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[ a lion... heehee. ]

There's someone - or a group of someones - making fakes of certain... rare items. [ he hesitates a moment on clarification, but continues. ] Things that only come from the Maou. They cry crystals. I - heard about it from Shinobu-san.

[ mm. ]

They mentioned the gods' test too, and they think we'll fail it. I don't know. [ he doesn't trust humans still completely, but he trusts xie lian, and that has to count for something. ] I'd like to think we'll be okay.

Mm. [ xie lian stays quiet for a moment longer, contemplative, his fingers briefly stilling over the top of tsukasa's head. he thinks back to his discovery earlier in the week, to the dreams he'd had, to the communication he'd finally managed to make with the gods of koun. ]

....I think we'll be okay, too. [ he says, looking down at tsukasa and giving him a small smile. ] What's important is that we rally behind the Maou, whoever they are, and let people know there's nothing to be afraid of. We choose our own paths in this world, no matter who or what tries to intervene.

[ and that's something xie lian believes, no matter what world he's in. ]

[ ...he knows he can trust xie lian, and the faith warms him - he pushes his head further into his palm, purring. ]

What a lovely sentiment, Xie Lianyan-san. [ we choose our own paths in this world... it's really, really nice to hear. ] I'm sure the Maou'll be happy, too. It must be scary to have everything resting on your shoulders... But if they know everyone's cheering for them, that they're willing to help - I bet it'll be a relief.

Mm. It's something I've always thought to live by. If offered two paths, there's always a third. Sometimes it just takes a bit more looking than you'd expect.

[ xie lian's smile widens a bit, and he goes along with the more affectionate push of his head, fondness in his eyes as he scratches and scratches away. ] I wish there was more I could do, short of offer up a general protection. I'd like to tell them that many of us are in their corner, in case things do go awry. After all, it's hardly their fault that such a thing happened... to persecute someone for actions beyond their control is absurd, at least, as far as I'm concerned.

[ a third path... hmmm, that would be nice. ]

That's enough, I promise. [ he relaxes under his touch, eyes closing. ] ...You're heard loud and clear. I can say that much.

[ which maybe says more than he thinks it does. ]

[ ....

hm.

xie lian looks up to the sky for a moment, turning his attention off of tsukasa, a smile playing at his mouth. ] ...You know, I heard the most interesting tale, the other day.

[ oh no, ]

Is that so...? What was it about?

Mmhm. It was about a priest, who entered a strange place, and startled three different animals when he entered their grove, all on accident. Each one went their separate directions, leaving the priest the choice to only follow one. [ xie lian's voice is thoughtful as he speaks, still stroking the top of tsukasa's head. ] One was a bird, with beautiful plumage, standing guard over a massive nest. It cawed protectively, watching over all that must have been its own, ready to claw the very eyes out of the priest should he come close.

The second was a dragon. Unlike anything you've ever seen before--beautiful and powerful, strong enough to carry this world on its back. It was lonely, though, and it flew far, far up into the atmosphere, farther than this old priest could even dream of following.

And the third... [ he gives another scritch, mouth curling up for real now, into a smile. ] ... The third was a little cat, a precious thing who ran away at the sight of a human. Apparently, he'd had a terrible time with them, because humans can often be very cruel.

Do you know which one the priest chose to follow?

[ ...a bird, a dragon, and a little cat. tsukasa's ears flick curiously, but he'll go along with it. ]

Mmm... The cat would be the easiest to follow, so that one, I guess?

Correct, though that wasn't why. The priest thought the cat had been treated cruelly, and it wasn't fair. He wanted to reach out and help, but he was unable to.

[ xie lian hums, recalling the details of the vision. the phrase rebuild, that had come up so warmly, in another god's voice. ] The cat ran from all of the people, and hid. And before the priest could even get involved, a little girl approached the cat. It was scared at first, but the little girl slowly won him over, coaxing him out with food, and love, and kindness. She put a red ribbon around his neck, and gave the cat who had no home a home again, because she chose to show him kindness when the world would not.

And rather abruptly, that was the end of the priest's tale.

...I see.

[ how cute. tsukasa smiles the way only cats can, with his ears and the squint of his eyes. ]

The cat's me, right? Ahaha... It reminds me of a tale I told Wei Wuxnyan-san, about a cat that'd been treated nicely by a child until they found out it was a monster... [ it wasn't a happy story. ] Prrr... I'm happy to have met so many kind people, Xie Lianyan-san, including you. Futaba-chan, Wei Wuxnyan-san, Okunyan-san... Beau-san, Shinyanbu-san, Lan Wangnyan-san, Wen Nyang-san... Even Chef-san and Senyan-san.

[ a beat. he giggles softly. ]

When I start naming people, it really does feel like a lot. [ the world is not made up of twenty people But If It Was- ] How nice.

[ tsukasa's the cute one. his smile softens further, and xie lian can't help the rush of fondness. ]

It is a lot of people, who care about you very much, and will do many things to keep you from harms way. No matter what trials you face, you should know that now, you won't face them alone.

[ ....

hint, hint. ]

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