Chapter 303 - Safe

“Are we safe, then?” Yuzu asked, purposefully ignoring the contemplative gaze that had fallen on the guru-chi’s face.

“Concealment is one of Renshu’s domains. The Cloak of Kapakhei is a blessing that prevents outsiders from divining or seeking out those under its protection.” Somm nodded, “The more Bacchi tries to find us, the more he will unknowingly be led off track.”

The firm gaze in Yuzu’s eyes told Somm that she already knew that the concealment was successful. His explanation of the mechanism behind the method was merely a courtesy to her.

The white and silver threads of Yuzu and her companions were now almost completely indiscernible in her spiritual vision, a clear indication to Yuzu that the ritual was a success. This effect was distinct from the previous ‘hazy’ appearance of the threads from the guru-chi’s earlier methods which caused all the strings in the marsh to become hazy and difficult to read.

The guru-chi’s previous method had a wide, general effect but didn’t completely cancel out her powers. This ritual specifically concealed only their presence to the point that she wouldn’t be able to find the guru-chi if he left her line of sight.

Furthermore, from the guru-chi’s words it seemed not to just provide basic concealment and anti-divination protection, but it actively led away pursuers who were looking for the ritual’s targets.

A very useful ritual indeed… Yuzu recalled the details of the ritual. Five petals of dried nightshade, three pinches of cloakdust in a copper bowl. The candle was made with aster flower oil… Though she hadn’t fully understood the words used during the ritual at the time, thinking about them at this moment Yuzu found herself able to recall them easily.

The God of Preeminent Wisdom is also fond of paper maggots… But how do I know this? The thought bubbled up in Yuzu’s mind, as if it were an intrinsic part of her knowledge, but she didn’t know where she had learned it. Was it something Somm had said offhandedly earlier?

Regardless, Yuzu felt that she could possibly recreate the ritual at a further date if needed, assuming she could find the ingredients. She already had the ability to influence fate threads and chase off pursuers to some extent, but the pragmatic side of her saw the usefulness of such a multi-faceted effect.

As long as I don’t attract the God of Knowledge’s direct attention again… Yuzu noted the main disadvantage of relying on a ritual that called upon a higher power. She had nearly been corrupted in the ritual, and she wasn’t even the one conducting it.

A bad feeling was grumbling in the bottom of Yuzu’s gut. A distinct feeling that it wasn’t simply coincidence that the God of Knowledge had somehow woken up at that exact moment and laid His awareness on her.

Fate is the domain of convenience… Yuzu grimly recalled Argus’ past words. But convenient for who?

She somehow felt that she wouldn’t have to wait long to get an answer.

“We should rest here for the night.” Somm said after a moment’s thought, “Unless you have any suggestions.”

He’s now treating me like an equal. Is it because my ‘acting’ around working for a higher power has made an impression on him, or is it related to the reaction from the God of Knowledge? Perhaps a bit of both… Previously the guru-chi had declared his decisions and taken the lead, but this time he looked to her for confirmation. Yuzu noted a subtle change in the guru-chi’s manner toward her.

She nodded, replying, “It should be safe.”

The guru-chi took his leave, walking to another part of the building and leaving her sight. The faint line of his fate thread disappeared with him, leaving Yuzu unaware of his presence for the first time. She had a subtle moment of anxiety as she missed the comfort of knowing where and what the guru-chi was up to, just outside of reach.

To think that normal people live like this. How dreadful. Yuzu thought self-deprecatingly as she examined the tapestry of fate. The guru-chi’s original concealment method had largely worn off, returning the golden threads of her surroundings back to their soft, natural state.

The unexpected sound of scratching from behind her caused her to nearly jump out of her skin. Her head snapped around, eyes wide to see Nilya peeking up from the round, irregular shaped window ‘grown’ into the wall.

“Are you okay?” He asked, his bright eyes examining her carefully, his nose just peeking up over the edge, fingers wrapped around the sill.

“Just fine.” Yuzu quickly regained her composure, though her words had an accusatory edge to them as she asked, “Why are you hiding behind the window?”

“Master said to leave you two alone.” Nilya replied, “So I waited outside.”

“Eavesdropping by the window?” Yuzu stood up and put her hands on the windowsill, looking out. Nilya had been on his tip-toes, barely tall enough to peek into the room. He stepped back, reaching down to pick up a charcoal-surfaced egg by his feet— the hollow ember which was the spoils of his trial. It shimmered softly, letting off a heat from within.

“I didn’t mean to—“ Nilya said, his tone betraying his obvious lie.

Yuzu sighed, beckoning Nilya inside with her chin as she turned back into the room.

The ten year old boy entered moments later, holding onto the smouldering egg with a protective embrace.

Even from a few feet away Yuzu could feel the heat emanating off of it. She noted that the fabric portions of Nilya’s clothing were singed black, and the leather was discoloured from the heat.

“It doesn’t burn your skin?” Yuzu asked.

“It’s okay.” Nilya shrugged, adding casually, “Fire doesn’t bother me anymore.”

“Part of your pathway?”

“Master says he doesn’t know exactly what my path is, but that it’s part of the Body Domain.” Nilya said, “He said something about being able to find out exactly soon now that I finished the trial.”

This was something that Yuzu already knew, having monitored Nilya closely for the past several weeks. Nilya seemed to have inherited his Exalted powers from his family, where they lay dormant until the night he clashed with the guru-chi.

Somm did not seem particularly surprised about Nilya’s status. Instead, after learning that Nilya was in the Body Domain, his acceptance of Nilya as his disciple was bolstered even more.

Despite the efforts that Yuzu had gone through to save Nilya and assist him in the trial she didn’t hold any affection for Nilya. She viewed the ten year old boy the same way she viewed other children— easily manipulated annoyances that had nothing of value to trade.

Of course, there was value to getting along with kids. The adults around her responded positively if she got along with their children, leading to better deals. And as the disciple of the guru-chi who was currently Yuzu’s most important client, there was ample reason to get along with him.

So as Nilya sat down beside her Yuzu used her usual tactic around talking to children — steering the conversation toward whatever they seemed to be most interested in in the moment.

“You seem very protective of the egg.”

Nilya looked down at the smouldering egg in his hands, taking a moment to gather his thoughts, “If you want it, you can have it.”

Yuzu kept a neutral look on her face as she asked calmly, “Why? You worked so hard to get it, it’s yours.”

Nilya shook his head, keeping his eyes averted, “The voice I heard, it was you, right? The one that guided me in the trial. The one that saved my sister…”

“I don’t want it.” Yuzu said dismissively. The egg was certainly a valuable spiritual item, though Yuzu didn’t know what it was used for exactly. However she had already been compensated by Somm for her task, and the guru-chi definitely had plans for it. Even if the egg was Nilya’s to give her, it would rub Somm the wrong way.

“You worked hard for it.” Yuzu repeated, “But do you even know what it’s for?”

Nilya shook his head.

Yuzu asked the question knowing that Nilya hadn’t been told the purpose of the hollow ember by Somm. She phrased it in such a way that it sounded like she knew the answer, but of course since Somm hadn’t revealed anything then she was in the dark too.

Yuzu asked the question because she had a follow up one in mind. However she hesitated to ask it.

It was a simple question, but if Somm overheard or found out he might think she was sowing discord between them, or encouraging the boy to think for himself. Things that masters tended to discourage in their disciples.

The golden tapestry shimmered in Yuzu’s periphery, but Nilya and her strings were concealed from her sight preventing her from using Fate Cycling.

A silence settled between them as Yuzu looked down at the boy in front of her with a deeply contemplative look.

Why?

Why are you trying so hard, following this strange old man, throwing yourself into dangerous situations? Leaving your family and home behind to fight against monsters, without any plan?

What do you get out of it?

Yuzu found herself filled with a deep, burning curiousity toward Nilya. The question had nagged her more and more throughout the past few weeks. And now seeing Nilya cradling the egg which had put him in such peril, she expected him to treat it as his most prized possession. Yet he had offered it so freely to her, without reservations.

If he didn’t do the trial for the prize of the Hollow Ember, then what was he doing all this for?

“I— I’ll go now.” Nilya stuttered, feeling uncomfortable in the silence, “Sorry for bothering you.”

Yuzu watched him depart with a frown on her face.

They rested the night in the ruins. Yuzu’s dreams were disjointed and filled with whispers.

As the sun’s first rays broke over the horizon, Somm brought Nilya out into the swamp.

“Shou Tao isn’t coming?”Nilya asked, glancing back. He cradled the smouldering Hollow Ember in his arms.

“She will come if it is her desire.” Somm replied simply, “If her presence is needed.”

The girl was prescient and guided by a higher power. Somm did not dare to presume that he could invite or refuse her company, after all that she had done to assist him in the recent days. That was the surface reason, but on a deeper level he was concerned about the lingering effects of the ritual on the girl. In addition this next step was a sacred part of his duty as a guru-chi. If he did not have to bring her along for this task, he wouldn’t.

Though he had all the reasons laid out in his mind, Somm kept an eye on the ruins as they departed, not relaxing even as they disappeared out of view behind a copse of twisted trees.

“Where are we going?” Nilya asked.

“We are close to a spiritual meridian.” Somm replied, “There we will use the Hollow Ember for your ascension to Apprentice.”