"I honestly don't understand what happened just now, but I suppose bathtime and tea do sound nice," I stand and move my stiffened muscles as I think back on the sudden dismissal of the meeting and the spirit king's intensifying glare as he stared at me. What was that, and why did he have to scare me so badly? My skin feels cold and clammy, so I am very grateful for the bath.

Kotoha followed me closely, listening to my gripping with a faint smile on her face. I wondered what she was thinking about. "Hey Kotoha, what was that all about? I don't get it; did I do something wrong?" I asked as we moved down the hall of history, telling the tales of millennia gone by. This part of the hall showed a vaguely familiar girl as she tinkered with some kind of device. I couldn't place where I'd seen her before, though, since I didn't know where this story was being told. Maybe she was an ancestor of mine? Eh, I guess I'll find out eventually if I study this hall enough.

Kotoha shook her head upon hearing my question. "I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, my lady, but there is more to you than meets the eye. You might not realize it yet, but you will eventually, I am sure," Her pace never faltered, and her expression never flinched; I couldn't tell if she was lying or not. Eh, I don't feel like digging and pushing; what if she is telling the truth and I make an ass out of myself? I'll let it go and roll with it.

"If you say so, anyway, what kind of teas are available? I hope cinnamon tea is an option; it's my favorite," I followed up as we entered the bathing hall together.

Her smile widened as she responded. "Cinnamon tea sounds delightful indeed. I shall prepare you some once you're in the bath. You have such a toned and petite figure; I can't help but feel a tad jealous," Kotoha's teasing tone at the end made me cover my body with my arms playfully. A faint blush appeared as my cheeks heated up in a shade of pink.

"I think you have a lovely figure yourself, Kotoha. I don't have much going for me after all," I answered back, my voice a faint whisper.

Kotoha grinned at that and flaunted her figure proudly. "I do take good care of myself; I can't protect my charge otherwise. Though these get in the way sometimes," She covered her bust as she spoke, then continued. "Bigger is not always better, so be proud of what you do have."

I smiled at that. "I'm sure you're right about that. Thankfully, I don't need to rely on that asset myself," I chuckled and followed it. "I've always had more interest in women, weird as that may seem. What about you?"

She giggled and answered. "I never really cared either way. As dryads, we don't have any need to reproduce like other mortal races. We spread naturally through pollination and the seeds of the trees that spawned us. However, that doesn't mean our humanoid bodies don't have any needs either. That's probably a bit too complicated a conversation for the bath, though, so let us shift to a different topic."

I nodded, though I found that information intriguing. "Dryads are an interesting race, though I agree. Hmm, in that case, may I wash your back?" I made a hesitant request.

Kotoha's expression became surprised by that and flustered out a response. "Y-you are the guest; it should be you who gets her back washed by me, not the other way around!"

I grinned and stuck my tongue out with a wink. "Sure, that would be typical of a mistress and her servant. However, you should know by now that I am not your typical noble," I lunged at her and hugged her from behind; my face flushed beet red. "I will do what I want when I want to and how I want to, regardless of social norms," I poked her cheek with every word I said to emphasize my point. "Honestly, I am quite embarrassed right now, so please just roll with it alright?" I added with a whisper as I hid my face against her back.

Her smile was warm as she noted my discomfort. "My, how troublesome my dear mistress is going to be. Very well then, have it your way," Her voice was as gentle as the woodland breeze, as she conceded. She takes her seat on the shower stool as I rinse her back and start scrubbing with soap.

The soap had a lavender scent, and the water was pleasantly hot as I splashed her back with it to clear the suds. Then we swapped positions as she washed my back next. The rhythmic motions were so satisfying. "So, what do you plan to do? Will you re-engage in discussions with Sir Orpheus?" Kotoha popped the question that I should have been thinking about, but my head was empty.

I considered her words for a moment. "I think I will try to have another conversation. It makes me super nervous, but I feel like ending this discussion here would end poorly for everyone involved. Plus, I don't want to end on a bad note either, you know?"

That was a terrifying encounter, but I don't think he intended to direct any maliciousness toward me. I thought to myself. There must be something going on that no one is willing to mention candidly. It seems to involve me, but I don't really understand it. I don't like thinking too hard about things, and dwelling on things I can't control feels like a waste of energy. My expression must have betrayed my consternation over the subject.

Kotoha hugged me from behind and started rubbing my shoulders as if to reassure me. "You can sort it out as you go, I think that's your Motus Operandi anyway, right? Go ahead and hop in the bath; I will bring you your tea. It was cinnamon, right?"

I smiled and answered her inquiry. "Yeah, it is. Grab some for yourself and join me; I want to try to sort things out," Kotoha waved as she left through the door, as if in response. I opened the ornate door to the bath area and was left speechless. It was a massive, full-body bath that had several water fountains and statues of the gods, along with an open-air view of the natural wonders of the world. A waterfall was at the end of the pool. The water sparkled with a clarity that you wouldn't ordinarily find anywhere. The view was so beautiful that I was left speechless. I was so engrossed in the view that I failed to notice that I wasn't alone.

"If you plan to just stand there like an idiot, why did you even come to the bath?" A woman's teasing voice echoed out from the bath. I snapped back to my senses and saw a gaggle of women resting in the bath. Two of them were naiads or water spirits. The others were dryads like Kotoha and a forest nymph. I step into the bath with the grace of a royal. I chose a spot near a statue to hide from the women since I already embarrassed myself.

The group of ladies approached me against my own wishes, and so I tried to flee from the spot, only to freeze at the sound of a collective, sharp intake of breath. I turned around to check on the situation warily and noticed the source of the commotion. For some reason, they were glancing to and fro between me and the statue I had subconsciously chosen to hide behind. I get a vague familiar feeling when I look at the statue.

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They all fell into a deep bow, and all that went through my mind at that moment was that they were beyond weird. What is going on here?

They finally spoke, "I was unaware of your arrival, Lady Izunami. Please pardon my verbal gaff earlier."

The leader of the group spoke out first. Lady Izunami? I mean, sure, I have a similar name, but I am no goddess. Why are they treating me as if I were Izunami? She is the primordial goddess of creation and death. She wouldn't be able to exist in this world in physical form. Even I know that much. I decided that it would be best to warn against treating a mortal as if she were that goddess. "I would advise against calling a mere mortal like me by such a finicky goddess's name. You never know when she will take offense and lash out at you if you mistake someone for her."

Their eyes widened as they glanced at each other, then back at the statue, and then at me again. The leader of the group speaks again. "While what you say would be correct in any other situation, we dryads can see a person's soul and tell their identity through any disguise or barrier. It comes with our divine duty to serve our beloved goddess and act as her priestesses and companions in the event she were to appear before us in need of something," She paused for effect and continued, "Nymphs can detect a being's mana and identify a person through their unique mana attributes. Naiads are the protectors of the sea and all other bodies of water. They work alongside the water spirits who were created by Izunami...by you, my lady. I am Irelia, a dryad from the northern forest of Mina. These are my companions-" She was cut off by the sound of a clattering tray and shattering glass, which drew the attention of everyone.

When I turned to follow everyone else's gazes, my eyes met Kotoha's as she stared at everyone around me in surprise and horror. "What are you all doing here? I thought I ordered you all to stand guard around the perimeter," Her voice was filled with tension and a sternness she had never shown me.

Irelia answered smugly, "We figured it would be easier to protect our charge if we were closer to her. Why didn't you tell me our charge was our exulted lady?"

If looks could kill, Kotoha's piercing glare would be a lethal weapon. "You dare to talk back to me? Drop and give me 100, now," She then turned to look at me, and her gaze softened as she spoke again. "My apologies; it would seem I dropped your tea. Please pardon my faux pas and allow me to ensure you get more," She turned a sharp glare at the nymph. "Bring hot cinnamon tea, pronto."

She then approached the hot bath's edge and slid in beside me. "Allow me to introduce my party. The one who just left is Sylphet, and the smug idiot over there doing pushups is Irelia. The two naiads are Undine and Kelpie. These remaining dryads are Hazel, Juniper, and Flora. There is one other, named Dryas, who is not present. I must confess that we were originally ordered by the spirit king to be your guard. We previously served your father but failed to protect him from the war. I believe I mentioned this before, but we dryads serve as protectors of high elves who leave the forests of Mina. However, we have another duty that comes first above all others. To serve as Lady Izanami's servants in the mortal realm. You may not understand or believe us when we say this, but you host the soul of our goddess, regardless of whether you are aware of that or not."

I sit in silence for a while as I digest those words. The nymph girl returned with the tea and poured me a cup. I sipped on it slowly as I observed this boisterous gathering. I could get used to this environment; it feels so warm and comforting, despite the chaos. I think, with great fondness in my heart. I can't say for sure that I understand what they mean about the soul of a goddess, but perhaps there might be truth to it after all. Kotoha did see through my analysis blocker, and with that in mind, I cannot write off what they have told me. It would also explain the Hall of History's greeting when it called me its mistress. I can't outright deny the evidence, but I hesitate to accept this new information all the same.

I brushed my hair away from my eyes. Revealing their heterochromatic nature. My ruby and emerald eyes shimmered in the mist that hung in the pristine air of the pavilion. "Hey, Kotoha? I understand you have a job to do as Lady Izunami's servants, but as much as you insist, I am her, and I cannot bring myself to agree as readily. Please treat me as Izuna the high-high elf instead for now, since vampires are hated by nature spirits under normal circumstances. I just feel this would be more appropriate."

Kotoha's eyes widen slightly as she sees my facial structure and eyes unobstructed by my thick ivory hair. My features are soft, and this was the first time anyone, but my own family, had seen both my eyes. There was something different about my eyes that stood out from a normal eye. I wore contacts to hide that fact, so I popped them out and revealed my natural eyes for the first time. That revealed the alabaster crescent-shaped markings on my irises. Heterochromia was rare but known to exist, but no one could ever explain these markings in my eyes, which led to me hiding them.

As soon as I removed the contacts, everyone within range of sight was compelled to look at them. Kotoha was the first to speak. "I think I know the source of those argent crescents. Take a closer look at the eyes of this statue," She rests her hand on the base of a petite statue of a girl. I looked into the statues' eyes and saw the same crescents. Kotoha continued, "This is the statue of the primordial goddess, Izunami. Legend says that only primordial gods are born with an unnatural marking that symbolizes their existence outside the bounds of the natural world. Existing beyond the laws and rules of science and magic. It is said that Izunami and her sister Historia are the sole primordial deities of this dimension. If that legend is true, then that would mean you are Izunami or Historia. Of the two, the only one with a motive to reincarnate into a mortal form is Izunami," She finished with an assured smile, "I presume that the motive has to do with how her social and romantic life was significantly lacking. No one who could withstand her presence wanted to be near her due to her reputation as a spontaneous and unpredictable girl with the power to create and destroy anything in an instant. The gods are no different from humans in that they have needs like everyone else. If they don't meet said needs, they struggle just as much as a mortal would."

I stared at her, dumbfounded, "How do you know all this?" I asked.

This time, Irelia spoke up, having finished her punishment pushups. "We dryads are Izunami's servants in the mortal realm. To serve our goddess well, we had to know all about her, from her character to her flaws and what she can do."

Next to speak was Sylphet. "We take our job seriously. I may not be a dryad, so I am not technically her servant, but I greatly admire her as the great creator. I feel duty-bound to serve her should she have need of me."

Undine spoke, following that with her own comment. "Izunami is the reason we exist. We think it's only right we pay her back for what she's done for us. Quirky though she is, we know she is truly kind."

After that, it was Flora who gave voice to her thoughts. "I personally only have my duty as my guide. I don't feel especially inclined to serve, but I also don't really feel inclined not to. I just do what I feel is right, and serving Izunami feels like the correct course of action. Therefore, we serve you...my lady." She finished with a rosy tinge on her cheeks.

Juniper scoffed at that. "Oh shush, we both know you serve her because you think she's cute, you cute-obsessed weirdo," Her tone was teasing and airy, "Anyway, simply put, we all have our own reasons to be here in this unit. The seventh seat is the seat that serves those who have significance to our lady's objectives and serves her directly when needed. That should be enough for you to understand the situation, right?"

Sylphet commented on that, "Hey, she's not the only one who thinks Izunami is adorobs. I do too, and I won't lose!"

Juniper giggled at that, "Won't lose? At what?" She teased, hinting at how that sounded, making Sylphet flush bright red.

The playful banter echoed for a while as we lounged in the bath until our skin felt like it was pruning up. When we left for the changing room, I found a new outfit that was made for me. It was an outfit vaguely reminiscent of the girl from a show named after a single letter, whose group was symbolized by red. Who chanted, "No blood! No bone! No ash!" For those who don't get the reference, it's a red and black gothic Lolita outfit, which was super cute too.