"Tijo, my son..."
The leader of Sanjan lifted his head and listened quietly as the chief priest continued, "Tell me, what have you heard of Kiisan? Has he been safe in his exploits of late?"
"Just fine, Holy Father," Tijo replied softly. He looked sadly at Hirano. Although he was not too old, the bishop could remember the days when the chief priest's face had not been so creased and had done everything with what seemed quite an energetic flare for his age. It seemed now that the revolution was second only to the management and care of the church itself in Hirano's mind. He spoke about Kiisan often and asked for news of him from anyone visiting from another state. It seemed to Tijo had the young Father Kiisan had become the son or grandson Hirano wished he had.
"Where will you be headed when you leave Crystal Valley?"
The bishop nearly jumped as he was shaken from his reverie, "Wh-what? Oh, me? I'm just heading back to Eina. I was going to give an order to lose the forces so that if they desired they could go fight in the south and after this whole thing is over we'd have no bitterness or regrets."
"Tijo, go south," the chief priest commanded with a laugh. Tijo did not fail to see the sparkle of Hirano's past manner in the statement.
"I will go since you have told me to, but what is it that you would like me to do?" he inquired in reply.
The chief priest reached over to the side table beside his chair and held something wrapped in white tissue paper to the bishop, "Please take this to Kiisan. It is a gift."
Tijo took the package and looked at it curiously. The older man smiled, "I can see that you're puzzled. However, I'm certain of this, it's not just the whim of a tired old man. In a dream I was told that he would need this and so I am having it sent."
Tijo's mind was still consumed with doubt, but he felt it was not his place to express that to the chief priest. He stood up and bowed, murmuring a gentle goodbye before leaving the hall, package in hand.
Murasaki Fuji no Shita ni Kuni
"The Country Under the Purple Wisteria"
Chapter 70- Three Gifts
Kiisan stared at the emblem on his right hand in horror. He had seen it look like this just one time before; when he was in the mountains with Falina. The intricate symbol of gold lines woven into three circles each enfolding each other was shimmering. "There's no way it could be the rune!" Kiisan told himself nervously, "It must just be responding to something else."
He saw no one. He pulled his feet up onto the bed and wrapped his arms around his legs like a frightened child, "What are you?!" he demanded.
I am what I am.
"W-well then," the young man stammered, "Tell me wh-who you are."
Names now? I have many. I am the Golden King, the Eternal Watcher, the Center of Time, the Keeper of Peace. In Klikk they call me the One-Who-Will-Light-the-Way and he who was with me before called me Bright Friend.
You may call me what you will, Kiisan.
However, I am commonly known as the Circle.
Atar-Inshien.
"So you are as I mused," Kiisan replied, loosening his grip a bit, "Why do you speak to me now? You must have been here all along. What's with this sudden need to talk?"
You must wield me.
"What? Why? I've done just fine all this time without your power."
In that thought you are most certainly incorrect. I have aided you this whole time. You believe that you are in complete control of me, and this too is an erroneous thought. I am yours as you are mine.
This power of mine is lent to you with the understanding that you in turn will lend your power to me.
"What power? I have none," Kiisan replied sulkily.
Your power is as a leader and a symbol to them all.
Perhaps someday I will lead through you.
"You could not!" the young priest shot back. His shook his head hard, his mousey-brown hair flying about his face, "I am my own man!"
I have chosen you Kiisan.
And without consciously seeing it, you have chosen me too.
I am harmony and my will shall shape you without your even knowing it.
There is nothing you can say to turn me away now.
I will give you a demonstration if you'd like.
Kiisan watched as the room around him changed until he saw saw butterflies scattering into the tree branches that suddenly appeared above. "This was in Onwya, just before we met Mio."
Most observant of you.
He saw them both as they had been that spring day so long ago. Falina had fallen on top of them and she looked down at him with a smile, "Thank you for bring me to see this, Kiisan."
He continued to watch silently as Falina got off of him in the memory and picked burrs out of his hat.
"...Mr. Han told me that the most beautiful things are also the most fragile...and that their quality is enhanced because they last such a short time..." Falina told him.
"Maybe that's true..but it's too sad..."
Falina grinned at her friend's response, "I think to Mr. Han, that's part of the beauty, Kiisan..."
Consider it a gift to you, from a good friend, Kiisan.
"I don't like that kind of attitude! I want something that will last a thousand years!" he stormed in frustration, "A moment that will last forever!"
And then time seemed to stop. He sat in the glade, staring in Falina's emerald eyes. Light filtered down softly from amid the leafy branches. A warm breeze ruffled his hair.
Know that you will be in the company of each and every memory eternally.
And you may live them again, forever and ever,
If that is what you choose.
Lose yourself carefully, Father Kiisan.
General Arturo Gonzales had carefully monitored the approach of Serif's State Army. Everyone else in the capital was busy preparing to meet the coming rebel assault and to think of a way to break their resolve on the walls of Rupanda. General Gonzales was not one to focus on a single facet of the situation. When he first heard of the movements of Turan Magno and his army he grew suspicious. He knew that the revolutionary movement had arisen in Serif and that the turan was no friend of the emperor. And no one was working to further fortify the wall that faced towards the northern hills.
"Father, something is upsetting you," his son remarked clinically, raising an eyebrow, "Why don't you confide in me?"
"I think someone should engage the Turan's force. It's not that large. Certainly smaller than my army and I don't think they should be allowed to set up camp behind the city. We'll be hammered from both the north and south. No one is prepared for that. Kiyon will not even consider my point," the mustached man explained to his son.
Aciano sighed, "That's quite right. Once again, I'm glad that you have been my teacher all these years, not Lord de Silverburg. I think I'd be a bit embarrassed."
"I want to go to battle," the armored man complained, "There really is no Imperial command holding me back. What do you propose I should do in this situation?"
"Forward into battle," his brown-eyed son shrugged, "After the strike, even more so if it is unsuccessful, those above us will see the need to look toward this state army as something of a threat."
"Thank you for giving the words to justify my actions," the general smiled, "Now then, forward- to battle!"
The army of General Arturo Gonzales met that of Turan Magno just north of the rolling hills backing Rupanda. The situation was one of chaos. Falina stood back alongside Mieno and Kano. When Kano drew back his enormous bow, she could see the power in his muscular arms. Each shaft flew true into the fray, striking down a target, although Kano himself admitted that some did not reach the intended target, but just another convenient one. Mieno held his quiver and handed the archer arrows as quickly as he could shoot them.
Turan Magno was in his element. Battle made his blood boil and he rode through the fray like a madman, swinging his two curved blades. At one point he came quite close to the Imperial general, but as their eyes met an unspoken agreement passed between them and they passed without attack.
Aciano, who served chiefly as his father's strategist, rode after his father, but never raised the blade he carried.
As he turned, looking over his shoulder he caught sight of Kano, "That's the sharpshooter!" he called to his father.
General Gonzales wheeled his horse around and headed towards the loathsome enemy, Aciano not far behind him.
"Look out!" Falina squeaked in fear. As the general raised his arm to strike at Kano, the two young women grabbed the archer and pulled him to the ground, effectively avoiding the strike.
Aciano gazed at the girls curiously and Falina met his eyes, "...Father...wait..." he mumbled.
"What it is?" the general called over to his son, but before Aciano could reply, Azai had whisked the three rebels to safety with a wind spell.
"Sir!" a smart-looking lieutenant saluted General Gonzales, "Something's wrong with the men! They've been charmed by some sort of spell! They won't strike the enemy!"
"What?! How can this be?!"
Atera laughed from her position, hidden in a gnarled sycamore tree. It had not been hard for the Imperial soldiers to fall victim to her enchantment as she shone the golden light over them.
"That girl..." Aciano murmured, gazing at an arrow left behind where Falina, Mieno, and Kano had stood.
"This is useless!" Arturo shouted, "The very fates themselves have turned against us!" He looked to the cheering enemy and shouted, "Think of this as our gift to you! Retreat!"
It took Aciano a moment to recognize his father's command and a moment to act on it. He hoped he would see the green-eyed girl again.