Ayaka narrowed her eyes. “Really? Yer getting involved in this shit and the first thing you think about is a place to sleep?” She tilted her head to the side. “Unless you don’t plan on sleeping?”

“No. I plan on being here longer, which means I need a place to stay.”

Ayaka shrugged. “Eh, sorry boytoy, but Eteri won’t be able to join you tonight. This is a ceremonial garb. She’s gonna be-”

<”Ayaka! Please. I don’t want him to worry. He’s got far more important things to be concerned about, if you tell him I’ll be in some form of solitary confinement being chanted at for days on end he’s only going to blame himself.”> Eteri shifted her gaze to Nevin and squeezed his hand before she continued. Ugh. God these two… <”I’m being serious. He’s becoming reckless. It wouldn’t bother me so much if I didn’t notice how worn out he’s been lately. He used to be so...sturdy and confident, and now that’s faltering and I think I’m partially to blame.”>

<”Eteri, you sweet naive, fool - your tits are to blame. Look at him. He’s probably popped a boner just looking at you now. Ugh its sickening.”>

Ayaka turned her attention to Nevin, switching back to Tradspeak so he’d understand. “Family spat. You know how it is..or not...you seem like a bit of a loner.” Ayaka pushed back her silken brown locks behind her ear and continued, despite her sisters protest. “I’m gonna dumb it down for you. Eteri is going to be in a room, alone for a few days whilst our priests, healers and monks try to purify what is inside o’ her. Now, she;s gonna be fuckin’ high, but it’ll still hurt her. Grow a fuckin’ pair and don’t get yer knockers in a twist. If it were dangerous - I’d not have allowed it.”


“Of course not. I’ve seen how much you care about her.” Nevin sighed and shook his head. Dumbass talking too much again. Ayaka hated how he constantly spoke the fuckin’ obvious. Next thing he’d tell me is ‘oh, we’re in Akashima’ No fuckin’ shit.

She opened her mouth to chastise him, but the priest walked in and she promptly sat down. Nevin’s hand shot away from Eteri’s, at least he knew enough not to keep that shit up around other people. The priest, was an elderly Nekojin with long whiskers that hung downward toward his shoulders. His eyes were so far closed that Ayaka wondered how he ever managed to see a damn thing.

The priest took one look at Eteri and turned to Ayaka. <”You didn’t tell me she was harbouring a forgotten one. A remnant of Pode. This may not work.”> Unseen by the others, who were looking at the priest, Nevin tensed.

A-fucking-what? Ayaka was shocked, to say the least. Sure she had joked about it dismissively. But she didn’t actually think it was a remnant of a long-forgotten god of destruction and chaos. Ayaka shot a glare at her sister, who simply gave her a sheepish grin and a shrug. Where the hell did Eteri even get such a thing?

<”What the fuck? How did you-”>

<”Manners.”> The priest said as he approached Eteri, he scratched at his whiskers as he peered down at her. <”When Pode was destroyed, I believe it was near the Red Forest...If I am not mistaken… Pode’s essence, or soul - was not destroyed but broken up and absorbed by those who destroyed it. This…”> He pointed a long, clawed finger at Eteri. <”Has no sentience, but it most definately will influence. Hold sway over whoever harbours it. I suppose the safest place for such a danger is in the body of a carefree woman, filled with love and an attention span that is too short to carry out any darker whims.”>

He turned to Ayaka. <”Translate for me. Ask him if there are any signs. Any at all that it has manifested itself in a physical way.”>

Ayaka grimanced, she was not intending to be the go between. “Ugh...The old man wants to know if my sister has…” Ayaka sounded tired, and pensive, the normal bite from her voice trailing away. “Has …. Shown any sort of dark tendencies.”>

At this, Ayaka noticed Eteri tense, and knew that yes- yes she had.

“Twice that I know of. Neither, strangely, actively malicious.” Nevin lifted two fingers. “Once, quasi-tangible tentacles came from her while she slept, and caressed me. Second - well.” Nevin shot a look to Eteri then turned to Ayaka.” The second time it seemed to affect her personality. Demanded sex, in a very specific manner.”

“That’s fuckin’ weird…” Ayaka turned to the priest and translated. Every detail. She didn’t want to hear such things involving her sister, still...it was concerning.

The priest nodded. <”Ask him if he has any renmants of Pode within himself...I do not see as such but his soul is an intangible mess of a thing. Quite unsightly. Or anything that may tie him to the Forgotten One.”>

Ayaka nodded in agreement, ignoring the small growl from Eteri, and again, she repeated the message to Nevin.

“...yes. Due to an event, I took on some of her magic and possibly more, I'm not sure. It has become… Much more sublimated in me. My soul is partially divine, and proved a bit much for that piece to survive in.” He shrugged one shoulder. Strangely, he had responded almost before Ayaka finished speaking.

Ayaka caught this, and narrowed her eyes. “I ain’t translating for this lying piece of shit anymore.” She hissed.

“So, it really did work like that.” Nevin frowned deeply. “Crimson, I wish I knew how my magic worked better.” He turned to Eteri and frowned.

<”Eteri, can… understand… me?” >