3 The Lone Flower of the Mountain Descends

A single woman in her mid-twenties could be observed sitting on a snowy peak, nearby the entrance to a cave. Despite the fierce snow storm battering the rocky terrain, the woman, clad in only a plain, nondescript rose-colored robe, didn't seem to be cold at all. She was sitting in a meditative pose, reminiscent of ancient prayer practices from the distant east. Her tachi, battle-worn and scarred since she received it years and years ago, was placed directly in front of her. Despite its size, the winds weren't capable of tossing it about and even causing it to fall off the peak. She sat in silence for a few moments before she suddenly opened her eyes with a determined sparkle, as if she had sensed something.

Standing up and taking her tachi, she slowly and delicately walked back into her cave. She was barefoot, and every time her feet touched the snow, despite how delicate it looked, the snow dispersed everywhere around her. She muttered some words to herself. "I can feel it in my bones," she quietly declared to nobody in particular. "Something is going to happen in the future. My synchronization with the divine forces and earthly forces of Heralldia has increased since I began my hermitage five years ago!" she looked at her hands - blemished with calluses and scars, what was once the pinnacle of softness and silky smoothness had become the complete opposite... Battle-hardened, rough, coarse... But there was a certain charm and beauty in that, too.

The icy energy of the Deus Mountain Range she was residing in for the past five years encircled her hands with merely a thought. "I can't sense the cause of this disturbance in the worldly energies just yet. Perhaps it is time for me to leave my seclusion and return to the real world at last." She quietly set a plan in her heart to explore Heralldia once again and see what had changed in the time she was in seclusion. As her jet-black, long hair fluttered in the winds of the blizzard, she grabbed her mustard seed bag and conical bamboo hat, putting it on and quickly dashed out of the cave, leaping off the peak like a fierce cat, channeling the wind energy into her feet and leaping in the air itself. If anyone could observe this phenomenon, they would be struck dumb - this woman, the [Rose Sword Saint], was effortlessly leaping in the air.

In the town of Elendil, near the foot of the Deus Mountain Range, a tourist spot for travelers looking to witness the beauty of the snowy peaks, a commotion was brewing. Rumours suddenly emerged of the snowy winds surrounding the mountain range becoming weaker and weaker. This made it easier for tour groups of the Deus Mountain Range to explore further along the paths less inhabited by monsters.

"Why would the winds suddenly become less fierce? Did something happen?"

"I really don't know what to tell you." a middle-aged fellow dressed in plain civilian clothing - a simple tunic and a pair of leather pants - sighed. This fellow looked as unassuming as they came, he was Yun, one of the spies dispatched by King Ren of the North Blossom Kingdom to investigate the whereabouts of the [Rose Sword Saint]. His first instinct, knowing that she was in seclusion, was to search at the most remote and most tranquil spots. This was the Deus Mountain Range - though there were many dangerous beasts, they were territorial and only incited conflict if you bothered or provoked them yourself. For the number one swordswoman Astraea, such monsters would just be food for her, literally. Thus, Yun decided to stop here first.

This was where he heard the rumors about the wind becoming more gentle as of late. Something definitely happened at the mountain, which gave Yun hope that Astraea was there - she was one of the only people in this world beyond the most talented and accomplished sorcerers who could accomplish such a feat, being rumored to be the only practitioner of Inner Body Energy in the whole of Heralldia. As he was fraternizing with the locals, Yun saw a figure entering the town - the figure was dressed in a rose colored robe, obscuring their entire face with a conical bamboo hat and walking with something covered in heavy amounts of cloth slung on their back.

Yun peered at the figure with suspicion. The person with the bamboo hat didn't seem to pay any heed to him. He quickly went to where the newcomer was, but they had already entered the tavern. Gritting his teeth, he followed them in. Once they both entered the tavern, someone pointed at the mountains. "Look, the winds are becoming fierce again." he sighed. "It's a relief there were no tour groups coming out at this moment, or they'd be totally in danger." The town once again burst in excitement as they tried to figure out if a spirit had possessed the mountain or if there was a ghost that was playing pranks. No one would be able to realize that it was actually Astraea who had manipulated the wind energy to hasten her descent down the Deus Mountain Range and increase the safety of the trip.

Yun saw the hat person sit on their lonesome at a table in the corner of the tavern. He quietly made his way over and sat opposite them, causing them to respond by obscuring their face further.

"You've finally come out of seclusion, haven't you?" Yun asked the figure incredibly quietly, such that only they could hear it.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Please leave me in peace. I am going to leave tomorrow."

"Won't you listen to what I have to say, Sword Saint?"

"You're mistaken."

"You can fool others, but you can't fool me, Nagahara Yun of the Dark Moon Guild."

Astraea froze in place, clearly recognizing the name of 'Dark Moon Guild,' which was the name of King Ren's spy agency. It hid in plain sight, serving as a guild for tradesmen and merchants. However, most of the administration and businessmen of the guild were actually King Ren's spies and assassins. As Astraea had once fraternized with this guild in the past, she immediately knew who she was dealing with.

"I... I see, has the King decided to avail of his favour?"

"That's right."

"Fifteen years, and now he wants my favour? Can you tell me what exactly he wants from me?"

"I can't tell you all the details out here. I can just give you the surface level details here, but you better come with me if you want to get the rest of the details. All I can say is that it pertains to His Highness' daughter, the 37th heiress... He wants you to help her."

Astraea did not respond for a few prolonged moments. When Yun was afraid she would go back on her words, she nodded, keeping her hat obscuring her whole face.

"Very well. I will accompany you, Sir Yun."

"Excellent. His Highness is anxious to see you."

"I have just come out of seclusion. I will ask him what has happened these past few years, then."

Yun nodded and they shook hands on it. However, neither of them noticed that another bar patron was staring at them having a hand shake. This fellow looked unruly and was definitely not good news.