Tales of Vagary
By Virgil Thornton II
For Big Red and RisyMae
Published by Weird Disciple Publishing
Edited by Marrisa Thornton, Articulate
© 2020 Virgil Thornton II
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-7326548-1-5
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-7326548-6-0
ISBN (hardback): 978-1-7326548-8-4
Edited by Marrisa Thornton, Articulate
© 2020 Virgil Thornton II
ISBN (e-book): 978-1-7326548-1-5
ISBN (paperback): 978-1-7326548-6-0
ISBN (hardback): 978-1-7326548-8-4
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents (Part I)
Prelude
Chapter 1: The Portal Chapter 2: Our Destination Chapter 3: The Scorpion Woman Chapter 4: Many Gifts Chapter 5: Greatest Battle Ever Chapter 6: Spirit of Affection Chapter 7: Double Trouble Chapter 8: Goodbye Chapter 9: Black Bunraku |
Chapter 10: Odd Spirit
Chapter 11: Blood and Lightning Chapter 12: House on Desert Shore Chapter 13: Final Choice Chapter Finale: Fumetsoshiegami Part II: Ashtoreth's Kiss Epilogue End Credits Something Extra... |
Chapter 1: The Portal
~ Presentation ~
Today is the winter solstice. I remembered because that is the only thing my father has said during this car ride. Mother wrings her hands in the passenger’s seat. Father is statue still; only his arms move to drive the car. I sit in the back seat, staring at nothing. To the right, I notice another driver, a boy around my age, singing to the radio with his coat on.
I wear a Shajiku Sun (the lab of my grandfather) t-shirt and heavy jeans. My coat sits in the seat beside me. Across my legs is Amanokaze, the family katana. It was made by my great grandfather and has rested on the mantel above the bed of my grandfather since before I can remember.
It is cloudy outside, but the navy-blue scabbard is still shiny. Flowers are painted along the side. The guard is bronze, and the hilt still has dust on it. It is hard to believe I am really holding the family sword. It is hard to believe a lot of things that are happening right now.
We arrive at the facility and the parking lot is full. A security car guides us to our parking spot. As we follow it, I notice some of the cars out here. Many are news vans. One small green sedan belongs to my sister Ume. She is in college so she no longer lives with us; she said she would meet us here.
As we pull into the spot security led us to, I get an odd feeling. This moment is like my very first kendo tournament. The seat placement of my parents and I are the same. I have a weapon that I am surprised I am allowed to hold, just like before the match. Ume arrived before us, like she did back then.
But my parents are silent this time, and I am much more scared than I was then.
Mother, Father, and I follow the security guards out of the parking garage and into the lab. The first room we enter is a great warehouse space. In the very center is a 3-meter-wide circle made of white plastic and smooth metal. It sits upright with a small staircase and platform in front of it. Thick, colorful wires pour out of it from all sides, hooking up to machines and computers. That must be the portal.
There are a lot more people here than I imagined. Dozens of engineers busy themselves with the computers. News crews are setting up equipment. Government officials are having small conversations with one another. I even spot a few other family members.
“Daiki. It is good to see you.” Sofu says, appearing from a cloud of reporters.
I give him a nod-bow and he returns one. A few people in white coats walk up behind him and bow in our direction. We return the greeting, and then Sofu starts talking again.
“Masanori, Erina, please join the others at the viewing area. Daiki, follow me.”
My parents give me a proud look before heading over to the crowd. I lock eyes with Sofu, and then he begins walking towards the other side of the warehouse. The people in white follow him, and I do the same.
We walk for a long time, past the reporters, the portal, and the rest of the equipment. We enter a doorway, walk through a hall, and then go through three more rooms. The next room we enter has a glass wall, where a group of people are in hooded hazmat suits, cleaning clothes.
Sofu stops, and so do the rest of the people around him.
“Alright Daiki, the portal has been tested many times and is thought to be safe to be inside. However, we still need to be careful. Go and take a hot shower, and when you are finished, we can get you a suit and an air tank. We will also sterilize your clothes. Did you bring Amanokaze?”
I raise the sword a little, though I am sure Sofu already noticed it. Either way, he smiles.
“Good. I am sure you are confused about why I wanted you to bring it. I will tell you after you get suited up. These researchers will take you to the showers.”
The people in white coats lead me to a small side room. In front of me is the shower, and on one of the shower walls is another door. They tell me to go through that door when I am finished, then they exit through the open doorway.
I undress fast and get in the shower before anyone walks by. The water is very warm, and with all of my thoughts, it is hard to keep the shower short. I clean myself with the toiletries in the shower, then will myself to turn off the water.
Instead of a towel, there is just a button marked “dry” on the wall. I press it, and after three mysterious beeps, I am blasted from every direction with powerful wind. After a moment of panic, I figure out that this is the dryer, so I stretch out my limbs and spin around to make sure I am dried off everywhere. The wind is much less pleasant than the water.
After a while, the dryers shut off. By then, the shower and I are all the way dry. Still naked, I open the next door, trying to cover myself in case someone is on the other side. There is only a small white room with a sliding door. My clothes and glasses lay folded on a bench, along with Amanokaze, a headset, and a hazmat suit with air tanks on it.
I can hear people moving around and muffled talking behind the door, so I hurry and get dressed. To my surprise and delight, many of the marks on my glasses have disappeared. I have a bit of difficulty with the suit, but then I realize there is an instruction paper on the wall, so I read it and figure it out.
Once I am dressed, covered, and have the family sword in hand, I press the “open” button next to the door. There is a buzzing noise, and then the sliding door pops, hisses, and rolls away. In front of me is the clean room I saw through the window. I spot my grandfather out of the dozens of people, and he walks over to me along with another man.
“Daiki, this is Nakamura Ryusei. He is a researcher from the lab that will be recording your journey.”
I bow to the middle-aged man, and he returns the bow.
“We will begin the presentation when the Princess arrives. The Emperor would be joining her, but he got a cold and could not make it. Do not be nervous.” Sofu adds that last sentence after looking at my face.
He and Mr. Nakamura share a laugh, and then he continues, “The presentation will be simple. The president of Shajiku Sun will speak, I will introduce the project, and if either of you want to speak, I will let you. Then, we will start the portal. Your destination will be our main off-site lab in Osaka. This portal has a 94% accuracy, so I can assure that you will arrive where you need to. You should be back in time for school tomorrow.”
I do not have school tomorrow, but I choose not to correct him. My fingers are cold and tingling, but I nod anyway. Mr.
Nakamura does the same, but he seems much more confident.
“Good. So Daiki, about Amanokaze. Did you know that the sword is magic?”
Sofu said that so serious and calm that I am surprised, “Magic?”
“Yes, magic,” my grandfather, a scientist and engineer, says, “The sword can entrance people if it is in the sun. It even entranced me once!”
I do not know how to reply. Is Sofu going senile? Maybe he is loopy under the stress? Perhaps that was a joke to lighten the mood? It should be best if I play along.
“Okay. Will I need to use it in Osaka?” I ask, trying to make it sound like I am joking.
“Oh not at all,” Sofu laughs, “I just thought you would like to know because you are carrying it. Whether you use it or not, it is a good luck charm. We had many more swords, like Gon Yami the spirit lantern or Sutomusuza the storm-splitter, but all of those have been destroyed through experiments.”
He pats me on the shoulder, which makes a crinkling noise, “Magic or not, that sword represents our family, and I am proud that you will be bearing it in front of the world today.”
I get nervous again when he mentions what is about to happen. With a smile and a nod, he goes toward what must be the exit to this room. Mr. Nakamura follows him, as well as everyone else, and so I do too.
We enter a long hallway where everyone stops and takes off their suits. For a moment I am confused, but then someone lets me know that Mr. Nakamura and I are to keep ours on. Once everyone else is undressed, many leave through a side exit while my grandfather and a few others stay behind.
We stand for a while, and then one of the researchers looks down at his watch. He bows to my grandfather, which everyone else in the room does too, then opens the door at the end of the hallway.
I follow everyone else out into the warehouse, which is now a bit fancier. Behind the row of reporters, there are new carpets and more guards. I soon spot the Princess, dressed in a suit and seated like many others. Everyone is quiet. We all stop and bow very low, then continue.
We approach the portal fast, going around the crowd and stopping next to the podium space. The portal stands at the end of its platform just a few meters to my left. It is as quiet as the crowd. The president of Shajiku Sun gives a speech, but I am too nervous to pay attention. My grandfather goes next, talking about the history and mechanics of the portal. I can see and hear his nervousness, but he speaks well and the audience claps.
Someone comes up and fits a professional camcorder on the shoulder of Mr. Nakamura. They also strap a much smaller camera around my chest. The entire time, photo flashes go off behind us and reporters zoom in from every angle.
More time passes, then Mr. Nakamura and I go up the small staircase and stand at either side of the portal platform, facing one another. We stand and wait for a while, and I notice engineers over to the left running programs and checking graphs.
For some reason, Mr. Nakamura raises his right hand. I stare back at him, unsure of what is going on. I can feel the air growing heavy with expectancy, so I shift Amanokaze to my left and raise my hand too.
He puts his hand down and I do so a second later. Right after that, he goes and turns on his shoulder camcorder. I follow his lead, pressing the small button on my body camera. He raises his hand again, and I raise mine. They must have shared some instructions earlier that I missed.
The lights dim. I become even more nervous than before. Is this portal going to work? As if to answer my question, lights on the edges of the portal click to life. There are a few red flickers at the left corner of my vision, and then a hot blue flash. Flickering, swirling light washes over the warehouse as clapping erupts from the audience.
Oh my goodness! I am going to be in history books! My grandfather has really made a portal! We are really doing this?! What is it going to feel like inside of the portal? Will this hurt? How long will I be in there?
Mr. Nakamura takes a step forward, which means I must take a step forward, and I almost faint because of this. But then I remember that the whole world is watching and that my family sword is in my hands, so I will myself to step forward and meet Mr. Nakamura.
We stop and turn to face the portal. It is a flashing, swaying mess of color and light. It is something from beyond this world. The platform below us hums with energy from all the wires, but the portal does nothing. It does not suck or blow wind. It is not cold or hot. It does not make any noise. It is just a silent oval stretched in front of us, smooth and still.
Mr. Nakamura looks at me. I must be the first to step in.
And so I am.
I wear a Shajiku Sun (the lab of my grandfather) t-shirt and heavy jeans. My coat sits in the seat beside me. Across my legs is Amanokaze, the family katana. It was made by my great grandfather and has rested on the mantel above the bed of my grandfather since before I can remember.
It is cloudy outside, but the navy-blue scabbard is still shiny. Flowers are painted along the side. The guard is bronze, and the hilt still has dust on it. It is hard to believe I am really holding the family sword. It is hard to believe a lot of things that are happening right now.
We arrive at the facility and the parking lot is full. A security car guides us to our parking spot. As we follow it, I notice some of the cars out here. Many are news vans. One small green sedan belongs to my sister Ume. She is in college so she no longer lives with us; she said she would meet us here.
As we pull into the spot security led us to, I get an odd feeling. This moment is like my very first kendo tournament. The seat placement of my parents and I are the same. I have a weapon that I am surprised I am allowed to hold, just like before the match. Ume arrived before us, like she did back then.
But my parents are silent this time, and I am much more scared than I was then.
Mother, Father, and I follow the security guards out of the parking garage and into the lab. The first room we enter is a great warehouse space. In the very center is a 3-meter-wide circle made of white plastic and smooth metal. It sits upright with a small staircase and platform in front of it. Thick, colorful wires pour out of it from all sides, hooking up to machines and computers. That must be the portal.
There are a lot more people here than I imagined. Dozens of engineers busy themselves with the computers. News crews are setting up equipment. Government officials are having small conversations with one another. I even spot a few other family members.
“Daiki. It is good to see you.” Sofu says, appearing from a cloud of reporters.
I give him a nod-bow and he returns one. A few people in white coats walk up behind him and bow in our direction. We return the greeting, and then Sofu starts talking again.
“Masanori, Erina, please join the others at the viewing area. Daiki, follow me.”
My parents give me a proud look before heading over to the crowd. I lock eyes with Sofu, and then he begins walking towards the other side of the warehouse. The people in white follow him, and I do the same.
We walk for a long time, past the reporters, the portal, and the rest of the equipment. We enter a doorway, walk through a hall, and then go through three more rooms. The next room we enter has a glass wall, where a group of people are in hooded hazmat suits, cleaning clothes.
Sofu stops, and so do the rest of the people around him.
“Alright Daiki, the portal has been tested many times and is thought to be safe to be inside. However, we still need to be careful. Go and take a hot shower, and when you are finished, we can get you a suit and an air tank. We will also sterilize your clothes. Did you bring Amanokaze?”
I raise the sword a little, though I am sure Sofu already noticed it. Either way, he smiles.
“Good. I am sure you are confused about why I wanted you to bring it. I will tell you after you get suited up. These researchers will take you to the showers.”
The people in white coats lead me to a small side room. In front of me is the shower, and on one of the shower walls is another door. They tell me to go through that door when I am finished, then they exit through the open doorway.
I undress fast and get in the shower before anyone walks by. The water is very warm, and with all of my thoughts, it is hard to keep the shower short. I clean myself with the toiletries in the shower, then will myself to turn off the water.
Instead of a towel, there is just a button marked “dry” on the wall. I press it, and after three mysterious beeps, I am blasted from every direction with powerful wind. After a moment of panic, I figure out that this is the dryer, so I stretch out my limbs and spin around to make sure I am dried off everywhere. The wind is much less pleasant than the water.
After a while, the dryers shut off. By then, the shower and I are all the way dry. Still naked, I open the next door, trying to cover myself in case someone is on the other side. There is only a small white room with a sliding door. My clothes and glasses lay folded on a bench, along with Amanokaze, a headset, and a hazmat suit with air tanks on it.
I can hear people moving around and muffled talking behind the door, so I hurry and get dressed. To my surprise and delight, many of the marks on my glasses have disappeared. I have a bit of difficulty with the suit, but then I realize there is an instruction paper on the wall, so I read it and figure it out.
Once I am dressed, covered, and have the family sword in hand, I press the “open” button next to the door. There is a buzzing noise, and then the sliding door pops, hisses, and rolls away. In front of me is the clean room I saw through the window. I spot my grandfather out of the dozens of people, and he walks over to me along with another man.
“Daiki, this is Nakamura Ryusei. He is a researcher from the lab that will be recording your journey.”
I bow to the middle-aged man, and he returns the bow.
“We will begin the presentation when the Princess arrives. The Emperor would be joining her, but he got a cold and could not make it. Do not be nervous.” Sofu adds that last sentence after looking at my face.
He and Mr. Nakamura share a laugh, and then he continues, “The presentation will be simple. The president of Shajiku Sun will speak, I will introduce the project, and if either of you want to speak, I will let you. Then, we will start the portal. Your destination will be our main off-site lab in Osaka. This portal has a 94% accuracy, so I can assure that you will arrive where you need to. You should be back in time for school tomorrow.”
I do not have school tomorrow, but I choose not to correct him. My fingers are cold and tingling, but I nod anyway. Mr.
Nakamura does the same, but he seems much more confident.
“Good. So Daiki, about Amanokaze. Did you know that the sword is magic?”
Sofu said that so serious and calm that I am surprised, “Magic?”
“Yes, magic,” my grandfather, a scientist and engineer, says, “The sword can entrance people if it is in the sun. It even entranced me once!”
I do not know how to reply. Is Sofu going senile? Maybe he is loopy under the stress? Perhaps that was a joke to lighten the mood? It should be best if I play along.
“Okay. Will I need to use it in Osaka?” I ask, trying to make it sound like I am joking.
“Oh not at all,” Sofu laughs, “I just thought you would like to know because you are carrying it. Whether you use it or not, it is a good luck charm. We had many more swords, like Gon Yami the spirit lantern or Sutomusuza the storm-splitter, but all of those have been destroyed through experiments.”
He pats me on the shoulder, which makes a crinkling noise, “Magic or not, that sword represents our family, and I am proud that you will be bearing it in front of the world today.”
I get nervous again when he mentions what is about to happen. With a smile and a nod, he goes toward what must be the exit to this room. Mr. Nakamura follows him, as well as everyone else, and so I do too.
We enter a long hallway where everyone stops and takes off their suits. For a moment I am confused, but then someone lets me know that Mr. Nakamura and I are to keep ours on. Once everyone else is undressed, many leave through a side exit while my grandfather and a few others stay behind.
We stand for a while, and then one of the researchers looks down at his watch. He bows to my grandfather, which everyone else in the room does too, then opens the door at the end of the hallway.
I follow everyone else out into the warehouse, which is now a bit fancier. Behind the row of reporters, there are new carpets and more guards. I soon spot the Princess, dressed in a suit and seated like many others. Everyone is quiet. We all stop and bow very low, then continue.
We approach the portal fast, going around the crowd and stopping next to the podium space. The portal stands at the end of its platform just a few meters to my left. It is as quiet as the crowd. The president of Shajiku Sun gives a speech, but I am too nervous to pay attention. My grandfather goes next, talking about the history and mechanics of the portal. I can see and hear his nervousness, but he speaks well and the audience claps.
Someone comes up and fits a professional camcorder on the shoulder of Mr. Nakamura. They also strap a much smaller camera around my chest. The entire time, photo flashes go off behind us and reporters zoom in from every angle.
More time passes, then Mr. Nakamura and I go up the small staircase and stand at either side of the portal platform, facing one another. We stand and wait for a while, and I notice engineers over to the left running programs and checking graphs.
For some reason, Mr. Nakamura raises his right hand. I stare back at him, unsure of what is going on. I can feel the air growing heavy with expectancy, so I shift Amanokaze to my left and raise my hand too.
He puts his hand down and I do so a second later. Right after that, he goes and turns on his shoulder camcorder. I follow his lead, pressing the small button on my body camera. He raises his hand again, and I raise mine. They must have shared some instructions earlier that I missed.
The lights dim. I become even more nervous than before. Is this portal going to work? As if to answer my question, lights on the edges of the portal click to life. There are a few red flickers at the left corner of my vision, and then a hot blue flash. Flickering, swirling light washes over the warehouse as clapping erupts from the audience.
Oh my goodness! I am going to be in history books! My grandfather has really made a portal! We are really doing this?! What is it going to feel like inside of the portal? Will this hurt? How long will I be in there?
Mr. Nakamura takes a step forward, which means I must take a step forward, and I almost faint because of this. But then I remember that the whole world is watching and that my family sword is in my hands, so I will myself to step forward and meet Mr. Nakamura.
We stop and turn to face the portal. It is a flashing, swaying mess of color and light. It is something from beyond this world. The platform below us hums with energy from all the wires, but the portal does nothing. It does not suck or blow wind. It is not cold or hot. It does not make any noise. It is just a silent oval stretched in front of us, smooth and still.
Mr. Nakamura looks at me. I must be the first to step in.
And so I am.
Oop, looks like we're gonna have to cut it right there. Did you enjoy? If the answer to that is somewhere around the "yes" ballpark, I'd suggest looking at the rest. Unlike Crescent of Darkness, this book hops right into the action, so make to have your seat belt on! The button below will send you right into the fray, but whatever you decide, thanks for reading thus far!