The God of Gravity part 1: Demigod District

Resentment Lands on the Shores

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Far to the west continent, and in on its west coast, the wind blew endlessly. Its salty air rendered the land without life, as rocks and red soil emanate the feeling of death. The sky is rough, as clouds of grey rode the sky rougher than the waves of the ocean under it. The ocean itself is vast, and most of the time, passive as its name suggests: The Serenic Ocean. The wind whistled on the ground until they reached the cliff, and under it, is the snake-like shore, slithering from the south to the north.

Like the waves it let itself be carried to the shore, the small yacht with a wide sail, driven by a young captain. He held firmly on the helm inside the wheelhouse, staring at the girl his age as she stood on the bow, letting the wind flow on her face, with her long, black hair flying back. Even though the sun hides itself behind the clouds, the sheath of her katana glistened that it marveled the boy's eyes.

Shizuku, the girl slowly being consumed by hatred, frowned upon the sight of the shore, unlike sailors that smile whenever they see it. They see it as hope and comfort from the dangerous, unpredictable seas. She fails to see it, because of her resentment flooding her mind and heart. It has been months since the day her family was slaughtered, and the memory is still fresh as flesh. All of her wounds are healed, and her strength is back. Then she found a deserter amongst the cult of the Masked Men. He stole a yacht, helped her get healed, and they escaped to the eastern seas.

The young captain and Shizuku are the only ones on board, and he couldn't help, but talk to her out of curiosity. "Miss," he said. "The seas are calm unlike the sky, isn't it?" She didn't mind him, but he knows she heard him. "The Goddess of the Sea is really forgiving to a boy like me, even though I tried to betray her. Being nowhere else to go and having a screaming stomach, really puts crazy stuff into my head." He laughed gently. "How about you, miss? How did you end up in the same situation as mine?"

She looked over her right shoulder, but not looking at him directly when she said, "Don't put me in with you," while putting a straight face. The hull, smashing at the waves, made splashes that went higher than the deck, and the yacht shook a little.

"Oh, sorry," he apologized. Then the silence came back upon them. A minute later, he said, "My name is Tanaka, Hiroki, may I ask what's yours?"

"You may not," she said without turning.

"Who's this girl?" he thought to himself. "The way she looks and talk, suggests that she's not just an ordinary girl." He looked at the sword. "And that sword, it looks like a relic. She really makes me curious. I had many girlfriends before, and I am confident in my skills. I will make her talk!"

Then the yacht suddenly stopped, and he collided with the helm. He scratched his head in pain while watching Shizuku jumping off, carrying her bag. He hurried to collect his things into his bag and jumped off the yacht too. When he did, she is already at the foot of the cliff. She tied her hair into a ponytail, and he stopped behind her, looking at her while she bites the red ribbon, combing her hair with both hands, and closing her eyes.

"We're gonna climb this cliff?" he asked. "That's too high, and we have such heavy bags with us. We should consider finding a way around." She summoned a very wide sword from her hand and rode it. "Woah!" he exclaimed. "So you're a goddess?" he asked, but she already flew up. "I should've expected that. I should've known!"

He started to climb the cliff with his bare hands and saw her already at the top so he quickened his climbing that he climbed nearly arrived at the top in a matter of minutes. "Don't underestimate my climbing," he said while grunting. "I am the leader of my g**g back at home. Yah! Phew!" He stopped for a moment, and saw that he can't see her anymore, and wondered if she left him behind. Suddenly, his grip slipped on one of the loose rocks, then his other hand gave. "Ahhhh!" he screamed as he fell down, closing his eyes.

Then he felt something against his back. He opened his eyes, and the sky is seeing himself, floating up to the cliff. He found out that it was the same sword she rode earlier. It gently landed on the orange ground above and disappeared into black dust. He saw her walking towards the east at the distance, and he hurriedly caught up to her.

"So you're a goddess?" he asked while panting, but she didn't respond. "If you really are, then I should serve you as a humble human, and the one you saved. What's your name? Are you a goddess of what? What clan do you..." He realized something. "You're from the Miyamoto clan, are you?" He bowed and said, "From now on, I am your humble servant, Lady Miyamoto!"

She didn't mind him but felt a little annoyed as they went on to their journey further inland.

"Say, lady Miyamoto," he said. "where are we going?"

"You should think twice before using the word 'we'," she said with a cold tone. "because, in the first place, I never asked you to follow me around."

"I mean," he said while scratching the back of his head. "where are you going?"

"You don't wanna know."

"I have nowhere else to go, now that I have betrayed that organization, and I am a wanted person."

"You're better off without following me."

"I guess, but I already said that I will be your humble servant! A man doesn't turn back from his words!" he said, putting his fist on his chest.

She frowned and said, "That is if you have use for me."

"Oh, that! I am quite a good navigator, as well as a mechanic. What's more special about me is that I learned these on my own."

"That's useless," she said and he is shocked and insulted. "Where are we?" she asked as they reached a grassland with knee-high grasses.

"In the coasts of South Columba"

She stopped walking and he stopped behind her. She turned around and unsheathed her katana. "This katana is a three-thousand-year-old relic, wielded by Miyamoto Musashi - my ancestor. It consumes the soul of its victims and uses them to strengthen its master." She pointed her sword on his throat. "I am considering using your soul. After all, you are one of those evil men who helped to murder my family, and you're acting as if you didn't know anything about it."

He swallowed and sweated. "My lady, if I may, can I testify my innocence?" She narrowed her eyes. "I don't know anything about the murder you're talking about, my lady. As far as I know, I was just told to pray to a certain god, and I-"

"Then you're guilty!" she growled. "Did you know what did they used your prayer for? Women, children, mothers, fathers, and siblings, had their blood spilled on the very soil they were standing on, all because of your prayer!"

He kneels down with his head on the ground. "I am so sorry, my lady! If I have known, I wouldn't have-"

"You wouldn't have prayed for that devil? Your ignorance and stupidity make you guilty as well! You deserve to die!" She raised her sword, readying to slice him down.

Then an arrow whizzed in the air, and she sliced it before it got to her. It came from behind her and suddenly, men wearing ghillie suits with war paints on their faces, and tribal clothes stood up from the brown grasses. There are dozens surrounding them, and they looked fierce. All of them pointed their arrowheads to the two of them.

"Fire!" said their leader, then arrows flew towards them.

She let out her blades, and each of the arrows was deflected. Then she used her blades to destroy their bows, shattered their blades, and had their throats ready to be sliced with a single wave of her finger.

"She's a goddess," said the leader, then all of them didn't move. She recalled her blades back to her hands, and they all calmed down.

"She's a goddess of the Miyamoto clan from the west," said Hiroki.

"That sword," said the leader. "no doubt it is one of the legendary relics of the Miyamoto clan. We are sorry for attacking you, my lady." They all kneeled down. "We couldn't help, but be wary, because a month ago, men with masks abducted my people! Please, forgive us!"

"That organization," said Hiroki.

"So they reached this land a while ago...," realized Shizuku. "They are the ones I am after. Tell me which direction they went."

"We tried finding their tracks, but we didn't find anything. It is like they disappeared completely in the forest."

"Take me there."

"As you wish, my lady. Let us guide you to our tribe, and we'll gather the best of my warriors and trackers to lead you through the forest. For the forest is very deep and vast, that one could venture in it endlessly without escape."

She nodded, and let them guide her to their tribe. She turned to Hiroki and said, "I'll spare you for now."

"Thank you, my lady," he said as she turned to walk ahead, and he followed.

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