As time went on, the news of the envoys' arrival had spread quickly through the palace corridors, stirring whispers among courtiers and servants alike. It was not often that the Imperial Envoy Court was opened for guests, and never for those from lands so far and unfamiliar.
The envoys to come were none they had ever seen, as they were to be coming from the far unknown West Islands, a people spoken of in hushed tones and said to live almost at the edge of the world, marked by dark ebony skin and sharp features. Their visages were like living sudden myths made flesh.
Even more mysterious was their reputation: their islands, ringed by the violent seas, had long stood unbothered and apart from the quarrels of empires. Also, given their history and posture of political neutrality, there was an air of uncertainty as one could not really tell if they would be coming to the Asahi Empire as friends or foes.
