Calamity Mandate

No fate thread.

Yuzu stood atop the hill, looking down at the woman from above. The meditating woman's eyes were closed, chin tilted slightly down. She was sitting on the boulder facing the road, at an angle slightly away from where Yuzu was standing.

From the direction she was facing and from Yuzu and Kai's vantage point slightly obscured by bushes and the terrain it was unlikely that they had been seen.

Of course, there were always Exalted methods to sense the presence of those around. However, thinking about it, with a party of Chaos Exalted and Yuzu herself of Fate, their paths were particularly adept at either remaining unnoticed or anticipating unwanted attention.

But in Yuzu's case, that was because she could see the future on the tapestry of fate.

Not being able to see the thread of a person hid them from Yuzu's powers.

But what kind of person didn't have a fate thread?

The simplest explanation was that this woman had some kind of power that hid her fate thread from Yuzu. However, in all her experiences with immortals and gods, Yuzu had never met a being that was able to completely conceal their fate thread from her.

Renshu, God of Knowledge, who had intimate dealings with Fate in the past.

Yuima, Goddess of Nature, who treated Fate as a divine enemy.

If hiding ones' string was possible, these two gods would be the ones to have ample power and reasons to hide their Fate from Yuzu. Yet she was able to see their strings and read the future.

Some beings had had particular strategies to deal with Fate. Li Ru, Angel of Death, was able to hide information from Yuzu through his methods. Jun Yi Kong, the Demon King locked away in the depths of Ying Zhen, was also able to counter Yuzu to some extent.

But their fate strings had been clearly visible and accessible.

Even the anti-divination spell of the guru-chi only clouded the future, making the strings appear hazy.

There was one time when I couldn't see the strings… Yuzu frowned. This was in the basement of the import shop, inside Argus' pocket dimension. And then again in Okuron's Great Library… Back then, touching the ornate chest let me see the threads within His library…

One of Okuron's domains was Concealment. Argus, too, has a special connection to Okuron. So hiding one's string isn't impossible, just very specialized knowledge…

But in both cases the strings were hidden because I was within a space controlled by these specialists of Concealment. How strong must this woman down there be if she can simply hide her thread in the physical world?

Does this mean If I were stronger I could read her thread?

No, in the first place, if it were that simple then why wouldn't Akahi herself be using such methods?

No matter how Yuzu tried she couldn't find a compelling explanation.

"Did you two find something?" Firuzeh asked as she and Char Char caught up to the front of their group. They followed Yuzu's gaze to the woman meditating on the boulder.

"Yuima's representative, you think?" Kai asked.

"It's likely. But we should be careful." Firuzeh said. She glanced at Yuzu briefly, seeing if the White Maiden's priest showed any intent of giving orders. Yuzu gave no indication that she even noticed Firuzeh's presence. After a moment Firuzeh took it as a cue and said, "Let me approach first and make acquaintances. If there are any traps below, I should be able to sense them. Stay hidden for now."

Firuzeh took off toward the path, taking the long way around to conceal the direction she had come from. Kai lay down low on the ground behind the underbrush to observe, while Char Char and Yuzu retreated back a hundred meters, staying just in sight of Kai's prone form.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Yuzu hadn't even noticed that Char Char had led her to sit on a log. It wasn't until Char Char put her hand on Yuzu's leg that Yuzu looked down to see her friend kneeling in front of her with a worried look.

"What's wrong?"

Yuzu placed her hand on Char Char's and tried to give a nonchalant shrug. The concern in Char Char's eyes showed that her act had failed to hide the troubles in her thoughts.

"Your hands are freezing, Yuzu." Char Char held Yuzu's slender fingers between her own. They felt warm. "That person down there, is she dangerous?"

Yuzu felt like her feelings were completely exposed under Char Char's concerned gaze.

"I can't see her fate." Yuzu said.

"So she's powerful?" Char Char asked.

"No, it's not like that." Yuzu said, "Even the gods can't hide their fate from me— mostly."

Yuzu didn't say it in a boastful way, but she internally cringed at the phrasing of her words. She fully expected Char Char to mock her, or perhaps be amazed by such a bold statement.

"Okay, so something isn't right." Instead a small smile touched Char Char's lips. Warm, comforting, but also concerned, "Maybe she has some unique item or power that you haven't heard of before?"

"Maybe." Yuzu said.

"It's obvious the Goddess of Nature doesn't like y— the White Maiden… Perhaps it's not surprising that She has something to deal with Her." Char Char said.

"Then why wouldn't she use it herself?" Yuzu asked, "I could read Yuima's fate just fine."

"I don't know— maybe there are special conditions?" Char Char frowned, "Regardless, this is good to know. We need to be careful. We don't know yet if she's Yuima's representative, but even if Yuima sent her, she could have a hidden agenda."

"Yeah… Wait—" Yuzu nodded, then paused as she was hit with an epiphany, "Are you… comforting me?"

"Well, you looked so worried…" Char Char said.

Yuzu pulled her hand back sharply with an indignant frown, looking away, "It's not that I'm worried, I was pointing out that something was weird with that person."

"Do you think they're dangerous?"

"Of course they could be dangerous." Yuzu said, "The question is, are they a threat? If I can't see their fate, I can't know for sure."

Char Char's warm smile returned, which caused Yuzu to scowl, "What?"

"Nothing." Char Char stood up, looking over to Kai who was still in his same observation spot, "I was just thinking that you're amazing, Yuzu."

The conversation went into a lull. For the moment, it was just Yuzu and Char Char alone in the valley, surrounded by the vibrant, rich Huan wilderness. Yuzu looked off into the distance past Char Char, watching the silhouettes of a troop of monkeys as they swung through a canopy of rustling leaves.

They were far away. If she were just normally looking through the trees she wouldn't have noticed them. She just knew exactly where to look because of the strings.

"It's not amazing." Yuzu said, "I simply see things differently now."

"I know what you mean." Char Char replied.

Yuzu thought her friend would continue, maybe brag about her own powers. Or perhaps Char Char would take it as an invitation to ask Yuzu what her powers let her see exactly. Yuzu was expecting— and dreading— the conversation with Char Char around her powers and her story of becoming the White Maiden.

Yuzu was prepared to make up the excuse that Kai could possibly overhear them, to shut down any questions before they were asked. Thankfully Char Char didn't pursue the topic.

"I know what you mean." Char Char said again, though quietly as if she were speaking to herself.

Yuzu watched the tapestry, keeping a passive eye out for any one intruding on their space. They were alone, their four strings standing out amongst the golden haze of the natural world.

Firuzeh's string, smoky and indistinct, had reached the boulder by the path. Holding her hand over the string she could see Firuzeh's figure, blurry but distinct. The silhouette of a tall, elegant woman bowed in greeting to someone on the boulder above. Yuzu couldn't hear the words, but she could tell that a conversation was happening, only that where there should have been a person there was only a blank space.

As before, Yuzu felt her spiritual intuition send off a soft alarm if she moved to touch Firuzeh's string directly. A warning that Firuzeh would be able to notice her presence.

But… is that a problem? Yuzu wondered to herself.

After a bit of thought Yuzu reached out to touch Firuzeh's thread.

A voice sounded out in Yuzu's perception. It was somewhat distorted, making it difficult to understand, but concentrating on maintaining the connection allowed Yuzu to make out the words.

"…have been charged with investigating the disease which plagues these valleys. I received a vision from my Goddess that I would happen by some travelers from Kumin."

"Indeed, we have been tasked with the same." Firuzeh's voice came through the thread, "I am Firuzeh, my companions and I have been looking for you, on our way to the village."

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Firuzeh. I am Naomi, one of Yuima's clerics."

Despite being able to hear the voice, Yuzu wasn't able to see anything about the cleric. It was like Firuzeh's silhouette was talking to the air.

She felt intuitively that Firuzeh was aware that she was being watched. Yuzu wondered how it felt, whether Firuzeh had guessed that the White Maiden was listening in on her conversation, and if she had any ability to counter or defend against it.

Something to carefully ask about later… Yuzu made a note to herself.

"Kai is getting up." Char Char said, "He's motioning for us to come over."

"Yeah." Yuzu said, standing and brushing off a few twigs and leaves from the hem of her robes.

"Should we tell Firuzeh and Kai about your worries?" Char Char asked, "I think it might be a good idea. We'll be safer the more information we share."

Yuzu frowned. She hadn't been planning on sharing the information, but Char Char's reasoning did make sense.

"Okay, but we'll have to make sure we can't be overheard. For now, it's best if we act like everything's normal." Yuzu replied after a moment.

"Let's go meet this cleric."