Return to Capita - Norma

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'If there was a place where God resided, Temple Island would be the place.'

It was a bold statement that was common among the natives in the North Blue. An egotistical idea that for centuries had fuelled the beliefs of many a native. Shunji's parent's, the creator's of our protagonist were no different. The folk, especially those who lived in Norma, loved to begin there statements with phrases such as, 'We are blessed to walk above God's sleeping grounds.' Sayings, common among those of religious belief, whether it be through dogma or generational heresay, it was these sayings that drove Shunji crazed. 'You don't love him do you?' the words of his mother creeping into his nocturnal daze. The boys body began to sweat profusely, his silver hair drenched already in ounces of it. The dead cold winter like temperatures mean't nothing when entrapped in this common dream. In his slumber, tears trickled from his eyes as the sound of his mother's strap breaking across his back left scars that until this day stand the test of time. With each strike the woman screamed for love, not for herself nor her husband, nor neighbour or her workman, but for the God her son didn't believe in. After the beating had concluded, the woman snap out of her crazed trance, realising what she had done, she discarded her belt and dropped to her knees, grasping for her son who was too young to even run or rebel, he'd always like clockwork return to his mother's touch. The touch entranced him, bringing a soothing end to the violent squabble. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Liana would utter as she'd gently brush her hand against her child's head. "I just want you to love him... He's given us so much. The sky, the moon and stars... All he asks is our love." the woman uttered, gently placing her warm lips against Shunji's forehead. In these moments, Shunji knew his mother loved him. He could feel the warmth permeate through his whole body. A warmth that curdled him almost into any belief of whatever she said. Any belief but that of her 'god'. "How do you know this mother?" Shunji asked, as her lips clutched backwards from his forehead. "What proof do you have that this 'god' gave these things!? Maybe they we're here before hand and he just claimed-" his words were muffled by the woman screaming out, almost like a banshee in the night. The belt returned this time was a brutal thud towards his cheek, Shunji awoke from his sleep. His heavy breathing ceased, trembling now from the cold, which was intensified due to the large volume of sweat incasing his body, the teenager shuffled around in his bag, placing a cigarette to his mouth. Quick flickers of the mechanic ember lit the tobacco, one inhale brought comfort to the slightly shaken folk. He always dreamt these kinds of things when he got closer to the capital, Norma. It was the place of his birth and it also brought back members of his days here, good and bad. More so bad, than good.

In the city, the people weave baskets and fill basins in preparation for the Festival Of The Seven Souls. The archbishops browsed the city, touching each and everyone of the worshipers in hopes that'd they too would offer up at least one child from the city into the Festival. On Temple Island, they are seven holy cities, Norma sitting in the centre of the other six. It said, those who lived in Norma had a closer love or bond to 'god' and as such only have offer two children, as oppose to the other cities who put forward seven. Archbishop Regal browsed the city, touching each of god's followers with his holy sceptre. "Blessings to you my children." the old man would utter cheerfully. Children made crowns of flowers, other baked treats, several made various crafts and some oven offered there daughters to the old saint in hopes of pleasings the servants of the lord, as depicted in the dogma circulated since birth. However, the bishop unlike the other high ranking officials simply turned down these offers responding with words like, "I only live to serve him. Not these worldly desires-hoo-hoo" as he'd end most of his sentences with. Reaching the end of the strip, he arrived at the Wraith's place of worship, owners of the largest denomination in the city. As the man opened, the door, Kronos fell to his feet. "Welcome father." Kronos stated, while bowing his head and chanting a prayer. "Rise my son. You're church is no stranger to the lord's love. You may greet me as the other bishop's do, eye to eye." the old man said chuckling whole heartedly. Two children shot from underneath the altar and dashed towards the bishop. "Grandpa Rege!" they screamed together in excitement. After dashing down the churches halls, they crashed into the old man pressing him onto the ground. "It's been awhile, may the lord bless you, grandpa." the boy twin stated, making the symbol of their faith in air, using his two index fingers. "Haha! Indeed! May he bless you too child." Regal responded cheerfully. The girl twin was slightly shy, and hid behind her father's leg but she greeted the man nonetheless with same greeting as her brother, retreating after their impact had rendered him to the ground. Returning to his feet, dusting off his jacket, the man signalled to the children to leave him and their dad alone so they could speak on the 'faith'. It was normal for them at this age now, Regal had been frequently visiting far before their birth. "I came to check, if you had any reservations my son about the Festival Ritual?" the man asked smiling. "Of course not father! My whole life I've wanted to offer my children to Alma... That they might be blessed like the legends of past! It's been me and wife's dream!" the man exclaimed. "And how is Liana doing these days?" the man's tone sullen slightly. "She's been better but with god's blessings she'll recover." Kronos said slightly sadden. "Poor child... She'd entered a room inside the palace she wasn't suppose to during her stay... What she saw almost rendered her immobile, a holy room that most couldn't handle viewing unless blessed with our crest. Did she speak of anything?" the man inquired concerned. "No, nothing as yet Archbishop His Holiness. She hasn't spoken a word since the day she returned." Kronos said slightly nervous. "That's unfortunate. Have you briefed the children then at least?" the bishop said, taking a seat. "Yes Holiness." the man replied. "Good. They'll be needed for this years festival for sure. Sadden's me a bit that they'll offer up their lives for love. I'd hope to one day take the girl one as one of my many consults. Shame." the man said, stretching his arms outwards with a cheery laugh.

Outside the city of Norma's walls, seven followers stood, each with a spear in their hand pointed towards Shunji. "Identify yourself nomad!" one of the followers shouted. Their alarm was just, the only people who could go to and fro between the cities where members of Norma, who bore openly the mark of Alma on their chest and those certified by the World Government by the Cardinal. Those who hid their mark were said to be 'Devils', who shun the lord's love much like Shunji's family members who neither bore a mark or believed in their faith. Removing the hood from his head, the man revealed his powder blue hair, which in the right lighting appeared silver. Removing his tonfa, Shunji knocked away the men's spears, parrying around their movements, slamming his right handed tonfa into the authoritative soldier who spoke. "I want entry through these walls... I can't miss this years festival." Shunji said grinning.

Berries : 4,400,000 Posts : 15

The solider tumbled over onto the ground, his body's impact cleared the light body of snow from the earth, creating a cloud of mist. Shuffling around the various other guards, Shunji's body was impaled twice by guardian's spears. Light punctures sustained, Shunji parried around the sentinel in the formation, slamming his left most tonfa into the neck of the guard to his right, and the left most one toward's the next guards groin. It was like a dance almost, all of which was slowed down by the guitar case Shunji wore strapped to his back. The remainder four guards discarded their weapons and attempted ran for shelter behind the gate but it was in their panic that Shunji's tonfa's found justice at the napes of their necks. As Shunji stepped through the gates walls, the look-out had already seen the assault, calling throughout the Holy Land for reinforcements to arrive, as such, they did, over twenty Norma Monks appeared, each baring spears of the poisonous variety. The poison already surged through Shunji's body, making him feel slightly light headed. Resting his guitar against the gates walls, Shunji began to swirl his tonfa. "I didn't expect so many of you to be present for the show... It's the beginning of the Seven Soul Festival today ain't it? Why are all you lovely sinners on call?" Shunji said, cracking his neck, tightening his grip on his weapons. "I don't know who you are boy... but this is the land of God. Those who enter here without permission from the Saints that be... or the World Government who feeds... are said to be cursed." the Devote Follower reported, an older gentleman who was fairly fit for his age of sixty-two. He carried a long grey beard, his muscles protruded from under his monk clothing fitting and the others referred to him as 'Brother Lucas' from their murmurs. "I'm neither. Well, I might be cursed." Shunji said chuckling lightly. "Unfortunately dare monks... I was born and raised in Norma. The curse your land has for me has been long passed on." Shunji said, placing his body into motion, running towards the guards directly in front of himself, from the ceilings, an archer fired an arrow into Shunji's back, this stagger his pace slightly. The guards who were now standing in front of Shunji, advanced forward, thrusting their spears towards' the man's legs, to stop his forward advance. Shifting to the right, with a short jump, he evaded the spears range. The recoil from their thrusts left them defenseless, Shunji began to spin like a top, slamming his tonfa across the men's ankles, knocking them out of place, leaving them unable to stand. "I don't have the heart to kill any of you. I've been trained by the hardest rocker in the world to fight. I'm just here to observe the festival, that's all!" Shunji exclaimed. "Dressed like an outsider... Born from Norma... Boy... You really don't know time and place huh?" Lucas announced almost brought to a sly smile himself from the outrageous nature of the man's actions and claims.

The dance of life continued, Shunji swarmed through the troops on the ground until only three of which remained, the two archer's on the roof and Lucas on the floor. Shunji's body was plastered in spear wounds, cuts on his face, slices along his thighs and multiple puncture wounds to his abdomen area. Falling to his knees, the two archers took aim to fire a single shot through the man's head. "Wait!" Lucas screamed. "How old are you child?" Lucas inquired. "18." Shunji responded swiftly. Eyes opening widely at the child's age, picking the teenager onto his shoulders, Lucas summoned his men from the ceiling. With one swift touch, he knocked out the archers and began to carry Shunji's body through the streets of Norma. "You. You're Shunji Wraith aren't you?" the man inquired, gingerly trotting down the empty streets. The seats in side the coliseum were at maximum capacity, the roar of the congregations voices as they sang the Saint's song sent a chill down Shunji's spine every time. "I'm sorry old man..." Shunji said with his eyes squinting barely open from the affects of the poison. "I don't exactly remember you..." Shunji said, drowsily. "I was your mentor at the church. When you first came to me... your first words were. 'I think our god is bogus.' In Twenty odd-some years of teaching youth... No one has ever spoke those words to me. The very words I myself as a child felt as my mother told me the stories of the Seven Souls Festival and this all giving god. I've been on missionary retreats across the South Blue and to them, our people are seen as primitive. However, as a child I was content. As as a teen, I was also content. As I grew as a man however, the blood of innocent children being shed for a 'god' became cruel and unusual to me." Lucas informed. "But you never voiced... your opinion." Shunji said slightly angry. "I couldn't have boy... I have a wife and child... The Church here monitors every single action 'Brothers' like myself do. All I can do is preach the gospel. Besides, I'm conflicted. Though I don't believe in the ways of our 'god'. I do believe in the words within our dogma. Love one another. Respect one another. Embrace each different child, as oddly yolked as they maybe. However, they shunned you Shunji. Your mother and your father... When I heard you'd run away I thought, 'I wish I could've done the same' but I'm too much of a sinner." Lucas concluded. At the end of the street, Lucas came to his house. Unlocking the wooden fixture, he walked into the front house, placing Shunji on his couch. Searching his wife's downstairs closet, he found an old blanket which he casted over the couch. Cleaning the man's wounds with warm water from the kettle on his furnace and covering finally with taping and bandages. "I must go now. Rest up. The sermon is for seven more hours. Then the ritual of the Seven Souls. By the time that poison pass through your body... It'll be over-" as the man leaned in to walk away Shunji slammed his tonfa into the man's neck, rendering him unconscious. Stealing the man's robes, Shunji veiled himself as a nomad from the order. Resting the man on the couch and draping him in the sheet, Shunji peered back as he exiting, "Thank You, Lucas." as he headed towards the coliseum.

To Be Continued. Fin.

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