(Mael's POV)
"Lady Ren!!" one of the men called out as we walked inside the Shrine's boundaries, "Are you alright???"
After having dealt with the wolves, the men decided to go and check on the Shrine, having worried that Ren and those were reached it were harmed.
As we approached the shrine, I saw Ren standing in front of it, a surprised look on her face as she saw that I was unharmed.
"Is...." She started, "Is everyone alright....?"
One of the men stopped, "Hei...and Umi..." He said, "T-They....."
I looked at their faces; they tried to hold back tears. I noticed that Ren's face was grim, looking down in shame.
"I am sorry." Ren said, "I did not do anything to prevent this."
The man shook his head, "No, Lady Ren." He said, "It is not your fault. You are unable to leave the Shrine's boundaries; this is no fault of yours. The Okuri have been too aggressive as of late, and we don't know what happened. But this.....man....."
Ren looked at me, "Mael...." she said, "What happened?"
"I killed them." I said
She eyed me up and down, "What?"
"He triggered the Curse." The man started, "And summoned the rest of the Okuri's pack on him. But he somehow killed them."
Ren looked at me for a couple of seconds, her eyes staring right through me. This caused a tense silence that unsettled the men.
"Lady Ren.....?" one of the men said
"There is no offerings this week." Ren said softly, "I have prepared charms with extra magic in them you can place around the village. Take them and return, you will not be attacked."
"A-Are you certain?" the man said, "Do you have enough food and water to-"
"I shall be fine." Ren cut him off, "The children have them, make sure you escort them back safely. Mael, come. I need to speak to you."
She turned around and walked inside, leaving me alone with the men.
"You." One of them said, "How do you know Lady Ren?"
I looked at him, "I don't." I said, "I just met her."
"What?" He frowned
"I was chased by the Okuri." I explained, "And ended up here. Next thing I know, the wolf attacked your fellow villagers. For that, you have my condolences."
"So, it attacked you too." He said, "I don't know what you are, boy. But you were capable of killing them, so I thank you for that. If you are ever in Ichitsune Village, tell them you know Sato. They'll take care of you."
I nodded, "Thanks."
"Lady Ren wishes to speak to you." He said, "You best not make her wait."
********************
"What have you done?" Ren said as I was sitting across from her
She had lit up some incense, the scent of lavender mixed with berries was pungent.
I looked at her, "What do you mean?"
"I can see them." She said softly, "The spirits of the Okuri within you."
I grimaced, "Hm...."
"And not just that." she said, "Your body has undergone a change, I can tell."
I sighed, "I don't understand it either." I said, "I've just crossed over to this place, I don't know what any of this is."
"How did you kill those Yokai?" She asked, "When you kill an Okuri, the Curse of The Wolf's Pack triggers. From the blood of the corpse, the remaining pack is summoned, targeting the killer. After the killer is ripped apart, the Okuri pack spreads through the land and rips every living being apart. Such is the Curse."
I shuddered, merely thinking about that, "I see..." I said, "But I killed the others, nothing else happened."
"The rest of the Pack is not supposed to die so easily." She said, "You have purged the Forest of its Okuri pack, leaving a void in the region's Yokai power balance. It will take months for more Okuri to takes its place, giving the inhabitants time to live in peace. You did them a great service. But in exchange, you have potentially brought forth something worse."
"Like what?" I asked
"There are some Yokai who are deterred by the Forest Okuri." She said, "They might be more dangerous to the humans, but they naturally fear the wolves."
"I see...." I said, looking down, "Was it a mistake then?"
"I wouldn't say that." She said, "Something was causing the Okuri to lash out more violently. My sisters in the other Shrines have reported the same."
I looked at her, "Sisters....more Kitsune?"
"We are the Guardians of the Shrines." She said, "We serve Inari."
"Inari...." I said, "Goddess of Foxes and.....Rice....?"
She tilted her head, "And you are new to Kazuha?" she said, "How do you know what my Mother is?"
"Mother...." I repeated, raising an eyebrow
"O-Inari is the Mother of Kitsune, she who bore us." She said, "We serve her and guide the people who worship her."
"I see." I said, "A Shinto Goddess....in the Distorted Godlands."
I read a few books in my youth, regarding various religions. Among those books were the Shinto Gods of Japan, so I know a bit of the big and small names.
She stared at me for a couple of seconds, "I would like to know how I can feel the spirits of the Okuri within you." She said, "What is it you did?"
I raised my hand, feeling it tremble slightly. It was hard for me to explain how my power worked. I didn't truly understand it either; the Voice guided me in my head. I don't know what it was, or what it wanted. But it was able to guide me to use my power, absorbing the Okuri into myself.
"I used my power." I said, "From what I know, those from my world are granted powers when crossing into the Godlands. I was bestowed with Magic, one that is supposedly very powerful."
"Magic....?" She said, "What is this Magic?"
"Distorted Subjugation." I said, "Somehow, I was able to absorb the Okuri into me, taking the power of three of them into my body and becoming stronger. The others....I don't know how it works, but I reckon they are residing within me."
She blinked slowly, "They are within you...." She said, "Subjugation...."
I nodded, "I don't know what it truly means." I said, "But it was able to help me defeat them."
She narrowed her eyes, "Whatever power that is...." She said, "It is dangerous. Should you overdo it, the spirits might overwhelm you and take over your mind. Be careful, Mael."
I nodded, "I figured it had drawbacks like those." I said, "Thanks for the warning."
"You helped us plenty." She slowly stood up, "For that, I shall allow you to spend the night here. I will provide food and water, along with some proper clothing. It is the least I can do."
"Thank you for helping."