thefarshore

anon

Posted : 16 April 2016, 11:38PM
From: Anonymous

I need advice. I have been given the most terrible secret in the world, and the person I confide in most, whose opinion I would normally seek in this circumstance, is the one who I must keep the secret from.

I am very good at keeping secrets, but I am not nearly as good at bearing things alone as I used to be. Without knowing who I can trust not to tell this person, it's left me in a predicament.

Which means, I suppose, I am asking for help.

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I am trusting my heart on it, and I know they will be all right. It is the only thing that makes it bearable.
But this system is flawed. Asking someone to fight with you and risk themselves while we have to lie to them. It is not a suitable way to form or reform trust.

We keep this secret to save them. There are certain things shinki aren't meant to learn and it is up to us to bear this burden for them. There is a reason their memories are taken from them.

It may seem flawed if only because of how shinki are given to their gods. Things were never like this. It wasn't as simple as being paired up with a god randomly. A god could go years or even decades without a shinki if they couldn't find a soul that had the proper qualifications. It was a much more personal affair. Shinki had the right to trust their god as the reason why they had been given a second life.

That's no better than an indebted servant! And these are people the same as we are, not to be given or taken like they're items. It is not that it seems flawed, it is that it is flawed. How can a system of gods rely on keeping human souls?

Would you rather they be eaten by ayakashi? They either get consumed or risk becoming ayakashi themselves if left alone on the Near Shore.

At least by making them shinki, we can spare them this fate. There are many who have found another family in the gods who have named them be it with the god or the other shinki they have.

Not all gods see them as servants.

I would hope that no gods see them as servants. I wouldn't expect someone who saw a soul only as a tool to be worthy of godhood.

[She has to think on the ayakashi thing, though. There has to be another way to solve that problem...]

I'm afraid there are some who do.

[ And somewhere in heaven, Takemikazuchi sneezes. ]

Nevertheless, most do treat their shinki kindly. Some even come to enjoy their employment. But would it be better for you to see them like that? When we named shinki, it was less as making them servants but rather giving them employment. Most shinki were given salaries by gods who can afford to pay them. They're entitled to several benefits as well as a yearly evaluation of the god they currently serve. It isn't as cruel as you believe but as I've said, a second life for them.

She's a child. We're children. She does not need employment.

[It takes her a moment to clear her head. She isn't winning any arguments. She's not trying to argue at all, honestly. She's just upset.]

I apologize, I understand that it's the system of this world and what those here are accustomed to. I am being rude. If I've caused insult, I apologize. I didn't mean it.

I, too, understand. This is not your world, nor was this something you chose to happen to you. To be perfectly honest, all of this is new to us, too. I know I'd mentioned being a god of this world but these newcomers arriving with shinki they haven't named themselves is every bit as baffling and concerning.

For now, the best advice I can give is to care for your friend. Only you can make sure you both return to your worlds alive when the time comes.

I am Bishamon, one of the seven gods of fortune. If you require any assistance or have any other questions, please feel free to contact me at any time.

[ Unfortunately, her position as a god of war does mean she can get confrontational at times... but she does understand. It's always heartbreaking when shinki seem so young. The least she could do is identify herself so whoever this is could reach out to her if needed. ]

[There's a lot there that she can answer. And she'll introduce herself and be respectful in just a moment, she really, really will.

But she has to stop first.]

Both of us can return alive?

I don't want to make any promises as none of us really know what exactly is happening. If we had a better understanding of the circumstances, I could give a more concrete answer.

But the both of you returning home is our best case scenario.

Edited (whoops formatting) 2016-08-22 15:08 (UTC)

It's always the best case scenario, isn't it?

But it wouldn't do for us to leave anything else undone.

Circumstances as they are, it's the only thing we can aim toward. Whatever cooperation or assistance you'd be willing to extend will be greatly appreciated.

That will always depend on what I am being asked to cooperate with.

The duties of the god whose name was given to you, would be a start. Again, I know this is a heavy burden to place onto you but there's nothing else that can be done for now.

They're the sorts of things I would do anyway.

Bona Dea is a goddess of protection and healing. I have no issue with that aspect of the situation. [She's just waiting for the other shoe to drop.]

The most one would expect are for prayers to be answered. But I might as well ask you this: can you fight?

Yes. I was summoned once to another world to fight.

[ Another world? ]

Before this?

Twice before.

[She's practically an expert. Maybe it puts her caution in new light.]

I'm afraid you might be expected to again. Have you been told of the ayakashi?

I'll admit that I'm not very surprised. I've heard of the ayakashi and that they're a danger.

But fighting alongside your friend is very different from fighting with your friend as a weapon. We've worked together as a team every time we've needed to fight.

My powers are very limited to tactics and support. Umi-san and Hikaru-san were always stronger than I was with attacks. As a team, we've never been defeated. [No matter the after effects of their victories.] With Umi-san being my shinki, and Hikaru-san not being here, I'm afraid the balance we had is lost.

[ So there were three of them... ]

I'm sorry. I understand how difficult things can be when missing a part of your team. But there are times where you must press on. I'm certain Hikaru-san would want for you to thrive in this world or at the very least live on. No one would want to see their comrade waste away in an unknown world.

[ At least she certainly wouldn't. ]

Hikaru-san would never forgive us for going on an adventure by ourselves and not coming back in one piece.

Not even to mention our other friends. Presea-san might really roast us alive for that.

It seems your friends had quite the spirit of adventure. Again, I'm sorry that one of them ended up as your shinki. The one consolation I can offer is that the bond between a shinki and a god is enough for the two of you to start over.

If there's anyone who can care for them, it's certainly you.

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anon

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