In a world drenched in tenebrous sorrow, a new shade of despair engulfed Miko's heart, mirroring the bleakness that had consumed her. In the aftermath of the shrine's annihilation, an overwhelming void settled within her, as if the very core of her purpose had been obliterated along with the sacred grounds. Her grief, like a malevolent tempest, had raged that morning, leaving her now in a numbing state of desolation.
Amidst the shattered remnants of the Shinto shrine's roof, she sat in silence, her world bereft of warmth. The shards of sunlight that dared to pierce through the fractured canopy held no solace, for her existence had become a frigid and lifeless expanse. Tear-stained cheeks had surrendered to a vacant, abyssal gaze, and her once fervent spirit, imbued with devotion and resolve, now lay burdened beneath the relentless weight of her failure.
A nameless knight, a solitary figure draped in imposing armor, observed the tormented state of Miko. He, too, was intimately acquainted with the depths of desolation, having borne witness to the anguish of bereaved families who had lost fathers, sons, and brothers in the brutal conflicts of Europe during his service to a prince-elector. He understood the magnitude of sorrow, how it could cripple one's soul and cast them adrift in a tempest of despair.
With a heart heavy as obsidian, the knight approached Miko, his deep blue eyes shimmering like spectral beacons. He endeavored to initiate a dialogue, though he recognized that their languages remained insurmountable barriers. He spoke in hushed tones as if the cadence of his voice alone could convey the solace he sought to offer. Yet, as anticipated, Miko remained unresponsive, ensnared in the abyss of her melancholia.
His efforts, though seemingly futile, persisted. He gestured toward the ruins surrounding them, attempting to convey a message of resilience and resurgence. He pointed to the burgeoning sun on the horizon as if to suggest that a new day would eventually materialize. Nevertheless, his endeavors were met with the same vacant gaze, as though Miko's very essence had been drained of its vitality.
A profound sense of helplessness washed over the knight, for he comprehended that words alone could not mend the fractured fragments of Miko's world. The despair that clung to her was a formidable adversary, one that defied even the most earnest attempts at solace.
The knight pondered whether the ideals of chivalry that were ingrained in his being held any relevance on this foreign soil, especially for a woman like the shrine maiden, who seemed unmoved by his presence. He scratched his unarmored head in frustration, trying to devise a plan that would, at the very least, coax her into some form of response. Speaking in his mother tongue was futile, as she couldn't comprehend his language. Frustrated by his oversight, he resolved to employ a different approach: finding something to eat.
Methodically, he unfastened each piece of steel armor that encased him, opting for stealth over protection to hunt effectively. He knew that noisy garments could easily alert potential prey, diminishing his chances of a successful hunt. Placing his hefty armor components inside a large sack, he carried it closer to Miko's unmoving form. She remained as statuesque as the shattered shrine itself, seemingly impervious to his presence. Yet, the knight paid her indifference no heed.
Taking up the shrine maiden's sacred bow and a set of arrows, he hesitated momentarily, noting that Miko displayed no reaction even when he appropriated her belongings. With a resolute determination to break through her emotional fortress, he slipped into the dense woods that lay beneath the remnants of the once-majestic Shinto shrine.
The knight cared not for the prospect of encountering a yokai in this shadowed land. He even welcomed the possibility of an encounter with such supernatural entities, finding more allure in their unpredictability than in remaining in the persistent obstinacy of Miko's sorrow. It was his lack of comprehension of her culture that bred impatience within him, and he sought solace in the hunt, far from the echoes of her despair.
As he ventured deeper into the woods, the knight's keen eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of trails left by wild game, determined to secure sustenance for the both of them.
The nameless knight combed the woods in search of trails left by any potential prey, his thoughts involuntarily drifted back to the harrowing events of the previous night. It had been a night of dire confrontation, a battle against a malevolent spirit in the guise of a samurai that had assailed Miko and the sacred shrine. The knight had found himself teetering on the precipice of death last night, yet through sheer determination and skill, he had emerged victorious over the undead warrior.
But victory had been a fleeting respite. The appearance of a colossal yokai, a monstrous skeleton akin to a human's, had heralded the shrine's devastating demise. Its destructive rampage had reduced the once-hallowed grounds to a wasteland of shattered walls and a broken dream. The nameless knight had scarcely managed to secure any rest that night, for his primary duty had been to safeguard the unconscious shrine maiden as they sought refuge together in the shrine's dimly lit basement. It was there, in the inky darkness, that they had awaited the welcome embrace of the morning sun.
As he continued his exploration of the woods, his movements were sluggish, weighed down by the fatigue that had settled into his bones. The memory of his sleepless night tugged at his senses, a constant reminder of his mortality. It was then that he heard it—a faint rustling in the underbrush, the sound of a wild deer grazing nearby.
His exhaustion momentarily forgotten, the knight's instincts kicked in. With the agility of a seasoned hunter, he moved stealthily through the trees, his eyes locked on the unsuspecting prey. The deer, unaware of the impending danger, continued to graze, bathed in the eerie luminescence of the woodland's shadowed canopy.
Determined to secure sustenance for himself and the inscrutable maiden, the knight raised the sacred bow and notched one of the divinity-imbued arrows. His fingers, calloused from years of combat, curled around the bowstring, and he drew it back with practiced precision. A testament to his remarkable skill, time seemed to slow as he aimed, his thoughts momentarily detached from the ruins of the shrine and the enigmatic maiden he had vowed to protect.
With a release that was as silent as a whisper itself, the arrow soared through the canopy of branches, finding its mark with uncanny accuracy. The deer, struck down by the swift and lethal projectile, fell on dirt, muscles spasmed while blood oozed freely, until life drained from its eyes.
The knight approached his prize, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had secured sustenance, a task that had become all the more essential in the wake of the shrine's destruction. As he prepared to carry the deer, he couldn't help but wonder what the future held for him and Miko, whose depths of sorrow seemed as looming as the silent woods that surrounded him. The trail of return will be long, but he will be alright.
Amidst the dense woods, the nameless knight found temporary solace in the symphony of cicadas. Their incessant buzz and squawking seemed like a cacophony of life, a stark contrast to the desolation that had haunted the shrine. He allowed himself a moment to break free from the thoughts that had tethered him to the shaman's sorrowful gaze.
Strolling along the perilous trail that led him back to the shattered shrine, the knight felt a twinge of relief that he had committed the path to memory. His skills as a pathfinder had become a cherished asset in this time of need, and he silently offered gratitude to the Lord Jesus Christ for the survival skills he acquired.
Arriving at the shrine, the knight was taken aback to find the shrine maiden no longer immersed in the depths of her sorrow. She had begun to salvage what she could from debris, a small yet determined glint appearing in her eyes. Though her spirit still bore the scars of despair, her newfound activity brought a sense of relief to the knight's heart.
Determined to uplift her spirits, the knight immediately set about preparing a meal. Though midday was still distant, he commenced the process of dressing the deer he had hunted upon his return. As he worked with skilled precision, Miko's curiosity got the better of her. She silently observed him, her gaze fixated on his every move.
In response to her unspoken questions, although even if she can't understand his words, the knight explained the intricate process of properly dressing the deer before consumption. His actions were careful to not ruin the deer. He drained its blood and cut it into parts to be prepared for cooking, offering a glimpse into his expertise in field dressing.
Miko had doubts and concerns, all were rooted in the sanctity of the shrine but soon were replaced by hunger when the knight began roasting chunks of deer meat over a makeshift campfire. She hesitated at first, wondering if it was permitted to kill and gut such a creature, especially on hallowed ground. In search of guidance, she offered a silent prayer to the kami for forgiveness.
The knight's skillful preparation of the roasted meat, however, stirred her curiosity further. She inched closer, her eyes fixated on the hot and dripping process, absorbing the knowledge with rapt attention.
And then her doubts were soon eclipsed by the gnawing hunger in her belly. As the knight offered her a portion of the succulent meat, Miko gradually approached him, accepting the generous gesture.
"Will this be okay?" She murmured to herself.
The moment her lips met the flavorful morsel, a transformation occurred. Her sadness began to wane with every chomp, replaced by a delicious taste.
Tears welled up in Miko's eyes, not from sorrow this time, but from the sheer relief and sense of fulfillment that filled her heart. The knight's thoughtful gesture had brought her warm solace and a glimmer of hope. Unable to contain herself, Miko cried ugly, confessing her anguish, pouring out her heart about her perceived failure towards the once vibrant shrine she had sworn to protect.
Although the knight couldn't comprehend her words due to the language barrier, he listened intently, his eyes reflecting empathy and understanding. He knew that sometimes, words weren't necessary to offer someone solace. As she spoke, they continued eating together, sharing not only the roasted meat but also their burdens and sorrows, forging a silent yet profound connection amidst the ruins of the shattered dream.