They had always existed. The offerings to the luck god Ebisu. Most often, these consisted of coins of little value or baskets filled with the meager food the villagers could gather. Yet there were exceptions. Occasionally, when a child was born with some unusual trait, it would be offered to the god they so revered as a bride.
Sota had been prepared for his fate from an early age. Since his birth, he had been led to the pier on his birthdays, where he spent hours gazing out at the vast sea. This was done for two reasons. People believed that the bride of the god had to be presented anew each year in case signs appeared indicating that Ebisu was not satisfied with her. The second reason was far crueler: Sota was being prepared to fulfill his duty and die in the cold waters of the sea.
No matter how special and honorable this duty seemed, people avoided him. Even his parents could barely wait for the day when they could give their Omega son to Ebisu. The villagers shunned him as well, so Sota did his best to accept being alone. Someday, perhaps, he would be lucky. Why did he think so? He was being prepared to be the bride of a god and perform a ritual once he reached his twentieth year—but the fact that he would die in the process was kept from him.
Sometimes, when loneliness became overwhelming, Sota would sit on the pier and speak to Ebisu. It was not the usual chatter or the asking for wishes that might bring him wealth and prosperity. No. He would ask the god, from time to time, if he was nervous, how he felt, and what he did down in the sea all the time. Of course, he never received an answer. Perhaps he wouldn't have known how to respond anyway. But he cherished those moments. For a while, he felt that he was not entirely alone.
The time soon came. For weeks, the old fishing village had been abuzz with activity. Everyone, regardless of age, worked to repair the old huts, sweep the paths, and gather as much decoration as possible. Everything had to be perfect. And tomorrow, it would finally happen. Sota would turn twenty and bring prosperity.
Sota himself was not to help. After all, it was his special day. So he did what he did every year when the white lilies that surrounded the village bloomed. He picked one, inhaled its scent, and tossed it with a smile into the mirror-like sea, where the tiny waves it caused spread far.
"Hey, Sota!" A familiar voice called out. One of his Alpha brothers, on the elder's orders, was to take him to the main hall for a fitting. "The elder's been waiting! Hurry up!" He sounded stern, but Sota didn't think he meant it that way. Even though Omegas were obviously not well-regarded, the burden the Alphas carried seemed far greater to Sota.
His brother and Sota both bowed deeply before the elder, who acknowledged the gesture with a nod and then, almost absentmindedly, gestured to a corner of the room. Other Omegas waited there with a beautiful kimono. It was white and pink, like Sota's hair, and brought a joyful smile to his lips. "This is…!" he wanted to say, "beautiful." But he was met not only with a stern look from the elder but also reproachful gazes from the Omegas, and his brother gave him a shove forward. "Do not speak unless you are spoken to!" Startled, Sota looked at his brother and nodded.
As much as he delighted in the beautiful kimono, that joy vanished. Once again, he felt like an unwanted means to an end. He did not even understand why he was treated this way. It often seemed that his mere existence was a problem. But was it really? The obi of the kimono was tightened until Sota let out a loud cry. "Be quiet!" complained one of the Omegas. "Tomorrow you'll have it over with anyway." The other Omega nodded. "Yes, then you'll rot at the bottom of the sea, and if Ebisu wills it, you'll grant us the prosperity we deserve." Sota froze as he heard their words. They had been so angry at his cry of pain that they probably hadn't even noticed they had revealed a long-kept secret.
Sota's eyes widened in shock. "What do you mean? At the bottom of the sea?!" he shouted, frantically trying to undo the obi and take off the kimono. "You want to kill me?!" Tears welled in his eyes as he fearfully tried to put distance between himself and the others. The obi slipped to the ground, and the kimono hung open as the two Omegas held him. "Ryo!" he called to his brother. "Help me!" His brother shook his head, laughing. "It's your fate. Accept it. You don't matter anyway. I mean… look at yourself! Blue eyes, your hair… You're not normal!" Even the elder gestured with a sweeping hand toward another room. "Lock him up. It didn't go as planned, but so be it. We'll perform the sacrifice tomorrow morning and celebrate afterward."
The next morning, it finally happened. Sota had struggled with hands and feet against being locked up, and now against the Omegas trying to dress him. This time, however, some spear-wielding Alphas were with them to help. "No matter what you do, it ends today. Better enjoy it! It must be hard to be wanted by no one!" The last words pierced Sota's heart, and he finally allowed them to dress him. He was then led, accompanied by the entire village, to the pier, where a chain with heavy stones was fastened to him. As soon as it was secured, he turned to see his parents and began to cry. "Please!! I don't want to die… I beg you! I've done nothing wrong!" But the response was first silence, followed by laughter. "Ebisuuu, hear us! Here is your long-awaited bride!" The armed villagers, accompanied by priests, pushed Sota forward to the end of the pier. He tried repeatedly to turn or loosen the chain, but could not. He now stood at the end of the wooden pier, where he had often enjoyed peaceful hours.
He looked into the water, and instead of lilies, it was now his tears that disturbed the mirror-like surface. "Please… I don't want to die…" he whispered quietly, knowing no one would hear him no matter how hard he tried.
"Then, you, wanted by no one, fulfill your fate and enter the realm of the great Ebisu!" A priest spoke these words, and the armed Alphas shoved Sota into the water. He managed to turn one last time so that he could see the villagers cheering as he fell into the cold depths. He thrashed wildly, but the stones dragged him mercilessly deeper into his watery grave. Eventually, as he felt the air leaving his lungs, he closed his eyes and awaited death.
But nothing happened!
He continued to wait, still alive. Only when he felt something large swimming around him did he dare to open his eyes. Pitch-black night surrounded him. Wrapped around him was a dragon, looking directly at him. "Hello, Sota," it spoke calmly. "Your fate was ended by others, but I, who am so old, wish to do us both a favor. I am weary of eternal existence and will swap our fates. Use your new power wisely." The dragon paused, studying Sota, who remained only sad. "And thank you for the beautiful lilies… Farewell – Ebisu."
A sudden whirl surrounded Sota, and the Omega didn't know what had happened when he opened his eyes again. Everything looked the same, yet incredibly magnificent. Far better than the poor fishing village could ever have imagined. But that wasn't all. The world looked transformed, and he felt filled with a feeling he could not yet name.
Countless sea creatures swam around him, seemingly waiting for his reaction. But before he could speak, an overwhelming fatigue overtook him. His eyes closed, and he fell into a slumber that would not end for centuries.