The winter sun rose from the Great Lake in the East, its shimring rays dancing across the vast lake surface, also bathing the city of Tenochtitlan, built of white stone, in a golden hue. A gentle cool breeze from the highlands in the north swept through, lifting the vivid Divine Curtains adorning the buildings and caressing the elegant, feather-trimd corners of people’s garnts. As the first light of dawn erged, hundreds of Priests simultaneously lit ceremonial incense, and the air was soon perated with the faint scent of pine.
Today was the auspicious day of the New Year’s Grand Celebration. The skies were barely lit, yet the Lake Capital City had awakened from its slumber. The deafening noise of hundreds of thousands of people was so loud it could scatter the clouds! Shortly thereafter, morning prayers began in the various community Temples throughout the districts, signaling the beginning of the sacrificial ceremonies. The chanting of the community Priests was loud and clear, accompanied by the mournful sounds of bone flutes, soaring bamboo flutes, and heavy leather drums, which then rged into waves of cheering!
The thunderous sounds drifted far from the city’s eighty districts, all the way to the lake above Texcoco. Migratory waterfowl, startled from their slumber, cried out loudly as they unfolded their colorful wings and soared in circles through the skies above the Lake Region!
With the help of his concubines, Xiuxoke had already donned his attire, standing in the courtyard of his ho and looking up at the endless blue sky. He was accustod to being in charge of his own household; after returning to the Capital City, he did not reside in the High Priest’s Mansion but visited regularly on a set schedule.
At this mont, he was dressed in tight Leather Armor, with an overcoat of Eagle Warrior’s high-ranking War Clothes, his head adorned with a towering, magnificent Eagle Helt, making him look extrely imposing. After observing for a mont, the determined Samurai took out his Longbow, aid at the white wings flying overhead, and fiercely drew the bowstring.
"Hum..."
The half-drawn bowstring resonated with a deep vibration, emitting a low hum, but no Feathered Arrow was released. It turned out to be a feigned shot.
"The white bird freely soars in the sky, the Longbow sits alone inside. On this auspicious New Year’s day, at the Sacrificial Grand Ceremony, the weather is truly splendid!"
Xiuxoke muttered a couple of lines of a short poem, then shook his head with a smile. He slung the Longbow over his back, clasped a War Club at his waist, and after feeling the Short Dagger strapped to his thigh, he strode out of the door.
As the Deputy Head of the Eagle Warrior Battalion, his duty today was to lead his troops in ard formation beneath the Great Temple, which essentially ant remaining fully ard throughout the day. For the resolute Samurai, such a duty was hardly strenuous, especially with the spectacle of the festival to enjoy.
Stepping out of the courtyard, he was imdiately t with a roiling hubbub. Tens of thousands of people were gathered on either side of the streets, crowding into many circles. Both Nobility and commoners, dressed in their most vivid and colorful outfits, laughed and sang and danced, praising the glory of the Chief Divine and celebrating the victory of the western expedition. This was where the boundaries of the Nobility and Civilian District t, and also where the parade in honor of the divine spirits was about to pass through.
Before long, the parade procession approached from the Temple District. A hundred Samurai cleared the way at the forefront. Led by the chanting of the High Priests, two hundred laborers, bent under the weight, carried a wide and magnificent wooden Divine Stage, moving forward slowly and steadily.
The cheers of the crowd grew louder, shouts of praise beating like drums! From ti to ti, mbers of the Nobility bowed their heads to co forward, placing offerings for the deities—fruit, flowers, Gold Ornants, silver, and Gemstones—on the edges of the Divine Stage. Inside the boundary of the stage, a circle of sacred Cactus flowers symbolized holiness, followed by a circle of Turquoise representing immortality, and in the center stood the symbol of the highest Chief Divine: the Golden Sun, more than one ter in diater and weighing over a ton.
In the Europe of this era, a ton of Gold was a stupendous Wealth that made all Monarchs drool. But for the Central Arican civilization situated atop gold and silver mines, a ton of Gold was rely an artifact for offering to the gods. The Lake Capital City of Tenochtitlan was the heart of Central Arica, gathering the world’s greatest Wealth! Not counting Silver and Gemstones, the reserves of Gold alone amounted to hundreds of tons, scattered across every Noble’s Manor, courtyard, and tomb.
Xiuxoke paused, bowing respectfully to the Third Level High Priest leading the procession. The Priest sat solemnly and majestically on a palanquin carried by eight n, only relaxing into a warm smile upon recognizing Xiuxoke’s face.
"Praise the Chief Divine! High Priest Xiuxoke, the New Year’s festival has begun, may the Chief Divine bestow blessings upon you!"
"Praise the Chief Divine! Esteed High Priest, may I offer prayers and blessings under the Chief Divine’s Sun?"
"Certainly! The blank area beneath the Golden Sun is reserved for eminent individuals like you."
With a wave of his hand, the Third Level High Priest motioned for the procession to halt. Xiuxoke expressed his sincere thanks, then stepped forward, took out two Pearls from Mikenque Lake Region, and delicately placed them beneath the Golden Sun before bowing his head in silent prayer.
"Blessing of the Chief Divine! My father, may you enjoy good health... My son, may you spread your wings and soar..."
Monts later, Xiuxoke finished his prayer and smiled as he nodded to the High Priest.
"Esteed High Priest, thank you for your kindness. May I have the honor of knowing your na?"
"Ha-ha, I am Aureli from the glorious Priestly Family of the Capital City. My father Azar is a colleague of the High Priest and one of the twelve Elder Priests too..."
At this, Xiuxoke’s eyes flashed. The root word "Azar" was associated with war. This Priestly Family must be an ancient lineage dedicated to the War God, deeply ingrained in the Capital City.
"May the War God bless you! High Priest Aureli, I must head to the Great Temple for my guard duty, so I shall take my leave now!"
"War God bless us! High Priest Xiuxoke, the Elder Priests are already in place within the Chief Temple. The immortal Elder should appear after the sun rises... You might want to hurry a bit!"
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