Scenario:Indala and Sandira - The Snake and Horse's To-Do List

The Snake and Horse's To-Do List

Indala visits the Horse Temple to assist with Sandira's work, only to find that she has already completed most of it. Noticing Sandira's accumulated fatigue, Indala uses her power to offer some relief and advises the Divine Horse to rely on the other Divine Generals more. After cleaning up a forgotten storehouse together, Indala and Sandira find themselves one step closer to each other.

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Indala is paying a visit to the Horse Temple to teach Sandira a few more details about the role of the year spirit.

Indala: Work that's been piling up for 108 years... I've blocked out five days of my schedule for this, but I wonder if we'll be able to get through everything.

Besides passing on her year spirit duties, Indala is also hoping to help out with the accumulated workload at the Horse Temple.

Indala: Since I've already let Sandira know via letter that I intend on assisting with her work, everything should be good to go. Hehe, I'm itching to get started!

Sandira: Indala! Shiro! Thank you very much for coming all this way to the Horse Temple.

Indala: It's nothing. How are you though, Sandira? Have you gotten used to being the year spirit yet?

Sandira: I'm afraid I'm still lacking in many areas and continuing to cause trouble for everyone. Why, just yesterday...

Sandira: Ah! Where are my manners? I should be welcoming guests with a nice cup of tea.

Sandira: You must be fatigued from your long journey. I shall prepare the tea immediately.

Indala: Thanks. But actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to get to work as soon as possible...

Shiro: My master is starving for work. As much as we appreciate the warm welcome, it'd be great if you could satisfy her craving soon.

Sandira: Oh my. Well, that can certainly be arranged. If you could follow me this way.

With Indala's efficient efforts, the stacks of paper on Sandira's desk begin to disappear at an incredible speed.

Sandira: I must say, I'm surprised that mountain of tasks has vanished so quickly!

Indala: Hehe. You're quick to learn, and that's why we were able to get through everything so smoothly. Now, what's our next task?

Sandira: Actually, that will be all. Thank you very much for the help. I will prepare some tea for us.

Indala: That's all? If you're feeling tired, I can take over your tasks as well, so go ahead and take a break without me. I can keep going.

Sandira: I appreciate your kind intentions, but there is no more work left. That was the last of it.

Indala: Wha...

Indala: The last of... what? Surely you don't mean work? It hasn't even been an hour.

Sandira: U-um, all the remaining work has... already been completed.

Indala: Wh-what about my correspondence? I sent you a letter the other day detailing how I'd help out with your workload...

Sandira: Oh yes, I received the letter. Still, as keeper of the Horse Temple, I simply cannot allow my guests to undergo such intensive labor.

Sandira: With Kurokko and Shirokko's assistance, I was able to complete a good majority of the remaining work, albeit in a hurry.

Sandira: Frankly it was due to my lack of expertise that I couldn't finish everything and had you assist me with the rest of it...

Indala: I... I see. You were trying to be considerate...

Indala: Heh... Heh heh...

With 108 years' worth of work taken away from her, Indala can only manage an empty laugh.

Sandira: Oh dear! You're shaking, Indala!

Sandira: Wait one moment. I shall prepare some tea to warm you up straight away!

Indala: Whew... Thank you. I've calmed down a bit.

Sandira: The fault is on me for failing to notice you were so cold... I'm terribly sorry for not having been more attentive.

Indala: I wasn't shaking from the cold...

Indala: Hm?

Indala notices something and reaches out to touch Sandira's forehead.

Sandira: Eep!
I-Indala? What are you...

Indala: I'm sorry I didn't realize earlier, Sandira. Seems you're pretty overworked... You've been pushing yourself too hard.

Sandira: N-not at all, I'm perfectly fine! I'm more surprised by your sudden... Ooh!

Indala: I'm able to relieve minor ailments by touching the afflicted area, you see. Seems to me like your shoulders are quite stiff too.

Indala: Usually I have a rule of one area per person, but since there isn't anything else on my plate right now, I'll work through all the parts of your body that need soothing!

Indala: And that should do it.

Once she is sure that Sandira's body has been thoroughly relieved of stress, Indala releases her.

Sandira: Huff, huff... I-is it over?

Sandira: Hm?

Sandira: Thank you so much, Indala! My body feels much lighter than before!

Indala: Hehe, I thought so. I do have one piece of advice for you, though.

Indala: Try to rely more on the other Divine Generals. While your pride as the Divine Horse is respectable, you won't last if you don't know your limit.

Sandira: Yes... You're quite right. I may have taken too much upon myself.

Indala: Hehe, you're such a good girl, Sandira. I know you meant well, and that makes me happy. But I like to work.

Indala: If I have nothing to do, I feel like I'm being left behind by society, and I start to shake.

Sandira: Would that be a normal condition nowadays? I'm afraid I'm still unfamiliar with the current Sky Realm...

Shiro: No. It is a mere quirk my master has.

Indala: In any case... I don't like having free time. I'd prefer to do some work, if possible.

Sandira: I understand... However, unfortunately there is no more work available. What shall we do...

Shirokko: Yaaawn, that was a good sleep...
Huh? Why's everyone frowning like that?

Sandira: Oh, Shirokko. Not in front of our guests!
But the both of you came at the perfect time.

Sandira fills Kurokko and Shirokko in on the situation.

Shirokko: Oh, we've got work! There's a storehouse just behind this building.

Kurokko: Since it's so hidden, I don't think anyone's cleaned that place in decades.

Indala: Decades?

Kurokko: Y-yeah... If you want something to do, you could try cleaning it.

Sandira: I hardly think it would be appropriate to have Indala clean a place neglected to that extent...

Indala: Please, leave it to me! A place that hasn't been cleaned in decades... Sounds like the perfect task that'll take a substantial amount of time.

Sandira: We've successfully unlocked the door. I'm not certain it will open though, seeing as the storehouse has been abandoned for so long.

Removing the lock, Sandira pushes on the massive door.

Sandira: Hrrrgh... It doesn't seem to be moving at all.

Indala: Hm. Let me have a try.

Sandira: Oh! So I was supposed to pull...

Shiro: You kept pushing at a door that swings the other way. Of course it won't open, silly.

Indala: Don't worry, I make the same mistake sometimes. Let's take a look inside.

Sandira: Cough, cough... This is a lot of dust...

Indala: Hehe... It's rare to come across a place so dirty. This will be a worthy task indeed.

Indala: Well, let's get started then. First we'll open the storehouse windows to let in some fresh air.

Indala and Sandira split up the work, and before they know it, the sky outside has already grown dark.

Sandira: Oh, look at the time... Shall we save the rest for tomorrow, Indala?

Indala: No, I'm fine. The longest I can stay awake for is twelve days, so I'll be able to work throughout the night for a while.

Sandira: All day and night for twelve days! I was not aware that people nowadays have evolved to such an advanced state...

Indala: Advanced... It's my first time being described as that.

Shiro: It's only my master. Don't mistake her eccentricity for the norm.

Indala: Regardless, I will be continuing my work, so feel free to rest when you need to.

Sandira: But I cannot leave all the work to you...

Indala: Try to rely more on the other Divine Generals. While your pride as the Divine Horse is respectable, you won't last if you don't know your limit.

Sandira: No, never mind—I shall take my rest. Please take care not to overwork yourself, Indala.

Indala: Of course. Good night, Sandira.

The two continue cleaning the storehouse over the next few days.

Sandira: The dusty, old storehouse has become a studio fit for high society! I can hardly recognize it!

Indala: It'd been a while since I took on such a worthwhile project.

Indala: Yaaawn... I was so eager to complete the task, I've used up more energy than I thought. Even I'm getting sleepy.

Sandira: If you'll wait a moment. I shall have a bed prepared for you immediately.

Indala: Thank you, that would be really nice.

Indala flops onto the bed that Sandira readies for her.

Indala: Somehow, it feels strange to have you prepare a bed for me, when you'd been in a never-ending sleep yourself just a while ago.

Sandira: It's a rather curious sight to see you lying down too, as I have only ever seen you awake and bustling about.

Indala: The bed you prepared is so warm. Sleep isn't my forte, but I feel I can sleep well tonight.

Sandira: That's splendid! I make sure to put the covers under the sun every day, so I'm glad to hear that it's to your liking.

Sandira: Although, I'm rather embarrassed that this is all I can do for you, considering you took on a chore of such ample measure.

Sandira: Oh, I have a wonderful idea! I shall prepare a feast for when you awake.

Indala: Thanks, Sandira. I'll dream of it in my sleep.

Soon after Indala falls asleep, the soft sounds of something cooking can be heard from the kitchen of the Horse Temple.

Through their diligent work over the past few days, the Divine Snake and the Divine Horse find themselves one step closer to each other.