WebNovels

Chapter 6 - The Priestess of Light

A figure floated like a cloud amidst the warm white light, like a divine star delineating the heavens' purity. It glided above the stone with the sun seal carving and as that light slowly dissipated, the refined figure of woman was revealed, wearing an ancient priestess outfit, red and white robes covering her entire body while her long dark hair with a touch of mahogany coloring it and granting it a glimmering redness cascaded upon her back, anchoring the ethereal silhouette into reality by its stark dark brightness. The two princesses were indeed taken by surprise and disbelief at seeing that woman, not because they did not know who she was like Ayumi. It was quite the opposite. They knew her well, and knew she had been dead for as long as Amaterasu had been dead more or less.

"Noriko?"

The woman smiled assuring the two astonished princesses as Chiyasu muttered in disbelief.

"How did you come back to…"

"She did not. She is still dead."

Reiha interrupted the earth princess then explained in response to the questioning stares she received:

"My wind cannot pick up the scent of the dead."

"It is true. The prince of souls has granted me this favor upon my insistence on the urgency of the current situation."

Ayumi's mouth gaped literally; now there was a priestess's soul and a prince of spirits? What next? At this point, she thought she is really ought not to be surprised by anything anymore, even if the sky collapsed on her body the way these supernatural entities have been collapsing upon her poor frying brain. The priestess did not fail to notice Ayumi's mind going blank, and smiled a sincere comforting smile at her, then turned at the two princesses, and went on:

"I am very glad to see you doing well and working together, Princess Chiyasu, Princess Reiha."

Reiha's face did not change per usual, and the priestess chose to ignore Chiyasu's mocking disdainful grunt knowing the reason and truth behind it, but that was not what she came for from beyond the death realm.

"Ayumi, dear child, I see Amaterasu's powers have reached you after all of these dreadful decades, neigh, centuries of aimless wander and drifting between unsuitable candidates."

Ayumi was plucked from her daze by the woman's gentle words. She looked at her, wishing so badly to point out that she can literally see right through her floating spirit but keeping her shocked mouth shut.

"Poor girl, you still do not know how to handle this power. I shall show you the way but I don't have much time here in the world of the living as I am already dead and don't wish to possess a human body."

And the woman can possess bodies… perfect. Just perfect! Ayumi almost face – palmed herself but controlled this urge again. Sighing, she declared to the dead woman in front of her:

"I don't wish to have this power… I have already suffered enough... I don't want it and I don't want to endanger anyone around me!"

 Noriko, the priestess, was not enraged by the bold declaration. She somehow was able to attain a brief knowledge of the latest happenings. Hearing this determined reply and noticing Chiyasu enraged face to that response, she whisked some of the remaining light she emanated from and suddenly, in a realm of void filled with nothing but white smoke and clouds, Ayumi found herself alone with the dead priestess.

 ***

"I do believe it is better this way."

Noriko, the dead spirit commented on the change in scenery isolating her and the young girl away from the others and the two princesses.

"So, you are like the other princesses? Some supernatural entity?"

Ayumi asked, already knowing the answer but in contrast to her guess, the priestess smiled shaking her head:

"No, I am just a priestess who harnessed some spiritual power along her lifespan. I am not like the other two or the rest of the princesses for that matter."

Ayumi's stares did not show any conviction so the dead woman went on trying to ease the girl:

" I am quite an ordinary human being. But sensing the power I have dedicated my life to emerging once again after decades of slumber and choosing to settle withing someone, my soul was allowed to pass to this world once again."

"This just proves you're no ordinary human being at all!"

Ayumi argued in her thoughts but did not express anything so the woman continued with her explanation:

" I see you have been endowed with the power of light, I am content it has chosen a good pure girl like yourself. I can sense no evil will inside you."

"Is this real?!"

Ayumi asked suspiciously and tiredly, she wasn't questioning the absence of evil intent, she held no grudges or ill – intentions toward anyone. She was rather questioning the whole thing.

"So this is truly a time where no one believes in the unnatural. I cannot tell whether this is good or bad, as I fear the worst might come upon this world with the return of the Queen's power."

Noriko said with a sad smile, her sharp hazel eyes softening by the glistening of longing, nostalgia and sadness. Even Ayumi felt bad for the priestess despite not knowing her yet and whether she was up to anything good or evil. So she could say thinking these words might ease her sadness:

"This is not entirely true... There is still some people who believe in unnatural phenomena, but this is beyond any of it!"

Ayumi explained, feeling sorry for the priestess for some reason yet at the same time, she could not surrender her sanity to this "supernatural" madness.

"Now, I am certain I need to make an appointment at the psychiatric clinic!"

Ayumi spoke mostly to herself, then noticing the priestess's confusion about her words, she tried to clarify:

"To see a psychiatrist… a shrink… "

The words still did not make an impression on the dead woman so Ayumi tried to make a comparison:

"He is like a doctor… for mental illnesses… people who see things they should not… that don't exist! Close to a spiritual healer from your times, I believe!"

Ayumi rambled trying to clear her meaning, then again, why was she trying to explain something new to a dead soul she believes it not to be there?! Noriko let out a small gentle laugh, covering her mouth with her hand. The gesture though composed still irritated the girl, now her own imagination was laughing at her?!

"This is all real as it can be, little girl. I gather you have already met Chiyasu and Reiha, the princesses of the earth and wind. You must have witnessed their power… and the demon who has just attacked you as well…"

Noriko inquired, knowing the girl was disregarding the truth of the matter halfheartedly. The girl exclaimed in a voice close to despair:

"I have indeed, and that's why my life has turned upside down!"

"I can understand your concerns and fury. You don't wish to harm anyone but by keeping this power hidden and refusing the princesses' help and protection you will end up bringing harm to yourself and to those around you rather than protecting them."

Noriko elaborated, sounding a little manipulative in her reasoning though this was not her intention and Ayumi realized this so she let it pass. The woman seemed elegant and powerful, above this kind of tactics. Still her words were compromising. Ayumi crossed her arms like an angry teenager and replied mockingly without meaning any disrespect to the floating soul:

"Protection? I can vouch for Reiha… but the other princess… she came after my life! She nearly destroyed my house!"

The dead priestess crossed her eyebrows, disappointment showing in her hazel eyes. Ayumi felt bad, as if she was telling a teacher on another misbehaving student… Ah, how stupid can she be?

"I can say I understand Chiyasu's anger, she was not on very good terms with the queen of light. But she is in the wrong for assaulting you… she will realize this sooner or later."

The priestess explained hesitantly, clearly not wishing to dive into more details, and she knew her last words were not that reassuring to the girl who had every right to doubt her safety by the princess of the earth side. The doubts were apparent on the girl's face but this was not what the dead woman had crossed the death and life barrier to discuss and talk about and feeling her time running out, she carried on:

"It is all right. You're absolutely right to be afraid and doubtful but I assure you what's happening is real. Behind this material world there is a spiritual one, they co – exist together, one steering the other. As time went by and civilization advanced, the presence of the spiritual world was slowly pushed back, but nevertheless it remains powerful and dominant. "

"A spiritual world?"

Ayumi asked incredulously, what did the priestess exactly mean? The world of the dead? The world of the gods? But it was neither, yet at the same time a part of both.

"Little girl, the world which we live in is weaved from and balanced by the harmony of the nature's powers and elements."

"You mean the princesses?"

Ayumi guessed correctly as Noriko nodded and continued:

"Earth, wind, fire, water and light. They all coexist to balance the world out and control its natural events. There is indeed much more hidden powers and elements but these five are the principals ones, the five major powers that Amaterasu, the previous queen of light, unified under her banner to assure their harmony."

"I know every natural event happens for a reason, even disasters but I never imagined…"

"The four princesses are not necessarily good or evil; this moral aspect adds nothing to their power or role. But on the other hand, the light's power carries a moral role. It is not just the light of the morning or the twilight of the evening... It is also connected to the goodness and purity of this world. When the princess of the light has a pure heart, one that is devoid of lust and evil, her power increases and thus her ability to touch people's hearts and souls imparting those who are lost and in doubt a ray of hope and a glint of purpose also grows more powerful and effective."

Noriko explained, a solemn tone taking over her voice while Ayumi listened forgetting her disbelief and own doubts while mesmerized by this aspect. For someone to have such a power, to be able to grant people hope and easiness… it was something needed and great without a doubt. It was something the girl admired immediately but knew, at her own loss and sadness, that she can never bestow such things on anyone. She herself was lost most of the time, convincing herself she needed nothing more than her daily routine and keeping her sadness over her parents death to herself, never speaking to anyone about the incident or the consequences it wrecked upon her heart and soul. She shook her head with a silent smile and declared, as if resigning:

"I am afraid I am incapable of doing this... reaching to the hearts and souls of the others… touching and soothing their pain… guiding them…"

Noriko watched the young girl fussing with her hands and gestures through a sad heavy tone without interrupting. This uncertainty and fear the girl was demonstrating were true for everyone, but for someone to explicitly point them out, as flows in himself or herself , that took courage though sounding cowardly and weak from a listener's prospective.

"I myself, cannot sooth my pain and indecisiveness most of the time… this power and duty cannot be right for me to carry."

The teenage girl concluded her confession, expecting the priestess to retreat in disappointment and cease this conversation that seemed like a negotiation, taking that mysterious power with her for good. Instead, she found her listening all ears, looking tenderly at her still showing her gentle smile.

"There is no weakness in this. We are all the same on the inside though some are more strong than others but this doesn't mean you should not hold to this power and try your best. Maybe, you will find what you yourself need in that power."

Although the words seemed comforting and encouraging, Ayumi still seemed unwilling and hesitant. Noriko kept her content smile adding:

"In the end, Amaterasu started out just like you. She held the same doubts about herself when she was younger but at the same time, she was determined to make a change and help those in need, including herself."

"Such a great queen held doubts?"

Ayumi wondered in earnest; if that queen was the woman from her dreams and the furious warrior that demon beast was describing then surely, she was much stronger than what the priestess was implying.

 

"Somehow, you resemble her more than you think."

Noriko replied, a whiff of memories streaming through her half lidded eyes.

"In the end, she was just a little girl like yourself, like everyone else. I knew her well since she was a kid…"

Amaterasu, who later rose to the status of the queen of light, lost her parents at an early age to the feudal lords wars, she had also lost her home and village to the vicious demons taking advantage of the upheaval. Noriko met her as a powerless piteous orphan at the temple where she was receiving her training. It did not take long for them to warm to each other. Their bond grew stronger as famine, plagues, and catastrophes brought by the battling lords and the attacks of the demons and the disharmony of the nature elements stroke everywhere, bringing one tragedy after another and leaving very few willing to help. They both felt helpless and wished to cease the cycle of suffering, but as Noriko possessed her spiritual power through her training and the holy gift she was endowed with, the other orphaned girl had nothing, nothing but soothing words ringing meaninglessly in the ears of despair. Her wish to help others was selfless, only the rage over her inability to do or change anything fueled her wish. Until, though still at the early age of fifteen, the power of the light was bestowed upon her. The spear of light beckoned to her and recognized only her. She alone could hold it along the other items of the light power; the crown and the specter. Gaining this power purified completely by the girl's selfless intentions, she stopped the warring humans, defeated the demons and exiled them to the far mountains, and in a way, subjected the other fighting four princesses of nature to her will and command, gaining their respect and loyalty, an oath that birthed harmony and peace for decades.

"Such story should end on a happy note."

Ayumi commented on the priestess's reminiscence knowing that this wasn't the end to the story, though hoping it was. However, Noriko went on:

 

"The battle never ended for Amaterasu. Greed and evil always took over the humans' hearts, and the demons always sought revenge and schemed against her. She had a dual duty; to defeat demons and thus purify them while protecting the innocent humans while also stopping the greedy evil ones and purifying their hearts. Not only the heart of those consumed by wickedness, but also the hearts of those who were lost to despair and hopelessness. Her light shone bright, a torch of hope for doubtful souls and a searing lasso against the darkness of the human thoughts and the viciousness of the demons. "

 

The priestess eyes grew even more tired and sad with this recollection; she sighed and ended her speech:

 

"Her light was not just the light of nature. It was also the light symbolizing goodness and virtue. Many desired to steal or defile her power, humans and demons alike. Her battle never ended. She sacrificed her own happiness and pleasure to maintain her light pure and strong. Even the four princesses at one time could not comprehend the path she was walking through..." 

The priestess and the student remained silent for a while. Both knowing there was still more to the story that was obviously painful, even for a dead woman whose nothing of her previous body remains except her soul that still floats freely. The princesses of nature were supposed to be by their queen's side but perhaps differences arose? Conflicting points of view? Or the worst... The power Amaterasu was endowed with, and which she controlled, now controlled her? Or it could be something more simple than all these assumptions Ayumi was making in her imagination... maybe their paths diverged because of the strain Amaterasu endured to remain a perfect example while everyone was looking up to her. But the priestess was speaking highly of her and of her selflessness which without it, she would had never been granted that power in the first place. Something else must have taken place, but Ayumi did not want to bring more sorrow to the dead woman, and she was probably running out of her permitted time by now, as her soul was becoming more transparent, fading from the bottom slowly.

"How did she die?"

Ayumi asked this time carefully. Noriko knew the question about the defeat of the great virtuous queen was bound to come in the end, and it was her duty to answer it without beguiling.

"A great evil awakened. Not a demon or a monster... but a man nonetheless…"

"A man?"

Ayumi asked in shock, a great queen with the most powerful element of nature within her command was defeated by a mere human? Noriko wasn't taken by the girl's surprise. She herself, at certain times of going through these events, still could not believe the incident.

"Yes. The man who bore the power of darkness that even a demon could not possess…"

Ayumi could imagine, for better or worse, what a hateful evil heart could bring about and the destruction it could cause whether for himself or those around him. She was a human after all, and thus she was not immune to it. she could still remember, after receiving the news of her parents death and having to move to her grandmother's house, the hatred and anger she felt toward the man who caused the car accident although it was not intentional. She hated her parents for leaving her a kid of seven – year old, she hated her grandma who tried so hardly to take on both of her parents' roles, she hated everyone, including herself for suffering the loss. The first year was the most difficult, she held a black view over everyone and everything, the troubles she caused at schools, the envy toward the other kids, the difficulty in approaching anyone or making friends… until time tended to this hatred and anger, ridding her completely of them wishfully. 

"So he killed her, in a battle I guess, with some magical sword?"

Ayumi guessed in accordance with her recurrent dreams in a melancholic tone. The priestess was surprised to hear the incident as it occurred out of the girl's mouth, but since she possessed Amaterasu's powers, maybe some of her memories or visions of her were integrated within them as well.

"That man, Noboru, had a big ambition of defeating Amaterasu and erasing her light from this world… The battle soon began between his army of demons and the princesses. A great war broke out... Noboru and his soldiers succeeded in breaking into t the palace where he faced the queen... they fought and dueled… and I am pretty sure by now that you know how their fight went down… "

Ayumi nodded, recalling the look of hatred and pain in the queen's eyes as she fell down by her enemy's sword. The remembrance sent a chill down her spine. Would she face a similar fate if she were to accept this power? Noriko's voice brought the girl out of her daze:

 

"I saw and witnessed the demise of the queen of virtue and light with my own eyes, yet I could nothing at the time. Never have I been more helpless in my entire life more than at that moment... No one was fit to hold her power. To be more accurate, the power itself refused to part from the queen's dead body, preserving it as if she was peacefully sleeping. And still, despite having a duty to carry on and a battle to settle and a foe to defeat, no successor appeared, and her soul would not reincarnate. Why, I cannot tell. But then Noboru and the demons grew more in power, everything returned to the same state of chaos and war as Amaterasu's sacrifice and efforts went up in the air. As if she had never existed. There was only one thing that I could do back then…"

Ayumi raised her head listening intently, if the power refused to leave the queen's body and her soul did not reincarnate, then how did she come to possess it?

"There was a moment when Amaterasu's powers that refused to leave her body weakened.... was it due to fortune or related to some other incident, I took the opportunity without looking into it, and extracted the power of light... I left their destination to fate, delivering them through time and space. I prayed upon every single ray of them to find the right person and grant him or her their just use. Seems it has settled and chosen you, Ayumi."

 Ayumi lowered her head, sinking heavier with thought with every said word and passing moment. Noriko approached the girl trailing no footsteps and fluttering no robes. she cupped the young girl's chin, raising her head and steering her wandering gaze to meet hers as she declared:

"In a way, you were the answer to this priestess's prayer... Ayumi!" 

Ayumi's cheeks, instead of paling from the touch of the dead, felt warm beneath the priestess's hand. A comfort ran through her restless heart and her head suddenly cleared from all doubts and fears. She looked down at her burnt hands, the pain has numbed a little, maybe due to the spiritual presence of the deceased priestess. She guessed she has to obtain the specter, the crown and the spear and through them perhaps, she should channel this power so she would not harm herself like this.

"This power is so great… it chose me but it will destroy me at this rate…"

The girl asked indirectly, but unfortunately the priestess did not hold all the answers.

 

"After releasing Amaterasu's power, I have lost much of my power myself yet with the help of an alley, and a mistake weakening Noboru's state that I don't know of, I was able to seal the beast at the cost of my…"

"Life."

Ayumi completed the sentence eyeing the calmly fading spirit sadly.

 

"You don't have to grief for me, I know I met my demise prematurely but I had to. There was no other choice for after the queen's death, the bond between the princesses did not remain strong, each taking their own sides and interests. Some remained loyal but passive, others had already betrayed the queen long before her demise. My alley hid Noboru's sword and made sure he remains sealed. But along the decades, as he controls no element of nature, I know not what happened to him. "

 

"So what should I do now?"

 

"Amaterasu's powers have finally accepted someone, whether this bodes ill or good I cannot tell. But this power, seeking revenge for the queen who held it, will surely reckon the power of evil, and in return, the power of evil, will respond to the call. I have died centuries ago, the seal I put on Noboru has surely weakened and that murderer is bound to emerge again as his goal was to destroy that power for his own purpose."

 

"Then he will come after me? but you said the princesses…"

 

"Do not be afraid young girl and hold to the power that chose you. It did so for a reason only the upcoming days can clarify. You are not Amaterasu, maybe you can unify the princesses once more! Reiha will never leave your side, I can attest to this. Chiyasu is just a confused girl with a good heart, and she will accept you eventually. If she witnesses your difference from Amaterasu and good deeds, she will learn she was mistaken."

The priestess's words did not make much sense as they carried a contradicting meanings. Then Chiyasu was not one of the princesses who betrayed their queen yet she still holds a grudge against her, a personal one it would appear. That leaves the remaining other two; the princess of the fire and the princess of the water. And what did she mean by showing the princess of the earth her differences from Amaterasu? Was not the latter the perfect example of purity and goodness that no one could live up to but only follow?

 

Realizing her spirit was fading faster now, the priestess hastened in her speech:

"That man is certain to come after you. Till then, you must assemble the symbols of monarchy; the spear, the specter and the crown. The princesses on your side will teach you how to use and channel your power through them. But Alas, I know not of their fate. You have to look for them alongside the princess of the wind and the princess of the earth. Can I trust you with this?"

Noriko asked at last, feeling bad for the confused bewildered girl who had just finished hearing a tale stranger than a drunken's dream, she realized, by this time's standards. She did not wish to force the girl into acceptance but hoped she would accept of her own will and determination and Ayumi did not disappoint her wish. Was it the feeling of guilt toward her own premature demise? Was it the thrill of power? Perhaps... but most importantly, and definitely, she saw deep within the girl's heart the desire to help others and help herself as well, not realizing that this might be the key differentiating her from the previous queen and aiding her in gaining the four princesses' trust again.

 

"I will do my best, I am afraid if I don't, those whom I love will be hurt and this is not something I wish to tolerate ever again."

Ayumi expressed with a trustful smile, and Noriko bowed her head much to the girl's embarrassment while uttering a soft "Thank you."

The cloudy area slowly dissipated, and the smoke cleared back to the forest where the field-trip was taking place. Ayumi found herself standing again between the two waiting princesses, Chiyasu eyeing her with disdain while Reiha seeming relieved at her safety.

 

As the dead priestess's soul faded into the realm of the dead once more where she belonged now, her only tether to the living one was her worry about the future and balance of the spiritual and material worlds. A thought dominated her mind; the reason why the power chose such an ordinary girl, unrelated to Amaterasu in any possible way as the latter did not reincarnate or marry, but the promise of trust and that girl's will were the only thing she could... neigh... had to believe in. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Chapters