Sealkeeper: He Who Binds
Chapter 165-A "Turtle's Shell"
Patron Release 2022.09.29
Black chains wove their way through the moving statues of Mōryō's ghost army, twisting out of the way of ancient weapons and threading themselves around limbs that had remained stationary for years. With a crack not unlike a whip the countless links of solidified Chakra pulled themselves taunt with little regard for the warriors in their way and the result was numerous piles of crumbling statues.
All in all, it was almost disappointingly effective Katsuri mused from her position at the entrance to the shrine. A Naruto clone on either side, she left dealing with the Ghost Army to them after realizing just how easily their chains controlled the battlefield against the animated stone.
She had really been expecting more of a fight to keep them away from aiding their sealed master, some sort of struggle to allow Naruto the time he needed to do…whatever it was he was doing. Instead she was just playing the waiting game hoping the army would crumble and stay down as Naruto said they would once the demon was gone.
She watched with disinterest as the piles of stone pulled themselves back into the shapes of ancient warriors, idly noting the way the chains were directed between the reforming bodies so that they would be physically within their reanimated opponents to make their job even easier.
Katsuri really hoped this didn't go on for too much longer, there were many better ways she could think of to spend her day. For a single moment she contemplated having the Naruto clones just cover the shrine entrance with a wall of chains but had to dismiss the idea. Naruto was evidently anticipating company at some point so she had to ensure they could get through the Ghost Army and into the shrine.
Then she could seal up the entrance and just wait it out. Heck, she might even be able to watch whatever it was Naruto was doing this time. That would be nice.
Movement near the ledge overlooking the cleared courtyard- or was it more of a plaza? Either way, it was a large, open area before the shrine entrance which wasn't exactly subtle if they were trying to be discrete. For that matter, why the hell was Mōryō's army kept near him? You'd think they would have tried depriving him of such a resource.- quickly became a half-dozen Samurai in white armor, the crest of Oni no Kuni proudly marked on their chests.
Katsuri frowned, Naruto had mentioned allowing a priestess through but he hadn't given her any directions for the country's Samurai which, as far as she was concerned, meant that anyone not the priestess was to be kept well away from the shrine. Maybe she would find herself in a fight after all- assuming the Naruto clones didn't just draw on their Biju and crush them entirely first.
She wondered if that would keep these statues down. Could Biju chakra overpower or dispel whatever it was this Mōryō was using to breathe a facsimile of life into them? Or maybe the sheer destruction that two cloaked Jinchuriki could cause would simply be too much for anything- even demon magics- to repair.
At the very least it would probably be more entertaining than watching the chains crush the statues again, though she was aware of the damage calling on that power could cause to a body. Were his clones strong enough to withstand the Biju Chakra for any worthwhile length of time or would it ultimately end with them dispelling themselves and leaving her to do all the work herself?
Probably best not to risk it.
Then again, Naruto had a habit of making the clones with Biju chakra in the first place. Could more Biju Chakra even cause them harm?
Eventually the curiosity won out. "Hey, you two were made with Biju Chakra, right?" She asked, keeping an eye on the Samurai in the distance. They seemed to be scouting the area and the active Ghost Army was giving them reason to pause.
"Yeah, Isobu-Chan is always happy to help." One of them answered her. She nodded, having expected as much. Karura would sacrifice her own Chakra in a heartbeat in a second if Naruto requested it but from what Katsuri had heard the little turtle absolutely loved to be able to help her daddy.
"...So if you're made of Biju Chakra does using a chakra cloak cause you any harm?"
Both clones paused, blinked, and turned to look at her.
"...I….I hadn't even considered it." One of them admitted.
"Me either. It's just not something we've ever tried." Added the other.
"Uh-huh" She accepted their words with a slow nod of her head before asking; "...Would one of you care to?"
The two shared a look and a quick game of Janken* later the victorious clone took a few steps away from Katsuri and his fellow to call upon his daughter's Chakra. The emerald green energy quickly spread to cover him in dancing flames but it wouldn't stop there. Isobu, eager to help, had absolutely no intention of limiting the Chakra she was sharing with her father. As more and more of the Chakra poured from the seal but remained tightly controlled it grew darker until it was nearly black.
But Isobu had more to give. With yet another surge of Chakra the normally insubstantial energy took on a solid form, molding itself to the clone like an armor with the faintest markings of a turtle's shell. It, like the Chakra cloak it was formed from, encompassed the clone's entire body from head to foot until there was no sign of the Naruto who had stepped forward.
It wasn't done just yet, either. The angled armor around his head - with no small resemblance to a snapping turtle- grew horns that curved up slightly from behind his ears- or where his ears should have been- and more spikes formed their way over his shoulders and down his spine.
He made for a striking figure in that dark armor, tiny green flames licking their way across its surface, but there was one issue.
He couldn't actually see.
"You know, solid armor is good in theory." The clone spoke but the voice was heavily muffled. "But I can't see a damn thing."
Almost as if Isobu could hear him- it wasn't the most impossible thing in the world- a single ball of fire burst into existence in the middle of his new helmet like a cyclopean eye.
And suddenly he could see.
"Isobu-Hime?"
"Yes daddy?"
"How did you do that?"
"It's my Chakra." Was her answer.
"Yes, I know that, but-"
"Daddy," He was interrupted by his daughter before he could even formulate the question he was trying to ask. "You're made of my Chakra."
The clone blinked. His eyes, that is, not the flaming green eye he'd just received. It made sense, in a way, as he was just a copy of the original made with her Chakra to begin with but he'd never imagined she could continue to make changes to, well, him, while he already existed. It wasn't a comfortable thought, knowing she could manipulate the Chakra that formed him still. He knew she'd never do anything to intentionally harm him but the ways things could accidentally go wrong….
It was bad enough that he'd have to live through it, he'd probably end up dead. No, what was worse is the fact that the original would gain those same memories and he'd have to live with them. That was horrifying.
"Alright, Isobu-Hime, you did well this time but how about in the future you ask me before manipulating my body, okay? We need to make sure it won't accidentally dispel me."
"Okay!" She probably had no idea what could go wrong manipulating his body or, perhaps, she understood her own Chakra better than he did and had no reason to worry. He wasn't going to put his money- or his life, clone or not- on it being the second one.
The other clone had been keeping the Ghost Army away from the shrine while he called upon the power of his daughter but Katsuri was still unoccupied. To be perfectly honest, there was no need for Isobu's Chakra, they just wanted to see how freely a clone would be able to utilize it. In fact, there wasn't any need for two Naruto clones either. Naruto had just included a spare as a precaution.
"So, how's it feel?" Katsuri asked. "Any pain from your body being eaten alive by demonic energies?"
"No, not at all." He shook his head and she could hear the smile in his voice with his next words, even if they were still muted. "In fact, it has me feeling pretty damn good."
"Well then, I suppose we'll leave the statues to you. Let's see how long you can handle the…cloak." Did it even count as a cloak at this point? She had a feeling this was a step beyond a simple Biju cloak but as far as she knew there was no name for that- or any sort of precedence. Katsuri was sure she would have heard of one of the other Jinchuriki through history having something beyond a cloak because they were always used during the Ninkai Taisen. If a Jinchuriki was going to use their greatest abilities anywhere it was in the middle of a war.
"Hai, Katsuri-Taicho." The clone gave a brief salute before charging into the statues and tearing through them. Some part of her was certain the armor it now wore would allow it to survive at least a few hits- a massive improvement to the Kage Bunshin's usual durability.
While he took the position of the uncloaked clone and the clone in question returned to Katsuri's side, the High-Captain turned her attention back to the Samurai. Having taken a position on the outskirts of the plaza to avoid the rather one-sided fight between the Naruto clones and Mōryō's Ghost Army they now watched the Biju-cloaked clone as it tested its new limitations.
They weren't the only ones.
Flanked by an additional Samurai guard with more ornate armor and what must have been an attendant of some sort, a young woman impatiently waited for something, her gaze flickering between her Samurai accompaniment, the ever-repairing Ghost Army, and the entrance to the shrine.
'And that must be our priestess.' She didn't bother wondering how Naruto had known she would be coming, either he had agents near the priestess, had sent agents to draw out the priestess, or whomever he was speaking to about dealing with this demon had also informed him that she'd be here. Which one it was didn't really matter in the end, though she did wonder why the priestess needed to be here.
She had absolutely no doubts that if the young woman hadn't been necessary then Naruto would have kept her away. There was no point in introducing extra elements and over complicating things and from his small discussion with the Ak'Gyun Katsuri knew that whatever he was up to involved delicate work.
That wasn't the sort of thing you brought unnecessary people into.
Well, it wasn't the sort of thing she'd bring more people into and she was sure her fellow Wolves would see things the same. There was no telling how Tsukuyomi might see the situation because his ways were beyond the understanding of his children.
Maybe one day, under his guidance, they would begin to understand.
Pushing the thought from her mind for the time being she glanced back to the clone who was content to watch his brother. "Keep the entrance clear, I'll go let the priestess know she can head into the shrine."
The clone only looked away from the Ghost Army for a moment to spot the priestess and gave a nod, confirming that she was the one Naruto- the original- had been expecting to show up. "I don't think that will be a problem." He inclined his head towards the other clone who was proving more than a match for the statues that could barely pull themselves together before they were destroyed again. "Just remember, he asked you to allow her in. That doesn't mean she has to enter."
"But he wants her to enter, for whatever reason." She pointed out. The clone just shrugged.
"There's certainly a benefit to it," He admitted. "But it's not crucial. We hadn't exactly planned on utilizing a Biju cloak and I can't blame her if she wants to keep her distance from it- any reasonable person would feel the same."
That was understandable. No sane Shinobi- though that was an oxymoron if she'd ever heard one- would go anywhere near a cloaked Jinchuriki if they could avoid it and a civilian should be even more wary of doing something so foolish.
"Doesn't mean I shouldn't try." The clone shrugged again as she left to speak with the priestess. In the end his existence was only for a few hours max and even if she didn't approach the priestess Tsukuyomi's orders were fulfilled so long as she didn't turn the woman away. Beyond that, none of this really mattered to him.
Katsuri was not surprised when the Samurai between the priestess and the Ghost Army moved to ensure they blocked her approach. She would have been severely disappointed if they had done anything else.
That didn't mean she particularly cared for it, though. She wasn't a fan of people getting between her and the orders of Tsukuyomi.
"Step aside, Samurai, I'd speak with your priestess."
"That's close enough." One of them declared, holding up a hand to signal her to stop her approach. Katsuri ignored it, continuing towards the Samurai and the priestess they guarded without pausing in her stride.
"You deaf? Halt!" His left hand remained raised as his right took hold of his sheathed sword. His fellow Samurai likewise reached for their swords and only one of them was looking away from her. They probably should have had more of them focused on the Kage-Bunshin who had summoned a Biju cloak but at least they hadn't completely forgotten about it because of her approach.
"You'll either get out of my way by moving to the side or by returning to the earth, your choice." She plucked two Kunai from her thigh pouches and twirled them into her hands where they were held loosely but ready for use. As a general rule Samurai were a counter for Shinobi but Katsuri was fairly confident in her chances at taking a half dozen Samurai from a smaller country, especially because she had two clones of Tsukuyomi able to assist her if needed and one of them was currently drawing upon the Sanbi's Chakra.
Not that she thought she'd need help from the clones. Even if the Samurai were able to work together well enough to hold her off they still had to focus on maintaining the priestess's safety and that would have them at a disadvantage. All Katsuri needed to do was slip past them and take possession of the young woman and the Samurai wouldn't be able to do anything.
In fact, if she just kidnapped the priestess she could head into the shrine to ensure both Tsukuyomi's will was done and she'd give herself a good excuse to be able to see what they were up to. The option was looking more attractive by the second.
Unfortunately Katsuri didn't get a chance to implement that plan.
"So be it! If you're so set on dying we'll-" The Samurai's sword had hissed halfway out of its sheath when another voice stopped its journey.
"That's enough, Hatoure." While the voice of the priestess was soft it carried with it an authority like steel.
"Shion-Sama!" Was the immediate protest but she raised a hand to stop him and he fell silent.
"It is not time for your death, Hatoure." Declared the priestess. She took a moment to sweep her gaze over the rest of her guard and did her best to meet their eyes through their helmets. "Today is not the last for any of you, do not change that." A pointed look towards the clone who continued tearing through the Ghost Army rested her point. Even if the woman approaching them couldn't defeat them all her companion certainly could. "I will speak with her."
Gritting his teeth, the Samurai named Hatoure returned his blade to its home as gently as he could manage in an attempt to center himself. A moment of hesitation preceded bowing to the wishes of the priestess as he stiffly stepped aside for Katsuri to pass unhindered.
Her pace hadn't changed at all and the smug grin she shot Hatoure as she swept past him had the man tightening his grip on his sheathed blade.
"You are the priestess, then?" Katsuri sought confirmation. The clone already told her so but as far as she was aware Naruto had never been in contact with this person. In person, at least, who knows where his messages may have been spread by courier but she was fairly confident in saying the young Daimyo had never been to Oni no Kuni before this trip.
"I am Shion, High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni."
The clone had been correct then, excellent. Katsuri gave the young woman a nod. "In that case, you are free to enter the shrine."
A pale eyebrow rose almost imperiously. "I'm being granted permission to enter one of my own Shrines?" Questioned the priestess. Katsuri's immediate response was to look pointedly at the Naruto clone wreathed in Biju Chakra. "You're free to try your luck without permission, if you like." The High-Captain folded her arms across her chest, pausing for the first time since she started her approach. "We have orders to keep…" Out of habit she wanted to say 'Tsukuyomi' or, if that wasn't an option, at least 'Naruto' but Katsuri realized that Naruto might not actually want these people to know who it was dealing with the demon. Taking a page from Akishi's book- and figuring it was more appropriate considering what he was doing here- she chose something else. "...the High-Priest from being disturbed as he works."
"High-Priest?" The brow that had been lowering shot right back up again with Shion's question.
Katsuri, however, was not forthcoming with any additional information.
"Shion-Sama, please, we don't know who-" Anticipating the High-Priestess's thoughts, Hatoure spoke up in hopes of dissuading her from a course of action that would leave her so terribly exposed. There was no telling who these people really were or what they wanted and it was immediately obvious that they weren't about to allow any of the Samurai to accompany their lady. If someone was after Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess for any reason- perhaps even to break Mōryō's seal- this would be the perfect opportunity.
"I am aware of that, Hatoure, and I do appreciate your concern but it is my duty to ensure Mōryō remains sealed. To do so requires me to enter the shrine and if that must be on their terms then so be it." Shion stepped away from her guard and attendant as she addressed Katsuri. "Come, let's see this High-Priest of yours and the delicate work he does."
Katsuri grinned- something that wasn't quite appreciated by the Samurai around her- and turned to lead the way back to the shrine. Maybe she would get to see what Naruto was doing after all.
"Thy flesh bestowed by He Who Lacks the Radiance of The Sun, thy soul bound by priestess, and thy blood stolen by man - AU'Khan-Ajare no Mōryō, I invoke your name. Wake and tremble in your bondage and know that your time in the mortal world has reached its end." Mōryō's tooth shuddered within the center of the Circle where it had been pressed into the hard earth of the shrine. Along the edges of Akishi's Circle of Solar Noon a black fog roiled, catching the golden light of the High-Priest's blood like flickering flames in the clouds. "The blade tempered in your blood and blessed as your foe shall serve as the key, my lesser binding of its curse will call forth the lock- I possess both. Key and keeper, your fate lies within my hands."
Katsuri had been partially correct, arriving in time to see part of…whatever Naruto was doing even if she missed the beginning. Already it was far better than last time.
Or it was, for a moment or two.
As Naruto spoke Akishi- and it was hard to miss the Priestess's sharp intake of breath when she first laid eyes on the Ak'Gyun- wrapped her tail around his legs and pressed herself against his back. For a moment it almost looked inappropriate the way her hands caressed his bare torso like a lover in the middle of what he'd claimed to be a delicate ritual but the way her tracing fingers left deep cuts in his flesh in arcane shapes Katsuri wasn't familiar with made it evident that this was part of whatever Working the two were involved in.
Blood welled up from the new wounds and poured freely down Naruto's body until it joined the Circle painted at his feet and flowed to spread evenly. Even as deeply as they were inflicted, he seemed to be bleeding far more than he should have from such wounds and likewise the amount of blood joining the circle seemed disproportionate to the amount required for the circle- only in the opposite direction.
He was bleeding an impossible amount but the vast quantities of blood should have easily spilled beyond the boundaries of the painted Circle. Unless the circle was actively absorbing or otherwise consuming the precious liquid Katsuri had no explanation.
"Wretched spawn of Au'Khan-Ajare, your body has already been expelled. Only the seal of the Priestess ties you to this world you hold no right to. Know that your freedom is as fatal as eternal burial, both are death to you, and I have come as warden and gravedigger alike. There will be no escape for you."
The floor- no, the entire cavern- rumbled in response. Unable to properly form even a manifestation of his immortal soul due to the minor binding Naruto had employed to give Akishi time to prep the Circle, Mōryō could do little more than twist the fog into some poor resemblance of the many serpentine heads that made up his lost physical form. "Nonsense pours forth from your lips, boy. I am Mōryō, king of spirits malign and malicious, and my kingdom will reign for one thousand years!"
"You are but smoke and fog, a voice within the empty void of space that cannot carry. Plead and beg, scream your delusions, it matters not. None shall hear and none shall aid. You spent years within the earth, now spend eternities banished from everything touched by the golden grace of Aū." The marks that had become hidden under the flow of his blood began glowing with a soft golden light that quickly increased in intensity until it was almost blinding. Even if she knew what they said Katsuri doubted she would be able to look at them long enough to read them before she was forced to turn away. "Pray now, while your voice might still be heard, that in the nothingness you find your father who cowers from the light of Aū and he shows you the mercy we will not."
"Cowers?" The word was practically hissed and reverberated throughout the shrine. "Au'Khan-Ajare does not cower from the likes of Aū, he is the Emperor of Ash and all becomes his domain in time." It would seem Mōryō was more affronted by the slight against his father than anything that had been said about himself. "You would do well to watch your tongue, human, for even your precious Aū will one day burn out. On that day AU'Khan-Ajare will wear his dead star like jewelry made from common stone and all Aū's pitiful light once touched will rest within the endless coils of his black scales."
"Believe what you will, your words will be meaningless among the stars and you will long for the light of Aū if only to end your torment." Naruto's hands came together before his chest as if in prayer and Akishi followed suit, her clawed hands resting just beneath his as she maintained her position behind him. To anyone on the other side of the circle it must have looked as though Naruto had four arms, though Katsuri couldn't actually confirm that. The next words to leave Naruto's lips the High-Captain recognized from their trip to Numa no Kuni.
"By my words, I declare forbiddance. By the Laws of the Sun, I declare forbiddance. By the will of Great Aū, I declare forbiddance. Thrice forbidden, Mōryō of AU'Khan-Ajare, you have no place within the earth that warms under Aū's grace. Burn in his radiance and begone, false descendant. From the domain of Great Aū, Golden Serpent of the Sun, I banish thee forevermore."
She didn't know anything about the other things Naruto had spoken since she entered the shrine but it seemed obvious to Katsuri that those words- or at least some of them- were much more important than anything else he'd said thus far.
The agonized shriek that pierced the still air of the cavern went a long way to conform that suspicion and she watched as the half-formed shapes in the dark fog lost their appearance and the miasma itself seemed to be pushed away by the golden light of the circle like real fog under the midmorning sun.
Just like the last time he'd dealt with the demon the golden light grew until it was blinding and by the time Katsuri's vision returned there was no sign of the Circle that had been used against the demon Mōryō. In fact, there was no blood at all. The crimson that had just covered Naruto and provided a background from which his glowing arcane sigils had burned was gone without a trace and his carved flesh was only just beginning to weep again- much, much more slowly than it had during the ritual.
Almost as apparent was the sudden lack of oppressive atmosphere. Just like in Numa no Kuni the cavern that served as a sealing shrine felt like a summer morning despite being completely surrounded by the earth.
"What- what kind of faith does it take to do that?" Shion asked in wonder, her soft voice carrying easily in the otherwise still air of the silent shrine.
Naruto turned his attention to the High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni and smiled.
While Chomei the Nanabi might not have been as combat-inclined as some of its more aggressive siblings it was still a Biju and it was still a force of nature. Any Shinobi able to harness such power was likewise going to prove to be formidable on the field of battle which was the entire idea behind Jinchuriki in the first place.
Of course, despite possessing a greater number of tails and being arguably stronger, Fu's attempts to help her fellow Takigakure Shinobi break through Iwa's hold on Taki's capital had been stymied by their own Jinchuriki- Han of the Gobi. Taki may have done their best to train her as part of their belief in allowing no potential to go to waste but Han had decades of training over Fu and much more experience in actual combat.
He also had the advantage of his Biju being more suited for offensive actions whereas Chomei, for all it was stronger, showed its own skill in a more defensive manner. It was rather ironic considering in this case Fu and her fellow Taki Shinobi were the aggressors and the Iwa forces were defending their position and control over the capital. Even so, when it came to direct combat Han had managed to keep Fu from gaining the upper hand even if she'd made the man work for it.
But for some strange reason Iwa's Gobi JInchuriki was nowhere to be seen. At first she'd suspected some sort of ambush or that he was using this opportunity to attempt an assault on Takigakure but the Iwa Shinobi seemed just as surprised by his lack of appearance and Fu wasn't going to waste her opportunity. Even if he was lying in wait, he'd arrive to find his fellow Shinobi dead and Fu backed by Takigakure's finest Jounin.
Or that had been Fu's plan.
Han simply hadn't shown up. At all.
She watched as the Taki Shinobi finished off the small squad of Iwa Shinobi who had been working with Han to block any attempts to gain entrance to the city and wondered what Iwa was thinking withdrawing the only thing that was successfully fending off their attacks. She didn't have much time to ponder that, however, as she quickly found herself with new orders to carry out.
"Fu!" The Jounin jocked up to her, their uniform spattered with blood and their left arm mangled by a Doton technique they hadn't completely managed to avoid. "We've got things here, you need to push into the city and find the Daimyo. Make sure he's unharmed and stick with him to keep him that way."
A security assignment? Fu had never been given a mission to serve as a bodyguard for anyone, Taki typically felt it was unnecessary to commit an asset like a Jinchuriki to merely protecting a single individual. Which was fair, that was like using an A-ranked Katon Jutsu to light a cigarette.
"Are you sure?" The man nodded.
"They've cut us off from him once, if they go for him again I wouldn't put it past them to try killing him just to cause disarray."
"I understand." More than just what he was saying, actually. What had gone unspoken was the fact that their Daimyo was going to need assurances now that they'd managed to reach him and what better assurances than to assign their most powerful asset to his protection? It was more symbolic than tactical but smaller villages like Takigakure relied much more on the generosity and funding of their Daimyo than the larger villages who were able to attract more clients.
Regardless, Fu had her orders and Taki had an opportunity to strike back.
It was time to take it.
*Janken - You may know this as "Rock, Paper, Scissors"
Sealkeeper: He Who Binds
Chapter 165-B "Temple"
Patron Release 2022.10.14
For as much as they feared her ability to see their deaths, the people of Oni no Kuni still loved their High-Priestess so when she called them from the temple and the nearby town they had been eager to answer. Already stone masons and carpenters were hard at work converting a previously unremarkable cavern into a proper shrine.
No- not a shrine. A temple.
At this point, Shion half expected this temple to replace the modest palace that currently served that purpose. She found she didn't mind all that much. Before her duties had required her to keep as much distance from her people as she could, as much for their safety as her own. It had been cold and lonely, a bitter role that had been inflicting that bitterness onto her.
And then she had felt the sun.
Shion hadn't known that any sort of faith could be so warm and comforting. For the first time since she was little, she found herself truly believing in what she was doing. Rites and ceremonies weren't just duty and tradition, stiff actions performed simply because it was expected of her, no, they were a celebration of spirits she could feel and each one brought light into the world.
That was the role she was always supposed to have, what she should have been doing for her people all these years-
What she'd believed she'd been providing for her people. Now she knew better.
Much like waking up before the dawn and watching the sun crest the mountains on the horizon, she could suddenly see- truly see- the world around her.
It was glorious.
"Shion-Sama," Her attention was pulled towards a short, wiry older man who seemed to be missing his shirt. With thick pants tucked into boots and an apron hanging rather uselessly around his waist it looked like he could have benefited from one, judging by the numerous burns new and old that spread over his forge-tanned skin like patchwork. Perhaps he had just reached an age where he had stopped caring and if Shion had spent decades accumulating such marks maybe she'd reach that point too. "It was a bit rushed but….well," He hesitated for just a second before presenting her with his finished work. "Had the copper on hand but I had to melt down some of the things in the palace to get ahold of the necessary gold."
Shion didn't think 'some' really did the number justice as she looked at the nearly meter-tall mirror of polished gold, it had probably taken all the gold that had been in her palace. Not that she really had much gold to begin with and not that it was a problem, either. It was, after all, just gold and this was much more important.
A Sunshrine the High-Priest had called it, the key element to any temple dedicated first to Aū, the Golden Serpent of the Sun. It was the...Ak'Gyun….that was the word…who had described it to the smith….Neija?...and if she had been doubting the strength of Aū before the presence of one of his children had immediately banished any hint of disbelief. Despite her physical form Shion knew with absolute certainty that the woman was a Kami. In fact, she probably rested right on the edge of being a Greater Kami.
And if that was one of his daughters then there was no way Aū could be anything less. There was no way she could describe just how wondrous it was to be able to gaze upon a living sign of a Greater Kami after a lifetime of hollow rites to those who had never so much as twitched.
To be fair to whatever Kami may have been out there, she was well aware that she had been..less than enthusiastic or genuine about her role outside matters concerning the sealing of Mōryō or overseeing the people she was responsible for and the Kami probably knew that. She wasn't about to blame them for never acting in a way she could see but she also couldn't deny that seeing not just a Kami but proof of an even greater Kami who was currently focused on what they were doing here did wonders for her faith.
She took a moment to admire the near-perfect polish of the precious metal and the care that had gone into the copper-gold alloy that wrapped around it like the coils of a snake. The six rubies that had been set into the triangular sunbeams were rather small and none of them were identical in either size or cut but she was more impressed that they had been obtained on such short notice.
Neija- she really hoped that was his name- seemed to be able to tell where her thoughts were going. "My niece, Pajra, was visiting. She's a gemcutter, dables in jewelry. Good thing, too, I'm not used to working gold or setting gems."
"Is she still here?"
"She's visiting the rest of my family right now," He answered. "She'll be here through the week."
Shion nodded. "In that case, I'd like to be able to thank her before she departs. Her contribution has been very important."
"Er, yes, Shion-Sama, I'll let her know." He hesitated for a moment, wrestling with himself, before coming to a decision with a sigh. "It's…it's not…" His face twisted as he sought the right words. "I'm sure she would have provided them to aid us in our work, had it been necessary, but she wasn't….uncompensated…for their contribution."
"Oh?" She felt one brow raise. It wasn't unreasonable that the gemcutter would be paid for her inventory- for the most part, that was entirely expected unless it was a gift to the temple- but Shion did wonder who it was that had arranged it because no one had come to her about buying rubies for the Sunshrine. "And who saw to that?"
"The…uh…serpent's companion."
"The High-Priest." She mumbled. Of course it would be him, he seemed to flit between her people arranging things for the temple before anyone else realized they were needed. How he knew they were lacking those things still escaped her because he never seemed to talk to anyone about the temple's construction before bringing issues to their attention. So who was telling him?
Shion knew there could only be one answer to that question and she shouldn't have been surprised. Aū was the Sun, unlike local Kami who remained tied to and focused on small areas surely he saw everything that happened below him.
A frown momentarily pulled at her lips. Everything his light touched, naturally, he should know but how did that explain places the sun's light didn't reach? Here they were, buried beneath a mountain and yet he seemed to know just as well as if they'd been outside.
Then again….
Her eyes briefly roved the cave. It was light in here but she knew there was no opening to the outside world- the seal wouldn't have worked nearly as well if it hadn't drawn upon the mountain for its strength- and yet despite the lack of any source of light it remained like an early spring morning. She thought- and she very well could have been imagining it entirely- that it was slowly dimming. Her only explanation was lingering light from whatever rite the High-Priest of Aū had performed but she'd never known light to linger as this light seemed wont to do.
But Great Aū was eternal, should she really be surprised that even his light lasted far longer than it should? And, back to the original question she'd had- was he seeing them all build his temple through that light? Shion didn't think she liked the idea that he was currently watching them as they tried to scrape together a temple worthy of his light but maybe knowing just how much effort they were putting into this would make up for the fact that it couldn't possibly meet whatever expectations the sun had.
Though if they had his guidance- she paused at that thought. Didn't they have his guidance already in the form of the High-Priest? So far she'd been directing workers to create a temple as she knew it should be and he had been making minute adjustments and seeing to needs in order to cut off problems before they could form but she'd never actually asked him what a temple of Aū was supposed to be.
Maybe it was time to rectify that.
Admittedly the High-Priest had been less than helpful in determining the majority of the temple's design. Instead he'd foisted the Kami upon her with a muttered comment about a 'tribute to Akya-Jin'. If that was some other Greater Kami associated with Aū in some way Shion didn't really know and the Kami- Akishi, an Ak'Gyun- hadn't been willing to elaborate on the matter.
She did seem to understand it, though, and Shion was grateful for that small mercy.
The fact that Akishi had them continue more or less the same way they'd already been constructing the temple had remained no small source of confusion but the serpent seemed more occupied with a different project. That, the High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni thought, must have been ensuring this temple would pay homage to Akya-Jin, whatever the hell that was.
Oddly enough, from what little Shion had managed to glean from sparse glances at the Ak'Gyun that seemed to involve plants. She wasn't sure she'd be able to understand that without an explanation but if they did fill this cave with living plants and manage to keep them alive within the temple it would be a wonderful way to show the presence of Aū.
Perhaps that was the High-Priest's intention all along.
Or maybe that was directly from Aū himself, it was impossible for anyone else to know what actions the High-Priest- Naruto- took by himself and those that were commanded by Aū. Maybe, in a way, it all came from Aū in the end. The High-Priest was not trained up from a young age for the role as she had been nor had he sought out Aū and offered himself in service. Instead, according to Akishi- who seemed to dislike the constant presence of the workers but seemed to be at least warming up to Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess- the Hight-Priest had been chosen by Aū.
That was certainly one way to know you were doing well, Shion had thought, for the spirits themselves to reach out and show that they approved of the person you were. She could only imagine how wonderful it would be to have such a show of support and confirmation that you were doing the right things in life.
Most people weren't fortunate enough to know how they were doing in the eyes of the spirits for good or ill and they probably would have benefited greatly from it if only so they could change their ways. Knowing instead that a greater spirit gazed down upon everything you had done and approved to such a point that they wanted you specifically to represent themselves in the mortal world was an amazing honor.
Maybe if she served faithfully one day Aū would show her something similar or, failing that- she was only a mortal priestess, he might not decide to waste his time on the likes of her- perhaps the High-Priest could shed similar light on the way she had been living her life and seeing to her duties. Of course, that would entail sharing a great deal about her life with him and utter honesty on her part to a degree that was almost intimate if she hoped for accurate assessment but that didn't sound all that bad.
Though judging by some of the glances that Katsuri woman and sometimes even Akishi- unless she was imagining things- gave the High-Priest, perhaps getting too close to him wouldn't be entirely appreciated.
"Shion-Sama, Shion-Sama!" The call from one of the palace servants drew her attention away from such thoughts and back to the physical world. "The High-Priest says you are to be present to witness the blessing of the shrine." It was obvious from his tone that the man thought it was absurd that someone would be ordering the High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni to be doing anything and it was even more absurd that the outsider had the gall to call himself 'High-Priest' but Shion knew he- and all the others- would come to understand in time.
She may have been the High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni, ruling in place of a Daimyo as her family had for centuries, but here in this temple was not Oni no Kini- this was the domain of Aū and it was Naruto and Naruto alone who had been granted the sacred role of High-Priest by the Golden Serpent of the Sun.
He wasn't just the High-Priest, he was the only priest.
For now.
Giving a nod and a small smile to the man who had delivered Naruto's message she immediately headed towards the location Naruto had designated for the Sunshrine of Aū. She found it curious that he would be doing this now before the temple was anywhere close to completion but part of her recognized that it was the Sunshrine itself that was of importance and that, ultimately, the temple that would house it held little value in the eyes of Aū.
Or that's how Shion understood it, anyway.
Then again, maybe he had other reasons for doing this now. It could be so that the temple was completed under the blessings of Aū or to help Aū direct them in its construction. Perhaps if Aū had no other shrines at the moment Naruto's largest priority was to ensure that he had a place to reside in the mortal world and so the blessing and dedication of the shrine took precedence.
Of course, there was always the possibility that he was doing this now because he wouldn't be able to wait for the completion of the full temple. That was something she sincerely hoped was not the case because it suggested he would soon be departing. For the benefit of the temple and herself she would much prefer him to remain for at least a few weeks after its completion so she could be confident in her new duties.
Well, she assumed they would be her duties. The temple might not be her domain but it rested in the country that was and she was already used to the shrine ceremonies carried out in Oni no Kuni's palace which should make her the most qualified to do the same for Aū here at his own Shrine.
Unless Naruto either thought she was not suited for such tasks or felt, for whatever reason, that she should not be overseeing the rites at both shrines. In that case, Shion thought, she would just have to give someone else the responsibilities of caring for Oni no Kuni's shrines and she would dedicate herself to the care of this new temple instead.
No one of Oni no Kuni would dare argue with her over that, even if they might not agree, but Naruto might and she had already recognised the fact that he was very much her senior when it came to matters of the spiritual. Not only would it be foolish to ignore his wisdom when it came to who would oversee the shrines in his absence- a part of her really hoped that he wouldn't be absent and he would simply take up residence here in Oni no Kuni instead, though if he had to bless more Shrines elsewhere for Aū that seemed unlikely- but it would be even more foolish to go against the will of Aū.
Shion could be called several things in the past that may have been less than flattering but she wasn't a fool. If a greater Kami wanted their earthly residence to be tended to by someone else then someone else would be called to the position, end of story.
Hopefully that wouldn't be the case and Naruto himself would be permitted to choose by the grace of Aū. If that was the case she was sure she could convince him that she was the most appropriately qualified, even if she realized that some of the more dedicated priestesses or more rare priests of Oni no Kuni might be better choices.
If she could just include- maybe that was the wrong word, considering they would be a priority as far as she was concerned- the duties to Aū as part of her existing duties as Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess then none of this really mattered. Unfortunately she had no real experience with this Greater Kami and as such had no idea what he would prefer when it came to his worship.
'Please, Great Serpent of the Sun, allow me to serve you here in my country under the guidance of your chosen High-Priest'. She silently prayed as she reached a gathering of workers who had stopped in their labors to watch the man in question prepare to bless the Sunshrine in Aū's name.
For half a second she could have sworn the impossible light of the cavern increased ever so slightly but perhaps that was simply a trick of the eyes. Naruto's attention, however, had moved from his preparations and now rested firmly upon her personage. He hadn't even needed to look for her, either, despite the fact that she had yet to make it through the gathered laborers.
Had her eyes really been playing tricks on her or had Aū- and his High-Priest- heard her prayer?
A slight flush spread over her face at the sudden attention and the idea that her private prayer may not have been nearly as private as she'd believed. Or, perhaps, she was imagining the amused contemplation in those purple eyes. He had sent for her, obviously he would be seeking out her presence in the crowd before he began. That he would find her quickly could have been mere coincidence- admittedly she did tend to stand out from the common people of her country, and not solely due to the quality of her garments- or it could be that he was Shinobi trained which allowed him to easily detect her presence by some means not known to her.
Gesturing for her to join him before the Shrine, Shion was quick to comply even as he returned his attention back to his work. She took the opportunity to observe, making note of the substances he'd gathered. The salt was expected, its purifying properties often called upon before and during the rite she performed at her own shrine, and she assumed the small ceramic container contained sweet Sake to be used either as part of an offering, to be consumed directly after the rites in representation of a feast, or perhaps both.
There was no sprig of the sacred Sakaki tree present, which was a bit odd, but an assortment of herbs and spices had been blended together with fine shavings of wood in a rather simple incense. A bowl of beaten brass already held a layer of smoldering embers and she briefly wondered if there was a separate ceremony he'd held associated with whatever fire had produced them and why he hadn't included the lighting of one as part of this rite.
It only seemed appropriate that in dedicating a Shrine to Aū fire would be present to represent his warmth and light. She supposed there still could be, she had no idea what Naruto would actually be doing to dedicate the shrine.
"Move the bowl to the Sunshrine," He instructed her as he ensured the incense was properly mixed. Nothing had been left on the table he'd commandeered to give her clues as to what he'd included in it and the smell wasn't distinct enough unburnt to reveal anything that way either. "It may be hot so be careful and don't drop it."
"Yes, High-Priest." Shion easily acquiesced to his instructions, hoping that if Aū was watching and had heard her prayer that her willing participation would help prove her sincere desire to take up the role of priestess for this shrine. Like a coin picked up from the road on a summer afternoon the bowl was indeed hot but not untouchable. Still, Shion found herself moving it to its destination as quickly as she could before her body could force her to release it.
When the bowl was safely placed before the sun-like mirror of the Sunshrine she took a moment to ponder the fact that there was no sacred item hidden within to represent Aū. Not that there was anywhere to actually store it, she reflected. That was highly unusual for any shrine she knew of, be it dedicated to one of the greater Kami or a simple guardian spirit housed at the base of a Torii gate. In that case, was the entire Sunshrine supposed to fulfill the role of sacred item? It was not uncommon for mirrors to serve as sacred items within a shrine and it was exceedingly common for them to be present at a shrine but it was unheard of for the sacred item to actually be displayed so openly.
Even when the innermost sanctums of a shrine were opened for specific rites the sacred object- or objects- were supposed to be blocked from view by a small curtain of bamboo. Would Naruto be obscuring the Sunshrine in some way as part of the dedication, allowing it to only be seen before it became a representation of Aū in the physical world?
If that was truly the case she had no idea how he intended to do it. He didn't have any material present to build something up around the Sunshrine nor did she see anything premade to serve a similar purpose. The location was two-thirds of the way into the cavern from the entrance and exactly in the middle otherwise, so it wasn't like he intended to store it in an alcove in the cavern wall and block its sight by use of a veil or curtain either.
More and more Shion was starting to wonder if maybe her previous experience functioning as a High-Priestess -even if that had been more in duty than in faith- was irrelevant when it came to Great Aū. If that was the case anyone was just as qualified as anyone else for the role and she no longer possessed any advantage to help in her goal of being the one chosen for this sacred task.
Besides, perhaps, the fact that Akishi seemed at least willing to tolerate her presence. The same could not be said about anyone else who had come in to finish the temple with the obvious exceptions of Katsuri and Naruto himself. That was probably worth something when it came down to deciding who would serve here.
An arm trespassed into her field of vision to set the small porcelain bottle next to the copper bowl and Shion immediately noted how closely the color of their skin matched it.
No, not skin, she realized after a second- scales. Tiny copper scales covered the limb from pointed, claw-like fingernails up to their shoulder and continued to the rest of the Ak'Gyun's body. Shion didn't know why but she had a feeling those scales would be incredibly soft and, as impossible as it should have been, were probably warm as well.
'At least as warm as human skin', She thought. A moment later her eyes roamed down Akishi's Torso to gaze at her tail. 'Her more human areas should be warm like a human, surely, but what about her tail?' Of course, the warmth Shion suspected- and she had no way to confirm it without actually placing her hands on the serpent-woman- could have had nothing to do with the fact that she had human features. It was just as likely- if not more so- that any warmth possessed by Akishi reflected upon the fact that she was a daughter of Au. How could the daughter of the sun possibly be cold?
Shion was pulled- quite literally- from her thoughts as the Ak'Gyun tugged her back from the undedicated Sunshrine and back to Naruto. Akishi lowered an earthenware jug from her shoulder and set it next to the table before digging into the pouches that dotted her skirt-clad hips. Removing a wooden bowl and a handful of herbs she proceeded to crush the herbs in the bowl using two fingers in place of a pestle. These were added to her jug- Shion thought water was likely. Probably from a spring or a well, she couldn't imagine Akishi would gather it from one of the swamps of nearby Numa no Kuni- and the Ak'Gyun frowned at the opaque vessel as if it had done something to insult her.
"Is something wrong?" Asked Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess.
"Wellwater." Was the answer she received. "Drawn up from the earth." Red eyes glanced about the cavern overhead. "Not much balance in that. At least a spring would be aligned mostly with water and rain would have ties to air which we have a distinct lack of down here. Seawater would have been the best. Completely associated with itself and already containing salt for purification. I just didn't have time to make it that far."
Most of that made sense to Shion, though she normally didn't worry over representing any of the elements in her own rites. What she didn't quite follow was; "A spring is only mostly water?"
Akishi raised a single brow, expressing how obvious the explanation should have been. "Any mountain spring is going to collect the energies of the mountain on the way down. The further up you are and closer to the origin of the spring the less there'll be but you'll always have traces."
"Oh, I see." In hindsight, she probably should have realized that from the start. Akishi's expression softened with just a touch of kindness? Pity? Shion couldn't quite tell but there was something there in her favor.
"You'll start making the connections easily enough with a bit of practice. Once you have a reason to be looking for it things like that become second nature." She assured the High-Priestess.
"I hope you're right, Akishi-San." She hadn't realized that Naruto had stepped away until she noticed him returning to the table dressed only in a length of red cloth around his waist and tied securely with a length of golden cord.
The symbols that had been carved into his flesh during the rite that banished Mōryō from the mortal world had healed completely but Shion thought she could see the faintest of scars as movements caused them to catch the light. It was so faint, in fact, she was half convinced she was imagining them.
"Are we ready Akishi? Shion?" His blatant disregard for proprieties brought a redness to Shion's cheeks even as Akishi answered.
"Yes, High-Priest, everything is prepared." The Ak'Gyun claimed confidently. Unfortunately Oni no Kuni's High-Priestess couldn't say the same when Naruto turned an expectant look her direction.
"I-I'm not sure what's needed, High-Priest." Was her honest answer. He nodded in understanding and gave her a kind smile.
"Akishi and I have prepared the necessary items, Shion, are you ready to participate? You'll just need to follow Akishi's lead."
Looking to the woman in question and receiving a subtle nod restored much of Shion's confidence in the matter. If all she had to do was follow the Ak'Gyun she was sure she could manage without too much trouble. Her lavender eyes returned to be caught in bright amethyst. "Yes, High-Priest, I'm ready."
"Good. Akishi." With a low bow to her father's chosen Akishi picked up the jug of wellwater and the wooden bowl. Handing the bowl to Shion she set the jug on her shoulder and bent down again to allow the water to spill forth until the herb-water kissed the upper edges of the wooden bowl.
"His feet first," Akishi muttered just quietly enough for Shion to hear. "Then his hands, mouth, and head." It only took a second to realize her role in this and with a flush she lowered herself to the ground so she could begin the ritual purification. She was familiar with the practice at her own shrine but it had never included the feet and when assistance of a priest or priestess was offered it usually just involved them drawing the water for those being purified.
She didn't look up as she poured some of the water over his left foot, more than aware that as the only one doing anything she was currently the center of attention. With an almost morbid curiosity she wondered what the faithful servants of her palace must be thinking to see her kneeling on the rough cavern floor and washing a man's feet.
'If nothing else,' She found herself thinking. 'There shouldn't be any question when it comes to the hierarchy of spiritual servants here in Oni no Kuni.'
Dipping her hand in the bowl she gently moved over the top of his foot before repeating both actions on the right. Bowl empty she stood back up and allowed Akishi to fill it again. Naruto's right and left hand were similarly cleaned though her wet hand spread the herbal water across the back of each hand and then along his palm and down his fingers.
With a third filing of the bowl she brought it to his lips and allowed him to take a sip that he held in his mouth while she poured the remainder over his head. When she had finished and stepped back he spit the water onto the cavern floor and gave a nod.
"Return the bowl to the table and bring back the salt." Were the next directions Akishi provided as she too moved to return her jug to the table. With a barely noticeable nod Shion followed and did as asked, returning with the Ak'Gyun to stand before the High-Priest with the small bowl of salt. Based on her earlier discussion with the serpent-woman, Shion was confident in saying it was most likely salt of the sea rather than of the earth.
Unless salt of the earth was needed for some specific reason and was why the wellwater pushed things significantly out of balance. She would have to remember to ask when they were finished.
"With the sprinkling of salt I purify you from the energies of man." Akishi withdrew a pinch of salt from the bowl Shion held and allowed it to fall from between her fingers as her arm circled completely around Naruto just above his head. "With a prayer to the sun I purify you from the energies of spirits. With the authority of Great Aū I purify you for his purposes." She stepped back and when Naruto reached a hand out Shion quickly placed the bowl of salt in his palm and copied Akishi in falling into step behind him as he approached the Sunshrine.
Stopping three feet away from the unblessed shrine he grabbed a pinch of salt with his right hand and tossed it to his right.
"Spirit of water, guardian of the west, I invoke you as witness to the dedication of Aū's shrine."
Another pinch went over his left shoulder to scatter over the floor behind him.
"Spirit of earth, guardian of the north, I invoke you as witness to the blessing of Aū's shrine."
More salt, now to his left.
"Spirit of air, guardian of the east, I invoke you as witness to this prayer at Aū's shrine."
Stepping forward he swapped his bowl of salt with the bowl of incense he had been preparing earlier. Shion must have missed Akishi bringing that over before the ceremony had started.
A pinch of the mixture was tossed into the embers and fire immediately flared into existence. Very nearly taking a step back from the sudden burst of hungry flame, the High-Priestess of Oni no Kuni had to wonder exactly what Naruto had added to get such a result.
"Spirit of fire, guardian of the south, I invoke you as witness to the glory of Aū's shrine."
Cardinal spirits summoned, Naruto took steps back to where he began. Two very deep bows to the Sunshrine were followed by two claps- Shion recognized the actions involved in presenting offerings to the Kami, though in this case she thought his clapping was to ensure the attention of those witnessing the ceremony more than to draw the eyes of any other spirits. Aū, she knew, had been watching from the beginning- and then two more bows at a level more appropriate for prayer.
"Great Aū, Golden Serpent of the Sun, hear now the voice of your High-Priest. Gold from a temple dedicated to Kami you watched enter this world has been taken as tithe and shaped in your honor, polished by the hands of man in an attempt to catch but a fraction of the brilliance reflected in a single scale upon your divine body. Gaze down from your heavenly throne and know that the faithful have recognized your presence within the sky by day and reflected most humbly by the moon each night."
As the flames died down slightly- whatever he'd added to the incense being burned up- he took a step forward, bowed deeply, took another step, and bowed again before reaching for the small ceramic vessel and pouring its contents into the bronze bowl. Shion only had a second to recognize the thick crimson liquid before black smoke poured forth from the bowl like a fog.
The smell was curiously sweet.
"By my blood, blessed by your grace and freely returned unto your purposes, I invite your light to inhabit this shrine that we might worship here in the safety of the earth where by your power was cast out a false descendant, Mōryō of the accursed Au'Khan-Ajare. May you reside amongst us in this sacred place that your will be known and your work be done."
The sourceless light that had previously filled the cavern- remnants of Aū's brilliance that had banished Mōryō- had been all but hidden by the smoke exhumed from the bronze bowl without end and a false night settled in place of the artificial day. Reaching again for the incense- if that really was incense at all, Shion was having her doubts- Naruto poured the remainder into the bowl and was rewarded with a much larger tongue of flame. A deep red initially, it quickly became an unbearably hot white flame as it drew back to cover only the mirror that made up the center- and majority- of the Sunshrine.
From her position behind and to the left of the High-Priest Shion could feel her skin beginning to tan and burn and from the corner of her eye even Akishi, a Daughter of the Sun, seemed to draw back ever so slightly from the intensity of the flame.
The mirror did its job, catching the light of the fire and reflecting it though the cavern in a way that was quite frankly impossibly for the flat piece of polished gold. Nevertheless, light flooded forth in all directions and the black smoke seemed to be physically pushed by the light until it reached the walls of the cavern and dissipated completely. From almost blinding white the flame changed again, settling on a brilliant gold.
Leaning forward Naruto reached into the copper bowl without hesitation and scooped up the flame as if it was merely a handful of flowers. He turned back to the gathered people of Oni no Kuni and held the flame aloft.
"Behold!" He commanded of them. "Great Aū has gazed upon us and did see fit to grant us his favor! Know that we have been blessed with the fires of his heart and the great honor of hosting them here in our humble shrine."
Akishi dropped to her knees and prostrated herself before the golden flame, Shion only half a second behind her. Seeing their High-Priestess on the ground the people of Oni no Kuni were quick to follow.
Turning back to the Sunshrine Naruto pressed the flames into the golden mirror until they were safely within the precious metal and lapped gently at its warm surface, casting light through the cavern with the same graceful ease Aū himself cast light over the world. He offered a deep bow, took a step back, another deep bow and one more step back. Clapping twice and offering another two shallow bows he concluded the ceremony.
"By the will of Aū, so has it been done."
I drew much inspiration from- that is to say, took many, many liberties with- facets of Shrine Shinto in this chapter, mainly in Shion's observations. I don't know a damn thing when it comes to the initial creation of a Shinto shrine and have only a passing knowledge of some things related to the worship and observance of enshrined Kami within established Shrines. Fortunately Aū is mine so he can require whatever he likes from his faithful.
My gratitude to the Patrons who continue to support my work.
Lord Generals
Cephalon Keeper, Michael Huber, B4NH4MM3R, Jacklefrackle
Lord Marshals
Ronji, MythicFool, Pope Gregory Trivium III, Luxano,
Lord Majors
The SHARP fox, Malte Krain, StayFrosty, Noah, Alex Robb, Jeremy Webb, Jamel, McKinzie, Tjk9399, Raymond Saragian, magicheart 0, Gamer91, Marcothephoenix, Xerxes8796
Lord Commissars
Tim Keizer, Daron Smith, gabriel reynoso, Romulan, Shi_no_Kage, Whatzzzzzzzup, Nick Payne, Christopher, Desertgem1, Daniel Witry, Liam Kearney, TormisD92, Sedition
Lord High-Inquisitor
Janus
Lord Inquisitors
Angel Morales, Brendon, Joe Schumacher, Michael Friede, Nilzor, Chase, Maroner, Forseeti, Carlos Campbell, Thanyx, Chace Gannon, Slip123, Godfrey Kawi, Nicholas Hoover, Nicholas Liu, Supernowy, Milton Pereira, YGO, Louis Lennin, OldManCain, Brandon Romero, MB, Brandon, LoneSaiyan, Para, Nekrull DeUmbrus, Jennifer carpenter, HKaz, Pantheras, MasterT941, J. G., Tyrell2000, Gobo, June Tai, james escobedo, Sebastiaan asselbergs, James, TheGreatBubbaJ, TheAbsoluteMonarch, Polo Pannini, JonCotterill, Zack Crum, SMatatabi, Theepicslime, Matthew Smith, Wrex, DamnedThrice, DualEquinox, Carl Confoy, James Fleming, Sivellan, Marin Dimovski, J. G., Matiu Patuwai
Until I next have your attention, I remain,
-Eyazahrid
