The Ghost

It had been weeks after defeating Khotun Khan, the leader of the mongol invasion. Jin's family clan, the Sakai Clan, had been formally disbanded by the Shogun, and now was a wanted man. Despite killing the leader of an army that promised to conquer Tsushima, and the mainland of Japan, they decided that he was a dishonorable, inhuman monster. That his ways of combat were to be shunned, and that he was considered a traitor to the traditions they held so deep.

Despite being hunted, Jin had found himself to be living a decent life. Decent enough when you're being tracked down by both the Shogun and mongols trapped on the island. He had his home, a rundown shack of sorts, with all that he needed. Food, water, and tools. That was really all he needed, except for his weapons. His katana had not drawn blood in days, and an arrow hadn't been shot from his bow in days either. His horse was definitely enjoying the time off, not having to haul him from place to place.

Jin hadn't felt this relaxed in a long, long time.

Today though, was different. He was going back on the hunt, to find the rest of the remaining mongols on the island, and cut them down like the dogs they were. Whatever way he wished to do that, was up to him, not the 'honor code' he had been told to abide by. The same code that killed many without remorse.

Mounting on his horse, he took off into the open landscape of Tsushima.

He had heard from a wandering trader that there was another musician, one that he hadn't heard of before, telling tales of something strange. He wasn't able to get the full details, but it intrigued him enough to go and check it out, to listen to the musician's tale, and to decide if it was true. Many times he had listened to tales that were believed to be myths, but he had found that they were indeed true, and provided something to fight the mongols with. Whether that be strange rocks that were able to light a sword on fire, or simply a technique to be used in combat, it always proved useful.

Though he was a little more intrigued by this one in particular. It wasn't for the fact that it was strange, but more so that there was no details on it. The wandering trader himself wasn't able to describe it, saying it was 'too confusing, and unfit to be true, my lord.'

Also, why was he still being addressed as a lord? Wasn't he considered an outlaw by the Shogun?

Jin was happy that even though he was being tracked by the Shogun, the people of Tsushima still believed in him, and stood behind him for his cause. They helped at any turn they could, and any traders that wandered by his hidden home would offer him things for free, or at a discounted price. He was thankful that his time fighting the mongols was not spent in vain.

Jin could hear the sound of a biwa off in the distance. He could recognize those plucky notes anywhere.

Jin stopped his horse in front of the musician's small camp, dismounting and simply walking forward. The musician simply kept playing, not paying attention to Jin at all. Jin was sure he had noticed he was there, as he sat opposite of him, in front of the small campfire. It took minutes for the musician to pay attention to him. Jin wasn't going to simply interrupt the man playing, but it was strange. Most were eager to talk to him.

"My lord, what brings you here?" The musician asked.

"I hear that you tell an odd tale." Jin responded, his voice sounding of intrigue.

"Ah. I did not expect you of all people to hear of such a thing. Are you sure you would like to hear it, my lord? Most who listen to it do not follow, or do not believe. It is not an ordinary tale of Tsushima that you might be familiar with."

Jin smirked slightly. "I have heard many tales that are considered too strange to be true."

"If you insist, my lord." The musician said as he put his Satsuma-biwa down, its neck resting on a small rock. The musician then cleared his throat, and began to tell the tale.

"Long ago, near Omi Lake, there was a loud roar within the open air. As if lightning were piercing the sky, but with a thousand times more force. Nobody dared to step foot outside, afraid that it was the call of a demon, or the underworld. Everybody hid in the corner of their homes, except for one man. An old Samurai, with an unknown name, or origin, had stepped outside to check on the loud roar. Ready to fight any demons that approached him, he had made it to the edge of Omi Lake."

"There, he saw a strange creature. It floated in the water, face down, as if it were drowning while asleep. The Samurai, expecting it to be a sacred animal, thrusted himself into the waters without hesitation, to retrieve the animal. As he approached, and got closer, he noticed it was not an ordinary animal. Without thinking, he pulled the animal to the shore, and finally got a good look at the creature he saved."

"There, laying before him, was a horse-like creature, but with wings. A Pegasus, to be exact."

Jin gave him an odd look. "A Pegasus?"

"Yes, my lord. The story continues, to say that the Pegasus had woken up and talked to the Samurai. The Samurai had believed it to be a gift from the heavens, to which he began to pray to it. Though the pegasus denied all of his prayers. Instead, it spoke of strange lands that it came from. A land of horses, such as itself, though in different variation. Pegasi, unicorns, alicorns, and regular horses, all in a single world."

Jin gave a tiny chuckle, shaking his head. "Are you sure he didn't have too much sake?"

The musician continued. "The Samurai took the Pegasus to the top of an unknown shrine, and lived the rest of his days to write about this strange new world that the Pegasus talked about. A world of the heavens, as he described. No one knows what shrine he had gone to, or what he had written down specifically. The only way we know of the story, is because of a follower that found the two. Fearing for the Pegasus' safety against the demons, he did not tell of where to find the Samurai and Pegasus. Though, on his dying breath, he gave a hint as to where to find a piece of the shrine."

"As his voice began to fade out, and his breathing slowed, he told of Omi Lake, the same lake the pegasus was found in. There, inside the lake, lies a deep cavern, though it is believed that the dark cavern is filled with unknown demons, preventing anyone from getting to a piece of the shrine."

Jin gave him a questioning look, his eyebrows raised. "Why is a simple piece of the shrine so important?"

"It is believed to teleport you into another world, a world far from Tsushima. A world born from the heavens. Perhaps, where the Samurai and Pegasus both fled to, to protect the Pegasus from the many demons that hide in this island."

Jin stood, looking over into the tree's beside him. "Perhaps the story is too confusing, and unfit to be true."

"I warned you, my lord. It is a story full of holes, but it is an interesting one."

Jin turned to his horse, and mounted it, resting his feet on the sides. He turned his head to the musician, flashing him a quick smile. "I will go investigate it myself, and inform you if such a story is true. An easy start to my day will ease me into comfort, before I find the rest of the mongols."

"Good luck to you, my lord."

OMI LAKE

Jin stood at the shore of the lake, simply staring at the clear blue color it showed.

"The piece of the shrine must be deep.." He told himself, to which he gave a sigh to himself. "It is most likely false, but I should still check." Even with those words, he still felt as if he was going to be looked at as stupid for doing what he was about to. He jumped into the lake, swimming to the middle of the open water.

He looked down below him, showing that the lake descended deeper than he thought. He had few fears, but deep open area's below him in water was one of them. He shook his head, staring up at the sky and taking a deep breath before descending into the water.

He descended deep into the water, making his way through the cavern underneath, dodging the jagged edges that protruded from its sides. He could feel his chest urging him to find open air to breath, but he couldn't find a single source. He was already too deep, so he continued.

Within seconds, he found a small pocket of air inside the cavern ceiling. He breathed loudly, coughing the bit of water that he had swallowed up out. "I'm a fool.." He told himself.

Not a second later, he realized there was an entrance to somewhere from the small pocket of air he was in. He reached his hand up and pulled himself up, rolling onto the open rock. Steadying himself up to his feet, he could see small candles lit, leading him into another room. The path was covered in red leaves.

"Candles... Still lit? Someone must be here, or was here." He said aloud, to nobody but himself.

As he made his way under a small archway, he entered a large room. It was extremely gigantic in size, and candles, dotted around the room, lit the entirety of it up. He stood there, simply taking in the beautiful sight of the room, before noticing the steps that were in front of him, and what seemed to be a broken shrine at the top of it.

"This must be it."

He slowly walked, not sure if there were to be any traps. Too many times had he fallen victim to such petty tactics. He only relaxed once he was finally at the top, face to face with the shrine. It was a wooden structure, with a small stone statue in the middle of it.

It was a Pegasus, though not exactly the image of what he thought one would look like.

He read the small writing that was chipped into the rock at the bottom.

To the heavens you walk, Sunrise Bastion.

Find me in the next life.

Jin stared at the Pegasus, simply admiring the detail of the statue. The Pegasus was more round, and had large eyes. Its wings were not as big as he once thought a Pegasus' wings would be. Well, this could be a simple down-scaled version of it, but still.

Jin lightly set his fingers onto the statue, as to hold himself up as he looked around it. Yet, within a second, a bright flash of light blinded him. It was a trap! He pulled his katana out blindly, but could not see anyone as he was still blinded. He could not see anything but white.

"Face me!" He tried to yell, but all that came out was a quiet groan.

Seconds later, he could feel his entire body begin to feel tired. Sleepy. He was poisoned. Was this how he died? Being caught by surprise at a shrine, poisoned by someone in the dark? A very, very unfortunate, and embarrassing end to the life he had led. Atleast Uncle will no longer have to deal with the shame of him being a traitor.

Was that really what he wanted to think about in his last moments? Being a traitor to the Shogun? He had done everything opposite of deserving that title. He had helped his people, taught them to stand up for themselves, to use tactics that have proven useful, but can be seen as questionable. If you intend to survive, you have to do all you can to assure that!

No. He did okay. He did fine.

But he could've done better.

Jin felt his body hit something soft before he officially fell asleep.