User blog:Pollux83/Beyond Light and Darkness, Chapter 25

Chapter Overview

 25 On sightseeing tour



 We continued our journey, constantly east towards Zipangu. Encounters with Mamono were rare. We were always able to convince them to leave us alone. They were surprisingly peaceful, very different than in the West. Did the closeness to Zipangu have anything to do with it?



 On the way we also crossed several monster friendly states. The soldiers were all well trained and did not show anything. I was also surprised how well the coexistence of the humans and Mamono in these countries worked. You could always see mixed couples and everything seemed normal.



 However, I also knew the reports of other monster-friendly states, which sooner or later have become a demon realm, and there was only one exception so far.





 After several months, we reached a port city whose name I could not pronounce with the best will. From there we wanted to sail to Zipangu, but no ship drove at the time, because a storm was coming in. So we were forced to extend our stay in the city a bit. A good time to get more familiar with our destination.

Kai and I set out to explore the city. But before that we thrown off our escort. I could not need a watchdog of the Order near me.



 Together, we explored the city. The architecture was very different from that of our homeland and the cities in the west. Especially the roofs were noticeable.

In addition to the buildings, I also noticed the different clothes of many residents. They wore a colorful robe, I think they called it Kimono. At any rate, it was not functional, at least I could not imagine running with such things, not to mention fighting. Nevertheless, we bought a few for us.



 We had to get used to the food at first, but it tasted amazingly good. Only how to eat with these chopsticks will remain a mystery to me forever.



 We both went on and were not really inconspicuous. We were significantly taller than the people from this region and with my blond hair I was alone with some Mamono. All this did not seem to interest people. We were probably not the only strangers in visit this city.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> In the evening we visited a park, in its center stood a kind of temple. Everywhere hung little bells and stood cat statues. We even saw some people praying. They put smoking sticks into a box. The people here had really strange rituals.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> It was late and so we went back to our accommodation where our "watchdog" was already waiting for us. He looked a bit annoyed. "Where were you?" "We only got used to the local customs." He did not look happier. "And why did you have to shake off your escort?" "Because the escort is far too conspicuous. We are already conspicuous enough. Besides, Mareus and I are trained soldiers. We can take care of ourselves very well."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> "That's still unacceptable. I've been assigned the task of making this expedition a success." "And that's why it's necessary for Kai and me to walk around town without escorts." "That's a much too big security risk." "Fred, you said that in the other cities as well." He hated being called Fred. "You should call me Frederic. I have you ... ahhhh ... you two are a shame. That's all in my report. You'll see what you got from it." "Does that mean that we are no longer being forced to be escorted?" "Get out!"

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> We quickly went to our room. "Mareus, we should really stop provoking him." "But he always gets so excited." "He really does. But we should stop it anyway." "I know. From now on we only call him Fred from time to time." "Agreed."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> The next day we visited the marketplace. I was able to persuade the others to trade there, after all we were disguised as traders. At the market, I could look around in peace, while the others offered our goods. There was plenty to buy: vases, plates, fish, ...

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> At one of the booths I discovered a book that attracted my attention immediately. On the cover several Mamono were shown. I took a closer look at the book. The trader said something, but without an interpreter I did not understand a word. I tried to make him realize that I wanted to buy the book. We did not understand the other's word, but somehow I managed to buy the book from him. He at least happily accepted my money and after that I had the feeling that I had paid too much.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> It surprised me a little that the book had been written in the language of the Order, but at least I could read it without help. My companions were not allowed to get this book into their hands, they would destroy it immediately. So I was looking for a quiet place in the city where I could read the book undisturbed.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> The book contained information about many different Mamono. Some even with picture. The quality left a lot to be desired. The book was definitely not an original. Nevertheless, it was well done and a good addition to the library of Niskara.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> In addition to the information about the Mamono it was even more in the book. Information about the demon realms. About demonic energy and its effects. Even about the beginnings of this era, there was a little story. I could not stop reading the book. Only my stomach caused a break.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> After lunch I continued reading. How did the author collect all this information? For some information, I could confirm that they were correct. Others were not entirely correct in any case. Also, the choice of words was very radical. The author had to come from the areas of the Order.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> Which raised the question why the author had written this book. Maybe he had quarreled with the Order? Who knows. This definitely made the stories in the book less credible, even though they explained a few things.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> I decided not to believe the conspiracy theory for now. Not without a clear proof. But I kept it in mind.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> Even without these stories, the book was worth its weight in gold. Just the information about the Mamono was priceless. This did not change the fact that many stories are from hearsay. Especially the stories about the demon realms had to come from 2nd or 3rd hand.

At any rate, I did not intend to check the veracity of these stories in the near future. But with the stories about Zipangu it was different. I wanted to see what was right and what was not.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> The most important thing, however, was to find a good hiding place for the book. My companions were not allowed to find it. I already had an idea.

The next day the storm became noticeable. It started raining. Accordingly, there was not much going on on the marketplace.

I and Kai took the time to look around town, right after we bought 2 umbrellas.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> After some time we ended up at the harbor. The waves hit the quay wall. No wonder nobody wanted to cross over. Even the fishermen preferred to stay in the harbor.

On the horizon you could see the storm. Again and again it flashed. Not a good place for a ship.

The harbor itself was similarly deserted like the marketplace. A few workers carried crates. A lonely angler sat on the quay wall. So far, no fish had bitten.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> We took a closer look at the ships lie at anchor. The ships from Zipangu were easy to spot. Most of them were decorated with wooden statues of Mamono and their sails differed significantly from the "bedsheets" of the order ships.

We had looked at the harbor long enough and were sufficiently wet. For the rest of the day we looked for a warm dry inn.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> 3 days later it was time. The storm had passed and we were finally able to sail to Zipangu. Although I had read a lot about this country, I was looking forward to personally seeing its wonders.

The harbor was now barely recognizable. Ships were loaded, fishermen headed out onto the sea. Everyone tried to make up for the lost days.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> We drove our wagons on the ship that would take us to Zipangu. The captain always shouted "hurry, hurry" and instructed his men. We did as fast as we could, but a wagon should be carefully loaded onto a ship.

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> Then suddenly mermaids appeared. They waved to the sailors and they waved back. "Hey Mareus. Are these really mermaids?" "I guess so. At any rate, they look like the mermaids in the books. Yey, fishtail. Definitely mermaids." "What are they doing here?" "No idea. The sailors seem to know them. Let's just ask."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> We looked for a sailor who had just a little less to do and I asked him. "Tell me, do you know what the mermaids want here?" "Is this your first trip to Zipangu?" "Yes." "Then you are doubly lucky. The townspeople are friends with the local mermaids. They give the ships escort. Nothing has ever happened to a ship since then." "You work together with the mermaids?" Kai was perplexed. "Yes." He smiled. "So simple?" I was curious. "Yes. Nobody is forced to marry a mermaid, if that's what you mean. I think a few of the fishermen are married to mermaids. But you should ask them yourself. I have to keep working now."

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<p align="left" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%"> The captain was talking to one of the mermaids. Kai and I were stunned by the collaboration between humans and Mamono and we were curious about what the rest of Zipangu would look like.

Some time later everything was loaded and the journey could begin. We set out for Zipangu.