Thunder roared as the sky cried itself out. The heaven is mourning for its loss. There stood a man in white robe, his glorious wings shine like the sun. He was looking so sad. Pain reflects on his crystal eyes as he watched his beloved being executed.
She was hanged on a cross and fire kissed her skin. Her tears fell as she felt betrayed. The yell of the crowd filled her ears. It hurts, she thought.
"Why have you forsaken me?"
I sat dreamily as I stared down at the blank papers and spilled ink on the table. I've been working myself to death with these talisman making. I sighed. I could here the countless complements that Aka and Ao gave to Michaelis. Those guys really knows how to get on your good side. Too bad Michaelis doesn't seem to be affected by that. I stood up and went on the porch. Michaelis has his back turned from me as he hangs the laundry. His tails swayed and his ears perked, causing him to turn to my direction. Our eyes met and I smiled and waved my hand. He looked at me before grabbing the laundry basket and headed towards me.
"I see that you still haven't had any progress on your divine powers," He started.
"Hey, I'm trying you know!" I said as I pout my lips.
"Stop. You look like a fish," he spat.
What? You sure does know how to use your tongue. I remained silent and averted my eyes from him. He stared at me for a second before proceeding back to his chores. I went back at the kitchen and seated myself comfortably.
"Lady Nina, here's your breakfast. Prepared by Master Michaelis himself," Aka offered.
"Thank you."
I smiled and started to eat my food.
"Has Michaelis eaten yet? How about you two?" I asked as I chew on my food.
"Oh no. We don't eat, Lady Nina. As for Master Michaelis, he has done his share," Ao said.
"Oh. Is that so."
I focused my attention at my food. In this kind of situation, I consider Michaelis as the best. He's so good at cooking. He makes such delicious food. He's outstandingly good for a guy. After eating my fill, I washed the dishes and went back into the porch. I have nothing to do except writing talismans. And since I'm tired of it, I just wanted to relax.
"Michaelis, can't we go shopping today?" I asked loudly since he's at the backyard of the shrine.
He stopped from his tracks and face me.
"No."
"But why? It's weekends. And we only have a few worshippers," I said.
"I suggest you focus your time on gaining a lot of worshippers than spending money," he stated as he cleansed himself before heading towards me.
I pout. How can I gain such numbers of worshippers in just a month? It's imposibble. And from what I'm doing since I became a god, all I did was write talismans and hear a little prayer.
"Do not fret. You'll surely gain a lot of them. For now, I want you to ready yourself. We have visitors coming," he said and patted my head.
"Visitors?" I asked.
"Yes. The other gods insist to see you and may as well give their blessings," he said.
"Now go and prepare. They will be here any minute."
He pushed me forward. I blinked in confusion but did what he asked nonetheless. I have not known such event being held in my shrine today. I wonder what kind of gods I should be meeting today.
I went into my room and rummaged through my closet for some formal clothes to wear. It's almost half a day, yet visitors are still coming to visit me today. Can't they just rescheduled it in some other day, where I can welcome them readily? Geez, I have no proper clothes to wear. All I have is my casual clothings, and the only formal one is my school uniform. I can't believe I'm this poor. Michaelis haven't left me any fancy clothes to wear either. What should I do? My head snapped at the door when I heard faint voices talking. My eyes widened. Michaelis said they will be here any minute, but I didn't expected it to be this minute. I am late. I can't have the guest waiting for me. I hastily grab my school uniform and change into it. This is now or never.
As I reached the door, it flew open, revealing Michaelis.
"Michaelis, I'm ready!" I exclaimed.
"What?" He asked.
"You don't mean to go out there wearing that, do you?"
I looked at him seriously and nodded.
He sighed and entered my room, closing the door behind him. I stepped back as I watched him. Now what? I stood confuse as he passed over me and headed back to my closet. He went rummaging my closet until he stopped when a baby pink fabric caught his eyes. He pulled it out, revealing a plain pink kimono with a golden satin wrapped around it. Oh, so he did gave me some of those clothes after all. Why haven't I found it?
"It's because you didn't look for it hard enough," he spat as if reading my mind.
"Now come," he urged.
He quitely removed my coat and unbuttoned my longsleeves. Heat crept its away on my cheeks, causing me to turn away.
"I'll do it!" I exclaimed and turned around.
I heard him chuckled as I unbuttoned my uniform. Good thing I am wearing a camisole. When I finally got my uniform off, his hands wrapped around my shoulder, causing me to stiffen. The fabric hug my frame. He then turned me around, as I tried hard not to get flustered. I look down in embarassment. Why does he do this? I am desperately trying to hide my embarassment, yet he doesn't feel embarass at all. He seems to be fine dressing someone opposite of his gender. I wonder if he does this to his previous god before.
Who is his previous god? Who is Regalia? When did he become this gentle? Michaelis never liked me ever since the contract is formed, yet he treated like I'm an important thing. He treated me like I'm a fragile thing. Didn't he used to be rough and bossy? Now, he's gentle and him being hot-tempered is off track. He looks somewhat relaxed, unlike the other day.
I noticed that Michaelis is done with my clothes and is now doing my hair. His cold hands brushed my nape causing me goosebumps. I really don't like this kind of moment. It gives me the chill, yet at the same time, makes my heart flutter. A gold hairpin struck my hair, locking it in position. Michaelis stood straight as he looked at me in the mirror.
"Whatever you do, do not get carried away nor carelessly agreeing to what deals they offer," he said.
I nodded without asking any question and followed him as we exited the room.
As we reached the place, the visitors looked up. I gulped an invisible lump in my throat as they watched me intensely.
"I'm sorry for the wait," Michaelis bowed.
"I now present to you, Lady Nina of Regalia Shrine."
The three gods looked at me and nodded, as if acknowledging my presence. Michaelis urged me to take a sit as he sat quitely behind me.
"This is Eros, the god of matchmaking and a close friend of this shrine," said Michaelis as he began to introduce everyone.
The god of matchmaking smiled at me. He has a gorgeous green eyes and sleek black hair that reaches his hips tied in a ponytail. He wears an odd clothing with a furry fabric that hangs around his neck.
"This the goddess of the sea, Lady Lylia."
I looked up and she sent me a blank look. Her eyes are white and her skin is the color of the ocean. Her hair looks unruly with her blue curls.
"And this is Aerolis, the god of wind."
Aerolis on the other hand, looks pale with a pair of forest green eyes and blonde hair. He somewhat looks like Lucas
"It's a pleasure to finally meet the new land god," Aerolis said.
"Likewise, sir," I responded.
"So is it true?" Eros asked making me turn my head towards his direction.
"Is it true that you are a human?" He asked.
I heard Michaelis clicked his tongue, causing me to looked at him before going back to Eros' question. I nodded and smiled.
"So tell me, how did you get his mark?" He asked.
What mark is he talking about? I glanced down and saw the crown mark on my wrist. This must be it. I recalled my memories about anything that may have a connection on this mark, but nothing came.
"I don't have any memories of when and how I got the mark," I explained.
"That old man sure is good at hiding it to you. I bet you wouldn't even remember her when you get to meet," Lylia said.
I was suddenly taken aback at her statement.
"Ah you bet. Hiro is still a genius after all," Eros said.
"Now, let's not talk about that grumpy old man when his favorite is around," Aerolis said and smiled at me meaningfully.
Hiro. That's my grandfather's name. Are they perhaps talking about my grandfather? My mind went flooding with thoughts and ideas. Maybe they have any connection about my grandfather. If they did, do they know that he passed away? Or I could might have mistaken the identity of the person they're talking about as my grandfather.
"May I know who is this Hiro?" I inquired.
Lylia looked at me like she saw a ghost. She looks so aghast or perhaps shocked at my inquiry. Did I ask the wrong question? Confusion started circling in my mind.
"I can't believe you don't know your own gr—!"
"Eros."
Eros was cutted short when Aerolis called his name.
"I believe we came here on a different purpose," Aerolis said.
My brows knotted together. I am so confuse. Is there something Eros shouldn't say that Aerolis cut him off? What's the next thing he's about to say? And who is the person that I don't know?
I suddenly felt the soft touches of Michaelis tails at my back, soothing me. I was taken back into reality when his tails rubbed themselves on my back. I blinked and looked at the three gods in front of me. Their eyes stare at each other as if they are into an understanding without opening their mouths to speak.
Michaelis now stood beside me. His presence is a big help in maintaning my proper thinking, as I tried to sort out the puzzles that the three gods made me think, intentionally or not.
"I believe it's time for the blessings," he offered.
Everyone agreed and each god stayed quite in their sit. Their familiars leaned forward and listened to what each has whispered before nodding and getting something behind their backs. Aerolis stood up. Beside him, his familiar followed, with a silver fabric.
"I, Aerolis, god of winds bestow upon you the guidance of the winds. No matter where you go, the wind shall take you back to your home." Aerolis said.
His familiar gave the fabric to Michaelis to which he gently accepted. Soon enough, Lylia followed. In her hand is an intricate design of blue and blacks pearls hanged by a golden woven necklace.
"I, Lylia of the sea, grants you the calm and rage of the sea. You may have passage to my kingdom as you wish," she said blankly.
Yes. She gave me something, yet she looks like she doesn't like giving me anything. She doesn't even smile or look at me in the eye. She's just blank. She looks like she forced herself to give such a beautiful gift to me. I smiled at her but she just looked at me blankly and returned back to her sit.
"There is beauty in you, yet with it comes the storm. May you see what your heart truly desires," Eros said and leaned forward towards me. He drop into his knees and looked at me in the eye.
"May I?" He asked, asking permission of my hand.
I nodded and reached out. In his hands is a golden bracelet woven intricately with a single diamond, about the size of a broken peanut, glinting. He gently placed the bracelet on my wrist. The cold metal kissed my skin, touching the mark on my wrist. After that, Eros retreated back into his chair.
"Thank you everyone for acknowledging me and bearing witness of my new name," I said.
"May you live your duty as a god, Nina," Aerolis said.
I've had a few chat with the gods before they went home. It was quite puzzling yet intriguing. They seem to enjoy idle talks and talk in a riddling manner. If you listen to their coverstations, if feels like you're on a wild goose chase. I have to pay attention to each and every word they say to get the meaning of their clauses. They are fun to be with. At first impression, they look like they're always dead serious, yet it was the complete opposite. Well, exept for Lylia, since no matter what and where the conversation would go, she looks terrribly blank. Although despite all the fun, I can't seem to forget why they know the name Hiro. I am suspecting it was my grandfather, but a god would never have an interaction with a human like my grandfather.
We bid them goodbyes as they entered each of their rides home.
"Work yourself to death, Nina," Eros laughed.
"That old man would be so emotional when he gets to see you again, like when he decided to let you go."
Before I could ask who he was referring to, his carriage flew and dashed away from my place.
Who are you exactly?