A Wandering Ronin

Repast

The sky was getting dark. They arrived at the Sagard city police headquarters. Ran was immediately entertained in a large room. The dining table is also large and luxurious. Ran was invited to sit by Fersa. He then took off his cap made of woven bamboo and his robe.

"I want to entertain you with dinner," said Fersa.

"I want to go to the city library immediately," Ran replied.

"Be patient. After all, the library is currently closed. You can rest in one of the police recruits' rooms over there.” Fersa pointed out the window where there was a multi-storey wooden building.

Ran was silent but then he sat down and put his katana on the table. Immediately, Fersa noticed Ran's katana.

"That sword of yours, I've never seen anything like it," Fersa pointed at Ran's katana.

"Besides being a swordsman, my master is also an expert at making swords."

“I watched you fight Gardi from afar. It seems you master a rare sword style.”

"Maybe it's because my master never taught swordsmanship to just anyone."

"I've heard that the Terbing Village Kingdom recruits samurai as elite soldiers?"

"That's right."

“What was the recruitment process like?”

"Once a year, the kingdom opens recruitment for anyone who wants to become a royal samurai."

“Just as the recruitment of members of the army and police force in Sagard means.”

Ran nodded then continued, "We are assigned to special missions such as reconnaissance, or escorting the royal family when we have to leave the village."

"That means it's not just swordsmanship that you learn?"

“My master only taught me swordsmanship. On the other hand, we study after being elected.”

"That means, there are some people who teach swordsmanship?"

"There are three people. And my master is one of those three people.”

Before long, dinner came. Several waiters brought trays of fish and chicken along with vegetables. Ran, who saw luxury food for the first time, was a little stunned when the smell of the food entered his nose.

"Please. There's no need to hesitate," said Fersa, taking a spoon and fork.

Even though he was nervous, Ran enjoyed the dinner deliciously. After that, he was ushered into the building where the police recruits were quarantined. Ran immediately fell into a deep sleep after he showered and treated some of the wounds on his body.

***

In the morning, Fersa comes to Ran's room and gives a letter from the mayor. He opened the letter and read it. Only contain thank you in formal language. Ran then folded the letter and put it on the table.

"He's a busy person so he can't meet you," said Fersa who sat down on a wooden bench.

"After all, I'm a nobody."

"Come on, I'll take you to the city library."

Ran immediately put on his brown robe and also his woven bamboo hat. He walked with Fersa to the city library which was only two kilometers away. They arrived at a wooden building with three floors. Fersa opened the double doors and approached a male librarian.

"Deri, my guest wanted to find something ten years ago," said Fersa to Deri.

"What kind of archives are you looking for, sir?" asked Deri.

"Newspapers, and some files from out of town," Fersa replied.

"It's on the third floor, sir."

"Come on," Fersa nodded to Ran.

Ran immediately followed Fersa up to the third floor and into a room. When you open it, you can see tall shelves lined up like a dizzying maze. Fersa walked straight followed by Ran who walked behind.

"Files for newspapers to the left," Fersa pointed and turned.

Upon arrival, you can see shelves filled with piles of old newspapers complete with year, date, and month.

"What year did the tragedy of the rebellion occur in the Cliff Village Kingdom?" asked Fersa.

"Year three hundred and twenty-six," Ran replied.

"Month?"

"September."

"Date?"

"Twenty-seven."

They arrived at a shelf that read the number '326'. Fersa looked for a shelf that said 'September' and a date that said '27'.

"Found it," Fersa took the old newspaper roll and gave it to Ran.

Ran reads the first page and it reads the headline that the Cliff Village Kingdom has been overthrown. Fersa invited Ran to sit in the reading area in the corner of the room near the glass window. As soon as he sat down, Ran immediately read the contents of the newspaper. While Fersa opened the glass window and immediately lit a cigarette.

"Beautiful morning in the city of Sagard," he said, blowing the smoke out of his mouth.

Less than ten minutes, Ran had read all the contents of the news from the newspaper. Fersa came over and sat down and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

"So how?" ask Fersa

Ran shook his head then replied, “The information is still lacking. All the contents of this newspaper do not mention Garun's name. Just a bunch of rebels."

"Then we'll find the archives of files from out of town."

"Still here?"

"In the archive center building."

Fersa asked Ran to walk again to the ten-story building which was about three kilometers away. Arriving there, Fersa immediately opened the door and went to a receptionist to ask permission to enter the archive room. After getting permission, they went up to the seventh floor and into a quiet room filled with shelves filled with documents. Fersa swiftly looked for a shelf that read the year 326, the month September and the 27th.

"Here is the file," Fersa took the thick pile of files that had been stapled with the cover.

"There's no table here," Ran looked left and right.

"Let's just sit on the floor," replied Fersa, sitting cross-legged.

They then opened the file and read page after page. In this file, there are a lot of letters that come into the mayor's office. The most numerous were reports of rebellions in the Cliff Village Kingdom.

“This is a secret archive. Are you sure you can show it to me?” Ran asked.

"Does not matter. I've got permission from the mayor," Fersa just smiled.

But Ran then felt something strange. In his heart asked who sent this letter?

"Can I ask you something?" said Ran.

Fersa just nodded.

"These letters, who sent them?"

Immediately, Fersa chuckled and then replied, "From the past, the city of Sagard has had informants scattered in all the villages and towns that are still within the territory of the Mondu Kingdom."

“Does King Mondu know the news about the rebellion in my kingdom?”

"Surely he knows."

"Why didn't he send help?"

"You should have asked your government first. after all, the rebellion took place in just one night. There's no point in sending help either."

Ran was silent.

Of the many incoming letters, not a single Garun's name was mentioned. Finally Ran was disappointed.

"Are you sure the leader of the rebellion is Garun?" asked Fersa after returning the file to its original place.

“After the chaos, I fought it. He himself said that his name was Garun," Ran replied with a serious face.

"Have you seen him before?"

Ran shook his head.

"Then your fight with him, who won?"

“Garun won. He almost killed me. But instead he let me live. And finally I was trained again by my master for ten years.”

"How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven."

"That means it happened when you were seventeen?"

Ran nodded as he closed his eyes.

"Why did you take so long to practice?"

"Actually, if you count, I've only been practicing for three years. The rest, I and the residents are working hard to rebuild the village a bit."

'"Now, who's in the lead?"

"Nobody. Only a middle-aged man was chosen by the citizens. There's nothing left of the royal family. All of them were massacred by the rebels.”

"Then what will happen to the rebels?"

“Most fled with Garun. As for what is left, we will execute it.”

Fersa was horrified when he imagined the tense situation Ran was in.

To treat Ran's disappointment, Fersa took his to lunch at a fancy restaurant. Only need to walk ten minutes, they have arrived at a magnificent restaurant whose building is made of milky white wood. When entering, all the guests stood and bowed. They know that those who come are not random people.

Fersa chose to sit by the window. He took off his cloak and hooked it on the hook. Meanwhile Ran hooked his brown robe and woven bamboo cap. After sitting down, Fersa ordered a lot of food. It didn't take long for the order to arrive.

"Before you go, let me host you one last time," said Fersa.

Ran just nodded with a smile. They then enjoyed lunch accompanied by the strains of piano and violin music.

"Where are you going after this?" asked Fersa after eating. He then lit his cigarette and started smoking.

"I'm going to Ramil," answered Fersa, looking out the window.

“You don't want to go to Mondu Kingdom? Who knows there is important information."

“During ten years of training and rebuilding the village, many people went to the Mondu Kingdom. The results are like what I'm experiencing now."

Fersa then escorted Ran to the front of the city gate. Before separating, Fersa gave Ran something.

"Wear this," Fersa handed his a green bracelet.

"What bracelet is this?"

“Ordinary bracelet. Just as a sign of farewell and souvenirs."

Ran happily accepted the bracelet. Then he wears it on his left arm. Fersa then hugged Ran and thanked him once again for indirectly helping catch Gardi.

"Goodbye," Fersa said after letting go of his embrace.

Ran went on foot westward to the border between the Mondu Kingdom and the desert region, Ramil.

To be continued...