Chapter 8: The Shrine of Secrets

Luis stood at the edge of the Himejima shrine, the moonlight casting long shadows across the ancient grounds. The soft wind rustled through the trees, making the shrine feel eerily alive, as though it were watching, waiting. Suzaku's invitation had been clear—meet her here, and she would tell him everything.

But Luis wasn't sure he wanted to know everything.

After the encounter with the mysterious stranger in the woods, and Rias's warning about the Underworld factions closing in, Luis's mind had been a maelstrom of questions. The past few days felt like a dark cloud was hovering just out of reach, threatening to engulf him. And now, this exorcist—Suzaku—had dangled yet another piece of the puzzle in front of him.

What was this bigger picture everyone seemed to know about except me?

Luis walked further into the shrine, his red eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement. The stillness was unsettling. If Suzaku had invited him here, where was she?

Suddenly, a soft voice came from behind him. "I didn't think you'd come."

Luis spun around to see Suzaku emerging from the shadows, her sharp eyes fixed on him with a calculating gaze. She was dressed differently now, in a traditional black-and-white shrine maiden's outfit, blending into the sacred atmosphere of the shrine.

"You said you'd tell me the truth," Luis replied, his voice cold but steady. "So I came. But if this is some kind of trap…"

Suzaku shook her head, her expression serious. "It's not a trap. I meant what I said. I want to help you."

Luis didn't trust her, not entirely. But something in her voice—perhaps the same unsettling truth that had been hinted at by the stranger and Rias—made him stay. He needed answers, and Suzaku seemed willing to provide them.

"Start talking then," Luis said, crossing his arms. "What do you know about me? About why I'm here?"

Suzaku looked at him for a long moment before gesturing for him to follow her. She led him deeper into the shrine grounds, to a small, secluded area surrounded by tall trees and ancient stone lanterns. The moonlight barely filtered through the dense canopy, casting the area in an eerie, otherworldly glow.

"Before I explain," Suzaku began, stopping in front of a large stone statue of a fierce, armored figure, "you need to understand that the world we live in is far more complex than devils, angels, and humans. There are older forces at work—ones that have been moving in the shadows long before any of us were born."

Luis's eyes narrowed. "Older forces? What are you talking about?"

Suzaku placed her hand on the stone statue, her expression grave. "You've heard of gods, haven't you? Not just the ones worshipped in modern times, but the ancient ones—forgotten deities from before the rise of the current pantheon. They existed long before the factions you know, and their power shaped the very fabric of the world."

Luis's heart raced as he processed her words. Gods—real, ancient gods. He had fought devils and dealt with angels, but this was different. This was something primal, something much older and far more dangerous.

"And what do they have to do with me?" Luis asked, though a part of him already suspected the answer.

Suzaku turned to face him, her eyes sharp and focused. "You weren't just thrown into this world by accident, Luis. You were brought here by design—by one of these forgotten gods. The power you possess, the monstrous strength, it's not just a coincidence. It's a fragment of a god's will, a remnant of a power that was meant to change the world."

Luis's chest tightened, his breath coming faster. A god's will? The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but the picture they formed was far darker than he had imagined.

"Who?" Luis demanded, his voice edged with anger. "Which god?"

Suzaku hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. "I don't know exactly which one. But what I do know is that this god saw something in you—something that made you worthy of carrying this power. And now, that power is drawing attention from the other gods. They see you as a threat… or an opportunity."

Luis's mind reeled. So this was why everyone had been watching him, why the stranger had approached him, why Rias had warned him about the factions. It wasn't just about his strength. It was about the force behind it—the god who had chosen him.

"Why would a god choose me?" Luis asked, his voice low, almost a whisper.

Suzaku shook her head. "That's the part I don't know. But what I do know is that whatever this god's plan was, it's not over. You were brought here for a reason, and now that reason is coming to light."

Luis took a step back, his fists clenched at his sides. He had always thought he was in control, that his power was his to wield. But now… now it seemed like he was just another pawn in a game he didn't even know he was playing.

"You're saying I'm just some tool for a god?" Luis growled, his anger bubbling to the surface. "That everything I've done, everything I've fought for, was all just part of their plan?"

Suzaku met his gaze, her expression calm but serious. "Not a tool. A weapon. But whether you let them use you, or you take control of your own fate—that's up to you."

Luis's heart pounded in his chest. He wasn't going to let anyone, god or otherwise, control him. He had fought too hard, bled too much, to be someone else's weapon. But the question was—how could he break free of a destiny that had been written long before he was even born?

"You said the gods see me as a threat or an opportunity," Luis said, his voice cold. "Which one do you see me as?"

Suzaku smiled faintly. "I see you as someone who needs to know the truth. And I think you're strong enough to decide for yourself what to do with it."

Luis's eyes narrowed, but he didn't respond. He wasn't sure he trusted her, but her words rang true. He wasn't going to be anyone's pawn, not the gods', not the factions'. He would find a way to take control of his own fate.

"What now?" Luis asked after a long pause.

Suzaku turned away from the statue and began walking back toward the main shrine. "Now, you prepare. The gods aren't the only ones watching you. The factions are getting restless, and the storm Azazel spoke of is almost here. When it hits, you'll need to be ready to fight."

Luis followed her, his mind racing with the weight of the truth he had just learned. The gods were watching him, and his power wasn't just his own. But he wasn't going to sit back and wait for them to use him. He was going to take control, fight back, and forge his own path—even if it meant defying the gods themselves.

"I'll be ready," Luis said, his voice hard with determination.

Suzaku glanced over her shoulder, her eyes glinting in the moonlight. "I hope so, Luis. Because once this starts, there's no turning back."