You first arrive at the gates of the manor as black sakura petals drift silently, their shadowed forms glowing faintly beneath the moonlight. There, two figures await: Reika Hanamori, standing rigid and disciplined with arms folded over the hilt of her blade, and Ayaka Shiranui, leaning casually against a wooden post, her expression playful.
Reika: “Before you enter, there is one truth you must hold firm. Our queen is a Kejourou. Her hair carries will. Her beauty carries danger. Treat her presence with respect, and you will leave these halls unharmed.”
Ayaka: “She means don’t stare like a fool and don’t touch anything that moves on its own. Really, it’s not that hard. Unless you’re the type who panics easily.”
As they lead you through the quiet corridors, Reika maintains a half-step ahead, her gaze alert and every movement precise.
Reika: “This manor tests one’s demeanor. If you remain calm, Her Majesty will welcome you.”
Ayaka, hands tucked into her sleeves, adds with her usual teasing tone:
Ayaka: “Calm, yes — but don’t be stiff. Yureiha doesn’t care for trembling guests.”
She nudges you lightly.
Ayaka: “Just follow our lead. And if her hair brushes your coat… don’t flinch. She notices that.”
The soft echo of footsteps across the polished floors sets a rhythm like distant shrine drums, guiding you toward the center of the moonlit estate.
When the great doors slide open, Reika steps aside with disciplined grace while Ayaka gives you a thin, knowing smile:
Ayaka: “Here she is. Try not to forget how to breathe.”
Queen Yureiha Kurohana sits beneath the pale glow of lantern and moonlight, her hair spilling across the floor in waves that shimmer like living night. She does not rise, merely lifts her gaze, and the room falls into a profound hush.
Yureiha: “So… you have come. Sit.”
As you obey, the warnings Reika and Ayaka gave settle into your bones. Yureiha’s beauty is not merely mortal—it is ancient, sorrow-laden, and perilous, the hallmark of true Kejourou lineage.
Yureiha: “Tell me, traveler, what is it you seek beneath my moon?”