The following morning found Ren standing before a large mirror, his shirt lifted to reveal the intricate symbol etched into his skin. It hadn't faded overnight, not that he had truly expected it to. It was real, as real as the rest of him.
Running a hand over the mark, he studied it closely. It was foreign and yet intimately a part of him now. A connection to an ancient entity that he could neither see nor understand.
Jiro stood silently behind him, the concern etched on his face replaced with resolve. "We can't ignore this, Ren. We have to do something about it."
Ren let out a tired laugh, letting his shirt fall back in place. "Oh, you think?"
"I'm serious," Jiro retorted, his voice stern. "This is... I mean, it's insane. We need to find out what exactly this Baal wants from you. What you're supposed to do."
Ren sighed, staring at his reflection. His eyes were shadowed, a testament to the restless night he had spent tossing and turning. The weight of his newfound circumstances had not been conducive to sleep.
"You're right," Ren finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But where do we even start?"
The two of them remained silent for a moment, the weight of their situation pressing in on them. Then, Jiro finally spoke up, his voice resolute. "We start with Chiyo."
Ren turned to look at him, his brow furrowing. "What? Why? She doesn't know anything more than we do."
Jiro shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest. "Maybe, maybe not. But she's the one who started this whole thing. She might have some answers. Or at least be able to point us in the right direction."
Despite his reservations, Ren knew Jiro was right. He was reluctant to involve the woman further in his complicated situation, but they were out of options. And so, with a heavy heart, Ren nodded.
"Alright," he agreed. "We'll go see Chiyo."
The duo reached Chiyo's establishment later that morning. The sun was high and the streets were already bustling with activity. Ren felt a sense of unease as he looked at the building that housed Chiyo's practice. He remembered the fright he felt during his initial visit. But now, his fear had a different face. This wasn't the fear of the unknown but rather the fear of what he might discover.
Chiyo was at her desk when they entered, her hands sorting through a stack of cards. She looked up, surprised at their visit. "Ren? Jiro?" she questioned, her eyes darting to the clock on the wall. "You're early today."
Ren swallowed hard, looking at Jiro who gave him a small nod of encouragement. "Chiyo-san," he began, his voice quivering slightly. "There's something we need to talk about."
Chiyo watched them curiously, her eyes narrowing as she caught the seriousness in Ren's tone. "Alright," she replied, gesturing to the seats across from her. "Sit down."
Ren and Jiro took their seats, and Ren slowly lifted his shirt to reveal the mark to Chiyo. The older woman's eyes widened in surprise, her hand moving to cover her mouth. "What... how..."
"We don't know," Ren admitted, his fingers tracing the mark absently. "It happened last night. After... after I saw you."
Chiyo was silent for a moment, her eyes never leaving the mark. Then, she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is... an ancient symbol. It represents Baal."
Ren's heart pounded in his chest. He knew, of course, that the symbol was connected to Baal. But hearing it confirmed from someone else made it all the more real.
"But why? What does it want from me?" Ren asked, his voice shaky.
Chiyo's gaze met his, and for a moment, there was a hint of fear in her eyes. But it quickly disappeared, replaced by determination. "I don't know, Ren," she confessed. "But we'll figure it out. Together."
The next few days were a whirlwind. Ren found himself going to Chiyo's establishment every day, staying there till late at night as they tried to unravel the mystery of his newfound power. Chiyo introduced him to ancient books, scripts that spoke about the paranormal world, about spirits and demons, and about Baal.
Jiro was a constant presence by Ren's side, offering his unwavering support even though Ren could tell that his friend was worried. Ren, for his part, was still coming to terms with this new reality. The mark on his chest would sometimes glow, a warm tingling sensation spreading across his body. At other times, he would feel a surge of power, so strong that it would leave him breathless.
Chiyo helped him understand these sensations, explaining to him that it was Baal's energy that was coursing through his body. "You're connected to him, Ren," she had said one night as they sat in her office, surrounded by old books and parchments. "And that connection gives you certain abilities."
Abilities. Ren wasn't sure how he felt about that. He was just an ordinary guy who had wanted to con people with their supposed spirit troubles. But now, he was bound to a powerful entity, with powers he couldn't fully comprehend.
As he learned to understand these abilities, he also learned about the responsibilities that came with them. Chiyo spoke about the balance between the spirit world and the human world and how he had to maintain it. It was a lot for Ren to take in, and at times, he felt overwhelmed. But Chiyo always reassured him, telling him that he was stronger than he realized.
"Believe in yourself, Ren," she would often say. "You have a great power within you. It's time you learned to embrace it."
As days turned into weeks, Ren began to notice the subtler shifts in his awareness. The world seemed sharper, more vibrant. He started seeing things which he couldn't before. Wisps of light, ethereal beings floating around people, auras that were invisible to normal eyes - these were spirits, Chiyo explained.
At first, they were shapeless forms to him, but as his sight grew accustomed to their spectral presence, he could see their individual characteristics. Some were benign, their light gentle and soothing. Others were intimidating, their power radiating like a storm.
Ren felt an innate connection with these spirits. He could sense their emotions, their intentions. Some radiated fear when they saw him, others showed respect. His very presence seemed to command their attention. Chiyo explained that it was because of Baal's influence. "You carry his mark, Ren. Spirits can sense that power."
Communication was a different skill altogether. It began with feelings, vague senses that were difficult to understand. But with practice and Chiyo's guidance, these feelings evolved into comprehensible messages. Some spirits were easier to communicate with than others. The benign ones were usually cooperative, while the powerful ones often put up resistance.
In the midst of these communications, Ren found himself picking up on strange whispers, almost as if they were echoes of something ancient resonating within his soul. These whispers slowly started to form a sort of arcane knowledge. It was from these whispers that Ren learned the first of his spells, the Energy Shield. It was a defensive mechanism, a barrier of power that protected him from spiritual attacks.
Next, he learned Spirit Hex, a binding spell that allowed him to temporarily incapacitate more unruly spirits. The final spell he mastered in those early days was the Wrath of Baal, a potent attack spell that carried the fiery rage of the demon whose mark he bore.
Chiyo was surprised at the rapid pace of Ren's learning. She explained that these spells were the language of the spirits, a language that Baal understood and had somehow passed onto Ren. Ren's determination and dedication only quickened his pace of learning.
His life had taken an unexpected turn, but Ren Higurashi was adapting, and even beginning to appreciate the nuances of his new reality. He was a bridge between the human and spirit worlds now, a position that bore great responsibility, but also provided him with an unparalleled perspective. The world he knew was far more complex and fascinating than he had ever imagined. And he was ready to explore it, with all its challenges and rewards.