A False Alarm and a New Direction
The terrifying COLD that had pierced Neshuda's soul two days prior, suggesting an immediate attack on the Final Shrine, turned out to be a brilliant, calculated feint. The truth arrived with a breathless courier, delivering a coded message from the recently released spy, Henudra.
The spy has sent a coded message. The Clan Leader is not in the North. They are consolidating power in the Eastern Islands, recruiting from the defeated pirate fleets. Their immediate goal is to destabilize the coastal trade routes, creating mass panic and economic despair—a slow spiritual poison.
King Hayate and Consort Neshuda immediately halted their frantic ride north, high in the Northern Passes. Hayate felt the immediate, sharp spike of relief from Neshuda, instantly followed by intense anger at having been fooled and redirected.
Neshuda dismounted, slamming his gauntleted fist against a rock in frustration. Hayate felt the dull, jarring impact in his own arm, a physical echo of the Consort's rage.
"They knew I would prioritize the Seal!" Neshuda growled, rubbing the impact spot. "They used my primal fear, Hayate. They weaponized the remnants of the curse to steer us away from their real target."
Hayate walked over, his face solemn, placing a soothing hand on Neshuda's armored shoulder. "It was a stroke of genius, my love. But now we know the strategy. They are attacking the stability of the kingdom, not the Seal directly. They know economic despair generates the spiritual fuel they need to break it later."
He looked toward the south. "We must find the source of these pirates. If they are recruiting, they need a safe harbor and a powerful leader. We need to find the Sea Witch before the Clan Leader co-opts her."
The Politics of the Sea
The Sea Witch, known to her followers as Queen Leona, was a legend—a brilliant, ruthless pirate leader who held dominion over a chain of remote islands far south of the Aurekawa Citadel's main territory. While previously an unpredictable force, she was a fierce opponent of the ghouls, having lost much to the spiritual war years ago.
Hayate's strategy was clear: leverage the Sea Witch's hatred of chaos and appeal to her sense of self-preservation.
"We can't go with an army," Hayate decided, back in the Citadel planning room. "She will see a naval contingent as an invasion. We go discreetly, as trade envoys. We must show trust to earn her alliance."
"Then we go with only Captain Torvin, disguised," Neshuda stated, his tone firm. "And we go prepared for treachery. The Sea Witch will demand proof of our stability."
Hayate nodded. Before they departed, he enacted the next phase of his political plan: sending a diplomatic mission to the Galthor Empire border—officially to discuss piracy, but secretly to track Henudra and prepare for the diplomatic fallout if the Clan Leader's activities spilled over. The kingdom was fighting a two-front war: spiritual terror and political intrigue.
The journey south was a blur of exhausting travel, first by horse, then aboard a swift merchant ship disguised with false colors.
During the voyage, Neshuda trained constantly, his intense, sharp concentration flowing through the bond to Hayate, who was studying the complex naval charts. Hayate found the reflected focus incredibly useful, allowing him to absorb dense information quickly.
"The Sea Witch's territory is guarded by a ring of small islands," Hayate noted, looking up as Neshuda finished a particularly strenuous set of drills. "She enforces a strict border. No one approaches her main island without permission."
Neshuda, breathing heavily but steady, walked over to the chart, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Then we land on the largest outer island, the supply point. It's the closest we can get without alerting her main fleet. We need an escort."
Introduction: Winter, the Outrider
They reached the designated outer island just as the sun began its descent into the vast ocean. As their ship anchored in a secluded cove, they saw movement on the high cliffs—a lone sentinel, tall and powerful, silhouetted against the brilliant, fiery sky.
The figure moved with a quick, fluid grace, jumping down from the rock and landing silently on the sand near their landing spot. She was tall—around 175cm—with an athlete's lean strength, and she carried a curved, polished knife. Her eyes were sharp, intelligent green, assessing them with fierce curiosity.
"You're trespassing, mainlanders," she stated, her voice quiet but carrying the authority of command. "This is the territory of the Sea Witch. You turn back now."
"We seek an audience with your leader," Hayate replied, stepping off the boat first, radiating his full, non-threatening charisma. "I am King Hayate of the Aurekawa Citadel, and this is my Consort, Neshuda. We come in peace to discuss a mutual enemy."
The woman's eyes fixed instantly on Neshuda, assessing his posture, his dark eyes, and the quiet, lethal determination he projected. Hayate felt a distinct, almost electric spike of complex emotion reflected from Neshuda—a mix of surprise, professional admiration, and a strong undercurrent of envy that was not Neshuda's own, but the woman's!
"A King and his Consort," the woman mused, a faint, wry smile touching her lips. "I've heard the whispers. The one who wears the King's shadow, the Life Anchor. Fascinating."
She finally introduced herself. "I am Winter. I am the Outrider for the Sea Witch. Your reason for being here must be compelling, King. My sister does not tolerate political games."
The Unspoken Challenge
Hayate quickly outlined the threat, explaining how the Hidden Clan Leader sought to weaponize the pirates to generate spiritual despair through economic collapse.
Winter listened intently, her close-combat expertise evident in the coiled stillness of her posture, ready to spring into action at the slightest threat.
"My leader, Queen Leona, only cares about protecting our islands and our independence," Winter stated. "Why should she care about your mainland's spiritual war? We thrive on trade, and war is bad for trade."
"Exactly," Neshuda interjected, stepping forward, his voice low and firm. "Your people thrive on trade and independence, not chaos. The Clan Leader will not stop until the world is broken, and that includes your islands. You cannot fight the spiritual darkness with ships alone."
Winter shifted her weight, her eyes locked with Neshuda's. "You speak of strength, Anchor. We only respect strength here. You may be a King's beloved, but that means nothing on these islands. If you truly want an audience with my sister, you have to prove your worth. You fight me. Closed-combat. No armor, no swords, no magic. Just skill."
Hayate felt a jolt of fierce, protective anger and immediate danger spike through the bond from Neshuda, instantly followed by cold, professional resolve—Neshuda was already committed.
"Neshuda, no," Hayate began, placing a restraining hand on his arm.
Neshuda squeezed Hayate's hand—a subtle, firm message through the bond: Trust me. This is the currency of these people.
"I accept your challenge, Outrider," Neshuda replied, his voice calm. He began stripping off his traveling gear, revealing the lean, battle-hardened muscle beneath. "But understand this: I don't fight for pride. I fight for the King. And if you attempt to deceive me, you will face the Angelic bloodline's full wrath."
Winter's grin was immediate and fierce, betraying her close-combat passion. "A man of honor. Good. Let's see if your love makes you soft, Anchor."
The Dance of the Warriors
The fight began with a sudden, explosive burst of speed. Winter was a whirlwind of motion, utilizing her height and expertise in leverage to keep Neshuda off balance. She was fast, relentless, and focused on neutralizing his stronger reach.
Hayate watched from the side, agonizing over every reflected blow. He felt the sharp, focused pain of Winter's punch connecting with Neshuda's ribs (a sudden, sharp ache in his own side), and the resulting bruise pain as Neshuda blocked a sweeping kick with his forearm (a dull, lingering throb in his own forearm). The bond was screaming the fight's sheer intensity and professional respect—the two warriors were testing each other to the limit.
Neshuda fought defensively, absorbing her pace and rhythm. He used the minimal force required to block, reserving his true strength. He was studying her technique, noting her dependence on momentum.
Finally, Winter executed a complex, swift maneuver, forcing Neshuda onto his back and pinning him with her forearm across his throat.
"You're disciplined, Anchor, but you are slow," Winter observed, breathing heavily, but with triumph in her eyes.
"You are fast," Neshuda countered, his voice strained but steady. "But you rely on the immediate win. You left your entire lower defense open for a disarm when you swept. You fight like you are desperate to prove yourself. You are brilliant, but you are not thinking about the final, long game."
With a sudden, powerful surge of force, Neshuda reversed the hold, pinning Winter's arm and holding her immobile. He didn't exert maximum pressure, but she was trapped.
"You fight like you've lost something and seek revenge," Neshuda stated, releasing her arm and standing up, completely composed. "I fight like I have everything to protect. That is why you are the Outrider, and I am the Consort. I protect the foundation."
Winter stood, rubbing her arm, her sharp green eyes wide with a mix of physical pain and profound, grudging admiration. She walked straight to Hayate, who was already rushing toward Neshuda to check the bruises he felt through the bond.
"He wins, King," Winter conceded, her tone now respectful. "You chose well. You may come to see my sister. The Sea Witch respects a man who knows his worth and the worth of what he protects."
A Sister's Debt
As they walked through the winding forest path, Winter finally spoke openly, addressing Hayate with a new deference.
"The Sea Witch is my sister, Queen Leona," Winter revealed. "She is rebuilding the pirate fleets because she knows the mainland is unstable. We lost everything to the ghouls years ago—our entire family, our home island. Her only goal is to make our islands a fortress and ensure our people are never victims again."
"And the Hidden Clan Leader is trying to exploit that pain," Hayate concluded.
"Precisely," Winter confirmed, glancing at Neshuda, who immediately pulled Hayate closer to shield him from the cold sea breeze. The simple act of protection was a stronger declaration than any speech. "Leona hates the ghouls as much as you do. But she only trusts strength. She only trusts those who understand the price of vulnerability."
Winter gave Hayate a long, meaningful look. "Show her your love is real, Hayate. Show her your stability is permanent. That is the only way to gain her help, and that is the only language my sister respects."
Hayate squeezed Neshuda's hand—a silent, sweet promise that their bond, the foundation of their newly won peace, would be the very weapon they needed to secure this new, critical alliance. The next phase of the war was not fought with swords, but with diplomacy fueled by absolute, open love.