Sen Getsusa returned with Howard to first class rather late.
The big Child had dragged the little one around all afternoon—eat, roam, play—losing track of time.
Jack waited at the door, fuming, scolding Sen Getsusa like a father with a wayward daughter.
Howard's father said nothing, only glanced at Sen Getsusa a few more times before his son pulled him inside.
On the way back, Sen Getsusa ran into someone odd.
A woman staying next door.
Howard was on her left, this woman on her right.
Just after the scolding, while ordering dinner, the lady opened her door.
She wore an old-yellow robe, a huge hood hiding half her face; among the suits and gowns she looked like a penitent.
Sen Getsusa thought so too—until the woman spoke.
"You may stay in my room; two women will be more convenient."
Her voice sounded ethereal: "Besides, it lets your Attendants out. A rare voyage on the titanic—shouldn't they see it too?"
Sen Getsusa's hand flew to the dinner knife at her waist—
Arrietty and Kina were inside Wabi-Sabi Courtyard.
Neither wished the other to be alone with Sen Getsusa, and boarding had been so crowded they had stayed hidden.
The yellow-robed woman ignored the wary Sen Getsusa.
She slowly produced a key, opened her door, and gestured inside.
"Come in; my suite is large. Don't worry, I have no bad habits." She laughed softly and entered, leaving the door ajar.
The door remained open for Sen Getsusa.
Knife in hand, Sen Getsusa edged forward.
Suddenly the woman spoke again.
"Come in—leaving the door open is rude. I'm no demon like cyttorak."
Sen Getsusa kicked off her heels and stepped barefoot inside.
"Close the door."
The woman reminded her again.
The suite mirrored Sen Getsusa's own. The robed woman sat, pushed back her hood, and revealed… a bald head.
Sen Getsusa's last encounter with a bald omen had ended badly.
"Sit, Planeswalker; let's chat. Do you have time?"
The woman's eyes held power; Sen Getsusa saw both warmth and coldness in them.
Sparse brows, yet a sculptural face—like an Angel of Raphael, divine and contradictory.
Once seated, she poured two cups of tea.
"First-class tea's hardly better than second; neglect of details ruins everything."
She smiled over her cup: "Call me Ancient One, Sorcerer Supreme, Walker of All Realms."
Sen Getsusa sat straight, ignoring the tea. "You know me?"
"Of course." Ancient One nodded gently. "You wonder who I am, how I know you, about cyttorak, about countless curiosities—yes?"
"For they fuel your spark. Every Planeswalker bears a spark and unique fuel."
Ancients One's fingers were long and slender; she set down her cup, rose, and walked to the window. Outside was pitch black, broken only by the faint sound of waves slapping the hull. A woman's voice, mingled with the surf, introduced herself in muffled words.
"We are not like the Planeswalkers. We draw power from other dimensions and borrow spells to achieve our ends. For thousands of years we have guarded the peace of Earth's hidden side."
"After all, in the Multiverse there are always a few fellows who enjoy destruction and delight in schemes."
Sen Getsusa spoke up: "Like cyttorak?"
Ancient One nodded. "Like cyttorak. He is a mighty demon; within the crimson Universe of his own making, he is nearly omnipotent."
Sen Getsusa blinked. Omnipotent?
Ancient One seemed to know the girl's thoughts. Turning from the window, she looked past Sen Getsusa. "That is because the one protecting you is stronger."
"When you arrived, I sensed your presence. In a manner of speaking, I should address you as 'Your Highness.' Yet I imagine you dislike such an ill-defined identity."
Ancient One appeared to be advising Sen Getsusa about things she herself did not yet understand. "Mad Princess, Eternal Silver Moon, Her Majesty the Queen—all titles you dislike. Sen Getsusa, accept the names they give you; you remain yourself."
"Do not worry; you will slowly find the answers to every riddle."
Sen Getsusa lounged on the sofa, toying with a strand of her hair, head lowered. "You seem to know everything?"
Ancient One strolled back unhurriedly and sat down opposite her.
"Because I know Him." She pointed behind Sen Getsusa, then playfully stuck out her tongue and raised her brows. "But I can't tell you."
That's got the flavor of Yubabas Sister.
ヽ(＃`Д')ノ
Smiling, Ancient One scooped a handful of candies from the sugar box on the table and set them before Sen Getsusa, motioning with her eyes for her to try one.
The sweets were wrapped in kraft paper printed with sutras.
"It's all right—taste it. If you're afraid, don't you have Profiler?"
Ancient One picked one up, peeled away the kraft, and popped the milky sweet into her mouth like a Child, cheeks bulging as she spoke.
Sen Getsusa pinched up a candy.
[Flowing Silver:
[A candy blessed by sutras; rather tasty.]
[The mages toiled a whole week just to make this tiny batch of sweets that do nothing except taste better.]
[Besides pleasing their willful Sorcerer Supreme, it also gave the kraft-paper industry a boost.]
Laughing, Sen Getsusa peeled the wrapper and placed the small white cube on her tongue.
It melted quickly.
Like a tiny train made of cream, it steamed down her throat, across esophagus and stomach, leaving a parade of sweetness—first watermelon and peach, then mild cheese and butter, turning to grape once it reached her stomach.
"Flowing Silver is interesting; it adjusts its flavor to suit each person's taste." Between words Ancient One had already eaten four or five, fitting the Profiler's label of "willful."
"Not going to look at me?" the mage asked, chewing with a smile.
Sen Getsusa lifted her gaze; the moment it met Ancient One's, the purple curtain shimmered violently and lines of text appeared.
Sen Getsusa:...
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