After coming back as a shrine-certified Matake sorcerer,  Araka didn’t immediately return to the busy schedules of the SAIR. Instead, rather than rogue Matake users and Shard infected wildlife, something more unusual was coming to Bakju on the first Monday back.

The Bakju National Museum was preparing for one of its largest special exhibitions of the year, and Araka had been brought along with Jun by their parents to see the preparations before it opened to the public. 

Both her parents were major patrons of the museum — Peni Moraka (北依 萌川), their mother, a young looking woman despite her actual age, is the chief executive officer of Novak, a major Bakju-based sporting-goods company with business across Great Chin; their father, Jan Lon (鄭 龍), a man with sharp and clean haircut, is a member of the legislative assembly and the current Minister of Interior Cohesion and Home Affairs — although whenever someone introduced him by the full title outside official occasions, he usually preferred the much simpler Cabinet Minister. 

However, neither of those positions was the main reason the family was there.

The broader Sakashi branch (正屋北依氏) of the Peni Clan, where Moraka is currently the young matriarch of, had been longtime patrons of the museum. Its donations had continued for generations regardless of changes of government, to the point that one of the museum’s wings carried the family name.

As the four entered through a staff passage, several museum employees greeted them warmly.

“Mr. Jan., Ms. Peni. Welcome.”

Lon returned the greeting with a slight nod.

“Thank you. We’re just here to have a look today.”

Moraka smiled.

“Please don’t let us interrupt the preparations.”

Araka followed behind them, looking around at the exhibition cases still being assembled. Jun, meanwhile, was already reading the temporary information boards.

“This one actually has something impressive.”

Araka glanced at him. “What?”

Jun pointed toward the centre of the gallery.

“The Vase of Mercilli.”

Araka’s eyes immediately followed.

“The one from Zakatari?”

“Yeah, the world famous one, in fact,” Jun walked closer, “It is currently exhibited here for the commemoration of the 150 year anniversary of diplomatic relations between Great Chin Federation and the Republic of Zakatari.”

Araka raised her eyebrows.

Jun continued: “Apparently the restoration project finally confirmed the original colouring. They’re exhibiting the reconstructed 3D VR model alongside it.”

That caught Araka’s attention.

Surely something really impressive is exhibited here in Bakju, Araka thought. 

Then, Araka remembered something else.

“Jun, comes to think of it…”

Jun raised one of his eyebrows.

“After everything recently, I almost forgot Mom’s actually one of the museum’s patrons,” Araka sighed, “You know, sometimes I just go onto the website and buy a normal ticket — and then I get the money kindly refunded.”

Jun chuckled. “Well, guess you won’t forget about that this time.”

Araka nodded. 

As the group entered the main hall of the Peni Sakashi Wing, the centre piece of the exhibition appeared in front of the group — a large, well decorated white vase stood at the centre. 

The vase itself remained protected behind glass while technicians worked around the display. Even without the finished lighting, it immediately stood apart.

The guide, a middle aged woman and one of the museum management staff herself, gestured toward it.

“The Vase of Mercilli is estimated to be approximately 2500 years old.”

Araka leaned slightly closer. 

“It’s really smooth for something this old,” she commented. 

“Exactly,” the guide said. “That’s one of the reasons it became so famous worldwide. Achieving a surface this consistent was extremely unusual for ceramics from that period.”

Jun looked toward the reconstructed image displayed nearby. “But everyone thought it was white before?”

“For a very long time,” the guide nodded and said, “The surviving object had lost almost all visible pigmentation. Earlier researchers therefore assumed its appearance was primarily white, perhaps with only minor decoration.”

Then, the guide grabbed the tablet placed at a nearby table and displayed the digital reconstruction to the group.

“But more recent analysis found traces of multiple pigments across the surface.”

On the screen, bands of colour surrounded the vase’s body. Tiny figures occupied the lower portions, while great curling forms rose above them.

“Miya-sa, what is it showing?” Araka asked.

“A mythical battle from ancient Zakatari tradition,” the guide pointed toward the figures and said. “According to the story, the people of Mercilli saw an enormous wall of water approaching their homeland.”

Araka followed the painted scene upward. Human figures stood against a towering wave, some carrying objects toward the shoreline while others appeared to be raising their arms toward it.

“So they fought a wave?”

“According to the myth, yes — a battle against the deity of the sea.”

Jun leaned closer to the glass. 

“The 3D reconstruction is our best estimate of what someone twenty-five centuries ago might actually have seen,” the guide continued. 

Araka continued staring at it. 

“Still kind of unbelievable that we got it,” Araka murmured.

Jun nodded. “I would’ve expected Niangkee.”

“Or Zenju,” Araka added. 

“But now it’s in Bakju.”

“Well,” Miya said, “that’s a good point to bring up.”

Araka and Jun turned toward the guide.

“There had been concerns about the safety of the artifact — especially what happened to Darva’s Bowl at Tresto Museum in Tresto, Endosia.”

“The gem bowl belonged to King Darva, right?” Moraka said, “It’s still hard to believe something could happen under broad daylight.”

Lon nodded: “That’s why the Zakatarin officials had expressed their concerns with us. Eventually, Bakju was selected because Bakju National Museum is one of the few Category I Museums in the federation that wasn’t located in a city with busy international traffic.”

“That means even if something happened, the artifact wouldn’t immediately disappear into thin air, right?” Jun said.

“Well, in some way, it is part of the consideration,” Lon glanced at the vase and said, “though I really wish an incident like this won’t happen in Bakju.”

Araka, meanwhile, was still scanning around the area. Her eyes first landed on the security camera, then at the fire exits and staff entrance, and then the gate to the other gallery. Her Matake-empowered mind ran fast on mapping out the area.

If someone wants to bring this vase out, she thought, then the only way might be hacking the camera first and using the staff entrance on the further corner — if the thieves were able to find a cart and not collide with the statue on the further end in the dark.

“Araka?” Moraka turned to Araka and said.

“Ah, sorry  mom,” Araka put her thoughts sideways and said.

“You seemed quite tense today.”

“Ah, I was fascinated by the reconstruction,” Araka said, “I couldn't believe the vase was so colourful originally.”

“Okay,” Miya said, “Ms. Peni, maybe we can also show you the other artifacts in the collection.”

—

By the time Araka returned home, however, the vase was still occupying her thoughts: not its colours, not even the ancient story painted across its surface — but the sole fact that something so valuable suddenly appeared in Bakju.

Araka sat down in her bedroom, pulled out her phone, and started checking the headlines. 

Several high-profile museum heists had taken place around the world recently: some involved private collections, some targeted artifacts while they were being transported or temporarily exhibited overseas.

Araka rested her chin against her hand.

Of course Bakju National has security, I’ve seen it myself, she thought.

The Bakju National Museum is internationally famous, certainly, but not because its galleries were filled with the world’s most expensive artifacts. Its reputation came partly from its historical importance to the region, and from a handful of particularly significant objects — like the Blue Plate (青券). 

For Araka, it wasn’t that unusual — she had seen it enough times that she barely thought about it anymore.

The ceremonial bronze plate dated back to the Shinari Dynasty (石朝), the ancient dynasty that had once unified the northern and southern regions. It recorded the dynasty’s formal recognition of the status of the Peni clan.

While not unique to the Peni clan, the Blue Plate is the few examples of its kind to survive largely intact. Most similar objects had disappeared — some had been deliberately destroyed or melted by later dynasties; others were lost during periods of war and political chaos.

But it wasn’t something an ordinary international thief could easily sell — after all, everyone, even foreigners, knew what it was and where it belonged.

Maybe it’s the same for the Vase of Mercilli, Araka thought.

It was here to commemorate diplomatic relations between Great Chin and Zakatari, and if it was stolen, everyone would have been alerted.  

But still… Something this valuable in Bakju was somewhat unprecedented. If someone really wanted this — or any of the other artifacts, like the 7 Small Rings right beside it — Bakju is the perfect place if the thieves were thinking finding a place where local police couldn’t speak a sentence of Endosian—

Perhaps I’m overthinking it.

Araka put down her phone and closed her eyes. 

No matter what, I will keep an eye on it — even not as an SAIR agent.

Then, her phone vibrated.

Araka turned back on and the direct message appeared.

It’s from Leana, Araka murmured. 

I still can’t believe the Vase of Mercilli is actually in Bakju!

Araka smiled.

Another message followed almost immediately.

I’m going with my parents. Mom already bought another ticket. 

Araka started typing.

Sure, I’ll—

She stopped.

There was a minor problem.

She didn’t actually need a ticket.

If I tell Leana “my family has a wing there, so apparently I just get in”, she might see me as someone who likes flexing wealth — which sounded considerably worse than it needed to.

Araka deleted what she had written.

Then she tried again, and then deleted that too.

Eventually, she settled on something simpler.

I already got a ticket for the exhibition because I wanted to see it too. Maybe you can invite someone else?

That’s a close call, she thought.

Leana responded quickly.

Oh! Then I’ll bring another friend.

A second message appeared.

And there’s going to be another familiar face there too.

Araka raised an eyebrow.

Who?

The typing indicator appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.

Hehe Secret 😊

Araka stared at the screen.

“…Seriously?”

Another message arrived.

You’ll find out tomorrow!

Araka sighed, but she was smiling.

Fine. See you Tuesday.

She put the phone aside.

Great, I’ve got more people checking the vase with me, Araka let out another small sigh. She laid back on her bed.

For once, perhaps that was a good thing.

She had spent enough of the summer thinking about Matake fields, spells, Jinka, certification, and SAIR. And this Tuesday, even Huashin told her to take a break from the SAIR tasks. 

It could simply be a day at the museum with friends

Still, her thoughts returned one last time to the Vase of Mercilli.

Maybe I’m overthinking it, she murmured, though maybe me being there is better than nothing.