Little Pink Starfish

“Indeed, it would be rare to find servants elsewhere who can offer twelve rituals a year and mountains of tribute. What kind of followers would risk their own lives to serve a god? And what god but Sha Amon would promise a blissful afterlife to those who serve him with such loyalty?”

Do other gods also demand twelve human sacrifices a year? Do they wish for their followers to offer up their lives? Ultimately, this was what Nyne wanted to ask. Are the bloody customs of Trastasa something common in the world?

The attending priests beamed with pride. Their eyes shone with the satisfaction of being recognized by their god, full of the pride of being the most devout servants on the continent. Nyne, however, averted his gaze without realizing it and instead fixed it on Lan Gwen, urging him to answer.

“Sha Nyne speaks the truth. Even on other continents—or even within this one—it’s difficult to find servants as devout as those of Trastasa. In fact, it’s almost impossible. Those people are not only ignorant, but they fear and even shun offering their neighbors, family, or themselves to the gods, Sha.”

Nyne’s gaze wavered slightly at Gwen’s words. He understood immediately what they implied. Behind him, Lu spoke up in a loud voice meant to be heard.

“Cowards, aren’t they? I could offer my life for Nyne-nim anytime. I’m not afraid, and it wouldn’t be a waste.”

Instead of feeling pleased, Nyne clenched his teeth. But he tried hard not to show it. Gwen continued, observing Nyne’s expression.

“They don’t understand that a blissful afterlife awaits them after death. Foolishly, they love and revere themselves, their lovers, and their friends more than their gods—how blasphemous.”

As the priests sighed deeply in lamentation, Nyne muttered dryly, “There are really people like that?”

“Only the god of Trastasa has servants willing to offer even their lives and flesh for him. More precisely, it’s only the sacred servants of the Grand Temple who can be considered true servants, Sha.”

Nyne noticed Popo unconsciously nodding along. Forcing the corners of his mouth up into a smile, he asked,

“And are such irreverent people… happy?”

“They live on, completely unaware of their place, Sha. You would never be able to imagine just how many of these irreverent people there are.”

With an expression of genuine sorrow, Gwen let out a long sigh. But the pink eyes he lowered were not sorrowful—they held a sneer. And he wasn’t finished yet.

“Surprisingly, there are even gods who condone such irreverence. Gods who lack the majesty of Sha Amon… gods who are, in some ways, nearly human. And their consorts, too.”

“Are there truly such gods lacking in majesty?”

“Yes. They exist. They are the ones who built the Labyrinth of Mazy Ruin. Isn’t it only fitting that the Labyrinth be called a place of heresy, Sha?”

Gwen looked up at Nyne with an unusually intense gaze. His youthful, beautiful face contrasted with his eyes, which held a maturity unbefitting his age. Nyne stared into those eyes before answering in a cold voice.

“Yes… indeed, it is heretical. So much that it should never be spoken of.”

‘Could everything Lan Gwen says really be true?’

With a heavy heart, Nyne wandered near the forest. After speaking with Gwen, he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink and felt tired and muddled.

The stories Gwen had told him weren’t enough. Nyne needed to hear more about the world beyond Trastasa—at the very least, beyond the Grand Temple. More than anything, he needed proof that human sacrifice wasn’t normal. That he wasn’t wrong to feel disturbed by it. That his suffering wasn’t unfounded.

Unaware of Nyne’s thoughts, Lu grumbled beside him.

“If I just found golden-bluebirds, I could’ve caught them too, like Resha Gwen.”

“Then how about going to another continent like Resha Gwen did?”

Nyne teased lightly, and Lu pouted. Popo glared at him for behaving childishly, but Lu pretended not to notice.

“How could I possibly leave Nyne-nim behind and go far away? I have no one else but you.”

Nyne recalled when he had first met Lu. From the beginning, Lu wasn’t the type to tremble before him. Instead, he had boldly claimed he’d been longing to meet Sha Nyne and could die without regret now that he had. Though almost of age, Lu had comforted a gloomy Nyne with the careless cheer of a boy.

“Yes, how could I live without you?”

Nyne said it with affection, thinking back on Lu’s devotion over the years.

“Nyne-nim. It is improper to treat a mere servant in such a way. He is only to be used as a convenient tool.”

Popo scolded with a stern face, glaring at Lu. Lu didn’t bother to hide his grin and scoffed. Hearing Popo suggest treating them like tools made Nyne give a bitter smile.

Just as they turned back toward the tent to end the walk, cheers erupted loudly from the forest. Looking up, Nyne saw that the combat priests had returned, carrying game unlike anything the Reshas or high priests had managed.

Huge beasts—far beyond the likes of deer, rabbits, or birds. One carried a rhinoceros on his shoulders; another had lions slung under both arms. They laid them out before the altar with great thuds. Compared to true beasts, these were apparently nothing.

“Sha Nyne!”

Iyu approached, dripping with bloody mud. Aware of his own filth, he knelt at a respectful distance and grinned.

“This faithful servant has brought crocodiles for Sha Amon and Sha Nyne.”

“What? Crocodiles?”

Nyne blinked in disbelief. Iyu gestured humbly toward the far right of the altar.

“They are over there, Sha.”

There weren’t just one but two crocodiles, their jaws tied shut, still squirming. They looked big enough to swallow a man whole—more like monsters than animals.

Lu stared, mouth agape, at the crocodiles before swallowing dryly. He opened his mouth to say something to Iyu but quickly gave up and slumped. It was obvious he was thinking his stag couldn’t compare to Gwen’s rare birds or Iyu’s colossal crocodiles.

Still, it wouldn’t do not to praise Iyu. He had brought such incredible beasts.

“Truly impressive. I’ve never seen crocodiles that big.”

“You could keep them for display, or butcher them and use the parts as needed.”

Crocodile leather was tough, durable, and favored as a material. Nyne didn’t particularly want such fearsome creatures near his sanctuary, so he nodded vaguely. As Iyu left to wash, Nyne tried to console the deflated Lu.

“Still, I like the stag you brought best.”

“…Thank you, Nyne-nim.”

Lu tried to smile, but his shoulders drooped again. Popo looked disapprovingly at him—how dare a servant upset Sha’s mood? But Nyne, rather than annoyed, found Lu’s honest reactions endearing and waved her off. Popo bowed quietly.

The beasts brought by the combat priests were soon slaughtered. The least appetizing meat was given to the lower ranks, while the choicest cuts were reserved for the noble class.

As the priests were busy cooking, Amon returned from the forest. Strangely, he carried nothing. Perhaps he hadn’t hunted at all and simply strolled in the woods—leaves clung to his robe. The priests all dropped what they were doing and prostrated themselves before him.

Nyne paused, then approached Amon with resolve. Carefully, he brushed a leaf from Amon’s robe and asked:

“If you permit it, I would like to share a private meal with you in the tent.”

“Very well.”

As always, Amon agreed immediately. Nyne gestured for Lu to dine with Popo, then followed Amon. The priests came in to help Amon change and set the food on the table. Then they stood silently to the sides with folded hands.