Chapter 14: A Choice Must Be Made! I Want to Save the Republic

PREVIOUS: Chapter 13

Everyone knew their tasks and moved to execute them with all deliberate speed.

The men of Gaikyo took their spears and axes and headed south to march on Haiirosen. They would have taken boats down the Ryoshoku River, but the enemy forces made sure to destroy every boat in sight, along with the Okamoto boathouse and Mr. and Mrs. Okamoto.

The witches -- upper, elder, and lower -- populated the many defensive structures that now peppered the city. What they lacked in muscle they would make up for in magic, and they feared neither cavalry archer nor ravenous dinosaur.

People who were neither young men nor witches gathered up anything they could use as weapons and accompanied the witches in their vigil, for they wanted to protect the children who were to be the future of the Republic.

But Toya and Yae had the most uncertain mission of all, one that would determine if Gaikyo would survive into the dark months.

With the help of Midori, the two crossed the Ryoshoku. They disembarked on the opposing bank, but they could not act like this was some routine service.

"If we do not return, or if calamity strikes Gaikyo once again, know that you have been a good friend to both of us," Toya said.

"And I'm thankful for that," Midori answered, a tinge of sadness in her voice. Considering what happened to her parents, such a feeling was understandable.

"I do hope we see each other again, though," Yae added, herself unsure of anything

Toya and Yae left Midori behind and went to Jiyumura in the vain hope that they could get some kind of rest there. But Jiyumura was no longer a village, but a feast for vultures, covered in the ashes of what were once homes and shops. The stench of the rotting corpses overpowered all who were foolish enough to try and enter.

"If we fail, this will be Gaikyo as well," Toya said.

"I won't let that happen, even if I have to..." Yae stopped herself.

"No, have faith. We will find our answers soon," Toya said. The two move on from the stinking, fly-covered mess that used to be a proud village and headed down the path that all those woodcutters did weeks ago, only one of whom survived the attack on Gaikyo. He had sketched a rudimentary map for the two to follow, and so far it had proved accurate.

After much walking, Toya and Yae reached the forest. There had been no attacks from wildlife and no ambushes by Haiirosen soldiers, only the calls of birds and the buzzing of insects. The calmness was welcome, but also unnerving.

The two moved deeper into the path. Toya held his sword ready and kept an ear open for any threats. Yae gripped her wand, also steeling herself for any threats. They followed the map, which despite its barebones detail led the two to a thick grove of trees that didn't look different from any other.

Now Toya spoke with all the authority he could muster.

"Lord Pan, I am Toya Oshima, the current leader of the City of Gaikyo. As you are a god, you have no doubt heard of VENOM's disbandment and the rise of my war council. I ask you for clemency, for we face an enemy that bathes in the blood of the innocent, breaking the divine pledge that binds our nation. We of Gaikyo are expending every effort to eliminate this evil and heal our Republic," Toya said, his voice loud and firm.

In an instant, the forest became a blur, and the two were surrounded by a thick purple haze. They stood on solid ground, but this ground was invisible.

"Is anyone there?" Yae asked as she looked around at the odd landscape.

"I am, young witch," a deep male voice said. A creature half man and half goat came into view and regarded the two humans curiously.

"You are a student of the Chief Witch, correct?" the goat-man asked.

"That's true. Are you Lord Pan?" Yae asked.

"You would be correct," the goat-man said. He switched his attention to Toya "And you are the Chief Witch's betrothed?"

"You would be right but for one thing: the Chief Witch is no longer with us," Toya answered.

"But even if she were alive, that title has been abolished. None can claim it anymore," Yae added.

"Natsuru Machida lives. She is unharmed, and her womanhood remains unclaimed," Pan answered.

Toya gasped. "Lord Pan, where is she?"

"Don't ask questions you already know the answer to," Pan said.

Toya nodded. "It's good that she's alive. But what of my initial requests?"

Pan smiled. "I will grant the clemency you seek once you retrieve Machida and restore her to her position as Chief Witch, with all the authority it entails."

"So you fancy yourself our master? You will not undermine the authority of our Republic. It is through the mutual decision of our people that we abolished the office of Chief Witch. Even Machida has made peace with this," Toya answered.

"I am not seeking dominion over your pitiful little Republic. You made a request of me, and I have simply named my price. If that troubles you, feel free to face the wrath of the wild. See if Gaikyo remains viable after tooth and claw have torn through it," Pan said.

"Then what am I supposed to tell everyone? That they have no voice? That your word is above theirs?" Toya asked.

"You will tell them that my mercy comes at a cost. But there is another way you can pay, one that you happen to have right next to you," Pan answered.

Yae tensed up, unsure of what to do. Pan crept closer, looking the young witch up and down.

"What do you want from me?" Yae asked, her hands trembling.

"I think you know," Pan answered.

Yae relaxed herself. "If it means Gaikyo will be safe..."

She advanced toward Pan, but Toya grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"You will not give yourself to him," Toya said.

"But he says Gaikyo will be safe," Yae answered.

"And leave Machida in the hands of Haiirosen?" Toya asked.

"You can still go get her, only you won't have to worry about what will happen if it doesn't work out. Please, let me do this for everyone," Yae answered.

"The girl is correct; failure to retrieve Machida means my dinosaurs will descend upon you," Pan added.

"I'll take that chance, then. I won't give this girl up to you," Toya said.

"A principled decision, but you're forgetting to ask one person," Pan answered, pointing to Yae.

Toya wrapped his mighty arms around Yae's waist and lifted her off the ground.

"What are you doing? Let me go!" Yae said, squirming in Toya's grip.

Toya ignored Yae and addressed Pan. "Lord Pan, this discussion is over. We will fulfill the task you set out for us."

"If you won't permit me to have the girl, then that is fine," Pan answered.

"Wait, before you go, I want to ask one more thing," Yae said as she relaxed in Toya's grip.

"And what is that?"

"Is Hinagiku Kaneshiro alive too?"

Pan's expression became severe. "She was sacrificed to Moloch by her own father."

Yae could only look on in stunned silence as Pan walked away.

The hazy surroundings disappeared, and Toya and Yae were back in the forest. Yae scowled at Toya, displeased with how the conversation went.

"Why didn't you let me go?" Yae asked.

"Because we do not engage in human sacrifice. It is one of the foundational principles of our Republic, and it is what makes us better than Haiirosen," Toya answered.

"Always 'Republic' this and 'Republic' that! What good is our Republic if it gets eaten by dinosaurs? Now you have to hope Haiirosen don't kill Machida-sensei or worse!" Yae screamed.

"I could not, in good conscience, leave you to Lord Pan!" Toya answered.

"I see -- it's about you. What you want. What makes you happy. What makes you feel good about yourself. You're putting everyone in danger because you want to feel like a hero," Yae said.

"Do not accuse me of putting my wants first-"

"Yet here you are, still doing it right now!"

"That's enough from you!" Toya said.

He charged at Yae, but Yae was ready. Yae thrust her wand forward, and Toya hit an invisible wall. Yae applied more power, and the wall pushed Toya back. With another wave of the wand, Yae turned the wall into a box, trapping Toya.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot let Gaikyo be destroyed," Yae said.

"You're being foolish! Stop this madness at once!" Toya answered.

"It's for the best. All I'm doing is ensuring your success. Please, save Machida-sensei and get married like you always wanted," Yae said.

"You are not going with him. I forbid it!" Toya answered.

Yae applied even more power to the barrier, but it was more than her body could take. Yae fell on one knee, and the barrier dissipated.

"Yae, that's enough," Toya said as he approached the exhausted witch. He pulled Yae to her feet, but she struggled to stand.

Toya turned around. "Here, hop on my back."

Yae regarded Toya's broad back for a moment, but she could no longer deny that she was defeated. She got onto Toya's back and handed off her wand to him.

"There you go," Toya said as he supported Yae's legs with his arms.

"Oshima-sensei...just...do your best, all right? You and Machida-sensei need to be together again..." Yae said, her voice weak.

"I want that more than anything," Toya answered.

"Yeah...then maybe I can have someone too..."

Yae fell unconscious, but Toya could still feel her breaths. Toya thus steeled himself for the task ahead: He would get the love of his life back. He would defeat whatever Pan or Isesaki could throw at him. He would ensure that Gaikyo had the leadership it needed.

He would save the Republic that he called home.

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