THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE CLANDESTINE PLAN

In the vast sea of green tall grass, amara had hidden between them. laying down carelessly as she just stared into the sky. Obnoxiously perfect blue sky. But if it cried, it would worsen her mood. She pushed herself up with her elbow, another hand grabbing the spear that pierced her hair.

It grew when she threw it in the air and shrunk when she caught it.

She sat silently between the tiny forest, doing nothing and thinking of nothing. Before she knew it, the spring came and the grass grew. So it came one day, from somewhere in the abyss of the forest or the nethers of the abyss. Suddenly she stood on the grass, having unfinished business.

Far and high in the sky the shrill scream of a red hawk could be heard. Taunting her, crying out to her. red, how fitting for a being such as its master. In the grasp of the hawk's claws, was a clean parchment. An invitation for her, as if she didn't have one already. Inviting her to the capital of the north, the almighty nurarihyon.

She asked spring, "why are you in such a hurry?" with the whisting wind and galloping, it left like a flying filly. In a garden, a forest and the boundaries of the city as well as right in front of her, shy blossoms that rained were just planted. Red petals and yellow leaves were blown away by the wind, tangling and twisting before they passed her.

No one could keep the spring's beauty. Nor could they keep the summer's blessing. Though no season age, nor do they have growth. Everyone fears that they will age and afraid that it may.

That fussy sentiment only belongs to humanity, a worldly worry.

"tch... you're the one who asked me to be here" Frey complained as he sat on the large warm rock nearby. "I told you not to bother me... what are you doing here anyways? Are you slacking off again?"

Amara gave a lighthearted laugh. "ahaha...how dare you, I would never" she allowed her compliant spear to fall on her foot before she kicked it upwards, watching it split into a thousand duplicates. "I need you to tell Eira that junpei is back in the town"

"huh? but he's not-"

"-not yet" she giggled. "I may have made him upset..." with a huff he formed a puff of smoke only to stay on the rock as a cat instead of a boy. "Frey" Amara called him, the cat's ears pricking up slowly. "I need you to do me a favor" she pet him gently hoping it would earn her a favor. Instead he nuzzled into her dress as if not wanting to leave. He was heavy at that too.

"meow"

"you're not a real cat!" Amara pushed him off the rock. "go back to higana, I want you to be my eyes and ears over there, i... Its time you finally have duties of a familiar... for now" she folded her arms as his eyes brightened. "for now," she repeated "don't let that get into your head..."

"why not make it permanen-"

"alright, bye bye now, kieru" with a bright smile and a flick of her hand, Frey disappeared in a large cloud of smoke leaving her alone. Well alone with the singing birds and playing foxes. It was the sound of peace that was carried in the breeze. A sound that brought bliss to her stressing ming.

But it only signalled the perfected lord Junpei and the overlord Ao guang to reveal themselves. And just like that, her smile fell. "now... where were we?" the grass slowly melted together, revealing a jade floor that stretched out. collumns rose, wide and many in numbers. A roofed ceiling had formed above them with translucent banners falling from its edges.

And there in the middle of the pavilion, stood a large twisted maple that matched the color of the pavilion itself. With the help of Hanabi, amara was able to pull two embodiments of the illuminated beast's soul. One for the perfected lord, Junpei and one for the dragon king, Gokoryu. This was she could talk to them separately and avoid being eaten in one bite.