☀️ Arselia and Akonia

- Health? - suggested Minako.
- Love? - suggested Sonata.

- Yes, - Aiyano nods. - Although, the sample size is still small, so it could still change. Let's see what worries the residents of Margel the most.

- Aiyano? - The student waved her slender fingers in front of the eyes of the thoughtful priestess. - Are you okay?.. Are you hungry? I have a bun from the cafeteria in my bag, do you want one? Don't let the place it was made be a deterrent, it's very tasty, with poppy seeds. And we have very strict sanitary standards in our academy, so don't be afraid.

- Thank you, Minako-chan, you are very kind. But I'm fine, I don't need it, - the priestess stammered, barely recovering from a diabetic crisis.

- So, for the duration of your assignment, I will be the acting priestess of Yanagi, and the parishioners... will be followers of Yanagi? Or does it not really matter? I just want to know what to answer if any of the visitors ask me such a question.

- In my opinion, it doesn't matter, because we are all "followers" of Anuzish. As I always explain: if you imagine Anuzish as a single organism, then Kami are its components, like individual manifestations of her nature. Hmm... Like blood cells?... If, of course, they have already been invented in our time? Or like individual trees that make up a forest; or like flowers - a garden. You know, our new patriarch told me that it is arrogance or misunderstanding to believe that Anuzish cares about some minor details of the lives of individual people. And this can be understood - the world is huge, and we are small. Some of our prayers and hopes probably reach her, but it is very unlikely that all of them are heard. However, the Kami, as entities of a more local order, exist in a corresponding paradigm. And if you think about it, it's perfectly logical. Suppose you live in a small town in a vast empire, and you have some business - for example, you want to open your own store. You wouldn't send a request about this to the emperor, would you? You would go to the local governing body, which is responsible for this issue. The same can be extrapolated to the nature of Anuzish. Suppose you have lived all your life in Margel and have never left it. Accordingly, when you think about the "nature of Anuzish," the first thing that comes to mind is our biome of sea, river, forest, and hills, but not desert, mountains, or tropical jungles, even if you realize that they also exist and are an integral part of it, and you may have even seen pictures and photographs of them in books and magazines. That's the whole point. You see, many philosophical and ideological views elevate certain extremely high values to the forefront, to which a person must be "trained," and for the sake of which one can even sacrifice other things. This may be the idea that a person is a cog in society, or the pursuit of absolute freedom within the same society, the worship of competition and money, or some very strict virtues... In this regard, the concept of venerating Anuzish as an unconditional fact of our existence is the most sensible, because all this actually exists, outside the realm of human ideas. And yet, people continue to live their everyday lives, full of hardships, doubts, and fears, and they need to have some hope, a ray of confidence that in the end everything will be alright. Not always do people need some incredible super-idea of their existence in order to have the strength to move forward in life; sometimes they need simple everyday confidence in their abilities or some small amulet. "I hope I pass the exam," "I hope I meet my love," "I hope my grandmother lives a long and healthy life"... Doesn't a person have the right to wish to live a life that is decent, respectful, and in harmony with the world around them, and to hope for understanding and care from the world in return?... I think they do.
Sighing, she summarizes the sprawling thought:
- I can't fully call it a "teaching" or a "faith," just as I can't call "faith in Anuzish" one - because the fact of her existence is self-evident even without any philosophical constructs. But at the same time, I perfectly understand that, despite the nominally approved diversity of beliefs in the empire and beyond, not everyone will agree with this line of thinking. Someone might call it a "sect," like those popular teachings that you already have, and I wouldn't agree with that. However, I understand that this issue may be sensitive, and I don't have any strict, militant missionary goals; all this exists only for cultural and aesthetic nourishment and spiritual rest and encouragement for people. So, if the conversation ever turns in that direction, and someone fundamentally does not accept such a spiritual paradigm as part of the generally accepted "worship of Anuzish," then it can be referred to as the "Temple of Yanagi"... This name has deep historical roots for my people, even if it is not relevant in the local empire. It would be fair to preserve it at least in this form...

- By the way, Aiyano, I completely forgot to tell you, Lord was here earlier, he was waiting for you, it seems.
- Ano... I think that man might have left because of me, - Minako lowered her head guiltily, - I was somehow scared of him and couldn't bring myself to talk to him... It was very rude of me, I'm sorry...

- It's okay, it's his fault. It's his choice that his style looks so unfriendly, and therefore he is also responsible for it, - she reassured the girl. - But he's not the kind of person who would leave because of such awkwardness. He probably decided not to interfere, or maybe he suddenly remembered something. And in general... He's warmer than he seems at first glance. By the way, he's my first parishioner! Well... Even if he has special reasons for this, it's still good for his soul. In general, there was one thing planned for today with his participation... A small modification, so to speak. Let me take a look, it will take a couple of seconds, - she ran back to look at the box.