"It is a warm spring day on the island. The stream running through the village bubbles and flows with all the vigor of child casting off their winter furs and running through the fields. The Yellow and Red Suns are both reaching their zeniths from behind each of the mountains that make the valley. The swift Sudeki birds are flitting in the sunshine and singing their song. The breeze carries the scent of fresh spring flowers to all of those gathered in the square. It is truly a beautiful day for a beautiful girl," the Priestess of Evaki began.
It was a day like this when Doku Hana was born. Now, on her birthday, the Day of Clestial Alignment, she prepares for her Rite of Passage into womanhood. The priestess is ushering her into the shrine, but Doku Hana's mind is not on the Rite. She is thinking about the Selection Ceremony tomorrow. Today is not only her birthday, but also a High Holy Day. Among other things, today the Ishikage will select the ninja in his clan that will perform the Demon Scroll Creation Summoning. The chosen few will perform the jutsu, and receive the names of those who will begin their training as well as the secret scrolls containing their personal jutsu. The scroll that every graduating member of the Ishi Arashi clan receives. Each one containing a jutsu pulled from the ether that only they can perform. She dreamed of being selected. She swoned at the thought of what her special technique would be.
"Ahem...", the Priestess Cleared her throat. "I said, what are the Heavenly Virtues of our Goddess Evaki?" she repaeated.
Stammering, Doku Hana hollowly replied, "Unwavering devotion. She continues at her task tirelessly and remains dedicated to her lost love. Purity of spirit...", she went on, finishing her memorized responses. Her family looked on in pride as their pretty little girl became a woman. They beemed thinking about what a great man she would marry. Surely her beauty would attract a man of great standing.
After the ceremony, donned in her crown of petals and her fertility wreath, Doku Hana hollowly went through the motions of humbly accepting the congratulations being showered on her, the whole while her thoughts dancing with delight at the only proposal she wanted; the Ishikage asking her to enroll in the academy. Many of the newly passed boys expressed their interest. Even some of the older boys came, as they'd been waiting for her, especially. Her good friend Chokoku Hito was approaching as the Priestess took her aside.
"Hana," she said,"you seemed a little distracted during the ceremony."
"What ever do you mean, mistress?" Doku Hana replied.
"Do you think me naive? Most girls cannot wait for this day. The beginning of their adulthood. They get to choose their suitor..."
"I'm not interested in that," Hana interrupted abruptly.
Confused, the Priestess asked, "You wish to join the clergy? I'm afraid you can't. I've had a vision concerning your husband."
"Wait, what? No, I don't want to be a priestess. I want to..." she stopped, suddenly halted by the Priestess's finger across her lips.
"Listen. This was told to me by the Sprites at dawn today. That means this is the will of the Widow. The Keeper of the Jar, the Herald of Dawn herself wishes this, which I now relate to you. Do you understand?"
Doku Hana looked on in awesome horror and confused reverance. If she were to get married, it was unlikely her husband would allow her to study with the Ishi Arashi. Unable to respond, she stared slack-jawed at the Priestess. Her amazement worn clearly on her face, she remained stunned as the rest of the prophecy was related to her. "Your future husband will be the Ishi Kage." The priestess tried to quicken her speech as she watched Doku Hana sway woozily. "You will give him a child, and that child will lead the united Elven Nations against the great Evil that is coming to this world. You will..." she stopped as Doku Hana feinted, her limp body crumpling to the floor. The family and revelers rushed in to see what had happened. Panic ensued and Doku Hana was carried off to the healer's hut before the Priestess could relate the final words of the prophecy. It would have to wait for now.
The priestess watched from the large window shaped like the Joy Bringer in the terracotta shrine. The sun beamed in on her face as she watched the girl, nay, today woman of destiny be carried away from her. The hopes of the world rested on her frail shoulders. As they carried Hana out of view, the Priestess walked to the other window, shaped like the Soul Reaper, to get a better view. The shade cast by Lotus Mountain fell across her face as she wondered aloud, "What is this Evil? Why is there no mention of it in the books? Why her?"
The priestess stared into the sunset as she brooded. She grabbed the handle on the inner wall at the appointed time of dusk. She slid the inner wall counter clockwise, the matching holes now out of place; closing all the windows and doors of the Temple of the Jar, and sealing her light inside as the suns dipped below the mountains.
It was a day like this when Doku Hana was born. Now, on her birthday, the Day of Clestial Alignment, she prepares for her Rite of Passage into womanhood. The priestess is ushering her into the shrine, but Doku Hana's mind is not on the Rite. She is thinking about the Selection Ceremony tomorrow. Today is not only her birthday, but also a High Holy Day. Among other things, today the Ishikage will select the ninja in his clan that will perform the Demon Scroll Creation Summoning. The chosen few will perform the jutsu, and receive the names of those who will begin their training as well as the secret scrolls containing their personal jutsu. The scroll that every graduating member of the Ishi Arashi clan receives. Each one containing a jutsu pulled from the ether that only they can perform. She dreamed of being selected. She swoned at the thought of what her special technique would be.
"Ahem...", the Priestess Cleared her throat. "I said, what are the Heavenly Virtues of our Goddess Evaki?" she repaeated.
Stammering, Doku Hana hollowly replied, "Unwavering devotion. She continues at her task tirelessly and remains dedicated to her lost love. Purity of spirit...", she went on, finishing her memorized responses. Her family looked on in pride as their pretty little girl became a woman. They beemed thinking about what a great man she would marry. Surely her beauty would attract a man of great standing.
After the ceremony, donned in her crown of petals and her fertility wreath, Doku Hana hollowly went through the motions of humbly accepting the congratulations being showered on her, the whole while her thoughts dancing with delight at the only proposal she wanted; the Ishikage asking her to enroll in the academy. Many of the newly passed boys expressed their interest. Even some of the older boys came, as they'd been waiting for her, especially. Her good friend Chokoku Hito was approaching as the Priestess took her aside.
"Hana," she said,"you seemed a little distracted during the ceremony."
"What ever do you mean, mistress?" Doku Hana replied.
"Do you think me naive? Most girls cannot wait for this day. The beginning of their adulthood. They get to choose their suitor..."
"I'm not interested in that," Hana interrupted abruptly.
Confused, the Priestess asked, "You wish to join the clergy? I'm afraid you can't. I've had a vision concerning your husband."
"Wait, what? No, I don't want to be a priestess. I want to..." she stopped, suddenly halted by the Priestess's finger across her lips.
"Listen. This was told to me by the Sprites at dawn today. That means this is the will of the Widow. The Keeper of the Jar, the Herald of Dawn herself wishes this, which I now relate to you. Do you understand?"
Doku Hana looked on in awesome horror and confused reverance. If she were to get married, it was unlikely her husband would allow her to study with the Ishi Arashi. Unable to respond, she stared slack-jawed at the Priestess. Her amazement worn clearly on her face, she remained stunned as the rest of the prophecy was related to her. "Your future husband will be the Ishi Kage." The priestess tried to quicken her speech as she watched Doku Hana sway woozily. "You will give him a child, and that child will lead the united Elven Nations against the great Evil that is coming to this world. You will..." she stopped as Doku Hana feinted, her limp body crumpling to the floor. The family and revelers rushed in to see what had happened. Panic ensued and Doku Hana was carried off to the healer's hut before the Priestess could relate the final words of the prophecy. It would have to wait for now.
The priestess watched from the large window shaped like the Joy Bringer in the terracotta shrine. The sun beamed in on her face as she watched the girl, nay, today woman of destiny be carried away from her. The hopes of the world rested on her frail shoulders. As they carried Hana out of view, the Priestess walked to the other window, shaped like the Soul Reaper, to get a better view. The shade cast by Lotus Mountain fell across her face as she wondered aloud, "What is this Evil? Why is there no mention of it in the books? Why her?"
The priestess stared into the sunset as she brooded. She grabbed the handle on the inner wall at the appointed time of dusk. She slid the inner wall counter clockwise, the matching holes now out of place; closing all the windows and doors of the Temple of the Jar, and sealing her light inside as the suns dipped below the mountains.
) Like to read the next chap!
