Soshi Namio

Tenzen had been meditating for thirty minutes when he came back to thoughts of the past and future, memories and worries. He opened his eyes to a well-ordered room, which he himself had carefully tidied on his arrival that very morning. He was in Kyuden Bayushi, the capital of the Scorpion clan, in an outbuilding of the palace of the Scorpion clan's damyio: Bayushi, great-grandson of the clan's founder. Iwamori, his mentor, had convinced him of the need to present himself to Bayushi's court to obtain permission to found his new clan within a territory controlled by the scorpion clan. "You may not own anything," Iwamori had explained, "but you are in possession of something very rare: an imperial favor. The Shogun has placed his trust in you to create your clan, so you honor those whose help you seek to accomplish your mission, for it is the expression of the empire's will." Tenzen hadn't thought of this at all. Iwamori had continued, "which is why you must make a public request to Bayushi to grant you protection on its territory. If your request is reasonable, Bayushi will have no reason to refuse you his help - on the contrary, his position at the Emperor's court will be strengthened. Even if your request is demanding - if, for example, you ask to control a city - Bayushi will be tempted to negotiate with you. Beware, however, if your request is unreasonable - if, for example, you immediately ask for the hand of one of his daughters - Bayushi might feel insulted, and you and I might not get out of the room alive." Tenzen's eyebrows furrowed in intense thought, and after a moment he asked, "Wouldn't he risk the Emperor's wrath if he eliminated us?" Iwamori grinned, "You still have a lot to learn," he replied, "Bayushi fears nothing and no one, it would just make him an anecdote to tell the court, at worst a sarcasm to foil." Tenzen had already noticed Iwamori's blind and totally fanatical faith in his daymio, but perhaps this was just a facade he was putting on. He rose from his chair and headed for his bedroom window to observe the city.

Tenzen contemplated the bustling city, "what a marvel" he thought, "men shaping stone, wood, thanks to the knowledge acquired by our ancestors, no other species is capable of this, only men have the power to explain nature and make knowledge grow. Building roads and ships, frameworks and castles. Nothing can stop us, we're at the dawn of a new world. So much knowledge remains to be discovered... so many wonders to build, so many dreams to fulfill... his gaze turned to the moon... what is your nature, mysterious star? Can it be that one day we will tread your soil?...

Tenzen was roused from his reverie by a loud knock on his bedroom door. He quickly inspected his magnificent green kimono with its subtle feather motifs, which Iwamori had insisted on having made for him at a high price. "Appearances are crucial in politics, and especially at Bayushi's court, if you want to be taken seriously you have to play the game". "You have to play the game" Tenzen repeated to himself, as often iwamori had found a concise formula that summed it all up.

"Come in," replied Tenzen, continuing to admire herself in the mirror.

Iwamori entered the room dressed in a sober kimono whose patterns played on a strong contrast between intense red and deep black. He wore a dark mask covering the right side of his face. The lords of the Scorpion clan all wore masks at Bayushi's court. Many covered their entire faces. "Focus your attention on the voice of your interlocutors, you must be able to recognize them", Iwamori had advised during the preparatory meetings. He inspected Tenzen with a stern eye and asked: "Ready?" Tenzen nodded, serene. "Come, follow me, we have an appointment in the gardens before your audience" warned Iwamori, "I want to introduce you to one of my main allies who has finally been able to come".

The two samurai entered the long corridors of the palace, each of whose many wings was decorated according to a particular theme. One sported weapons demonstrating the clan's mastery of the forging arts, while another resembled a gallery of war paintings depicting the clan's victories. Another displayed hundreds of often ancient masks. Tenzen would have liked to linger over these marvels, but Iwamori was in a hurry. They passed through a last room with magnificent jade carvings, at the end of which was a large archway leading to the outside. "Not even a little owl..." remarked Tenzen to himself, inspecting the jade carvings as they passed. "Here are the gardens" intervened Iwamori "we're likely to meet people here, focus you". Passing through the archway that led outside, Tenzen was overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. 

Immense and peaceful, the gardens stretched as far as the eye could see, inviting serenity and contemplation. Winding paths, lined with carefully raked gravel, led through a perfect harmony of nature and architecture. Majestic maples with glowing leaves mingled with elegantly trimmed pines, offering a spectacle of vibrant autumn colors. Cherry blossom trees, veritable pink clouds in spring, dotted the pathways with delicate petals. At the heart of the garden, a limpid pond reflected the sky and surrounding mountains. Graceful koi carp, in brilliant shades of orange, white and black, glided silently under curved wooden bridges. Stone lanterns and traditional pavilions emerged here and there, creating subtle, poetic points of interest. An area dedicated to meditation offered a dry place, where carefully arranged rocks evoked mountains and rivers. Further on, murmuring waterfalls added a soothing melody to the landscape. Every detail, from bamboo to box hedges, bore witness to meticulous artistry.

Rounding a bend in the path, Iwamori and Tenzen saw a young samurai sitting on a wooden bench, reading a scroll. With ever more determined steps, Iwamori moved towards the young woman. She was dressed in a sumptuous pink kimono with delicate cherry blossom motifs. Her long pink hair fluttered in the light breeze, contrasting with the dazzling purity of her green eyes, as luminous as emeralds. She turned her gaze, deep and mysterious, on the approaching Iwamori and spoke without even rising: "I almost waited," she said in a flippant, annoyed tone. When he reached her height, Iwamori looked at his companion and said in a cold tone: "Isawa Tenzen..." he turned his head towards the young woman, "Soshi Namio". Completely unaware of Iwamori's presence, she immediately stood up and grabbed Tenzen's arm, exclaiming "What a pleasure to meet you, dear Daimyo of the Owl clan! No need for formality between us, call me Namio." Things had gone a little too quickly for Tenzen, who stammered out a banality as Namio led him by the arm down an alley in the gardens. She began to talk to him about gardens, she seemed to know every path and every flower, Tenzen who adored plants had studied botany and artistic horticulture: "This pine was cut by a master of niwaki (Note: traditional technique)" he boasted, "the noble silhouette blends perfectly with the subtle touches of moss, what harmony between the robustness of the tree and the fragility of the koké (note: type of Japanese moss)." Soshi Namio glanced to make sure no one was eavesdropping on their conversation, then set intense eyes on Tenzen. "Do you think you're good enough to play in Bayushi's yard?" she declared in a tone that had suddenly become threatening, "Let me tell you a little story" "Once upon a time, there was a little kid who had done well at school. To reward him, the king of the goats invited him to choose his own territory in the meadow, where he could raise his family and make lots of other hard-working little kids. The kid decided to go to the wolves' territory and asked for an audience with the leader of the pack. Do you know how this tale ends? " 

"They lived happily ever after?" replied Tenzen with a smirk.

"You think you're so clever," Namio snapped vexedly, "but you have no experience in politics, you have no power, your academic knowledge will be of no use to you here. Without an ally, you won't survive for long. Iwamori won't hesitate for a second to eliminate you if he sees fit."

"I'm not unaware of my weaknesses, Lady Namio," Tenzen replied calmly, "but I'm confident that a mutually beneficial arrangement between the owl and scorpion clans can be found."

"You've learned your lesson well," Namio remarked with a touch of disdain, "but in front of the daimyo, it won't be enough, you'll have to show your true face... No one can predict Bayushi's actions, he alone holds the free will of men." 

Iwamori's measured steps signalled the end of the conversation between Tenzen and Soshi Namio. Without so much as a glance, Iwamori beckoned Tenzen to follow. Namio, unperturbed, smiled at them before disappearing into the gardens, his pink kimono blending into the vibrant scenery like an artist's last brushstroke.

Tenzen concentrated. The time had come to meet the famous leader of the powerful Scorpion clan.

They passed through the palace corridors in silence, the heavy smell of incense mingling with the faint scent of lacquered wood. The intricate masks lining the walls bore expressions of malice, mockery and menace. The Scorpion clan liked to remind its guests that deception was an art form.

As they approached the large courtroom, two enormous dogs - large, muscular beasts with dark coats - stood on either side of the entrance. Their eyes, cold and intelligent, studied Tenzen as he passed. He had the distinct impression that if he made a false move, they'd know it before he did.

The room was dimly lit. In the background, Bayushi, the Daimyo of the Scorpion clan, sat, his face hidden behind an elaborate crimson mask edged in gold. His presence was an enigma, his expression unknown. Around him, his lieutenants loomed, dressed in dark robes and adorned with frightening masks that made it impossible to tell whether they were men or women.

Tenzen stood alone before them, the only man in the room not wearing a mask.

Bayushi's voice, soft but sharp, like a whisper through steel, put an end to the ambient hubbub. "Isawa Tenzen... I've heard about you."

Not a breath in the room.

Tenzen bowed deeply. "Bayushi-sama, thank you for receiving me your hospitality honors me."

"I rarely have the pleasure of receiving a Daimyo in my palace."

"The last one got lost in the corridors," shouted one of the lieutenants behind his mask, provoking general hilarity.

"But you Tenzen, here you are before me" continued Bayushi, "leading a family from the five continents is a heavy burden... explain to me simply... why did you make this choice why create your clan?"

"The child is not aware of the oceans he will be able to cross when he learns to walk," Tenzen replied, his voice firm despite the weight of the many masked gazes on him. "Our mission is to write knowledge in the stone of time, rectifying the errors that the world reveals to us."

Bayushi tilted his head slightly, the golden edge of his mask catching the faint light. "The quest for knowledge. Isn't that precisely the mission of the Phoenix Clan?"

- The Phoenix rises from its ashes to preserve ancestral wisdom," replied Tenzen, choosing his words carefully. The Owl seeks new knowledge in the dark, questioning what others accept as certainty. Where the Phoenix preserves, the Owl discovers.

A murmur ran through the assembly of masked figures. A lieutenant, wearing a polished ebony mask adorned with silver teardrops, leaned forward.

"Fine words for a man without land or warriors," says the feminine voice, but cold as winter steel. "What good is knowledge without the power to protect it? What's the value of truth without the strength to back it up?"

Tenzen felt the trap closing in on him like a noose around his neck. He weighed his answer, aware that Iwamori stood silently at the back of the room, not offering him any help.

"Knowledge itself is power," replied Tenzen. "The strongest blade ever forged began with an idea. The most impregnable fortress began with a thought. My clan may have no warriors, but ideas, when properly cultivated, can give birth to empires."

Bayushi's laugh was unexpected, like the sound of torn silk. "Hahaha, well said young daimyo. Still, knowledge and truth can be... uncomfortable. Tell me, if you discovered a truth that threatened your clan's survival, would you hide it to protect your work, or reveal it to honor your principles?"

The room fell silent. Tenzen immediately understood the nature of the question: a test without a correct answer. Honor demanded truth; survival might require lies. Bayushi was not only testing his intelligence, but also his character.

"I'll find a third way," Tenzen replied firmly. If the truth endangers my clan, then my understanding is incomplete. I would seek to deepen my knowledge until I find a solution that serves both truth and survival."

"A diplomatic answer," said another lieutenant, whose mask resembled a smiling demon. "But life rarely offers the luxury of perfect solutions. Sometimes we have to choose: honor or survival."

Bayushi raised his hand to silence his lieutenant. "If your mission were threatened, if your raison d'être were at odds with your personal honor, what would you sacrifice?"

Tenzen felt sweat beading on his forehead. This was the moment Namio had warned him about. The wrong answer could mean his death; the right, his future.

"My mission serves an honor greater than my own pride," Tenzen replied, supporting Bayushi's masked gaze. "Personal honor that stands in the way of discovering the truth is nothing but vanity. I would sacrifice it without hesitation."

A long silence followed. Tenzen could hear her heartbeat.

Then Bayushi nodded and addressed the lieutenants on his left. "You see, he doesn't take us for a congregation of Lion Clan Bushi," bursts out the laughter in the room. He leaned forward. "Now, tell me what you expect from the Scorpion clan."

Tenzen took a deep breath. "With your permission, I wish to establish my clan in the dark forest beyond the eastern mountains, on the lands of Lord Iwamori. I will personally finance the construction of a village and build my residence at the edge of the forest, near the river."

Silence fell again as the masked figures exchanged glances. Tenzen could feel currents of unspoken communication flowing between them.

One of Bayushi's lieutenants finally spoke up, in a voice tinged with amusement. "This forest is said to be the lair of the Kenku, raven-headed bird-men with ancient magical powers.

A murmur ran through the assembly.

Tenzen straightened up, gaining in confidence. "My research provides little evidence that the Kenku exist. However, should they prove to be real, I would engage in dialogue with them. Reason is a universal language, and I would negotiate with them as I would with any intelligent being."

A low laugh escaped from behind one of the masks. "The daimyo of the owl clan, human ambassador to the Kenkus! Iwamori has really found the right man for the job!"

Laughter filled the room, but Bayushi raised his hand again, and silence returned instantly.

You've come here to ask for land," says Bayushi in a voice that's neither mocking nor approving. You claim to fight ignorance and question certainties. Yet I see before me a man without power, without warriors, without wealth. Why should I grant you what you ask?"

Tenzen didn't hesitate. "Because I offer something greater than mere allegiance."

The room fell silent.

"In ten years, I will return with a gift for you Bayushi-sama, a gift that will give you a unique chance to change the world. Grant me ten years and the Scorpion Clan will leave a mark forever in human history, or I will remove my clan from your lands."

Silence stretched between them like a bridge over an abyss.

Bayushi turned slightly to Iwamori. "Your pupil shows remarkable audacity. Is he worth investing in?

Iwamori remained motionless for a moment, then replied with measured precision. "Tenzen may be a madman, but he's no liar. The territory he's asking for is under control but untapped. Even if he fails, his action will have benefited the scorption clan. I'll see to that."

Bayushi pondered this, then slowly sat back down, his crimson mask revealing nothing of his thoughts.

"Very well," he finally said, "I'll lend you this territory for 10 years in exchange for your promise. If you have mocked me, your forest and your clan will be reduced to ashes."

Tenzen bowed deeply, relieved as if by a wave of cool mountain air. As he straightened up, he caught sight of a figure at the far end of the room: Namio, who was watching him with a newfound interest. Perhaps she had underestimated him after all. As he followed Iwamori out of the room, Tenzen's mind was already racing: what had Namio thought of his performance? Was he going to see her again before he left Kyuden Bayushi? How he'd love to go back to the gardens with ...

"Tenzen! Wake up!" interrupted Iwamori, "you've got to stay focused, I've got lots of people to introduce you to tonight!"

"How do you manage to stay focused like that all the time?" asked Tenzen.

Iwamori sighed as if to say, "He still hasn't understood that?" and replied, "Practice you must."