The Twelve Kingdoms: The Shore in Twilight

Heaven. I'm pretty sure that's what it is."
    "Heaven--"
    "That's the only thing that makes sense to me. Houro Palace exists only for the kirin. The kirin are raised here and sent into the world. And the kirin exist to create new kings. Moreover, somebody unaffiliated with any kingdom, whose authority exists independently in its own right, must belong to Heaven.
    "But as for Genkun?"
    "I really can't say," Rokuta said with a sigh. "You can ask her straight out if she's the one who appoints the wizardesses. But she's not the kind of deferential being who'll give you an unequivocal answer. If it's not her, then that means that there's somebody above her with the power to appoint the wizardesses. That may be Oufujin. Or somebody else. Either way, that's who Genkun ultimately serves. In other words, there's an organization called Heaven. At one end of the organizational chart are the wizardesses, and Genkun is in charge of them."
    "An organization called Heaven--"
    "I think there is a world of the Gods. According to the legends, Tentei resides in Gyokkei, where he reigns over the other Gods and keeps the world shipshape. If there really is a Gyokkei, I wouldn't be surprised. My information is limited, though, and I've yet to meet anybody who's on a first-name basis with a God. While I've heard what the myths and tales have to say, it seems that Gods don't care to hang around with the likes of us. There's no way to seek one out and ask for an interview."
    Rokuta paused and then said, "However, here alone are the Gods in constant contact with the mortal world. Genkun definitely has the ability to inquire into the intentions of Heaven. I don't know how she goes about doing so, but in any case she is our point of contact. The only person who can peer through the windows of Heaven is Genkun."

Chapter 29
    A s promised, Gyokuyou's pronouncement came the next day at noon: "The kingdoms uniting to search for Taiki does not violate any of the precepts of Heaven."
    "So it's all right, then?"
    "However, no one not listed upon the Registry of Gods or Registry of Wizards at the rank of count or above may cross the Kyokai. This rule is inviolable."
    "As I suspected. But that does leave us short-handed. Although the rule of law is defined in the Divine Decrees, nothing there prohibits the creation of new ranks. This perhaps suggests that new counts may be appointed for this purpose?"
    "It does not. Rank equal to or exceeding that of count are, even from the perspective of Heaven, dispensational in nature, and are therefore accorded special rights and privileges. Those who may be so appointed are, according to established rule, the closest relatives of the king, the Chousai, and the members of the Sankou. All others should be thought of as unsuitable to receive such dispensations."
    Rokuta clucked his tongue. "How about borrowing some of the wizardesses?"
    "I have been informed that that is not permissible. The wizardesses of Mt. Hou cannot leave here without my permission. In this instance, I cannot grant that permission. Sending them forth from here to China or Yamato would require opening the Gogou Gate, and thus triggering a great number of shoku. The Kouka is currently growing on Mt. Hou. We cannot permit the possibility of a shoku spreading across Mt. Hou and sweeping away the Kouka. The wizardesses must protect the Kouka above all else."
    "Oh. Yes, indeed. A shoku."
    "This is not a divine precept, but a request that I am making off you. I wish to keep the shoku to the bare minimum. Even if the Gogou Gate is opened on the other side of the Kyokai, there is no guessing how it might spread. Such is the nature of shoku. Thus I would ask you to please act with all due restraint."
    "Will do," said Rokuta, and Youko nodded.
    Gyokuyou smiled. "However, a kingdom cannot be deprived of both its King and its province lords. According to the Divine Decrees, if there is no king, then all of the province lords are required to maintain a quorum. Even when there is a king, of the eight provinces aside from the capital, at least four or more must be present to constitute a quorum. You must understand that this is one of the precepts of Heaven. Let me explain what I mean. Even temporarily, no more than four province lords can leave a kingdom at any one time."
    Rokuta gave Gyokuyou a hard look. "That's the first time I've heard of such a thing. If that's the case, then it should be written down."
    Gyokuyou smiled nonchalantly in return. "If you've