Well, the house is in the local traditional style, not cramped but rather spacious, but the familiar minimalism and asceticism of the Japanese has been preserved. Tatami everywhere, sliding doors, but no paper walls. The panels of the walls and doors are decorated with masterful paintings of natural motifs, where birds, plants, and clouds are traditionally abundant.
It's beautiful, but I can draw just as well, and I did. I had to carry the suitcase in my hands because the wheels almost ruined the tatami, but fortunately I did not have to carry it far — they gave me a room on the first floor.
Moreover, there are two exits from the room: one inside the house, the other outside, with a view of the hillside and the ocean. It's beautiful, and not so hot from the breeze.
And the constant light ringing of air bells is amazing. At the Miyazaki estate, there were bells like this, but they were made of bamboo, but the ringing is completely different — a deeper sound, rich in something "kind of". Later I learned that on the islands these bells are made of shells, or less often of stone.
— Here, — the woman gestured around the room. — This is your room for the time you are with us. Make yourself comfortable.
— Good. — It's a bit empty, but I'm used to it.
— Let's have some tea and I'll tell you what's going on here and you can ask your questions.
In short, I learned why the Mori family, who live in Hokkaido, are here, and much more. It turns out that the Miyazaki clan gave the responsibility for these islands to various vassal clans.
This particular island has always belonged to the Mori clan, who were originally from here but later moved to Hokkaido. Expensive and rare ingredients for alchemy and rituals are grown on all the islands: plants, animals, algae, insects, fish. Anything unusual is magical.
The Moris take care of the household, the head and assistants come here regularly, and the whole main family comes here in the summer. Some servants come with them to help around the house, but the island has plenty of its own people, including professional priests and priestesses from the local temple.
While the children are at school, the mistress takes care of the house with the help of two young maids, sometimes Mori Mayuri-san gives lessons to the children, she turned out to be an expert in shamanism and witchcraft, and also understands ritualism and maleficism (curses).
When I heard this, I was stunned, but immediately asked about the basics; unexpectedly, the woman smiled approvingly and promised to teach everything she could. Her husband, Mr. Mori Goro, works all day and travels to neighboring islands. He is an expert in the cultivation and processing of magical plants, as well as a good manager.
Well, here I was a little surprised — the head of the family. He doesn't give lessons for children — he has enough to worry about already, but the courses at the local school and kindergarten are taught by smart people, because this is the bread and butter of the local people, and you have to know the matter thoroughly.
Mayuri-san told me about my daily routine and also asked me urgently to swim in the ocean only in a certain place — on a protected beach, because there are a lot of dangerous animals in the local waters, and they don't want to lose their son-in-law through stupidity.
I thought I would be embarrassed... yes, right now! I've been trying to figure out how to avoid this fate for months, but to no avail. It's good that at the same time I have a lot of activities and concerns to distract me from thoughts of a forced marriage. And so, as the conversation progressed, I realized that it would be possible to realize one of my projects here, because there would be no total surveillance, only supervision, because the island itself is under control, and no one could influence me. I think so.
Also, as Mayuri-san boasted, there is a special kind of semi-dwarf tree growing on this island that is used to make magic wands, staffs, and wands. Wood is very good for working with magic, in the sense that with special impurities in the core, it completely changes its properties in predisposition to certain magic. That is, if you use the flesh of a salamander, the concentrator will be an excellent tool for a fire mage or fighter.
And if the heart is a kraken, which is also grown on the islands (in special caves on a neighboring island), then the tool will be ideal for a water mage, healer, and others who need calm, plastic magic, very close to neutral. What struck me was that Yellowflower grows on the islands by itself, no one cultivates it, and they take it as needed. Seeing my near-shock, the woman smiled and explained that it was customary to keep Yellowflower a secret.
There are plenty of other plants in the world that can be used for artifact research, and if everyone knew about this plant, both honest and not-so-honest magicians would flock here, and the plant would be in danger of extinction.
Well, the islanders are right: people seldom think about the future, and mages are not as far removed from the simpletons as they like to show; they are only justified by the duration and economy of using resources. But there is only one nature, and it cannot be hidden — at least in some way, it will crawl out.
— I don't know how your training in the clan goes, Arata-kun, but the children of Sakishima don't go unnoticed even in the summer. We try to give each child as much as possible, so they can grow up with good knowledge and a stable future. Therefore, starting tomorrow, you will attend children's classes at a local school, as well as practical classes on local farms," the woman said with a strange expression on her face.
— I am in favor of this— I shrug my shoulders. — I understand your approach and I will not resist. — Am I a fool?
— Well, if so. I don't want any unnecessary scandals, I love it when there is a good atmosphere in the house and quarrels only spoil everything. — Mayuri-san spoke in a calm tone but continued to watch me.
I'm all for it, where else can I get more practice? Besides, you can do some experiments here in the evenings, and it will not cause such a violent reaction as it might at the Miyazaki Mansion.
Another advantage is that I can wash myself here without having to deal with ugly maids whose nakedness makes me feel really uncomfortable. I even thought about the subject: "What are these people trying to achieve by cultivating misogyny in a boy?", and also "Are there really beautiful women in Japan, or are we being foolishly deceived, and the Internet is just Photoshop?". Although the latter is nonsense, because here, in this world, my mom stands out for her beauty, even if it's faded by grief.
Well, we'll see what this island has in store for me.