The spirit had most likely fled into the surrounding woods by now. I was annoyed at myself for failing my task, especially given the unexpected sudden appearance of this troublesome entity.
I was frozen in place as the tall figure towered above me. His fiery red hair fell past his mid-back, and the long shrine robe that ended at his ankles was a fitting choice for the current setting.
I could sense a holy presence akin to Han Riu's as he rustled through his sleeves and produced an object. To my surprise, it was a dagger, and I realized it was the source of the holy power. It was no ordinary weapon, but one imbued with sacred energy.
"You'll regret having entered my domain, demon!" He growled in disgust.
Before I could utter a word, he lifted the knife, and with no option but to stand there, I squeezed my eyes shut. I waited for whatever was about to happen, but instead, an unsettling stillness fell.
I waited, and soon, I slowly opened my eyes to the sound of a faint thump. A cat was now clinging to the man's face. Wait a minute, was this...?
I gasped out, "Han Riu?!"
What was he doing here? In my confusion, I was caught off guard as an arm snaked around my waist and pulled me back. I was too stunned to react.
"I'm here, Eve." The familiar voice drifted into my ear.
The presence behind me was Rei's. My heart, still racing from the close call, began to slow as relief washed over me.
"Ah," I started to say, but before I could continue, Rei released me and strode forward.
He stormed over to the shrinekeeper, who was now sprawled on the ground, futilely attempting to dislodge the cat. Rei grasped him by the collar.
"What do you think you're doing?! You could've killed him!" His voice crackled with irritation.
"Rei, wait." Han Riu, still in his feline form, darted forward, placing a paw on Rei's arm to halt him.
"I would like to apologize for the actions of my younger brother." Han Riu said, still in his feline form.
'Brother?!' I thought, but it was Rei and the stranger who voiced the shock I felt.
"Brother?!" They chorused, their gazes snapping to Han Riu. It was odd that his own brother would reach with such surprise.
"Eh… Han Riu?!"
released the shrinekeeper, letting him tumble back to the ground, and strode back over to me.
"Brother, why are you a cat?" The supposed brother asked, fascinated, as he scooped up the disgruntled Han Riu. The cat swiped at him.
"This form is convenient for travel. Put me down," Han Riu demanded, his feline dignity wounded.
Their conversation faded into the background as I zeroed in on Rei, who stood before me, concerned. "Are you alright?"
I grated my teeth. Confronting a holy weapon, powerless, was a new experience. For the first time, I acknowledged the emotion coursing through me: fear. Fear for my very life. I refused to admit that to Rei to show him any weakness.
"…Eve?" Rei started to ask, but was interrupted.
Han Riu's brother approached us. "I sincerely apologize for my actions and will reflect. I am Fuku Riu, the youngest of the five dragon brothers. I would like to invite you in as a show of my sincerity."
We both turned to regard the shrinekeeper, who was bowing deeply, Han Riu by his side. The sudden invitation was unexpected.
I felt awkward being bowed to, but Rei held up a hand, indicating it was fine now. I noticed him scanning the area, perhaps taking in the damage the spirit had caused.
"I understand. We would also like to apologize for the damages."
We? But the spirit was the one who'd wreaked havoc. The exorcist glanced at Han Riu, who gave a nod of agreement.
"And we gladly accept your offer," Rei said calmly.
The dragon stood tall, nodded, and ushered us into the shrine. The interior was surprisingly expansive, with a beautifully arranged rock garden at its heart, much like the courtyard before the chaos.
We were led to a vast tatami room, the walls graced with exquisite tapestries. Though the space seemed more suited to a large gathering, our crew of three found ourselves seated.
Now that the immediate danger had passed, I noticed the spiraling horns atop the younger dragon's head. In my earlier panic, I'd missed this detail.
Once everyone was settled, Han Riu spoke first, addressing us.
"I apologize for my younger brother; he's short-tempered and prone to act before thinking," he explained.
Well, that was obvious. His lack of foresight had allowed the spirit to escape, leaving me to be attacked for nothing. Han Riu's apology seemed hollow in light of this.
"This is Rei and Eve," Han Riu said, introducing us.
When Rei bowed, I merely turned my head, at a loss for a more appropriate response.
"The exorcist? I can sense a strong divine energy within you. Thank you for your service. It's nice to meet you, but what are you doing with a demon?" The dragon's question hung in the air, his gaze fixed on me. I shot him a glare, ready to retort, but Rei's hand shot out in my defense.
"We've come to a mutual agreement and are helping each other," Rei interjected, stepping in before I could provoke the dragon further. Perhaps his quick thinking was for the best.
"First I've heard of a demon coming to an agreement with a human. Forgive me for attacking you, but I hope you understand. No demon comes here with good intentions."
"That's understandable. A possessed human led us to a spirit, and we tracked it here. We weren't aware this shrine was inhabited." Rei used the plural 'we' again, taking blame for my mistake, as if I required his chaperoning.
I let the spirit get away; who knows where it was now? What about the woman it had possessed? I was dragged from my thoughts as Han Riu spoke.
"Had I known you were here, I would have come to see you earlier. Where have you been?" Irritation filled the cat's words.
I tuned in, interested in Han Riu's conversation. Was this the person he was looking for?
The brother fidgeted with a lock of his hair, clearly hesitant to speak. His gaze darted between Han Riu and me, as if sharing a secret message.
With a heavy sigh he nodded. "Go ahead; they're helping me too, so the more they know, the better."
Fuku Riu straightened, releasing his hair and placing his hands in his lap. His expression turned serious, ready to deliver his report now that he had permission.
"Heaven has been on high alert for the past month. There's limited access in and out. I decided to stay here, keep watch, and relay information to our brothers while searching for you." With his words spoken, he relaxed slightly.
Heaven was on high alert? What did that mean? Han Riu pondered his brother's words for a moment.
"That explains why I couldn't access heaven so easily…" He murmured.
The feline paused in thought, his gaze flicking to me briefly before he posed another question to Fuku Riu.
"Do you have any news about Lucien?"
Lucien? I started to speak, but Rei's headshake cut me off. Associating with a demon of his rank wasn't information to share freely.
The dragon let out a derisive huff, folding his arms. "Deceptive as ever. He's plotting something."
The air grew heavy, the conversation taking a serious turn.
"Heaven thinks he's after the Genesis Crystal of Eden's king."
"What?!" Han Riu's outburst was laced with shock and anger.
Throughout the universe, only three possessed a Genesis Crystal: the sovereigns of each domain. I heard it from a demon long ago and had almost forgotten about it.
"What is a Genesis Crystal?" Rei inquired beside me.
Fuku Riu shot his older brother a look, as if again asking for permission. The nod came.
"You know about the three rulers, right? They each hold a Genesis Crystal. The Great Creator, Father of Omnia, used these crystals to bring them into existence."
What reason could Lucien have for pursuing Earth's Genesis Crystal, besides power? He'd shared nothing about his plans with me; likely, no one knew.
"What's Lucien's intention with the Crystal?" Rei voiced, as if reading my mind.
The dragon seemed vexed by the very need to converse about it. He must have dealt with him in the past.
"The uncertainty lies in his intentions. Lucien, that demon, harbors an unwavering fixation. Even the war has not diminished his obsession." Fuku Riu's fist clenched, impacting the tatami mat beneath him.
"Tenebrius would never delegate such a task to another, not even to Lucien. Given his inaction, the rumors of his absence must be true. As is, history may be poised to repeat itself. Without a neutral power between angels and demons and no ruler for the Underworld, war seems inevitable." His voice shook as if dreading what could soon be the future outcome of Lucien's actions.
Rei appeared to be absorbing the information as rapidly as I. His thoughtful expression suggested he was storing it away for later analysis. My knowledge of the Underworld's condition was minimal; Lucien usually kept me in the mortal realm.
"I have been hunting for answers ever since. If my king were truly gone." He paused with a shaky breath before continuing, "Eden would have collapsed. I am certain Lucien's aware of this as well. Inform our brothers you have located me and that I will press on with my search here. Should anything develop, I will seek you out."
Han Riu seemed to have come to a decision, and Fuku Riu nodded at his older brother's words.
So Lucien seeks the Genesis Crystal of Eden, while Han Riu hunts for the king? But how challenging is it to locate a crystal and a vanished ruler? My already low opinion of Lucien plummeted upon learning he might spark a war across the realms. I felt an even stronger urge to distance myself from him.
Once more, the discussion around me grew indistinct as my mind raced. My reality was transforming into the unexpected. If Lucien indeed plotted as they claimed, how could I intervene? I wanted no part in the downfall of the world, or all three realms, for that matter. He needed to exclude me from this.
Ugh, action required a plan, no matter what I decided.
"Eve?" Rei's voice, calling me from my thoughts, earned a scowl. His concerned face loomed over me. Now what was his problem?
"What?" I finally focused on him.
"I called your name, but you didn't respond. Are you sure you're fine? Were you injured earlier?" I could tell he was worried, but there was a lot to process, and I had nothing to say.
"Don't pretend to care. I'm perfectly fine." I dismissed him with a wave and let out a sigh.
He likely sensed my irritation and chose not to push the issue. Digging into my pocket, I retrieved my phone, only to discover its cracked screen and failure to power on. Oh, this was not good. In my earlier distraction, I hadn't gotten to read Lucien's message.
"That doesn't look good." The blonde murmured beside me, but I just shook my head, returning the phone to my pocket.
"There was nothing important on it anyway."
Whatever the message contained, I hoped it wasn't important. Knowing Lucien, he was likely badgering me about my progress, and in that case, I wouldn't have bothered responding regardless.
Han Riu rose and approached us. "I need to confer further with my brother."
The dragon's words pulled me from my plight over my shattered phone, and he gestured toward Rei. Likely, their discussion topics weren't for our ears. I suspected it would involve Lucien and the stability of the realms.
Nonetheless, the exorcist comprehended and rose, gesturing for me to follow him toward the exit. I obeyed but couldn't resist a backward glance at the dragon brothers, already engrossed in a hushed conversation. My confusion lingered, and I yearned for answers about the crystal and Lucien's intentions. As ever, the lack of information was infuriating.
I finally tore my gaze away, holding onto the hope that I'd eventually learn more, and exited the shrine alongside Rei.
The sun had begun its descent, marking the late afternoon, and I took in the disturbed earth surrounding us. It brought to mind the questions of what might have transpired had I persisted in battling the spirit. Could I have succeeded in capturing it, or would its strange power have overwhelmed me?
"The spirit escaped..." I muttered, feeling a twinge of failure.
My bold claims hadn't matched my performance, leaving me with a dose of embarrassment. And what of the poor, possessed human girl? What fate awaited her now?
"Mm, that's alright. What could you do?" Rei's response was nonchalant.
I stared at his back, feeling pangs of frustration. He had a point; Fuku Riu had intervened before I could act.
Rei waved a dismissive hand. "Don't worry about it. I doubt it'll return to the school, so tracking it will be tougher. But once it causes problems again, we'll be on it."
His words offered some reassurance. Noticing my slumped shoulders, the blonde flashed a supportive smile before refocusing ahead.
"Let's go."