Divine Purification
Zooey makes for Haramitsu Falls, the very same place the Twelve Divine Generals go for purification. Her resolve shines through as she undergoes the sacred rite with Dyrn and Lyrn.
Andira: Mahi and I will keep a lookout!
Anila: Very well. Here I go.
At the tail end of the previous year, the Joya had spread negative emotions throughout the skies before blasting off into the cosmos.
Zooey and a select few of the Twelve Divine Generals joined forces to stop the Joya in its quest for world destruction.
Because Zooey is the only one among them capable of reaching the cosmos, the Divine Generals entrusted her with the responsibility of quelling the Joya.
They now make for sacred grounds where Zooey can be purified in preparation to serve as a priestess and ring the Joya in their place.
Zooey: We're pretty deep in.
Vajra: Yep, the place is pretty far. But it won't be much longer now!
Anila: I know you're just helping us do our job, but I didn't think it'd mean a purification for you...
Vajra: There's no helping it. She has to undergo the rite if she's to ring the Joya.
Anila: That's true, but...
Zooey: ?
They are welcomed by the grand sight of a massive waterfall pounding the rocks before them.
Zooey: So this is... a waterfall?
Vajra: Yep. This your first time seeing one, Zooey?
Zooey: Uh-huh. What an amazing view! It's just beautiful.
Zooey: The air feels different too. It's really refreshing but somehow austere at the same time.
Anila: This is Haramitsu Falls, a sanctuary known only to those in our ranks among the Divine Generals.
Zooey: So this is where the purification happens...
Vajra: Mm-hm. Zooey, this way!
Vajra is as upbeat as ever as she approaches the waterfall basin.
Zooey: Hey, where are you going? You're going to run right into the waterfall.
Vajra: That's how the purification works!
Zooey: Wha?
Anila: Your shock does not come as a surprise.
Anila: The idea is to cleanse your mind and body by facing head-on the mighty cascade.
Zooey: And doing that will purify me?
Anila: Yes. While I sense no defilement from you, this is a trial that all of us priestesses must overcome.
Zooey: I see... I can understand why you were concerned.
Zooey: Withstanding this relentless downpour would be too much for any normal person.
Anila: Indeed. Waterfall training can present huge risks both mentally and physically.
Anila: The memory of my first purification rite still burns bright in my mind.
Anila: I shook in fear and wept so many tears.
Vajra: Oh, really? I didn't think anything could scare you, Anila!
Anila: I'm not some invincible being as you might believe, Vajra...
Anila: Though that was when I was much younger. I've gotten used to the frigid torrents since.
Zooey: Such a reaction is only natural for any child.
Anila: I apologize if it seems like we're forcing our traditions upon you, but will you accept the challenge?
Zooey: Of course. That's what I've come all this way for.
Vajra: Attagirl! You've got guts! But since this is your first time, I'll give you a hand.
Vajra: Gar was right beside me for my first shot at it.
Vajra: Made it so much easier!
Zooey: Thank you. But I'm sure you all ultimately overcame the trial by yourselves.
Zooey: And so I'd like to attempt it alone.
Vajra: Hm? You sure about that?
Zooey: Yes. But taking a hint from you, I suppose I can go in with Dyrn and Lyrn at first.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Grururu!
Vajra: Hahahah! Looks like you threw them quite the curveball.
Zooey: Hm... Is it too much to ask?
The dragons whimper to her in fear before the roaring waters.
Dyrn: ...!
Lyrn: ...!
Seeing Zooey's determination to go through with the challenge, they brace themselves for what's to come.
Zooey: Good dragons. Let's go.
Anila: Good luck!
Zooey: ...
Dyrn: ...
Lyrn: ...
Zooey: Rgh...
Dyrn: ...!
Lyrn: ...!
Zooey: Phew...
Dyrn: ...!
Lyrn: ...!
Vajra's Voice: Hey! That's good enough, Zooey!
Zooey: Mm... Good to know...
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Gruru!
She tries to move from the basin, but her body will not budge.
Zooey: Rgh... It's like my body's frozen...
Anila: Uh-oh, that's not good!
Vajra: Shoot! You okay, Zooey?
Zooey: Ah-choo!
Dyrn: ...
Lyrn: ...
Anila: You did splendidly, Zooey! Here, warm yourself up!
Vajra: Woo-hoo! Good going! Was that tough or what?
Zooey: Yes... It was as challenging as any battle.
Vajra: Hahahah! I hear ya!
Zooey: But to think that you all experienced this multiple times to become priestesses...
Zooey: The Twelve Divine Generals are truly special... You have my respect.
Anila: Ahaha. And now you too have earned the right to slip into these sacred robes.
Anila: You've successfully undergone this most trying of purification rites. You should be proud.
Zooey: Hehe... So I'm a priestess now...
Zooey: Thank you. This makes me happy.
Vajra: Now you're free to help us out at the temples if you're ever feeling up to it.
Zooey: If my participation is welcome, I'd be more than glad to.
Anila: Ahaha, the work at the temples is just as demanding as ringing the Joya.
Zooey: Teehee. I was able to overcome the purification rite. I could use the challenge.
Vajra: Hahahah! How reassuring! We'll be sure to ask you when the time comes.
Anila: Yes, but for now we should focus on the present rather than the future. The Joya comes first.
Vajra: Right, of course! I look forward to our time together when this whole mess is over, Zooey!
Zooey: Likewise.
The purification rite has clearly demonstrated Zooey's resolve.
Though they first came together to face an unprecedented crisis...
Strong emotional bonds have begun to take shape between the Divine Generals and the keeper of balance.
Priestess Zooey
At the Canine Temple, Zooey learns from Vajra the importance of granting good fortune to visitors. The latter goes off to deal with monsters lurking around the mountain sanctuary out back, while the former takes it upon herself to protect the Canine Temple.
To fulfill an earlier promise made to Vajra, Zooey pays a visit to the Canine Temple.
Vajra: G'morning! Thanks for coming! We've been waiting!
Garjana: ...
Puppy 1: Woof, woof!
Puppy 2: Woof!
Puppy 3: Woof...
Zooey: Ah, how nice to see you all again.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Gruru!
Vajra: Everyone's been anxious to see you.
Puppy 1: Woof!
Puppy 2: Woof, woof!
Puppy 3: Rrowf!
Zooey: Haha. I hope you'll get along with Dyrn and Lyrn as well.
Zooey: Wow, it's so lively over there.
Vajra: Yes, well, we have a festival happening today. Everyone's busy setting up.
Vajra: Usually, only those offering a prayer come to this main building though.
Zooey: I see.
Vajra: Okay then, let's get to work!
Zooey: Yes, let's.
Zooey: So what sort of tasks do the Twelve Divine Generals do around here?
Vajra: Originally our purpose was to protect the temples, but that aspect of the job's not as necessary nowadays.
Vajra: Of course, there's still tons to do!
Vajra: We watch over the festivals, tidy up the temple grounds, and hold prayer services.
Vajra: They're all important tasks, but the most pivotal one is to make sure we grant good fortune to those who come to pray to us.
Vajra: And I'd like you to take on that task today, Zooey.
Zooey: I'll be... granting them good fortune?
Zooey: What do you mean by fortune?
Vajra: Simply put, fortune is the happiness that they wish for.
Zooey: I see.
Vajra: ...!
Vajra's ears suddenly stand to attention.
Zooey: Everything okay?
Vajra: Something's here.
Zooey: ?
Vajra: Sorry, Zooey. Can you stand watch here for a while?
Zooey: What's the matter?
Vajra: I think there's something in the sanctuary behind the temple.
Zooey: You mean in the mountains?
Vajra: Mm-hm. Not sure if they're monsters or spirits or what, but they show up to make mischief every so often.
Vajra: It happens more often during busy times like now with the festival going on.
Vajra: But protecting the temples from such villainy is all in the day's work of a Divine General.
Vajra: I'll go take a look with Gar. Hope you don't mind staying here till I'm back.
Zooey: Right, of course. But will I be able to handle it alone?
Vajra: I'm sure you can do it. I trust in you, Zooey.
Vajra: Otherwise I'd never have asked you to help with these duties in the first place!
Zooey: Understood. I've got this.
Vajra: You puppies stay with Zooey and give her your full support.
Puppy 1: Woof!
Puppy 2: Woof, woof!
Puppy 3: Roowf!
Vajra: I'll be right back!
Zooey is left behind in the temple with the three puppies.
Zooey: As a priestess myself, I need to do my part.
Zooey: Though I'm still not to sure about how to bestow good fortune...
Puppy 1: Woof, woof, woof!
Zooey: Huh?
Puppy 2: Woof, woof!
Zooey: Someone's here.
Puppy 3: ...
Zooey: So that's what you were trying to tell me? Thank you.
Zooey: I guess there's no harm in asking if there's anything I don't understand.
Zooey: Time to give the visitors their blessings.
Zooey: Hello.
Devotee: Ah... Vajra? No... Who might you be?
Zooey: I'm Zooey, just a priestess watching things here for Vajra until she returns.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Grururu!
Devotee: Oh my... Dragons?
Zooey: They're my partners, Dyrn and Lyrn. I wish you good fortune, but is there anything I can do for you in particular?
Devotee: Good fortune?
The devotee widens her eyes in surprise.
Zooey beams at the chance to prove her chops as a priestess while Vajra is away.
Priestess Zooey: Scene 2
Zooey provides favors of all kinds to the visitors as her way of granting good fortune. She does not hesitate to help even a most discourteous carouser looking to pick a fight.
Zooey is eager to play the part of priestess while Vajra is elsewhere attending to other matters.
Zooey: Bless you. Is there anything you wish for?
Devotee: Well...
Zooey: There is no need to hesitate. Feel free to speak your mind.
Devotee: Erm, well... I've been having some shoulder pain lately. It's pretty bad in fact.
Zooey: In that case...
Zooey calmly circles behind the devotee.
Zooey: Relax. I'll loosen you up.
Devotee: Huh?
Zooey begins rubbing the devotee's shoulders.
Zooey: How does that feel? Am I using too little force? Or perhaps too much?
Dyrn: Rururu...
Lyrn: Grururu...
Dyrn and Lyrn join in on the shoulder massage.
Devotee: Oh dear... This is really nice.
Devotee: And it feels just right.
Zooey: This was simple enough. Is there anything else I can help with?
Devotee: No. That was fantastic—I feel like a new person. Thank you so much.
The devotee leaves the temple with a smile, wholly satisfied with Zooey's kind gesture.
Zooey: That went well.
Dyrn: ...
Puppy 1: Woof, woof!
Zooey: You think so too? Teehee...
Puppy 2: Woof! Woof, woof!
Dyrn: ...!
Zooey: Hm? Do we have another visitor?
The next visitor enters the temple.
Stray Kid: Sniff... Where are you, Mommy?
Zooey: Why do you cry? Won't you tell me your story?
Stray Kid: Sob... Who are you, miss?
Zooey: I'm the priestess Zooey. I'm here to bless everyone with good fortune.
Zooey: What reason is there for your tears?
Stray Kid: Sniff... I got separated from Mommy...
Zooey: So you're lost then.
Dyrn: ...?
Puppy 3: Woof...
Zooey: Fear not. I'm with you now. Let's find your parents together.
With the aid of her dragons and the puppies, she helps the family reunite in no time at all.
Stray Kid: Thank you, miss!
Stray Kid's Mother: You have my utmost gratitude! I can't thank you enough!
Zooey keeps up the good work, giving tiny blessings of fortune to anyone who walks in.
All are somewhat taken aback at first, but they quickly warm up to Zooey and leave in good spirits.
Zooey: So this is what it means to grant good fortune.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Grururu!
Zooey: If I had known earlier, I could have done so much more.
Puppy 3: Woof...
???: Eep!
Zooey: What was that?
Carouser: Yee-haw! Come at me!
Devotee 2: How despicable to be so tipsy in the middle of the day...
Zooey rushes over to find an inebriated man, a gourd of divine wine under his arm, looking for trouble.
Zooey: He's rather flushed, isn't he.
Zooey: Hey, what are you acting out for? Can't you see everyone's afraid of you?
Carouser: Hah! Who the heck are you?
Zooey: I'm the priestess Zooey. Your bellowing interrupted my duties in granting good fortune.
Carouser: That so? You willin' to hear out my wishes too?
Zooey: Most certainly. It is my duty to spread good fortune equally.
Carouser: How 'bout you help me out then! I'm just itchin' to test out my strength to welcome in the new year!
Carouser: You see, I'm tryin' to beef up. That's why I've come to the Canine Temple, what with Vajra being a deity o' war and all.
Zooey: I understand what it is you desire now.
Zooey: Vajra is away for the moment, but I believe I can help you fulfill that wish.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Grururu!
Zooey raises her spear.
Carouser: Huh?
Zooey: Good fortune to you as well.
Zooey: Let us do battle.
Priestess Zooey: Scene 3
Word of divine blessings at the Canine Temple quickly spreads, attracting a huge flock of visitors. When Vajra returns, she is surprised to see Zooey directly solving the visitors' problems rather than simply offering a helping hand. But the Divine General sees merit in Zooey's style when used sparingly and joins in on the fortune-granting.
Carouser: Just what are you?
Zooey intended to go easy on the carouser, but it still ended with an overwhelming victory for her.
Zooey: I'm a protector of the world.
Zooey: But for now, I'm just a priestess.
Carouser: Heh... They say the Canine Temple's where you go to pray to the war deity. Guess I came to the right place.
Carouser: You up for trainin' me?
Zooey: Certainly. I'm here to grant you good fortune after all.
A slight grin on her face, Zooey calls out to everyone on the temple grounds.
Zooey: If there's anything I can do for the rest of you, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll do everything within my power to help you.
A throng of devotees begins to surround Zooey, hoping to indulge in her good graces.
Zooey: I'll look to each of your needs one by one.
Vajra: Phew. It's finally over...
Vajra: Huh? What's happening here!
Vajra, back from monster duty around the mountain sanctuary, is astounded to see the huge crowds gathered in front of the temple.
Devotee 3: Hehe, so this is where a priestess will listen to and solve any problem, eh?
Devotee 4: Mm, this here's the place. I was hoping to talk to her too, but it sure is crowded.
Vajra: What the?
Vajra rushes over to Zooey, who stands at the center of the congregation.
Zooey: Ah, Vajra! Good to see you're back.
Puppy 1: Woof, woof!
Zooey: Teehee, I seem to be doing rather well with my fortune-giving duties as priestess.
Zooey: I hope I did adequately in your absence?
Vajra: Hahaha... Looks like you did better than okay. Thanks, Zooey.
Puppy 2: Woof, woof!
Zooey: They were a big help as well.
Dyrn: Rururu!
Lyrn: Grururu!
Puppy 3: Woof...
Vajra: Hm?
Vajra: Oh, so that's what happened.
Zooey: ?
Vajra: Sorry, Zooey. I guess my explanation wasn't the greatest. Gave you the wrong idea, it seems...
Vajra: By "granting good fortune," I didn't mean for you to become a jack-of-all-trades.
Zooey: What do you mean?
Vajra: It's not our job to fulfill people's wishes directly.
Vajra: What we do is give them a push in the right direction—to help them overcome any obstacles in the way of their goals.
Vajra: It's important that they rise to the challenge and do what's necessary of their own accord.
Zooey: I see...
Vajra: Doing everything for them might even cause harm in the long run.
Vajra: Because they'd come to rely on others instead of themselves.
Vajra: I hope that made sense?
Zooey: Sorry... I should have given it more thought.
Vajra: Hey, it's nothing to apologize for! In the end, you helped out a bunch of people and dished out good fortune!
Vajra: You did great, Zooey!
Zooey: Your kind words gladden me.
Vajra: Hahaha. One look at their faces is all it takes to see what a brilliant job you did.
Vajra: Your style's not too bad every once in a while! Besides, you've gathered a crowd just in time for tonight's festival!
Vajra: C'mon, Gar! It's about time we give Zooey a hand here with the fortune-giving!
Garjana: ...
Zooey: That reminds me—have the monsters by the sanctuary been taken care of?
Vajra: Heh! It was nothing. Don't forget I'm a deity of war!
Zooey: Haha, how could I forget.
Their blessings upon the temple visitors continue throughout the night.
Rumors of something special going on at this year's lucky temple spread like wildfire.
The Canine Temple has seen a meteoric rise in visitors ever since.