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Gage pushed herself up from the bed mat. His mind was groggy and slow. During the creation of the shenrei, Asura Shensin, he had felt very little drain. Now his mind was fuzzy and thick to the point it throbbed annoyingly. With a sigh, she poured a small cup of water and sipped it gently. Like a brush against his mind, he felt movement in the main section of the tent. Frowning, she drained the cup and stood, rubbing her hands across her face.
Stepping out, Gage-jun saw several dwarves being watched over by Rajan’kin and Elfric. Sitting next to Rajan’kin was “Eshu!” The dog looked over, mouth dropping over for his tongue to roll out. Eshu pushed himself to his feet and trotted over. Ignoring everything else, Gage-jun dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. The dog began sniffing her before wiggling free and demanding pats.
Gage-jun began to pet his dog, a thick knot forming in her throat. As Gage looked Eshu in the face he could see the difference in the dog’s look. Eshu didn’t recognize him. Gage-jun worked to keep her face neutral and happy, petting the dog. After a few moments she stood and walked over to Rajan’kin, taking notice of the dwarves and their actions in the process. One of the side rooms had already been converted while the other was still being worked on.
“The shrines?” Gage asked, looking between Rajan’kin and Elfric.
Elfric nodded. “They already have Kin’s set up and are working on the one for the kumdahari’s Ancestors now.”
“This one hopes it was fittingly designed,” Rajan’kin gestured towards the completed shrine. “What do you think?”
Gage-jun stepped over towards the room. The flaps were pulled back and tied in place, giving a curtained frame to the room. The room itself was about fifteen feet or so long by the same width. The shrine took up the back third of the space and reached all the way up to the roof. It was much wider at the base, narrowing to a small plateau. In it was the hollow of a cave with a small basin before it. Down the center of the shrine was a series of basins placed like steps, before reaching a shallow, dry pool at the bottom. Around the basins were multiple rock ledges. Gage could already imagine the little figures inhabiting them. Placed in the perfect spots were several small desert plants.
“It is beautiful.” Gage-jun stepped up to it. On her tiptoes, she could reach into the small cave at the top, without having to strain or lean too far. “Is there supposed to be water in here? I love the idea but seems like it would be expensive to maintain.”
From behind Gage-jun, Rajan’kin spoke. “This is true. It is more likely we will not let water flow regularly, but for special occasions.”
“Elfric, would you get me a jar of water, please.” Gage-jun looked back over her shoulder to the elf. He nodded and stepped away. He shortly returned with a sealed jar and handed it over. “Thank you.”
Gage-jun unsealed the jar and held it in her hands. Keeping her back to Elfric and Rajan’kin, he began to use her finger to etch in the air around the rim of the jar. On a much smaller scale, the diagram was both easier and more difficult to draw. The strain was less, but he had to make sure the diagram was correct with the smaller characters. Once done, she balanced the jar carefully and stood tall. Using both hands, she began to pour a very small and steady stream into the top. As the water began to flow through the pin of the diagram, he fed a much more controlled and lesser stream of his Nimbus into it.
“O’ sacred waters, may Kin bless thee to flow around this shrine as the eternal cycle of life and death flows through eternity. Guard these sacred grounds as needed and watch over the souls laid to rest before you, until they are ushered forth to their final peace.”
Gage-jun felt an echoing rush of something respond through his Nimbus. As the last of the water poured out from the jar, he cut off his Nimbus and stepped back. There were a few moments pause and Gage-jun bit her lip. Did it not wor-… before he could finish the thought the water in the top basin started to glow a light green. In seconds it was bubbling over the edge of the basin and falling down into the next.
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Together Gage-jun, Elfric, and Rajan’kin watched in wonder as basin after basin over filled with water that did not exist before. As it rolled down into each pool it quickly filled the room with the sound of running water. A little winded, Gage-jun turned to see both Rajan’kin and Elfric staring openly at the shrine. “Uh, so… I did that. Though I suppose if anyone asks, Rajan’kin did that.”
“This one cannot take credit for performing such a feat. It would not be right.” was slowly shaking their head.
Gage-jun stepped forward and offered out the jar to Rajan’kin. “Gage nor I need the credit for this. Especially since Gage is gone.” She gave a pointed look. “You are here though, and the people will need you. Gage got their respect because he was the first person to speak on behalf of Kin, to receive Kin’s blessings. But he didn’t interact with the people too much and despite that they will notice and feel his absence. You, Rajan’kin, have earned the trust of the people. Talked to them. Befriended them. Having a miracle under your belt will only help reassure them in Gage’s absence.”
Gage-jun watched the alajin, I really hope I don’t have to keep talking in the third person that often. Rajan’kin thought carefully before reluctantly nodding.
“What should this one tell them? About Kin? His ways?” Rajan’kin cast a glance at the shrine, “About what happens… after.”
Gage-jun nodded. “Elfric, could you close the flap and let me know if anyone comes in needing attention?”
“I can do that.” The elf stepped out and as he was closing the flaps, “Though I want to hear this later.”
As the room was closed off, Gage-jun and Rajan’kin sat before the shrine. “Right well. There was a lot to religions. They tend to build themselves over long periods of time. I do have some basic, core, rule… type stuff… to pass on.”
Gage-jun looked at the shrine for a while before speaking. “For general behavior. ‘When fortune comes, open your door wide.’ I would say that as, if you are doing well, help those who are not. This does not have to be charity but help if you can. That doesn’t mean sitting back and doing nothing, expecting to just be handed things from others. You should actively be working to better yourself. To do well by yourself and by others.”
Rajan’kin listened, head tilted. “It is an interesting teaching. Simple, compared to many this one has heard before. It doesn’t mean you have to be good, but to be there. This one supposes it would mean to most that they should be good and kind.”
“As for after one has passed, there is the Valley and the Waste.” As Gage-jun spoke, a mental image formed in his mind’s eye. It was a bird’s-eye view of Haven. The valley with the surrounding plateau with the canyon leading out from the valley. As Gage-jun spoke aloud it was as if the map was filling in as she spoke. The canyon wound its way through the rock before suddenly opening into a desert wasteland that stretched into the horizon. “The Waste is for those who were ‘bad’, those who did terrible things, relished it, and such. They will spend eternity wandering the wastes being scoured and flayed by the winds and sands. The Valley is for everyone else. It is a pleasant place to exist. You are not… wanting.”
“Now for those who really draw Kin’s favor… well. They would either be able to go to the Valley or…” Her eyes fell on the water in the shrine. “Or they can become an Asura.” As Gage-jun spoke, she offered a hand out towards the shrine. The water began to bubble and swirl before rising up from the bottom pool. It moved through the air to meet Gage-jun’s arm and slid down it. As Gage-jun sat there, the water coiled around her, creating thick bands.
Coils of water were wrapped around her as from behind her back rose the torso of a humanoid figure. Its face was blank and unreadable while it’s body shifted and flowed from a lithe athletic build to large, bulging muscles to petite and feminine to sultry. On and on the humanoid form shifted body type to body type, each ending at the waist which continued down a thick and powerful serpentine body. “
Rajan’kin’s cloak fluttered about them for a moment, their eyes wide. “You not only made a jar of water pour more water than it had, but you also summoned an… Asura?” After a few moments pause, “What is an asura?”
“An asura is like an angel or demigod, perhaps. More than a spirit, but less than a god.”
“And this is someone who has gained Kin’s favor?”
Gage-jun looked up over her shoulder to look Honjal in the face. “Yes and no. It is not one who has passed but rather an asura who was created by Kin for a specific task.”
Rajan’kin bowed deeply towards the asura. “It is an honor for this one to be in the Asura’s presence.”
The asura unwound itself from Gage-jun and descended back into the shallow pool of the shrine. In a smooth hiss, like flowing water across hot stone, “alfadilat takmun fi alwasat.”
As the water returned to its placid ripple, Rajan’kin turned to look questioningly at Gage-jun. “Virtue lies in the middle."