The Fierce Saintess

Episode 32: Joukyou 3 (1686) - Part 3

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「Master. Lady Myōbu will arrive three days from now alongside Lady Kana's divine messengers.」

Fūka, who bore a light blue teardrop-shaped mark on her forehead, delivered half of Lady Komachi's message to Yasutomi.

「...And we have been instructed to pass along her request that you prepare thoroughly.」

Ruka, who bore a dark blue circular mark, delivered the rest.

「I understand. By the way, regarding the divine messengers Kana is to receive—how do they appear from your perspective?」

「...They are still young, but both are 'Pattern-Bearers.' Moreover, one controls wind and fire, while the other wields water and flora—dual-element users. Within less than a decade, they will likely achieve the status of divine foxes.」

Fūka answered with a touch of chagrin. Fūka and Ruka were 'Mark-Bearers,' high-ranking among spirit foxes, but 'Pattern-Bearers' stood at the absolute pinnacle. Furthermore, wielding two types of elemental power placed them nearly in the domain of divine foxes.

「My, to think they possess such potential...」

「It only shows how deeply Lady Kuzunoha cherishes Lady Kana.」

At Ruka's words, Yasutomi let out a sigh. Powerful divine magic alone drew the eyes and ears of many. That included not only humans, but also gods and beings known as ayakashi.

Because Princess Kana's immense divine power could be foreseen even before her birth, a worried Kuzunoha had arranged for a new barrier to be erected around the mansion. It was meant to protect the unborn babe from unwanted interference from other deities.

Gods could, at times, become unnaturally obsessed with mortals.

In fact, his wife, Chino, still enjoyed the favor of Lord Michizane's divine spirit and was protected by his ability to command lightning—one of his divine authorities. Perhaps because of this, whenever Chino fell into a foul mood or became terribly ill, dark clouds would invariably gather, and lightning would strike.

Thus, when Yasutomi sought to wed Chino, both the Imperial Court and Tenmangū Shrine imposed various conditions, but the one most heavily emphasized was that Chino be forbidden from leaving the capital of Kyoto.

The Imperial Family, still fearful of Lord Michizane's curse, undoubtedly wished to keep his favored miko in a place within their sight even after she had stepped down, so as not to provoke his wrath.

Mind you, at the time he proposed, a fair number of lightning strikes had already rained down around the mansion. Fortunately, thanks to the barrier surrounding the grounds, no damage was sustained.

Yasutomi believed that Lord Michizane likely had no intention of harming the Tsuchimikado family, who held deep ties to the Inari deity. After all, despite the grand spectacle of lightning striking around the mansion, no fires broke out, and the crops in his domain suffered virtually no harm.

(Come to think of it, that year saw a bumper crop of shiitake mushrooms in our domain...)

Though it happened over a decade ago, the harvest of shiitake mushrooms was so massive that people still spoke of it today. It was an especially bountiful harvest on the mountain behind the estate—what the household called the back mountain. Yasutomi had stationed officials there and permitted nearby villagers to harvest the mushrooms, allowing them to take a portion home, a gesture he remembered being met with great delight.

(Thanks to that, I had no trouble finding gift offerings for quite a while.)

For a brief moment, he wondered if that might have been a wedding gift from Lord Michizane, but he dismissed the thought as absurd—surely, that could not be.

(More importantly, there is Kana to consider. Her strange and fateful destiny likely means she will either be taken with by some deity or targeted by a great demon.)

Either way, such beings were far too formidable for a mortal to face alone, and Yasutomi was well aware that when the time came, he would have no choice but to rely on the principal deities. As a father, however, he steeled his resolve to do everything within his power so his daughter would not suffer.

(Even so, it seems the names I originally prepared are too small a vessel. Unless the names possess a grander capacity, they might hinder their growth. Besides, if possible, I would like names that harmonize well with our crest, the swallowtail butterfly...)

Yasutomi retrieved his yatate, unrolled a scroll of paper, and closed his eyes.

(Wind and flame... water and flora... and a fluttering butterfly...)

He sank into the depths of contemplation. He remained still for a long while, but when he finally opened his eyes, he wrote two new names upon the scroll.

Three days later.

In the shrine hall known as the Gohonsha, deep within the estate, maidservants had been mobilized since early morning to construct an altar and arrange numerous offerings. Princess Kana, with the assistance of Saki and Natsume, was already dressed in a white robe and white kirihakama.

(Ugh, my heart is pounding so hard from nervousness...)

Even while sitting on the stool provided beside the altar, she fidgeted restlessly, unable to settle down. Over the past two days, her mother, Chino, had thoroughly drilled her in etiquette and ritual prayers, yet she still could not help feeling nervous.

Looking at her father, Yasutomi, who sat right beside her clad in pristine white jōe, perfectly serene and composed, did not calm her down at all; if anything, it only seemed to heighten her anxiety.

Before long, a light mist drifted across the area, and Lady Komachi appeared, leading her kinfolk. Today, she took on a human form from the very beginning.

Everyone present prostrated themselves at once, and Yasutomi delivered his formal greeting.

「Lady Myōbu, I am deeply honored by your visit today. As the master of this estate, I, Yasutomi, express my heartfelt gratitude. Furthermore, I offer my profound thanks for the overwhelming consideration you have shown my daughter, Kana.」

「Fufu. Have I kept you waiting? The passage of time in the hermit realm differs from this world, so things rarely go as smoothly as one might hope. Come now, you two, step forward!」

Prompted by Komachi and pushed forward by her kinfolk, two fox kits came tumbling out.

「Kyun!」「Kyuu!」

Both still possessed the soft, fluffy fur unique to young kits. On the forehead of one was a flower pattern of light indigo, while on the forehead of the other was a flame pattern of crimson red.

Among spirit foxes, those of great power bore marks upon their foreheads, though for most, it was merely a small mark tinted in the color of their elemental affinity. The fact that these two bore such distinct patterns made their extraordinary strength immediately clear.

「These are the ones I spoke of before. They hail from Lady Kuzunoha's lineage. Though still spirit foxes, even in my estimation they possess remarkable talent and great promise. The one with the flower pattern excels in controlling water and flora, while the one with the flame pattern commands wind and fire. Yasutomi, I trust you have thought of their names?」

「Yes. I have pondered the matter deeply.」

(To think my divine foxes are a flame child and a flower child! And oh, how adorable they are! Their tails are so fluffy!)

Where her previous nervous anxiety had gone, Princess Kana stood completely entranced by the loveliness of the foxes bestowed upon her, until an admonishing cough broke her reverie.

(Ah! Oh no! This is no time to be doting! I must pull myself together!)

She hurriedly straightened her posture, but sensing her mother's stern, heavy gaze on the back of her head, she realized her mistake.

(I am definitely getting a lecture later...)

Glancing up surreptitiously, her eyes met those of her father, who looked slightly exasperated.

「Now then, Kana. Without further delay, begin the naming ceremony. Here are their names.」

「I humbly receive them!」

Receiving the folded paper from her father, the princess accepted it reverently and tucked it into her breast pocket.

Once divine messengers are officially granted names, they take the one who named them as their master and serve faithfully until that master's death. For that reason, the naming ceremony is held to be sacred and of paramount importance.

Yasutomi chanted a purification mantra over water drawn beforehand from the well into a ceramic vessel, and Princess Kana cleansed her hands and mouth with it. She then knelt before the altar and shuffled forward on her knees. Reaching the front of the altar, she assumed a formal sitting posture, bowed deeply twice, and chanted the Inari Ōkami Hifumon prayer.

「The Great Deity is one without physical form, void yet possessing divine spirit.

Since the creation of heaven and earth, worshipping Kunitokotachi no Mikoto...

Beads connecting in heaven, beads connecting on earth, souls abiding in humankind, the lineage of Toyouke no Kami...

...Thus I reverently recite the Inari Hifumon prayer.」

Having finished reciting the prayer, she bowed twice more and clapped her hands twice. After bowing once more, she proceeded to the naming rite. Unrolling the paper given to her by her father, she bowed twice and began to read aloud.

「I, Kana, daughter of the Tsuchimikado family, do here state: I shall now perform the naming ritual for the two divine messengers entrusted to me by Lady Myōbu.

He who bears the flame shall be named Suou. The sentiment bestowed upon this name is that of a ruler of relentless winds that sweep through every corner of the world. Bearing the flame that destroys evil, serve me for all your days to aid my flight.

She who bears the flower shall be named Kaou. The sentiment bestowed upon this name is that of a ruler of flowers that sprout and bloom without fear of even the coldest winter. With the strength of flowing waters, serve me for all your days to aid my leap forward.」

Having finished reading, she poured sacred sake into a chalice prepared before the altar, pricked her fingertip with a pocket dagger resting beside it, and let several drops of blood fall into the chalice. Holding it reverently above her head, she then placed it down before the two fox kits.

Stepping forward gingerly, the fox kits lapped up the sacred sake mingled with Princess Kana's blood, whereupon white light instantly enveloped both the princess and the kits. Within that radiant light, warmth surged deep inside Princess Kana's core, and she felt a powerful, unbreakable bond form between them. She could sense an undeniable connection to the little foxes.

(With this, they truly have become my foxes!)

Princess Kana's heart swelled with joy. However, the naming ceremony was not over yet. The final words remained. Turning back toward the altar, she declared:

「May the bountiful grace of the Inari Deity be fulfilled without straying from the path of truth, and with utmost reverence, I hereby announce the completion of this naming ceremony.」

She then bowed twice, clapped her hands twice, and finished with a final, deep bow. With that, everything was complete. Just as she let out a sigh of relief—

「I have become Kaou! I offer my greetings to my Master!」

The fox kit with the flower pattern leapt toward her. Thereupon—

「What are you saying? I was first! I have become Suou! Allow me to greet our Master!」

The fox kit with the flame pattern also rushed over in a panic, leaping straight into the princess's arms as if begging to be held.

(Ah, so fluffy!)

「「Princess, we express our heartfelt thanks for the naming ceremony today!」」

「My name is Kana. Suou, Kaou, I look forward to working with you.」

「「Understood!」」

As Yasutomi watched Princess Kana laughing while cradling the two fox kits, Komachi approached him soundlessly and spoke.

「Even so, Suou and Kaou... You have bestowed quite grand names upon them, Yasutomi.」

「Because I believed them worthy of such names.」

He replied with a bow.

(If those two grow to match the greatness of their names, they will become an immense aid to my daughter. Should that come to pass, whatever destiny awaits her next might prove a little kinder...)