Chapter 340 - The Designs of Fate and Destiny
Alone, Yuzu made her way through the dark underground hallways back to the small stone shrine.
The Chang estate where Yuzu had sent Char Char and company was where Old Man Reza and Corbin were. Yuzu had originally planned to go as well and check up on Old Man Reza, whom she had saved as the White Maiden using the secret runes in his study to teleport him to safety.
Thinking it through, Yuzu herself didn’t have a strong personal connection to Old Man Reza, so there wasn’t a compelling reason for her to check up on him in person. Char Char would have to suffice as her proxy.
In the meantime, something in the tapestry of Fate felt strange around the White Maiden’s shrine that compelled Yuzu to investigate. As she drew nearer, her intuition was rewarded by the materialization of a thick white line in the chamber.
If Yuzu had gone through the portal to the Chang estate, the owner of this thread would not have appeared.
Seeing that her intuition was correct, Yuzu realized that she had become more sensitive to the windings of fate. Previously she was unable to anticipate the changes her actions would make on fate, but now she had effectively, if subconsciously, predicted that if she returned to the shrine someone important would appear.
Seeing the string she knew immediately that this important person was Renshu, the God of Preeminent Wisdom.
He was already waiting for her when she arrived at the chamber, standing in a classic pose with one hand behind his back and the other in front of his waist holding a golden fan. His robes of white and gold gleamed with a heavenly aura in the white flames of the candles around the room.
He was standing before the shrine, slightly to one side. As Yuzu entered the chamber he turned and smiled at her warmly.
“Well done.” He said, “You splendidly exceeded my expectations.”
Yuzu nodded, cautious about the sincerity of his praise.
In this situation, accepting the praise with a ‘thank you’ would be the gracious reply, or denying it with a ‘it was nothing’ was the humble one. Yuzu didn’t feel like using either, and so she said nothing, but bowed respectfully in greeting.
“I know what you’re wondering.” Renshu said, clearly picking up on her caution, “You’re thinking, how much of this was my doing? Am I just giving you credit for my own actions?”
“Let me reassure you, I did not interfere in any manner.” He chuckled, “Indeed, even if I wanted to, I could not.”
He held up his empty left hand, and for a split second Yuzu thought she saw the twinkle of a golden thread wrapped around it.
“Let me ask you something, young White Maiden. How much do you know of your benefactor?”
“Benefactor?” Yuzu frowned.
Like the first time they met, Yuzu was unable to use Fate Cycling to cheat ahead in the conversation. The future around this God of Knowledge was blurry and incomprehensible to her.
“Yes, the source of your powers. The one whose shrine we are standing in front of.” Renshu said, “Akahi, the God of Prophecy.”
“Akahi…” Yuzu repeated softly. Truthfully, she did not know much. She’d only heard of this goddess from Argus. Knew that Her forces, the Kismet Order, wanted the ornate chest from her.
Renshu read the uncertainty in Yuzu’s eyes and smiled gently, “Have you realized that She is influencing your Fate, just as you influence the Fate of others?”
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“The thought has crossed my mind.” Yuzu replied.
“Do you know what Her plan is for you?” Renshu asked.
Yuzu’s gaze hardened as she looked into Renshu’s knowing eyes.
“You are being prepared as Her vessel for Her reincarnation.” Renshu answered his own question.
“Don’t you find it convenient that you can use Her shrines so easily? Your spiritual bodies are being purified to be a perfect match to Her pathway.” Renshu said, “As you continue along this path, you will find it increasingly convenient to increase your strength. Catalysts, spiritual materials, will fall into your lap, your ascension to immortality is fated to succeed.”
“And then, when your body is fully ready to receive Her soul, She will return and you will die.”
Renshu spoke the words in a straightforward manner, as if he were casually explaining the plans for dinner. There was no malice or ulterior motive, he was simply stating the facts.
Hearing these words, Yuzu felt the intrinsic truth behind his words. More than that, she had already suspected that something was not right. Things were just too convenient, weren’t they? A magic box had landed in her lap by chance and had given her powers with no side effects or costs. This was something that happened in fairy tales, not real life.
But of course there was a cost. She had simply not been aware of it.
Spiritual materials… A thought came to Yuzu’s mind, and she reached into her pocket, pulling out an object that was still wrapped in a handkerchief. Even through the cloth, she felt its energy pulling at her, tempting her to receive it.
She unfolded the cloth, revealing a pearly white sarira. It glowed subtly in the white candlelight around the shrine.
“Ah.” Renshu said, the sarira reflecting in his pupils, “So you understand.”
“If I touch this sarira… I will directly ascend to Disciple.” Yuzu said, “Right?”
“Indeed. It is perfectly suited to you. It would be painless.” Renshu nodded. His eyes sparkled as he grinned at her, “Tempted?”
“Of course.” Yuzu said.
“Then why don’t you take it?” Renshu asked.
“You just explained that I will die if I go down this path.” Yuzu said.
“Everyone dies.”
“I’m in no rush.” Yuzu frowned.
A silence fell around them as they both looked deeply at the sarira in Yuzu’s hands for a moment.
It seemed to pulse in Yuzu’s vision, like it was growing bigger and bigger, taking up her attention and thoughts.
Take it. A voice in her seemed to say. It’ll be alright.
“It’s your Fate to take it. Your Destiny. Denying it will only make things harder for you, and the end result will still be the same.” Renshu said.
“You’re lying.” Yuzu said directly.
“What makes you say that?” The god asked curiously. Yuzu didn’t miss that the edge of his lip had turned up in the tiniest hint of a grin.
Yuzu looked defiantly into Renshu’s eyes, gathering her thoughts.
“If you believed that Fate couldn’t be changed, you wouldn’t have sent me to take the amulet.” Yuzu said, reaching into her bag and presenting the emerald amulet to Renshu, “The heir to the Sun God was supposed to obtain the amulet in the Trial of Succession. By taking it, we’ve broken Akahi’s prophecy.”
“Perceptive.” Renshu smiled as he fanned himself eloquently, gesturing for Yuzu to put the artifact away. “You may keep the amulet, I am not interested in taking it.”
Yuzu was not prepared for this response and hesitated, confused.
“I only asked you to retrieve the amulet, my dear.” He said, “I never said I wanted to keep it.”
He glanced toward the small stone shrine in the center of the room, a far off look in his eyes, “Akahi was, and is, quite powerful. I cannot deny that. At one point She was at the top of the Exalted realm, looking down on every other god. Her power over Fate meant even Her enemies were hesitant to cross Her, lest they bring suffering and misfortune unto themselves.
“Akahi and I were friendly to each other, but we were not friends. We worked together to achieve our common goals, but we differed on how to go about them. To the point that She set up specific mechanisms to limit my actions.” Renshu returned his gaze to Yuzu with a mischievous glint in his eyes, “So, while I cannot interfere directly in Akahi’s plans, that won’t stop me from poking around the edges and seeing what happens.”
“I imagine you, too, aren’t interested in being another one of Akahi’s pawns.”
Renshu nodded toward the pocket that Yuzu had tucked the sarira back into.
“Then why encourage me to take it?” Yuzu asked.
“Curiousity, perhaps. I was testing a theory.” Renshu said, “Or perhaps I could take the easy way out and blame Akahi. She made me say those words, enticing you along the Fate that She has chosen for you.”
“If I take the sarira, I’ll only be furthering Her plans. If I don’t, I won’t have the power to resist them.” Yuzu spoke her thoughts, “Thinking about it this way, I really am Fated to become her vessel.”
Yuzu carefully watched Renshu’s expression as she said these words. Would he agree, acknowledging that she had little power to change things? Would he hide his thoughts, keeping her in the dark? Or was there hope?
Renshu’s response answered her question directly.
“There’s another way, of course.” Renshu grinned.
“Tell me.” Yuzu replied.
“It’s quite simple.” Renshu fanned himself gently, “You use the sarira to prepare a catalyst.”