#topic: misterican government

[shiroi---kumo]

Misterican Culture and Colorism

We're going to talk about the metaphorical elephant in the room when it comes to Misterica and that's colorism. It's not a good thing and it one of the greatest flaws in their society as a whole. Much like humans show bias through skin tone (racism), some Mistericans show heavy doses of bias due to the color of one's Mist (colorism) and it's nothing to be proud of.

Due to the nature of their religion, Mistericans already relate colors lighter in hue to be 'better' than others because they are 'closer to white' (the hue). This is due to the fact that their Goddess, Lady Tiamat was White ->

Please look at her when I say this so it makes sense. When I say she was "white" I do NOT mean the color of her skin. I mean her hair because that is a reflection of the color of her Mist.

I'll use Joki, Taivas and Sielu as an example of how Misterican Society talks about people. If they were being discussed in Misterican Society, skin color would never come up. They don't care. To Mistericans they're all Blue. One's hair color = the color of their Mist.

The same would be said about Kipinä, Kuu, Kukka, Sydän and Tuulta. In the space of Misterican Society they would tell you these five are all purple.

It's just the same as Sinfonia, Valo and Tuli. In the space of Misterican society they are all Orange.

The classify each other by the color of their mist and the color of their mist is told to the world around them without anyone ever speaking a word. It's the same color as a Misterican's hair no matter what, because of this Misterican considers hair color and their hair in general sacred and dyeing it is something that's never even been conceived of because no Misterican ever would.

That being said, that means Misterican Society classified it's people in the following categories:

Red - The color of the Royal Family. Red Mistericans have held the crown for thousands of years, and this color exclusively shows up within it's bloodline. The color not only is a symbol of power to them but also the sign of royalty. Red Mist's ability to cast Paralyze also gives a certain level of fear to it's bearers. Red is also a dominant trait color as it is one of the Primaries.

Orange - An average color. Many Mistericans are. Has no special qualities and carries no biases as Orange Mist's ability is to cast Silence. A secondary color that can occur in child both from parents of similar colors or because of the mixing colors of their mists.

Yellow - One of the Primaries. A dominant trait color but carries few biases that are largely over looked by the public. Yellow Mist's ability to cast Confusion makes some tread with caution around these people but they are otherwise treated just the same as everyone else.

Green - A secondary color, related to by the public to danger and death. Largely found within the space of the military due to Green Mist's poison nature. It casts Toxic upon exhale and can kill those who inhale it at varying speeds. The only secondary color that carries a secondary effect within it's main. (I.E. Yellow-Green Mist will both confuse you and kill you)

Blue - The last of the primaries and a dominant trait. The first to be considered a "Holy Color" in all shades and tints due to it's relation to Tiamat. Valued highly despite Blue Mist's ability to cast Slow when the user exhales. Highly respected color, even more so the lighter it gets. Considered reliable and dependable. Treated a little bit higher than everyone else.

Purple - A secondary color but the second to be considered a "Holy Color" in all shades and tints due to it's relation to Tiamat as well. Highly valued and considered a respectful color. These people are sought out to be friends and companions in society due to Purple Mist's ability to cast Regen or healing when the user exhales. Considered the color to represent all things medical. This color probably has the easiest time in Misterican Society after Red.

Pink - A tint of red. Should be considered valuable due to it's white nature of it's hue but is instead shunned for Pink Mist's ability to cast Blind when the user exhales. Considered dangerous but less so than other colors. This color is avoided at near all cost and most of its bearers end up in military positions due to their mist's ability.

Brown - A blended tone that is fairly uncommon but not completely unheard of. Avoided by most due to Brown Mist's ability to cast Stone when exhaled. Largely found in military positions due to their mist's abilities. Brown Mistericans have a habit of keeping their masks on at near all times like their green counterparts, and don't make friends outside of their own color because of the nature of their mist. They are also commonly employed by the royal family.

Silver - The Holiest of Colors after White and the symbol of the Church. Silver Mistericans have held power in the Church and the Head of the Religious Council for as long as most MIstericans can remember. Much like the King is Red, the Piipsa (Bishop) is Silver. The Piispa is the head of the Religious Council and Leader of the Church. They are also responsible for half of Misterica's government as their word is extremely valued. Silver Mist's ability to cast Charm can make those around them far more agreeable than they were before but no one seems to notice or say anything about it....

White - The color of Lady Tiamat, the Celestial Mother herself. The Holiest of all Colors and considered the Supreme Color. Misterica's entire religion is built around the worship of this color. Misterican Religion dictates that the Misterican born of this color will be known as the "Child of White" and will be Misterica's destined Savior. The Child of Salvation, themselves. Only one Misterican was ever born to this color as prophesied. White Mist possess the ability to cast Sleep upon exhale.

All this being said, Mistericans also have feelings towards the color Black (the actual hue) and they aren't good ones. They feel this way because they relate the color Black to Lord Bahamut of the God of the Soil ->

So before I go into this I remind you. Mistericans DO NOT classify beings by skin tone. They classify them by the color of their Mist, so when I say "Mistericans don't like Black" I mean the actual hue of Black like paint, NOT SKIN TONE.

So as a reminder:

Aamunkoitto is Pink. Joki is Blue. Kristalli is Pink. Liekki is Green. Palo is Yellow.

If you want the fastest way to categorize a Misterican, simply look at the color of their hair.

All on the same page? Cool. Good.

So due to Bahamut's place within Misterican Religion as "The God of Destruction" and his connection to the color Black, the Mistericans have a very strict view of the color.

Misterican Religion dictates that a great dark will come to destroy the world and when it does it will be met by a "Child of White" who will bring about Salvation but it also dictates that of a "Child of Black" to which that child is called "the child of destruction".

Mistericans view Black as a bad omen and the color of death. Black Mist does not exist but if it did they would have exiled its user no doubt. They are so tied into the belief in Black being a bad omen / ill will / the color of death that they will not wear it. They will wear deep greys but they will not wear black.

The only time a Misterican is seen wearing the color Black is when their Sielun Värit will turn such a color after they are declared a tenet breaker.

That being said Mistericans will also not wear the color White, no matter their own tone because it is the holiest of colors and therefore meant for only the holiest of beings. Only the Child of White is allowed to wear such a color as it marks them as the Celestial Mother's holy vessel.

This is where the Church comes into play on this subject, because Misterica's government is divided into two sections. The Church and the Crown or The Religious Council and the Royal Family. I'm saying this to establish that Misterica's church held the same amount of power over the government as the royal family did. They lived in a theocracy. The Church held power.

So that means when the Church declared certain colors (green, brown and pink) as "less than" or "dangerous" or even went so far as the say "The Celestial Mother loves them less" or "They were her accidental creation" that means most of the populace took that seriously and began to avoid, talk about and segregate the other colors.

It makes it excessively difficult for Mistericans of Pink, Green or Brown to exist in society fully as they are often shown much prejudice and turned down for things like applications for housing or jobs. Many of these colors are impoverished and treated extremely poorly.

On top of this, Mistericans biases show up by simply judging a person by what colors they choose to wear and it's the reason most tend to stay within the boundaries of their own color families because Mistericans will make judgements on each other solely based on the abilities of the mist that color belongs to.

An example of this is how the Royal Knights all wear blue - a holy color and most Mistericans in the medical field will wear purple somewhere on their person as purple mist has healing properties.

Furthermore, The Crown clashes with the Church on these claims and beliefs - saying they are "ludicrous" and "baseless claims found no where in the sacred texts" and that The Church is fear mongering against other colors when they should stand together as a kingdom and they have bigger threats to worry about like the Windarians so they shouldn't be separating each other.

This has public belief divided and most Mistericans torn on what they should believe and it causes a political divide to deepen further between those who side more with The Crown and those who side more with The Church.

And if it doesn't make the divide worse, The Crown backs its claims so thoroughly that 70% of the Palace's employ are Mistericans of the colors Green, Pink and Brown. As if the Royal Family just needs to make a point.

In truth there are no Misterican less than to one another and the Church is fear mongering for it's own gain, but that's another post. Colorism runs the kingdom rampant and has for many many years and it's only become worse since Hopea Sumu's family has come into power.

[shiroi---kumo]

─── ⋆⋅ ♰ ⋅⋆ ─── Hopea Sumu is the Piipsa of Misterica's Church - meaning he is the highest ranking member of their Religious Council and the head of the Church's half of the Misterican Government. This allotted Sumu a certain level of power to accomplish his goals throughout that of Misterica's whole. He was effectively Misterica's second King and the two had to work together in tandem to bring about prosperity for the people.

Sumu was an extremely pious man that was praised and hailed for the majority of his life for the color of his mist but the color of his mist while extremely light in color was a double edged sword. He was so close to white - but not quite white - and this in turn made Sumu become an extremely angry man.

He thinks less of multiple colors of mist due to the effects they carry - that being green, pink and brown - and has swayed most of the public into adopting his beliefs as he presents them as the words of the Celestial Mother herself, to make the populace that she would think less of some of her children.

Sumu is also extremely pro-the war with Windaria if only due to his extreme hatred of the Windarians and their worship of the "Demon Lord Bahamut". So he was displeased when the ceasefire went into effect during Aurinko's early days as King because it also ended some of the pull Sumu had over the public through the use of fear.

Worse yet, Sumu's mist - Silver in nature - has the ability to charm anyone who inhales this nearly invisible mist. Sumu often ignores the Sumunaamio mandate and prefers to carry about his business however he sees fit. He, however, does honestly believe that what he's doing is for the good of Misterica and the Royal Family as a whole.

Even if that's forcibly removing members of the Royal Family from power if he thinks they're not fit to lead. As speaker of the Celestial Mother he takes his position seriously and handles his matters with a cold heart, unbothered how his actions could be affecting those around him.

Due to the double edged nature of his mist, he has a less than pleasant relationship with Valkoinen Pilvi - often yelling at the child when he thinks he's acting outside of his holy boundaries and viewing the boy as less of a person and more as a Holy Artifact. If his binds and his parents won't make the boy act as a Holy Vessel should then he'll be the won't to handle the child with a firm hand because someone has to.

[shiroi---kumo]

The relationship between Lord Helakanpunainen Aurinko and Piipsa Hopea Sumu was strained at best. Both men were effectively the whole of Misterica's government as they were both the heads of their respective halves. Aurinko lead most of the government, as he was Misterica's King and leader of the Royal Family while Sumu handled everything dealing with the religion and spiritual in nature as he was the leader of the Religious Council and Misterica's Church.

Aurinko and Sumu met at least once a week to discuss the well being of their kingdom and how they wanted to proceed in concerns to things like relations with Windaria, the Child of White, and laws and regulations that dictated how Misterica functioned as a whole. Aurinko handled most of these things, including the Royal Knights who were headed by his prime bind, Sininen Taivas.

Sumu handled all things surrounding the church and it's patrons and was considered Speaker of the Celestial Mother, Tiamat - herself. Sumu was also in charge of most festivals and rituals that were religious in nature. The Church was also in charge of all things involving The Child of White - which caused tension between Sumu and Aurinko.

The problem here was that Misterica's religion dictated the Child of White as Misterica's savior of legend and as such Sumu and the Church saw him as a religious artifact and treated him as such, meanwhile The Child of White was also none other than Aurinko's youngest son, Valkoinen Pilvi. This put a rift between the two when Sumu wanted to command the artifact and Aurinko wanted to protect his son.

It caused the two to butt heads often because their versions of what was best for Misterica and her people were vastly different from one another. Yet somehow, one way or another, Sumu managed to get Aurinko to agree with him on most things....

[shiroi---kumo]

Helakanpunainen Aurinko is Misterica's reigning king. Known formally by his kingdom as Lord Aurinko, he took the throne when he was only 20 years old due to the death of his father. Aurinko was a child king, as Misterican adulthood is not reached until the age of 25.

He was a child king with a child bride, marrying Kuu when she was 19 and as such they assumed the throne and brought in their reigning age - Age of the Eclipse.

When Aurinko took the throne, Misterica was still locked deep in war with Windaria. However after some intense work and negotiations he managed to forge the Tuuli-Sumu Tulitauko between the two worlds. This put the war in the state of a ceasefire until the agreed upon demands could be met.

In order to get the Windarians to agree to such a thing, Aurinko promised for their prophesied champions - the Demon Gunman and the Demon Swordsman- to meet in battle to decide the end of the war once and for all. Except neither world had yet to find their champion. Misterica knew of their legend and that the chosen Misterican would be the Child of White, but that child had yet to be born.

Five years later when Aurinko was 27 years old his first son Punainen Usva was born and he showed care and concern to his child in the best ways he could. He was a doting father when he managed to have time amongst the chaos of leading a Kingdom in tandem with the Religious Council and showed great pride in his son's accomplishments.

Until four years later when Aurinko was 31 years old, his second son was born and not only was his second son born but he was the prophesied Child of White. Valkoinen Pilvi came to be and he found himself both overjoyed and mortified at the same time, because in signing the ceasefire, he damned his unborn son to a life destined for war. So Aurinko became distant to his son, trying to find a way to cope with what was to come in the future but he found himself being swayed over and over by this child's energy of pure joy and his seemingly endless talent for just about everything.

He couldn't help feeling extreme pride in both his sons and he loved them dearly, so he began doing everything he could to avoid the pushing from the Religious Council to prepare Pilvi for war. He did not want that innocent child to ever have to see battle despite the circumstances. He did not want to have the discussion with the Windarian leaders and he did not want to talk to the Religious Council because everything was different now. The Child of White was his son, and Aurinko saw "His little Pilvi" before he saw anything else.

[shiroi---kumo]

Misterican Religion || The Holy Tenets of Tiamat

Misterican is a theocracy that is divided in two sections of power. The first being that of the Royal Family, bringing about their reign era known as an Age. (Aurinko's reign was "Age of the Eclipse" ) The second being that of the Religious Council that was headed by the leader of the church, know in Misterican Religion as the Piipsa (Bishop). The current reigning Piipsa at the time of Misterica's fall and before Aurinko's reign was a name by the name of Hopea Sumu (Silver Fog).

It was the Piipsa's job to not just uphold the word of the Celestial Mother and manage the Misterican religion but also to deliver her word to the people. The Misterican religion surrounded the prophecy of the birth of a child of Salvation, known to them as The Child of White -but also the creator their realm (the heavens and the skies) and the source of all Mist and Mist souled life formed. This creator's name was Lady Tiamat, known to the Mistericans as "The Celestial Mother".

Within the space of the Misterican Religion there were Nine Holy Tenets said to be given by Tiamat, herself and they were rules that she expects her child - the Sky Children - to abide by.

The Holy Tenets of Tiamat are:

"Thou shall not take life unless there is no other option" "Thou shall honor family and the home." "Thou shall give blessing to the sky and the world around us." "Thou shall honor what we consume." "Thou shall speak from the soul through the passions of the heart." "Thou shall give blessings to the Celestial Mother for all she has given us." "Thou shall seek peace within ones self for the benefit of all" "Thou shall honor the moon and the stars for they are the Celestial Mother's gifts to us." "Thou shall honor all children of the sky in equality."

These tenets were considered to be a path to guide one's life around and they were expected to be upheld by all of Misterican Society. The Holy Tenets were considered laws just as much as laws sat by the Royal Family's half of the Government were. For a Misterican to break a Holy Tenant was seen as a grievous dishonor and it ran the risk of the Celestial Mother no longer accepting their Mist back into the nature from whence they came when their life ended and their body passed.

So Mistericans upheld the Holy Tenets with extreme devotion and carried them in their hearts as guideposts for conducting themselves in everyday life.

[shiroi---kumo]

Vaaleanpunainen Leimahdus is soul bind to Lord Aurinko and bound to him as his fourth bind. Leimahdus handles everything Medical and is the Head of the Medical Council board that oversees all medical personal within the functioning Kingdom as a whole. He was once Aurinko's History / Medical Professor but has taken up his role to oversee Misterica's Medial branch as a whole since Aurinko became King.

He sees to Aurinko and Kuu's health personally and once took care of Sinfonia's until Liekki bonded with Prince Usva and took over Sinfonia's case. Leimahdus takes his job extremely seriously even if he's all smiles most of the time. He is one of the kindest men you'll ever meet but can also wreck your life with a snap of his fingers if he finds out you're putting Misterica or her people in danger. He is not a man to make enemies with. He is one of the most skilled doctors Misterica has ever seen in her History.

[shiroi---kumo]

Välkkyvä Hiillos is soul bind to Lord Aurinko and his third soul bind. He was once his dance instructor but took over as Festival Advisor along side his older sister Palava Tuli when Aurinko ascended the throne. Hiilos is a loud fun loving dancer who loves to joke around. He is playful and adores just having a good time with his family, even if his Liege is grown now. He was close friends with the previous king and Queen, Lord Huippu and Lady Hiekka.

He was also extremely fond of Tuli's husband Sitruuna Shokki, who died in the war with Windaria. He is close with Shokki's best friend Indigo Tuulta as well. He helps the lot of them look out for his nephew Sitriini Sinfonia and loves to take it easy and have a good time.

Hiillos however, is not a man to be crossed and can be deathly serious when there is a need for it and even if he is the Festival Advisor, as one of Aurinko's Binds he is considered a Pillar of the Misterican Government and has the power to match.

[shiroi---kumo]

@dont-call-me-a-lyre asked:

📚☀️ + How do you feel about Sumu and the rest of the council?

·:¨༺ ✩★✩ ༻¨:·. "Doesn't really matter now, now does it? They're long since dead. Perhaps they're not and someone survived as we did but something tells me they didn't. We haven't seen another Misterican except for Sielu in sixteen years. I doubt there are that many more of us that are scattered around these parts - let alone that survived. Valo and I only have pulled it off this long because of Revon - but that's neither here nor there or what you're asking.

You're asking how I felt about the council and our Piipsa and I have no positive things to say about them. I never cared for the idea of a split government. Not with the way it was being handled and not with the powers at be being equipped with the abilities their mist possessed.

The head of the Royal Family has been red for nearly as far back as we have recorded history and while the ability to paralyze someone poses a threat, it's not quite as bad as what the Religious Council had on their side. Silver was attributed to the Church more than any other color and while other colors worked for the holy faction - Silver was almost a guarantee that such an individual was working for the Church.

The power to Charm. To twist and sway all who inhale a mist so fine it could hardly be traced by Misterican eyes. One would almost never know if the user had forced it into the air or not and even if they had - you would find yourself at their mercy long before your mind registered the danger. I hated the concept. I did not care if they were more attuned to the Celestial Mother because of the hue of their mist.

They were mostly rotten people. Sumu was the worst of the lot and the more I got to know him, the less I liked him. The less I approved. My opinion of him and his handle on the war with Windaria already had a low opinion of him. The church's push to be weary of those with certain colors of mist that were not his own also had a habit of lowering my opinion.

To be weary of those born pink in hue. I cannot help the powers of my mist. What a twist in the wind.

Regardless of my personal issues, my issues came when Sumu sat eyes on the prince. My prince. My liege. I took great offense to the way he dared to treat his highness and I still do. Finding out later that the shifts in His Majesty's temperament and personality were Sumu's fault only made me want to keep the prince as far away from that man as possible. We needed to find a way to expose his lies and remove him from power but the great dark came and seemingly did it for us.

There is nothing left of him or the rest of the council. They all fell with our home, so it hardly matters now."

[shiroi---kumo]

hi shining stars. You can ignore this post because tumblr decided to destroy my very elaborate and through tagging system so this is a

tag dump 1 of ????

[shiroi---kumo]

As I'm working on the final post in the collection of Faces of the King my brain thought to stop for a moment to explain something. I have previously mentioned it in other posts but I just wanted to point it out again and everything else it is effecting.

You see in the world of FF:U there are two major elements and they are Soil and Mist.

Most beings in the Universe (yes probably your muse too) are what would be known as "Beings of Soil" even if they cannot command it as Windarian Soil Mages can. (Staring hard at Kaze right now.)

Kumo refers to these beings as "Soil Souls" because that means their soul is comprised of Soil.

Soil is the crystalized souls of the dead composing a color of varying hue post-mortem.

so humans, and most other beings are beings of soil.

On the other side of the Universal scale sets Mist or "Mist Souls" - meaning their souls are comprised from the magical substance known as Mist and these beings are largely beings of the Sky or the Sea. Mist Souls all possess a color within their soul as well, but Mistericans were the only beings that actively produced it within their bodies and could harness it's magical abilities.

I am telling you all this because Kumo is a Mist Soul (obviously) and there are very few of them left in the universe.

I am telling you this because Soil and Mist both have a governing force. That being that Soil is governed by the Spiral or Spiral Motion

While Mist is governed by The Straight Line or Linear Motion.

I am telling you this because in recent days in writing this man I have made observations and laughed because he does it so naturally.

Kumo is:

straight to the point when he speaks

someone who says exactly what he means

straight forward with his needs and wants

straight forward with thoughts and opinions

straight forward with his intentions

His thoughts follow a linear path

Kumo is very "point A to point B" in his thinking

blunt and direct

planned and organized

orderly with a place for everything

systematic and he will meltdown without them

rigid in the way he does things

Kumo gets:

annoyed at side paths

annoyed with conversations that go in circles

annoyed with topic or question dodging

frustrated with convoluted answers

annoyed with trips that take him all over the place instead of just from one place and to the other

frustrated when his systems are disrupted

[shiroi---kumo]

                                                  .:  Misterica :.

                                                          ~  The Land of Mist ~

The Misterican people are a species of horned humanoid beings that breathe a magical substance known as Mist. They are capable of flight and summoning dragons known as Sword Dragon. Mistericans worship the god of the skies and life itself, The Celestial Mother, Tiamat. The eldest of the Mist Dragons.  Below her are minor Gods of worship, like Gods of Art, Dance, Song, Nature, etc. 

Misterica’s government is a Theocracy, and while it is ruled by The Misterican Royal Family, it is heavily influenced by it’s religion.

 In Pilvi’s time the Royal Family consisted of: 

Lord Helakanpunainen Aurinko (Scarlet Sun) 

Lady Ametisti Kuu (Amethyst Moon)

Prince Punainen Usva (Red Mist) (known series wise as Akai Kiri / Red Mist / Madoushi)

Prince Valkoinen Pilvi (White Cloud) (known series wise as Shiroi Kumo / White Cloud / Makenshi )

The Misterican government was divided into two sections: The Royal Family and The Religious Council. 

The Royal Family is obviously run by Lord Aurinko, who handles handles most things dealing with the government and the functions of Misterica as a whole. This includes their military to it’s most basic functions. 

The Religious Council however is run by Piispa Hopea Sumu (Bishop Silver Fog) and all religious decisions go through him and the rest of the religious leaders that are seated on the council.  They have influence over things involving The Celestial Mother, The teachings of Tiamat, Religious Festivals and Rituals, The Holy Blade, and The Holy Vessel.  

Under the Royal Family sets The Royal Knights, the main core of the MIsterican Military. They lead by  Kenraali Sininen Taivas (General Blue Skies) and he is charge of the protection of not only the Misterican people as a whole but heavily focused on making sure The Royal Family, The Religious Council and The Holy Vessel are protected at all times.  The Royal Knights answer to Lord Aurinko. 

The Misterican culture as a whole was heavily focused on the arts, creativity, science and medicine. They had possession of advanced technology like the masks worn by higher ranking members of the population and warriors.  

Misterican masks are devices used to filter Mist from their breath so it couldn’t become active without the owner in question willing it to do so. Their masks are installed into a port at the base of their skull / spine and connected directly into their nervous system thus allowing it to function freely on the wearer’s intent. 

Above all, it is within the Teachings of Tiamat to protect life - all life - at all costs. Mistericans believe all life is worth saving and would do just about anything to make that happen. Life above all. That is the way these people embrace with their religion.  This is partly what put them at odds with Windaria, who believe in things like life after death and mercy killing. Misterica looked down on these beliefs and practices harshly.  

Misterican Culture was heavily built around making the quality of life better and enjoying the gifts that nature could provide to it’s people as a whole. So things like Music and the Arts were embraced with open arms. Just like there are a large number of dances built into Misterican culture - some both known only by the common folk and many for ceremonial or ritualistic reasons. Some of these dances even included sword play, and ceremonial matches meant to honor the Celestial Mother and not actually become a real fight to determine a winner. 

While they were a people who valued the need for battle and defending themselves, that wasn’t what they built their culture around. They sought to improve the lives of their people above all else. So most of their focus was poured into science and medicine, so they could allow their people to live both long lives and comfortable ones. It was not uncommon for a Misterican to live past hundred years, though most averaged between seventy and one hundred years old. 

[shiroi---kumo]

A Prince’s Secrets || Accepting 

@lady-quen​​ asked:

☕️ + the Misterican religious council

Even being alone and nothing full well that no one is around to hear him the prince is still looking from from direction and to the other before he refocuses his attention on the stranger in question. (Is this one a stranger they ask him an awful lot of questions?)  There’s no one around that would know anything about his home nor would they have anything to say about it but still he feels the need to scope out the area before his lips finally part. 

“I hated them. I couldn’t stand the Piipsa or the Arkkipiispa. I despised them but Father and Mother would be absolutely distraught if they could hear me say that. Usva and Revon were the only ones who really knew. Opettaja had an idea but I was not as open with him about the subject. Usva hated them more than I did I think. I couldn’t stand them. I did not hate our religion but the way it was conducted I despised. 

Both of those serpents had Father in a chokehold and they would have started the war with Windaria back up in an instant if they were given the opportunity. I have seen them on plenty of occasions twist and warp Father’s mind with their mist.  Neither of them should have been allowed to be in a position of power. Neither of them were fit to lead. They would have had a major shift in the way things were handled if Misterica was still here when I took the throne. They couldn’t twist me with their Mist and I think they hated me for it. 

There was no sense of respect from them when the doors were closed, Holy Vessel or not, all they saw was a child and they made sure I knew it. Both of them were tricksters and liars.  The abused the powers bestowed to them by their Mist. Misterica’s church was corrupt. I hated the Religious Council, and I didn’t want them any where near Usva after I saw them bend Father the way they did and the day I saw them do the same to Mother was the day I could hold myself back no longer but that’s neither here nor there. That’s not what you’re asking. 

I hated them and I still hate them for all they did to my family and the way they imposed their power and in doing so for what it did to make my people suffer in places they had no need to do so. There would have been some serious changes if I had ever been able to assume the throne.”  

[shiroi---kumo]

                                   .: Rites for the Crown :.

                                        ~  The Beginning of Decline ~

                                                             Part 2

This is horrible.  Why didn’t anyone tell him?! Did they tell Usva?!  Isn’t this something they should have known?  Well if no one’s told Brother then he will tell Brother. He needs to find him. He needs to fix this entire situation that the adults have made so he’s breaking curfew and sneaking out of his room and through the palace halls in the dead of night to get to his brother’s room. Usva is going to smother him with a pillow but he’ll take that noble death if it means making sure his brother doesn’t get blindsided with this in the same way he did.   

Words:  4.8k   Pages:  11 Trigger Warnings: Religion, lying, depression,  government

It almost feels like the only reason he even got told was because of his status as the Holy Vessel therefore they needed to find the time to fit the Rite Ceremony into his already too busy schedule. Usva is most certainly going to smother him with a pillow for waking him up. If a Misterican held anything in high value beyond the creative arts, it was their sleep. Waking one up is a near certain death sentence - and well Pilvi knew this because of all his people he had to be the grouchiest one when he is unceremoniously awoken from his slumber.

Prince Pilvi is most certainly one who values his shut eye.  He’s a foul person when he’s pulled from the land of slumber before he’s ready and now he’s about to do such a thing to his brother. It wouldn’t be the first time. He’s been crawling into his brother’s bed because of night terrors that would plague him since he was small, but he hasn’t done that in years.  Still this wouldn’t be the first time he’s woken his brother and it probably wouldn’t be the last.   

The door creaks open as he pushes it. It's near silent but when one is trying to creep around without their parents or the palace attendants finding them almost anything sounds like a scream. He's floating just above the floor, as to make sure his footsteps don't cause alarm as he makes his way over to his brother's bed and whispers. 

"Usva are you awake?" 

There's a groan and a toss followed by a turn and then another groaned out, "What's wrong, Snowflake?" 

Covers are pushed back without there ever being a request for it and soon before the younger prince can speak such actions are followed by "Get in bed and shut up." 

The white prince obeys, crawling into bed next to his brother still not making a peep as he does so. 

"Nightmares again?" Usva's words drag as he speaks them rolling over to turn his back to his brother. "You're fifteen now Pilv'." 

"I know. I just…" the younger of the pair is awkward in his words, sinking down in the covers until they're touching his chin. "I need to talk to you." 

"Can't this wait? Pilvi I'm tired. Aren't you tired? Don't you have to be up in the morning to meet with that jackass?" 

"Ah I mean – I do just - Usva you shouldn't call him that it's just - " there's frustration in his voice as he speaks trying to find the words to tell his brother what Opettaja Valo told him… a sniffle makes it into his voice in his frustration and 

"Pilvi, is it going to rain?" 

"No, I - I'm fine." The younger tried to assure him as he continued to struggle with his words. "I just - I needed to know if you knew about - about the Rites Ceremony." 

"Rites Ceremony?" 

That's a no then and hearing the confusion in his brother's voice only causes the snow white one to sniffle once and then twice until he's wiping at his face with his sleeves. 

"They're going to make us fight, Brother. We have to fight to decide who gets to become King."  

The sound of the younger’s voice is wild as he speaks. He’s obviously trying not to panic and it’s hard for the elder not to react with an outburst of rage but from the look on his brother’s face and the tears that are starting to line his water line it’s not his fault and it’s very obvious that Pilvi didn’t know either. Apparently they both were left in the dark and the younger is only trying to let his sibling know before he finds out in some other unfortunate way. 

For a moment it makes Usva wonder who was the poor soul who had to tell Pilvi and deal with the younger prince emotionally imploding on them because he knows his brother well and there was no doubt that Snowflake went emotionally nuclear the minute he found out. Not when his brother had just asked him what his plans were when he became King. From the way Pilvi talked about it, it sounded like the younger didn’t even want to become King. 

“Shhh, shhh Pilvi who told you that? Who told you about this Rites Ceremony?”  The elder sounds doing his best to keep his voice down as he’s already rolled back over to face his sibling. Depending on where the information came from depended on how credible it was because he had yet to hear anything about it himself and least of all, he would think it would come from Mother or Father.  

“Opettaja Valo did and Piipsa Sumu. The Piipsa said we needed to discuss it today but we ran out of time so he said we’d talk about it tomorrow. Opettaja explained it all to me during our lesson. But Brother I don’t want - I don’t want to fight you. I don’t even want to become King. I have enough to worry about. How would I ever manage being The Holy Vessel and King?! It’s impossible.”  

Jade eyes have remained clear for the most part thus far, even as the white prince sets up and rubs at his eyes and the blanket over them tumbles to his lap. The red prince is setting up next to him soon after.  The body of white remains distressed as the body of red seems to be only confused and upset about the entire situation. If the information came from Opettaja Valo then it was absolutely true and that meant this Rites Ceremony was the real deal. There was no denying it now.  They were going to be forced to fight, whether they wanted to or not, and from the look on Pilvi’s face that was most certainly or not.  

“Brother I don’t want to fight  you. I don’t want to do any of this. Why do they keep not asking our opinions when it comes to anything?! First it was the whole sacrifice thing and now it’s this! Why does no one seem to trust us with this kind - “ 

“Shhhhhh shhh, Pilvi. Keep your voice down. You’re going to get us in trouble. Pilvi - Snowflake. Shhhh be quiet Snowflake. I know you’re stressed out about this. I’m not happy about it either but there’s nothing we can do about it. You know how everyone is with their ceremonies and rituals. This is just going to be something we have to do. You can’t be so loud. It’ll be okay, you’ll see. It’ll be fine. But promise me one thing okay?”  

There are large jade eyes looking back at red with upturned brows of snow.  

“O-okay.” 

“Promise me you won’t pull your punches. I don’t want any special treatment or you to throw this match. I don’t care if you’re the Holy Vessel. Don’t you dare pull your punches on me, just because you’re stressed out. Promise me, okay?” 

There’s a nod as the boy of white starts to rub at his eyes and soon he’s chewing on his bottom lip while sniffling makes its way into his voice. “ O-Okay. I promise. I promise Usva.” 

Tears are spilling down his cheeks as he can hold them back no longer and the elder of the princely pair only sighs, his own cherry red brows turning up as he watches his brother. 

It seemed it was going to rain after all. 

____

“Wake up idiot. You’re going to be late again.”   

There’s a hand on his shoulder shaking him with little care for his comfort. The white prince only groans and swats the hand away before he sleepily sounds. 

“Lemme alone Usva. I’m tired. I’ll get up later.”  The younger of the pair sounds as he tugs the covers up and over his exposed shoulder.  

The elder can only growl at his brother’s response so the cover is twisted in his hands and pulled away from him with little mercy. 

“Did you not hear me, you idiot?!  I said you’re going to be late again! And if you are Father is going to have your hide. GET UP Pilvi!”  

The younger of the pair is pulling in on himself instantly as he shivers in the morning air and green open with a frustrated glare as they look up at red that are glaring back at him just as much. 

“Brother, that's so rude! I was going to - “ His sentence cuts off as he looks forward and about the space he’s occupying. Snowy brows release their tension as they raise and that soft innocence creeps back into his vision. “ - Brother why am I in your room?” 

“Because you slept here, stupid.  You came to me crying in the middle of the night and I couldn’t very well send you away. Do you not remember anything we talked about? You came to tell me about that stupid ceremony.”  

“Ceremony?” The cloud parrots back for a moment before those usually shining green eyes grow darker in the matter of a few moments and the boy’s head drops. “Oh…. right.”  

“You said that old windbag was going to talk to you about it today. He’ll probably give you more information like when it is. That would be helpful information but it’s not like they ever tell us anything.”  Usva is groaning as he tosses the blanket in his hand back on his bed and takes a seat next to his sibling, who’s gaze has shifted to the floor. 

Pilvi’s shoulders are dropping as he listens. A sigh escapes a young chest and the white prince wilts. How could he let it slip his mind even once? He doesn’t want to fight Usva. He doesn’t even want to be King. 

“Brother what if I just tell them I don’t want to do this?”  He sounds in a small voice while small hands start to ball in on themselves.  “Brother I don’t even want to become King so why do we have to do this? It’s not like there’s a dispute to settle. I’m more than happy for you to take up the throne so then why - “ 

There’s a hand on his as Usva draws his brother’s hand into his grip and squeezes. 

“Pilvi you have to do this. Even if you don’t want to. This is tradition and you know they won’t accept a no from either of us, but especially not you.” 

A pale hand is squeezing back as the younger prince sighs. 

“But Brother, what if I beat you? We’re competing for something I don’t even want.” 

A laugh escapes the elder, hand squeezing tightly on the one in his grip while lips stretch out into a smile. 

“Pilv’ you’re joking right? You’ve never beat me in a sword match once. You can’t even beat me in a race.  I taught you the sword and fly faster than you. I’m not worried but you’re going to give me everything you have. Think of it like this, it’s about time to see what you’ve learned. It’s been a minute since we’ve spared, and we’ve never fought each other seriously. Promise me you won’t hold back. There’s nothing to worry about pikkuveli. You’re getting yourself all worked up for no reason.” 

But jade eyes don’t lift themselves from the floor and his hand doesn’t pull back from his brothers even as he feels his sibling raise his own and ruffle snow white locks.  

“Now get up, Pilv’. If you’re late again, that ol’ wind bag will throw a tantrum and Father will be furious.” 

Pilvi can only sigh and do as he’s told. 

__

“On time today I see, Your Eminence.”  

It doesn’t matter what he says but there’s always something about the Piipsa’s voice that just makes Pilvi’s stomach upset.  The way the man glares at him even if he did show himself up on time today (with much help from Usva on that front).  He was hardly presentable when he finally rolled out of bed and it was his brother’s nitpicking that got him up and around and rushing out the door and off to the church with his guard in tow.  

The Piipsa was hardly pleased to see him as he usually was, despite the false smile that was resting on the man’s lips until the prince’s guard duty was finally out of ear’s reach. Then the elder’s entire face shifted, looking down at the younger Misterican with a frown and a disapproving look. He always wore a disapproving look. Of all the people in this world, Piipsa Sumu was never one out to try and win his favor. 

While everyone else saw The Holy Vessel as the first thing they saw when they looked at him, Piipsa Sumu saw a child first and The Holy Vessel second. It made it hard to look him in the eyes, even when the elder motioning to the chair in front of his desk. They’re standing in his office, so they may speak in private and the prince in question knows exactly why their religious leader always insists on speaking to  him alone.   

It’s probably even worse after he raised his voice to him yesterday.  Has Father found out yet? Surely he would eventually.  He couldn’t keep this a secret forever and when he did…. 

“I’m going to assume you’re feeling better after getting some rest, Your Eminence. We need to discuss the upcoming ceremony…” 

“For the crown.” Pilvi interjects with little thought, cutting the elder off just as much of a lack in care.  

There is a grumble from the elder as his nose wrinkles up and ice blue eyes focus in on jade green.  The man’s hands fold in front of himself as his elbows rest down on the top of his desk and there is the very obvious layer of spite resting over his tone as he groans. 

“Yes, that’s correct. For the crown.”  

It was as if the Piipsa didn’t want to talk to him at all but yet he was required to do so. As if someone needed to tell the boy the message and he was the unlucky one who was chosen to do so. 

“Alright Your Eminence, you see the Rites Ceremony -  “ 

“Why isn’t Father or Mother telling me this? It seems to me this is something to do with my family and not the religious branch of our government, and why isn’t Usva here? Shouldn’t we have been told at the same time?  Why isn’t Father the one telling me about - “ 

“Because your father is very busy, Your Eminence, now if you would so kindly be quiet, I will explain the circumstances to you.”  

Small arms cross over the prince’s chest as he makes a face behind his mask and slides down in the chair he’s setting in. Jade eyes narrow down to a bored expression to show he is clearly not okay with the situation.  It really makes no sense why the Piipsa is the one explaining all this when it doesn’t have anything to do with the Religious Council. 

“As you well know, the Religious Council works closely with the Lord of our Kingdom.” 

Yes, he knows… Usva knows… everyone knows  why does that matter…. 

“So whichever one of you two who takes the throne will be working closely with myself and Arkkipiispa Kiiltävää Kultaa to work through the issues surrounding the Windarian issues and our government.” 

It’s hard not to groan at the information. That’s right. How could he not think of that? If he took the throne he would be seeing even more of the Piipsa than he already is and honestly that’s the last thing he wanted. If Usva took the throne though….. that just meant they both had to suffer through  his man’s inane ramblings and Usva was at risk for becoming just as charmed by this man’s damnable mist as Father was.  The last thing he needed was Brother becoming strung along on a string by this man and the other one just as badly. Perhaps though - Brother would listen to him when he tells him never to meet with those two without his mask on and that he shouldn’t take it off for any reason.  

That made ceremonies and rituals extremely difficult however when food and drink was involved.  Both possessed mist that was nearly untraceable to the Misterican eye and both of the religious leaders in question knew that because both had attempted to use such abilities against him in hopes that they could make the Child of White more agreeable.  Perhaps that’s why they disliked him so much. 

There’s a sigh from the Holy Vessel as he continues to narrow his eyes in boredom as if to tell the other man silently to get to the point already because he really doesn’t want to waste his entire morning here listening to the Piipsa talk. He never wants to spend any of his mornings setting here, stuck in his office listening to the Piipsa talk but yet here he is anyway.  How rude would it be considered if he reminded the elder that he had lessons with Opettaja Valo in an hour and he needed to practice his sword work in the following two? Probably enough to get him into trouble. 

Worse yet if Father had finally found out about yesterday.  

So instead the prince is just puffing air out his lips in an exaggerated sigh. There’s just something about watching the Piipsa’s lips move but failing to hear the sound coming out of them that the prince found extraordinarily annoying. Why did this man insist on being in his presence let alone anyone’s presence with his mask removed? Isn’t it common courtesy to remain masked at all times when one’s abilities are so influential? He would never dream of taking his mask off in the presence of others - unless well - he was trying to sneak out of the palace again but that’s not the topic at hand right now, is it?  

He swears this man can drag on about pointless things for forever and sometimes the prince is positive that the Piipsa talks like this just to listen to the sound of his own voice. Usva is right when he calls him a long winded jackass. Oh Mother would be all a fuss if she ever heard him say that - if she ever heard either of them say that. 

Even if it was true. 

And it feels like hours before he’s done.  He’s explaining things about the government he already knows and things he doesn’t exactly care about either. He’s explaining the workings of the church to him that again he already knows and others he doesn’t exactly care about.  He’s not even ready to start his medical training until he’s nearly twenty years of age but they are already gearing him up to take over the Kingdom. Sometimes - he has to say sometimes - the way they have their government structured doesn’t make any sense.  

There would be so many systems and processes he would decimate if he became King, simply because they are both outdated and do nothing to serve the people. Listening to the Piipsa prattle on really only confirms one thing to him - their focus when it comes to leading the Kingdom is in two entirely different places. 

The Piipsa is focused solely on the sacred texts and delivering the word of the Celestial Mother and he is focused on serving his people and bringing them prosperity and proper care - and finally completely dealing with this outstanding issue concerning Windaria. It’s funny in a way that the one who shares a body  with the Celestial Mother has no interest in sharing her word with his people and that’s probably because she seems to have no interest in it either. She’s never on him about such things and simply a reminder to find his other and that by doing so he will be better suited to serve his people. 

He still wishes he knew what she meant by that. 

“The Ceremony will be in one week, Your Eminence.”  

Why couldn’t he have led with that?  He hopes Opettaja Valo isn’t too upset that he’s excessively late for his lesson.  He can’t get mad if it’s the Piipsa’s fault, can he?  Thankfully Opettaja has never been one to get too cross with  him.  Father on the other hand…. Surely he’s going to be cross that he’s not back yet.  It really isn’t his fault this time though. 

“I expect that you and His Highness will be ready for the event. Please do your best to prepare, because whoever is the one to take the crown will be the one to take over all your Father’s duties when the time comes to ascend the throne once Lord Aurinko steps down or passes.” 

Pilvi wants to roll his eyes but the phrase “or passes” is too busy leaving a bad taste in his mouth.  It’s as if he doesn’t already know that but then at the same time it’s also not something his fifteen year old brain wants to even begin to consider his father dying on him.  Father was still young for the average Mistercan and there was no reason to be talking about Father dying but he understands the concept of the Ceremony since it’s just supposed to put everything in order for when things do happen.  But they wouldn’t happen yet - they wouldn’t happen soon - he’s only fifteen.     

When he gets back to the castle it’s Usva who greets him but it’s strange because red eyes only give him a look  before his brother floats the other direction without a word.  There was a sour look on his face and the younger prince doesn’t begin to understand why. There’s  confusion flooding his senses before he has enough time to process the sound of his name is ripping through the silence. 

“Valkoinen Pilvi.”  

It’s Father’s voice and he sounds mad.  It's Fathers voice and its enough to freeze the prince where he floats and soon there is the image of scarlet red coming his direction with burning golden suns focused down on jade moons that want to do anything but make contact. 

"Look at me Valkoinen." 

Oh that is a sure sign of death if he's ever heard one. He can count the number of times he's been addressed in such a way on one hand and it has those same jade moons even more hesitant to look up than they already were.  

"Yes, Father?"

Still the boy's gaze does not lift. 

"Valkoinen, I won't ask you again."

This was how he dies apparently. This was the end of his short life. Fifteen years is good, isn't it? That's over a decade. An entire decade and even half of one. Fifteen years is a good life, isn't it? He thought so.  Jade moons raise as ordered and he can feel the heat from the golden suns before him as they don't just gaze down at him but bore into him.

This was surely the end of his life. Who even needed to worry about the ceremony at this point? Usva wouldn't have to fight him if he was dead. Father would fell him long before the match could even commence.  

"Valkoinen, did you or did you not raise your voice to Piipsa Sumu?"

Pilvi's eyes widen at the question. So that's what this is about. Father knew. Father knew. Someone finally spoke with him about yesterday. He just didn't know if it was Opettaja Valo or the Piipsa himself. Depending on who spoke with Father would depend on how the information of the "confrontation" got delivered. He could just be doomed…. Or he could be dead. It all depends on who said what. 

"I … did."

The pause between his words makes his anxiety palpable. Jade moons fall again away from the golden suns that have only continued to burn and the prince can see his father cross his arms over his chest at the answer he received and he knows his father well enough to know that is never a good sign. 

“I’m only going  to give you one chance to answer this, so I suggest you do so truthfully.  Why did you raise your voice against Piipsa Sumu? Make your words count, my son.”  

He’s basically asking him to crave out the stone for his own grave. He knows that no matter what comes out of his mouth he’s a dead man. Father will not take kindly to the reason there was a minor fight between them and if the Piipsa is right then Father won’t take kindly to the fact he questioned their entire religion either.    But he’s been urged to tell the truth and he can already hear Usva in his head mocking him for even trying because his face flushes when he does so.  He can hear his brother remind him that he’s a terrible liar and if he chooses that route he might as well just kiss his freedom goodbye because Father will surely kill him for attempting to lie and talking back to the Piipsa and questioning the Kaivinkone on top of it all.  

Apparently Misterica’s youngest son has one hell of a death wish. 

“I - Father I - “ Small hands ball into fists at his sides as tears of frustration line his eyes.  Still his gaze does not rise but there is the smallest sounds of hiccups in the boy’s voice as his emotions start to overwhelm him. 

“- He - Piipsa Sumu would not listen to me.  I just - I tried to point out a problem with the ancient texts. He read what I had worked on wrong and when I corrected him he yelled at me. Father he was, he was so rude.   He never treats me with respect when others aren’t in the room. He merely calls me child and he speaks to me with so much disrespect.  Sometimes I think he hates me, Father.   He said he would not hear of anything I was trying to say, even if I was the holy child.” 

“So you yelled back at him, is that what you’re trying to tell me, Pilvi?” 

“No, Father. He said those hateful things after I yelled at him. He was quick to shut me down when I voiced that he read what I had translated incorrectly and when I tried to defend my work he scolded me and spoke to me in the most hateful tone.  He used you as a threat. That he would be having a talk with you about my behavior as if I was the one in the wrong, but Father, I did not do more than raise my voice, I swear to you.” 

There is a shift and a sigh from Misterica’s Lord as his arms unfold and a hand reaches forward to tilt his son’s head up by his chin and then both hands come down on his shoulders. 

“Pilvi I will speak to him. I don’t see any reason why Piipsa Sumu would hate you. It would be ridiculous if he did. You are our Celestial Mother’s chosen. He should not speak to you in such a disrespectful way, but that doesn’t mean you can give it back in turn. Remember son, you still represent the royal family. So your conduct reflects on us all.  For now, go to your room and reflect on this and I will have someone send for you when Opettaja Valo is ready for you. I had him reschedule your lesson for later in the day since this meeting with Piipsa Sumu took so long today. 

Was he rude to you today?”

A head of snow white hair shook.   “No, not overly. He addressed me properly but he seemed a bit upset to speak to me in his tone. Are you - angry with me, Father?” 

“Yes, I am upset with your actions but I am not upset with you, my son. You reacted in defense of yourself and I can hardly blame you for that. When  I was your age I most likely would have done the same. “ There’s a half smile and a small laugh. “Piipsa Sumu should be thankful it was not your brother. Usva would have punched him without hesitation.” 

It’s enough to break the tension and the child of white is finally laughing.  Aurinko’s hand squeezes against his shoulder and he gives the boy a soft smile. 

“But you’re still in trouble, young man. Now to your room.”

“Yes, Father.” 

To be Continued...