The Liberation of Dachinst

[Nayt]

When Etsu struck out at the man, she no longer felt doubt for her survival. At that moment, she knew she was going to live. She knew she was going to survive this, even if Zdenek was not felled by her blade, and that she was going to return to the young man waiting for her back home, a young man she never informed she was leaving. That marked the second time she left without a word. The first time, she was intentionally abandoned him. This time, she was going to war, and it would do little more than hinder his recovery to know Etsu was in the line of fire at all times.

There was a series of lights that nearly left her blind. It took all the strength she had to shut her eyes and clench her blade in her hand. She almost lost it at one point. This was a power she was not accustomed to; she had no control or handle over it, yet managed to work with it all the same, as sloppy of a job as it may have been. The lights and piercing white noise faded, leaving Etsu leaned forward, katana out at a swing's limit, held still in her right hand, with her left clamped upon the sheath. She was tensed all over and felt absolutely breathless.

Zdenek was a tall man and Etsu could barely reach him when he stood straight up. He had almost a foot and a half on her; he was a fair 6'5, now, and she was barely 4'10. Now, however, he was hunched over; his fist was buried into the floor and his body was slumped to make the distance. The gap between them was next to nothing; when she came to realize her position, she realized their bodies were merely inches from the other. She felt a shiver run up her spine, and without skipping a beat, Etsu took a step back.

She took a deep breath, followed by another and another. It felt like her lungs would never fill to capacity. She breathed quick, hard, and sharp. It was the first time Hikane displayed how afraid she actually was. This man, this Governor of Dachinst, terrified her to the core. She just hadn't the opportunity to show it until now.

Hikane calmed herself quickly when Circe addressed her, yet did not return to a fully stoic demeanor until she heard the voice of her direct superior. He prompted Hikane to straighten up, swallow her fears, and emotionally recompose herself all at once.

"Hai," Etsu bowed her head to the man that passed her, "Shikaisha-sama."

She said nothing more to the man. His orders were to be done to the letter. This was part of her job. At first, however, she did nothing more than look upon Zdenek's face. Where she came from, it was customary to grant an honorable warrior a brief moment of respite, whether it be to for a last breath or parting words. Etsu, with her weakened blade by her side, her back straight, and breathing nominal once again, stared up at Zdenek and debated whether or not she was going to allow Zdenek the right to last words.

He was not worth such respect, however. He had no noble purpose, honor, or respect. He'd have granted neither Etsu nor Circe such a right. He'd have broken their bodies, violated them in ways humanly unimaginable, killed them, and forced them to join the legions of undead that the Governor commanded so ruthlessly.

He was worth no honors.

Etsu Hikane hesitated no longer. She drew back her blade. It was still hot and ringing with a small but piercing tone. It was weak in this state and could take little more abuse, while at the same time it was more empowered than ever before: its heated, subtly vibrating blade had become something of a natural saw. Etsu took the blade in both of her hands, slid one foot back, and with a single sweeping cut across Zdenek's neck, finalized the liberation of Dachinst.