" I used to work at the temple back when I was young,the temple was a purification ground built after the recovery of Bai Yu's journal and every 60 years it took young male blessed of the land significantly seven and they were dedicated to purify Holy Gate" she took the second cup towards her " the men gifted with individuals talents- few learnt while the others born with-use it to channel their energy in remarkable ways". she poured out some tea and set the tea pot back on the tray staring at the tea, she smiled warmly and took a sip "your father didn't have any valuable talent and didn't learn any, he was chosen because he was the purest amongst all and a strong devote. He was extremely blessed by the land with beauty no one could ever think existed, this unique energy he channeled into anything; dancing,music,songs_painting" Jinn noticed her hesitation at the last word and how she'd gone pale.
"The men of pure hearts are to purify Holy Gate" he mumbled in confusion, hands brushing the table surface " why are they purifying_" he wondered if he already knew the answer, his conversation with the strange woman becoming a haze "she said something about sending her people away" his eyes meeting Ai Lin's mom questioning look "Are you_ no,what exactly are they purifying against?"
"You already know of Bai Yu" she mentioned the name with pride and Jinn placed an elbow on the table top,chin propped up by his palm."He was a good man who saved our village many years ago from the lethal Emperor Su over four or five hundred years ago_He discovered Holy Gate, when he died" she stared at the table eyes distant " several men where sent to look for him and his men but for months no one returned,people panicked of what could be out there ?,Had they somehow offended the spirit of the sacred ground?"
"Men ventured out once more. This time however one did return Huang Fu_He told us about this place,that_that it held an immortal god of destruction Liune" Jinn blinked at her, he hadn't read up to discover Huang Fu or his shocking revelation.
Jinn had heard about the gods of destruction, According to tradition they are five spirits that feed on the evil of men and Lamentation of humans for eons. They were said to punish evil doers but also known to crave total purification of the world. The immortal god of Justice -Anaru- had bestowed them this task but regulated their activities.
All five gods; Ierse, Liune ,Taki,Aster and Ferse.There were several temples in Astrin -Jinn's home town- for each destruction god. He'd only visited the temple for school trips when he was younger after all he had nothing to plead for. Parents told children of naughty humans who where punished by the gods but most stories went on the second god Liune,no one would ever forget him.
He was known to punish people with greed,hatred,evil ambitions but most times he took the works of his fellow gods. Obsessed with purification and never showing mercy to his victim, A savagely vicious god banished by Anaru to attone for his actions. Even though he'd been banished some people fear his unrelenting kills and plead for forgiveness in his temple for even minor crimes.
Jinn's eyebrows shut up at the realisation that they'd entered Liune's secluded grounds, pure grounds could possibly weaken his power but had he fed on those people that never returned? 'The Lady from yesterday had said the darkness_' he shook away that thought but more shock frizzled through him,He was real! The tales hadn't been quite believable. If Liune was here he understood the constant purification of Holy Gate but wasn't it best_
"Why didn't they leave? find somewhere else to go,this place wasn't_isnt safe" the words rushed out of him in a babble, his father knew about it why didn't he leave?
"At that time they couldn't, they couldn't risk being caught by the Emperor and Liune was locked up.The instructions was not to venture far where the darkness could consume you". She stared at him with concern in her eyes, eyebrows slightly lifted. "Huang Fu wasn't quite himself, he returned Bai Yu's ledger and ordered the people to leave. The people refused, they would purify this place, attone for the sins of their people.The lives of their founders wouldn't be wasted"
The persistent resolution in her eyes silenced him with panick, no matter what she explained they were foolish to remain in this land,it was foolish of him to come here but then he had no idea about any of this "On entry to the foreign land, the entrance was tampered with and they needed to maintain its protection" she shook her head and gripped her cup.
"Huang Fu left,he went to the mountains and never returned. Few of his family members went after him, History said they returned looking unwell...I don't really understand what that meant but they warned that the ground wasn't safe and that they were leaving"
"They all died two days later,this sent everyone into a frenzy but the priest assured them their safety and started purification, few years passed and all was forgotten...well until your father" Jinn looked up at her absently adjusting the cushion beneath him he inclined with curiosity and deadpanned tremor.
"what happened?".