Strongest Among the Heavens
Chapter 218: Sun Palace

Chapter 218: Sun Palace

The gateway to the Sun Mall was very reminiscent of the four large gates that surrounded the Heavenly Tower. Waves of magical energy created a divide between realms. On its left, neighbouring it with a sizable chunk of space between, was the Sun Palace. A walled compound with greenery up front and a single path forward. The palace itself was a three-story structure capped by a green hip-and-gable roof, known as the irimoya.

Across from the Sun Palace were several shrines and administrative buildings. They were distinct and evidently owned by the palace.

The outside of the palace, from the gate to the perimeter, was patrolled and guarded by armed samurai, and required special permission to enter. Kazi rightfully identified the samurai as part of the Minamoto Clan, which served the Imperial Family. They were an off-shoot of the mainline family, consisting of those that were excluded from the line of succession.

’According to the letter of Anna’s friend, for a successor to gain power, it’s vital that they maintain friendship with members of the Minamoto Clan. However, the issue is the Eternal Emperor himself. Since the dawn of the Heavenly Games, he’s been the one and only Emperor; thus, his power is absolute within those grounds.’

Negotiations on his turf would be difficult and because Kazi was not in the position to be dragging him out, this was his only choice:

To walk up to the front entrance, lower his head respectfully, and ask for an audience.

"An audience with the Tennō Heika?" The two Samurai at the front must have been members of the Minamoto Clan. Their plated armour was lacquered black and shiny. Too clean. They exchanged glances and nodded. "We will ask."

The Eternal Emperor was famously a whimsical man. He decidedly disliked tradition. Then there were the samurai guarding the entrance. If they were anything like they were in history, then they were exceptionally trained lords that pledged their loyalty to their clan or the Emperor. They weren’t grunts either. They were the cream of the crop, trained in martial combat and military tactics. The symbol of their class was signified by the daisha: a long katana and a shorter blade called the wakizashi. In history and in the White Abyss, samurai carried weapons on their person.

Just because they were mighty warriors did not mean Kazi could give up. For Marta, to see her smile again, he would do anything. Boil his hands, pluck out his eyes, for a woman that lost so much and helped him so much, he would go to great lengths.

’I was given this power to make people smile. That’s all. That’s what I exist for. That is my one and only purpose.’

Waiting, Kazi was reminded of his time in Japan and his visit to the Tokyo Imperial Palace. The front entrance of this palace was identical Sakuradamon Gate. If the Tokyo palace did indeed match the Sun Palace, then there should be another larger gate behind this smaller one. What stood in front of Kazi currently was the type called the Korai-mon Gate. In shrines and temples, it was rare for this gate type to have doors. Obviously, the Eternal Emperor and his family’s personal abode was an exception. The gate was held by four distinct red pillar with the roof tiled in shades of terracotta and charcoal gray, front and back.

The black doors opened up and one of the two samurai returned.

"His Majesty has agreed to the audience."

"Thank you." A hand on his heart, Kazi lowered his head. He was granted entry promptly.

As expected, behind the smaller gate was a larger one. Strips of grass lay parallel to the sides of this brief pathway. It smelled like springtime, like bamboo and katsuobushi. One last samurai awaited beside the yaguramon gate. Nods were given and the red samurai unveiled his katana and muttered an incantation in old Japanese. Kazi faintly was able to understand it.

The samurai in red pointed the katana’s edge at the white doorway and declared, "Open!"

Kazi sensed a flicker of magic in the air and noticed intricate magic circles momentarily glow. The large white doors seemingly obeyed and clicked open. The sky seemed to flicker and darken as he came through.

"Wow, you’re good-looking! Just like they said!"

Waiting for him on the other side was the Eternal Emperor himself.