A new job


Cloaked blessing waited at Yu-shan gate 53 for the 'Partner' she had been informed this mission would be with. Gate 53 led to the city of Paragon and while that was not their destination it would cause less of a fuss than gate 54. Gate 54 led into Grandmother Bright's neighborhood and avoiding her would likely save time in the long run. At least there was less chance of her getting angry and posting a complaint which, due to her power, would likely end up with her getting a salery cut.

She was actually thankful that the mission briefing specified this gate then. She unfurled the orders and read them again.

"To: Cloaked Blessing,

From: Office of Ayesha Ura, Division of Journeys, Chair of the Convention on Essence Wielders

You are directed to meet up with a partner, the sidereal 'Soaring Star' to continue your investigation into the exalt known as 'Shirou Emiya'"

There was more to the orders of course, but she was slightly annoyed that she had been chosen for this mission. First because her vacation time was meant to be private time. Her report had been written then of course so they could have seen what she was doing but she would rather this job be given to someone else. In addition she was fairly sure she was being dragged into faction politics. Almost everyone knew Ayesha Ura for one of her other titles; Leader of the golden faction.

She was neutral, she tried very hard to stay that way. Sure she would do favours for the bronze faction but to be fair they payed well and had enough evidence on her to censure her badly.

"Hello?" she heard a voice behind her as she was deep in thought and spun quickly. It was a woman in a strange hat. The woman was dressed richly and her voice had a pleasing quality but something about her rubbed Cloaked Blessing the wrong way. The woman raised her hand to shake while speaking "I am Soaring Star, division of endings. It is good to meet you."

Cloaked blessing nodded and introduced herself.

Soaring Star tilted her head and spoke "Do you have a resplendent destiny for the mission? I have spares if you want?"

Cloaked blessing didn't want anything this woman made so she shook her head "I'll use one formed from the gull."

Soaring star looked confused "The gull? For infiltrating an army?"

Cloaked Blessing shuffled uncomfortably "Okay, it's not perfect but-"

The stranger's hand reaches out to touch her and Cloaked blessing had the feeling of a new reslendent destiny being added to her stock.

Soaring star smiled "My spair spear destiny, with it you are a low ranking soldier called margaret."

She didn't know what to say, this was an excellent quality destiny and it had been given to her freely. There would be a cost she reasoned it wouldn't be that easy.


Neither of them had yet put on a destiny yet they quickly travelled through the gate, ending up in the middle of the Paragon's palace. They just sneaked outside, if any guards did see them they would soon be forgotten. They were not wearing destinies so no name or face could be attached to them by normal humans.

After checking that none of the horses were needed for important fates in the near future, they stole a pair from the city stables and headed off towards Chiaroscuro.

It was only two hours after leaving Yu-shan that Cloaked blessing asked her question "Why?"

"Why what?" was the only response.

"Why did you give me such a good quality destiny. Surely if you can craft this then you would have lower quality destinies that could have served the same end?"

Soaring star thought for a moment before speaking "An answer for an answer then."

"Deal" Cloaked blessing agreed quickly.

"I gave it to you for two reasons, first was that it was part of my orders from the gold faction to make sure you are supplied properly, second was because, well," She paused for a moment before finishing the answer "I am a bit of an expert with weaving resplendent destiny, I like it when people complement my work."

There was a pause before she continued in a much lighter voice "Regardless, my question for you; Is it true you are on six different committees?"

Cloaked Blessing scowled "Four, only two by choice."

Soaring star raised an eyebrow "Four? How have you not gotten censured yet?"

"I do my paperwork, I never aspire to much in most of them and I do what I am told." Cloaked blessing's voice was clear but without feeling, her face was still angry however.

"Incredible, I guess that is why the bronze faction had such a hold of you." As Soaring star spoke, Cloaked blessing blinked and realised what she had just told to an admitted member of the gold faction.

"Oh Jupiter." She cursed by the maiden of secrets. All Soaring star did was laugh.

After another hour of riding Soaring star spoke again "If you are worried about censure, just join the gold faction, we'll keep you safe."

Cloaked blessing didn't respond but her emotions were twisted in knots. She wanted to stay neutral, the factions were too big for her to understand properly. She liked just doing the little things.

It seemed however that no-one like neutral sidereals, she kept being placed on various unimportant committees. She was barely able to do her paperwork on the best of days and more just kept coming. Even more if she was away from Yu-shan, this little mission would likely put her a few weeks behind. The paperwork had only gotten this bad after the holiday where she investigated Shirou. Had she annoyed someone somehow with that?

She sighed and hoped that Soaring Star would leave her alone when they went to do their separate missions.


End of chapter.

Yes a cloaked blessing chapter again, after all this time.

And Yu-shan politics. Also committee is a wierd word and one I have never had to use before so if I misused it, I am sorry. (Edit; Changed committee to plural as corrected by a review)

Soaring star is meant to be the Sidereal who appears in the final comic of the Sidereal book. I couldn't find a name or even a description of their abilities so I made a character from them.