Guardian Deity

The Beginning

I was just a normal human that had just turned 20years old. And I didn't have anything you would called a sixth sense---or so I thought. In reality, whether you have those talents or not. Or whether you will ever encounter some spiritual phenomena. Is something that you can only judge by your own standards. Even whilst knowing that, I still thought of myself as a mediocre human.

(It's been awhile since I came here)
(I used to came here often during summer vacations..)

Looking up at the shrine gates in front of me, I stopped. My uncle who was the head priest of this shrine. Had contacted me a week ago saying that he needed some extra help since they were lacking manpower. Since it was a part-time job selling amulets and offerings as well as cleaning up the surroundings. I accepted it having being told that it was nothing too demanding, but I was still kinda nervous.

(I'd been doing some part-time jobs while looking for a place that would hire me as a full-time worker.)
(But since it was rewarding work, maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to study to get the qualifications to be a priest too.)

Just as I passed one of the gates while thinking about this and stepped into an area surrounded by boulders. I felt a strange sensation as if I had stepped into water. Thinking that it was werid, I closed my eyes as a strong gust of wind blew past me.

????; "Did you notice the wind just now?"

When I opened my eyes upon hearing a voice coming from in front of me. A thin man dressed in a priest's robes was looking at me quietly.

(Was this person here before?)

"Yeah, I was just a little startled by the wind. I thought something was going to get into my eyes..."

????; "...I see. So you noticed it. What your name?"

My name is Takeshi Kotaro. Kotaro was my family name.

????; "--Takeshi... I got it"

He looked down and murmuring my name. Placing his hand onto his chin, he went silent.

Takeshi; "Um,did I say anything werid...?"

????; "Ah, sorry. There's no problem."
"Well then, see you later."

Takeshi; "Eh? ---wah?"

Seddenly, a strong gust of the wind made me close my eyes again. When I finally opened them again as the wind stopped, the man was nowhere to be seen.

Takeshi; " ....eh.....?"

The wind is only blown for a few seconds. I couldn't even hear the rustle of the sand, let alone any footsteps.

(Could it be ... a spirit?)

It was reasonable to think so. It felt too real to simply be dismissed as an illusion.

(Are you serious... it's my first time seeing a spirit)
(Since he was wearing priest robes... I wonder if he was someone tied to this shrine?)
(I wasn't scared at all, just surprised...)

I headed to the office as I was instructed to.

??; "Nagi"

At the song of his name being called in a reprimanding manner, Nagi stopped and turned back slowly. Standing there were 3 familiar faces.

??; "You. How many times have I told you not to act carelessly?"
"Think about your position properly"

A dog boy with violet priest's robes; "Yeah~ We had to hold back ourselves too"

A dog boy with red priest's robes; "Yeah~ All we did was stir up some wind"

Nagi; "...sorry. I just had to call out to him. Since it's been a long time since someone like that came. Plus, he noticed the 'wind'. Normal humans wouldn't have noticed anything we did."

??; ....air, huh. It's not really leaving an impression on me, though. But that might be the case if you're saying that."

A dog boy with violet priest's robes; "Hey, do you think he'll be the 'vessel'?"

??; "I don't know--but it seen like there'll be some value in finding out."

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Takeshi; "Um...excuse me"

I opened the door quietly and entered the office. There was a man sorting out some documents while sitting at a table near the entrance. He raised his head and stared at me. And then smileed gently as if finally remembering something.