"She left too easily." A Onna, the rain spirit, covers her mouth and laughs. Her eyes curve into crescent moons. "Master, this place has good energy. You will recover quickly at this place."
Left? Ryou, the rain god, gazes at the door. It's true that this place has good energy. However, locations like this are not rare in this country. The reason why he ca here is that sothing dragged him here. Currently, this place is missing that thing.
"It's an honour to serve our master." Sosuri, a dwarf inugami in disguise, gives a heavy nod. "She must have realized it."
"I think that she will co back." Gama, the boy with his head inside a paper bag, says softly, "I felt special energy from her."
"I also felt it." Kozo, the old man in a pristine black suit, opens his eyes slightly. "It's not the energy of this world."
"I didn't feel anything like that." A Onna tilts her head, scratching her chin. "Maybe I didn't pay attention."
"This is enough." Sosuri claps his hands. "Our work isn't done. We must set up the place for the visitors. I can sense that our master will beco a popular god here."
Ryou doesn't say a word. His four servants resu working again. While waiting for the person to co back in silence, he lies down on Rie's bed and closes his eyes. There's a faint scent of death in the room. How long has it been since soone died here? A few weeks?
Unless a higher will is involved, she shouldn't be alive.
There's a knock. A Onna enters the room. "Master, the woman is back."
"See that she's treated with respect.." Ryou's voice is as smooth as honey. "I will return in a while."
***
Though this is her house, it doesn't feel like one.
The living room is completely different. It's a traditional style sitting room. Even the colour of the walls has changed. There's a painting of a blue dragon on the wall and incense burning in the corner. The dwarf man is dressed in a dark green robe. But he looks more human than he did earlier.
"It took so much money to renovate this place." And these gods could do it in one day. Ari lets out an exasperated sigh. She can't say how unfair this is.
"Mother, don't worry," Cina whispers to her. "I will kick them out of this place if they don't listen to polite words."
Rilyah shakes her head. This tree god only knows how to use violence.
The woman returns with so tea and snacks. Ari scrutinizes her. The woman looks to be around thirty-five. Her dark hair is matted to her head and tied into a bun. Whenever the woman smiles, her eyes would curve into crescent moons that give a soothing feeling. Ari doesn't touch the teacup or eat the snack, although the scent is testing her resolve.
Ari places her hand on her belly. Whenever she is nervous, she finds herself doing that. Sothing is definitely wrong with her. Even if she's pregnant, she shouldn't be craving food every minute. This is puzzling her.
"I am A Onna." The woman introduces herself to the group and bows her head slightly. "I am Master Ryou's servant."
"Sosuri." The dwarf utters quietly, not bothering to pay respect to Ari or her group. "I am the head servant."
The other two are missing. Ari clasps her hands together. "I am Takayama Ari, the owner of this house."
"Rilyah, the third moon of Iravan." Rilyah adds when the servants of the rain god look at her with confusion, "It's a distant world."
"I am the god of trees and land." Cina sneers at them. He's waiting for his mother to say sothing about the take over of the house. He will make sure to torture these people before he kicks them out of this place. "Cina."
"I am Takayama Ai." Ai smiles at A Onna and Sosuri. "I am not a god."
Ari glances at the boy beside him. Instead of using his father's or brother's surna, he has taken her surna. Her heart warms at the thought that there's one more Takayama in her family. He's truly her son.
"Ah!" Cina furrows his brows. "I am also Takayama Cina."
"Takayama Rilyah," Rilyah utters with a straight face. In this world, won would often change their surnas to their husband's after they get married. She finds that practice a little sweet. If Ai is a Takayama now, she's going to be a Takayama anyway.
Okay, there are too many Takayama now. Ari sighs. "Where's your master?"
"He will co to see you in a while," A Onna informs her while taking a short glance at Ai. He's a part human and many other things. She peeks at Rilyah, the third moon. There's certain energy coming from the girl with clear eyes. The tree god is not to be estimated either. So, they are from a different world except for Takayama Ari.
The door is slid open. Dressed in a marvellous navy robe with golden embroidery, the rain god walks into the room. He doesn't look like a holess cosplayer anymore. His silver hair is tied neatly. His skin is clear and bright. Sosuri and A Onna bow to their master. He takes a seat in front of Ari and gives her a bright smile. "You made wait a lot."
"I went out to eat," Ari blurts out, dazed by his appearance. She curses herself ntally. In front of Adira, this guy falls short. Then again, she's a little partial to Adira's appearance because she loves him. "Who are you exactly?"
"I am one of the faces of the rain god." Ryou tells her with a calm and composed voice, "You can call Ryou."
His servants peer at him nervously. Why is their master telling a commoner to call him by his na? She's nothing compared to him.
"Why should I call you by your na?" Ari smirks at him. Is she an idiot? She's not putting her leg in a ss without finding out what's going on.
In human history, there is so legendary figure who asked what was in a na. Ari can answer it pretty well. Nas hold power, especially true nas. Ryou isn't this god's true na, but she can try finding it out if she wants. She chuckles when Ryou frowns at her. "Lord, I don't dare to."
"You are carrying children of darkness" -- His gaze falls on her belly --"one of the faces of darkness -- Even if they are half-humans, they have trendous energy. You will attract creatures who are born from darkness and light."
Ari purses her lips. Is that why this god is here?
"What is your intention?" Cina glares at the god. "Look, leave this property. My mother doesn't want you here. Aren't you ashad of taking a mortal's house like this?"
Ryou studies the tree god. "You don't have your mories with you."
"H-How?" Cina points his finger at him. "You are not strong."
"I am closely related to the water god." Ryou reveals to them slowly, "Gods of this world are indeed different from yours, but we aren't useless. All the faces of the gods are in fact one at the core. We follow different wills of the supre one. You are no different if you want, I can bring back those mories."
"What, no!" Rilyah grabs Cina's collar and pulls him back to her. "Don't bring his mories back. He will kill all of us."
"I will never do that." Cina scowls at her darkly. "You, Ai, and Mother are my family."
"You are saying that now." Rilyah creases her forehead. "Listen, I will allow you to hang out with demons. Don't ask for your mories again."
"But I wanted to know how I was in the past." Having fun with demons isn't as important as his mories. Cina turns to his Mother. "Mother, do you not want to rember?"
Ari doesn't answer him. She questions the rain god, "Can you really bring back his mories?"
Nothing is free. Everything cos with a price. If he can truly bring back Cina's mories, then he can also help Adira. But why would this rain god help her?
"I told you that I would pay you the rent." The rain god beams at her. "You will never go hungry as long as I am here."
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