Hey everyone! Been tough working conditions due to vaccine reaction, but now I'm all better now that it's through my system! Now I can fight the terror scourge of the world, mwahaha!
Tia is on her way with Chichiri and Nuriko to find warrior number four to prove herself in the eyes of everyone (but especially Hori-sama's ministers.) Much excitement.
Please Enjoy!
-Staying Positive-
"I'm curious, admittedly, but I cannot refuse an Imperial order," the minister begins after formal introductions. They're leaving out their warrior names, with Nuriko going as her given Kourin and Chichiri as a mere, suspiciously vague "humble priest." Tia wanted to slap her forehead when he said it, especially given the hard stare the minister gave him afterward but it was completely deflected by that strange, smiling face.
"'Humble priest,' yeah right. He's a wizard," she thinks, trying hard to keep her face passive. It's a skill that Kourin and Houki said was of utmost importance for Imperial ladies, and now she sees why. Between the disaster yesterday and this guy in front of them being uneasy about their presence, becoming background decoration will make things easier. Even if it still irks her.
"The reports you've heard of were about the young Ou Doukun, from a wealthy family in this city. He began studying for the civil service exams only a year ago and cleared the first round in record time. It's remarkable."
The minister hands over a paper to Chichiri, which is well enough for Tia. She can't read it anyway. While she's burning to ask what it says, she keeps quiet. She can feel Nuriko's aura screaming at her to keep her mouth shut.
"Only thirteen years old no da? That's unheard of," Chichiri remarks, to which the minister nods.
"We all believe the same, but if the boy is determined and has the mind for it, we have no intention to stop him. He is a recluse toward those his age as I hear it, but it is no wonder why. He is a prodigy studying for our exam: He has no need of being foolish with other boys," he says, thankfully turning away so Tia can frown more. A child prodigy might not mean a celestial warrior after all.
"They're obviously uncommon, but c'mon, if he was a warrior this guy would've said, right? Or maybe the kid is hiding it because he thinks it might count as cheating," she thinks rapidly, growing impatient. She doesn't know how Nuriko does it, especially with knowing her nature. Not talking and being complacent is difficult! She wants to get going to this kid's house now, as while hopes are slimmed, it'd still be smart to make sure. Not to mention she's getting hungry.
"I'll send your thanks back through the proper channels where it'll reach His Imperial Majesty, and our thanks for your cooperation. Could you tell us where we could find his family's residence? We have some questions for them as well no da," Chichiri rounds out. Tia wails on the inside. "All that miserable waiting for such a short meeting!"
"Of course. You can find the Ou Family in the Upper District, those in the stables can give you exact directions."
With that, courteous bows are given and farewells are said between them all. Tia is about to follow her friends out when the minister calls out.
"My pardon good lady, but you are foreign, are you not? Has the boy come to international repute?"
Tia feels a shiver of panic up her back as the gears turn in her head for an answer. She turns to face him. She keeps calm, and happens upon a brilliant strategy to keep her secret of being priestess safe.
She smiles soft and demure and with all the proper ladyship she was taught at court.
"Ya Tia. Moy ryukzak veh metro," she says, keeping her voice low. His stunned face nearly makes her lose it but she holds onto her composure as she bows serenely and glides away. As she does so, she sends her thanks to Duolingo and her passing desire of learning Russian.
She joins her companions in the hall to face questions.
"What was that about? He didn't do anything, did he?" Nuriko asks, glancing back to the room as the assistant meekly scoots past them and inside, shutting the door. Tia giggles.
"Nope, no, he was getting uppity about me being foreign so I laid a foreign language on him! Dunno if it was correct, but who cares at this point, still stunned him enough for me to get away," she explains, motioning for them to walk along as she does. She doesn't want the minister to stop them from moving on.
"You can speak other languages no da?"
"Pfft, no. Just tiny fragments. If I tried saying any Russian to anyone who speaks it they'd laugh for sure."
Nuriko draws even with her.
"How do you only know choppy fragments of a language?" she asks wryly, to which Tia shrugs.
"I got bored one summer and tried to start learning. It was going okay but then school started again and I kinda forgot. I just remembered that phrase cuz I used to say it in a deep voice when I joked around with Carly about it," she explains, feeling a pang of homesickness. What is Carly doing right now, she wonders? The empty feeling that engulfs her now makes her appetite disappear. Her parents are probably scared witless searching for her right now, and she's having a merry old time...
"Carly?"
Nuriko and Chichiri both ask at the same time, hooking onto the foreign name. Tia isn't forthcoming about her world much for whatever reason, so any slip is precious for their curiosity.
"Uh, she's my friend from school, a year below me."
And that's that. They're disappointed, but don't press the issue. The rest of their walk to retrieve their horses is spent in thoughtful silence. It's only necessary words to others or simple nothings to each other for the next fifteen minutes. Chichiri gets the directions he needs, and once again they've returned to horse riding. The pace is slower this time, what with the busier streets, so the subject of the thoughts from before come up to fill the time.
"Do you think this is really a celestial warrior?" Tia asks, drawing Chichiri's attention mostly because she sounds so drained, and downtrodden. He doesn't answer right away, instead choosing to put two and two together based on her reaction to bringing up her friend.
"You have been homesick no da. You avoided answering me yesterday," he points out.
She grumbles a little, but he can't hear what she says.
"My parents are probably worried sick, that's all. I don't want to make it seem like I hate being here with every fiber of my being, but I need to help you people and then get home," she says, twiddling her fingers.
"It's okay to tell us your troubles, and be emotional no da. You're young, and bottling it up for it to compound is only going to weigh you down more no da."
"Yes, but all of this," she gestures around to the city, "is almost too much sometimes. I can't read. I can't communicate with anyone I know, and I accepted this role because I'm the only one around right now who fits the description. But it only takes one monumental screw up on my part for it all to go to hell."
"Tia, everything is fine no da, you're overthinking. I understand some of the pressure, but you can only control so much in this world, and it's not a whole lot no da."
She slumps.
"I know you're right, but still… I won't know what to do if things go wrong, because they will, they always do."
She can't exactly say "because it's a fairy tale," but it doesn't matter. It's real life enough, it's serious, and he's taking it as such.
"Hey you two, what's with all the depressing chatter? We're about to discover number four and you look ready to fall off the horse!" Nuriko interrupts, riding up beside them after spying the shift in attitude. Tia sits up at the underlying tone of concern in her voice.
"You're that confident?"
"Of course I am. You cannot be empress if you're weak-willed. Besides, we're nearly there and they'll want to know we're the real deal," she replies, nose in the air to appear as haughty and arrogant as possible. Whether it's an act or not, Tia smiles, feeling better.
Within a few minutes they're at a beautiful gated entrance, with Chichiri once again acting as liaison. They're being vague about their identities, but a written proclamation from Hotohori once again serves them well in convincing the hired security to let them in. As they walk through the garden to the front door, Tia leans to Nuriko to mutter "we should prolly thank Hori-sama for his foresight when we get back."
Nuriko doesn't speak back, but her lips do curl up more and she snorts a bit. The guard leading them stops them at the door and knocks for them, announcing that there are guests from the palace. Within seconds the heavy door is opened, and a manservant is bowing his head with simpering salutations.
"Welcome, welcome! The master is just home from business, you are most fortunate in your timing."
"Thank you for the kindness, given there was no warning on our part no da."
They take off their shoes, are given slippers for indoors, and are led through to a sitting room. Tia likes it in this house already, how quiet it is despite being in the city. The room is airy and well lit. Even the decorations are tasteful, but intricate: Money lives here but they're not in your face about it.
They are promptly served tea by a maid and told to wait. Easy enough.
"'Master'? Who do you think we'll be dealing with?" Nuriko asks, keeping her voice low. Chichiri shrugs.
"Dunno. Didn't get details on the family, that's why we're here no da," he replies, and they immediately go silent when footsteps are heard coming toward the room, along with some muffled speaking.
"Mother, surely it is business related, nothing you need to worry about. I can handle it," a young man says, his voice full of worry.
"Now now, I am not senile. I will see these people from the palace," an older woman's voice responds, and Tia could almost laugh at the image it paints in her head. The young man sighs in defeat, and the door to the room opens to allow the two in. They are dressed finely, a young gentleman in his twenties and a woman in her upper fifties, maybe even sixties.
"Ah, welcome to you! I am the matriarch of this family. This is my eldest son," the woman states, watching evenly as they all stand to greet her properly. Tia could swear that her eyes linger on her a bit longer.
"Yes!" the young man takes his cue and bows courteously. "My father has passed from this world, and I have taken his mantle. It is an honor to receive messengers from His Imperial Majesty."
Tia briefly wonders if he doesn't have much confidence yet, but can tell he's not mean-spirited. They settle in their offered seats. Once again, the matriarch has her eye on Tia, she can feel it. She knows the feeling after so many hours working fast food and dealing with old people.
"We are here on behalf of His Imperial Majesty to inquire about Ou Doukun, no da," Chichiri says, not bothering with polite banter or chat about the weather. Tia sends him every positive vibe she possesses for it. The young master doesn't seem overly surprised as he nods.
"So my little brother's renown has reached the palace? His gifts are quite amazing, even when he was a small child he set himself apart from all others," he says, but Tia can feel it. There's something guarded in his words, in his stature. He's protective.
"We are proud of Doukun. His accomplishments already surpass everything his father could have hoped for. Does the palace wish to recruit him?" the matriarch asks. She's still scrutinizing them, and Tia is curious. They're being civil, but so defensive. So wanting of this attention and honor, but desiring no ill intention toward their young prodigy.
Chichiri opens his mouth to answer when Tia clears her throat to interrupt him. He and Nuriko look at her in surprise, maybe even alarm. Their hosts watch on, the matriarch's expression knowing.
"This is to remain a secret, something that cannot leave this house. I am the Priestess of Suzaku, and these are two of my celestial warriors, Chichiri and Nuriko," she gestures to them respectively. "I'm here because I believe Doukun may be one of the celestial warriors."
There's a collective held breath in the room as her words are processed. She can feel Nuriko burning her scalp off, and is hoping dearly that her gamble pays off. After all, she's done well so far!
The matriarch takes a deep breath after looking between them all.
"While I have no reason to doubt any of you, I'm afraid my son is not part of the legend and bears no mark of Suzaku."
She can feel the tears pricking at the back of her eyes as her hands go numb and every other wild temperature flashes through her chest and her face and ugh! She has to keep calm. Has to; she can tell that Chichiri is gearing up to make a quick escape if she has an outburst. She needs to prove that she can handle it!
"Please, let me at least meet with him–"
The matriarch's expression turns severe, and she stands.
"No. Doukun has his next round of exams to study for and must not be interrupted. You may be the Priestess of Suzaku but you are still guests in our house and I must ask you to leave at once!"
Chichiri stands first, helping Tia first and waving Nuriko out. They offer apologies for Tia as they help her out, her legs shaky. It's a whirl of the gardens before they're back on the street.
"God, so stupid!"
Tia stamps her foot, getting over her shaky breaths so she won't angrily sob. She couldn't be wrong! Not this time, not with the mess she made for her reputation in Hotohori's court!
An arm curls around her shoulders. She doesn't need to look up to know it's Chichiri, and he doesn't bother saying anything. Nuriko tsks, scanning the house they left thoughtfully. She dislikes being wrong too.
"Tia, look!" she says suddenly, though doesn't overtly point when the Priestess turns her way. A quick scan, and…
A child is looking out the window, a boy. Tia gets one fated second to meet his eyes from their distance apart but she feels a slight wash of familiarity down her spine. It's so tiny, so weak, compared to when she encountered the rest, but now she's sure: Ou Doukun is one of her warriors.
… … …
Chichiri and Nuriko sit in the inn's common room waiting for Tia to finish her bath and join them. Dinner is already ordered. Now they have to plan out how to get to their fellow warrior.
"So, fun little trip we have so far, wouldn't you say?" Nuriko asks, sliding her fingers around the rim of her teacup. The monk nods distractedly. His companion juts her lips out.
"Tia is fine, she's not helpless. I get that we're born to protect her but she's eighteen, used to lecture me about 'voting' and 'military service' back in her world when we were cooped up in the seraglio. She can handle this setback," she mumbles, but blinks in surprise when she receives abrupt attention.
"Eh? Tia is how old no da?!"
She raises an eyebrow.
"She's eighteen… I'm surprised you didn't know."
She watches in light amusement as he attempts to hide his entire worldview get turned upside down. She waits a few solid seconds before clearing her throat.
"Not so crazy, is it? She does say too many smart things to be younger and too many dumb things to be older."
Chichiri furrows his eyebrows.
"Well, aren't you also eighteen? Your description would also technically fit Hotohori-sama no da," he points out, only to immediately cry out in panic as the table collapses. The common room has gone completely silent after the loud crash. It takes a few moments for Nuriko to realize that everyone is staring at her, and when she does, her ladylike demeanor returns.
"Oh my, hoho, such weak furniture! They just don't build things like they used to these days, even a waif like me can snap right through them!"
No one makes any comment, although there is some shuffling away and out the door by some of the patrons. Nuriko's nervous laughter dies down, and she brushes her skirts to distract herself from her embarrassment.
"Do I even want to know?"
Tia's laughing question comes from the direction of the stairs. Liveliness begins in the room once more afterward, though it doesn't take magical powers to notice that she's garnering stares. She seemingly ignores them as she strides over, dressed simply, but her hair… Even Nuriko is impressed by it.
"Sorry I took a bit long, french braids can take some finagling when you're doing it on yourself. So uh, I guess we need to move to a different table?"
The trio shuffles to one nearby, with the two warriors inwardly pondering what 'french' is. Should they ask, or will she dodge any details? Nuriko wants her hair done like that! Tia shouldn't be so stingy. Tia sits next to Nuriko with a beleaguered sigh.
"I will accept this position at the table, seeing as temper tantrums are an issue with you. I'll have to report this back to Hori-sama."
"You wouldn't."
"I'm joking, you know I wouldn't do that to you. Glad you two get along when I'm not around," she teases, folding her arms on top of the new table. She feels so much better after her bath, after knowing for sure now that a warrior is within her reach. She's ready to tackle the problem!
But…
She can feel a stare.
"You okay? Tired?" she asks Chichiri, who is still wrapping his head around her being a bit older than he first believed. She watches as he shrinks into his miniature self at being caught.
"Daaa, guess you could say that!"
Tia smiles at the goofiness.
"I'd be surprised if you weren't, Magic-Man, I hate being all proper like that. Nuriko I dunno how you can stand it," she comments.
"You get used to it, Tia, and it's obvious that you never grew up with it. The way manners work where you're from must be atrocious!"
Instead of becoming down like usual, Tia becomes thoughtful, scrunching her nose as her eyes turn up. Her friends watch in interest as she hums.
"I mean yeah, you're right. But we're super friendly. We have the unfortunate stereotype of being kinda stupid too though," she admits, growing sheepish as Nuriko cackles.
The food comes, the trouble with chopsticks passes, and pleasant conversation turns to planning. What starts as a cordial return to the Ou Family household becomes a rescue mission.
"We can use your magic to land on the roof and Nuriko, you can just BAM, smash through the roof. Perfect. In and out like it's nothing."
Her friends stare openly.
"Tia, that's dumb," Nuriko deadpans, suddenly understanding the earlier stereotype as Chichiri tries not to laugh. Tia scrunches her eyebrows.
"What? Just a suggestion. I can't be A-game all the time…"
"Wait, you were serious no da?!"
She pouts, arms crossing. "Yeah…"
He resists the urge to slap his forehead and gently moves on.
"I, uh, think it would be best if we tried talking to them again no da. Your plan would be our very last resort no da," he says, Nuriko nodding her agreement.
The three turn in not long after, separating into two rooms, with Tia and Nuriko in one and Chichiri in the other. With the mood thoroughly relaxed between them and confidence restored, all are ready for a good night's sleep.
Right as he walks past to go to his room, Chichiri hears her shyly call after him. He turns to face her, only to be momentarily rooted to the spot. Tia shifts from one foot to the other, wringing her hands, and her face is noticeably pinker.
"I thought about what you said and I decided earlier that talking about where I'm from makes missing home a little easier. So uh thank you," she says, all humbleness. He smiles, from depths that his mask could never show.
"You're welcome, and I'm glad you could find comfort no da. Get some rest," he replies, noticing her blatant attempt at biting back a yawn.
"Yeah, yeah. Nighty-night, Magic-Man."
Carly knocks on the door again. It's understandable that the Redfields aren't answering the door right away if they're still as distraught as they were before, but she's starting to wonder if they're even home. They park their cars in a garage so it's impossible to tell. She didn't call or message ahead, either.
Patience at home has been near impossible with the little sleep she's been getting. Terrific images of blue dragons flash in her dreams whenever she manages to doze off, and it jolts her back to the waking world. She's here to escape after snapping at her nitpicky grandma who never ever minds her own business about what she wears. Her parents never take her side, and her brothers are treated like kings!
After another minute, she growls and stomps back to her car.
Maybe the library is open.
So close! The Ou Family is very guarded, and we know they're lying, but why? Hmmm...
At least Tia knows for sure she can return to court with confidence!
Thanks for reading, and any good feedback is much appreciated if the urge to review takes hold of anyone. Follows/favorites are also much appreciated.
Til Next Time,
-A
