Rihanna had her eyes closed for a long time. When she opened them again, her pupils had turned silver. Gradually even her hair turned a shimmering silver, softly flying all around her in the air. Thin snake like slits in her eyes constricted as she slowly turned towards Kartenu.
Kartenu went down on both knees, bowing deep as he placed his hands straight on the ground before him.
"I humbly greet the Grand Priestess Tatsuya."
Kartenu felt ashamed of the tears which suddenly washed over his eyes. Ever since he was born, he knew he was destined to become one of the next Bulonos of Wuteria-Basbe. As such, from a young age he was told about the Tatsuya.
He had believed in her legends, thinking he could only learn of the greatness of the Grand Priestess through the pages in those ancient records. He had never imagined that darkness was looming right at hand, ready to strike. That he would not only meet the Grand Priestess, but even have to work with her.
Whether it was an honour or not, he still held great respect for the Priestess who had led his world to salvation every time the darkness had unshackled itself.
"It is time to let go."
Kartenu stayed silent, still prostrated on the ground. He didn't want to go against the Grand Priestess, but he couldn't quite agree with her. After a long while he silently sat up on his knees. That he still remained kneeling was a sign of his respect.
"The Miasma has been surging more and more through the past few centuries. That can only mean the miasma in the outside world is also gaining back its consciousness. Does it really matter if I do let go now?"
Kartenu looked up to see her face, trying to decipher her emotions and decisions. Tatsuya stood still, only her hair moving about like water floating on air. Her face had no emotion, no expression. Eyes deep and unfathomable. Even after a long while of staring Kartenu was unable to make out what she was thinking.
He sighed inwardly. It was just as before. She had a divine destiny, hence she always knew exactly what she had to do. No man or beast was ever able to understand her thoughts.
"It is not your responsibility. What has to come, will come. What has to be done, will be done. You alone cannot change the flow of time and life. There is a time to do, but there is also a time to let go."
Kartenu swallowed back his words. He could really not control the destiny of this dimension much longer. Sometimes he wondered if they should have all let go the moment Nanamako became corrupted.
However, at that time, the pain of loss and trauma had been too fresh in their minds. And they did not want to burden the already ravaged lands with another stream of black miasma. Especially since they were certain that the black energy had already been constrained by the Rubeiya Doste. They couldn't bear the sin of releasing more dark energy at such a critical moment.
But now the constraints outside were breaking, and the miasma inside was surging as it wanted to break through the constraints of the dimension and rejoin with its own form. So many people had been sacrificed down the centuries trying to keep it constrained. But it was now going out of his control.
"But...this girl is too small and powerless. How can she control the coming storm?"
"That is her destiny. She meant to complete her mission at all cost. There is no other way."
"Perhaps there is."
A dark purple fog slowly seeped out of Rihanna's body, floating softly in the air, slowly taking an ethereal shape. Something flashed past the depths of Tatsuya's silver eyes and vanished. Kartenu was stunned by this sudden interruption. He stared at this new entity with caution. Something which could evade even his senses was not a trifling entity.
"She is not from this world."
Kartenu frowned heavily, trying to understand what this purple form was saying.
"Impossible. These lands are bound and restricted by the realms above. No one can cross the barriers."
"Yet, she has done it. She has indeed come from the world outside. And so have I."
Tatsuya remained silent for a while, her eyes staring into the purple fog, trying to see the soul of the person before her.
"You...are the Ancient Purple Flame Dragon."
Kartenu stared agape at the two of them, feeling like a bolt of lightning had suddenly struck him. How could it be the Ancient Flame Dragon?! Wasn't that just a mythological character from the very far off ancient times.....when the Primordial Gods of these lands still existed?!
The Purple fog floated gently without replying. Tatsuya stared back at him, silently contemplating the meaning behind his appearance.
"She...is she the partial soul essence of the first Grand Priestess?"
"Hmmm."
Shock flickered in the silver eyes, breaking the expressionless face for the first time.
"Why has she returned? And how did she pass through the barriers?"
"That only the Realm Spirit can answer."
"The Realm Spirit has awakened? How come I have not felt his aura?"
"You do not have the power to sense him. Only he can reach you when he wants to."
Tatsuya fell silent once more. Kartenu looked at the two great ancient personalities conversing. Tears seeped out from the corners of his eyes. He could not control the current situation. Yet he felt an immense sense of gratification. He had lived to watch two great legends of these lands with his own eyes. Even if he had to disperse his very soul for this dimension now, he was more than willing.
"Is she going to change the fates of these lands?"
"Who knows what the Real Spirit is planning. We can only wait for him to create contact with the little girl again."
"She is too powerless and inexperienced. If the Realm Spirit has something else planned, perhaps we should not hinder his path. But she knows too much too early."
"Hmmm. I think so too. I will bind the parts of her memories related to the dark energy. It is indeed too soon for her to know about it. When the time is right, the bindings will open on their own."
Tatsuya gave an imperceptible nod, her face having returned back to its previous nonchalance.
"This dimension needs rest. Its requirement for spiritual power to sustain its form is increasing. So is the miasma within. I will use the remaining of my soul essence and put it into hibernation. I can keep it in hibernation for 10 years. I hope by then this girl will have found some solution for all the people inside this dimension."
The purple fog and Tatsuya turned to the kneeling Kartenu simultaneously. He had been so engrossed in their conversation, thought there were some parts he could only guess, as they had happened long before his time. He looked at the two and swallowed back the emotions churning within.
They were both giving him a chance. No....they were giving them all a chance....a chance to survive once more. And he was selfish enough to take it.
"Let her and her friends and beasts out. Also there was a young boy who came with them. Once we have gone out of the dimension, you can lock it in hibernation and place it within her dantian. The energy within her will be enough to keep the dimension nourished for the time being."
The purple fog once more retracted back into Rihanna's body. The silver in her eyes and hair too slowly receded. The eyes closes on their own accord, the already unconscious body no longer able to hold itself up. Kartenu flicked his fingers before her body could hit the ground.
He got up and walked over to the floating motionless form of the little girl. Unknown to him, his eyes had already softened, and a strong light surged through them.
This little girl was hope. The only ray of hope in this already dying world. A hope that could possibly become a reality, where the future of the lands would be different from the past. A hope that these lands and the people of these lands would have a future.