Day 54
The clear blue sky of the village courtyard was cast into deep crimson shadow as if a blood red eclipse were taking place.
At the four cardinal points of the stone paved surface wind began to rise in dark swirling spirals until in moments four tornadoes were looming up taller than a castle spire. Shop signs and wooden shutters were ripped off by the gale and anything not solidliy nailed down was torn into the air. Townsfolk, horses, dogs, even errant chickens went scattering for cover with instinctive fear. Violet lightning arched and flickered between the wavering funnel clouds and a huge untangable amount of maryouku began to weigh the air in the very center of the courtyard.
A swirl of mist formed along the ground and rotated with the winds and slowly, like a ship barely discernable through fog, a white shape rose and materialized at the core.
An overlarge and powerful white stallion decked out with heavy clanking armor pawed with cloven hooves at the cobblestones. It's mane and tail frothed in the whipping winds as it bobbed it's head. Eyes gleamed a dark blood red and along it's legs strange spiked claws protruded. On it's forehead was another such bony spike curving backwards.
The horse was not alone naturally. From the mists it's rider also became visible, but barely for he too was nearly entirely white. A long snowy cloak and pure white armor with silver knot work swirling along it's edges was the only thing truly seen. The visor of his white plumed helm was down and the winds obscured any other details. The violet of the lightning lit along the blade of the sword at his side and he remained motionless as a marble statue in the saddle.
Then everything seemed to stop. The winds died suddenly. The darkness disappeared as if it had only been the blink of some great eye.
In the eerie normalcy that followed the great white stallion reared and screamed as if more startled by the quiet than the wind storm it had traveled in. The knight atop it pulled back on it's reigns looking hard pressed at first to keep his seat. The horse was quickly brought under expert control with a sharp command. A gentle hand was soon patting against it's sweat damp neck. The knights helm was removed to reveal a cascade of silver lilac hair and tired but smiling amethyst eyes.
In the clear light of day the crest of the Von Kleist province and nobility was clearly visible on his armor. He dismounted with all the grace of one born and bred to the action and for a moment he simply leaned against the white creatures neck with a hand in it's mane. His eyes closed as he took in slow deep breaths as if to steady himself.
"Ah, Cadifor, we're finally home, I hope."
He sighed with no lack of weariness in his tone. He hadn't quite managed to make it to the castle, but the feel of this place was familiar enough. Mazoku territory again at last, and hopefully a friendly part of it. It was no small sucess and he would take what he could get.
He kept his posture rigid and strong like something out of an etiquette book as his sharp gaze tried to discern any possibly dangers. Finding noone immediately nearby, for they were all still ducking both the weather and him, he still refused to relax further. He had his pride and reputation to think of after all. It would do no good for a mazoku noble of his stature to simply collapse out in the open no matter how much the world was trying to spin away from him at the moment.
One hand had betrayed him somewhat and gone to unfasten the neck guard of his armor so that he could get a little more air. Things were still so fuzzy he was afraid he may have overdone it and be on his way to a coma or worse from magic drain. His hand was shaking where he still gripped the leather reigns. Surely he could marshal his strength and make it back to Blood Pledge from here, for Shinous sake after all he had been through, what was a short ride on a country road under sunny skies?
Unfortunately fate and Cadifor were not on his side as his horse took the opportunity to nudge him with his nose in the center of his chest. Because of his horn this breed was prone to prodding at things harder and more often than others. It sent him off balance enough that under his heavy armor he ended up falling to his knees and panting in the dust. The world tried to escape from him by affecting a sideways tilt.
"For the love of bearbees!"
He gasped out indignantly as he finally keeled over onto his side and then rolled onto his back to stare up at the heavily lashed eyes of his horse and the blue sky behind him. Cadifor was more intent on trying to eat his hair than help him up.
Dignity was effectively lost and he lay there panting like an overturned turtle without the strength to raise himself.
He couldn't help the small smile that was on his lips at the thought of feeling his beloved Shin Makoku beneath him at last and sensing the familiar normal auras of the people who dwelt here.
Now if only one of them would help him up?