[Anglais] ça remue à Tengoku
Publié : 24 mai 2008, 08:20
The City of Remembrance was a quiet place, a place of meditation and contemplation. It was also a center of commerce for the Phoenix Clan, but those who were tasked with overseeing such activities understood and appreciated the sanctity of the city, and took steps to ensure that their activities were restricted to certain sections out of sight of the grand temples. This was done out of respect, and it was one of the many reasons that Agashi Miyoshi was such a zealous advocate of the Phoenix Clan. What other clan would voluntarily show such inconvenient deference to the priests of the kami?
Today, however, those thoughts were far from Miyoshi’s mind. The temple where she was the head priestess, the Temple of the Seven Dragons, was unique throughout the Empire. It was built upon the spot where the great dragons had chosen their first Oracles, binding them forever to the mortal realm. Here and here alone, those who possessed the skill to do so could speak not only to the dragons’ spirit vassals, but even to the great Elemental Dragons themselves. Miyoshi had been among the first to discover this, and of the handful of Phoenix who had been able to reproduce her feat, she remained the shugenja to whom the act came the most easily.
Or at least, it had come easily.
It had been weeks since any of the shugenja at the temple had been able to commune with the great dragons, Miyoshi included. This was highly unusual, and while the priestess had given no sign to those who looked to her for guidance, she was greatly worried. Finally, she had fasted for three days and undergone a complete ritual purification, and had locked herself within one of the small shrines and meditated. She had been meditating now for more than a day without ceasing, and she had determined that she would not stop until she had discovered an answer, one way or another.
Good and truthful one, a voice suddenly boomed in her mind. You are truly among the faithful.
Miyoshi ground her teeth. She had become accustomed to the sheer magnitude of the dragons’ presence, but this time was difference. There was some sort of… she was not certain what it was. Some sort of noise in the background, a hideous, keening drone that made it almost impossible to concentrate. “Great dragon,” she replied, speaking loud to help her overcome the noise, “to which of your number does this humble servant have the honor of speaking?”
I am Thunder, the dragon answered. It is likely that the others will be unable to speak with you from this point forward. Unable, or perhaps simply unwilling.
The words chilled Miyoshi’s very soul, but the droning persisted. “Great Thunder, something is different. What is it I hear other than your voice?”
It is the celestial discord that plagues the Heavens, Thunder answered. Tengoku is in tumult. The balance is shifting, little one.
“I do not understand, great one. Have the Phoenix displeased you?”
There was a great, thunderous chuckle. Your clan is no more guilty than any other, it replied. For over a thousand years the Celestial Order has maintained perfect balance in all the realms. Within the last century of time, as mankind measures it, the upheavals have been nearly constant. Man has usurped too great a role in the universe, and the time of that being tolerated has come to an end.
Miyoshi’s mouth was suddenly as dry as ash. “What has happened?”
Jade has ascended to the highest level of the Heavens, Thunder said. It challenges the mortal who sits atop Tengoku for the Mantle of the Sun. Its sibling Obsidian likewise moves against the human who calls herself Lady Moon.
“Oh, Fortunes,” Miyoshi said quietly.
The Fortunes stand aside, Thunder said. Those who were once mortal obey the commands of the Seven, who support Jade and Obsidian. The other dragons likewise support them, and the Heavenly Court has not the power to oppose them, even if they wished to do so. The great dragon rumbled as it spoke. Man’s dominance over the Heavens is at an end, little one. Spread the word to your kinsmen. There shall be a reckoning.
And for all the questions that had plagued her only moments ago, Miyoshi could think of nothing else to say.
Today, however, those thoughts were far from Miyoshi’s mind. The temple where she was the head priestess, the Temple of the Seven Dragons, was unique throughout the Empire. It was built upon the spot where the great dragons had chosen their first Oracles, binding them forever to the mortal realm. Here and here alone, those who possessed the skill to do so could speak not only to the dragons’ spirit vassals, but even to the great Elemental Dragons themselves. Miyoshi had been among the first to discover this, and of the handful of Phoenix who had been able to reproduce her feat, she remained the shugenja to whom the act came the most easily.
Or at least, it had come easily.
It had been weeks since any of the shugenja at the temple had been able to commune with the great dragons, Miyoshi included. This was highly unusual, and while the priestess had given no sign to those who looked to her for guidance, she was greatly worried. Finally, she had fasted for three days and undergone a complete ritual purification, and had locked herself within one of the small shrines and meditated. She had been meditating now for more than a day without ceasing, and she had determined that she would not stop until she had discovered an answer, one way or another.
Good and truthful one, a voice suddenly boomed in her mind. You are truly among the faithful.
Miyoshi ground her teeth. She had become accustomed to the sheer magnitude of the dragons’ presence, but this time was difference. There was some sort of… she was not certain what it was. Some sort of noise in the background, a hideous, keening drone that made it almost impossible to concentrate. “Great dragon,” she replied, speaking loud to help her overcome the noise, “to which of your number does this humble servant have the honor of speaking?”
I am Thunder, the dragon answered. It is likely that the others will be unable to speak with you from this point forward. Unable, or perhaps simply unwilling.
The words chilled Miyoshi’s very soul, but the droning persisted. “Great Thunder, something is different. What is it I hear other than your voice?”
It is the celestial discord that plagues the Heavens, Thunder answered. Tengoku is in tumult. The balance is shifting, little one.
“I do not understand, great one. Have the Phoenix displeased you?”
There was a great, thunderous chuckle. Your clan is no more guilty than any other, it replied. For over a thousand years the Celestial Order has maintained perfect balance in all the realms. Within the last century of time, as mankind measures it, the upheavals have been nearly constant. Man has usurped too great a role in the universe, and the time of that being tolerated has come to an end.
Miyoshi’s mouth was suddenly as dry as ash. “What has happened?”
Jade has ascended to the highest level of the Heavens, Thunder said. It challenges the mortal who sits atop Tengoku for the Mantle of the Sun. Its sibling Obsidian likewise moves against the human who calls herself Lady Moon.
“Oh, Fortunes,” Miyoshi said quietly.
The Fortunes stand aside, Thunder said. Those who were once mortal obey the commands of the Seven, who support Jade and Obsidian. The other dragons likewise support them, and the Heavenly Court has not the power to oppose them, even if they wished to do so. The great dragon rumbled as it spoke. Man’s dominance over the Heavens is at an end, little one. Spread the word to your kinsmen. There shall be a reckoning.
And for all the questions that had plagued her only moments ago, Miyoshi could think of nothing else to say.
