ã€ŠOnmyouji Eclipseã€‹


 Chapter 1: One Day He Will Become a Demon

    Elementalist Eclipse

    Chapter 1: One Day He Will Become a Demon

    ¡°The Elementalists are a dying breed, Satoshi-kun,¡± Akiko Hiroyuki said while she worked at the loom. Satoshi often loved to watch his mother weave brilliant colors of cloth and silk, her slender fingers dancing among the threads. ¡°That is because mankind is losing touch with spirits and the gods. What will become of this world, as mankind continues to build his structures of steel and his weapons of destruction? The land is becoming choked with smoke. I tried to divine through the wind, though I find I can no longer hear the wind spirits.¡±

    Satoshi cocked his head to the side and frowned upon his mother¡¯s words. He understood Elemetnalists were highly sensitive to the supernatural and heard the voices of wind spirits like his mother or summoned shikigami to come to their aid. His mother told him his father was a legendary Elementalist who defied death three times, though he disappeared for reasons unknown. Perhaps death finally caught up with him, as it always did. No one, not even the greatest Elementalist in the world, lived forever. ¡°I want to become a great Elementalist, like father. When I get my shikigami, I¡¯m going to travel into the spirit world!¡±

    Akiko¡¯s smile had a sad tilt to it. ¡°I don¡¯t think that you will find your father there, Satoshi-kun. He most likely has passed into the afterlife¡­or perhaps he ascended to nirvana.¡±

    ¡°I will find him,¡± Satoshi insisted. ¡°I know I will.¡±

    The beautiful Elementalist beside the loom stopped her work, before she knelt by Satoshi¡¯s side and patted him on the head gently. ¡°You are full of hope. It gladdens my heart to see that your heart is still pure and your mind is full of dreams. You will make a powerful Elementalist someday. Just like your father.¡±

    Satoshi smiled at his mother¡¯s gentle touch, before he wriggled a bit on the cushion he knelt upon. ¡°When will I summon my shikigami, mother? I want something powerful, like a dragon, or maybe a griffin!¡±

    Akiko hid a laugh behind an elegant hand, before she cradled Satoshi¡¯s cheek with one hand. ¡°Be patient, little one. Your shikigami will choose you in time. Now hold on just a moment while I finish my weaving.¡±

    Satoshi¡¯s mother then continued to work at the loom, as a brilliant plumage of red and gold embroidery fashioned itself from her skillful hands. The bold colors resembled a bright red bird, perhaps a phoenix. Satisfied with her handiwork, Akiko took the fabric from the loom and held it out in the bright sun. ¡°This is meant for you, my dear Satoshi-kun. When you grow into manhood, you will don these ceremonial robes. The regalia of an Elementalist.¡±

    Satoshi gently stroked the silken fabric, marveling how the material flowed and rippled. A bright grin spread across the young child¡¯s cheeks, and Satoshi leapt into his mother¡¯s arms and hugged her tightly. He was going to be an Elementalist someday, just like his father! ¡°Thank you, Mother! I will try to become worthy of wearing these robes!¡±

    Akiko smiled. ¡°I have no doubt that you will be great. Though I have a question for you, Satoshi. What does it mean to you to be an Elementalist?¡±

    ¡°What does it mean?¡± Satoshi said as he scrunched up his face in concentration. ¡°I want to help other people. I want to fight demons and bad guys.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Akiko said with a soft smile, before she gestured for Satoshi to get up from his knelt position. Satoshi did so obediently, and Akiko grabbed a lightening staff meant for kagura performances, and sent Satoshi out in the middle of the Hiroyuki grounds. The gardens were resplendent with color from the flowers that grew among the greenery. Satoshi breathed in their cleansing scent, and smiled. He enjoyed the flowers in the garden, and he especially liked playing in its center where the birds would come and gather on his open palms.

    Akiko took the lightening staff in her hands and tapped the end of the rod onto the ground. The golden decorations at the top of the staff swayed and jingled, letting out a sweet tinkle that soothed the soul with its mesmerizing tone. ¡°I will show you a sacred dance that is meant to purify the land from evil influences. It originated with the miko priestesses, though it has since expanded and become a ritualistic dance that people employ to their traditions and ceremonies. However, when an Elementalist wields the power of the kagura dance, they use the power of the elements to balance out the energies and feng shui within the land. Do you know what feng shui is, Satoshi?¡±

    ¡°Harmony with the environment,¡± Satoshi said, and Akiko nodded approvingly at this.

    ¡°You¡¯ve been taught well, Satoshi-kun. Anyway, what do you notice about the feng shui of the Hiroyuki grounds?¡±

    Satoshi closed his eyes for a moment, taking a moment to breathe in the air and concentrate on the auras that he felt emanating from the plants in the garden. The plants themselves were full of rich giving qi, which was spiritual energy within the fertile country of Jipangu, and Satoshi could feel the effects of sunlight upon the plants and how it filled the greenery and flowers with vibrant life. Yet he could also sense something else in the air, a faint trace of something that was like a slightly unpleasant odor. It was as his mother said¡ªmankind¡¯s developing of new technology led to smoke and pollution in the air that muffled the plants natural qi giving properties and interfered with the perfect balance of feng shui.

    ¡°I sense a taint in the air,¡± Satoshi said after a while. After listening to the birdsong among the gardens, he then added. ¡°The birds say that smoke are coming from the West, where the foreigners have entered into the country and started to teach a different faith to the people of Jipangu. The old ways are disappearing, and the foreigners are showing the people of Jipangu strange things that they¡¯ve never seen the likes of before.¡±

    ¡°That is indeed correct, Satoshi-kun,¡± Akiko said as she patted his head. ¡°However, I will show you a sacred kagura dance that will keep the darkness at bay and lead to harmonizing feng shui within the home and outside environment. Watch carefully, son.¡±

    Akiko then began a graceful flourish of her arm, clanging the trinkets on the lightening staff together. With each clink, Satoshi could visualize the aura purifying the land with each movement of her rapturous dance and the sweet tinkling laughter of the chimes. With each step, his mother seemed to be floating on air, with her light footseps barely making a sound. With each sound of the chimes, Satoshi could feel the purification ritual slowly working its way into the ground, the roots of the plants, and in the air surrounding them. Once his mother was finished with the sacred purification ritual, she smiled, and turned to look at Satoshi.

    ¡°There. You see how it¡¯s done? Don¡¯t you notice that there¡¯s a cleaner quality in the air? Can¡¯t you hear the birds singing their songs much more sweetly than before? And the plants seem to be bursting with more green within them?¡±

    ¡°I noticed, Mother,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Though what else do Elementalists do? I know that they can use the five elements and even summon a shikigami! Please Mother, show me your shikigami?¡±

    ¡°Normally I summon her when I need her, though I suppose that I can make an exception for this,¡± Akiko said with a smile, before she got out a tag from the sleeve of her kimono. Then, invoking the name of her shikigami, the kanji within the tag floated from the paper and into the air, before spiraling overhead and evoking a great white tiger into existence.

    Saotshi stared in awe at the brilliant shikigami before him. The white tiger was just as beautiful as his mother, and it was a fitting partner for someone like her. They were both regal and graceful without the pretentiousness, yet a hidden power was contained within each controlled movement of their bodies. Satoshi stepped forward towards the white tiger, looking at his mother and saying, ¡°May I?¡±

    Akiko nodded. ¡°It will be all right, my son. She knows that your my son and she won¡¯t do anything to harm one of my own.¡±

    Satoshi smiled at this and began petting the white tiger. The tiger seemed to purr in contentment to the soothing motions of his hand upon her back, and Satoshi grinned widely at this. He always admired his mother, and seeing her shikigami in the flesh was an amazing experience. This only stirred a deep longing in Satoshi for his own shikigami.

    Satoshi then straightened, and he turned to face his mother. His mother smiled down upon him with fondness, and gathered her son in her arms and gave him a soft kiss atop his forehead.

    ¡°You will make a fine Elementalist one day,¡± Akiko said. ¡°But remember your training. You may not be able to summon a shikigami yet until you¡¯re thirteen years old, though you can still practice manipulating the five elements. Have you been doing your training?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­kind of,¡± Satoshi said while he glanced away and tapped his foot in the ground. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­the beginning stuff is so boring! To learn Fire, I must learn to keep the flame on the candle wick. For Air, I must concentrate on the breathing in my lungs. Water is feeling the direction and course of a river, Earth is feeling the qi energies in a simple stone, and Cosmos is looking at the stars in the sky and naming their constellations.¡±

    ¡°Yes indeed, it may be boring at first,¡± Akiko said. ¡°Though they¡¯re fundamental to your training. To learn how to control Fire, which is considered one of the most destructive arts, you must learn to control the small flame on a candle wick and prevent the flame from melting the candle too quickly. Breathing is a fundamental part of everything; it¡¯s how we live, and it¡¯s the breath that concentrates qi within our bodies and lets us perform on Onmyoujutsu in the first place. Feeling the course of a river let¡¯s you know the versatility of water¡ªit can be still and stagnant, or it can be flowing and gentle, or it could be a tidal wave that surges in the storm¡ªand knowing water and its different states will help you, surely. And feeling the qi within a simple stone let¡¯s you know that something as inanimate as a rock still has energy that can be drawn upon and manipulated. Naming the constellations in the sky may seem trivial, though it¡¯s through these constellations and alignments of the stars that you learn how to control the fifth element.¡±

    Satoshi hung his head. ¡°I guess I still have a lot more training to do.¡±

    ¡°It is fine, Satoshi-kun,¡± Akiko said. ¡°Just keep these things in mind, and practice them whole-heartedly. You may find yourself being able to control all five elements with ease after you¡¯ve mastered those simple things.¡±

    ¡°I will train, Mother. I will become even greater than Father!¡±

    Akiko smiled at this, before kissing her son again. ¡°I believe that you can change the world.¡±

    --x--

    Satoshi stared at the silk robe draped upon a stand. It was a constant reminder he would become an Elementalist¡­a spiritual practitioner that was said to have mastery over life and death, balance and atrophy, yin and yang. Even so¡­when will he get his shikigami? The shikigami was a true symbol of the Elementalist. Sometimes a particularly skilled Elementalist could summon a legendary creature to command underneath his or her will. If Satoshi summoned such a creature, he would be a powerful Elementalist. Just like his father.

    ¡°Summoning a shikigami,¡± Satoshi mused to himself, putting a finger to his lip while he started to create markings on the floor to open a summoning portal. ¡°Um¡­first you need to make these, then¡­a binding spell¡­and then the summoning invocation. It went something like¡­¡±

    He took a deep breath when he finished the summoning circle, then clapped his hands together. ¡°O creature of the Otherworld, heed my words. Within this summoning circle, we shall make a contract. As a shikigami, you are bound to an Elementalist¡¯s will--you shall stay by your Master¡¯s side until he takes his final breath and his soul is departed from the physical realm--and until then, you shall be sent back to the Otherworld, where--¡°

    An eruption of light exploded from the summoning circle, causing Satoshi to leap out of way, stumbling onto the seat of his pants. The candles and incense lit among the summoning circle cast eerie, carnival-like shadows across the room, the flames leaning to the east on their wicks. A shadowy aura materialized from the summoning circle--a nightmarish homunculi of some sort that barely resembled a human. When its leering red eyes stared at Satoshi, Satoshi sensed all the hatred and malice that humankind ever bore throughout the centuries.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    His voice caught in his throat. He couldn¡¯t speak. He couldn¡¯t think. There was nothing but uncontrollable hatred and unchained anger that wished to destroy everything from existence. Satoshi could only stare, transfixed at the sight of the inhuman thing that represented the darkest will of humanity. He couldn¡¯t even breathe, as the demon glanced towards him, red eyes glaring. Satoshi toppled backwards, trying to scoot away from the monster which hurtled at him with astonishing speed. The demon clasped Satoshi by the ankle, and the young Elementalist let out a cry as the demon¡¯s touch branded him, leaving curse marks encrypted on his pale skin, black in stark relief.

    The demon¡¯s clawed hand then struck towards his throat, strangling him and lifting the young boy off the floor. Satoshi struggled and flailed, though the demon¡¯s grip was relentless as Satoshi struggled to choke in a lungful of air. Everything started to fade, and the demon seemed to recede away from Satoshi¡¯s warped vision. Satoshi¡¯s arms slackened and fell limp at his sides when the demon choked the life out of him.

    There was a sharp slice of wind that slashed at the demon, though the corruption surrounding it started to fester and regenerate, before spreading towards Satoshi. The tendrils of corruption and malice writhed like snakes and burned and seared into Satoshi¡¯s skin, leaving more markings in its wake.

    Akiko made her way to the demon, green eyes flashing in anger. She used a spell tag to invoke the presence of her shikigami, which took on the form of a beautiful yet ferocious white tiger. It opened its great maw and let out a terrifying roar that shook the Hiroyuki mansion in its foundations, before it leapt towards the demon and fangs sang deep into its flesh, if you could even call it that. The demon roared in anger, pain, and unchained rage as its grip loosened around Satoshi¡¯s throat and dropped the boy none too kindly on the floor, who immediately scrambled away and gasped for breath, retreating into the arms of his mother.

    While Akiko¡¯s shikigami handled the demon, Akiko then took out another spell tag, this one a binding enchantment to slap onto the demon to keep it still. The tiger growled as its teeth sunk deeper into the demon¡¯s neck, where the corruption of its body started to writhe in futility, trying to poison the tiger with its touch like it had with Satoshi. Though the shikigami was a bright, shining soul of purity that wasn¡¯t affected by the demon¡¯s malice, and Akiko uttered a spell to obliterate the demon from existence. A bright flash of light swallowed it whole, and then the demon was no more.

    Satoshi trembled and clutched against his mother, trying to seek comfort. However, he found himself cruelly ripped away from his mother when a Hiroyuki elder grasped him by the neck and stabbed two fingers to his forehead, ready to incant a spell to eliminate him. He yelped in surprise, before tears started running down his face. Satoshi¡¯s tears came from the fact that he caused his mother so much trouble, and now something was happening deep inside him, struggling to awaken into full consciousness. The malice of centuries started to build inside him, burning with a deep red anger that threatened to overtake everything.

    ¡°You¡¯ve done a foolish thing, boy,¡± the Hiroyuki elder said as his fingers stabbed deeper into Satoshi¡¯s forehead. ¡°I should eliminate you right on the spot, though better judgment tells me that Lady Akiko will oppose the idea. Hold still.¡±

    Satoshi held still, before the man started to utter an incantation which started to cause the markings on Satoshi¡¯s body to recede. Once the procedure was finished, the man let go of Satoshi, letting him drop to the floor panting and crying.

    ¡°There will be a meeting about this,¡± the Hiroyuki elder informed Akiko and Satoshi. ¡°We will discuss what happens after.¡±

    With that, the Elder left the room, leaving Satoshi alone in the room with his mother.

    --x--

    Satoshi knelt before the Hiroyuki Council, his head bowed. Even though he didn¡¯t lift his head, Satoshi sensed the heavy pressure of the Elder¡¯s gazes upon him. Satoshi couldn¡¯t bear to look any of them in the eye--least of all his mother. There was no way now he would become an Elementalist. But even more heart-wrenching than failing to summon a shikigami was that he disappointed his mother. That he shamed his entire clan.

    ¡°Satoshi-kun,¡± one of the Elders spoke. ¡°What you have done was very dangerous. Trying to summon a shikigami on your own¡­what were you thinking, boy?¡±

    His hands clenched into fists, before tear drops dotted the wood paneling below him. Satoshi knew it looked undignified, but he couldn¡¯t help it--there was so much pain and hatred locked deep inside him. He felt it underneath the surface, broiling and seething with such untamed malice--but what scared Satoshi the most wasn¡¯t the acclimation of the darkness in the human soul over the years. He was afraid of the darkness and sin that dwelled deep in him.

    ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Satoshi said through numb lips. ¡°I just¡­I¡­¡±

    Satoshi couldn¡¯t speak. His throat clenched and it became harder to breath. There was nothing but silence coming from the Council. While Satoshi reflected on the sin he committed, he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder. Satoshi looked up, and saw his mother¡¯s gentle face before him.

    ¡°Satoshi-kun, the Elders have put a seal on your body that restrains the curse the aragami cast upon you. We were surprised to find that your body was able to hold so much hatred and malice,¡± Akiko said, before her eyes took on a sadder cast. ¡°The seal can only hold on for so long. One day the curse will spread throughout your body, eating you from the inside and poisoning your mind. So remember, Satoshi-kun...never give into the dark will of the curse.¡±

    ¡°Lady Akiko,¡± another Elder spoke up. ¡°This boy will be a problem. I understand that he is your son and the only reminder of the great Kohryu Hiroyuki¡­but he is a threat to us all. One day he will become a demon that we Elementalist are sworn to protect this world from.¡±

    ¡°What are you implying, Elder?¡± Akiko said, her eyes flashing in a rare moment of anger. ¡°He is my only son.¡±

    ¡°We understand that you are reacting out of a mother¡¯s instinct, but please remember your duties as an Elementalist. We are to preserve balance in the world and to protect it from threats. Do you understand?¡±

    Akiko closed her eyes, before she said, ¡°I will train him myself. Satoshi will become a fine Elementalist. I know that he has the power to resist the curse. I have faith in him.¡±

    ¡°Lady Akiko, I must plead with you to rethink your decision. Do you understand the danger that you are putting the entire clan in?¡±

    ¡°Kohryu would have faith in my decision,¡± Akiko said. ¡°He would never give up on Satoshi. I will never give up on Satoshi.¡±

    The Elder bowed his head.

    ¡°We will respect your decision to train Satoshi as an Elementalist. Unfortunately, once he becomes of age, then he shall be exiled from our clan. He shall not step foot on our sacred grounds again.¡±

    With that, the Elders then stood, bowed, and the meeting was adjourned. They filed out of the room one by one, and none of them looked Satoshi in the eye when they passed. In their minds, Satoshi was already dead and exiled from the clan. Satoshi trembled, though surprisingly, he did not cry this time. He simply resigned to his fate, knowing that, once he reached the age of manhood, he would be gone forever. And while he lived here, it would be like he never existed in the first place.

    ¡°Oh, Satoshi-kun,¡± Akiko whispered, enfolding her arms around her only son and embracing him close to her. Silent tears trekked down the beautiful woman¡¯s normally dignified face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry that I couldn¡¯t do more for you. It breaks my heart, knowing that I will be part from you¡­¡±

    She then kissed him on the forehead, trying to smile through her tears as she petted her son¡¯s long hair. ¡°Know that I will always love you, Satoshi-kun. Now and forever.¡±

    --x--

    She taught him many things, from the cycle of the stars to the nature of the elements and spiritual divination that foretold the future. This was the nature of an Elementalist, to be attuned to the spiritual aspects of the world. Akiko used everything in her repertoire of knowledge to teach her son to use magic, and he was an eager student that easily learned. Akiko prided in her son¡¯s abilities, though she also knew with a heavy heart that everything depended on her to raise her son right and make sure that he used his powers responsibly, instead of giving into the malice that surely festered within him everyday.

    ¡°The elements are Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, and the Cosmos,¡± Akiko explained to her son one day. ¡°An Elementalist can channel these different energies and project powerful magic through these mediums. Do you understand that, Satoshi?¡±

    Satoshi nodded, eager to learn more as he rested his hands atop his knees, stuck in a kneeling position on a cushion. ¡°And Elementalist also use the principles of yin and yang in their magic.¡±

    ¡°That is correct, Satoshi-kun. Can you explain the principles of yin and yang for me?¡±

    ¡°Yin and yang is the principle of two seemingly contrary forces that work together to create a complementary whole. Yin and yang is like male and female, fire and water, and light and dark.¡±

    ¡°Very good. Remember the principles of Yin and Yang while you do your work, Satoshi. There may be a dark malice inside of you, though there is also a bright shining soul that cannot be extinguished by the darkness of the corruption. You need to realize that the corruption within you is there to teach you a lesson about what it means to be human, to be kind and generous to others, to show love towards your fellow human beings and creatures that inhabit the earth.¡±

    ¡°I understand that, Mother, but why don¡¯t the rest of the family see it that way?¡±

    Akiko closed her eyes and went towards her son, gathering him up in her arms and then stroking his hair lovingly while she spoke in his ear. ¡°They are set in their ways. They see you as nothing but the malice that is inside of you, when in truth, you are so much more than that. You are Satoshi Hiroyuki, my beloved son, and you will become an Elementalist that will be worthy of standing in your father¡¯s place. They don¡¯t see that, though. But one day, maybe I will be able to change their minds.¡±

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to change their minds,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°I¡¯m prepared to make a journey to get rid of my curse.¡±

    ¡°I still feel as though time is slipping by through my fingers,¡± Akiko said as she patted her son on the head lovingly. ¡°The closer you grow to manhood, the more that I fear that I will never see you again. That¡¯s a possibility that leaves a deep ache in my heart. Oh, and to think that I lost my husband, and now I¡¯m losing my only son, as well¡­¡±

    ¡°I will come back,¡± Satoshi promised her. ¡°I¡¯ll learn everything that you¡¯ll have to teach me. And I promise that I won¡¯t give into the malice.¡±

    Akiko smiled through her tears, before saying, ¡°I trust you, Satoshi-kun. You are still full of hope and dreams, just like before. That¡¯s the side of you that I see, the little dreamer that wishes to become a powerful Elementalist and follow in his father¡¯s footsteps. You are truly becoming a man in heart and spirit.¡±

    ¡°Do you think that I will be great like Father?¡± Satoshi asked. ¡°Even though I have this curse upon me?¡±

    Akiko¡¯s smile turned sad, though nonetheless, she faced her son and wrapped her arms around him, kimono sleeves draping forward. ¡°My dearest son, you don¡¯t have to worry about a thing. I think that you will become a great Elementalist, just like Kohryu. Even though the rest of the clan may fear you, for what you bear inside of you, I have faith in you, Satoshi.¡±

    Satoshi closed his eyes as he returned the embrace that his mother gave him. ¡°Would Father have faith in me too?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Akiko said. ¡°Your Father and I love you very much. You know that, don¡¯t you, my sweet Satoshi?¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Satoshi said, before his mother rose up from her knelt posture.

    ¡°It¡¯s time to train,¡± Akiko said more seriously now. ¡°Soon, you will be able to receive your very own shikigami.¡±

    Satoshi nearly toppled over his mother when he embraced her in a fierce hug, unbelieving what he just heard. She was going to allow him to summon a shikigami, even after the accident that happened years ago with the god of malice that came out of the portal? His dream of becoming an Elementalist was still within reach. Though how did his Mother manage to convince the Hiroyuki council to let Satoshi summon a shikigami?

    ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, Satoshi,¡± Akiko said as she petted her son¡¯s head. ¡°I fought against the Elder Council and said that you will be able to summon a shikigami for your thirteenth birthday. You wouldn¡¯t be an Elementalist without a shikigami companion by your side. Besides, thinking of sending you off by yourself¡­saddens me greatly. It would bring me ease to know that you have your shikigami for your companion, if no one else.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Mother,¡± Satoshi said as he continued to hug his mother. ¡°This is very important for me. You don¡¯t know how important. I owe you everything, including my life.¡±

    ¡°There, there, Satoshi,¡± Akiko said as she put her hands on his shoulders now and stood up. ¡°You don¡¯t owe me a thing. You¡¯re my beloved son. That will never change.¡±

    Satoshi stood as well, before he followed his mother into the room where he performed the ritual for a shikigami so long ago. He shivered a bit, as this room still gave him nightmares about that aragami that materialized from the portal that he created in the room. However, having his mother¡¯s hand to hold and having her by his side eased him greatly, and Satoshi knew that his mother would successfully invoke a shikigami into life for him.

    She drew the summoning circles on the ground, before she spoke the incantations for summoning a shikigami. Once she uttered the words, a bright glow emanated from the circles in the ground, and then flames seared straight out in a fiery maelstrom. Satoshi flinched and covered his eyes with his arms, though his mother remained calm as the fire then died down and formed an amorphous shape of fire, and then it materialized into a blazing hot egg. Satoshi looked towards his mother, and she nodded for him to go ahead and take the egg.

    Satoshi then took the egg in his hands, and found it searing hot. It was like touching the blaze of an open fire, though Satoshi somehow intuitively knew that he must hold onto the egg no matter what. This was a test of his will, a test to show that he was worthy of bearing the shikigami that this egg would bring forth into the world. Satoshi held onto it, face contorted in pain as his hands were burning, burning, and then there finally came a point when the burning had ceased and the egg felt cool to the touch.

    Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, and a young chick fell out of the egg and into the awaiting palms of Satoshi¡¯s hands. Satoshi stared at it in wide-eyed wonder, before turning to look at his mother, who nodded in approval.

    ¡°There is your shikigami, Satoshi,¡± Akiko said as she brushed Satoshi¡¯s hair aside from his face. ¡°Take good care of him and raise him well. For he is also born as a part of your soul, as your inseparable companion. When an Elementalist makes a pact with a spirit in the Otherworld, they materialize and shape from a person¡¯s will and soul. Such a beautiful shikigami. I don¡¯t understand why the clan cannot see that you are Satoshi and not the aragami that is sealed within you.¡±

    ¡°My very own shikigami,¡± Satoshi said in awe as the young phoenix began to stretch its wings and fly around Satoshi¡¯s head. It landed atop his head, finding refuge there, and stayed still. ¡°I love him. I think I¡¯m going to name him Feng Huang.¡±

    ¡°Go ahead and do so,¡± Akiko said with a smile. ¡°I see that you¡¯ve put a lot of love and effort into that name.¡±

    Satoshi began to cry tears of joy, and his phoenix fluttered from the top of his head and perched itself next to Satoshi¡¯s kneeling form, tilting its head towards his upraised hands and crying upon them. The burn marks from earlier started to heal from Satoshi¡¯s hands, until they were completely unmarred.

    ¡°Healing tears,¡± Akiko said. ¡°A fine partner for my son. Take care of him, Feng Huang.¡±

 Chapter 2: Wolf Deity In the Mountain

    Chapter 2: The Wolf Deity in the Mountain

    It was Satoshi¡¯s sixteenth birthday. However, no celebration heralded his ascent to manhood, as this was the time that he would leave the Hiroyuki manor on a journey to get rid of his curse. None of the other Hioryuki members of the household, save for Akiko Hiroyuki, said goodbye to Satoshi. Though Satoshi didn¡¯t mind. He didn¡¯t expect the elders or the rest of the family members to come bid him farewell. To them, they only saw him as the aragami that cast its curse upon him when he was only seven years old. However, leaving his mother was a hard thing to do. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, holding onto him as though he would meld through her chest and into her heart. Akiko then stepped back, looking at Satoshi with a serious expression on her face as she said, ¡°You look more like your father every day, Satoshi-kun.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll miss you, Mother,¡± Satoshi said as he kissed his mother goodbye. ¡°You were the only one who believed in me after all these years.¡±

    ¡°Be strong, Satoshi,¡± Akiko said as she put her hands on Satoshi¡¯s shoulders and rested them there gently. ¡°Remember what I¡¯ve taught you. Make sure that you eat plenty of vegetables when you¡¯re out on your journey. Groom yourself and look presentable to other people. Be kind to others, and remember that you¡¯re more than the malice that is inside you. Be kind to all living things. Be merciful to those who hardly deserve mercy, but spare them because you have love instead of hatred in your heart.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Satoshi said as he smiled towards his mother. He then started to hesitatingly take a few steps off from the Hiroyuki grounds, turning back to face his mother. His mother held up her hand in farewell, and Satoshi returned the gesture before he turned forward and didn¡¯t look back. The sun rose high in the sky, warming Satoshi¡¯s face as he looked towards the heavens and let the wind sway his dark hair. It would be a long journey ahead of him, he knew, though Satoshi was determined to get rid of his curse, no matter what. He would come back to see his mother¡¯s face again.

    Satoshi paused at a small shrine, regarding it with a contemplative cast on his features. Satoshi then clapped his hands together, inclining his head a bit in reverence, before he began to pray to the shrine deity that dwelled there. A gentle breeze blew, as though in response to Satoshi¡¯s prayers. His long dark hair swayed with the wind and his Elementalist regalia fluttered as Satoshi heard the whispering voices of something unseen in the world. It was faint, yet Satoshi could hear the spirits speaking to him, just like how his mother divined through the wind and heard their voices. Once he finished, Satoshi had a small smile on his lips.

    ¡°Farewell, friend. I hope that more travelers passing by shall pay their respects.¡±

    He bowed, before he went off onto the dirt road leading away from the shrine. It was unusual to see shrines such as these in this day and age, especially since mankind rejected the kami and spirits. Instead of worshipping deities within their shrines, mankind started building vast and terrible structures over the landscape that used to breathe with the life of spirits.

    ¡°The skies are so blue¡­¡± Satoshi remarked while looking up at the sky. ¡°I wonder how long until mankind takes away the holy lands that are sacred to us Elementalist?¡±

    The sakura were in full bloom, with their petals cast away to the winds like ashes for a funeral pyre. Satoshi shielded his eyes from the blinding sun peering from the horizon, trapped behind a dragon-like ridge of mountains. Satoshi continued walking further down the dirt path, the sakura petals drifting behind him.

    When Satoshi made his way into the village, merchants were spreading out their wares, such as brightly colored dyes and silk for fabrics, exotic spices from another part of the continent of Jipangu, and freshly caught fish from another river. Children were at play on the dirt roads, treading underfoot of the adults who were busy with their affairs. Making his way into a straw-roofed structure, pushing aside a woolen fabric hanging in the doorframe, Satoshi then said, ¡°I have traveled far from the west of Jipangu. I come here seeking guidance, Village Elder.¡±

    ¡°You are Hiroyuki Satoshi, yes?¡± The Elder said, before ushering him further into the brightly colored tent. ¡°I have been informed of your arrival by your mother, Akiko. You wish to know how to get rid of the curse, yes?¡±

    Satoshi nodded, before he parted his robes a little bit to reveal the markings of the seal that bound the curse. ¡°This seal was branded upon me when I was small. Eventually, the seal will break and the curse will take over. Even now, I still feel its hateful purpose¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, the curse that is planted on you is very powerful,¡± The Village Elder said. ¡°Be grateful that the seal hasn¡¯t spread to your face. Once it spreads to your face, it would¡¯ve been over for you.¡±

    Satoshi bowed his head in reverence. The village elder then threw some bones onto the rug in front of her, sprawling them out into secret patterns that only she could decipher. The Elder was known as the Bone Lady around this village, and she would take the bones of creatures that have passed away and use them to divine her secrets and fortunes. She peered at the patterns the bones displayed, before she said, ¡°You have a long journey ahead of you, young Satoshi. I¡¯m afraid you cannot stay here for very long--we cannot risk the spread of the corruption among the children of this village.¡±

    ¡°Of course, Lady Elder.¡±

    ¡°The landscape is changing. The gods and spirits are no longer revered as they once were. Mankind is building their weapons of destruction and their cities of steel against the deities that have sheltered us for so long. The world is experiencing a spiritual imbalance, and mankind is becoming ignorant of the old ways that we¡¯ve practiced for so long and faithfully. Tell me, what has your mother taught you during your years of growing up in the Hiroyuki Manor? She did teach you about the elements and the principles of Yin and Yang, correct?¡±

    ¡°That she did. She taught me many things.¡±

    ¡°Yet she couldn¡¯t have taught you everything that all she knew in that time span. The rest you have to learn on your journey through the world. Seek out the dwelling places of the deities that embody each element: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, and the Cosmos, if you truly wish to become an Elementalist like Kohryu. Even if the curse may be within your body, you can suppress it as long as you learn how to spiritually master yourself in all the elements.¡±

    Satoshi nodded, and eagerly awaited to hear more of the Elder¡¯s words.

    ¡°There is also a wolf deity in the mountains,¡± The Elder explained to Satoshi. ¡°She has overlooked this village for many years. However, the people of the village have become less dependent on her and found new ways of tending the rice fields and fending off the deer and boar from them. Perhaps she could help aid you in your journey.¡±

    ¡°A wolf deity?¡± Satoshi asked. ¡°What is her name?¡±

    ¡°Her name is Kohaku. She was named such after the color of her amber eyes,¡± the Village Elder said, before she turned to look towards the burning fire that smelled of sweet incense and herbs. ¡°She will judge you by your character when you make your way to her home at the mountain peak. A wolf can always tell the difference between a man and an animal. Which one are you, son of Kohryu and Akiko?¡±

    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s for the deity to decide,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°I thank you for your counsel. I shall journey through the mountains and find the wolf deity that you speak of.¡±

    ¡°Before we do that,¡± the village Elder began to say. ¡°We must perform a cleansing ritual to present you before her. It should also help quell the curse inside of you, though I have to say that it is merely a temporary measure. There is a sacred waterfall that is nearby that you can cleanse yourself with. However, once you step foot into the domain of the wolf deity, your fate is within her hands.¡±

    ¡°I understand that,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°If she deems me unworthy, then¡­¡±

    ¡°She will turn on you if she senses that your character is unredeemable. A Youkai has a better sense of smell than a human, and can determine whether or not the curse is spreading or getting worse. Her supernatural senses are also comparable to an Elementalist¡¯s, and she has the amazing powers that her kind are known to have. Immune to death, disease, and physical attacks. A Youkai can regenerate from practically any physical wound. Should you win Kohaku over, you will be rewarded with a formidable companion that would help make your journey far easier. Now come, let¡¯s go to the waterfall.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    Satoshi followed obediently behind the village Elder, as her two twin braids swayed in front of her. They made their way towards a waterfall that was some distance away into the forest that was next to the village, and a little outcropping of rock protruded from the mouth of the waterfall. The Village Elder bid that Satoshi strip naked of his clothes and put on a loincloth and headband for the waterfall, which he did so. Then, he stood underneath the waterfall, letting the cool water splash all over his near-naked body. The curse markings from the aragami stood out on his skin in stark relief to his pale skin.

    He meditated underneath the waterfall, feeling the cold water splash against his skin and listening to the rumbling roar of the water streaming beside him. He closed his eyes and focused on his breathing, which was steady and even. Once the purification ritual was done, Satoshi headed out of the waterfall, drying himself on a towel that the Village Elder provided to him, before putting on his clothes again. The Village Elder looked him over again, as though she were not yet satisfied with Satoshi¡¯s purification ritual.

    ¡°The ritual is performed and done,¡± The Village Elder said. ¡°You are ready to meet the wolf deity in the mountain. However, tread carefully towards her home; there are steep cliffs and it will be a treacherous journey upwards. You can ride one of the village mules up the mountain, if you wish.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Village Elder,¡± Satoshi said with a bow, before making his way towards the pen where the goats were kept. His guide would be a young girl with dark hair and tanned skin. She peered at Satoshi shyly underneath long lashes, which hid eyes that were a vivid shade of blue. The Village Elder gestured to the young girl and said, ¡°This young girl is named Saya. She will be your guide up towards the mountain.¡±

    ¡°Pleased to meet you, Satoshi-san,¡± Saya said as she bowed, her twin braids swaying with the nod of her head. ¡°I¡¯ll only escort you to the mountain top where the wolf deity lives. From then on, you¡¯re on your own.¡±

    Satoshi nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s get going then,¡± Saya said with a smile, as she then waved the Village Elder goodbye.

    Satoshi settled himself on a mule, straddling it firmly between his legs, before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never ridden a mule before.¡±

    ¡°They¡¯re surefooted climbers,¡± Saya explained. ¡°Able to traverse the steep mountain sides and cliffs. Don¡¯t squeeze them too tightly. They don¡¯t like that.¡±

    ¡°All right,¡± Satoshi said, as he began to pet the mule gently on the head. The animal seemed to be enamored with him, and began to step towards the mountainside where they would be traveling upwards. Saya herself got on a goat and began leading the way up the steep mountainside. Saya had been right about the mule¡¯s sure-footedness upon the moutainside, with a slow and steady pace that Satoshi was content to go along with. He watched as they climbed higher and higher, watching the village down below become nothing more than a dot. The trees on the mountainside stood sentinel over them, forming a great green canopy above that blocked out the sun and clouds and left them in blessedly cool air. While they made their way up the mountain at a rather plodding yet sure pace, treacherous angles twisted and turned among the pathways, though the mules never lost their step once.

    ¡°I heard from the Village Elder about your curse,¡± Saya said. ¡°It must be a powerful one, from the looks of it. Not even our Lady Elder can get rid of the curse that is put upon you.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°I¡¯m sure that the Village Elder is a miraculous healer, though I¡¯m not sure how to mend this curse that I¡¯ve got on me.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a Hiroyuki, right? Aren¡¯t you like, royalty?¡±

    ¡°I suppose,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Though as far as I¡¯m concerned, we¡¯re both equals. Speak forthrightly if you must, Saya-san.¡±

    Saya seemed to be pleased at this, before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of an Elementalist that has part of an aragami¡¯s soul within him. Isn¡¯t that ironic? Being the very thing that you Elementalist are sworn to protect the world from. Ah, I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯re not exactly all demon.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s all right,¡± Satoshi said, before looking on ahead at the winding trail that ascended. ¡°I acknowledge that the aragami is a part of me. Because there is light, there is also darkness. I must always remain aware of that and never give into the curse. If I don¡¯t acknowledge it as a part of me, then I will be lying to myself.¡±

    Saya nodded, and once they made their way to the mountaintop, they dismounted their mules. Saya looked towards Satoshi, before saying, ¡°You go on to the cave mouth over there, where Kohaku lives. I pray that you live and be able to tell the tale of seeing our wolf deity.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, Saya-san. I¡¯ll be sure to treat Kohaku with the utmost respect.¡±

    Saya then turned to leave with the mules. When Satoshi made his way towards the mountaintop, his breath caught in his throat. Pretty soon, he would be facing the wolf deity that would cast judgment upon him. Satoshi never met a Youkai before, he only heard about them through stories from his mother. The Youkai could co-exist and live peacefully among humans, however, he also heard that the Youkai could be a capricious lot and could turn on one easily. They were usually revered as powerful deities, and could take on the form of a human with some animal features, or they could turn into a full bestial form like that of a cat, a dog, a wolf, and whatnot.

    Making his way into the entrance of the cave, Satoshi then spoke to the darkness. ¡°I am Satoshi Hiroyuki, son of Kohryu and Akiko Hiroyuki. I¡¯ve come far from the west of Jipangu to seek guidance on how to get rid of a curse that has afflicted me.¡±

    Satoshi then saw a pair of amber eyes staring back at him through the darkness, and a feminine voice beckoned him on inside. ¡°Come in, young Elementalist. Let me have a closer look at you.¡±

    Once the Youkai gave Satoshi permission to enter inside her cave dwelling, Satoshi then made his way into the cave and tried to adjust his eyesight to the darkness. Satoshi paused for a moment, before saying, ¡°I mean no disrespect, though could I summon my shikigami in this cave? I can¡¯t see a thing in this darkness.¡±

    ¡°Do as you wish,¡± the wolf deity responded in turn, and Satoshi took out a tag that spelled out his shikigami¡¯s name upon it. He then materialized the shikigami into existence in a whirl of fire, and Feng Huang settled upon his upraised arm, providing light with the flames constantly emanating from the fire bird¡¯s body. When Satoshi peered into the cave once more, he saw a gigantic wolf staring back at him with glowing liquid gold eyes. Tawny brown fur covered the wolf¡¯s entire body, and her maw could easily snap a man in half if she felt compelled to. The wolf seemed to be grinning at him, and then her massive face leaned closer to sniff at Satoshi. Satoshi let Kohaku smell him all over his body, not daring to move or stir his breath out of turn. He knew that he was within the wolf deity¡¯s power, and it would be her decision to let him go and accompany him on his journey or to tear him apart with her great jaws.

    Feng Huang also remained as still as his master, sharing Satoshi¡¯s trepidation about the ordeal. If Satoshi died here and now, their bond together would be broken and then Feng Huang would be sent back into the Otherworld where the other shikigami spirits reside, waiting to be summoned forth once more.

    Kohaku stopped her inquisitive sniffing, before she then said, ¡°The curse is strong within you, Elementalist. Tell me why I shouldn¡¯t tear you apart here and now.¡±

    ¡°If that is your judgment, then so be it,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°However, I have one final thing to say before you devour me. I wish to travel the world to become a great Elementalist, though I also have a responsibility to the world, as well. The world is changing, as the Village Elder has told me. Mankind is becoming less reliant on the gods and spirits and are forgetting the old ways. I wish to bring back the spiritual ways into the world, and perform good deeds.¡±

    ¡°If I were to let you go, then, you would change the world? One single man thinking that he can change the world is arrogance. Or perhaps you¡¯re speaking out of naivete. You are young, Elementalist, and my lifespan extends far beyond your kind. You humans live and die in a blink of an eye to me. Do you truly think that you can bring about the change to the world that you speak of?¡±

    ¡°I can only hope to try,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Though I know that I can¡¯t do it on my own. I need allies. I would like for you to be my ally, no, a friend. I humbly beseech you that you spare my life and accompany me on my journey to get rid of the curse. If I¡¯m a man not worthy, then you may tear me apart here and now.¡±

    ¡°You are interesting, Elementalist,¡± Kohaku said with a great grin on her maw as she examined Satoshi closely. ¡°The reason why I haven¡¯t torn you apart is because of your shikigami. Only a rare breed of souls can summon a phoenix as their shikigami.¡±

    ¡°I tried to summon a shikigami on my own, once,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°And it has led to me being cursed. However, my mother allowed me to summon a shikigami of my own, despite having the curse, and I ended up with Feng Huang.¡±

    ¡°You are an honest soul,¡± Kohaku said after a long while. ¡°Despite the corruption that is within you, I also sense an unusual gentleness and kindness of character that is rare among people these days. You also respect and revere the gods, as you rightfully should.¡±

    ¡°I do revere the spirits and gods,¡± Satoshi said solemnly. ¡°They are the ones that have made this world, after all. It¡¯s a shame that mankind has forgotten that and continue to build over sacred lands and create their weapons. It¡¯s about time that something is to be done about it. I will make sure that on my journey, the spirit world and the world at large are in balance with one another.¡±

    Kohaku then stretched her great limbs, before she reverted back to her human form, with wolf ears atop her head and a tail protruding from behind. Her tawny brown hair stampeded down her back like galloping horses, and her amber colored eyes remained as intense as ever, even when she was a human. There was a certain feral quality within them that marked her as a Youkai.

    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it that you perform your duty, Elementalist. Prove to me that you¡¯re worthy of bearing the phoenix shikigami.¡±

 Chapter 3: Of Wolves and Men

    Chapter 3: Of Wolves and Men

    Satoshi woke up when he heard quiet breathing next to him. He was face to face with Kohaku, who was in her wolf form, and when his eyes started to open, she howled. Fully awakened,Satoshi lifted a hand and squinted against the bright morning sun that cast lemon-gold brilliance across the landscape, lending a pastel-like quality to it. He took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air and the breeze that whispered through the trees. ¡°Good morning, Kohaku. You slept well, I expect?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t really need sleep,¡± Kohaku said with a secretive smile as she transformed from her wolf form into her half humanoid form. ¡°My endurance is higher than yours. Also, you slept quite soundly. For all you know, I could¡¯ve mauled you in your sleep.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t killed me yet, so I think I can trust you,¡± Satoshi said with a smile, before he said. ¡°I think breakfast sounds like a good idea, first of all.¡±

    ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to do the hunting then. You¡¯re like a little cub who can¡¯t fend for itself,¡± Kohaku said, before she suddenly transformed into her wolf form. Satoshi watched in fascination as her body contorted into a new form, bones crunching as they shifted and adjusted. Luxurious brown fur bristled all over her bare body, her jaw elongated, and Kohaku settled down into all fours. In a flash, Kohaku already disappeared into the forest to get their meal. In the meantime, Satoshi foraged for some roots and plants to help supplement the early breakfast. Perhaps later along the road, he could catch a brace of fish for eating while they walked alongside a chuckling river. Once he gathered enough edible greens, Satoshi set up some kindling for a fire, and began muttering an incantation. Sparks flared into existence, catching into the kindling and roaring into life.

    The Youkai returned with a brace of rabbits in her mouth--one for Satoshi and the rest for herself. Satoshi gratefully took one and began skinning and gutting it. His work was neat and efficient--and he began cooking the rabbit by the fire. The savory smell of roasting meat and juices wafted in the air. Kohaku gulped down each of her rabbits in one fluid movement of her throat, before she regarded Satoshi¡¯s cooking methods curiously by sniffing at the outer edge of the kindling fire.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Kohaku remarked. ¡°Though I suppose raw rabbit wouldn¡¯t be very palatable to you, would it?¡±

    ¡°Say¡­I¡¯ve been thinking¡­when we make our way into a village or some town, what am I to do with you?¡± Satoshi said, musing to himself. ¡°People would find your ears and tail strange in human form¡­so perhaps it would be best if you remained in your wolf form. But then, I think I¡¯ll have a hard time convincing people that you¡¯re my pet dog.¡±

    ¡°You would demote me to a mere dog, Elementalist?¡± Kohaku said as she lifted her head proudly.

    Satoshi had to smile at that. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t think of me being disrespectful. But remember, it¡¯s only to ensure both our safety.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s no need for concern,¡± Kohaku said. ¡°After all, I am a Youkai.¡±

    The rabbit finished cooking. Satoshi wasted no part of the animal, eating it down to the bone and sucking the juices out of the marrow. He licked his fingers after he drained the marrow, before dipping his hands into the cool stream to clean away the last remnants of food. Satoshi splashed some water on his face, washing away the bone-deep wariness from the night before. He took a handful of wild beechnuts, popping out the sweet kernel inside, chewing slowly and savoring them. Satoshi also ate the leaves of a chicory plant, along with the tubers and young leaves of a daylily plant.

    Once he finished his meal, Satoshi clasped his hands together for a small prayer, thanking the spirits and nature for providing him nourishment. Satoshi then turned to Kohaku, who lay sprawled on her back and sunbathed in the warm sunshine.

    ¡°Do you know if there¡¯s any sign of civilization nearby?¡±

    ¡°Remember, you cannot command a Youkai. And a Youkai is likely to turn on you if you show any signs of hesitation or fear.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m simply asking you as a friend. Is that all right?¡±

    ¡°You have a strange notion of friends,¡± Kohaku said with a snort, before she sniffed the air delicately and perked her ears. ¡°There is civilization nearby. A village not too far from where we¡¯re standing.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± Satoshi said as he began to stretch out his limbs and started walked towards the direction that Kohaku¡¯s nose was pointed. ¡°Maybe they can give us useful information about drawing back this curse¡­or maybe they have news about my father.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an admiring tone in your voice when you speak of your father,¡± Kohaku said. ¡°Are you close to him?¡±

    ¡°Well, not exactly. He left on a journey when I was born and I haven¡¯t seen his face. All I know is that he¡¯s a legendary Elementalist and performed good deeds across the land.¡±

    ¡°You think your father could help you? He was a mere man, fallible just like the rest of you humans.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be surprised at how resilient we as a people are,¡± Satoshi said with a smile.

    Kohaku then lowered her fours and put her belly flat on the ground. ¡°Hurry up, human. I¡¯ll leave you behind if I don¡¯t put you on my back.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re letting me ride on your back?¡± Satoshi said with a blink.

    ¡°Please, I¡¯m giving you permission to ride on my glorious back. Remember that I¡¯m a Youkai.¡±

    ¡°Right,¡± Satoshi said with a smile, before he clambered up onto Kohaku¡¯s back. Her tawny fur felt soft underneath his fingers, and when she leapt off the ground and started bounding towards the village, Satoshi¡¯s head whipped back and his hair streamed behind him in a banner while all the greenery around them turned into a blur. Satoshi laughed, enjoying the exhilharating thrill of riding upon a wolf¡¯s back. Kohaku ran swiftly, never tiring, her shoulder bunching up and loosening with each stride forward. Once they made their way to the village, Satoshi patted Kohaku on the head gently and got off her back.

    However, something was strange about this village. Satoshi looked around, and saw that no one exited out of the cozy homes to greet them. When Satoshi entered inside, he noticed that the tables were set with savory meals, untouched, and everything seemed to be in perfect order. It was all very strange. Satoshi headed out to report his findings to Kohaku.

    ¡°No people,¡± Satoshi said a little ruefully.

    ¡°You told me to sniff out a settlement,¡± Kohaku said with a dismissive air. ¡°Not for people. It looks like you could use a hot meal yourself.¡±

    ¡°But, that would be stealing, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Satoshi said.

    ¡°A wolf does not concern herself with the thoughts of sheep,¡± Kohaku said while raising her head proudly. ¡°Food is food. If it¡¯s there for the taking, salvage what you can and fill your stomach.¡±

    ¡°I think I¡¯m fine with the rabbit you gave me this morning,¡± Satoshi said, before Kohaku turned into her human form and shook her head.

    ¡°You¡¯re hungry. I can tell. It would be stupid for you to not take what you can.¡±Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°It¡¯s not mine to take,¡± Satoshi mused. ¡°Besides¡­the people might come back.¡±

    ¡°Something made them leave,¡± Kohaku noted, and Satoshi felt an uneasy feeling prickle the back of his neck. ¡°Well, your human principles aren¡¯t going to serve you well out in the world where there are no laws and civilization. Remember that.¡±

    Satoshi watched as Kohaku leapt off to another part of the village, and he let out a sigh.

    She did have a point, but¡­why did Kohaku make it seem like his honorable principles didn¡¯t make any sense or were impractical? He believed that being honorable and keeping promises and living by morals was what made a man, and it was the only thing he had left, especially after being abandoned by his family. His mother believed in purity of the soul, and Satoshi did daily meditations everyday to make sure that his mind and heart were in accordance to one another. His mind told him that he shouldn¡¯t take the food, that it belonged to someone else and it wasn¡¯t his for the taking; but his heart said that he would starve to death if he didn¡¯t get something to eat, he would be useless and sluggish without energy to make a journey onto another part of the world, being a burden to Kohaku.

    What did he do in a situation like this? It was against his principles, but the food was tempting and it was nourishment. Satoshi then wondered; how to think like a wolf? A wolf cared only about survival; it didn¡¯t have sentimental attachments or notions of honor or human principles that guided it. No, the wild was a cuthroat place, and if prey tried to act friendly and honorable towards a predator, it would only find itself clamped between its jaws. After warring inside of himself for several moments, Satoshi then decided that he would forgo the food. It was easy takings, and it probably was impractical to leave food that could¡¯ve easily nourished him, though Satoshi needed to demonstrate human principles to Kohaku. He needed to give her a good example of what it meant to be a human, not a deity and not a wolf.

    Satoshi headed out of the house. Kohaku sniffed ahead in wolf form, before saying, ¡°Ah, so you didn¡¯t take the food. Do I have to regurgitate leftover rabbit from my body and into your mouth, boy?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think I want that either¡­¡± Satoshi said with a sheepish smile, before Kohaku snorted. ¡°Besides¡­you should save that energy for yourself.¡±

    ¡°I will never understand you humans and your principles,¡± Kohaku said with a shake of her mane, though she loped on ahead as she trekked the great forest, where massive roots twisted and curled above the earth from gigantic trees that must¡¯ve been a thousand years old. Satoshi felt as though several eyes were watching him, though when Satoshi peeked behind the massive trees, he found no one hiding underneath the roots or beyond the trunks or in the canopies or even in the branches, but still, a heavy sense of foreboding overcame Satoshi. He turned, and suddenly another wolf emerged to scrounge food from the settlement.

    It was a humongous wolf that was far taller in stature and greater in girth than any wolf that Satoshi had ever seen. The wolf snarled at Satoshi, though Satoshi fell back and almost tripped over himself, staying very very still. The only thought in his mind was that he needed to survive, that he couldn¡¯t die in the wild without accomplishing anything on his journey, to find a cure for his curse. Satoshi held out two fingers, about to incant a spell, before Kohaku leapt in front of him in wolf form, snarling at the other wolf.

    ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Kohaku said as she stood protectively in front of Satoshi. ¡°This is a Youkai that has gone Feral.¡±

    ¡°A Youkai?¡± Satoshi said, before nodding in undetstanding. ¡°I see. So this is the thing that has been prowling the forest and made the people leave?¡±

    ¡°No doubt about it,¡± Kohaku said. ¡°Stay back. I¡¯ll handle this.¡±

    Kohaku lunged forward and sank her jaws into the other wolf¡¯s throat, or attempted to. The other wolf refused to be taken down, however, and it shrugged off Kohaku¡¯s assault like it was nothing. It was a large male wolf that was far greater in size than Kohaku in her wolf form, though Kohaku was more lean and nimble, though she didn¡¯t possess the monstrous strength of the bigger wolf. The bigger wolf wrestled Kohaku down to the ground, trying to subdue her, though Kohaku rolled out of the way, snarling, and bit towards the other wolf. The other wolf yelped in pain as Kohaku advanced forward and lifted up her forelegs to lock them with the other wolf forelegs as they formed a kind of two legged dance with one another while snapping at one another¡¯s faces. Kohaku then managed to push the other wolf on the ground, belly up, and her teeth at the other¡¯s throat, snarling.

    It was over in seconds. The other wolf submitted, knowing that Kohaku was the alpha. Satoshi cautiously stepped forward.

    Kohaku transformed back into her humanoid form, ears twitching atop her head, before saying, ¡°He can¡¯t transform back to his humanoid form yet completely. He hasn¡¯t turned completely Feral, as I¡¯ve feared. However, I was wrestling with him and showed him my dominance so that he knows who¡¯s in charge around here.¡±

    ¡°What causes a Youkai to turn Feral?¡± Satoshi asked in wonder, looking at the other wolf who slowly collapsed and started to transform into his humanoid form.

    ¡°Sometimes when a Youkai stays in their animal form for too long, they lose their rational thinking. I¡¯m going to ask this guy some questions and see what led him to this. Though the humans have abandoned the village, as Youkai are feared among many people, this Wolf has the scent of one that has been abandoned by his clan.¡±

    When the other wolf came to, he looked towards Kohaku and said. ¡°Why do you defend a human, Wolf Goddess Kohaku?¡±

    ¡°He is a mere appetizer that I¡¯m saving for later,¡± Kohaku said airily, before saying. ¡°I don¡¯t like when others try to lay claim to my things. Besides that, this boy can help you, I think.¡±

    ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± the other wolf said doubtfully, before he turned towards Satoshi. ¡°Human. Your kind don¡¯t respect the gods and the magic that sustains the land. How will you make up for teh sins of your brethren?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m very sorry,¡± Satoshi said as he bowed towards teh Wolf that was not quite completely Feral. ¡°I know that we humans are frail and faulty of many sins. It¡¯s true, that the deities of the land are being reviled and man is building terrible structures that sucks up the magic in the land. The Old Ways are disappearing. But I assure you,I¡¯m on a journey to help restore peace to the land and put a stop to humankind using forbidden technology that they were never meant to find.¡±

    ¡°You speak truly,¡± the wolf said slowly, before Satoshi raised his head and looked at the wolf head on.¡±But I can¡¯t let you go just yet. You have a curse inside you, boy?¡±

    Satoshi nodded. ¡°A very dangerous one.¡±

    ¡°You do not fear me,¡± the Wolf Youkai said. ¡°Even beasts have more sense of self preservation than you, boy. Kohaku may be your ally now, but remember that Youkai have their own agenda. A human can¡¯t possibly hope to tame a Youkai.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Satoshi said, before he smiled a bit. ¡°Kohaku and I¡­I like to think that we¡¯re friends. Or maybe I¡¯m just a snack that she¡¯s saving for later, who knows? Whatever the case, I made her a promise, and I¡¯m going to fulfill it.¡±

    ¡°And what promise was that, boy?¡±

    ¡°To find her homeland,¡± Satoshi said with a serious expression on his face. ¡°It¡¯s very important for her. She was serving as a guardian deity of a village for so long that she missed her homeland.I will return her there and escort her safely.¡±

    ¡°A Youkai doesn¡¯t need protection from the likes of a human,¡± the Wolf Youkai said proudly.

    ¡°Your¡¯e right. I¡¯m a mere mortal. There¡¯s only so much I can do. The Youkai are amazing and deserve to be revered for their great strength. However, I have a duty, and I¡¯m obligated to fulfill it. Just something called human principles. I don¡¯t aim to tame Kohaku or anything like that¡ªI just want to show her that humans have amazing resilience and adaptability.¡±

    ¡°I wish you luck on your journey, then,¡± The Wolf Youkai said, before he transformed back into a Wolf. ¡°I will no longer terrorize this village. But remember this, boy; Youkai cannot be tamed. You may try to teach Kohaku your human ways and your soft-hearted notions, but in the end, she only serves her best purpose which requires self preservation and fulfills her own needs. She is merely going along with you because your goals align with her needs.¡±

    The wolf then loped off and disappeared into the great forest and beyond. Kohaku let out a sigh, before saying, ¡°He¡¯s right you know. You have no sense of self preservation. Like when you refused to eat a meal from someone else because you considered it ¡®stealing¡¯. If you have the power, if it¡¯s there for the taking, you should accept that opportunity. You¡¯re starving right now, I can tell. You barely have enough energy after talking with that Youkai.¡±

    ¡°I know, I must seem like a helpless cub to you,¡± Satoshi said while he looked off into the distance. ¡°You were the one who brought me food and hunted for me. I appreciate your friendship and your kindness, Kohaku. I¡¯m not aiming to tame you, but I¡¯m trying to teach you human culture so that maybe one day Youkai and humans can get along together.¡±

    ¡°That is rather idealistic thinking,¡± Kohaku said. ¡°But you¡¯re a pure hearted child, despite the curse that lies within you. Well, boy, you have intrigued me. I sense a power within you that says that you¡¯ll be able to change the world. To be honest, you have the same scent as the one who prevented the Eclipse from happening.¡±

    ¡°Kohryu¡­you mean my father?¡± Satoshi asked, and Kohaku nodded.

    ¡°I met your Father once. He didn¡¯t fear the Youkai and believed that Youkai and humans can get along. He saved me from Youkai hunters, and he told me to wait in that village for him while guarding over the humans there. Perhaps he knew that I would meet you one day. Or maybe he felt that you could fulfill the one duty that he could not.¡±

    ¡°I will try my best to fulfill my duty,¡± Satoshi said solemnly.

    Kohaku grinned.

    ¡°Very well.¡±

 Chapter 4: The Flame Deity

    Chapter 4: The Flame Deity

    Satoshi fell asleep on the ground, his stomach making miserable noises. He dreamed a about a delicious menagerie of food, from yakisoba with noodles and vegetables to egg rolls filled witth shrimp and cabbage, making his mouth water. Satoshi woke up and put a hand to his stomach, feeling absolutely wretched. He tried showing human principles to Kohaku, but he had been so stupid and stubborn and insisted that he ddin¡¯t need the food and he wouldn¡¯t touch it.

    I should¡¯ve taken the food, Satoshi thought forlornly to himself. Now I¡¯m laying on the ground, without a soft blanket and my stomach is cramping because I¡¯m so miserable with hunger. Kohaku was right, my human notions have no sense out in the wild. Why does my stupid pride get the better of me?

    As these depressive thoughts started to make his way in his mind, Satoshi began hearing the voice of the aragami that corrupted him years ago, and Satoshi put his hands to his head, trying to block out the noise, though the voice continued to mock him uninterrupted.

    Give into your dark impulses, the voice said to Satoshi. You could always kill the deity and eat her flesh. She was going to eat you, right? In the law of the wild, it¡¯s either eat or be eaten. Dine on her, and you will become immortal.

    Satoshi shook his head frantically. That voice always suggested lunatic things to him when he was sleeping or in a moment of weakness. He convinced himself he wouldn¡¯t let the darkness overtake him, though Satoshi felt certain he could feel the curse marks creeping their way across his body.

    After his fitful half sleeping half dreaming, Satoshi became fully awake when Kohaku roused him from sleep. Before him was a bounty of food, a cornucopia of a delectable fruits in every color. Satoshi blinked tiredly, before saying, ¡°Where¡¯d you get this, Kohaku?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t concern yourself with the details,¡± Kohaku said absentmindedly while she idly played wit her tail in humanoid form. ¡°If you¡¯re worried that I stole it, don¡¯t worry. I didn¡¯t. Just help yourself and eat. I knew that you were starving.¡±

    Satoshi looked at Kohaku, then the bounty of fruit, before he took a handful of grapes and began popping each seed into his mouth. It was bursting with sweetness an dSatoshi almost cried at the sheer taste of delicious food. He looked at Kohaku curiously. Where could have Kohaku gotten all this fruit from? She must¡¯ve searched very far, as Satoshi didn¡¯t notice any area where fruit grew in this amount and in this bounty. Still, he musn¡¯t question it. Food was food, and he was going to survive after all.

    Satoshi bit into the flesh of a pale pink fruit that was sweet beyond words. It was delicious, and it was the greatest bounty of fruit that he¡¯d ever seen¡ªlike something that you¡¯d see served up to the Emperor himself, rather than an exiled Elementalist Prince. Once Satoshi suckled his fingers to get the last remnants of juice, Kohaku looked off into the distance.

    Satoshi stood by her side and asked her, ¡°What are you thinking of, Kohaku?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m just wondering about the journey that lies ahead of us,¡± Kohaku said, before she turned to face him. ¡°You believe that finding all the Deities in the world will help remove your curse, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve got to try,¡± Satoshi said, before looking down at his hands. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not so sure. I¡¯ve heard about the great powers of the Deities and the miracles that they perform¡­but this curse is strong. What if I find all the Deities and they can¡¯t help cure me of my curse after all?¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t let self-doubt get in the way of your thinking,¡± Kohaku said while shaking her head, and she bit Satoshi on the arm his her wolf form.

    ¡°Yowch! What was that for?¡±

    ¡°For feeling self-doubt. As said, a wolf doesn¡¯t concern herself with the thoughts of sheep. Stand tall and proud, and move ever onward on your path. It doesn¡¯t matter if it¡¯s the best choice of the worst choice, or if it¡¯s a choice that seems to be a waste of time¡ªall that matters is that you put your heart into it and you¡¯ve taken a step forward from where you were yesterday. If a wolf concerned herself with such thoughts, then she would never survive in the wild. So learn to think like a wolf, Satoshi.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Once again it looks like I¡¯m in your debt again, Kohaku.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± Kohaku said before she stretched her limbs and arched her back to work out the cramps in them after sitting so stiffly for so long. ¡°So how do you figure that you will find these Deities? Do you have some sort of plan?¡±

    ¡°Not in particular,¡± Satoshi said as he slumped his shoulders forward. Not having a plan could prove to be fatal, and the curse within him was only growing stronger. He needed to find a cure soon¡ªthough at least he stopped feeling self doubt. It seemed that every time that he felt a sense of self doubt, the darkness within him would rise and that voice would whisper sweet temptations and vices to him to stray from the path of a human and to that of a demon. He wouldn¡¯t allow that to happen! He just couldn¡¯t! His mother spared his life, and for that he must give back to her and honor her for her sacrifice. Surely she lost her position as the head of the Hiroyuki.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°I need to learn the powers of the Deities so that I can get rid of this curse,¡± Satoshi murmured to himself. ¡°So first I must find an Oracle who divines to these deities, right? But hm, I would have to travel across the world for that¡­and I have nothing but the clothes on my back. I need to find expenses such as funding a sailor to sail us to the North Pole for the Water Deity. Though¡­I hear that there are two Oracles for the Water Deity?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯ve last heard,¡± Kohaku said as she sniffed the air before letting out a great yawn. ¡°But how do you propose that we raise the money for getting a ship there?¡±

    Satoshi thought about it for a while, before saying, ¡°I could always find a town or something. Maybe they¡¯ll have work there.¡±

    ¡°There is a town nearby,¡± Kohaku said, before she leaned down on all fours and presented her back to him again. Satoshi got on, and then Kohaku traversed the wild greenalnds like the wind. When the greenery faded away into little settlements and huts along the way, Satoshi knew that they reached a small civilization where he could gather his bearings and talk to the people there. When Satoshi arrived, an Elder male hailed him on the back of Kohaku.

    ¡°Kohryu?¡± The Elder said, stroking his long mane of a beard. ¡°Is that you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m not he,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Though I am his son.¡±

    ¡°Then you must be¡­Satoshi-kun. Ah yes, I have foreseen this meeting. Forgive me, I am an Oracle that sees many different pats and futures. The whisper from the flames have told me that a person of great importance will come back to this village and help solve our dilemma.¡±

    ¡°Dilemma? What kind of dilemma?¡±

    The Oracle stroked his beard again, before saying. ¡°I¡¯m sure that you¡¯re weary from your journey. Please help yourself to my humble adobe and get something to eat and drink. Then we will discuss the matter further, after you¡¯ve been fed and get a clean bath.¡±

    Satoshi nodded, before he made his way to the Oracle¡¯s humble adobe. He washed and cleansed himself in the wash basin, using scented soap to scour away the dirt that creeped on his flesh, before putting on his clothes again. When he made his way to the dining hall, the Oracle was ther waiting for him with a bounteous feast of fruits and vegetables that was befitting for the arrival of someone of great importance. Satoshi marveled that this must¡¯ve been a village that revered and loved his father for his good deeds.

    ¡°I¡¯m actually on a quest searching for my father,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°And I seek the various Deities of the world to learn the elements and hopefully gain control over this curse that has hold over me.¡±

    ¡°Ah yes, the curse,¡± the Oracle said, looking at Satoshi thoughtfully. ¡°It¡¯s a very strong one. I think that through the power of all Deities you will be able to achieve something important and get rid of the curse. It all has to do with teh Final Element, though no one knows what that is. People have sought on long hard journies trying to seek this Element, and have died without ever knowing it. Still, young Satoshi¡­you¡¯re seeking Master Kohryu? We have not known where he has disappeared too, though he disappeared as soon as the Eclipse that threatened to overtake the world started to shadow the realm, though he hasn¡¯t been seen since. In fact, it was sixteen years ago that our beloved Flame Deity was frozen¡­¡±

    Satoshi cocked his head. ¡°The Flame Deity? Frozen? How is that possible?¡±

    The Oracle shook his head, before continuing on. ¡°A corrupt Elementalist used powerful Ice Magic to seal the Fire Deity. The Ice Magic is slowly eating away at the Flame Deity¡¯s magical reservoirs, and it weakens and is going to be in a state of permanent sleep soon enough; in a state of neither death nor life, but rather a half-existence with it¡¯s flames snuffed out.¡±

    ¡°I see, that¡¯s terrible. I will do anything I can to help. In order to help your people and save the Flame Deity.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± The Oracle breathed. ¡°There¡¯s also something else that you must know, Son of Kohryu Hiroyuki. The Deities throughout the world have been weakened and sealed away from their powers. You may not know this, though the Oracles have communicated through one another through dreams say that the Deities have weakened. Mankind is building their terrible structures of steel and weaopnry, things that may surpass the Deity¡¯s power if left unchecked¡­¡±

    ¡°Man has grown so far that he seeks to surpass the power of the gods?¡± Satoshi questioned, and the Oracle nodded.

    ¡°The world is changing¡­the magic is being depleted from the land. Which may explain the weakening of the deities. The landscape and world has changed so much¡­though it was probably inevtiable that the Ecipse would take its course. For you see, Kohryu Hiroyuki hasn¡¯t completely stopped the Eclipse, but merely delayed the effects of it. But soon¡­an Eclipse will shadow the world, and leave the world in darkness due to mankind¡¯s darkness and greed¡­¡±

    Satoshi remained silent for a while, contemplating of what he should do. Though Kohaku remained in her wolf form, she seemed rather restless and wanted to say something, though she continued to keep up the guise of being his pet dog.

    ¡°I will find a way to unfreeze the Flame Deity,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°It there anyway to nullify the Ice Magic that surrounds it?¡±

    ¡°There is a way,¡± The Elder said. ¡°Though it will be a treacherous journey indeed. It involves going to a mysterious island where the moon is always red. The moon that oversees that island gives an anti-magic residue that might surely melt the frost from the Flame Deity, though it¡¯s very dangerous to go there¡­those who have attempted it have always failed.¡±

    ¡°I need to bring back the Deities,¡± Satoshi said as he stood up, with a firm resolve in his eyes. ¡°To be able to get rid of this curse that afflicts me. I will find a way to do it, Oracle. I swear I will.¡±

    ¡°Then I shall help you.¡±

 Chapter 5: A Legend

    Chapter 5: A Legend

    ¡°I shall tell you a story about Kohryu Hiroyuki, when he first started off as a young Elementalist,¡± the Oracle began. ¡°Long ago, a young Elementalist who was rash and bold and didn¡¯t fear anything undertook a spiritual journey across the landscape, communicating with the Deities and Oracles and mastering their Elements. He mastered them all with ease when he was only twelve years old, and he would become revered throughout the country for his prodigious knowledge and deeds.¡±

    Satoshi stared in awe. Here was a person that knew his Father! He hadn¡¯t expected this tale to come up in conversation, though hearing anything about his father made his heart swell with love. He wanted to hear as much as he could about the legendary Elementalist that happened to be his father.

    ¡°Tell me more,¡± Satoshi said while inclining his head in a bow. ¡°Please.¡±

    The Oracle took a sip of a deep rich red wine, before planting it on the table. The liquid swirled in the glass.

    ¡°He started to mend the rift between Youkai and humans¡­showing that they can get along together. I suspect that your young pup there is actually a Wolf Youkai, is she not? No need to fear, she is welcome here, for Kohryu taught that Youkai are creatures to be respected and revered like the Deities themselves. Kohaku, was it? Very well, if I may speak to Kohaku directly?¡±

    Satoshi nodded, and Kohaku rematerialized into her half human, half-animal form, petting her tail in the meantime.

    ¡°Oracle, it¡¯s been a while.¡±

    ¡°I see that you still have some attachment to Kohryu Hiroyuki, I see,¡± the elder said with a smile, and Kohaku started to get flustered.

    ¡°Who said that I, the great goddess Kohaku, was in love with a mere fallible man like Kohryu Hiroyuki? Though he may be known across the continent as the greatest Elementalist that ever lived, someone like that was a mere pretty boy that liked to play with ladies¡¯ hearts, no matter whether they were Oracle, Deity, or Youkai. Indeed, he would just flirt with them as long as they were pretty. A Wolf doesn¡¯t want to bother herself with such an unfaithful mate.¡±

    ¡°I see, yes, young Kohryu did have a taste for beautiful women, that may have been one of his vices¡­¡±

    ¡°Young Satoshi here,¡± Kohaku gestured to Satoshi. ¡°Is far more innocent than Kohryu ever was.¡±

    Satoshi blinked.

    ¡°My father was a pervert?¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Kohaku said with a huff. ¡°People make him out to be this dignified and noble Elementalist, but he was just like any lecherous man. He would seduce and make young woman come flocking to him like delicate birds coming to feed on birdseed from his palms¡­¡±

    Satohsi felt his stomach twist at that. Did that mean his father never loved his mother? His beloved mother, who did everything for him, sacrificing her status and nobility for his life, and only spoke truly and highly of his father? Suddenly the grand majestic figure that Satoshi conjured in his imagination about his father when he was a young boy started to crumble. He wasn¡¯t perfect like he always thought he was, and this disillusionment unsettled Satoshi. He wanted to remember his father as the great man who did great deeds across the continents, not as some womanizing sleaze that slept with various different women across the continents.

    Kohaku noticed Satoshi¡¯s unease, and she put a hand on his shoulder while wagging her tail.

    ¡°Young man, you should be proud to be you father¡¯s ilk. Though he may have flirted and played with the hearts of many young women, he also was a devoted husband to just one. A special girl that he truly and only loved, and she was the only person that he would settle down with. That person was you mother.¡±

    ¡°You speak truly, Kohaku?¡± Satoshi said with widened eyes, and Kohaku nodded.

    ¡°He was a great man. Though you have to understand that all humans like you have your foibles and exploits. I, as a Wolf Deity, am an icon of perfection, but there¡¯s no need to measure you humans by my standards. That would drive anyone into a depression, surely.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Satoshi said with a small laugh, before saying, ¡°Well, I guess it¡¯s also to know that my father was someone¡­well¡­human. I used to think of him as this perfect person who had so many great achievements that I couldn¡¯t possibly measure up to him.¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± the Oracle said while stroking his beard. ¡°Kohryu was indeed a great man, though I see the makings of a fine young man in you, young Satoshi. Though Kohryu hadn¡¯t returned to unfreeze the Flame Deity, I¡¯m sure that you can go to a mysterious island where the red moon always looks overhead. It will be a dangerous trip, but I have faith that you can bring back the red moon¡¯s special anti-magic properties to help unfreeze the Flame Deity? Perhaps the Flame Deity will be able to tell you how to mend your curse, or the secrets of high tier flame magic that the Flame Deity can only bestow upon the worthy.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    ¡°My father traveled across the continents and received each Deities¡¯ blessing as an Elementalist, did he?¡±

    ¡°That is correct, young man.¡±

    ¡°What else did he do? What was he like as a person? Besides¡­being a bit of a flirt and all that.¡±

    ¡°The Elder laughed, before putting a hand on Satoshi¡¯s head to comfort him. ¡°He was a fine young man. He enjoyed this world and lived it to the fullest. I¡¯m not sure where he disappeared, though I think it¡¯s about time that his legacy be passed onto you, my young Satoshi. Write a new chapter in the tales that he left behind across the continent, and spread good deeds as a young Elementalist. Because a master of all the Elements.¡±

    ¡°I will try,¡± Satoshi said with a smile.

    The Oracle smiled, before saying, ¡°I will tell you the location to travel to the island where there¡¯s magical anti-magic properties coming from the moonlight. It truly is a treacherous journey, though I know that you will be able to make it through, young Satoshi. I think that you have the makings of being a great Elementalist inside you. It also could possibly be a cure for your curse. Who knows?¡±

    ¡°Hm, I think that this trip would most certainly benefit me in many ways,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡±

    ¡°Very good, young master,¡± The Oracle said with a bow. ¡°I suggest that you go to a town that is not too far from here. Whether or not you will find someone willing to take you there, however, is another story. I¡¯m sorry I cannot provide the funds for you to get a good sailor, but I¡¯m sure that you¡¯ll find a way. Farewell, young Satoshi¡ªand I hope that we encounter one another again one day.¡±

    ¡°Farewell, Flame Oracle,¡± Saotshi said, before he stepped out of the manor and with Kohaku, rode on her back to the town that the elder suggested. However, as Satoshi asked around, the various people that he tried to get to sail him to the mysterious island refused him.After Satoshi asked the last person, who chewed him out for having no money to give him in the first place, then said that only fools would ask to go to that island. Satoshi sat down on a crate, wondering what he should do.

    ¡°I don¡¯t have sufficient funds for a sailor,¡± Satoshi said, before a man with mysterious pale skin, white glimmering hair, and colorless eyes appraoched him. Kohaku looked wary around him, though the man seemed friendly enough.

    ¡°I¡¯ve noticed that you¡¯ve been asking around to take you to an island. What ever comepls you to make that journey, boy?¡±

    ¡°To defrost the Flame Deity,¡± Satoshi said, and the man put a hand to his chin and contemplated Satoshi¡¯s words.

    ¡°A bold move for a young boy,¡± the man said. ¡°Defrosting the Flame Deity¡­it¡¯s not just the Flame Deity that you have to fix, boy.¡±

    Satoshi looked up curiously. He noted how strange the other man appeared with his colorlessness, though didn¡¯t mention anything about it.

    ¡°The world is changing,¡± the man said. ¡°The various Deities have been afflicted with various magical phenomena. The Flame Deity being one of the unfortunate victims in this world¡¯s changing landscape. But perhaps¡­maybe there will be no need for Deities anymore?¡±

    ¡°No need for Deities?¡± Satoshi said in despair. ¡°But that¡¯s unthinkable. We¡¯ve always relied on the gods and magic to sustain us through dark times.¡±

    ¡°Indeed, boy,¡± the man said. ¡°Though humanity will take whatever power it can and become corrupted from it. My name is Suitengu, a traveling scholar. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, young Satoshi Hiroyuki.¡±

    ¡°You heard about me?¡± Satoshi said, before Suitengu chuckled in amusement.

    ¡°I¡¯m a storyteller, and I hear various lores and tales throughout the countries that are whispered among the continents,¡± Suitengu said with a mysterious smile. ¡°Young Satoshi Hiroyuki, son of Kohryu Hiroyuki, cursed by an aragami! What a story! A cursed Elementalist! It sets my blood astir with imagination! Though young man, I also will have you know, I also am an Elementalist, just like you are.¡±

    ¡°Then¡­will you help me on this journey?¡±

    Suitengu closed his eyes, before turning his back on Satoshi. ¡°You heart is set on the island, boy? I can perhaps provide you the funds, of course, though there is something else that I wish to have in return.¡±

    Satoshi blinked.

    ¡°What is it?¡±

    ¡°I will tell you later when you¡¯ve completed your journey,¡± Suitengu said with a smile, before patting Satoshi on the head. ¡°You at first need to find the various Deities and receive their blessings, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± Satoshi said, before bowing his head to the man. ¡°Please help me, Suitengu. I need as many allies as I can, and I know that a man isn¡¯t great by himself, but through the efforts and talents of others. Your knowledge will be most helpful for helping me traverse the world, I¡¯m sure.¡±

    ¡°Do you know why the island is shunned and reviled, boy?¡± Suitengu said, and Satoshi shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s because there are Youkai prowling there, boy. In this day and age, the Youkai have retreated to an isolated island to keep away from humans, where they could live in peace.¡±

    ¡°We still need to go there,¡± Satoshi said with finality. ¡°If I can have you assistance, then I will truly be in your debt. If you could convince one sailor to take us to the island, then I will be grateful.¡±

    ¡°Hm,¡± Suitengu said with a thoughtful expression on his face. ¡°Let me consider it for a while. For now I will gather information on this town and learn about its history. A scholar must constantly record and write about the daily happenings and goings of each place that he visits. Farewell, young Satoshi. Meet me at the Inn. I will reserve you a room there where we can discuss things further. That¡¯s the least that I can do for you.¡±

    Satoshi bowd his head. ¡°Thank you so much, Sir Suitengu. I promise that I will pay you back.¡±

    ¡°Oho, I¡¯ll see that you¡¯ll hold to your promise then, boy,¡± Suitengu said. ¡°Though promises aren¡¯t to be made lightly¡­but you are a truly kind hearted boy. Well, I better be going.¡±

    With that, Suitengu left. Satoshi idly scratched Kohaku behind her head, and Kohaku looked up to him with her great amber eyes. When she keened a little, Satoshi turned his attention to her.

    ¡°What is it, Kohaku?¡±

    ¡°That man has no scent,¡± Kohaku remarked. ¡°I can¡¯t judge his character. He seems friendly enough, though I wonder what his true intentions are. You better be careful, Satoshi.¡±

    ¡°I will,¡± Satoshi said. ¡°Though I do need his help if I want to reach the island to unfreeze the Flame Deity.¡±

    ¡°I will accompany you there,¡± Kohaku said, and Satoshi smiled at her.

    ¡°You¡¯re truly a loyal companion, Kohaku. I¡¯m glad that I¡¯m friends with you.¡±

    ¡°As I said, you have strange notions of friends, boy.¡±

    Yet Kohaku looked pleased at that statement and held her head high