It's now in the middle of the summer, and the wind blowing on me feels good. Unlike the wind in spring that represented the good days that were just beginning, the wind in the summer gives off a cool breeze making everything feel bright and cheerful. It could be because I know the season’s splendor has already reached its peak and what lies ahead is only a steady deterioration.
This feeling of melancholy is the same as how I feel now. It’s already been the 8th day since I've been here in the ancient times, but to me, it feels the same as a dream. Just waiting to wake up in the modern times, and that I am not really in this kingdom of Mystic. I'm a thirty years old, single, white collar professional, Gekkou Kanzaki and not this twenty years old fox girl, Mizuki Kanzaki.
I have a fight with my boyfriend ten days ago over little thing and when I am going home, I am not paying attention to the traffic as I crossed the road. By the time I heard the crowd’s screams, it was too late. I felt myself flying towards the sky, and yet I could see the half of my body still dangling from the truck. In the midst of terror and intense pain, I lost consciousness, and I feel like I am drag into the whirlpool of darkness.
According to the servant girls, I had been push down into the pond into the water and lost consciousness for a full day and night. As for this “condition” I've lost all my memories upon awakening, the doctor said this was due to excessive shock and with careful nurturing, I would slowly recover.
But I know that I will never recover. I have traveled through time, so I wouldn't know anything that happens to the previous owner of this body. Only after walking a short while, I could already feel sweat on my forehead. Next to me is Hoshimiya, a maidservant brought to me by my biggest sister when I am little urges to me, “Miss Kanzaki, let’s go back. Even though it is past noon, the heat from the ground at this time is the most harmful. Your body still hasn’t fully recovered yet.”
I answer her affirmatively, “All right, Sora should be done praying to her Buddhist Sculpture by now anyway.”
My name is now Mizuki Kanzaki, the smallest daughter and princess of Kingdom Mystic. Also, this older sister I acquired is Sora Kanzaki, also the biggest daughter and princess of this Kingdom Mystic. Sora's nature can be said to be gentle and virtuous, and she is weak and unwillingly to strive for anything. Most of the time, she will spend most of her time to do nothing but be praying to her Buddhist sculpture. I suspect she is not very favored. At least, in the ten days that I have been here, I have never heard of her husband coming to see her. However, based on these ten days, I can also tell she is very caring towards her younger sister. From food and drink to clothing, nothing is too big or small for her to think about, for fear that I would be uncomfortable. I sigh silently. If I am unable to go back, then in this place and age, she is the only person I can depend on.
Kingdom Mystic is a kingdom in the past that I nor anyone else in the twenty-first century known or heard of. In this piece of land, it is been divided into five kingdom and five clans. There is the Dragon Clan taking care of "The Nine Heaven Kingdom," then there is the Demon Clan in charge of "The Darkness Kingdom." Third, there is the Ghost Clan in charge of "The Soul Kingdom," and the Human Clan in charge of "The Ground Kingdom." Lastly, there is the Nine tail Clan taking care of "The Mystic Kingdom." I am in The Mystic Kingdom, so I am a Nine Tail Fox. Each kingdom has their own mythical weapon for protection, and that's the only things that evenly separated the power in each kingdom.
Sure enough, when I return to the house, Sora is already there and is sitting at the table eating some refreshments. As she sees me entering the house, she says in a light scolding tone, “You didn’t even think about the heat on your forehead, did you?”
I walk forward and sit down beside her. With a smile, I answer, “I’m not that weak. Besides, after going out for a little stroll, my body actually feels better than before.”
Examining me carefully, she says, “Your complexion does look a little better. But right now, the heat is at the highest point. Don’t go outside again at this hour.”
I answer her annoyingly, “OK OK OK.” I just don't like it when she tells me how I should behave or be elegant because I am a princess. I want to be free.
Hoshimiya comes in carrying a washbowl and a napkin, she waits upon me as I wash my hands. I laugh secretly and think to myself, “Understanding is one thing but whether I actually follow it will be left up to next time.” Hoshimiya brings a towel over and helps me dry my hands. She then picks some amber-colored ointment for me to apply over them. Its smell is fragrant and sweet, I think it's made of cherry and lavender leaves. After cleaning my hands, as I am preparing to decide which of the sweets to eat, a strange feeling comes over me. I look up, seeing Sora has been watching me, my heart suddenly skips a beat. As I return her gaze with a questioning look, she suddenly broke into a mild laughter, “You were always so lively and naughty that you never listened to father’s words. Now that you took a fall, it actually changed you for the better. You are actually much calmer and well-mannered now.”
Feeling relief, I look down at the sweets again, asking smilingly, “Do you wish me to continue to be a troublemaker?”
Sora picks up a piece of my favorite dessert, the hibiscus cake, and passes it to me, “There’s only half a year left until the adult ceremony. It's better for you to be more mannerly and proper. How can you afford to keep staying wild and mischievous?”
Suddenly, I choke on the piece of the hibiscus cake in my mouth. I cough loudly as Sora quickly passes some water to me. While Hoshimiya busily pats my back, Hoshimiya hurries to get a handkerchief. Seeing me recover only after gulping down a couple mouthfuls of water, Sora laughs, “Just as I was saying you were becoming more proper, you do this. No need to wolf down your food. There’s no one here to steal your cake away”
I wipe my lips thinking to myself, what am I going to do? Tell her that “I am not your younger sister Mizuki”? No, definitely not! A thousand thoughts run through my mind, but I can’t come up with a single good plan. I can only think to myself that there won't be too much time left.
In these past few days, from the moment I finish breakfast, I would immediately go out for a stroll. After dinner, I would go for a stroll again. This is the only plan I had come up with to work out my body. Though it is a simple plan, it seems to be working quite well. Unlike the first few days after gaining consciousness, when I had felt feeble and weak, more and more do I feel that this body is like my own.
I have also managed to induce Hoshimiya to show me the loft where the real Mizuki fells from. As I was standing there, several times I had the urge to jump, hoping in a blink’s time I would return to the present. Nevertheless, I did not, for I was more afraid that not only will I not return to modern times, but gain a permanent disability instead. Besides, deep in my heart, I had secretly understood that the probability of time traveling happening is much lower. The horrific scene I had seen after losing consciousness from the car accident was not an illusion. As for how or why my spirit came to into this ancient person’s body, I have no idea. Since I’m already here, I can only make the most of it.
Hoshimiya is accompanying me as we take a stroll in a large circle. By the end of our stroll, both of us are slightly tired. Behind the small rockery mountain, there happens to be a fairly flat rock. Hoshimiya lays down a handkerchief on it for me to sit on and I drag her to sit beside me. The sun has just set, so the rock is still warm. A breeze passes over my face, bringing a slight cooling sensation. It feels very pleasant. I tilt my head slightly to view the sky above me. The sky is darkening and though it still retains its crystal clarity, its blue color is starting to turn black. The clearness of the sky gives the impression that it is much closer to the ground than it actually is as if I only need to stretch out my hand to be able to touch it. This is definitely a sky of an earlier time because in the modern time, the only time I had seen a sky similar to this was when I had stood on top of my apartment. Conjuring up memories of my parents, I feel a painful sadness in my heart. I am not saddened by my own death, but it pains me to know that my parents have to endure the agony of having to mourn the death of their child. It is fortunate that I have a brother. He has always been the pillar in my parent’s life and knowing he is still around with them, I am slightly comforted.
Just as I am wallowing in my own sorrow, I hear Hoshimiya say, “Miss Kanzaki, you have definitely changed.”
Due to often hearing the same words from Sora in these past few days, my inclination to become uncomfortable after hearing them has given away to indifference. I continue to gaze towards the sky asking, “How have I changed?”
“There’s no way you could have stayed so calm and quiet before. In the past, you have always liked to talk nonstop and would have never been able to stay still in one place. Old Master had always said you were like an unbridled wild mare. Before you fall into the pond, you’d always urge Mistress to pray less and wear brighter colored clothes. We were so pleased that there was finally someone here to talk some sense into her, but now you don’t even mention any of it anymore.”
I glance sideways towards Hoshimiya but she quickly avoids my gaze as her eyes meet mine.
Thinking for a moment, I say to her, “Sora is in a good state right now.”
With her head cast downwards, Hoshimiya replies with a quivering voice, “A good state? It’s already been five years, and Mister Lee has still never come here yet.”
A sudden laughter broke the silence, and from the side of the rockery emerges two figures. The shorter and chubbier one in front laughs to the other behind him, “Mizuki, how are you? It's been a long time since I saw you”
Seeing them, Hoshimiya immediately stands and curtsies to them, “Big prince, and third prince!”
Since I have been here, I have not yet seen any outsiders. Therefore, I found myself standing there dumbfounded. It is only after seeing Hoshimiya ceremonial greeting that I finally managed to react, remember that in this time period, hierarchy still exists and propriety matters. Luckily, I have previously watched many ancient historical dramas I reacted as soon as possible. But I don't have to care, I am his sister so I don't have to act like Hoshimiya.
Looking at me up and down with one hand on his chin, the smiling teenaged boy in front did not answer our greeting. Observing quietly, I decided that this is my fourth brother and the one on the side of his rear, the one with a particularly straight physique, must be my big brother.
Flatly, big brother says to Hoshimiya, “rise.”
Hoshimiya rise. On one hand I keep thinking to myself of all of Emperor Kanzaki's sons, the first ones I meet are surprisingly not the second prince, but instead, the venomous snake big prince and blockhead third prince. On the other hand, I keep going back to what I had said to Hoshimiya, trying to figure out if I had said anything inappropriate. Eventually, I conclude that it did not seem like I had said anything that was disrespectful, so letting them overhear my words should not be a concern.
Laughing, the third prince says, “So are you better now Mizuki?”
‘Yes!” I reply.
Just as he was about to say more, the big prince says, “Let’s go."
Smacking his head, third prince hurryingly strides past us, exclaiming,
“You’re right, I was so busy watching the fun that I had forgotten about why we’re here. Let’s go go go!”
After they passed us by, recalling the manner the third prince had just conducted himself, I sigh secretly. He is a bit of an oaf. Unable to contain myself, I begin to giggle at the thought.
As we return to the house, Hoshimiya did not say a single word. I am uncertain if she is a bit shaken by what has just transpired, or is unhappy with my behavior. I remain silent as well, still surreptitiously discerning what just happened. If my pitiful knowledge is to be trusted, then the big prince is sure to have an honest and forthright personality. He will not hold anything back and tell the third prince about what just happened. As to how the third prince will react, I have absolutely no idea. If one is to take his title as the “Virtuous Prince” as an actuality, then he most likely would not be a narrow-minded person. However, just to be safe, I should still inform Sora about what has occurred. Just as I finish making up my mind, I noticed we have almost arrived at the house. Slowing my steps, I tell Hoshimiya, “Of course I will always wish the best for Sora. Don’t you worry!” Not waiting for her reaction, I hurry into the house.
Sora is lying sideways in bed, while a young servant girl is kneeling on the floor massaging her legs. Signaling the servants to stay silent, I sit down on a chair right across from Sora. She can definitely be called a beauty: with her sharp chin, and a face one cannot help but love to cherish. Her skin is also especially lovely, so white and smooth. Under the light, her skin looks even more luminous and translucent, like an exquisite jade. If she exists in modern times, her suitors would unquestionably be numerous enough to form a company, if not an entire army. Sora opens her eyes. Seeing me watching her, she lets the servant girl help her up. After leaning comfortably on the cushions, she smiles, “You are really much calmer now, to not even say a word when you return. Just what is so mesmerizing about my face?”
I smile back, saying “If you are not mesmerizing, then there will not be many attractive people left in this world.”
One of the maids brings some water to Sora. I watch her take a few sips, before handing the cup back to the maid. Afterward, she half closes her eyes again.
I casually tell her, “Just earlier, I met the big prince and the third prince in the gardens.”
Sora waits for me to continue, and noticing that I didn't do anything, she opens her eyes. Taking a quick glance at me, she instructs the maids around the room, “All of you, go prepare a bath for the Mizuki.”
As all of the maidservants leave the room, I stand up to sit next to her and begin to perform all that has happened earlier. Sora did not speak after hearing me out. Instead, she is staring at a glass screen, decorated with majestic steeds running on a plain, which stands on one end of the room. After a long while, she sighs, “Mizuki, you really have grown! You are no longer like a twenty-year-old girl, but more someone who took a fall and suddenly matured ten years.” I thought to myself, “It is a truth. Mizuki has taken a fall and ‘matured’.”
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