<h4>Volume 1 - Yamata no Orochi: Chapter 1 – Lily’s Doubts</h4>


    “Help Madam Shizuka Gozen ascend to Takamagahara, meet Amaterasu-ōmikami, and pray for the restoration of the world,” Lily repeated, her words imbued with the weight of the task. The challenge of ascending was monumental, almost like touching the sky, and in her case, it was quite literal.


    However, before contemting the gravity of this mission, she had to decide whether to ept it. Faced with such significance, her thoughts crystallized with umon rity. Everything she was today owed itself to her ancient mirror; thus, this was a mission she could not refuse.


    Furthermore, even if Lily herself didn’t possess the qualifications to meet Amaterasu-ōmikami, by assisting Shizuka Gozen in reaching Takamagahara, she could potentially seek advice or clues on how to awaken her senior sister


    ¹. Lily felt this was a genuine possibility. If the matter were trivial enough that Amaterasu would opt to ignore it, then Lily could attempt the awakening on her own. However, if it were of substantial importance, then guidance from Amaterasu-ōmikami would surely be offered. This thought imbued her with real hope for her senior sister’s awakening.


    Still, the mission thaty ahead was fraught with danger and almost insurmountable challenges. Lily had her reservations, which split into two main categories of doubt. The first sprang from her perilous experience at Mount Izumo, where her prayers had nearly led to her death and the destruction of the Sakura Parasol


    ².


    That memory cast a heavy psychological shadow. Now, instead of merely praying, she was contemting a journey straight into the heavens—the origin of that near-lethal thunderstorm. Could she survive another encounter with such overwhelming power? And even if she could reach Takamagahara, would meeting Amaterasu-ōmikami be safe?


    But this mission wasn’t based on mere hearsay; it was the final task of the mirror girls, as personally disclosed by Ayaka. Considering the lengths to which dark forces had gone to extract this information, Lily had to admit that the mission’s veracity was almost undeniable. Yet, she couldn’t shake off a lingering unease. What if the so-called ‘state of the world’ was just a smokescreen? What if the mission concealed another, perhaps more sinister, objective


    ³? At the moment, Lily had no answers and could only progress cautiously, one step at a time.


    Her second strand of doubt concerned Shizuka Gozen’s role as the leader of the mirror girls. Lily had never witnessed her in a leadership capacity or even revealing her identity for that matter. Additionally, she considered Ayaka’s former possession of Shimizu’s extraordinary ancient jade, a relic that was undeniably unique among other ancient jades. This led her to question: if the most unique ancient mirror ended up in her own hands, why was Shizuka Gozen considered the leader? Could it be that her ancient mirror once belonged to Shizuka Gozen herself?


    These questions swirled in Lily’s mind,plex and multiyered. If the mirror had indeed once belonged to Shizuka Gozen, would Lily be willing to return it? Considering her senior sister’s spirit was trapped within, she knew she could never relinquish it, regardless of the mission or who came asking.


    Perhaps Lily was overthinking things. After all, no one had ever requested her mirror. Could it be that Shizuka Gozen’s ancient mirror was even more unique than hers? That seemed unlikely. Her mirror contained the Lunar Blossom, the Tsukuyomi Swordstyle stone stele, not to mention its near-impregnable soul defense and star-weaving loom. Even the legendary high-rank spirit treasures couldn’tpare.


    So why wasn’t she the leader of the mirror girls? She had the best qualifications; why wasn’t it her mission to travel to Takamagahara to meet Amaterasu-ōmikami? Instead, why send Shizuka Gozen? This puzzle churned in her mind.


    “Lily, Lily?”


    Startled, Lily snapped back to reality.


    “If you have any doubts, don’t force yourself,” Kimiko said softly. “There are many mirror girls in the world; perhaps let another try the mission.”


    “No,” Lily replied, shaking her head. “I feelpelled to undertake this mission, whether for the way of heaven, the ancient mirror, or even myself.”


    “Lily, this mission is vague and unclear,” Ayaka interjected. “Only when Shizuka Gozen arrives will you know your next steps. If you ept, know that I’ll support you.”


    “I will too,” Kimiko nodded.


    Rei and Shimizu both ced supportive hands on Lily’s shoulders. “We’re in this together,” Rei dered. “If humanity faces extinction, how could we live with ourselves, standing aside with our power unused?”


    Everyone nodded, understanding that this wasn’t just about personal ambitions or morality; it was an instinctual drive for survival.


    “I don’t care much about the world, but I’ll support whatever you want to do, Lily,” Shimizu simply stated


    ⁴.


    Lily nodded gravely. “Let’splete this mission. But remember, your safetyes first. If anyone chooses self-sacrifice, know that I will never forgive you. We’ll take this step by step.”


    The group exchanged shocked but affirming nods. The matter was too grave to immediately share with others, given the risks involved. The dark forces would stop at nothing to uncover the mirror girls’ ultimate mission.


    “Lily, Lady Kimiko, please stay a moment. I have something to discuss privately,” Ayaka said.


    As Shimizu and Rei took their leave, Ayaka turned to Kimiko. “Madam Kimiko, there’s hope to heal your wounds.”


    Kimiko’s eyes sparkled. “Oh?”


    “When I unsealed my memories, other things came back too.”


    “Such as?”


    “Celestial Pure Water,” Ayaka whispered, her voice tinged with a sense of revtion. “The only substance that can heal you.”


    As Ayaka continued to speak, her cheeks flushed and her voice dropped to a near-whisper


    ⁵. “Celestial Pure Water is, in truth…”


    The pale moonlight strained to pierce through the thick, gray fog enveloping Heian-kyo. It wasn’t that the moon was dull, but the fog around the city was oppressively dark. The streets were bustling, a mix of the ordinary and the bizarre. Though half of the crowd appeared normal, it was the peculiar ones who caught the eye—like the raggedly-dressed vagrant with bluish-gray skin and hazy blue eyes. Standing over three meters tall, his spine was distorted by protruding bone spurs. His legs were mismatched—one thick and powerful, the other short and normal—giving him a lopsided gait.


    As he limped past, a group of traders nced at him nervously before hastily diverting their path. He eyed them in return, his gaze an unsettling blend of the human and the inhuman, and continued on his way. Further down the street, a pair of hostesses weren’t so fortunate.


    “Are you human, or a monster? I don’t want any trouble; just let us go!” Their voices quivered with dread as they huddled together in a shadowy corner.


    The dark figure loomed closer. A ghastly sound echoed, followed by stters of blood and gore painting the walls.


    …


    Within the Heian-kyo Shogun Pce, Minamoto no Yoshitada was reporting to Minamoto no Yoritomo.


    “Lord Shogun, your returnes at a critical time,” Yoshitada began.


    Yoritomo simply nodded.


    “Many ces in the world have been undergoing changes. Although Heian-kyo has been rtively peaceful, strange phenomena have been urring,” Yoshitada reported, a note of fear tinging his voice for the uncertain future.


    “Oh?”


    “Arge number of residents have reported missing rtives. When found, these individuals have often undergone disturbing transformations, bing neither human nor demon. These transformed beings are generally quite powerful, and our guards struggle to contain them. Oddly enough, the majority still adhere tows and norms


    ⁶. It’s only a minority that have turned violent and tyrannical, requiring considerable resources to subdue. These entities continue to freely roam our city.”


    Yoritomo looked at Yoshitada earnestly. “You’ve done well to protect the capital in my absence, Lord Yoshitada. You should rest now.”


    “But Shogun, the number of these transformed beings is increasing, some even within our military ranks!”


    “Go,” Yoritomo insisted, his tone deepening with finality.


    “Shogun…”


    Left without further answers or guidance, Yoshitada retreated, more concerned than when he arrived.


    The covering of a voice transmission orb beside Yoritomo lifted on its own, revealing the form of the Cloistered Emperor.


    “Minamoto no Yoritomo, this day has arrived sooner than expected. What do you think the fate of this world will be?”


    “I cannot say, Your Majesty. The future is unpredictable,” Yoritomo admitted.


    “The people of the Heian Dynasty face potential catastrophe if things continue in this manner. I cannot merely stand by; if they perish, what point is there in our roles as Emperor and Shogun?”


    Yoritomo’s weathered face took on a resolute expression, his eyes gleaming with a subtle light. “Humans are resilient, Your Majesty. Throughout history, we’ve ovee countless hardships. While these changes havee sooner than anticipated, there have been promising developments.”


    “Promising developments?”


    “Indeed, signs that our society may yet adapt to these unprecedented changes. Individuals with foresight are beginning to adapt, evolving along with the world around them,” Yoritomo confirmed. <h4>Footnotes:</h4>


    Yuki: Uhh… did you forget that giant bolt of lightning Takamagahara tried to roast you with?


    Yuki: Oh, I see you do remember. So why are you going to present your head for target practice again?


    Robinxen: At least she’s thinking about things properly.


    Robinxen: She’s refreshingly honest.


    Yuki: Why am I getting perverted hints?


    Robinxen: I see… so this is their ultimate goal, converting humanity to this other form that doesn’t adhere tows of nature.