Arc 7 – The Conclave: Side Eighty-Six – The Diviner
The moon hung massive in the sky overhead, blotting out most of the heavens, looking like a huge, unblinking eye. It was dark and still, no wind to speak of, and the sounds of the peaceful city around were muted, silent.
Still, there was a noise, out of place in this peaceful setting, a clicking, rattling sound, as if chitin or bone was rubbing together, and the sibilant hissing of sothing, no, a multitude of sothings, as they surged through the streets of what was possibly Kyoto, but could have easily been elsewhere, the scenery fluid and impermanent, changing and shifting as if mist.
The first creature ca into view, a hideous red ant the size of a small pony, feelers swinging to and fro as it searched for sothing. More were coming, crawling over the pavents and roads, climbing walls and up onto the roofs of nearby houses and shrines. Everywhere they went a foul sludge was left behind, acrid and vile, leaking poisonous mist, and what was beautiful was befouled.
The woman ran, trying to avoid the creeping ants, though she was not fast, and her legs tangled in the long hems of her white and red robes, causing her to stumble. She fell, hitting the ground painfully, and rolling onto her back she looked up at the moon, which was staring down at her.
Ti is running out, the sands falling through the hourglass. A familiar, distant voice echoed in her mind.
Eyes blinking behind her veil, the woman could see a shadow passing over the moon, a huge dragon, long and serpentine, coiled like a figure of eight, twisting and turning. The rattling was louder here, and she realised it was the many ruby scales of the dragon rubbing together. Even as she watched, several scales flaked off, falling to the earth, and as they landed they changed, becoming more of the ants, joining the others in mindlessly despoiling all they ca across.
Panicked, the woman struggled to her feet. Her hands were stinging where she had scraped them trying to break her fall, and one ankle wouldn’t bear her weight. Even so, she had no choice but to limp away, the moon looking down on her from overhead. It was then the dragon looked at her, and she could see it had mismatched heterochromatic eyes. One was a dirty yellow, alien and rapacious, leering at her with a foreign, dangerous hunger, while the other was ever-shifting, many colours blended into one. Still that eye looked at her with no more warmth, rely instead of hunger it was detached curiosity, as one might look at an insect or exotic animal.
The Great Red Dragon Of The Numberless East stirs. It is not yet ti for it to awaken, but even as it slumbers, its scales… they fall, searching for prey.
More scales, more ants. She recognised where she was now, she was in the grounds of Ryōan-ji temple, the beautiful rock gardens now sared with burning, acrid ooze, dozens of the ants crawling about blindly. The ditating pools were choked with filth, disgusting her, all but one, which was clear, reflecting the moon above, drawing her gaze.
Oh daughter of the moon, she who hears my voice, you have served well all these years, and I thank you. But your ti is coming to an end. The Red Dragon stirs, thrashing about, seeking prey, and you have fallen under its gaze.
Looking into the lake, she saw many visions, so she had seen before, others new to her, the moonlight bringing glimpses of what was, what will be and what should not be. The Red Dragon roared, splitting open, scales and blood raining down, revealing a mountain range, space itself collapsing, rippling prismatic aurorae spreading out, unveiling a strange ancient-looking city, full of ants of greater size, scale and magnificence, their red chitin inlaid with jade and precious tals.
She tried to pull her eyes away, only to see the White Divina Dragon Of The West. Brilliant blue and white flas leapt from the maw of the beast, scorching the land below, and temples, shrines and the faithful burned under the great reptilian fiend, which suddenly grew great feathered wings of white and gold, a multitude of them, though six stood out, their massive shadow covering the land, and a song started, lancholic and frenzied, which hurt her ears, no, her very soul.
“I do not wish to see these visions. Not… not anymore.” She gasped, half-choking out the words amidst sobs. “They… they are so grim.” She caught a glimpse of her friend, the Imperial Princess, as the ants sward over the Grand Shrine at Ise, which should have been impossible to see, since it was many miles distant, but in visions, as in dreams, anything was possible. “No, I do not wish to see you die again, alone and afraid!”
Shutting her eyes did nothing, as the reflected light of the moon pierced her lids, showing her more. This ti, another rippling explosion of space, a small pink bird fluttering through, trailing blood and feathers. Monts later reality shuddered, and three massive stone pillars crashed through, slamming into the ground, towering into the sky. One was black obsidian, a second was petrified wood, gleaming dully, and the third was shrouded in fog, and could not be seen. Looking at these pillars made her shudder, even more so than the twin dragons…
“No… no more.” She sobbed, shoulders heaving as she sucked in desperate breaths. The ants were closing in behind her, and their chittering cries froze her blood. “I have done what I could. Conclave…”
You have done well, my precious chosen one. Unlike the others, you were mine since you were born, a precious existence. It pains to see you suffer, to see your fate, but I can not intervene. Were I to reach down, then…
The woman scread, a new vision flooding her mind. The sky shattered, the realm of the spiritual mixing haphazardly with the one she knew. People died in their millions, and more pillars ca crashing down, of jade, ruby, gold and more… creatures undread of walked the earth, and soon the millions beca billions, and the living envied the dead…
“I… I am trying to change things. I have always believed that fate, prophecy, destiny, nothing is set in immutable stone.” She gasped. “But things have changed, the Red Dragon has stirred sooner. We are far from ready. This is not fair!” she cried, realising she sounded like the frightened, petulant child she never had the chance to be. “How can my dear Yukiko be saved, if the Dragon cos now? The one with light, darkness and twilight, I have not found him, I have ideas, but…”
Fate has already shifted. You are correct, my dear daughter. Even speaking to you like this causes ripples, weakens the protection your world shelters within. So I can only touch you in dreams, through the Divine Gift you share with …
The moon seed to fill her vision, and she could see one of the Six Princesses. She was a lonely creature, one of hunger and fla, thirsty for salvation. She was one of three that posed a great threat to everything, yet if she perished, then one of the Six Disasters would surely shatter the Earth… “Why is everything so… so simply impossible. Even though I am blessed, I have foresight, I still fail to … wait, what… what madness is this?”
The Princess should fight that which she held dear, the thirsting fla within growing and feasting, until she was a creature of re appetite, even attempting to consu everything she loved. Yet now, in her vision, she was shattered, broken, the thirsty flas re embers, yet… the face, hidden in shadow and surrounded by a halo of shining tallic hair… she was smiling.
“What… what is this? There is no man carrying light and darkness, filled with twilight. I have used every last speck of my will to scour the skeins of fate, the threads of destiny. I have searched and sought, trying to find the junctions where definite and destiny intersect. But it is hard, and I grow weary…”
Did you not say it yourself? Heroes, they are not born, but made. If who you need to shatter the fractal spiderweb of weighty futures does not exist, create them. Your ti… I see the overlapping threads of fate strangling you. Your life will soon end, my precious daughter. Before it does… find a worthy heir for my blessing. Create… create…
The vision started to collapse, her energy spent. As the pool shattered like glass, millions of shining fragnts like mirrors reflecting the moon overhead, cascading down, she shivered, pain flaring where she was cut. Blood gushed, staining the ground, and she turned, feeling weak and feeble, only to see the Dragon overhead looking down on her with one savage eye, and the ants closing in, jaws clicking, eager to feed…
********
The Diviner bolted upright, hand going under her thin sleeping robe, searching for the wound. When she realised she was unhard, she breathed out a sigh of relief. Just a vision. But a terrible one. They were growing darker, more ominous. She rembered back to her words to Yukiko, the Imperial Princess, about how destined futures could be changed. I still believe that, I have to. But the way Tsukuyomi spoke… it was as if my death was not destiny, but definite…
The door suddenly opened, and the Diviner hastily pulled on her veil, preventing the retainer from seeing her face. That too was as a result of her visions. Long ago, she saw that revealing her face to others would lead to dire consequences. With her long hair wrapped around her lightly-clad body, she greeted her servant, forcing her voice down to its usual calm, lodious tone.
“Greetings, Etsuko. Are you well this bright morning?” she was proud of how steady her voice was.
“I am.” the older woman said, her matronly looks at odds with the red and white hakama she wore. She was carrying a bowl of warm water and soap, as the Diviner bathed alone, away from the eyes of those who might see her. “Will you be wanting breakfast? Today is the last day of rest for you, isn’t it?”
“Yes, I shall eat. I am rather famished.” She was surprised to find it was true, her stomach rumbling. Energy was surging through her, the mysterious power called aether by the Divine, yet despite being able to subsist long on it alone, she often found herself hungry. “As for indolent rest… while Conclave does not comnce until tomorrow, I have much to do today. After all, the many shrines and temples will be sending their delegations today.”
“Yes, Kyoto is going to be full.” Etsuko giggled, quite unlike her age would suggest. “It should be quite the sight. I envy any tourist who visits our stunning Kyoto this weekend. The beautiful flowers of the shrines will be everywhere!”
“Even so, it is a serious matter, Etsuko.” The Diviner chided her attendant, who had looked after her ever since she had beco the Diviner, so long ago. “The very future of Japan, no, the very world, depends on Conclave.”
“Oh I know. Wasn’t it you who told that there is no point fretting over fate and destiny though, as our own actions shape the world? Don’t be so gloomy, my dear. With your advice, those three stubborn old n will surely listen to you. After all, you are the Diviner, Tsukuyomi’s daughter.” She finished proudly. “Now, wash yourself, take a dip in the outdoor bath, and I’ll get your breakfast ready.” With that she bustled out, all energy and enthusiasm, and the Diviner sighed, quite unlike her, as she usually refrained from such human displays of emotions, maintaining her mystery. Only around those few such as Yukiko or Yasuhide can I be just a woman. In front of everyone else, I must remain aloof, mysterious, holy. A mystical being, closest to the Gods…
Using the bowl and soap she cleansed herself, before sliding open the painted door, illustrated with an image of Tsukuyomi, the God she had served since she was but a little girl. Seeing that reminded her of her vision, and she shuddered, her skin coming out in goosebumps, and not just due to the chill, October morning air. Stepping out onto the hinoki-wood terrace, she looked down at the rocky hot spring, steam still rising gently into the cold, still morning air. Pushing her long veil over her shoulders, the only cloth remaining on her a small mask covering her lower mouth and the sleepwear she was wearing, she stepped down into the water, her deep crimson eyes misting over, rembering.
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