TRC - Lord of the Glass Desert Ch. 35

Dioga looked at Kal. "We might give this a try before considering traveling across the world."

The mage smiled. "I don't blame you one bit."

Kal's smile vanished.

"Kal?" asked Kashka, then blinked a few times before her eyes widened. "It's time," she said to the others lounging in the tub.

"LET ME DRY YOU!" shouted Dioga as everyone leapt to their feet or began climbing out of Zakku's tub. "It'll take forever to get dressed if you get out wet," she snapped while spreading out to encapsulate her occupants, then withdrew, leaving their skin dry.

Everyone dressed in a rush and jogged into town, picking up Senza on the way. They caused quite a stir as they made their way to the meeting hall, and by the time they arrived, a gaggle of people had decided to follow the group of men and monster girls containing two of the tournament winners.

An Azum woman arrived at the meeting hall just before them, looking like she had run the entire way there. She nearly tripped running up the stairs before throwing one of the large doors in front open.

"Ikuno will be here soon!" the woman shouted to the startled councilors.

"Are you certain, Chihiro?" the head councilman asked before looking beyond Chihiro at Kal's group ascending the stairs and the crowd behind them.

The woman glanced behind her, then looked at the frowning councilmen, her face a mask of fear. "I did not--"

Asahi stepped forward. "Our mage friend is also sensitive to matters of the spirit realm and believes Ikuno's return is on the horizon. Your messenger did not invite us along."

The councilmen's faces softened."Very well then," said the man who began Ikuno's festival two days ago. Turning to Chihiro, he said, "Call the hair-dressers and tailors, then assemble the rest of the winners to be made presentable for Ikuno."

"Do we have that much time?" Senza asked Kal as the woman bolted past them and ran off.

"It feels like she's far away but walking toward us. I think we do," he replied.

---

Two hours later, Kal and his friends stood before the gate to Ikuno's shrine along with the council members, the other winners, most of the town, and a few tournament-goers who had yet to leave.

Based on Ikuno's memories, Kal had expected a small pile of rocks by the side of the road with markings on them. Her shrine had become a small estate of its own since her last visit and was now encircled by a tall and very solid-looking brown fence. The two guards posted at the gate pushed it open to reveal a large building directly ahead. Its open front doors exposed the pile of stones inside, dimly lit by the afternoon sun. To the right side of the building was a small orchard with walking paths among the trees and a meticulously kept flower garden. On the left side stood a small house with a shed beside it. The house provided a home for the shrine's caretaker and his wife, who stood on either side of the main path and bowed deeply as the mass of people entered the grounds.

Kal had wanted to visit Ikuno's shrine as soon as they arrived but discovered they had shut and locked the gates, putting them under guard to keep out any potential vandals among those coming for the tournament. Getting into the shrine would have been easy, but he didn't feel like it was worth annoying the people of Sayaka if he were seen. Besides, he was there for Ikuno, not a pile of rocks, no matter how dressed up they were.

The councilmen stopped the crowd as the tournament winner's attendants laid pillows on the path for each of them to kneel upon. Asahi and the other two men wore loose white pants and no shirts. Instead, their chest and arms had been coated in fragrant oils. The human woman wore a simple white dress that fit her curves perfectly, though she seemed much more interested in Asahi and the men than what was happening in front of her. She also was not the actual winner but the third-place finisher as the winner and second-place had lovers already and no interest in this portion of their victories.

The tailors of Sayaka decided to put some effort into Senza's look. Though she only wore a simple white top and shorts that matched the other winners, the scales on the pangolin's arms had been polished and oiled, so they shimmered in the sun. Her hair was styled like an Azum noble's and small, brightly-colored flowers were tucked beneath the scales on her back and tail. It looked like she wore a cloak made of flowers.

But Kal couldn't concentrate on any of that more than a cursory glance. The messenger from earlier, Chihiro, and a man next to her, along with the caretaker and his wife, all seemed agitated and looking around nervously as though expecting an attack instead of their patron spirit to appear.

Ikuno felt close, and though his heart soared knowing she would be here in moments, it also raced from the idea Azrin was likely watching as closely as he was.

A thought flickered across his mind, and he began pushing his way through the crowd.

"Kashka, get those two and bring them with," he said, pointing at Chihiro and the man beside her with one hand while beginning to draw a spell with the other.

When he reached the front of the crowd, Asahi looked back at him and smiled, "I thought you at least give us a moment to shine before--" his smile faded upon seeing Kal's expression. "What's wrong?"

"Somebody stop that man! He'll ruin everything!" a councilman shouted, pointing at Kal.

"Ikuno has enemies," the mage answered Asahi while ignoring the councilman. "Enemies she can't protect herself from. It's why I came." Kal stepped past Asahi and pointed at the caretaker and his wife. "You two, come with me," he said as he finished drawing the spell but didn't activate it.

"What are we doing?" Kashka called out as she dragged Chihiro and the man towards him.

"Remember how Azrin attacked you through me? I don't know what these people's connection to Ikuno is, but I don't want him trying the same thing with them."

Kashka shuddered before leaving her two confused charges with Kal and retrieving the caretaker and his wife.

"Stop this! Stop this at once! Guards! Take him away!" the councilman shouted.

Kal saw the two guards from the gate jogging around the townsfolk and called out, "Ria, give Asahi my staff. Asahi, keep them busy until Ikuno gets here."

The platinum and gold-tipped staff appeared on the ground in front of the brother. Asahi picked it up and used it to get to his feet. Turning to the crowd he shouted, "Yamori, Ichiro, Yua, our friend needs some protection. Care to help?"

"What is going on?" the caretaker asked Kal. "I feel... hatred... all around us."

"An old lover of Ikuno's wants revenge. He knows she is returning and is searching for her. Can you show me where she will appear?" the mage asked.

"Over here," said Chihiro, pulling Kal forward before stopping a couple of paces in front of the shrine's steps. "Her presence is strongest here."

Kal nodded, It was strange to know he was so close to her, yet she still felt far away. But it was no longer the 'far away' of the other side of the mountains. Instead, it felt as if she were in the woods behind the shrine but at the same time right next to him.

Kashka and the four with some connection to Ikuno stood around him, looking outward nervously as though expecting an attack at any moment. Asahi and the others stood in front of the townsfolk, joined by Senza. Nobody seemed interested in challenging a group of tournament winners and top performers.

"She is here," whispered Chihiro.

Kal saw a hint of blue where the woman was staring and threw his hand up into the air, activating the spell Kelthor had taught him nearly two years ago. The barrier flashed, and Kal winced as something slammed into it. After a brief pause, more impacts followed, each stronger than the last, then joined by a howl of frustration that built into a screech.

Kal's strength rune shined as the force of each hit translated through the barrier into his arm, threatening to shatter his bones.

The attacks slowly weakened, then paused for a few moments. A final strong impact made the mage grab his arm, gasping in pain.

An unexpectedly small, blue, clawed hand reached up with a healing spell in front of it and began mending his arm.

Kal looked to the side. Tears welled up in his eyes as he said, "Hello, beautiful."