4.2.25 - The Weepers of Distant Forevers pt 5

Parable 5: The Qilin Room Accord

The gates closed behind them with a thrum. The moment the group stepped inside Ghentsai Castle, a faint blue aura clung to their skin like dew. It coiled around their heads, down their spines, slipping through their garments, molecule by molecule. Sunya’s dai.

Viumod gagged. "It’s so pungent."

Aillag pinched her nose, muttering, "Let’s get to Qilin Room 0. Before I smell more of her."

Yapa was euphoric. His cloak of dai cracked and peeled under the pressure of the Sunya’s essence, revealing slivers of his true form—partial toatao limbs beneath his diplomatic exterior. He moaned in rapture.

Aillag broke into a run.

Viumod called after her, then cleared her throat. "Ahem. Eterna, Fizz, and I will escort the rest of you. Moonya Aillag is already ahead."

She grabbed Yapa’s retainers by the shoulders, yanking them from their trance.

They followed, pushed forward by the moving floors beneath them—stone gliders activated by their presence, gently escorting the party to the Grand Qilin Room.

When they arrived, Aillag was already lounging on a sofa behind the desk.

"Welcome," she said, gesturing to the grand sapphire-etched doors. "This is the Qilin Room. Named for our great pet who slumbers below. If you anger my mother, it will eat you."

The doors loomed—crafted from sapphire oak, carved with etchings inked in beast fat and gemdust. The shape of the door resembled a curled creature, resting.

"There is no Qilin," Viumod said flatly. "There’s a kitchen beneath this room."

Aillag cackled. "You ruin everything. Anyway, Fizz, Eterna—you’re coming with me south."

Fizz beamed. Eterna bowed. "It would be an honor, Moonya."

Yapa stepped forward. "May I accompany you as well?"

Aillag formed an X with her arms and stuck out her tongue.

The door behind them creaked. A servant entered.

"The Sunya of Ghentsai approaches. Please rise and abate yourselves."

Aetor entered first—a colossus whose presence made the air denser. He walked past everyone, standing at Aillag’s left.

"ALL THE SUNYA IS HERE. YOU MAY SIT. And the King’s Guard, Boditan Da."

The Sunya entered with Da behind her, flanked by the Phalanx Twins, An and Na. She leapt onto the desk, legs crossed.

"So what the fuck do you all want?"

Aillag burst into laughter.

Da cleared his throat. "My Sunya. I am here to ensure the Moonlit Festival is not impeded. Yapa may speak for himself."

Yapa stood. "I am here on separate business. The King wishes to inquire on the status of Aillag’s ascension."

The Sunya narrowed her eyes.

"Two anguilis in my home. And word says more of you are hiding in my lands."

Da bowed. "I will leave after the festival. As for others, we are unaware."

"The Zealots," she said, gaze now sharpened. "Seen in the catacombs."

Yapa and Da spoke in unison. "The King denounces the Zealots. They are extremists."

The air changed.

"Prostrate or die," the Sunya whispered.

Her dai erupted. Everyone—even those posted along the walls—fell to their knees. The floor cracked. Pressure coiled like an unseen leviathan, scraping along their minds.

"Lies do not breathe well in this room."

Something below the floor stirred.

The weight lifted.

Sweat-drenched and shaken, the emissaries looked up.

"Aetor," the Sunya said. "Find the rest. Torture them. Bring them here. We’ll make Da watch."

He nodded and vanished from sight.

"Viumod," she continued, "gather Fizz and Eterna. Aillag is heading south."

Then she looked to Da. "You may stay at Ashram Yotok and shadow me for the festival."

Her gaze shifted to Yapa. "And as for ascension—it’s going. Aillag will conduct the Moonlit Festival. She missed her first audience with the King. So what? Tell him she’s late. And if he wants a timetable, he can wait with the rest of us."

Yapa bowed, trembling.

And with that, the room remained silent.

For in Ghentsai, silence was the only sound that dared outlast the Sunya.