Year of the Crow, Second Month, Day 6. Postscript.

I did take a walk this morning. It was quite delightful to explore another House. They cannot be expecting rain locally, because they have unfurled the House banners which lie against the wall on either side of the main door. The combination of the purple banners and the white walls looked elegant and bright. I realised, as I looked at them, that the House sigil is a stylised version of the word for 'truth'. I must have known this before; like everyone, I learnt all the House sigils and colours at school but I suppose I have never given it that much thought before. I wonder how significant it is... is the truth actually here at all or was this just Father's way of giving me somewhere to go...?

He cannot have thought that I would go haring off around the countryside on some sort of crusade to help Yuika so perhaps it is he who wrote to Tsuyoshi and Ichiko. If that were the case though, would they not just have sent for me? Unless they thought Mother would not let me go... yet again, I have more questions than answers. Haru was no help at all. When I asked her about it, she claimed to know nothing. Perhaps she was telling the truth, perhaps not; I find it so difficult to tell these days and I am more convinced than ever that most of the people around me are being duplicitous in one way or another.

Aside from the unanswered questions which plagued me, I rather enjoyed my walk in the grounds. Not quite as well manicured as those of Silent Thunder or Dying Crane, it is clear that the gardens are not a priority but they are maintained enough to enjoy being outside. The wildlife is more similar to Pale Twilight's and I was so pleased to find some peacocks on one of the lawns. I find it so amusing that it is the male of the species which preens and prances, making itself look beautiful for the females. Mother despised our peacocks and often complained about how irritating their mewling was; of course that only served to make me like them even more... 

I also caught some small lizards scurrying off as I walked through the statuary garden. And what an unusual place that is! I do not recall any of the other Houses having such a thing but Purple Lightning has constructed a garden full of them. It is at once fascinating and eerie. One might almost say sinister. I know they are only statues but I felt as if the eyes of the dead were watching me; disapproving of my presence there. Perhaps that is why it has been left to fend for itself. There are plaques next to most of the statues to note the name of the person it commemorates as well as their birth and death dates. Perhaps for want of something better to do, I will look them up when I am in the library and see who they were. 

The grass in that particular garden is somewhat overgrown, surrounding the bases of the statues and in some cases, creeping up their legs.  As well as the lizards, I saw plenty of crickets and around one of the statues, there seemed to be an abundance of flies. I do not want to think about what may be attracting them to that spot; there is probably something dead in the overgrowth. I was not going to investigate, that is certain!

Other than the statuary, there is a wonderful lake which is home to some turtles as well as the expected carp. A smaller lake replete with lotuses provides a playground for some exquisite species of dragonfly I have not seen before and there are some large birds which may or may not have been herons. There is far more to explore but after three sticks, I was ready for something to eat and a sit down!