Chapter 420: Three To One
"How does having a spirit inside me complicate things? I thought you said this form was the point." Reiko asked, suppressing a triple wave of panic.
"Well... back home that sort of thing isn’t exactly legal. I mean, it’s not illegal, but onmyoji are very restricted on the kind of things they can use as shikigami- uh... spirit vessels. Normally the spirit is supposed to be completely outside when it’s not inside, which I thought was why Kamui Crimson was out here... Which one of you has the kami inside of her?"
Reiko raised Kordia’s hand.
"Right. You should probably not let any angels see you... or you’ll be, uh, executed..."
"We don’t intend to submit to such treatment from anyone," Reiko frowned. "Though now we must ask, are you still alright helping us?"
"Well, I do owe you my life. And an Amanogawa always does her duty! Hehe..."
"We’d rather not have things be so... transactional. If you help us, we’d consider you free to come and go as you wish."
"Oh, uh... I really wouldn’t know what to do, hehe... and it’s not like I have any money or resources to travel, so sticking with you is sort of my best shot at making it home..." she lowered her voice along with her eyes, "...if they even want me back."
"Don’t sell yourself short. You’re still young. There’s plenty of time to work on yourself."
"Oh, thanks. I mean... I’m about to turn seventy-five this summer... so I’m not that young..."
Reiko was nearly floored by the revelation. How could this elf be so dense? To look as young as she did at that age meant she was at least equivalent to an archmage or century mage. She didn’t look a day over her twenties, but then again, her age might have had something to do with her lack of confidence. It was not a problem Reiko felt she had any right to solve with someone she’d just met.