Chapter 349 - Under Control

The hymns sung by the priests echoed through the Hall of Vows, ancient prayers to the Gods of Knowledge, who presided over the cathedral since ancient times.

The ancient language had long been lost, the priests only repeating the syllables written in the scriptures, but with her special knowledge from Renshu, Yuzu understood.

Listening to the hymns, Yuzu understood why this place was special.

It wasn’t just that the emotions of the participants in the hall were being conferred through the special arrangements. The cathedral had been built under the blessings of twelve angels from each of the domains.

The domain of Order’s blessing forbid violence within the walls.

The domain of Psyche’s blessing fortified the occupant’s mental resilience.

The domain of Emotion increased sensitivity and intuition — its effects were strongest in the Hall of Vows.

And so on…

At the end of the prayer, Yuzu’s ears perked up.

The domain of Fate’s blessing was conferred by the Akahi’s Angel, Ezra. Fate’s role was to take each domain’s blessing and embed them for the following millennia, ‘to ward against the coming of the void’.

It should not be a coincidence that I’ve come to this place. Yuzu thought to herself. But even knowing that Akahi was involved, I still can’t sense her touch… 

For now, Yuzu really was hopeless against Akahi’s methods. She would just have to do her best. As for Lord Noga, did he know that the place he had chosen had been so heavily influenced by Akahi? Or was he just as trapped by Her machinations as Yuzu was?

Fate Cycling had given Yuzu all the information she needed to conduct the deal. Lord Noga didn’t seem to have any defence against her, or perhaps he wasn’t trying. Perhaps, given that Yuzu was but a Disciple of Fate, that was indication enough that he was weak to her domain.

Yuzu’s eyes glittered with the illusion of golden threads as she considered her next words to Lord Noga.

“Lord Noga, the White Maiden is aware that you are facing an unprecedented crisis with your sworn brother, Lord Matsuhara of Huan. She is willing to offer her assistance.”

If Lord Noga was surprised that Yuzu had so accurately pinpointed his intentions he didn’t show it, responding calmly, “Can She save him?”

“His Fate is yet unclear, and the White Maiden is still in the process of reawakening.” Yuzu replied.

Lord Noga smiled wryly, “And what does she require, precisely, to make this Fate more clear?”

Yuzu heard the slightly playful tone in Lord Noga’s voice, the amusement that touched the corners of his eyes. He thinks the White Maiden is playing with him, looking for benefits by pretending not to know the future. But actually I have no clue about the situation at all… I haven’t even met Lord Matsuhara, let alone know what his problem is…

“For one… I will need to meet Lord Matsuhara in person to act as the White Maiden’s proxy.” Yuzu said, “Physical support in the way of exalted materials and access to Her shrines…”

“…And the release of Char Char from your restrictions, so that she may accompany me on the way.” Yuzu finished off, though she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at explicitly including Char Char in her plans.

This future was already compatible with Lord Noga’s plans. If she hadn’t suggested it, he would have done what he could to coerce Yuzu into helping Lord Matsuhara.

“You’re making this a little too easy, aren’t you? Very well, our interests align.” Lord Noga waved his hand casually to signal the sealing of the deal between them. 

Yuzu kept her calm composure, though inwardly she was feeling the pressure from this Lord of SpaceTime.

The deal was set. The conversation was short and polite, just as she had foretold. But what transpired in those few words was not as simple as the surface level conversation that carried them.

She had offered her services to Noga as if she were making a deal. She had gotten resources in the form of Exalted materials and access to her shrines. She had brokered the freedom of her friend. These were already great benefits, but the problem was that she hadn’t had a choice. Once Lord Noga and her fates connected, Yuzu had been forced to offer her services.

If Yuzu had tried to decline, if she had tried to bargain for more, Lord Noga would have become wary of her. Yuzu’s requests were expensive, but they were at the edge of Lord Noga’s acceptable limits— In other words, they were what Lord Noga was already prepared to offer her.

Lord Noga set his gaze upon Yuzu, looking into her eyes. Yuzu didn’t dare to look away, returning the deep gaze with a composed calmness. The light of galaxies swirled within his pupils. The hint of amusement played upon his lips. That amusement annoyed Yuzu immensely, but she dared not show it.

Lord Noga understood that the White Maiden represented Fate. For Her to ask of him exactly what he was willing to give was a graceful admission of defeat in the negotiation. 

Lord Noga was calculating, intelligent, forceful. For him to win the negotiation in this way meant that his evaluation of the White Maiden’s position and power was roughly accurate, otherwise She would be able to force him to concede more to achieve his ends.

Both Lord Noga and Yuzu were clear on this fact. He was in a position of power over the White Maiden, if only for the moment. And the fact that She was cooperating with him was assurance that She was not hostile, either because She wished to avoid conflict with a stronger power as She built back Her strength, or because their interests truly aligned.

My saving grace is that he believes that the White Maiden is truly a reviving Goddess… Yuzu thought to herself. If not, he wouldn’t have given anything valuable in the negotiations…

As the White Maiden, Yuzu had sold herself to Lord Noga as her own pawn. Hopefully the rewards would be worth the cost.

“The White Maiden accepts.” Yuzu said after a period of time, feigning that she had received some subtle undetectable sign from her goddess.

“Excellent.” Lord Noga nodded, “Then I would like to depart for Lord Matsuhara immediately. I trust there is no need to delay?”

If only it were that simple… Yuzu sighed to herself. 

“Of course.” Yuzu nodded, concealing her knowledge of the imminent future, “I only request that you bring my entourage along with us.”

“As you wish.” Lord Noga nodded. 

~

At the same moment, Lord Noga was also far away deep in the province of Huan, sitting at an ornate table formed from living wood.

He reached into his breast pocket, casually pulling out a porcelain cup steaming with a creamy hot beverage. The warm, sweet aroma of cocoa filled the air as he took a delicate whiff of its aroma and took a sip.

“Hot chocolate?” The beautiful goddess sitting across from him rolled her eyes, “Isn’t it coffee that’s currently in fashion with your people?”

“I considered branding them heretics, but it wasn’t worth the trouble.” Lord Noga wrinkled his nose, “Bitter, disgusting beverage. The only reason people drink it is they’ve been tricked into addiction. Can’t deny they’ve built quite a quaint culture around it though.“

Yuima sighed as she casually brushing a hand through her long, golden hair. She wore a silk gown that flowed over the soft, bountiful curves of her body, perfectly accentuating her heavenly beauty. A crown of sapling branches adorned her head. Song birds gathered and twittered in the wide branches of the trees around them. A vast, blue sky with impossibly fluffy clouds spread out to the horizon.

The pleasant weather aligned with the nature goddess’ mood, a tendency of Hers that Noga found somewhat amusing.

“And how is the meeting going with the White Maiden?” Yuima asked.

The nature goddess was fully aware that Lord Noga was currently existing simultaneously in two places at once. He had told Her that he was meeting with the White Maiden’s representative in the Hall of Vows.

“She just arrived.” Lord Noga said, taking out a wooden saucer and cup from his coat sleeve and placing it in front of Yuima— A task which he accomplished from across the table by bending space. 

The fabric of space returning to normal, he gestured toward the nature-themed cup with an open palm, “Tea?”

Yuima didn’t even have the chance to respond as a stream of hot tea poured out of his palm, over his fingertips, and then water-falled in steps across the air until it gently swirled into the cup. 

Her fingers curled into frustrated claws at Noga’s grossly casual disruption of nature, but before she could let out her anger vocally, Noga suddenly spoke up, “Ah. The deal is done.”

“Done?!” The sky darkened overhead as the clouds drifted across the sun, “Nico, didn't I I warn you not to deal with Her? You were only supposed to gather information with this meeting.”

“I have it under control.” Noga sipped at his still-steaming hot cocoa, whose volume had not decreased despite drinking generously from the cup. Several marshmallows had also appeared, bobbing up and down on the beverage’s surface with a freshly toasted scent, “She will help us.”

“She is an agent of Akahi, a snake in the grass.” Yuima hissed, “Our mortal enemy.” 

“Your tea is getting cold.” Noga said casually, “You should drink it.”

Yuima glanced down to the cup only to see that it had turned into a block of ice. Looking back up she saw the edge of Noga’s eyes wrinkle as he fought to control the laugh he was holding back.

“Enough with the jokes!” Yuima shrieked.

The cup exploded as a bolt of lightning struck down from the sky, obliterating the tea cup and scattering dozens of songbirds into the air. Their smouldering bodies fluttered around frantically amongst the flaming leaves as black storm clouds filled the sky.

Lord Noga had disappeared from the scene.

~

In an idyllic mountain range not too far away, Lord Matsuhara saw dense black clouds suddenly gather around a spot in the distance. The quiet rumble of far away thunder upset the silence of the clearing.

“You should stop teasing her.” Lord Matsuhara muttered.

Lord Noga stood a few paces away, sipping his cocoa thoughtfully, “For a Goddess of ‘Balance’, though, you’d think she’d be more emotionally stable.”

“When you rile her up who do you think has to deal with her tantrums?”

“Not my fault you married her.” Noga snorted.

“She’s trying to protect you.” Matsuhara sighed.

“So am I, old friend. So am I.”