Unfortunately, EDo never got to know the father who gave him that wondrous sword. In the Valley, the brave TsuO-nɛ and his detachment confronted the gang of a notorious pirate and bandit from the Guawarian people called Trouble. Whether this was a name or a nickname is still unknown. However, judging by the stories, his gang proved to be real trouble for the whole Valley. The pirates plundered caravans and killed people while constantly escaping justice. Valiant TsuO-nɛ and his troop surrounded the lair of Trouble and destroyed the dangerous gang but one Guawar managed to escape. A few days later, the corpse of TsuO-nɛ was found in the square of the city of Dalaal with a knife in its back.
This sad story was told many years later to the still young EDo by the udoğan Goro, who once fought under the leadership of TsuO-nɛ. EDo swore to take revenge on the murderer, sooner or later. He told DoAyve the story of his life one dark night by the fire when they were on a demon raid. A young DoAyve was so impressed by his commander that the next day he killed as many as a dozen creatures.
DoAyve also knew of EDos cherished dream: to find an ancient relic called the Demons Flesh. It was with the help of this object, endowed with ancient magic, that the traveler from the south, Azir Amunjadee, once passed through the Path of Horror and got to the country of the Ulutau. EDo, in turn, wished to cleanse the Path of Horror from terrible creatures forever, thereby ending the demons of the northwest and freeing the path to the allied nation.
In the life of DoAyve, it should be said, there was nothing that he himself considered truly heroic. He had been born into a simple family and he fought decently, like an ordinary warrior. But to fight with dignity is a duty, an obligation of any Itoshin, and it is improper to wait to be praised for a fulfilled debt.
Two years earlier, during the Battle of the Sharp-Toothed Gorge, DoAyve met EDo, who appreciated his military skills and took him into his troop. DoAyve gladly accepted the offer. Besides, in that battle, his first udoğan had fallen, and the young man remained without a commander. Recently, EDo made him his first assistant and began to prophesy DoAyve the title of udoğan. It began to embarrass the young warrior. He was only eighteen years old.
Glorious EDo became udoğan at nineteen! And to him, to DoAyve, there were still many more years of fighting until the title!
But the young man tried to think less about the future. He did what he had to do he served the Emperor, listened to his commander, and killed demons.
He had not expected to go to the Valley. But he was glad that it had all worked in this way.
He considered the Valley to be a place of merchants, not warriors, but everything had changed now. Uncertainty awaited them ahead. To walk without fear and doubt into the unknown is the essence of the warrior, said the Code.
Moreover, if DoAyve stayed to live in Shohan, he would have certainly been overwhelmed by his spiritual anguish.
It all started recently, when during one glorious evening he met the beautiful Reyve on the shore of Moon Lake. DoAyve was practicing with his sword. DoAyve could tell that she momentarily evaluated his swordplay as she walked by.
Not only the men of the Itoshins are able to handle weapons both boys and girls take up steel at the age of six. And though there are fewer female warriors than male, it is believed that a woman should also be able to protect her home during a sudden attack of demons.
But that evening, Reyve was just strolling. She walked along the shore, a light wind ruffling her hair. DoAyve asked her name, she answered. He gave his, and she smiled and left. DoAyve tried to continue practicing, but realized his hands could no longer hold the sword. It embarrassed him. He returned to his house upset and couldnt fall asleep for a long time.
Since then, he saw Reyve several times on the streets of Shohan, and she would sweetly smile at him. He didnt know what to do with himself! Although his favorite spot to practice was on the lake shore, he knew he could no longer work there because if he saw her, he would clumsily drop the sword.
But he soon realized he it wasnt about Moon Lake! When he was thinking of her, he wasnt thinking about the battles and the Dotsu Code. His hands could not hold the sword even when training in other places. Yes, the Itoshins are just people. They build their families, give birth to children but these feelings prevented him from being a warrior! The body didnt obey, the head didnt work! Even EDo noticed him changing. But DoAyve said nothing to the commander.
When EDo announced that in a few days their detachment was heading south, DoAyve sighed with relief. At last he would get rid of the torments and temptations!
He also decided to tell EDo about his experiences in the hope of receiving some sensible advice from the elder comrade.
3
They had breakfast in a large circle; the udoğan, soldiers, and apprentices all together. EDo appreciated the unity.
They ate vegetable stew, wheat scones, and boiled eggs. EDo did not refuse the plentiful breakfast offered by the udoğan Goro. The awaiting path wasnt as difficult, but it was still a tiring pass through the foggy hills. And from now until the Valley, the main food of the Itoshins would be the yauls jerky. Not the most pleasant prospect. You can endure anything, but a hearty meal both strengthens the spirit and gives new strength in battle.
The attendant of the inn was taking the yauls out from the stock stand as EDo gave the command to load them with baggage.
When they were walking out of the gate, DoAyve cordially bid farewell to Mitsu and wished his fortress a long peace.
From Lauhan to the south lay a straight path, passing between the gray rocks. The danger of falling into the abyss was no longer there. The mighty mountains of the north gradually grew lower and lower until they turned into gently sloping stone elevations. On such roads, it was possible to walk unaccompanied by an illa. Of course, demons could attack. More precisely, within a couple of weeks they would attack at least once. But each Itoshin had to always be ready to repel a sudden attack.
They walked in silence.
According to the Code, any soldier on the crossing was obliged to remain silent, and speak only when the situation required it. If the enemy was near, if it was an unknown creature, a beast or a man, or maybe you hurt your foot on a sharp stone speak then. And if you dont like that the fog is damp, that its cool around, that you want to eat keep quiet!
DoAyve would prefer to wade through dangerous mountain trails, as they had done over the previous seven days. As throughout all those days, he had been thinking about how to make the right step, how not to fall into the abyss, and how to catch up with the illa.
On an even path, the only thing left was to remember Shohan. Remember Moon Lake remember Reyve!
DoAyve thought about her, and it frightened him. And what if the demons? And he suddenly wavered!
At last, the young man decided to discuss it with EDo at the next nights stop, to not postpone such an essential conversation for a long time.
I wonder whats going on in the heads of my comrades-in-arms now? We move forward, measuring steps through this dense fog. There is nothing to think about, therefore I remember the past, so Im floundering between my temptations. Whats EDo thinking about, I wonder? What do the focused Todo and Ğan-Iolai think about? The hot-tempered Joe and Lado? Could it be that Im the first warrior who was subjected to such tests? Most likely not! There were others. But they had overcome their passions! For the Code still exists, and we live by the Code!