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Description

The priest surveyed the forest, taking in the calm winds as he did his rounds. Leaves began to fall, a sign the fall would begin soon. The air was crisp, but not uncomfortable. His attention was diverted from his tasks, however, when he heard a twig snap behind him.

“Who goes?” He asked.

Across from him was a tall blonde, a stern look upon her face and axes in hand. “Youta.”

“Ah, Signy.” Youta said. “You startled me. Why are your weapons drawn? Is the celestial forest in danger?”

The warrior woman did not take her eyes off the holy man, her brow furrowed. “No, there is no danger. I need a word with you, and this is the only place in which I can catch you alone.”

“O-Oh?” Youta was puzzled. “W-What about?”

Signy took a step forward. While her weapons were drawn, they weren’t held in an offensive way. Perhaps it was for her own comfort, or perhaps it was for some other reason. The priest watched as the Nemain warrior made her way to him, closing the gap between them until there was maybe four feet between them. “I know what you are, priest.”

Youta tightened the grip he had on his staff, his body tensing. “What... do you mean? I’m the kingdom’s priest, nothing more and nothing less.”

“Don’t play dumb.” Signy responded, her tone stern. “You may have hidden it well from the elf and her maid, but you forget that I have a higher sense of smell than they do. I understand that they are aware of what that amulet you wear does, but have yet to know let alone see what exactly it has been hiding all this time.”

The priest furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing at the woman before him. The last time his amulet failed, she had yet to even meet the Queen. How could she know what it was for? Suspicion rose in the man, the crisp air around him now feeling eerie and full of unease. “...If you think that I hide something, perhaps I do. But to the others, they are aware of the yokai that’s kept at bay. They do not need to see it, nor experience it. They need not be told about it’s true nature, either.”

“Tch... do you think me a fool, Youta?” Signy grunted. “What you hide isn’t a demon, this ‘yokai’ as you prefer to call it. You know that your only hiding another side of yourself, something that was natural and already born within you when Artio birthed your spirit onto the mortal world.”

Youta felt his jaw clench, now having to force himself to relax its muscles. “...Cherika. I devote myself to the goddess Cherika, of whom this kingdom worships. I do not know of Artio or their beliefs.”

Signy gritted her teeth at his words, holding back the urge to slap some sense into him. She close the gap between them further, now leaving a mere foot between them as she towered over the blonde advisor. “Don’t you dare discount your rightful spiritual guide, boy, lest you want some sense beaten into you.”

“Is that a threat?” The priest smirked as the words left him, knowing this woman would not do him harm unless she actually wanted to have the kingdom’s harsh opinions to be proven right, making their Queen look like a fool.

Signy growled in response, gripping her axes tight. It was taking quite a bit of inner restraint to not let her prideful nature take over with this man. “No. It is a challenge. Draw your staff as the weapon it is, priest. If you are intent on denying what you are, then surely you won’t be able to transform during battle. A sparring challenge will therefore be harmless.” Her words were cold, malicious even. She didn’t seem to have any ill will against Youta, though she did sound as though she wanted to test him in some way.

Youta looked the woman in the eye, a sudden cold nature coming over them. “If a sparring match is what you wish, I will not deny it as to do so would disrespect your culture. But know this, I do not take disrespect towards myself lightly, either. If doing this will prove to you that your words are untrue, then I accept.”

* * *

Signy (c) myself

Youta (c) mine, adopted from @strawberry-metal aka ShannaHeart

SvSSAO (Sovoro) | ObjectLuminous (sovoro) | HgDiffusion (HariganeP) | Diffusion_7 (sovoro) | o_toProfileColor (Otamon) | o_SelfOverlay_Soft (elle) | Falling Leaves (roosjuh14290) | FireInTheSkies (zazi the angel) | S5SkinShader_Lite (Elle) | S5BaseShader (Elle)

Description

The priest surveyed the forest, taking in the calm winds as he did his rounds. Leaves began to fall, a sign the fall would begin soon. The air was crisp, but not uncomfortable. His attention was diverted from his tasks, however, when he heard a twig snap behind him.

“Who goes?” He asked.

Across from him was a tall blonde, a stern look upon her face and axes in hand. “Youta.”

“Ah, Signy.” Youta said. “You startled me. Why are your weapons drawn? Is the celestial forest in danger?”

The warrior woman did not take her eyes off the holy man, her brow furrowed. “No, there is no danger. I need a word with you, and this is the only place in which I can catch you alone.”

“O-Oh?” Youta was puzzled. “W-What about?”

Signy took a step forward. While her weapons were drawn, they weren’t held in an offensive way. Perhaps it was for her own comfort, or perhaps it was for some other reason. The priest watched as the Nemain warrior made her way to him, closing the gap between them until there was maybe four feet between them. “I know what you are, priest.”

Youta tightened the grip he had on his staff, his body tensing. “What... do you mean? I’m the kingdom’s priest, nothing more and nothing less.”

“Don’t play dumb.” Signy responded, her tone stern. “You may have hidden it well from the elf and her maid, but you forget that I have a higher sense of smell than they do. I understand that they are aware of what that amulet you wear does, but have yet to know let alone see what exactly it has been hiding all this time.”

The priest furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing at the woman before him. The last time his amulet failed, she had yet to even meet the Queen. How could she know what it was for? Suspicion rose in the man, the crisp air around him now feeling eerie and full of unease. “...If you think that I hide something, perhaps I do. But to the others, they are aware of the yokai that’s kept at bay. They do not need to see it, nor experience it. They need not be told about it’s true nature, either.”

“Tch... do you think me a fool, Youta?” Signy grunted. “What you hide isn’t a demon, this ‘yokai’ as you prefer to call it. You know that your only hiding another side of yourself, something that was natural and already born within you when Artio birthed your spirit onto the mortal world.”

Youta felt his jaw clench, now having to force himself to relax its muscles. “...Cherika. I devote myself to the goddess Cherika, of whom this kingdom worships. I do not know of Artio or their beliefs.”

Signy gritted her teeth at his words, holding back the urge to slap some sense into him. She close the gap between them further, now leaving a mere foot between them as she towered over the blonde advisor. “Don’t you dare discount your rightful spiritual guide, boy, lest you want some sense beaten into you.”

“Is that a threat?” The priest smirked as the words left him, knowing this woman would not do him harm unless she actually wanted to have the kingdom’s harsh opinions to be proven right, making their Queen look like a fool.

Signy growled in response, gripping her axes tight. It was taking quite a bit of inner restraint to not let her prideful nature take over with this man. “No. It is a challenge. Draw your staff as the weapon it is, priest. If you are intent on denying what you are, then surely you won’t be able to transform during battle. A sparring challenge will therefore be harmless.” Her words were cold, malicious even. She didn’t seem to have any ill will against Youta, though she did sound as though she wanted to test him in some way.

Youta looked the woman in the eye, a sudden cold nature coming over them. “If a sparring match is what you wish, I will not deny it as to do so would disrespect your culture. But know this, I do not take disrespect towards myself lightly, either. If doing this will prove to you that your words are untrue, then I accept.”

* * *

Signy (c) myself

Youta (c) mine, adopted from @strawberry-metal aka ShannaHeart

SvSSAO (Sovoro) | ObjectLuminous (sovoro) | HgDiffusion (HariganeP) | Diffusion_7 (sovoro) | o_toProfileColor (Otamon) | o_SelfOverlay_Soft (elle) | Falling Leaves (roosjuh14290) | FireInTheSkies (zazi the angel) | S5SkinShader_Lite (Elle) | S5BaseShader (Elle)