“The maiden of that shrine, she’s got to be way older than she looks. When she's not busy, you can go talk to her, she’s good at telling stories and gives great life advice, but don’t try to ask her about anything personal. There’s something about her eyes, and the way she talks, it’s almost like it’s not human. Make sure you keep her in your prayers and never let your children disrespect her.”
I used to never believe in divine power, that there were any gods out there. One day while visiting a shrine I did something stupid, I can barely remember what it was, but I angered one of them. As punishment I was sent back hundreds of years in the past and put into the body of a beautiful shrine maiden. To break the curse, I have no choice but to watch over this shrine, waiting for the years to pass until the present day returns.
This body is magical—I don’t age, and I can heal from anything. A couple of generations have already passed. The shrine has started to feel like home. I can leave it anytime I want, though after a few hours I start to feel uncomfortable and I end up returning. The area is still very rural, but in that time I’ve watched the small towns grow, and more people come to the shrine and come to see me. After hearing all their stories and their wishes, I’ve started to become invested in them and started caring about what happens to them. I pray for miracles and I try to ask for favors from the gods of this land. I can’t feel them and I haven’t noticed them respond, but I am still hopeful and I keep trying.
As time passes, fewer and fewer people believe in the divine power. They still come, but out of tradition, and they no longer fear the god of this shrine. Sometimes it makes me angry, sometimes it makes me sad, but I still smile. I’m just happy that they come to me.
I feel the presence more and more. When I’m alone, when I really concentrate, I feel something, something inside of me. I don't know what it is, I can't see it or talk to it. It doesn’t have a consciousness, it’s not something else. Sometimes I feel like it’s just me. I don't know what it means. It's both scary and comforting.
I don't know if it's because I've been doing it for so long, but whenever someone comes and pays their respects, it makes me happy on the inside, almost as if my own soul is the one being satisfied.
I know it’s still so far away, but every day I dream of the day when I will be freed. I will prove myself, I will make it up to the gods. It's becoming harder to remember what life without my shrine was like, but I know it's got to be even better than this.