Vera's persistence paid off—just before the Oskian New Year, the red blip representing Claire's cell access suddenly lit up at the cell tower near Qi Temple! Vera smiled as she watched, and she officially designated the third black piece on the board as Qi Temple. And now was the time to find out more details revolving around the red piece: Who did Claire meet at Qi Temple? Was it the fake abbess? Stephen? Or someone else entirely? That was when another name occurred to her—when Charlie told her about Jeevika, whom Ito Nanako met by chance at Qi Temple, offering guidance that helped her enlightenment. Considering that black side always appeared near temples, she quickly decided that Jeevika was on black's side. Hence, putting the third red piece below the third black piece, she cracked a small smile. "Guess this one would be Jeevika." She hence googled any information she could get on Master Jeevika. As it turned out, the priest was genuinely an enlightened figure in Budd

But when relaxed, Vera was just as childish as any adolescent.In just thirty minutes, the airbus was towed out of the hangar, taxied to the end of the runway, before its twin engines roared and took flight. On board, Vera's escorts all stayed in the rear cabin, while Vera was the one in the front—even a close confidante, Emmett, wouldn't impose. The flight from Aurous Hill to Osaka didn't take long—just two and a half hours later, the plane landed at Osaka Airport.Even as things got a little quieter now just before dawn, no one knew that the oldest guest they had just touched down.It was 6.30 am Tokyo time, and the sun was just rising above the eastern horizon.Vera—using an ID with the most generic of Oskian names—passed through customs without issue.She didn't hop on a train to Kyoto right away, instead taking the time to buy a Kuromi backpack attached with a ton of cute little accessories from an airport store. Loosening her ponytail, she tied it into cute pigtails be

The current Mr. Sato would probably never imagine that he would be meeting the very same Chiyo-chan from his great-grandfather's talesIt's said that even his great-grandfather didn't know Chiyo-chan's real name, aside from the last name Saikawa. It was a common last name, which made finding her an impossible quest.After finishing her bowl of yudofu and paying for it, she happily left the small stall and continued towards Rokuon-ji, all while looking left and right at the shops down the streets.Vera had lived in Japan for a long time, not leaving until the beginning of the 20th century.During her time in Kyoto, she was known as Chiyo-chan the Kind. At that time, Japan was undergoing the Meiji Restoration, transforming from a feudal to an industrial society. While their military also began to modernize, military tribalism had yet to spread nationwide.However, even Kyoto at that time was poverty-stricken. It was why plenty of food stalls and small business owners in the city

Korra's identity requires less secrecy than the likes of Emmett Sandsor.As such, Vera had decided that while meeting Korra here in Rokuon-ji, she didn't have to be as cautious as when she met in Eastcliff.And when Vera asked the novice monk to pass her message, the novice wasn't at all wary like Emmett's guards were back in Eastcliff.Upon hearing that Vera was a distant relative and was sent by her elders, the novice naively bought it.Japanese Buddhism originated in Oskia, when a famous Oskian monk spread Buddhist teachings nationwide, which were quickly adopted. However, after the Meiji Restoration, Shinto and Buddhism underwent significant changes, and the precepts for monks were revised.Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan strictly adhered to the monastic rules of Oskian Buddhism—monks were forbidden from consuming meat and were required to stay celibate. After the Meiji Restoration, Shinto Buddhism gradually became more secular, and most monks were allowed to marry and hav

And in that sense, Jeevika envied Korra, who practiced Buddhism with secular freedom and could openly express himself without being criticized for clinging to worldly attachments.In contrast, the Oskian Buddhist scene emphasized monastic practices and to deny worldly attachments. That meant practitioners would simply hide such desires, even if they couldn't really deny that side of themselves.So, he smiled and assured Korra, "I'm sure Buddha will find it appropriate to offer her rebirth, considering how you would praise her so highly. Perhaps you might even find her in the congregation of Buddha when you are freed from your mortal flesh as well."Korra simply smiled, shaking his head as he once again remembered Vera's face. He knew that Vera would never be dead—Buddha had seen it fit to grant her eternal youth, if not immortality.That was when someone shouted, "Halt! The abbot is having a private exchange with Master Jeevika! What's a novice like you doing here instead of guar