Land of Ancestors = Land of Sou
Land of That = Land of Ka
_____________________________
Morning had arrived, and with it, the soldiers Tenji had sent out. They stood at the bottom of the steps, leading to his quarters, with a woman kneeling between them. The woman had pale skin and soft facial features. She had extremely long, grey hair which reached the ground easily as she kneeled. Tenji descended the steps and sat down at the bottom, studying the woman who looked so different compared to any other he had seen. The most notable features were her pale white eyes and red lips.
"A woman? And you're saying that she came from the sky?" he asked.
"Yes. This woman appeared in the spot where the light had fallen. We saw the light descend to the ground, and a moment later, this woman stepped through the trees. She was glowing in a very light blue light at first, which then receded."
"I see. And what is your name?" Tenji asked the woman.
However, the woman didn't answer him at all. She only kneeled there and looked Tenji in the eyes. Tenji didn't look away, as he felt something for a moment. It was as though the world stood still briefly. But the moment was broken, as one of the soldiers yelled at her.
"Answer him! The man standing before you is the King of the land of Sou, Lord Tenji!"
Tenji continued to observe the woman and she him.
"There is no need to speak like that to her. If what you say is correct, and she truly arrived from the stars, then we don't know whether she speaks our language," Tenji said.
"Huh? So..."
"So she might not understand us. Although..." Tenji stopped for a moment. "I believe she does understand us."
"The Land of Ka must have sent this woman to spy on us!" the soldier said.
The commander stepped in at that moment.
"Interrogate her and make her confess!" he told the two soldiers who guarded the woman.
"Yes, sir!" "Yes, sir!"
The two soldiers take their spears and point them at the still-kneeling woman. Seeing this, Tenji grew greatly displeased. He didn't like someone taking matters into their own hands, especially like that. 'Make her confess' already insinuated that they believed they knew the truth and would not believe anything else. That was very narrow-minded, and Tenji did not appreciate it. And as it turned out, he was correct.
"Hold it--"
Before he could finish speaking, something happened. The woman looked at the two soldiers, and immediately, both of them fainted on the spot and fell to the ground. The two commanders grew wary.
"You--"
"What did you do?!"
The woman stood up, and the commanders unsheathed their swords.
"Stand down!!" Tenji commanded harshly.
With small, delicate steps, the woman approached Tenji, and as she passed the two men, they fell unconscious as well. The young emperor's eyes narrowed at this, and he understood that he was correct. Seeing the woman stand before him, he also stood up to show respect, but to also not be caught off guard, should she try the same thing on him. No matter what logic told him, he wouldn't accept being knocked unconscious while he was sitting. Then, the woman spoke for the first time.
"My name is Kaguya," she said.
"Kagu..." Tenji felt something affect his mind. It was as though he was standing in front of an enormous giant, towering over him and affecting his will. "...ya."
"I am the one who protects the Divine Tree."
...
...
Kaguya was accepted into the Land of Ancestors and even given a private room in the emperor's house. She was to be treated with respect and left alone most of the time. Additionally, she was given a servant, Aino, to attend to her needs and help her understand the culture and customs of the land, should she not yet know them.
"I have been assigned to take care of your needs, Lady Kaguya. I am Aino..." the servant said as she introduced herself.
She knelt before Kaguya, showing her the same respect she would Tenji. That in itself was already strange and would, under normal circumstances, garner dissatisfaction and questions. But things weren't normal at all. Kaguya slowly stood up from her mat in her room and walked to the window. Her movements were graceful, and she was a quiet person who listened attentively but spoke only when necessary.
"Lady Kaguya?"
She watched an enormous tree in the distance, behind a mountain range. The tree was giant, eclipsing the mountains several times and even piercing some clouds. Seeing this, Aino started to explain.
"Several millennia ago, that tree appeared out of nowhere and grew into a massive tree before our very eyes. But I have heard frightening rumours too. Anyone who approaches it is quickly consumed by a spirit and dies like a withered branch."
Kaguya turned around and looked at Aino, who grew flustered. She immediately bowed down in fear.
"F-Forgive me for speaking of such things!"
"Do not worry. For it is true..." Kaguya said.
"Huh?"
"And some day..." Kaguya said, but didn't continue.
.
.
"Lord Tenji! Ministers Suzaku and Genbu from the Land of Ka are here to see you."
Tenji sat in the council room, waiting for the two Ministers from their neighbouring country. The Land of That, or Ka as they called it, did this quite often, and their visits were seldom good-natured. Tenji had already grown accustomed to their schemes and found them rather amusing at this stage. No matter what, he always found ways to send them back without getting what they wanted or even with better trade deals than before they arrived. However, his ministers were always sweating buckets, worried that a new war might break out if they angered the Land of That.
"Welcome, Minister Suzaku and Minister Genbu. What is the reason for your visit?" Tenji asked.
Suzaku unrolled a map of their respective lands on the table.
"This is the border between the Land of Ka and the Land of Sou. The issue is this lake," he began and pointed out the lake in question. "Presently, this region is said to be part of the land of Sou... But an ancient manuscript was recently discovered. In this manuscript, it has been recorded that from time immemorial, this land was originally within the Land of Ka's territory. We wish to have this land returned to us."
Tenji looked at the map and then at Minister Suzaku. He could see the greed and arrogance in his face. He was predictable to Tenji. Neither Suzaku nor Genbu had been Ministers when Tenji 'settled' the disputes with his neighbours after becoming emperor. So they didn't know what he was capable of. Sure, they had heard stories, but who truly believed that when they saw how the young emperor acted and ruled? They looked down on him and hatched this scheme to expand their territories.
"Well?" Suzaku asked after Tenji didn't say anything.
"Do you have it with you?" Tenji asked.
"Have what with us?"
"The ancient manuscript you found."
"Why would we need to take that with us? Do you doubt our words? Are you calling us liars?" Suzaku asked.
"Are you liars?" Tenji asked.
"What?!"
"If you aren't liars, then I don't see a reason to ask me that. You see, that lake you are talking about is the source of water for our farmlands. Giving it up would mean that--"
"No matter what situation arises, to return what was stolen to its true owner... is the right thing to do," Minister Genbu said, interrupting Tenji.
He stood up and placed his hands on the table.
"If we do not receive a favourable answer, we cannot be responsible for whatever misfortune befalls the Land of Sou!"
Tenji looked at Suzaku and then Genbu. He didn't like being interrupted because it showed a significant lack of respect.
"Now, now," Suzaku said. "I'm sure you will need some time to prepare and take care of things. We shall return in a few days to hear your answer. By the way, I understand you have taken a celestial maiden as a concubine."
"I hear she is indescribably beautiful and mysterious. I am most curious to see her. Hahaha."
The two ministers started laughing as they walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Tenji asked them.
The two ministers stopped and looked at Tenji, confused.
"I haven't allowed you to leave yet."
"Huh? What are you talking ab--"
"I also haven't given you permission to speak," Tenji said.
"Why you--"
Tenji looked at them with narrowed eyes. There was something in the way he looked at them that sent shivers down their spine.
"You come here, claim to have documents stating that you have rights to my lands, don't show me the proper respect and interrupt me and then speak so informally with me."
The two Ministers didn't say anything.
"You may leave. I will give you the time you need to prepare the documents. We may even meet halfway, that's how generous I am. As for the woman, never speak or think of her again. That is a warning; you had better heed it."
"You th--"
"You may leave now," Tenji said and waved his hand.
The two ministers left with angry expressions. But that was to be expected. Tenji and his two commanders watched them go. They watched as the ministers were being carried by men instead of riding horses—another sign of their arrogance and feeling of superiority.
"Without a doubt, this recently discovered artefact is a fabrication by the Land of Ka," Commander Hanzo said.
"Of course it is. The Land of Ka likes to make false claims against neighbouring lands as a pretext for war. That's how they expand their lands. It does make sense, since their army is three times greater than ours. They believe that we don't have a chance of winning."
"Suzaku and Genbu... sending those two as messengers means the Land of Ka is serious," Hanzo said. "We cannot be meek--"
"Lord Tenji, let's stand up to them! If we are doomed anyway, let's go down fighting and show them the pride of the Sou!" Commander Dageho said.
"Heh. Why are you getting worked up? There is no need to panic. However, I do take offence to the fact that you, like the Land of Ka, seem to have forgotten my stance on the matter. I might stand for peace above all, but I would never sell or betray my land. If it's a war they wish, we shall repeat what we did once before. No, what I am surprised about is that they already know about Kaguya. It has been barely more than a week after all."
"I suppose the arrival of a celestial maiden can't be kept secret for long, Lord Tenji. Have you decided what you wish to do about her?" Hanzo asked.
"I believe it is time I visit the newest citizen of Sou."
.
In the evening of the same day, Tenji walked across his compound, towards Kaguya's place. He finds her standing in the garden, looking up at the stars.
"Lord Tenji!" Aino greeted him.
"What is Kaguya doing?" he asked.
"Lady Kaguya spends her days looking up at the sky like that. It's as though she's waiting for someone to come for her..."
Tenji narrowed his eyes. He found it interesting that Aino would come to the same conclusion as he did. If Kaguya arrived here, who could refute the fact that there might be more who could arrive? And as of now, they knew nothing about them.
"According to the villagers, Lady Kaguya came from the heavens."
"That she did. However... I don't remember my first encounter with Kaguya clearly," Tenji said.
"Oh?"
Tenji looked at Aino's coat.
"May I borrow that?" he asked.
"Huh? Oh this? Of course, Lord Tenji!"
Tenji took the coat and walked up to Kaguya, placing it around her shoulders.
"You must be freezing, standing in the cold night air for so long."
Kaguya didn't say anything, but turned to face him. Tenji didn't bother with her silence and continued.
"Do you know," he continued softly, "I used to think the heavens were a ceiling. A dome painted with lights where peace was always present. Some still believe as much. But the world doesn't behave like it was built for our comfort."
Kaguya listened.
"I've spent years studying the stars and discovered that they weren't idle and remained in one place. They moved," he said. "I like things that don't remain idle. People, Ministers, soldiers, all of them eventually choose to stop moving forward and are content as long as they are comfortable.
If you observe long enough, you will see patterns that eventually repeat themselves. The stars seem to drift as one whole body, like an enormous wheel turning above us. When I was a child, I assumed the sky moved."
A small smile touched his lips.
"But when I looked at a spinning potter's wheel, I understood that, depending on where one stood, one could think the world rotates around the clay. Ironically, every child understands that it is the clay that moves and not the world. And so I thought… perhaps it is our world that turns and not the sky."
Kaguya still didn't say anything, but she was now listening closely to this human who had apparently drawn fascinating conclusions from basic observations. Tenji went on quietly, almost as if he were thinking aloud.
"The ships on the sea disappear behind the horizon if you watch them long enough. First the hull, then the mast. Some believe it is a trick of perspective and that we simply can't see that far. But then, shouldn't we see it all slowly fade away, not the bottom first?
So I came up with something daring. Something ridiculous. What if... this phenomenon happened because the world actually wasn't flat, but curved in shape?"
Tenji glanced sideways to gauge Kaguya's reaction. He had arrived here with a plan, but right now, he wanted to kill two birds with one stone. Since she came from the stars, she should have more knowledge, right? Kaguya did not move, but she looked at Tenji now.
"There is a settlement a bit further to the south," he said quietly. "My father, following my ideas, had a well created there. I was younger then, and after it had been built, a merchant from that town told me a strange story. He told me that he looked down into the well at noon… and saw the sun reflected perfectly at the bottom. The walls had cast no shadows. The light fell straight down.
At the time, I thought it was logical since the sun stood at its highest point. However, he told me that he passed the well roughly at the same time each week, and he hadn't seen that happen yet. So the following year, on that same day, the merchant told me, I had him send a rider ahead to warn me."
He looked out at the night sky, remembering.
"At noon, when the sun burned almost overhead in his southern town, I had one of my men place a spear upright in the courtyard here, and mark the shadow it cast. And as it turned out, the spear cast a clear shadow, unlike what it should have."
He held his hands apart, forming a triangle in the air.
"Think of it like this," he said. "In the south, on that day, the sun's light fell straight into the well, so there were no shadows on the walls. That means, for them, the sun stood directly overhead. But for us, at that same moment, it was tilted, just enough to cast a shadow. The only way both can be true… is if the world curves between us."
Tenji paused for a moment.
"I'm certain the world is round," he concluded simply. "What do you think?"
Kaguya looked at Tenji in silence for a moment. But then, surprisingly, she nodded her head ever so slightly.
"You are correct. It is round."
A bright smile appeared on Tenji's face. He had confirmed what he wanted. For one, the world was truly round, and Kaguya truly came from the stars. Otherwise, she couldn't verify that, unless she had been high enough to see it with her own eyes.
"I hear that you gaze up at the sky every night. Are you waiting for someone?" Tenji asked.
But Kaguya remained silent, not willing to speak about it.
"It's all right if that's the case. From now on, whenever you're lonely and look up at the sky, I shall be by your side."