The Wendigo Awakens
Skadi stared blankly at the plant cocoon that had once encased the Wendigo, then let out a deep sigh.
"Sh-Shaman? What should we do?"
Geron and Hegilson watched her nervously, their attitudes even more deferential than before. It was only natural after witnessing a battle beyond anything in this world.
As Skadi's weary eyes flicked past them, Geron swallowed hard. She wasn't as terrifying as the Wendigo, but she still scared him plenty.
'She won't freeze us just for annoying her, right?'
Contrary to Geron and Hegilson's worries, Skadi wasn't particularly angry. The Wendigo suddenly chewing up the seed? That could happen. If he wanted to, it was fine.
Skadi didn't see her relationship with the Wendigo as that of a typical shaman and spirit. They'd formed a contract, but it was far from ordinary.
'Contracted with the Wendigo... no, I've received his grace. What right do I have to complain? He wields mysteries that he could reclaim anytime. All I can do is follow his will!'
Skadi's passion was a form of pure loyalty. The most sincere devotion to the one she served!
With a determined grunt, she slapped her cheeks and sharpened her gaze.
"For now, I'll raise a wall to repair part of the collapsed palisade. And then..."
"Uh, Skadi. Forgive me, but I have something to say."
"If it's about not being able to pay, you can save it. The Wendigo didn't come here demanding some huge price."
"!"
Geron's eyes widened in shock. A shaman visits, but doesn't want a big payment? Was that even possible?
Skadi wasn't overreaching out of blind enthusiasm. She didn't fully understand the Wendigo, but she was certain of one thing.
The Wendigo wants to live in harmony with humans!
It might be impossible for other spirits, but to Skadi, the Wendigo had real potential. Not just his broad mind, but thanks to the endless mysteries he held.
Humans need food to live; spirits need mysteries to sustain their existence. Unlike others, the Wendigo had no reason to rampage for more, so he could easily live alongside people.
"The Wendigo is a being brimming with endless mysteries. With his vast heart and valor rivaling a dragon..."
'Is the shaman possessed by the spirit?'
Geron eyed Skadi as she began praising the Wendigo with ecstatic fervor, a blasphemous thought crossing his mind. It seemed plausible enough. A spirit seducing and manipulating a young woman into shamanhood? Not unheard of.
'But her eyes seem clear enough...'
"Village chief. Are you listening?"
"Ah, yes! Long live the Wendigo! Long live him!"
Geron startled as their eyes met, shooting his hand up in a frantic cheer.
Skadi's paean to the Wendigo finally wrapped up after about an hour.
How much time had passed? How deep had his slumber been?
The Wendigo stirred, awakening from his profound sleep and flexing his body. His mind was clear and refreshed, his form brimming with vitality.
'Wait, can you even call this sleep?'
He rummaged through his memories to shake off the fog. His last recollection was crunching that seed.
A cocoon of roots and branches. He realized he was inside it.
'This bulk makes it cramped in here.'
No matter how he curled up, his three-meter frame was still massive. Feeling stifled, he slashed the cocoon open with his claws.
Like a beast hatching from an egg, he tore through and emerged.
"Where the hell is this?"
Facing an unfamiliar ceiling, a question slipped out. He'd definitely seen the sky before. Why was there a roof now?
'Did Skadi move me?'
It was possible. Her passion and initiative could lead to feats beyond imagination.
"Who goes there? How dare you invade the sacred abode of the divine spirit and cause a ruckus!"
"???"
A door creaked open behind him, and a man stepped in. As the Wendigo slowly turned, the bold warrior's eyes bulged.
The source of the noise was the Wendigo himself. Shit!
"F-Forgive me! I didn't know the spirit lord had awakened—I was so rude!!"
"No, it's fine. Don't worry about it."
The man looked ready to smash his head into the ground, leaving the Wendigo flustered as he waved him off.
The man teared up in.
'What's with this guy? Did the boar spirit kill his family or something?'
If so, the man's overreaction made sense. If the boar spirit's beasts had slaughtered his kin, it wasn't odd for him to feel goodwill toward the Wendigo, who'd slain it.
"Where is this? Where's Skadi?"
"This is the temple Skadi built to safely protect your cocoon, Spirit Lord!"
"...I'm no god. Why build a temple? A monastery or shrine, maybe."
The Wendigo recoiled at the man's excessive words. In a world where gods might exist, he had no desire to tempt divine wrath by claiming the title.
The man marveled at his response once more. As expected, everything the shaman said was true. Such magnanimous forgiveness and humble demeanor, unlike ordinary spirits!
'The shaman was right about everything!'
"So, where's Skadi?"
"Ah, Skadi is currently touring the village on duties. Spreading the Wendigo's gracious mysteries..."
"Cut the embarrassing flattery. Keep it simple and short."
"She's going field to field, bestowing spells."
A normal answer at last—the Wendigo nodded. Duties sounded vague, but spells made sense.
'Skadi has her overzealous side, but she reads my heart well.'
He recalled her in the mansion, mulling his every word to plan dinner menus. She'd surely picked up on his desire for good relations with the village. No doubt she was approaching people kindly, leaving a positive impression.
"I need to see Skadi. Lead the way."
"It's an honor!"
"No need for honors. Just take me to her."
What could he do if the man insisted? The Wendigo knew sometimes surrender beat persuasion. This was one of those times.
The man guided him outside.
"The Wendigo has awakened!!!"
What the hell—this guy's insane! If the Wendigo could scowl, he'd have glared like the man was deranged. Why shout when a quiet escort would've sufficed?
All eyes turned to the Wendigo. He sighed inwardly, bracing for fearful stares.
But the emotions accompanying those gazes weren't fear.
"Oh, incarnation of the forest. Continue to watch over us with benevolence."
"Mom, it's the spirit!"
"Hurry and greet him. The spirit awakens after two months—good fortune surely comes today."
Awe, gratitude, curiosity. The Wendigo, once an object of terror, hatred, or rage, reeled at the villagers' sentiments. Spirits weren't supposed to receive this kind of welcome.
"Hold on. Two months? I was out for two whole months?"
"Yes. Skadi said you fell into deep slumber while defeating the tyrannical spirit, purifying its corrupted mysteries, and returning them to the forest's embrace."
What nonsense. The Wendigo swallowed the urge to voice it.
The man's gaze held no shame. Even his scent was clean—he truly believed it.
'If this isn't bullshit, and devouring the boar's Origin didn't glitch my powers, then what the hell is this story?'
He'd planned to catch up with Skadi, but questions piled up en route. He hurried to meet her—his head couldn't make sense of it.
'The village feels bigger.'
Not imagination. The Wendigo noted changes: demolished buildings, fresh constructions everywhere. Oddly, every home had bundles of dried roots hung neatly.
"Skadi is over there."
After a long walk, they reached a field. Skadi stood with staff in hand; people watched from afar. She was clearly at work.
The Wendigo sensed mysteries gathering around her. Familiar yet different.
'The boar's mysteries carry my aura?'
He realized they were his. With that insight, he detected new mysteries writhing within himself.
The boar spirit's Origin pulsed inside him.
'Absorbed it by eating the Origin? Can other spirits do that?'
Probably not. Otherwise, spirits would war endlessly over Origins.
Shock faded as he watched mysteries condense on Skadi's staff. She murmured incantations and thrust it into the ground.
Mysteries seeped into the soil, transforming the field. Wilted crops revived, untimely blooms burst forth. Villagers cheered in awe.
Skadi wiped sweat from her brow and turned to them with a smile. The Wendigo swelled with pride.
Good thing I killed that boar bastard!
'No wonder people are swayed when Skadi works such spells.'
"This is the benevolent Wendigo's grace and love! Unlike other spirits, he wishes to share the forest's bounty and shelter us! So rejoice in his blessings with gratitude, respect, and awe!"
"...???"
Did he hear wrong? Was that really Skadi, preaching like a seasoned missionary, gesturing to the crowd?
The man teared up. "See? Just like a shaman serving the spirit lord, enlightening the people."
The Wendigo summoned superhuman patience to avoid smacking the man's mouth. The constant exasperation bubbling beside him was no joke. And without malice, too. The guy was nuts.
'Calm down. Breathe and hear her out.'
He took a deep breath and approached Skadi.