Royal Intrigue

In The Beginning

Tsukimine read from the text, barely looking at the words that were written, having heard them all her life and listened to her brother as he worked on his translation day after day. Her heart felt lonely for her home, but full with the knowledge that those around her were interested in her traditions as well.

"In the beginning, there were the heavens and the big lands, people lived in the middle kingdom and in the lands far away, but the vast nothingness of the sea mirrored the size of the heavens. The king of the heavens knew that it was impossible for those who lived in the big lands to truly appreciate the sea, to know the mirror to the world of the spirits that it was. Instead, they would stay in their own homes, too afraid to branch out and travel. So it went for years and years.

Finally, The lord of Heaven commanded that there should be land in the sea. Islands, places for the gods to walk and for their children to become mortals and create a great kingdom. To this end, Liuqui was to be made- a place where the land and the sea would touch, but neither would forget the power of the sea and the sea goddesses. The lord ordered that Amichuu descend to the land that he raised from within the earth, one of the first earthquakes, and make a home there. A place for worship.

When she arrived she found that there was dirt, good dirt, but nothing else. She sought to use her own powers to shape the land, creating homes for herself and her descendants, rocks and caves that would house their souls long after they had passed from the mortal plane. Still, she was unable to make the islands as her lord wanted, so she beseeched him to send her supplies, to allow her to make a land that would truly mirror the heavens.

The lord, known now as Gushiku, but previously by the sound of thunder in the darkest of nights, sent his messenger, Shinerikyu with her, allowing them to land on Fuchinaa. He carried with him grasses, trees, and stones made not from earth but from the materials of heaven. With these she was able to create the first castles and communities, hewing them with sheer power from the land surrounding them, causing them to rise up from the sea floor in some places and to swoop down towards the sea to allow for boats. When this was done, she saw that the world she had helped build needed more people. Unable to have s****l congress, she discounted Shinerikyu as a consort and asked Gushiku to send her material to make people, but the other gods were unwilling to leave heaven. The lands that she had created were suitable for mortals, but not for those who dwelled in the undying heavens, so they rejected her request.

Taking matters into her own hands, she combined her own self with bits of Shinerikyu, making the first men and women. Of her line there was there a heavenly child known as Tentei who gave life to three sons and two daughters; the royals, warriors, priestesses, village healers, and citizens. Through this, all the people of Liuqui can trace themselves to the gods and to their first birthplace.

Amichuu lived out her life on the islands, ensuring that they would give abundant food to the people, shelter from the elements, and that the sea would always be a source of wonder and fear. Her original home is still visited by the Noro to this day, where they offer rocks from those sent down to her heavenly soul as she watches down on us.

She also trapped the serpents that threatened us and stole our smiles away. Keeping them deep within caves, she offered them food and eternal life if they would leave us alone. The vipers saw that this was good and true, not wishing to be eliminated or cast back into the sea. They chose instead to slumber on the land, producing children who would go out into the world like the first boats to leave the island would do, choosing life for their people over their own needs. The same love the mothers of any species now show to their children.

Because of this, our priestesses do not fear the vipers. Instead, they believe that they are messengers of the spirits. They represent a veil between the water and our own world, the mirror of the spirits that we can see through. All children know to not fear them, but to offer them what they need and allow them to be on their way. Their large mothers slumber within the caves, waiting for the time when the deal that was struck by Amichuu is forgotten and they will be released. Each child of the priestesses is taught the ritual, so that even in times of turmoil we are kept safe."

After she finished reading, Tsukimine became aware of just how quiet the room had become.

"Apologies princess, I know that this is much different from what you believe, but we believe only that our lands were made this way, not yours." She feared the displeasure of the princess more than she had anticipated.

"I am not angry." Metori stroked the snake skin on the cord in front of her, seemingly entranced by the colors in the light. "Instead I find myself more touched by the gift that I have been given. It seems that the respect you have for the vipers extends far beyond what was stated by your brother. The fact that the plants themselves came from the gods makes these gifts more precious still too. He is a good ally and I am glad that he suggested you as a member of my own household. This has given me much to think about, perhaps we can hold off on the other stories until a later date? I do not wish to rush my understanding of your people. Please stash the book with my other personal writings and dim the lights for the evening."

Tsukimine bowed to do as she was bid and, amid the flurry of nighttime movement, she was shocked by the contemplative nature of her new mistress. It seemed that her brother had been right, her curiosity and wish to learn would be the biggest boon to their family if they could manage to secure the alliance that they wanted.