The High Priest didn't just bring water; he brought an entire choir of acolytes. They
dragged a massive, claw-footed marble tub into the center of the prayer hall. The
Priest, sweating profusely, dumped a bucket of shimmering, crystalline "Purification
Salts" into the water, hoping to "cure" the silver-haired guest of his monstrous nature.
Jee-shahn stepped into the tub with a groan of pure, lazy satisfaction. The reaction
was instantaneous—the "holy" minerals reacted to his overwhelming aura, creating a
mountain of thick, fragrant white bubbles that exploded upward, filling the hall like a
slow-moving cloud.
"Master! I can't see the exit! I'm navigating by smell!" Sora shouted, his head popping
out of a particularly large drift of foam near the Great Altar. Shizuka stood near a
pillar, her blunt expression unchanging even as a stray bubble landed on the tip of her
nose. She watched as Aiko tried to build a "foam castle" on top of Ryuki's head, while
the silent blade simply stood there, waiting for the chaos to end.
Suddenly, the temple's heavy doors creaked open, and a wall of foam spilled out into
the courtyard. Standing there was Leo, the 30-year-old Lion-Beast Demi-Human,
dressed in regal attire that spoke of a crumbling throne. As he stepped into the hall,
Leo didn't look at the monks or the bubbles. His golden eyes locked onto the
silver-haired "Monster" sitting in the tub. Without hesitation, the Prince of the South
took a breath, fell on his knees, and said, "My Mother, Empress Aerilaya, wants to
meet you in person... in a hurry".
Jee-shahn, who was relaxing in the tub, didn't react. Sora, still sufering with bubbles,
bumped into the kneeling Leo and, after standing, said, "Master is currently in the
cultivation mood. If you have any business, wait for him to wake". Leo's eyes were
shocked, but he insisted they were in a hurry. Sora, trying to clear his eyes with his
palm, noticed Leo's serious expression. "Where is your Mother now?" Sora asked.
Leo replied, "The capital of Virellia, Aurum Meadows".
Sora turned and said, "Master, I heard from someone that Aurum Meadows' beer
tastes diferent". Jee-shahn asked how far the capital was. Sora replied it was
nothing, just a few minutes. At that moment, Jee-shahn opened his eyes, stepped out
of the tub, and said, "Sora, pack the luggage. We are leaving". He then turned to
Shizuka. "Silver Sword, you and your ghosts are also coming with me. We are in a
hurry. You sit in the carriage with the other ladies, and those ghosts will sit on the roof
with Sora and Ryuki".
The Departure
Outside the temple foundation, the carriage was ready. Inside, Jee-shahn lay back on
his seat. Sitting with him were Emiko, Lupa (with Shin in her arms), Yui (with Silver in
her lap), Tara, Kaori, Aiko, and now Shizuka. Meanwhile, Sora, Ryuki, Masaru, and
Nogi sat on the carriage roof.
"Sora, wake me up when we arrive at the capital," Jee-shahn commanded before
drifting of. Leo, sitting in his own carriage beside them, gave a nod to Sora, who
nodded back. Sora gave the order to the driver, and the carriages surged forward,
with Jee-shahn's carriage following closely behind Leo's.