After a quick, well-needed shower in the medical ward’s bathroom, Hyeon changed into the clothes he was provided.

The style was a little more business casual than he normally wore, but it wasn’t so bad. He rolled up the long sleeves of the white button-down shirt and tucked the bottom into the navy blue dress pants. The pant cuffs were a tad short, making his ankles slightly visible. Hyeon knew this was the latest fashion in his generation. Slipping his feet into the black Oxford shoes, he fixed his hair to look more manageable with the bandage.

When ready, Sani was waiting for him. “Hmm, much better than before.”

Was that a compliment… or not? 

“The clinic isn’t far from the Master’s wing. Please follow me.” When Sani opened the door, it revealed a rather formal-styled hallway. Hyeon expected to step into some pop-up horror house for the Halloween season. Although they were supposedly in the afterlife, the place didn’t feel that way.

The furniture and decor had an interesting mixture of modern and vintage European styles. He looked through the high windows and noticed it was daytime. The storm clouds were on the verge of raining. Hyeon was curious about how high they were since he could see the treetops below, but the horizon was murky.

And someone was cleaning those windows.

If everyone looks like this guy—I mean, demon—here, it’ll be my death. Really.

The person was some sort of half-goat. He had large, tan horns that curved and twisted near his jawline. As they got closer, his square-shaped pupils became evident. The employee noticed them approaching and bowed to Sani.

“Morning, Eli,” Sani acknowledged the gesture. “This is our temp this time around.” He motioned for Hyeon to step forward.

Hesitantly, Hyeon held out his hand. Instead of the other party doing the same, Eli stared at it. Well, this was awkward. He retreated his arm and rubbed the back of his neck. Denied.

“Eli, shaking hands is a common way to say hello in the mortal realm. You’re supposed to do the same thing in return,” Sani informed nicely as if he were a child.

Eli nodded in understanding and reached out. Hyeon grabbed his hand, but Eli squeezed the daylights out of it. Hyeon coughed a little and shook their hand quickly. He tried to withdraw, but the dude kept trying to pull his fingers off.

“You can let go now” Sani encouraged. He finally released Hyeon’s hand, purple from the lack of blood flow. “Good job! Now you’ve done your first human handshake.”

“Thank you.”

“Please look after your new coworker.”

“Yes.”

Sani walked ahead. 

“Um, see you around,” said Hyeon. But Eli said nothing. As he hurried to catch up to his guide, he looked back at the servant. His dark brown eyes pierced him with an icy stare.

Not a friendly. Not a friendly!

“So Hyeon. Until now, I’ve been calling them demons so you could understand your situation better. From now on while you are working at Festr Castle, you shouldn’t refer to your coworkers as such. They are trying their best to improve themselves. Being called a demon is a trigger that could make them angry and revert to their feral behaviors. It’s a rule I made a long time ago.”

“Then what do you recommend I call them?”

Sani answered, “They’re called ‘spirits.’ You should also remember that sál is Norse for soul. You can use the second term if you’d like, but spirit is the most common.”

“So are you a spirit?”

Sani laughed. “Definitely not. My original name is Áłtsé Hashké.”

“What country are you from originally?” 

Wow, I sound like the people who always ask about my name. I’ve become a hypocrite.

Sani’s long ears leaned forward. “Áłtsé Hashké. Coyote from Navajo Nation. I mentioned I’m Coyote before when you had a meltdown, right?”

Dumbfounded, Hyeon replied, “I mean, yeah, but I’m not Navajo or from any North American indigenous tribe.”

“You definitely are a newbie to all of this, aren’t you?” he sighed. “I have a few names. Coyote is my common name. Áłtsé Hashké is my deity title. I’m a mischievous god according to the Navajo people. I was a part of creating the Milky Way and consider myself an amazing trickster. I’m neutral regarding the Northern and Southern Lights’ sides, but Master…” Sani became lost in whatever he was going to say. “He is a long-time friend who has been here for a long time. I’m not always around, but I help him when possible.”

This stunned him. A deity? “So if you’re a… trickster god, did you deceive me into signing this contract?”

Sani’s smile was malicious. “Do you think I did?”

Hyeon didn’t reply. He was either being a sarcastic guy or…

Sani brushed over the question quickly regarding the contract. “Whatever animal deities and gods humans believe in exist, or have existed.”

“That’s… terrifying,” Hyeon said. “So where can I find the Flying Spaghetti Monster?”

Sani’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Doo ndiists’a’ da?” (“I don’t understand”).

Hyeon laughed at his skepticism. Animal demons and spirits were possible. Yet, sky noodles couldn’t?

After mazing through the hallways, the atmosphere changed unpleasantly. The wall colors and decorations were the same, but the air was heavy and unwelcoming. Goosebumps peppered Hyeon’s arms from sensing something dangerous. That sixth intuition was back again.

They stopped in front of two tall doors with an archway above. The dark wood was ancient and charred, as if it had absorbed smoke over the years. The design had multiple swirls that intermingled like snakes.

“We’re here. You’ll be in this area often. When you address him, either My Lord or Master will do. Sometimes your duties will be a little… unorthodox, but it is what it is.”

Oh, yay.

“What sort of strange duti—?”

Sani didn’t let Hyeon finish. He knocked twice on the door. The thumping echoed. “My Lord, I’ve brought you the dýr.”

Moments passed, waiting.

A dark voice commanded from inside. “Koma.” (“Come”).