Seijyu
~Zoi no miko

Chp1

Emerald was pre-occupied. Or as pre-occupied as she was allowed to get, at
least. Praying always for the well being of a country didn't give you a whole lot of
time or ability to think about other things. It was in the job description. The Pillar
of Cephiro had to keep Cephiro safe and stable with their Will, the strongest Will
in Cephiro.

But... what if that will was turned elsewhere?

Emerald was seated on her dais, in luxury, silks and velvets, feather
cushions. I settled next to her and she ran her hands through my coat absently, as
habit, I was sure. Or maybe she got some form of comfort from it, from being able
to be close to another living thing. As a Seijyu, I didn't pose any threat to Cephiro's
well-being, I couldn't take the Princess' attention away from her Prayer.

I almost wished I could. Every person in the land loved Emerald, looked up
to her, and yet, she was more alone than any of them. Her guards, her protectors,
priest. All their contact with her was supposed to be professional, cold. Like the
Pillar was set apart from the rest of the world. Which, of course, she was.

Emerald's hand stopped the idle caress of my fur, clinging to a clump,
trembling slightly. "Innova," she whispered, then turned and buried her face on my
back. "What can I do?"

I kept silent. It wasn't my place to offer advice, simply listen. Seijyu rarely
chose to communicate verbally with humans. Though I knew what weighed on her
mind, what she'd been so careful to hide from everyone. The feelings she only
cherished when she was alone.

"Zagato-sama...." She whispered. "Zagato-sama is....."

I nestled my head on my paws, satisfied to have been right. The young
Priest was talented - one of Guru Clef's students, I'd heard, and had risen to his
position recently in court through talent and perseverance. The moment Emerald
had met his eyes, when she first approved him, I'd sensed something. A change.
Something strong. His eyes were so clear, so calm and assuring that she couldn't
help but keep thoughts of him in her mind. Eyes of someone with a will stronger
than the world.

"Zagato-sama is so strong," she murmured. "Innova... I love him. Please,
help me forget about him, so I can pray for Cephiro...."

I nuzzled her hair, which seemed to give her some comfort. At least, until
the page knocked at the door to her sanctum.

She sat up quickly, straightening her dress. "Come in."

The page bowed low. "Emerald-hime. Priest Zagato-sama to report to you."

Emerald's eyes widened slightly, enough for me to know of her slight
distress. When she answered, her voice was steady, as usual. "Thank-you. Please
have him wait outside."

The page bowed again, then left. Emerald turned to me almost immediately,
the distress more plain on her face now that she was alone again. "Innova, please,
will you go to him? Take his report for me. I cannot see him. And -" she paused,
eyes pleading. "Stay with him for a while, go with him when he leaves the castle. I
cannot be with him. I want to know that you can."

I stood, bowed my head. ('As you wish, Emerald-hime.') Then I turned,
padding outside, pushing open the door into her reception room.

Priest Zagato looked up as I entered, expectantly, from where he was
kneeling in front of the throne. If a faint shadow of disappointment crossed his
face, he hid it quickly.

('I am Seijyu Innova, Geika,') I sent openly. ('Emerald-hime wishes for me
to take your report in her place.')

Beside Zagato, the young wizard I recognised as his assistant got to her
feet. "Zagato-sama! Report to a beast? She insults us!"

Zagato stood as well, turning displeased eyes on the girl. "Alcyone. You
insult Innova-san with your words. He is Himeko-sama's assistant, and at least
your equal in magic, if not better. Remember that and show respect to him."

Alcyone, whose wardrobe seemed to be as small as her temper, looked
sorrowful at Zagato's chiding words. She looked at him with love, I realised,
watching her. Or at least desire. It made me wonder what kind of a person, really,
that this Priest was. For a moment I hoped that the two were romantically
involved. Surely Emerald would give up thoughts for Zagato if she knew he was
happily in love. But his next words proved my hope vain.

"Go back to Guru Clef. I will report alone."

Alcyone bowed her head, murmuring an apology to me, then left.

I ascended from the throne platform to stand beside Zagato. ('My apologies
for having to substitute for Emerald-hime.')

"My apologies for the bad manners of Alcyone," he replied, giving me a
smile. "Himeko-sama is busy with her prayer. I am happy to report to you on the
state of the people of Cephiro."

('Emerald-hime also expressed a wish for me to accompany you this day.')

Zagato raised his eyebrows, then bowed slightly. "Then I will appease
Himeko-sama's wishes."

From his report, I gathered that Emerald's slight distraction was affecting
Cephiro. Not enough to upset the people, but enough that I could notice. I assumed
Zagato noticed as well, though he didn't say anything.

Accompanying him outside the castle that afternoon, I began to see his
charisma. As Emerald-hime's priest, he was charged with looking out for the
people, helping Emerald with her Prayer by making sure their needs were met.
And the people truly loved him, trusted him.

~~~

The next few weeks found me spending more and more time with Zagato, at
Emerald's request. I found myself liking it, very much enjoying the Priest's
company. He spoke with me as he spoke to other humans, regardless of the fact
that I was a Seijyu. Like Emerald spoke to me. I looked forward to spending time
with him, this man with the clear, calm eyes, with his powerful voice and strong
will. Oh, how I wished Emerald could love him like I knew she wanted to, like any
other woman would love a man.

The princess, herself, was spending a great deal more time in seclusion with
her prayer. And it filled me with a great deal of worry, for as time progressed,
Cephiro began to fall into disrepair, monsters appearing more frequently in the
land. Everyone in the palace noticed, and yet Emerald would tell no-one the
source of her pain, simply hide herself away, Praying.

Zagato finally chanced to ask me, walking through the palace gardens at
twilight by my side. "Innova," he started, voice quite. "Has Himeko-sama told you
why her Prayer has become distracted?"

I looked down at the path in front of me, loyalties warring. If I told this
man, whom I considered now my friend, I would betray Emerald's confidence. I
didn't know of Zagato-sama's feelings towards Emerald. He always acted towards
her with the utmost respect, too respectful to even call her anything but her title.
Perhaps, if I told him, he could talk to her. In any case, I knew that if nothing
changed, the unbalance in Cephiro would only get worse.

I stopped by a stone garden bench, raising my eyes to Zagato. ('Geika...
Emerald-hime has fallen in love.')

He expression took on a hint of sadness, and he put one foot up on the
bench, resting his arms on his knee. He was silent for a moment, gazing out
towards the remnants of the day's sunshine, before finally turning to me. "In love.
Who gets close enough to Himeko-sama that she is able to fall in love?
Himeko-sama is a prisoner in her own castle, alone...."

('You got close enough,') I murmured, not turning my eyes from his face as
his eyes widened slightly. ('How could she hope not to fall in love with you,
Geika? Such a strong person you are....')

"... she loves me?"

('Yes.')

He lowered his eyes, the usual calm expression replaced by a little wonder,
and a little sadness. "That's why she won't take my reports personally anymore,
then," he murmured, then shook his head slightly, a long sigh escaping his lips.
And, for the first time I'd ever heard him, he whispered her name.
"Emerald-hime...."

('... you love her, too, don't you?')

He looked over a me, brushing a stray strand of his long, black hair out of
his face. "It's selfish of me to think about loving her. She is the Pillar of Cephiro.
She must care only for the country. Not for just one person. Am I the only one
who sees something wrong in that, Innova? Himeko-sama should be free to love
who she chooses, to live her life. Not to be a prisoner to Cephiro's welfare."

('... I couldn't judge whether the Pillar system is right or wrong,') I answered
him, carefully. ('But I do know that Emerald-hime should not be unhappy. And she
has never been truly happy, for as long as I have known her.')

Zagato nodded slightly. Then he stood, striding purposefully back towards
the palace, robes swirling.

I hurried to catch up with him. ('Geika? Where are you going?')

"I'm going to see Himeko-sama."

I thought about that. ('What are you going to say to her?')

"I'm not sure, yet." He stopped, turning back to look at me. "Will you help
me, Innova? Help me to get in to see her."

I looked up at him, his clear, pleading purple eyes. I couldn't say no. ('As
you wish, Geika.')

"Thank-you."

We walked into Emerald's reception room together, purposeful. The guards
at the door did nothing to stop us. I was Emerald's assistant. Zagato pushed the
door open, startling the page on duty. "We need to speak with Himeko-sama
immediately," he told her.

('It is a matter of utmost importance,') I added. ('And privacy. Please leave
us with her.') I moved as I spoke, heading up the steps towards Emerald's throne,
towards the door to her sanctum.

The page paused, and I gave her what I hoped was an imposing look. "Of
course, my lords," she half-stammered, leaving the reception room and closing the
door behind her.

Zagato watched her go, then looked up at me.

('Emerald-hime awaits your words, Geika.')

He nodded slightly, then followed me up the stairs, into the sanctum.

Emerald looked up in surprise at the intrusion, eyes widening even more
when she took in who we were. "Zagato-sama - "

Zagato knelt in front of her dais. "My apologies, Himeko-sama, for
disturbing you."

Emerald looked over at me, a slight look of helplessness on her face, but I
said nothing. After a moment, Zagato spoke again.

"As Himeko-sama's priest, I try very hard to do my duties perfectly, to help
Himeko-sama with her prayer. But there has been a question asked that I cannot
answer. Please, Himeko-sama, I beg your advice in this matter."

Emerald nodded slightly, turning back to him. "What question bothers you,
Zagato-sama?"

Zagato paused. "There is a woman," he said, finally. "A Pharle. She is very
important in her village, where they rely very much on hunting and trapping.
When she became a Pharle, to gain her powers, she cut off everything else in her
life, swearing not to care or even think about anything other than the people and
her weapons. If she was to break this, it would mean that all the weapons she had
ever made would become weak, endangering the people who use them. Recently,
she met a young man, who became her supplier of materials." He turned his eyes
up towards hers at this, expression carefully guarded. "And she found herself
having thoughts of this young man, despite everything she tried. And her weapons
began to grow weak. She does not want to put the people in danger from weak
weapons, but... she is lonely, Himeko-sama. What should she do?"

Emerald was silent for a long time, looking down at him, into his clear,
purple eyes. "The welfare of the people is more important than her selfish needs,"
she said, quietly. "She should banish all thoughts of this young man from her
mind, and try her hardest to build her weapons."

"To be lonely, Himeko-sama?"

She gave the barest nod. "Yes."

Zagato looked down for a moment, sadness in his eyes despite his attempts
to hide it. "Then what should the young man do, Himeko-sama? If he loves her,
how can he forget about her, knowing of her loneliness?"

Emerald trembled slightly. "Zagato-sama...."

Zagato looked up at her again, then slowly reached a hand out, touching
gentle fingers to the side of her face. "Emerald-hime," he whispered. "Aishteru."

Emerald gave a sob, burying her face in her hands. Zagato was off his knees
in an instant, kneeling by her on the dais, pulling her into his arms.
"Emerald-hime. Please, don't cry. I don't want you to be unhappy."

"I'll be unhappy either way," she whimpered. "I must pray for Cephiro. The
land will fall into turmoil if I think of you."

"Why should the Pillar have to be alone? Emerald-hime -"

She pulled away from him suddenly, pulling herself together. "That is the
way. The Pillar must live for Cephiro alone. Please leave now, Zagato-sama."

Zagato opened his mouth, as if to say more, then closed it again. He bowed
his head , standing, stepping off the dais. "Of course, Himeko-sama," he replied,
the slightest hint of frustration in his voice. "My apologies for my outburst." He
turned, heading for the door.

I started to follow, but stopped as Emerald spoke again. "Innova. Stay here,
please."

I lowered my head, turning, sheepishly, and walking back to her. Behind
me, the Zagato shut the door a little too firmly behind him.

('Emerald-hime - ')

"You told him, didn't you?"

My tail tucked between my legs quite on instinct. ('I'm sorry,
Emerald-hime... he asked me, I couldn't lie to him....')

"Why not? For Cephiro - "

('I couldn't lie,') I said again, trying vainly to explain myself. ('I.. couldn't.
His eyes... I couldn't lie to him....') I paused. ('Emerald-hime, really loves you.')

Emerald was silent for a long moment, then nodded slightly. "I know. I
overheard him confess it to his younger brother. I've known for a long time." She
laid back among the pillows on the dais, looking up at the ceiling, silent. I settled
beside her, not sure of what else to do.

"Innova," she said, finally. "Have you ever thought of being human?"

I stared at her. ('Human? I'm a Seijyu.')

"I know. But you're so much more intelligent than other Seijyu. More...
human. Haven't you ever thought about what it would be like to be human?"

I lowered my head. ('Have I ever thought about what it would be like to talk
to people without them assuming that I'm a dumb animal? To be given respect? To
be not laughed at? Yes. Many times.')

"You're very strong, Innova," she told me. "You could be given human
form, if you wished."

('I would rather be a Seijyu and be able to serve you, Emerald-hime. They
wouldn't let me near you if I was human')

"But... if you were human, could you distract Zagato?"

('Zagato-sama treats me as if I was human,') I told her, happy for that.
('Human doesn't matter to him.')

"Yes, but... if you were human, could you make him fall in love with you?"

I looked at her for a long moment. ('Emerald-hime... you are aware of that
fact that I'm a *male* Seijyu, aren't you?')

"I know," she said. "But you're the only person I could ask, to try and make
Zagato-sama happy. I want him to be happy. If it was with you, I wouldn't be
jealous."

('...I'm sorry, Emerald-hime. I won't do that.')

She sighed. "I know. I shouldn't have asked. I'm sorry."

('It's all right, Emerald-hime.')


~~~~
To be cont.
~zoi_no_miko@kuronue.zzn.com