The next day in the evening, the sect leader's woman sent her followers to pick me up. I was invited to eat a meal that was rich in protein and also sufficient carbohydrates. The taste of the food I admit was very good.
For a few days there, I was given several tasks by Wey's subordinates. I did many things, from doing housework such as mopping, sweeping, and organizing things, to delivering food to the front of the Master's room.
I was also asked to attend a music class where we were taught to play instruments such as the shamisen. This instrument is very famous in the eastern mirror world. According to some of the residents of the pavilion, the master was very fond of the sound produced by this three-stringed guitar-like instrument.
When we practiced, there would be a rehearsal at the end, where we would play a solo. The songs performed are also different songs depending on the level of proficiency.
"You have to study harder!" Said Han, our music teacher who looked like a 70-year-old hermit.
Everyone in the room chuckled at Han's comment to me who had just practised my first song with discordant notes here and there. This bothered me a bit, shouldn't I be able to master this instrument easily?
It's not a difficult job. If only my hands and mind could move in sync while playing the shamisen. After the day job was over, I sometimes quietly went to the art room to practice.
'I should be able to do it! Let's do it!'
" So, you're passionate about learning shamisen, hm?"
" Whoa! You're surprising me!"
I who was determined to be able to play the shimasen well was caught off guard by Wey who happened to be passing by. Then, she joins me and starts playing a beautiful melody out from the shamisen.
" You know, why does the master like to hear shamisen so much?"
"In the past, there was once one soul who came. The girl had a sad soul with a beautiful shell. She was quiet yet she was a disobedient woman. I don't understand but her nature made master love her."
"One day, the master asked her to come. But she refused."
Wey then recounted that the master was very angry at first, but it didn't last long. The girl negotiated with the master that she wanted to make a musical performance with the shamisen, if she succeeded in moving the master's heart she asked to be released for reincarnation. But if she failed then she was willing to bear the consequences and obey the master's words.
The master agrees, and on the day she performs. Everyone gathers in the pavilion on the 13th full moon. The bright moonlight shines on the girl playing the shamisen which is sad but very beautiful to hear. Everyone was touched and moved by the girl's performance, as was the master.
With a heavy heart, the master who loved the girl dearly let her go as promised. Since then, on the 13th full moon, a musical art performance will be held. To entertain the master who remembers the girl every year after her departure. Everyone practiced, hoping to experience the same thing as the girl in the story.
Wey returned to playing the shamisen in his hand, occasionally humming as he gazed at the crescent moon visible from the music room window.
"Is there any chance I could be free too?"
"Why not, that's why we should be able to play this instrument," Wey replied with a smile.
"In that case, why did you perform the ritual that day?"
"This performance is only done at a certain time, we need a quick way for everyone to reincarnate."
Day after day, I practiced the shamisen until I became proficient. Han seemed to be very happy to see that I had made so much progress. Everyone was happy with my progress. At the end of the lesson, I approached Han. I asked him when this year's thirteenth month appeared.
"Well, it's already past. It was about four months ago."
I couldn't believe it, I thought this month was the thirteenth month. Who would have thought I'd already passed it? I feel like I've been wasting all this time practicing so hard to get good at Shamisen.
'But hey, I can just request to do it in private when I meet the master later!'
.
.
.
On the next day, Wey. took me to a room. There she set up a male mannequin. She chanted a spell and instantly the mannequin came to life like a human being in the white robe.
"I will teach you until you are qualified to meet the master."
" The next lesson is-"
"Wait! I don't understand. What kind of training is this? Why must a male mannequin be brought to life?"
" Let me finish my word, sweety!"
" The next lesson is a practice to serve the master privately"
"Before undertaking the duty of serving the master, you must be trained first. That is the requirement."
"What kind of service do you mean?"
Wey let out a sigh, and then she began to tell me about the background of the master she always mentioned. Master is a powerful person, very powerful and in charge of organizing what they called the mirror world in the East.
In the real world, he was considered a water God. Yes, he has already lived for a hundred years! People in the old days always offered young maidens to him so that calamities would not come to their region. Most of the people who come to sacrifice themselves will lose their memories after entering this world.
" But no in my case! I remember where I come from, and what kind of life I have-skip! that's not a good story after all..." she adds.
Wey was special. She was appointed to be the leader and assigned to train the souls who had just come to their territory. The sacrificed maiden had to serve the master's love affairs, and many of the maidens admitted that they could not face the master.
"Sorry, but I'm too old to be called a maiden. So please just send me home, Okay?"
Wey chuckled, she said that my age could still be considered mature. besides that chastity was also considered important. Then Wey explained that the master said that if there was a girl who could satisfy him, all the maidens whose souls had served him would be reincarnated as soon as possible.
'I want to know what kind of this old man has this disgusting behavior!'