It was almost as if the sky was forcibly painted in purple hues, the miasma in the atmosphere was getting thicker every second, letting us see that something is not right in the vicinity.
But that does not seem to matter to these brave 22 knights, they advance at full speed towards a castle located on a hill, no more than a castle was a fortified mansion. This structure has a base made of stone brick on which different traditional Japanese palaces are built, acting as a connector for all those palaces, there is in the middle a wide courtyard of dark brown earth and one or another wooden tower protrudes from the structure.
"I need confirmation, can you see it and feel it?"
Frowning as if something is bothering him, one of the riders removes a fan from his attire to begin moving the air gently. Finishing that and seeming to recover from some sort of strange symptom, he speaks to the priestess at his side.
"Yes, the miasma seems to be coming from that direction... Are you alright?"
Pointing towards a rather strange mountain that is just the right distance away to be barely visible, his eyes narrow as if hesitating before he turns his face and utters a few words towards the rider who just spoke to him.
"I simply have a better sense of smell than normal people, well saying that was unnecessary. Haa, I should be able to get better in a few hours."
Opening his eyes as if he can't believe what he hears, he raises his lips to form a smile as best as he can before speaking about his current situation with the priestess.
Christopher/Asahiko pov.
"I am the one in charge of the castle. It is currently a pleasure to have you both here."
Sitting in a reception room inside one of the palaces scattered throughout the structure, Kikyo and I sit as guests, while across from us sits a rather older man. With a firm back that time doesn't seem to have taken its toll on, gray hair tied in a bun and wearing a dark green yukata with white flower reliefs, a black garment on the inside and holding a sword at his waist, he introduces himself as the castle's administrator.
"The pleasure is ours, but it seems to me that we have no time to waste if the Lord's situation is so complicated."
"I understand your concern and I can tell you that currently the servants are informing the lord of your presence here."
Truth be told, I am not the least bit interested in the current conversation between Kikyo and this man. The smell of the miasma has noticeably lessened inside the castle, though it still dominates all other smells. I snap out of my thoughts as I feel Kikyo's hand touch my shoulder and watch as she stands up before following the man who is now escorted by two guards.
Walking through the halls of the huge mansion that is dark, either due to the lack of candles or the amount of miasma in the building, makes everything look more decrepit and dark.
"We have arrived, please come with me."
Nodding towards him out of pure formality, we waited until he opened the door to the room the Lord was in before only the two of us entered. The room was cut in half by a blind that prevents the direct gaze of the guests to the Lord, although on the other side we can notice the outline of the futon and a young man lying on it.
"Come closer both of you, I have been told by my men that they could cure me of this disease."
Speaking from inside the blinds in a voice that seems faint to the listener, but in more detail you can tell certain doubts deeply hidden within, he gives us permission to enter the room he is in, causing Kikyo and I to enter without the administrator.
"Could you...could you tell me their names?"
Though he fixed his words before he finished them, I could tell that his interest is completely focused on Kikyo, not that he hides it very well either let's say. His eyes are open as if he's seen a ghost, little micro-expressions twist under his face and I could even notice the increase in his heartbeat, even though his entire body from the head down is dead.
"This is Asahiko and my name is Kikyo, sir."
With Kikyo's introduction, she managed to snap out of my internal debate about how interesting this talking to a dead man thing has become. Letting my mind return to my body and noticing how the lord stares in my direction I give him a polite nod.
"The rumors about you two have even reached this far. But now the important thing. can you heal me priestess?"