(Mael's POV)
The following day, I decided to walk through the village and make my way back to Ren's Shrine. I didn't see Sumi in the village, so I kept going. The walk over to the Shrine seemed quite peaceful; dealing with the Okuri was seemingly a good thing.
But from what I was warned, there could be some other consequences. I had said goodbye to the Granny I had fucked last night, she didn't seem rather bothered with me leaving. I guess she was content with me fucking her good, her skin was glowing and her smile was rather warm and bright.
Well, it didn't matter now.
I had some things to discuss with Ren.
I walked up to Ren, who was watering some plants in front of her shrine, "...Hey."
She looked up to me, a serene look on her face, "Oh, hello." She said, "I did not expect you to return so quickly."
I shrugged, "Lady Tsuki taught me everything I had to know." I said, "Or at least everything she wanted to teach me. I got the feeling she didn't like me much."
Ren slowly straightened up, "I see." She said, "I apologize for my sister's behavior."
"It's fine." I said, rubbing my neck, "I was going to go back to her Shrine, to ask her some questions that came up."
"Oh. Why didn't you?" She asked, a frown appearing on her face, "If it has to do with your magic."
"No, I got the hang of Distorted Subjugation. At least in summoning and commanding the Okuri." I said, "There was something else. But as I said, Lady Tsuki doesn't seem like the friendly type."
"She's a kind woman, she is rather.....distrusting as of late." She told me, an apologetic tone in her voice
"She did mention some trouble." I said, "Maybe I can help out in that regard."
"What was it that you wanted to ask her?" She asked, "Is it something important."
I nodded, "Yes." I said, "I figured you're the better choice to ask. What do you know of Distorted Beasts?"
She frowned slightly, "D-Distorted Beasts?"
I nodded, "Yes." I said, "What do you know of them?"
"How is it that you know this term?" She asked, "You have not been in the Godlands for that long."
I didn't know what to tell her. I don't think it's wise to tell her that I have some sort of entity that has me in some sort of pact.
"Oh....uhm...." I said, "A lady I came across on the journey back mentioned it. It was kind of something she casually brought up but it intrigued me."
"Is....that so?" She asked
I nodded, "Yes."
She gestured to the building behind her, "Come inside." She said, "I'll explain it to you."
I followed her inside and she knelt down on her tatami mat, gesturing me to do the same on the one across from her.
I sat down and saw how she looked at me with a serious expression, "This is rather.....tense." I said, "Are Distorted Beasts that big of a deal?"
"Somewhat." She said, "Distorted Beasts are creatures born of Distortion, holding great power. Do you know what The Distortion is?"
"I'm going to assume that it is a dimensional power that acts as some sort of barrier between universes." I said with a serious expression, "It is what I went through when breaching and that is what ripped my body apart and stitched me back together."
"In a way, that is the truth." Ren said, "The Distortion, in its purest state, is naught but a Cosmic Force. It is a very potent power that has many roles in the Godlands. But at its core, it is the power of Change."
"Change?" I said
"The Distorted Godlands." She said softly, "They exist because of the Distortion. For Eons, the Realms of the Godlands have been constantly shifted and molded by the Distortion. To distort is to change, to shift from its natural state. And that is what Distorted Beasts are. They are creatures of Divinity that went through Distortion, the Cosmic Power changing them completely. There is no such thing as original Sacred Beasts in Kazuha, only the Distorted Beasts."
I blinked, "So...." I said, "The Kirin, The Yatagarasu, and the Hakutaku...."
"They are Beasts of Distortion." She said, "Legend says that they were once original Sacred Beasts, but something happened which caused them to change. What makes them Distorted is their completely unpredictable nature. Kazuha..... no, the Sun and Moon Realm has a few prominent Distorted Beasts that have wreaked havoc in the past."
"Hm....." I said, "I see...."
"There is a famous legend of a specific Distorted Beast known as the Red Leviathan. Which resided next to our neighbor, The Kingdom of Draecopis." She continued, "It once terrorized the seas of the Sun and Moon realm, being used by King Noxius III to solidify his Tyranny. It is said that he fed half a million slaves to the beast as a way to prove a point to the Tyras Empire."
"A Leviathan...?" I said, "Interesting. So such creatures exist in this place. And did I just hear that right? A King fed slaves to it?"
She nodded, "Indeed. That Distorted Beast is known even in Kazuha, specifically because of that legend." She said, "But it was soon defeated."
"Huh?" I said, "Who defeated it?"
"The Revenant." She said, her voice was serious
Revenant? Isn't that an undead creature?
"I see....." I said, "The.....Revenant....."
"Indeed." She said, "The Revenant walked along the coast of Draecopia, luring the Distorted Beast out. He then struck the Red Leviathan down, turning the sea red with it's blood. It is a tale that has shaken the Sun and Moon realm when it happened."
"The last time a Distorted Beast appeared in Kazuha, it was repelled by The Fujin." Ren said, "Another one has not been seen in years."
"Hm....." I said, "I see."
"I know what you're thinking." she said, "You intend to use your magic on one of them. I assure you, Mael."
"That is not a wise idea."