Chapter 14
Pathways of power revealed or don’t point that thing at me.
Watatsumi’s compound, Temple of Eternal Balance, Ten Temples of Truth

Chiyoko stared into Elder Hue’s eyes with a hatred that burned soul deep. It was taking all of her self-discipline to keep from skinning the man alive. In a voice barely above whisper she snarled into his face. “I want everything Hue.”

“What do you five pathetic samurai believe you can do to stop the Dragon Kings? They own the country.” Hue snapped. “Soon they’ll own the world.”

Chikako grabbed Hue by the crotch and squeezed. “We will stop them, Hue. One way or the other. We will stop their plans.”

“Do you really believe that your magic and alchemy can stand up to modern weapons? Do you believe that your pets can stand against the might of armored airships or Sky wings? They will blow those creatures from the skies. They will send their alchemists against you by the hundreds. Then, then they will come for you.” Hue snarled then spit in Chiyoko’s face. “When that time comes. You will find yourself bent over and fucked in the ass by every last man within these walls. Starting with me.”

Akane snapped the fingers of her right hand a ball of flame appeared. “Let me just burn this fucking piece of shit to ash now sister.”

“Not yet sister. Not yet.” Chiyoko turned and walked towards the Witch’s Matrix. “Put him in the center.”

“What are you going to do to me?” Hue demanded.

“Visit upon you the degradation that you would inflect upon all women.” Chiyoko grinned evilly. “I believe that you seeing as how you think women should be nothing more than property. A pretty face to decorate the world. Then that is how you should spend your days.”

“What do you mean?” Hue asked with real fear in his voice as Yoshi, and Akane shoved him into the center of the matrix. “What you going to do?”

“Only give you a befitting punishment, Hue. A punishment that your own sexist attitude has brought about.” Chiyoko snarled as she raised her staff grasping it with hands above her head and began to sing. With the first verse the magic slammed into Hue.

Hue threw his head back screaming as the raw power Chiyoko’s spell smashed through his mystical defenses. He fully believed that he would be able to deflect the power of a woman. His arrogance was shattered as the raw power of Chiyoko’s spell brushed his defenses aside as if they were nothing.

As Chiyoko sang she focused her emotions to fuel and shape the magic that powered her spell. The power arched out from her staff in brilliant flashes of blue/white lightning. Akane, Kasumi, Yoshi, and Chikako all stood quietly at their positions around the matrix. They too wanted to unleash their power on the man. Only the Cardinal rule against Human Transmutation held their power in check. They all knew the consequences for breaking that rule.

With the first chorus Hue’s robes turned to dust. With each following repetition of the chorus Hue’s body began to change. The change was not a fast or pleasant one for the old man. Hue screaming raised in both pitch and volume with each passing bolt of power. Hue dropped to his knees as an unseen force gripped then ripped his testis from his body. Try as he might, Hue could not pass out from the pain. The magic of Chiyoko’s spell wouldn’t let him. Not that Chiyoko would even consider that gift of mercy.

Her anger with the man was beyond reason. Hue’s betrayal was not only to the Temple, but the Dragon Gods. In her home world Chiyoko wasn’t a religious person. But here, in this world she knew that the Gods were real. They’re the reason for her presence in this world. She wasn’t going to let them down. She was meant to be the agent of change. That change was starting with Hue. Just as she was changing him, Chiyoko wanted to change the world. To a world where both men and women were truly equal.

As the changes progressed Hue’s age and body took on the appearance of an early teenage girl. One that was between 13 to 14 years old from the Kyoto prefecture. The one prefecture that in this world where girls under the age of 21 are still considered to be property. A place where they were more valuable when sold to the Yūkaku, or pleasure quarters of the major cities. The majority of these girls went to the brothels. The ones who were lucky enough to be sold to the okiyas often went on to become geisha after turning 21. These lucky few would one day gain their freedom. The ones sold to the brothels though never lived long enough to buy their way out of the brothels.

Chiyoko knew from Hue’s attitude and accent that he was from Kyoto. Chiyoko knew what she was doing to the man. In more ways than one. With one final thrust of magic Chiyoko stripped away all of Hue’s hard-won knowledge. Only to replace it with an uncontrollable desire to become an accomplished geisha. With the spell now completed Chiyoko slowly walked up to the frightened girl that was once Hue.

“What is your name girl?” Was all Chiyoko asked coldly.

“Mutsu Oshinokouji, Mistress.” The girl whimpered. “Where am I?”

“That is none of your concern.” Chiyoko snapped then looked over at Satomi and Satoko. “Get her dressed then take her to the nearest Yūkaku. Let all of the okiyas know that she is for sale. Get what you can.”

The two miko just nodded their heads and took Mutsu by the hand and led her off to the backside of the compound. Akane was the first to say anything. “You showed her more mercy than she deserved Chiyoko.”

“We’re not done, sister. I need you four for the next part of our little deception.” Chiyoko grinned evilly. As she laid out her plan, her four sisters began to giggle as one. “Okay ladies. Do your stuff.”

Covered only by their armor the four teenage girls turned and walked out into the Temple of Eternal Balance. As one they stood before the entrance to the Temple grounds. There they called upon their alchemy. There just inside the entrance four massive pillars rose up out of the ground. Each one representing their individual element.

For Akane it was a simple pillar of fire ten feet tall. For Chikako, the pillar she raised was an eight-sided, ten-foot tall crystal. Yoshi’s pillar was the only one that continued to shoot upward as hers was a never-ending waterspout. Kasumi’s pillar was a whirlwind that was so deadly that if you put your hand inside the pillar your flesh would be stripped away in seconds.

It was this last pillar that gave rise to their true purpose. They were a warning to those who would betray the Temple and the teachings of the individual Dragon Gods. The four Dragon Samurai were making a very brutal point to the visitors of the Temple. When the remaining Temple Elders challenged their actions the four girls acted as one. Slamming their staves down on the cobble stones they raised burning bars of iron between them and the elders. As the men staggered back Akane snarled.

“You will never again turn away the women of this world. The false teachings will end on pain of tortuous death. These four pillars are our promise to the Dragon Gods of a return to their true teachings.”

“By what right do you dare to challenge the teachings of your elders?” Elder Kinoshita Suma demanded as he fought down his fear. He knew that these four teenage girls were far more powerful than they were letting on. “What have you done with Elder Hue?”

“Hue is no longer numbered among the elders of the Temples.” Kasumi snapped. “You have already been told of his treason. Would you join him?”

Kasumi’s choice of words would have a greater impact on the Temple Elders that she dreamt. The three elderly men quickly believed that the Dragon Samurai had killed Hue for his treason against the Dragon Gods. If they would do something like that against their oldest of their number. Then what would they do against someone they had warned. The three men looked to the four pillars representing four of the great alchemic elements. They quickly realized that those four pillars were the only warning the Temple Elders would receive to change their ways.

When the Temple Elders didn’t answer Kasumi’s question the four teenagers turned their backs on them and walked back to their compound. As they entered their private compound their armor disappeared as always. When they see the way that Chiyoko is now dressed the girls just continued to walk naked towards their individual rooms. They know that they’ll find something similar to wear in their own rooms.

While her sisters were carrying out her plan for leaving an eternal warning to the Temple Elders, Chiyoko had returned to her room. When she returned, she was dressed in traditional manner of the miko, red hakama, white kosode, and red hair ribbons. The only concession to her station as the Kyamo no Sa was the two swords at her left hip. These are her Sourusureiyāzu the wakizashi Shielding Moon, and its larger cousin the katana Severing Moon. In her left hand she held the symbol of her magical power the witches staff. Her dragon Ivadad had sat quietly in the center courtyard waiting for her return. The massive black dragon lowered his head to sniff Chiyoko upon her return.

“What is it, Ivadad?” Chiyoko asks as she sniffs her armpit. “Do I stink?”

“No, Chiyoko you do not stink.” The dragon chuckles. “In truth you smell of long-forgotten power and it is a pleasant sent to my nose.”

“Well, at least I don’t stink. Though I have no idea of what you’re talking about big guy.” Chiyoko told him as she stroked his nose with her right hand. Looking at the staff that is in her left hand. “Maybe it’s this thing.”

“That maybe what I smell. Let me get a closer look.” Ivadad asks of his rider. Chiyoko naturally holds the staff up for him to examine. It takes Ivadad less than a second to recognize the staff for what it is. “By Tiamat’s breath! That is Morgana’s Swan Song, the Gift of Desecration!”

“Excuse me! Are you telling me that this thing belonged to Morgan le Fay? As in King Arthur Pendragon’s sister? Morgan the Fairy the most powerful of enchantresses in the Arthurian legend. A magic user second only to Merlin Ambrosius. That Morgan Le Fay?” Chiyoko squeaked.

“I do not know of this Morgan Le Fay or this false mage Merlin Ambrosius that you speak of Chiyoko. Though if she were a great sorceress then she could be your home world’s equivalent.” Ivadad snorted then looked up at the yellow dragon Ygi. “Ygi, this is more your realm of expertise. Perhaps you would be better at telling the story of Morgana. You did know her personally.”

The majestic yellow dragon who was more scholarly than his brothers nodded his head. “True. Though it has been a long time sense I last told the tale of Lady Morgana de Rais, bastard daughter of a false king, greatest rival of her brother King Cledwyn Pendragon, Sorceress of the Black Woods, Witch of the Gray Isles, Enchantresses of White Wastes, Queen of the Fay.”

“Okay hold on here guys. I’m a little lost. Though from the sounds of this Morgana de Rais is the same person as Morgan Le Fay in my home world. Though from the way you’re talking your Morgana was a queen in her own right over the Fay of this world.” Chiyoko said looking up at Ygi.

“Very much so, Lady Chiyoko. Queen Morgana’s mother was the Fay Queen, Ryllae of the Midnight Court. Queen Ryllae was found bathing in a hot spring by the false King, Yve Pendragon. Morgana was the product of her mother’s rape by the false king. It was her mixed heritage that drove Morgana to explore the three great schools of magic. She became the greatest user of Black, Gray, and White magics. During her lifetime she waged an unending war against her human half-brother’s descendants. At the height of this war Morgana controlled most of the Magval Isles. She had driven her human relatives into a small sliver of land a mere twenty miles long and ten miles wide. All thanks to her legendary staff made from the heart of a lightning struck black ash tree. Swan Song, the Gift of Desecration.” Ygi sighed as he gave Chiyoko’s staff a thoughtful look. “You hold in your hands the pinnacle of her power.”

In a voice barely above a whisper Chiyoko asked of the majestic dragon. “How long did it take her to craft this staff?”

“The crafting of that staff took seven days and nights. Craved from an ancient black ash that stood at the very heart of the Black Badger Forest fire. Each rune carved with care and great attention to detail. The Streynium that fills the runes was smelted under a Live Ash tree. The headpiece was harvested from a pure blue Astaonyx sixty carrot crystal. A crystal that was mined from the Bedrock Bottom Mines deep within the Shimmering Highlands.” Ygi explained then chuckled. “It is the most powerful staff of the five great staves of power.”

“Please tell me that the other four staves are just legends.” Chiyoko whined.

“You can wish Lady Chiyoko. I can tell you that the other four have never been in the same realm at the same time. Only once has more than two been seen and wielded in the same realm.” Ygi chuckled as he reminisced about that terrifying time. “Ah, the carnage those two mages raised.”

“Um, just out of curiosity. Which two staves were used?” Chiyoko asked.

“If I remember right. They were the Rune War Staff of Gavras the Gray, and the Lusting Oak Warden Staff of Lorelei Shadowend. The power of those two staves brought down the Fragrant Obelisk of the Sluidian Kingdom.” Once again Ygi chuckled. “Can you imagine two half trained alchemists tearing down one of the most prestigious Schools of magic in just one hour?”

About that time the other four Dragon Samurai returned to the courtyard. Like Chiyoko they were all dressed in a similar manner. They were also carrying their individual staves. Ygi took one look at the four staves and roared. “BY THE GODS! ALL FIVE AT ONE TIME! THE WINDS OF FATE HAVE TWISTED THE VOID! HOW CAN THIS BE?”

“Hold brother! Calm yourself. Our riders need guidance. Not irrational ramblings.” Dykacrat ordered. “Now, tell us what has you so upset.”

“All five of the great Staves of Power in one realm at the same time, brother.” Ygi warned them. Then seeing the lack of understanding he sighed. “The legend of the Void Knight is coming true, brothers.”

“That is a children’s fairy tale, Ygi. You should know better than to place stock in the ramblings of drunken bards and dream tortured poets.” Dykacrat snarked. “Or have you been smoking your Purple Alder again?”

Ygi snorted then stuck his tongue out at Dykacrat. “I have not had any Purple Alder in centuries. But I know what I know. Our riders each carry one of the great Staves of power. Chiyoko wields the Swan Song. Akane brandishes Rune War staff. Yoshi holds the Lusting Oak Warden. Chikako is blessed with Celeste, the Last Hope of Due Diligence. While Kasumi bears the Great Executioner of Storms.”

Ivadad’s head snapped upward to face down his brother. “Are you positive brother? Is there any way that you could be mistaken?”

“Of the six of us. I alone have laid eyes upon all five staves of power. I would know them in SLEEP by their smell alone. They reek of power. Both dark and light.” Ygi grunted. “Never before have they all been gathered in one place. Let alone wielded by such powerful individuals.”

“Save for those that crafted them. Celeste the Last Hope of Due Diligence was a working of such powerful magics that Sekyce, Institute of The Arcane, banished Elremazz the White from their halls. As for the Great Executioner of Storms. Only Morgana’s Swan Song could control the weather with more accuracy. Slirnonia, School of Sorcery has hunted for that staff since the death of Belladonna Devonshire at the hands of Laramie Panther.” Ygi snarled at his brothers with pride in his knowledge.

Ivadad looked down at Chiyoko and the staff in her hands. “How could this be? Those staves were lost to the mists of history.”

Ygi looked down into the courtyard. “By the Goddess Tiamat herself! That is how brothers. The Witch’s Matrix. That is all our riders would need to reach out across the Void of Time and Space to draw forth those staves.”

“They have broken the barrier and fully released the magics of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water onto this world.” Brikat whispered. “Look outside of the walls. See for yourselves brothers. The ley lines are no longer broken.”

As one Chiyoko and the others ran to top of the weyr. Standing on the edge closest to the outer wall. Chiyoko and the others looked out over the Temple’s outer walls onto the city. Each girl used their magical sight. Where before the ley lines were broken and uneven, they were now interlocked and whole. As they stood there each head piece began to pulsate. Slowly at first then with gradual brilliance the pulsing picked up speed. Until each one of the head piece stones glowed with such brilliance that they were blinding to the sight of those gathered. Even the dragons closed their eyes against the light of the five stones. Then as if by some uncontrollable force the four girls touched the head pieces together.

A blinding flash of light burst forth from the four stones. A single beam of light reached out across the city to strike Mount Kage no senshi. Ygi sighed then slowly turned his head to nudge Kasumi in the shoulder. “There is where you shall find your answers, Kasumi. You and your sisters.”

“What will we find, Ygi?” Kasumi asked her dragon.

“The way to stop the Dragon Kings.” Ygi answered her.

Chiyoko looked to the east at the slowly setting sun. “That is a trip we’ll have to save for another day sisters. As powerful as we have become the night still holds far too many unseen dangers.”

“You sound as if you fear the night creatures more than you trust the protection of our flame, Lady Chiyoko.” Ygi grunted.

“It is not the creatures of the night that I fear, Lord Ygi.” Chiyoko snapped. “Those are readily dealt with. No, it is the possibility of boobytraps that, I fear. Surely a way to stop the Dragon Kings would not go unprotected.”

Ivadad chuckled and gave his brother a snarky reply. “It seems that my rider sees more than Ygi the Great Teacher.”

“Not so Ivadad. I just have a healthy distrust of my fellow man and woman.” Chiyoko sneakered. “In the words of a truly great man, P.T. Barnum, from my home world. You must exercise your caution in the laying of your plans but be bold in carrying them out.”

“That sounds like a man who made his living off of fooling others.” Ygi grunted then chuckled. “That or a true showman.”

“Well he was also credited with the saying ‘there’s a sucker born every moment.” Chiyoko giggled. “Though I’ve always believed that it was the king of conmen Joseph ‘Hungry Joe’ Lewis that actually said it.”

Kasumi gave Chiyoko a hug. “You always seem to know so much about the world. I wish that I could have grown-up there.”

“No, you don’t Kasumi. You and our sisters are woefully unprepared for the violence of my world.” Chiyoko looked out over Temple and City. “Even though I miss my family. I would rather raise a family here. In this world. A place where magic and alchemy are real. Where people aren’t so cynical. A world where change and equality can become something real.”

“Your home world is not the only one to suffer such predations, Chiyoko.” Ivadad said slowly as he raised his head to the level of the weyr. The Amber World and Cosmic Vale both fell to the unrest of civil disobedience in the name of equality turned violent.”

“Do not forget the Onyx Ocean or Frozen Realms.” Deghia grunted. “So much beauty ruined. All in the search for so-called equality. Only to have those who believed they were oppressed becoming either the oppressors or extinct in a genocidal war. All in the blind hope of rewriting their histories.”

“I guess my world isn’t as bad off as I thought. At least there all I have to deal with is the occasional street gang or random thug looking for their next fix.” Chiyoko grunted then smiled. “Here I just got to deal with five assholes who want to control the world.”

Chiyoko’s glib reply went unanswered for a few moments before all five dragons and her four sisters broke out laughing. Their laughter didn’t last long as Akane looked out at the Temple compound. “Chiyoko, have you noticed that our armor hasn’t reappeared like it normally does? You know like when we step outside of our compound.”

“Not until now. Though I think I have an idea of why. See how the magical wards of our compound have been pushed outward. Beyond what they used to be.” Chiyoko had already looked at the compound’s protective wards. Pointing down at the still present and unmarred matrix in the courtyard. “There are several reasons for the expansion of the wards.”

Yoshi pointed down at the Witch’s Matrix. “I kind of noticed that it’s kind of burned into the sand of the courtyard.”

“I got a feeling that it goes down further than just the top layers of sand. I’m willing to bet that it goes clear down to the stone foundation.” Kasumi speculated as she looked down at the Matrix. “You don’t think that we caused the change to the wards?”

“I do. Remember there was a metric shit ton of power the first time we used the Witch’s Matrix. We only used a portion of that power. The rest had to go somewhere.” Chiyoko explained as she looked out over the Temple and city. “I know that this is going to sound crazy. I think that all of that power flooded out through the ley lines. Forging them anew. I think that when we formed that matrix. We kind of forged some kind of a magical volcano.”

“Your assessment is very close Lady Chiyoko.” Dykacrat rumbled. “Though I would say that it is more like geysers of the Lonely Territories.”

“Dykacrat once again you have missed the point. The magic continues to flow outward. Like the natural hot springs in the heart of the Inferno Forest.” Brikat grunted from his perch.

“Not even close, Brikat. Use your sight brothers. The magic flows like the great rivers within the Phantom Territories. Slow, steady, unrelenting.” Deghia explained as he lowered head to look closer at the Witch’s Matrix. “The power here is like the well spring that brings forth new life.”

“And with each passing moment that power is feeding the ley lines of this island nation.” Chiyoko said with a grin.

“More than just this nation, Lady Chiyoko.” Ygi told them. “The whole of this world is being fed by this fount.”

“I would wager that this magical well is even now resorting new life to the other great places of power in this world.” Dykacrat speculated.

“If that were the case. How would that effect our alchemy?” Yoshie asked.

“The only effect will be an increase in power, Yoshie. Haven’t you felt the increase in the power of your transmutations since we performed that rite.” Kasumi saw what sisters hadn’t seen or felt. “Those four pillars shouldn’t have been anywhere near that easy to raise.”

“My question is what is going to happen when all those other sites of power start pumping out magic like this one?” Akane asked with a good amount of worry in her voice. “What will the other countries do?”

“That is one question we have no answer for, Akane. Only time will tell.” Chikako sighed. “I just hope that the leaders of the world can control their military and state alchemists.”

“Okay what am I missing here? What do these military or state alchemists have to do with what happened here?” Chiyoko asked bluntly.

“One-hundred years ago the Shoguns Jimyouin, Ogasawara, Terazawa, Yukihide, and Matsudaira. All went to war over a newly found point of power in the bamboo forest on the Black islands off of Kagoshima. Their alchemists destroyed that point of power in a useless war for power.” Chikako explained.

“What happened to the island, Chikako?” Asked Chiyoko with real worry.

“The island now sits below the ocean’s surface. The alchemists for the Shoguns destroyed the island in their ten-day long battle for the control of the power point. According to history the alchemist for Terazawa raised a tsunami of such great power that the Goddess Choe-ze sent a typhoon the likes of which had never been seen before to end the war. The typhoon raged against the Black islands for three days. Between the typhoon and tsunami, the Black islands were submerged under twenty-feet of water.” Chikako told them all. Chiyoko could see and feel the heavy sadness that weighted upon Chikako’s heart for some reason. “My great, great, great aunt Komeshi witnessed the destruction of the islands, along with some of the finest pearl beds in all of the islands. My ancestors used to dive those beds for the pink pearls that have now become priceless.”

“Damnation. Such foolishness and overwhelming greed. I would have thought that these shoguns would have seen the need for working together to secure the power fount.” Ygi grunted from his perch.

“Brother how often have we seen the greed of humans destroy a way forward in their development. We all know that one of the greatest motivators for mankind is their emotions. Sadly, greed is one of the strongest of those emotions.” Deghia grunted from his own perch.

“Just how many of these places are there?” Chiyoko questioned.

“Hundreds Chiyoko, literally hundreds.” Akane answered before the others could. “If what my teachers in the mystic arts are even half right. There may be over a thousand individual places of power around the world.”

“Those are the ones that we know of Akane. That doesn’t even account for the ones that are truly unknown, lost, forgotten, or just undiscovered.” Kasumi countered with a certainty that she rarely felt. “Why just here in Sebun'airando there has to be at least two hundred such sites of power.”

“How?” Chiyoko demanded of her sisters.

“When you take in just the number of temples, shrines, and other sacred sites the number is over two-hundred. If you start counting all the battlefields, graveyards, sealed monsters, and demons.” Akane said as she shook her head. “There could be more than five hundred in Sebun'airando alone.”

“And they’re all coming back to life.” Chiyoko heavily sighed. “Some faster than others. But they’re still coming back to full power or their seals are being broken one by one.”

“The seals on the monsters and demons aren’t our real worry, Chiyoko.” Yoshie said out of nowhere. “It is the lost shrines.”

“Okay why should we be worried about the lost shrines?” Chiyoko asked her.

“We don’t know exactly how many lost shrines there actually are. Let alone to what deity those shrines are dedicated to.” At the look of confusion on Chiyoko’s face, Yoshie sighed. “Some of those lost shrines could be dedicated to demons, devils, or some other amoral being. I’m talking about some really powerful and evil beings here Chiyoko.”

“Care to give me a few examples?” Chiyoko asked politely and praying that the others wouldn’t give her an example.

“Suz'gonnun the Blood Prince of the Demon Realms.” Chikako answered first.

“Tel'gallan Grand Duchess of the Black Depths.” Yoshi answered next.

“Hades Rathmore the Great Satan King of all Hell.” Akane said with a smile.

“Beatrix Interfector Devil Princess of the Sixth Circle of Hell.” Kasumi grinned as Chiyoko finally facepalmed. “I see that you finally get the point. The sheer number of possibilities is staggering.”

Chiyoko just sighed at hearing this and shook her head. “Fine whatever. We’ll deal with that shit when and if it becomes a problem. Right now, we need to get ready for guests. Namely an Empyreal Princess.”

All five girls looked down at their compound and began counting rooms. They quickly realized that there were two extra rooms. Rooms that hadn’t been there before. Chiyoko looked over at Satomi as she joined them on the weyr. “Satomi is it my imagination or has the compound grown?”

“It has indeed grown, kohai. Something that we’ve been meaning to talk with you about for some time now.” Satomi answered. Looking down at the expanded compound. “It seems that the compound responds to your needs.”

“Good. I thought I was losing my mind there for a minute.” Chiyoko giggled. “Where is the former Elder Hue?”

“Satoko and one of the City Watch are escorting young Mutsu Oshinokouji to the Yūkaku on the far side of the city as we speak. They should reach the area within the next hour.” Satomi answered politely. “By sunset, the girl will be sold to whichever of the okiyas that pays the highest price. What do you want done with the proceeds?”

“Donate the money to one of the other Temples. We don’t need it.” Chiyoko grunted. “I know that I shouldn’t hold it against the girl, but as a man she betrayed this Temple in ways that are unforgivable.”

“She remembers who she was, kohai. This is a befitting punishment for her betrayal.” Satomi reassured Chiyoko as she would any troubled student. “This is also a befitting path for her atonement.”

“I don’t care about that, sempai. All I care is that she lives for a long time suffering the degradations that she would have heaped upon us.” Chiyoko snarled. “This way she has a chance to raise above her current place in society. She might actually make a decent geisha once her training is done.”

“I believe that she will find a new pathway for her ambition. We will have to keep an eye on the young lady over the next few years.” Satomi said with a sly and knowing smile. “Now, as to the two new rooms. They are both in the center of the side wings. Where do you want to place the Princess and her mother.”

“We’ll be rearranging the rooms for the best protection. Miles and I will take the rooms closest to the front of the compound. Satomi you and Satoko will have the rooms closest to the outer wall of the compound. Yoshie, Akane, Chikako, and Kasumi will take the rooms nearest the Princess and her mother. The Princess goes between Akane, and Kasumi. Her mother has the room between Yoshie and Chikako. That way each will have a pair of alchemists surrounding them while inside the compound.” Chiyoko explained her reasons for moving everyone around. “With me and Miles nearest the front gate that puts the heavy hitters where we can do the most damage if something goes wrong. Hopefully, these precautions will be for nothing.”

“Your mouth to the Gods’ ears, Chiyoko.” Akane smirked.

“Did someone call?” All five girls turned as one to see five of their six patron gods standing behind them. Toyotama smirked. “I see that you are starting to figure out the special properties of the compound.”

As one the five girls bowed to the Dragon Gods. While Chiyoko greeted them. “My Lords and Ladies, welcome to our home. How may we be of service?”

“We’re just here to check in on your progress with the Dragon Kings.” Wolong assured Chiyoko and the others as he pointed towards Mount Kage no senshi. “I see that you have figured out the next step in your battle against them. Deep within that mountain lays the remains of the original Dragon Empress Yuki Otani and her six Dragon Samurai.”

“Why would we need the remains of the original Dragon Empress and her Samurai?” Kasumi asked with true confusion.

Chiyoko snapped her fingers. “DNA. Of course. Why didn’t I think of that?”

“What is this DNA?” Yoshie asked for the others.

“DNA is short for Deoxyribonucleic acid. Deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms. DNA and RNA are nucleic acids. Alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrate, nucleic acids are one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life. These are passed down to each successive generation.” At the blank looks of her sisters Chiyoko sighed. “We can show that this Dragon Princess is the direct descendant of Empress Yuki Otani. All we need is a sample of tissue from the two women.”

“Very astute of you kohai. Armed with such information we could easily topple the current Emperor.” Satomi grinned. “And with him the Dragon Kings.”

“Only problem is how do we actually perform the test?” Chiyoko asked Satomi. Satomi just gave her a sidelong glance in answer to her question. Chiyoko quickly blushed before answering. “Magic.”

“Now you’re using that steel trap for a mind, kohai.” Satomi smiled at her with the pride of a teacher in a favorite student. “Your transcripts always did show you were faster to find the answer to a problem once you had a point of direction to follow.”

“She is a one of a kind student.” Toyotama grinned.

“At least in the ways of magic and history. She still has a long way to go in her studies of humanity.” Satomi grunted.

“Ah, but we are all still students in humanity.” Ygi chuckled while looking over at Satomi. “Then again can anyone ever truly be called a master in the ways of the human heart, mind, and soul, Lady Satomi?”

“True. No one can really know the ways of the heart, mind, or soul.” Satomi chuckled herself. “You know for a rather crotchety and cantankerous old man. You’re very philosophical Master Ygi. I believe that you would make an excellent opponent in educational debate.”

The majestic dragons started to chuckle as one. Ivadad was the one to put their thoughts into words. “You might have finally met your match Ygi. A true scholar of man verses the ageless dragon philosopher.”

“A match found only in the minds of Gods, Demons, and Devils.” Toyotama chuckled. With a smile the Dragon Goddess turned to Chiyoko. “Please be sure that you and your sisters referee their arguments fairly Kyamo no Sa.”

“Sorry Lady Toyotama, but that is one duty you and your brother will have to oversee. There is no way that I’m going to try and remain impartial between two powerhouse intellectuals.” Chiyoko waved her hands in front of her as if warding off a mosquito attack. “Sorry not happening.”

“You know something sister. I do believe that our Kyamo no Sa actually means that.” Wolong chuckled as did the other Dragon Gods.

“If you don’t want to referee, I’ll be happy to.” Choe-ze the Goddess of Chaotic neutrality smirked as she buffed her nails on her robes. “After all, I can remain impartial in ways that my brothers and sisters can’t.”

All the remaining Dragon Gods shouted at once. “NO!”

Their reaction to the Dragon Goddess of Chaos brought about laughter from those who observed the exchange. For Choe-ze to say that she could be impartial was like saying the winds change directions every day. The Goddess was the true embodiment of Chaos. Especially in her unpredictability. Choe-ze pouted then stamped her foot. “At least I’m not as bad as Chiyoko.”

“Nobody is as bad as Chiyoko, Lady Choe-ze.” Akane snarked on to earn a glare from Chiyoko, and a giggle from her sisters. Naturally Chiyoko had to respond to the challenge from Akane in a dignified manner. Chiyoko stuck out her tongue and blew her a raspberry.

The sight of Qersiss returning as the sun was setting stopped any further commentary. Chiyoko smiled as she spotted the two additional passengers. “Looks like Miles was successful in his mission to rescue the Princess.”

“More than a little successful from the looks of it.” Toyotama grinned. “Finally, the Scales of Justice shall be balanced. Our return is at hand brothers and sisters. The time of the Dragon Kings is over.”

-----tbc-----

P.S. Sorry for the delay on Forever the Dragon Princess and Speed Demons. Been on a little vacation. Had to get away from all the craziness and take a little time off for myself and family.