junkojuro had expected the girl to be more excited about his news. After all, she was now the center of one of the greatest miracles this town had seen in centuries, and she was now being appointed a position of great honor. But instead the girl appeared to be nervous, full of doubt and skepticism, as if she hadn't believed in spirits until this moment. But then why pray? He knew that the prayer had been sincere; she wanted the spirits to be at ease, comfort and protection for herself, and was willing to allow the shrine to return. But then again, humans were naive in many respects. They often forgot that words had power, especially prayers. Haruka's prayer was not particularly verbose, but it was powerful enough to reach him, powerful enough to harness the energy that he had been saving for over a hundred years. Perhaps Haruka just needed some time to realize this. Junkojuro didn't mind giving her all the time she needed. After all, even simply sitting idly with her was better than sitting idly alone.
"Aomori-sama," he began, relishing a moment in the sound of his new master's name. "First let me say that you needn't doubt your abilities. Everything that you need to know can be taught, which will be one of my duties to you. I understand that you are a stranger to this hill and that the world of mortals has changed drastically over the centuries, but in time you will come to understand this place and the spirits that live here." He smiled warmly, hoping that those words would give her some confidence before he instructed her in her duties. "As for what you must do, I suppose the simplest answer is 'whatever you like.' You are now the head of this shrine and you may run it as you see fit, but understand that everything you do -- or don't do -- has consequences. I have restored the shrine with my magic, but now it must be maintained as any mortal building would. The grounds, as well, should be maintained lest you offend the spirits. You should remember to pay tribute through prayer, offerings, and rituals, lest my powers fade or the gods grow envious. Likewise, while the shrine is built in my name, I am but an adherent of Oinari-sama, so any rituals should begin by honoring him. You will want to get to know the local spirits and nearby deities, and since these are troubled times, we will have a number of angry spirits to deal with. But, as I said, you will learn all of this in time and I will aid you every step of the way. You will not fail so long as your heart remains honest.
"You will need help, though. Performing your duties to their fullest is time-consuming, and none of the previous masters worked alone. They all sought volunteers from the village to help with the menial labor, such as cleaning and yard work, while they handled all of the spiritual aspects." He knew this was a lot for a mortal, especially a young one like Haruka, to absorb all at once, but it was best that she understood that the path she was choosing would not be easy. He also knew that she would not succeed without his protection. He knew not when, but the Eyeless One would be back, this time ready for a fight. If they weren't prepared, a creature like that could easily end everything before it even started. He didn't want to tell Haruka just yet, though, seeing how uncertain she was already. News of that creature's return would likely scare her off.
"I believe that is enough information for now," Junkojuro said in a bright tone. "Do you have any other questions, or would you like me to show you around the shrine?" His tails were swishing slowly with excitement. He was proud of his work and he hoped that now that Haruka understood what was happening she could enjoy the shrine... and perhaps cook him some tofu as thanks.