Fate weaver’s convergence

 

It flowed forth like a flood, the rush of years of memories and emotions washing over me in a matter of what must have been hours. I was holding on, but only by a thread.

 

“It’s a girl, lady Elexis.”

 

Birth, dull noises and colors, crying, and the warmth of her mother, Elexis, as she brought us closer to observe.

 

“What’ll we name her?”

 

Juro, Kiyomi’s father, was sweating, nervous and seeming drunk with happiness, the same as her mother.

 

“Her name can wait a short time.”

 

She said, smiling through her tears before laying her head back.

 

“I need to rest.”

 

Passing me off, Sarah took up the whole of our world now. 

 

“Juro.”

 

She gestured. 

 

“Come, we’ll let her rest while we comfort the little one.”

 

Time continued once more. Memories of her childhood, riding Goro with her father.

 

Be strong! Don’t let go!

 

I could feel myself grunting and trembling as I fought the constant draw to be engrossed in the memories.

 

Don’t let them take you!

 

The guards of the keep, childhood playmates, people we’d known our entire life. Experience after experience, each fresh and new, riddled with wonder and amazement, life through the eyes of a child once more. 

 

“Kiyomi, it’d be nice if you could be there.”

 

Danae smiled, asking us to watch one of her gladiatorial games. 

 

“There you are, girl, a river crawler for lunch, aye?’

 

Juro spiked a knife into an oversized lobster, later ruffling my hair as we ate together in the hall with our siblings. Danae and a dozen others, adults, separated from Danae and myself as children of Elexis’s other retainers. Brothers, sisters, guards, knights, hunters and adventurers all. Danae, our sister, the gladiator, the theatrical spectacle that even managed to grandstand in the imperial capital and Shin-rin both. And then, us, the youngest, the coddled, the child that could not be endangered. 

 

“Kiyomi, this is the path we are trying to provide for you. The clean one, away from our—“

 

Sarah gestured out a window as she sneered.

 

“Not the turmoil your siblings always get caught in.”

 

Her expression softens.

 

“This is for you, Kiyomi. Your mama wants you at her side, not out there.”

 

I threw a fit, tired of the countless classes, the meetings with adults that I could not stand, nor empathize with no matter how much I battled with myself.

 

Fuck, no— I can’t—

 

My guts churned, unable to fight it anymore.

 

No—

 

My memories of my first lone attempt at mana-break. My first experience riding a horse. My first experience disobeying my mother, father, and Auntie Sarah, stealing a wooden sword to play with my friends. My wrestling and laughing alongside my big sister, Danae. Me, watching her battle with rival clan gladiators in the pits. My experience riding a horse on my lonesome. My—

 

The festival, oh gods, Mother! Danae!

————————————————————-

“The festival is her only chance of getting a look at all of the other clans gathered in one place without being under your scrutiny. I will be with her the whole time, please, mother. She’s begging for this— look.”

 

Greir, my eldest brother, Mothers firstborn. A massive behemoth of an oni standing at several feet, now in his thirties, the proverbial ‘knight in shining armor’ of my childhood. He’d a soft spot for me, and of all my siblings, her was the only one I truly spent time with other than Danae. The youngest and eldest, tied to each other's hips. I’d schemed with him to let me join the festivities, too far under mother and Sarah’s watchful gaze to truly get an eye outside her well-kept circle of confidants to truly be free to play and enjoy myself. 

 

Don’t do that, it’s unladylike! Toss that away, the treats will do you no good, there is better in the hall. Stay away from those boys, lest you become a troublemaker like them. Don’t touch the sword, that’s not something you want in your life.

 

I replayed these scoldings over and over, glaring at my mother in a way I hadn’t done before. Four festivals in past memory, four festivals I was forbidden from attending, the only fours I’d supposedly been forbidden from.

 

“Greir, you know-“

 

Elexis, our shared mother, stood, using Wyrmstooth as a cane as she walked down from the throne. She’d been withdrawn as of late, enough so that father went in her stead to the festival. The goddess had stopped talking to her, so she’d been especially strict with my exposure to the other clans. 

 

“Kiyomi, you are a smart girl.”

 

She stared past Greir now, addressing me in his stead. 

 

“You know I don’t forbid this out of selfishness, nor ill will.”

 

Her brows were furrowed, a sense of power absent that she held most my life. Not one displaying a sense of force, mind you, but from a sense of responsibility of keeping us safe. She squatted, her fur cape furling over itself against the ground as she turned her head away.

 

Of all things, being upset with her and being sad, I had to strong-arm her emotions at times. It hurt to watch, enabling my silent obedience from the time I grew from my streak of being a strong-willed pup.

 

“Mama. I know, I-”

 

She trailed her eyes to me, slow and hesitant. 

 

“C’mere.”

 

She motioned gently, motioning her fingers from my feet to hers. I was hesitant at first, until Grier placed a hand on my shoulder nudging me forward. I did so, stepping forward quietly. I couldn't look her in the eye now. Her arms reached out, wrapping around me as she brought me into a hug.

 

“I only worry for you all, even for Grier, the massive lug that he is.”

 

She whispered, suppressing a chuckle. She hugged me tightly as I reached underneath the fur cape and hugged her back.

 

“I know, mama.”

 

She lifted her head, placing her lips against my forehead before withdrawing her arms. 

 

“Forgive me for being as protective as usual. Do try to bear my indignant watchfulness a while longer after? I promise, as soon as I declare you my successor. You will be untouchable then, but I must be sure you are ready.”

 

I nodded quietly.

 

Another year, another festival. My siblings grow farther, even Danae. I want to be with them… Another time, then-

 

“I will allow tonight.”

 

I raised my head.

 

“Wait–”

 

My surprise-

 

“Really?”

 

-And then Grier’s followed. Mother nodded, chuckling as she stood.

 

“I will be the first to admit I’ve been sulking within the keep more as of late, but I will not let that enable an excuse to be detached, nor will I particularly make for good company for my daughter.”

 

Mother reached down, ruffling my hair.

 

“Grier?”

 

“Yes, mother?”

 

“Your turn.” 

 

“Really?”

 

Mother nodded, holding her arms out and upward, signaling Grier to come forward. He leaned down, his frame well over a head taller than her. Pulling him down into a hug, he seemed to nearly wheeze as the air left him.

 

“Do not confuse my love for her as apathy towards you nor the others.”

 

She released him, helping him stand straight once more, a hand resting on his chest.

 

“I love you all, so please, forget I mentioned her position.”

 

A quiet nod and soft expression were exchanged between the two. 

 

“I love you, son.”

 

“Love you too, ma.”

 

She nodded behind her, to the family weapons rack, then to her throne.

 

“Help me to the throne, please? Then, collect your sword. I’m putting you in charge of her safety.”

 

Mother pointed her free hand to his chin. 

 

“By the way, don’t forget to make yourself seen. You know I’m still expecting grandchildren from you.”

 

The two chuckled, Grier, nodding as he lifted her in his arms, the steps to the throne creaking under his weight as he brought her to it.

 

“Kooo, Ma. Later. For now, I have a date to take to the festivities.”

 

Grier joked, waving a head over his shoulder. Reaching for his sword, he clasped a blade nearly Wyrmstooth’s length to his belt. 

 

“Alright, you!”

 

He crouched, approaching me at such a speed as if he was a monster giving chase.

 

“Aaahahah, Gryyy!”

 

I squealed in excitement, moving to run as he hoisted me from the ground, swinging me through the air until I was planted firmly on his shoulders. I grabbed his horns, holding them to stabilize myself.

 

“Hey, Gry, you’re not gonna let some stinky hag take you away from me, right?”

 

I asked, half joking as I puffed my cheeks and leaned over his head, my bangs projecting a shadow across his face as he opened the doors. 

 

“Ko, I’ve got you, lil sis. Who needs a bride, after all, when work is their life.”

 

He rolled his eyes playfully.

 

“Grier!”

 

He laughed aloud, pushing my head up with a massive finger.

 

“I kid, I kid. Why knot yourself on that thought, though? We’ve finally got you out! We’ll make sure you enjoy it. That’s what I want right now, Kiyomi—for you to enjoy yourself.”

 

He brought me out, and the sight for myself so far was what I could only have imagined until now. Tables, stacked with food, lined the streets, barrels of ale strewn at every corner, and all manner of clans were present, and all celebrating to the fullest. Clan Jormungand, clan Firebrand, clan Curran, clan Radomir, clan Turma, clan Khaliun, clan Yrain, and clan Kulta. Vendors were out in force, mixing drinks or using food taken from the feasts to make recipes for each individual who asked. Games were played in the fields and yards, the oddball of leather being kicked between teams, archers competing for increasingly difficult trick shots, drunken fools repeating increasing shows of strength to impress their partners, and the odd fist fights over a boy or girl. That was the night, the best one I could recall for a while. It was one of the best I enjoyed with Grier, with Danae when we found her, and with father as astonished as he was that mother finally caved and let me from under her wing. All of that, all of the excitement, the happiness, the sudden closeness that each of my siblings seemed to shower upon me the moment I seemed free to enjoy, and of all things, it had to be that night.

 

I was wrong; I should have stayed with her! I should have—

 

The memories slowly sped back up and became a blur, the rise of Orion’s seraphim, its mass of writhing tendrils and fire, tearing at the walls, buildings, and anyone caught in its reach. Of monstrous, bear-like monsters smashing through the gates, Kulta’s and Firebrand’s pulling surging forth with weapons, of dozens upon dozens of fallen bodies that writhed and changed, watching Grier collapsing an enemy’s chest against a stone pillar with a sickening crunch while shielding me. Of mother throwing a grown man clear across the keep with an echoed splat amid her drunken fury in an attempt to reach us. It all flooded back in a horrible flurry of repressed trauma and fear. Grier collapsed as he wheezed, the air escaping him as he collapsed atop me, his back a pin cushion of arrows.

 

I don’t want to see this! I didn’t want this! I– I– 

 

“Kiyomi.”

 

A distant voice, the memories since that night flashing before my eyes. The caravan, the running, waking up to Hatsumi, meeting Beryl and Vaughn–

 

“Kiyomi!”

 

I felt someone shaking me, the cold of the ground against my back. 

 

“It’s all passing so quickly.” 

 

I mumbled, my voice escaping at my will. The memories of the bulette, the yearsof training to follow. The wyvern, the fight and bonding that preceded it, the recollections of my memories the morning before. The years of adventuring, the many hunts, the monsters I could only dream of, the Gorgonops.

 

Ah, Beryl’s birthday is at the end of next month. We should be home with two weeks to prepare, shouldn't we?

 

The guitar, Findlay, drinking with Callum, the trip to Krakow, the hangman tree, the damned wendigo look-a-like, the viper vine, Sabine, the examination at the gate, Krakow. 

 

Where– where am I?

 

My sight was blurred, my balance left me, and my stomach turned upside down. I felt the warmth and tasted the iron of blood pouring across my lips and down my chin as reality came back to me. I was seeing triples, the appearance of a blond girl holding me up by my collar as my world swayed.

 

“Sabine?”

 

Oooh, joy! The little wyrm seems to be waking up! Give her another swing!

 

An excited woman stood over us, nearly dancing with excitement as she smiled ear to ear, tentacles swinging around in a flurry behind her.

 

“Who the phuck are, yew?”

 

Oooh, she’s not supposed to be THAT awake. Quick, belt her now!

 

“Hwat the phuhgk–”

 

I felt Sabine’s knuckles plant themselves firmly into my jaw, making my ears ring as she did. Dropping to the ground, Sabine seemed to have knocked what little sense she could into me. The tentacled woman was nowhere to be seen now. My sight cleared, the repeated copies of Sabine that floated about, merging into the image of one surly, severely perturbed, sufficiently pissed-off bitch.

 

“The fuck was that for?”

 

I mumbled, slowly rolling to my side as I coughed. 

 

“Do not ‘what the fuck me!’ You were having a fucking seizure! You are lucky I was here for it! Nearly bit your damned tongue off!”

 

I spat, blood spilling to the floor as I did. I planted my hand on the ground.

 

“I was what?”

 

“Damnit, ‘Hollow-point.”

 

She stood over me once more, grabbing me by my gambison before lifting me. 

 

“I said you were having a seizure! And the moment I managed to bring you back to reality, you started swinging that thing around like your life depended on it! You were screaming crazy shite! Look!”

 

Sabine took one of my horns in hand, forcing my eyes to lock onto Wyrmstooth. It was planted firmly into the wall, nearly hilt deep, the rock was melted and blackened where I’d swung the steel at full mana-break. The blade still glowed, cinders falling to the damp floor.

 

“Oh, shit.”

 

Sabine released my horn.

 

“Oh shit, my arse! Grab the thing!”

 

“Will she be okay?”

 

Michal’s voice echoed.

 

“She’ll live, sorry for the wall.”

 

“Think nothing of it. Uhm, will you need help getting her home?”

 

I reached out for Wyrmstooth, sufficiently missing the hilt and slapping myself in the leg.

 

“I can get home fine without this bidch.”

 

I slurred, reaching out and successfully grabbing hold of Wyrmstooth. I tugged, the blade stubbornly anchored into the wall.

 

Ah, for god's sake. Ugh, I feel like I’m swimming through water. My head– shit, it hurts.

 

“Kiyomi, you planted the thing into cobble and bed-”

 

I grunted, channeling mana into Wyrmstooth and nearly blinding myself with the light before it broke free of its confines. Slag and sparks lapped at the floor, and the blade dimmed as I cut the flow and I planted the tip against the ground.

 

“--Bedrock. Holy shit, Kiyomi.”

 

I lifted my head, motioning to the sheath.

 

“Oooh, you can remember my name? I’d feel flattered a girl like’you was usin’ it if it weren’t for the fuckin split lip you gabe me.”

 

“Piss off, Hollow-point.”

 

I spat the remainder of the blood from my mouth on the ground, the pain slowly registering to me now. 

 

“Fuck me, it’s all coming back.”

 

Michal moved around us, picking up the sheath, carefully hooking Wyrmstooth’s tip in the guiding ring at its opening. 

 

“I’m sorry about the wall, Michal.”

 

I muttered. 

 

“I’ll forgive you when you can explain to me later properly what exactly happened.”

 

He leaned forward into my field of view, more concerned than angry.

 

“You’ll get her home?”

 

He asked, looking to Sabine. 

 

“I’ll get her home.”