A priestesses' fate isn't so cruel

Chapeter 2

It was the day of Shina's graduation, and her family is sitting somewhere within that sea of crowded people.

"Miss Senshino Shina!", the announcer called.

Shina went over at the stage, and received her graduate certificate. "We congratulate you on your graduation, and hope you will have a happy future." , The announcer gave Shina her certificate, and a camera flashed and a picture was taken.

/Happy future../ she thought. /Maybe../ she thought again, with a deep sigh.
As soon as she went home, she packed up some necessities , clothing and kissed her parents and sibling's head goodbye.

She had second thoughts, but in the end she sticked to her one and final decision to be a shinto/miko temple priestess to serve the goddess Imanoko.

She took a bus passing by that destination, and waited along the journey by observing the scenery.
Big cities became small town houses and villages, and in the end, she was at her destination.

She grabbed her bag and went out of the bus, after paying the fee. The bus left, leaving Shina at the foot of a few decades of steps. Shina pulled herself together and finally made it to the top, sweating and panting.

Carvings of exotic legendary creatures and dragons were carved out of stones, and as she finally and officially reached the entrance, she saw a breath taking and beautiful painted carved stone of Imanoko.

The details were so fine and detailed, that it would surely pay off a few billion if sold on the market. Not only she saw a carving statue, but also a young priestess, bowing low, and asked what Shina's purpose is.

"I'm wanting to be a miko priestess here. May i see the high priestess here?" shina looked at the young girl, who was curiously staring at her.

"Of course. Follow me, and we'll see her." , She joined her sleeves together while bowing again, and leads Shina to a room.

"High priestess, this girl has some requests to do", The young girl bowed low to the woman behind an illustrated, thin paper wall. The light behind the wall exposed the shadow behind it, a very beautiful shadow, could be a woman in her late 30's.

"I take it you have something to request, visitor.", She says calmly. "Yes, i want to request into being a priestess here, is that fine?", Shina looked at the wavering shadow behind the thin wall.

"Perfect timing. We have little yin yang masters, and our priestesses here are little. I accept your request", she accepted instantly and happily.

"Ah, thank you, then"- "However.", The high priestess butted in. "You must swear to serve honorablely, obediently, and must be responsible, as you have to clean and help around, and you will have to dance gracefully with the other ones, every saturday night.", she boomed.

"I see, i understand.. then when will i start?" shina asks, while confusingly looking around.

"That is not a problem, newcomer. I will arrange that." , she instantly snaps her fingers and orders that same young priestess. "Sarata, get this newcomer a room, and get her uniform size, and make sure you've got her all the right equipment every priestess has here". Sarata bowed low. "Very well, high priestess", and she leads Shina to her room.

The room was simple, good enough, clean enough, and plain. Sarata placed a few priestess outfits on Shina's bed, and briefed some things to Shina.

"Priestesses must wash their own clothes, clean their own rooms, and punctuality is highly expected. You are allowed to go out on weekends, but not for too long. We all have to be gathered at the main entrance at saturday night and sunday morning to perform an evil cleansing ritual, that is , the kagura dance, which is also used to honour Imanoko, the goddess of beauty , matchmaking , prosperity and kindness."

"Ah.. i understand. what time are we up tomorow?" Shina asked sarata."

"7 in the morning sharp.", she leaves and closes the door, but before she could, "call me if you need anything", she reminds, and sets on her way.

Shina looked at the Imanoko in her room. her painted potrait describes every possible details about her.

Her straight, raven hair draped all the way down to her ankles. Her lips were naturally red, and she was floating on a cloud, wearing a beautiful heavy kimono, that shows her goddess-like appearance.

Shina laid down on the bed, endless thoughts corrupted her mind. She closed her eyes, and rested her body as she relaxes herself, and her facial expression changed into a more gentle look,

and she slept through the night, as the night sky glitters with millions of stars, and the clouds swirl, and the crickets accompanied the loneliness of the night.