It was spring. The Kikyo flower buds swayed in the gentle breeze in a grassy courtyard.
A baby girl was abandoned at the doorstep of House Kikyo in Hokkaiko state. The mistress of the House took the child in and named her "".
Three years later, as spring returned once again, the courtyard was filled with the innocent babble of the girl's voice, "Is this your new baby? He's so small and cute!"
leaned against the mistress's lap, gazing with curiosity at the swaddled infant before her. Unable to resist, she reached out to touch his tiny face.
"This is little ," the mistress replied with a gentle smile. "You should take good care of him."
As the baby slowly opened his eyes and held onto 's finger, she beamed with joy and promised to keep him safe.
"But your paths will only cross so briefly..." Someone seemed to whisper a foreboding reminder to . However, the three-year-old remained blissfully unaware.
Soon after, the kind-hearted couple of the House was taken by a sudden plague. With their elder brother away fighting as an underling of the Daimyo of Hokkaiko, and had only each other to rely on and spent their childhood in happy companionship.
But time waits for no one. Before they knew it, was ten years old and was seven.
Despite her youth, had already shown great spiritual potential and was about to leave home: as a child of House Kikyo, she had to leave home and undertake training at the remote Momiji Shrine to become a powerful shrine maiden and enhance the reputation of her House.
The day of separation finally arrived. Young chased behind 's carriage for as long as he could. gazed back at her weeping brother through the window, her eyes filling with tears until the world before her became a blur.
That's when a blurry shadow appeared beside her and whispered in her ear, "You will become something more in the days to come..."
"Who are you?" asked, puzzled.
The shadow replied, "I am the other you, just as you are the other me..."
Even as she trained at the shrine, remained deeply concerned for back home and often corresponded with her family.
Three years later, a letter arrived from informing her that he had been sent to serve under Daimyo .
However, fate had other plans in store.
A tragedy struck when news arrived that both and the daimyo had died in the chaos of the Gurenji Rebellion.
Overwhelmed with grief, found solace only in the warmth of her tears. But her mourning was cut short when she learned that the Yokai army from the Underworld was wreaking havoc upon the human world, destroying shrines and temples in its way. Urged by the High Priest of the shrine, set out to activate the Mandala Circle at the Hokkaiko Shrine.
"I've lost my loved ones, and I won't let others suffer the same fate."
As she prepared to leave, the shadow once again appeared beside her, whispering in a clear voice near her ear, "But you must become me before you can save everyone..."
Unable to contain her emotions, asked firmly, "Who are you?"
"You will understand everything in the Mandala Circle," the shadow replied.
After a long and arduous journey, finally arrived at the Hokkaiko Shrine. The Yokai Army had already surrounded the city, and time was of the essence to activate the Mandala Circle.
Just as was about to initiate the ritual, led a Yokai troop into the shrine. Though they had been separated for years, immediately recognized the Yokai before her as her lost family. Tearfully, she pleaded with him, ", it's me, !"
But did not respond. Under the control of the Power of the Underworld, he wielded the "Guren Chakram" and charged towards .
Thankfully, her guards stepped forward to block his attack and sacrificed themselves to buy time to reinforce the seal. Knowing that activating the circle was the only chance to save , entered the circle.
As she prepared to activate it, the white Mandala flowers surrounding the circle burst into full bloom. Two magatamas on the altar transformed into streams of light and poured into 's body.
Suddenly, found herself in a strange space where a figure appeared before her, bearing the exact same face as her own. "We finally meet, ," the figure said, with a voice both gentle and detached.
"I am the Divine Goddess, your previous existence, the other you."
Memories flooded 's mind: in her previous life, she was known as the Divine Goddess, the daughter of two ancient deities. Her mother had died giving birth to her, and the Divine Goddess herself had also passed away young due to an unknown sickness. Her father promised his wife, who was now trapped in the Underworld, that he would bring both her and their daughter back. However, as he attempted to open a gateway to the Underworld, he realized that bringing his wife back would cause the Underworld to merge with the human world. In order to prevent this disaster, he broke his vow and sealed the gateway between the two realms using five Mandala Circles. Seeing this, his wife felt utterly betrayed, and the resentment in her heart eventually corrupted her soul. She became a vengeful Yokai, determined to destroy the Mandala Circles and create an Eternal Underworld in the human world.
"Accept me, and you will have the chance to awaken and save the human world," the Divine Goddess implored .
"Become me, become the owner of the power of the Sun and Moon, and become the goddess of time."
cast a reluctant glance at her brother, who was wreaking havoc nearby. She knew she couldn't awaken him, nor did she have the power to stop the Yokai army.
"Rest in my heart and sleep well. I will honor your life until the very end," whispered as the light enveloped her, transforming her from a mere girl into the Goddess of Sun and Moon.
As prepared to pounce on her, 's command came from afar. ", retreat!"
With no hesitation, the Yokai troop quickly left the shrine.
But did not pursue them. In that moment, she still retained her memories of her mortal life and was plagued by a great doubt. "Who am I? The daughter of House Kikyo, or the child of the Sun and Moon?"
As 's memories flashed before the Divine Goddess's mind, the answer slowly became clear: Life and prosperity are my eternal aspiration.
"I am the Divine Goddess, and I speak for this world."
