Campione 15

  Furthermore, she did not know that the opponent of ill fate, carved beneath her eyelids, bore the same face as this youth—

  The beginning of the end was imminent.

  That very moment was already approaching, albeit slowly.

  Translator's Notes and References

  Urashima Tarou(浦 島太郎): a Japanese legend about a fisherman who visits the palace of a dragon god beneath the ocean. After a stay of three days, he returns to his village to find himself 300 years into the future.[1]

  Rip Van Winkle: a short story about a man who wandered up a mountain away from his wife's nagging, took a nap and woke up twenty years later.[2]

  Yatagarasu(八 咫烏): the "eight-span crow" is a symbol of guidance and the bird's appearance is taken as evidence of divine intervention in human affairs. [3]

  Sarutahiko(猿田彦): the leader of earthly kami (gods/spirits) and seen as a symbol of strength and guidance. Also the patron of martial arts such as aikido.[4]

  Hassou-no-kamae(八 双の構え): one of the five stances of kendo, an offensive posture with the sword pointing upright and the blade sloping slightly to the rear.[5]

  Wakoku(倭国): the ancient term for the islands of Japan dating back to before it was recognized as a country.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1 - Campiones in Ancient Gaul