying speed, what remained of his cloak and burned cloth snapping violently behind him while gravity pulled him straight toward the shattered battlefield below. He swung Nokai midway and held it angled backwards slightly, while its other side faced forward.

The fall looked deliberate. Soldiers watched his blackened silhouette descend through the canyon lights. An impact even louder than that of the general shuttered and shook the ground where Sagiri landed in a crouch. Stone collapsed outward beneath him in a violent circle, and dust erupted into the air as cracks spread across the already broken impact field. One hand pressed into the ground. Nokai remained in the other.

For a second, he stayed there, head lowered, soot particles rising from his burned robes. Then he slowly lifted his eyes straight toward the Kai.

”The Kai of the south. Your archery skills only rival one other man I have ever seen.” Sagiri said sincerely.

The general nodded slightly.

”That man over there is mine. He tried to kill me twice, even after I asked to enter the city politely. Are the N’folu by any chance not allowed in the capital of Thazir?” Sagiri said with a raised eyebrow. At this moment, his squad had found a way, and they were running to his side. They stood behind him defensively. Sagiri was starting to think he should have dropped them a little further, but that could still be done after he was done rendering the south generaless.

”I will appreciate it if you don’t get between a man who tried to kill me and my fighters for no reason and me. Anyone who harms my friends, I don’t forgive easily.” Sagiri said, turning to the commander.

”Then you will be killing the wrong man.” The kai finally spoke. His voice was calm and collected even in this situation.

”The wrong man? I asked him to call a person from the council to give me the chief and last N’folu a warm welcome, but I must have misspelled it because instead of a warm welcome, a fireball welcomed me, and dare I say it was too warm, I could have thought he wanted me to burn alive.” Sagiri said his voice laced with sarcasm, but the cold intent would not be mistaken.

”Only the city lord gave an order for the fire cannons.” The general said. Sagiri turned around, but his intent was still cold.

”So that is who gave the command? Well then, I am thankful for you stopping me, but will you be kind enough to call the city Lord so I can teach him a lesson on etiquette?” Sagiri asked, his lip trembling a little.

”I can’t do that, but my messenger bird dropped a message that you were holding prisoner all the gatekeepers. If someone comes to your house and holds your child hostage, then you will get angry, won’t you?” The general’s voice was still calm and composed.

”Are you also calling me a stranger, Kai of the south. I almost thought you were smarter and would recognize a blade only the N’folu can wield. Or should I test it on your neck?” Sagiri said his killing intent was growing to suffocation levels.

”I have not said anyone is wrong or anyone is right.” The general said. ”And neither have I said you are not a N’folu.”

”So you neither deny nor accept?” Sagiri said with a sigh.

Sigh

”Now then, if you want to stop me, I think we should take this fight away from the city if you don’t want to have to bury half of it by the end of it,” Sagiri said. The general looked unfazed. Suddenly, Sagiri felt something slither on his hand.

Sagiri looked down suddenly, and beauty was crawling up his hand to wrap around his wrist. It had grown suddenly longer and thicker. It snarled a small, strange voice, looking directly at the general before it lay its head down and rested.

”Thank you so much for the help, Zaira. But you should wait till you are older before you can throw a tantrum. Your mom will be disappointed if she sees how mannerless you have become, interrupting adults.” Sagiri spoke to the little beast lovingly before he turned to face his gaze, turning colder.

The general shifted to look at the beast in wonder, and those beside him were the same. Well, it was indeed a beautiful beast. Sagiri pulled his ripped cloth over the now sleeping beast.

”Well then. What will it be? I am used to being sent away from places, but I will not leave capital Thazir or the south.” Sagiri said before he swung Nokai and pointed it at the heart of the general. He cracked his neck and waited. The archive hummed, and the markings on his body crawled in answer to his emotions. Which, at the moment, were a little hurt, though he dared not admit it.

Zafaru, the kai of the south, stood motionless for a few seconds after Sagiri’s declaration while over a hundred elite warriors waited behind him in complete silence.

Then, finally, he spoke.

”Everyone, keep your weapons!” His voice carried across the canyon without effort. ”Show respect.”