Prince Shion gazed over the shattered throne room.
Luckily, no one died. A few people were badly injured, but that was all.
His gaze fell on the flower Haru had dropped. His lips trembled slightly.
These gods have gone too far.
Why must I atone for something my ancestor did in some forgotten age?
The pain in my body, which I've carried since childhood, is one thing.
But taking the key right from under my nose, after all these years of searching… that's an insult.
Shion apologized to everyone present, saying he needed to consult with his trusted advisors.
In truth, there was only one: his sister, a mage and a prophet, the "advisor" he had mentioned to Haru.
Shion made his way out of the throne room via a back passage, then took a secret route known only to the royal family.
He went straight down to one of the underground chambers.
In the dim light, a woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes waited. She wore a silver cloak over light armor and sat on a large square stone block in the center of the room, its purpose unclear.
"You don't need to say anything," she spoke gently. "I can grant you the weapon of the last god who sided with us, but it will only make the pain in your body worse."
"I can handle it, sister. I've been trained to mask it since I was little."
"Still, if you take the weapon of an allied god, it's possible you'll bring upon yourself pain beyond imagination. If you're willing to do that for the key, then…"
"Yes," he replied firmly. "Ayame, we can't waste too much time. Every second counts."
Ayame sighed. Being called by her name always meant he was serious.
"Alright, if you're already set on that," she said, stepping down from the stone block.
Her hands glowed with golden light.
"Besides–," Shion said more quietly, "that wind god really gets on my nerves. How dare he kidnap Haru? I'll kill him, even if I have to tear the sky apart to do it."
As Shion finished speaking, the stone split in two. A katana with a blue hilt, gleaming gold, floated in the air.
Shion grasped the hilt.
He clenched his teeth and hissed in pain.
Since birth, it had felt like his body was burning from the inside. No medicine or healing magic could help.
Shion had learned to hide his pain, keeping a perfect expression that gave nothing away.
He was convinced that bearing the agony in silence and loneliness had become a part of him.
Yet, despite his best efforts, a single scream escaped.
"Brother…" Ayame whispered, her voice shaking with worry.
Shion gritted his teeth.
For Haru… for a normal life…
Ayame watched her brother with deep concern and sympathy. Even if she wanted, she couldn't help him.
Shion fought alone against his own body. It was crying from tormentig suffering, but his face remained calm.
His disciplined spirit and willpower pushed him forward.
After a long struggle, he regained control over the pain.
Once again, he won that battle.
Shion took a deep breath, and Ayame saw his steady smile return.
"I'm ready," he said.
Ayame nodded, wishing him luck. Shion exhaled in relief.
Back in the throne room, the prince apologized for his absence and went to where Haru's hairpin lay.
The flower still carried the aroma of his perfume.
Shion delicately attached it to the hilt of his sword, thinking of Haru.
The sweet scent of Haru filled the air.
A storm of fury rose in Shion.
*
Haru awoke, bound and gagged. He was lying in what looked like an abandoned nest.
He couldn't move, trapped on his side. In front of him stretched only a sea of clouds and the distant peak of a mountain.
"I can't believe the key appeared after all these millennia. I was sure we had prevented it," said the wind god who had taken him. He was clearly speaking to someone else, but Haru couldn't turn his head to see who.
"I don't know why we're bothering at all," said a second male voice. "We can't kill the key unless one of us is willing to sacrifice themselves."
"How many times do I have to tell you to just wait?!" yelled an irritated female voice. "Five more years and we'll regain the Fire of Eternal Glory. Then we'll be safe from wars over our thrones."
"In five years the key could heal the Hoshigane curse. And then we'll have neither fire nor peace in the heavens," the wind god replied.
"But we can just wait for the key to starve, right?" asked the woman again.
"But then disasters will fall on humans – plagues, famine, one after another," said a third god, his voice shaking slightly.
"So what? They'll pray to us even more, hahaha! We can leave him here and think about how to crush Shion," the goddess laughed.
"Don't go too far," said the wind god sternly. "Losing the chance to improve his fate will hurt him more than anything."
Haru couldn't take it anymore. The stress broke him, and tears streamed down his face.
I don't understand any of this! Shion, please save me! And when you do…
…we really need to talk. I can't be your key if I don't know anything about what's going on!
Besides, I didn't know the gods could be so cruel. I won't believe in any of them anymore!
Shion… anyone! Someone, please save me!
*
Shion left his chamber in the dead of night, when everyone was asleep.
Or so he thought.
He wanted a discreet escape, but ran into Gari.
"Boss of my boss! Where are you going?" she asked directly, then noticed the prince's sword.
"That's obvious," he said, struggling to control his emotions. "Why aren't you asleep yet?"
"I couldn't. I feel like total crap. I messed up such an important day at work… and besides, I went out looking for the toilet and got lost, hehe ," she added, a little embarrassed.
Shion sighed.
"Then I'll be on my way."
"Wait, Prince. Can I come with you? After all, Haru's my everyday boss, haha."
"No."
"Please, please, please! I messed up so badly, and I want to make it right!"
For some reason, Shion couldn't refuse. Perhaps because her tone and the light in her eyes were disarmingly honest.
"Fine."
"Awesome!"
"But only under one condition. You obey my orders completely and don't run ahead on your own."
"Understood!" Gari replied enthusiastically. "Just one more question, boss of my boss."
"Yes?"
"Could you remind me where the hell the bathroom is? This palace is sooo huge!" she said with a slightly silly grin.