The Wolf in the Night

The Wolf in the Night Apr 22, 2023 6:23:42 GMT via mobile

Post by Fang on Apr 22, 2023 6:23:42 GMT

The Meaning

“Ojisan, why do I have to do this?”

The boy was dirty, battered and bruised with a small bamboo rattan in his hand. Despite his condition a fire flared in his brown eyes, some drive within him flaring into passion. His grandfather, wrinkled and withered but holding a rattan of his own, settled to the ground with a small effort and a huff of air before replying, words breaking through the veil of snow white whiskers around his lips.

“The Amagiri clan was a proud vassal of a noble shogun in ancient times, strong warriors and talented weapon smiths who were called upon by emperors and shogun alike for their amazing works.” He spoke with the cadence of one who had told the tale a thousand times. A thousand times hearing it never tempered the boy’s enthusiasm.

“But when one of their weapons took the life of their very lord, the Amagiri were cast aside and shunned, forced to ply their trade of blade and hammer in shadow and secrecy.” Ojisan pointed his rattan at Nathaniel, voice heavy with omen and honor. “As the last son of the Amagiri clan you must be strong, a warrior with no rival to protect what you believe in with the steel of your soul.”

“With the steel of my soul,” the boy echoed with wide, awestruck eyes.

The Mask

It had been nearly a year since Ojisan had passed away, and finally Nathaniel and his father had decided to go through the last of his things not auctioned off at the estate sale or set on memorials in the remaining family homes back in Japan. The boxes were surprisingly few, keepsakes from history for a man who held little value in the material world.

That was what struck Nathaniel as so odd, though, as he picked up the ornately detailed metal mask and was surprised by how light it was.

“Oh, that old thing.” His father chuckled and slid the mostly empty box in front of him to the side.

“Ojisan hated decorations. Why did he keep this?” Nathaniel’s father looked at him with a soft smile and held his hand out for the mask. With a slight hesitation he handed it over.

“The story goes that our ancestor, Amagiri Asahi, went to the spirits for guidance on how to make the most beautiful and efficient weapons as quickly as possible. For forty days and for forty nights he prayed for divine insight, and on the forty first morning he was greeted by a black wolf, and that wolf taught him to forge the famous Amagiri steel.”

His father turned the mask over in his hands thoughtfully. “ The great ancestors would wear this mask not only when telling the tale, but also when going into battle. It is claimed to be the first piece of Amagiri steel ever forged, a reminder of our debt to the great spirits and responsibility to the balance.” He held the mask out for Nathaniel again. “You should keep it. You are the Last Son of Amagiri after all.”

The Mirage?

It happened so fast, way too fast for Nathaniel to clearly remember much. He was walking home from school, chatting with friends about the day when the tires squealed and the truck lurched on the road as it passed. Something flew from the truck, long and heavy as it careened through the air and slammed into Nathaniel with enough force to drive his breath from him.

He woke in the hospital to two broken ribs and a lot of strange questions. Questions like, “How many pipes did you see?” and, “Was it straight, or curved?” Or his personal favorite, “Did anything seem unusual or out of place to you?”

A few people asked how he felt, if he needed anything, and some spoke of a possible law suit. It was all so confusing, so cluttered and chaotic. But he remembered one thing with perfect clarity, a single moment right as the metal hit him where his hands wrapped around the steel beam and it rippled at his touch. Like water stirred by the wind. He knew it had to be from the trauma, but it was so vivid in his mind.

His dad had left the mask by his bed, a piece of home. Nathaniel reached out and touched the lupine nose, and its surface broke in a lazy wave.

The Wolf in the Night

Post by Fang on Apr 22, 2023 5:15:39 GMT

Post by Fang on Apr 22, 2023 6:23:42 GMT