The Story of Hikari Ignis

Chapter 9

-Caged-

Yet another sleepless night, Hikari awoke but remained in bed. She dreaded what was to come next. The events of yesterday made her question everything. She felt shackles on her legs, they had a chain going from leg to leg, but she could still walk. She had been shackled after her attempts at suicide yesterday, the emperor and empress had to be certain she couldn't run.

On the floor in front of her door was a tray of food, Hikari took a few small bites from the food, but even the act of chewing food felt difficult.

The other handmaidens came into the room and began gathering her things. Hikari gave mean stares to each of them, they were like crows coming to pick at the carcass of a dead animal, they just wanted Hikari’s bigger room. Even Keiko seemed to be eyeing Hikari’s books on her small shelf.

"Just burn them all, none of them hold any meaning anymore," she told them. She grabbed the one thing of value, her tanto, and stuck it in her clothes under her breasts where no one would dare check.

An armored guard came into Hikari’s room, Hikari was done fighting now and obeyed the guard’s command to follow him. The other handmaidens just watched with confused stares, but the Quiet Witch glared meanly.

Hikari was then escorted to the front gates where the emperor and empress awaited her arrival. She looked for Prince Karasu, but he was nowhere to be found, likely with his lover Minako at the temple again. Whether Prince Karasu was avoiding the situation or simply didn’t care made Hikari tremendously sad, she wasn’t sure if he wanted to see her off or not. Would it just be too sad? Does he even care? Hikari had to know.

"Did she eat breakfast?" Empress Yui asked one of the armored guards who brought Hikari forth from her chambers.

The guard presented a tray of food to the empress. "Hardly, she refuses."

Empress Yui handed the tray over to Hikari and then took it back when she didn't touch it. "I'm beginning to grow tired of this defiant act you're putting up Hikari. The ship for Cutter departs tonight, and it's a long journey. You might not get a chance to eat for a few days." Empress Yui took a piece of food from the tray and tried to feed it to Hikari.

Hikari refused the food, "I'll starve then, I don't care!"

Empress Yui wanted to stay angry, but she knew Hikari was suffering inside, perhaps it was something that she couldn't speak of. "This is all for the good of our country, you have a duty to serve your people. Serving by giving your mind and body to your prince and your strength and discipline to the dragon slayers."

Hikari was silent as she stared at the ground. "I don't want this burden. I never asked to be born here. Bury me near my real parents. The ones who loved me, like the Loving Mother loved her three sons."

Empress Yui scoffed, “The fable of the Loving Mother is heresy, you were raised with the Love of Balance, there’s a reason they’re dead and we’re alive because The Sun and The Moon favored us more.”

Hikari tightened her fist. She felt irrationally angry. She nearly went for her tanto after that remark.

Emperor Noburo turned and knelt down beside Hikari. "You can't do this Hikari, think of all those that need you now. Eat something!" he said sternly. The Emperor took a piece of cut and cooked chicken from the tray and pushed it in Hikari's face hoping she would take a bite. The look the emperor gave was fierce, and he was nearly at the limit of his patience again.

The emperor shook the food in Hikari’s face like he was giving a dog a treat. But it didn't work, Hikari refused still. This made the emperor crack, so he resorted to force, grabbing Hikari's chin and forcing her to open her mouth so she could swallow the chicken. "Eat! Or you will be punished for disobedience," the emperor said between gritted teeth. It pained him too to do this to someone who he once considered his daughter, but he knew no other way than to act in anger and force.

"No more!" Hikari cried out, throwing the chicken into the dirt before standing up. She ran past the emperor and empress and out the gates. She had no idea where she was going at first, but then she decided that even if it meant getting punished, she would go see Karasu. She stared down the thousand steps and slowed her pace. The guards began to give chase but were only walking fast to catch up, Hikari couldn't run far with shackles on her ankles. Hikari began descending the steps that led down to the bridge that met the river.

A few minutes later, Hikari arrived at the river that surrounded the city. It was located just beyond the last steps, the bridge curved upwards and was painted a dark blue. The river was very large and connected to the sea via a canal. Hikari looked down into the waters, she imagined what it would be like to throw herself from the bridge and die drowning. The guards and the emperor caught up to Hikari and grabbed her.

Hikari panicked and tried to think of a reason for them to free her. "I want to see the prince!" Hikari screamed. "Let me go see him, please! I love him!"

Emperor Noburo looked upon her with pity, "Escort her there," he began.

Hikari shook off the guards and ran across the bridge. The guards followed her closely. "What do we do?" One of the guards yelled to Noburo.

"Just don't let her go too far away, and make sure she comes back here alive."

The Hikari weaved through people in town, and they all gave looks of concern to Hikari as they saw her trying to move as fast as she could with guards following behind. Hikari could hear whispers of the distraught townsfolk mentioning her. She wasn't sure what they were saying, but she didn't care and wanted them to all see the abuse she was suffering.

When Hikari reached the entrance of the temple the emperor’s guards stopped her, "If you want to see the prince you must walk with us."

She turned around and looked at them, their eyes full of concern but also frustration. "I want to see the prince!" She roared. “I’ll be back, get away from me!”

One of the guards grabbed Hikari's arms and brought her close to him, he began handling her roughly, touching her inappropriately. “Restrain her arms!” he told the other guard. The guard began putting Hikari’s arms behind her back, and the other shackled them together. The roughness of the way the guard handled Hikari as she struggled made one of Hikari’s breasts fall out of her band. She was beginning to tire of the kimono she wore and how it didn’t work well on someone with such large breasts as hers. The other guard grabbed her there and began squeezing her tit in a lewd manner, before trying to cover her back up.

“Unhand me!” Hikari shouted.

The guards just laughed. “Make it quick, or we’ll come find you, and we won’t be so gentle next time.”

Hikari whimpered and ran through the temple grounds, she looked everywhere for the prince. She spotted him sitting under a tree reading a book with Minako standing by. Karasu heard Hikari approaching and turned to see her teary-eyed face and in shackles. He immediately stood to his feet and ran to her. As they met, Karasu stopped, and Hikari threw herself at him. Karasu grabbed Hikari so she didn’t fall.

“Why Karasu?” Hikari sobbed and whimpered.

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her into his chest. He said nothing. Minako looked onward in silence as well.

Hikari looked up at the prince, her tears falling onto his shirt. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't tell them, I swear it. You believe me, don't you? I can't be a dragon slayer, I'm not strong enough."

Minako spoke up, "It's okay Hikari. We are here now. What did they do to you?"

Hikari began crying loudly because she knew it was all over for her, she may never see the prince ever again, and it was Minako who Karasu loved, not her. She hated him, but she knew Minako did nothing wrong. The three of them stood silent for a while and Minako didn’t get an answer.

"Have a safe journey Hikari," Prince Karasu said coldly.

Minako was shocked by the prince's words. "My prince. If I may be honest with you. I don't think Hikari was the one who started the rumors."

Prince Karasu cut Minako off. "It wasn't her. I know who it was."

"Who told them?" Minako asked Karasu.

Hikari looked up and also wanted to know who, but the prince remained uncommunicative once again. "It doesn't matter, I've said this before, to both of you. None of it matters now."

"What does keeping us in the dark prevent? We're going to be gone from this country soon anyways. There's something you're not telling us."

"Yes, there is. Hikari, I will write to you in Cutter. I think Minako and I will sail south, we'll visit Auroka or Thuul. Minako, I'll explain everything to you someday in the future, but right now none of it will make sense, and even now we're likely being eavesdropped upon. It matters not though, as my intentions to leave the country are known now too."

There was nothing more to say between them. Hikari and the prince parted when they came back to the guards who awaited her return. They grabbed Hikari roughly and dragged her away. Hikari looked back at Karasu with a defeated look, but with fire in her eyes and face red with grief.

The convoy was full of people who were in shackles like Hikari was. Men clad in different armor than what Hikari was familiar with forced her to board the convoy with the others. This convoy was full of women, but all the others that were on the road were full of males. Prisoners were brought forward and made to board just as Hikari had been, there wasn’t much speaking. Before long, Hikari and the other women were transported out of the city. No one waved goodbye to Hikari, no one saw her off, she was surrounded by people who no one cared about, and she felt no different.

The women who sat across from Hikari all stared at her, but no one dared say a word in the presence of the soldiers who followed. One of the women had a rag running across her face in her teeth. Maybe she bit a soldier or talked too much. The soldiers all carried long pointed spears, much more terrifying looking than the ones Hikari was familiar with seeing, these looked like they were made for war, to rip people apart in a more gruesome fashion.

Hikari nodded on and off trying to get any small amount of rest she could, but the way the convoy shook back in forth as they traveled made it difficult. The passage of time felt slow, her eyes began to get heavy. She tried to fall asleep, but eventually gave up and stared out at the horses and kidodo. It had been a while since Hikari saw anyone ride a horse or kidodo. Hikari never learned to ride either, but her fascination with birds meant it was a sort of dream of hers to learn to ride the giant bird-like creatures.

Kidodo were tall flightless birds much like ostriches or emu, but were bulkier and had crested heads like that of her bird friend Lazarus. Hikari found birds very charming, she wished she could pet one of the kidodos being ridden behind the convoy.

 Being stuck with shackles for an entire day was painful; all the women groaned and tried to find comfortable positions to sit and move around. A couple of small whispers were had by the women, but Hikari ignored them, she concerned herself not with the words from criminals, even if they were about her. The journey to the ship took all day, and by the time they arrived the sun was already beginning to set.

"We've reached our destination. Everyone out of the convoys at once, form a line!" A soldier announced loudly.

The women all got out of the convoy and lined up behind Hikari. Hikari lined up behind a number of men. Soldiers stood alongside the prisoners making sure they behaved. They slowly marched closer and closer to the ship. The landscape surrounding them was a barren wasteland, and the sea could be seen in all directions surrounding them on the peninsula. The ground was gray dirt and stone. Seagulls could be seen near the shores.

Hikari looked up at the sky and noticed it was already approaching nightfall by the time she made it to the wooden docks. She wondered how long they would have to stay here until the ship set sail. The ship was a massive ark that could fit maybe thousands of passengers. It had a long rope ladder leading up to the deck, and an opening at the bottom where prisoners could be stored below.

Up ahead in the line, a soldier grabbed ahold of an old man and pulled him aside. The old man complained and questioned why he had been removed. Hikari and everyone else who looked on at them gasped as the soldier slammed his foot into the man's weak and frail shin, snapping his leg in two places. The soldier impaled the man's rib cage and threw him into the sea below the dock.

Hikari was mortified. How could such cruelty be done? She thought of the old man drowning in the sea, and the soldiers laughing together. She and many others wanted to yell out in protest, but she knew the soldiers would kill her for doing so. But yet another man was pulled from the line, he too was impaled and thrown into the sea, screaming and begging for forgiveness, claiming he had done nothing. No one dared say anything. They watched as the bodies floated down to the sea floor. A woman near the back of the line behind Hikari was grabbed by a soldier and dragged away, crying uncontrollably. Hikari couldn't believe what was happening, there wasn't any justice here, just cruel violence and murder.

Hikari looked around at all the other prisoners. A man clad in different armor grabbed Hikari, and she feared the worst. She too screamed and begged for mercy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't do anything!" Hikari cried. The soldier said nothing as he dragged her ahead of the line.

Others looked at the poor elf woman, she wasn't like them, they all stared and some of them even cried watching Hikari be pulled out. They assumed it was because she was different. None knew the soldier's intentions. Some of the other soldiers asked the soldier holding Hikari what they did wrong, but the soldier only snarled and kept walking.

They continued to march forward, the sun was now setting and it was dark, almost evening. Hikari was brought to the front of the line by the rope ladder of the ship. The soldier unlocked one of Hikari’s arms from the shackles and allowed her to have her arms in front rather than behind her back.

"Up the ladder, now!" The soldier ordered once her shackles were replaced.

Hikari placed her foot out on the first rung but slipped a bit and her geta fell into the ocean below. She looked back at the soldier who gave her no sympathy. The soldier grabbed Hikari by her rear and pushed her up the ladder. Hikari climbed with difficulty due to the shackles, she gripped the ropes tightly. She was careful with each slow step being pushed upward. She made the mistake of looking down and was scared to let go for fear of falling into the dark waters.

Hikari collapsed on the deck once she made it to the top, and the soldiers just gave blank stares. The prince's uncle Koenma had been awaiting Hikari's arrival and had instructed the soldiers prior to her appearance. Some of the soldiers were astounded by Hikari's beauty and saw it cruelly the way she was being handled but could offer no help.

Captain Koenma cleared his throat. "Welcome aboard, this voyage will still take another week of sailing. Follow me to the captain's quarters. I'm sure you're hungry." Captain Koenma turned and walked off, the soldiers helped Hikari to her feet once Koenma's back was turned.

Hikari's shackles were taken off and she was led to the captain's quarters. Captain Koenma was a middle-aged man with a gruff tone to his voice but a boyish face. He was bald and had his hair tied in the back, but despite this, he was somewhat handsome in his own way. He reminded Hikari of the prince more than the emperor. He didn't wear an ugly mustache as Emperor Noburo did.

By this time Hikari was quite famished and looked forward to the food Koenma promised. She thought it strange that he treated her differently from the rest and with some semblance of kindness, but knew it had something to do with being born an Elementalist.

Hikari looked around the captain's quarters and examined it. It was a relatively large room with a bed, desk, and chair. The walls were decorated with paintings of landscapes and animals. Hikari noticed the painting of a bird, similar to Lazarus, it was colored differently, however. It wasn't the vibrant red color that she knew Lazarus' feathers to be, this bird was a light blue.

"What kind of bird is that?" Hikari asked Koenma.

"They're beautiful, aren't they? They're native to Tyran, they're called Haerex. They come in a variety of colors. This one belonged to my son Matsuda, I think you met him once before." Koenma pointed to another painting. There was also a portrait of a young man in the corner of the room, this man looked much younger than Captain Koenma.

Hikari was apathetic. "I don't recall."

"He's around the same age as prince Karasu. But Matsuda is married now, something I expected of Karasu by this age," Koenma remarked.

The captain walked over to the table and poured Hikari a glass of water. "Drink up, you need your strength for our trip. Food is in short supply now but I am having my cook prepare you a meal before bed. You can sleep here. There won’t be other meals, just rice."

“Thanks,” Hikari said under her breath. She knew Koenma was just another pawn following orders of someone higher up like the emperor but hated him all the same.

Koenma scoffed and left Hikari on her own, and Hikari examined the art on the walls further. Matsuda’s portrait made him look mean and somewhat angry. Hikari wondered if the real person were that way too, or if the painting was flawed.

Hikari finished the meal that had been brought for her, it was fish with rice and pickled radishes. She slept in Koenma’s bed and curled into the corner. She stayed sunk in the bed the entire rest of the journey, only getting up to relieve herself in the chamber pot provided. This continued for days, a number of which Hikari lost count of. Hikari by the end had a stack of bowls that had been cleaned of every grain of rice she was given.

Koenma came to the door and knocked before entering. Today wasn’t his usual check-up on Hikari. He came to announce that they had finally arrived in Tyran. He told Hikari that they would be departing last, behind the others.

The captain looked at Hikari, the dead in her eyes made him bitter. Hikari wasn’t grateful at all for having been given a better place to sleep than the cold floor of the ship like the others.

“Was the bed comfortable?” Koenma asked Hikari.

“It’s fine,” Hikari sighed.

Koenma grew more bitter. He stepped towards Hikari and placed his hands on her neck. The two exchanged glares. “I see now why my brother loathed your presence. The spiteful look in your eyes, the ungratefulness in your words, they make me want to resort to violence. You’re simply someone who I want to smack when you give me that look.” Koenma squeezed and pulled Hikari’s face in closer. “Say thank you properly.”

“Let go of me!” Hikari shouted in hopes others would hear her.

Koenma grabbed Hikari and turned her so he could handle her from behind. Koenma in that moment grew lustful. He inserted his hands into Hikari’s kimono and began fondling her breasts.

“No! You deplorable pervert.” Hikari pleaded. But it seemed as though he wasn’t listening. Koenma brought Hikari close to his face and kissed her lips. Hikari tried to push his hand away but it was no use. After a few seconds, Koenma released his grip and removed himself from Hikari's body. Hikari was furious. Her anger built up inside her as she fell back onto the bed.

"You'll wish you never dared touch me!" Hikari shrieked. Something began to happen in her hands, like a light or a flame. It sparked, like a piece of flint being struck against metal. Koenma's eyes widened as Hikari clenched her fist.

"If you're really all that Karasu says you are, then prove it. No one would hear your screams if I raped you mercilessly right now, fight back!" Koenma boasted as his shouts grew louder. He fell on top of Hikari on the bed as she struggled to get free.

"I'll kill you!" Hikari shouted.

"Fine, then I welcome it, if you can't stop me I'll do as I wish with you," Koenma said as he took Hikari by her wrists. "I'll show you how I deal with ungrateful wretches like you who defy me!"

Koenma grabbed Hikari's wrists and pinned them over her head, and yanked her legs apart forcefully. His lips met hers again as he thrust his hips into Hikari's lower stomach. He unzipped his trousers exposing himself.

His cock was hard and pressed up against Hikari's pussy, ready to penetrate her. Koenma moaned into Hikari's mouth as he opened her kimono and ripped her underwear off. He moved his hands across Hikari's body and pinched her nipples, making Hikari squirm in pain. Koenma moved his fingers between her legs, grabbing her clit and rubbing it roughly.

Hikari felt the blood drain from her face. She began to cry. Her tears soaked into Koenma's sheets, leaving a trail of wetness down her cheeks.

Koenma remained quiet and unmoving as he continued to pleasure Hikari who hated how that part of her body betrayed her. Her pussy gushed and glistened with natural lubrication

Koenma lifted Hikari's hips off the bed and placed his cock close to entering inside. Hikari's screams echoed throughout the room as Koenma readied himself for entry.

Hikari finally snapped, and the small glow clenched in her fist became a whirl of flames. Koenma felt the heat burning him and he pulled away. Hikari didn't allow him to escape so easily. She grabbed back at him and seared his shoulder for a slight moment with the heat emanating from within her. Koenma hollered as his clothes caught fire. He rolled around on the ground trying to put out the flames.

Koenma got back up and shook his shoulders out. "That's enough! Get out of my cabin!" Koenma screamed.

Hikari stood up and watched Koenma try to put out the flames. She reached under her breasts and pulled her tanto out, she let the scabbard hit the floor as she leaped onto Koenma. The captain fell back once more and Hikari landed on top of him. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled it up and down his body. Koenma started to laugh.

"Stop laughing, this isn't funny. I'll end you, I don't care anymore." Hikari poised the blade of her tanto against Koenma's neck. Some part of Hikari stopped her from killing him. She stared into Koenma's eyes for a long while and her hatred fell away. Soldiers came into the room and saw Hikari half dressed on top of their captain with a blade against his neck.

The soldiers rushed to grab Hikari and dragged her off of Koenma. Hikari fought them but they overpowered her easily. "Enough, it's quite alright. I will handle this. Bring me her shackles." Koenma struggled to stand to his feet. He collected himself and gazed at Hikari who looked away. Koenma handed Hikari her underwear, she took them and put them back on quickly under her kimono. She was embarrassed by all the attention she was receiving. The soldiers didn’t seem to give a shred of care that Hikari might have just been the victim to start with.

Koenma walked over to the soldiers and whispered something to them. "Leave her alone, she's not going anywhere."

The soldiers nodded and left the room. One of them returned and handed Koenma two pairs of shackles. He ordered Hikari to put them back on.

Koenma was actually more than excited in the end. He finally got to see Hikari's powers for himself, the miracles of magic. The lucky ones were born with a gift, a gift that would give them a massive military advantage.

The shackles loudly snapped as Hikari complied with Koenma's order and attached them to her wrists reluctantly. She stood there staring at Koenma still angry. The captain's face turned serious. "You have something to say?"

"Touch me again and I won't stop myself next time."

“You shouldn’t have hesitated, you’re weak.”

“I stopped because I have more to live for. It’s all true, I was born with this burden. And when I hone these powers more I’ll kill you all.”

Koenma put his gloves on and a coat over his burned clothes. "I had to be sure you see. I'm risking my position in the Dragoon Clan on your talents. You probably won't ever forgive me, but I don't care. Once my brother dies and my son takes the throne, it will matter very little what you think of me. I could make you my son’s new wife, or I could take you myself, but no matter what I decide, your abilities as an Elementalist are under my delegation. You will fight for me no matter what."

Hikari was starting to understand Karasu's words now. It all began to make sense. Karasu’s departure wasn’t by choice, Koenma forced his hand. With no sons, the next heir to the throne would fall to Matsuda Yoshiro, Koenma’s son.

“Why would I fight for you?” Hikari argued.

"Because if you don't do as I say, I will kill your precious prince and his lover monk too. I'm aware of all of their plans to escape Yuki. I know all about their disgusting homosexual acts. And I knew about your Elementalist abilities long before Karasu told the emperor and empress about them. I have eyes in Yuki even when I’m not there."

Hikari knew she had been beaten, Koenma was viler than Emperor Noburo. Karasu’s actions now made perfect sense. Koenma was the one who told the emperor, who knew and figured out all of Karasu’s intentions. Koenma had been playing at this game far in advance, and Hikari had misjudged him. He was no pawn, he was the one pulling the strings.