Bonus Short Stories Embryo Motifs A certain place in Tenchi On his first day of college, Winterbaum, AKA Alex Fuyuki, stayed home to go on a quest in Dendro. He traveled alongside two of Hokugen’in’s Elite Four, checking up on a number of villages and talking about various things. “Tenchi’s Embryos are relatively simple in that they often focus on pure power,” Eashtan commented. “Really?” asked Winterbaum. “You could say it’s due to the nature of the people who pick this country. Bigman’s Brocken is especially simple — it just enlarges his items. It’s literally based on the childish idea that size is equal to power, but childish or not, there is truth in that.” He was describing the fellow member of the Elite Four who had just soloed Gakido and his group. “I suppose it’s based on the Brocken specter phenomenon,” said Winterbaum. “Brocken specter” was a name for the shadows dispersed and enlarged by mists or clouds. Their otherworldly appearance earned them a place in folklore all across the world. “Speaking of Embryos and their motifs, what are your Embryos called?” Winterbaum asked. They went out on the same quest, yet he still didn’t know that much. “Try guessing,” said Eashtan. “Umm... your Embryo spawns ants, so... Myrmecoleon? Myrmidon, maybe?” Those were the only two ant-related myths that Winterbaum could think of. “You were close with the second one,” said Eashtan. “My Embryo is ‘Zeus.’” The unexpectedly major name caught Winterbaum off-guard. “Ehhh? Oh, wait... Zeus was the one who made the Myrmidons.”
Greek myth had several theories for their origin, and one of them was that they were a warrior tribe created when Zeus transformed some ants into humans. “That’s a very famous name,” he added. “Your Horus is impressive, as well,” Eashtan replied. “Hm... you should keep in mind that famous motifs with many legends to their name can be used on multiple Embryos.” “Oh, so the names aren’t exclusive?” “Embryos are unlimited, while motifs aren’t. My Zeus is based on a smaller myth, but of course there are Zeuses that are all about just throwing lightning.” “...I wonder if there are Zeuses with no control over their private parts,” Winterbaum said wryly. Zeus was mainly associated with lightning or his strangely vast number of children. Even the Myrmidon myth had a version where he transformed into an ant and had many offspring. “Perhaps there are,” said Eashtan. “Even Horus has many other forms. It’s just how it is.” I wonder if I’ll ever meet another Horus user, Winterbaum thought before continuing the conversation. “By the way, what’s Probe’s Embryo?” “I don’t know,” Eashtan replied without hesitation. “Eh?” Winterbaum was confused that Eashtan wouldn’t know something so fundamental about his long-time companion. “Think about it. Do you really believe she would say it in a way we can understand?” “Corporate secret. Firm refusal. No questioning.” Probe made it very clear that she would not talk. You could see it as a sign that she was a careful woman who wouldn’t reveal her hand, but... Well, I think I know what Mr. Eashtan means, Winterbaum thought. Probe spoke in sentences of just two words, so if her Embryo’s name was one or more than two words long, she couldn’t say it even if she wasn’t secretive about it. It made him realize just how many Embryo motifs and weirdo Masters Dendro had to offer.
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