Author Notice:
Maiden by Chance will focus completely on Eri's journey and possible love interest. There is a second part to this story called Maiden of Omen; Maiden of Omen focuses on Kagome's journey and possible love interests; both stories connect to each other and are important to the overall plot! The reason for this separation was due to too many perspectives, too many scenes and ideas, and in order to balance out both girls' stories, this was the only way. I will do my best to keep the story from seeming too confusing and will connect important chapters where they line up to each other.
Pay attention to the number of days I have written in parenthesis; this is how many days have passed within The Universe of the Four Gods! It will also help keep track of where Eri and Kagome are in terms of the overall story! Hope this helps, and I will do my best to keep this less confusing.
I recommend reading chapters 1-12 of Maiden of Omen before reading Eri's side of the story! I've left an author notice at the end of chapter 12 (Light of Genbu) for extra guidance.
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(Day Seven)
Ifurei Province
Pausing short on his trek, his feet weary from his long voyage, the young man reached for a wooden canister tied at his waist, uncorked the lid and hungrily drank its contents. Releasing a steady sigh, his eyes fell upon the city ahead, it's immense size enough to draw his curiosity.
Ifurei.
It was a city located East of the Capital, rumored to provide sanctuary to visitors, no matter their place of origin, and it was also a place without military supremacy. According to gossip, which he learned crossing through turbulent deserts and thunderous seas, Ifurei was known greatly for their prophetic Oracles, ones gifted with the sight and knowledge of the Heavens.
Originally from Kutou and once living a noble life filled with impossible feats, he'd left Sairou a month ago, in hopes of speaking with those gifted with great knowledge. The reasoning behind this remained hidden beneath a brown scarf tied neatly around his forehead, an overlap of its elaborate cloth resting just over his right shoulder. A mark, foreign in its character, burned hotly upon his forehead and with it, an unspeakable sensation followed, a sensation which brought him worry and uncertainty. The most peculiar of it all was the blueish light which sometimes emitted from it.
What could it mean?
Without delay, he strode carefully down the rocky path, the sight of the city drawing closer. Interestingly enough, from a distance, the city was designed in a rather curious fashion; multitudes of structures, the innermost seemingly stone and wood houses, made up the city's circumference equidistant every way from the center, with two large stone walls intersecting where a large structure made up it's main focal point; from a distance, it seemed almost like a palace, it's multitudes of roofs rounded and rectangular to a certain degree.
As a cool wind wisped by, blowing his parted black fringe, he soon entered through the open gates of the city. Over hundreds of people populated Ifurei, perhaps even close to a thousand; he couldn't be sure, but it was bustling with varying vendors.
Considering the glacial climate of Hokkan, it was no surprise the people were adorned in heavy furred attire, but since he was further south, snow did not frequent this area; in fact, the civilians were dressed in slightly warmer garments, many with dresses and overcoats much different than those further North, with clay, stone, metal and wood jewelry adorning their necks and wrists.
Among the thousands carrying on with their day to day tasks, shopping from vendors and eliciting in everyday conversation, he noticed a few faces in the crowds, those pulling carts filled with bundles; they were foreigners much like himself, though they were not from Kutou. Judging from their tanner complexions and rich dialects, they were likely from Sairou.
"Did you hear? They say a pillar of light lit the skies North about a week ago!"
"Light, you say? Whatever could it mean?"
"Do you think it could mean her arrival? The priestess?"
"The priestess? Surely you jest! It's only a legend!"
"But hundreds of people claim to have seen it! If not her then what could it be?"
Pausing near a particular vendor selling various dried meats and woven baskets of rice and potatoes, he turned, his crimson gaze noticing two young women conversing in unsurprising gossip a short distance to his left. They mentioned something about a pillar of light and a legend concerning a priestess; honestly, this wasn't the first he'd heard such stories, in fact, even his home country revolved their religions around such a legend, one with whom his people strongly believed.
"It can't just be a coincidence!" The young girl with long brunette hair exclaimed, her friend seemingly rolling her eyes. "With Kutou's unexpected invasion and the appearance of that light, it must be true!"
"We can't know for sure!" She retorted loudly; hands positioned upon her portly waist. "And even if it were true, what good would it do us? A priestess that can only bring us ruin … She must be the cause of those who've already succumbed to Kutou's forces further North of us."
Her friend fell silent at this, notably hurt and fearful. "They say … many clan villages were massacred. The army is heading towards the Capital now. There's no telling what will happen next…"
"War," Her friend blatantly replied before sighing. "As long as our Great Priestess is here, I'm sure we'll be protected."
"Do you think she can hold back thousands of soldiers?" The girl asked worryingly.
"Of course! She's blessed by the Heavens! Many have only seen a fraction of her power! Look, if you're so worried, why don't we go pay our respects?"
As the two girls quickly departed, their legs guiding them down the path ahead of him, he watched them disappear into the crowd, and ever so silently, he followed, his eyes taking in the grandeur of the temple-like-sanctuary ahead.
The news of Kutou's invasion did not surprise him; in fact, he'd known such barbarous and tyrannical ruling all his life, and it dated back many thousands of years, but even still, his country of Kutou remained somewhat peaceful; peaceful being an understatement. Often, even their own soldiers would desecrate many towns and small villages, going so far as to steal and violate young women. It was sickening, and yet it was frequent, but it seemed the emperor could care less than for the safety and well-being of his own people.
With this invasion towards Hokkan, there was no doubt in his mind Kutou sought world conquest, and the first step towards doing so would be to expand their own power. But in accordance to their war in history, this was the first time Kutou had ever sought Hokkan's territory, he wondered how this country would fair against such brutes.
Eventually, during his quiet musings, he found himself following a stone pathway, the bustling markets fading some distance behind him, and it wasn't long until he traveled further through the inner circle of the city. Many stone and wood houses accumulated this area and unlike the market, it was much quieter, the families of women and children tending to their chores.
There was a sound, something similar to a bell being rung throughout the city. The mothers, daughters, sons and the elderly must have heard it as well; their eyes turned towards the temple and without a word, they clasped their hands and closed their eyes in prayer.
This did not stop him, and crossing under one of the openings in the intersecting walls, he noticed a few sentries on guard just above, their expressions alert, at least from where he glimpsed them. Eventually, the stone path ended, and he found himself standing before the massive structure, its stairs leading up a few inclines towards a set of double doors, with small shrubbery of trees aligning the outside.
After a month's time of traveling, he'd finally arrived, and relieved he might finally get the chance to speak with the Oracle, he began his climb up towards the door.
"Young man."
He paused. Behind him, he saw a family of three, a small child cradled by her mother and an older man with a long graying beard. Judging by the voice, the older man had called out to him, though he couldn't fathom why.
"Are you also seeking guidance from the Oracle?"
"That's right."
"I see. Well, it's a pity. We were just informed that she's now in a time of seclusion and will not be seeing anyone," He dismally explained. "It could be days until the doors allow visitors."
Could that be the reason behind the bell's sound resonating throughout the city? If so, then this proved bothersome. He'd traveled all this way to get his questions answered only to stumble upon this? What was the reason for locking herself away in the temple? Perhaps she saw something in her vision? Perhaps she was receiving the words of Heaven's will? He couldn't be certain.
"I see…" He replied seemingly uncomfortable by this received information. "That's a shame, and after so much ground I covered to get here."
"You seem to have journeyed far, young man. Judging by your clothing, I can only assume you crossed the seas from Sairou?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"If that's the case, then we welcome you to our city," He old man politely exclaimed. "I take it this is your first time visiting?" When he received another nod, he smiled. "Then, please enjoy your time here. I run a small inn just a few blocks down near the market; feel free to stop by; there are plenty of rooms available."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
"Here. Take this," The young woman suddenly replied, extending her arm to hand him something clasped in her hand.
Bemused, he accepted the item, and examining the small trinket lying in his palm, he realized it was a small polished green stone. A leather string was woven through a pierced hole along its rounded tear shaped body, and holding it up to the light, he was mesmerized by its shimmer.
"This stone possesses great power," The woman suddenly answered. "If you keep it with you on your travels, the spirits will protect you."
Spirits? "I see, but I couldn't possibly accept this…"
"Consider it a welcome gift. Often at times, tourists from other countries will neglect the safety of these small stones."
The older man nodded. "We harvest the stones near Turning Point Rock through the canyons West of here, but with Kutou's unexpected invasion, it's no longer safe to leave the walls of our city."
"We've heard many clan villages were decimated days ago by a flood of thousands of soldiers," The woman explained somberly. "And considering we're not far from the Capital, we must remain cautious. I'm sure our High Priestess has come up with a solution to save all of us."
"If I were you, young man, I would not linger too long here. You should hurry and return to your country before the war breaks out."
Understanding, he nodded, and with a polite goodbye, the family left, continuing on their way towards the houses. As he remained there, examining the stone in his hand, he pondered vaguely on his next course of action. Should he leave Hokkan and return to his country? How far away were Kutou forces from the Capital?
With the nature of Kutou's strategic invasions, it was no surprise they managed to cover so much distance into this vast country, decimating village after village, but something about their barbarous intrusion left him curious. From his understanding, it was completely impossible for an entire army to sneak into the borders of a foreign territory without garnering immediate suspicion; if their approach was truly the Capital, then he was certain even they were aware and prepared for the impending attack. Between both countries, which would fair well in the outcome?
"Young man," A quiet and feminine voice called out.
"This way."
Pulled from his reverie, he turned, acknowledging two older women dressed from head to toe in curious veiled attire. Bewildered by their calling, their hands beckoning him closer, he climbed the remainder of the stairs, canting his head curiously. Was it possible they were aware of his arrival?
"We've been waiting for you. Please, step inside."
"Yes. The Great Priestess is waiting."
Led through armored heavy doors, the young priestesses guided him through a narrow corridor. Multitudes of doors and stairs, connected to other rooms, greeted him as he passed through a stilled quietness. If not for the torches resting against the crevices of the stone walls, complete darkness would have enveloped him. While he sifted through the halls silently, admiring the architecture of the structure, they paused before a tall wooden door at the end of the hall, and upon their immediate arrival, the door opened.
A canopy of black and white curtains surrounded a small alter at the end of the room, an alter which presented a young woman seated upon a plush throne, her eyes closed in deep concentration. As the priestesses signaled him forward, closing the doors behind him, he followed the trail of a matching carpet which led him towards the alter. As he slowly approached, his crimson gaze noticed a golden emblem of a tortoise and snake hanging from a large banner over the canopy, along with various scriptures sewn into the black and white cloth.
Four other veiled priestesses were knelt before each side of the alter, their heads bent low, their eyes watching him carefully. This was a sacred temple, of that much he knew, and though a sword rested sheathed at his side, he understood the caution surrounding this room.
"I've been expecting you, Rasensei. Please be seated."
Taken aback by the use of his birth name, a small smirk fell upon his lips, and abiding by her command, he knelt before her. His eyes faintly glimpsed a small table littered with rounded stones separating him from her, but when his eyes noticed her gaze staring back, he found it difficult to hide his curiosity. "So, the rumors were true. You foretold my arrival. Not just anyone knows that name."
"Then, would it bring you comfort to call you by your alias, Nirusha?"
He chuckled and nodded approvingly.
From where he knelt, the woman was also veiled in a similar fashion as the other ladies in the room, but the only difference was the design of her cap; it was pointed at the crown and flowed along the sides and back of her white gown. A sparkling white stone, similar to the one in his possession, was affixed to her black cloak just at her chest with woven strands of leather attached to the sides of her assemble. As for the sleeves, they were also white with large black cuffs at the ends where her hands were neatly posed upon the other on her lap.
And yet, from the short distance where he knelt, he realized the woman was young, likely in her early twenties. While he scrutinized her with genuine curiosity, he found his gaze drawn to her symmetrical and oval shaped face, her large almond shaped dark eyes and her small high bridge nose; there was sincerity and wisdom revealed upon her facial features, and he felt surprisingly comforted by her presence.
"You are curious of the mark which has recently appeared upon your body, are you not?" Her words flowed eloquently to his ears.
"Tell me. What does it mean?"
A soft smile graced her countenance. "I believe you are knowledgeable of the celestial warriors and their respective priestesses, am I correct?"
"So, it's just as I thought," He mused. Then, if that was the case, he was also a celestial warrior, but to which priestess did he belong?
"The power emitted from the mark on your forehead comes from Seiryuu. The Priestess of Seiryuu will soon arrive to this world."
It was as if she read his mind, though he said nothing in response. Seiryuu; it was the god his people strongly worshiped. To think, out of all the people in this universe, he would bare the divine mark. "I see…"
"Your expression leaves me baffled," She began, tilting her head rather curiously as she examined him. "You are neither bothered nor are you interested in this turn of events. I'm afraid I cannot fathom your thoughts, Nirusha."
"Oh? Well, I've spent a great deal of my life mastering the art of maintaining a passive countenance; it would do no good were my enemy capable of reading my thoughts," He answered somewhat jokingly, but she neither reacted nor smiled.
"I see. Tell me then, what will you decide?"
"I thought you were gifted with immense knowledge from the Heavens?" He asked, chuckling in response. "I'm sure you've already seen my future."
"Indeed. Yet, I can tell you have something weighing on your mind."
He nodded. "I heard a rumor that a pillar of light illuminated the skies of Hokkan recently. There are people whispering about the arrival of a priestess."
"The Genbu Priestess," She answered. "She has arrived to this world and is currently searching for her celestial warriors as we speak."
Now it was all connecting together, the light, the gossip as well as the reasoning behind his arrival. Hokkan's priestess, the girl who served under Genbu's power, has only just arrived to save her country, and yet, caught up in the turmoil of war, so, too was he and the soon arrival of his own priestess. What an interesting turn of events. Then, he supposed that made them enemies.
"I must admit, I was caught off guard by this unexpected vision. The Priestess of Seiryuu…" She paused, and he turned a curious eye towards her. "Her arrival was not written in the stars; in fact, she should not arrive for another two hundred years. I'm afraid I cannot give you much insight concerning her future."
Another two hundred years? Whatever the reason behind her unexpected arrival, he was sure it was Heaven's will. "Then, if that's the case, how can I find her? When will she arrive?"
"The Priestess of Seiryuu will arrive upon the mountain North of Mount Cotareishin," She explained. "The journey would take others nearly weeks or even a month to reach; however, I'm sure with your capabilities, you will manage to reach the mountain the day after her arrival."
"And when will she arrive upon that mountain?"
"In exactly seven days," She answered, lifting her hand to signal one of her ladies to approach him, a parchment in hand. "Take this map. I've circled the exact location of where you will find her."
Accepting the map, his eyes examined his current position and lingered towards the black circle surrounding a particular mountain North. Multitudes of treacherous mountains stood in-between him and his future location, and he realized it was certainly a long journey, but nothing he couldn't handle with the use of his magic. "Thank you, Great Priestess."
"It is no trouble. Though it's currently impossible to give you any more information besides this, in time, upon your next visit, I will have the answers you seek. Until then, may your travels be safe, Nirusha."