Talisman Pass is a feature that replaces the Ibuki events and the Kimodameshi as the Daily Quests system. Every month the focused character and the associated rewards will change.
Format[]
Quests are divided into three categories: daily, weekly and monthly.
Daily quests are similar to what they used to be, with a few new additions - namely challenging Area Bosses and Demon Encounter, and doing wanted quests. Players can gain experience by doing these quests, which is applied to a 0-100 gauge every day. Players can open reward chests at certain experience milestones: 20-40-60-80-100. This works exactly the same way as the courage gain in Kimodameshi. Daily quests refresh at the daily reset, 00:00 server time.
In the Weekly quests tab, players are assigned 4 easy, 2 medium and 1 hard quests every week. These quests are random and can be refreshed using 10 jade each. Weekly quests refresh every Monday, at 00:00 server time.
The Monthly quests are also static, like dailies. Some, however, require server-wide participation and gives the rewards to all players upon completion, whether they took part in it or not. Monthly quests refresh after the Wednesday maintenance, four weeks after the start of the current iteration of Talisman Pass.
Rewards[]
March 2020 Talisman Pass Rewards
In the Rewards tab, players can unlock rewards at certain level milestones. All quests completed, in any category, adds to the experience count for the rewards tab. Players may purchase a Deluxe Talisman to unlock a better tier of rewards. The month's skin and loading screen illustrations are only available in the paid tier.
Another way to gain experience is by liking friends in the third and final tab - Rank. As the name implies, this tab shows a ranking of the player's friends. It is possible to gain experience only via the first four likes given in this interface. Likes give 2 experience normally, but very rarely they can give 10 as well.
Each iteration of Talisman pass comes with a short story or comic about the focused character, and loading screen illustrations accompanying it. The four parts of the story and illustration can be unlocked at intervals of five levels - 5, 10, 15 and 20 respectively. This can be accessed via the lantern with "Recall" on it in the bottom left corner.
Ichimokuren redux skin
Once the whole year cycle is over, previous years' skin for each month will be available once more in the new Shop tab for Talisman Coins purchasable with s-jades. These Talisman Coins don't carry over to the next month's Talisman Pass.
Past Talisman Passes[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for February 2020. The focus of the event was Ichimoku Ren.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the February 2020 Talisman Pass were the Frosty Winter skin, Snowy Winter loading screen illustration, and animated and still versions of the Frosty Winter icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Kagura
- Everyone’s getting ready for the Spring comings. It’s quite busy outside.
- Kagura
- I don’t think I can do anything to help. Maybe I’ll just go take a walk outside.
- Kohaku
- I’ll go with you, Lady Kagura!
- Kagura
- Who’s over there?
- Kohaku
- It’s Master Ichimokuren!
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- It’s you.
- Kagura
- What are you doing here, Ichimokuren?
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- I’m just taking a walk. The air feels so clean and fresh after the snow. Want to join me?
- Kohaku
- The weather is great today; it’s warm and sunny.
- Kagura
- Everyone’s busy making preparations. You can feel the spirit of the Spring in the air.
- Kagura
- Do you often go down from the mountain to the village?
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Occasionally. But now I’m just an ordinary spirit. So it’s best that I stay away from people.
- Kagura
- Ichimokuren…
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Don’t worry, I’m already used to it.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- There are some things that you only start to realise when you’re no longer a god.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Now I know my limits, and I know the joys and sorrows of the villagers. That’s what gives me the motivation to keep working hard.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- It sounds like losing your power isn’t all that bad.
- Kagura
- I feel the same. I’ve met many people and experienced many things.
- Kagura
- I feel alive only when I’m doing this. This is a good way to live.
- Kohaku
- Aww, Lady Kagura…
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- The seasons change. Life and death succeed each other. Spring lies beneath this snow.
- Kohaku
- Plum blossoms. Is spring here already?
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Here, take this plum blossom branch.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- The flowers match your smile.
- Kagura
- You’re right.
- Kagura
- What does it feel like to be a god?
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- It feels the same as being an ordinary spirit. There are things you want to do and things you don’t have the power to do.
- Kohaku
- The way I see it, there’s less freedom in being a god than being a spirit. It seems like quite a burden.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- You could say that.
- Kohaku
- That’s because you don’t care for yourself, Master Ichimokuren.
- Kagura
- Kohaku’s right. Please don’t work too hard, or we’ll be worried.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- I will.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Look, it’s snowing again.
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Time flies. Another year has passed.
- Kagura
- Yeah. Sometimes, a single day feels like it’s never going to end. But a whole year has passed before I even realised it.
- Kagura
- So many things have happened this year. What a busy time we had. I hope we can all get a good rest this winter.
- Kohaku
- Achoo!
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- It’s getting cold. You should be heading home. Seimei and the others must be waiting for you.
- Kagura
- Happy Spring, Ichimokuren! Let’s keep looking after each other in the year to come!
- Kohaku
- Happy Spring, Master Ichimokuren!
- Azurestorm Ichimokuren
- Yeah, you too. Be careful on your way back.
- Kohaku
- Master Ichimokuren is such a kind man.
- Kagura
- He is. To me, he’ll always be a god.
- Kagura
- He’s a kind god who’s happy enough as long as we’re smiling.
- Kohaku
- Ah, it’s Master Seimei and Master Hiromasa!
- Hiromasa
- Hey, Kagura!
- Hiromasa
- And you, silly dog! It’s freezing out there. Don’t take Kagura out in this weather so often.
- Seimei
- Welcome home, Kagura.
- Kagura
- Home sweet home.
Story[]
This might be the last snow of the winter.
The Spring was fast approaching, and every family was busy preparing for it. The whole village was in a festive mood, and the snow had brought a sense of peace. It was still snowing when night fell.
“You wanna come in? It’s pretty warm inside,” said Yayoi, leaning on the windowsill and staring at the stranger who stood outside.
The traveler turned toward Yayoi and smiled. “There’s no need. I’m only staying for a little while.”
“Then why are you standing here?”
“This might be the last snow of this winter. Spring is coming.” The traveler reached out and caught a snowflake in his hand. To Yayoi’s surprise, the snowflake didn’t melt: it slowly turned into an ice crystal in the traveler’s palm.
“Wow! What’s this?” Yayoi reached out and poked it. It felt a little cold. “You can do magic! I know - you must be a god, right?”
“I’m not sleepy yet. I’ll wait till mom and dad are back,” said Yayoi, leaning against the windowsill. He was staring at the icy plum blossom with great interest.
“I’m not a god, just a spirit who happened to be passing by. You have to remember not to talk to strange spirits. It’s really dangerous.”
The spirit turned to stare at the snow, and Yayoi followed his gaze. “But I don’t see the difference between you and a god,” said Yayoi. “In legends, both gods and spirits can use spells - and they’re both really good-looking.”
The nameless spirit nodded with a smile on his face. You’re not wrong. Gods and spirits aren’t so different: they both do the things they have to do, and they both live their long lives alone.”
“Sounds a little boring. So what do you normally do? Can you fly?”
The spirit smiled a tired, helpless smile. With a wave of his hand, a dragon appeared behind him.
“A dragon! You are a god after all.” The dragon gently picked up Yayoi in its talons, then flew him from the window to the hallway and back to his bed. Yayoi giggled.
“Amazing!”
It’s bedtime. You should go to sleep now.”
“I want to hear a story first, like one where you fight with other spirits,” said Yayoi, though he obediently climbed into bed as he said this.
“Good kids shouldn’t listen to stories about fighting. I’ll tell you a story about a mountain.” The dragon tucked Yayoi’s quilt in and returned to the spirit.
“There was once a mountain, a very, very cold mountain. He was so old that he couldn’t even remember how old he was. He liked the sound of children’s laughter, so he often invited children from the village beside him to play, just to hear them laughing. The villagers lived by the mountain. They prayed to the mountain, and the mountain gave them food and wood in return. Although it was painful for him, he did it anyway, because, to him, that was a mountain’s duty.”
“I play in the mountains a lot. How come I never met him?” Yayoi peeked out from beneath his quilt as the spirit continued his story. A breeze flowed into the warm room, together with the spirit’s words.
“As time went by, the children stopped coming into the mountains. Without their laughter, the mountain grew lonely. So he cried and cried. He cried so much that he got tired, and he gradually went to sleep.”
“He’s been sleeping deeply ever since, waiting for the day when the children will come to wake him up with their laughter. Alright - the mountain’s asleep and so should you be.”
Yayoi’s eyes widened. He stared at the window and said, “That’s it? It’s so short…” The spirit laughed, “I’ve got to go.”
“Where are you going?”
“Me? I’m following the wind to see the snow in the mountains,” whispered the spirit, as his footsteps faded outside the window.
A bright flame blazed, dazzling Yayoi as someone shook him awake.
“Yayoi, Yayoi!” Yayoi’s mother hugged him tightly as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “Thank god you’re okay!”
“Hmm? What happened, mom…?” Confused, Yayoi looked at his father, who was silently wiping tears away.
“We just got back when we heard that our neighbour’s house was on fire. Luckily it started raining, or else it would have spread and burned our house down…” Yayoi’s father patted his head, still shaken from his terror minutes before.
Still dazed, Yayoi hugged his mother and said to himself, “Has the winter snow turned into spring rain? I hope Mister Spirit didn’t get caught in the rain.”
The icy plum blossom on the windowsill had lost all its petals. Only the shiny pistils remained.
This was the Talisman Pass event for March 2020. The focus of the event was Menreiki.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the March 2020 Talisman Pass were the Opera Masks skin, Menreiki Unbound and True Self loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Opera Masks icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Kagura
- Kohaku, you don’t need to come along.
- Kagura
- I’ll be fine.
- Kohaku
- I’m sure you’ll be fine, Lady Kagura! I’m just nervous about that Menreiki...
- Kagura
- I just want to give her a gift of gratitude.
- Kagura
- She brought peace to my fellow shrine girls and protected my souls.
- Kagura
- But I haven’t yet had the chance to thank her in person.
- Kagura
- We should be grateful, remember?
- Kohaku
- It’s true, but... I’m still a little worried!
- Kohaku
- Plus, Master Seimei allowed me to stay with you. So, please, Lady Kagura. Allow me to follow you.
- Kagura
- Alright then...
- Kagura
- But promise me, Kohaku, don’t start a fight with Menreiki when you see her. Okay?
- Kohaku
- Sure!
- Kagura
- Strange... Menreiki’s house should be here.
- Kagura
- But this place is empty.
- Kohaku
- Come to think of it, it was all empty last time Shiro Mujou and Kuro Mujou brought us here.
- Kohaku
- The humans must be avoiding it because a spirit lives here.
- Kagura
- What’s that over there, Kohaku?
- Kohaku
- Looks like traces of human blood...
- Kohaku
- Menreiki killed her entire family. This must be their blood.
- Kohaku
- This spirit may look like an innocent girl, but she’s actually extremely dangerous. You must be careful, Lady Kagura.
- Kagura
- Let’s keep looking for her.
- Kagura
- There’s still much about her we don’t know.
- Kagura
- What’s this? A mask of a girl?
- Kohaku
- How did you know it’s a girl, Lady Kagura?
- Kohaku
- It’s not painted. I can’t even make out the eyes and the mouth.
- Kagura
- The eyes are here and the mouth is here.
- Kagura
- And I think I’ve seen her before
- Kagura
- Right! It’s Menreiki!
- Kohaku
- How can you tell?!
- Kagura
- But how come there’s only one unpainted mask left in the house? Where did the rest of the masks go?
- Kagura
- And where’s Menreiki?
- Kohaku
- Lady Kagura, there’s a strange smell coming from upstairs!
- Hakuzosu
- This doesn’t look good... Stay behind me and keep close.
- Hakuzosu
- The attic is all burned up. It smells like human flesh.
- Hakuzosu
- Did Menreiki burn anyone?
- Kagura
- Everyone in the mansion should have already been killed by that girl. But this is the only body that’s been burned.
- Kagura
- There might be more to it. This might have something to do with Menreiki’s disappearance.
- Hakuzosu
- Is the girl trapped by her past finally free?
- Hakuzosu
- And for us, is being free good or bad?
- Kagura
- ...
- Kagura
- Let’s head back now.
- Kagura
- We’ll give her the gift next time we see her.
Story[]
When I woke up, I found myself surrounded by masks. The guides from the Underworld and the onmyoji were gone. Seven pairs of eyes were staring at me with a fearsome look.
I started to run, leaving everything behind. I left my family mansion, ran into the streets of Kyoto, until I reached the edge of the city.
I ran until I couldn’t feel my legs. I sat down against a towering tree, feeling exhausted.
“Don’t you understand? Wherever you run, the masks are now a part of you and will always be with you.”
I shook my head, using my last bit of energy to deny the inescapable truth. But I knew running was futile.
“You killed Father under this tree. The traces of dried blood on the trunk are proof of your crime, an everlasting mark for all to see.”
What?
It turns out that no matter how much I run, I can’t leave the courtyard. I can’t even leave the shadow under the tree.
“When I was born, all the masks were imprisoned in this mansion. Some masks once told me that whoever finds my father’s body can leave this place. But no onmyoji can help with this.”
“To know where the body is hidden, you must know why it’s hidden.”
The masks stared at me in silence as I walked around the house.
Only Eijimen stood behind me with her back to me. She said, “The masks don’t want the seal to be lifted now. If you walk out of the door, you will become the incarnation of the spirits, and their power will be yours.”
I nodded my head and kept searching, as Eijimen had instructed me. She was my inner self; the self I trusted most right now.
“The reason why you hid the body was simple: you didn’t want the servants to find out that you killed Father. And it seems you were successful. They don’t know what you did.”
If this was true, the body couldn’t be hidden in the cottage where the servants lived, nor in the kitchen or the living room, which people went in and out of all the time.
The courtyard was where I lived. But there was clearly no space there to hide the body. If the body was buried, there would be tools. And I could easily have been spotted by the servants when they came to bring me food.
What about Father’s collection room? He used to collect and tend the masks there. No one was allowed in his room. A small path ran between the courtyard and the collection room. It was dark at night; it would have been safe to hide the body there.
I looked everywhere in the room, but all I found was this plain white mask and a furnace filled with ash.
The body wasn’t here.
“You guessed wrong. The collection room was Father’s most cherished place. I don’t think you want to soil it. Perhaps we haven’t fully understood what happened.”
Eijimen only appeared after I committed that hideous crime. She knew little of Father’s death.
What if she was wrong all along? Perhaps I had a different reason for hiding the body...
Come to think of it, why was Father killed in the courtyard where I lived? Perhaps I was deceiving myself, but in my memory, Father had just left home.
“Father only loved masks. He would come and see you in the courtyard if it was necessary. Perhaps he was questioning you because he discovered that you stole his masks.”
I hurt Father when he questioned me. But no-one saw him die in the courtyard.
If Father was still alive then, he would have left the scene himself...
I crossed the kitchen and the living room and arrived at the highest place in the whole mansion - the attic. I used to play hide-and-seek with Father here when I was little. Even the servants had no knowledge of this place. The key to the attic was in Father’s hand. The door was locked from the inside.
“I formed a special blood pact with the masks. As long as my body is not destroyed, they cannot leave. But I never expected they would dare use my own daughter to deal me a fatal blow... If you find my body, don’t cremate it, in case those monsters leave the mansion and wreak havoc in the world.”
I know the truth about my past from the letter Father left. He knew the spirits took control of me. He didn’t blame me... He cared about me!
Now that I’ve become one with the masks, I’m bound by the pact, like them. No matter how far I run, I’ll never be able to escape.
“Come, cremate Father and we will be free. When he was alive, all he loved was masks. You were nothing to him. We don’t need to listen to his words.”
No... I wasn’t nothing to him...
All the masks in his collection room have become ash in the stove. There’s only one plain white mask left: it’s the one he modeled after my face when I was a child. Though he never colored it, he kept it in his collection the whole time.
He knew he had to destroy the spirits in the masks, but he refused to destroy this memory of his daughter! The masks he abandoned in the end were the ones that betrayed him after he’d loved them all his life.
“Well, we’re not interested in Father’s love.”
Eijimen transformed herself into a dark shadow. She waved a hand. The masks around her ignited with ghostly fire and flew into the attic.
Small flames soon turned into a great blaze. These masks, that had lain in silence for so long, suddenly burst into laughter. They raised the dark shadow high into the air, like servants bearing their master on their shoulders.
This was the Talisman Pass event for April 2020. The focus of the event was Shiranui.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the April 2020 Talisman Pass were the Dazzling Dancer skin, Lighted Memories loading screen illustration, and animated and still versions of the Dazzling Dancer icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Kohaku
- Master Seimei. Are we having a guest?
- Seimei
- No guests today. Why?
- Kohaku
- Then, uhm, who does that woman’s yukata belong to?
- Kohaku
- Master Seimei, have you become interested in...
- Seimei
- It’s mine.
- Kohaku
- What?!
- Seimei
- I borrowed it from a friend.
- Kohaku
- You borrowed it, Master Seimei?
- Seimei
- It’s what the great spirit Shiranui wore when she was still a songstress. I needed to investigate the demon force residue on it.
- Kohaku
- I see... But it’s just a spirit’s outfit. What is there to investigate?
- Kohaku
- I have many outfits.
- Seimei
- Remember what happened with Vengeful Hannya?
- Seimei
- If we don’t take artifacts like this seriously, they might cause problems.
- Kohaku
- Right! I get it!
- Kohaku
- I never knew you could find a human’s memories stored in a spirit’s outfit. This is indeed an exceptional yukata.
- Kohaku
- I think that man is probably the only onmyoji related to Shiranui.
- Seimei
- You’re right. That old man must still be rowing his boat around the Isle of Sorrow.
- Seimei
- I wonder how Shiranui stored their memories in the outfit.
- Seimei
- I still fail to sense her true power.
- Kohaku
- But if this is an important bond, how come Shiranui didn’t bring it with her?
- Seimei
- Perhaps we need to find more memory shards.
- Asa
- Master Seimei, forgive me for bothering you.
- Asa
- I wonder if the demon force on that outfit has been cleansed away yet?
- Kohaku
- Ah! So the friend Master Seimei mentioned is you, Miss Asa from the Isle of Sorrow.
- Seimei
- Apologies. I may need more time.
- Seimei
- If an outfit is tainted with decades’ worth of resentment, it must be cleansed as soon as possible.
- Seimei
- But this one is different.
- Kohaku
- Please wait in the Courtyard, if you don’t mind, Miss Asa.
- Kohaku
- Master Seimei will take care of it in no time!
- Kohaku
- Master Seimei isn’t known for procrastinating!
- Asa
- Very well. I’ll leave it to you, then.
- Seimei
- Sorry to keep you waiting. This is Shiranui’s yukata.
- Seimei
- It’s all yours now.
- Asa
- The demon force...
- Seimei
- Shiranui stored her most cherished memories in this outfit with her spell.
- Seimei
- Wherever she and the onmyoji go, their past will stay in this world.
- Seimei
- Such a beautiful wish won’t cause any trouble. So I left it thus.
- Asa
- Is that so... It’s their memories...
- Kohaku
- That’s so great!
- Asa
- I knew I made the right decision when I asked for your help.
- Asa
- Again. Thank you, Master Seimei.
Story[]
“Gishin, the clan master ordered you to find the great spirit Shiranui. It’s been several years and you haven’t made any progress. If you fail again this time, you know what the consequence will be.”
I’ve been hunting around, asking people about the legend of Shiranui, ever since my clan sent me to Yoshiwara, but I haven’t yet found any useful information.
Shiranui is the top songstress of the Isle of Sorrow, she’s a story adults made up to scare the kids, a glowing jellyfish in the sea... The amount of stories I collected from the people of Yoshiwara was more than I expected.
It’s as if she lives in the air of the city. Everyone’s heard of the legend, but no one knows for sure who or what Shiranui is.
But I’m not giving up on any lead, however absurd. I want to see it with my own eyes.
“Of course I won’t stop until I have you, Ri. But first, I must make Rijin Pavilion more famous. I must make the city of Yoshiwara better and more famous than the capital!”
Every time the lord of Yoshiwara comes to Rijin Pavilion, he discusses his many plans with the owner - when he’s not trying to sweet-talk me, that is. Earlier, he was told that ensemble performances were popular in the capital, and now he wants me to perform with a few pretty songstresses.
But they haven’t even learned the proper way to stand and salute. They’re not ready for the stage. So I refused his proposal.
Later the lord was told that the legend of Shiranui was popular in the capital, so he asked the owner to call me Shiranui when he introduces me on the stage.
I don’t care what he calls me, and that name attracted a lot more people. But however will I dance, they only praise the blazing lantern lights above the sea. They don’t care who the dancer is.
I felt a faint demon force floating around me the first time I saw Ri’s performance. But I felt no hostility towards her, since I was deeply touched by her dance.
The narrow Rijin Pavilion could not restrict her thoughts of freedom. I felt ashamed; what was I in comparison, I who’d been meekly complying with my clan’s demands over the years?
I wrote a poem for her, and in exchange, she danced for me on the sea. That dance was not only for me. It was an expression of her irrepressible happiness.
Later, when she could no longer conceal her power, she evolved into the great spirit Shiranui. Under her protection, I gained great courage and power. I should be like her, chasing after my freedom and my dream.
I used to believe she was what they said she was. But from now on, she’s no longer a name to attract customers with; she’s no longer a made up story or a jellyfish that decorates the ocean.
Only when I’m standing before that onmyoji can I forget all my worries and express all of my happiness.
The poem he wrote wasn’t only about me. It was about him as well. At that moment, I felt that we were connected.
Perhaps he also came here because of the legend of Shiranui. But he saw past the performer on the stage, and saw the real me in the fishermen’s lanterns above the sea.
Come to think of it, maybe I should thank the lord of Yoshiwara for what he did.
In fact, I feel a strange power flowing inside me. It’s telling me to accept everything I am.
If I ever become a spirit, my friends in Rijin Pavilion will leave me; my audience will leave as well. But I’m no longer worried about this now that he’s here.
When I break out of the cage and become a spirit, I know someone will miss my dance and remember my name for eternity. Although spirits and humans are different, our ending is already written.
This was the Talisman Pass event for May 2020. The focus of the event was Shouu Ootengu.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the May 2020 Talisman Pass were the Angelic Feathers skin, The Fall and Bonded with Heian-Kyo loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Angelic Feathers icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Are you bored on my Oboroguruma?
- Dark Seimei
- …
- Yuki Onna
- My Master can’t talk right now.
- Enmusubi
- (Is he feeling sick?)
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- How about we play a game of dice?
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Whoever loses must answer a question asked by the one who won.
- Dark Seimei
- …
- Ootengu
- Childish. I’m sure you feel the same, Master Dark Seimei?
- Yuki Onna
- What Master meant is that he’s quite interested.
- Ootengu
- …?
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Oh, well, Ootengu lost the first round.
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Then I’ll be the first to ask a question. Tell us about your childhood, would you?
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- I was invited by the Tengu Clan to their Tengu Ceremony once.
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- I ran into an interesting young Tengu at the ceremony.
- Ootengu
- (Oh no!)
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- I lost.
- Enmusubi
- Haha! I won! It’s my first win after a long streak of losses.
- Enmusubi
- Great fox, tell us about that young Tengu.
- Ootengu
- Wait a minute, I’m not the one who’s lost here. Why am I still the one you’re talking about?
- Enmusubi
- So that young Tengu was you!
- Ootengu
- …
- Yuki Onna
- Come to think of it, I seem to have seen you in the streets during the Demon Parade.
- Yuki Onna
- I sensed a divine presence. But when I looked around, I only saw common folks. You were really good at concealing yourself.
- Enmusubi
- I was just coming here to get married. Please, don’t drag me into fighting anyone.
- Enmusubi
- Well, a danger is approaching. They all say that one is named after what one lacks. What Heian-Kyo lacks is peace. So, Ootengu…
- Ootengu
- ...
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Looks like we won’t be bored with you two on the road.
- Blazing Tamamonomae
- Well, well, Lady Enmusushi has lost again.
- Enmusubi
- It’s Enmusubi, no Enmusushi!
- Enmusubi
- How about I tell you a story of my encounter with Tengu. Though the details have eluded me.
- Enmusubi
- In order to save power, my memory hasn’t been very good.
- Ootengu
- Can't you just stop?
- Dark Seimei
- I won this round.
- Yuki Onna
- Master Dark Seimei is impressive.
- Dark Seimei
- Then I’ll be the one to ask the last question.
- Dark Seimei
- Ootengu, what’s the deal with your strange eyes when you were young? Are they connected with the three seals on you?
- Ootengu
- Many secrets will remain secrets since the Clan Master got his wings.
- Ootengu
- I assume the three seals were to suppress the strange eyes I had when I was young.
- Enmusubi
- It’s a mark spell called the Fifth Moon, one of the spells of twelve months of the Kaguya Clan.
- Yuki Onna
- I didn’t know you knew so much when you’re serious.
- Enmusubi
- I was helping my debtor… I mean, I was helping an important believer find a way to lift a spell. So I tried to learn as much information on this as I could.
- Enmusubi
- Only someone from the Kaguya Clan could lift your spell mark.
- Enmusubi
- What I only know about the Kaguya Clan is that they are neither human, nor god, nor spirit. And they have a long life. But no one knows where they are now.
- Enmusubi
- We may have a chance to learn more, if we see that iceberg or Susabi on this journey.
Story []
I felt the gravity of falling from the sky the moment I was born.
Although my Clan had moved out of the Moon Palace long ago, we still kept the tradition of performing the Tengu Dance on one night in December. And on that night, the Tengu Clan would take off our heavy masks and dance in the wind, wearing luxurious garments. The children would wave their fans and sing songs on the stage, flapping their wings. I would sit with the audience as the moonlight shone on me.
I couldn’t take part since I wasn’t allowed to take off my mask.
I was born with eyes of different colors. Some say it was because of a curse. But I wasn’t afraid. Whenever I looked into the water, looking at my golden and blue eyes, I would think… I’m quite handsome.
I often told myself that this is a heavenly gift that allows me to change the rules of the world, and that I’m bound to be a legend because I’ll bring justice to the world!
Although I’m still weak and can’t fly yet, I know it’s just not my time yet.
“Feathers, we should head back now.”
“He’s such a nice kid, quiet and well-behaved. He’s all round and fluffy and looks like a rice ball.”
I was practicing wind spells in the bamboo grove above the highest clouds when the Clan Master walked up to me. Beside him, there was a spirit with a mask on his face.
“This is Tamamoomae, one of the three Great Spirits.”
“So, this is what a Great Spirit looks like…”
He heard me mumbling and did what all little kids hate: messing up my hair.
“What do you think a Great Spirit should look like?”
I shoved off his hand, put my hands on my hips, turned my head, and pouted.
“He should have strong muscles, wild hair, and overwhelming courage.”
I casually conjured up a wind coil before I completed the sentence. A small whirlwind coiled around the valley, blowing up leaves in its wake. I must have practiced well today, because the other young Tengu in the grove were throwing looks of admiration at me. Well, at least that’s what I thought.
That Great Spirit nodded his head, as if he agreed.
“Although I don’t think you could become a Great Spirit as tall as me, I’m sure you could be a special Great Spirit with your conviction.”
Then he bid us farewell, saying that he needed to go home and look after Aika and Yuto and that they must be bored with the frogs.
“I like interesting children like you. I’ll introduce you to my two kids, if we have the chance. Maybe you could become friends.”
Is he saying that because he thought my relationships with the other young Tengu were bad? I pretended that I didn’t care.
“Solitude is the way towards becoming a Great Spirit. Next time, I’m practicing on Mt. Gloom alone.”
I liked that ceremonial outfit a lot, although the headwear was too heavy for me. But the full outfit would make me the tallest among other young Tengu. I liked that golden one too. After a little hesitation, I dressed myself up and headed on my way.
I ran into a maiden halfway there. She seemed to be looking for something. She was wearing a pair of wide, red pants. She ran up to me in kind of a strange way when she saw me.
“You’re a Tengu. It’s said the Tengu Clan have beautiful faces. And it’s true!”
She looked at me up and down before she started to ponder, scratching her chin.
“A pure nature… Check. Noble and divine… Check. A little admiration towards him… Well, this can be trained later. Plus the iceberg is afraid of women. Perfect!”
I didn’t understand what she was talking about. But the maiden’s words scared me. A few feathers fell from my wings.
“Boy, are there any adults in your clan who are just as beautiful?”
“W-what do you want?”
Is she another of those who have been coveting the power of Tengu clan’s steel wings? I must tell the Clan Master, I thought to myself.
“I was trying to find a great match for a god. I’ll break my promise if I don’t find one today. Let’s set aside the customary rules. We’ll arrange a wedding once I find a suitable Tengu!”
“Hey, why are you running away?”
I have a golden eye. In my dreams, my two eyes see different things.
A blurred dreamlike memory would sometimes appear in my head: The pale white moon shed its light on the white wall. A spirit, wearing a long golden garment, was sitting on a withering branch, with his back to me. He remained peaceful in the surrounding noise.
His flute music sounded gloomy and intimidating. I never get to see his face. But somehow I felt he was smiling.
As I was planning to run away, fearing that he was someone dangerous, he jumped down from the tree and picked up an injured bird from the ground.
“You must’ve hurt yourself for trying to break free.”
This was the Talisman Pass event for June 2020. The focus of the event was Kuro Mujou.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the June 2020 Talisman Pass were the Will of Battle skin, Brother's Promise and Connection loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Will of Battle icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Hangan
- Is this the courtyard of the onmyoji?
- Hangan
- Looks a nice place, though it can’t quite compare with Enma Hall.
- Seimei
- You must be Hangan of the Underworld. It’s quite unusual to see you here.
- Hangan
- Seimei! I’m here at the order of Lady Enma. She has important business to discuss with you.
- Seimei
- Has something happened in the Underworld?
- Hangan
- You could say that, although it’s a bit different this time.
- Hangan
- A Mujou was sent to put an end to the riot in the Underworld. I was ordered to acquire some gifts to welcome their triumphant return.
- Kohaku
- I don’t really understand what happened in the Underworld.
- Kohaku
- Long story short, you need to do some shopping, right?
- Hangan
- Sho- Never mind. You’re right.
- Hangan
- I-I hope you can help me with this.
- Kohaku
- What?! Are Kuro and Shiro wounded?!
- Seimei
- How are they now?
- Hangan
- They should be fine. I’m sure they’ll recover faster if they get gifts they like.
- Kohaku
- Hmm…
- Hangan
- Wh-what?
- Seimei
- I never thought you would be so kind to the Mujou given how stern you always look.
- Seimei
- It’s quite unexpected.
- Hangan
- Heh, I’m just doing what Lady Enma ordered.
- Hangan
- The Mujou are an important force. We can’t allow any casualties.
- Kohaku
- (whispers) The way I see it, Hangan has been changed by the folks in the Underworld.
- Seimei
- Which Mujou was sent to deal with the riot?
- Hangan
- It’s Kuro Mujou. Lady Enma has given him an important piece of armor.
- Kohaku
- Strange. Why didn’t she send Shiro Mujou? He’s more reliable.
- Kohaku
- I thought Lady Enma would value him more.
- Hangan
- Lady Enma is never biased. Kuro Mujou was sent on the mission because…
- Hangan
- Because Shiro Mujou was taken hostage by the forces of evil.
- Seimei
- We can offer help if needed.
- Hangan
- I appreciate your willingness, but it’s not possible. No mortals can return from that demon prison alive.
- Hangan
- And I’m helpless as well. But I trust in Lady Enma.
- Hangan
- And she used to trust you that much too, I believe.
- Kohaku
- Right… The Lady is truly wise!
- Hangan
- I think this cart-load of gifts should be enough for them to play for a while.
- Hangan
- On behalf of Lady Enma, I offer my gratitude.
- Seimei
- No problem at all.
- Enma
- Onmyoji Seimei, it’s been a while.
- Hangan
- Lady Enma! Why are you here in person?
- Hangan
- Did I make a mistake?
- Enma
- Thank you, Hangan.
- Enma
- Kuro Mujou and Shiro Mujou have returned from the demon prison. But things are not looking good. We need to get back to Enma Hall now.
- Hangan
- Yes, my Lady!
- Kohaku
- And they’re gone…
- Kohaku
- I wonder what has happened to Kuro Mujou and Shiro Mujou…
Story []
The minute I put on the Underworld Armor, Hangan started mumbling like a father sending his boy away to the frontline.
“You’re not just yourself when you put this on. When you go to end the riot in the demon prison, you will be representing Lady Enma and all the Mujou.”
“Listen, the armor will be closely connected to your soul. And you must never do anything that crosses the line! I know you used to act rashly, but you must not dishonor Lady Enma this time!”
“Clearly we have many other Mujou who can complete this task. I don’t understand why Lady Enma had to send you. But she must have thought it through. And I will support whatever decisions she’s made.”
Feathers fell from my shoulders as I wielded my black scythe. Who else could complete this task besides me, I wondered.
“I’ll leave the two kids to you then. They’re heavily wounded and can’t get out of their beds right now.”
Hangan dropped his judgmental look and turned his back on me,
“Don’t act like you’re not coming back. You must return safely, and bring Shiro Mujou back too after freeing him.”
Those ferocious monsters used to be locked away in the demon prison in the Underworld, guarded by enforcers, preventing them from doing evil. Recently, a sly monster devised a plan and devoured a few enforcers, attempting to break out.
That Enma woman sealed away the exit of the demon prison immediately and sent Shiro Mujou to end the riot with Kuro and Shiro. But the power of the monster who had devoured the enforcers was beyond their expectations. And to save Kuro and Shiro, my fool brother let himself be taken hostage by him. Now, I’m only able to cross the seal placed by Enma and enter the demon prison by wearing this Underworld Armour.
“Another Mujou, I see… You never learn, do you? I don’t have any more time to waste on you two brothers. Tell Enma to open the gate to this prison.”
“Cut the crap and let Shiro Mujou go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. Your brother is my saviour.”
The monster raised his arms a little. I saw him draining power from Shiro Mujou.
The armor granted me great power. Anything I so much as touched with my scythe was sliced clean in half, however tough it was.
“How frightening. You almost hit me there. Are you trying not to hit me because you fear that it’ll hurt your brother? You can’t win like that.” I was infuriated by the monster’s taunting. But he was right. I could take down that ugly monster anytime if he were not using Shiro Mujou as a shield.
What surprised me the most was that his body was shrinking. The further I reached at him with my scythe, the smaller he became. And my attack missed every time.
“You… Are you not trying to drain Shiro Mujou’s power but rather to hide inside him?!”
“You finally see through my plan. I know you’ll never let me go free as long as I’m still in the prison. So I might as well disappear. Inside the body of a Mujou seems a fair way to make my escape.”
My only brother. The man I swore to find, even in death. I won’t allow anyone to take you away from me.
Hangan said the armor that that Enma woman had given me would be connected to the soul of the wearer. So if I could put it on Shiro Mujou, the soul that never truly belonged to his body would surely be revealed. To make my plan succeed, I used my own body as my shield to get closer to Shiro Mujou. The monster’s frenzied attacks tore deep scars in me, but I didn’t back down. Even though it was controlled by that monster, it was still my brother’s body I faced. All I could do was take his blows.
“Urgh!”
Just as my brother’s hand punched right through me, I was able to put the armor on his shoulders. Immediately, the soul of the evil monster withdrew, forced out by the armor. And Shiro Mujou’s pupils returned to their familiar color.
“You’re back…”
“...”
I think I heard him shouting something before I fell down. But I lost consciousness trying to figure out what it was.
I wonder if that Enma woman knew that giving me the armor was the only way to bring back Shiro Mujou. I never did understand her…
This was the Talisman Pass event for July 2020. The focus of the event was Ootakemaru.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the July 2020 Talisman Pass were the Kraken Drums skin, Seafair Fireworks loading screen illustration and animated and still versions of the Kraken Drums icon frame.
Comic[]
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Unlike the other iterations of Talisman Pass, August 2020 was the return of Ibuki with a focus on Temptress.
Rewards[]
Story[]
Gallery[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for September 2020. The focus of the event was Hakuzosu.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the September 2020 Talisman Pass were the Disguised Onmyoji skin, Sound Asleep and Wishing for Light loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Mt. Dream Mischief icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for October 2020. The focus of the event was Akakage Youtou Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the October 2020 Talisman Pass were the Tranquil Tuberose skin, Dreamer Girls and Date with Fireworks loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Tuberose icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for November 2020. The focus of the event was Kujira.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the November 2020 Talisman Pass were the Seafair Fireworks skin, Kujira on Mt. Suzuka and Promise with Home loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Seafair Fireworks icon frame.
Dialogue[]
- Kanihime
- Roast octopus... roast lobster...
- Kanihime
- Roast octo... Wait a minute, where’s my roast octopus?
- Yao Bikuni
- Are you running into trouble, Kanihime?
- Kanihime
- On-onmyoji of the capital!
- Kanihime
- Uhm...
- Yao Bikuni
- The other Sealanders are busy with their own affairs. I can help you if you don’t mind.
- Kanihime
- No, I’m fine!
- Kanihime
- I’m making dinner. And I don’t need your help. If it doesn’t taste good, I’ll have to make it again.
- Yao Bikuni
- But... why are you using fireworks to cook food?
- Kanihime
- What? You can’t roast octopuses with these? I found them on the ship.
- Kanihime
- Now that you mention it, I thought I’d seen them somewhere before.
- Kanihime
- Right! It was at the Seafair. Kujira was walking around holding these sticks!
- Kanihime
- So they’re fireworks! Now I remember!
- Yao Bikuni
- Hehe, if you want to make a fire, let me help you.
- Yao Bikuni
- You can save these fireworks for the evening.
Story []
“Tell me about yourself, yo. You’ve been here on Mt. Suzuka for some time, and I still don’t know anything about your home, yo.”
“I’m an ordinary human who lives a dull life.”
“It can’t be a dull one, yo! You’ve been here on Mt. Suzuka for some time, and I haven’t seen anything that you can’t do, yo. I hope to make more friends with people like you, yo!”
I was born in a warrior’s family. My father left me without a word and my mother abandoned me on a street when she re-married.
I was abducted by a group of treasure hunters after wandering for years. They locked me up on their ship. They made me their slave and tortured me. They didn’t even give me a name. They just called me Scum.
If the food ran out on the ship one day, they would probably eat my flesh and drink my blood. I try to make myself useful in case the worst happens. I clean the deck, maintain instruments, modify cannons, and try my best to make the Captain and the crew happy. Even the mice in the cabin are no longer hostile to me.
“Do you want me to unlock your chains?”
I didn’t know how to answer when the Captain asked me.
“Our target today is the merchant ship of a great lord. Show me what you’re worth. If the cannons you made can kill one man, I will give you back your freedom.”
When the merchant ship entered our sights, the treasure hunters swarmed to the side of the ship. As I was holding the heavy cannon in my hands I saw there were women and children onboard the ship.
“I had to kill them if I wanted to regain my freedom. But would the Captain really let me leave if I killed them? No, he needed my craftsmanship, he needed me as his weaponsmith...
As I was hesitating, the Captain knocked me over and shot the cannon. The waves splashed with fire and blood. The merchant ship slowly stopped. We boarded the ship to make kills, roaring and screaming.
I had created a monster. A monster that can blow humans into pieces. I didn’t stop them from killing the innocent, because I wanted to be a weapon for the others. This is my worth.
Later, cannons were added to the treasure hunters’ arsenal, making them an intimidating force at sea.
Cannons are more suited for battling at sea when compared to swords and harpoons. Though limited in power, they can block an enemy’s route and are good at taking down warriors in melee battles.
The cannons I built earned me a lot of credit. The Captain unlocked my chains in person, and allowed me to live in the cabin with the crew. I graduated from being a slave on the deck to an official member of the crew. Although I’ve never failed my weapons, my guilt increased every time I heard people dying under my cannons. Whenever I closed my eyes at night, I would hear their voices before they died while the sea breeze brushed my cheek. The voices were lingering and high pitch.
One day, we will dig our own graves.
“I heard the Jade of Yasakani is hidden out in open sea. That’s worth more than merchant ships! Captain, let’s do a big one. We don’t need to risk our lives pirating if we make a big fortune!”
“Fool! The open sea is the territory of krakens and sea monsters. No man has ever returned alive.”
“Our cannons can blow up armies! We’re not afraid of spirits!”
“Yea, Captain! Take us to hunt treasure! For brothers!”
As more and more of the crew wanted to go out to the open sea, in the end, the Captain decided to take all the ships on a journey for treasure out in the open sea. I didn’t dare to tell them my thoughts, because a weapon shouldn’t think too much.
How could our small cannons conquer the ruthless open sea? After we were attacked by krakens and sea monsters, our ship was wrecked, and the crew fell into the sea. The treasure hunt ended before it even began.
“Tell me, yo! What did you do for a living in the sea before, yo?”
“Me? I cleaned the deck and maintained instruments...”
“What else, yo? What else?”
“...”
I turn by head from Kujira, reluctant to face the giant whale who saved my life.
The Captain was right. I don’t need freedom. I need a home. I don’t know if the giant whale would allow me to stay on Mt. Suzuka if he knew that I used to kill my own people for a living and my weapon used to slaughter aquatic beings.
I can’t be frank with him or Young Master, because I’m afraid they would abandon me.
“I know that, yo. I know you can make cannons.”
“How do you...”
“I saw it when I tried to save you. Some of them had sunk to the sea floor, yo. Don’t try to lie to me, because I know things. I know they’re fireworks that the humans made, yo!”
“They’re not...”
“They ARE fireworks, yo! I told Young Master that you will make a lot of fireworks for the Seafair next year so the young one can play with them, yo!”
He looks at me firmly as if he knew my thoughts and pains. He seems to be telling me that whatever sins I’ve committed, I can be a companion on Mt. Suzuka, I can be their family.
“Fireworks... I never imagined that they could be something so beautiful.”
This was the Talisman Pass event for December 2020. The focus of the event was Enmusubi no Kami.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the December 2020 Talisman Pass were the Verdant Pinwheel skin, Verdant Pinwheel and Baekje Dancers loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Verdant Pinwheel icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for January 2021. The focus of the event was Ungaikyo.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the January 2021 Talisman Pass were the Mirrored Flames skin, Mirrored Flames and Mirrored Reality Ripples loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Mirrored Flames icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for February 2021. The focus of the event was Takiyasha Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the February 2021 Talisman Pass were the Summer Flame skin, Glorious Gift and Dreamlike Moment loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Bright Starlight icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for March 2021. The focus of the event was Kidoumaru.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the March 2021 Talisman Pass were the Ashen Rain skin, Ashen Rain and Gone Mad loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Ashen Rain icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for April 2021. The focus of the event was Reikai Kingyo Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the April 2021 Talisman Pass were the Dawn Glory skin, Tide Watcher and Recollection loading screen illustration and animated and still versions of the Tide Watcher icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for May 2021. The focus of the event was Kinnara.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the May 2021 Talisman Pass were the Melodic Descant skin, Behind the Lights and The Last Tune loading screen illustration and animated and still versions of the Flying Tunes icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for June 2021. The focus of the event was Youtou Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the June 2021 Talisman Pass were the Ceremonial Blade skin, Dress Made and Sheathed Blade loading screen illustration and animated and still versions of the Blossoming Blade icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for July 2021. The focus of the event was Kaguya Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the July 2021 Talisman Pass were the Origami Moon skin, Letter to the Moon and Sakura Shower loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the By the Moonlight icon frame.
Story []
“I want to write a letter and send it to the moon above the clouds.”
I was a little hesitant when I first had the idea to write a letter, and I was uncertain what I should write or where I should send it to. But that irresistible urge in my heart drove me to start taking action.
Miss Hana has been occupied with her painting class lately. So I asked Miss Kamimai to teach me how to make letter paper.
“Why do you want to start making letter paper?”
I didn’t have the answer to her question. I just thought that everything involved with writing a letter should be done by myself.
Following Master Seimei’s instructions, I arrived at the bamboo grove on the rear mountain in the early morning. The bamboo leaves rustled when a breeze swept by. I remembered it in my heart, and decided to put the breeze and the sound of leaves rustling in this moment inside my letter.
The first step was to collect bamboo sticks.
The bamboo trees on the rear mountain were growing well. I grabbed the short knife I borrowed as Lunar Lepus danced around bamboo trees in front of me. It could see that I was troubled.
“Ah! Ahh!”
“Thank you for your concern. I’m fine, really. Let’s do this together.”
That said, we only managed to pick a few sticks that morning before we were interrupted by Miss Yamausagi, who was having a race on the rear mountain.
I returned there on the next day and found many treated bamboo sticks lined up neatly on the ground in the grove.
I smiled while holding Lunar Lepus in my arms, thinking about how that mysterious helper would look at me.
“Thank you!”
I expressed my gratitude to the depths of the bamboo grove. I believed the breeze in the bamboo grove would help me deliver my gratitude.
The next step is to cut the sticks into nodes and soak them in the water.
“Do you think the bamboo… is like me?”
“Ah. Ahh?”
“In the spring, the bamboo shoots stay dormant under the ground until they’re awakened by the spring rain and the first thunder of spring. Then they grow quickly. When I first arrived in Heian-kyo, I had been sleeping in the darkness for a very long time. Then I was awakened…”
“Ah-ha.”
“And then, I started to experience the things that I had never experienced before, and the beautiful memories started to grow like the bamboo shoots after the spring rain.”
The people I’ve met in Heian-kyo are like the spring rain after the first thunder. They irrigated and nourished my forest of memory. I carved open a bamboo node, as if the memories deep in my heart were sorted.
I then infused power with memories into the bamboo sticks and soaked them in the water.
Then, the long wait.
Sometimes, waiting has no end. This makes it long and painful. While there are others who have a promised end, anticipating when the wait would be over.
I took the bamboo sticks out after soaking them in water for months. Just like Miss Kamimai had told me, they had become soft. However, the clear water had also turned muddy.
“Ah. Ugh. Ah…”
“This dirty water? Don’t worry. The dirt came from the bamboo sticks. Let me do it.”
I poured out the dirty water and placed the soft bamboo sticks in a wooden trough. After adding some more water, I started to pound the bamboo until it was fully blended with the water, and turned into a muddy bamboo pulp.
“After this whole process, you can’t tell that it was made from bamboo. After pouring out the water, I scooped out a handful with my hands and watched it slip through my fingers.
“I hate water, but I have to admit that it’s the same as me.” Miss Kamimai looked at me from a distance, reluctant to get closer. “You made the bamboo into this with your own hands. You’ll always recognise it even when everyone else can’t.”
“Everything carries memories. It means something very important for the master of the memory, even if everyone else thinks otherwise.”
She’s probably right.
This process doesn’t require waiting. It requires you to repeat the same process many times --- scoop up the bamboo pulp from the pool and apply it evenly on a curtain, press it down to extract the water, then apply another layer of bamboo pulp. Peel off the sheet while it’s still wet and place it under the sun to dry it. The letter paper is almost done, but I still don’t know what to write. Miss Hiyoribou came to see me with her Sunshine Doll after hearing what I planned to do. We spent a few sunny days together, drinking tea under the eaves, watching the clouds passing by.
“When you finish making your letter paper, little Kaguya, let’s arrange a field trip to enjoy the flowers, shall we?”
“Sure, but should we invite more people if we’re going to enjoy the flowers?”
“I met Lady Miketsu on the street the other day. Let’s invite her.”
“And we can invite Miss Enenra…”
These girls’ conversations continued like this. This reminds me of the many sunshine days in the past when I was dragged all over the place by Kingyo, watching her stir up trouble. But I made more friends along the way.
On similar sunny days, the ones who’re enjoying the flowers with you are not the ones who used to be with you. But just as Miss Kamimai once said, these shifted memories are precious to us, for we own them. The letter paper is finished after days of drying under the sun.
“Ah? Ah. Ahh.”
Lunar Lepus was worried and started to bite my sleeves, because it hadn’t seen me writing anything for days. So I placed it on my lap, and we both looked at the letter paper in front of us. Miss Kamimai left me after cutting out the paper. Perhaps she noticed that I hadn’t made up my mind, so she said before she left, “What you write is not that important.”
I took the piece of paper and gently folded it up.
It was a full moon’s night, the river was clear, and the boat was waving gently on the water. I left Lunar Lepus in the bamboo grove and embarked on the boat with that “letter” of mine alone. The moon reflected in the water was distorted by the ripples caused by the night breeze, before it became full again. I folded the letter into a paper boat.
My first idea about writing a letter was born during the Hina Matsuri, back in March when people would place their paper dolls on boats so that they could flow downstream. They did it to pray for a healthy and happy life. I was sitting on the shore, holding the dolls I received from everyone as I watched the boats on the river. It was back then that I started to think about writing a letter.
But now, after a few months’ time, I haven’t written anything.
The bamboo shoots buried underground were awakened by the spring rain. They grew into lush trees before they were cut and soaked in the water to make pulp. They were eventually made into paper and were folded into boats to sail into the world beyond. I was sleeping in a pitch black bamboo pipe until I was awakened by the sound of a flute. Slowly, I started to greet this beautiful world. These precious experiences will eventually be passed through time, and transform into words and legends on paper to be brought into the world beyond.
But now, I must wait, for the letter is not yet written. I still look forward to many great experiences and memories. I don’t want them to be legends just yet.
Plus, a small paper boat cannot hold all my memories and thoughts.
As I put down my paper boat, my face and the round moon were both distorted by the ripples. The golden glimmers blurred the outline. Bubbles rose up from the water, shining with the shadow of memories. I seemed to see a strange face I knew well. Unlike mine that is filled with questions and curiosity, that face had more peaceful and tender eyes. When the moon became full in the water again, the reunion ended. The reflection in the water was still my face. The small paper boat was pushed away by the waves, slowly floating into the distance. It broke the reflection of the moon in the water and became one with it.
Those who have set sail to a distant land will always return to their home, and a wandering letter will find its destined receiver. The views you see on your trip, the mountains and the rivers your letter crossed will enter the river of memory on a full moon’s night in a dream, and become the moon shining bright in the sky.
“The letter for the moon above the clouds is not finished yet. But this letter here, I will send it to the moon in the clear sky.”|
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Kagura is terribly sorry! This article is under construction or incomplete. Please, help us by filling out missing information. |
This was the Talisman Pass event for August 2021. The focus of the event was Tenken Jinshin Onikiri.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the August 2021 Talisman Pass were the Faithful Familiar skin, Faithful Familiar and Reforged & Reborn loading screen illustrations, and animated and still versions of the Roaring/Playful Familiar frame.
Comic[]
- Onikiri and Yorimitsu once served under an "Empress" (CN); her name was localised to Queen Shido.
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Kagura is terribly sorry! This article is under construction or incomplete. Please, help us by filling out missing information. |
This was the Talisman Pass event for September 2021. The focus of the event was Bakkotsu Kiyohime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the September 2021 Talisman Pass were the Camellia Dream skin, Demon of Obsession and Camellia Whispers loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Slithering Flower icon frame.
Comic[]
This was the Talisman Pass event for October 2021. The focus of the event was Senhime.
Rewards[]
The rewards for the October 2021 Talisman Pass were the Intrepid Princess skin, Faithful Watch and Sea's Melody loading screen illustrations and animated and still versions of the Glimmering Sea icon frame.
Story []
A solitary princess guarded the borders at the edge of the Sea of Eternity. After the disaster, the tides had receded, revealing her home sea’s decimation. The only thing left unchanged was the silent moon casting its light on the war-torn ruins. The night tides had been woven into a dreamy cradle, rocking the exhausted merfolk soldiers to sleep.
The princess still gripped her weapon, a sentinel on the front line, guarding everything behind her.
“It’s bedtime for all the good children. Let’s see which naughty merfolk are still awake.”
At the merfolk encampment, someone was staring into the distance by the window, trying hard to resist sleep.
“Okay, you got me… I’m waiting for Lady Senhime to return! Will she come back to rest tonight?”
“Lady Senhime can’t come back just yet—she has to protect us while we sleep.”
“Is it like the queen in the stories? I’ve read about them.”
The little merfolk boy pressed his hands together and murmured verses praising the queen.
“Queen of the Sea of Eternity, she watches over our realm. When dawn breaks, valiant whales follow her command to conquer the sea. When night falls, tender waves offer her guidance to protect her people…”
He raised his head in admiration and looked from the moonlit waves to the protector on the other side of the sea.
“Lady Senhime’s just like our queen. She’s powerful, brave, and beautiful. She always protects us on the front line.” The merfolk boy was too young to see the cruelty in such sentiments. He thought he was just praising the one he loved.
“But why doesn’t she have a school of waves under her command like the queen in the stories?”
The whales were the queen’s most loyal subjects. They grew up with the queen and followed her as she conquered the seas. They were her sharpest spear and toughest shield. Every queen of the Sea of Eternity in history had their own school of whales that accompanied them throughout their lives. Even when a whale reached the end of its life, it would continue to accompany its queen in another form.
Alas, an unacknowledged princess would surely never have whales to follow her.
A bright moon shone high above the sea as the solitary princess walked far below, where the moonlight could not reach.
An unspeakable thought had lodged itself in this lightless place. Perhaps that arrogant princess had buried a piece of her heart there.
She heard a strange voice from the depths.
“Hello? Do you know what this place is? I seem to have lost my way…”
Senhime knew this sea. She knew its each and every inhabitant. Even in the pitch-black darkness, she could recognise the voice of a young whale. That young, innocent, and somehow strong voice sounded just like that little merfolk boy on the front line: he was also a child born after disaster. With a body that size, even the young whale’s quietest whispers made the sand jump and dance. Currents on the silent seabed tumbled as the sand ebbed and flowed with them. Senhime saw the reflected moonlight in the broken shells, reminding her of the past.
The princess rushed to tell her mother she had just learned a new song, hoping her mother would hug her… or even acknowledge her.
But her mother didn’t have time to look at her young daughter. Earlier, intruders had been spotted at the borders. The queen had commanded her whales and defeated the intruders in heroic and swift fashion. And right now, she was celebrating the victory with the war heroes she had summoned.
In the Sea of Eternity, the song of the queen is an order and a promise, more important than life. But so far, the songs of the princess were nothing more than verses with music made by her and her friends. Whales swam up and down as she started singing her song. A tall wave flowed towards the queen. The queen adjusted her crown. She had the same soft hair as Senhime’s, her ears were well protected…
Each and every queen should have her own whale. In her first encounter with a whale, the young princess was convinced by the rumour.
It was then that Senhime realized she hadn’t seen a whale since the Sea of Eternity lost its queen’s voice.
“Where are you heading? I can take you there.”
Senhime put on her heavy helmet, tucking her hair inside.
“The Tranquil Sea! The elders said it’s our last stop. And we can rest when we get there.”
“It’s not bedtime for the youngsters yet… Follow me.”
Having lost the guidance of their queen’s singing voice, the school of whales had become stranded. It was too cruel for the young whale, who hadn’t yet sworn allegiance to his queen, to meet his fate so soon. Senhime led him to an encampment on the front line and offered him a place to rest.
Youngsters are often curious about the world around them. The young merfolk boy and the young whale became friends. On a bright moonlit night, they snuck out of the field and went to explore the outside world.
They played, using jellyfish as hair for their favourite princess and hard rocks for her armor… They sparred with joy as they journeyed out further and further, until the enemies who were planning to launch a covert attack picked up their trace.
Weapons a hundred times colder than seawater were thrown at them. The fear of death crept into their young faces. They instinctively shouted out:
“Mother!”
A young princess was clutching her little sister. She suppressed her fear and cried out for her mother, the most powerful and trustworthy one she knew. Armor deflected silver auras. Among the dazzling lights, the powerful queen of the sea appeared before them on whaleback. Even though she was outnumbered, the queen fought bravely with the help of her whales. Soon the enemies were eliminated.
“Why did you sneak out?”
The young princess looked into her mother’s cold eyes and answered, “I’m looking for my own whale!”
The giant whale bodies cast shadows across the sea and the moon. The queen’s face changed in the darkness. Affection, disappointment, pain and love… Countless emotions all mingled together. She looked at the moon which had sunk to the bottom of the sea.
But the young princess insisted, “Every queen has a whale. If I can find one, I can be queen some day!”
The true queen looked at her silently.
Later, Senhime received heavy armor from her mother. The armor served both as compensation and warning. It resembled the armor the queen was wearing, but they were not the same.
Now, whenever Senhime marched out to face the chaos of the Sea of Eternity, she would put on armor that wasn’t good enough for her mother to wear.
Red and black, blood mixed with a thirst to kill, churning chaos in the sea. The princess led the youngsters to safety, her armour stained with blood. Meanwhile, her enemies acted like cicadas in autumn sensing their approaching demise. They made a last push, and with a death rattle, struggled in their final wave. The battle was long and drawn out because of these fighters’ tenacity. The red bloodstains on Senhime blackened as she fought on.
They battled in darkness; the moon dimmed, refusing to illuminate the bloodstained battlefield, as if it were too terrible to be seen. In the dark sea, Senhime remembered something.
Would she be as powerful as her mother if she had her own whale?
“Hya!”
But Senhime was not her mother. She was Senhime - and always ready to launch her next strike with all her might.
She claimed victory as the waves swept away the bodies of the defeated, allowing the darkness to recede. Something silver sank to the abyss.
Utterly exhausted, Senhime struggled to stay conscious. She reached out, but her efforts were in vain.
“I gave more than I could give…”
“Lady Senhime!”
A childlike, anxious voice pulled her from her reverie. The mighty breath of a whale blew on her from the sand. Broken armour fell from her and floated away with the current.
“I told you to stay in the field… How did you find me?”
“I sensed something familiar on you, Lady Senhime…”
The young whale approached and sniffed her again, its great face close to hers. Senhime felt the warmth of the young whale’s skin.
“A mixture of our blood and the blood of the queen. Since the whales have always fought with the queen, the ability to sense such a cruel yet warm scent has become part of our lives… But since when did you have a whale under your command?”
Senhime’s heart skipped a beat as she sensed feeble hope.
But even if the blood of the queen ran through her veins, it was impossible for her to own a whale able to fight by her side with the same blood… unless there was something hidden within her bleeding wounds.
She carefully removed her chest armour. Her enemies’ targeted attacks had broken the tough plates, cutting her soft skin. Blood poured from the shattered imprint her armor had left; the inner layer was soaked with blood. Senhime touched the inner layer: it felt like the skin of the young whale next to her.
A sudden, unbelievable truth rushed towards her across the dark sea of time. Her mother had given her a whale.
Although she was unable to become a queen and be recognized by her mother, she knew then that her mother loved her. Her love was wrapped in heavy armour and woven into tough whale skins, invisible to ordinary eyes. But she could touch it and feel it next to her body; it was reassuring as a hug.
The queen and the whale’s voices echoed from the very depths of the silent sea.
Tomorrow, the solitary princess would again guard the borders at the edge of the Sea of Eternity.This was the Talisman Pass event for November 2021. The focus of the event was Yuki Douji.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the November 2021 Talisman Pass were the Frosty Inkling skin, Friendless Memories and Release the Inklings loading screen illustrations and the animated and still versions of the Frosty Scroll icon frame.
Story[]
Returning Home
After the fire, I headed to the capital. I heard frequent rumours about my home on my journey.
It had been a village where humans and spirits lived in harmony by helping each other. There were ambitious great spirits in the world who either controlled land which stretched for miles, or coveted a small yet very prosperous piece of the capital. But that village had been a peaceful place where peace-loving humans and spirits dwelled together.
There were no quarrels or conspiracies, and people spent their lives quietly with their loved ones.
It was my home, a place that would open its arms to welcome my return. But now, all that was waiting for me was a devastated ruin.
I had always been close to Grandpa and Grandma. Many lonely villages started to find little spirits who wished to stay. "Become our family and spend the winter with us."
In this way, many homeless and timid little spirits stayed on to live with the old villagers.
What happened to the spirits? And the lonely old villagers?
Those memories and obsessions floated around and around in my head. Sometimes they were like flames shooting from a fire, that I dared not look at. But gradually, I began to think that I should go back to see what it was like. The only thing that was stopping me was the snow.
When I finally reached home, I saw that the seasons seemed to have stopped changing, and time stood still. The broken walls slumbered beneath the scorched earth and the dust. Every afternoon, a few crows patrolled the sky. One day, I found a child living in the burnt-out ruins. He was standing on the porch of a dilapidated house. "Did you see my parents on your way here?" he asked me.
"What do they look like?" I replied. The child was dressed in white and had a baby face, such a contrast to the scarred and ruined surroundings. "Did your parents just left you here?" I pressed.
"Father and Mother would go to the capital and earn money because nothing can grow in the soil here. But they would come back every winter"
"Why didn't you just move to the capital?"
"People there don't like us."
"What about going to another village?"
"If the people who died here can't move, why should we leave them behind?"
Flying Snow
I unsheathed Snow Chaser. The sharp blade glinted as cold as ice. My spiritual power rushed and reverberated all around me as a snowflake gently fell onto the scorched land.
A few fluttering flakes at first, it soon turned heavy. As the snow howled around the child, he smiled. He ran across the field of snow, joyfully shouting, "It's snowing! Winter is coming! My parents are coming home!"
He told me about the spirits who lived there. They would morph into crows and tell me who was journeying back to the village, "Let's celebrate New Year when Yuki's back."
"Outsiders were afraid of them," the child said, "But they treated the old villagers better than their own family. When the fire came, they tried to prtect the villages with their powers. But they couldn't manage it, and died from exhaustion."
It seemed that the village still looked burned and ruined because residues of the spirits' power had created a kind of invisible field which stopped the seasons from changing and time from moving on. Were the spirits trying to protect the child from growing up and leaving them?
The child regarded me steadily. "It's already snowing. Will mother and Father really return with the winter?"
"They will come home no matter how far they've travelled."
"Why did you come back, Yuki?"
Snow Painting
In the freezing cold, we tried to sculpt the villagers in snow and ice, and put them in the courtyard as if they were still living among us. Their pure crystal eyes stared at me as if I were one of them.
But their faces soon melted to become expressionless ice once again. I looked at the child, who was disappointed, and gently touched Snow Chaser. I didn't have the ability to give life to these snowmen with my Snow Chaser. A harsh wind battered against the broken walls nearby. A few scorched wooden posts were knocked to the ground, leaving charcoal marks in the snow.
I suddenly realized something and told the child to help me dig in the thick snow. Soon, I dug out the shape of a fox, revealing the dark scorched earth beneath. The scorch marks left by the fire looked dark as ink in the snow field.
The child clapped his hands, jumping up and down in joy. He grabbed my hand and started running in the snow. With a twig, he drew shapes of spirits who'd once lived here.
"This is the wing of a bird and this is his beak. And this is how he looks when he's morphed to a human. This is the sky... but there's something missing."
It reminded me of an afternoon once, when I'd seen some crows hovering above the village.
A whirlwind gathered on the field of snow, whipping up the snow in strange patterns. When the wind died down, we saw it had created a painting of a murder of crows, with the black of the crows etched in the dark scorched earth beneath the snow.
"Father told me that a family has each other's company because of love." The child stared at the etched crows on the ground and murmured.
"Did he tell you where you can receive love and company without family?"
Leaving Home
I retrieved the spiritual power of the Snow Chaser from him. The winter had come and I had to continue my journey.
The snow stopped and yet the snow-child still didn't melt. He gazed up to me as if he was really alive. I was afraid of visiting the village alone, so I had built a snowman for company. Now it felt as if there were some power in him that I couldn't control. He knew the spirits who died protecting the village. He told me everything and I came to enjoy his company.
Suddenly, a voice emanated from the snowman, "The outsiders despised us because we were spirits. But the villagers here were different. Humans and spirits were able to put the differences aside and become a family."
He continued, "I've been waiting so long for someone to come here. I can't wait anymore. Please, take me with you!"
"You're an earthbound spirit of this place. Where can you go?"
"But you painted me, didn't you? This is your home - surely you can take it wherever you go."
As I searched for the shadowy painting in the snow, I said, "Grandpa used to tell me that humans have a short life, so they want to see different places, but spirits have a long life, so they prefer to find a home."
I heard wings flapping as I looked at the murder of crows in the snow.
This is my home, the place where I would always return. My home has never barred its gates before me, and I have never abandoned it.
Snow Chaser glimmered in the snow, and the scorched earth dissipated in the thick snow, forming dark wings. They fluttered and rose up, then hovered above the village. Flurries of snowflakes swept through the courtyard and the home I'd stayed in with Grandpa and Grandma. A light shone down on the broken walls. A black and white scroll of snow unfurled about my shoulders. In the falling snow, I saw many familiar pairs of eyes gazing at me fondly.
The winter was over.
This was the Talisman Pass event for December 2021. The focus of the event was Yomei Higanbana.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the December 2021 Talisman Pass were the Nether Wintersweet skin, Into the Underworld and Frozen River loading screen illustrations and the animated and still versions of the Snow Bloom icon frame.
Story[]
Wintersweet Frost
The river that had been flowing silently across time had started to freeze over once I returned with fresh flower foams.
It was a sight I'd never seen before: the soft flower foams on the riverbank, blanketed in layers of white frost, began to harden and crack. Winter had suddenly arrived in the riverbank flower garden in full bloom. It was not ordinary ice and snow, but resentment that could freeze and seal all life. While the Sanzu River was frozen, eerie red wintersweets bloomed on the river mud, drawing nutrients from my warrior. Without him, the withered bones beneath the river mud refused to answer my call: "No one has ever been able to break a pact with me so easily."
If the frost could keep my flowers from blooming, how could these red wintersweets bloom here? I approached the wintersweets and felt the vague resentment. I dove into the frost to feel its affinity with the wintersweets between the intertwined roots. Then suddenly, I was dragged into an image. I found myself standing in front of a wintersweet grove in full blossom in a world of snow. I entered the grove and felt a warm breeze on my face; I could hear a symphony of birds singing all around. It was like a different world from my Sanzu River.
A myriad of red wintersweets like a crimson screen separated me from the outside world. Perhaps it was because the red wintersweets were born from my warrior's power, but I could feel his presence in the place.
Crimson Snow
I walked in the direction of the scream.
After a series of winding paths, a magnificent courtyard appeared in front of me. There was a grand mansion hiding behind the overhanging wintersweets. There was a few ragged and scarred commoners fighting each other in the couryard under the wintersweets. One had already fallen to the ground injured. There was a nobleman sitting in the mansion toying with a wintersweet twig soaked in blood. After a while, he lost interest in it and waved his hand, ordering the commoner, who was being used for entertainment, to be decapitated.
A masked warrior with a long blade appeared, drew his blade and approached. He hesitated for a moment, before turning around and striding towards his master. He raised his blade and slashed at the man in front of him.
The nobleman shouted, "Traitor! How dare you betray your master!"
The warrior paused, but he was determined, "You are nothing but a coward who ran away from his duty before the great war. You hide here and slaughter the innocent. You're not worthy of this house."
In an instant, the warrior waved his blade and the nobleman immediately turned into a handful of snow, wrapping the invisible shadow within, and rebuked the warrior while crawling up his frozen body, "Traitor! Traitor who betrayed his master!"
Just when the warrior was about to be swallowed by the ice and snow, he waved his shimmering blade and fought to break free from the tangle of ice and snow and wintersweets. The moment our eyes met, he waved his blade and yelled, "You're just another illusion they created to haunt me! You can't trap me here!"
Recollections
The devastating frost disappeared along with the nobleman. I followed the warrior. Although he was a rude man, he could be useful to me.
"What's with the monsters here? Show me their weaknesses and I'll forgive your rudeness." I hid in the dark and commanded flower petals to whisper in his ears. The power of the monsters in the grove came from the wintersweets and the frost. I had to find a way to remove them quickly and figure out why these things were eroding and freezing my garden.
"So, you're not the illusion here?" he queried.
I smiled and commanded a red spider lily to fall at his feet.
He seemed to understand something. Determined and slightly regretful, he said, "I betrayed my master."
"Do you still call it betrayal when you've done what you thought was right?"
"Doing anything that is not protecting my master is an act of betrayal."
The surroundings suddenly changed. I found myself standing in front of a tall house. The nobleman I saw earlier was sitting there. Standing by him was the young warrior who had now reached adulthood.
He accepted the armor from a servant. The nobleman yelled at him, "This clan has been fighting to protect the honor of the nobility for generations. Now it's your turn to shoulder the burden."
The surroundings changed back to a scenario wherein the nobleman tried to slaughter a commoner; the warrior swept his blade without heistation, "There is no honor for my master. I've already betrayed him. I must stay here and receive punishment for eternity."
While saying this, he drew his blade and rescued the commoner before trying to cut down the nobleman. The surrounding wintersweets created a sudden frosty wind. The flowers bloomed like a sea of flowers by the riverbank. Branch by branch, they tried to entangle and freeze the warrior.
This time, it was even harder for me to tackle the power of the frosty wintersweets. I suddenly realized why they snuck into the Sanzu River and took my flower foams - it was to kill their enemy with the help of my power.
Pactbound Warrior
Just as the frost and the branches were about to wrap the warrior within, fragile wintersweets fell to the ground. They ceased to expand under my swirling red spider lily petals. I complained, "Seriously? You froze my garden, and now you're trying to take away my prey?"
"What if I can save you and help you get out of the grove?" I turned to the warrior and smiled, "I can help you destroy the grove for a small price."
"What's the price?"
"Your soul."
He lowered his voice, "My clan has been wearing this armor and fighting to protect the honor of our master for generations. Now that my master is dead, if I die wearing this armor for moral justice, the honor of my fathers can live on..."
"Without a soul, I would only be an obsession wandering this place. You can have my whole existence."
So it seemed that to die wearing the armor, and bear the honor it carried would be worthwhile.
When he put on his armor and revealed his face beneath the mask, I was shocked.
It was you.
Even since I arrived in this realm, I had been feeling the presence of my warrior. And it was because you were him and he was you.
"Seriously. But since your soul already belongs to me... I shall take every last part of you - your regret and your mind." The armor of the warrior eroded from the swirling red spider lily petals in an instant. I smiled and touched his young face, "From now on, you must not be obsessed with anyone else other than me."
The power which had been contained by the frost over the past few days burst forth. It swept across the surrounding life-sealing ice and wintersweets, and made its way to the grand mansion. Countless red spider lily ice sculptures bloomed at my feet. The wintersweets withered before the whole grove was vanished. Fresh and clear flower foams attacked me like a refreshing boreal wind. White frosty flowers floomed all across the Sanzu River.
A warrior was sitting in the middle of the white sea of flowers. Deep in the sea of flowers, there was a frosty white snow wintersweet in full bloom. A vital demon force was circling around the petals. This wintersweet would bloom here for eternity. This was my gift to him for offering me his last human mind.
He drew out a dagger and handed me a crystal-clear ice sculpted spider lily. His body slowly dissipated like snow while his eyes looked at me with anticipation, "Please tell me if the true me has fulfilled his wish."
That ice-sculpted flower fell from my hand before he finished his words. I was left alone in the silent sea of flowers.
Then the warrior I knew well reached out his hand from behind me. his breath was a steady and firm as the first time we met. I gently placed the ice-sculpted spider lily in his hand.
This was the Talisman Pass event for January. The focus of the event was Kaisei Kachou Fuugetsu.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the January Talisman Pass were the Paper Landscape skin, Colorful World and Landscape Unraveled loading screen illustrations, still version of the Paper Crane icon frame and the Animated version of the Cruising Crane icon frame.
Story[]
Traveling the World
It was late summer, early fall as I stepped out from the Painted Realm. Fall changes the world so fast. I looked out and was surprised to see a different world from the one I'd expected. Then I realized I'd left the world I was in, and was actually walking into a much wider one.
Aoandon was with me on the road. She was happy to see the mountains, the rivers, and most importantly, the people. She was eager to hear all the stories of this big world.
I was painting while listening to her retelling the stories, which were rich with human emotions and made my every brushstroke more vivid. Perhaps, in time, they would manifest into spirits. I looked forward to it.
As we walked further, I started to feel nostalgic about the people in my home, as well as being excited to see new things.
Fall had ended to welcome the winter as Aoandon and I arrived at the foot of a snow-capped mountain. We decided to rest there.
We made tea under the pavilion in the snow. My thoughts drifted away in the rising steam.
"Every winter, I would invite Bukkuman, Maestro, and Kisei over and talk about the interesting things they had encountered during the year as we drank tea."
"I wonder what news they will bring this year."
"If you're that curious, you could always write to them. I thought you gave them Letters of Serenity before you left."
A thought suddenly came to me when I heard a voice.
"Lady Hana, I received something for you… Uh, how many letters and parcels were there?"
Surprised, I sat down my teacup and looked at Misty who looked back at me out from my painting.
Aoandon, on the other hand, held out her teacup to cover her smile. "I didn't know I had the ability to tell the future."
I was quite excited. I had no idea who could've sent me the letters or what surprises were wrapped in the parcels.
I had to wait for quite a while before I saw the letters and the parcels Misty had told me about.
With half of his body outside the painting, Misty looked at me, quite puzzled. Then he awkwardly straightened his hat and tried to pull something out.
"They're… a bit heavy. Please wait while I… Mirrog, can you give it another push so I can pull these out?"
"I'm already… pushing."
Discovering Incense
The parcels on the table looked light, while the one Misty and Mirrog failed to deliver was big and heavy. The shape looked familiar.
Before I could think further, Misty smiled, and said:
"It seems your friends have all sent something for you, My Lady."
Aoandon put her teacup down and handed me the parcel which had landed in front of her.
"Looks like those gentlemen were thinking of you too this winter."
I took the parcel and saw Bukkuman's name on the letter that was attached to it. I took another look at the table and saw the other two. Their parcels looked similar in size. I opened them and found three delicate censers each with a ball of incense in inside.
I took out the incense balls and the aroma immediately filled the air. But the three aromas refused to blend together. If you sniff carefully, you can easily tell who sent which incense.
Bukkuman's incense was light and lasting, with a tinge of book and ink smell. Maestro's incense was cool like the moon with a note of tender flower fragrance. And Kisei's incense had a mellow aroma with a strange feeling of loneliness.
"This incense…" Aonandon leaned towards the censer. With surprise, she noted:
"It's the first time I have smelled such a fragrance. They're clearly different from how those gentlemen smell, but smelling the incense makes me feel like…"
Like they're right with us.
I was curious and opened Bukkuman's letter.
"It's been a long time. How have you been? How's your journey going? I'm sure any view in this big world would be exciting for you. And I'm sure you'll have lots of interesting news to tell us at our next gathering. I look forward to it."
"Recently, Maestro, Kisei and I have gotten together. We met a special customer at a tea party."
"And this customer was the one who made you those incense balls. I'm sure you will have experienced the marvels they contain by now. Although they're quite different from how each of us smell, lighting them will make you feel as if we were there with you."
"I've never come across such an incense in this world. And such a mastery of incense-making - heaven-sent you might say!"
"But she might just be someone from heaven."
"The customer didn't talk much about us and only offered those incense balls as a gratitude for our tea before she hurried off. What an encounter."
Icy Ink
I put away the letter and lit a small amount of incense. The snow pavilion looked just like it used to in the curling smoke. I opened another letter with the parcel.
Inside was an ice-sculpted ink box covered in familiar demon force. I knew who'd sent it at once.
"Oh, it's from that Master Tamamonomae!"
Misty leaned over with curiosity and looked at the ink box in my hand.
"This ice seemed to have been dug up from a very cold place, and yet, somehow I feel like I'm being scorched by it."
said Aoandon after taking a look.
I nodded and opened the ink box, feeling puzzled. There was a small ink ingot in it, which was white with a thin layer of red-gold on the surface. And there was a faint smell of ink mixed with rosin.
Tamamonomae didn't say much in his letter.
"Seimei told me you have left the Painted Realm. I assume your longtime wish has been fulfilled. Congratulations."
"I'm busy at the moment, so I've sent you this gift."
"This ingot was forged by someone else. I'm sure it'll help you complete a winter scene masterpiece. Please accept it."
The ink ingot felt cold at first, as chilling as if I was holding an ice cube that had existed for a thousand years. Then, when the red-gold glow started to flow, it felt warm, as if I was holding a sunrise—bright but not scorching.
An ink ingot can reflect its maker. Shuichi's brushes were like flowing water in the spring—tender and stubborn. I knew the one who forged this ink ingot would be like the ink.
I put the ingot on the inkstone and slowly ground it into ink. I looked at the snow peaks behind the pavilion for a long while before I began to paint.
Landscape Unraveled
After finishing the peak, I pondered for a while, thinking that the peak alone might not be enough. Just as I was about to add something, Misty and Mirrog stopped me.
"Lady Hana, you can finish the painting later. There's still another parcel with a letter here."
Misty's fox face was smiling, but he kept straightening his hat, which made him seem anxious.
"Yes, My Lady, why don't we open the last one first?"
Even Mirrog who rarely spoke chimed in. That last parcel was clearly quite special to them.
I put down my brush and approached the strange, tall parcel. There wasn't a name on the letter, but I could smell a familiar inky fragrance.
I looked at Misty and Mirrog before opening the letter:
"To Lady Hana. It's been a while since you left your world of the Painted Realm and we miss you very much."
Misty and Mirrog told me that the seasons are changing again in the outside world, and it's now winter… I haven't seen a winter since I came to the Painted Realm."
"I remember it was terribly cold. Most of us in Picturesque met you during this season, Lady Hana. After that, winter faded and spring stayed forever."
"You provided us a world of spring, and now we are giving you a world of spring in return."
I unraveled the parcel and saw a thin paper mountain filled with spring scenery. There were verdant pine trees, and other trees with fruit on the mountain, giving out lovely refreshing aromas. Misty and Mirrog hurried to the mountain and placed squirrels infused with their power there. Although they were made of folded paper, they were as lively as real ones, unlike the scene outside of the pavilion.
Curling fumes and flowing waters: I added those to my painting next. My brush followed my thoughts to paint a rich world.
This was the Talisman Pass event for Feburary. The focus of the event was Susabi.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the February Talisman Pass were the Hanafuda Horizon skin, Soul Fire of Life and Star Shifter loading screen illustrations, still version of the Sea Hanafuda icon frame and the Animated version of the Splashing Hanafuda icon frame.
Story[]
Flower View
Something by a mountain near the sea caused a stir in the star compass. Susabi arrived and, to his surprise, spring flowers were blooming on the withered branches by the road despite the cold winter season. The colourful petals stretched invitingly before him. And soon, he was mesmerised.
"What monster are you, and what evil drink did you use to affect me so quickly?"
"Haha, this is Flower View! You're spellbound as well, aren't you, my Lord?"
A little spirit appeared from nowhere holding hanafuda cards in his hands.
Normally, it would take Susabi just a flick of the hand to dispel the field magic. Susabi tried to conjure his magic, but the star compass remained calm and peaceful, not responding to his power.
"Since you're here, you must follow my rules. Your star compass doesn't work here, my Lord." The little spirit giggled triumphantly.
The Star Palace above his head looked as though it were in disarray. Whatever he did, it was still shrouded by cloud, and the future shrouded from his sight. Susabi remained calm, although he knew that the stir in the star compass was caused by the divination of the hanafuda cards. Although both humans and spirits could use hanafuda cards to predict the future, none had managed to stir his star compass before.
Stars flickered around Susabi and spread out from his fingertips to search for the walls of the Flower View magic circle. Suddenly, a Pine with Crane hanafuda card fell on the ground not far from him.
Susabi frowned a little as a fragment of memory flashed in his mind.
Pine with Crane
Many, many years ago, there was a small village that suffered from sea wreckages in a similar place by the sea. A boy who was known as an emissary of the gods lived there. His job was to protect the village and provide divination services for the villagers.
There was a group of children of similar age to him living in the village. Unlike the other villagers who had all kinds of requests for the emissary of the gods, they often played in packs and carried around with them a deck of worn-out hanafuda cards. They would play with the cards near the emissary of the gods.
Their noise often attracted the attention of this emissary, and he would conceal himself and watch them. Those children looked carefree and would play with the hanafuda cards in all kinds of ways. One day, the emissary of the gods picked up a hanafuda card and folded it into a paper swallow. It fluttered its wings and followed the children around.
Besides using the cards to play poker, the children would mimic the way the emissary performed his divination with the hanafuda cards.
"A white crane is standing on a pine tree. It's a sign of longevity in January. Go on an adventure, Obama, for you'll live for a hundred years and rise to the top!"
A child noticed the paper swallow one day. He picked up a willow twig and tried to talk to the bird. "A willow branch to welcome the swallows in spring. It's a good sign for reunion."
The paper swallow could only fly, it couldn't make the hanafuda cards move.
The villagers started using hanafuda cards for divination after seeing the cards hidden in the sleeves of the emissary of the gods, hoping to gain a similar divine power. But ever since then, the emissary of the gods had not used those hanafuda cards.
A hanafuda card fell from above. Susabi reached out his hand. It was a Willow with Swallow, but the willow on the card was nowhere to be found.
"This game of hanafuda has been waiting for you, my Lord." The playful noise lingered around Susabi, along with a flutter of wings.
"Come."
Moon Over Field
None can manipulate the stars at will. Above the monsters and spirits, there're gods, and above the gods, there're the rules of the worlds. But the eerie images before his eyes were not illusions.
"I'll give you a hint, my Lord. The next card is Moon Over Sea." The voice sounded insistent and anxious, as if the little spirit wanted Susabi to draw a new hand.
Susabi remained silent as he expanded the stars, trying to look for clues in the voice. There seemed to be a spiritual power with great affinity to his out there - it was responding to his search.
Although Susabi had anticipated it, when he followed the response and arrived at the seaside, he frowned a little.
The waves splashed violently against the reef's shoreline. The stars orbiting around Susabi dropped into the tiny bubbles in the water as if they were drawn to them. Soon, countless rays of starlight burst from the peaceful surface of the blue sea and spread through the waves.
"Why not concede while you have the chance, my Lord? You won't be able to draw Moon Under Sea anymore." The voice sounded even more triumphant. In the disarrayed sky above Susabi's head, the disordered star compass shifted again, as if there were a pair of invisible hands wilfully changing the already complicated board, and beginning a game where the gods would have no chance of winning.
Susabi moved one step forward in silence.
The sea water answered Susan's call and, carried by waves, the reflection of the stars tumbled up and covered the shore and mountains like an unstoppable army, aiming for the sky. Down by the shore, where the sea water burst out, there was a deep sky filled with the dots of stars.
Susabi took a step down from the shore... And he immediately fell out of the surface of the sea.
The sea water was still roiling behind Susabi. It moved fast, like a wind sweeping by him. At that moment, he found that the sea was above his head, and that he was standing on the sky. The truly orderly star compass was moving slowly by his feet.
The moon that had fallen into the sea was now hanging in the upside-down sea.
Susabi reached out his hand and tried to grab the view; a hanafuda card appeared in his hand. The moon was hanging over the sea in the card. It was a Moon Over Field.
A white figure swept past his head, yelling in protest, "I can't believe you cheated, my Lord!"
Willow with Swallow
As the star compass dropped into the sea, the field of sky and sea was shattered. And now, the true star compass was finally hanging within the perception and manipulation of the gods.
Susabi raised his head and saw a white paper swallow hovering above him.
In the village of the distant past, while the emissary of the gods never showed his hanafuda cards again, a paper swallow followed the children around until they grew up and grew tired of playing cards together. The emissary made a long tail and wider wings for the paper swallow. He released the paper swallow and sent it soaring into the sky on a swift wind. The emissary of the gods told the paper swallow that the village no longer had anything of interest to watch, and told it to go somewhere farther away, and higher up.
One day, after the paper swallow had left the village, the waves of the sea became violent. The village soon disappeared in the waves, leaving no place for the paper swallow to land.
The paper swallow returned to hover above Susabi and lamented, "It turns out that the star compass I had been manipulating was an illusion, cast to the bottom of the sea, from the surface of the sea."
"Because I have missed you, my Lord. No matter how far I travelled, I would still want to return to you. But no matter how hard I fluttered my wings, all I could see was the sea..."
The paper swallow twittered with joy like a young boy. "In the end, you beat me with your hanafuda cards, my Lord."
"So you were unable to find your way..."
And that was why the paper swallow had been using the spiritual power infused in him to make mischief.
A falling star suddenly swept across Susabi's palm as he converged his scourging power, and a giant beam of light crossed the horizon like a saber. Before the paper swallow could talk, a thousand beams of starlight converged and fell from the sky. The lights blasted into the air and slowly formed into countless lanterns stretching all the way from the sky to the ground, creating a path of light.
The paper swallow turned around and looked at Susabi before it stared into the lights before it. With a burst of spiritual power, the paper swallow floated in the air and landed on the hanafuda card in Susabi's hand. Thus the swallow of reunion returned to its willow branch.
A richly-feathered and nimble swallow flew out from Susabi's hand.
Lanterns aligned over the horizon and created the Big Dipper.
"Is this the direction that the star compass is pointing...?" asked the paper swallow.
Susabi patted the paper swallow on its wingtip. "Let's go."This was the Talisman Pass event for March. The focus of the event was Suzuka Gozen.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the March Talisman Pass were the Supreme Season skin, Ceremony in Flames and Tide to Home loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Ceremonial Blade icon frame and the Animated version of the Ceremonial Sharp Blade icon frame.
Story[]
Mourning Ritual
Standing before the shrine, I closed my eyes, my hands clasped together. The wind was blowing softly and the waves were calm. The ship rocked gently on the sea and smoke rose from the essence. Everything was peaceful.
I still remember the day Father remained behind to stop the villagers from chasing me. It too was a windless day like today. That moment had turned out to be his farewell. Then Otakemaru happened, and Sen…
Along my journey as Suzuka Gozen, I have lost ones I love, as well as things I love.
From instruments and clothes to shrines at which I could mourn for the dead, I had brought everything from Mt. Suzuka with me on the Demon Ship. I didn’t have time for anything else while I was chasing after departed souls, I had to hold mourning rituals along the way on my journey.
And only during these rituals did I have time to reminisce.
“What’s this… I didn’t know Father had kept this.”
My hands paused as I opened the chest. I saw a gilded crown. Centuries had passed, but the colors of the flower hairpins on the crown were still vivid under the dust. And the robe under the crown looked perfectly intact. Time hadn’t left any mark on them.
Ritual Dance
They don’t have bright bonfires, or people celebrating and dancing around the bonfires. They only have a lonely stage set up in front of an audience.
People say that Suzuka Gozen will be rewarded for purging monsters. So the stage was set for me.
“When you come onstage, just recreate the heroic scene where you purged the monsters.”
“Really? And do I have to wear these when I purge them?”
I was dressed in heavy, luxurious robes. My hair had been carefully styled, and I was weighed down with dozens of heavy hairpins. And my weapon was a ceremonial blade with a paper bow that even a child could’ve wielded with ease.
“For your information, these ritual robes have been specially made for you for important occasions. You don’t need to actually fight on the stage. Just dance in time to the music.”
Dance? It was truly strange how the humans thought of purging monsters as a dance. I decided to see how things would evolve, once the ceremony began!
A few servants dressed in ridiculous sea monster costumes joined me onstage when the music started.
I felt embarrassed doing my monster-purging dance. The heavy robe restrained my movements. I tried to make an elegant slash, but it turned into a clumsy missed attack. I couldn’t even stretch my arms and legs, let alone follow the beat of the music.
I heard whispering from the audience, saying that the Tamura girl lacked proper manners. This stupid dance had made me a fool.
Chaotic Fight
As the whispering grew louder, I stopped in my tracks.
“That’s not how I purge monsters.”
“You can’t figure it out? How about this. I play the ‘sea monster’, and those of you who think they’re strong enough to take me, can try and purge me.”
No one answered. I held the ceremonial blade high above my head - it felt so light, but looked so heavy - “It’s just a ceremonial blade,” I said. “No one has the guts to challenge me?”
“Pathetic! This is an important ceremony…”
“Don’t worry, sir, I’ll be careful.”
The argument was settled. Urged on by the celebrant, a few warriors finally came forward. They launched a few feint attacks but I sent them flying with the back of my blade.
The humans were weak compared to a sea monster of my strength. Battles were child’s play to me; I was beginning to get irritated.
“How are you going to defeat me like that? Don’t be afraid. I’ll fight you all!”
I assume they were surprised, for it took them a while before they got back up. More warriors arrived from the balcony with blades in their hands. One of Father’s colleagues unsheathed his long blade and charged at me.
“You vile warmonger… So typical of the Tamura family!”
Blinded by rage, he charged at me. Unfortunately, he lacked any real training. His warriors followed quickly enough, but I dealt with them in an instant.
Those watching didn’t know the real reason behind the situation; they cheered and hoorayed to see such thrilling live action.
After a dozen rounds, over half of the warriors had been knocked out of the stage area. The rest hesitated, standing back to watch their leader face me. My ceremonial blade was looking a little worse for wear, but I thrust it towards the man pointedly.
“How are you going to fend off your enemies if you won’t fight?”
In a blaze of fury he lunged at me. I channeled my demonic power into my blade and deftly parried his attack. After a loud clashing, my thin ceremonial blade broke his refined steel blade in two!
Protection
What happened afterwards?
The ceremony ended with that ridiculous dance. I was still furious after defeating the last man. Impulsively, I lashed out with my ceremonial blade and cut down the banner. It fluttered down onto the lanterns, and started a fire. I stormed off, leaving the chaos in my wake. Later that night, when all the commotion had died down, I returned home and found Father waiting for me in the courtyard.
I didn’t think that I’d done anything wrong, but I knew my actions would be considered rude in the human world.
“Father… Your own daughter wouldn’t have done that, would she?”
Would my actions upset him? Would he have found out who I truly was?
I thought he would welcome me with his scolding, but I heard something else.
“Hahaha, my daughter really knows how to throw a tantrum.”
I looked at him in surprise: he was calmly brushing his beard.
“You’re perfect the way you are. You don’t need to learn mundane pastimes like dance etiquette.”
“But the ceremony…” I said with surprise.
“My family will be responsible for that. Whoever you are, you’re part of this family and I will protect you.”
…
“Protection…”
I took another look at the robe in the wooden chest. Such a garment was rare to find in the human world. There were a few cuts from the fight. But Father had had it mended and stored away as if it was something precious.
I unfolded the robe and fixed the missing parts with my demonic power to make it look exactly as it had done when I’d first set eyes on it. I brushed the dust off the crown and put it carefully back into the chest with the robe. I sealed them away together with my memories of that night.
Now, I will use what I’ve learned from Father to do something really important.
This was the Talisman Pass event for April. The focus of the event was Soufuu Ichimoku Ren.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the April Talisman Pass were the Sakura Breeze skin, Mountain Meeting and Sakura Drink loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Dragon Sakura icon frame and the Animated version of the Roaring Sakura icon frame.
Story[]
Spring Breeze
People come from all over the village and gather around me during the spring feast.
Under the light and buoyant clouds, offerings were neatly placed on the tables. The soft, rosy light of the sun shining through the cherry blossom petals lit the food, instruments, trinkets that people treasured, and rare ceremonial offerings piled on the tables. It truly looked like a testimony to the bond with a goddess of a distant land.
People were relaxed during this worshipping ceremony. Family members sat together, drinking and happy, as if they were sharing the spring view with the gods.
This unique and peaceful sight could be seen every spring. And I had attended the feast over three hundred times.
Thanks to the god who had placed me here, both the villagers and I had been able to enjoy the peaceful springtime year after year.
Smack…
Some wooden plates with dragon patterns carved on them were suddenly picked up by the breeze and thrown against the cherry tree. A young man stepped forward and approached me, bowing in respect.
He held a branch of cherry blossoms in his hand. The best one this year.
“I offer you a branch of spring to express my gratitude, My Lord.”
I accepted the cherry blossoms on behalf of the god. As soon as the delicate flower petals touched my withered body, they became dust. The same dust that had witnessed the relentless passage of time and removed the life and youth from my body along with the divine protection power the god had given me.
When the gentle wind brushed by me again, I was blown away from the cherry tree. My body became as light as the wind itself and soared up into the sky together with a handful of cherry blossom petals.
“Look! It’s a divine wind! It’s Master Ichimokuren’s wind!”
The light, carefree voices of the children rang out. The villagers looked up at me in awe and respect as if I’d been some kind of ancient amulet that had been protecting them.
“Thank you! And farewell! Hope we’ll see you again!”
A child yelled, and people started bowing and waving their hands at the wind in the sky.
From the moment I was created, I was given the power of a wind god. As the embodiment of Master Ichimokuren, I had been protecting this small village for him. It seemed I’d done a great job. I may disappear in the wind soon, but I still have a small wish in my heart —
Distant Dream
I passed a village as I came down the mountain. A spring breeze brushed the trees on the cliff for a third time.
There were a group of newcomers who had just settled in the village and were unpacking their things. I didn’t want to disturb them, but the young village chief who welcomed me asked me to stay.
The Village of Thundering Storm needed me to get rid of a great beast and channel the rainwater. The Land of Fragrance needed me to create another spring breeze for the plants that had missed the flowering period. The Valley of Scorching Haziness needed me to create a wind to cool the weather down for those living there…
The prayers of my believers came to me upon the wind along with the desperate cries of the land. When the wind cries, my heart is deeply touched, but I have to keep moving.
I have my missions. I shouldn’t stay here for too long.
The village chief looked at me and smiled.
I sighed and asked, “What would you like me to do for you?”
He shook his head calmly. He didn’t look like he needed anything. But he did have a small “request”.
“Well, you see, it’s such a lovely spring. If you leave now, you will probably be busy with your work. It’d be a shame to miss the cherry blossoms.”
“I hope you’ll be able to stay a bit longer so you can experience the spirit of spring, my Lord.”
I control the spring breeze, and I know better than anyone when spring will come. And yet, this man asked me to stop and feel the spring spirit. How absurd.
I didn’t think it was an impossible mission back then, so I agreed.
A Long Search
On the three hundred and third spring, I embarked on a journey to look for my master.
I arrived at a levee. People who he’d helped by getting rid of the flood had built a levee by his shrine to prevent the flood from troubling them again.
After knowing that I was looking for him, they asked if I could gift fresh fish and shrimps on his behalf. But I had no way of carrying heavy gifts and only managed to carry some wet mud.
I arrived at a field. The people that were busy harvesting recognized his scent and even the lively plants bowed to me in gratitude, hoping I’d pass on their joy of the harvest. But I had no way of holding the heavy ears of grain and could only take their sweat which fell to the ground after a hard day’s work.
I arrived at a market. The wind had removed the heat from the once boiling valley, leaving the lively sounds of the mortal world in its wake. People waved at me asking if I wanted to have a rest after a long journey. But as I hadn’t yet arrived at my destination, I only took a little bit of their lively spirits with me.
I wandered the mortal world, looking for my master. I heard no news of him, yet his presence was everywhere.
Wind blows in all seasons. And where there’s wind, well, there he is.
I wondered if he’d stopped for a rest, and if he’d seen the cherry blossoms as he said he would.
Time passed. I embarked on my journey to look for him again. But the journey had started to leave its mark on me. I no longer looked as clean and bright as a divine amulet. But I was even more committed to finding him. The marks were not dirt, but proof of the happy lives of the people who were once protected by him.
Sakura Breeze
Someone once asked me if my life was different since I had been demoted from a god to a spirit.
I couldn’t answer.
God or spirit, it makes no difference to me. What I think and do won’t change just because my identity has changed.
But if there’s anything that has changed, it’s time itself.
When I first became a god, I traveled to so many places, and dreamt about bringing peace to the world. I tried to protect everyone and everything I saw.
Then, later on, I realized that, even as a god, I could only protect what was right in front of me. Now that I’ve been reduced to a mere spirit, I have to give everything just to fulfill this small duty.
After all that’s happened, I wonder when spring will arrive.
Time drifts away in the wind. And as wind myself, I have to move on.
“Thank you, Master Ichimokuren!”
“Sure. There’s a commotion in the village over on the southern mountain, tomorrow I’ll…”
“Have a rest tomorrow! You’ve been busy all year long. There’s always work for you to do.”
The little dragon who’d been accompanying me dragged me over to the northern mountain.
“Another spring has come. If you keep working this hard, you’ll miss another round of cherry blossoms!”
This year’s cherry blossoms had bloomed already…
After traveling across thousands of miles, across mountains, I managed to find my master under an ancient cherry tree.
He still looked the same. Haori was draped across his shoulders, covering his long, lean body. A bright red blush covered half of his face. There was a hint of bluish green in his tender eyes…
“My Lord…”
He was no longer a god.
And yet he was still the same old Master Ichimokuren who’d always protected people and had little time to enjoy the cherry blossoms.
“I have finally found you, My Lord. Allow me to give you these cherry blossoms on behalf of us all.”
I channeled the last bit of divine power I have. The power that had been given to me by him…
Under the starry sky, the lights in people’s houses shone as the stars in the sky flickered. I stood on a peak and looked down on the mortal world as it was slowly painted with the colors of spring.
Suddenly I felt something. Something familiar. I turned around and looked up at the night sky.
The spring breeze was mesmerized by the night, and suddenly escaped from my hand. It rushed towards the mountains, waking the cherry blossoms there. Soon, cherry blossoms filled the valley.
“I gift you this branch of spring.”
This was the Talisman Pass event for May. The focus of the event was Inaba Kaguya Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the May Talisman Pass were the Osmanthus Fairy skin, Moonlit Creek and Moon’s Embrace loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Osmanthus Night icon frame and the animated version of the Moonlit Osmanthus icon frame.
Story[]
Together
A few days ago, I learned of some news from the capital about the discovery of a marvelous tree. The osmanthus tree had been spotted in a peaceful valley. It was said to be growing outside the timeframe of our world — the flowers were in full bloom, never withering.
Even when the cold wind is blowing on snowy winter days, the tree’s golden blossoms can be seen. People didn’t realize how wonderful the ever-blooming tree was until they smelled the sweet scent from miles away.
I only heard the news long after the tree had been discovered.
Strange things happen in this world. A tree in a peaceful valley may not be a very remarkable thing. Soon, it was lost in time. I learned of it from a child. He wanted to go and see it but his mother refused to let him go. After all, the valley was a long way from the city. However peaceful it was, it was too dangerous a journey for a child.
The boy looked so frustrated, sitting in the street as he told me about it. Oka didn’t stop frowning until Inaba jumped out of my arms and rubbed its head against the boy’s face. I promised him that I would go to that valley and see the tree for him, and that I would pick a branch of ever-blooming osmanthus blossoms for him if I could.
That night, with Inaba at my side, I walked through the peaceful valley in the distant wilderness. It wasn’t long before I could smell its sweet fragrance. Following the scent, we found the tree by the river.
In the clear night springtime sky, the silver moonlight shone down and the golden flowers glittered on its branches.
“Ah… Ah…”
As I slowly approached the tree, I heard Inaba’s nervous voice. I looked up and saw a blurry figure, a girl.
I tried to ask her if she was there for the flowers too. But before I could speak, she nodded and disappeared.
“It’s okay. There’s no need to be afraid.” I comforted Inaba, and together, we arrived at the spot where the girl had been standing. Blossoms fell from the tree and broke the moon’s reflection in the water.
“I think she’s trying to tell me something…”
The Meeting
Early in the morning, I went to look for the boy in the market with the snacks I’d made the other day. I was hoping to use the snacks as an apology for the flower branch that I’d forgotten to pick for him. I wanted to promise him again that I’d bring him osmanthus blossoms. But after a day’s playing and a good night’s sleep, he had already forgotten about the peaceful valley and the osmanthus tree.
Whatever others thought, I still wanted to return to the valley to see the tree again.
It happened to be the fifteenth full moon that night as I took the same path again into the valley.
The osmanthus blossoms were silent in the moonlight. A figure was waiting by the tree as if she knew I was going to be there. As I approached, she bowed her head. Her outline looked even more blurred than before, as if she would fade into the bright moonlight at any moment.
I sat down next to her under the tree, and watched the moon as it swayed in the water.
“Are you here to enjoy the moon too?” There was silence. But somehow, I “heard” her asking me a question. I shook my head before nodding. I was there to pick a branch of blossoms. Then I realised that she might not be able to see my movements, so I answered.
“I was here to see the osmanthus tree last night. But tonight, I’m here for the moon.” Inaba rubbed my hand as if it was agreeing with me, looking at the figure with curiosity.
“So… I was curious after meeting you last night.” I couldn’t see her face clearly. Through her almost transparent body, the trees and grass in the peaceful valley looked surreal. “Sorry if I seem rude, but… you looked so sad last night, I wanted to see you again, and talk to you.”
She covered her mouth with her hand as if she were giggling.
Then a sudden wind brushed by. While I was distracted by a rain of osmanthus blossoms, she disappeared.
“Ah… Ah…” Following the voice, I found her sitting on a bough, stroking the golden blossoms. She looked at me and sighed.
“This is good enough…”
“Sorry?”
“I planned to leave tonight. But just to be able to see you and talk to you… is enough.”
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t answer and looked instead at the flower branch in her hand.
But somehow I understood her, and had an idea about her relationship with the osmanthus tree.
“Can you…” My voice broke the silence suddenly. I looked at the blurry figure and said, “Can you come back here on the next full moon’s night, if possible?”
Before she answered, I continued, “Please postpone your last goodbye, if you can.”
She nodded and disappeared.
I entered the peaceful valley for the third time at noon.
The Difference
Making wine is delicate work. After coming back from the river, I went to give Nekomata the osmanthus blossoms I had collected. She listened to me, and happily agreed to help. As for the tutoring fee, all she asked for was a bottle of my wine.
In Nekomata’s kitchen, I soaked the glutinous rice in spring water. I sank my fingers into the wet rice. Concentrated sunshine and time would turn the blossoms into wine so it could continue to exist in this world in another form.
“Ah… Ah…” shouted Inaba, seeing that I was lost in my thoughts.
“What’s wrong?” Nekomata was looking for the distiller’s yeast in the kitchen.
“Nothing… It’s just, this reminds me of how I used to make letter paper.”
“Letter paper?”
“Mmm hmm, last summer, I wanted to write a letter. So I asked Miss Kamimai to teach me how to make paper. And somehow making wine feels similar.”
I followed Nekomata and repeatedly washed the glutinous rice clean.
“Is it really?”
“Mmm hmm… Both turn the ingredients into something entirely different, and both take a long time. And eventually, the outcome was the same as the ingredients, and the only difference was the time that had passed.”
“Haha, by that rationale, all things in the world are similar to each other, right? Because, given time, everything turns into something else.”
She was right. Before I could sort out the logic, she had already taken out a cooking pot. I lent her a hand.
We cooked the rice into a pot of glutinous congee. We had to keep stirring. After it had cooled down, we used a cloth to squeeze out the water, leaving the soft and glutinous rice in the pot. After melting the distiller’s yeast in water and pouring the mixture into the pot, we kept stirring. Well, such repetitive work was very similar to making paper.
Then we sealed the pot and let it rest for two days.
Nekomata suggested I should infuse it with spiritual power to make sure it tastes good. She laughed on seeing that I didn’t know what to do, and said, “Just think of it as giving out blessings!”
Two days later, the rich aroma of the wine filled the room. The sweet fermented rice was done.
I washed the osmanthus blossoms which I’d dried earlier and put them into the clay pot. I sealed the pot again after pouring in the blessing-infused fresh liquor.
“Where did you get those beautiful osmanthus blossoms? It’s only early spring,” Nekomata said, picking up the blossoms.
“The way I see it… they’re a farewell gift.”
The Reflection
The tree’s withered branches were waving softly.
I went to meet the figure again, bringing with me a gift concentrated with time. She was there as she had promised.
“Here, consider this as my parting gift to you.” I took the wine and poured three cups, then placed them by the river. “I collected the fallen osmanthus blossoms and made them into osmanthus wine.”
“The essence of the tree has created such sweet wine. And you… you can leave with no regrets now.”
The near transparent figure shook, it was as if she was thanking me. I handed her the wine as a gust of wind brushed by. When I looked around, both the wine and the figure had gone.
I poured the rest of the wine into the river. The osmanthus blossoms broke the reflection of the moon and sank to the bottom of the river as I poured.
“Ah… Ah…” Inaba looked at me, feeling perplexed. I watched the moon’s reflection scatter and reform, again and again.
“The time for the osmanthus tree has already come and gone,” I explained, “It should’ve withered a long time ago. The figure we saw used her power to extend the life of the tree by possessing it. So the osmanthus tree was able to stay in bloom.”
“When she left, the tree died immediately.”
The boughs and branches of the tree next to us looked ancient and withered, the fake freshness all gone.
“Ah…”
“You ask why she was possessing the tree? I don’t know… but I have a theory.”
People say that the Netherworld Gate opens on the night of a full moon when the nether force is the strongest. She left the osmanthus tree on the night of a full moon. I’m sure she went back to where she belongs. As for why she lingered here as a ghost, perhaps because she was mesmerized by the fragrance of the osmanthus tree, or that she knew this tree in her lifetime… or the golden blossoms blinded her and she mistook it for the full moon.
And because of that moment of misunderstanding, she infused all her power into the tree to make it golden.
“There wasn’t anything much I could’ve done. All I could do was keep her connection with the tree for as long as possible. So I prepared this osmanthus wine as a parting gift.” There’ll never be much I can do. And it’s always too late. Have I grown since I wrote that letter?
As the last drop of the wine flowed into the river, my face and the round moon were shattered by the ripples. A glittery golden light blurred our reflection. There were tiny bubbles on the osmanthus blooms which were floating on the water. And from those bubbles, I saw a figure. I smiled and tried to take a closer look. I saw a curious pair of eyes.
As the golden blossoms sank to the bottom of the river, the fleeting moment of our reunion ended. I saw my face again reflected on the surface of the water.
“Illusory and real…” It’s still hard for me to tell the difference. Making paper and making wine. The golden osmanthus tree and the full moon in the sky. I wondered what the differences were between them.
“Ah… Ah…” Inaba flew up and landed on my shoulder to look at the moon with me.
In fact, I did have one last thought… I wondered why she decided to leave. But I never asked her. Perhaps there was no answer. I followed the path back, pondering the experience and left the peaceful valley. As I passed the withered tree, I caught a glimpse of something.
The silver moonlight shone down, and a rain of osmanthus blossoms fell all around me. I heard a voice expressing gratitude. I wondered if it was the figure or the tree.
I bent down to sweep the fallen leaves and the withered flowers aside.
This was the Talisman Pass event for June. The focus of the event was Suzuhiko Hime.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the June Talisman Pass were the Divine Ritualist skin, Ritual in Roses and Fiery Ritualist loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Late Spring icon frame and the animated version of the White Rosy Spring icon frame.
Story[]
“Wake up, Madame Saint, it’s almost dawn.”
I sat by the window after being woken by the gentle urging of the head acolyte, still half asleep. I took a sip of hot tea without savouring its flavour. It was not yet dawn, and I felt somewhat remorseful.
It had all begun with an “ingenious” idea of mine.
I have lived in the Snow Realm for many centuries, not counting the time I’d spent burning in the Snow Valley.
Apart from the many troubles and moments of enlightenment gifted to me thanks to my role as Madame Saint over the long course of my memory, I could feel something as yet untapped, hidden in the corners of my mind - something to ponder in quiet moments.
Unfortunately, I recently remembered a question that had been bothering me for many years, yet had been forgotten while I was preoccupied by many other matters. However, when I think about it now, I can’t suppress the vague sense of anxiety it brought me.
I have been told the responsibilities of the Madame Saint many times, and I have always memorised them by heart.
I wondered what the responsibilities of the High Priest were, apart from that absurd Grand Rite.
I thought I would never find out the answer, but I finally found it after a happy accident that happened soon afterward.
Once the aftermath of the Grand Rite was dealt with, I returned to the Shrine on Mt. Skywatch where I found the acolytes busy cleaning the temple. The head acolyte was cleaning the High Priest’s room in the temple alone.
I watched her as she took the many scrolls out of the study. Judging by the look of them, some had a long history, while the others were relatively new. I remembered how the High Priest used to hold them out and read them, and how he would quickly put them away emotionlessly whenever he saw me, so I didn’t have a chance to take a peek at them. Then I remembered how curious I used to be.
“What are those?”
“They are records of important events and books written by the High Priest.”
The head acolyte carefully wiped each scroll before putting them back into the cabinet.
I unravelled a few scrolls and noticed that they were all important requests sent to the Shrine for approval by the people down the mountain. There was also a book written by the High Priest among them. It was a brief introduction to horticulture in the Snow Realm. There were some simple sigils and runes, possibly for the acolytes responsible for business.
I walked into the room and found that it was almost completely filled with cabinets full of these scrolls. I looked around and realised that these weren’t living quarters, but a library. I remembered how the High Priest was never without a book in his hand. Now, I had a clear understanding of what he did every day.
Whatever he used to think, he was doing his best for the Frostfolk.
So now, it was my turn to carry on his work.
With that thought in my mind, I didn’t stop to reflect, and took on the responsibility when the head acolyte asked me what the plan was for the future. When I realised what I had promised, I saw a look of relief on her face. She then hurried off to arrange my agenda, smiling as though she had planned it that way.
I hesitated for a moment, wondering if I had been tricked. Alas, as Madame Saint, I had to be a lady of my word.
So I got up early and stayed up late to go through all the previous records and make sure I wouldn’t make mistakes when I encountered these things.
After a few days’ work, I felt much more tired than before and started to wonder if it was the paperwork that made the High Priest so bad-tempered. As soon as I realised this, I felt sympathy for both the High Priest, who had repeated the same work for hundreds of years, and myself, now combing through all the scrolls.
I sighed and finished a hot come of tea before unravelling another of the scrolls on the desk.
There were a few lines on the old scroll.
“We acquired packets of seeds from outside the Snow Curtain, but we don’t know what they are. Could you please identify them for us, High Priest, and tell us if we can plant them?”
“They are not good seeds - simply flower seeds. They are called roseleaf raspberries, or white roses. The Snow Realm is not a good place to plant them.”
Notes like this could be found everywhere in that pile of scrolls, and there was nothing particular about that one, but somehow I vaguely remembered it.
The Snow Curtain was a marvellous place. It was a vast field where snowstorms and blizzards were frequent - a harsh environment. Despite this, the Frostfolk were able to find a variety of things from outside the Snow Curtain, by the borders, and some of them even proved quite useful in the Snow Realm.
I had asked the High Priest once why the Snow Curtain always allowed those things into the Snow Realm.
“Because mortal men never lack the courage to venture forth in the face of the unknown.”
He paused. “But it would be foolish to risk your life.”
I wondered what he would think about the mortals who arrived here after making their way through the cold wind of the Snow Curtain.
You eat what nature gives you, and the Frostfolk’s livelihood depended on the Snow Curtain. If they ever found anything from outside the Snow Curtain, they would report it to the Shrine. I don’t know if this was under orders from the Shrine, or simply the villagers’ habit. Everyone assumed the High Priest knew everything.
However, no one knows how people first came to see the High Priest as all-knowing.
When the seeds were delivered to the Shrine, I was busy learning spells from the High Priest in the temple. It was exciting to see what had been brought to us, so I didn’t hurry to leave, instead sticking around to join the fun.
I saw the High Priest think about it for a long time before putting the seeds down. I assumed he already knew what they were, since he tapped his fingertip on the seeds and drew a complicated pattern on the table. With spiritual power as the catalyst, the seeds germinated, and soon grew into verdant vines that meandered across the table, a few white buds ready to bloom.
The magic stunned me. Then, after a long pause, the omniscient High Priest spoke.
“White roses.”
My mind was racing. I didn’t know whether to ask about the spell first, or the fragile flowers that had sprung to life before me. I thought about my unfinished magic lesson, then decided to ignore the spell and asked him about the flowers instead.
The High Priest took another look at the flowers and said, “White roses bloom in spring before… Anyway, they’re useless.” Then he returned to silence.
I tried to push further, but he stared me down and pointed at the table. He then magically peeled the pattern he drew on the table off along with a slice of wood and handed it to me.
“Take time to study this. I will check it in a few days.”
I suspected that he didn’t know it himself, and couldn’t figure out how to answer me. However, after looking over the extra homework freshly handed to me, I swallowed my further questions.
Since I was unable to escape my new homework, I decided to take advantage of the situation.
“Can I have the remaining white rose seeds?”
I left the Shrine with the seeds in tow and returned to my room. Soon afterwards, I discovered the trick.
Looking at the white rose twigs covering the fire bell, I had an idea.
At the ritual not long after, white rose twigs coiled around the fire bells adorning the Altar, their white petals shivering in the wind. I could sense spring at the top of Mt. Skywatch. I felt happy.
But when I started to perform the dance, there was no flame in the fire bells - only smoke and flower petals emerged. The High Priest ordered the acolytes to take a look and found that the tangled twigs had blocked the bells.
His expression that day was darker and more threatening than the most starless of nights.
I was rudely pulled from my memories by the distant surge of a strong, demonic force. I jolted up and looked into the distance. It was still dark, and yet the stars that had been adorning the sky had disappeared, as if something darker than night itself had been draped over them like a blanket.
I looked at the time and noticed something was wrong. It was already past sunrise, and yet the sun was nowhere to be seen. Just as I started to feel a sense of dread forming in my throat, I saw light appearing on the horizon. However, before I could feel any relief, the bells hanging in the Shrine suddenly rang out, and the protective amulets placed all over the snowy mountain lit up one after another.
The light bursting out from underground was brighter than the sun. The crowds below started shouting.
I rushed down Mt. Skywatch with my blade in hand and looked over the Snow Realm. I breathed a short sigh of relief.
The blinding lights mostly appeared from within Mt. Skywatch, and most of their force was stopped by the fields left behind by the High Priest. The village down the mountain was mostly safe.
When I arrived at the foot of the mountain, I saw a crowd gathering by the Altar. They looked panicked after being awoken from their sleep, but no one was hurt.
I sighed and turned around to reassess the situation.
The blinding lights were still flickering. Then, they curled upwards like a serpent and emitted a thunderous bellow before they struck at the sky. They were stopped halfway by the amulets and contained within the field, preventing them from escaping. The blinding lights that came out of nowhere were unable to break through the field’s defense, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
Thanks to the High Priest and his sealing field, Mt. Skywatch was safe for now.
I waited for a while, but I still didn’t see the sunrise. Then I felt something strange. The lights faded, but that ominous force did not waver– if anything, it grew stronger.
I looked up and saw dark clouds rolling through the sky. They felt familiar somehow, as if the demon force that had been hidden by the Snow Curtain had reappeared.
“Although Orochi’s demon force has dissipated for now, we don’t know where it came from. And with Ame-no-Habakiri still sealed here, it might come back. We must be cautious, Lady Suzuhikohime.”
The great onmyoji had warned me before he left, but I didn’t expect the danger to appear so soon.
If the demon force encircling the Snow Realm was Orochi’s, the blinding lights that had been trying to break free from Mt. Skywatch must have been released by Ame-no-Habakiri. The divine sword had tried to cut down the evil, but I couldn’t allow the two forces to wreak havoc in the Snow Realm. The Frostfolk were looking at me in the dark.
Flame engulfed my blade. I placed my finger on the fire flowing from my palm and drew a pattern on my blade before plunging it into the Altar. An invisible aura of fire swept through the crowd and rushed off in all directions, driving away the Evil God’s malice with its heat.
The burning flames soon tore through the whole Snow Realm and started fighting the demon force until they pierced through the sky.
The sun shone down, its light connecting with the flames. Soon, the demon force faded, melting under the scorching sun. The thunderous roar stopped as well, and peace was restored in the Snow Realm.
I felt relieved and looked to the crowd to find that the acolytes had followed me down the mountain and were now comforting them.
The head acolyte was standing next to me.
“The whole field was triggered, and much of it was damaged. We’ll need time to repair it.”
“The field won’t be as effective after the repairs. If this happens again, how many attacks will Mt. Skywatch be able to withstand?” I asked.
“Three? Maybe less,” answered the head acolyte.
I held my blade in silence and the head acolyte sighed softly after a long pause.
“It seems you already have a plan, My Lady.”
I turned around in surprise and found her smiling.
“You haven’t known me for long, Madame Saint, but I have known you for ages. I trust you whatever your plan is. Please, share it with us.”
My head felt clear, and I wanted to say something. But before that, we had to deal with the crowd.
“I think it’s time for us to leave here.”
During this lengthy silence, I felt the crowd begin to worry.
“Leave? But where would we go?” “If we’re not safe here, would we be safe on the outside?” The Frostfolk began to despair.
It can be scary to move forward when the path ahead is unclear, but I was not worried. I waited patiently for the first spark of light to appear from the peaceful lake.
Soon afterwards, I heard a hesitant voice. “What… do we need to prepare?”
His voice was soon muffled by the many whispers in the crowd.
“Ye-yeah… After all, we’ve never left this place. We don’t know what we should bring with us.”
“And we don’t know what’s out there. I’ve killed so many snow wolves, but never having taken so much as a step outside… it’s making me nervous.”
In an instant, the sparks lined up and formed a beam of light, bringing a smile to my face.
“Tell us what we need to do, Madame Saint.”
Their courage to venture forth in the face of the unknown is the most precious trait that mortals possess - a courage worth praise. How could I not respond?
“I’m ashamed to admit that, even though I have lived for centuries, I don’t know what the outside world actually looks like.”
I thought for a while before I told them the truth. Seeing their surprised looks, I continued.
“But if this is what we plan to do, we should keep moving, however difficult the road ahead is. And no matter how hard it will be, it will be full of hope.
“Please trust me. No matter how dangerous or scary the future may be, I will travel with you.”
The crowd paused for a moment and suddenly burst out into laughter and cheers.
“You will always have our trust, Madame Saint!”
“It doesn’t always have to come down to you. We’re strong too! We can help!”
“I heard that there are no borders outside the Snow Realm. How will we know when to stop?”
The whole Snow Realm began preparations for the journey. I thought the Shrine would be the most difficult to convince, but they were actually among the first to act. Before I could even think, the head acolyte came to inform me that everything was ready.
I looked at her and finally understood. She had already known that this day would come. Everything she had been doing was to prepare for this. I asked her nothing.
Whether she had planned it or if it were someone else’s idea, it was no longer important. I had other important matters to attend to. I needed to perform one last ritual before we left the Snow Realm.
However, I didn’t have any ideas. With the Grand Rite ended and me reborn, I wondered what the newly-born Frostfolk needed.
After contemplating for a few days, a thought came to me on the full moon’s night.
As I lay at the window looking at the lights dotting the mountain, I looked down and spotted a vine peeking out from under the snow. After brushing off the snow, I found a fragile white rose. A surge of memories rushed to my head.
I was forced to clean the clogged fire bells in the temple after what I did at the ritual. The High Priest took the chance to teach me another lesson.
In his teachings, I noticed a special ritual - the Spring Ceremony. The ritual held at the Spring Ceremony was not to worship the gods.
I was curious. If a ritual was not held to worship the gods, what was it for?
The High Priest noticed my rare interest and explained further.
“The four seasons were born in the mortal world among the living beings. They grant the world flowers in spring, cicadas in summer, fallen leaves in autumn, and snow in winter. They grant them new life, and withering. The Spring Ceremony was held to pray for new life, the changing of seasons, for good weather, and for safe journeys.”
“Why do we need a Spring Ceremony in the Snow Realm if we only have winter?”
“The mortal world covers more than just the Snow Realm,” replied the High Priest in a meaningful tone.
“Though it’s not so in my eyes. Forget about it.” I didn’t give too much thought to it after that, but I had been curious every now and again.
“How about this: I will plant these white rose seeds. If they wake up in the spring, I will hold a Spring Ceremony! I’m sure the four seasons will forgive me even if the fire bells look like this.”
I removed the twigs from the bells. Seeing that the High Priest looked unimpressed, I decided to joke with him a little.
“I’ll let you be the celebrant if you want. I heard you were once a remarkable celebrant. As an amateur, I would love to see how a professional does it.”
I was surprised to see the High Priest accept my offer, knowing that white roses had little chance in the Snow Realm. I felt a little thrill.
Alas, spring in the Snow Realm came too late, and the promise was buried under the never-ending snow of Mt. Skywatch.
Now that the Snow Curtain had been lifted and a spring breeze was drifting through the Snow Realm once again, flowers were waking up from under the snow.
There was light snow on the day we left the Snow Realm.
I stood at the temple wearing the maiden outfit prepared by the acolytes, holding the Spring Ceremony that represents new life.
The sound of parting sounded from the bell, and what accompanied my steps was no longer the unbearable, burning pain of scorching flames, but the spring breeze. I finished the last ritual dance on Mt. Skywatch while the acolytes chanted softly.
The snow had stopped when I walked out of the temple. A warm breeze brushed my sleeves. Upon the wind, I heard the cicadas singing in the distance.
In the sudden summer breeze, I turned around and saw white roses blooming all over the fences. Some had already started to wither.
I realised all of a sudden that white roses bloom in spring before it ends.
They bloom at the end of spring in the Snow Realm, at which time it is already summer in the mortal world.
The late spring was like a promise that could not be fulfilled, that could only die in the cicada song of summer.
I decided to stop making bets where the outcome would take so long to see.
Surrounded by the acolytes, I made my way to the Frostfolk waiting for me down the mountain. Halfway there, I turned around and saw the white roses bidding us a silent farewell.
I hesitated before going back to pick a flower, wrapping it around my blade.
This was the Talisman Pass event for July. The focus of the event was Kachou Fuugetsu.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the July Talisman Pass were the Gilded Phoenix skin, Divine Duet and Iridescent Dream loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Gilded Landscape icon frame and the animated version of the Golden Landscape icon frame.
Story[]
“Of all the views I’ve seen, the world in your painting looks like the most relaxing place.”
Raindrops fell from the eaves of the pavilion as Aoandon leaned against the bamboo fence. The rainwater danced away from her fingertips like pale-colored butterflies. She felt completely relaxed.
“One’s surroundings are peaceful when one’s mind is peaceful. Nothing troubles you today, so naturally, you find everything relaxing. I shouldn’t take any credit.”
As I poured her another cup of tea, I glanced at Mirrog. Before I asked, he shook his head slowly, suggesting that Misty had not yet returned.
Aoandon joked, “Your new friends might have got carried away by the views in your painting and forgotten all about our appointment. This may explain why they’re late.”
Amused, I shook my head and added another chunk of incense to the censer. The fragrance calmed my mind and soothed the disquiet that I’d been experiencing for the past few days.
Aoandon and I had traveled thousands of miles together on our journey. In fact, four seasons had passed. Now it was summer again — the time for the annual Grand Exhibition. After a great deal of thought, I’d decided to return to the world to prepare for the exhibition. This particular day I was free, so I asked Misty to invite my friends over to the pavilion on the mountain for a tea party. Now, I was waiting for their arrival. It was drizzling. The usually peaceful spring weather was rather unsettled. Water gushed down the mountain like a torrential flood. The view looked very different. The gentlemen may indeed have found it enjoyable.
“I think they’re here.” Aoandon looked back at the road we’d taken.
A few men, wearing straw hats and straw capes, walked into the pavilion to escape the drizzle. Misty was the first (I could always tell from his signature fox trot), followed by Bukkuman, Maestro, and Kisei. I was used to seeing them looking very smart, but today they were dressed very casually (though not scruffily.)
“What happened to you?” I asked in surprise.
Bukkuman smiled apologetically, “After we entered your realm, we noticed the exceptional view. So we decided to live a little and enjoy ourselves, just for once.”
“He was intrigued by the boat tour and badgered us to ride with him. In return, he promised us some new travel writing,” Kisei said mischievously as he took the Go board out of his sleeve.
“Unfortunately, we had a terrible boatman who succeeded in showing us nature’s cruelty.” Maestro angrily shook his sleeves and rolled his eyes at Misty who had snuck back to my side.
“It seems Master Misty is not omnipotent in this world,” Aoandon tried to add fuel to the fire.
Defiant, Misty retorted, “Nobody is perfect. We all have something we’re not good at. I’m a fox, it’s only natural that I’m not good with water. As a boatman I can’t compete with Mirrog in the fast torrents. I suggest you ask someone else to get them next time, Lady Hana.”
Mirrog took a look at him and muttered, “You can’t blame me for that. You volunteered.”
Misty shook his whiskers, glancing at Mirrog. But, soon enough, everyone’s attention was elsewhere.
“To be fair, the boatman shouldn’t have taken all the blame. We should’ve been better prepared from the start. We all had doubts about the journey. Please forgive us for not looking more presentable. Maestro has been quite anxious about it.”
I was shocked by Maestro’s words. Everyone turned to look at me.
“We’ve known you for years and have only seen the demure, calm side of you, with no hint of the troubles of the mortal world… Somehow, you look different today.” Bukkuman looked at me, concerned. “We thought something might’ve happened on your journey.”
“There are all kinds of people on the road. It’s only natural that you find something or someone annoying. Tell us about it. We could teach him a lesson when we see him,” said Maestro as he crossed his arms over his chest. The righteousness in his eyes was very amusing.
“Thank you for caring about me. It was a long journey, but I learned a lot. Plus, Lady Aoandon has been travelling with me. Nothing could bother us.” I paused for a moment to reminisce about my journey over the past year, and lamented, “I travelled thousands of miles and saw mountains, seas, people, and things. I marvelled at how big the world was. It was a wonderful journey, with only a few regrets, and I’m heartened by what I saw. But I regret not being able to see the wider world. It’s a shame I was unable to share the view with you, so I sent letters with my sketches to express my thoughts.”
“I can vouch for Lady Hana! I delivered every letter in person!” Misty proudly blurted out. Then he remembered something. “But I also noticed that whenever Lady Hana asked me to deliver the letters, she looked as if she wanted to add something, but she never did!”
He caught me unprepared. “But I’ve never…”
Aoandon put her cup down and pointed her finger at the world outside the pavilion with a meaningful smile. “One’s surroundings are peaceful when one’s mind is peaceful. You said so yourself. What do you think about the world out there now, my dear painter of this realm?”
I followed the direction of her finger and saw boats floating on the turbulent water. Snow Flower and Red Bonfire petals were scattered on the surface, floating like dancing carp all the way to the Spring Forest. What a Landscape After the Summer Rain - a theme I’m not familiar with. Then I realised my friends weren’t being overly sensitive. I just hadn’t noticed because I was part of the view.
Aoandon understood immediately and I’d assumed she knew who I was referring to. Since leaving this realm to travel with the wind, I had neither seen nor heard from him. I thought about him every now and then, but had no way of finding him. But things had changed recently. I often fell asleep during the day. In my dreams, I traversed through strangely familiar mountains. I looked for travelers in the distance, following a ghostly flute sound. There was a mountain with a spring view at the end of my dream. I saw passengers beyond the mountain. They were distant and unreachable. I was puzzled and worried by my obsession in this dream.
“When did it start? There must be a reason why your dream was affected,” asked Aoandon.
I pondered this and then replied with an approximate date.
“Well that’s the last time I delivered paintings for you, Lady Hana. I remember you had a box with you. I thought you were going to send it to these gentlemen. But you put it away in the end.” Misty scratched his jaw, trying to remember the details.
As if prompted, Aoandon remembered something: “You had a few framed paintings earlier. But you hadn’t given them out… I remember them because they had a unique style, different from your usual style. Weren’t they for your old acquaintance?”
I was a little surprised. Come to think of it, I always bring those paintings with me because I think about them so often. Thanks to the many occasions where I tried to imitate them, it has become the reason why my dreams look the same. I unraveled the painting scrolls on the table, and everyone gathered to admire them.
“The brushstrokes… Ancient and delicate, meticulous and detailed. It’s a very different style indeed.”
“At first glance, it resembles the style which had been popular in the town of Picturesque. But if you look closer, you realize that it’s quite different. I wonder…”
“Indeed this is one of the ancient styles… it has a deep connection to the town of Picturesque. Or rather the town’s popular style was derived from this one. I had only imitated it a few times and hadn’t had time to grasp the true essence of the style.”
I took out another old painting from my sleeve and showed it to my friends. It brought back a particular memory. One of the first paintings I tried to imitate had been this landscape from Shuichi’s collections. It was beautifully done, a rare treasure in Picturesque. That said, this painting was also a fine replica. The original work had came from the place that Picturesque originated. Somewhere far away from here.
“The place where Picturesque originated?”
I settled on the paper like a misty cloud and looked Shuichi in the eye. Before we could say anything, we burst out laughing.
“Well… I never thought this would happen. It’s been a long time, Lady Hana.”
I flew out from the painting scroll and felt strangely familiar. I looked down at the little Shuichi who was looking at me with such curiosity. “Did you summon me?” I teased.
He paused thoughtfully for a second, then smiled, “Yeah, Lady Hana, and I have been waiting for you.”
His words stirred up ancient memories. Tragic memories. And we all fell into silence until he continued.
“When I left before, I never thought we’d be able to see each other again so soon. But I guess it’s because this place is really marvelous.”
Curious, I looked around and noticed that the views here were different from before. The mountain range was green. The surrounding mist had turned the whole world into a paradise. The marvelous views looked familiar and felt so recent. I suddenly wondered if we were still in a painting.
“A thought still lingers, but I can only walk the world via the paintings. It’s quite inconvenient, but it’s not all bad. I can travel between painting realms, visit all the great works and see all the views that I could never see in life.” Shuichi smiled cunningly. “You should find this myriad of mountains familiar, since I had a copy at home. I used to take you along while I practiced my painting skills…” He paused and smiled helplessly, “Well, we used to paint together while you were Chibana.”
I listened quietly as he told me about his journeys. He took inspiration from the light of the misty clouds, painting fairies diving in his copies which had prompted my train of thought.
“The painting is a miracle. Perhaps, thanks to this, my paintbrush became a miraculous vessel which allowed me to summon you into my painting once again and finish it in one sitting.”
I understood immediately. I joined him in a walk through the mountains and along the rivers. The air felt so refreshing with its gentle breezes. When all my worries had disappeared, he stopped.
“Now that the world has been formed and I have seen my old friend, it’s time for me to go back.”
I hesitated. He waved his hand as if he knew what was on my mind and sent me into the painting.
“Nonetheless, I find traveling alone interesting. There’s no need to worry about me. You accompanied me for a hundred years in Picturesque. I was happy enough. Now that your friends have come for you, you shouldn’t leave them behind.”
Smiling, I looked him in the eye as I gave him the branch of Purple Cascade which I’d been holding tightly in my hand. “Your wish is my command. Another year has passed. I didn’t bring anything with me. Allow me to give you this token of spring from the Old Residence as a keepsake.”
Shuichi stroked the sprig of flowers nostalgically before winding it around his wrist. “This is such a meaningful gift. Please, Lady Hana, accept this tune as my parting gift to you.” Smiling, he sat on the ground, took out his flute, and started playing a once popular tune from Picturesque. It turned into a gentle breeze and sent me on the road as it dissipated into the mist.
Although we hadn’t planned our next meeting, I had no doubt we’d see each other again. When the sound of the flute had faded out and the mist had fully dissipated, I returned from my dream.
It was late when I woke up. Someone had covered me with a light scarf and my scrolls had fallen to the ground. The rain outside the pavilion was slowing and the river water was not as wild as before. Above the mountains and beyond the river, dusk glowed throughout the scene. I heard zither music which sounded somewhat anxious. I followed the tune and found Maestro casually watching a Go game. Kisei was sitting opposite Aoandon, deep in thought. Bukkuman was writing something. I assumed it was the travel writing he’d promised.
“Looks like you’ve found the one you were looking for, huh?” Aoandon noticed I’d woken up and pointed at the fading rain outside the pavilion, as if she was insinuating something.
This was the Talisman Pass event for August. The focus of the event was Fukengaku.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the August Talisman Pass were the Dusk Mantle skin, Silver Lining and Bestower’s Boat loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Hydrangea Cloak icon frame and the animated version of the Hydrangea Mantle icon frame.
Story[]
There is a winding river on the mountainside of Mt. Fuken. To prevent the coming flood from causing disasters, the Mountain God widened the river and refurbished the levee, walking among the tributaries like an explorer as he went.
One day while he was clearing the mud, the Mountain God discovered an abandoned tree house by the river. It was only three feet tall—obviously not for humans. It was probably a sweet little home for small animals. He was about to leave quietly when he noticed a layer of special paper on the surface of the tree house. This paper didn’t melt in water and could not be burned by fire. It would only disintegrate slowly by the mountain when buried in earth. It was usually found in the Mountain God’s library; he used it to repair ancient books, as well as make new books.
“Why is this paper here? Did someone lose a book by the river…? This is serious.”
Common people often offer river lanterns to the gods when making wishes. Every summer, the villagers of Mt. Fuken would make paper lanterns to send their wishes and blessings. They would put the lanterns in the river and watch them flow into the distance. Some always broke, and the paper remnants of the lantern were found by small animals who used it to make their houses. The wishes on the river lanterns remained where they were.
Chitose the stone tortoise looked at the paper and said, “Those little fellas have good taste. They picked the best of the bunch to build their houses. Most of the blessings were smudged, but these little symbols look familiar.”
“They’re mine. But I don’t remember releasing any river lanterns. At least, not in this life.”
“It is your writing, yes, but perhaps it’s not from you. In the past, through Fuken’s many reincarnations, he would attend the river ceremony by the age of ten. I was told he made many wishes…”
Images of a boy appeared by the river, as if through the light of a lantern. When he was ten, Fuken had a promising future. In some reincarnations, he was born a commoner, and in others, a rich nobleman. But whatever his circumstances, he always seemed to find life hard.
“Will the gods see my river lantern?”
Year after year, the river lanterns shone through many eras. When he was fifteen, Fuken saw how painful life could be. When he was twenty, Fuken understood that he couldn’t do everything he wanted to. When he was thirty, Fuken drank alone at night. When he was forty, Fuken already felt old. In each of his reincarnations, Fuken made a wish and strived to fulfill it.
“Look, Chitose. He always puts wings on his river lantern. When the wind blows, it sails faster than the other lanterns.”
“But the wings were the reason why his lanterns were blown into tributaries, where they ended up stranded, picked by the animals and used to build their tree houses. In the end, none of his wishes were fulfilled.”
The Mountain God blew away the misty memories. He suddenly turned into a boy with short hair. He picked up a river lantern and put on his mantle before stepping onto a boat.
As the sun set, a cool summer breeze started to blow. The young boy was lying in the boat, floating in the middle of the river, his eyes closed. A stone tortoise nudged the boat and woke him up. He straightened his white clothes and gazed into the distance where the lanterns connected to the stars, to create a path of light.
“The villagers have started releasing their lanterns.”
Chitose the stone tortoise urged the boy as he paddled with the water with his feet. The boy collected the river lanterns which stretched for miles and read the cherished wishes inside.
“I wish good health and a long life for my family.”
“I wish for a good harvest this year and a peaceful world in which to enjoy my vacation.”
“To get rich… this is all I want… Please bless me, Lord Mountain God!”
The stone tortoise looked at the wishes and said, “Don’t force yourself. You’ll be exhausted if you fulfill all those wishes in one go.”
Smiling, the boy touched the waving river lanterns. Invisible lines appeared between the lanterns and the people on the shore. The boy had offered blessings to every single one of them. The lines slowly turned into a giant web that spanned across the river where the river lantern ceremony was held.
This was the Talisman Pass event for September. The focus of the event was Ryomen.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the September Talisman Pass were the Wandering Monk skin, Worldly Elements and Art Virtuosos loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Fire Meets Water icon frame and the animated version of the Flame on Waves icon frame.
Story[]
The seal created by Seimei the onmyoji could not easily be broken. Inside the sealing field, the imprisoned wind and thunder and lightning created a storm and a roaring wind to ram through the field walls. In the depths of the field, where the most amulets had been placed, sand and dirt appeared from nowhere and converged, forming a sand giant. Even as it was toppled by the wind god Fujin’s hurricane, and the thunder and lightning god Raijin’s thunderstorm, it still fought the two gods. Fujin opened his Wind Sack and Raijin rolled his Thunder Drum as they tried to tackle the giant in the storm.
Raijin complained, “That Seimei is such a pain.”
Fujin was also furious, “He’s provoking us even though we’re already in his field.”
Raijin contemplated, “Hmm? I remember it was us who attacked the seal first.”
Fujin conjured a strong wind, “We’ve been sealed for too long. It no longer matters who strikes first! The power core that Seimei left is in that giant, I can feel it!”
Raijin said, “If we can break the core of the seal, we’ll be free!”
Then the wind and thunder made another attempt to attack the seal, aiming for the giant in the center. The wind scoured away the sand and the lightning struck down from above. But the giant was unbeatable. He even absorbed the wind and the thunder and lightning, which made him even bigger.
Raijin was shocked, “That onmyoji’s seal is truly cunning.”
Fujin was shocked too, “Now he’s absorbed our power, the seal is even more powerful!”
Sculpted by wind and seared by lightning, the giant was the biggest there had ever been. The wind, thunder, and lightning launched yet another volley of devastating attacks, only slowing him down slightly. Nothing was able to defeat him.
Raijin was puzzled, “Strange, how can this giant conjure fire?”
Fujin was puzzled too. “I saw water.”
Every lightning strike that hit the giant’s body sent wildfire tearing across his sandy skin, making him even stronger. Water was purged from the giant’s clay body and whipped up with sand scoured from his torso to form a tough shell.
Raijin was furious, “How dare that cunning Seimei give me such an adversary.”
Fujin was just as furious, “He is using his punishment to aid his defence!”
In the midst of the violent, blinding storm, Raijin watched the huge flames on the giant’s body. A thought struck him, “Our adversary used water and fire to forge his body. The water and fire were caused by our wind, and our thunder and lightning. Why don’t we use them for ourselves?”
Fujin laughed, “Of course, why don’t we?”
“Then I shall forge my body with this fire!”
“And I shall forge mine with water! And we will surely break Seimei’s seal!”
Following the storm’s trail, Raijin and Fujin submerged into the flowing sand on the giant’s body as the lightning struck. They tumbled in the sand, collecting water from the storm and turning it into towering waves as they conjured sparks with lightning, creating more wildfires. Clutching his great torso, the giant tried to stop Raijin and Fujin from entering his core, and filling Fujin’s Wind Sack with water. When it opened, violent torrents burst out and tore apart the giant’s shell. Meanwhile, fire was burning on the Thunder Drum. And with the collective effort of both lightning and fire, the remainder of the giant’s sand body was destroyed. The minute the giant was toppled, Raijin’s hammer and peg were ablaze, and he immediately set about reforging them into a pair of indestructible pestles. Floods poured out from the bloated wind bag, carrying Raijin and Fujin to the depths of the sand.
After crossing the darkness, they found themselves before a village in the field. The sound of drums suggested a lively ceremony was taking place in the village.
Raijin was puzzled, “Where’s the seal?”
Fujin was angry, “This must be a trap, an illusory realm created by Seimei!”
Raijin said, “Maybe the field’s core can be found in the village.”
Fujin understood what he meant, “Then let’s go and take a look.”
They disguised themselves as a traveling monk, with Raijin at the front, looking for the road, and Fujin at the back with a hat concealing his face. They entered the village.
Villagers dressed in festive garments were carrying celebration lanterns along the road. Lights lined up along the mountain paths all the way to the altar on the peak. A celebrant was performing a ritual dance on the altar, casting illusory spells. He held an indestructible pestle in one hand and a wind sack in the other as he prayed for rain. He waved his instruments at the sky and created an illusory image of a storm that blew away the sandy soil and ushered in the flood. The flood retreated to reveal the rich soil of their ancestors’ field. As golden stalks of grain grew in the field, the villagers in the ceremony cheered at the illusion, praising the majesty and protection of the gods. The celebrant then waved his indestructible pestle again and the illusion in the sky turned into thunder and lightning which created a wildfire in the mountain. The villagers then steered the wild fire towards the wilds which were infested with weeds to cultivate more land.
Raijin asked, “Why did the humans here use my instrument to pray for fire?”
Fujin asked, “And why did they use mine to pray for water? How arrogant of them!”
Then Raijin and Fujin were discovered by the surrounding villages. Someone yelled, “This monk looks like the god we worship in the mountain!”
The villagers circled Raijin and Fujin and started dancing, and cheering them with the celebrant.
Raijin asked, “You pray for fire. But aren’t you afraid of wildfire breaking out in the mountains?”
Fujin also asked, “You pray for rain. But aren’t you afraid of floods?”
The villagers replied, “Wildfires may burn our crops, but they also cultivate the wilds for us. The crops that grow on the soil of the burnt wilds are the strongest anyone could ask for!”
“Floods may crush our homes, but if we dig canals and build dams, they can irrigate our farmland. The flooded soil is the richest one could ask for!”
The villagers continued to pray for water and fire, but Raijin and Fujin soon realized the sand giant had detected their whereabouts as he rebuilt himself.
A sandstorm was conjured up and tried to expel Raijin and Fujin from the village. They jumped into the air so they could see what was happening. The villagers’ prayers had been turned into streams of sand and were flowing into the distant sky where a mighty sand giant was being formed.
Raijin said, “Our adversary is just a puppet created by those humans.”
Fujin said, “They built the puppet, claiming that the wind, the thunder and lightning, were their enemies.”
Raijin snorted, “And they hoped to use the water and the fire to protect their land. Typical humans.”
Fujin said, “They beg for our blessings while seeing us as enemies.”
Fujin looked enraged, “How arrogant!”
Raijin and Fujin soared into the sky until they were far away from the village, and they fought off the cascading sand with fire and water. The fire and water exploded in the sandstorm, and then the whole world changed. The village, along with the illusions, disappeared. Raijin and Fujin opened their eyes and found themselves still sitting in the sealing field. The surroundings looked the same as they were before the battle with the giant.
Raijin said scornfully, “Had we known that it wasn’t the field’s core, just illusions created by Seimei, we could’ve conjured flood and flames with a snap of our fingers!”
Fujin had a different thought, “Even after all the fighting back and forth, and all the violent thunderstorms we launched, the humans there were not diminished. Instead, not only did they survive the fire and water, they even managed to take advantage of it and survive.”
Fujin sneered, “That’s another one of Seimei’s cunning tricks. A single human is as weak as an ant compared to us. But a thousand of them are hard to conquer if they have the will to fight.”
Raijin laughed, “Ha! Do you really expect us to be compassionate after knowing this, Seimei, and flinch? That’s disrespectful to our adversary!”
The sand giant had been rebuilt. He lunged at Raijin and Fujin with the force of a storm. Raijin and Fujin both laughed, “You fear the gods, human, and yet you refuse to surrender to the gods, believing only in your own power.”
Raijin and Fujin harnessed more water and fire to counter the sand giant’s attacks, “Show us how fragile or how tough you are in the face of these disasters!”
Horrendous swathes of water and fire clashed in the field as Raijin and Fujin challenged the master of the field again.
“This is also a challenge for you!”
This was the Talisman Pass event for October. The focus of the event was Rokumei Ootakemaru.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the October Talisman Pass were the Realm Breaker skin, Realm Shatterer and Homeless Thought loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Screen Realm icon frame and the animated version of the Scenic Realm icon frame.
Story[]
Otakemaru opened his eyes to find himself in a shabby wooden hut. Around him, everything was red. His eyes darted about the room. How did he get here? Where was ‘here’ even? Oars and half-made fishing nets littered the room; a pile of clam shells was neatly placed in a corner… He looked down and found he was in the body of an ordinary mortal man. There was no sign of his scales or the erosion incurred by the evil force. All he was wearing was a sackcloth.
So, I’m a fisherman by the sea this time, huh?
Suddenly, he heard a voice, booming through the air. “The fisherman’s only son woke up from his dream and started his day, just like any other day.”
Was the voice narrating? He felt as if he was being controlled by some invisible force. He quietly pulled up the fishing net as if it was completely natural to him.
“Last time I was doing something like this, I was just a child,” thought Otakemaru, as he sighed helplessly.
It all began on a full moon’s night. It was easy to lose track of time living at the bottom of the sea, with only the dank gloom and the incessant cries of imps in the underwater fields to keep you company. Every now and then a sliver of silver light from the full moon would shine through the ruins of Mt. Suzuka, but on that night, something was different. The sea was boiling. Waves tumbled over each other. Dark currents crashed against the walls, stirring the imps. Before Otakemaru could find out what was happening on the surface, the imps quietened down, and everything was peaceful.
The quiet was refreshing. Since his arrival on Mt. Suzuka, the imps had been grinding away at his shoulder with their ceaseless cries and curses. The sudden silence was refreshing. Only a faint sound echoed in the background. It was something familiar that he hadn’t heard for ages. The sound of a breeze rustling the leaves. And then, he saw a forest and a pasture spread out before him. Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him. He tried to unleash his force to figure out what was going on, but nothing happened. His limbs were numb… he had no power. Curse these human hands.
After making a few observations, Otakemaru soon familiarised himself with the rules of the surroundings. The area where the underwater Mt. Suzuka was located was enveloped in an illusory realm. And since Otakemaru was in the field where Mt. Suzuka was, he had also been dragged into the realm. The realm was more like a picture book, with each picture telling a story. If he failed to shatter the realm he’d been dragged into, Otakemaru had to follow the storyline in the book and play his role to the end. Sometimes he was human, sometimes a spirit.
“I suppose it’s like the play that Suzuka Gozen once performed while she was living with the humans.” Otakemaru thought to himself helplessly while returning to the shore on his boat as a “fisherman”.
The realm seemed to show no malice. Otakemaru’s “story” was sometimes short and sometimes long. And there never seemed to be any connection between his identities. Otakemaru failed to find the key to deciphering the realm at first.
“I never thought I’d see the sea from the shore again.”
Otakemaru tied his boat to a post with mixed feelings as he watched the sun painting the sea red. Then he heard footsteps behind him, and once again felt the dull pain of his soul being torn apart. Otakemaru turned around as he normally would, bidding silent farewell to the sea behind him, and walked past a fisherman who was walking towards the sea. The man was wearing thin clothes and a straw hat, holding an oar in his hand. He looked just like any other fisherman on the shore except that he had a different colour. In fact, he looked quite conspicuous, for he had only one colour, as if someone had crammed a filthy and broken soul into the empty husk of a man and painted him gold. One could easily spot the difference no matter how hard he tried to fake it.
This amused Otakemaru to no end.
Life in the realm continued. Each time the narrator announced the beginning of a new life, Otakemaru felt his power recovering. Having received mentorship from Uminari, he knew a few ways to break the illusory realms. But rather than getting out of the realms, he wanted to know more about them, such as how they appeared out of thin air and broke the peace of his mundane life in the field. He wanted to know why they were there and what they wanted. He had some guesses and was waiting for a chance to verify his theory.
“The young leader struggled to wake up from his dream and start his day.”
This time, he was a human general on his way to inspect a village by the sea. On entering, he heard merchants peddling their wares, villagers chatting, and children playing… All of the sounds would’ve been convincing if not for the fact that all of the villagers had golden bodies and blurred faces. They were the imps who’d been dragged into the realm along with Otakemaru. After experiencing dozens of stories, the imps, who possessed no self-consciousness, stopped crying. Their annoying whispers turned into mumbling. Amongst the golden crowd, Otakemaru closed his eyes and listened to the noisy but pleasing voices. He sighed, thinking that the world in the picture realm looked almost the same as his past life. He also knew clearly that this reality was born of illusion. He opened his eyes and left the village, helping a child who had tripped and fallen on his way out. The child looked up and smiled, or he seemed to, but it was hard to tell because he didn’t have a face. Otakemaru knew it was just a guest who’d accidentally crashed into an illusory realm and had been clumsily experiencing someone else’s joy and sorrow through a series of neatly arranged but random stories.
Otakemaru opened his eyes again and found himself standing on the beach of Mt. Suzuka. The morning sun had painted the sea, the island and the mountain as red as the torii gate. Otakemaru heard a lament, “The Young Master of Mt. Suzuka woke up from his slumber and started his day.”
This time, Otakemaru himself was in the picture. He looked down at his hands to see the scaly born contaminations, as well as many small cuts and bruises. Without hesitating, he conjured Kenmyoren and slashed at the sea in front of him. A wave of demon force cleaved the sea and the sky open, emitting a sound of paper being torn. Burning pieces of paper rained down from the sky onto the small island in the sea. The golden imps stopped and watched the realm as it crumbled with Otakemaru.
Otakemaru opened his eyes in a red world. He was at the bottom of the sea he knew so well. The full moon cast a silver light across the field. Otakemaru felt as if the days he’d spent in the realm had lasted mere moments. He looked around. The wandering imps in the Mt. Suzuka ruins had quietened down. Through the gloom, the red framed screen of a mountain island appeared, painted red by the dawning sun. From its outline Otakemaru recognized his Mt. Suzuka. He understood immediately. He unraveled the screen to reveal a letter. The realm had been created by the screen that came with the letter. Murmuring, Otakemaru tried to figure out how it had been sent and unraveled the letter. He soon understood the whole secret, and sighed helplessly as he gazed once again at the screen and the wandering imps behind it.
The screen had originated from a painting of the old Mt. Suzuka, as Otakemaru had predicted. Suzuka Gozen had come across the screen in a village where the shop owner had claimed it had been created by a traveling painter. The painter had suffered a creative block before he’d decided to embark on a journey. However, he had encountered a violent storm while traveling. When he finally made it through and saw the clear sky after the rain, he discovered an island. Under the clear sky, the sea, the island and the mountain were all painted red by the dawning sun. It was beautiful. Having lost most of his tools in the storm, the painter ripped apart his clothes and bit his finger, using the blood to complete a rough sketch on the rocky ship. He locked himself away to finish the painting, which ultimately became the screen.
Suzuka Gozen felt an affinity with the painting that depicted her home, so she’d bought it and sent it to Otakemaru. Worrying that a screen alone might be too boring and Otakemaru might not have a place to put it in his underwater field, she asked her friends in Heian-Kyo to make the screen “special” so her brother could “enjoy” it, even at the bottom of the sea. Reading the letter, hearing Suzuka Gozen’s pride in every word, he thought back on his experiences in the realm. Otakemaru did not thank those kind friends for their “favors.”
According to Suzuka Gozen, she had only asked her friends to infuse the screen with spiritual power so it would look more vivid. But the spirit in the painting who had been looking for inspiration, had turned the screen into a world before her story-lover friend had known about it. The friend gave countless “possibilities” to the painting realm after getting inspiration from the legends of a certain mountain god. She created countless stories in the small world with endings that the author herself didn’t know. Then Suzuka Gozen came across a girl who loved theatre and masks. She wanted to “help” too. Worrying that the recipient of the gift might feel lonely while enjoying the painting, she gave proper characters to the figures in the painting. So, with all this “help” from those kind ladies, an ordinary screen was turned into an artifact capable of pulling people in to experience a myriad of stories.
At the end of the letter, Suzuka Gozen mentioned some turmoil in the capital that had prevented her from experiencing the screen herself. She didn’t know when the letter would be delivered and hoped the screen would remind him of her, to help with his pain.
The pain caused by the haunting imps…
Otakemaru put the letter away and looked back at the wandering imps in the field. The imps, which had been contaminated by the miasma which had accidentally been dragged into the realm, were perhaps just like him. They had memories of their experiences in the realm, which seemed to have granted them consciousness. The underwater field was quiet for the first time. Thinking back on the golden figures who were clumsily dragging their bodies along in the realm and imitating the actions of ordinary people, Otakemaru looked at the imps who were now wandering the crumbled ruins and reached out his hand to draw an outline of Mt. Suzuka along the lines on the screen. He was not the only one missing his home, wanting a peaceful life. Otakemaru approached the field wall and sent a message into the distance through the current.
This was the Talisman Pass event for November. The focus of the event was Matsuyoi Ubume.
Rewards[]
The limited rewards for the November Talisman Pass were the Scarlet Scent skin, Making the Gift and Message Sent loading screen illustrations, the still version of the Scarlet Feather icon frame and the animated version of the Dark Scarlet Feather icon frame.
Story[]
In the morning sunshine, birds chirped and a morning breeze swept the desk, carrying the first chill of fall. A thin strand of incense smoke dissipated in the air. A fragment of a letter fluttered through the air. Just as it was about to land on the ground, a bird appeared and fetched it back to the desk, before it dissipated into black smoke, leaving two scarlet feathers in its wake. Surprisingly, the two feathers were heavy enough to keep the thick letter paper on the desk. Several children were playing in the distance. The owner of the house had not yet returned from her long journey, but the ever-burning incense and the fall breeze were taking care of her letters on the desk. The letter on the top of the stack seemed to have been folded and unfolded many times, leaving deep creases in the yellowed paper.
“How are you, Master? Please accept my apologies for not bidding you farewell. We used to send Mayoi and other seniors off together. Now it’s my time to walk the same path heading down the mountain. Unlike them, I don’t have the courage to bid you farewell in person. So I snuck out at night and sent you this letter. It’s not that I don’t want to say goodbye in person, I just wasn’t brave enough. And I knew you would ask me to practice my swordsmanship more if you saw how weak I was. But I know you’d never stop us from doing the things we’ve set our hearts on.”
“We’ve been living on the mountain these past few years, but rarely had the chance to go down the mountain. The last time I saw what I’m seeing now was the time I barged into the village. I still feel sorry for what I did, even now. I was unhappy about my family’s rules and how my parents had decided to educate me, so I left home knowing nothing about anything. I was lucky to barge into the village and meet you before I ran into any monsters or bad guys.”
“I must’ve been quite a headache for you when I was little, behaving like a spoilt, stuck-up brat. But of course, you educated and punished me accordingly. And thanks to your education, I have been changed for the better. Remember once when I said I’d had enough? I threw away my wooden blade and had a real tantrum. I said I was different from the peasants and the spirits here, and wanted to go home, forgetting that I was the one who’d volunteered to come in the first place. You looked at me in silence and pointed to the other kids in the distance. You said, ‘Of course you’re different. You still have a place to go to, while they no longer have a home they can return to.’ After hearing your words, I cried. When I was little, I thought I was the center of the world. I didn’t know I was only a small part of it until that moment. Without fully understanding the world, I could only cry. Perhaps, that’s what they call growing pains.”
“Now that I’ve completed my practice, I’ve decided to see the world with my own eyes. I wanted to understand why you created this paradise for us. What made you who you are. Your strict mentorship will always guide me.”
“Attached please find the incense I bought from the shop at the foot of the mountain. I remember Mayoi used to love this smell. I wish you all the best.”
A traveller with an umbrella entered a small town. It was a long way from Heian-kyo, but just as lively. Peculiarly, there were not only humans in the streets, but also spirits who appeared to live their life just like the humans. So the traveller didn’t get any attention as she walked along, holding her umbrella with her scarlet feathered hand; the townsfolk saw her as an ordinary person.
She took a letter from her sleeve. The paper was yellowed and worn, and the writing was blurred, as if it had undertaken a long journey before it had been received. The spirit with the umbrella scanned the street, letter in hand, trying to find a house which was described in the letter. After a short walk, she stopped at a small pawnbroker’s shop.
The shop owner greeted his customer lazily after waking up from a nap. The customer nodded as she politely listened to the shop owner introducing his products. Time seemed to have stopped in the shop. Everything in the shop was in its original packaging. She noticed a painting depicting a mountain forest, small houses, a waterfall, and children playing in the woods… it wasn’t a particularly good painting, just ordinary. In a blank space on the painting, there was some writing.
“The children are playing and the stoves have been lit. The birds have returned to the woods.”
“The journey is long and the roads are winding. The sun sets on another mountain.”
Just when the shop owner was about to ask the customer if she needed any help after seeing her interest in the painting, the customer showed him the folded letter. She asked him how much she should be charged for putting the letter on deposit. The shop owner took the letter and put it next to the painting without giving her a receipt.
“Don’t worry. A letter doesn’t take up much space. I’ll just put it next to the painting.”
The customer with scarlet feathers thanked the shop owner. Before she disappeared into the bustling street, the shop owner, unable to restrain his curiosity, asked,
“Do you know the owner of the painting?”
There were a few lines visible on the half-opened letter on the desk.
“...I miss life in the village the more time I spend on the road. After experiencing the chaotic nature of life, I am beginning to understand your kindness and your thoughtfulness. Life where humans and spirits live together in harmony is very rare in the outside world. It’s a shame I’m no longer a child and I can no longer live an ignorant life under your wings. There are many things I can do in the outside world. I promise to live up to your mentorship.”
The lady with the umbrella turned around and looked at the shop owner as she nodded.
It’s been ages since anyone set foot on the path to the rear mountain behind the small town. The unbridled weeds have grown tall. The traveler with the umbrella crossed the dewy grassland without getting the slightest bit wet. Wherever she went, birds flew out of the misty clouds. The weeds were cut as she passed by. It didn’t take long to clear a path. But she didn’t stop there. She continued walking until she’d reached the mountaintop.
It was still early morning. The sun shone weakly across the mountaintop. She took a stack of letters from her sleeves and started to read. Some were long and some were short. Some were written on fine silk, and some on rough grass paper. Some were covered in smudges making them hard to read. And yet, she read every one attentively, trying to find the letter of the peremptory girl she remembered in every word.
“...as I suspected, Father and Mother see me as a disgrace to the family. They no longer remember having a daughter who waywardly ran away from home. But it no longer matters to me. I’m happy enough to have you and the others as my family members. Still, I felt sad when the servants cast me out of my home. But my situation now is not half as bad as yours was when people complained about you for what you’d done to the village. I will do my best to prove myself.”
“...accept my apologies for the awful handwriting. I was wounded when I tried to save a few travelers from the monsters a few days ago. But don’t worry about me. I’m absolutely fine. I was thrilled to receive your letter a few days ago. I’m sorry to worry you. I wasn’t trying to be secretive. I really didn’t want you to worry. I’m not sure if I would send this letter. After all, you’d definitely worry about me when you read it.”
“...days ago, I ran into Mayoi. She invited me to have dinner in her home. She also introduced me to her family. I was told she and her friends protected the villages from the monster attack years ago. I must learn from her! I’m considering stopping somewhere for a while before I start my next journey. What do you think, Master?”
“I found a boy in the mountain. I believe he’s just like I was once, a boy who’d run away from home. He reminds me of myself… perhaps less obnoxious. Sorry for bringing you so much trouble!”
“...thank you so much for your advice! I’ve been quite busy on the road and totally forgot to send a letter to you. Attached please find the incense I made myself. May it bring you peace and good luck.”
“Please forgive my handwriting - I’m writing to you during my break. Somehow I have embarked on the same path that my mother and father once walked. But whenever I think that my position in the government could create a peaceful living environment for everyone, just as you created a paradise for humans and spirits, I feel motivated.”
“... the construction of the small town is finally complete. I’m now writing to you under the moonlight at the mountaintop while looking at the houses with lights at the foot of the mountain. I used to feel painful for the limited things I can do. But, right now, looking at the lights at the foot of the mountain, I slowly understand that compared with the things I failed, the ones I protected and the things I created are more precious. Now I fully understand your thoughtfulness. I hope I live up to your expectations. Your tough mentoring will always guide me.”
Just when the traveler with an umbrella finished her last letter, she heard footsteps coming from behind.
The lady who approached was holding a bucket of water. Confused, she stared at the spirit with the umbrella.
“You can call me Ubume.” Turning her head, the spirit with scarlet feathers smiled sweetly to show friendliness.
“Oh, you’re that…!” The lady covered her mouth in surprise. With a shy smile, she quickly explained. “My father told me about you. And… he must’ve heard it from her mother, my grandma.” Curious, she stepped closer, trying to get a better look at the spirit.
“I used to come here with my father, but he’s old and his legs are weak. Now I’m always busy with the shop, so we don’t have the time to come here very often. I planned to clear the weeds on the mountain path only to find they’ve already been cleared. That must be your work! Thank you so much!”
“Your grandma…” Ubume thought for a moment and smiled as she turned to the dawning sun. “How do you remember her?”
The lady thought for a moment and said, “She was a very capable woman, a great lady! You must’ve already been through the village since you’ve come to this mountain at the end of the range. It’s all thanks to her that our town is how it is now! When I was little, my father told me how she and her friends met, and how they defended the village against the monsters, so that now it has become this prosperous town. As far as I can remember, she was a decisive woman. Nothing could sway her, once she’d made up her mind about something. I don’t suppose… she received mentorship from you, did she?”
The lady bent down, taking out a soft cloth from the bucket, and gave the tombstone in front of her a wipe.
“She was so determined that even when she was old, she still refused to rest and always wanted to do things for others. Have you come to visit her too?”
Guardian Ubume nodded and knelt down by the lady and they both gazed at the tombstone.
It was as if decades had passed in just seconds. Guardian Ubume looked at the stone tablet washed by time and saw the girl she remembered from so many years ago. She was throwing a tantrum in the village, running around and knocking everything down. Guardian Ubume closed her eyes and remembered every letter she had read. She could picture how the girl had written to her. Those thin pieces of paper recorded her whole life.
“The lifespan of spirits is far longer than that of humans. It’s even more so for tutors like myself. I… seem to have always been bidding farewell to my children.”
Hearing her sigh, the lady turned and looked at the spirit who looked the same age as her.
“But for every one of your students, your mentorship was enough to make their life complete. You are their memories and you will provide guidance for many more people in the future.”
Under the dawning sun, Ubume lit an incense in front of the tombstone. As many years had passed since the incense had been made, it had gotten damp and difficult to light. The technique used to craft it had been poor, as the stick was not even straight. But when the old incense was lit and the smoke slowly rose up under the dawning sun, birds spanned their wings and flew out from the misty clouds, each with a letter in their beaks as they reached for the unreachable sky.