Standing on tiptoe, Amane glanced around the market in the unfamiliar city worlds apart from the life she once knew. In her haste, her wide sleeves nearly knocked over a fruit stall.
"Oops, so sorry about that!" Clumsily, she gathered the fallen fruits and handed the vendor a candy as an apology.
The vendors nearby, who found her behavior unusual, were all amused. As Amane awkwardly asked about the governor's whereabouts in broken local language, a group of children gathered around her, eager to guide her... and eyeing her candy at the same time.
Story
"Amane? She's holed up in her room again, poring over those strange symbols again!" Olive chuckled as she pushed open the door. Inside, Amane sat surrounded by ancient tomes and scattered papers covered in charms. Her hair was casually tied in a messy bun, and she was muttering to herself. Without looking up, Amane said, "Almost done! Just need to add a few more strokes..." Those "few strokes" ended up taking the whole day. It wasn't until her stomach started growling in the evening that she finally came out to grab a bite. On her way to the kitchen, she slipped a freshly drawn amulet to the elderly lady next door, who suffered from insomnia.
On a distant island, there is a legend of a divine tree at the place closest to the sky. Its trunk is said to hold a power capable of restoring life.
Devoted shrine maidens dedicate their entire lives seeking this divine tree, hoping to craft an amulet that protects all creatures from war, disease, and disaster.
Unfortunately, no one has found the tree in centuries, and its existence has faded into myth.
When the elderly deacon placed the revitalizing amulet in the palm of the injured person, a miracle took place. The wound healed quickly, the breathing steadied, and an invisible force held the god of death at bay.
"He's saved!" He's awake! Unbelievable!" the onlookers exclaimed.
Without a word, the elderly deacon motioned for the others to tend to the injured. He looked utterly drained as if the treatment had sapped every bit of his strength.
Young Amane shyly presented the amulet she had made. Though the crooked writing seemed powerless, the deacon still grasped it firmly and carefully.
y, I don't think I did a good job..."
"Child, this amulet is the best in the world as long as your heart is sincere."
