"I hope Noriko came to correct this grave mistake and rid the pathetic girl of the powers she doesn't deserve."
Chiyasu spoke her mind, the awkward silence lingering in the air between her and Reiha getting on her nerves so she tore through it with her malicious words. Reiha eyed the other princess, the contradiction in her statement not lost on her.
"I thought you were waiting for the time to exact your revenge on the queen of light. Destiny is clearly in your favor now."
The princess of the wind commented with all the sarcasm she could muster, which was little but sufficient enough to irritate Chiyasu even more. The teenage girl finally emerged again within a whiff of white smoke protecting the innocent forest from an anticipated fight.
"Ayumi…"
Reiha called, and Ayumi's heart fluttered at her worried expression.
"I am back… "
Ayumi scratched the back of her head, not knowing what to explain or say. Then, she felt that her hands were no longer painful. She looked down at her palms and they were somehow completely healed, every scratch, even her torn sleeve was mended. Commenting on her surprise, Reiha explained:
"This is Noriko's spiritual power, she healed you."
"I thought she was… "
Ayumi did not finish her sentence, taken by owe at the dead priestess who even after death and spending her spiritual power to seal an evil entity at the cost of her life, still retained a spark of her powers. Just, how much more strong and powerful was she when she was alive?
"I hope you were not frightened by her presence… "
Reiha asked trying to approach the girl gently, who shook her head. Even Chiyasu dropped her usual fighting stance and crossed her arms waiting the answer to what happened between them, her curiosity taking residence over her impulsiveness.
"No, she was quite comforting actually… and besides… I have seen worse..."
Ayumi replied nodding at Chiyasu who sneered at her in response, as if to assure her that she still have not seen half of what is worse.
"She told some stories about Amaterasu, the previous queen of light… what she had done… her dreams and ideals... and how she saved the world and purified it from evil and despair."
"Only that?"
Chiyasu interrupted in a vicious tone but Ayumi was not frightened by her this time, the guess that the princess of earth was not one of those who betrayed the queen assured her a little but she needed to clarify this personal matter before being able to proceed to do anything else.
"If there is anything else, then please enlighten me. "
Chiyasu was taken aback by the girl's sudden boldness and fearlessness. However, she remained quiet turning her head away but the girl insisted:
"If there is any debt between the two of you, I will do my best to pay it but I have to know what is it exactly first! I know it did not make you betray her in her final battle, still, you're after her life... And although I am not her, I have her powers and responsibility, and I am obliged to clear this matter and see who is in the right."
Ayumi demanded in an insistent tone, but Chiyasu elaborated nothing. As if after turning the words of the girl's in her head, she was not convinced or satisfied but somehow they calmed her down... temporarily.
"Are you saying you will accept this power and carry the queen's duties?"
Reiha questioned further upon the girl's declaration, not caring for the other princess this time.
"Being able to sense people's despair and pain is something I have always wished someone would do for me… so I am glad I have a chance to do it for the others."
"Such hypocrisy."
Chiyasu gritted through her teeth, her eyes narrowing dangerously. Ayumi knew from the beginning the vengeful girl was brought to this state by something painful, maybe unfair as well but the latter never illustrated what had driven her into this vengeful state and did not appear willing to do so anytime soon. Anticipating a new attack, Ayumi braced herself, but the other girl simply disappeared amidst a whirl of roots and leafs no longer interested or curious to hear any more of this.
"You spoke wisely, Chiyasu will come to her senses at some point and will understand that you're a different person and a different queen."
Reiha repeated Noriko's words unknowingly, she herself did not seem fully aware of the cause of the feud between the queen of light and the princess of earth, if it was mutual at least.
"What about you, Reiha?"
Ayumi asked the princess who was always there to watch over her and protect her, even responding to her cry of help, unconditionally.
"What about me? Since you are informed that Chiyasu did not turn her back on Amaterasu, you know where my loyalty lies as well."
"That is not what I am asking about. It is apparent you are willing to help me no matter what and I appreciate that… but I have to know why? Are you content with me being the bearer of the queen's powers?"
Reiha bowed her head a little to the side at the unexpected question, like a cat offered kindness. Ayumi found the gesture cute but the answer was as stern and forward as ever, coming out of the wind princess.
"My content does not matter, I swear an oath, I never break it. It is as simple as that."
"But the woman you swore that oath to is dead, now you stand with a different one."
"I never swore an oath to a queen or a woman, I swore an oath of loyalty to the power of light."
"So whoever bear that power, you will follow?"
"Are you testing me? The power of light won't choose someone vile or it will cease to exist."
Ayumi's cheeks burned red from the cold remark. She was trying to sound smart and speculative as a queen or what soever, but there was no playing around with the princess of the wind. Reiha sensed the girl's discomfort, and knew she meant nothing bad. It was a smart question after all, to see how your allies think and what values they uphold. The wind girl held Ayumi's healed hands carefully and stated:
"We were ordinary human beings at one time too, so long ago, but then we were able to bind with one of the nature's elements. It was our destiny and we don't regret it. Ensuring the balance of this world is no easy task, and it takes so much from you but it is still a bind... And for me, it is a bind of duty and redemption, whether for me or for other people. "
"So it is a duty that never ends?"
Ayumi asked in horror, will she be forever bound to this power and what unclear fate it entails?
"Of course not, Amaterasu's death is a proof of that. If not met by death, then as we weaken we are finally released and a successor appears."
Freed by death or weakness. How terrible even if Reiha's features did not convey this. The look of contemplating the worst on Ayumi's face prompted Reiha to elaborate further:
"It is not that bad as you believe. Weakening of power, of will, or the relief from the oath we sore... It is freedom for us as we return to what we once were, able to live an ordinary life in this material world like we were supposed to, while our successors take over our duties."
Ayumi sighed in relief after hearing this, just the effect Reiha was looking for.
"So when we finish Amaterasu's battle, you will be free and live happily?"
"Indeed, we will be free."
"You should have told me this sooner!"
Ayumi said in a teasing reprimanding tone she would only dare use with Reiha. The latter's brows crossed in confusion. That girl who barely knows them, still a stranger in formal terms, a queen, was already worried about their happiness and freedom although she herself did not understand fully the extent and capability of her powers, and the destiny tied to them.
"You are a kind girl, Ayumi. No wonder the light power sought you throughout all these years of searing waiting."
"Th… thank you!"
Ayumi chuckled embarrassed again enough to change the subject:
"So what Priestess Noriko told me we should do now is to find the monarchy symbols to channel these powers through them without harming my body any further, I am still not as competent as you all think I am!"
"Don't worry, it will come to you slowly. No need to rush what has been postponed for centuries. Unless that man awakens before we find the symbols..."
"You mean, Noboru?"
"I cannot imagine what he would want with this new world, but I can be certain he will not rest until he destroys Amaterasu's power."
"Is it like an old feud or… "
"You are not so far of…"
Reiha whispered reluctantly, and Ayumi could not hear clearly. Their goal now was set, but how to find the monarchy symbols? The crown, specter and spear that asserted Amaterasu's reign over humans and demons alike?
"So how can we find the light items?"
Ayumi voiced her concern loudly, and Reiha replied, confused a little:
"I know you did not know of them before, but cannot you sense their presence? Like something inside of you calling to them?"
Ayumi shook her head, the only thing that ever tied her to this story was her dream of Amaterasu's demise and now she knows why. But other than that, there was nothing. Reiha seemed disappointed but tried once more:
"Did Priestess Noriko tell you not about their whereabouts or possible locations?"
"No… she did not know what happened to them."
"They were buried with the queen but visiting her grave one time after another, their presence diminished. I am certain no one can steal them."
"So maybe they dissipated? No longer exist?"
"No, this is not possible. These are no ordinary items to decay. They are carved by the queen's light of goodness and virtue. I can only assume the worse at this point…"
"Noboru stole them?"
"No, they no longer wished to remain by her side and are looking for their new holder of their powers. "
Reiha sighed in frustration mingled with pity. She rubbed her forehead in tiredness and broke the wind barrier now separating her and Ayumi from the other students .
"Go back to your friends now, thankfully no one saw what happened but they will be alarmed and worried by your tardiness and absence. Make up an excuse… and we will look into finding the monarchy symbols later."
Reiha uttered the last words before disappearing inside her wind. Sure enough, the students and teachers were looking restlessly for the missing student. Ayumi was already exhausted and did not wish to deal with anyone. She turned back and the cave was still there thankfully, albeit more destroyed and nearly collapsing into the ground. She simply was curious… and fell and got lost before finding her way out. She decided it was the perfect excuse, though it did not spare her a lecture she was not keen or used on getting.
"So, it was not your bad luck this time?"
Chisato teased her, and Ayumi declined claiming it was just her curiosity while receiving a worried hug from Yuki, the latter feeling guilty thinking it was the summoning circle she drew that consumed her misfortunate friend, getting out of Ayumi a loud laugh.
***
That night, after hearing another undeserved lecture from her grandmother, Ayumi went up to her bedroom. It was ten in the evening and finally the weekend. She could now rest to her content and process carefully just what had transpired during that trip and before.
She laid her head on the pillow, releasing a deep long held breath. She had just learned about the presence of a spiritual work, akin to a natural one, supporting and holding the world she's living in in balance and harmony. She learned of a previous feud between good and evil, the victim of it a dead queen whom she now holds her power which chose her for some reason. She had seen a real demon with her own eyes, two of the five nature princesses, and a dead priestess passing through the gates separating the worlds of the living and the dead. This was so much for an imagination, but was it enough to constitute a psychiatric emergency? She did not want to believe this. Although her heart was troubled by doubts, she had already accepted the queen's power which could finally set free the other princesses who were trapped in their duty for so long. A childish impulsivity and a desire for more that had been always kept at bay inside of her fueled an new found enthusiasm for the dilemma she was facing. She decided to go along the flow and see what it was ought to bring her, all while making sure this would not affect her "real life". Although merely deciding to go with flow with a childish thrill for adventure, this indeed confirmed to herself that she had finally decided to address these happening as real at last.
Her new found peace of mind did not last for long, as the window glass was gently tapped by a light breeze. Ayumi knew immediately it had to be Reiha and opened the window. Such a polite princess, unlike the other earth one who did not hesitate to crash anything standing in her way.
"Reiha, what is it?"
Reiha was floating in the air surrounded by thick whiffs. Ayumi invited her in but she politely declined with a nod of her head.
"I was thinking about your inability to connect with the items of the light, hoping it is temporarily. I thought maybe you needed something to stimulate your power and awaken your abilities."
Reiha stated this then handed the girl a bag full of medicinal herbs and green tea. Ayumi looked at the bag and asked:
"Do you want me to meditate?"
"I guess it is a way to clear things out."
Ayumi wasn't reluctant to try, though the idea seemed boring, but she already had a connection; that dream of the queen's demise. Maybe some meditation would help rekindle things.
"If it won't help me, at least it won't harm me!"
Ayumi put the bag down but Reiha looked troubled by the last notion, so she confirmed Ayumi:
"I will be watching over you, do not worry. Just, let us give it a try and besides..."
Ayumi raised her head, and the wind girl seemed a little hesitant before adding:
"Even if they don't help with your powers and sensing the items, it will calm you down and give you some peace of mind, you have been through a lot of things lately."
Ayumi's smile grew larger at the princess's obvious kind heart and tendency to take care of those around her.
"Thank you, Reiha!"
Reiha bowed her head a little to Ayumi's dismay then disappeared into spirit form probably, not wishing to bother Ayumi any further. Well, tomorrow was the weekend so she could afford to sleep late. The girl sneaked into the kitchen preparing the tea and the other spiritual drinks following the recipes written by Reiha's neat handwriting. She returned to her room and sat on the ground in the simplest meditation position she knew. She drank the potions, so distasteful, blowing any calmness out of her body before adjusting to the taste, then closed her eyes taking deep breaths and trying to isolate herself from any surrounding noises or wandering thoughts. She figured she should focus on the recurrent dream trying to weave more pieces out of it. And thus, a long night began…