So I was translating some of the KZB character files (*cough cough* the Patch) and Renim's info says that Magna tried to invite him to join Hao and I just had to write it (by the way it also says that he's good at making jewellery and is intimidated by Hao). I'm not entirely happy with the middle part but Magna's dialogue was especially fun to write
The light the Great Spirit provided in their usually dark village seeped in through the window of Renim's shop. It illuminated his fingers as he fiddled with silver pieces of jewellery as he tried to twist it into a complex earring.
The Patch had been back in the village for barely a week since they had dropped the Shaman Fight participants straight from the air 11 kilometres above the ground. While some of his tribemates considered this an especially cruel test, Renim didn't mind. These tests would determine the new Shaman King in a few months' time and whoever it was they needed to be quick on their feet, use furyoku to the best of their potential, and, of course, deal with trivial things like being thrown from an airplane.
The shamans now had three months to get to the Patch Village. A lot of them were still on their way, except Hao. The man who betrayed the Patch 500 years ago, taking their knowledge, techniques, and spirits, naturally knew where the village was located. No surprise there since he had been a Patch once upon a time. He left them living proof of that. But no one could protest against it; he was a participant like everyone else now, he had passed the qualification test and won in the preliminaries, and everyone agreed (even Silva) that he was to be left alone. They couldn't interfere in the others' fights. Renim knew that much; everyone knew that much. It was the law of the Patch, or, as Goldva would say, it was the will of the Great Spirit.
But at the same time, Hao took every day to promenade with his group around the fountain on the main square, showing off his spirit, clearly trying to tell them what they had lost, and they couldn't be anything about it. Hao knew it well and he took the time to remind them of that. Even now, Renim could see him sit there through the door of his shop, He was sitting there and chatting with… Magna?
Renim narrowed his eyes to see better. Yes, it seemed like it was Magna. While in Tokyo, he had shared an apartment with Bron and Magna, and he knew that Magna was in charge of most of Hao's teams and Hao himself. He had seen how Magna had grown fond of Hao after he saw just how powerful he was. It was no secret that the older Patch supported his charge. Still, after years of living just within the tribe, it was weird seeing each other interact with other people from all around the world. Some of them had been away before. Bron had visited London, and he himself had been in New York City before, but they usually stuck just to the village and its surroundings.
Renim focused on the earrings he was making. After spending most of the tribe's money on accommodation for poorer shamans, the Patch were desperately in need of money. And since he was pretty good at making jewellery, he would help out however he could.
Focusing on the earrings again, he tried to ignore what was happening on the square. Honestly, he was kind of glad that only the officiants were allowed to interact with the Shaman Fight participants and everyone else stayed in hiding and frequented only the other parts of the village. Renim was sure that a lot of them would either be scared or come to tell Hao to go to places where the sun doesn't shine and Renim was quite sure that it wouldn't be pretty. No, he was glad that the rest of the tribe was safe and sound, hidden deeper in the caves and waiting for the contestants to leave for the abandoned island of Tokyo. It was safe to say that once that happens, the others would never see them again. At least not for some time. Who knows what all tasks will the new Shaman King have prepared for them…
Renim sighed. There was still time until that happened. For now, he had one job and didn't have to worry about the second round yet. He had three months to get everything in order and say his goodbyes.
Suddenly, there was a noise and young Nichrom came into his shop. It wasn't too long ago that he got his own spirit, just before they had all left for Tokyo. Renim knew that he had been practicing with it since then, and these days, it was Magna who took the boy under his wings.
Honestly, Renim expected Silva to do it. He had been Chrom's best friend, after all. But Nichrom stood his ground and firmly let them know that he doesn't want Silva to be the one to live with. Renim strongly suspected it had something to do with Silva being tolerant of Tao Ren. He could see that the young Patch was definitely not over his brother's death. Who would be at his age anyways?
"Nichrom," Renim said and set aside the earrings. It didn't seem as if he would be able to work on them anyways. Besides, he supposed, the 9-year-old in front of him needed his attention more. "What brings you here?"
Nichrom stood next to the door, and slowly, tentatively, he made his way to where Renim was sitting. He didn't say a word, but his expression was a grimace, and Renim couldn't help but feel that something was wrong.
Finally, the child spoke.
"Hao is powerful," he said, looking outside through the door. Renim looked at him. When they got back home, Nichrom was different from how he used to be. The older Patch was quite sure that he only needed time to come to terms with his brother's death, but he felt that there was something else. And if Ren Tao indeed managed to get to the Patch village, the tension between him and Nichrom would be there.
"He is," Renim agreed. "But we can't let ourselves be intimidated by his strength," he continued. He knew that some of them could be intimidated by him and his power. He felt it, he felt his power as well, and he would be lying if he said that he wasn't intimidated - he was, and deeply at that. Hao's power was overwhelming, but Renim knew that he had to keep his neutrality, they all had. However, he knew of certain members' favouritism. Honestly, he didn't mind that. As long as no one did something reckless, it would be fine.
Nichrom looked at him, and for a moment, Renim saw the boy who he used to be. That, however, was replaced by the steely gaze that he managed to master in a few short months.
It seemed that Magna was also done with his conversation, and Hao was gone from the square now. Renim turned to the entrance when his fellow Patch member turned up there.
"Hello, Magna," he greeted. Magna raised his hand in a greeting and nodded at Nichrom. Renim wasn't certain what silent communication just passed between the two, but he was fairly sure that Nichrom hadn't been with Magna outside.
"Still working? Aren't you supposed to have a day off?" Magna asked, craning his neck to see what Renim was working on. The younger Patch frowned.
"I am supposed to be off today, but I like making jewellery. I don't have to have a day off simply because the schedule says I should have one," he replied. It wasn't Magna's business what he did in his free time. He could work more and no one should bat an eye.
Magna shook his head slightly.
"My my, you're such a workaholic," he commented. "Nice earrings, by the way. I suppose you don't want to make me another pair, now do you?"
Renim raised an eyebrow. He couldn't tell if Magna meant it or if he was just playing with him. Magna was like that, always had a sharp and quick-witted tongue. He played with others. Renim knew that he was very intelligent and very logical, partly also to his hobby of solving crosswords, but he didn't exactly appreciate Magna's mind games.
"What do you want, Magna?" he decided to get straight to the point. Like this, Magna couldn't corner him. Suddenly, Renim felt uncomfortable with having Nichrom in the same room.
Magna smirked.
"Hao is powerful, isn't he?" he said, and Renim looked from him to his young charge. Nichrom had said those exact same words, even if with him, it seemed that he was scared for a moment. If Magna had the boy in his care, then… Renim opened his mouth silently and stayed like that for a few seconds, connecting the dots. Then, he narrowed his eyes at Magna.
"He is, so what? Get to the point, Magna," he said, and it sounded almost like a growl. It definitely wasn't a friendly chat. The other man leaned on the table next to Renim, towering over him. It seemed that he was trying to intimidate him. Renim realized that too. Unconsciously, he made sure that Clear Coat was nearby.
"He's going to become the Shaman King for sure," he said, and Renim raised an eyebrow. Magna had some guts to be saying this.
"You don't know that yet," he replied, keeping his voice steady. "There are countless other talented shamans who could take him down." Renim could admit there were certain liberties to being neutral, but this was beyond all boundaries. The whole tournament was still ongoing; Renim had seen some powerful-looking shamans in the crowd.
"There are, but do they have such a potent furyoku?" Magna whispered. Renim could see Nichrom slowly moving towards the exit. He must've sensed the tension in the air.
"So? What are you trying to say, Magna?" Renim growled. He was tired of this, and felt like a… well, like a chameleon who was pushed into the corner without the possibility of using his camouflaging ability.
Magna opened his arms in a welcoming way.
"Let's join him," he said, making Renim gasp. He had expected a lot of things, but definitely not this.
"Magna," he got out through gritted teeth. "Do you realize what you're doing? That you're breaking the neutrality?" This was wrong. They weren't supposed to actually mess with the participants. They weren't supposed to interfere, yet here Magna was, asking him to join Hao's followers.
Magna smiled with that smug smile of his.
"I'm not saying we'll actually interfere," he said, still smiling. "I'm saying that we'll deliver information. That's not against our laws. The others are also doing it. Did you know that Silva and Kalim actually invited one of the participants to tell them to forfeit?"
Renim stayed silent. He didn't know that, but it seemed like a thing Silva would do. Kalim, not so much, but he knew they both valued a human's life.
Magna continued: "Hao is going to be the Shaman King anyways, we can as well start serving him now."
That was it.
"No," Renim said, his voice barely above a whisper. He was proud to be one of the priests, and he would keep the neutrality, something that Magna had long since given up on.
"Sorry, what did you say? Couldn't hear you," Magna said, putting his palm to his ear, pretending that he didn't hear well.
Renim growled.
"I said no. Now get out of my shop," he repeated, more forcefully. Magna might have been older and bigger than him, but he wouldn't stand for this.
"Come on, aren't we old friends?" Magna tried again, the smirk on his face fading away. This time, Renim stood up so forcefully that he pushed him away. Magna didn't expect it and stumbled a few steps back.
"Leave. I have no intention of joining Hao," Renim sneered, and Magna held his hands up, recognizing defeat.
"Fine, fine, no need to get mad," Magna said, taking a few more steps back. He motioned for Nichrom to follow him. Renim didn't need to make any additional moves - the two of them left quickly and left no traces of ever being in the shop.
Renim watched the entrance for a few more minutes, wondering if he should tell Goldva about this. It also seemed that Magna got Nichrom to join him, which didn't sit well with him. But since they weren't going against any laws, Goldva probably wouldn't do anything, even if he told her. She would just say that it was the will of the Great Spirit as she usually did.
Renim sat back down, feeling shivers all over his back. He took the unfinished earrings into his hands again and slowly started working on them again. He would have to be wary of Magna.
For now, though, he was glad that he wasn't coming back to his shop for some time. Renim sighed as he connected one of the wires keeping the earring together.
This was certainly going to be interesting and he wasn't sure he liked it.