Little Pink Starfish

“Lord Nine, are you not hot? Shall I ask the Holy of Holies to prepare some cool and sweet hwachae? If you leave now, it will be ready for you as soon as you arrive.”

“No.”

Nine gave an immediate refusal the moment Popo suggested it in her gentle voice, and he quickened his pace slightly. As the sunlight flickered across his white forehead, Ru scurried behind, doing her best to hold a large fan over Nine’s head. The tip of the ostrich feather attached to the long pole fan tickled his bangs. Ru, slightly out of breath, tried to soothe him.

“Lord Nine, if you walk so quickly, you’ll get even hotter.”

“I’m not hot at all.”

His voice clearly carried tones of petulance and whimsy. Despite what he said, his fair face was slightly flushed from the heat. Popo tried again to persuade him.

“Sha Amon will be returning soon. How about going back, receiving a nice massage to lift your mood, and freshening up?”

At those words, Nine flinched slightly. But pretending not to hear, he stubbornly kept his eyes forward and walked even faster. Ru was now starting to pant. Behind them, the priests and slaves following at a fixed distance were already breaking into a sweat.

Soon, Nine stepped into the building he’d been heading toward. People strolling around in fluttering white linen robes quickly dropped to their knees in respectful greeting when they saw him appear. Nine didn’t even glance at them and continued walking. His sandals, made from fine goat leather, made soft, tapping sounds as they struck the smooth alabaster floor. The gold and gemstone ornaments he wore jingled and shimmered with every step.

The building was quite large, and Nine had to walk a good distance. Eventually, he came to a stop. Slaves, busy carrying furniture or crates of clothes, were startled by his sudden appearance and flattened themselves to the floor. Nine craned his neck, peering inside. A priest, already on his knees, shuffled forward a bit and asked:

“Greetings, Sha Nine. Is there anything this humble servant can do for you?”

“I heard a new Resha has arrived at the Lotus Hall.”

Nine asked, eyes fixed on the interior. Inside, there were only some half-arranged furnishings and messy linen ropes that had been used to tie things down. Was this the space assigned to the new Resha? Judging by the mess, perhaps it was a room left behind by a Resha who had already departed. The priest bowed deeply and replied.

“My apologies, Sha. The new Resha is currently undergoing the purification ritual at the lake.”

At those words, Nine’s shoulders drooped in disappointment. He cast a dissatisfied look at the priest for no reason, then abruptly turned away. His sudden spin made the gold ornaments clink sharply. He now walked back the way he came, his steps slower than before.

On the path behind him, Reshas and slaves remained on their knees or flat on the ground. They wouldn’t be able to rise until Nine had completely left the area or given permission. But Nine, now in a slightly foul mood, had no intention of granting such permission. Slowly, he exited the Lotus Hall, where countless servants of the gods moved about like flocks of birds.

Outside, slaves waited for him, bearing a palanquin that gleamed with gold. A step-bearer quickly placed golden stairs next to it. Though it looked like pure gold, it was actually gold-plated—if it were real gold, the palanquin bearers would have collapsed from the weight long ago.

As he gracefully stepped onto the palanquin, his white linen robes fluttered like drifting clouds. Ru hurried to hold the large ostrich feather fan above his head to cast shade. Under the fan’s shadow, Nine glanced at the palanquin bearers and frowned.

“They smell.”

“A thousand apologies, Sha.”

Upon hearing Nine’s complaint, the priest quickly prostrated himself, pressing his forehead to the ground. The slaves held their breath, nervously watching Nine and the priest. Their sun-darkened, muscular bodies were slick with sweat after standing long under the sun.

“Didn’t I say last time to dry off under shade first to avoid the smell of sweat?”

Nine’s glare made the priest turn pale. Bowing deeply, the priest apologized repeatedly.

“I was only worried about keeping Sha waiting, and I acted without manners. From now on, I will make sure they are cleaned and dried in the shade and perfumed beforehand.”

“…Forget it. Let’s go.”

He replied irritably, and the priest finally sighed in relief and rose from the ground. He didn’t even dare to dust the dirt off his knees, only signaling for the group to move. The palanquin bearers carefully began to walk, trying not to jostle the palanquin holding the deity.

It wasn’t long after they had started moving that a priest came running from the distance, panting. The palanquin stopped briefly as the priest knelt, swallowing to wet his dry throat, and announced in a loud voice:

“Great Sha Amon has passed through the Ninth Tower Gate!”

“Already?”

Nine asked, startled. Normally, when Sha Amon went to hunt beasts, he wouldn’t return until late evening. Had he known, he would’ve followed Popo’s suggestion to return and prepare himself. Regretfully, he bit his lip.

Catching on quickly, the priest silently mouthed “hurry, hurry” to the palanquin bearers. The slaves, already dripping with sweat, began to move faster.

Popo, walking close beside Nine, tried to comfort her sulky master.

“Why not return and change into emerald jewelry? It might lift your spirits.”

“Not emerald. Ruby.”

Even as Nine mumbled vaguely, his chin resting on one hand, Popo, who had long served him, understood immediately.

“Of course. Both ruby and emerald suit the beautiful Sha so well. If Sha Amon sees you beautifully adorned, he will surely be delighted.”

Hearing this, Nine let out a long sigh. He glanced back at the Lotus Hall and spoke softly:

“…I hope so.”