Little Pink Starfish

Sharing a boat ride with Amon yesterday had its good moments, but in many ways, it was exhausting. No matter how much Amon cherished and cared for him, Nyne could never allow himself to take the man lightly—it was only natural. Sometimes, after spending time with Amon, Nyne would feel muscle aches from the sheer tension. He wished, at the very least, to rest for just one day—but unlike banquets, ceremonies were not events one could skip without a significant reason.

And honestly, even without the muscle aches, he never wanted to attend these ceremonies…

After letting out a few long sighs, Nyne slowly got to his feet. As if they had been waiting, the priests approached with his ceremonial garments, ornaments, and the living platforms—slaves—used to support him. Knowing how much Nyne disliked attending ceremonies, the priests were especially cautious today in their service.

Nyne preferred to wear a kalasiris at ceremonies, rather than a loincloth that left his upper body completely bare. The finely pleated fabric wrapped around his body smoothly. Flowing from his shoulders to his ankles, the long garment gave him an air even more solemn and noble than usual.

The priests fastened a wide belt around his waist—gilded in gold and set with multiple opals. From it, two sashes of silver and gold thread hung at different lengths, each ending in a gleaming golden pendant shaped like a bull.

Over his shoulders, they draped a shawl as sheer as dragonfly wings, nearly transparent. Heavy gold accessories adorned his wrists and ankles, and a brilliant pashium—a wide, fan-shaped necklace—hung from his neck. Each edge of the necklace was lined with evenly spaced lapis lazuli beads woven from platinum rods and faience.

“This is too heavy,”

Nyne muttered as more gold ornaments were placed in his hair and on his ears. The more they added, the heavier he felt, and he sighed. It was one of the reasons he disliked ceremonies. He had told them repeatedly to plate lighter metals instead of using pure gold, but the priests always offered solid gold, casting nervous glances.

“But the lowly will see your majesty even better this way.”

Popo soothed him while replacing the earrings with something lighter. Still, they were heavy—triangular amber gold, dangling with alternating black and white pearls. After putting on several thick gold rings and attaching additional ornaments to the belt, the dressing was finally complete. The priests beamed, but Nyne walked slowly, dragging his now-heavy body with a sullen face.

Unlike the previous banquet, today’s ceremony required descending as far as the area near the Fourth Tower Gate. Since this was an event to display Amon’s majesty, commoners were also allowed to attend. Sometimes it was held even lower, past the Fifth Tower Gate. Today’s audience consisted mostly of wealthy merchants or landowners from the lower nobility, who had donated large sums to gain entry.

Under the blazing sun, the palanquin bearers took turns frequently as they carried Nyne toward the Third Tower Gate. Beyond this point, the path was roughest for bearers. If they had been going all the way past the Fifth Gate, at least they would have used carriages due to the long distance.

Not only the bearers but even the priests, who could not dare ride in a vehicle before Sha, were drenched in sweat. These were the same people who would sob and beg to be allowed to carry Nyne on their backs if he even so much as hinted at walking on his own. Nyne thought to himself that once he returned to his sanctum, he should reward the priests and slaves for their effort today.

By the time they arrived at the Fourth Gate, the sun was beginning to set. During this scorching season, ceremonies were held in the late afternoon, as those standing beneath the noonday sun would suffer heatstroke, dehydration, or burns.

The Fourth Tower Gate was the priestly residential district, with upscale homes and shops. The ceremony was to be held in the vast central plaza of this district. The square was so packed it was hard to find space to step. At the highest point was a seat reserved for Sha—far higher than any at a banquet—and dozens of steps waited for Nyne.

“Sha has arrived. All be silent!”

At the priests’ shout, the murmuring crowd fell silent and prostrated themselves in reverence. Even with their heads bowed low, their eyes followed Nyne sharply. Amid these stares, burning with strange excitement and fervor, Nyne descended from his palanquin.

He let out a small sigh and began climbing the stairs. His fan bearer, attendant priests, and aides followed. With every step, the jewels on his leather sandals glittered brilliantly. The sunlight struck the ornaments all over his body, making them shine even brighter. Nyne, panting slightly, climbed all the steps. Until he reached the top, everyone remained prostrated, not daring to lift their heads.

Internally cursing the heavy gold ornaments, Nyne stood and waited for Amon. Not long after he reached the top, Amon arrived. Nyne looked on enviously at Amon’s relatively simple adornments. Amon climbed the stairs without any sign of strain.

“Sha Amon.”

When Amon reached the top seat, Nyne bowed respectfully. But then he noticed priests lugging a large chest up the steps behind him. As Nyne watched curiously, they carefully set it under the canopy’s shade and opened it—revealing cold ice.

“Sha Amon ordered it in concern for Sha Nyne.”

Ossen Iyad smiled, his lined face kind. Nyne was surprised Amon still remembered his complaint from the boat ride about the heat. Behind him, Lu gaped as he stared at the ice chest. Nyne also stared for a long moment before managing to pull his gaze away and thank Amon.

“Thank you, truly, Amon.”

“It seems you’re especially sensitive to the heat this year. Tell me anytime you need it.”

Speaking indifferently, Amon gestured for him to sit. As priests soaked towels in the icy water, Nyne took his seat. The cool towels pressed against his neck and limbs, relaxing the stiffness in his face from the formalities.

Once Amon and Nyne were fully seated, Ossen Iyad shouted loudly:

“Pay reverence to Sha!”

His cry was echoed down the stairs, priest to priest, all the way to the base. Hundreds of priests cried out:

“Faithful servants greet the great and almighty Sha! Even in the afterlife, we shall serve Sha for eternity!”

Then, thousands of followers—not priests—echoed in unison:

“Loyal servants greet the great and almighty Sha! With our lives, we will serve Sha!”

The plaza trembled with the thunderous cry. Every time Nyne heard this booming sound, it overwhelmed him. Sitting above all their bowed heads gave him a strange thrill—followed quickly by fear. He knew these were fanatical worshipers. And of course, the one they truly worshipped was not him, but Amon.

“Sha, may we begin the ceremony?”

Ossen Iyad, who had been looking down on the crowds arrogantly, turned back and asked politely. As Nyne took a deep breath, Amon gave a small nod. Receiving Sha’s signal, Ossen gestured, and the priests began the ritual in perfect coordination. The bowed followers stood up.

First, the priests carried the expensive offerings brought by the followers up the steps. Like ants carrying food, they moved in organized lines. Glittering treasures of gold and silver piled up just two levels below Sha’s seat. Nyne looked away from the growing mountain of wealth.

Directly below them sat the Leshas in chairs. Their chairs were far simpler than the Sha’s, though still adorned with modest decorations. Unlike the priests, the Leshas were noble enough to be granted seats before Sha.

While Sha was dressed more extravagantly than usual, the Leshas wore simpler clothing today—this was not a banquet, but a sacred ceremony. Still, their beauty and grace radiated like flower petals.

The seating order of the Leshas usually reflected the power of their family lineage. Typically, the closest seats went to relatives of Grand Priest Ha-Net Ossen Iyad or Chief Priest Am-Net. But today, surprisingly, seated right after Ossen Iyad… was Lan Gwen.