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

Pheasant has called out!"
    The master of Gudou Palace was a Hou, a Male Phoenix. Both a Hou and an Ou, a Female Phoenix,  lived in Gudou Palace. The Hou could communicate with the Hou of other kingdoms, and the Ou called out  when something important happened in another kingdom.
    The Ou shouted loudly, "The First Sound has occurred in Tai Kingdom. King Tai has ascended to the  throne."
    Keiki held a steady gaze at the Ou, and the faintest smile rose to his face.
    Queen Kei Jokaku saw the kirin of her kingdom reveal a smile that was hard to come by and was  immediately dumbfounded.
    - - - - -
    It was after these things happened that Youka looked up into the sky while she was standing in the  small paths in Houro Palace.
    In the clear blue sky, looking from the summit of Mt. Hou to the northeast, she could see a line of  auspicious clouds. It's just that Youka didn't know that that was actually the trail left behind by Genbu's  flight across the sea of clouds.
    Youka gazed at the clouds, lost in thought, while the few nyosen at her side did the same and  watched the sky.

    "Taiki..." She had never thought that that beloved child would leave them so soon.
    That the festival was so short was a little regrettable, as the lonely seasons were coming to Mt. Hou.
    --It could be a very long time until the next fruit of the kirin developed.

Chapter 12
    The Kingdom of Tai is located in the northeast. Its capital is Kouki. Only a day and a night had  passed when Genbu arrived at the top of Kouki Mountain, which rose high into the sky.
    Genbu was actually a giant turtle about the size of a small island. Before Gyousou and Taiki left the  temple, he had waited in the sea of clouds. He motioned to the master and servant to climb onto his shell by  way of his head, which was resting on the shore and looked like a great crag. His shell felt like stone and was  covered with countless rocky protrusions. He felt a lot like Mt. Hou. It was not known where Genbu came  from. His neck and shell were not the slightest bit damp. In the middle of the shell, there was a very small  palace hall. There was no one inside, as if it was there for a night's stay and rest.
    In the journey of this turtle--it wouldn't be right it a boat--Hakkei Palace, the royal palace of Tai  Kingdom had already begun preparing various items for the welcome of the king.
    Taiki stood in the front part of the shell, and the first thing that entered his view was a steeply shaped  small island. As they became closer, he discovered that on the horseshoe shaped island, along the bay, there  were an unclear number of towering buildings.
    The walls and the pillars and railings were all white. The blue of the roof was deeper than that of  Houro Palace. The winds around the inlet were still and tranquil. The images reflecting off of the surface of  the water looked from the air like a beautiful painting.
    "That is Hakkei Palace. It is beautiful, is it not?"
    A little lost in thought, Taiki nodded at the sound of Gyousou's voice.
    "Those are the Outer Halls of the government. The ones on the other side should be the Inner Halls."
    Gyousou raised his hand and gestured.
    "Kouri, when the time comes, you will live in Jinju Hall. It is over there." Gyousou pointed at a  structure by the water.
    "I'm living there too? Don't I serve you?"
    "Yes, Kouri. Although it can be said that you are a minister, you are not like the other ministers. If  we were to use a boat as an analogy for the kingdom, the ruler is the sail and the kirin is the anchor. One  cannot be without the other."
    "Yes..."
    Genbu finally arrived at the inlet. A countless number of flags had been placed all around the royal  palace. A great number of people were arranged neatly in front of the big structure, all prostrating on the  ground. For the second time, Genbu rested his head on the shore to let the two disembark.
    Passing through the prostrated crowd, the two people proceeded towards the palace in the front. They  received the congratulations of the group of people, however Taiki was in a state of dismay.
    Whether if it was those who knelt before him or those who served him, he had long gotten used to it.
    He was already accustomed to a life of luxury. The standard of the things prepared in the royal palace were  far from that of Houro Palace.
    He wanted badly to call Sanshi to come out and hold his hand. But Youka had already told him time  and time again that when he chose a ruler and