Bastion 2 - Chapter 44

“Your father’s parents left the Kokyu when the second war broke out. They feared for his life and possibilities. Your grandmother’s brother wasn’t pleased. He was head of the family line—uh, things work differently there. The whole family clan is presided over by the eldest male of the previous clan leader.

“But it’s more than just a status, it is power. The eldest male can command the family clan to do anything, and they must comply or face whatever consequences the head dreams up. In-fighting isn’t uncommon after a marriage.”

She paused, looking at me with a grim wince. “So, you can see how I resisted your control for this reason. I didn’t want the practices of Hiroto’s homeland to bleed into our lives… it’s toxic. But”—she rubbed her hand across my cheek—“you were never trying to control us. You’ve always been trying to serve us.”

“I have,” I whispered and held her hand.

“I know. Your grandparents returned to the Kokyu at their brother’s beckoning. He wasn’t happy they left, but let them. When things settled down in the Kokyu, he ordered them home, but Hiroto had met me.

“He was seventeen, just a few weeks older than you, and we were so in love,” she smiled, but tears streaked her face. I held her hand tighter. “He declared independence from his family clan and took a new name, Law. This was his right as the oldest male of his line, and his uncle allowed it.

“Still, the family held sway over him, and your great uncle controlled a great deal of our lives. I remember the day the message came. Your father took me out to the Valley of the Stars and swore himself to me. I had never been happier.” Tears flowed down her cheeks and I produced my handkerchief for her.

She dried her eyes and went on. “His uncle came to our union. I remember he was stiff. He pitied me, my family, and our way of life in the outer-cities. But he wasn’t unkind. He loved his nephew.”

The train horn blasted in the distance and she stopped to look out across the city. Her face became expressionless as she followed the express line as it weaved through the buildings.

“I never told you the story of how I got sick. A lifetime ago, Hiroto was teaching us to shape our cores. I had been building mine for years—the wrong way. You were so young, and eager. You soaked up everything and grew so fast. You were incredible.”

She laughed and squeezed my hand as she looked at me with teary eyes. “You are incredible.”

Her face turned down in desolation as her shoulders shook from withheld sobs. I pulled her into me and held her tight. “What is it, eomma?”

“I was jealous of you,” she said between heaving cries and my world pulled out of focus. “I wanted to advance like you were. I wanted to see your father’s eyes light up like they did with you.

“I—I did something I couldn’t take back. He was furious.” She calmed herself and sat upright. “I drank a potion to help me break down my flawed core design so I could build it faster, like you.”

She was sick because of me?

My chest constricted at her words. It felt like I was breathing icy water. Every breath was heavy agony.

She went on. “When I started getting sick, and the potion wouldn’t stop, Hiroto went looking for a cure. He went to Bastion, he went to the Guild of Historians, and all over Busa-nan.

“Finally, he found out where I got the potion…” She unfolded the crumpled paper. “His uncle, Dokun.”

Tunnel vision swarmed in as I looked at the picture on the page. Rushing filled my ears and my hand trembled as I reached for it. The tick-tick-tick of my heart in my throat made me sick and I tasted digested curry at the back of my mouth.

My mother’s voice was far-off. “He said it was a new trial potion, something he’d been working on to help save humanity. He swore me to secrecy with a Silence Pact. Hiroto broke it, broke me, and learned the truth.”

Her tears splashed onto the page and the ry scrawls darkened, then ran. “He still loved me, but he would never trust me again. He protected my core with the strongest ma spell he knew and left to find his uncle.”

I breathed deep and quelled the shaking in my arms. Hiroto knew my face, and who I was. He had seen Hana, Shin-soo, Bo, and Woong-ji. Would my father betray us to him? Would Dokun know our faces, too?

I grabbed my mother’s hand. “What else did he say? What else do you know?”

She scowled. “What does it matter?”

“It matters,” I said as pain lanced through my head. I couldn’t reveal anything more to her, lest I break the bond I’d made with Min-hwan.

“Jiyong, what have you done?” mother’s scowl deepened as she asked.

I breathed steadily through my nose as agony ripped at my skull. I gritted my teeth and looked away, focusing on the budding plants in the pot. Mother rubbed a hand over my back.

“A Silence Pact,” she whispered. “I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t say something sooner. I thought maybe I would die, and you would take the children to the kingdom and give them the life they deserved.”

The words fell like stones in the pit of my stomach.

“Eomma, how could you want that?” I asked as I turned back to her.

She shrugged, tears in her eyes once more. “I’m a burden.”

“You’re my mother, and I love you.”

She trembled. “I don’t deserve to be loved by you for what I’ve done.”

There was a knock on the glass, and I turned to see Hana. Her expression softened in apology. I looked across the city and saw the shadows the buildings cast. It was almost time to meet with Min-hwan.

I nodded to Hana, then turned to my mother. “I forgive you, for everything. I love you.”

She frowned as she tried to hold back tears. She took a gasping breath, and couldn’t hold it in. My mother sobbed, and I rocked her as I sent bursts of calming zo down her back. After a moment, she sniffled, and regained composure.

When she pulled back, the page with Dokun’s face fell to the floor. She looked at the image and dried her eyes, then looked back to me. “I won’t ask any questions; I know how much it will hurt you. But know that I love you, no matter what happens.”

I took a moment to say goodbye to my siblings and promised them I’d be home in a few days. I left instructions in the kitchen for how to get around in the city, and gave them Ryni’s information. She was excited to show my family around, something I was very grateful for.

We returned to Bastion with ten minutes to spare, but decided to go to Min-hwan’s office. The four of us waited nervously. It was nearly dinner, and no one else was here. I thought for sure that Woong-ji would accept this mission, but perhaps I was wrong. Teaching at Bastion was already a great honor, and sacrifice. Her knowledge of core foundation was pivotal to the school’s success—though I was sure many other instructors could teach it, just not as well.

At ten minutes to, Bo opened the door. She smiled when she saw us and bowed, but did not speak. Min-hwan appeared next, and Bo was the first to approach him.

She bowed deeply, then said, “My apologies, Grandmaster, but I cannot accept the responsibility of escorting the students to Kokyu.”

He hummed thoughtfully, then patted her shoulder. “You’re absolved of the knowledge.” Green swirled around Bo’s head and she grew weak in the knees. Cho caught her elbow and held her steady as the munje circled her, then flowed into Min-hwan’s hand.

When it was done, Bo blinked with confusion. She scowled as she looked at us, second-year students, then back to Min-hwan.

He nodded. “You made your choice.”

Bo sucked in a deep breath, and sighed, then nodded. “Thank you.” She walked from the room without another word.

Before the door shut, Woong-ji slipped through. She grinned. “Sorry, I was held up.”

She walked forward, her new machina leg clanking against the wood floor. She looked between us then held her hand out to Min-hwan. “I accept.”

Min-hwan grinned and gripped her hand. Green sparks flew away from their joined hands before settling back down around them. “Very good. You will be appointed to the newly created role of Exchange Chaperon.”

I pulled down a deep breath and held out my hand like Woong-ji had. “I accept.”

Min-hwan’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure? This cannot be undone, except by extreme measure.”

The door whined as it opened again and Sung-ki appeared. I turned back to Min-hwan. “I’m sure.”

He nodded solemnly and gripped my hand. “Very well.”

My skull tingled and there was a rush of heat down my arm to his palm that culminated in an explosion of green sparks. A shiver shot through my spine and I shook my head as the process completed. He nodded me off and I stood next to Woong-ji.

Hana, Cho, Yuri, and Sung-ki completed the same process until the door creaked again. Shin-soo poked his head in, his cheeks flushed. “Apologies,” he said, and I balked. I didn’t think I’d ever heard him use that word.

He stepped closer and looked to Hana, then Min-hwan. “There’s a lot I want to do here. I haven’t always been the most… honorable,” he said with shame, then looked to me. “But I’m ready to rise to your challenge.” He held out his hand and looked Min-hwan in the eyes. “I’ll go.”

Min-hwan nodded and shook his hand. The sparks settled around them, and the spell was sealed. Shin-soo stood next to me and faced Min-hwan. Seven of us against Dokun. Would it be enough?

“Eight,” Mae reminded me, and I smirked.

‘Apologies,’ I said in the way Shin-soo had.

“You were right,” she said and I quirked a brow. “Last year you said you could change his mind. Here he is.”

‘It was just a hope.’

Min-hwan cleared his throat. “Prepare yourselves. This summer will not be easy.”

“What?” Shin-soo asked with a scowl. “I thought we were going next semester.”

Min-hwan hummed. “Oh, you are. But not like this. You will be forged in the fire of my teaching this summer. You will be well beyond the other third years we send, and you must conceal your strength. You are now the first counterstrike. You must discover Dokun’s plans and undermine him where you can. You must buy us the precious weeks and months we will need to survive his plot.”

I bowed low, then stood tall. “We won’t fail. We’re Bastions.”