"Ha? What the hell is going on?" Yorimitsu's voice cut through the air.
Watanabe stood over five men who were forced into a kneeling position, their faces bruised and bloodied as they stared at the dirt.
"Grrrrtch," He groaned, tied by an invisible rope, actually, it was only invisible to them.
"They tried to rob us," Gabimaru said, pointing toward a pile of makeshift weapons gathered in the corner: rusted scythes, chipped blades, and heavy iron hoes.
"They tried to rob Imperial officials? Did they not see our identity plaques?" Yorimitsu asked, glancing at the pathetic pile of iron.
"Tch… we know exactly who you bastards are. That is why you must pay," one of the men spat, his voice trembling with rage. "You people from the Capital took everything. You've come for more of them, haven't you?"
"What are you talking about?" Yorimitsu's eyes narrowed.
"Don't act stupid! You took the women. You even took over the sanctuary! Look at all these children without their parents... what more do you want from us?"
The speaker was an elderly man. Most of his hair had fallen out, his teeth were gone, and his joints creaked audibly with every slight movement. Suddenly, his eyes bulged as they landed on the small figure standing behind the noble.
"Nina?!"
The elder's face contorted in a mix of fear and fury. "Nina! You brat, get away from that Capital bastard right now!"
"Tsk… are you out of your mind, old man?" Yorimitsu's own voice rose to a roar, his Reiryoku flaring slightly with his temper. "When these children were clawing at each other's eyes for a scrap of meat, you didn't offer a single hand to help. But now you want to act like a concerned guardian?"
"Tch… what do you know?" the old man hissed, his knuckles whitening as he tightened his fists.
"That is the only way for them to survive!" the elder shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "As long as they fight each other, at least some of them have a chance to live! Otherwise... what other choice do they have? We have nothing left!"
"Hu... truly dreadful," Gabimaru muttered, his hand tightening on his weapon. Beside him, Shion remained silent, her eyes fixated on the bloodied villagers with an unreadable depth.
"Yorimitsu," Watanabe whispered, leaning in close. "Do you think the reason people are disappearing is because of the Capital? If so, why would the Academy have us investigate a mess they're causing themselves?"
"Mmmm. I don't think it's that simple," Yorimitsu replied, his eyes fixed on the horizon. "There's a knot here we haven't untied yet. We need more information, and I know exactly where to find it."
He turned his attention back to the kneeling men, his presence suddenly becoming cold and suffocating. "I will give you two options."
"Ha?" The elder blinked, confusion momentarily overriding his rage.
"Option one: You will obediently allow us to take your hands and feet. That is the prescribed punishment for thievery and the attempted harm of Imperial officials, in strict accordance with the law."
The men's mouths gaped. A terrified silence fell over the group as they began shooting frantic looks at one another.
"Ha? Is that really the law?" Gabimaru whispered to Watanabe.
"I... I'm not sure," Watanabe whispered back, his eyes wide. "He seems to know a lot of things, doesn't he? Just how old is the Captain, anyway?"
"Yeah, I get what you mean," Gabimaru replied. "Every time he speaks, his words carry a strange, weight... even as he fought before, his movements were powerful but slightly awkward."
"Yeah.."
"Wh-wha... what is the second option?" another villager squeaked, her voice shaking so violently she could barely form the words.
"Oh?" A crude, predatory smile stretched across Yorimitsu's face. "I take it you aren't fond of losing your limbs, then?"
"It is nothing major," Yorimitsu said, his voice dropping the predatory edge. "Tell us everything about the men who have been kidnapping your people, including the sanctuary you mentioned. Also, I want to know about the landscape; I am not familiar with the politics here in the backwoods."
"Ha?! That is all?" The elder asked, his voice riddled with confusion and a flicker of hope.
"Yes. We aren't here to hurt you; from the start, you are the ones who attacked first. We were sent by Fujiwara to investigate the disturbances in this region."
"What? Really…?" The rowdy elder forced himself to his feet, his joints popping. "Then let the other elders go. Take me instead. I will be your guide."
"Oh? That is even better," Yorimitsu said, glancing at Shion. "Shion, if you would."
With a subtle flicker of her hand, the invisible Reiryoku binds that had been pinning the men to the earth snapped. The villagers gasped as the pressure suddenly vanished.
"Go... go!" the elder commanded his companions.
"No, Tsushimamaru! We can't leave you with them—"
"I said leave, you fools!" the elder roared. "You are the only ones holding this village together. If we all perish here, chaos will overrun what's left of this place."
'Ha. Even more chaos?' That doesn't seem likely, Watanabe thought to himself, glancing at the skeletal children and the dry wells.
Reluctantly, the remaining elders turned and retreated into the shadows of the leaning houses. Once they were gone, the elder turned back to Yorimitsu, his gaze heavy.
"Huuuuu. Young man... is it true? What you said?"
"Yes," Yorimitsu responded plainly, his expression unreadable.
"Well... if you are truly here to help us, it is best I introduce myself properly." The man bowed, his back creaking but his posture dignified. "Of the Tsugaru, I am named Tsushimamaru. I am the chief of this first village, Kitakami."
"To think a village chief was reduced to such a state... what the hell is happening here?" Yorimitsu muttered under his breath.
"Wait... he doesn't have a last name, does that me—"
Before he could follow that train of thought further, the elder called out over his shoulder.
"Come along. We should move to my hut. I have a map there; it will give you a better picture of the layout of this land."
The elder began to move forward with a surprising, limping pace. The group followed him, walking past the skeletal remains of what were once thriving granaries.
"This village, Kitakami, is one of three major settlements in this region," Tsushimamaru explained as they walked. "In the old days, we specialised in Mugi and fish farming. These marshlands and the mountain runoff were perfect for it. But then, without warning, the rains died. The snow stopped falling. The land just... gave up on us."
"Mmmmmh." Yorimitsu stroked his chin, his eyes scanning the horizon where the mountains met the grey sky. "That makes no sense, though. Even with a bad season, the water table of a marshland shouldn't just vanish overnight."
"Tch." The old man stopped at the threshold of a small, leaning shack. He turned, his clouded eyes boring into Yorimitsu's. "Young man... what do you know about Inari Ōkami?"