Returning to the priestess's shrine too soon, gloominess dominated the three girls' faces and no words were exchanged during the flight upon Reiha's cloud. Inwardly, Chiyasu was cussing at the needless situation they were stuck in, cursing Amaterasu and her inability to let her death pass peacefully without getting revenge for it and tethering everyone else to her own battle. Reiha was more practical in her thinking; she was drawing scenarios for any unforeseen attacks and weighing the different possibilities and surprises that could unfold. On the other hand, Ayumi was in awe of the mission, a little anxious, a little afraid, also considering what unexpected events might hinder their goal, but at the same time, she would be lying plainly to herself if she denied being "very" curious about getting to see with her own eyes the former queen's tomb. Perhaps what everyone one of the princesses refused to elaborate on and covered, would be told and engraved on that ancient tomb. Maybe the queen's residual power that still lingered protecting her remains might agree to communicate with Ayumi, answer her questions, give her some explanations, and guide her to fulfill her dying wish and figure out Ayumi's own wish at the same time, exposing the reason the queen's power chose her specifically among many others more capable or with a stronger will.
***
"The ashes have nothing to say, or more bluntly, the cannot talk. All the spiritual powers were drained from them. They are no different than any normal mortal's ashes and remains now."
Chiyasu declared. She had already took her time before she approached the urn asking its ashes for permission to inquire from them some information, but all what she received was silence. And it was not because they were angry at the princess of the earth, it was the priestess's wish of the princesses to use her ashes to save everyone, so no grudges or resentment were traced in them or inside the shrine. Simply, they had no more spiritual power or magic. Noriko had finally passed to the other side, leaving only her ashes and name behind for the few who would remember them.
"If Noriko had to exhaust all her remaining to purify Noboru's sword and still could not manage to…we have to be careful and plan wisely. We have to retrieve the spear as fast as possible."
Reiha commented, her uneasiness showing. Somehow, since the long awaited battle had preached the realm of the princesses realities and life, the princess of the wind, though controlling her every action and inflection of voice, seemed to be the one most in hurry to end things and get everything over with.
"Why do not we ask the other princesses? Maybe they know something…"
The idea was not to Chiyasu's liking, she no longer got along with the other princesses. Reiha was present and interacted with for her appreciated silence and reserve and actual help in battles and planning, so she tolerated her. But the others, she cared nothing for them the way she was certain they did not care for what was going on at this period of time.
"The princess of the fire is out of the question…"
Chiyasu still remarked, trying to get a reaction from Reiha, like a child poking a tiger but the reaction never came. Ayumi suggested.
"There is till the princess of the water…"
Both of the two princesses' face fell immediately, curling their lips in disapproval bordering on disgust and disdain. It was a strange synchronicity between them, so it was easy to guess that the reason behind that reaction was agreed upon by both of them.
"She's a traitor…"
"She opened the gates to Noboru."
Chiyasu went with the verdict and Reiha explained the reason behind it. So the princess of the water who did not bother to show herself till now was one of the princesses who betrayed Amaterasu, and not for a personal gain like Enya, acting on her own as no collaboration with Noboru was mentioned in her case, but the other princess had actually made a pact with him.
So, both of the remaining two elemental masters of water and fire were out of the question and no mediator could be sent. Their whereabouts were not even known or detected.
After that brief fruitless discussion, Chiyasu left the urn to its peacefulness and crouched on the ground, touching the soil and trying to get any information through telepathy with them, using what little blooms she could find or grains and gravels that had something to say… and Ayumi followed her holding the scepter and pointing it in their direction, as if trying to remind them of the queen or allow the relic to detect the presence of its previous owner's grave. She resembled an old man detecting a well or a source of water. This image earned her an exacerbated look from the princess of the earth, as if asking her "What are you trying to accomplish? The scepter won't resonate unless we are near the damned subject of its interest, you are annoying me… stop this stupidity!"
The party expanded their search to the surrounding area, reaching similar fruitless results. Ayumi thought a little before she dared to voice the sudden thought and idea that popped into her mind.
"If Noriko's shrine still stands, even if debilitated and not as grand as before… should not Amaterasu's grave be in a similar condition? Erected nearby? Was the palace close to Noriko's shrine?"
"Not really, Noriko traveled a lot to settle many unfinished affairs after Amaterasu's death so her shrine was not that near from the palace."
"Does anyone hold a personal item that is dear to Queen Amaterasu? Maybe it will resonate to her soul and heed our call…"
Ayumi allowed her romantic fantasy filled – mind to reach this solution and voice it loud and clear. Reiha did not answer, leaving Chiyasu to bent her frustration.
"You are already holding her scepter... If she were to hold anything as dear or more dearly, it would be her crown that you broke or her spear that we are trying to search for and find!!!!"
Despite the harsh frustrated answer, the girl continued to argue as they were running out of any plans, they did not even get to unveil a starting point.
"I meant something personal… something precious from her older days… a gift, a memento she held on to… before she became a queen for example..."
Reiha actually could understand the idea and resonate with it. She did not find it that idiotic anymore, and she even softened a little hearing that type of thinking but she had nothing to offer on that particular "personal" matter. On the other hand, Chiyasu's face darkened, she stood up as if poked by a serpant, an unreadable expression hovering over her visage. And Ayumi and Reiha waited patiently for what will come next, a helping hand or a fighting fist?
As expected the first did not come and fortunately neither did the second. Chiyasu paced around like a caged tiger, grinding her teeth and biting her lips, then she leapt into the bushes.
"And this reaction falls to what classification? Should we be wary or joyous?"
Ayumi wondered, and Reiha took her best guess.
"She is thinking, trying to remember or figure something out… but being wary is not an unreasonable preparation."
Ayumi nodded in agreement and both waited, setting a timer before they wasted any more precious moments and hours.
Patience was a virtue Reiha prided herself in possessing, but as for Ayumi… it was not as much. Still, she kept waiting like Reiha, walking in circles or rearranging the rocks to pass the time.
"Alright, this is enough."
Reiha declared, running out faster of her usual timer of patience. This was an urgent matter; dallying was not a choice and if Chiyasu was onto something, then they had the right to know, at least to be able to assist her.
The two girls went into the bushes searching for the princess of the earth, finding her at last crouching on the ground and gesturing in the usual way she used to communicate and talk to the flowers and soil, and Ayumi could never not admire this ability and scenery no matter how many times she witnessed it.
"Did you get to anything useful?"
Reiha asked immediately without announcing her appearance, but Chiyasu could already detect the two girls approaching to her irritation and she seemed bothered by being interrupted by them. Still, she got up shrugging her head nonchalantly.
"I was looking for a rare ancient flower I think Amaterasu liked or something… but it is nowhere to be found anymore… maybe it went extinct."
It is was a good starting point, looking for something preciously related to the late queen on a personal level that might be capable of leading them to her grave's whereabouts. The only downside was that the sought flower was already gone.
"Is not your territory a haven for sacred flowers and ancient herbs and plants? Perhaps it could be found there."
Reiha crossed her arms, aware she had hit the right point Chiyasu was taking her time avoiding it for some reason. The princess of the earth did not seem thrilled, but she acknowledged the danger of the situation s did the princess of the wind. Smacking her lips, she opened the portal to her territory, desolate and barn as always.
"What flower are we looking for? Three hands are faster than one!"
Ayumi suggested with an uplifting enthusiasm, and Reiha was already planning on aiding in the search as if she knew what flower the earth princess was looking for. However Chiyasu huffed, still crossing her arms, and answered with a board look.
"You won't be able to identify the flower, and I do not want to be held responsible if you fell into a trap here or there in this territory. Besides, three people searching equals six hands not three, unless some of them are unfortunate."
Chiyasu listed all her objections and complains regarding the suggestion to the girl who came up with it without turning at Reiha, but the latter knew quite well that Chiyasu wanted no interference so she sat on a rock and gave her patience another test while Ayumi who did not reply to the barrage of insults she had just received made sure that the rock she chose to sit on had nothing hidden or protruding, was laid over no pit or hole then sat following Chiyasu with her eyes, who was taking her time searching here and there, sometimes in their line of sight, others disappearing deep into unknown layers of that desolate hopelessness - bringing territory.
Ayumi could not estimate how much time had passed, but Reiha had had enough again. Remaining seated on her rock, and even without seeing Chiyasu, she exclaimed calmly.
"Is not this enough?"
No reply came.
"Any more wasted time and Ayumi might need to relieve herself and piss here in your territory."
The girl used as a threat widened her eyes in terror, jaw dropping slack, and her cheeks flushed in deep embarrassment she had never expected to experience in her entire life, even during her stupid elementary school performances which she hated and was terrified of, not even during the PE classes she detested deep down to the core of her heart and barely managed to survive them, both physically and educationally. On top of that, what constituted more of a greater shock to the poor embarrassed girl was hearing the self – controlled Reiha who weighed every kind word and cruel insult wisely and respectfully before speaking them uttering the word "piss" so casually. The image did not fit, it looked and felt like a fever dream. Maybe Ayumi was tripping with all those traps Chiyasu had mentioned, maybe some plants had poison that was toying with her thinking and senses. Ayumi kept looking with a slacking jaw at Reiha who did not give much thought to what turned the girl sitting close to her world upside down in seconds, with a single world.
A rustling movement was heard from a nearby bush, Reiha stood and Ayumi followed with eyes cast down, she could not come up with any reply if Chiyasu chose to hold to the threat coming from Reiha on her expense, feeling betrayed by the latter. However, like before, they found the princess of the earth crouching down on the soil, a single lonesome yellow blossom shedding the only ray of color upon the desperate land of the princess's territory.
"Did you find it? Is it this one?"
Ayumi exclaimed cheerfully, trying to divert any possible attention to what was just said and used as a threat.
"I think so…"
Chiyasu murmured, the words passing her lips with great difficulty. Through all of this, Reiha remained silent, eyeing the other princess with a suspicious all – knowing eyes. She seemed to have a lot to say but restrained herself. Ayumi noticed this, and she wished Reiha could have restrained herself earlier the same way she chose to do now.
"What is this flower?"
"A Katabami."
Reiha answered in place of of the experienced earth princess who hesitated before leaning down again whispering to lonely blossom. The other two did not need to ask what Chiyasu was up to, she was asking for clues, a location, a portal… any remains of a once grand mausoleum.
"The blossom is strangely responding although it had refused to speak for centuries."
"If it truly holds a little of Amaterasu's spirit, then it must have realized the dire situation starting to unfold."
Reiha spoke again, getting up with the most reasonable explanation as usual, while Chiyasu seemed perplexed and Ayumi felt a sudden burden of grief and sympathy taking hold of her heart; Had Chiyasu been trying all this past time to talk to that lonesome flower asking for justifications? Demanding apologies? Casting curses? Yet only at this instant, when the issue was not related to her and her feud with the previous queen, did the Katabami blossom agree to talk.
All of what was happening these days was centered around one person and her unjust death disregarding any other injustices; Amaterasu's death alone and alone.
"It is saying nothing still stands or remains of her mausoleum or tomb. However, by Noriko's spell and Amaterasu's own power and aura, her body is intact… it did not rot or decay… "
"And do we have to reach it? Is the spear absolutely there?"
"Yes, and yes."
Reiha was the one answering on pure correct guess since Chiyasu seemed not in the mood to speak or discuss anything anymore.
"And what did the flower say? How do we reach the queen's esteemed body?"
The princess of the wind returned to her respectful addressing of others, opting not to choose words like corpse or dead body or rotten flesh and bones…
Chiyasu was the only one who held the answer, she was the only one who could speak with the blossom. Hesitant to talk, she finally turned her face away still mumbling with obvious displeasure.
"The flower says the landscape had changed significantly, and she is right. There are no markings, no headstones… nothing to demonstrate its whereabouts… Finding the exact point where she was buried is near impossible… from the surface that is…"
"Can we even dig a tunnel underneath till we find her resting place? We will face the same problems, with no markings or signals to lead us."
Ayumi turned shocked at Reiha who was actually considering raiding the tomb from beneath the earth… at the mere thought of this, the young girl started to feel dizzy and tipsy, but Reiha placed the mission before anything else. Ayumi could tell the princess of the wind was prepared to erect another deserving grave of the queen, were her dead body to allow her this but at this particular instant, she was in for all the options leading to the spear.
"There is a portal than can transport us beneath where the mausoleum once was."
"It is the flower, right?"
"Yes."
Chiyasu went on with her concise answers, not looking anyone in the eye.
"How do we open it?"
"She entrusted a sole soul with the chant for the secret portal to open before her demise."
"Do not tell me it is Noriko!"
Ayumi feigned frustration, hoping her guess was true so that they can find another more decent way to reach their goal.
"It is not her."
Reiha confirmed with undisputed confidence and Chiyasu looked at her with deep contempt. Ayumi watched the two not knowing what she should do or why did the two princesses suddenly turn against each other, at least verbally, then she figured it out, and Reiha had long since know, of this fact before.
"It is you, Chiyasu!"
The three remained silent, Reiha upset at the time wasted, Chiyasu at this supposedly new unpleasant and unwanted reveal, and Ayumi still trying to find a more suitable way to find the spear without hurting anyone, even the dead queen. But with the lack of any other options or revelations, it was near impossible. The spear laid by the queen's cold body, there was no other choice. Still, feeling for the dilemma and distress Chiyasu was going through, she stepped up and told her earnestly.
"If this makes you feel uncomfortable or if it brings you conflicted feelings… then we will figure another way the same as we figured this one out!"
Truth be told, it was mostly Chiyasu who figured everything out; the personal item favored by the queen and linked to her soul and wishes, she found the flower in her own territory, and she relayed the message containing the information about the path. And above everything mentioned earlier, she was the key to it, chosen by the queen who punished her herself. But at the same time, this did not add up or make any sense. Why would Chiyasu guess correctly the flower? Why would she be the one entrusted to the secret portal? Were not the two at unfavorable odds, or was it before that incident? If anything, Reiha was the most logical choice to Ayumi, but she clearly was not in Amaterasu's opinion.
"We have no time to think of something else, and I doubt that any other choice exists. It is difficult, it is a bit displeasing and irreverent but it is nevertheless necessary."
Reiha stated her opinion harshly, cutting nay roots for negations or searching for other methods. She blew Ayumi's kindness away in seconds, but that it was appreciated by Chiyasu anyway. Like Reiha, the look of contempt befell her as well after speaking of figuring another way.
"So you decided it is settled?"
Chiyasu stood up, but she did not summon her roots or branches yet. The two princesses were still at the level of civil discussion for the moment at least.
"It is not settled by me. It is settled by the fact that Noboru is already free and is certainly trying to find a way to purify his weapon and return it to its past glory by the same logic and time we are looking for a way to get to the spear."
Reiha clarified her reason for rushing things despite their sensitivity, and the princess of the earth could only mutter under angry breaths, having no good comeback to her insightful reasoning .
"You…"
Reiha turned the girl standing at the tips of her toes ready to interfere if a fight were to erupt but gladly, none of her fears had manifested yet. Reiha asked of her politely and calmly:
"Please go and bring your scepter close to the Katabami to absorb as much as the relic can from what remains of Amaterasu's aura, it will help us guide the way faster and less dangerously."
Chiyasu raised an eyebrow at the request, and Ayumi nodded silently heading to the flower with the scepter in her hand after casting a worried look over the two princess left on their own.
"Did you finish with your dallying? You already knew the flower would lead us, you also already knew where it was yet pretended to search the bushes then the territory taking your sweet time…"
"You cannot possibly feel a shred of I what I am feeling."
Reiha's tone was serious, she was angry and Chiyasu despite hearing the truth about her delaying the mission purposefully did not back down. But then, Reiha's face returned to its neutrality and she spoke in her usual collected manner.
"Say whatever you wish to say now that she is away."
"Are you not the woman most considerate and prestigious, princess Reiha? Did you fear I will cuss and yell profanities hurting that idiot girl?"
Reiha spoke without batting an eye, and Chiyasu sneered in disbelief at this cheap display of false emotions and arrogant degrading thinking about the others held by the wind princess.
"You can do this to my face if you wish, just let's get you back in the mood."
Reiha repeated herself, clearing her purpose this time. Nevertheless, Chiyasu was still not satisfied. She was still shocked with disgust and repulsed at the embodiment of merciless coldness she was staring at and talking with.
"You really have no regard to anyone around you, you do not care for anyone's feelings or hurt... I am starting to believe you cannot even get your head warped around the idea that other people can get hurt not just physically, but perhaps more severely and deadly in their emotions and feelings... You carry this duty on because it is the only thing giving an excuse to your pathetic existence!"
"Contrary to what you believe and think, I do feel deeply and sincerely for you, but some paths cannot be avoided and certain circumstances have to be faced whether with a broken heart or a healed one."
"I cannot believe a word you say!"
"This is because you no longer trust anyone after being betrayed by the one closest to you, it is a natural reaction, a smart one in fact so I do not condone it. Would you be believe me if I told you that I wish this cycle of battle to end quickly for a personal purpose and gain of mine?"
"This do seem more likely. Someone always keeping his cool, it is the definition of pretentiousness… so whoever does that has to be hiding something."
However, witnessing Reiha's protection of Ayumi and her near fatal battle with Laila and Noboru, enduring suffocation and sustaining grave injuries while exhausting a large amount of her power proved that whatever "goal" she was claiming to be after, it did not involve harming them, or so it seemed this way for now. Doubting Reiha's loyalty or honesty was like doubting Amaterasu and Noboru's fight and battle. Reiha was not an evasive snake, if she had wanted to harm them she would have informed them then made her move with utmost ease. The whole idea sounded stupid and impossible in Chiyasu's head so she dropped the matter.
"Let's go and open that damn portal, we have tricked that idiot long enough."
Chiyasu said then left whirling like a contained hurricane, she walked fast as if escaping something or wanting to end it as quickly as possible but Reiha's words still reached her.
"Thank you for agreeing to open the portal, Chiyasu."
The latter shrugged then cast a look at her barren territory, preparing to open the secret portal leading to the unearthed underground of the queen's mausoleum.