While on her way to high school with Tenma and Shimon, Akane Motomiya is drawn to an old well; with a sudden wind gust, a mysterious shadow appears.

Princess Fuji, a girl of the Star clan, accepts Akane and Shimon into her palace; Akane unintentionally unleashes the power of the Dragon God.

Akane is safely reunited with the once missing Tenma; she is unable to accept that she is the Priestess of the Dragon God.

Major General Tachibana-no-Tomomasa visits Princess Fuji's palace and offers Akane an invitation to the Flower Purifying Ceremony.

Thoughts of Akram continue to sway Akane, though the response of the Eight Guardians in sensing her troubles further proves their bonds with her.

One night, at the Chief Councilor's banquet, the Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Fujiwara-no-Takamichi meets the dancer Shirin.