APARTMENT 106,
SOCIETY DIVISION 3
DEATH SECTOR
Selora cooked herself some dinner, primarily some sort of derivative of peristaltic noodles. Confined within the boundaries of her home and mind, she couldn't help but feel a tad depressed. That day, Yanluo just... left so abruptly. Was it because I yelled at him? Is he mad? Where has he gone now?
All she could do was just lie there, rewinding the moment again and again in her head, then remembering her old memories with him. He'd never really been the one to be so open with his emotions, but in their most private moments, he'd always opened his heart and provided comfort, whether it was a need or a want. But was there a distance she'd never noticed before? Was it perhaps because she's a secretary? She needed to move higher, prove her worth. And that thought, somehow, was more depressing than it seemed.
.
.
.
Meanwhile, in the Mystical Mountains, Yanluo and Yumi had gone off in search of a shrine. Personally, I would argue that Mystical Mountains is perhaps the most cliché name that you can give to such mountains where you might find a range of mythical or such sort of beings, but it defines it the best as well. Moreover, these mountains were special. In the season of snow, the snowfall would be so soft and scenic that one would feel less cold, and otherwise, these mountains were like beautiful forests, heavily decorated with all sorts of talismans here and there on the gates that guided the way up to the top. The stairs weren't too steep and, as you walked your way up, you'd see ever-blooming flowers, some waterfalls. There were some shrines that you'd pass across, each with a different shade of wood, with other deities and various offerings. It was something that soothed the souls of those in distress and misery. And perhaps, that is why it was such a place that never truly existed in the Mortal Realm.
"This place... It's so beautiful." Yumi spoke in awe of the surroundings. At the top of the gates, there were lanterns, glowing so vividly yet bluntly enough that it would please the eyes of anyone who passed through.
"These mountains are perhaps the most holy region of this entire realm, maybe in the entire universe itself." Death responded.
"Do people here also pray to Gods?"
"Yes. This is where common people of the Immortal Realm come to offer some of their earnings and faith to us, to sometimes show their gratitude or to pray for something. Generally, they choose the flowers or foods we like and place them in our shrines, hoping we'll listen to their wishes. Of course, their offerings are never denied. They put their faith in us, even though they didn't choose us, so we respect it, humbly accept it and grant them their wishes. It's somewhat like the Mortal Realm, isn't it?"
"It is."
"Of course, people do not change drastically just because they ascended. Some structures remain the same."
"It makes sense... But where are these shrines located? Are they located here, the ones that we just passed?"
"Some of them are also located in the respective sectors. Some are located here. There are many, I assure you. But there are certain shrines that common people do not have access to, and they differ from the ones of the Gods. Those shrines are of the Beasts that we maintain a balanced relationship with, since they, too, hold power. The past has proved that some are even mightier than the Gods themselves. And that has provided us with reasons to provide them with their own relaxing space. And maybe that is why their shrines are different from ours in some ways, since that is also their abode."
"That is fascinating. How everything fits in. Charming. And you're behaving less crazy now."
"Well, to be honest, I was trying out a new thing. It didn't work out well." Obviously. I thought that by doing all that, I would somehow be able to send you off to Hell, but instead, I am not having a literal existential crisis. Wonderful. But look at you, smiling like that... tch... But somehow, your smile has a sweeter look than Sel- I think I've reached insanity.
Finally, the two reached the shrine. It was not located at the very top of the mountain, and there wasn't a need either, considering how grand it was. It was a bright red shrine, beautifully decorated with the sakura trees around it, the breeze giving it all the more magical feel, small lakes and ponds, with fish that looked like koi fish. Visually stunning. Around the shrine, its maidens walked around in the expected white attire, carrying on with their work. Until, of course, they saw the God of Death and his acquaintance standing there.
"Welcome, Lord Yanluo. How may I help you?" a shrine maiden delightfully greeted them.
"It's alright, Hana. I'm here to meet Lady Ha-eun."
"Ah, I'll just inform here. Would you like some tea prepared for you as well?"
"Yes, please."
"And your... Acquaintance?"
"Ah, this is Lady Yumi, you may tell your Lady. She'll be having tea with us as well."
"Alright. Please, let me lead you to the seating room." And so the two followed Hana.
"Your name is Yanluo?" Yumi whispered in his ear. "You didn't tell me that."
"Well, was I supposed to? You're literally a random human being who's causing me great trouble."
"How so?"
"With your existence. That doesn't concern you, however."
Sigh. "Fine, but who is this Lady Ha-eun?"
"The being whose shrine we're visiting."
"Which God is she?" The two seated themselves comfortably, and as they did so, a charming voice was heard from behind the curtains that were in front of them—a sly chuckle.
"Oh my~! Have you not yet told who I am, Yanluo? As always, you disappoint me, but there's no need for you to distress yourself over such futile matters, for I believe that it is simple manners to introduce oneself for a first meet."
The curtains were lifted, and behind them was perhaps the most beautiful being in all of the Immortal Realm, a lady with charming pink eyes, her fluffy fox-like ears hiding behind her head, her luscious, white nine tails, falling and turning into mist. Her dress seemed to be made of the highest-quality silk, bright red and pink. There she was.
"I am Lady Ha-eun or Gumiho. Whichever one you prefer, although I'd prefer it if you called me Ha-eun. You must be the Ano- Ah, Yumi was your name, yes?"
"Yes, I am."
"Yanluo, you should've informed me earlier. But it's alright. I'll forgive you, for we are friends."
Death sighed. "I have come to ask you for help. I need you to do a reading for me. Tarot reading." Yumi looked at him, confused. "You came here, and brought me here, because you wanted to get yourself a tarot card reading done?"
"Yes, Yumi. I did. Now, tell me, Ha-eun. Will you help me?"
Ha-eun smiled sweetly. "Yumi, how about you go sit outside? The maidens will help you out. And don't worry, you'll get your tea too." And with that, a maiden escorted Yumi out of the room.
It was Yanluo and Ha-eun now, and her expression changed a proper 180 degrees. "Why not ask your great Lady Fortune, why me?"
"Because your powers are stronger than hers. And to give you a brief on the matter, Yumi has a sigil of approval. I didn't bring her in by holding her hand. She has the Sigil. And I didn't give it to her. So, I need some clues as to who it is."
"That is a strange matter. Do you think, maybe Chryos...?"
"No. He knows too much; he wouldn't do something so petty and stupid."
"Well then, now you are stuck somewhere, because from what I hear, this precious anomaly that you've brought here is eligible for The CONTEST, for your position, that too."
"It was expected. I just need to get rid of Yumi-"
"YANLUO." She spoke in a concerned manner. "You're playing with fire."
"How?" He asked, confused.
"I'll do your reading, but you need to be careful. With this so-called agenda of yours, of 'getting rid of her', you might just end up making a big mistake. And as your friend and as a partner, I'll suggest this. Stop spending time with Yumi; imprison her instead. Spend time with Selora or any other person."
"Are you implying that I'll fall in love with her?"
"Yanluo. I know you. When you found Yumi, you didn't know she was the anomaly; she just intrigued you. You're interested enough to keep her by your side. You're supposedly in a relationship with Selora, but not once have you spent time with her than you have with this Anomaly. Even, let's say, you did it all as an attempt to send her to Hell, that's still a lot of time. Don't try to trick me."
Silence. For the first time, a chord was struck in Yanluo. It wasn't disbelief, it wasn't guilt or shame, it was truth, a truth he knew clearly. He could've worked things out with Selora, spent some time with her, but instead, he chose to disappear. But the real question was, was it because he was actually interested in Yumi, or because he wanted to escape from the fencing that comes with commitment, because he wanted to feel some freedom?
Hana entered the room with a tray for tea. "Your tea is here."