THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE RECONCILIATION WITH HER DIVISION

the festival of summer comes every year, the queen of summer lights up fire works every time. But the rite of descension comes once every 8 years. The gaze of a god, the lively essence, the waking spirits and kami, it all was rare and important, so important that Amara knew they'd send her to fulfill their duties.

That chance isn't easy to come by. She'd have to amuse and entertain them. she'd have direct their attention away from her true goal.

With her being far away from their gaze, she made sure all council envoys sent to Fumetsuhi was either eliminated or neutralized. Her envoys were free to do anything they pleased, and so was she. She took the opportunity to pry into the council's secret. Allowing all the hands in her division to rip off the council's mask. All she needs now is confirmation.

All that planning, suspicion and suffering will not be for naught.

Kirana drowned herself in sake. "what will you even do with this?"

"like I said... the entirety of the seikatsu needs to know the truth... what the council is doing is wrong, I know what it feels like to forget, I don't want anyone else to go through it" kirana scoffed, turning her back on the table as she leaned at the edge. Her eyes gaze up to the flying drums and harps.

The shape of the tea house was like a large arena. A thousand floors that surrounded a circular courtyard which held large gilded blossoms in a sea of smoke and gambling tables all under a heavenly lit roof. Beautiful silk tapestries hung on the pillars and the roof. The empty space air took up was a perfect place for a performance from apsaras.

Blossoms flew up from the gilded lotuses. Apsaras flew dancing and singing to the beat of the drums. Elegant, beautiful, youthful and most importantly, graceful in the art of dance. No wonder kirana enjoys it here. She needed to wash her eyes of blood. "kirana, I need you to listen, that message has to be heard by every seikatsu member in aria... we'll deal with sonnet in the herald's meeting, but I also need you to ask the alchemist about mission records"

"why?" kirana asked, a short question, odd from the usually chatty kirana.

Amara melted slightly. She raised her hairpin, with a single flick, it transformed into a smoking pipe. "I need the records of missions around the time I joined the seikatsu... if they can mercilessly erase my memories... hell, maybe they even altered them... then I need to make sure of something" what if it weren't the emperor's men that night? What if it were the ruin raiders and mercenaries hired by the seikatsu? Or outriders and envoys dressed as so to go after Amara? And seeing as Haru was able to infiltrate the seikatsu with the name Mizurai, what if it were the Mizurai that hired the seikatsu?

Amara's stomach churned at the thought. She inhaled the purple eroded smoke. Her now blurry mind a stupid kind of clear. The council practically raised her, spoiled her and taught her. if they just wanted a weapon... then why didn't they just make her one instead of turning her to whatever it is that she is now? "will you help me?"

Amara looked back up at kirana's face. "you're already so well off under the council, once you do this, there'll be no turning back you know"

"you think too highly of them"

Kirana turned her head away, her hands holding Amara's. "you're underestimating them... why are you even doing this?"

"it's for myself" Amara smiled, "thank you for believing me,"

"oh don't turn so soft, it'll be fun. In fact it doesn't even matter what we do. As long as I'm with you even simple things make me happy. Talking to you never gets old after all" Amara pulled away her hands, hiding her face behind a fan instead. kirana opens her mouth and flowers will fall out. kirana opens her eyes and fire works will light up inside them. this girl is trouble.