The fog hadn't rolled in yet, but it would. It always did.
She kept to the edge of the dock, close enough to the water that the boards were slick beneath her boots. People didn't like walking there. That made it useful.
She counted three lanterns ahead, two behind, and none close enough to matter. That was normal. Normal however didn't mean safe. Her trousers were torn from endless days on the street, boots scuffed from running both from local thugs and Highlanders alike. Silver hair brushed her shoulders as she moved, jade eyes catching the lanternlight.
She wasn't meant to be here after dark, but she spurred on anyway determined to reach the shrine located near the far end of the dock.
It was the one the fishermen always prayed to. The one that blessed their voyages hoping to come back with just enough to at least feed their families, if they were lucky maybe they could make some extra cash selling to the people that weren't so lucky.
Following the orange glow of the lanterns she moved quickly along the dock. Her head remained on a swivel, looking out for anyone watching her.
"It's way too quiet right now. Even for Froja there's normally some people around" She thought.
At last, she reached the shrine. It wasn't fancy, a few unlit candles sat around the worn marble statue that stuck out among the depravity of Froja. But it was all they had, all they could give, whether the godappreciated it or not nobody knew.
"Ok let's get this started" she said rubbing her hands together in excitement.
Pulling some chalk out of her pocket, which she had swiped earlier that day she started recreating the ritual circle that she had been watching the sailors make for weeks. She meticulously kept drawing under the light of the lanterns. She finished the circle and humming quietly to herself she started to light the candles using the matches left by the base of the statue. She stepped into the circle looking up at the night sky.
If anyone saw her, it wouldn't just be a beating.
As she was about to start the chants she'd heard ever since she was a child, A man burst from the shadows, running straight toward the shrine.
"Don't you dare say a word Astrea" He shouted.
Astrea turned around trying to spot where the voice was coming from. She sighed heavily before stepping out of the circle.
"I'm out, I'm out" she said, "Relax Holt."
Holt had now reached Astrea looking dishevelled, his right arm lay limp at his side as he grasped it with his left, his face contorted in pain. Astrea looking at Holt became more serious.
"Holt. What happened to you".
"I'm not talking about it".
"Tell me what happened…please".
Holt looked away looking almost ashamed,
"It was just some local guys. You're still a child, don't get involved in adult affairs." Holt stopped to take a breath. "Now care to explain what the hell you think you're doing?"
It was Astrea turn to look ashamed.
"I just wanted to become one of the Touched" she said her face downcast.
Holt, despite his injuries, smiled. He faced the sea looking out towards the horizon. "There's more than just the ritual circle and chants to be touched by Kujira".
"Then tell me what I need to do. Why won't you tell me?" Astrea responded.
Holt turned to leave the dock. As he left, he had one final thing to say.
"You're not ready Astrea. Let's go home".
He started to walk off the dock and Astrea begrudgingly followed. However, leaving the dock she felt uneasy as if someone was watching and waiting. She looked around up and down the dock surveying each inch of the dock as she walked. Though no one was there.
Looking more closely at Holt, Astrea realised that the arm lying at his side seemed almost translucent and had trouble keeping its shape.
"No local thugs could do that to someone's arm." She thought.
They wound through dim side streets and alleys before reaching Holt's house. As they rested in the house and ate together, Holt decided that today he would explain everything to Astrea.
"To be touched," He began "You need to train both your body, understand yourself and feel the energy that flows through you".
Astrea looked confused at the last part, so Holt continued.
"You'll feel it when it matters."
With that Astrea seemed to better understand why Holt had stopped her. Astrea had heard stories about what could happen to those rejected by the gods. Bodies contorted into unrecognisable heaps of flesh.
"Holt, I need you to train me please. I want the power of the Touched. I need it". Said Astrea
"You should get some rest. I'll take you out tomorrow and you can start training since you want this so desperately." Said Holt smiling.
Astrea moving towards the mat on the floor whispered one last thing to Holt.
"Thank you, this means a lot to me."
With that she fell asleep.
#######
Suddenly a crash echoed through the house. Astrea stood up instantly, still groggy from being half asleep. Walking through the door were three men moving motivated on pure malice.
"Where's our money Holt. Y'know we told you today was the deadline buddy." Said the man in the middle.
"I told you earlier today I just need a little more time I'm begging you" began Holt emerging from his room, walking towards the men. "Please Sodom, I've been unlucky fishing allow me some more time".
The man named Sodom threw a punch straight at Holt who didn't attempt to dodge. He took the hit falling backwards crashing to the floor.
Astrea as soon as Holt fell to the ground, ran to stand in front of him spreading her arms to protect him.
"Get the fuck out the way." Sodom said.
"Make me" said Astrea
Laughing Sodom seemed entertained by Astrea, however he wasn't here to mess around. Without notice Astrea felt herself unable to move, bound by some invisible force. The two men who had entered with Sodom both grabbed Astrea and threw her against the wall. Her body crumpled as she hit the wall, falling to the ground in pain. Holt by this time had gotten up off the floor. He stared at the Sodom accepting that now he had no choice but to fight.
Holt could see the mirage behind Sodom. Not close enough to touch but close enough that the space between them felt claimed. Blue-black skin caught no light, one eye open and sharp, the other half-lidded in patient refusal. A thin cord rested in its left hand, weightless, waiting. A straight blade hung at its side, quiet, as if cutting were beneath it. Fire rose behind the figure, silent and unmoving. He recognised it as Fudō Myōō, the Immovable Wisdom King.
Holt manifested his own mirage. Behind him, a vast figure took shape in the air. A broad, humanoid form draped in net-like robes, skin the colour of deep water, marked by pale scars like old harpoon lines. Heavy eyes reflected a distant horizon, calm and endless. Looming over it all was the faint outline of a colossal whale, translucent and glowing softly, its presence felt more than seen. Kujira, God of the fishermen.
"What's his activation condition for his ability" Holt thought.
Holt activated his own ability summoning a fishing rod out of thin air. Instead of one hook at the end of the rod there seemed to be 3 different, independent hooks. However, before Holt could even attempt to figure out what to do, he felt his muscles seize up as an insurmountable pressure built up on his body.
"Since you can't pay, we'll take your body as payment." Sodom sneered. Turning to his friends he said, "Pick him up, we're leaving".
They went to pick him up, however Astrea finally got up moving once again to trying to protect Holt.
"This girl doesn't know when to quit, should we just kill her." Said one of the men.
"Whatever, do what you want." Sodom said.
That man moved towards Astrea his smile cutting through the darkness. He aimed a swift kick at Astrea connecting with her stomach. Her body skid across the floor. Ripping skin from her arms. She tried to stand getting to her knees. A punch landed before she could get to her feet. Giving her no time to recover, another punch landed. Then another. Punch after punch. Kick after kick landed on Astrea's broken body. Blood splattered painting the floor red.
"Why am I so weak…" Astrea thought, "Every time I can't save anyone".
"Hurry up Stick we're leaving," said Sodom.
"Jeez man I'm coming."
Landing one last punch Stick left the house with Sodom and the other man taking Holt with them, leaving Astrea clinging to life on the floor.
"Is this it?" Astrea thought, "Is it really over? It can't be over."
Fading in and out of consciousness, Astrea's mind faded to black.