Two Eyes Cenote The Menu

Eset’s sincere welcome made Keiko smile.

Though they did not speak the same language, Keiko felt a strong spiritual bond with Eset. Perhaps it was because they were both servants of great deities. Eset had Toula, Keiko had Hokkyokusei-sama, and together they shared a great humility and reverence for their gods.

Keiko felt that if she paid tribute to one region’s Kami and culture, perhaps Hokkyokusei-sama’s Eden would garner notoriety and respect as well.

~

The Miko followed Eset through Muat-Riya’s long halls until they arrived at her shinshitsu – though Keiko felt this was not the right word! The luxurious room was unlike any bedchamber she had ever seen. Keiko audibly gasped and put one paw over her mouth. “Subarashii desu!” she exclaimed as she took in all the decorations, big and small.

Then, she spotted the fine fur of an ocelot on her bed. She stroked the silky fur with one paw. Truly, this was a treasure.

=“Thank you, Eset-san. It is beautiful,”= she told her friend as she placed one paw upon her own heart. Then, Keiko unpackaged a gift meant for Eset. It was certainly more humble: a seasonal hairpiece made of twisted, green-colored Akai-Ki leaves, ribboned with white birch, and adorned with dried red chrysanthemum blooms.

“Kanzashi,” she explained and gestured to Eset’s raven locks.