Fushigi Yuugi Fan Fiction ❯ Dawn of a New Beginning ❯ A Journey Starts ( Chapter 2 )

"What do you mean in trouble?" asked Chichiri. "How does this involve us?" Satura gestured at a table and chairs. "Would you care to sit down?" She asked "It's a long story." The trio sat down and looked at Satura expectantly. Satura wandered over to a window and looked out at the view. This went on for several minutes, when she abruptly turned and looked at them. "This realm, my home, Delika has been relatively peaceful for many a millennia. It wasn't until recently that things got bad." She said. "Bad? How?" Miaka asked. "Meriso. He much like Tenkou with your realms wants to take over Delika." "Is there anything that can stop him?" Tasuki asked. "The Lykolian medallion." Satura answered. "That's where you three come in." "Us no da?" asked Chichiri. "Yes." Satura wandered over to her desk and picked up a scroll. Walking back over she placed it on the table in front of them. She then leaned back against the wall looking at them, waiting to see their reaction. Chichiri picked up the scroll and read it aloud.

Red phoenix in flight finds a land asunder.

A miko's duty she finds she must take up once again.

A bandit's desire, like the flame he yields will no longer be controlled.

A mage, a wanderer who walks the divine path will walk a new road.

A warrior-mage who holds a world's fate will call to those who share her fate.

A bard, who no longer walks the minstrel's path, will make use of shadows and deceptions.

Nyasha's mark on the druid will show the forest's secrets.

A guardian, a bond for the six who dare to find a broken treasure. Protector and friend forever faithful will they be.

A pause followed this latest mystery. "You think the miko, bandit, and mage "who walks the divine path" are us?" Tasuki asked. "Yes, a lot of the descriptions in the passage do seem to apply to you remarkably well. It says phoenix then miko. You two are the only living seishi who control fire and magic." "She's got a point there." Tasuki muttered. "Now I ask you this-Will you help me and my world by looking for the pieces of the Lykolian medallion?" Satura's face had once again gotten that pleading look on it. The three looked at each other. Miaka knew what she would say. Chichiri did as well. Tasuki was a little undecided but one glance at the other two changed his mind. At the same time all three looked at Satura and nodded. "Thank you! Thank you!" She cried. It hit them then just how desperate Satura's situation must be if she was this grateful.

"Hey what about those guardians?" Tasuki asked after a long pause. "Ah, those!" Satura said smiling. "The guardians are six animals who guard the people looking for the medallion. Sort of like the seishi and miko. After the quest is through though, you'll still be stuck with the guardian for the rest of your life." Satura explained. "Do you know what type of animal they are?" Miaka asked. "No I'm afraid not." The mage replied.

At that moment a brown and white cat popped out of Chichiri's kesa. I wondered when he was going to come out. Satura thought. "Tama!" Miaka exclaimed. Tama ignored the girl as he walked the length of the monk's arm and jumped on Satura's shoulder and started purring as if he and the mage were old friends. "Da?" Chichiri asked. The other two were staring at the cat and woman with confused expressions on their faces. "Why is that #$%^!@# cat acting like that?" Tasuki asked. "Wild Magic." Satura answered. "What's that?" "Wild Magic is a type of magic that I have that allows me to communicate mind to mind with animals, heal them and turn into them." The mage explained. "It also lets me have a sort of bond with them." Satura raised her hands and suddenly her body was surrounded by an aura of copper color fire. The same fire that surrounded the still purring cat. "You-you and Tama…" Miaka stuttered, to shocked to talk. Satura smiled and let the aura disappear. "All animals have that same copper fire around them. In very rare cases a human will have it as well. In those instances it becomes wild magic. So don't be surprised at your cat's behavior. To him I'm just another cat, just differently shaped."

Miaka blinked as she absorbed this latest revelation. Apparently magic was very common here and it seemed everyone could have it. A sudden thought occurred to her, could she possibly have some unknown power? Miaka looked up to see Satura looking at her. The mage gestured at the door. "May I speak with you alone Miaka?" The miko got up and followed her to the door. The seishi started to get up but Miaka shook her head at them and they reluctantly sat down again.

Satura opened the door to her workshop. Shelves of spell books and potion ingredients lined the walls. Cauldrons filled with liquids, that boiled and rolled, gave off sweet and nasty smelling odors. Closing the door Satura stood and looked at the Miko. "I wanted to tell you this in private." She said. "Tell me what?" Miaka asked. "You have magic." "M-magic?" Miaka's knees started to feel weak. "How do you know?" "I detected it on you the moment you entered the realm." Satura explained. "I did some research and found out that the other three miko's had magic. It seems that's one of the reasons you were chosen to be a miko." "What kind of magic do I have?" Miaka asked. "War and fire." "War?" the girl looked alarmed. "Yes. But it's not as bad as it sounds. It is mostly destructive spells but there are a few not so destructive. Fire magic gives you control over the fire element. Miaka stood trying to absorb all of this. "My next question to you is do you want to be trained? It would help you a lot. You wouldn't have to depend on other people so much for defense."

Satura's words struck a cord with Miaka. If she learned magic and how to defend herself, that means less people would get hurt protecting her. She took a deep breath. "All right, I'll do it!" Two loud bangs and a yowl answered Miaka. Satura opened the door and a cat, bandit and monk fell in. "Chichiri! Tasuki! Tama! You were eavesdropping!" Miaka accused. "What are you crazy?! Magic training? You'll be killed!" Tasuki exclaimed. Chichiri had removed his mask. "Tasuki does have a point, Miaka-chan, but on the other hand so does Satura. We can't guarantee we'll always be there to protect you. It would be to your benefit to have some sort of other defense to rely on. Also, we shouldn't waste gifts when the gods give them." "Who would train me?" She asked. "I would. I'm more then qualified to do it." Miaka took a deep breath and gave the mage a determined look. "When do we start?"

*****

"Owwwww!" The miko moaned rubbing her sore arm. "You should have been more focused Miaka." Satura scolded. Miaka scowled at the Mage. In addition to the magic lessons Satura had insisted Miaka learn bow and arrow, knife and staff. She had wanted to learn sword, but the mage had said no it would take at least five months to gain even minimal skill in defense with a sword. Staff was better because it required very little skill and effort to gain a skill level good enough for defending with. There were some people though who chose to fight with staff only. They could do amazing things with one.

Miaka parried another blow. Satura pulled back and nodded. She then signaled for the end of the session. She called the miko and two seishi over. "What is it Satura no da?" Chichiri asked. "Three months have gone by since you came here." The mage started. "It is my opinion that we start looking for the other two members of the group. I've left orders for the packs to be ready after lunch. I need all of you to be ready by then." With that Satura left them to get ready. The trio looked at each other. One thought was running through all their minds, what was going to happen to them?

*****

Tasuki eyed the calm bay gelding with some unease. His experiences with horses past were enough to make him cautious about even the most placid steed. A high challenging whinny caused him to glance in the other's direction. Satura's blood bay stallion was easily the most temperamental of the group. The mage was saying good-bye to her parents. She hugged them then swung up to the saddle. Tasuki and Chichiri followed suit. The bandit then reached a hand down to Miaka and pulled her up behind him. Then they were leaving the safety of Rosethorn.