Guided by the Sacred Beast – A Hint of Steam and Blessings from the Earth
Ever since the Tree of Life took root in the village and the sacred beasts’ cubs began running about energetically, the atmosphere of the village had grown even brighter and more vibrant. Construction of Akio’s “central mansion” was steadily progressing, and in other districts, new homes and facilities were beginning to take shape one after another.
Amid this bustle, Akio had recently noticed a new custom forming among the women of the village. Sylvia, Ayane, Celestina, Leonora, and even Kina would occasionally gather to chat and laugh together. But whenever Akio casually approached, the topic would instantly change to something mundane or innocuous. It seemed that several “girls’ gatherings” had secretly taken root—off-limits to Akio. The mysterious air surrounding these meetings made Akio chuckle quietly, though he couldn’t help feeling just a bit left out.
One afternoon, as Akio set out to check on the newly cultivated fields, one of the sacred beast pups—the silver-furred dog with a particularly radiant horn on its forehead, the one most attached to Akio—tugged at the hem of his pants and looked up at him with an urgent expression.
“Hm? What’s up, Little Silver?” (Akio’s personal nickname for the pup.) “You want me to come with you somewhere?”
The pup spun around at Akio’s feet as if to say, “This way!” and dashed into the forest. Sensing there was something unusual going on, Akio followed.
Led by the pup, he soon arrived at a shadowy, slightly dim part of the forest—one he had never ventured into before. There, a faint yet distinct scent tickled his nose.
(This smell… sulfur?)
The peculiar odor—like rotten eggs—instantly reminded Akio of hydrogen sulfide from his knowledge of Earth. Aware of the potential dangers of volcanic gases, he proceeded with heightened caution. Unbothered by Akio’s concerns, the pup pressed further until they reached a rocky, semi-open area—and there, Akio saw it.
“This… could be something important.”
Judging the situation too risky to explore alone, Akio decided to return to the village and consult the others. But when he got back, the women were all deeply engaged in their various “girls-only” circles. Sylvia, Ayane, and Celestina sat under a tree drinking tea and chatting, while Leonora, Kina, and some of the beastkin women were laughing and polishing weapons a little ways off.
(Ugh… hard to interrupt that…)
In the end, the only ones free were the men—Dolgan, Alto, and Kenta—who happened to be nearby.
“Master Dolgan, there’s a place I’d like you to take a look at…”
Akio explained the situation, and with the pup leading once again, they headed toward the sulfur-scented site.
“Oho, that smell… it’s volcanic, all right. Hm, this rock… it’s warm.”
Dolgan laid a hand on the rockface and frowned in thought. Here and there, faint steam could be seen rising from the ground.
“We might be looking at a hot spring. But if we dig recklessly, we risk unleashing poisonous gas. We’ll need to examine this area carefully.”
Dolgan’s words made Akio realize this could be a significant discovery for the village. If so, the women should be consulted too. After returning to the village, Akio explained everything to the now-finished “girls’ gatherings.” Their eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
“A hot spring, you say!? That would be wonderful!” Celestina exclaimed, her chest rising with excitement.
“If it’s real, it could be the perfect place to soothe everyone’s fatigue,” Leonora added, clearly intrigued.
“Sylvia, do you think your forest knowledge could help?” Akio asked.
She nodded. “Yes, let’s go. If this is a blessing from the earth, I’m sure it will be of great help to us.”
This time, joined by the women, they made their way to the site once more. Sylvia carefully observed the plant life and the flow of natural energy in the area, while Dolgan focused on analyzing the rock formations and pinpointing the source of the smell. The pup, tail wagging, nosed repeatedly at a narrow crevice between some rocks.
“This is it… something’s about to spring up from here.”
Dolgan signaled to the others. Akio and Alto began carefully clearing away the soil and loose stones from around the crack. Then—
Gurgle, gurgle…
With a bubbling sound, hot water suddenly burst forth from the crevice, rising with a plume of steam like a miniature geyser!
“It’s up! It’s really a hot spring!” Dolgan shouted, eyes wide with glee.
“Amazing… truly a gift from the earth,” Sylvia whispered, gazing at the emerging water with awe.
“This means… we can all take baths together now!” Ayane said with a radiant smile.
“Awesome, boss! Finally, we can scrub off all this sweat and dirt properly!” Kina cheered.
The area filled with the joyful cries of the villagers, wrapped in steam and excitement. The silver pup wagged its tail proudly at Akio’s feet, as if to say, “Told you so!”
It was a moment of pure joy—a new treasure discovered in their blossoming village. This spring of warmth would surely soothe the bodies and hearts of its people, becoming yet another light to guide them into a bright future.
What do you think about this chapter?
