Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

"Such a peculiar compass," Akane quietly muttered. She was in a house built from trees, many structures usually seen in a home was seen here but fashioned in flower stems, wood bark, or beast hides. She sat neatly on a wooden chair, staring intently at the silver compass.

Her dainty fingers caressed it slowly. As she did, she would swear that the area her fingers crossed lost its focus temporarily as if the space it occupied was slightly distorted. She frowned, "This compass is mysterious."

As she studied the compass, a soft series of knocks drew her attention. She hastily placed the compass in her pocket and took a deep breath. A creak sounded as a figure opened her door and entered.

A voice filled with youthful vigor and strength sounded, "Akane, Elder Eiji is asking for you." The voice belonged to a handsome man, feminine in nature, with a slim physique and dressed in a blue yutaka. His eyes was suffused with curiosity as he brazenly looked within the house.

A soft set of footsteps followed, revealing Akane’s lithe and beautiful figure with nine tails frolicking about behind her. She bowed slightly, respectfully replying, "Thank you for the notice, Young Master Eiji." Her voice was polite, and no one could find any flaws with her words.

However, the young man pouted his lips as his eyes scanned her body rampantly. He only took one more look and nodded, "You should go."

"I don’t wish to inconvenience the Elder, so I will immediately go." She responded before walking towards the door. Her footsteps had to halt as a figure stood in her path of the door.

Eiji stood firmly at the door, looking at her from head to toe, blocking her path and contradicting his earlier words. Suddenly saying, "Have you decided?"

Akane trembled lightly, but her eyes flickered a decisive light. "Young Master, I have given you an answer before. It has not changed." Her tone was tingling with a hint of a chill.

He coldly snorted and directly left.

Akane shook her head slightly. Life indeed was a little bothersome at times. She strode out of her house. As she walked towards the Elders’ hall, she was met with the sight of her people. They had tails ranging from two to five, the kids all had one tail, and their hairs were like the myriad colors of the rainbow. Only after a certain age would the kids grow more.

"Greetings, Akane!" One cheerful greeting after another was echoed. She replied patiently to each one with the utmost respect, and warm smiles were the replies she received. A young girl with blue hair and feline ears appeared beside her with a giggling appearance.

"Big Sis, is Young Master still bothering you? He huffed and puffed like he was constipat-"

"Tsumi!" Akane interrupted with a light scolding. The girl covered her lips, but her eyes were still laughing. Akane didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry at this little girl’s brazenness. She softly tousled her hair and lovingly said, "I have to go see the Elder. I’ll play with you later."

"Promise?"

Akane smiled, "Promise."

"Remember, you promised!" She ran off, her small legs taking her off like the wind.

"That girl is quite a handful," a hard-working, middle-aged man laughingly commented as he hefted a bag filled with seeds. "See you at the festival!"

Akane warily smiled and continued on her way.

It wasn’t long before she arrived at the Elders’ Hall. It was a gigantic tree with a hollowed inside. There was no door and the plantlife wildly grown indoors, freely but without a hint of weeds around.

It had a grand and natural feeling that left one feeling awed and at peace. Akane slowly walked in to see two older men inside. One of which was Elder Hiroji, and the other was a man with a firm gaze, straight back, and his hands clasped behind his back. Unlike the others, he seemed somewhat battle-hardened and wizened to worldly difficulties.

He had indigo hair and ears, dressed in a Yutaka with fox-tail designs. Behind him flickered six tails that went left and right without a particular rhythm.

"Akane, I heard from Elder Hiroji that you and Akio left the Bordered Grounds and went out?" He looked fierce, despite not revealing an angry appearance.

Akane bowed her head slightly, "Yes, Elder Neji. I wanted Akio to see a little more about our world. I ask for forgiveness for my dangerous and youthful desires."

Elder Neji’s brow twitched. How could he bear to punish her when she directly apologized in such a manner, not shying away from the truth, and her reasoning was ordinary and filled with good intentions. He sighed softly, his gaze softening as a result.

"It’s fine. It’s good to have the desire to explore and broaden the view of your siblings, but do take some guards if you wish to retake such actions. Okay?" He helplessly said.

"Akane understands and will follow Elder’s suggestion."

Elder Hiroji smiled, "Let’s move on now that that is dealt with. The festival is soon. Have you made preparations? Chosen a partner?"

Akane’s eyes flickered but she only softly shook her head, "I’ve made all preparations, but I haven’t decided on my partner. Please forgive me. I hope I can-"

Elder Eiji interrupted, "I know what you want to say, but the Clan Lord will not like it."

Elder Hiroji laughed as his old bones seemed to creak, "who cares what that brat has to say? Akane, you’re free to do as you please. I’ll take responsibility."

"You..." Elder Neji was in disbelief. When did Hiroji suddenly become so kind-hearted and brave?

Akane’s eyes brightened, and she heavily bowed, "Thank you, Elders."

"Hm?" Elder Neji didn’t know if he should cry at this situation. What did you need to thank him for? He shook his head, decidedly choosing to be mute at this moment. However, both Hiroji and Akane knew that he agreed with this arrangement.

"Prepare for the festival thoroughly. Nothing must be out of place." Elder Hiroji swatted his hand as he sent her out. His smile was endless and filled with warmth.

When she left, Elder Eiji found his words, "This will cause some issues...you know?"

Laughing carelessly, Elder Hiroji responded, "We have such a limited time in this world, why bother being so careful? We should help the younger generation a few times withstand the wind and rain a little, no?"

"Haha, I guess you’re right. To think you sound braver than me. How things change." However, Elder Eiji looked at the door.

’She’s our clan’s future...so doing this is fine, but...why do I feel uneasy?’

-----

Hundreds of thousands of kilometers away, a castle that floated in the sky existed. It was pitch-black and filled with an essence of darkness. In fact, if one looked at it, it seemed insubstantial and two-dimensional like a shadow produced by the rays of the sun.

The castle was tens of thousands of meters high and within the castle was a grand hall. It had decorations and various furniture, but most notable was a round table that seemed made from pure white jade. No windows existed here and not a shred of light poured in from any location. But the white jade table was a sharp contrast from the black decor, flickering with traces of white light.

A group of eighteen men, addressed in full-body black armor, wielding various forms of mortal weapons, sat at this table. They drank wine and chatted endlessly, their words airy and fleeting like shadows.

Bang!

A door to the hall was opened abruptly. The members of this table turned towards the source.

A man with a jester’s crown and black robe walked in. When he got deep enough into the hall, he kneeled heavily on the floor. "My lords, I’ve found it!"

A clamoring uproar raged as many different voices clashed. A singular voice that seemed to overpower the rest sounded, "Finally."

The eyes of everyone followed towards this voice to see a jade white throne at the highest point in the hall. It was covered in a hazy shadow. A face revealed itself with dark eyes and white teeth. It was sinister to the extreme as its other features were indiscernible, "The day shall be ours again."

A toothy smile filled with an ill-aura formed at that shadow.

"The day shall be ours!" The eighteen simultaneously shouted with vigor and excitement. The jester’s body trembled, tears leaked from his dark eyes and fell to the ground. That droplet hit the ground and faded away in dark mist.

In his heart, he shouted with his entire being, "The day shall be ours!"