Born of Water and Flames

Thailand

Akemi and Yuke were the only ones in the meeting room when I arrived. Akemi was sprawled on a couch, while Yuke sat demurely on a high backed chair. Lien came skidding into the room right after me.

"Am I late?"

"No," Akemi replied. "Considering that there was no scheduled meeting time, no one is early and no one is late."

"Makes sense," Yuke agreed.

The door opened, and a woman walked in. She was not dressed in the robes of a priest, however. She was dressed in an expensive looking hanbok, in blue and green, with a headpiece of fiery red and white. This wasn't a mortal. This was Shijie. High Priest Chakrii and High Priestess Enkhtuya walked in behind her. Shijie seemed to be transparent, and around her wrists were chains. She wasn't actually here. She was still imprisoned in the abyss.

"Disciples," she said, as a way of greeting. "Two of you I do not know. But I remember you, Apinya Srisuk, the girl who begged me to help her and her father keep their farm. And Akemi Lin, who would have gone to the ends of the earth to heal her mother. You both would have gone to the ends of the earth. Will you go above the earth?"

Akemi was deathly pale.

Shijie continued. "And you, Yuke Qing and Lien Nguyen. You two will be instrumental, for fire and water are the main obstacles, once Akemi brings you to the clouds. THere are deep pools of water, pits of fire, and monsters that Akemi and Apinya cannot help with. Yuke, you wish to see your sister Jia replace your mother as empress. Will you enable Jia to take up the mantle of leadership?"

Yuke looked resigned, and determined.

"And my dear Lien." Lien's face was stony. "Will you get your justice?"

Those words seemed to strike a chord inside Lien. And her expression changed to one like an angel's, impassive and solemn.

Shijie smiled, a catlike grin. "There are clothes and bags in your room. Priestesses will come to help you. It is time."