Night had long since fallen over Edo.

  A deep blue stretched across the sky, and the chirping of crickets filled the darkness. High atop one of the old trees near the shrine, Tessa sat— arms crossed over her chest, legs dangling loosely, listening to the silence— while Mike chuckled quietly in her mind.

  "So... you saw it for yourself," he said at st, his voice vibrating with amusement.

  Tessa snorted softly. "Yeah. And?"

  "Miko thinks you’re a goddess."

  A crooked grin tugged at Tessa’s lips. "And you like that, don’t you?"

  Mike ughed. "Of course! Think about it. You’re a two-meter-tall, superhumanly strong warrior with glowing eyes and magic that could insult the weather itself. In this world? Welcome to Olympus, baby."

  Tessa leaned back against the trunk, gazing out at the flickering lights of the shrine. "And you think we should take advantage of it?"

  "Oh, definitely." Mike sounded downright gleeful. "No nosy questions, no hostility. Just respect. Or fear. Either works."

  Tessa closed her eyes briefly and drew a deep breath. The idea had its charm.

  "So you want me to start a cult?"

  "Exactly! Just imagine it—offerings, prayers, maybe even a few golden statues of you."

  Tessa smirked crookedly. "I have to admit... the thought is appealing."

  She let her mind drift as the wind whispered through the treetops.

  "Then so be it," she murmured at st. "Let’s see what we can make of this little misunderstanding."

  Meanwhile at the Family Hearth In the warm light of their home, Miko sat at the low wooden table. The fire crackled gently in the hearth, and the scent of green tea filled the room.

  Aiko pced a steaming bowl in front of her and regarded her sister with a lopsided grin.

  "Alright, slow down and tell me again," she said, resting her chin on her hand.

  Miko kept her hands folded tightly in her p, fingers knotted with nervous tension.

  "I saw an apparition," she began quietly. "A woman... a warrior. Tall, beautiful, terrifying. Her eyes... they burned as if the gods’ fire lived within them. And then... she was simply gone. Like a vision."

  She swallowed hard as she finished.

  Aiko leaned back zily, mouth twisting into a mischievous smirk. "And you’re sure it wasn’t just a very impressive admirer?"

  Miko flushed scarlet. "Aiko!"

  "What?" Aiko ughed softly. "If a divine apparition goes to all the trouble of materializing before you, it’s only polite to hope they’re interested."

  Miko shook her head vigorously, her face burning. "It’s not funny! I... I know what I saw!"

  Himoto, their father, had been listening silently until now. He cleared his throat—and the light mood evaporated like mist.

  "It’s no ughing matter, Aiko," he said quietly. His voice cut through the warm comfort of the room like a bde.

  Aiko sobered immediately. "You believe her?"

  Himoto nodded slowly. "I believe nothing happens without purpose." He folded his arms, his gaze thoughtful as it rested on the fmes. "And I don’t believe in coincidence. Those men who harassed Miko... they weren’t harmless travelers. Their questions were targeted. Their panic—genuine. And now this apparition?"

  His face darkened. "It troubles me."

  Aiko took a sip of tea, studying him over the rim of her bowl. "So you think these strangers... are dangerous?"

  Again, Himoto nodded, his expression heavy. "Miko said they asked about warriors. About protection. Those are questions scouts ask—not merchants."

  Miko bowed her head, her fingers gripping the fabric of her kimono. "But... maybe they just got scared? Maybe they’ll never come back?"

  A faint flicker of hope wavered in her voice.

  Himoto looked at her for a long moment, then slowly shook his head.

  "Miko... do you really think men who saw something like that will stay silent?"

  A heavy silence filled the room.

  Aiko set down her bowl carefully. "So you think they’ll talk?"

  "Yes," Himoto said with quiet certainty. "And if they speak to the wrong people, we’ll have more than just a few curious strangers at our gates."

  His gaze drifted out the open window into the night.

  "Rumors travel fast. And sometimes... they lure snakes from their holes."

  The Calm Before the Storm Miko felt a cold knot tighten in her stomach. "What... what does that mean for us?"

  Her father was silent for a moment, weighing his words carefully. Then he said: "It’s not over."

  Outside, the night was still. But Himoto knew better.

  Stillness was a lie when it became too perfect.

  He had seen many storms in his years as a steward—political, personal, divine. And he knew how quickly a whisper could grow into a war.

  He looked at Miko, who stared down at her folded hands. He looked at Aiko, gazing pensively into the fire.

  And deep in his heart, he knew: This was only the beginning.

  End of Chapter 24