Back in his realm, Perth is inspecting every corner of his palace while his attendants, the water sprites, are trailing after him. It is a fairly unusual sight because they tend to work without their master seeing them but ever since he got back from the human realm, the Water God has been constantly giving them instructions. They quickly learn to just follow him around.
Perth frowns at the bedroom he will give to Saint. It is spacious and airy, with the cool breeze of the forever spring weather flowing in from the large windows. At the middle of the room is a four-poster bed with white fabric draping over the top and on all sides to form a canopy. It feels...inadequate.
And he says so out loud.
The sprites flutter their glass-like wings and fly all over the place, inspecting the window, the furnitures, the bed. They even inspect the fabric for the canopy. With every disaproving frown from the master, they grow more and more frantic and restless.
This is the scene that Aisha walks in on and it surprises her - in a good way. "Seems like I was right."
"About what?" Perth asks and then waves over a sprite who is twisting the bed sheets into some kind of origami, of all things. Sometimes, he remembers why he prefers not to see them work.
"All you needed was a companion, some social interaction. Look how excited you are at having your betrothed over." Aisha gestures at the room. "I haven't seen you redecorate your palace ever. And that's saying something considering how many centuries I've known you."
"It's only proper for me to prepare for a guest," Perth replies. He taps his bare foot on the marble floor. It's cold.
'No, that won't do.'
Immediately, soft, green grass blankets the floor.
Aisha raises an eyebrow pointedly at what Perth just did.
"Do not say a word," Perth snaps.
Aisha laughs. "So, while you are panicking over here-"
"I'm not panicking!"
"-isn't your betrothed wondering where you are?" A teasing smile. "Maybe he misses you."
To Aisha's delight, there is a red tinge to Perth's cheeks. "No he doesn't. He is in the company of the Oracle and his friend."
"His friend? That pretty human girl at the festival?"
Perth nods. "Yes. I asked her and her family to take care of Saint."
"Saint huh?" Aisha grins. She set out for this mission of finding a bride for the Water God to curb his loneliness but now even she is entertained too.
"I have to know his name." Perth's tone is defensive.
"Of course you do, Perth." When Perth glares at her for her condescending tone, she giggles and decides to stop teasing Perth already. "But seriously, be honest with me. You're excited to have that boy live here, aren't you?"
"Hmm, it's a way to pass the time. He doesn't seem entirely dull." But there is a soft smile on his lips.
Aisha is contented. 'My work here is done.' "Alright, I'll leave you to do whatever it is that you need to do then."
As Aisha leaves, she glances back at the Water God and remembers him as a tiny boy running around this lonely realm. He had been created out of the clouds, as most of them were. He has grown up and yet sometimes, she could still see that eager, wide-eyed boy he once was. Aisha hopes this human he will take here will see that boy too. She hopes he'll notice the Water God's heart and take care of it.
Perth hardly notices the Goddess of Life leaving, being too busy perfecting the room still. When it is as good as it can be in his eyes, he decides it is time to visit his betrothed.
Whistling, Perth flies down to where the humans are.
He finds Saint sitting by the porch of the house he left him in, looking at the Oracle at his hands, his expression forlorn.
Unbidden, Aisha's words came to Perth's mind.
"Maybe he misses you."
Perth shakes his head. That couldn't be.
It is the Oracle who first noticed the Water God's presence. It jumps out of Saint's hands.
"Where are you go-" Saint stops. "Divine One..."
Perth nods at him, formal. "I come to take you home."
Saint's eyes widens. "No, I need to tell you something."
Perth notices a leaf on Saint's hair and gently reaches out to remove it. "What is it?"
The action derails Saint's thoughts. But then he sees at the corner of his eye, Tasanee making her way towards them, a longing stare directed to the Water God. It spurs him into speaking. "You made a mistake. I'm not the one you should take. I'm not the one you should marry. I know nothing about serving a God, or being a wife. I'm not even a woman. Oh and children! How will you have children if you'll marry me?"
Throughout Saint blurting out words, Perth is growing more and more confused. "Where is this coming from? You didn't seem resistant to the idea a few days ago."
"Pardon my interruption, Divine One but it's been a few weeks, not a few days," Tasanee corrects. "Perhaps Saint is simply tired. He isn't used to being patient, you see."
Perth's brows furrow. "Is that so?"
Saint is torn between his emotions. On one hand, now that Perth is disappointed in his complete lack of patience, as what Tasanee said, he might perhaps reconsider their marriage and take Tasanee instead. It is what Saint wants to happen so his friend will be happy. But on the other hand, there is a sharp pain in his chest at disappointing the God who had extended his hand to him. He doesn't want him to hate him, as so many people already does.
Tasanee daintily bows. "If you are interested, Divine One, may I tour you around the house? You were in a hurry the last time. Perhaps Saint needs time to collect himself, don't you Saint?" Her last words are loaded with meaning.
Saint slowly nods.
"Look at me, Saint," Perth says.
Saint does and nearly glances away at the sincerity he sees on those eyes. The Water God's eyes are intense and piercing. Saint feels like the God can see to his very soul.
"Gods don't make mistakes, not like that. You are the chosen one and so you are the one I'm taking with me. I don't expect you to serve me because as I have told you, we are to be equals. And as for children, Gods are not born like humans are. And if in the future you do want children then it is possible for us to have as many of them as you desire."
Saint is rendered speechless.
It is Tasanee who speaks. "He does not want to go with you, Divine One."
Without breaking eye contact with Saint, Perth speaks. "Then he shall say those words himself. Tell me Saint, do you not want me?"
The phrasing of those words...Saint wants to cry. He isn't so sure anymore. He wants Tasanee to be happy, he really does. But in his heart, he wants to be with the Water God, to get to know him, to understand him. This is his chance to have a family. "I..."
His hesitation angers Tasanee, whom he had already promised to give the position of being the Water God's bride to. "Why won't you answer? The Divine One is asking you. You don't want to go with him, right?"
At that moment, the Oracle flies and stops on Perth's shoulder and makes a sound. Saint and Tasanee only hears strange hissing from the orb but Perth hears the truth. In an instant, Perth looks every bit the God that he is - his face serious and his eyes flashing in anger.
"How dare you put ideas on his head," Perth thunders, his ire directed at the deceptively fragile-looking girl in front of him.
"Divine One, I d-don't know-" Tasanee begins, terrified.
"You told him it should be you that I choose. And that he is not worthy to be mine," Perth says.
Tasanee kneels down. "No, Divine One! I would never-" She turns to Saint who is still in shock. "Tell him, Saint."
Immediately, Saint tries to defend her but he is just about to open his mouth when Perth raises a hand.
"He will no longer lie for you." Perth shows her the Oracle. "You should have thought twice before speaking nonsense where the Oracle can hear."
Her and Saint's eyes widen in realization. They didn't think the Oracle can actually communicate with the Water God.
"Forgive me, Divine One!" Tasanee cries. "I was simply looking out for you. Saint received no training and he is believed to be cursed."
Saint flinches. He didn't think Tasanee would bring it up. Now, definitely the Water God would not choose him.
But Perth has had heard enough. He grabs Saint by the shoulders and looks him in the eyes. "The Oracle has already told me the answer but I want to hear it from you. Would you like to marry me?"
Saint's eyes stray to Tasanee who is shaking her head furiously, tears flowing down her cheeks. But Perth gently turns his face back to him.
"Answer me, Saint."
"Y-yes. Yes I'd like to marry you."
Perth smiles and carries Saint much like how he carried him that night of the festival. "Then we're going home." He glances at Tasanee. "As for you, I wonder how I should punish you."
Saint clutches Perth's arm. "Please. Please forgive her."
Perth ponders. "Very well. To err is human, to forgive divine." It is an age-old saying that is passed on from generations after generations. Humans are born imperfect after all and it is a divine act to forgive them despite that. "I'll let it go this time. But you better be grateful to Saint all your life. He has saved you."
And so Saint and Perth leaves the distraught girl and the cruel human world behind, the Oracle dutifully at their side, and goes to the water realm.
One would think that they live happily ever after from then on but that's not the case. Their story is just beginning.
Once they arrive at the Water God's realm, it is every bit as awkward as one would expect of two strangers who don't really know each other but are expected to marry. Their prior interactions with each other if combined would not even make one whole day.
And also, there is the matter of Perth thinking he had gone too far in revealing his emotions and asserting his dominance. He had basically taken Saint from everything he knew to this strange new world.
Saint on the other hand is terrified of making a mistake, of displeasing the God. Tasanee had been right after all, he received no training for this sort of thing.
And so after an awkward tour of the palace which basically consisted of the Water God saying "Here is your room. You are free to roam around," they are left just awkwardly staring at each other.
Until Saint notices the ornate porcelain bathtub in his room. It looks just like the one in his dream. And sure enough, it is filled with clean, clear water.
Perth notices the attention to the bathtub and grabs that chance as a conversation starter. "Do you like it?"
Saint nods quickly, excited. "I've never seen so much water for bathing." He pauses. "It is for bathing, right?"
Perth smiles. Saint has the exuberance of a child at this moment and he likes seeing his eyes spark like that. "Of course. You are about to marry a Water God, you will see so much water, you'd get sick of it."
Saint shakes his head. "I doubt that." Then he remembers the people in his village. No matter how they treated him, he still feels guilty enjoying this luxury of water when all of them are suffering over there. "Divine One...do you think...do you think you could perhaps bless the people with rain?"
"Oh." Perth didn't think that would be Saint's first request. It speaks so much to the human's character though.
Mistaking Perth's silence for annoyance at his request, Saint babbles more. "I promise I'll be very very good. I'll listen to you and um..." He looks around the large room. "And maybe you need someone to clean the palace? I'm very good at chores, I do them everyday back at my Aunt and Uncle."
He nervously waits for Perth's answer.
Perth steps forward but stops when Saint flinches. "Told you I don't expect or need you to serve me." He can't help but frown. He wonders at Saint's actions. It's like he's always scared of him.
'Do you fear me?'
"But what...what will I do here?"
Saint is used to a life of labor. For as long as he can remember, he has been working and resting only for a bit of sleep. He feels unsettled now that he is not expected to do anything.
"Sleep. Explore the realm. I have been told there are plants and creatures here that you humans have never seen. And if you want, you can talk to me."
"You'll listen to me?" Saint is in awe. No one ever wants to listen to him.
"Of course. I like hearing you talk. As for your request, the first rain will be on our wedding. I want the humans to never forget the day of our union."
Saint smiles, overjoyed that the God is honoring his request. "Thank you, Divine One."
"You keep calling me that."
Saint tilts his head. "What else am I supposed to call you?"
"Oh right, you humans don't know our names, just our titles," Perth realized. "You can call me Perth."
Later, as he turns to leave, Perth catches sight of the water sprites outside the door. They are curious about this newest addition to the realm.
Perth looks back at the open door to Saint's room. The human is sitting on the bed and staring blankly at the grass on his feet. He looks...lonely. But it is not Perth's place to comfort him. Not yet. They don't know each other that much after all.
Instead, Perth does the only thing he can now. And that is to ensure that Saint is treated in the best manner possible. He turns to his sprites.
"From now on, you serve Saint as you serve me. Anything he wants, anything he asks for, you do your best to give it to him," Perth says.
He walks on. Once he can no longer be seen, the sprites huddle to the door, peeking at the one the Master asked them to serve.
Saint doesn't notice them, his mind faraway. Earlier, with the excitement of eveything happening, it did not sink in that this is it, this is to be his life from now on. The silence is getting to him. He never knew how comforting all the sounds of the village are until now that all he hears is silence.
The Oracle rolls over to Saint, resting at his foot, trying to comfort him.
"Thank you," Saint says to the Oracle. He allows himself a few minutes to wallow at the loneliness he already feels but then after that he stands up and takes a deep breath. "I should stop whining. I wanted this and this is a good thing. I'm sure the Divine One - oh, um, Perth - doesn't want a crying mess for a wife."
At the door, the water sprites nod to each other, determined to take care of this beautiful creature their master has brought home.
Perhaps for the first time in forever, the water realm would no longer emanate with loneliness but instead be filled with smiles and laughter.
One can only hope.