[December 4, 2021, Evening 18:00]
[Main God World・Zone 30]
In the Lotus Pond, a swarm of bright red fish swam.
In the courtyard, a purple-clay teapot was emitting steam.
The woman with long black hair lifted her cherry blossom kimono, poured the tea, took a step back into the chamber, and slid open the wooden door.
A middle-aged man with white hair and beard, clad in a black kimono, sat cross-legged on the tatami mats, with his eyes closed in meditation.
The woman took off her shoes to enter, placed the tea to one side, and knelt down in front of him.
The man did not speak, and the woman remained silent as well.
Outside the window, pink petals that resembled cherry blossoms fluttered down; the middle-aged man opened a thin slit in his eyes.
The woman bowed her head.
"Please inform me of Sora's whereabouts," she said, her voice steady.
The middle-aged man did not respond but merely closed his eyes again.
