As soon as his consciousness returned Soma opened his eyes slowly only to find a black curtain filled his sight, that stretched endlessly beyond the horizon. His body felt heavy for some reason. He tried to turn his gaze downward and found Hina who was lying down on his chest unconscious.
"Where am I?".
Soma was lying on a rough texture from the sand as he saw a lot of stone also making a formation as a zen garden he saw on the TV. The sand also has been properly managed. It has been combed like a wave from the river that flows gently giving the onlooker a nice tranquil state. But it just got ruined by Soma who was lying upon it.
He made a small movement but Hina, who was in his chest, jerked as she began to regain consciousness and opened her eyes slowly while rubbing it. Their eyes met and Hina soon rose herself up like a scaredy cat. Fred from his restrained state, Soma also stood up as he could see the surrounding view better.
The two of them were standing in the big Zen garden as far as his eyes could see. Before then there was a big shadow that was towering up to the sky. He wondered what that was. As if the time has come for the surprise. The dark silhouette before them began to glow, and the sky began to open up its dark curtain and reveal a luminous light from the full moon that watched over them.
Then before their eyes a tall imposing Torii gate that glowed red, there was a straight path that led to a Japanese castle that was imposingly standing there, illuminated by the soft glow from the moon. Behind the Torii there is a row of cherry blossomed trees that bloom in full spring.
The cherry blossoms with its falling leaves and every time it touched the ground it vanished leaving a soft glittering pink light that gave a nuance of beauty to it.
"Woah prettty".
Hina also expressed her opinion about the place. Indeed even before his perspective, the place was indeed beautiful, but Soma knows that this place, despite its beauty there must be something that is waiting for him ahead. Because this was the trial gate he expected to enter.
However, there is a slight error. He turned his gaze to the side looking at Hina whose facial expression loosened because of the sight before her, not listed as the person that he will bring to this expedition.
"No point in worrying huh..".
Soma softly mumbled by himself while sighing.
"What?".
First, and foremost he needed to enter the trial and that was probably inside the castle in front of him. Hina tilted his head while looking at the Soma figure who kept mumbling to himself.
"Okay, let's go inside first".
"Ha? What do you mean?".
Soma took his first step and began to walk on the stone paved road that had a straight way that would lead him toward the castle gate.
Once he passed the Torii gate his body was enveloped by a sense of warmth and tranquility inside. The falling leaves from the cherry blossoms that welcome their entrance give them peace of mind and his toned body becomes more loosened.
They began to walk slowly while enjoying the sight that was presented before them. There are no more ornaments inside the perimeter. There is only a wide Zen garden with some small pathways that are made of grass.
Arrived at the castle's front gate. The gate was made from a strong tree that probably lived a thousand years. It has a red color adorned with a lot of metallic accessories and they were welcomed by the two figures of the Japanese god from mythology, guarding the door.
On the right stood a tall Oni with a horn and a furious face that had red skin, his belly was bloated and he wore a simple cloth that covered the important part of the body. He is revered as the God of Thunder that brings death for death and prosperity for everyone around it. His name is Raijin. Behind him thought there was a halo that had many taiko in it. The legend says every time Raijin knocks one of the taiko behind it there will be a lightning that will slay its way toward the human world.
On the left side, there is his brother Fuujin the god that governs wind the brother of Raijin one of the gods in Shinto beliefs. He had the same appearance as Raijin only his skin was green. Behind him, there is a cloth that he folded that resembles an airbag that helps him travel around the world and it has the power to create a storm if he is enraged, that can cause a disaster to the human world.
These two Gods were often told as the two siblings who were never on the same page. They always fought against each other, trying to climb the throne of the sole ruler of the sky.
"Hey, what are you doing?".
Soma pressed his hands on the gate and with a light push the gate creaked and a slight gust of wind hit their body making them close their eyes.
The interior was wide and there was a sliding paper door in front of him, a two-way passage filled with tatami math that gave a rather distinctive smell, for anyone who recognizes it. Soma stepped his foot inside while the sliding paper door became separated between the spaces around the castle. Without slight fear, Soma put his hands on the paper doors and tried to pry it open when a hand stopped him from continuing forward.
"W-wait, wait a minute!".
Hina took away Soma's hands and began to push him backward while she guarded the sliding paper doors.
"Take your time, okay. We don't know what will be waiting for us ahead so,, even I don't know where we are by the way?".
Hina states her confusion while keeping her wary of the narrow hall that stretched far away from both sides.
"We are inside the Gate, and if my assumption was right, this was not a portal gate one".
Soma began to explain where they were, with a slight lie. He wouldn't tell hell all of the things he knew so that Hina wouldn't be suspicious of him.
"You mean?".
"Yeah, it was the rare Trial Gate. That could only be found by luck".
"My god?!".
Hina recognized the Trial gate. She read it in the article when it caught her eye, one before. But she hadn't seen it before her eyes, let alone entering it. As Soma says, this gate could be found by the fortunate one, and that also happens to one in a million chance. But now, Hina and Soma managed to enter one of them, and it was the first trial gate that appeared in Japan. Her head was in a swirl and she began to feel dizzy about her thoughts that kept debating about the pros and cons.
"Miss Hina, are you all right?".
"..Yeah, I am fine".
Awoken from Soma's call, Hina took a deep breath before exhaling everything that clouded her thoughts. She began to pose some questions and tried to deduce their situation based on the information she could gather.
"Do you think, how long we will be stuck here?".
"I don't know, as far as I know. If we are lucky we could get out in the slightest one day we are here, worst it could be months and more".
Hearing that Hina knitted her brows as she put her hands on her mouth, covering it.
"That was a problem if the worst happens we don't have food on our side and we couldn't contact the outside world".
Hina's face looks grim while she stares at her phone which has no signal in it. Not only the signal, but the time on the display also shows a rather error movement.
"Tch, it's no use".
She shoved her phone inside her ring once more and began to feel agitated, because of their dire situation. Her mind began to be covered by a cloud, as she imagined being stuck inside the trial gate for months, without food and help from the outer world.
"You don't have to worry about food because I have some in my ring".
Hearing Soma reply, Hina's heart started to calm down but it stirred once more. She turned her head to Soma and opened her mouth.
"..How long do you think it would last?".
"Maybe one month if the two of us combined".
"Okay, I understand. Let's make haste then".
"...Well I have been planning to do that in the first place".
Soma began to murmur accidentally, it caught her ears and Hina opened her eyes wide knowing her mistake.
"..You are right, I'm sorry for stopping you".
He shook his head to the side and put his hand on her shoulder. Soma knew that Hina was in great turmoil right now. She is rather weak in front of the things she can't control.
"Don't mind it. The important thing is, let's focus only on finishing the trial so that we can get out of here".
Feeling the warmth on her shoulder, made the tension in her body ease for a bit.
"..You are right. Let's go".
Hina nodded her head strongly which was replied by Soma with a nod as well. He put his hands on the sliding paper door then pushed it aside and saw the situation inside.
[Welcome to the first trial]
[Labyrinth of wonder]
""...Ha?"".