Maihima stiffened, her fists clenching slightly at her sides before she finally asked, voice low,
"Lady Suzuran… who is it? Who is the builder of that wall?"
Suzuran closed her eyes slowly, pretending to concentrate, her fan gently tapping against her chin. After a moment, she sighed. "I cannot see it yet," she said regretfully. "But one thing I can say for certain—if you truly wish to make that man yours, you must get rid of that barrier before it's too late."
Maihima bit her nails nervously, frustration flickering in her eyes. "But how can I find out who it is? Can't you really tell me anything more? How do I get rid of it?"
Inside, Zuzu was practically bursting with pride.
Great! She fell into it perfectly! Oh Zuzu, you should be proud of yourself. What a marvelous, extra-ordinary performance, hehe!
Clearing his throat trying adjust voice, Suzuran said, "Lady Kogane, while my predicting power is unique… it does have a defect. Since I have only just met you, I can only see fragments. If you want me to uncover the full truth, I would need to observe you closely, over time. Only then could I clearly reveal your future and guide you. But alas… after this banquet, I fear it would not be possible for us to meet again."
Maihima's eyes flickered. She hesitated for a moment before asking quickly, "Lady Suzuran… are you planning to return to the capital?"
"Yes! She's asking! This is going exactly how it should! Great Zuzu, you are truly a genius!" Zuzu cheered inside.
Suzuran lifted her fan again, lowering her lashes delicately. "I had indeed thought of returning… but after pondering, I realize I still have unfinished matters here. Thus, I will be staying for a few more days. However, I have yet to find a place to stay. Lady Kogane, are you perhaps aware of any decent accommodations nearby?"
Maihima didn't waste a breath. She immediately stepped forward and said, "Of course, there are many fine inns and guesthouses… but—" She gave a small pause, making Suzuran's (and Zuzu's) heart race in triumph, "—since you are such a noblewoman, and a rare third ranker of the Manari Sect… I think it would not be fitting for someone of your status to stay in a common place."
Suzuran tilted her head slightly, feigning concern. "Ohhh? Then where am I supposed to stay, Lady Kogane?"
Ask me! Ask me to stay with you!
Zuzu screamed internally, grinning behind the fan. And just as he hoped, Maihima quickly stepped closer, her voice filled with false calmness, "Why don't you consider staying at the Kogane Mansion while you are here? We would be honored to welcome you as a guest, and provide you with all the facilities you might need. Also—" She paused again, making Suzuran's heart skip in glee, "—as you said earlier, if you stay nearby, you can watch me closely… and help me uncover who are the ones building that wall between me and my destiny. What do you think, Lady Suzuran?"
Suzuran pretended to think carefully, tapping her fan against her chin before smiling elegantly.
"As you say so, Lady Kogane… it would be my honor to stay with the esteemed daughter of Minister Muzui, and help her reach her destined path."
Maihima smiled in relief, bowing slightly. "No, no, Lady Suzuran…it is our honor indeed, to receive a member of the Manari Sect as a guest under our roof."
Success!
—————
The room was cloaked in silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of the night wind against the windows. Astra lay curled on the bed, her body tense under the thin blanket. A bead of sweat rolled down her temple, her breathing quick and shallow.
The dream clutched her mind like a merciless hand.
Flames everywhere. They roared around her, rising higher and higher, licking the sky with a hunger that made the air tremble. The heat pressed against her skin, suffocating, unbearable.
She stumbled through it blindly, gasping for air that wasn't there, the smoke coiling into her lungs like a living thing. Her heart pounded against her ribs, desperate, wild.
Her trembling hands reached out, but there was nothing to hold onto no escape. The fire snapped and snarled at her heels. The ground cracked beneath her, glowing molten red. Every breath burned. Every step was heavier than the last.
"No… stop—!" Astra whimpered under her breath, her body twisting on the bed, her fingers clutching at the sheets in a desperate grip. Her skin was damp with cold sweat, her whole frame trembling uncontrollably.
The dream tightened around her like a noose.
The flames surged forward, swallowing everything—the trees, the sky, the world itself. She could feel it reaching for her, wrapping around her legs, pulling her down And then—
A touch.
A hand gripped hers.
Large, firm, steady.
Even through the nightmare, she could feel it a grounding weight pulling her back from the endless fire. The hand gently squeezed, then loosened, then squeezed again—an unspoken rhythm, tapping lightly against her clammy skin. Like knocking on a door, calling her back to reality.
Astra's breathing hitched, still shallow, still panicked—but the storm inside her was slowing, little by little. The fire in her mind's eye flickered… and then dimmed.
Her trembling eased slightly. The grip on her hand didn't waver—silent, patient, unwavering.
Slowly, the sweat-soaked tension in her body loosened. The nightmare loosened its claws. The world of fire faded into the dark comfort of sleep again.
The hand remained there, its warmth seeping into her, shielding her from the remnants of fear.
In the quiet room, under the dim light of the moon filtering through the windows, Astra drifted into a gentler sleep—still gripping that unseen hand.
Astra groaned as the sharp morning light sliced through the thin curtains, hitting her square on the face. She turned over, burying her head into the pillow and muttered groggily,
"Who turned the light so bright… it hurts my eyes…"
Reluctantly, she peeled one eye open, only to be blinded again, making her groan louder. After a moment of wrestling with herself, she finally sat up with a heavy sigh, her hair a wild mess cascading over her shoulders like a disheveled waterfall.
Still half-asleep, she blindly patted around the bed with one hand, mumbling,
"My ribbon… where's my red ribbon…"
Her fingers fumbled over the mattress, the side table, and even the pillow—nothing.
Irritated, Astra cracked both her eyes open and scanned the room, moving her head slowly left and right.
She checked under the bed—nothing.
Behind the small wooden table—still nothing.
She even peered suspiciously at the curtains like maybe it had somehow flown there overnight.
After a moment of hopeless searching, Astra gave a long, exaggerated sigh, flipping her hair behind her back in one swift, frustrated motion.
"Where is it?" she muttered, giving up for now.
Still barefoot and with her hair loose and wild, she dragged herself out of the room and into the corridor of the inn. The morning air was cool, fresh, and filled with the soft sounds of daily life starting anew.
Around her, people were moving about some in prayer, kneeling quietly in the courtyard with strings of wooden beads in their hands. Others were busy collecting fresh flowers into baskets, while some laborers and merchants bustled about, preparing to leave for their day's work.
A few maids were dusting windows and sweeping the paths, their chatter light and sleepy.
Astra's half-lidded eyes ignored all of them lazily… until her gaze caught onto a familiar sight the cheerful owner of the inn, a plump old man hunched over a fruit tree, tugging at the ripest fruits.
When he spotted her, he waved enthusiastically, calling out, "Good morning, young lady!"
Astra instantly brightened up, flashing him a wide, brilliant smile, and raised both arms to wave back.
"Good morning, grandpa!" she yelled loud enough that a few heads turned.
Chuckling to herself, Astra stood there for a moment, her eyes scanning around, searching for something or rather, someone. She tiptoed slightly to peek over a few people's heads, then frowned when she found no sign of what or who she was looking for.
"Hmph," she puffed, deciding she'd just have to search herself.
She spun on her heel to leave and nearly bumped straight into a tall figure standing right in front of her. Astra froze, blinking up.
Ryoma stood there, arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes locked on her, unreadable. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Whom were you searching for… wandering around with your hair looking like a crow's nest?" he said, tilting his head mockingly.
Astra immediately glared at him, flipping her wild hair over her shoulder dramatically as if to prove it was perfectly fine. Seeing that, Ryoma added casually,
"Ah, are you searching for me?"
At that, Astra huffed, looking away "No! I was searching for my ribbon!" she snapped back.
"Exactly… it's the same thing."
"Huh?! It's not the same! I was—"
"You lost your ribbon again," Ryoma cut her off smoothly, "and you were searching for me because you needed a new one. Am I right?"
Astra pursed her lips, still refusing to meet his eyes. "If you know that already, then why waste time asking again?" she muttered, extending her palm toward him expectantly. "Now hurry up and give me a new one."
Ryoma clicked his tongue, watching her palm like it had personally offended him. "Tch. Turn around," he ordered, folding his arms again.
Astra threw him a sideways glare and muttered, "No need. You can just give it to me."
"I said… Turn around,"
At the change in his tone. Astra, With a heavy sigh and a little stomp of her foot, Astra finally spun around, standing stiffly with her back to him, arms folded in front in silent protest.
Ryoma shook his head, an amused smile flashing across his face before he stepped closer.
He reached his hands towards her messy hair and gently began gathering it, smoothing the tangled locks carefully.
His fingers moved deftly, weaving her hair into a loose, elegant braid as Astra stood there quietly, peeking from the corner of her eyes at Shion who stood afar, leaning casually against a post, watching her with a smirk that made her eyes burn.
Ryoma finished the braid with a practiced ease, pulling out a beautiful ribbon deep crimson with intricate golden patterns and a small red bead attached to it. He tied it neatly at the end, tightening the knot just enough, then gently lifted the completed braid and placed it over her shoulder, letting it rest carefully against her chest like a precious ornament.
"There," Ryoma said, stepping back and dusting off his hands. He tilted his head slightly, giving her braid an satisfied look. "It looks good when it's tied. Not when it's all open like earlier,"
Astra turned to him, flipping her braid with a little pride. "I know that. You don't have to repeat it," she said, taking a step forward and pointing her finger at him sharply. "I hate that every time I lose my ribbon, I have to come running to you."
Ryoma clicked his tongue against his cheek, tilting his head and staring at her unblinking, the weight of his gaze enough to make her shut. Astra immediately lowered her pointed finger awkwardly, mumbling,
"Also… I have no choice, okay? I don't like tying my hair with just any random style or ribbon."
Saying that in one breath, she quickly excused herself, practically sprinting away before he could say any further. As she hurried past, she shot a mocking sign at Shion, wagging her fingers under her chin playfully, making Shion roll his eyes with a sigh. But just as he turned back, he found Ryoma standing right in front of him arms crossed, staring directly into his soul with a glare so sharp it could slice through metal.
"What were you thinking?" Ryoma asked, his voice low, his glare unrelenting.
Shion nervously stammered, "Ryoma, I was just—"
"What were you thinking when you asked that riddle?" Ryoma interrupted, stepping closer, his tone sharper now.
Shion sighed heavily and finally looked up again, trying to explain himself. "Ryoma, I told Kaen everything. I really don't know what happened to me yesterday. I didn't mean it… Now, please, don't you too start doubting me."
Ryoma watched him quietly for a moment, then sighed, reaching into his robes and pulling out a black thread. He handed it to Shion.
"Tie this," Ryoma said, his voice firm. "You can't seal your spiritual energy fully yet. This will suppress it for some days. It'll help stop you from losing control again."
Shion accepted the thread, staring at it in his palm as Ryoma continued, "And I'm not doubting you, Shion… It's just that there must never be another moment like that again. Not even a whisper about it."
Shion's expression grew heavy. He clutched the thread tightly, nodding. "Ryoma, I'm aware. I know better than anyone… how much we're trying to avoid it."
Ryoma's eyes narrowed, his voice even colder. "We have to avoid it at any cost. Or else… the result will be nothing but disaster. A destruction that none of us can stop."
Shion lowered his gaze, hesitating before speaking, his voice barely a whisper, "She's turning twenty soon, Ryoma… Don't you think—"
"Even if she turns thirty," Ryoma cut him off sharply, turning away, "I'm not letting it happen."
"But Ryoma…" Shion tried again, voice tense, "you can't keep escaping it. She's not eight anymore. She's a grown up. She won't stop questioning us. She'll start wanting to make her own choices. What if, one day… she finds someone she lo—"
"Shion," Ryoma turned back to him, voice dangerously low, "are you forgetting something?"
The weight of his gaze made Shion freeze. After a long moment, Shion lowered his head and muttered, "I remember it… She always said it herself."
Ryoma's shoulders relaxed slightly, but his voice grew quieter, almost painful,
"As long as she still believes in that… there won't be an issue."