Fire Talisman

Seeing the beautiful and lively girl run towards her, Miketsu's mood brightened. She smiled and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, speaking softly with a gentle gaze.

“I still haven't gotten used to it,” she said. “In a blink, Princess Kaguya has grown so big. At first, you were only the size of my palm, and now it's hard to even pick you up.”

As she spoke, Miketsu couldn't help but inwardly lament her own physique. As a deity, she seemed to possess no capacity for growth. Princess Kaguya was already nearing her own apparent age, yet Miketsu remained exactly the same, without a single change.

“Does Mother like Kaguya small? If so, Kaguya will learn a jutsu to become small,” Kaguya said, tilting her head slightly, her bright, watery eyes wide as she listened to Miketsu.

“No need. Growing up properly is what you should do, Kaguya,” Miketsu said, glancing at the maidservants beside Kaguya. The maidservants nodded understandingly, then respectfully exited the room and closed the door. Now, Miketsu and Princess Kaguya were alone in the room.

“Mother, look, these are Kaguya's new clothes. Aren't they pretty?” Princess Kaguya said, spinning around in place, displaying the splendid furisode kimono she wore to Miketsu.

“Yes, it's very beautiful. Let me guess... this must be another gift from Aka, right?” Miketsu said with a smile, looking at Princess Kaguya's clothes.

“Yes, it was Uncle Aka,” Princess Kaguya nodded, a radiant smile of pure joy lighting up her face. “He visited Kaguya again yesterday. Kaguya played the koto, blew the flute, and recited poetry for him, and he brought so many more gifts. This outfit is Kaguya's favorite!”

“Just as I thought...” Miketsu murmured, subtly surveying the myriad of glittering objects filling the room. She couldn't help but inwardly grumble.

‘How many times has it been this month? He's truly sending gifts more and more frequently. Is that guy perhaps overdoing it a bit? If this continues, my house won't be big enough to hold everything.’

Ever since Miketsu adopted Princess Kaguya under the name of Asakura Hao, her residence in Heian-kyo became Princess Kaguya's exclusive manor. Over these past ten years, Mokou had invested considerable effort into transforming Princess Kaguya into a beauty renowned throughout the land, surpassing even Princess Kaguya of legend.

Even before Princess Kaguya could speak, Mokou had continuously sent all sorts of gifts, from clothes to furniture, even oxen, claiming it was to ensure Princess Kaguya grew up under the most privileged conditions, cultivating her beauty and demeanor from a young age. Most of the exquisite decorations in the Asakura Residence now were gifts from Mokou, practically transforming the originally modest Asakura Residence into a miniature palace. Princess Kaguya had truly lived a life more akin to a princess than a mere noble.

To further enhance Princess Kaguya's beauty and temperament, Miketsu also hired various literary scholars and music masters from Heian-kyo to teach her poetry, waka, and musical instrument performance. Although Miketsu, not wanting to put too much pressure on the child, never forced Princess Kaguya to master these subjects, she nonetheless displayed astonishing learning abilities during this process, often leaving her teachers with nothing more to impart in less than a year. Her reputation as a child prodigy spread rapidly, making Miketsu marvel that Princess Kaguya was indeed a favored daughter of heaven, truly descended from the heavens.

Presently, the beauty and talent of the thirteen-year-old Princess Kaguya had spread throughout Heian-kyo. Rumors that the daughter of the Great Onmyoji Asakura Hao was a beauty comparable to the legendary Princess Kaguya had begun circulating among the various nobles and aristocrats, causing countless young noblemen to ache with longing in their conjectures and imaginings.

“By the way, how has Aka been recently? I've been a bit busy lately and haven't had a chance to visit him,” Miketsu then asked Princess Kaguya, while inwardly planning when to find Mokou for a drink.

“Uncle Aka has been very well,” Princess Kaguya replied. “He's been visiting more and more often. Every time he sees Kaguya's growth, he becomes very happy and gives many gifts. Kaguya will certainly become the most excellent and beautiful woman in the world, just as Uncle Aka hopes... and then... and then...”

At this point, Princess Kaguya's voice grew softer, and a faint blush appeared on her small face. Miketsu, seeing this, smiled and patted her head, then continued.

“Don't think about such things for now...” Miketsu said. “Today, I've returned not just to visit Kaguya, but also because I need your help with something.”

“Help...?” Princess Kaguya asked. “If Kaguya can help Mother with anything, please just say the word!”

“Heh heh, then let's go over here...”

As Miketsu spoke, she walked towards a small door at the side of the room. Pulling it open, she entered, revealing a serene and quiet chamber, completely different in style from the previous room.

Incense smoke wafted from a censer, permeating the entire room. Innumerable ancient books lined the shelves, and various strange instruments were neatly arranged on a table. On the large central table, an armillary sphere and a pile of astrological charts were laid out. This room was clearly one dedicated to the practice of jutsu-shiki.

“Have you finished reading all the books I brought back last time?” Miketsu asked casually after entering the quiet chamber.

“Mother, Kaguya has already committed all the books you brought back from the Onmyoryo this time to memory,” Princess Kaguya replied. “Now, Kaguya needs more practice to integrate them with her previous knowledge.”

Hearing Princess Kaguya's reply, Miketsu paused for a moment. She clicked her tongue, then chuckled lightly as she responded.

“I didn't expect it to be so quick this time,” Miketsu said. “It seems you prefer Onmyojutsu more than poetry, literature, and etiquette.”

“Of course,” Princess Kaguya replied with a smile, looking at Miketsu. “After all, my name is Kaguya Asakura, daughter of the Great Onmyoji Asakura Hao. How could I possibly fall behind others in the mastery of Onmyojutsu?” Her words made Miketsu feel a little embarrassed for a moment. She knew her own proficiency in Onmyojutsu was the weakest among the Senior Secretaries, entirely propped up by others' exaggerations...

“Heh heh, say no more. Kaguya, you're well aware of my Onmyojutsu level,” Miketsu said. “It's precisely for this reason that I specifically came to you today...” As she spoke, she pulled a small, yellow paper fragment from her sleeve, its edges blackened, with only one corner remaining.

This was found yesterday afternoon by Makoto at the spot where the man-eating “beast” had spontaneously combusted. Upon returning, she immediately handed it to Miketsu, who was then still Owl.

“This appears to be a fragmented talisman, Kaguya. I need to know its purpose...” Miketsu said, handing the single-cornered talisman to Princess Kaguya. Princess Kaguya slowly spoke after briefly examining the talisman.

“Please wait a moment.”

Then, Princess Kaguya placed the fragmented talisman in her palm. Accompanied by a gentle, radiant glow, delicate lines of light extended from the broken corner, intertwining and slowly weaving into a complete, ethereal talisman.

“Using Kaguya's ability, I can deduce the complete jutsu-shiki from the remaining spiritual network structure within the talisman, thereby recreating its intact form. Fortunately, this talisman is neither profound nor intricate; it's a very simple jutsu-shiki, easily deciphered...” As Princess Kaguya spoke, the complete talisman, outlined by lines of spiritual power in her hand, stood upright before Miketsu's eyes. Miketsu's brows furrowed upon seeing it.

“This is... a Blue Flame Fire Talisman? Just a talisman for setting fires?”