It's fine. The shop has a barrier, and even if the deities that live here can smell me, none of them wish me any harm over it. It's been many decades since those times, so you don't have to worry.

(he reassures, after all, it has been quite a while. he's protected now, safe.)

Unfortunately, no. She was like I became shortly after - someone whose time had stopped. Due to a series of events, time started running for her once more and she passed, but not before granting my wish. I bonded myself to stay in the shop as payment to keep my abilities and to aid with the events unraveling parallel to us. I had made the choice to stay in that place and wait for her return, so I'm only a temporary substitute.

(even if he hasn't stepped foot outside for a hundred years. each of those words came with a tone of fondness and nostalgia, even with a hidden sorrow behind them. he misses her.)

My powers continued to grow since then. A long way from seeing spirits and being able to perform divination. I'm still hopeful this place brings my shop, but if it doesn't, I can only hope the shop is where I am, and not otherwise, since I have little say in the matter.