thenearshore | May Training

"There isn't?" Interesting. That's the first Nesir had heard of that. The pamphlet mentioned being named against your will but nothing about changing gods if you just didn't get along.

She notes it, but also makes note to check it. She hasn't forgotten that Ginia is a nora and if they are seen as traitors, what they believe is right or proper may be different than most.

"I imagine I will get to know him well if I am to live in his temple."

"It's best to give your god a chance, especially if they're new or haven't worked with a shinki before. But personal happiness is important too."

Funny how she's giving advice she struggled to accept so many months ago. There are things she would have done differently, but there's only going forward and letting others learn from her mistakes.

"I think Kairi is right in some regard with what she said about the bond between god and shinki. However, it can take time finding that bond. The other shinki at the temple can also make a difference too."

Personal happiness is important too. Nesir nodded, filing that nugget of wisdom away with everything else, to take out and look at later when she is somewhere safer.

She's not sure what kind of a place that would be, but definitely somewhere less public. She's also glad that not everyone has such an... idealistic take on things as Kairi, Noctis hadn't and it was good that this Ginia didn't either.

"Other shinki? Gods can have more than one shinki then?" Noctis hadn't mentioned any others.

"It's rarer among our generation as our numbers are lower, but most gods have more than one shinki. Among the new gods, many gods have what's known as a soulless shinki." There's a brief frown; Ginia hates the name and wonders if there's another name. How can a shinki not have a soul when they're all made from souls anyway? That's a point to dwell on later. She continues typing and plays the message once the next set is ready.

"To better explain things, there are four types of shinki. Shinki of the old generation, cracked shinki, shinki of our generation, and soulless shinki. Old shinki serve the old gods and have always been here. The shinki in white and gold robes are old shinki. They serve Amaterasu."

She pauses to glance around the area.

"If you see any shinki in a suit and a dark green tie accompanied by a young boy, they are most likely Ebisu and his shinki."

She has clearly picked the right person to talk to. Ginia clearly knows things, even if she is not officially one of the trainers here.

Her mouth twists at the idea of soulless shinki. They do not have souls? Yet live and breathe? How?

It is a deeply disturbing idea, more so as she has no context, no reasoning for why, just that it is.

Four types, old, cracked, soulless and those of 'their generation'. "Always here? So they have not died and come here like we have?"

One question at a time. She has many.

"All shinki are dead. However, they are the dead of this world. We, like gods of our generation, are from other worlds."

At least in the broadest sense. There are plenty here from Earth, or some version of. Even a few from Japan. But the differences between the versions make it clear there are parallels upon parallels upon parallels.

"An old shinki begins as a wandering soul. When they are named by a god, they come into a human body. We awake here, fully formed, with the memory of our name. That is a crucial difference."

Old souls of the realm of the gods, whereas they were... Did Ginia say worlds? Plural?

"We are from other worlds? Many worlds different than this land of gods? How many worlds do they... oversee?"

A wandering soul formed by the gods different than a fully formed body with a soul and a name.

More questions fill her mind, with every answer there is more to learn.

"In theory, only this one, Near and Far Shore. However, things have been unusual over the last year or so."

Ginia pauses in more obvious thought. The hows of how they're here is far more complicated. Is it the doing of Heaven or the cult? With no substantial evidence in one direction or another, it's difficult to decide what to say.

"No one is sure how we're here. There are possible theories, but that is a much longer conversation. I'm willing to share what I know, but it's less relevant to the differences between shinki."

Clearly this was even more complicated than she had thought. Dying and waking in a land of gods was weird enough but she was from a different world completely? No one knew how they were here?

"We should stay on topic. Though I would welcome a longer conversation at a later time." If Ginia was willing to share then Nesir was willing to listen. To learn.

"What of the... broken shinki you mentioned?"

Not as concerning as those with no souls but still worrying.

"Cracked." A small distinction, but an important one nevertheless. "They're shinki that were injured by ayakashi prior to naming. Their vessel forms are damaged, but are otherwise fine. I've only met one so I don't know how common they are. Perhaps there are more among the old gods."

Are there any cracked shinki in Ebisu's temple? Now that she thinks about it, she's never thought to ask. Not that it matters; Ebisu only takes a few shinki in vessel form anyway.

Cracked not broken. That was a difference, if a small one. Ayakashi were the monsters here, the ones gods needed shinki to fight. Their vessel forms are damaged, but otherwise they are fine. Probably hard to tell from the rest of the population and yet given their own distinct category. Not whole but still useful.

It's worth knowing. "Ebisu is an old god?" That seemed to be what Ginia had said earlier, those in the suits were Ebisu and his shinki, she seemed to imply he was not 'their generation'.

"Yes, one of the few that's in regular contact with our generation. He is a God of Fortune, in status and domain."

That too will require some explaining as well. It's probably best to cover some other terms as well. Their generation seems to care less about status and rank, but the old very care much and titles still carry power. It's a delicate balance of politics and playing a role while quietly subverting them.

"Among the old, there are seven gods known collectively as the Seven Lucky Gods or Seven Gods of Fortune. They are highly influential and powerful gods in their own right. Ebisu is one such god. Outside of the Seven Lucky Gods, there are other Gods of Fortune who have risen in status, power, and influence. Within our generation, there are three such gods."

Ginia glances around the site to see if any of them are around. No doubt Shun is around given as he rarely misses a training session. Hakkai she sees less often, and she hasn't seen any of Hibiki's dramatics (though her spygoats are certainly around).

"Between the old and new gods, the big difference is the old gods are born and sustained by belief. If they lose all their followers, they'll disappear entirely. On the other hand, all new gods were brought here and placed in the role they are in. The differences between old and new shinki are far more numerous and important. The pamphlet touches briefly on them."

Hierarchy and rank, Nesir understands these even as Ginia starts to explain. Not all the gods are equal, not just between old and new but within those generations as well. Seven gods of fortune, of which Ebisu is one of them. Influential and powerful and Ginia serves one of them. Other gods of fortune, more powerful than the rest of them. Three in the new generation.

"I have read the pamphlet." She nodded, differences between them, it mentioned new Shinki may remember things from before, old shinki never did. New Shinki kept their names.

"New shinki can serve old gods. Do old shinki serve new gods?" How much is intermingled or are these old, new, cracked and soulless all separate.

As much information as possible, to prevent tripping up later. People seem to be forgiving of mistakes, happy to answer questions. But it is her first day, they might not be so willing later, when she is supposed to know better.

If she's read the pamphlet, then Ginia doesn't need to harp too much on the point of memories. It's the biggest one, ultimately. Though she hasn't heard of anyone causing an old shinki to fall, Ginia also knows no one spends as much time around old shinki as she does.

"I don't see why an old shinki couldn't." It's an interesting question, one Ginia hasn't considered. It seems likely given how settled old shinki are with their gods, but a minor god can disappear just as easily as a new god. Would an old shinki consider serving a new god given the choice? Or are they more likely to try to find a god of their generation to serve? There's also the fact it doesn't seem like any of the new gods have named a wandering soul as the old do.

These are questions to ponder on her own time.

"It's nothing I've heard of happening, but I wouldn't stay it's impossible. Just as it wasn't impossible for me to be named by an old god. It all came down to asking."

It might be possible yet no one had done it yet. Nesir nodded. Was it that they stuck to their own? Or were old shinki less likely to leave a god they were unhappy with, like Ginia had spoken of.

Or perhaps it was just that no one had asked. "Are you the only new shinki to be named by an old god?"

That seemed to be what her words were implying, she had said that Ebisu was one of the few old gods that was in regular contact with the new.

"As far as I can tell, though several work in his temple as part-time employees without a name." It's a bit of a detour, but she might as well explain that portion too. Self-serving, but still beneficial. Ginia hasn't heard of anyone joining a temple without access to food or other necessities, but things can certainly feel tight at the beginning. Especially in the service of a new god.

"Food and other necessities are provided by the temple, but income is given by the followers of a god. Sometimes offerings are made as well. But some people like having extra spending money or feel awkward relying on their god for everything or want to help out. So seeking work is an option.

"But as it can be difficult for us to find work on the Near Shore, Ebisu offers work to anyone looking to make some extra money. No name needed as most of the work is sorting and organizing things. Occasionally assisting with prayers."

It's a slight twist on the situation, but no less true. The work gets done, people get paid without the trouble of finding employment on the Near Shore, the money goes back into the economy.

Without a name? It took a moment for Nesir to figure out what she meant by that. Working for him but not becoming one of his shinki.

The rest of the information Nesir took in in silence. Food was provided by the temple and income was given by the followers of a god. People paid gods? People sought work as well if they did not want to rely on their god for everything.

"People try to find work on the Near Shore?"

It was where the living lived? But clearly if they were to fight the ayakashi there and answer prayers gods and shinki were able to travel there. But who would employ a dead soul?

"They do. It's a little harder, but there are broader opportunities too." It takes a bit more effort, but even Ginia won't deny it's more interesting than office work. Not to mention as nice as Ebisu is, even she understands not everyone wants to be beholden to a powerful old god. Politics are always at play.

"Has anyone told you what to expect if you go to the Near Shore?"

Interesting. Nesir nodded but then shook her head at the question. "No. It didn't mention that in the pamphlet."

And so far Ginia has been the most forthcoming with information out of all the people she has met.

It's something Ginia has noticed about the pamphlet. Granted, it's less a guide to being a shinki and adding more would make the pamphlet even wordier, but it's still information that needs to be shared somehow. Hence the magazine, which she really needs to find time to work on.

"It's advised you can cast a borderline before you go down, or otherwise be fast on your feet. Ayakashi can come out of nowhere and move fast. The biggest thing is you always want to carry blessed water with you. It can't kill ayakashi, but it can stun them. It's good for cleaning off blight too. I'd learn the area around your god's shrine first, know the quickest ways to get back there."

Blessed water, the pamphlet had mentioned that. Not how to get it, but if Ginia was suggesting carrying with it it seemed it was not something accessible in many places.

Borderlines had been mentioned in the pamphlet too, Nesir had tried the technique in it earlier and nothing had happened. But she imagined learning such a thing would be more difficult than reading the description and succeeding first try.

She turns slightly away from Ginia so there is a space, she uses her left hand to make a halberd shape, as she was missing the fingers necessary on her right. She thought about a line, a shield and swiped her arm through the air. "Line!"

A shimmer, a line sprung up. It was not very big or very strong but it was there.

"Is that correct?"

Her sign mentioned borderline help so Nesir figured Ginia knew what she was doing.

Ginia rises from the table to take a closer look at Nesir's borderline. That she can already cast one is a good sign; not every shinki can. From there it's a matter of refining and growing stronger. Confidence, a strong sense of self, faith in one's god, there's a lot to work with. She nods her approval.

"Good job. How do you feel casting it? Does it feel easy or hard? Draining?"

Nesir nodded, satisfied that she had managed. She answers truthfully, those that teach need true answers or students never learn. "Draining. I tried earlier but couldn't form one at all." But she had this time, she can take satisfaction in that. She lets it drop, finding it hard to talk and maintain it.

"I am hoping it is a skill that will get easier with practice." The method was not difficult but clearly there was more to it than just the movement and the word, something that could be strengthened.

Draining seems right. It took awhile before the drain eased off and it wasn't until she had to hold a borderline for hours on end did she truly understand her strengths and weaknesses. For the first day, it's a matter of learning basics.

"It does. It also helps to understand how borderlines work. They draw on our energy and in some ways our connection to our god. A shinki without a name cannot cast a borderline. They are also forged on our sense of self, our confidence, power, and purpose."

Ginia strikes down a borderline wall with a swift draw of her hand. A shining wall springs into existence, solid and glowing between them. Ginia continues to type as she maintains it.

"In its base form, it's a barrier. You on one side, something else on the other. It's easy to draw a borderline against something like an ayakashi if you want to keep it away from you. It's also easy drawing a borderline if you're protecting someone. That's the purpose part. Make sense so far?"

Those with no names could not cast borderlines. That explained why literally nothing had happened when she had tried earlier. Now she had a name, given to her by a god she could cast magic. Also confidence, sense of self, power and purpose. She's not sure about sense of self, she has absolutely no idea who she is but the rest...

She raises an eye at Ginia's borderline. She can see how much more powerful it is. It was easier to draw if against an ayakashi or protecting someone. Purpose. She nodded.

"I understand, if you have a reason for casting it it will be stronger than if you do not."

If this is what Ginia can do with no monster to fight she must be strong indeed.

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