"Lady Himiko."
As a junior shrine maiden, Kanna held Himiko in great respect.
"You did well guiding them here, Kanna."
Himiko looked as though she had long expected these people to come.
"Kanna, stay behind. The honored guests will need to go up alone."
She gave Sakumura, who was walking at the front, a slight bow.
"It's fine. Kanna will be in Lady Himiko's care."
They all addressed one another as "my lady" or "my lord," which made the scene look rather comical for a moment.
After all, they were all people of some standing within the village, so such forms of address were perfectly normal.
It just looked a little strange.
Watching their departing backs, Himiko turned to Kanna with a faint smile.
"Come inside, Kanna."
After praying to the Mountain God and cleaning the shrine, the three shrine maidens sat in a side room.
"I had a dream. It was something that made me uneasy, Lady Himiko."
In the silence, Kanna spoke in a slightly trembling voice.
"I saw the Mountain God standing upon a black lake, watching me. The mountaintop and the village were both engulfed in a raging sea of fire. Was that a prophetic dream?"
She looked at Himiko helplessly.
Sen no Rikyu could not give her an answer, and Sakumura could not understand her unease, so confiding in Himiko was her only option.
Iyo and Himiko exchanged a glance. Himiko sighed and gently shook her head.
"Kanna, both Lady Himiko and I had the same dream. Without a doubt, it was a prophetic dream."
"Is the Mountain God... angry?"
After hesitating for a moment, Kanna asked cautiously.
"No. It was definitely not anger."
Himiko spoke, denying Kanna's guess.
Her eyes were thoughtful and solemn.
"Iyo, Kanna, this may be difficult for you to accept,