Yozak clucked his tongue in disappointment as his partner's blade spun off to the side of the field. They'd only just started, and already he had his sword pointed at the young soldier's throat. "Too many openings, and stop paying attention to the people on the sidelines. You're here to learn, not show off for your comrades." He stepped back and ( Read more... )

The moon was as thin as an archers bow as it's pale light cut through the heavy gray edges of gathering clouds in a dark and starless sky. The night air was cool and still save for the banks of rising mists upon the practice fields at the edge of the castle barracks. The thick vapors gathered denser by the moment completely obscuring the black ( Read more... )

It had been a long time since Gwendal had slept so late. It was understandable given his company the night before. After all, she had worn him out both physically and emotionally. It was with a heavy heart that he noticed her side of the bed was empty with nothing more than a slight indentation in the mattress ( Read more... )

Gwendal headed back to his room after his encounter with Gunter in the library. Along the way, he kissed a maid or two and a few eager soldiers and discovered that Dorcascus was ticklish. He rested for a while (since Gunter had worn him out), then changed into some loose fitting black linen pants that tied at the waist and rode low on his hips. The ( Read more... )

Gwendal was up early today. His thought was to take a bath, then find Nissi and ask if she wanted to ride into town with him. Not for any particular reason, he kept telling himself, other than he liked being with her and spending the day would be nice. Throughout the night, his mind had drifted back to his conversation with Yozak, almost as if it ( Read more... )

In the conditioning room for the troops, Gwendal did another two-armed pull-up on the bar and dropped to his feet. He wasn’t as active here as he had been on his world before he got ‘sick.’ There was no sense in letting his body get out of shape due to laziness. He might want to wear that unitard again some day … or maybe not. No matter. He still ( Read more... )

Nissi spent her day happily flitting from one end of the resort to the other, sampling everything it had to offer and quite content to let the men and women there lead her various massages and treatments and one very amazing bath. She smelled like a garden in full bloom, and wore nothing more than the robe they had provided. Her hair was piled up ( Read more... )

Gunter was starting to feel a bit better. He'd gotten a lot off his chest with Josak and then with his double. Things weren't completely right with himself, but he'd decided that in a few days he'll take a short journey to try and collect himself without the distractions of ketsumeijou (blood pledge). But in the meantime, there was a bet he ( Read more... )

For as much as he had to drink last night (not much by Shin Makoku standards, but plenty by his), his night had passed restlessly, instead of simply passed out as he had expected. The alcohol in his system had amplified his dreams, making them vivid and seemingly real, but mostly confusing. Very confusing. It was as if he was reliving the previous ( Read more... )

Gwendal and the recently returned Gunter made their way to the tavern with the intention to join Yozak, the other Gunter, Gwendal, and Nissi for some much deserved drinks.

It had been a long day and an even longer couple of weeks.

Hopefully, it wouldn't be too hard to find the others inside.