The sun has long-since set by the time I'm done, and I can feel the streaks of wet dust drying in an uncomfortable crust on my skin. I would like nothing more than to bathe and go to sleep, but I know that Master Naga likes me to check in before he goes to bed, and I can imagine today especially so since this was my first mission under his ownership.

So. despite stiff aching muscles and grime clinging to any and all exposed skin, I trudge through the winding halls to Master Naga's room.

Muted voices spill into the hall, giving me pause. I don't feel anyone in the room with him...but clearly someone is there — multiple someones, at that.

Nonetheless, I poke my head through the doorway, just enough to catch Master Naga's attention. Blue eyes flare wide as he spots me, the voices I heard still echoing out of...his mirror?

One particularly arrogant voice scrapes at my nerves, ingrained irritation at someone who dares speak ill of my master cracking the neutral mask I keep settled on my face and contorting it into a sneer.

However, Master Naga's attention being diverted doesn’t go unnoticed by the arrogant fool, who, through a glimpse in the mirror, is covered in red — from his long hair to his robes.

Fitting that someone who dares speak ill of the god of nature's protections would drape himself in the red of irrationality.

"You!" The man snaps, jabbing a finger in my direction, though the intimidation he seems to carry like a second skin is far from impressive considering he's speaking through a mirror. "You were there too, weren't you?" He doesn't bother to wait for a response, not that I would give him one unless Master Naga bade me to do so, before continuing to try and order me around. "Come here."

Instead of following his command, I bow to my master smoothly from the doorway, not moving a single step. "Master Naga, I have finished cleaning the temple and living quarters."

The red man in the mirror screeches in rage, but I pay him no mind. He is not a threat through a pane of glass, and he is not my master.

Master Naga sighs, beckoning me over, though I can see the faintest curl of his lips despite his cool facade.

"Shiori, this is the Council. Our outing today was upon their request. Council, this is Shiori, my Head Priest." He rests a gentle hand on my head as the other figures move closer, faces crowding the mirror.

"Oh, he's so cute!" One of the goddesses coos, tucking a loop of pink hair behind her ear.

"Look how little he is! We've been telling you to staff your temple for millennia; where'd you find the little cutie?" This time it's a blonde woman, an unfamiliar lilt to her words as she smiles at me.

"Head Priest?" The arrogant man scoffs. "A true Head Priest would have come when I ordered him to, not waited for you to summon him to your side, Naga. What ill manners are you teaching this mortal?"

A flare of irritation lashes across my skin in the form of sparks, quickly subdued though I keep the light flaring in my pupils as a warning as I catch his gaze through the mirror. "You are no god of mine."

Choking on his rage, the god tries to push his way through the goddesses who wear looks mixed between surprise and amusement before a gavel is slammed behind them, sending everyone into a perfect silence, not a muscle moved.

"Everyone, settle down, he's clearly overwhelmed." A soft voice, though it carries through their chambers and echoes through Master Naga's room as well. The group silently make their way back to their seats as Master Naga's hand slides down to rest on my shoulder.

"Little Priest, would you explain what you meant in your statement to Phoenix? Denouncing a god is a heavy burden to bear, especially when you are contracted to work with another."

Again, I look to Master Naga before answering.

Master Naga gives me a faint nod, cerulean gaze heavy as he watches me pull back my shoulders and lift my chin. They may be gods, but they are no higher in rank than my own. Not at all, but certainly not to me.

"I follow my master first and foremost. If he commands I follow the orders of another, god or mortal, I will, but until then he is the only one I serve. I did not denounce anyone, merely reminded an arrogant god that despite being on the Council, the world and its inhabitants do not belong to him."

This sends off another round of coos from the goddesses, whispers of the juxtaposition between the soft and smallness of my body compared to the coldness of my words.

The red-covered man in the back glowers, the flames I mistook for hair sputtering larger, earning her sideways glares from his neighbors.

"Well then, Little Priest, why don't you give us your report as well, since we already got your Master's and he said you weren't together the whole time.

At Master Naga's shoulder-squeeze of approval, I begin.

The story is tedious, explaining how we didn't know it was my former master's territory, then how the village was crippled by falling resources and the information I wrangled out of Theodore.

There were several looks exchanged as I detailed the poisoner's description.

"I see." Is all the head god says.

Master Naga shifts forward, shoulder half-blocking me from view, though I lean my head around to address them again, a small but respectful bow to the head god. "If I may ask," I begin, not bothering to wait for an agreement. “Why did you have us investigate if you already knew that they were poisoned and who it was done by?"

Master Naga whips his head around to look at me before his face contorts into something like rage as he glares at the figures in the mirror.

"You knew?"

"We didn't know the extent. And we don't know who it is." One of the gods begins reluctantly, a tanned hand raising to rub at blue locks.

"We've heard rumors of an underground network for black market trade, nothing more. It was all baseless rumors, nothing to confirm that it was anything more. If it was true though, well we didn't want to lead you in the wrong direction and lose our only lead."

"I told you I had a new Head Priest." His voice is deadly calm, though the air is heavy with moisture.

"I told you he would be coming with me for this assignment, his first assignment, and you didn't think it important to tell me that he was being placed, potentially, in the direct path of a person or group with the means to kill sacred beasts, a person or group who has caused enough of a stir for the Council of Gods to be concerned about?"

My head is lowered, watching the group squirm beneath the promise of violence kept beneath my master's silken tone. Should he order it, I will have to be prepared to battle a god in the future. Best to start determining weaknesses now,

A heavy breath is blown from Master Naga's nose, steaming in a cloud before his face.

Oh my.

He's really angry about this.

I lean a bit further into his tightening grip, remind him that I'm here that I'm okay and that he doesn't need to go looking for a new Head Priest until he deems me unfit, because I'm not dead yet.

His grip relaxes, raising to pat me on the head. "That concludes our reports." he begins shortly, "If there's nothing else, Shiori and I have a festival to plan. Now that I know the council has no qualms about getting him killed, I'll have to strengthen our defenses in case he caught their attention."

And just like that, it's only our reflection staring back at us, Master Naga pulling away to pace irritably.

"I can't believe they wouldn't tell me something so important."

He's almost pouting, the scrunch of his brow and pursing of his lips, the expression of a child on the face of a full-grown adult an amusing one.

Even still, I can almost hear what he really means. I can't believe I didn't know something so important.

"You had no way of knowing, Master Naga."

I blink.

Oh. Wait. Didn't he say...

"Are we really having a festival?"

He startles at that.

"I did say that, didn't I?" He sounds vaguely horrified at the prospect, running a hand through long silver hair.

"We have the annual temple visit coming in a few months. We can throw a festival in conjunction." His sigh is heavy as he rubs his forehead. "Nothing major, just decorating the shrine a bit and letting them watch us renew some wards."

I nod.

"Master Naga?"

He hums questioningly.

"May I be dismissed for bed? I would like to speak with the spirits about the festival preparations and Cedar can best persuade River to speak with me when he's tired."

The look Master Naga levels at me is caught between disgruntled and confused, but he nods silently, leaving me to bow and exit, planning out my strategy to get Cedar alone long enough to convince him to get River on board. Danum will be easy, and Mia and Marcus will do whatever Master Naga asks of them, so that's no issue.

I barely register laying down before I fade into a dreamless sleep.