After reading his status update, Shurry's days continued just like normal. He'd learn his words with the aid of Idunn, he'd train with Leon, and on occasion he'd learn simple management from Baldr. It was nothing serious, and was just so Baldr could have an excuse to keep his adoptive son around for longer periods of time.
Even so, these were not nearly enough to occupy the full day. And so, during the times where he wasn't with his parents, or uncle, he would wander the School District. Peering into class rooms with curious blinks, watching others train their fighting techniques in the same courtyard he would play with Leon, or he'd be playing board games with Luna in the courtyard.
Of these, his favorite was playing games, because occasionally other students would wander over and play with him. Chess, checkers, and other games the gods brought from Tekai. Of course, when they came over, Luna would rest on Shurry's shoulder.
A few months passed by, and it had become a well known fact that Lord Baldr and Lady Idunn had adopted Shurry as their son. Some were a little jealous, at least at first. However, once they voiced their jealousy, someone who had heard the rumors explained that the gods wouldn't adopt someone like that unless their past was simply so horrible that the mere mention of it made people lose their lunch.
Now, being the fact a large number of these students were younger, they took losing your lunch, to mean they'd lose their next meal. It was the slightly older kids who had mixed thoughts on it. However, when it came to those of the soon to be adults and older… Well, they knew what it meant, so their imaginations ran wild with curiosity… Until one day…
One day in the courtyard, a cat person came up to Shurry. "Hi there, meow. Can I play, nya?"
Shurry looked up, blinking confused as to who he was seeing. I've lived here for a few months now, surely I've seen everyone by now. So who is this person? Shurry sniffed a few times… She doesn't smell like a bad person… And what's this odd scent mixed in with hers? It's something like Luna's but, uh, different somehow? "Uhm, do you know how to play?" He asked, gently wagging his tail.
The cat person peered at the board, and with a finger on her chin, her tail sticking out, combined with a blank expression… She looked like she was about to say no… "Why of course I do, nya!" She said, completely flipping the script, though it smelled like a lie. Even so, she sat down and the game began once more.
"Okay then… You can have the first move." Shurry said, putting on the pressure. She definitely doesn't know how to play this game. Still, who is she?
The game began, once another young woman walked up and started teaching the cat person about the game. She started with a king's gambit… And a question as her tail wriggled behind her. "So, little Shurry? I've heard some rumors about you today, meow. And I was curious, nya, what's this thing about losing lunch, meow?"
The other young woman's face went cold, she didn't expect that her hairbrained friend would seriously ask such a stupid question. However, it was Luna who spoke up first. She stood up on Shurry's shoulder and pointed at the cat person. "Don't you know it's rude to ask about a person's past!? Haven't you ever heard of the phrase, curiosity killed the cat?" She was defensive, and quite angry… Because she too lived through that event, sharing in the majority of senses with Shurry. A side effect of their strong bond.
"It's okay Luna, I don't mind her asking. It's not like I have to answer." Shurry replied, unable to hide the tear that fell from his eye.
The cat person's friend landed a chop on her head. "I apologize for my friend's insensitive question." She said, with a light bow. "Though I have to admit, I'm curious about it too. We were told not to have one of our friends even enter your sight. So I have to imagine it has something to do with that…"
Just then, on the other side of the yard, a pair of goddesses appeared. One was Lady Idunn, looking just as beautiful as ever. The other was a similar beauty, though she wore light ranger armor, and carried a bow on her back, her hair… The color of the full moon's light.
"Mommy's coming!" Shurry excitedly shouted.
"Oh, so that's the boy? Hmm… He's cute. I could have mistaken him for a little girl if I hadn't known otherwise."
"Right? He's a sweet boy too. And a rather fast learner."
"Oh my, what's this?"
"What's wrong? Do you sense something?"
"Yes, I sense… My kin?"
The two of them reached the small table Shurry as at. He sat smiling up at Idunn. His eyes looked over to the other goddess. He sniffed a couple of times, tilted his head, and sniffed again. "You smell familiar? Like my friend, Luna?" His tail picked up the pace again.
"Luna?" Her eyes looked to see the small moon spirit perched on his shoulder, her tiny face staring in awe. She took a spit take, and then giggled. "So that's what happened back then. I wondered why I felt the urge to utter your name. So a new moon spirit was born that night. I had a feeling, but it's a bit hard to tell while living here in Gekai." Her eyes then peered at the boy. "And you, you're friends… A shame that you're a boy. I'd have loved to take you into my familia if you were a girl."
"Hmm? I love mommy though? Why would I leave?"
"Artemis, sorry to say, but I wouldn't let you have him either way."
She sighed. "Then I guess it's better this way. Boy, listen up, you have the power to call upon the moon, you had better use it well. Don't let me catch you using it for evil."
Shurry was confused, and transformed. "Like this?" He asked.
"Wait… So Baldr wasn't pulling my leg?"
Idunn giggled. "Nope. Everything he told you was the honest truth. Our little boy is something of a rarity around here."
"I see, well, I'm glad I was able to see my kin, at least… Luna, he'd better treat you right."
"I will, Lady Artemis."
"Good, girls, come on, let's go. There's a couple of villages in need of bandit extermination."
Artemis left, with her two girls following behind her.