THE ARCHAIC SKY

CHAPTER: THE REMNANTS OF THE WHITE NIGHT

Amara watched as they all bid her farewell. Hopefully kain would wrap up the matters with ease and hopefully Ryusei would stay out of her path. Leaving her standing still in the pavilion. The autumn air entering just as quickly as it left. It passed her skirt, her limbs, her hair. The doll remained unmoving. The desolate pavilion allowed her to breathe. "I didn't think you had this many allies"

Amon was all that was left within the pavilion. He stood by the doll, admiring his work. His intricate sigils akin to letters that made up words in sentences of a forgotten ancient language. "I don't know how the outside world perceives it, but I've always thought of them as friends..." Amara cleared her throat before sighing. "but of course I had no way of knowing if they thought of me the same way"

The herald stared at her two guards who crowded around kirana. A herald, two numbers older than Amara, who had an air of childlike innocence. Often found playing simple yet timeless games with children, buying shiny trinkets and toys to gift to the children she met and chatting with other as she had endless ideas and thoughts she had to share. A herald who had just befriended the guards who had been treating the person they're supposed to be guarding so coldly.

So creative with the way she handles her gift and so passionate about her own stigmata. "I envy her... she has no need to worry about others' perception of her... not when she's so well liked. She knows how awful I am and yet she still treats me so kindly..." Amara's voice cracked ever so slightly. Kirana practically knew everything about her and yet she barely knows a think about the fifth herald. "What were her struggles... why is she so willing to help others... how she could have that smile always on her face?"

"you always have a smile on your face"

"not... not as bright and genuine as hers..." Amara laughed to herself. She looked over her shoulder, her eyes falling to his face. he looked tired again, his eyes more sunken. She raised both her eyebrows and asked. "are you okay? Activating that many sigils in one go... surely that can't be good.."

He chuckled, tilting his head back. A series of cracks appearing as he tilted it harshly from side to side. "worry from the saintess? Undeserved yet i'm honored" he stared at her through his lashes. "I have to say... despite you asking so much from me, I can't seem to say no... perhaps I too feel like I owe you"

"and I can't seem to stop asking so much of you" Amara tilted her own head, feeling a sore on the side of her neck. "thank you, for helping so much... you've even agreed to helping me with my future performance"

He laughed again. "no need, It's our agreement after all... and your conclusion, it sure is interesting" he made a popping sound with his lips, before placing a finger over them. a certain mischievious sparkle was in his weary eyes, he was just as excited as her. stars... what has she created?

Amara giggled, nodding along as she left him with the doll. "you should get ready to leave, Mastura, my finale is about to begin," The laughter coming from the three standing by the door only got louder. Which made the stinging loneliness within her hurt so much more. The air was colder outside. Without the warmth of people by her side. By the time she reached the three, the conversation topic had changed three times.

At first it was about the autumn cold air and the north only making it worse. Then it was about the uncrowned prince's men, buying goods in the markets to give to the needy. And finally it was about the Hyakuhi samurai needing capes which kirana would happily provide since the samurai need to look their best for the clan meeting.

Kirana beamed when she saw Amara leave the pavilion. "Amara! Did you know? the Hyakuhi samurai will be all over the grand hall during the clan meeting" she said in such a cheery tone despite the severity and weight of the information. "there'll be over a hundred Hyakuhi and a thousand kaensen" hatamoto and Hyakuhi are high ranking samurai. One belonging to the emperor's army while the other to northern daimyo's army. Yoriki and Kaensen are also the same.