Chapter Summary: Our heroes are back from their trials, and are sent undercover to an Idol factory.
Chapter Word Count: 5,162
The van pulled into the temple grounds at dusk. After waking Yuki, the three priestess candidates exited the van and looked towards the main temple.
"Where are the Elders meeting?" Sita asked Elder J'dan, when she joined them. "They do want to see us immediately, do they not?"
"They are in the private meeting room on the upper level," the Elder said. "I shall take you there in a minute."
Sita, Yuki, and Mika nodded, and waited for her to finish directing the trainers to put away the van. As they waited, they noticed a small crowd gathering in front of the main temple entrance.
"What is happening?" Yuki asked softly.
"They are waiting for you," Elder J'Dan said. "You are the last candidates to return."
"We're famous," Yuki said, happily.
"We're late," Sita said. "All of the others have probably been assigned to their villages and are just waiting for us for the celebration ceremony."
Elder J'dan looked slightly embarrassed. "The ceremony was last night," she said. "The Elders decided not to wait."
"Why?" Sita asked, her face going blank. "Did we not earn a place in the ceremony?"
"All of the others completed their trials and you were the only third year novices to take the trials," the Elder said. "It was felt that you would not mind if they took place without you."
"So, we won all of our bouts in the pre-trial matches. We completed an exceedingly difficult task for our trials, but no one thought we'd like to take part in the ceremony to celebrate?" Yuki said, stepping into the Elder's space. "Did they think we did all that for fun?"
"Come, Yuki," Sita said. "Let's go to our room, it's been a long day and I'm tired."
Mika nodded, and pulled Yuki away from Elder J'dan. "If the Elders want to see us they can do so tomorrow," she said. "We have more important things to do."
"We do? Yes, yes we do," Yuki said, glaring at the Elder.
"The Elders are waiting for you," Elder J'dan said, protesting.
"It won't hurt them to wait another day," Sita said. "It isn't like they needed us here for anything important. One more day. Come ladies, let's go home."
Giving Elder J'dan a very slight bow, just bordering on appropriate, Sita led the other two back to the temple dorms and their beds.
"That was unexpected," Yusif said, looking down from a window in the meeting room, watching the three novices head away from the main temple. "Do they think they don't need to come to us at the end of their trials to certify their completion?"
"Someone needs to fetch them," Elder Yaten said. "We don't have all night."
"Let us hear from J'dan before we send someone," Yusif said to him.
Elder J'dan rushed into the room, almost tripping over her own feet in her hurry.
"Where are they?" Master Xio said, frowning.
"They aren't coming," J'dan said. "They said if we still wanted to see them it could wait until tomorrow."
"Which one?" Xio said.
"The middle one, Mika," J'dan said.
"That's surprising," Xio said. "She usually follows the other two. And Sita usually shows proper respect for her elders."
"They were not happy," J'dan said.
"Was the task set for them too difficult?" Yaten asked. "Did they not expect their trials to be a true measure of their fitness?"
"That was not the problem," J'dan said. "They were unhappy that the trial completion celebration happened while they were gone."
"Ah," Yusif said, nodding. "I did try to warn you. They deserved to participate in the ceremony with the others."
"They are third years," an Elder protested. "They can go next year with their peers."
"They won't be here, next year," Yusif reminded them. "They took the trials. They even won the pre-trial bouts. And I expect they passed their trials. They had every right to attend the ceremony."
"We needed to assign the new priestesses to their villages," Elder Kito said. "Those three aren't being assigned to villages this year."
"That does not matter," Yusif said, heading to the door. "They should have been honored as they deserved."
"Yusif?"
"Yes, Master Xio?"
"Tell them we will meet with them after lunch tomorrow," Xio said.
"Yes, Master Xio," Yusif said, nodding at the others before leaving.
"We can't let them show disrespect for the Elders like that," Elder Taun said. "If we let them get away with that, what will the other novices do?"
"They are no longer novices," Master Xio said.
"They have not been declared such, by this Council," Elder Kito said.
"A mere formality," Master Xio said. "We have invested too much time and training in them to punish them for our error."
"We shall regret it," Elder Kito said.
"We shall see," Master Xio said. "This meeting is adjourned until tomorrow."
"That was an interesting reaction," a familiar voice said in Yusif's ear as she entered the novice dormitory. "They have minds of their own. They will not be boring little priestesses."
"Is there anything you don't know?" Yusif asked, continuing down the hall, not startled by the masked stranger's sudden appearance.
"I do not know how your young novices fared in their trials," the stranger said. "I do expect they performed outstandingly."
"They will be meeting with the Council tomorrow," Yusif said. "I'm sure you can find out then."
"Yes," the stranger said. "It shall be interesting to see how they handle the Council."
"They are not happy with us," Yusif said. "But I do not blame them."
"I am sure it was just tiredness that caused that reaction," the stranger said. "They will be in a better frame of mind tomorrow." And as suddenly as she appeared, she was gone.
Shaking her head, Yusif entered the third year common room. As soon as she stepped through the door, the noise died down.
"Don't stop for me," she said to the novices. "I am just passing through."
"Yes, Elder Yusif," the braver ones said. She continued through to the hall that contained all of the third year novice rooms. Coming to the room that belonged to Sita, Yuki, and Mika, she paused for a second and listened. Not hearing anything, she knocked quickly.
Mika opened the door a crack, giving Yusif a surprised look. "What brings you here, Elder?" she asked.
"I wanted to know how the three of you were doing after your trials," Yusif said. "And to pass along a message from Master Xio."
"Come in," Mika said. "What did she say? She wasn't angry was she?"
"She said that the Council would meet with the three of you after lunch tomorrow," Yusif said.
"That was it?" Sita said, clearly surprised.
"That was the only thing worth mentioning," Yusif said. "Some of the Elder were upset that you didn't meet with them tonight, so expect some tough questions about your trials."
"I felt we could do better things with our time," Sita said. "The token will keep for tomorrow."
"So you really brought it back with you?" Yusif said.
"Of course," Sita said. "That was why we went."
"Were you able to explore the temple?" Yusif asked, sitting down in the chair Mika offered her. "No one has made it inside before."
"Yes," Yuki said. "It would have been useful to be warned about the large beast guarding the temple," she added.
"There was not one when I visited the temple when I first became a priestess," Yusif said.
"You've been there?" Yuki said.
"Yes, but there was an army camped outside its door," Yusif said. "I did not have time to wait for them to leave."
"How did you know the token was in the temple?" Sita said. "It was in a hidden chamber in the altar room."
"I cannot explain how I knew," Yusif said. "But you were able to bring it back?"
"Do you want to see it?" Yuki said.
"No, I can wait until tomorrow," Yusif said. "It will not melt."
"No, Elder," Sita said, nodding.
"You are not celebrating," Yusif said, looking around their room. "I expected a party."
"We aren't really feeling like celebrating," Yuki said.
"You should have a party," Yusif said. "Your fellow third year novices would like to celebrate with you. They are very proud of you."
"Really?" Yuki said. "The Council didn't think anyone cared if we were there or not. We haven't had anything to do with our year in a very long time."
"They do not know that," Yusif said. "They know you were given extra training but they still see you as part of their year. And completing the trials as third year novices is a big deal. It hasn't happened in centuries."
"We can have a party," Yuki said. "Yes?" She pouted at Sita and Mika.
"If you really want one," Sita said, sighing, "but we still need to meet with the Elder Council tomorrow."
"That will not be a problem," Yuki said. "Be right back!"
"Will you join us, Elder?" Sita asked.
"You don't need me here," Yusif said. "It would ruin any party, if I recall being a novice myself correctly."
"You are still welcome to stay," Sita said.
Yusif stood. "No. I thank you but this is your chance to celebrate. After the Council meeting tomorrow you may be too busy for anything like this for a long while."
"You look proud of yourself," Sita said, when Yuki woke her up. Getting up from her pallet, she quickly dressed in her formal novice robes.
"Last night was fun," Yuki said. "And we now have our own loyal minions if we ever need them."
"How do you do that," Mika said, groaning from her own pallet. She pulled her quilt back over her head. "It's only been a couple hours."
"It's all a matter of will," Sita said. "It's important to be awake as soon as possible."
"Well, do it somewhere else," Mika said, from under her quilt.
"Breakfast?" Yuki said, poking Mika. "If we get there early enough they will still have those tiny sweet buns you like."
"If I must," Mika said, crawling out into the room. "Dressing up? Why?"
"We have not received our priestess robes yet," Sita said, "but we must behave with the dignity of our new station. Therefore, our best."
"If we must," Mika said, pulling her carefully pressed novice robes out. "Meeting with the Council after lunch?"
"Yes," Sita said.
"What do we do until then?" Mika asked. "No training, or classes."
"Stretching, and the upper forms, after breakfast. And then the library," Sita said. "We need to keep up our training."
"Boring," Yuki said. "How about something exciting?"
"We've had our excitement," Mika said.
"What did you have in mind," Sita said. "We need to be here for the Council meeting."
"Do we have to?" Yuki said.
"Yes," Sita said. "We need to turn over the token and officially become priestesses. Ignoring them again would not be wise."
"That is amazing," Master Xio said, watching the three novices in the training yard from her office window. "Are those the forms we teach the novices?"
"The original forms," Yusif said, watching with her. "And some variety. They've turned what they learned in the training pods, and as novices, into their own forms."
"How much of that is from the Thirteen?" Xio asked.
"Enough to make them very formidable," Yusif said. "Our forms don't have counters for many of the forms used by the Thirteen. And they have been trained to use the forms for more than basic defense."
"We will make use of their training," Xio said, thoughtfully. "A fresh perspective into the forms will be welcome."
Yusif nodded. "Have you arranged for the next stage in their training?" she said. "They received basic musical training in the training pods but they will need Idol training to be effective agents in that role."
"The Xan-Tsu Idol School has openings for new Idol candidates," Xio said. "If they can pass the auditions, they will be placed in a large idol group."
"Does that give them enough freedom for our purposes?" Yusif asked.
"If they can do that for a year, we have an agreement with one of the school's associated impresarios to start a group with them sponsored by the temple," Xio said.
"Does this impresario understand our purpose?" Yusif asked.
"To some extent," Xio said. "He will select the music and idol gimmick, but we will direct them."
"How did you convince him to do this?" Yusif said.
"I can be very persuasive, when needed," Xio said. At Yusif's skeptical look, she shrugged. "He is excited at the opportunity to try something different than using the current Idol mill trainees. We will be paying for any additional required training and living expenses for the three of them and any other required persons."
"We can afford this?" Yusif said.
"Yes," Xio said. "It will come out of our special fund."
"Ah," Yusif said.
"You have the token?" Elder Yaten asked the three novices standing in front of the Council.
"Yes, Elder," Sita said, stepping up to the long table they were all seated at. Joining her, Mika placed a small piece of soft leather in front of him. Sita then placed the token on the leather, where it glowed softly.
"That looks like the correct token," Yaten said. "Elder J'dan, if you would confirm that this is the correct object?"
Elder J'dan carefully picked up the token, and examined it, carefully cataloging every blemish. The last thing she did was lay it on the outstretched hand of the Fox God.
There was a bright flash, and the Fox God was bathed in a right green light, focused on the token. When the light died away, the token was gone.
"It was accepted," Elder J'dan said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Good," Master Xio said. "We can proceed then. Elder Yusif, please continue."
Yusif stood, and came around the table to stand in front of the novices. "Hold out your left hand," she said.
Solemn expressions on their faces, they followed her directions.
"The Fox God has deemed your token acceptable. As Clan priestesses, you are expected to uphold the honor of the clan and the Fox God, and perform tasks as assigned by both." Yusif placed a green crystal embossed with the same symbol as the token in their outstretched hands. "Do you swear allegiance to the Clan and Fox God, putting the future of the clan ahead of your own?"
"Yes, Elder Yusif," They said. As each novice spoke the crystal seemed to sink into their palms.
"You are now priestesses of the Clan," Elder Yusif said. "Please remain here. There are other things to be discussed." Chairs appeared behind each of them.
"Please sit," Master Xio said, once Elder Yusif had returned to the table. "Decisions must be made."
"Normally, we assign new priestesses to work with one of our village priestesses," Master Xio said. "We do not have any village priestesses to assign you to at the moment and have an alternate assignment."
"This is highly unusual," Elder Yaten said. "They should stay here, as assistant trainers until they can be assigned to a village."
"And we have already decided," Master Xio said. "As we discussed, they shall become roving priestesses, representing the Clan and the Fox God in the outer world."
"In order to become clan agents, additional training is required," Yusif said. "Tomorrow you shall report to the Xan-Tsu School in the city."
"The Xan-Tsu Idol School?" Yuki asked.
"Yes," Master Xio said. "They will provide additional training, if you can pass their entrance audition."
"You want us to become idols," Sita said. "May I ask why?"
"This will give you the opportunity to spread the word of the Fox God beyond our small community," Yusif said. "And freedom to pursue tasks for the clan without suspicion. It has been many years since we have had roving priestesses, and we expect you to excel for the honor of the Clan."
"Yes, Elders," they said. "Master Xio."
"You are dismissed," Xio said. They nodded and quietly left the room.
"They were not expecting us to go through with it," Yusif said.
"I did not expect you to go through with it," Elder Yaten said. "They do not show the proper reverence for the Council. Why are they being given this mission?"
"Why is this mission necessary," one of the other Elders asked. "There is nothing in the outer world that we need."
"I have explained," Xio said. "Nothing has changed since then. We need a way of engaging with the Serpent Clan if they ever come to us, and this is how the Fox God has guided us to do that."
"They really did it," Sita said, standing at the top of the stairs leading into the temple. "I did not think they would."
"Their reason is still flimsy," Mika said. "I do not believe this talk of roving priestesses. It is nonsense."
"It does not matter," Sita said. "The Fox God has some purpose for us, and this is part of it."
"We get to go to an idol school," Yuki said. "Idol training at the best idol school in the city."
"Didn't your sister have an audition with them?" Mika asked.
"Yes," Yuki said. "She did not get in. They have auditions every month. The next one must be tomorrow. We might meet her there."
"I am not prepared for an idol audition, whatever that requires," Sita said. "Can we speak to your sister about this?"
"She won't believe us if we tell her why," Yuki said, "but she likes talking about what happened."
"We should be able to use the phone in the temple office," Sita said.
"Let's do that now," Yuki said. "She should be home right now."
"Why do you want to know?" Hsu said, when they reached her. "What reason does a clan priestess need to know how an idol audition works?"
"Would you like the truth or something that makes sense?" Yuki said.
"If you are offering the truth, you must think I won't believe you," Hsu said. "This truth I have to hear."
"The Elders want us to go to idol school," Yuki said.
"No, that makes no sense," Hsu said. "An idol and a priestess have almost nothing in common."
"Almost nothing in common?" Sita said. "What do they have in common?"
"High expectations," Hsu said. "The phrase is 'squeaky clean'," she said. "An idol is expected to give the appearance of perfect innocence. Just like a priestess. Do something that makes you look like a normal person, and you can be fired. You are not allowed to have relationships with people who are not approved by the idol management."
"So, no boys?"
"Or girls," Hsu said.
"Why do you want to become an idol then?" Sita asked. "This is actually worse than being a clan priestess. Yes, we have rules, but we are expected to be adults."
"We will be at the auditions tomorrow," Mika said. "Will we see you there?"
"I had not planned to go," Hsu said, "but this I need to see."
"The auditions are open to everyone?" Sita asked.
"No," Hsu said. "But if you are preparing to re-audition they allow you to see the auditions to prepare."
"You do not appear to be dressed properly for your station," Yusif said, joining them after their morning meal.
"We must dress like the others," Sita said. "This is what we discovered they wore."
"We called my sister last night," Yuki said. "She's been to several idol auditions there, and recommended we dress our age and not our place."
"Ah," Yusif said. "I see. I do not, however, see how this will help."
"Are you taking us there?" Mika asked.
"We should walk from the nearest bus station," Yuki said. "It will look more natural. Driving up in the temple van will make us stick out, and not in a good way."
"You look almost normal," Hsu said, meeting them in line at the Idol factory's auditorium. "As long as they don't look too close."
"What's wrong with us?" Yuki said, looking at Mika and Sita.
"You have that martial artist smoothness to your walk. And you have real muscles," Hsu said. "You don't look like real teens."
"We are teens," Sita said. "All Clan priestesses start out young."
"It may not matter," Hsu said, shrugging. "It's a large crowd today. The judges must be some special group. They may not get to you, they only audition so many for each new idol group."
"I don't want to do this more than once," Yuki said. "I can't see how you keep coming back."
"Because it's fun," Hsu said. "I realize my chances get worse every time I try out, but the experience is worth it."
"If you don't make it onto an idol group, what will you do?" Sita asked her.
"College," Hsu said. "I've passed the entrance exams for the best college prep school in the city. They guarantee college entrance."
That afternoon, they watched the other auditions from the back of the large auditorium.
"You were lucky to go early," Hsu said. "They haven't gotten through half of the line yet and it's almost time for them to stop."
"It was an odd experience," Sita said. "To sing by myself and then with others. And then dancing with several different groups."
"Dancing is not your best talent," Mika said.
"But your voice beats the others we've heard so far," Yuki said.
"You all did surprisingly well," Hsu said. "It isn't really about talent. They will teach you everything they want you to know. But you need to be special in some way."
"So you think they will pick us?" Yuki said.
"You were more polished than most of the ones we've seen today," Hsu said. "You can sing and dance, so they won't have to start from the beginning. Look at those four," she said pointing at a group on the stage being run through choreography. "They can't follow directions, and are all over the stage. You need to be able to sing and dance at the same time and they can't do that. But I don't know. It depends on what they are really looking for. Singers? Dancers? Both?"
A loud horn sounded in the auditorium. The current group was directed off the stage and the musical director for the school came up on stage.
"If you can come up on stage when we read your names, that will be all for the day," he said.
His assistant started reading names from a clipboard.
When she called Sita, Yuki, and Mika to the stage Hsu gave them hugs and invited them back to her house once they were done.
"The rest of you can go home. If there are any later openings, we will contact you," the director said. There was a murmur of disappointment from the ones not picked.
"Good," the director said. "We are going to be busy for the next few months turning all of you lucky girls into the hottest idol group in the world. We have some papers for you all to sign, and a list of things you will need to bring tomorrow when you come back. Everyone will be sharing rooms. Four to a room. They will be assigned tomorrow. If you have any preference make sure Judy here knows."
He looked at the sixteen girls. "Any questions? No? Good." Nodding to 'Judy' he left the stage.
"These are standard idol development contracts," 'Judy' said, handing them all thick stacks of paper. "Bring them back signed tomorrow. If you don't come back tomorrow morning by 8AM we'll assume you don't want to be an idol and we'll call one of the alternates. And my name is Jas. If you have any problems bring them to me, not him. Any real questions?"
There was silence from the future idols as they stared down at the contacts.
"No? Good," Jas said. "Come tomorrow and be prepared to work hard. Being an idol isn't just standing on stage looking pretty."
"That... was different," Sita said, as they walked to the subway. "Do we still want to do this?"
"It's just different training," Mika said. "We handled three years of novice training, and all that time in the training pods, and the trials. A few months of singing and dancing shouldn't kill us."
"The training pods count as more," Yuki said. "A month on the outside was almost three years in the pods."
"In our heads," Mika said. "We didn't get older."
"But we are in better shape than any of the others," Yuki said. "So it's all going to be how well we can get our heads into being idols."
"Should one of the Elders look at this contract?" Mika said. "To make sure we aren't signing something we shouldn't?"
"My mother is a lawyer," Yuki said. "She'll tell us if there is anything to be concerned about."
"You aren't upset, are you?" Yuki asked Hsu, following her into her room.
"Why would I be upset?" she asked.
"I'm going to be an idol and you won't?" Yuki said.
"You're a clan priestess going undercover at an idol school," Hsu said. "Like in a bad spy movie. You aren't doing it for the same reasons and don't really want to be an idol for a career. There's nothing to be upset about. If you do well as an idol I can probably use that to get into the school myself. They like that kind of thing, sisters who are idols."
"Well, I'm the cute one," Yuki said.
"And I'm the beautiful sister," Hsu said, giggling.
"We should check to see if Mother has finished looking at your contracts," Hsu said. "You still have to go back to the temple and pack."
Yuki nodded, and left Hsu's room, with her following behind. "Mother?"
"Yes, daughter?" Lady Rowan, their mother, said.
"Can we sign these?" Yuki asked.
"They are standard five year Idol contracts, as they told you," she said. "Which means they are in favor of the management company that owns the Idol group. They can let you go at any time, but if you want to leave the Idol group for your own reasons before the contract ends you will have to reimburse them for anything they have given you. Training, clothes, travel that is not Idol related. You can buy out the contract but it will cost more than that."
"That's standard?" Sita asked. "Why become an idol if you are stuck like that?"
"You mean, why does an ordinary girl want to be an idol?" Yuki's mother said. She pointed at Hsu for an answer.
"Fame and fortune?" Hsu said. "But any smart person knows the fortune is like kami gold. You can't spend it. But the experience is valuable. The contacts you make can lead to other things."
"Like?" Mika asked.
"Going solo? Or starting a band?" Hsu said. "Though most ex-idols end up working in an office somewhere."
"So don't expect to get rich or owning it at the end," Yuki said. "Fortunately we have other plans."
"Ladies, here are your room assignments," Jas said, the next morning. "Four to a room, meals are provided."
"Looks like we get to share," Yuki said. "Who is Yanzy?" She looked at the others who were forming their own groups, leaving one person standing by herself.
"That must be her," Sita said. "She's tall. Aren't idols usually shorter?"
"She's coming over here," Yuki said.
"I am Yanzy," she said, bowing low. "Are you Sita, Yuki, and Mika?"
"Yes," Sita said. "That is us. Shall we take our things to our room? They are giving us a few minutes to settle in our rooms before it starts."
Yanzy nodded and followed them across the street to the chain hotel they would be staying at.
"Cozy," Yuki said, looking around the small room with two bunk beds crammed into one side.
"For short people," Sita said.
"The world is designed for short people," Yanzy said. "It is livable."
"Do you prefer the top or bottom bunk?" Mika asked her. "Sita is a bottom bunk."
"I will take bottom also," Yanzy said. "You all know each other?"
"Yes," Sita said "We grew up together and have been attending the same private school."
"And you all will be idols together?" Yanzy said.
"That is how it seems to be working out," Mika said. "We hope to someday be our own group but that takes time and luck."
"I would prefer to be a solo idol," Yanzy said, "but, unless you are an outstanding talent, you have to go through an idol factory like this one first before you can go solo."
"Are you a better singer or dancer?" Yuki asked. "Sita is 'our' singer. She's not a bad dancer but we are much better."
"That's because they are closer to the ground," Sita said, winking at them. "They can't get enough air to sing properly."
The first month of idol training was harder than they expected, but not because being an idol was physically hard. It was very different than their life as novices. They had become comfortable in their lives at the temple and now they were starting over. And saying they came from a small private school only took them so far.
Fortunately, Yanzy was willing to help out when their knowledge of pop-culture had holes in it, and things lightened up the second month as the group came together as a solid unit.
"Still want to be an idol?" Yuki asked Hsu one Sunday while visiting. "If we hadn't been in excellent shape from our temple training we wouldn't have made it the first month."
"Do any of the others know that your 'private' school was a temple and that you are actually priestesses?"
"No," Yuki said. "We've been able to keep that a secret."
"When is your first concert?" her mother asked.
"We have another month before they think we'll be good enough for a real audience," Yuki said.
"That bad?" Hsu said, giggling.
"We aren't bad," Yuki said. "Tell them we aren't bad, Sita!"
"We show promise, I believe Director Zola said," Sita said.
"How many have dropped out?" Hsu asked, reaching over to poke her sister.
"They've replaced five with alternates," Mika said. "They weren't up to the physical challenge."
"So, no replacements for talent?" Hsu asked.
"No, you were correct," Sita said. "They didn't pick us for singing ability. They have voice coaches and dance coaches. I'm not sure how they decided. Yanzy, our roommate, doesn't really fit in, but they picked her and she's doing well."
"She's the tall one?" Yuki's mother asked. "Likely for contrast with the rest of you."