High atop the mountains, where the wind no longer breathes, a shrine would be seen. Red and black with inscriptions and totems of a beast. A fox. A monster that once roamed Calibren, noted by the pictures of it rampaging the vibrant, white streets. Tsukiya and Envy would reach to this tip, as the Kitsune was quick on being face to face with the shrine, kneeling down, closing her eyes, and giving her prayers. She'd be quick to take out a few Shikigami, letting the paper dolls float to the sides, letting their own hands congeal as if they were joining in such grief. "So... this is what you wanted to show me?" Envy asked, tilting his head as he'd see the ornate figures lined across the red wood, the figure of the Fox towering over the makeshift clay dolls, its shadow looming like the moon.
Tsukiya nodded as she'd keep her focus, though does whisper to continue conversation. "Millennia ago, before I was even born, there was a Yokai. A spirit that was given sentient thought, who wanted to rule the world. Quick and smart, she was able to worm her way to the many nobles, acting as their consort, while also weaving together different plans for the soldiers to fight and claim what she wished. One after another, any noble that took her in would slowly be sick, dying for their gifted mistress, yet having no regrets once they passed."
"They never caught on, I'd imagine?"
"They did, but the idea was too good to pass. She was like a crystal lake in the spring, beautiful for any man to have her hand. Her voice was nectar, her eyes were rubies. She was practically a gift from God himself to the people. She loved to play as that role, anyway." Tsukiya began to give small chants in a language foreign to Envy, watching the dolls slowly begin to burn, but not summoning anything. Rather, it was pure energy, made to empower the shrine, a small glow in the center, holding a sacred Artifact: a few nails from an animal, most likely from the Yokai she was describing.
"I take it she died, then?"
"Horribly. During her last kingdom, forged in the same ground we built Calibren on, she was caught. Two Sorcerers were able to expose her, with one wanting to take the full credit. A plan was forged between the sorcerer and the Yokai to ensure she was able to have her own kingdom, but it was to no avail..."
"Sorcerers?"
"Abe no Seimei and Ashiya Douman. The Purifier... and the Curser. Douman wanted to act as a High Mage and live a luxurious life, the same goals as the Yokai. When Abe found out about this pact, he devised his own plan. A public challenge for the King and his Mistress. Douman would try to be sneaky and implant curses onto a few fruits, acting as a poison to ensure Abe was defeated. He implanted the curses in the seeds so nobody could think the wiser..."
Envy would sit beside the Kitsune as he heard her story. "...yet he failed."
Tsukiya smiled and looked towards the living Tar, a nod to his assessment. "He purified the entire fruit, the seeds quickly dissolving and turning into its juices. When he offered those fruits to the people, they'd pick up his magic. They could see who the Mistress besides the King really was. She tried to retaliate, but her execution was made on the spot: Stoned to death, pelted by whatever was near the populace."
"So if she's a monster... why are you praying to her?"
Tsukiya fell silent, a deep breath escaping from her. Her usual cheery mood has dropped altogether when she visited the shrine, even more so when Envy asked such a question. "...She's my mother. My father was able to bring her spirit back, and in exchange for producing an heir, she can have a kingdom to herself. That was what Kagoma is, and that is what Calibren became. She tried to kill him, obviously not changed, but something in her hesitated. My father usually told me it was true love, but I don't know if I buy it that much..."
"Yeah, especially considering she was a murderer."
"Yeah... makes it all the more confusing why she took such an offer in the first place. It's honestly why I wanted to be in this War, prophecy be damned."
Envy's eyes widened a bit upon hearing her reasoning. She was still alive? Here? Most likely she'd be at Kagoma, but if such was the case, how would she react that her own child is participating in a war. He reached out to pat her on the shoulder, mainly as comfort in knowing the burden she was willing to saddle. Tsukiya merely glanced over and thanked him in silence. As the two bonded in such a story, the other two adults arrived. "Oi! Huff.... Huff.... Did you REALLY need to be up here so high!?" Adel complained, but would see the shrine and understand as to why. Tsukiya was quick on dusting off any debris from when she was kneeling and got back her perky attitude.
"Waow! You're breathing hard! Did you two ran up here? Not a good idea with such a high altitude!"
"HE ran up. I had to follow with these guys." Koina replied, her Carps beside her hands, allowing her to scale up with relative ease. "C'mon. Kids are busy in the castle." She'd gesture as she'd have everyone try to come back down. As they descended, however, Envy would notice a glimmer from below, far off from the kingdom. The story Tsukiya told to him made him ponder if such a glint was from the Mother. Curious, he'd divulge away from the path, his body shifting, gaining wings to hover to the location. He'd try to keep an eye out, at the very least in case it was an enemy preparing to trespass into their territory.