chibisu | Ebisu's Inbox

Ebisu's Inbox

[For anyone who is familiar with Ebisu in person, they might be expecting the sound of a cute child on the answering machine.]

[They do not get a cute child's voice.]

[Instead, it's the voice of a young man, speaking calmly and professionally.]

Hello. You have reached the personal phone and temple of Ebisu, one of the Gods of Fortune. He and his shinki are currently busy right now, so please leave a message and someone will respond back to you as soon as possible.

Thank you, and have a nice day.

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Rare is not impossible.

[And even impossible or improbable things are becoming far more likely.]

Putting the tool and controlling ayakashi aside for a moment, is this kind of magic among humans common?

The rituals to drain energy, summoning demons, the dolls representing my generation, have these things happened before or is this kind of magic new?

I don't believe it's something that's common... but I believe it has happened before. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you the extent... not immediately.

[He would have to do a lot of thinking, talking with the others, and going through his own notes and journals that he's written in over the many decades.]

If you find something later, could you let me know? I've been wondering if the arrival of my generation perhaps changed something in the world.

[Arrivals from multiple worlds all with their own forms of magic, still working here. Ginia is far from an expert on magic, but something about that seems strange too.]

Of course. This is relevant to all of us, even the greater Far Shore.

[Granted, the rest of the Far Shore might not act like it, but that doesn't stop a truth from being what it is.]

Since it may very well come into play... The item the master was retrieving was a brush.

Is there anything about this brush that would make it stand?

[If she sees a cultist controlling ayakashi with a brush in their possession, she's mugging that cultist as soon as possible. But if there's anything specific, that'll make it easier than robbing every cultist calligraphy or art enthusiast too.]

I never saw any of them personally, so I can't say. I've heard the handle is red, and the brush itself is pointed, not flat.

[Unfortunately, that's all he knows.]

[A description is better than nothing. Whether the cult even has the brush in its possession is conjecture. It could be lost entirely or in the possession of someone else.

Would it be better if the brush was still in Ebisu's possession?]

Do you think someone in Heaven is working with the cult? The accuracy needed for the dolls is too precise otherwise.

[There's a pause before Ginia adds on to her message.]

For the record, no hard feelings for what happened in that basement.

Hm? Oh. [Right. That. Kiwami sighs.] I'm only glad that I was careful with that doll...

[If taking it away from the crystal had caused something to begin to happen... Who knows what damage would have done.]

At any rate... It might be that someone among Amaterasu's retinue is responsible. However, there are other possibilities. For example... [He curls his fingers to his mouth thoughtfully.] Have you ever heard of someone living being able to access the Far Shore...?

[That's something Ginia hopes to never find out. Hopefully no one takes it upon themselves to use the dolls like voodoo dolls.

Ginia shakes her head at Kiwami's question.]

I thought gods couldn't transport living humans.

[But perhaps never considering otherwise or other means was shortsighted.]

I believe it's not something that is necessarily... recommended. The Near Shore is for humans, after all.

[Taking one to the Far Shore could very quickly unbalance everything as it's meant to be, and there's no telling how well they would even adapt. It's a place inherently meant for gods and spirits. Maybe it's something that would need to be experimented with...]

[...Not that Ebisu himself would ever do it in an of his incarnations. Not with how much he loves humans to begin with.]

[Kiwami doesn't say all that, trusting Ginia to be intelligent enough to pick up on all the implications.]

There's something else as well... On rare occasions, a human's spirit can detach from the body while they're still alive, and they can reach the Far Shore if they know where to go.

[It feels like everything is a delicate balance atop a pin and the new generation is threatening to topple everything. What would happen if a human came to the Far Shore? How would they throw things off?

Did it already happen? Is that why everything is off kilter, toppling back and forth until it all crashes down?

On the other hand, what if only the spirit travels and the body stays behind? A detached spirit of a human isn't the strangest thing she's heard but it still takes some processing. Did some humans in the cult figure out how to detach their spirits? Is that why they're capable of seeing ayakashi and gods?

This feels like something better shared with the magically inclined.]

A detached human spirit, is there anything that would set them apart from a shinki or god appearance wise?

They have a tail. Technically, in that aspect, they could be considered partially an ayakashi. While only a part of it is visible, it acts as a connection to their body. If they damage the tail, then they lose their ability to return to their physical living body.

...Or so I understand. [He inclines his head slightly.] The young master's acquaintance, Yato-sama, would know more, I believe.

[A tail, a tether to their physical body. That narrows things down in terms of what to look for. Her mouth purses at the mention of Yato. She's heard of the god's name, from Ebisu and also more generally from Shun.]

A shame he's been on a mission with his shinki for the last seven months.

[If Shun believes it's a sincere mission, she'll take it, but it doesn't make it any less annoying.]

Perhaps I can find something in the library. I have a few things I've been meaning to research anyway.

Likely many missions, considering his status as a minor god.

[Kiwami might not know much about Yato's particular situation, as only Kunimi has actually become familiar with the other god, but it's not a hard thing to surmise. As Ginia should know by now, gods live through belief... so a minor god not known as well needs to work even harder for recognition.]

The library may be difficult... I wish you well in it. [His lips purse together as he looks up ahead.] Perhaps there's something in our research... but I am uncertain. Iwami-san would have to be asked to be sure.

[There is discussion to be had about gods and status and the kinds of missions Heaven entrusts them with, but that's for a later day. She wouldn't mind meeting the numerous gods and shinki people speak highly about, but it's not something she can hope for either.]

I've been told someone is removing anything relating to Amaterasu from books in the library.

[Ginia expects it to be a wash, but there are a few different topics to cover. Maybe one will pan out.]

Which mean in time, I'll circle back to asking you or the other older shinki some questions. Thank you for indulging me.

[She turns to face him and bows deeply.]

...That wouldn't necessarily be a surprise...

[Either for nefarious purposes, or the workings of over-protective and proactive allies. Still, the only thing that can be done is to keep searching. For that, he gives a slight nod of his head to her.]

You're one of our temple, so feel free. But... Remember to take a break.

[Both for exercising and otherwise.]

[Ginia smiles as she straightens up, flipping her hair off her shoulder.]

I'm the one who spent the day relaxing in Hawaii. I've had my break and I'm ready to get back to work.

[It was a much needed reset. And she can only imagine what kind of vacation everyone else in the temple needs.]

I should get back to the office. The next time we talk, maybe it'll be something less serious.

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