LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 15: chapter 15
Chapter 15: The Fear of Yae Miko
The Shogunate army quickly sprang into action, deploying soldiers across the land. Patrols around Inazuma Castle intensified as fear spread like wildfire.
The three commissioners of Inazuma—Tenryou, Kanjou, and Yashiro—set aside their differences and worked together to calm the panicked populace.
Everything in Inazuma revolved around General Raiden. She was their protector, their god. But now, she had fallen.
No one was more unsettled than those who owed their power and status to her divine will.
In Inazuma Castle, the streets leading to the Tenshukaku were heavily guarded. Soldiers of the Tenryou Commission stood at every corner, ensuring no unauthorized entry.
Yet, inside the Tenshukaku, silence reigned.
Yae Miko, the pink-haired fox priestess, stood outside the towering structure. She gazed at the castle with an expression rarely seen on her—unease.
"General… my dear friend."
Her heart felt heavy, her usual sly demeanor nowhere to be found.
As she prepared to ascend the castle steps, someone stopped her.
"Oh? It's the young lady of the Kamisato family."
Kamisato Ayaka, the graceful and determined sister of the Yashiro Commissioner, stood before her.
"Lady Miko, are you going to the Tenshukaku?" Ayaka's voice was laced with worry.
Though she hadn't witnessed the clash firsthand, the state of Inazuma Castle told her everything she needed to know. The rumors were true—General Raiden had been defeated.
"Yes," Yae Miko replied, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "The one who defeated the General is inside."
The eternal thunderstorm that once surrounded Inazuma had vanished. On the surface, this might seem like a blessing, but Yae Miko knew better.
The storm had been an extension of the General's will—a manifestation of her power. For it to disappear entirely meant only one thing.
Yae Miko feared the worst.
"Lady Miko, is the situation truly so dire?" Ayaka asked hesitantly.
The sight of Yae Miko—usually so composed and playful—now filled with fear and doubt, unnerved Ayaka.
"Dire? Little Ayaka, let me ask you this: What do you think of General Raiden's power?"
Ayaka faltered. She wanted to respond with confidence, to say that General Raiden's power was unparalleled, that she was invincible.
But she couldn't.
Because the truth was undeniable. The General, the invincible protector of Inazuma, had fallen. And not after a long, arduous battle. No, she had been defeated quickly and effortlessly.
"Forget it," Yae Miko said with a bitter smile. "Come with me to the Tenshukaku. We will face this unknown god together."
The one who could defeat a god wasn't human. That much was certain. Whoever was inside the Tenshukaku was no ordinary being. Perhaps they were a god from Celestia.
Yae Miko's steps were heavy as she approached the castle doors.
"I understand," Ayaka replied, following closely behind.
Whether for the sake of her people or to honor the General, Ayaka knew she had to uncover the truth.
---
Outside the Tenshukaku, soldiers of the Tenryou Commission stood in rigid formation, their faces pale with fear.
Everyone knew the one who had defeated General Raiden was inside. Yet, none dared to enter.
Kujo Sara, the loyal General of the Tenryou Commission, stared at the castle doors with a heavy heart.
She wanted nothing more than to confront the intruder, to avenge the General. But fear held her back.
If she entered and didn't return, who would lead the Tenryou Commission? Who would protect the people of Inazuma?
Her fear wasn't for her own life—it was for the people she had sworn to serve.
"It's Lady Miko!"
A soldier's voice broke the tense silence as Yae Miko approached the castle doors, Ayaka following closely behind.
The soldiers straightened, their last glimmer of hope resting on the fox priestess.
Yae Miko glanced at them but offered no words of comfort. She understood their despair because she felt it too.
"You all stay here," she said curtly. "Ayaka and I will handle this."
The soldiers hesitated but ultimately obeyed.
As Yae Miko pushed open the heavy doors of the Tenshukaku, she felt a wave of dread wash over her. The air inside was thick, oppressive, and reeked of an overwhelming power.
For the first time in centuries, Yae Miko was afraid.
---
Inside the Tenshukaku, the two women stood in silence.
Yae Miko's expression shifted slightly, her usual cunning smile returning. But it was a mask, hiding her fear.
"Do you know why I brought you with me?" she asked Ayaka, her voice lighter than before.
Ayaka shook her head.
"I thought that if I couldn't make it out alive, at least I'd have a companion," Yae Miko said with a wry smile. "Little Ayaka, we might die today."
Ayaka's eyes widened, but her resolve remained firm.
"If that's the case, Lady Miko, I'll stand by you. I'm ready to face whatever comes, for the General and for Inazuma."
Yae Miko chuckled softly, though there was no humor in it.
"You're braver than me, Ayaka. I've lived for over five hundred years, yet I'm still afraid of death."
Her words hung in the air as the two approached the inner chamber.
"I just hope that god doesn't look too terrifying. Otherwise, I might actually die of fright."
The doors to the inner sanctum loomed before them, the weight of the unknown pressing down on their shoulders.
With a deep breath, Yae Miko pushed them open.
And they stepped into the presence of the one who had brought Inazuma to its knees.