Book 4. Roads of Fate

By Elena Kryuchkova and Olga Kryuchkova

Excerpt from the book:
Sumire arrived at the house of the fortuneteller ‘Ms. Ru’ completely unaware of anything. What was her amazement when she saw the very same Ms. Ruri! After exchanging formal courtesies with her, the former actress said:
“And yet, the ways of fate are truly inscrutable! Ms. Ruri, I never expected to see you in Ming!”
“But I knew you would come, Ms. Sumire,” the fortuneteller smiled. “I guess you`ve already guessed that I`m not exactly a simple person.”
“You are the spirit of that lapis lazuli that was on the hairpin that I gave you. Is not it?”
Ruri nodded. It was no surprise to her that Sumire had already understood everything.
“You wish to know your future, don`t you?” she asked.
“Exactly,” she confirmed.
“Now I will make your horoscope,” came the answer.
Of course, Sumire guessed that the lapis lazuli spirit didn`t need any tools or calculations to see into the future. But she still decided not to interrupt her.
Ruri began to diligently make the horoscope. And at the very beginning, she realized that something had gone wrong. Namely, she did not see the future of Sumire. “What`s the matter?” Ruri was confused. “Just because everything was fine...”
Thanks to the fact that her magical powers partially returned, she knew that Sumire was one of the descendants of the very Celestial Maiden Haruka, who once awakened Ruri from a long sleep. For a moment, it even seemed to her that Sumire was the very descendant in which Ori, whom Ruri had been looking for so long, was reborn. But then — this vision disappeared, as if the image of Ori ‘left’ Sumire. Therefore, Ruri decided that it just seemed to her...
Suddenly, Ruri saw the future of her house. It turned out that in the near future it no longer existed. Her house will be empty until the city recognizes it as abandoned. And in the future, a cosmetics shop will open in Ruri`s house.
“Will I leave this place in a hurry? But why?” wondered the spirit of lapis lazuli. “Why can’t I see Sumire’s future? Really, her further destiny is connected with me? For the only one whose fate I cannot see is my own.”
Meanwhile, the former head of the acting troupe asked:
“Something is wrong?”
Ruri hesitated for a moment. She didn`t know what to answer her. Suddenly, something amazing happened. All of a sudden, a thick white fog came into the room...
***
...That day, Mr. Bai was doing business as usual, when suddenly his regular client came to him: Himiko-Sakurako herself.
“Ah, lady Sakurako! How glad I am to see you!” he broke into an obsequious smile. “What do you want this time? Especially for you, I have several new scientific treatises and a finely crafted jade necklace...”
The merchant did not doubt the solvency of the customer: she always bought expensive exquisite goods. However, the merchant could not overestimate the price too much: the girl was perfectly oriented and understood the true value or uniqueness of this or that product.
“I`m glad to see you too, Mr. Bai,” she greeted politely. “I want to take a look at the new scientific treatises and the necklace.”
The merchant immediately presented the necessary items. The customer examined them carefully and nodded in satisfaction.
“They really got me interested,” she said. Then she thought for a moment and said: “Do you have any scientific treatises on military mechanisms or unusual weapons?”
Dong was somewhat surprised, but did not show it.
“Alas, but now I have nothing suitable!” the merchant honestly admitted. “But I can show something interesting.”
“What is this?” inquired the girl.
“These are fireworks.”
“Fireworks?”
Of course, Himiko had heard about them from other overseas merchants. Even though she never saw them...
“Yes lady... Please take a look...” Mr. Bai took out a small wooden box...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elena Kryuchkova
• Release date: Oct 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215350690

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 4. Roads of Fate

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

Elena Kryuchkova, Olga Kryuchkova

Book 4. Roads of Fate (‘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 4. Roads of Fate

Prologue 4. The World of Spirits

Chapter 1. Death of the Teacher

Chapter 2. The Fireworks

Chapter 3. Arrival in Qingdao

Chapter 4. Meeting with the Mystical Beauty.

Chapter 5. Danger on the Way

Chapter 6. Love of Lady Sakurako

Epilogue

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 4. Roads of Fate

Prologue 4. The World of Spirits

The twenty-second year of the reign of Emperor Go-Yozei (1608 AD).

Three years have passed. During this time, Miho and Ruri wandered around the world. However, the fox spirit had to return to her native clan. As for the spirit of the lapis lazuli stone, she opened a new fortuneteller's shop, but this time in China. Her business prospered and many visitors came.

As for Sumire, she spent all those three years in China. The former head of the acting troupe, who knew the basics of the Chinese language, quickly got used to the new place and improved her knowledge. She no longer returned to the activities of the actress. Instead, she became a storyteller. Sumire told the public numerous stories. Often she was invited by minor aristocrats and merchants, so that she delighted the ears of their guests at a feast with her playing a musical instrument and various legends.

An attractive woman who looked much younger than her real age, skillfully accompanying herself on a biwa (Japanese stringed musical instrument), always gathered a lot of listeners around. The rich did not skimp on paying Sumire for the pleasure of hearing, therefore, she had enough money to live on.

Sometimes she thought: perhaps years ago it was necessary to accept the marriage proposal and not run away from home? Or should she return home after such a long absence? Are her parents still alive? But doubts usually did not last long. If I got married, or returned home after escaping, then I would not see the world and would not learn much. In China, I travel to different cities. And it's incredibly exciting!

In China at this time, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, Wanli Emperor (personal name Zhu Yijun), ruled. His reign had already lasted thirty-six years. And he was destined to rule for another twelve years.

Sumire was in the city of Luoyang. Luoyang was a major city in western China. Luoyang itself had a very rich history. Long ago, more than three and a half thousand years ago (in 2070 BC), the king named Tai Kang from the legendary Xia Dynasty moved the capital to the place where the Yi River flowed into the Luo River.

Later, over time, the city was destroyed in civil strife and rebuilt. The city has changed its name several times. It was in Luoyang that China's first Buddhist temple, the White Horse Temple, appeared (in 68 AD). But in the end, at one fine moment, Luoyang acquired its current name and its current appearance.

On the outskirts of Luoyang, there is a modest but clean inn where Sumire is staying. Recently, a strange premonition had overwhelmed the woman: as if something was about to happen. This feeling cannot be called bad, but it cannot be called good either.

"I sense something unusual," she mused. It seems that I felt something similar when I encountered supernatural beings. Is it possible that some kind of meeting with the supernatural is waiting for me again soon?

Sumire looked around her room in the inn. The furnishings were more than simple: a bed, a table and a chair. In the corner there is a chest in which it is so convenient to put luggage. However, the storyteller traveled light. Although recently she was sometimes overcome by thoughts that it would be time to settle down somewhere.

Recently, she performed several times in the house of an aristocrat. And his generous wife gave the storyteller some valuable jewelry. It is quite possible to sell jewelry and buy a small modest house on the outskirts of the city.

But what will I do then? as always doubted in such moments Sumire. I'm so used to traveling and living in constant motion. I’m afraid that I’ll go crazy with boredom with a quiet life!

After some thought, the woman suddenly remembered how the other day she heard a conversation between the hostess of the inn and one of the maids. They discussed that a fortuneteller lives two streets from the inn. And she is famous for accurate forecasts and unusual blue eyes.

"Just like Ms. Ruri's," Sumire thought then. And forgot about the conversation.

But now she remembered the previous conversation. And she decided: Why shouldn’t I go to the fortuneteller? If this is indeed Ms. Ruri, it will be a pleasure to see her again. Though I doubt it's her. After all, Ms. Ruri is a supernatural creature. When I returned the long-lost lapis lazuli stone to her, she must have gone to her supernatural world.

After thinking a little more and weighing all the pros and cons, Sumire nevertheless decided to go to the fortuneteller.

***

Meanwhile, lady Ruri was in her fortune-telling shop, a small two-story house with a bright green tiled roof. Picturesque apple and plum trees grew under the windows of the front facade. On the first floor of the house there was a reception room, where the fortuneteller received visitors.

Furnished in the latest fashion of the Ming (as China was called after the ruling dynasty), the reception room of the fortuneteller inside looked very attractive. The walls were draped in bright blue silk, and the room was furnished with fashionable carved furniture. There were also several screens with marvelous flower paintings.

Ruri did not keep a servant, preferring to maintain order on her own. Visitors were always surprised: how does the fortuneteller manage everything herself? When they asked about it, the lapis lazuli spirit only smiled mysteriously, noting to herself that, of course, it cannot do without supernatural abilities.

Ruri often had doubts. She wished with all her heart to find the rebirth of Lady Ori, but no matter how hard