Volume 11 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 29 – The Waterless Cabin At The Bottom of The Lake

Lily navigated through the underwater ruins of the ancient palace, where currents flowed with barely perceptible yet powerful force. However, these currents hardly hindered her progress. She ventured deeper, reaching a secluded courtyard submerged in water. Despite its watery grave, the courtyard’s antiquated elegance and poignant beauty from bygone days were still faintly discernible.

A peculiar sight caught Lily’s attention: a cabin deep within the courtyard, seemingly illuminated by firelight. “Why is there firelight here at the bottom of the lake?” she wondered. As she proceeded along an underwater pathway

¹, playful little fish darted around her delicate bare feet, seeking refuge among the aquatic plants.

Reaching the cabin’s entrance, Lily stepped onto the porch and opened the door, only to find, to her surprise, that the interior was devoid of water, a stark contrast to its submerged exterior. Despite opening the wooden door, the water from the lake remained outside. Inside, the cabin was lit by long-lasting candles, its interior spotlessly maintained as if recently abandoned. Ancient artifacts were neatly arranged, suggesting the recent presence of an occupant.

The cabin, simple and old, miraculously kept out the water. Intriguingly, the water dripping from Lily’s garments gathered into small streams upon hitting the floor, flowing back outside. Yet, no signs of formations or spells were detectable in the house. “How amazing…” she murmured.

Lily’s attention was drawn to a shelf placed on the front table, which seemed to have once held something but was now empty. She scanned the cabin, which appeared ordinary except for its unusual underwater location. The mystery of the cabin deepened; it was improbable for someone to be living there. Using her spiritual energy, Lily detected no people or harmful ent.i.ties nearby, only the original aquatic inhabitants unaffected by the strong currents.

“What’s the secret of this cabin?” Lily pondered. Her gaze then fell upon the wooden wall behind the table, revealing a built-in cabinet upon a gentle push. Inside the small compartment, she discovered a painting of a celestial maiden playing the lute and dancing elegantly. The maiden, charming yet lacking the majestic aura typical of celestial maidens, seemed more akin to an ordinary woman than a divine being. The room’s furnishings, however, hinted at the residence of a highly distinguished aristocrat.

As Lily gazed at the celestial maiden in the painting, it felt as though the figure was gazing back at her. Suddenly, a wave of ancient memories enveloped her mind. She found herself viewing through the eyes of the celestial maiden, standing in a vast, ethereal realm, with clouds swirling around towering mountains above the sky.

Surrounded by other celestial maidens, the maiden in focus danced gracefully while playing the biwa. The scene was set amidst endless mountains enveloped in layers of clouds, amidst which countless towering pavilions stood, creating a majestic and beautiful sight. However, the rapid twirling of the dance prevented Lily from capturing every detail, but the beauty of the place was undeniable.

Curiously, the maiden playing the lute often found her gaze drawn to a distant, enigmatic figure. This figure, adorned in a white robe, stood on a viewing platform amidst the vast array of pavilions. Despite the significant distance, the figure’s silhouette commanded attention, emanating a potent mixture of grace and authoritative power. The presence was so overwhelming that it seemed to hold the capacity to freeze the heavens and earth in its icy grip.

The celestial maiden’s reactions suggested a deep, unspoken reverence, perhaps even an infatuation, towards this figure. Each glance towards the distant silhouette appeared to stir a mixture of awe and unattainable longing within her.

Lily, observing all this through the celestial maiden’s perspective, couldn’t help but feel that this mysterious, powerful figure might be Tsukuyomi no Mikoto. The sense of majesty and commanding presence seemed to align with what she knew of Tsukuyomi, the revered celestial battle maiden of Takamagahara. However, the distance and the ethereal setting of the memory left Lily uncertain, unable to fully discern the ident.i.ty of the figure that so captivated the celestial maiden.

Every time the celestial maiden caught a glimpse of the distant Tsukuyomi no Mikoto, a subtle blush colored her cheeks. This reaction led Lily to wonder if perhaps the maiden harbored a secret affection for the formidable deity. Yet, it seemed unlikely that Tsukuyomi, the esteemed celestial battle maiden of Takamagahara, would ever notice this lone, lesser-known celestial maiden.

At one point, their gazes briefly met, sending a wave of emotions over the celestial maiden. Overwhelmed, she lost her balance and fell during the dance, drawing scolding from the other maidens.

As Lily emerged from this memory, she noticed the lute in the celestial maiden’s arms and remembered the Arcane Biwa she had received from the Rash.o.m.on Spirit back in Heian-kyō. She had given it to Ayaka, but it had been returned to her. Taking out the Arcane Biwa, Lily confirmed it was the same as the one in the painting.

Lily, upon strumming the lute, felt it resonating with the tender emotions of the celestial maiden. It seemed as if the shelf she found was meant to hold this very instrument. Feeling that the lute was of no practical use to her and believing it was fate that brought her here, she decided to return it to its original place.

As she placed the lute on the shelf, an immense wave of energy surged, momentarily enveloping Lily in darkness. She heard a soft, melancholic female voice express relief, saying, “My mission is finally complete…” When Lily regained her senses, she found herself underwater in the same room, now aged with moss and algae, indicative of years submerged. The lute remained on the algae-covered shelf, seemingly in its rightful place.

Lily was enveloped in confusion. She reopened the cabinet, only to discover a water-damaged painting, now devoid of any celestial maiden. Perplexed yet sensing she had completed a significant task, she felt it must be a positive outcome.

Exiting the cabin, Lily was struck by the sight of a ma.s.sive stone stele that had emerged in the courtyard. Dominating the s.p.a.ce with its towering presence, the stele held her gaze. “This, this is…” she murmured, swimming closer for a better view. The stele bore a carving of a celestial maiden performing a sword dance, exuding a profound aura that Lily found deeply familiar. “Could this be a stone stele of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle?” she wondered aloud.

Upon reaching the stele’s base, she noticed inscriptions buried under mud. Harnessing her spiritual energy, she cleared the mud, revealing the words: “The Path of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto.” Shock washed over her. This was the fabled final segment of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle, unmarked on any ancient map, the sixth and ultimate path. “I never imagined it would be here,” she thought, her heart swelling with emotion. Rinne’s dream had led her to something so vital, hidden deep in Lake Biwa.

The Path of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto— the sixth and highest level of the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle! No one, apart from Tsukuyomi no Mikoto herself, was known to have achieved mastery over it. This discovery was exceptionally valuable for Lily. Taking a deep breath, she focused and gently placed her hand on the rough surface of the stone stele.

As her hand made contact, the stele resonated with a gentle whoosh, signaling its acknowledgment of her presence. Without any resistance, the stele, imbued with ancient and powerful teachings, was absorbed, finding its rightful place alongside the others she had collected.

Now, only one stele remained, hidden in the remote northern reaches of Ezo. Yet, this elusive stele, marked on an ancient map, was said to be immovable even by those with quintuple-soul expertise. This knowledge rea.s.sured Lily that it would remain safe from others until she could retrieve it herself.

“Sister Rinne, thank you. Even in your slumber, unable to awaken yourself, you still watch over me,” Lily thought, tears welling up in her eyes. Her heart ached with grat.i.tude for the unseen guidance and support she continued to receive.

She also expressed her thanks to the mysterious celestial maiden whose presence had guided her to this crucial discovery. “Thank you, unknown celestial maiden,” she whispered.

After securing the stone stele, Lily used her spiritual energy to meticulously restore the courtyard, filling the hole and smoothing the area, leaving no trace of her presence. She then made her way back, swimming through the tranquil waters of the lake.

Upon waking, Lily found herself back in her sedan chair, a new day already dawning. The darkness suggested it was still early morning. Instead of her usual kimono, she was clad in revealing undergarments

², a stark reminder of her nocturnal adventure to the lake’s depths.

In the mirror s.p.a.ce, Lily checked and confirmed the placement of the sixth stone stele. Only one stele remained unclaimed. This last piece was critical, yet remained out of reach for the moment.

With a heavy heart, she thought of Rinne again, entering the mirror s.p.a.ce to kneel before her for a while, lost in her thoughts and feelings. The complexity of the situation and her own uncertainties about it made her decide to keep these events to herself, as explaining them seemed futile.

Once she had rested and gathered her thoughts, Lily led her army from the southern sh.o.r.es of Lake Biwa, setting off towards Heian-kyō by land. The journey was significant, and the path ahead was fraught with challenges.

As they pa.s.sed through Iga, the army’s ranks swelled with the addition of the Iga ninja army. But the most heartening sight for Lily was the arrival of the Asuka Army, a formidable force of 10,000 elite soldiers from Iyo Island, now joining them in their quest.

Takamine Reika led this impressive contingent, and accompanying her was a team of a hundred mercenaries under the command of Kazama Azusa. Lily’s heart leaped with joy at the sight of her sisters, whom she hadn’t seen for several months. Their reunion was a happy one, filled with excitement and mutual respect.

During their heartfelt reunion, Azusa relayed important updates to Lily. “Miss Lily,” she began, “This time, Princess Asuka couldn’t join us. She’s entirely engrossed in her work, tirelessly laboring at the furnace day and night.”

Reika chimed in to elaborate, “That’s right. Princess Asuka specifically asked me to inform you that the forging of the Oborozuki Muramasa has reached a critical stage. She regrets not being able to be here, but she has a.s.sured that once the sword, deemed the strongest in the world, is completed, she will personally deliver it to you.”

Lily’s heart swelled with joy and antic.i.p.ation upon hearing this. The prospect of the Oborozuki Muramasa nearing completion, a sword renowned to be the mightiest, sparked a blend of excitement and curiosity within her. She eagerly looked forward to both seeing the legendary sword and reuniting with Princess Asuka.

Azusa had more news to share. “Oh, by the way, Miss Lily,” she said, “I also received a message from Madam Tokiwa during my journey here. She conveyed that she’s ready to a.s.sist you whenever necessary.”

Footnotes:

1. 
   

   Robinxen: Oh no…. Quick, Nintendo fans, prepare your trauma coping methods!

2. 
   

   Robinxen: Oh well… so that’s what she wears at night now…