The Libram of Revelations…
In my world, in the bustling city where I attend St Elicia’s Academy… there’s a young Human woman with hair like white gold and eyes as blue as the sea.
Her name’s Riko Kuhouin… and she’s the scion of a family whose Conglomerate sells everything from toothpaste to machine guns. It’s a lineage as old as the land itself, a bloodline tracing its origins back to Saint Elicia herself.
Riko’s a ruler in all but name. To many, she has it all. The city might as well be hers with all her resources and connections. And I would’ve thought so as well… were it not for the cruel disease condemning her to a lifetime in a wheelchair.
Her penthouse is on the top floor of a hospital Saint Elicia built centuries ago when missionaries sailed from the West to preach. From her perch, she gazes at the world that is hers by birthright – concrete skylines and neon-lit skies stretching endlessly into the horizon. But she can’t touch any of it.
She longed to experience this world of hers beyond her cage – the beauty, the chaos, the raw truth of it all. And when she encountered someone who could show it all to her… someone willing to give her the world just as she had rendered herself unto it… she seized the chance.
In that moment of revelation, she saw everything – the good, the bad… and the ugly. Everything. And it was then that she resolved to act, to reshape the world beyond her window… not merely for her own sake, but for the betterment of all.
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Back in the Sepulchre of God…
Holy light, radiant in hues of white and blue, emanates from the Akashic Record, the enshrined words of Enochian on the pages heavy with Mana – my Mana!
Gosh. I feel a little… winded. Reaching for a nearby jewel-encrusted teacup filled with piping-hot tea, I take a deep sip. It’s nice enough, but I can’t help but crave something cold. Y’know… something like orange soda from the vending machine back at St Elicia’s. Honestly, that stuff is the best! Hell, even a can of lemon-lime would be nice right now.
“This appears to be a story of your home, is it not?” Lady Iris observes, her gaze thoughtful as she skims the pages I’ve added to the Akashic Record. “The tale of one Lady Riko Kuhouin – a monarch who longed to see the truth of her world through the eyes of a trusted friend.”
“Yeah,” I answer, nodding solemnly. “Creating Clairvoyance alongside you in the previous timeline reminded me of her.”
“Tell me, how did your paths cross?”
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“It’s a long story, but here goes…”
I recount to Lady Iris how Riko and I met. At St Elicia’s Academy, it’s tradition for the Student Council President to have tea regularly with the head of the Kuhouin Conglomerate. Riko’s family are the school’s patrons, after all – their wealth keeps the place running.
Saying no to her isn’t an option. Past Student Council Presidents called it ‘Tea Time with the Devil.’ Not aloud, of course. My predecessor warned me discreetly, with a knowing look:
“The Devil comes from the bloodline of Saint Elicia, and Riko Kuhouin is the Devil in Plain View.”
My first meeting with Riko? Terrifying! She had a limousine pick me up from the school gates – a first for me – and uh… I didn’t dare lean back in the plush seat the entire ride. But when we finally met, we hit it off. I’m glad we did.
She’s everything I’m not – quiet, reserved, gentle, and soft-spoken. Like Anna, in a way. She let me ramble on, listening patiently. Had I not known her identity beforehand, I’d never have guessed who I was speaking with… or that she sleeps with one eye open, a loaded gun always within reach. Those who doubted her, who plotted against her… now rest deep beneath the sea, their schemes buried with them. They underestimated her and paid the price.
So I’ve heard, anyway. Many rumours surround her, speculations and hearsay… and she likes it that way. Oh, and she asked to meet me again for tea. Tradition demanded it, but I didn’t mind. Over time, we grew close. One day, as she gazed at the city skyline from her penthouse hospital room, she asked for my help. She wanted to truly see her city – the good, the bad, and the ugly – things and matters outside the realm of her Conglomerate. I agreed to help her.
I wandered the city, snapping photos on my phone – favourite haunts, hidden flaws, and everything in between. When I showed her what I had… she said nothing at first. Then, at our next meeting, she spoke softly yet firmly – that she wanted to reshape her world and, with enough money from her family’s fortune… cleanse the sins of her bloodline.
Before I was summoned to Nisha… the city began to change. Homeless shelters, soup kitchens and charities flourished with sudden funding. New schools and hospitals were being built, while old ones were revitalised. And all of it came from her pocket – both the good deeds and the bribes greasing the wheels to make the former happen.
Good grief. It feels like an eternity since I last had tea with Riko! I miss her more than words can express. Before I was summoned to Nisha, we had plans to meet for afternoon tea at the end of the week, continuing this cherished tradition of St Elicia’s. But that’s not happening now, obviously. I’ve got my hands full, unfortunately. I hope she understands.
“You will meet Lady Kuhouin again,” Lady Iris declares solemnly. “It is one of the many lights waiting for you at the end of your Prophecy. Hold on to hope, fragile as it may be.”
“I know,” I murmur, bowing my head. “But returning home means…”
“It does, Lady Ishii. But this too shall pass away. When the time comes, do not grieve that it ends. Smile because it happened.”
“I…”
“But that day is far off,” Lady Iris continues gently. “There is still much to be done.”
“You’re right,” I say, forcing a smile. “We’ll make the most of the time we have. May I teach you to cast Clairvoyance, my Lady?”
“You may. Please do. Thank you, Lady Ishii.”
“First, focus…” I instruct, my eyes glowing white and blue. “Stare in the general direction of what you’re looking for. And then…”
Within moments, Lady Iris’ eyes glow with a radiant shimmer of white and gold. She wields Clairvoyance with an elegance that feels second nature – as if she were born to cast this spell. It’s only fitting, considering we created it together… one timeline ago. And now, once again… our consciousnesses extend outward, and we delve into the world beyond her office.