"Fate's Unraveling: A Tale Beyond the Stars"

Chapter 9: The Great Escape

Konan Palace Prison Cell

Miaka sat slumped on the cold stone bench, bored out of her mind. Her stomach growled loudly in protest, making her wish she hadn’t skipped breakfast earlier. The air in the cell felt heavy, and with nothing else to do, her thoughts wandered back to Yui and Isuna. She hoped they were okay and that somehow, somewhere, she’d be able to find them again.

As she absentmindedly dug through the small pockets of her worn clothes, she found something. Her hand closed around a small piece of paper. She unfolded it to reveal a couple of chewing gums—leftovers from the journey before everything had gone wrong.

A smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Well, it’s not much, but it’ll do.

Without hesitation, Miaka unwrapped the gum and popped it into her mouth, savoring the sweet taste. It was a small comfort, but it was better than nothing. She chewed for a while, her thoughts drifting once more, but before long, she felt the need to do something more with the gum. Miaka stretched, and in a moment of mischief, she blew a big bubble.

The gum stretched higher and higher until it finally popped with an audible POP! The slime splattered, and the sticky mess landed directly on her face.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she wiped at her face, but it was no use. The gum had stuck itself firmly to her skin, leaving a slimy, gooey layer.

From outside the cell, a guard peeked through the bars, observing Miaka curiously. His expression twisted in confusion. “What are you doing in there—”

Before he could finish, Miaka, in a fit of unintentional panic, made a loud, exaggerated groan and raised her hands in the air as if summoning something. Her face, now covered in the gooey mess, was almost unrecognizable—a ghostly, sticky, and terrifying sight.

The guard’s eyes widened in horror. “What—what is that?!”

The guard staggered back, his face going pale. “It’s a ghost!” he shouted, his voice cracking with fear. “It’s a ghost!”

In the midst of his panic, the guard turned and sprinted down the hall, not even bothering to lock the door. The key to the prison cell slipped from his hands and flew through the air, landing neatly just inside the cell.

Miaka, still in disbelief at what she’d done, stared at the flying key as it landed just at her feet. She blinked, then smiled sheepishly. "Well... that worked out better than expected."

Tamahome, who had been quietly watching from the corner of the cell, raised an eyebrow. “Impressive,” he muttered, though his tone was filled with both amusement and surprise. "I didn't think you had that kind of move in you."

Miaka grinned, brushing the sticky gum off her face. "I didn’t either, but... I guess it worked. Let’s get out of here!"

She reached down and grabbed the key, unlocking the cell door with a quick twist. They were free. Miaka couldn’t believe her luck, and for the first time since they’d been imprisoned, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hall. Guards were approaching. Panic rose in Miaka’s chest as she motioned for Tamahome to follow her.

“Quick, we need to hide!” Miaka whispered urgently.

They both darted behind a set of tall stone pillars just as the guards rounded the corner. The footsteps grew louder, but they remained perfectly still, holding their breath. The guards passed by without noticing them, their voices barely audible as they continued down the hall.

Once the danger had passed, Miaka let out a sigh of relief. “That was too close,” she muttered under her breath. “Let’s get out of here before they come back.”

Tamahome nodded and led the way, the two of them sneaking through the palace corridors. Soon, they found themselves in a large, dimly lit room. The space was decorated with statues of various gods, and the scent of incense lingered in the air.

“Where are we?” Miaka asked in a whisper, glancing around at the stone carvings that filled the room.

Tamahome looked around with quiet reverence before answering. “This is a sacred place. It’s a temple dedicated to the gods of this land. Every country has a guardian god—Seryuu of the East, Genbu of the North, Byakko of the West, and Suzaku of the South.”

Miaka’s eyes widened as she took in the details of the statues around her. At the center of the room stood a towering figure of a large, majestic bird with outstretched wings—Suzaku, the Phoenix, the guardian of the South. The statue glimmered with golden accents, its eyes carved in such a way that they seemed to follow her every movement.

“That's... Suzaku, right?” Miaka asked in awe.

Tamahome nodded. “Yes. Suzaku is the guardian of Konan, the protector of the South. The Suzaku Seven, like me, are the chosen warriors who serve Suzaku. We all have a unique connection to him. He’s our guide and our strength.”

Miaka took a step closer, her gaze fixed on the glowing statue. A realization hit her suddenly, and her eyes widened. "That’s the Vermilion Bird! The one we saw before we came to this world. The one in the sky, the one that appeared to us when we were—when we got pulled into this place."

Tamahome looked at her with surprise, his brows furrowed slightly. “You’ve seen Suzaku before?”

Miaka nodded, her voice filled with awe. "Yes... just before we were all taken to this world. Yui and Isuna were with me, and we all saw it. The Vermilion Bird... or Suzaku. It was glowing, like a sign."

Tamahome’s eyes softened with understanding, though there was still a trace of confusion in his gaze. “It’s not a coincidence then. The gods work in mysterious ways, and Suzaku often leads the chosen ones to their destiny.”

Miaka’s heart skipped a beat at the thought. Could this be the sign she had been hoping for? Was Suzaku leading her to Yui and Isuna?

Just then, a faint noise echoed from the hall outside the room. Miaka froze, her heart racing. Were the guards coming back?

Tamahome’s eyes narrowed. “Stay close. We need to move quickly before we’re caught again.”