"I feel cold"

Imperial City, Imperial Palace, End of Autumn

The entire palace was abuzz with activity. Servants runnig backwards and forwards, packing, unpacking and packing again. In the midst of it, like a stone in the middle of the river, Togashi Satsu observed. His duties were light at the moment and he thanked Shinsei for this as he was not getting any younger.

Her Celestial Majesty was in seclusion prior to their journey to Winter Court and he was not required. It was a strange experience not being needed. To someone who had spent their life in service to powers greater than themselves, not having to serve felt less like freedom and more like imprisonment.

Satsu toyed with the idea of seeking out some courtly business to deal with, but decided against it. He would have plenty to do throughout the next few months without adding to his workload. And yet, he felt a sort of nagging worry in the dark recesses of his mind. Things were moving under the surface of the Empire. Things he could not see. There were days when he secretly wished Togashi was still inhabiting his soul. It made understanding simpler, he didn’t question his wisdom then. Now, an old man, he questioned his wisdom on an almost daily basis.

The future should be bright. A celestial empress, a new dynasty, a new era of peace. And yet there were rumblings, like distant thunder in the night, conflicts were brewing. Strange things were being reported from the Colonies. The Great Clans were beginnig to chafe under the Empress Peace and sooner or later war would once again wash over the face of the Emerald Empire.

“I feel cold” whispered Satsu.