Hanamei was only half listening to Ren as she led her around per Akihato’s request. She was providing an awful lot of detail about the tower, how Akihato had rebuilt it after it had sat abandoned for centuries.
Apparently, this practice was rather common. Once there had been a great number of Zosara, all allied with the Enclave of Zozatai and, now that their numbers had significantly diminished, there were places such as the tower that had been abandoned.
“Jin and I chose this place as our refuge long ago. The Master awakened us with his presence...”
The stories were interesting, but Hanamei’s mind was simply elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about the surge of power from earlier, about how good the energy felt coursing through her veins. Akihato had seemed confident, even excited, that she would grow into a fine Zosara, but she couldn’t be so sure. At least not now. Just a few days ago, she’d been an unwilling concubine to a tyrant, and today a man was offering her power the likes of which she’d only dreamed of.
“Summers are the longest season here,” Ren was saying proudly. “Weather magic has altered the grounds, allowing for a harsh but brief winter and giving way to a more gentle but cool spring. Like now.” She swept her arm as they strolled through the courtyard.
Hanamei just nodded, glancing at her surroundings and noting the budding beauty without reacting to it. If Ren noticed her distance, she didn’t comment and instead led her to the garden. It was not obviously manicured; rather, everything had been placed where desired and then allowed to grow naturally. Whether that was the intended effect or not, it was still absolutely beautiful.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
“The Master is partial to water lilies,” Ren informed her, stopping at the edge of a large pond in the direct center of the garden. There were a number of flower-less pads sitting on the water’s surface, though one or two showed signs of the first blossoms beginning to peak out.
“Well, he is a water Zosara...” Hanamei remarked, feeling certain that was why Akihato was so fond of them. For some reason, imagining him reading beside the pond when they were in full bloom made her smile softly.
The gwazemi regarded her closely for a moment. “I am merely a servant,” she spoke sternly all of a sudden. “My brother and I have pledged to aid the Master. We protect the tower, care for his needs, assist his work. If he commands me to look after you, then that is what I will do. If he chooses to allow you to remain here, then we will serve you should he desire it, but do not forget... We will never be yours to command.”
Hanamei was taken by surprise and could do little more than stare in dumbfounded shock as Ren spun on her heel and started heading back toward the tower. “Come,” she called over her shoulder as though she were talking to a disobedient puppy.
Frowning, but not possessing any desire to argue with a water spirit she was pretty sure could just turn her into a person-shaped ice block, Hanamei decided to let it go. Trailing after Ren, she firmly decided it didn’t matter. If this was going to be her new home, providing she decided to let Akihato train her, then she would have to learn to get along with the gwazemi.
The magic squirmed in her belly. At least for now...
The malice in the inner voice caused a shiver to run down Hanamei’s spine. In an instant, her mind was no longer on Ren’s warning but wondering if a monster lurked inside her own heart.