Chapter 348 - Weighing Status

Yuzu kept her senses alert as she stepped through the portal, keeping a close eye on the tapestry of fate as her small group arrived inside a vaulted hall.

The golden weave glimmered around her, shimmering softly in her spiritual vision, swirling around their owners, interwoven with the others present. There were other threads, faint and light, influences on each of their futures, people that they were yet to meet and interact with.

In Fuha, Yuzu had spent months immersed in the tapestry with nothing to do but watch it. See how it flowed and reacted to her touch, feel the current that naturally drew the fates of people together, as if they were all floating on a river of fate toward their destiny. 

As Yuzu watched the tapestry she kept an eye out for disturbances in the weave, places where the strings were missing or out of place, where they didn’t follow the natural flow.

People like Char Char and her two security company companions acted this way on the tapestry, their threads faint and inconsistent, cutting lines in the weave. Powers of concealment that hid the future from her formed holes. Yuzu’s own powers caused the tapestry to warp due to her touch.

In this hall, Char Char and friends aside, the tapestry looked calm and at peace.

Lord Noga and Robin’s threads were clearly legible to her, as were the golden threads of several dozen priests that occupied the building that they had arrived in.

It doesn’t seem like Lord Noga has tried to hide from my powers, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t taken countermeasures against me... Yuzu thought to herself cautiously. I wonder too, is this meeting part of Akahi’s plans? Her influence is so subtle, I still can’t sense her touch.

One thing she did know for certain was that Renshu was the one that had initiated this meeting. She could feel the energy of his thread lingering around Lord Noga’s fate.

The sound of hymns being sung by a group of the priests reverberated through their surroundings, giving off a feeling of holiness.

“Where is this?” Yuzu asked using Fate Cycling.

“We are outside the Hall of Vows, in the grand cathedral in Boundary.” Robin Lang replied.

Boundary was a small city state that existed at the intersection between Kumin, Huan and Fuha. It was officially part of Kumin, and was an important center of trade between the two provinces and their neighbor to the south. 

With a bit of cycling Yuzu learned more about the location from their chaperone, who spoke with a formal and emotionless cadence.

“This cathedral existed since the previous era. It was a joint construction by the three gods that eventually came to rule the continent. Observe the stained glass windows, which depict scenes from each respective god.”

“The Exalted energies here are kept in perfect balance, preventing any one domain from taking precedence over another. Moreover, the spirit is amplified, heightening the sensitivity of its occupants toward malicious intent.”

“As a tradition, prior to entering the hall, one must open their palms and display their empty hands, representing their vow of peace. No weapons may be brought into the hall. Any evil intent in one’s thoughts will be immediately recognizable to all other occupants when inside the hall.”

These short interactions occurred in the unrealized futures of Fate Cycling, allowing Yuzu to obtain information without taking direct action. They walked on carpeted flooring, passing windows depicting the domains of SpaceTime, Life and Spirit as they approached the closed double doors at the end of the hallway.

Her companions observed their surroundings with varying amounts of interest and caution. Yuzu felt her friend’s fingers brush against her arm as Char Char asked in a muted voice, “Where is this place?” 

“In Boundary, at the Hall of Vows.” Yuzu replied.

When they reached the threshold of the door Yuzu pressed her palms together in front of her chest then opened them to face the doors.

“You are familiar with the rituals?” Robin Lang asked with mild curiousity.

“Somewhat.” Yuzu replied, turning her head to glance at her companions. From Fate Cycling she knew that each of them were bearing weapons on their persons. This would be a mild inconvenience when Robin would discuss the Hall’s requirements. The fate threads told Yuzu that eventually the result would be that only she would be entering the chamber, so she expedited the process by saying simply, “I will enter alone.”

Robin nodded and pulled open the double doors. With a confident and calm attitude, Yuzu stepped past the threshold into the Hall of Vows.

Her skin tingled as she passed through an invisible barrier. Her senses became sharper, her spirit sharpened by the Hall.

The hall was small, with a vaulted ceiling and walls decorated with coloured woven tapestries. A lit multi-layered chandelier hung high above a circular oak table that was large enough to seat eight. There was enough space to walk comfortably around the table, but only enough. 

Seated at the far end of the empty table was a regal man with a short, curly brown hair and rough stubble for a beard that was peppered with grays. He wore a silken dress shirt with ruffled sleeves. 

Lord Noga rose from his seat as Yuzu entered the room and bowed politely to her in the Kumin fashion with his right palm over his heart and a slight forward tilt of his upper body. His expression was neither too friendly or too cold.

“Lord Noga of Kumin, at your service.” He said politely.

“Yuzu Xing, on behalf of the White Maiden, at yours.” Yuzu replied.

Yuzu walked forward, but as she took a step a heavy spiritual pressure exuded from the Prince of SpaceTime. Her spirit crumbled beneath the weight and she stumbled slightly, her hand shooting forward to grasp the back of the chair in front of her. 

Sweat beaded at her forehead as she looked up at the man. The faintest shadow of a grin turned up the corner of his lips.

The weight lifted off her as Lord Noga retracted his spirit. 

Yuzu fought to hold a neutral expression as frustration set in. She had wanted to give off a strong impression, but had failed on the first step. He had tested the strength of her spirit against his own and she had failed.

It was not an act of aggression, but a probe to test her Exalted status.

Even as she recovered her poise, the mild look of amusement on Noga’s face already said it all. What he had done would perhaps have been rude if she were able to meet his challenge, but instead she could only bow her head and accept her place.

As they took a seat across the round table from each other, Lord Noga clasped his hands together with an expectant look in his eyes. He was in no rush to initiate the conversation. He had clearly been anticipating this meeting for a while, perhaps ever since the moment the White Maiden had appeared in Kumin for the first time.

A deep, broiling anger brewed within the Exalted Prince’s eyes.  

Gathering her thoughts, Yuzu made her move.

The brass shell made a dull thump as Yuzu placed the clockwork god’s artifact on the table.

“A gesture of good will.” Yuzu explained, finding her voice. It sounded shaky in her ears. “In light of the Maiden’s previous actions against your capital.”

Lord Noga raised an eyebrow, frowning as he raised the shell in his hand and observed his reflection in the brass. The shell had disappeared from the table in front of Yuzu without any flash or fanfare. It rotated slowly as it hovered above his palm.

“So it was Her doing, after all.” Noga replied with a frown.

Li Ru, the Angel of Death, had warned her that Lord Noga was searching for the White Maiden and suspected her of damaging his spire. Yuzu not only expected that she would shortly meet Lord Noga, but that this would be the principle topic of discussion.

Lord Noga would understand that the assistance the White Maiden provided by thwarting Deka’s resurrection saved him a lot of trouble. Presenting the Clockwork God’s shell as well was a message that the White Maiden was actively protecting his people from the hostile actions of other gods. 

But the fact that the White Maiden sabotaged his spire could not be avoided or hidden. 

This single act far outweighed any of the help that the White Maiden had provided. It was a direct attack on the base of his power, an act of war among gods.

So was the White Maiden on his side or against him?

Was the path forward one of collaboration or destruction?

It was too late to apologize. What was done was done.

“The White Maiden understands that Her past actions have had severe consequences for you. Mere words and quaint words are insufficient to quell your anger.” Yuzu chose her words carefully, using her insight from Fate Cycling to spell out Lord Noga’s deeper thoughts. “However through Her actions today and the presentation of this artifact, She wishes to convey Her sincerity as I meet with you today.”

Her words emphasized the disparity of the situation. It was Yuzu that had come to speak with Lord Noga. Yuzu, a messenger who was clearly far, far below Lord Noga in strength.

Why had Lord Noga come in person, but the White Maiden sent Yuzu as Her representative?

How could this be appropriate?

Through her act today, the message would be sent that the White Maiden was above him. So far above that it was appropriate to send such a weak representative to deliver Her message. She would have to be, otherwise she would be completely disrespecting Lord Noga.

Lord Noga was already furious with the White Maiden. He would be quick to take insult from an action like this.

If it were anyone else, perhaps this would have been a risky bluff. But Yuzu had seen the future. She was confident in her message.

Lord Noga slowly lowered his hand and rested his arms against the table as he leaned forward with a solemn expression. The brass shell had disappeared without a trace, whisked away as if it had never been there. The artifact’s silver thread floated far away through the void.

“I’m listening.” Lord Noga eventually spoke with a formal solemness.

The peace offering had been accepted. Her words and gestures had bought Yuzu her opportunity.

Yuzu sat up straight, looking straight into Lord Noga’s eyes as she spoke her next words with confidence.

“Lord Noga, I am here on behalf of the White Maiden to make a deal.”