Book 3. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days

By Elena Kryuchkova and Olga Kryuchkova

Excerpt from the book:
...Turning around, Sumire saw a female figure detach from the trunk of the plum tree. And before her appeared a young girl with long hair and in a scarlet outfit.
“Lady, please don't be afraid of me,” she said. “I am the spirit of the plum tree that grows by this bridge. My name is Umeko. The oni Kiseki, whose name you guessed, caused trouble not only to me, but also to the local spirits of stones and the spirit of the river. We have never wished harm to people, and every time we were very worried, afraid to become witnesses of bloodshed. Therefore, I want to thank you.”
“Oh, there's no need,” Sumire said modestly.
“You were not at all surprised to meet Kiseki and me,” smiled Umeko. “Have you encountered spirits and demons before?”
“Once, I had to be a witness to a mystical event,” she replied.
“Oh, I see!” exclaimed the plum spirit. “This explains a lot. You are an amazing person! As a token of my gratitude, let me show you the mirror that knows the past.”
“The mirror that shows the past?” Sumire asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Umeko nodded. A small bronze mirror appeared in her hands, painted with an intricate color pattern around the edges. “If you look into it, you can see whatever you want. Whether it is an event of ancient times, the life of a person or a spirit. The only thing that the mirror does not show is the fate of objects.”
***
...It was a sultry summer day. There was not the slightest movement of wind in the air.
The servants and members of the Heavenly Clan were suffering from the heat. In the afternoon the sky began to take on a leaden hue as a heavy thunderstorm was approaching.
Amaterasu spent time in the shade of a spreading tree. Her maids, Miyu and Mayu, were diligently fanning their Lady with large fans.
Over the past two years, Miyu has grown up and gradually turned into an attractive young lady. Mayu entered the service of the deities a little later than her friend. She was a year younger than Miyu, but that didn't stop the girls from making friends.
“There will probably be a strong thunderstorm in the evening...” Amaterasu said lazily.
“Yes, my Lady, it's always very stuffy before a thunderstorm,” Mayu agreed with her.
“And I'm scared to death of lightning...” confessed Miyu.
“You shouldn't be afraid of them! They are far in the sky! And we serve the deities, so everything will be all right,” her friend reasoned.
She knew perfectly well: in a thunderstorm one should not be near water and one should not hide under a tree. Otherwise, the thunder spirits will get angry and incinerate you with a lightning bolt.
“I had a bad dream today,” Miyu ignored her friend. “I saw that a huge fireball flew into Ashihara and engulfed Lady Izanami in flames...”
***
Nine thousand years ago...
It was a wonderful summer day. This year the summer turned out to be extremely successful: not cold, but not hot either. It rained just the right amount.
The Court diviners of the Heavenly River Clan unanimously called this an auspicious sign. The reason for which was the ascension to the throne of the new ruler Tei.
The Heavenly Clan arrived on Earth over a thousand years ago, from a distant place beyond the Heavenly River. They settled on the archipelago, having founded the capital on the island of Honshu, but after a couple of centuries they finally lost touch with their distant ancestral home.
The course of time did not spare anyone, sweeping away everything in its path. Therefore, over the millennium, the Heavenly Clan had lost most of their knowledge and technology. The members of the clan in many ways became like ordinary mortal people. They also lost their amazing longevity, because they gradually mixed with mortal earthlings from local tribes. But the members of the Heavenly Clan still kept records on timeless paper, diligently guarding the secret of its manufacture...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elena Kryuchkova
• Release date: Oct 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215209141

Elena Kryuchkova

Elena Kryuchkova started her creative path in 2012. She writes in different genres, such as: esotericism, fantasy, Slavic fantasy, sci-fi, dystopia, post-apocalyptic and others. Has several graphic works. A number of her novels were co-authored with Olga Kryuchkova.She is inspired by various fantasy and science fiction.Loves cats and draws.

Book preview

Book 3. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days

The Tales of the Golden-Faced Queen and the Artifacts of the Ancient Goddess Book Series.

Elena Kryuchkova, Olga Kryuchkova

Book 3. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days (‘The Tales of the Golden-Faced Queen and the Artifacts of the Ancient Goddess’ Book Series)

Written by Elena Kryuchkova, Olga Kryuchkova

Copyright © 2022 Elena Kryuchkova, Olga Kryuchkova

All rights reserved

Cover Design © 2022 Elena Kryuchkova

Book 3. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days

Prologue 3. Lost Lapis Lazuli

Part 1. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days

Chapter 1. Clan from the Planet Beyond the Heavenly River

Chapter 2. A Prophetic Dream that Predicted Trouble.

Chapter 3. Exile and New Life of the God of the Sea and Storms

Chapter 4. Pillars of the Goddess of the Sun and Ancient Lapis Lazuli

Part 2. Heavenly Clan Lost in the Depths of Centuries

Chapter 1. Lady Ori

Chapter 2. Unusual Dream

Chapter 3. Eight Years Later...

Chapter 4. Campaign Against the Lunar Kingdom.

Japanese System Divides the Day

This story is fiction and any similarity to real people or events are coincidental.

In story there are names of real people who lived in the past. But the description of their life in this story is fictitious.

The characters of mythology are also changed: their characters, relationships and family ties are fiction. This story is completely fiction.

Book 3. Forgotten Stories of Bygone Days

Prologue 3. Lost Lapis Lazuli

The nineteenth year of the reign of Emperor Go-Yozei (The nineteenth year of his reign corresponds to 1605).

The day came when Sumire and her troupe were to perform in front of the aristocrat.

The aristocrat himself invited them to give the performance in his country house, because there is more space.

The actors arrived there at the appointed time. They successfully played the story of the capricious princess, warrior, and dragon written by Sumire herself. The aristocrat was very pleased and generously rewarded the troupe. This was followed by a feast (the owner of the house celebrated his promotion), which began in the middle of the Hour of the Dog and promised to last all night.

The aristocrat kindly invited the actors to stay at the feast, and then stay in the guest rooms, and they gladly accepted his offer.

But Sumire left the noisy gathering after a while. She wanted to get some fresh air and take a little walk around the house. In the end, there were several more country residences of other representatives of the capital's nobility nearby, and guards guarded all the houses. Therefore, the area was very safe.

... Near the house where the troupe gave the performance, there was a small river, and a wooden bridge passed through it, next to which a wonderful plum tree grew. It was clear that the tree was already many years old, and more than one generation of local residents admired its wonderful flowers.

As for the bridge, vague rumors have been circulating about it lately: as if sometimes people see the demon-oni on it. Therefore, the locals were afraid to go there, preferring to use another bridge, located a little upstream.

But Sumire, of course, didn't know about it. She went to the bridge, and from it began to observe the measuredly flowing waters of the river and admire the plum tree. So the woman stood for some time, when suddenly, out of nowhere, a thick fog appeared.

For a moment, the woman froze, for this fog seemed strange to her.

She was distracted from her gloomy thoughts by a strange sound. It didn't take long for her to realize that it was coming from the water. Looking at the river, the astonished Sumire saw that the current of the calm river suddenly became fast, the water bubbled, and a tall wave rose from there! From which the oni jumped out, a large evil demon with horns, fangs and red skin.

It was believed that they live in Jigoku (hell) and were very strong. These demons are difficult to kill, and their severed body parts grow back. In combat, they use a large iron club called kanabō and wear tiger-skin loincloths.

The faces of oni might seem stupid at first glance, but in fact, these demons usually turned out to be very smart and cunning. They loved human meat, and some legends said that these demons did not like soybeans.

There was also a belief that people who are unable to control their anger can turn into oni. But sometimes, there were such rare exceptions when the oni were kind to people and even served as their protectors.

...The oni that jumped out of the water landed on the bridge across from Sumire and stared at her with unblinking eyes.

Human! he growled. Since you stepped on my bridge, then you just can’t get off it!

Why is this ‘your bridge’? the woman was indignant in an unexpectedly impertinent voice. It wasn't the first time she'd encountered the supernatural, but oddly enough, she didn't feel fear. Did you build it?

The oni froze in amazement for a few moments. He did not expect such a reaction from a mortal woman!

Meanwhile, the oni replied:

Yes, I built this bridge! For no mortal could do it!

Why? The river here is so calm, Sumire replied skeptically, pointing at the calm water.

The oni snorted indignantly, marveling at the ‘insolence’ of the interlocutor. These mortals have become insolent! he thought. Nothing to scare them! Or am I really getting old, and do not inspire the former horror?

Aloud, he began to tell his story:

"In the past, many centuries ago, the river here was rough. And none of the mere mortals could build such a bridge that it would not be washed away by water. And then, one day, people turned to a very skillful carpenter in their opinion. He came to this river, and began to inspect the place where he was to build a bridge. He watched the flow of the river for a long time. And then I appeared before him. I jumped out of the wave in front of him, just like before you! And I yelled: ‘Carpenter! You stand here for a long time and look at the water! Are you thinking of something?’ He replied, for some reason also not at all surprised at my appearance: ‘So it is. I promised to build a bridge, and I want to make it as strong as possible. That's what I was thinking about.’ I answered him: ‘A human cannot build a bridge on this place! But there is one way.’ The carpenter, of course, asked me what kind of way? And I answered: ‘If you give me your eyes, then I will build such a bridge that no mortal can build! And the bridge will stand here for centuries!’

The carpenter caught his breath at my suggestion. He didn't answer, so I told him to come back the next day. I returned to the river and the carpenter left.

The next day he came back here. By that time, I had already built the bridge from one bank to the other. Of course, there were a few minor unfinished moments, but from the reaction of the carpenter, I realized that he had never seen anything like this in his life! For he, as if spellbound, looked at the bridge, at how cunningly and skillfully the beams and crossbeams were laid!

I emerged from the river again, but the carpenter was already leaving, so he did not notice me. The next day he again came to the bridge, and I immediately appeared before him. And I shouted: ‘Have you forgotten our agreement? Give me your eyes!’ I stretched out my hands to him, but the carpenter did not want to give me his eyes. He said: ‘Wait, oni, can't you wait until tomorrow?’ I grinned and replied: ‘What a trickster you are! Now you know how to build such a bridge! If you continue to see, you will build such bridges everywhere! That's not how things will work! Give me your eyes!’ But the carpenter begged me to wait again ‘until tomorrow’ because he wanted to admire the bridge for another day.

Then I answered him: ‘Well, then listening to me carefully. You won't get a second time. I can leave you your eyes, but only if you can guess my name. Will you try to guess it? See you tomorrow then!’ I laughed and disappeared into the river.

And the carpenter went to his house. On the way, he heard a woman lull her baby to sleep by calling him by his name! And here is the irony! That child had the same name as mine. And the carpenter somehow figured it out!

He came to me the next day, I gave him three attempts to guess my name. The first two times he made a mistake, and the third time he called my name! I was so surprised! That I had to go back to the river!

But ever since, when I see someone on this bridge, I demand that they guess my name! And those who do not guess, I eat!"

So the oni ended his story. In fact, he has not yet eaten anyone: people, as soon as they saw him, immediately rushed to run away. Sumire was the first in a long time ‘lucky’ to enter into a conversation with him.

What happens if I guess your name? she asked the demon.

I won't eat you, he replied calmly.

"For such a difficult task, you won’t even grant a single wish of