As Bankei-san spoke, I let my gaze wander around the surrounding crowd. I could see a variety of expressions, some fearful, others hopeful, yet more ptive. I also spotted several beings like Shirohebi, though none were amongst the Susanoo seats other than Shirohebi themself. Well, it’s obvious that others would be able to do what I do. Kikuchi Shuta-san proved that when with my guidance he mao create a Throne of Heroes…

  “We have carried faith for fifteen hundred long, often bitter years.” Bankei-san’s voied, rid deep, his oratory crisp and evokiions of loss. “Upheavals, wars, the destru of shrihe pilging and rapihat often apanied such times. Not every kami is remembered, many are lost to the sands of time, the hss ever flowing.” He sighed, the sound eg over the speakers. “Though new shrio new kami were established, and sometimes a prosperous, fortunate bloodline would split off, dedig themselves to a new faith.” There were some nods and murmurs of agreement at that, and that answered one of my questions.

  Prince Shōtoku, the kami we met at Tsukuyomi-jinja, the Diviner’s shrine, I remember from my old history lessons that he was born ie five hundreds, right? That would be after the Gods withdrew and the Astral receded from Earth. So if the shrines during that and ter periods occasionally established branch families, that would expin how ter kami deified by the popuce could still have true shrines and temples. Though more iing is that kami still be created, evehe Boundary is all we had. Though I suppose the Prind other simir kami would be like Shirohebi, rather weak pared to the true divinity that are still distant from us, up in the higher Astral…

  As I pohe meism for being a kami, suspeg it was simir to my Fae-Souled css in a way, or perhaps required a lot of adherence, I listeo Bankei-san as he tio speak. “But as the years, the decades, the turies marched on, our bloodlihinned. Perhaps it was the loss of so many families, f us t in new blood or marry outside the web of faith, or perhaps it was the distance of the Gods from us, but powers we took frahe ability to create miracles, to heal the sid dying, to jure fire and lightning to smite our eo listen to the wind and the rain, hearing the voices of the kami… that dwio mere flickers of power. Though a phtfully ours, this humble one says it still was.” He boomed, his talent for speaking impressing me further.

  “Uher tries, who stood firmly oar of sce, and purged anything that did not fit their secur dreams, we were isoted, protected. The Tokugawa shogunate kept our nation isoted for two hundred and sixty-five years. Only ieen sixty-eight did we open our borders, and that… well, that was the beginning of our sed, more rapid dee.”

  It really is like being back at school. Eri and I both studied Sakoku, the isotionist period. But to think it would be relevant here… I could see Shaeu’s eyes gzing over at the talk, and I held in a grin.

  “First, Western sd beliefs came in with renewed vigour. The Christian faith, which had first arrived four hundred and fifty years ago, only to dwindle during the Sakoku period, came back, bringing with it dao our native faiths. There were… is, as I am sure many of you know about. But worse was sce. With teology and ease of life, faith perishes, and over time belief in the kami, the Gods, became mere rote tradition. And then… the greatest blow…”

  He paused dramatically. “The Sed World War! Whether right , Japan fought and lost, and in the war and the subsequent occupation, more true shrines and temples were despoiled, more bloodlines lost than ever before. And worse… our truest bloodlihe Imperial Family, said to be desded from Amaterasu…”

  At that, Princess Mikasa looked down, biting at her lip.

  “… they were forced to ret their divine blood. And from then on, we have truly been forced to hide our lineage, as with the advent of television, cameras, the i and more, we would be discovered, studied, worse…”

  That was Kana’s reasoning as to why she and her father kept their talents hidden. And it’s a good one. I know iionally there are several rather rge prizes for anyone who demonstrate genuine magical or psychic powers, but… yeah, those are traps, most likely. Sce has definitely made the world a better po question, but it be ruthless in search ress. I bet many stists wouldn’t think twice about doing horrible deeds to uhe secrets of magic. I couldn’t help but think of Ixitt then, our own resident mad stist, no, Mortal Engineer…

  “But now, this humble one, and all of you… the times have ged. The past is the past and now we have to decide how to face the future. There are those chosen by the Gods themselves among us, and the once lost spiritual realm alongside ours, it is now accessible once more. There are those among us who are Chosen. So, we now o plot a course.” He lowered his voice spiratorially, through the microphoill made it audible to all. “We survived fifteen hundred years of gue, rebellion, cshes of faith and worse, because we were, if not uhen of one mind to protect our secrets and our faith as a whole. Those that tried to betray us did exist, though fortuhey were few in number. We made hard choices, and our hands were bloody, but we survived. For this day.” He took a deep breath. “Now, I shall allow a moment to reflect, while Kudou-san prepares to update you on the current nature of the Chosen of the Gods, and what we know.”

  He nodded, stepping back, and around the hall people started talking as Kudou-san was discussing something with Saionji-san and Uchida-san. “So, what do you think, Akio-kun?” Chiyo-san said, turning to me. “How would you proceed from here?”

  “That’s obvious. You were at meeting. You know my aims. Look, keeping the faith preserved through all these years, and still a secret, it’s an amazi, just like Bankei-san said. I think it helps that anese are generally superstitious and if we don’t actually believe in yokai and kami, we don’t disbelieve.” The difference was subtle, but it was there. “But now, we ’t keep it under s much longer, as the number of didates outside the faith far outweighs those within, who are used to keepis, hiding their meagre gifts, and generally being wise. All it’ll take is one idiot, and this all gets out. Which is why we o act fast and bring everyone under one aegis before the iable happens.”

  “The Ministry, yes?” She said, and I hough before I could eborate, Kudou-san had takeage, holding another microphone.

  “Well, this is all rather dull, is it not-not?” Shaeu yawned. “We already know this.”

  “Yes, but they have t all the shrines and temples up to date with the same level of knowledge before we decide on anything, so just bear with it, okay?”

  She s that, but held her silence, as Kudou-san spoke. “It is unusual for the three of us… well, the four of us, I guess…” he apologised to Bankei-san. “… to agree on much of anything. Yet here we are. The decisions we make here will shape our future, the future of Japan, the future of the world. So, we o have a grounding on the basic facts. Sadly, most of you will not know, or have never met, any of these new Chosen, as they are rather rare. How rare? Well, Takakura-sama, our old friend, has provided us with information. Some of it from a surprising source.” I felt his eyes on me for a moment. “It seems that we are fortunate, and rewarded for our faithful service to the Gods, as the rate of the Chosen amongst us is far higher than the average popuce. We estimate that out hly a hundred and twenty-five million, there is no more than two thousand. That’s one in sixty two thousand, roughly. The Gods scatter their favours but rarely, it seems. Yet amongst us here… the two thousand five hundred of us, there are actually over twenty Chosen. Though a couple are… guests.”

  Many in the hall were looking at us, and I let it wash over me, though Eri was shrinking in against me, shy.

  “You do the maths.” Kudou-san tinued. “While our numbers are small, the inces of the Gods choosing us validates our faith. And it also gives us a responsibility. Because… why have the Gods graced us with their powers, after so long? The simple answer is… we do not know.” He said, and there was sile the ued answer. “Of course, we have some educated guesses.” Kudou-san tinued. “Though we rely a lot on the word of the Gods and those that they chose.”

  Yeah, just like I rely on Ortlinde’s word that danger is ing. Or I did, anyway. It’s obvious from seeing the nds of the Fae, and the effect of Territories oerial, that there’ll be danger and chaos eventually anyway. Besides, it was clearly better to be prepared for the worst, rather than ign the possible threat.

  “Of course, for us, the true faiths of Japan, what could be more natural?” Kudou-san grinned. “If we do not trust ods, who we trust? So, the reason we have been given is that, with the return of the spiritual, our world will be in danger from other pces, other realms. Yes.” He said, his smile broadening. “The Ameris with all their telescopes and radio dishes, they didn’t find alien life, but it is out there. And it may not be friendly. However…”

  He paced the stage, looking over the crowd, separated into froups, speaking to each fa. “… even if that is not the case, the situation is still troubling. Because it is not Japan alohat has been blessed by the Gods. No, roof this phenomenon is worldwide. And if the ratio holds, then tries with much rger poputions, such as our neighbour to the West that doesn’t think highly of us…” he scratched his beard, pensive. “… well, we will be quite outnumbered in this new order of things.”

  Yes, that’s obvious. tries with a rge popution have an advahough as her ratio here proves, ties with a strong legacy of faith and tradition will be well-served too. A try with both though… I wasn’t an expert on ese traditions, but if stories such as Cultivation had any basis in fact… well, then they could be extremely well-provisioned with didates.

  “Of course, most of you will wonder why that matters. After all, you are used to the fading sparks of power we have hoarded over the years.” Kudou-san tinued. “Tiny fmes, healing cuts and scrapes, minor feelings of aversion to danger, other miraculous yet useless feats. But the Chose bound by suo, they have the poielded fifteen hundred years ago. I shall be clear.” Kudou-san decred. “Until now, the blessed Lady Diviner, who we all vee, was the only one amongst us with any true power, her visions clearly divine providence. But now anyone have such power, be it divination, healing or destru. We have arranged a demonstration, just to erase all doubt. Yamato-kun, if you would.”

  “I see he is going to call on his tin-tin soldier again.” Shaeu scoffed. “Well, I fess it does look impressive, if naught else.”

  As Eri snickered at that, Yamato-san stood up from the front row of the Susanoo se, where he was sitting near Hikawa-san, and resple in his decorated robes, he took to the stage.

  “You all know me. I am Uchida Yamato, son of Uchida Ren, the leader of Susanoo. And now I am so much more. Thanks to my faith, Kannon herself, Goddess of Mercy, has gifted me her power, to call upon Warriors of Gold. Behold!” he decred grandly, making me sigh at his theatrics. Though I fess that everyone else is impressed.

  As the golden statue winked ience seemingly out of nowhere, the female figure nearly seveall, carrying a rge golden shield and crest-headed axe, the hall burst into shocked cries. Men and women were panig, talking over each other, and some were even standing, rushing over towards it to check if it was real, though they paused in fear as the warrior brandished its axe.

  Looks like those who are didates or know one aren’t shocked, but everyone else is in an uproar. With my keehough, I noticed that despite his triumphant expression, Yamato-san was rather pale, and his fingers were trembling. Sino-one was looking at me, I covered my Eye to shield the gloeeked at him, only to see his aether stocks were dwindling to a minimum. Yeah, without the higher ether density in Kiyomizu-dera, it’s taken a lot out of him maing that here, I doubt he could maintain it for long…

  “I think that proves our point. My thanks, Yamato-kun, it is quite impressive, and worthy of Kannon.” At that, Yamato-san dismissed the warrior, bringing masps from the audience as it simply vanished, faint sparkles of silver and rainbow light all that remained, which quickly vaoo. As he strode back to his seat after rec what energy he could, our eyes met, and he iffly. What’s that about?

  Ba stage, I could see Saionji-san hiding a smirk, and I wondered why that was. I had little time to ponder (and wasn’t going to waste the effort with Split Thoughts to think about it) as Kudou-san pulled everyone’s attention ba. “As you see, the Gods have blessed us. There are others with simir, varied gifts. It is simply not possible to hide matters for long, no matter what we decide to do. To that end, I call upon Takakura-sama to speak on what the nobility and the gover have decided so far.”

  As Takakura-san took the microphone, I realised his eldest granddaughter Katsuki-san was in attendance, sitting not too far from me. Still, my attention was on the elderly Takakura-san, as he stood in front of the croere still buzzing over the reveal of the Golden Warrior. He waited a while, allowing matters to settle, before he spoke.

  “There is little o introduce myself. The Takakura family has been nobility in Kyoto for as long as the faith has endured. Indeed, we have a legacy of our own, and our own shrihough our once-proud bloodline has bee rather diluted in time.” He gnced apologetically at Katsuki-san. “However, we have never fotten our roots, and have always acted as the bridge between the seobility, the gover and the Imperial Family, much as the Priestess of Ise always has.” At those words, the Princess looked down again, tense.

  “Now, however, our mediation is needed more thahe emergence of these abilities poses a greater threat to the stability of Japan than anything seen sihe war. No, it will likely exceed that chaos worldwide, when the popuce at rge finds out about it. And find out they will, as Kudou-san said. Make no mistake…” he warned. “… a secret known to so many ot be secured for long. Already there have been several near-misses, where only gover intervention has stopped the leaks. Imagi, if a statue such as Uchida-san summon was called in the middle of a school, crushing and killing pupils and teachers alike. Or…” he lowered his voice. “… as has already happened, a Chosen blessed by a cruel God used their power to abduct, torture and kill i people. Fortuhe perpetrator was stopped and received justice, but such power surely lead the weak-willed into temptation. He will not be the st monster we have to face.”

  Kondou Kazuo. That bastard. I already khe position of Takakura-san and the gover, so I tuned out most of his talk, as he discussed the need for maintaining secrecy as long as possible, and the pns for a Ministry to oversee everything. In fact, a good k of it is my pn, anyway. “… as the shrines and temples of the faith have a long history of managing such abilities, and have many Chosen, we ask your cooperation. In exge, there will be iives and protes.” He finished. A bit light oual details, but yeah, that’s for ter discussion.

  “Thank you, Takakura-sama.” Kudou-san said as he finished. “Now, I would call upon the Priestess of Ise, the most honourable and divine of shrine maidens, Princess Mikasa, who carries the will of the Imperial Family.” At that the crowd focussed, and uhe gaze of more than two thousand people, the Princess gathered herself, managing a wan smile. Taking a microphone, she stood, her red, white and gold hakama shimmering uhe lights.

  “I… well, this is difficult. I never expected I would ever be called to a cve.” She managed a weak ugh. “The Imperial Family, my family… we have always cimed to have the blood of Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun, within us. There are those of you here who worship Amaterasu, and yes, even one of the fas here is named in honour of oddess.” Saionji-san looked proud at that.

  “Even so… divine blood. I… as the Priestess of Ise, it shames me to admit, but I didn’t really believe. I’m sorry.” She apologised. “I was tent to live my life outside the public eye as much as possible. I’m not the most outgoing person, you see.” She ughed a little, nervous. “And I’m certainly the least bold Princess in the world.” She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “But that choice is gone. For the truth is…” she paused, allowing tension to build, her oratorial skills overwhelming her shyness. “… I was wrong. Whether the Imperial Family has the blood of Amaterasu or not… she does exist. For I am one of the Chosen of the Gods.” At that moment a bright sun bloomed, shining above her head, and I could feel the heat on my face from here. Some of the cloth and tapestries around the hall started to smoulder, before springing into fme, and she gasped, realising she had gooo far.

  The sun winked out of existence, and as several priests and shrine maidens grabbed nearby fire extinguishers and doused the fmes, she slumped down in her chair, exhausted. “I am not skilled in trolling the power of the Goddess.” She admitted. “Dive me.”

  I feel light energy, no, sunlight from that. It makes Ren-san’s look like a dle though. I wonder if Aiko get as strong as that if she trains hard?

  “As to why I have been grahis power… well, every try has a legend, and ours is, if the Imperial Family does not have a shrine maiden, a Priestess, at the Grand Shrihen Japan will fall. I am just the test tasked with the role, yet the burden has fallen to me… I wish it went to someone else, but it didn’t. But that is irrelevant. What matters is… what does the Imperial Family want, how do we wish to deal with the return of the old, the faiths? Well, I have spoken to father and grandfather, grandmother too.” She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “We want stability, and Japan to remain a try of the old ways, yet adapting to the modern world. Chaos is ao us. So… please e to a sensus. We ’t have everyone doing as they please. There is too much at stake.”

  With that she bowed, ale appuse went through the room. As the relieved Princess pced down her microphone, Kudou-san spoke once more. “Our thanks to the Princess, now true heir to Amaterasu! That sun sure was brilliant, wasn’t it?” He grinned, stroking his beard, amused. “Obviously Princess Mikasa and Takakura-sama will have more to say, ohe discussion starts, but finally, before we begin… I would ask Lady Divio speak.” He passed the veiled woman a microphone. “Everyone knows of her, though few have spoken to her. Up until now, she was the oh the truest powers, the like of which had not been seen sihe Gods abandoned Japan. We have used her gift to avert disasters both amongst the faith, and the wider try. And now, her guidance is more important than ever!”

  He bowed, and the woman stood, her uhly presence bringing the hall to a hush. Yes, there’s something very special about her. But… she seemed so very sad and afraid.

  “I am the Diviner. And I prophesise… Japan, no, the very world itself is fag doom, and will surely be destroyed!”

  ShipTeaser