Little Pink Starfish

“Sha Nyne, this servant has come at your call.”

Usr Mayri, Ruu’s father, was a thin, middle-aged man. He was the second-highest ranking Am-Net priest, just below the High Priest Ha-Net Osen Iyad, and wore expensive ornaments befitting his status. As he knelt and bowed deeply, Nyne studied his face and began to speak.

“Am-Net, you may rise.”

“Thank you, Sha.”

“Did you enjoy yourself last night? Your nose is still red.”

“Of course, Sha. Thanks to your grace, all of us, myself included, enjoyed the night. I regret only that the strong drink made me appear unseemly before you.”

The dark circles under Usr Mayri’s eyes didn’t seem to be from the hangover alone. Nyne recalled that Ruu and his father had a relatively close relationship and probed lightly.

“You must have raised your child rather freely. I’ve let his unruliness slide for a while out of fondness, but he dared enter the Lotus Hall without my permission, even though he is my servant.”

“I am deeply sorry, Sha. It is the fault of this servant for not raising his child properly.”

Usr Mayri immediately prostrated himself in apology. Nyne stared down at the man’s head, low to the ground, and wondered: was he like Osen Iyad, who felt no grief at his nephew’s death? Or was he a father who feared the early death of his child?

“How can someone so unruly be a true servant of mine?”

Usr Mayri took a deep breath and raised his head. His eyes and the tip of his nose were red, and his body trembled. He quickly bowed again, hiding the emotions he had briefly shown. The emotion he tried to hide was hope found within despair.

“Sha speaks rightly. I have sinned greatly in raising my child poorly. I beg you, instead of showing mercy, to cast Ruu Mayri out from the Lotus Hall. How could such a reckless one properly serve you in the afterlife?”

Nyne silently watched him plead with earnest desperation, then spoke in a low voice.

“It would be easy to expel him. But I’ve grown rather fond of the boy over time. If Ruu is cast out in disgrace, could he truly live properly afterward?”

“He has sinned against you, Sha, but I, as his father, will take full responsibility and care for him.”

“As it is with you, so it is with me. I wouldn’t find joy in seeing him live like that either. However…”

Nyne trailed off, locking eyes with Usr Mayri. A heavy silence passed between them. Nyne felt reassured that if it ever came to expelling Ruu, Usr Mayri would not turn his back on him. Then, in an even lower voice, he said:

“Recently, a priest named Pyra Sero rendered distinguished service and was admitted to the third tower gate. He’ll soon be entrusted with an important role. But he is young, and I worry he may make mistakes.”

Usr Mayri’s eyes widened. After carefully considering Nyne’s words, he bowed deeply.

“Say the word. I will serve loyally.”

“You are a wise Am-Net. I trust you to guide Priest Pyra well.”

“Yes, Sha. I shall watch over him carefully.”

“You may go now.”

Usr Mayri bowed repeatedly in gratitude and backed away. His retreating figure looked as though a burden had been lifted—it was no illusion. Nyne watched him return to the group of priests, acting as though they had never spoken.

Can I really succeed in this?

He was trying to change Trastasa, but feared that more people might die because of it.

Letting out a sigh, Nyne turned and walked. As he emerged from behind the building, the drunken priests scrambled to straighten themselves.

“Faithful servants greet Sha Nyne.”

Even while staggering, they bowed. Nyne permitted them to rise. As they cautiously lifted their heads, their eyes quickly scanned his body. Without shame, Nyne revealed the traces of Amon’s affection. Only after confirming that Osen Iyad and the other high priests were present did he speak.

“Who managed the temple garden?”

“This servant did, Sha.”

One priest, looking anxious and confused, stepped forward. Judging by his jewelry, he didn’t appear to be of high rank.

“Last night, Sha Amon was pleased with the garden. Therefore, in his name, I grant you the right to be called Net.”

The priest’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. The right to use the sacred title Net—like Ha-Net or Am-Net—was a tremendous honor. Even the lowest rank of Net was a glory that would be remembered in family and temple history.

“Ah! Unspeakable honor, Sha! I am overwhelmed with gratitude!”

The priest trembled with emotion, especially at the mention of Sha Amon’s pleasure. As the priest gave thanks, Nyne looked at Osen Iyad. Like the others, he kept his head bowed and said nothing. Nyne wanted to know what expression hid behind that lowered face.

With his business done, Nyne no longer wished to remain. He always felt an unexplainable discomfort around the high priests, probably because Osen Iyad reminded him of it all.

As he returned to the sanctuary, Nyne wore a dark expression. Even though he had never before interfered in the priests’ affairs, he found that invoking Amon’s name made things happen far too easily. How many things, then, had Osen Iyad done to his own benefit over the years? And Amon, the one being no one dared defy, had no interest in the events unfolding in Trastasa.

He merely watched over all from afar, like a god who ought to be feared and revered—indifferent to what happened to mere humans.

As he pondered how to deal with the priests from now on, Nyne walked slowly. Then Iyu, silently following him, suddenly spoke.

“Sha, the sun is strong. Would you care to rest here for a while? If I command the servants to bring cold water and a shade cover, it would be more pleasant.”

Nyne was puzzled, but sensed a reason behind Iyu’s suggestion and nodded. Two of the serving priests rushed off toward the sanctuary to carry out the order. Once they were gone, Nyne turned to Iyu.

“Iyu, why are you—”

He trailed off. From behind a shaded tree, Gwen stepped forward. Nyne was surprised by how quickly his heart leapt at the sight. Gwen, wearing a kalasiris adorned with fresh flowers like the day before, smiled brightly and spoke.

“Nyne, if you don’t mind, may I have a little of your time?”

His smile was so radiant that Nyne, without thinking, took Gwen’s outstretched hand. He tried to let go, but Gwen held tightly. In the end, Nyne let himself be led.

“When did you and Iyu get so friendly?”

“We’re not particularly close, but we have a cooperative relationship.”

Nyne glanced at Iyu, who grinned in confirmation. Gwen easily found a quiet, secluded path and turned into a winding corridor. Despite having visited the temple many times, Nyne had never known such a maze-like place existed. Between buildings, Gwen had found a cleverly hidden spot, completely devoid of people. Iyu checked the area thoroughly, then withdrew to keep watch from a distance.

“How did you even find a place like this?”

“I have a bit of a knack for spatial awareness. No matter how complex a structure is, I can understand it at a glance.”

The small clearing Gwen had found was shaded by buildings, keeping it cool. A breeze carrying the scent of flowers drifted through. It was quiet and peaceful, as if completely cut off from the noisy Festival of the Flood.

“So, what did you want with me?”

Nyne checked their surroundings carefully before asking. Gwen smiled with soft, upturned eyes.

“Nyne, did you visit me each night with a specific reason in mind? I, too, just wanted to see you. That’s all.”

Gwen often left Nyne at a loss for words. He wanted to dismiss it as flattery, but his heart would stir, and his mood would shift. It was because Gwen’s words always sounded sincere.

“It wasn’t every night.”

He reflexively answered coldly. But for some reason, Gwen didn’t respond. Instead, his eyes slowly drifted over the marks left on Nyne’s body. The smile on his lips faded.