Of Acuity and Conflict

A Town Lost

  The Heavenly Realm stretched endlessly above the clouds, veiling itself in the guise of the sky. Here, the sun never set, bathing the ethereal landscape in a perpetual golden glow, casting long shadows across the intricate palaces and temples of divine beings. Thousands of deities called this realm their home, each with temples dedicated to them, their majestic structures scattered like stars across the vast domain. But today, those temples stood empty. The gods—immortal and powerful—had gathered in front of the grandest structure in all of heaven: The Civil Hall.

This hall stood at the heart of the heavenly realm, where the flow of divine knowledge was managed, and tasks of the utmost importance were handed down to the gods. The hall was a place of order, where the complex web of divine duties was woven and renown was earned. Gods from every corner of the earth came here, yearning for a mission that would elevate their status among their peers—missions often decided by the masked god who oversaw the hall.

And today, they sat at the center of it all, surrounded by divine scrolls, calmly distributing tasks to the gods lucky enough to be chosen. It was an honor coveted by many... but not by all.

Jin Xiang, the Dragon God of Destruction, storms towards the hall, his steps echoing like distant thunder. His golden tail scrapes across the pristine floors, leaving faint marks behind.

The crowd of gods parts before him, creating a clear path, none daring to stand in his way. Rage simmers in his eyes, smoke trailing from his nostrils as he approaches the desk where the masked god sits.

He halted before the god at the center of the hall, his eyes ablaze with barely contained rage. Without warning, Jin Xiang slammed a crumpled scroll onto the desk, his nostrils flaring as smoke curled from his mouth.
"This mission is wrong!" His voice boomed, causing the hall to fall into a sudden, chilling silence. The impact of his words reverberated through the air, making the very ground tremble.

It wasn't the first time the hall had witnessed a confrontation between these two gods. The tension between them was notorious, earning them the nickname The Cat and Dog of Heaven. Despite the regularity of their clashes, the intensity never seemed to dull, and today was no different.

"Me and my team wiped out those monsters yesterday!" Jin Xiang's voice was a growl, his anger palpable. "Monsters don't just come back to the same spot in a day, Yasuke! You and your fancy court of scribes are wrong. Again." His claws dug into the desk, the wood splintering beneath his grip. "You don't even fight those things!"

Finally, Yasuke looked up from the scroll they were reading. Their long white hair framed their face, obscured by the cold, expressionless porcelain mask of a fox. Bright red eyes gleamed from behind it.

"As I've already explained," Yasuke began, their voice smooth and even, with a sharp edge. "There has been a notable increase i n monster activity. This village lies within a godless territory, the local god being under investigation. In such cases, monsters are drawn to such vulnerable places much faster." Their tone was calm, but the unspoken tension behind it was clear. "Lord Xiang, it's not uncommon for such things to happen after a day."

Jin Xiang's tail thrashed behind him, his eyes narrowing. "You think I don't know that? I'm no fool, Yasuke. We scoured that entire area. There's no way those creatures regrouped this fast." His voice dropped lower, cold and full of disdain. "Maybe if your court spent less time theorizing and more time in the field, you'd understand what's happening."

Yasuke, unbothered by the dragon's growing rage, gently swatted away Jin's hand from their face as they stood up. The soft rustling of their silk hakama contrasted with the tense atmosphere as minor gods hurried over to remove the broken desk.

"If you and your team hadn't caused such collateral damage during your mission," Yasuke replied icily, "perhaps the monsters wouldn't have returned so soon. Your recklessness drew them back."

Jin's eyes flared with fury, smoke now billowing from his nostrils as his golden tail flicked dangerously. "Collateral damage?" he snarled, his voice rising. "We were doing our duty—protecting mortals! If anything, you should be thanking us for cleaning up that filthy mess!"

Yasuke regarded him for a long moment, their hands folded calmly in front of them. Although calm, Yasuke's patience was not infinite. "If you're so certain," Yasuke said softly, "then let's go. We can both check it out and settle this once and for all."

Gasps rippled through the hall. A civil god, stepping onto a potential battlefield? It was unheard of. Yasuke's domain was knowledge, strategy, and the flow of information—not danger. Yet here they were, accepting Jin's challenge with a grace that only made the dragon's blood boil further.

Jin Xiang's eyes blazed with a mixture of triumph and surprise. "Very well," he said, voice low and dangerous. "We leave immediately."

Yasuke gave a small nod. "As you wish, Lord Xiang. But I expect you to follow my lead this time."

Without another word, the dragon turned on his heel, golden scales glinting in the eternal sunlight, the masked god quick to follow.

The dragon strode toward the grand, towering windows at the end of the hall, each step deliberate, each movement radiating controlled power. The gods still gathered in the hall watched in uneasy silence, their eyes darting between the two figures at the center of it all.

Reaching the vast window, Jin Xiang extended his hand and drew a circle on the glass with a sharp flick of his wrist, golden magic trailing from his fingers like sparks of fire. The glass shimmered and rippled under his touch before shattering into a swirling portal, revealing the human realm on the other side.

"Let's get this over with," Jin Xiang muttered, his golden eyes narrowing as he clenched his fists at his sides. "I have better things to do than chase after ghosts." Without waiting for a reply, he stepped through the portal, disappearing into the swirling vortex.

Yasuke moved to follow, but before they could, a minor god rushed to their side, concern etched deeply on the young deity's face. "My lord," the minor god stammered, hesitating before speaking further. "Do you truly believe this is wise? You could be hurt or worse—killed. The Civil Hall can't function without you."

Yasuke barely spared the god a glance, their porcelain mask hiding any trace of emotion. "Then I've done a terrible job managing it," he replied softly, his voice as calm as ever. As if feeling the minor god's' heavy unease, their hand moved suddenly, gently patting the minor god on the head in a rare display of tenderness. "I will return safely. Do not trouble yourself." His tone softened, quieter now, meant only for the minor god to hear. The young deity smiled faintly, reassured, and nodded.

Without another word, Yasuke stepped through the portal. As the swirling magic closed behind them, the minor god stood frozen, watching the last traces of his lord vanish from sight.

On the other side, Jin Xiang was already waiting, standing amid a desolate field. The sight of the distant village loomed ahead of them, its silhouette dark and ominous under the setting sun.

"I see you've finally arrived," Jin Xiang called out, his voice dripping with impatience. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, his golden-tipped tail twitching behind him in agitation. "What were you doing? Having second thoughts? Saying sweet goodbyes to your precious subordinates?"