Once Emiri left to have such a basket packed for their day journey, Kaeso decided to walk around the public rooms of the inn, maybe he could see those bastards or ask around about them! Before he left he noticed his cloak that was definitely stolen the night before was hanging off a hook near the door. How? No... did he really return everything that was stolen from him? Was that possible?  

Laughing imagining the faces of those robbers noticing everything they took was gone, Kaeso plucked the cloak even though he felt he might not be needing it.  

After a quick check at the front desk inquiring about the two men he was with last night that yielded no useful information as the lady recalled the men but did not recognize them as the public rooms often had guests enter who did not stay at the inn, only coming in for the dinner services provided.  

After that Kaeso entered the public garden, and nearly tripped when he saw the exorcists and lurking near them were several ghastly phantoms. To describe them was almost impossible except they were humanoid in some fashion. They varied in shape and sizes, but one thing was for certain they were not of this realm.  

He could not tear his eyes away no matter how much he wanted too. How was this possible? Were these the fabled rumored familiars some exorcists were believed to possess? Not only did exorcists, or even priests and shamans able to dispel spirits from homes, people, and locations but they were able to seal and trap them, but also “own” them by binding such entities to themselves. That practice was known to be uncommon even by exorcist standards but some of the popular tales involving exorcists mentioned the most powerful having spirit familiars who aided in their spiritual powers and strengths.  

Were these ghastly beings these four exorcists' familiars? 

His stare must have caught the eye of one of the ghastly spirits as it turned its dozen eyes towards him. Gulping Kaeso averted his gaze finally and all but ran out the garden. The rush of him leaving caused one of the exorcists to turn also in his direction. Noticing the young man’s pallor and panicked expression he whispered something to the woman in red. She turned to see Kaeso running back inside.  

“Curious” she muttered.  

He found Emiri returning to their rooms with a basket. The inn seemed to know their guests well and picnicking seemed a popular activity which they made sure to have supplies on hand for such occasions.  

Emiri noticed a slight sheen on his master’s forehead. Was he coming down with a fever? He looked almost nervous.  

“Are you certain you are well enough--”  

“YES!” Kaeso snapped.  

He never snapped once at Emiri, never when he was feeling his worse, or upset. He wanted to leave the inn now. That thing had noticed him staring, would it tell the exorcists he could see them? The last thing he wanted was to confront the fact he could see those spirits, and what would these exorcists do if they found out?  

“Sorry Emiri, but in all seriousness I am feeling very good. But will can take things slow and easy. Come let us hire a cab or someone to drive us.” 

“Do you have the directions to this shrine?”  

“Um yes I do actually.” 

The hushed whispered words giving him directions were still felt fresh in his mind. His body shivered recalling the feeling of the god’s breath on his skin, the closeness... 

Finding a driver willing to take them so far out of the usual routes was harder than Kaeso imagined, but after some haggling with a driver who was willing to drive them so off the ‘beaten tourist path’ as he called it, accepted the directions given to him by Kaeso although it was clear he was skeptical but he was convinced as Kaeso gave him clear precise directions that this shrine had to exist and visited by others. Settled on cost, they finally set off on their journey.  

Given the clear skies and fine weather, the owner of the cab recommended they kept the roof folded down so he could further appreciate the views. Once out of Derbyrn, the road continued towards the flatter fields of the valley where many farms, orchards and pastures were located next to another river that flowed from Lake Tiya, this was the River Ouron. From there the road forked out, continuing into the flat lands of the valley or into the western hills. After nearly two hours, they stopped to lunch before continuing onward.  

The road was not over-flowing with traffic, but they were far from being alone. Private large carriages, smaller farm carts, wagons, and cabs similar to theirs with opened roofs traveled up and down the same road. They even passed groups of hikers on foot, a procession of monks chanting and singing. As they drove further into the hills, the frequency of passing or meeting someone on the roads lessened and lessened until they seemingly quite alone in the wilderness. The trees began to reach higher towards the sky, the brush denser, and after some time the trees reached such heights they bent over the road, creating an arch and obscuring the sky. A shadow fell over them, the sun hardly reaching them except for the breaks and openings between the branches and leaves.  

It was here that Kaeso felt he was being watched. An eerie sensation fell over him, his neck hairs standing on end, and an unease crept up over his entire body. Even their driver who had whistled some of the way became more on edge. The road narrowed considerably, with debris of twigs, leaves, and overgrowth beginning to obscure the path. It was evident nobody came on this road very often. It was almost some time ago they passed a wooden log house, with a pasture with pigs that last sign of civilization they had seen.  

“I mean no disrespect sir but I am having some doubts this shrine exists or is a lot father then expected if we continue, we will be returning rather late. I do not mind driving in the dark but not so far deep in the hills as we are. Wolves tend to be found far out here still.”  

Kaeso fidgeted in his seat, and he had noticed Emiri also was growing rather anxious as well, “Just a fit further.” 

He pulled out his pocket watch, it was just around 1pm, they’d only been on the road over two hours with a break. Sighing he moved around to look around into the forest that surrounded them and then he spotted something red flittering on what seemed to be a pole near a tall tree.  

“Stop! I think we found it!”  

The cab driver halted the horses, and Kaeso leapt from the cab with unexpected agility for someone like him he often struggled to get out of any horse drawn vehicle. Emirir was also taken a back, and hastened to follow.  

The cab driver left alone suddenly felt unnerved, like he was being watched. He had his rifle, something most took when they drove the tourists or pilgrims into the forested hills. Although wolves were not so much a problem nowadays, they were always a potential threat, along with bandits who dared risk the wrath of the Divine Mother to rob the tourists and pilgrims who had fat purses with them.  

Derbryn was plagued with sneaky thieves, fraudsters and other criminals seeking to exploit the thousands of tourists and pilgrims that arrived annually. A rifle was also not the only defense he had, many cab drivers stuck protective talismans on to their cabs in order to ward off spirits or demons that were said to roam the wilderness or nearby shrines seeking to attach themselves to humans. Being born and raised in Dunna Ri, he had seen too many strange and unexplainable things to discount the influence and existence of such entities. Most passing through like this man likely would think them foolish. Superstitious locals, hmprf, indeed.  

Kaeso hurried along the barely visible path. The god’s words told him the way to the shrine was marked with a red flag. Most shrines and temples out in the country-sides, hills, forests, or mountains were always marked with poles with colored flags, or flags with markings to indicate the specific shrine or temple. Some had stairs leading into the shrine, others a dirt path to a gate in which separated the divine sacred space from secular, polluted earthly space. Most popular shrines had small walls encompassing the altar house, while temples were generally large complexes with walls, and peripheral buildings like work-houses, sheds, sometimes libraries, and the main hall which houses the sacred relic, statue, or altar to the god or goddess, or saint.  

There was no gate, just a single pole next to a path. Following the path further, with Emiri trailing behind him, Kaeso continued until the path led to a cave emerging from a rocky outcrop surrounding by ivy, moss, and gnarled trees that twisted and bent most unusually as if they bent towards the cave entrance wanting to enter it.  

“Sir?” Emiri was surprised to see the cave expecting a run-down old shrine house. The cave felt ominous.  

Touching the side bag he carried, Kaeso turned to Emiri, “I want to go in alone, I will be back, it will not be long.”  

Rivulets of water dampened the cave entrance, indicating there was water or a stream nearby, as he drew neared, he could smell a familiar earthy aroma, although there was the added scent of moisture like one smells during a light rain shower, pleasant and comforting. Kaeso loved to sit by the window when it rained during the summer months, bundled, warm and dry but appreciating the fresh smell that rain gave the air.   

The cave was dark, but Kaeso did not plan on venturing too deep. Once out of sight of Emiri, he pulled the robe out of the bag. Looking around, he noticed what appeared to be wall paintings. Faded or washed out, most were hard to see what they depicted but one image stood out, a white wolf or some type of canine. It was similar to the one from the inn. Continuing onward he noticed the dampness receding, the ground no longer muddy as it was in the entrance.  

From the gloom and shadow once his eyes adjusted now that the sunlight barely penetrated this far into the cave, he saw what looked to be a long stone slab. On the slab was dried wax, and perhaps ash, as there were dark spots smeared on the center of the stone where someone may have lit incense of burned something. Incense, lighting candles, or burning papers were often done as a part of prayers, or asking for a blessing. The look of the stone slab showed nobody had burned a single thing in some time. Maybe in years.  

He placed the folded robe on the slab as he felt no need to continue further, but was disappointed he sensed no other presence here with them. While there was no divine presence felt in the cave, Kaeso still felt a sense of reverence for the place, the cave, and its apparent ancientness, so he knelt down by the stone slab and muttered words of thanks to the Mountain God, for his help the night before, and for what he suspected, the god for curing him of his chronic illness. There was no other explanation for why he felt so well since waking up.  

Kaeso did not know how or why he deserved such a gift; was it being in the right place at the right time? Why him? He had wanted to ask the Mountain God himself why did he help him? And if he had such capabilities why did he now heal more in order to draw in the worship of the humans?  

“You ask why I do not heal or cure more mortals? Simple, I do not want to.” A voice whispered into his ear.  

Kaeso nearly let out a scream as he nearly fell to his side from his kneeling position. It was not the man he had seen the night before with the inhuman clawed feet but crouching next to him as a great beast, canine or wolf-life, with thick pale greyish fur, with blue and black markings was the Mountain God in his spirit form.  

Struck with awe, Kaeso was unable to speak.  

“As for your other question little mortal,” the beast’s mouth did not move but its eyes glowed with an eerie light, “A whim. I have lived in these mountains for millennia along with many such as I. When the interlopers arrived, you mortals, I like many took an interest in your mortal lives, short as they were but over time my interest has waned. Unlike the celestial beings you now prefer to worship I am a creature of the earth; I see no value in your souls. So, I leave you be, mostly. From time to time, I do like to play with a mortal.”  

“Oh.”  

The beast’s voice chuckled, “Not what you expected? Heh, now come, ask me another question, for not many mortals are given the opportunity to speak to such a powerful spirit such as I. Many ask about the reason for life, why we exist, or many wish to change their fortune, seeking wealth, longevity, love, power! Show me who you really are Kaeso Ahino, tell me what you desire most!”  

Stunned, Kaeso only reached out to touch the soft enticing fur of the beast. It was soft, so soft...  

It was now the Mountain God’s turn to be stunned, never had a mortal dared touch him before! Most had been frightened, awe-struck, falling to their knees, prostrating themselves before him. Some ran. Others tried to ward him off their little holy papers, or spells, or a few arrogant ones tried to seal him, or exorcise him. Naturally they failed and faced his wrath, running from the hills their minds overcome with fear becoming mindless messes. Never however did one ever try to touch him. Never! 

As if he was a dog or some pet, Kaeso stroked the fur before reaching for the ears to give him a feel, until he realized what he was doing. This was not some animal to be petted, this was a god, an ancient powerful spirit... 

Fearfully he averted his gaze, and dropped his offended hand. If the Mountain God wished to smote him, so be it.  

Silence, only a steady drip from the water leaking into the cave.  

The Mountain God’s beast form blinked slowly, “You...dare?” the voice was quiet.  

“I...well....”