At that moment, at the altar outside the village, the people followed their usual ritual customs. Even after the ceremony was complete, they remained prostrate around the altar, bowing and unwilling to leave, hoping to show their respect to the guardian deity and earn her favor.
Just as they were kneeling, thunder rumbled in the sky once more. The dark clouds that had gathered could no longer hold the accumulated moisture. Rain began to fall from the heavens.
Drop by drop. Drip, drip, drip.
The rain fell on the flames beneath the altar, quickly suppressing the blaze. As the fire died down, the charred wooden post to which Aru had been bound was revealed. The blackened, burned body of the young boy was exposed, a gruesome sight.
The raindrops fell on the villagers' heads, startling them. Realizing it was just rain, they sighed in relief, then looked up at the altar. They saw the half-burned post and the boy's charred body still tied to it.
Their first reaction was not pity, but panic.
"An ill omen! The body hasn't fully burned—it hasn't been delivered to the guardian deity! This is a bad sign!"
"Please, guardian deity, protect us!"
"What do we do? It's raining—we can't relight the fire!"
"Let's leave it like this."
"The ritual is over."
"We've offered Aru to the guardian deity. She should be satisfied now."
"It's raining. Everyone can leave."
"The ritual is finished. Everyone go home."
Sensing an ill omen in the rain, the villagers prepared to leave. But just as they rose to their feet, a deafening crash of thunder split the sky. Terrifying bolts of lightning tore through the mist shrouding Tsurumi Island, revealing the sky clearly—and the massive form of Kapatcir, who had flown directly above the altar.
The moment they saw her, every villager felt not only reverence but also profound fear. The guardian deity's body was so vast—if she descended upon them, everyone around the altar would be crushed in an instant.
Without hesitation, they all knelt again, bowing to Kapatcir in the sky.
"The guardian deity has appeared!"
"Guardian deity, please bless us!"
"Guardian deity, we have offered you the one you love best, the one who pleases you most. Please accept his blood!"
"This is our offering to you!"
"Please accept our sacrifice and protect Tsurumi!"
One by one, they prostrated themselves, begging for the Thunderbird's protection.
Meanwhile, in the sky, Kapatcir followed the trace of Aru's presence and found the human village. She tore through the mist and saw the villagers kneeling in prayer.
She ignored them. She didn't care about their prayers. Her only thought was to find Aru and hear his song.
But no matter where she looked among the ant-like humans, she could not find him.
What was happening? She could sense Aru's presence, but couldn't see him anywhere. Was he kneeling on the ground like the others, hidden from her view?
Thinking this, Kapatcir lowered her voice, mimicking a human tone.
"Aru—"
"I'm here—"
"Come see me."
She called several times, deliberately keeping her voice soft so as not to frighten or hurt him.
When he didn't appear, she grew confused. She could sense his presence nearby, so why wouldn't he show himself? Did he hate her? Did he not want to sing for her?
Though puzzled, she called out a few more times.
But no matter how she called, Aru would not come.
Because Aru was already dead.
At the altar, the villagers heard Kapatcir's calls and assumed she had come to receive their offering. They were overjoyed. They had chosen correctly—the guardian deity loved Aru. She was pleased with him.
With great anticipation, they shouted up at her.
"Guardian deity, we have offered Aru to you!"
"Aru is on the wooden post!"
"His blood is on the altar—please, enjoy it while it's warm!"
"Let Aru become part of you!"
"Guardian deity, you must be very pleased with Aru!"
"Please enjoy it while it's hot!"
"Please protect Tsurumi!"
They looked up with eager eyes, calling for Kapatcir to drink Aru's blood and claim her offering.
In the sky, Kapatcir heard their words but did not understand their meaning.
Offer Aru? Drink his blood while it's warm? Make him part of her? What did all that mean?
Where was Aru? She wanted him to sing for her. She had waited three days for his voice. Though she didn't understand the concept of sacrifice, she heard Aru's name in their words. That meant he was here—she hadn't come to the wrong place.
She flapped her wings gently and descended slowly, landing near the altar. Looking at the eager, excited ants around her, she mimicked a human voice.
"Where is Aru? Bring him out. I came to see him."
She scanned the crowd of mortals, but to her disappointment, there was no sign of him. Yet she could feel his presence, very close—right beside her.
The villagers, thrilled to be speaking with the guardian deity at such close range, answered eagerly.
"Guardian deity, we finally meet you!"
"Since you love Aru, we offered him to you! Are you satisfied with the sacrifice?"
"That child Aru is right beside your wing!"
"And his blood is right beside your wing too!"