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Dedication (Nina / BlueSlime)


Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Entertainment? Well, this place is pretty underequipped for that sort of activity, despite all the things laying around the house. I've always kept myself busy with training and managing the weapons, in addition to the occasional trips to the surrounding wilderness for fun or just plain gathering food. The visitors part has never really concerned me, they are rare this high up the mountains. The few who do come are pretty much like myself and never really have a need for such things. So that was never really taken into account when this place was built, even as it is designed to double as a barracks." the weapon master replied to the inquiry about entertainments, shrugging after she had spoken out. "Really, this place is here primarily to keep that thing in check" she continued, pointing towards the stage and reminding Nina about what she had seen under it the previous night. That weighty trapdoor, and the seemingly sealed gargantuan mass of squirmy blackness that had stared at her with a huge red eye before spurting out an underling.

"That stage... there's something underneath... something that unnerves you..." the maid girl could hear Karin's whispery voice in her mind, which had been silent throughout most of the day. "And there was a lizard... in your stew... the children laughed at that... when I told them... that you ate a lizard... but I did enlighten them... that one might need to eat strange things... to maintain a proper balance of necessary nutrients..."
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Eating a lizard is no more bizarre than eating a cow. It's just cooked meat and a matter of taste," Nina thought to Karin. "Though I admit, there's a reason why cow is generally preferred. Still, for the living, any food source is better than no food at all, as you well understand."

Nina tried to not let her nervousness show on her face when the matter of the dark thing with the red eye was mentioned, both by Yura and by Karin.

"I had a bad experience with what lies beneath. It's most likely the dark thing that let me appear before you in my dreams. I'd rather not discuss what happened, but I've no desire to go near it again," she told Karin.

Finally speaking aloud after what might have seem to be a moment of odd pause, Nina directed her attention back at Yura.

"Okay, Sensei. If that's the case, then perhaps I'll go for an evening walk. I promise not to open any strange doors or examine more strange noises. Though I've been meaning to ask, why isn't that trapdoor properly locked? What's keeping that thing from spewing more of those... things?"
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"I understand... both accounts... I'll be looking for more things to see... to feel..." Karin's voice announced before she fell silent, leaving Nina with Yura again.

Seeing Nina come out from her pause, Yura spoke up once the girl had finished her inquiry. "We initially thought that the secluded location and the stage atop it would keep most people away. Seems like it doesn't work on everything. The seal placed on the creature prevents it from doing any real attacking, but it can catapult a single underling through the barrier at select times if given the opportunity. I really should have had them carve up a sealing stone on top of it as well. Too bad we thought that the stage was more of an idea to do, instead of the rock..." the teacher gave a brief explanation before letting Nina have her walky time.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"The rock would be better against foolish and curious young visitors. Maybe even a lock as well." Nina said, then let the matter drop as she walked away, back to the living quarters. She washed up and donned a night robe before taking her stroll around the mountain temple as she had said she would. She used the time to have more conversation with Karin. Light commentary on life, staying away from the heavy questions unless Karin felt like asking them. Nina felt as though her training period here at the temple was important, but she missed Iliana and Iris. Not just for their companionship, but selfishly, for the romantic thoughts of being with them. She missed Iliana's touch, and the mistresses' more dominating moods. She wanted to take her mind off of yesterday's bone slime attack in anyway she could, and she felt that without anything here to distract her in the form of entertainment, her best alternative was to escape into dreams of her Lady and herself and Iris intertwined.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

With her washing done, Nina picked up her night robe and went to take a brief walk around the outer edges of the compound. There was forest almost everywhere around the place. The trees maintained a distance from the walls though, and there was a clearing around the entire temple, with a bigger one at the front gate. As she walked, the girl had the good idea to share some thoughts with Karin. They talked briefly about things in everyday life, which the spirit girl paid more or less attention to at points. Still, she seemed grateful for the attention she was given, and expressed it in an oddly pleasant mental feeling. It was as if all the unnecessary burdens had been briefly taken off from her host's mind.

Once the maid girl had stopped, Karin maintained silence for a good while. During this time, Nina couldn't help but think about her companions back at Rao's castle-estate. This seemed to have interested the ferrygirl, and she poked at the subject with a cautious question or two. "They seem important... to you... and in extension to me..."
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"They are important to me. They're my family. My mistress and my companion in arms. There's nothing that I wouldn't do for them."

Nina paused, thinking about what Karin had said. "But, why does that make them important to you? I don't understand."
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Why wouldn't they be?... They are important to you... make you happy... I am a benevolent type of spirit... your mood has an effect on me and my ability to percieve the world... so they are important to me as well..." the spirit girl replied, giving up a possibly important thing to remember in the future. If Nina was to call on whatever abilities Karin could grant her, this seemed to be a key component towards their effectiveness.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Oh. That's interesting. So my mood effects your ability to perceive things here? Is it better when I'm in a good mood? Or is it simply the strength of the emotion that gives you clarity?"

Nina realized that this was all a key to understanding how this benevolent spirit worked, and perhaps was a key to better understanding other spirits, some who might be less inclined towards benevolence. Could this information be important towards helping Iris? Or Patch?
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Good mood is better... and stronger emotions enable me to see more vividly... in addition to enabling more potent manifestations of power..." Karin soon voiced up again, confirming Nina's guess. She was silent again for a while as the maid-knight went along the outer edges of the building, seeing the still but audibly active forest around the temple-compound. "I should probably show what I can do to help you... how my powers can benefit you now... I can't directly grant you powers at the moment... but as I said... it is the strenght of the once-mighty that I command... it translates out to summoning power... let me show you..." the girl stopped once more. "Wanyudo... Namakubi... come out and say hello... this female will help you repent... she will command you in the physical world..."

As the voice departed from Nina's mind, a jet of fire started silently rising from the ground near her, shooting out to some height before eventually starting to curl around into a circle. Eventually the circling fire started to coalescence into a solid shape, forming into a cartwheel of bones. From the center, eight spokes in the form of skeletal hands gripped the outer rim, which was made from leg bones smoothed into a round shape and connected to each other by tangling sinew. In the middle of this hellish wheel there was the face of an old man, a furious look on his features, the whole contraption reaching up to about halfway of Nina's height. The outer rim burned with endless hell-born flame, and the angry-looking face vented out sulfuric fumes in regular interwalls. As the face studied Nina, Karin spoke up again. "This is Wanyudo... He was once a wagon master... and a royal carriage driver... he thought that he was the best at his job... even unbeatable... and developed an ego over it... but fate ended his ego trip on one particular voyage when his overconfidence made him take unnecessary risks... and he selected an overtly perilous mountain path... instead of the normal road... to avoid a pursuing bandit gang... now... both him and the noble daughter and father he transported... lie dead at the bottom of a gorge... their remains picked clean of both valuables and meat... only a wreckage of a wagon and bones remain... the Lords of Hell sought to punish the driver for his overt pride... and now he is forever a wheel... until he has done enough good to make up that crime... of excessive pride..." the spirit explained about this particular creature. "His powers include speed... fire... both from his physical blows and breathing it... and the trails of flame he can leave in his wake... which have both defensive and offensive uses... he is weak though... and will not be able to take too much punishment... but the speed and small size balance out on that... making him hard to hit... at least with physical attacks..."

As the wheel rolled in place and gazed at the green-haired girl, she could feel a chill run down her back. A twisted, demonic facemask started to materialize near them. Soon, a whole samurai helmet formed around the mask, a small sunburst ornament at the front marking this particular piece of protective gear as one that belonged to a high-ranking warrior. A ghostly, dented armour that matched the helmet shimmered into existence as well, the gauntlets of the armor also forming physically despite the majority of the armor being ethereal and untouchable, the part belor the waist not appearing at all. A faint glimmer of red light blinked from behind the demon mask, a trail of intestines and a piece of spine growing out from the confines of the helmet. As she looked at the disgusting sight further, Nina noticed that there was a severed head now firmly lodged inside the helmet, peering at her through the demonic mask with it's blank eyes. As a squirt of blood dropped to the ground from the neck stump of this creature, a pair of worn, slightly rusted katana emerged from the dirt's embrace, both swords about half a blade longer than the average katana. With a grip of dead-augmented strenght, the half-ghost warrior held the blades up briefly in a stance before letting them go, which they followed up by flying behind his back into a cross pattern. As the undead warrior crossed his arms, Karin saw it fit to tell further info about him. "And this is Namakubi... he was once the Emperor's very own executioner... in a far eastern land... but he too sinned... and abused his position... to kill indiscriminately... to rape without remorse on the most violent battlefields... to loot everything afterwards... when the more noble generals found out about his crimes... they had him executed via decapitation... after the Emperor denounced his name... and had all his deeds removed from the history books... such was their disgust towards his abusive actions... once again, the Lords of Hell decided to have fun... and made him into a mere head and hands... now he wields his former swords to atone in death... for the crimes he did in life..." the ferrygirl went through the customary explanation. "As for powers... he is not quite the warrior he was... but still stronger and more skilled than average soldiers... back in the world of the living... but this form strikes fear into the hearts of many... and Namakubi is hard to destroy... his ghostly body can't be touched by physical swords or arrows... the only things one can hit are his head and hands... which are protected by armor... and he does not need blades to hurt a living person... even Namakubi's touch is dangerous... for it saps the life of any mortal..."

As the two monstrous creatures stood before her, Nina was told a bit further about them and similar entities. "Despite their sometimes evil natures... these spirits won't hurt you... they are repentant beings... they wish to eventually shrug away their morbid forms... and be released into a peaceful afterlife... so don't think badly of them... through the covenant between you and me... they will obey your words... after I summon them to you... a summoned creature cannot die in the physical world... they only go back to Hell for a while... to rebuild themselves... during this time... they can't be brought over... but for now... that's all the denizens of Hell I'm willing to introduce... there are others... that I can eventually bring over... for other purposes besides battle... like spying... information... or protection..."
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

Nina listened with interest and then wide eyed shock as Karin talked about, and then did in fact summon two spirits from the depths of Hell. She gulped audibly and tried half successfully to not show blatant disgust at the bones and twisted flesh that shown on the wheel image of Wanyudo. By the time that Namakubi presented himself, Nina had settled herself down, though her skin still crawled involuntarily at the way the blood dripped down the dangling bit of spine underneath the samurai's helmet.

"I... see... Ah, thank you Karin for telling me this. I of course, appreciate any help you and these... spirits, are willing to offer. I can't say that I approve of what they did in their lives, but if they are truly repentant spirits and they have suffered like this for so long, I suppose I will do my best to help them unburden themselves and do some good. Ah, can they... can you communicate with me? Wanyudo? Namakubi?"

Nina turned to address the two individual spirits in turn, doing her best to be 'polite' and look each of these figures in the eye. She supposed she didn't have to be polite with such spirits, sinners as they were and certainly Namakabi's exploits seemed beyond the pale, but if these spirits were going to be used by her, she thought it best to give them a good first impression. Well, as good as one mortal maid can give to two of the damned.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

As Nina asked about their communication abilities, Wanyudo was the first to speak. "Sure we can." he said, his voice almost as angry as his expression. A brief crackle of fire and a small puff of sulfur came out with the words as he spoke. "It is... as he says..." Namakubi followed up, his voice quiet and hoarse like one would expect from a torn throat. The two of them still kept their attention on the girl as if waiting what she had to say.

"Their appearances are what they are... but not all denizens of hell are repulsive... maybe I'll introduce the Withered Sage soon... he's a fountain of knowledge... and might be able to help you with your information needs... if you have them that is... or the Sanguine... a masterful seducer... a spy and thief of the highest caliber in life... death has not been able to touch her smooth skin... and she still looks as beautiful as she did in life... or so they say... I've never seen her actually..." Karin too spoke up, giving up some further info on the types of former mortals that Nina would likely meet in the future.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Ah well, I don't mind meeting them all. Quite the interesting bunch you're bringing to my attention, from the sound of them. I feel as though I'm to be some sort of tour guide for their return to the world of the living. Heh... It's not exactly what I'd envisioned myself doing but I suppose it's important to make the most of this opportunity. It's not every day a dark touched individual comes along willing to do this sort of thing I suppose."

Nina scratched her head in order to keep her idle hands busy while Wanyudo and Namakubi continued to stare at her.

"So... you two... are the both of you... really sorry for the choices you made? Or is this more just doing anything you can to escape hell?"
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Tour guiding is not what you will be doing... these beings will come to help you when it is required... they won't be there all the time... that is the way how this works... I just thought I'd introduce you to each other... so you wouldn't be surprised or scared when either shows up... in a future encounter... but it is right what you think... you are a very rare type..." Karin continued the mental discussion while the two monstrous spirits were there physically to make themselves known.

"Am I sorry... with all the respect miss... you have not experienced Hell..." Namakubi was the first to answer Nina, shaking his helmeted head slightly at the question. "That place surpasses it's name with flying colors. No matter how unfeeling you might be, being in Hell is unbearable. Everyone would want out." Wanyudo expressed his own opinions, somehow not burning the vegetation underneath his round body. "I'll do anything... to eventually get relieved from that place... and move to a more passive afterlife... anything..." the now-dead executioner admitted, giving a clear image how terrible Hell would be. If the half-ghost was tormented in the afterlife, the maid girl could only wonder how less hardened individuals might fare.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

Nina bowed her head. "You're right, I haven't experienced Hell. I do not mean to belittle what you have experienced there, or the desire to escape it. Naturally anyone would. But is it not true that to escape it would require more than a simple act of good? Is it not also a true change of perception and personality that would allow you to ascend out of your current state? Regardless, forgive my questions if I have offended. I do not wish to add to your consternation."

Nina found talking to these unlikable spirits awkward. According to her own internal interpretation of metaphysics, she didn't much see the point in helping out spirits who weren't actually repentant. In her opinion it takes more than a desire to escape Hell to make one worthy of Heaven - or even purgatory or limbo or whatever other end awaited someone when they died.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"We will... find that mind some day..." Namakubi admitted not really being repentant, at least at the current moment. After a brief moment of silence, the undead executioner loosened up his arms, letting them drop the side. The ghostly body began to fade away, soon vanishing completely. As the binding lifeforce vanished, his swords, gauntlets and helmet dropped to the ground, shattering into rust-coloured dust as they impacted against the ground. The wind soon blew the little dust pile away, and nothing was left behind to suggest that Namakubi had ever been there. Simultaneously, Wanyudo's form began to get engulfed completely in flame, which eventually burned out, leaving a similar nothingness behind. Not even the ground or surrounding weeds had burned, nor was there a smell of fire or sulfur to give away the fact that there had been a burning spirit creature there.

"Their penances will be long... this is hardly even a beginning... so don't worry about there not being proper making up of one's past... they will still get to experience a lot of Hell before their times are done..." Karin spoke up once more as the pair had vanished. Nina was now left to her own devices again, but the ferry girl was there still, if she was still up for something chatty during the walk.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

Nina watched the spirits fade back to their dismal afterlives with mixed feelings about having them showing up around her again. It would be difficult working with them if they weren't truly interested in repenting, but she took comfort in what Karin had said about this being just the very beginning of their efforts to work for good. She would just have to wait them out, she supposed.

"Karin, would you know any spirits that could teach me to meditate and improve my own control over my spirit? I get the feeling that I'm drastically behind my peers on that front and I'd like to improve."
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

Karin remained quiet after the inquiry, making Nina think that she had gone to do her job at the boat. But soon there was a signal that confirmed the girl's request. Vines began to rise up from the ground, circling in the air to form a pillar of sorts. They stopped pretty fast though, starting to form into a kind of armless chair. Once the seat was formed, a small tree began to grow on it rather fast, soon forming into a vaguely humanoid shape in a cross-legged position. A transformation followed, the majority of the tree turning into a furry humanoid. As a fox's head and a storm of nine tails came into existence, Nina recognised this particular spirit as a former kitsune. A cowl covered most of it's head, but the top of it's snout and a massively long moustache came out from the beneath the hood, the latter almost reaching down the ground as the meditating fox leaned forward. Patches of wood formed parts of his body and leaves and small twigs grew in random spots once the spirit was fully manifested, making him look like some curious fusion of tree and kitsune. With a quiet murmur, the creature raised it's head, looking at Nina from within it's hood. The gaze aimed at her is calm, almost divinely serene and enlightened.

Once they had briefly looked at each other, Karin too manifested in the vicinity, the kimono-clad girl sitting on the edge of the elevated veranda that circled the house. "This spirit was once a kitsune chief... the Tree-Father... they called him in life... maybe you can learn from him... since he is not a hell-bound spirit... I can be here as well... for a while at least..." she spoke up, still doing it mentally despite being there.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

Nina seemed duly impressed by the Tree-Father's entrance, leaning forward, entranced by the spectacle. When at last everything had settled and the nine-tailed kitsune sat before her on his throne, she blinked out of her spellbound state and nodded mutely at the kitsune master. At last she spoke up.

"If you are not a hell-bound spirit, Tree-Father, why then have you answered my request? Do you require something in exchange for what you may be able to teach me?"

Nina thought it a fair question. After all, a complacent spirit would probably not be bothered with a mortal's seemingly self-serving request. She wondered what Karin had done to get him to cross over?
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

The kitsune spirit was quiet at first, just like Karin had been when inquired about a possible spirit guide, but soon spoke up in a raspy voice. "That I'm not... but your summons. I answered them because of that request exactly. There might be some self-centeredness beyond the surface... but one's spirituality is a gift that should be embraced and developed beyond the sapling stage that almost every being willfully keeps themselves in. Through the proper development of mind and spirit, the physical world would be much less hostile a place. Everyone would know and understand more, thus leading to a more peaceful and conflict-free existence for all of us...." the fox replied, pausing briefly as he coughed. When he did, a few leaves floated out from his mouth. "If I can pause my endless meditation in the afterlife to enlighten someone on the mortal plane about their spirituality and help them ascend to a higher state of existence... I'll do it."

As if reading Nina's mind, Karin began to mentally speak at her while producing a colorful pinwheel from her kimono, drawing out a pattern which turned into the physical object. "I just mentioned your desire to learn.. there has apparently been some prayers... aimed at you as well... from the community of kitsune... that Tree-Father once was the leader of... those might have influenced him as well..." the girl said, focused on the twirling pinwheel. Seeing Tree-Father's face made Nina unsure if the kitsune spirit heard them or not.
 
Re: Nina (BlueSlime)

"Prayers? Oh? Like from Ranya-sama? She and the other kitsunes of that tribe were very nice, and they really helped us out against the rogue kitsunes who were intent on invading our home with ogres and oni. It's nice to know that some of our friends, like Ranya-sama and Momi still think of us from time to time..."

Nina's mind wandered off to the memories, not so distant really, but with all that had happened since then it wasn't surprising that she hadn't given them too much thought lately. She sent them warm prayers of thanks and well wishes.

"Very well, Tree-Father. I would be honored to learn from you and to learn more about my self and my own spirit too."
 
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