Chapter 61 - Split Path

The Next Morning

The 10th day of Winter

"Alright, let's run through everything before we begin." Mai stated as she, Kaden, Jayson, Aaron, Via, General Shih Gao, and Emperor Tuzi all stood at the bottom of the palace's staircase.

"Lady Yetu left on her own to collect the seasonal taxes from the other factions in order to start preparations for the Chūnjié." Jayson explained. "She left before her father could've assigned a guard to go with her because she felt like she didn't need it."

"She also thinks she travels faster on her own." Aaron added.

.....

The previous day during the meeting.

"My daughter is by no means arrogant, but she does lack a sense of fear." Tuzi stated. "She tries to debunk all of my worries with what she calls 'rational logic'. Like, she thinks other factions would never risk starting an altercation with the Emperor's daughter."

"Her mistake is thinking that the others share your sentiment in not wanting to be the one that starts a war." Jayson replied.

"You mentioned that you have a decent relationship with the ox and tiger factions." Mai stated. "Are there any that you have a particularly rough relationship with?"

"... The rat, the monkey, and the snake." Tuzi answered without thinking about it much. "With the rat and monkey, we just haven't been able to see eye to eye for a few years now, but for the snake... There's history there that extends back centuries. They're seen in a bad light by almost every other faction. Ours specifically."

"So we gotta make sure to poke our nose around even more in those areas." Kaden remarked.

"How can we?" Via questioned. "If we travel to the other factions, how are we supposed to get any information without raising suspicion."

"How you uncover information will be for you to figure out, but I can at least give you reason for traveling to the other settlements." Tuzi exclaimed. "Yuta left before I could have given her the details of all I wanted her to do. To begin preparations for the Chūnjié we first need to know what the events are that the other factions would like to participate in. That's what you'll be inquiring about when you go to the other settlements."

.....

"There is one thing in particular I'm worried about." Mai stated. "General Gao, you were able to pick up right away that Jayson has fire essence. Is that something most Ventians would notice?"

"Elite air essence users like myself can sense the slightest of changes in air temperature, pressure and humidity amongst other things." Shih replied. "Fire essence users have a naturally warmer body temperature than others, and if they get close enough, I can feel this in the air around them."

"Which would mean taking him near the other faction leaders wouldn't be smart."

"That is a fair assessment."

"She says all that, but still hasn't detected that I have fire essence too." Kaden thought to himself.

"If that's the case, then I'll stay here." Jayson replied calmly.

"That easy?" Via questioned. "Wasn't it you that wanted to come here and help more than anyone?"

"Yes, and potentially compromising the mission isn't helping."

"There is something else we can have you look into." Tuzi interjected as he walked down the stairs. "While we are suspecting that one of the other factions is involved in this, they aren't the only suspects worthy of investigating. There's been an emerging bandit problem as of late here on the air continent, and it isn't out of the question that they could have played a hand in Yetu's disappearance."

"Bandits?" Mai repeated.

"Yes. They've always been around for as long as I can remember, but activity and reports have skyrocketed in the last five years or so. Shih and her forces have been tracking their movements for a few months, and they believe that they've uncovered their current stronghold."

"So while they're going to the other settlements, you want me to search the bandit's stronghold." Jayson stated.

"Not search. Clear out." Shih reiterated. "The Bái Máquè Bandits have terrorized and caused unrest for too long. Some of their more notable members have some of the most lucrative bounties in the history of Ventus. Their fates have been sealed. Detain who you can, but if you are met with any resistance, there is no need to hesitate to kill."

"... Yes, ma'am." Jayson reluctantly replied.

Everyone could have sensed the uncertainty in Jayson's response.

"No matter how mature he is, he's still just a kid." Kaden thought. "Yeah, he's used to war, but he's probably never had to kill another person himself. That responsibility is a bit much."

"Maybe I-"

"I'll go with him." Aaron exclaimed, interrupting Kaden.

Aaron then locked eyes with Kaden before grinning as he knew that they both were thinking the same thing.

"Having a smaller party would be less suspicious for you guys anyway, and besides, anything I can do Via can do but better."

Via appeared slightly dejected by that comment from Aaron.

"You two would not be taking on this task alone." Shih clarified. "I'll be sending two of my best to lead you. However, like Emperor Tuzi would have stated yesterday, they know nothing of Lady Yetu's disappearance. So you will have to keep your mission a secret from them and follow their lead while simultaneously uncovering whatever you can."

"Understood." Aaron replied.

"To confirm... myself, Kaden, Via, and General Gao will be traveling to the other settlements while Jayson, Aaron, and two of the Nu Zhanshi will be investigating the raider's base."

"..."

"If there are no objections, then we should prepare to set out immediately." Mai stated.

Nobody raised any immediate concerns, but there was an uncertain atmosphere that nobody commented on.

.....

Outside on the bridge, Shih Gao was updating two of her warriors on the current circumstances while the others prepared to go separate ways.

"Why are you being so quiet?" Aaron asked Via as she continued to wear a solemn expression.

"..."

"It's fairly obvious whenever you're upset. It's like you're not even trying to hide it... If it's about my safety, I promise you I will return to you the same as I'm leaving."

"It's not that." Via finally responded. "... For some reason, over the past few days, I've been thinking about this more and more... You're not Venmi."

Aaron was slightly caught off guard by that statement from Via.

"That should be obvious, but I'm becoming more and more aware of it. You speak different, walk different, and handle situations differently than he did. Venmi would never say anything he can do, I can do better. He was always far better than me at everything. That's part of why I admired him so much."

Via could not even make eye contact with Aaron as she relayed her feelings to him.

"While I was having these thoughts, it then came to me. I made a very selfish request back then. Asking you to stay with me... what right do I have to ask something like that? You're a really nice person, and I feel like I've been abusing that for too long now. Maybe we -"

Before she could have finished, Aaron placed his palm on top of Via's head to silence her. He then tilted her head up so that she was finally looking into his eyes.

"If I'm recalling correctly, you never asked me to stay with you." Aaron stated with a slight smile. "I said that I would. I also said that I could never be a substitute for Venmi because he was and will forever be your family. I believe the reason you're having these feelings right now is because you never truly mourned your brother."

"What do you mean?" Via questioned.

"You never came to fully accept that he's gone. Which is why you tried to revive him in that lake. I think that's why you're still comparing me to him."

Via displayed a solemn expression on her face once again as she could not argue against what Aaron was saying.

"Don't look so sad. Grieving takes time, and everyone handles it differently. When we get back, I think I know something that could help you."

"You do?"

"Possibly, but for now, I want you to focus on what's in front of you, alright?"

"... Alright." Via softly replied.

"Good..."

At that moment, Aaron looked up and noticed a figure standing several feet behind Via. A shadow with glowing grey eyes was staring directly at Aaron. Before he knew it, everything and everyone around him was frozen in place as if time had stopped moving. Aaron himself couldn't move either but was fully conscious of what was happening.

"What is this?" Aaron questioned in his head. "Why can't I move?"

The shadow didn't move at all. It just continued to stare at him as white noise began to flood the area. The eerie creature fueled Aaron with anxiety as he had no choice but to gaze into its misty glowing eyes. Aaron's attention then quickly shifted to something moving just out of the corner of his vision. A strong gust of wind blew over him at the same time he regained control over his body. The wind made him flinch, and by the time he opened his eyes again, the figure was gone.

"Aaron?" Via called out to get his attention. "You were spacing out. What's wrong?"

"Was I the only one to experience that?" Aaron thought to himself. "Nothing's wrong, I was just... thinking about something."

"Something important?"

"Possibly..."

Not far from Aaron and Via, General Shih Gao approached Jayson after debriefing two of her women.

"Mister Hillinger -"

"Just Jayson is fine." Jay replied as soon as he heard the greeting.

"... Jayson. This is Captain Wu Mei and her vice captain Lin Siniang. They will be leading the operation to the raider camp."

"A pleasure to meet you both."

General Gao walked beside Jayson to speak subtly unto his ear.

"They have been informed of your fire essence. You have clearance to use it once you are clear of the town."

"Understood." Jayson replied.

Kaden and Mai were gazing over the side of the bridge when Via and Aaron approached them.

"Ready?" Mai asked Via.

"Yeah."

"Kade, I'm trusting you to watch over Via for me." Aaron stated. "Don't let her run ahead on her own."

"Protect Via."

Kaden then remembered what N had told him the last time they spoke.

"Hey Aaron, maybe -"

"It appears everyone is ready." General Gao stated as she and Jayson walked up to them.

"Time to set out." Mai confidently replied.

"No reason to prolong it anymore then. Squad A, you will be using the mountain path to gain elevation and travel northeast. Squad B, we will be exiting the town southeast using the Kunshan Bridge that connects to the mainland."

"Before you leave, one last word." Emperor Tuzi said as he approached from the palace.

Everyone gathered in a semicircle before the emperor as he closed his eyes and appeared to be praying. He then opened his eyes but continued to look at the ground.

"I'm not one for inspirational speeches or anything close to it. I would merely like to express my gratitude and appreciation for you all here today. I pray for protection over you all and that you all return here safely. May the winds guide you to successes."

"Thank you, Emperor Tuzi." Mai responded. "Please relax while we handle matters."

With nothing else being said, the two squads parted for their separate journeys.

"I never got the chance to talk to Aaron." Kaden thought to himself while walking. "I'm sure if he knew that N told me to specifically protect Via, he wouldn't have left her side so easily. It's fine though. I'll look out for her. So you look out for yourself, brother."

.....

Somewhere on the air continent.

Noya and Moya approached a rather ominous entrance of a cave. Moya, who can clearly see what they were gradually closing in on, worriedly grabbed her sister's arm in order to stop her.

"What is it, Moya? What do you see?" Noya asked while signing.

A black substance oozed out of the cave, which appeared to have properties of both a liquid and a gas. It flooded the ground and spilled out of the top of the entrance. The substance absorbed all sunlight, making it an unnervingly deep shade of black.

"It's corruption." Moya answered. "You can't sense it?"

"Nope, my air mapping is showing me just a regular cave in front of us."

"Should we go report this to Mother?"

"What do you think?" Noya questioned.

"... We should." Moya nervously answered.

"She's scared just looking at it." Noya thought to herself. "Just what is this corruption?"