Chapter 3

The journey turned out to be quite comfortable. For some reason, I had expected bumps, potholes, wild animals, and other such things, but... the hebi confidently glided along the path of half-worn stones and were full of strength and energy. Our weight clearly didn't bother them. I found myself involuntarily watching the miraculous beasts. For some reason, I had a feeling they would come in handy in the future.

Tehiko was talking about something, but I wasn't really listening. Instead, I was looking around, trying to remember every detail. This was my first trip to the city; it was worth paying attention to everything. I could figure it out later. You never knew how life would turn out. Sooner or later, we would leave the Gozen School, and then no one would offer a roof over my head or a rice cake — I would have to fend for myself.

"Teacher Tehiko," one of the girls asked in a clear voice, "where did the new hebi come from?"

I perked up my ears.

"A reward from the imperial family, by the grace of His Majesty Shunsuke Кsa-Karan," Tehiko said with a smile. "You remember that the Gozen School won first place in the competition two years ago, don't you?"

The girls nodded, and some gasped.

"We were given a prize then," she continued. "But, as it turned out, not all of it. The hebi had to grow up before they could be used as mounts."

"And do they only live in the Land of Storms?" asked a student in a blue keikogi.

"Yes, Chou," Tehiko nodded. "And only in the two western prefectures."

I quickly did the math. These were the lands of the Shenghai Clan. This meant that the hebi also belonged to the clan, at least territorially. It was likely that there was no ban on catching these snakes; they could have been raised in a nursery, and... my intuition told me there were no nurseries. It was either my former self's memories or just a gut feeling.

Tehiko seemed to sense something and looked at me intently. Why me? I wasn't doing anything, just sitting here, minding my own business, looking at the flowers in the meadow.

Praise the Weaver, the teacher was distracted again.

"What are you thinking about?" Misaki whispered.

"About how to take over the world," I answered innocently.

"Very funny," Haruka commented.

"Laughter extends life," I shrugged.

The conversation stopped as Nozu came into view—a small, neat town nestled at the foot of a mountain. It was far enough from the border and at the same time relatively close to the schools. Once a month, students were brought here to walk around, look at things, and buy something. The teachers also came to buy food and medicine. So it was a decent source of income for the locals. Of course, it wasn't a metropolis, but it was still good.

As I understood it, there couldn't be any big cities too close to the border anyway. Few people wanted to deal with tsumi.

"We've arrived," Koji announced loudly.

The carriages stopped.

Tehiko jumped out first, and we followed her. The hebi were immediately given food, and the beasts began to chew with pleasure.

"And this isn't a predator?" I thought in a puzzled way, looking at them.

One hebi gave me a sly look with its green eye, as if it could read my mind. The look wasn't very pleasant. They were probably omnivores. I had a feeling.

"You have two hours," Tehiko said. "After that, we'll meet for lunch by the 'At the Mountain' eatery. Please don't be late and, of course, don't get lost. Those of you who have been here before, please help the others find their way."

Several voices immediately assured her there was no need to worry. Among them were Haruka, Misaki, Satu, and the girl in the green keikogi.

I was immediately grabbed by the arms and pulled toward the market.

"Aren't they going to watch us?" I whispered.

"Why?" Misaki said in amazement. "They're trusting us."

"And even if something bad wanted to happen, it can't here," Haruka pointed out.

"That's just because Aska's never been here before," Satu's voice carried over.

I just looked at her and gave her a disarming smile. For some reason, Satu didn't like the smile. She turned away to the girls walking beside her. In the end, we split up: our trio and... everyone else. Say what you will, but Satu knew how to act in a way that made many people hang on her every word.

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"Let's go," Misaki said, pulling me. "I've got she burning a hole in my pocket. I want new earrings."

She were round coins with square holes, the local currency. Students didn't have many places to earn money, but many had savings. Either from their past lives before they got to Gozen School, or the girls managed to earn a little money somehow. Only when we were each given twenty she did I realize that I hadn't thought about money. And that was a mistake. Money could help you in any world. For she, they'd smile at you sweeter, offer you a service, and give you spicy-sweet sauce with your rice cake.

The moment I stepped past the city gates of Nozu, I was... almost knocked over. So many smells, so much noise, shouting, laughter, and light. Small houses with brightly curved roofs huddled together on narrow streets. Signs covered in hieroglyphs sparkled in the sunlight. People wore kimonos, yukatas, keikogi, and some other clothes that I couldn't classify. Someone was leading a donkey; someone was carrying baskets of vegetables; a child was happily laughing as it bounced next to a person. A plump auntie walked past us with a tray of rice cakes, and I involuntarily swallowed. It seemed there was plenty to feast on here.

The market was big for a town like this. I wanted to look at everything at once. I was even a little lost, because I didn't have a specific goal to buy anything. Twenty she wasn't a fortune, of course, but it was enough to treat myself to something.

My gaze slid over a stall with ribbons and kanzashi flowers—decorations for elaborate hairstyles.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" someone said behind my back. "Do you want me to buy one for you?"

The next second, a slim young man in a purple keikogi came into view. His skin was a couple of shades lighter than mine. He had shoulder-length chestnut hair, almond-shaped brown eyes, and fine features. He was good-looking and, I assumed, my age. I wouldn't be surprised if girls had crushes on him. The guy looked good compared to his friend—a stocky, short-haired guy with a crooked smirk.

"Hideo, look at her face!" he scoffed. "She's already forgotten you! It probably went in one ear and out the other. You can't deal with these girls!"

"Be quiet, Garu," Hideo said coldly. "You are behaving in a manner unworthy of a Tokugawa School student."

I perked up my ears. Okay, great. Here came the Tokugawa School. I couldn't help but remember the Weaver's words that all my problems would come from there. True, the guys didn't look aggressive. The fact that Garu was being a smart aleck was his own problem. And he listened to Hideo, even if he did scowl.

"It's nice to meet some well-mannered young men," I said, not missing a beat.

Garu clearly wanted to say something nasty, but Hideo, without changing his expression, stepped on his foot.

"So, Aska?" he said with a bright smile. "Shall I buy it?"

I glanced at the hair ribbons. They were beautiful, of course, but I wasn't going to the emperor's reception, nor had I been invited to any proper tea ceremony, which meant simple hairpins would do just fine. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Misaki standing next to me, holding a couple of lilac flowers with golden stamens.

And then it hit me. Right!

"Buy it," I said, with a charming smile.

"What?" came his soft, patronizingly-tinged question.

"A wakizashi," I said, shining like a polished she.

Hideo's face went long, and Garu choked on an unspoken insult. My smile grew even wider. What's wrong, boys? Right ahead, you can see a weapons shop. My friend is next to me, and even though she's holding flowers, it doesn't stop her from striving for the status of a Blade Master. By the way, she'll help me pick out a good short sword. It'll always come in handy. Ideally, it needs a nice katana to go with it, but I'm a respectable girl; I won't ask for a katana right away.

"I see," Hideo commented noncommittally. "Well, a wakizashi it is. But remember, you asked for it yourself."

After that, he pretended he wanted to look at something and leaned over the counter. I tried to move away, but Hideo pressed against me for a moment. I wanted to protest, but he wasn't trying to grope me. And the contact lasted too briefly.

"See you at the bridge, Aska," he whispered faintly.

And then he turned to Garu.

"Why are you standing there, my friend? Let's go look at weapons. Have a nice day, students of the Gozen School."

"You, too, students of the Tokugawa School," Haruka sang softly, approaching us and sounding completely unlike herself.

Garu was unexpectedly flustered and quickly followed his friend.

"What was that all about?" I asked, not addressing anyone in particular.

"Well, obviously," Misaki snickered, after paying for the flowers, "he's your admirer. It's just that he clearly didn't expect you to ask for a sword."

An admirer? Save me, Weaver, I didn't need this! Of course, it was better than being in love with Koji, but still. Somehow... I just never thought that at sixteen, everyone was falling in love and dreaming so openly and sincerely, so... it wasn't surprising that Aska had a suitor. But... he was a little too handsome. Guys like that usually know their worth and don't chase after girls for no reason.

"I still don't understand why he's so obsessed with you," Haruka said, suddenly scowling. "He used to change girls like it was nothing, and now he's suddenly attached himself to Aska."

"He's one of the best students at the Tokugawa School," Misaki sighed. "He has such a high opinion of himself that even Satu can't compare."

"Maybe it's love?" I blurted out, while at the same time thinking that the idea about a weapon was a good one, and hardly listening to my friends.

Haruka burst out laughing. Misaki scoffed, "Of course, it's a great and pure love. Just like in the books, what did you expect?"

"All right, don't be sarcastic," Haruka said, unexpectedly conciliatory. "Aska wasn't serious. Right, Aska?"

"Huh?" I responded, realizing I was drifting out of reality again.

Hideo didn't interest me at all, though I should think about the bridge. Maybe something interesting was planned there? Besides, a star student who was interested in crazy Aska was clearly up to something.

"Get back to earth!" Misaki said angrily. "We're talking to you, by the way! And you're just standing there like an owl, blinking your eyes!"

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled, "I'm sorry." And, grabbing both of my friends by the arms, I quickly pulled them toward the weapons shop. "You see, I really do need a wakizashi."

"But..." Misaki, bewildered, tried to object.

"But I, of course, wouldn't make the right choice on my own," I helpfully chimed in. "So I can't do without you girls!"

There were no more objections. It seemed that everyone here had already realized that it was pointless to argue with me.