Red River Fan Fiction ❯ A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE ❯ Vol 3 Chap 1 The Blade of Power ( Chapter 10 )

A SHINTO PRIESTESS IN THE ANCIEN HITTITE EMPIRE

OR

WHERE THE RED FIRE AND RED RIVER MEET

 

 

Disclaimer: I own nothing except Miyuki Kanzaki.

 

 

Vol 3 Chap 1:The Bladeof Power.

 

 

The story thus far:

 

The main characters:

 

Miyuki: Long black hair and emerald eyes. She was a third-year middle schooler. She was also a powerful Miko (Japanese priestess) fighting with a group of friends to protect the NEXUS, a formidable gate to other worlds. She was brought by force to ancient Turkey (Hittite kingdom).

 

Kail: Blond hair and amber eyes. He is the third prince of the Hittite Empire. He holds the rank of a high-priest.

 

Queen Nakia: Long blond hair and violet eyes. She is trying to sacrifice Miyuki to bring her own Prince-son to the throne. She is a high-priestess of the Storm-God Teshub.

 

What happened before:

 

Miyuki is an atypical middle schooler.

The night, she fights as a Miko with the “Circle”, a group of super-powered friends dedicated to protect the “Nexus”, a gateway to other worlds.

However, in the middle of an enjoyable date, she suddenly drawn into a puddle of water.

 

When she opens her eyes, she is in the ancient Hittite Empire.

The Queen pulled her through time, so she might serve as a sacrifice in her conspiracy plot.

 

Cut off from her powers as a Miko, Miyuki, whose life is threatened by the Queen, is saved at the last moment by Prince Kail.

He says she is his “concubine” and he hides her away in his palace.

 

Because of her duty to the Circle and her family, Miyuki wants to return to 20th century Japan, but for that she needs three circumstances to coincide.

 

One is the power of Kail, who is also a priest.

One is that the seven springs must be at high tide.

One is the clothing Miyuki was wearing.

The clothing is at the palace of the Queen.

And so, with Kail's servant Tito, Miyuki sneaks into the Queen's palace.

 

However, it is a trap set by the dreadful Queen.

Powerless, Miyuki is captured by the Queen's servant, Zuwa.

Tito sacrifices himself to save Miyuki.

 

Miyuki swears a blood oath to strike down Tito's enemies, and she joins up with Kail after finding herself blocked in this time period for one year.

 

Together they visit Tito's home town, Arinna.

There, Miyuki is attacked by Tito's elder sisters and poisoned by a cataleptic drug.

 

Miyuki find herself temporary in the domain of the God Nergal and warned that she will be tested by the Hittite Pantheon.

 

Even in Arinna, the Queen's trap has been laid and a returning Miyuki find herself forced to escape the Queen's servants.

Still running from Zuwa of the Kaska, Miyuki now faces a man named Talos, and…!?

 

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Miyuki stayed perfectly immobile. The sharp edge of the bronze axe held at her throat leaved her very little choice. The tall white-haired man who held it showed no sign of moving although the angry voice of Zuwa of the Kaska clan sounded from the tunnel that the young girl had exited.

 

“Little girl! Where'd you go!? Light…!? Have you escaped outside!? No matter where you try to run, I will find you and cut off your head!”

 

The anger in the voice left no doubts in the mind of the Miko. `If I'm caught by Zuwa this time, I'll be killed for sure.'

 

She tried to reason the bearded and moustached man. “Please, let me go! I don't know what this is about, but I can swear on my honour to discuss it with you later!”

 

The old but still powerful man shook lightly his head. “I have no intention of discussing anything. I had not thought what I might do should I meet you, but…” He seemed to think about something then… “That's right…”

 

`Uh oh. He took his decision. I don't like that one bit.'

 

“The one chasing you is Zuwa of the Kaska, isn't it.” Miyuki nodded imperceptibly. “In that case, I shall have you fight him.”

 

The emerald eyes widened in surprise. `He can't be serious!?'

 

He grabbed her by the arm. His strength was Herculean. “Come!”

 

The cataleptic drug having left her without her strength and energy, Miyuki was forced to follow. “H…Hold on! “Fight”, you say, but I can't win against Zuwa in my current state. Just who are you!? Why is this…”

 

The man didn't answer as he pulled the young girl to a big house. `What does he mean to do to me!? I'm sure I've heard the name Talos before, but…'

 

He threw the Japanese teenager into the room. The black-haired girl managed to break her chute by a roll and found herself surrounded by a complete armoury. She blinked. `Why are there so many swords and spears?' There were perhaps an hundred of swords and spears.

 

Blocking the only exit, the man addressed the young girl. “You will not fight Zuwa unarmed. You may choose one weapon.”

 

Miyuki shook her head. She didn't understand. “Please, tell me what this is!”

 

“The making of these things is the occupation of the Hatti family.”

 

“That's not what I mean. Why am I…” She gasped and stopped herself as an icy sensation congealed her heart. “The…Hatti…? Tito's clan!?”

 

For the first time, Talos manifested sorrow in his voice. “Yes. Had he lived, Tito would have succeeded me as chief of the Hatti.”

 

The displaced student could only look wide-eyed to the tall white-haired man. `That's it… Talos was Tito's father!'

 

Talos pointed to the vast amount of weapons. “Now, choose your weapon. If you do not choose, I will send you out as you are.”

 

Miyuki gulped. `This man thinks like Tito's sisters that I killed Tito!' “Wait, I didn't…” She stopped herself. `“I didn't kill Tito”… Can I honestly say that? I didn't listen when Prince Kail and Tito tried to stop me. I got Tito killed trying to sneak into the Queen's palace.'

 

She looked to the visage of Talos who showed nothing. `Besides, wasn't the whole reason I stayed behind in this world to avenge Tito? Because I felt responsible?'

 

Talos could guess that the young girl had taken the decision to fight. “Now, choose a weapon and go out before Zuwa!”

 

The Japanese priestess closed her emerald eyes and took a cleansing breath. `He is right! Even if I'm not at my peak, I mustn't run away or there was no meaning in staying behind.' She opened her eyes and looked around her, fire of the determination burning in her pupils. `I have to take a sword and fight Zuwa…!'

 

There was one little problem. There was literally too much choice for a sword or a spear. Talos began to present his weapons. “That gold-crafted sword is fit even for the Emperor. Whichever you choose, I shall have no complaint.” The gaze of Miyuki slide on another section. “That silver one, jewelled in an eye's shape, is as strong as ten horses. None are for decoration, nor will any be overpowered by Zuwa's strong-sword. Any sword here is more than enough to challenge his.”

 

Miyuki had been trained heavily in the traditional weapons of the Samurai and the Miko. Here was the problem: She was accustomed to specific shapes for her weapons. And worse, she was currently very weak. `They're all exquisite, but way too big and heavy for me. And all those swords are straight blade only. I could take a spear but Zuwa would break the wooden pole too easily.'

 

There was only one solution: Trusting her instincts. She closed her eyes and began to search for the feeling of an appropriate weapon for her.

 

Talos blinked when he saw the young girl closed her eyes and waved slowly her open hands across the room. What was she trying to do? His black eyes widened when the right hand of Miyuki abruptly stopped above a very specific section of his swords.

 

The Miko had felt a slight response there. She slowly opened her eyes and reached in the stack of swords. She withdrew a rather badly maintained blade of perhaps 30 centimetres with a very simple hiltless design. She blinked. `A rusted dagger. Why is this here with the master swords?'

 

Talos said nothing as he continued to observe attentively the young girl.

 

Miyuki looked attentively to the blade. `The only unattractive thing in the mix.' She smiled. `…Kind of like me.' Slowly, she drew the weapon and examined it with others senses than the sight. `It's… No, she's old. Many generations had brandished her. She is already resonating with my aura. And she fits my hand exactly.' She nodded to herself and turned to Talos. “You've talked me into it. I'll take this one.”

 

The tall white-haired man was forced to use all his will to not gasp to the choice of the young girl.

 

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Prudently, Miyuki exited the armoury. Her sixth sense almost immediately peaked and she began to run in the opposite direction of the danger source.

 

Behind her a gleeful voice bellowed. “Little girl! I've found you! THIS time, I'll make Arinna your grave!”

 

Hadi and her sisters were running along the Prince Kail and Kikkuri. “We don't know how our father perceives Princess Miyuki. Even when we consulted him about sneaking into the palace, father didn't say anything…”

 

Kail winced. “In other words, there is no telling if he will attempt to kill Miyuki as you did or not. If Miyuki is alive, she has probably run into Talos. Let us hurry!”

 

The group finally found the tall white-haired man. “TALOS!”

 

Talos knelt in front of the amber-eyed young man. “Prince Kail. It has been a long time.”

 

“Did a girl not come this way? A short girl with long black hair, green eyes and ivory skin.”

 

Talos sensed something in the tone of the Prince's voice. “If you are speaking of your concubine, then I have made her face Zuwa.”

 

“WHAT!?”

 

The Hatti chieftain nodded. “It seems the girl has greatly seduced your senses. This is the first time I have ever seen you so unsettled.” The young man blushed. “But I would not worry about her.”

 

Kail blinked in confusion. The small girl was facing an armed giant and he didn't have to worry about her!?

 

Talos turned to his eldest daughter. “Hadi, when I told her to take one sword, the girl, Miyuki, selected the Dagger without hesitation.”

 

The three sisters gasped. Hadi's black eyes widened. “Father, is it true!? That Dagger!”

 

Kail turned to the long honey-haired girl. “Of what dagger do you speak!?”

 

Talos began to explain. “Your highness. The present orient is plagued by warring. In upper Mesopotamia is the kingdom of Mitanni. Surrounding the Nile is the great Empire of Egypt. And our Hittite Empire is within Anatolia. These three countries battle each other for dominance, while the smaller countries repeatedly challenge them.”

 

Kikkuri shook his head. “Talos, these are things that even a child knows…”

 

Talos continued, imperturbable. “We, the Hatti clan have prayed to Ishtar for the strength to fight since long ago.” The tall man turned to the city. “Then, the people of the city became excited to think Prince Kail's concubine was the avatar of Ishtar.”

 

Hadi couldn't believe what she was hearing from her own father. “Father. Then, when you let Miyuki choose a blade, she…!?”

 

Talos gravely nodded. “Yes… Though I believed she would find fault with it. That girl most surely chose it.”

 

Kail felt frustrated. “Of what blade do you speak!?”

 

Hadi looked grimly to the Hittite Prince. “A treasure dagger that we, the Hatti, have protected since ancient times.”

 

Kail blinked. “A treasure dagger!?”

 

Talos nodded. “Yes, Prince Kail. The blade which your concubine chose is unmistakably the Blade of Power that will decide who dominate the orient!”

 

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The deadly game of Tag between Zuwa and Miyuki continued in the streets of Arinna.

 

Zuwa was frustrated to see his prey and being incapable to cross the distance she maintained with him. “Wait! Little girl!”

 

`Yeah, right! As if I would listen to you!' The Japanese was running on a rhythm that she knew she could maintain for a long time. Zuwa was strong but he wasn't very quick. Unfortunately, he seemed to have a good endurance.

 

She was running because only a fool attempted to fight a running battle with his opponent in the back, the worst possible situation. She was searching for a ground advantage where the height of the Kaska chieftain would be a hindrance or, at least, where she could whirl around and prepared herself for the confrontation.

 

She suddenly ran into a group of six Hittite soldiers near the rampart. “Prince Kail's soldiers!” `Damn it! I didn't need to found them! They risk to be slaughtered!'

 

The excited soldiers promptly came to her as they recognized the young girl who made them won the last battle.

 

“Princess Miyuki!? You're Princess Miyuki, aren't you!”

 

“You're all right!”

 

“I knew the rumour about you dying wasn't true!”

 

It was also sufficient for Zuwa to catch up his prey. He wasn't very happy to find insignificants obstacles on his way. “Run fools!”

 

But the soldiers had different ideas. They pushed Miyuki to the back of their group to protect her.

 

“Zuwa of the Kaska!? Fear not, Princess! We shall defend you!”

 

The young girl was dismayed. “N…No wait! Stay back!”

 

A young soldier charged, sword high. “YAAA!”

 

Zuwa snorted. “Fool.” The giant didn't try any fancy trick: He went straight for the body through the sword of the soldier. His enormous strength coupled with the mass of his sword enabled to break first the blade then cut the body in the vertical through the collarbone, the ribs and the pelvis.

 

Miyuki swore in Japanese. `What horrible strength…' Her eyes narrowed. `And that sword.'

 

Another soldier took her hand and pushed her up on the stairs of the rampart. “Princess Miyuki, go quickly to the top!”

 

`YES! That's it!' She ran up the stairs. On the top she could gain the advantage on the giant. The narrowness of the rampart will advantage her small size and her agility. Growling like a beast, Zuwa passed through the group of soldiers as if they were small children and pursued the retreating Miko.

 

The group of Kail arrived at that moment. The young Prince gasped in horror as Zuwa closed to melee range on the frail girl. “MIYUKI!”

 

The Japanese rolled on the ground, dodging the deadly blade. She continued the movement and found herself facing the giant. Her attention focused on the Kaska chieftain. An overhead strike rushed to her face and she evaded the attack. Quickly she discovered that Zuwa limited himself to head strikes in order to cut off her head.

 

Kail winced as he observed the duel and turned to a soldier. “A bow! Someone give me a bow!”

 

“R…Right away!”

 

The world of Miyuki reduced itself to the lethal movements of the sword and the mass of the cruel man. `He's limiting himself with those strikes! I can anticipate him easily!'

 

During a strike, the arm of Zuwa passed near the eyes of the displaced priestess. She then remarked a very familiar jewellery on his wrist and gasped. `Tito's choker!'

 

Zuwa laughed as he felt he was slowly cornering his prey. “Enough! Why don't you give up!”

 

`That's it! Stupid man! Continue like this!' In fact, Miyuki was slowly leading the monster where she wanted him. She narrowed her eyes as she finally felt the stones of the rampart on her back. `This is it! I must win! I can't let myself killed by him.' She drew the dagger and focused her anger to boost her strength.

 

Zuwa raised an eyebrow. “Hum. Feel like fighting back with that little dagger, huh.” He chuckle evilly. “I will cut you and that knife in two like I did that other soldier?”

 

Having just received a bow and some arrows, Kail paled when he saw the young girl readying herself to attack. “MIYUKI! STOP!”

 

The Japanese reversed her hold on the dagger. `Stupid monster! Don't you see that I have lured you where I want.' Once she passed in the back of Zuwa, the giant WILL be cornered.

 

Kail couldn't shot as he had no clear line of fire. “MIYUKI!”

 

The Miko flexed her legs and focused on the sword of her enemy. `Tito… Please, give me strength!'

 

The soldiers screamed as they saw their heroine rushing to attack. “PRINCESS MIYUKI!”

 

Kail gasped and Kikkuri preferred to cover his eyes. He didn't want to see that!

 

As Zuwa armed his strike, Miyuki seemed to glide to him, the inverted dagger in her back on a low position.

 

The sound of metal breaking echoed on the rampart.

 

Having used her charge and projecting all her weight in a circling strike on the weapon of the giant, Miyuki had made the impossible. She found herself in the back of Zuwa who could only contemplate what was left of his sword.

 

Kail felt that he was hallucinating. “She broke Zuwa's strong-sword!?”

 

Miyuki whirled around and brandished anew her dagger. `The true warrior is one with his weapon, Zuwa. My blade is as strong as my soul! You had already loose the duel BEFORE it begins!'

 

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