Sea of the Wind, Shore of the Maze, Prologue

the more confused he got, until he let out a heavy sigh and decided never to tackle this problem  again.
    "Is there flat terrain here?"
    "Yes, I'll take you there."
    After they took a few steps, Youka turned and looked at the building behind them. "That is Rosen  Palace. It is a residence that has been specially prepared for you."
    "Then, it's my home?"
    "Yes. After you've been living here longer, if you feel there's a better palace, please let us know at any  time."
    "I can move too?"
    Youka laughed a little bit. "Of course you can! You are the master of Houro Palace. You may live  wherever you like."
    Taiki angled his head. They followed the narrow path and walked to the intersection between a gentle  slope and a tunnel.
    "Actually...this is something I don't really understand."
    "Hm?"
    "Houro Palace... that's right here, right?"
    "Yes."
    "Why would I be the master of this place?"
    Taiki felt uncertain. No matter if it was Youka, Sanshi or any of the other nyosen, there were many that  were older than he, especially Gyokuyou, who looked even more dignified. He didn't understand why he was  the master and not any of the other people. No matter how he looked at it, it didn't make any sense.
    Youka had a troubled smile on her face. "Because you are a kirin."
    "What is a kirin?"
    "A kirin is what is born from that tree from yesterday."
    Suddenly, a little light popped into Taiki's head.
    "Then, are there others like me?"
    "Yes. Besides you, there are eleven others."
    "Including me, there are twelve total?"
    "Yes. Ren Taiho, whom you met yesterday, is also a kirin."
    "Was it that lady who was wearing a bracelet?"
    "Yes."
    "Then do I have another opportunity to see her?"
    Youka shook her head. "Ren Taiho has already gone back."
    He thought that this was unfortunate. If he hadn't cried so much yesterday that he cried himself to  sleep, perhaps he could have talked to Ren Taiho about many things.
    "Then where are the rest of the kirin? Can I meet them?"
    Youka laughed. "Everyone has already gone to their respective kingdoms. Perhaps you will run into  them after you have also descended."
    "Descended?"
    "You will choose a ruler, and then you will leave Mt. Hou."
    "A ruler? There's a ruler?"
    "Yes, and he will become your master."
    "Master?"
    "A kirin will choose a ruler, and then he will serve the ruler. And it is the duty of us here on Mt. Hou to  take care of you before that happens."
    So that's how it is, Taiki thought. In the future, he will work as a servant to the ruler. As to which ruler  he will work at the side of, only the future can decide. And before that, he will stay on Mt. Hou, which is  probably similar to living a pious life.
    When he thought all of this through, he finally got a little bit of relief from the uncertainties that had  occupied his mind since yesterday.
    "But am I qualified enough for such an important job?"
    "Well," Youka sigh again and laughed. "Of course you can! Because you are a kirin."
    "Is a kirin's job to work at the side of a ruler?"
    "Yes."
    "Do the other kirin also do this?"
    Youka nodded and began to list it out. "There are a total of twelve kingdoms here, and every kingdom  has a ruler. There are also twelve kirin. There will always be a kirin at the side of a ruler. This is how things  are."
    "Oh..."
    "But right now, there are only eleven rulers. The ruler of the kingdom situated in the northeast, Tai  Kingdom, passed away ten years ago, and a successor has not been chosen yet."
    "Then what about the Kirin of Tai Kingdom?"
    Youka smiled and looked at Taiki. "Isn't he right here?"
    "Me?"
    "Yes, you are the Kirin of Tai Kingdom, so that's why we call you Taiki. You will eventually choose a  ruler. This is the duty of a kirin."
    Taiki blinked his eyes. "Is it right to let me decide such an important thing?"
    Youka nodded her head energetically. "This is something only you can decide. ...Ah, this is the  mulberry garden."
    After not too long a time, Taiki became accustomed to life on Mt. Hou: the unusual clothes, the strange  customs, and the vegetarian meals.
    Even though there were so many remarkable things, Taiki was still little enough that he didn't fuss over  them as an adult might. Especially since he never felt that this way of life was an inconvenience or  unsuitable to him, so he very naturally took to it.
    If there was just one thing he had trouble adapting to though, it would have to do with the fact that his  appearance had changed. The mirrors here