Somehow, he found the courage to run. The god did not follow. He should have been overcome with rage, a mortal touching HIM but the touch had been so gentle, even nice...He saw the way mortals touched each other with affection, love, or passion. The little mortal boy had done so in a similar fashion, not to offend the god...but as a sign of affection. How very odd. He had come to expect the mortal asking for more, they always did. Mortals were rarely satisfied. They wanted more wealth, more power, more land, more...more...more! But perhaps not him?  

Kaeso came to the entrance breathless.  Emiri rose from having taken a seat on a nearby fallen log and rushed over with concern, “Sir?” 

“I am fine....just a bat startled me. I mean it is a cave...so. Well, the shrine is quite fascinating. Very ancient.” Kaeso felt he was rambling but when he turned back to the cave there was nothing. The god remained inside.  

Still worried, Kaeso had a look around the vicinity then noticed an opening of the trees that pulled him towards it. Walking over he came to a cliff’s edge and could not help but smile. The view was magnificent. He had no clue the road had steadily round its’ way higher and higher up the hill. He could see part of Lake Tiya and her connecting rivers into the flat plains of the valley. It was stunning. Emiri walked to join him.  

As Emiri enjoyed the view, Kaeso looked back and noticed sitting at the entrance of the cave was the Mountain God, smaller, and looking more like a regular white dog and he seemed to be grinning, if a dog could grin.  

They returned to the cab driver who seemed more than pleased to leave the place. Once they got to the main road, Kaeso felt some sense of relief, but also a nagging feeling in the back of his mind the Mountain God was likely not done with him yet.  

Once back at the inn, he went over to depiction of the Mountain God. It was eerily correct; he obviously was not the first to see the Mountain God in that form.  

While he rested in his room, he went over everything he had read about the Mountain God. The mountain range of Etana was named after him, or more so his followers, the Isari as they were called, spirits of animals. He was Lord Isaru, guardian of the mountains. His worship diminished over time after Monk Dun Ri supplanted many of the local gods with the worship of the Divine Mother and her Children, along with his Heavenly Doctrine, but some traditions before he had arrived in the valley continued like the Procession of Animals, during the Winter Solstice.  

During the shortest day, during the darkest hour legend spoke about how Lord Isaru as a giant white wolf led a procession of animals who marched throughout the night carrying lights and ringing bells. The reasons were unclear, but a tradition began by the people of the valley, where folk would dress up as animals, carrying bells or whistles, with torches, to “scare” away bad spirits as was the common belief. But now rather the a god revered, he became steadily just a fixture of the landscape, a part of the history.  

Kaeso looked into the various travelogues he had on hand and scoured them, only finding a few shrines that combined several of the old local deities once worshipped. Most now were related or altered to worship the Divine Children; twelve deities representing different aspect of human culture. There were mentions on the travelogues of ruins of older structures but many had been abandoned. None mentioned a cave of an old shrine to Lord Isaru.  

Lord Isaru. Kaeso laid back on the bed thinking about the softest of the fur, the aroma of the cave, that robe. Closing his eyes momentarily, Kaeso reopened them to see black eyes peering down at him.  

“Most of the things mortals wrote about me are rubbish. Lead a little parade of animals? Nonsense. Where do they get these stories from?” 

Chapter 3. 

Kaeso let out a high-pitched yelp as he rolled away from the deity who lay casually on his side on his bed.  

“You can read my mind?”  

“Mortal minds are easy to see into, but not all. Those of high spiritual energy and power are able to conceal their thoughts from beings such as I,” Lord Isaru said, his black eyes never blinking as he studied Kaeso.  

Hearing Emiri shuffle in the outer parlor room, Kaeso tensed. How would he explain the presence of a man, nay a mountain god in his bed! There was a soft knock, then the door slid open and Emiri popped his head through the crack.  

“Sir, will you be dining at the public room tonight or shall I go to the kitchen and have it brought up to your rooms?”  

Kaeso sat frozen on the edge of the bed, convinced his man-servant would see the stranger, but Emiri looked unconcerned. Did he not see Lord Isaru who was lounging on the wide bed? Obviously not, surely he would react in some fashion, although Emiri was ever tactful and discrete but this was not one situation where his servant would turn a blind eye to a man in his man. Not a man, a god... 

“I think I would like to dine in my rooms tonight Emiri, our journey did tire me out more than I realized,” the lie was easy enough.  

“Of course sir.”  

Emiri left, and Keaso allowed himself to breathe again.  

Lord Isaru smirked from his position on the bed, “I do not reveal myself unless I want to. He cannot see me unless I wish it so.”  

That was a relief.  

“....why are you here?”  

“I wish to know the man who was so bold as to touch me. Never as a mortal done as you did. What possessed you to act so?” 

Kaeso turned beet-red, “you’re fur just looked so soft,” he mumbled sheepishly.  

Lord Isaru laughed, it sounded musical, mirthful, he was not angry. After the laughter subsided the mountain god rose from the bed, and looked curiously around the room. Kaeso sat still unsure of what to do, how to act. This was completely unprecedented; he felt the god’s mood could shift suddenly. Rather than say or do anything, he sat dumbfounded, watching the god.  

“Such fascinating trinkets.” 

He was now rummaging the room, picking up objects, and then the water pitcher on the night-stand, examining it like it was a curiosity. Perhaps it was, Kaeso had no understanding what the mountain god knew or experienced with mortal living and habitation.  

“Have you...been to a mortal town before Lord...Isaru?” saying he name felt almost disrespectful but how did one address a god? His lordship? Sir? Your divine... it was confusing! 

“A long time ago, but back then humans lived more...simply.”  

He moved towards the door, sliding it open to reveal the outer room. Emiri had since left and perhaps would be gone some time unless he returned with Kaeso’s supper from the kitchen.  

Kaeso was reminded when his uncle brought over their new hound he bought, a graceful creature. It scoured the rooms, sniffing around curiously. Lord Isaru seemingly was doing the same, but thankfully not sniffing... 

Lord Isaru grabbed the tea kettle, lifting the top to sniff inside, he made a face.  

“That’s tea. It’s made from dried leaves, or even other dried things like fruits--”  

“It smells disgusting,” Lord Isaru returned the tea kettle to the table.  

“Um...”  

“Speak mortal.”  

As he sat there, something else that had been bothering him today came to mind as Lord Isaru, and his human-like appearance brought the concern back to the forefront of his thoughts.  

“There are several exorcists here, I saw them today and they had with them, spirits--”  

Lord Isaru ceased his scouring of the room, “Exorcists?”  

“Yes, are you familiar with them?”  

The mountain god’s demeanor changed. His expression shifted to one of indignation.  

“Yes.”  

Kaeso felt nervous as if he encroached on a topic he should not have. Did the mountain god have an unpleasant encounter with exorcists?  

“I met them aboard the steamboat that brought me here, I did not see the spirits before--”  

Lord Isaru’s indignant look faded back to one of passivity, “Ah you are wondering why suddenly you can see spirits. There are those you have the natural gift or like you have encountered a powerful entity. Being in my presence the night before had the unintended effect of granting you some of my spiritual energy. Now you can see spirits, ghosts, or whatever you desire you call the unearthly beings that roam the lands.”  

“Has this happened before?”  

Shrugging the mountain god resumed his examination of the room and its’ contents.   

Neither had noticed Lord Isaru’s presence had been felt by those very same exorcists mentioned by Kaeso who were also guests at the inn.  

“Can you feel that Lady Sibyl?”  

The woman in red nodded, “I can. A powerful presence has entered this establishment. It feels very ancient but I sense no ill-will or threat from it.”  

“Should we investigate mistress?” another of her disciples asked. 

 Out of all her disciples Zeri was the most eager to join her on her journey to the sacred valley. Like anyone wishing to become a powerful exorcist, taking the journey to Dunna Ri was almost a rite of passage. The potency of spiritual energies and forces in the valley and mountains was unparallel to anywhere in the Ektuan archipelago. For someone like them, who could tap into such energies, and see the world through a special lens, Dunna Ri was a vital training ground of all emerging exorcists who truly wished to garner and grow their skills and abilities. However, the place was notoriously dangerous to people like them who could see and feel the spirits that called the valley their home. Regular mortals could attract several types of inhuman entities, but those who had the Sight, attracted all if not much worst.  

Most people lived their lives completely unaware of the nearby perils that came with certain spirits until they were affected and made aware. Some leeched off the life-force and energies of a person, draining them causing illness and eventually death. There were spirits who thrived off the misery and suffering, causing catastrophes big or small simply to drink in the pain of a person’s soul and emotions. The worst were the soul-consumers, they ate a person’s soul, the worst fate someone could face, complete annihilation of one’s self. These were rare and powerful entities. For an exorcist or anyone gifted with the Sight, spirits felt differently. It was the first thing Lady Sybil taught her three disciples; Zeri, Teos, and Saban. While they focused on the malevolent and harmful spirits, they did not necessarily ignore the others. Any spirit or inhuman entity had the potential of harming a person intentionally or not.  

“Yes but with discretion we are a guest here at this inn, and the other guest are people of status we do not dare to offend them,” Lady Sybil cautioned.  

Zeri nodded to his mistress and teacher, “Yes Lady Sybil.”