It had been a long time since Ayumi saw any dreams. The instant the power of the light started beckoning to her and she accepted it, she sew of the previous queen's death no more. However, for this night, she had a new vision, not as elusive and vague as the prior repeated one but rather a straight and direct one. It was as if someone was speaking to her during her sleep, the mean of a dream the only way they could reach and speak to her.
"Priestess Noriko?"
"Do not be afraid Ayumi, but I could not manifest myself like last time. I wish not to use what little remains of my spiritual powers for now."
Noriko appeared in Ayumi's dream, ethereal yet distant as a dream could be.
"Are you here because I gave up to my anger…"
Ayumi stammered like a child about to get scolded harshly. Thinking about the matter, it was not certain that Noriko had been watching the past events or learning of them trusting the mission to the princesses. But as with dreams, what lied in one's subconscious, the things he feared or detested, came to the surface with no barriers and so Ayumi found herself mouthing these words, afraid that the power the priestess had bestowed her with, will be justly withdrawn. But quite the contrary, the priestess shook her head gently with a soft smile.
"Ayumi, you may have been blessed with the power of the light, but that doesn't mean you are human no more. Do not fall to this trap, I pray you."
Noriko spoke, a tint of sadness echoing in her calm tone. Ayumi's eyes lightened once more as she regained her spirit, and finally waved these fears that had been haunting her for the last few days.
"I don't know who this princess of the darkness is but it is only logical that a person such as herself exits. It seems I made a mistake thinking Noboru was the one assuming this role."
"Then, what is he?"
"It is impossible for a mere human to be able to match, more importantly, kill the queen of light. So for now, for this question, I have no answer. What ails me more about the matter is not what he is, but what he is capable of. I understand you have broken your crown…"
Ayumi was taken off by the sudden diversion of the conversation, and she nodded hesitantly before clarifying the reason behind the act.
"No need to worry. Any fool can manifest himself a crown and call himself a king, a true queen is not identified by her crown."
Ayumi breathed in relief hearing these words, kind and wise as Noriko had always been to her. Still, breaking what did not belong to her, a relic carved for the sake of another person was still hurtful to both sides, the one who lost it and the one who broke it. That crown was akin to a memento of a woman long gone by and Ayumi did not maintain it... she broke it although for a noble cause, but she still felt sore and inappropriate about doing it. However, the dead priestess did not cross the border between the living and the dead to discuss this matter. That crown belongs to Ayumi now, and she was free to take what ever action she deems fit. Noriko quickly moved on, inquiring:
"But you have not found the spear yet, is this correct?"
Noriko was not taking the conversation slowly, aiming to reach a conclusion without burdening the girl with guilt or responsibility although it was a difficult task.
"I am afraid it is correct… but we will find it!"
"I don't know if what I said goes to Noboru. I have used up all of my power as a living priestess to seal him away as you are aware… along with him I tried to seal all evil… My seal still stands strong I like to believe… it had for the past centuries… but with the light rebirth, and the dark princess appearance… and you breaking the crown and using up its power…"
Ayumi did not need more words to understand what the priestess was trying to lead to. Evil had been sealed, now the seal is waning if not broken.
"Your light call the darkness and vice versa, it is the cycle of nature. The same way evil calls to virtue, and Amaterasu had branded this light with her name and heritage… all her enemies should seek revenge, the one who killed her will take advantage pf this for sure. As you have not found your weapon yet, it is only wise we take his first."
"His weapon?"
"Yes, a demonic sword. I have sealed it before my death in my shrine as I could not destroy it. Find it, and we will find a way to destroy it. With the light power reborn, maybe we will be able to this time."
The priestess's figure faded before her hand could reach Ayumi's, just as the latter was awoken by the first beams of the dawn. True enough, her fears had been soothed but new ones had taken their place now. After the trial with the princess of darkness, not much was said or communicated between her and the princesses of wind and earth. Clearly, everyone was drained by the shadows of their fears and past. Ayumi was still judging herself hard over pushing Chisato and fighting her, the rush of adrenaline that accompanied the incident and the refreshment she felt after spilling out the hateful words. A part of herself believed it was a trivial matter; she was defending herself and speaking the truth, why should she feel terrible about that? When did honesty and frankness become a burden to forming a bond? However, If Chisato was acting being nice and considerate, then she was quite the actress herself. Was she not playing along as well? The difference was that she did not wish harm upon her "friend" or harbor ill intentions. She could have just simply told Chisato that she did not feel their friendship compatible or appropriate but she chose not to, believing kindness as the reason since Chisato needed to boast about their friendship in order not to feel ashamed or left on a sinking boat. When did a simple friendship become so dramatic? Indeed, to be sociably acceptable and hold a respectable number of friends so you will not be called a lonely loser demanded this drama, tiresome and draining as it was. Seriously, dealing with Chiyasu was much easier despite the real threat she imposed. She did not hide her feelings, and so speaking with her was much easier though not as fruitful. Now this led to Ayumi's new rising fears; things were getting serious; as the priestess had stated before, that light was not just a part of the nature's cycle but a symbol of virtue that needed to be defended. A supposedly dreadful enemy was awakening, and logically thinking that enemy should be after her, an enemy that had killed the previous queen and diminished her light. It was not as if things were not serious before, Ayumi had seen monsters, demons, fairies, and ghosts, "befriended" two supernatural entities and relied on their protection but against that enemy, how far could they go? Will they be harmed? Will she be harmed… or killed? Did she really want this? These last few adventures were fun though not safe but she was doing something in order to help other people, like in the battle against the princesses of the stars or Laila. But this battle against this "Noboru" was not her fight, she was carrying someone's else legacy, and avenging a person she had only seen in a vision. Is it selfish to think she did not want to fight a battle with no stakes belonging to her?
She had an answer. Simply put; yes it was selfish to withdraw and runaway since it was an evil being bent on diminishing the re-birthed light. But life had went on for centuries in this gloomy state, and Laila did not make a move until the light reappeared. What if the power of the light was never reborn? Why did it reappear specifically at this time? Ayumi decided to push the thoughts to the hind of her mind and deal practically with what she'd been given. She will find the sword and decide for herself what big of a threat was the situation.
Clasping her hands in a prayer, the girl called to the two princess.
***
Flying upon Reiha's cloud, the party were headed into an ancient forest down the east of the country.
"You can still locate Noriko's shrine? Does it even still stand?"
Chiyasu asked, neither mocking nor ridiculing but after all it had been literal centuries.
"I can."
Reiha answered with these few words, making Chiyasu raise a questioning eyebrow. This time she was mocking.
"What, do you pay her regular visits?"
Reiha remained silent, which made the earth princess's eyebrows rise even higher as the silence affirmed the answer.
"You are such a loyalty symbol."
Chiyasu said as her face darkened, an unfathomable expression writing itself on her face. Ayumi could not help but look at the wind princess in admiration, not surprised as Chiyasu was.
"Noriko fought alongside us and protected us. It is only respectable for us to pay a homage to her."
"The woman has perished, Amaterasu has perished, why we are still running around and doing this, is out of my comprehension."
Chiyasu remarked offhandedly. Reiha simply deflected, voicing the thoughts Ayumi did not dare to point put in order not to start a fight.
"You say so, yet you still came along."
Chiyasu's eyes darkened further, one shade far from her dangerous aura yet she was also, thankfully, not in the mood to argue, so she simply huffed.
"As if there is a choice."
Now this sentence, only repeated by Chiyasu poked Ayumi's interest and annoyance in the same time. It was like a thorn poking her side; if she wished not to fight alongside them she could simply say so and no one would criticize her; it was not as if she a person who cared about others' opinion anyway, and there were still two princesses who did did not join the fight, one who openly declared her antagonism and another who did not appear at all. But right now, if they were to retrieve and face a vicious weapon then they probably needed all the help they could get so the girl filed this question to later.
Reiha slowly started descending into the ground. Even with Reiha's command over the wind, the journey took two hours, so Ayumi figured they might have crossed half Japan toward some ancient godforsaken forest. Over the skies, she had glimpses of the ocean reflecting in a uniting blue the serenity of the skies they were travelling. Were they on another island? Gods, she had already skipped the day at school, guilt pulling at her heart every few moment, only the conviction that this journey was of utmost importance calmed her down. Surely, she prayed this to be the case yet also admonished herself for the doubts she could not give up about this whole things.
"Nothing is recognizable anymore."
Chiyasu solemnly remarked, crossing her arms in a show of dismay.
"Indeed."
Reiha agreed with her as she stood before an abandoned wooden structure, a small collapsing cottage it seemed. Maybe it belonged to an old farmer and crumbled away after his death. Ayumi looked around but saw nothing but the green fields around the caving in house.
"So, where is Noriko's shrine? Is it still far ahead?"
"You are staring at it."
"What?!"
Reiha replied quietly, while both Chiyasu and Ayumi harmonized their surprise.
"I tried to maintain it, but after few decades what was the point? The important thing is her soul is resting in peace, I hope."
Reiha explained, a hidden grieve stroking her words. Ayumi took few steps nearer, sadness hitting her out of nowhere at the sight of the collapsing shrine left in ruin.
"So of the red pillars, the golden offerings… nothing remained. Noriko was forgotten as a priestess, just like everything and everyone."
Chiyasu commented, letting her arms dangle freely at her sides. If prayers were not offered by her hands, her eyes told a different story.
"Noriko was not interested in a luxurious shrine, she was pleased with a simple urn to maintain her ashes. As long as someone prayed for her soul, she was content. Yet people at that time gave her the highest honors... apparently, their devotion failed to last for long."
"This is wrong!"
Ayumi found herself yelling in frustration, contrasting Reiha's calm tone. She turned at her questioning:
"Did you not say she was a grand priestess that fought and warned evil spirits away? Did she not protect the villagers and inhabitants of this place? Even after Amaterasu's death, did she not continue the battle on her own and died trying to defeat Noboru and seal him away?!"
"Well, what do you expect from humans? They revere someone as long as he is helpful, once he ceases to be, they revere his memory as long as the generations still remember and are told to. Nothing lasts forever."
"Still, this is… sad…"
Ayumi could not argue back against Chiyasu's disdainful description. After all, it was not anybody's fault. Bodies decay along the years, remembrance fade along the time, names last for centuries but then are forgotten as new names arise. What matters if Amaterasu, her princesses and her priestess are nothing now but an urban legend, one that is not that famous or renowned. They have fought and protected many people but in the end they lost and died, their reminiscence dying few years, maybe decades following them.