Chapter 98: An Inevitable Death

Time passed, and the night gave way to the pale light of dawn.

Rin and Harumi had been walking alongside the White Elder for hours, climbing the slopes of Biei Mountain since the previous night. Their bodies ached with exhaustion, but neither of them complained. This was a journey they refused to turn away from.

As they neared the peak, they expected a sharp, pointed summit—only to be led to a hidden passage, one that only the White Elder seemed to know.

At the end of the path, nestled against the mountainside, stood a small, weathered hut.

The White Elder gazed at it with nostalgia, his old eyes filled with memories.

Rin and Harumi exchanged a glance. The hut had clearly been here for a long time—dust-covered and worn by time. It wasn't difficult to guess that it had been built by the White Elder himself, a quiet refuge for a tired master.

"Bring some chairs from inside," the White Elder requested, his voice gentle. "Let's watch the sunrise together."

Without hesitation, the two apprentices obeyed.

He led them to an open clearing, one with a breathtaking view of the Imperial Capital. From here, they could see everything—the grand city stretching far and wide, the four Holy Palaces standing like sentinels at the north, south, east, and west, and the Imperial Palace resting at the center, a beacon of authority and history.

Even from this distance, the city was alive with lights, flickering like stars scattered across the earth.

The three of them sat in silence, watching.

After a long moment, the White Elder spoke. "I used to come here when I grew tired of dealing with nobles and endless requests."

His voice was distant, as if recalling an old friend.

"Being here clears my mind. When I see the people down below, simply living their lives… it reminds me what it means to protect something."

Rin and Harumi remained quiet, listening to his every word.

The White Elder smiled faintly. "And the sunrise… the sunset… they are the most beautiful from here."

He exhaled softly.

"Every sunrise marks a new beginning. Every sunset marks an ending. It reminds me that life is fleeting… that everything must one day come to a close… but also that something new will always begin."

The first rays of the sun crept over the horizon, golden light washing over the empire.

The old man's gaze never wavered. "I am happy."

His apprentices didn't respond, simply listening, their hearts heavy.

"I am happy that I lived my life without too many regrets."

The sun rose higher, blinding them with its brilliance.

And then—

Silence.

The world was bathed in golden light, but when Rin and Harumi turned back to their master…

He was still.

Seated quietly in his chair, face peaceful, eyes closed.

"White Elder?"

There was no response.

Rin and Harumi froze, dread settling deep in their bones. They moved closer, checked his pulse—

Nothing.

The realization crashed down on them like an unforgiving wave.

He was gone.

Tears welled in their eyes as they took in the sight of their master one last time.

He was smiling.

He had died happy.

He had watched the sun rise upon a new day—yet he would never wake to experience it himself.

Rin dropped to his knees, his body trembling. His breath hitched, and for the first time in a long time, he allowed his tears to fall freely.

Harumi followed, covering her face as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Rin… I… I hate goodbyes… I hate them…!" she choked out between tears.

Rin could only clench his fists, his chest tight with grief.

He had seen so many deaths—across both of his lives. He had watched people he loved fall one by one, had felt the pain of loss over and over again.

And yet, no matter how many times it happened, it never hurt any less.

In fact…

A peaceful death like this—one without regrets, without suffering—

It hurt even more.

The two apprentices cried, their grief carried away by the morning breeze.

The sun rose higher, casting golden light over the Imperial Capital. Yet, despite the warmth of the new day, their hearts felt unbearably cold.

Their master—the pillar of the White Flower Palace—was gone.

Rin and Harumi remained by his side for what felt like an eternity, allowing themselves the moment to mourn. But as the sun continued its ascent, reality settled in.

This was the first day they would walk forward without him.

The weight of responsibility, of carrying on his teachings, pressed heavily upon them. For the first time, they were truly on their own.

Harumi wiped her tears, her voice trembling. "We should bring him back home…"

Rin took a deep breath, his hands still shaking as he reached forward, closing his master's eyes completely.

"Yeah… Let's take him back."

As the new day began, so did the first steps of their own independence.

The news of the White Elder's passing spread like wildfire throughout the Hoshimi Empire. A legend had passed, and with him, an era came to an end.

The Imperial Family gathered in the Vermillion Empress's hall, discussing the inevitable.

Hoshimi Kazuo sighed, leaning back in his seat. "Rin will return once he finishes the funeral and closes the White Flower Palace. He won't leave it in disarray. He'll probably make sure the workers are taken care of—especially that maid he trusts, Harumi."

Izumi and Aya, who had been listening, immediately perked up.

"Harumi?" Aya grinned. "A woman close to Rin?"

"Is she cute?" Izumi smirked, leaning forward with interest.

Kazuo shot them a sharp glare. "Don't start. Rin isn't like the consorts. He won't force himself on her."

At his jab, the two sisters burst into laughter. Aya playfully leaned against Izumi. "Onii-sama, you're so protective of him."

Izumi chuckled, nudging Kazuo. "Still, it's nice to see you this lively again."

Their laughter was lighthearted, but the adults in the room watched them in silence.

The Emperor and the four Empresses exchanged glances, each of them recalling Rin's childhood. He was the most mature of their children, always composed, always carrying himself with dignity. But they also knew—he hated goodbyes.

There was a time when a small bird he had cared for had died. Rin had gone completely silent for two days, retreating into himself before finally returning to his duties as if nothing had happened.

And now, he had lost the man who had been his mentor, his guide—the closest thing to a father figure outside the Imperial Palace.

The Emperor, Hoshimi Masaki, exhaled deeply. "He'll return. But we should be prepared. This will weigh heavily on him."

Nao, the Azure Empress, clasped her hands together. "We should make sure he's not alone when he does."

The White Elder's passing marked the end of an era. But for Rin, it was another goodbye in a life filled with too many losses.

Izumi turned to the four Empresses with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That said, what about the consorts?"

Aya leaned in, eager to stir the pot. "The plan was to make Rin the Crown Prince, right? And fortunately, dear Kazuo here already gave them the go-ahead to pursue him." She smirked. "How lucky. Who would've thought Kazuo was the type to offer women to his little brother?"

Kazuo sighed, rubbing his temples. "Don't phrase it like that." He exhaled, glancing at the amused expressions around him. "It's not that I wanted this title in the first place. If Rin had taken it, I wouldn't have minded."

The Emperor and Empresses remained silent, knowing that Kazuo had long accepted his position as Crown Prince but never truly desired it.

Kazuo leaned forward, arms crossed. "That said, Rin will probably refuse. He'll say my position is too secure, with the support of most nobles already behind me."

Nao, the Azure Empress, nodded. "And he wouldn't be wrong."

"But you know how Rin is," Kazuo continued. "Even if he stands out, he'll twist things so I get the credit instead. We all know how good he is at turning situations around."

Hikari, the Vermillion Empress, chuckled. "He has quite the talent for redirecting attention."

Minako, the Black Empress, smirked. "Even if he acts in the shadows, people can't help but be drawn to him. It's only a matter of time before the consorts make their move."

Asami, the White Empress, sipped her tea calmly. "Then we'll see if he can keep dodging them forever."

The Imperial Family knew—no matter how much Rin tried to avoid the spotlight, fate always had other plans.

The White Tiger Palace was lively, as always. The four consorts gathered for their usual tea party, but today, the mood was heavier than usual. The news of the White Elder's passing had reached them, and while the Empire mourned a legend, their thoughts were consumed by one person—Hoshimi Rin.

Suzuki, the Azure Princess Consort, swirled her tea absentmindedly, her mana eyes glowing softly. "Right now, he's probably preparing for the funeral… handling the transfer of power of the White Flower Palace… He must be exhausted."

Rei, the Vermillion Princess Consort, leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "He lost his master. That's not something anyone can get over quickly. But you all heard what the Imperial Family said." She smirked. "They predict he'll return to the Imperial Palace and take his rightful position as the 2nd Imperial Prince again."

Miharu, the Black Princess Consort, sighed. "And that means we'll finally have more chances to be with him."

Suzuki nodded, her eyes flashing with determination. "It's been three days since the Imperial Courtship and Kazuo's approval." She set down her cup and looked at the others. "This might be the perfect time to get closer to Rin while he's at his weakest."

"No, it is not."

The sharp voice came from Akane, the White Princess Consort. She placed her teacup down with a soft clink, her expression unreadable but her tone cutting.

Rei raised a brow. "Oh? And why not?"

Akane folded her hands elegantly. "Because approaching Rin when he's vulnerable isn't 'getting close to him'—it's taking advantage of him."

Miharu tilted her head. "And? Aren't you the expert at taking advantage of situations?"

Akane's eye twitched. "That's exactly why I'm saying this." She gave them all a sharp look. "Do you think Rin is stupid? If any of us approach him now, he will see it as manipulation, and he will resent us for it."

Suzuki leaned forward, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "That's interesting… coming from you, Akane."

Rei smirked. "Yeah. Since when did you, of all people, start caring about fairness?"

Miharu chuckled, shaking her head. "You, the most manipulative and power-hungry of us all, actually love him enough to protect him, huh?"

Akane froze.

Her fingers tightened around the handle of her teacup, and for the first time, her usual composed mask cracked. "Don't be ridiculous."

Suzuki's smile grew wider. "Love changes people, you know."

Rei laughed. "Who would've thought? The ruthless and smug Princess Akane… protecting Rin not for power, but because she actually cares."

Miharu sighed dramatically. "It's almost poetic."

SLAM.

Akane placed her teacup down hard, the porcelain rattling against the saucer. "Enough. If you three have so much time to waste on teasing me, use it to write proper letters instead."

Suzuki blinked. "Letters?"

Akane rolled her eyes. "Letters of encouragement, you fools. That much is fine." She crossed her arms. "If you want to do something for Rin, then do it properly. Not as scheming women trying to win him over, but as people who care for him."

There was a pause.

Then Rei grinned. "Hah. I guess love really does change people."

Akane glared daggers at her. "Say that one more time, and I will personally make sure you regret it."

The three other consorts giggled, enjoying Akane's rare display of frustration.

Despite their usual games, they all knew one thing—they wanted Rin to return home, safe and sound.