Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Chapter 7

clouds in the sky separated  the heavens from the world.
    Behind Taiki on the small island where he was, there stood a small shrine. The red door of the shrine  closed quietly. In front of Taiki were stone steps that led to a grand temple. Around the island, he could  vaguely see small islands in the distance that looked like unmoving lotus flowers in the midst of turbulent  seas.
    He somehow knew then how to proceed. He entered the temple and lit incense for Seioubo and  Tentei. Gyousou vowed to obey the Way and follow the Virtue. After this, Genbu appeared and guided them  across the sea of clouds to Hakkei Palace in Kouki, the capital of Tai Kingdom.
    Taiki was stunned. He knew that his face was most certainly pale.
    --It was already over.
    Taiki had thought that some sort of ceremony would be held and that his lie would be exposed,  whereby he would be punished. He assumed that no matter what form it took, there would have been an  opportunity for him to admit his wrongdoing. He hadn't imagined that there would not be one.
    It had been the climb up the transparent steps and the comprehension of Tentei's ideas and meanings  that was the so-called reception of the Tenchoku.
    Now, Taiki felt that his crime had become more serious. He had not had an opportunity to make up  for his mistake. On the other hand, Taiki understood the significance of the ruler.
    His duties were extremely important. A ruler didn't just govern the kingdom; he existed to protect the  kingdom. The ruler had to keep his kingdom's Onmyou in balance and judge the Hakke. The ruler's conduct  and behavior will influence the direction of his kingdom's destiny.
    Taiki looked up at his master, who was gazing silently and thoughtfully at the sea of clouds.
    The ruler's very existence protected the kingdom and allowed the people to live peacefully.
    Taiki suddenly became dizzy.
    --Under this false king's rule, what course will the destiny of Tai Kingdom take?
    Taiki's chest flooded with regret and despair as he watched Gyousou swear the oath.
    --At that exact same time...
    Tai Kingdom is located in the northeast part of the world. In its capital on the top of Kouki Mountain,  there stood Hakkei Palace. Within the palace, Nisei Palace resided, from which a sound flowed out.
    Nisei Palace is a small palace, in which the master of that palace lived with ten attendants who saw to  the daily life of the master.
    Inside Nisei Palace, a resounding call suddenly rang out. This sound came from the palace master: a  Hakuchi, a White Pheasant.
    "The White Pheasant has called out!" One of the attendants was full of joy, as he shouted while he  ran outside of the palace. "It has made the First Sound!"
    The attendant's voice reached everywhere and caused a great commotion. Before long, the entire  royal palace was cheering.
    In the White Pheasant's life, it only calls out twice, and these two sounds represent two different  meanings. Because of this, the White Pheasant is also called Nisei, Two-Sounds.

    The first time he cries out is called the "First Sound," and the second time is called the "Second  Sound." A White Pheasant that finishes its second call immediately dies on the spot; thus, the Second Sound  is also called the "Ending Sound."
    The First Sound is "Sokui," ascension to the throne. The Second Sound is "Hougyo," the death of the  ruler. The White Pheasant's entire life is for the sake of making these two calls.
    The White Pheasant of Hakkei Palace was born ten years ago. Until today, it had not yet cried out.
    --That is to say, this was its First Sound.
    "The White Pheasant has called out! It has made the First Sound!"
    The sound passed from the living quarters of the Inner Halls all the way to the governing offices of  the Outer Halls. There wasn't a place where there were not continuous sounds of joy.
    "King Tai has ascended to the throne!"
    - - - - -
    At the same time, in Gyouten, the capital city of the eastern Kei Kingdom, its own royal palace,  Kinpa Palace also received the news.
    "Open the door, Godou Palace!"
    Hearing this, Keiki lifted his head up.
    While laying on the floor, Keiki turned his head; Queen Kei, who had originally been listening to  Keiki giving her the reports of the Rokkan, the Six Ministers, also looked up in curiosity.
    A lady-in-waiting anxiously opened the window.
    In an instant, a bird flew in from the window and rested on a gold-colored branch that was originally  in the room already.
    "The White