Little Pink Starfish

“So… you dared to comfort me?”

“Yes, Sha. This servant dared to comfort you. Since you, Sha, understand what sorrow and pain are—like a human—might you not also be comforted, like a human?”

The priests took his words as blasphemous and glared at Gwen with quiet hostility. But instead of angering Nyne, Gwen’s words softened his frozen heart. Surprisingly, he felt a little better. He didn’t rebuke Gwen or punish him. Instead, he slowly looked around at the attending priests.

One by one, he met the eyes of Lou and even Popo. Then, he said calmly,

“As a reward, I’ll make the blue-and-gold finches you offered me the symbol of my sanctuary. We’ll breed them well, so that one day even in Trastasa, as in your continent, these beautiful birds can be seen throughout the land.”

“I am deeply honored, Sha. This is an unimaginable glory to me.”

Gwen bowed to the ground in gratitude. In contrast, Lou’s face turned pale. The other priests were also visibly shocked and dropped to their knees. Nyne didn’t even glance at Lou, who was trembling on the ground. As if the priests weren’t even present, he asked Gwen,

“Can you tell me more stories like this tomorrow?”

“Of course, Sha. Please summon your servant whenever you wish.”

In addition to making the finches a sanctuary symbol, Nyne also bestowed Gwen with ornamental pieces and a bar of gold. That puppet box must’ve cost quite a bit. Gwen departed the sanctuary with his puppet theater.

Only then did Nyne finally turn his eyes to Lou. Lou crawled forward on his knees, voice trembling as he tried to speak.

“L-Lord Nyne. I—I…”

Nyne clearly remembered not only who had given him the finches, but also that they were common on Gwen’s continent. That meant he knew Lou and Popo had deceived him.

“Raise your head.”

Nyne gently touched Lou’s cheek, raising his chin with his fingertips. Lou, seeing a faint smile on Nyne’s beautiful face, trembled.

“It’s all right. You couldn’t help it, could you? How could you? In this holy land overflowing with Lord Amon’s glory, nothing else carries meaning outside of His will…”

Nyne, gazing at one of his closest attendants, curved his golden eyes slightly.

“Just keep acting as you always have. Just as before.”

But Lou’s face didn’t brighten, even though Nyne had not scolded or punished him. Instead, his expression collapsed as he clutched at Nyne’s robe and begged helplessly.

“Lord Nyne, I’m sorry… Please, punish me instead. Scold me, whip me until my back is torn and bleeding.”

“If this is Lord Amon’s will, does a mere servant need to feel guilt? You don’t need to worry. Besides… I don’t want to see you hurt.”

Nyne spoke truthfully. He wasn’t truly angry at Lou or the other priests. What he felt was more like resignation. Would anything change if he expressed his rage? Perhaps acceptance was easier. He wiped away Lou’s tearful eyes with his own sleeve and said,

“Don’t trouble my heart any further.”

At those words, Lou couldn’t even beg for forgiveness anymore. He bowed deeply, shoulders shaking. The other priests also pressed their foreheads to the floor, holding their breath. Even the sight of it all made Nyne uncomfortable.

“Bring me a sweet drink. My throat is dry.”

“Y-yes, my lord. Right away…”

Perhaps out of guilt, Lou served Nyne with even greater devotion. He smiled, flattered, and tried desperately to lift Nyne’s spirits. Though Nyne didn’t reject any of it, Lou’s face never truly brightened. He kept glancing up at his master, eyes filled with guilt and anxiety.

As Nyne summoned Gwen again the next day, and the day after that, Lou’s expression darkened more and more. He couldn’t focus on Gwen’s stories and nervously watched Nyne’s every move. Whenever Nyne smiled faintly, enchanted by Gwen’s performance, Lou slumped in distress.

He stared at Gwen with jealousy, only to drop his gaze in shame, as if unworthy even to feel that emotion. Though Nyne tried to comfort him gently, Lou remained despondent for days.

One morning, when Nyne woke, Lou was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Lou?”

He asked curiously, having risen late. Though Lou was his chief attendant, it wasn’t unusual for him to leave the sanctuary now and then. Only Nyne was permitted to sleep within its walls. Lou would usually return home to the Fourth Tower at night, and once every ten days, he spent a day with his family and friends.

But today was neither early morning nor one of those days. Popo bowed respectfully and replied,

“Lou will soon return to you, my lord, with joyful news.”

“Joyful news?”

What kind of good news would Lou bring? Nyne thought of how timid Lou had been lately. Was it like last time, when he tried to make up for losing the feather by bringing an offering? Whatever it was, Nyne resolved to accept it kindly. He missed the carefree, bright Lou of old.

“My lord, shall I summon Resha Gwen again today?”

After a moment’s thought, Nyne shook his head. Gwen’s voice had grown hoarse after performing the puppet show for four days straight. He hadn’t complained once, but Nyne wanted him to rest.

Still, thanks to Gwen, Nyne was slowly recovering. He didn’t have much appetite, but that day he managed to eat a bit of lunch.

Lou finally returned to the sanctuary in the late afternoon, as the sun dipped toward the horizon. He looked nervous—and dressed more extravagantly than usual. The ram necklace and earrings Nyne had given him stood out clearly.

“Lou, you’re late today.”

Nyne smiled and greeted him warmly, but Lou did not approach. He stood still, then slowly bowed.

“A true servant greets Sha Nyne.”

Both Popo and Lou had been permitted to skip formalities, since they saw Nyne daily. So Nyne found it strange that Lou would offer such a ceremonial greeting. Then it hit him—the phrase was different. It wasn’t the priestly greeting—it was a Resha’s.

Why was Lou using a Resha’s greeting? Surely not… no, it couldn’t be. Perhaps he had just slipped. Nyne remained silent, troubled. Lou looked up with an unnaturally wide smile.

“Lord Nyne. I, Lou Mairy… from today on, I am a Resha. I return to serve you as a true servant.”

“Lou!”

Nyne shot to his feet, crying out Lou’s name. His voice was full of shock and fury. Lou flinched but tried to stay firm.

“It pains me greatly that I can no longer serve you closely, but… doesn’t this make me a true servant now?”

He crawled forward on his knees, face desperate. Nyne, trembling with disbelief, grabbed Lou’s shoulders and shook him.

“Cancel it. Cancel it right now! Tell the priests at the Lotus Hall it was a mistake!”

“It wasn’t a mistake! Please, my lord—please understand how I feel!”

Perhaps he hadn’t expected such a reaction. Lou clung to Nyne’s robe, fingers gripping the linen tightly.

“I alone am your truest and most loyal servant. I will serve you with complete devotion, closer than anyone else. I will gladly give you my life and body, for your sake!”

“You—how could you do this to me… Why would you…?”

Overcome with betrayal and grief, Nyne collapsed to the floor. The priests rushed over, calling out “Sha!” but he pushed them away. Clutching his face in disbelief, he finally shouted at Lou, who was staring at him with wide eyes.

“I loved and cherished you more than anyone—even without making you a Resha! So why did you do this?”

“Isn’t this better, my lord? Now I can serve you up close, even in the afterlife. Closer than Priest Iyu… or Resha Gwen. Forever, my lord.”

A faint madness gleamed in Lou’s eyes as he said those words. Nyne, mouth agape, let out a deep, anguished sigh. The pain was etched into his brow as he finally opened his mouth to speak.