“A fine display of skill, Miss Yui,'' said Aki and Ako in unison as they reached their hands out. Their movements and voices mirrored each other perfectly like the features of their faces, from the mole beneath their lips to the serious glint in their eyes.

Yui handed them her blades, one to each, and continued walking. They carefully wrapped the swords in ceremonial silks, displaying the Sacred Flame Sakura of the Yojin Clan, and held them close to their chests with both arms as they trailed behind Yui.

“Thank you, both. You’ve done a fine job as well.” Yui said over her shoulder with curled lips. She pinched her tongue with her thumb and forefinger and whistled for Miki to fly and come perch onto her shoulder. She slipped her hand into the slit of her dress and pulled out a finely crafted bamboo kiseru that glossed even in the shadows of their storehouse. When she pursed the silver mouthpiece to her soft, pink lips, Miki ignited the bowl with its wing. She took a deep breath, then exhaled a hazy cloud. “What’s next on the agenda?”

“We are to report back to Lady Maria,” Aki responded. “Yes, she has requested your assistance again, Miss Yui,” Ako added as soon as Aki finished her sentence.

“Again, huh?” Yui said, watching the smoke dance from her pipe. “Another burning?”

“You’re as sharp as ever, Miss,” Aki said. Ako nodded.

Yui sighed after taking another puff. “Very well. Since Empress Azura wills it, then I shall follow”. She made her way towards the open streets of the marketplace. Before she stepped into the blaring light of the sun, Ako shielded her with a thin, paper umbrella. She could always trust Ako to block the harmful rays from tainting her fair skin. Yui detested Tridon’s heat for its source came from the star above. She much preferred the sweet, smoldering warmth from Yonchin’s earth. “You two stay here and help the men with the stall.”

“But — “ they cried out.

“No ‘buts’, girls. It is not fair to the men to do all the heavy lifting. You help too.”

“But Miss Yui —”

“That’s an order”. Her voice was as sharp as her blades. With those words, they sealed their lips. She knew they dare not to question their Lady. “I shall entrust you with the stall”. Her eyes scanned the area quickly, not giving any time for possible unwanted guests to catch her suspicion. “And, please, do tend to your duties to the Empress and report back to me.”

Their eyes sharpened with the reminder of their tasks. “Yes, Miss Yui,” they said in the same monotonous acceptance and lowered their heads as they saw Yui off.

The parasol may have stopped the relentless shine, but it did little to keep the stifling summer heat from pressing her silk crimson dress against her moist body tighter than it already was. The clacking of her heels signaled people to open a path; her hips swayed as she walked with elegance, one leg in front of the other, just as she has always done. She could feel the gazes of lecherous men and envious women, but it did not bother her. Not like how it used to. Now, she found pride in her body that she trained day in and day out to be of use to her Empress. If having a shapely body was a result of that, so be it. For all Yui could care about was the judgment of her Lord.

On her way to the church, the streets grew a slight more breathable with fewer merchant tents and travelers. She gazed upon the city guards and workmen stringing wires across the rooftops and hanging the banners of the seven realms, the House of Ouranós being the largest and at the center. A fitting place for the Lord of Lords, she agreed but found it strange for the Tridonians to still use Yonchin’s retired insignia. She ruled it off as simple ignorance and gave it no more thought. What surprised her was the red paper lanterns they had hung around the city. She had told Lady Maria about the Rite of Fire celebration and Lady Maria must have loved the thought enough to implement it. That or she wished to please the travelers who journeyed the vast, unforgiving sea to answer Lord Gywn’s call in place of their lords.

Strange enough, she had been in the country two weeks before the date to gather information about this so-called meeting yet she had heard nothing since her arrival. She had seen numerous representatives from the seven realms, but no Lords. It seemed Empress Azura was not the only Lord feeling queer about leaving their kingdom unattended.

“Miss Yui, Miss Yui!”, a little boy waved ahead of her. She gazed up from her thoughts and found Jon, one of the many children who grew very fond of her during her stay, holding an armful of banners too big for his body as he stood by the bottom of a scaffolding. Jon and the other children often would come and ask questions about her homeland and Miki’s tricks, they called it. Jon in particular sought her out the most and always offered his services to her.

“Good afternoon, Jon Jon,” she smiled. “Are you bothering your father at work today as well?”

A burst of hearty laughter followed by the banging of a hammer against a wooden plank came from above. “When does he not?” Jon’s father said as he peered down at them. “Ever since you started telling the children stories, the boy won’t stop whining about training and whatnot. I’m starting to think he’s only helping me to free up time to train him.”

“Of course, Father! I want to travel outside the city and be strong enough to protect Miss Yui!” His eyes were steeled with youthful determination and ignorance.

Yui giggled. “Sir Robert, you have quite the admirable son. Perhaps he takes after his father.” Sir Robert was one of the three captains of Logtown’s city guards. He was strong and thick with muscle unlike the thin, scrubby beard on his face. From her experience, he was a kind-hearted man who cared deeply for those who came to him for help. She often found him performing tasks outside a captain’s duty such as the task he tended to now.

“Oh, Miss Yui, you flatter me,” he said, scratching the back of his head. “Thank you”.

“No need to thank me,” Yui said, walking towards Jon. “And Jon Jon, I appreciate your dedication, but little boys should stay little as long as they can. Time is an unforgiving thing and it steals from everyone eventually. You should be focusing on how to be of use to your Lord, rather than me.”

Jon’s face turned sullen and he stared at his feet. Yui noticed and crouched down to meet his eyes. “Don’t sulk, Jon. I like men who stay true to their dedications, not boys who cry easy”.

Sir Robert jumped from the scaffolding and landed beside them. His plated armor crunched as he stood. “She’s right, Jon.” He knelt beside his son and grabbed him by the shoulders. “You need to be strong for Lord Ludwig, Miss Yui . . . and for me. I want you to be a man who can stand not only for his Lord’s beliefs but his own as well.” He paused. Darkness fell onto his face. “It’s what your mother would’ve wanted.”

The air suddenly grew drier than before. Sir Robert realized what he had said and cleared his throat, bowing his head. “Forgive me, Miss Yui, for the sour mood”. His voice was on the verge of breaking. “You have my thanks for entertaining my son with your grace”.

Yui shook her head. “There is no need to thank me. Jon has shown keen interest in my homeland and it brings me pleasure to discuss my culture. He will grow to be a fine man like his father.” Sir Robert turned away, hiding his embarrassment. She shifted her eyes to Jon. “Jon, can you keep a secret from the other children?” He looked at her, confused. “I’ll show you a trick Miki can do that I have not shown the other children. What do you say? All you need to do is stop crying. Can you do that for me?”, she asked with the sweetness of a tending mother.

Jon wiped the water resting in his eyes and nodded, smiling weakly.

“Good boy,” she said, ruffling his hair. Yui stepped back. She raised her hand in front of her and concentrated on it. With each heartbeat, Azura’s Flames swelled in her chest, growing stronger the more she focused. It crawled from her chest to her arm like the blood flowing in her veins and pooled at her fingertips. Miki lost her form and the remnant of her flames coiled Yui’s arm like a snake, slithering into her palm. When she squeezed her hand shut, hot air expelled outward and a katana rested in her grip. She unsheathed the blade and bathed it in the sunlight, demonstrating to Jon the steel’s reflection. Eyeing Jon’s gaping mouth, she smiled. “Go on, Jon Jon. Touch it. Miki won’t bite.”

Jon hesitantly placed his hand on the sword and flinched. His face relaxed when his hand felt no burns and his eyes lit up. “How’d you do that, Miss Yui?” Excitement and wonder

filled each of his words.

“Practice, Jon. Practice,” she said, grinning and pointed to his chest. “If this is strong and you are faithful, your Lord may gift you their blessing as my Lord has.”

“Then, one day I can be strong enough to protect you!”, he said with hope in his eyes. He thought for a moment. “But why does Miki listen to you and turn into a weapon?”

Surprised, she stood up and sheathed Miki, holding her tightly to her chest. For a moment she had forgotten she was speaking to a child who has yet to comprehend the soul. “The blade is an extension of oneself. A piece of you, that is what my people believe.” Miki dissolved in her hand and perched on her shoulder. “That is even more true with Miki.”

Before Jon could say any more, Sir Robert covered his mouth with his hand. “That’s enough, Jon. We need to get back to work and we’re holding Miss Yui up.”

“Oh, you’re right. I must take my leave now. Lady Maria is waiting for me.”

The color left Sir Robert’s face. “Oh! I’m terribly sorry for holding you up then. You must be in a rush! Please give Lady Maria my regards.” He bowed.

Jon bowed and shouted “Bye, Miss Yui! See you soon!”

It was slightly past midday and the sun stood strong over one of the many drum towers of the church with no clouds in sight. Yui rested atop the balcony overlooking the luscious flower-covered garden arranged in a column, guiding visitors to the church’s large steel and timber doors. Beyond the garden, tents made of sewn rags, home to refugees of the Haze, lined the perimeter of the gated walls. Yui watched guards hand out meager portions of bread not even enough for a child and priests sing songs of prayers and hope as she smoked her pipe.

“How many times have I told you not to smoke on Holy Grounds?” a woman said from behind.

“You’ve kept me waiting,” Yui responded without checking who it was. She could already tell by the brashness in her voice and heft in her walk. If she had not known any better, she would’ve guessed a brute was approaching her. “It is only fair, Lady Maria.”

Lady Maria joined her in overseeing the front gates. “Late or not. You should know smoking on Holy Grounds is frowned upon.”

“Frowned upon, not forbidden,” Yui said, taking another inhale.

“We haven’t established that rule since no one dares smoke before the Lords’ house,” Lady Maria said with much annoyance.

Yui exhaled, blowing the smoke away from them. “In Yonchin, it's common to smoke before our Empress. Surely, you wouldn’t want to insult my people’s way of paying respect?”

Lady Maria’s face twisted with concern. “Really?”

“No, I was joking,” Yui said matter-of-factly as putting out the embers in her bowl.

“Forget it,” Lady Maria sighed. “When will this damned heat end?”. She flapped the collar of her low-hanging button-down shirt with one hand and fanned herself with the other. She ran her gloved hand through her creamy brunette hair, wiping the sweat before it trickled down her light skin. “Would you mind sharing your umbrella?”

Yui glanced at her, then back at her parasol. “If it wasn’t clear enough, it only fits one person underneath, Lady Maria.”

“I meant to lend it to me.” Lady Maria stomped and pouted like a misunderstood child.

Yui chuckled with tight lips. During her time in Logtown, Yui had grown accustomed to Lady Maria’s tendencies. She knew what Maria wanted, but found her reactions amusing unlike in Yonchin where all her retainers and peers were stone-faced yesmen.

Then, the clangor of wood and steel broke through the gates as men grunted and flung skeletons dressed in skin and rags into a pile on a wooden cart. Though she was far from the corpses, Yui could hear the flies swarming and buzzing clearly; sounds she was far too familiar with. Cries and pleads for mercy from their Lords reached their ears. Yui noticed Lady Maria’s face sunken with darkness and sorrow; she knew there was nothing they could do. Death and the cries that follow had occurred the day before and the day before that and so on, often enough that it was strange for no one to fall to the hands of death from illness or hunger.

“Lady Maria, shall we head down?”

It was quiet before she spoke. “Yes, soon. . . Let the guards collect everyone first.” Her voice carried a bitter defeat. “Yui . . .“ she whispered. Yui let her finish her thought, knowing there was no need to let her know she was listening. “How long must this go on? How long will the Haze push these people from their homes? When will the Gods, our Lords, put an end to this?”

Yui stood in silence, stunned by her questions. In moments where she could not find an answer, she would always give the same response to ease those whose faith showed cracks. “The Gods' have their plan. It is our duty to see it through and hope we do not crumble before.”

Maria looked a tiny bit more hopeful, but her concern was still painted on her face as she made her way down the steps to the front gate where the piles of corpses awaited. Yui trailed behind her, filled with regret and pity. Before the large steel gate opened, the guards herded the refugees back with spears and shields.

“Thank you again for doing this, Yui. May these poor souls rest in peace” Maria said with misty eyes and a forced smile. She turned to the crowd and began her words of condolences and prayers, asking the onlookers to beseech her.

After hearing them almost every day, Yui had learned to deafen the prayers and mournful woes. She found it much more reassuring when she listened to her own thoughts. She took the time to imagine the lives of the deceased laid before her. Did they become who they sought out to be? Have they found love? Were there any lingering regrets before they closed their eyes for eternity? As she observed the pile, a shudder crawled up her skin like insects and her heart sank to the pit in her stomach when her eyes latched onto the hollow face of a boy about the same age as Jon in the pile of rotting flesh. It was then she realized the boy would not have the answers and he will never get the chance to find them for his time came too early.

Maria finished her prayer and nodded to Yui to begin. Yui swallowed hard and raised her trembling hand. She did her best so no one would notice it but her. Heat filled her hand and Miki set the pile ablaze. The crackle of fire mixed with the cries of mothers, fathers, and children. However, Yui heard none of it. She watched the boy's face contort and dance in the flame; his mouth shifted about as if screaming in agony. Time seemed to slow as she gazed into the fire. She saw a man standing across the wall of smoke, glaring at her or perhaps the burning bodies. She noticed he had two katanas on him, but his face was not on the ship they took from Yonchin. Before she could call out to him, he was gone.

The fire popped and she regained her senses. Yui grabbed a pinch of powdered incense from a box a guard was holding and sprinkled it into Azura’s flame with vacant eyes. She whispered to herself, “Your loyalty to your Lord’s duties has been noted. May you find peace in Empress Azura’s Eternal Flame.”