Under the shadowed trees of the Hagane mountain forest, a man rushed down the winding path, his sandals tearing through twigs and leaves; he didn't dare stop, even as his breath turned into painful gasps.
His face is tight with panic, yet his eyes burning with determination to reach his destination.
How could he even stop when Madame Orochi's guild operatives descended on them at the first light of the morning, accusing him of stealing their weaving method .
when his life's work Tsuki no Shokushū hung in a thread.
He has to speak to Kakei-sama. She will be able to help him clear his name and regain his rights .
Ahead the forest began to thin beyond the last line of trunks he staggered, into a clearing heart thundering loudly ,not so far stood the humble household of the person known as Kakei-sama .
With a final breathless lurch he reached the step of the wooden house , collapsing in the process, knees hitting the stone walkway.
As he struggled taking his breaths the wooden door slid open , a petite woman stood in its frame her black hair clipped neatly into a low bun she wore a simple slate green kimono the sleeves tucked back slightly her striking lavender eyes took the sigh of the man before her.
her brows frowned in concern seeing the sate he is in .
Without a word she stepped forward kneeling beside him she placed her hand under his elbow with well maneuvered movement she helped him sit upright and led him inside the house .
A smell of dried herb and ink lingered gently in the air and something floral like a crushed plum blossom , it eased the tension in his shoulder , the burning of his lungs still lingred reminding of his purpose why he had run all the way here.
She guided him to a low cushion near the brazier , after ensuring he was comfortable she stood up moving with quiet graze she put the kettle atop the coals , then reached for porcelain cups on the shelf above.
Steading his breath he let his gaze drift across the room .
Scrolls stacked along the far wall , some tucked neatly in shelves, some were left piled boundless by some strings .
Through the shoji screen he spotted the garden , sheets of paper hung from lines strung between bamboo poles swaying gently with the breeze.
His attention was drawn back to the women setting down a cup of tea in front of him.
With a murmur of thanks he took the cup in his hand after blowing over the rim he drank hungrily .
He lowered the empty cup to the tray, the warmth of it lingered in his hand.
Then she broke the silence " did you run all the way here from Megan village ?"
" Yes I had no choice " he replied voice steadier " I needed to see Kakei-sama it's urgent"
A faint nod she stood quietly then mentioned for him to follow her , they moved through the house with soft steps passing shadowed halls .
She arrived to a stop near a wooden door , sliding it easily she stepped inside, contrary to the calm space of the living room , this instead was overwhelmed with all sorts of scrolls and books all over the room , the floor was a maze of parchment and bundled books not a clear path in sight .
The man looked astonished at the sight of the room .
In the heart of it all sat a lone figure at the low desk hunched , the towering books casting shadows at her hiding her from sight.
"Araxie" the women called yet no reply , only the faint scratch of the brush on the parchment and the rustle of paper that was heard.
The women let out a sigh .
Stepping carefully through the towering books surprisingly without disturbing a single pile .
She reached the desk and put her hand on her daughter's shoulder .
" Araxie " she called again, this time firmer.
The younger woman , Araxie blinked her eyes like she surfed through deep
waters .
Araxie looked much like her mother fine-boned, the kind of woman whose silence carried more weight than most people's words. But the resemblance ended there. While her mother had the softness of still water, Araxie was all angles and focus.
Her dark hair was pinned up in a practical sweep, strands falling loose where she'd long stopped bothering to fix them.
Ink smudged her fingers and the edge of her sleeve . She wore a robe in soft shades of plum and cloud-white, elegant , its sleeves rolled just enough to hint she spent more time writing.
Her eyes, a sharp lavender, flicked over everything in a calculating way .
Her gaze lifted, taking the sigh of her mother and then she noticed the additional presence near the doorframe .
" Oh a new client " she muttered a spark of interest igniting her lavender eyes , she likes getting cases they offer a welcome puzzle, something to untangle … albeit it's not always the case.
She shifted pushing some stack of papers aside to get a more clear view of her soon to be client .
" State your case then"
The man stumbled forward a step, the urgency overwhelming his exhaustion and he bowed his head .
" Pardon my intrusion Kakei-sama! My name is Takeshi of the Takeshigawa Workshop in the Megan village " he straightened seeing as he had her full attention with desperation and fierce pride .
" Madam Orichi's guild, they came at dawn and stormed my workshop accusing me of stealing their sacred Hi no Hata Weaving technique threaten to destroy my
business ".
His knuckles turned white from how hard he was clenching his fists " they Claim that I used their sacred method to create my yoru no kiku silk but they are all lies
Tsuki no shkushu is my method. I created it through years of failures and trials, years of spinning under different moons of blending moonberry stains no one considered .
it came from my hands my mind "his voice vibrated through the room carrying an intensity of creator defending his life work .
"The moment a noble merchant wore Tsuki no shakushu at last week's spring court, they moved in. Claimed it was their formula"
" It is different from their Hi no Hata method. Theirs rely on a pre-dyed process , mine was born from the thread itself !!"
His voice cracked from frustration .
" Without my right to Tsuki no shkushu without my name cleared, they won't just destroy my workshop, they will steal the only thing that is truly mine I've got nowhere else to turn . They said only a fool will dare to defy Orich i... but then I remembered they spoke of you Kakei-sama the one who sees the truth behind the weaved lies"
Araxie hasn't moved from her hunched position at the desk , her focus sharpened the spark of interest now turned into a blazing fire.
Her mother stood silently, her expression graver than before, sympathizing with the young man and the hardship he is going through.
"Orichi's guild" kakei stated , her voice low and deliberate, she tapped the top of the handle of her brush lightly against her shin in a thinking manner, ignoring the previous steam of ink " let me see accusing the inventor of stealing the thing he created " A slow title of her head " now that's interesting"
putting down the ink brush down she leaned forward " describe to me the Hi no Hata method they claim you stole , what do you know of its process ? "
Takeshi took a shakily breath , relief and surprise filled him with her immediate grasp of his authorship.
" What I know is limited " he said frowning " they guard their methods with quite fierceness" he stopped choosing his words " from what I've heard from a follow merchant the Hi no Hata method relies on dyeing before the weaving process begins , the threads are soaked in special blend felmmal leaves and cooper… it gives their silk that intense sheen "
Alexie made a quiet sound between a hum and a note of curiosity.
" And yours ?"
" Mine is different. I don't dye before .Tsuki no shakushu is relayed more on what the threads absorb while being formed"
He answered with a steady voice full of convection " the silkworms were fed with moonberry leaves infused over time with stardust ash . The yarn is spoon under moonlight it must be the moon phases alter the fiber's internal shimmer"
" But both use infusion " Araxie noted " both use metal traces, copper for them and stardust when it comes to yours"
He nodded slowly " that what they used against me , to outsiders or even trained inspectors it will appear as if I tweaked their ingredients "
" But that's not the truth, " her mother said
" No, it's not " Takeshi answered.
Arexie eyes gleamed, reaching for parchment and began sketching .
" Do you have a sample of your silk ?" She asked after she finished her writing .
Takeshi nodded and fumbled inside his satchel, drawing out a wrapped bundle of clothes.
As he unfolds it it shows the sample of Tsuki no shakushu silk it shimmered softly under the light of the brazier , it glowed faintly like moonlight on the still water.
Arexie reached out, brushing her fingers across the fabric.
" It is like it's alive," she murmured .
Her mother stepped closer in curiosity " I've never seen weaving react to light like this "
Takeshi breathed " they just want to claim it because it threaten their Monopoly , the moment the tsuki no shakushu gained attention they acted against me …and they already send words to the capital "
" so they've already started shaping the story to suite them " she stated.
He nodded " Yes and it's a question of time before the magistrate will interven in the matter , I won't stand a chance if it goes into trail their influence runs deep in the court"
A silence fell the moon silk shimmered faintly between them .
Araxie stood up .
She moved to a shelf and pulled a scroll sealed with black lacquer. With careful fingers, she unrolled it across the desk. Maps. Names. Symbols. The interconnected strands of the Silk Guilds in the region alliances, rivalries, trade lines. It was like looking at a spider's web.
Araxie didn't look up. "You're lucky, Takeshi. They moved too fast. Too arrogantly. I've been watching Orochi's guild for some time now. You brought me the missing thread."
She finally met his gaze, calm and focused with tace of amusement.
"I will take your case should be a straightforward clause-breach with a twist of fraud just the kind I enjoy "
Takeshi bowed deeply, tears shining in his eyes.
"Then I entrust it to you, Kakei-sama."