Back to the House of Ram

The rest of the day had been spent burying the dead and praying for their souls. Everyone in the village returned to their normal selves but most of them were too ashamed to go out of their houses. Children that were unaffected by the influence of Venera came out to help with the burial rites. The shamans of the Northern Border came down to the Central Village to assist Gin-Ren and teach her all the things she needed to learn in leading the House of Maiden.

Shaman Mina was a strong woman with plenty of helpful knowledge. She would have been a great Head Shaman but she rejected the offer a lot of times. All she ever wanted was to protect the Northern Border with all her life. And for the humble shaman, Gin-Ren was the only one who could lead the House of Maiden. It was her fate right from the moment of her birth.

Reinstating the barriers took them a week because Gin-Ren was not yet used to the ritual. She had to rest for an entire day to recover her depleted strength.

The first one that they reinstated was on the eastern border, where Prince Sunrei, Pines, and the children were patiently waiting. Though the little ones could return safely to their homes, they were still hesitant to leave. They want Gin-Ren to be their guardian. They had also come to like Prince Sunrei and Pines. They wanted to stay at the abandoned house rather than their own homes.

Gin-Ren did not force the children. She said that everyone in the village needed a lot of time to heal. Accepting her role as a leader meant embracing the duty to help the villagers get over their ordeals.

"I do want to go with you," Gin-Ren said a day after she had reinstated the last barrier.

The house of the previous head shaman had become her new home and it was the nearest manor to the Central Shrine.

Shaman Mina agreed to stay there until Gin-Ren had learned everything that she needed to learn and only up to that moment when she was ready to stand on her own.

"Focus on fixing the House of Maiden," Aries strictly told the new house leader. "Do not just learn from Shaman Mina. You also have to remember where the previous head shamans had failed."

"I know," Gin-Ren sighed. "I will teach my people how to defend themselves. Our souls will grow stronger together."

"If you need help, do not hesitate to call us," Princess Pieffer reminded the white-haired house leader.

"Actually, I think I need some skilled guards to help in securing the borders of our village," Gin-Ren said with her eyebrows furrowed. "The shamans can fight the corrupted souls but it will be better if they can be assisted by people that know how to wield weapons."

"Aries can provide you with reliable guards," Prince Sunrei grinned.

"I can?" Aries was utterly clueless.

"We have to return to the House of Ram," Princess Pieffer was also beaming as if she was proud of something.

"I will wait," Gin-Ren nervously smiled.

"Don't worry. I will not make you wait for a decade," Aries promised.

"I know," the white-haired knight laughed softly.

"See you soon," Princess Pieffer waved a hand at Gin-Ren before transporting Aries, Prince Sunrei, Pines, and herself back to the House of Ram.

^##########^

"Should we sleep, eat, or check out the guards you will be sending to the House of Maiden?" Princess Pieffer asked as soon as they arrived at the House of Ram.

"I'll go wherever you want to go, My Princess," Pines remained standing right next to the princess. "I could not spend much time with you because of those children."

"But I never saw boredom in your face while guarding them," Prince Sunrei teased then sat on the couch. "I'll just rest for a few hours. My sister will take care of you."

"You should also sleep," Pines glared at Aries. "I'm sure you are tired."

"I'm not," Aries opened the door. "I want to see those guards. House of Maiden needs them. We should send a few as soon as possible."

"Follow me," Princess Pieffer smiled before leaving the room.

Pines rushed after her and as he marched at the right side of the princess, Aries strolled at her left. Fortunately, the corridor was wide enough for the three of them to walk side by side.

Princess Pieffer led them to the southern courtyard of the house.

Aries noticed only then that his house looked like a small castle. It had four towers and four spacious quadrangles.

A few people were outside, either cleaning or tending to the plants. All of them had momentarily paused from their work to greet Aries and Princess Pieffer. Pines was a bit annoyed that he was getting little to no attention.

The southern courtyard was crowded by men in red armor. In their chest plate was a crest of ram's head. Some of the men were holding swords. Others were wielding spears. A few were practicing their aim with a bow. Each group was being led by a man in dark red armor and a cape of the same color.

"I will introduce your trusted soldiers," Princess Pieffer grabbed Aries by his wrist but Pines had quickly pulled her hand away and he stood in between them.

"No touching!" he strictly warned.

The princess stifled her laughter and approached the man who was teaching the sword wielders.

He was probably in his early twenties. His brown eyes were bright and they sparkled with joy at seeing the Ram's House Leader.

"You have finally visited us, Sir Aries!" he was standing as straight as a statue. "I am Emil Brass, head of the sword warriors, at your service, Sir Aries!"

"You can relax," Aries cleared his throat as he felt a little embarrassed in front of all the unfamiliar people who knew him. "I am here to take some of your men. House of Maiden needs reliable people in guarding their borders."

His words made some of the men in the courtyard emotional. Tears welled in their eyes.

"House of Maiden had been saved?" the man teaching the spear-wielders approached Aries. There were tears of disbelief in his dark brown eyes.

"Yes, Erick," Princess Pieffer answered. "You can return to the House of Maiden."

"Thank you, Sir Aries!" Erick dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the ground. Everyone in the courtyard had followed.

"Get up," Aries quickly commanded and the soldiers instantly obeyed. "Those who are from the House of Maiden should return there. Guard that place with your life."

"Yes, Sir Aries!" the soldiers chorused then resumed their training.

But Erick and the man teaching the bow-wielding soldiers had stayed.

"What is it?" Aries asked.

"I am Emerson Shaft," the bow-wielder instructor had said and there was a look of hesitation in his grey eyes. "I will gladly follow your command, Sir Aries. But if Erick and I will leave the House of Ram… then who will teach the young soldiers here? Who will protect your house?"

He was speaking as if he was older than Aries but he was probably the same age as Emil and Erick. They were only in their early twenties.

"You are also young but you can already teach others how to properly wield a weapon. I am sure that you can find someone who can follow your lead," Aries remarked. "House of Ram will be fine. It is the House of Maiden that needs help right now. You should focus on protecting your hometown."

"Thank you, Sir Aries!" Erick and Emerson bowed low to him.

"Thank me by protecting the House of Maiden."

"Yes, Sir Aries!"

"If you encounter any problem in the House of Maiden, do not hesitate to ask this house for reinforcement."

"Yes, Sir Aries!"

"You may leave."

The two young soldiers immediately returned to their duties.

"I hope I can remember them," Aries let out a disappointed sigh.

"I will tell you about them later," Princess Pieffer winked at him. "Let's eat first."

"Right," Pines agreed. "I'm hungry."

^############^

When Aries entered the kitchen, Miko had been too excited that he cooked a lot of delicious meals. The long table was crammed with delightful dishes that Aries thought would only be wasted but, to his surprise, he and Pines hungrily devoured each serving as if they had been denied of food for a long time.

"Miko, you are the best of the best," Pines was leaning on the backrest while rubbing his bulging stomach. "I could eat your dishes all day," he yawned. "Well, maybe not all day because I will need a few hours of sleep," he drowsily got up on his feet. "My Princess, I will see you later," he waved a hand before leaving the dining area.

"How about you?" Princess Pieffer beamed at Aries. "Are you sleepy?"

"Not yet," Aries got up on his feet. "I want to stretch my legs."

"Then come with me," Princess Pieffer grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the house and onto the eastern courtyard.

It was an empty space with plenty of flowering trees, bushes, and piles of prayer stones.

Princess Pieffer knelt in front of the tallest prayer stone and said a few seconds of silent prayer. When she was done, she glanced up and told Aries, "You will not remember any of those soldiers because the Aries they met was the one who came from the alternate world, the one who inhabited your body these past ten years."

^############^