Chapter 36 : The Flame
{Flashback, 200 Years Earlier: Mayari's Temple}
The Mayari's Temple was engulfed in flames, the air thick with smoke and stench of burnt flesh.
Inside, the once-sacred space was desecrated with the blood of slain people, their lifeless bodies spread across the temple.
A shadowy figure moved with lethal precision, cutting down the remaining mikos one by one.
In the temple's kitchen, two mikos hiding, their breaths filled with fear. They peeked through a crack in the door, seeing the figure pass by. The brown-haired miko turned to her blonde companion, urgency in her eyes.
"Lara, take this," she whispered, pressing a cloth-wrapped artifact into the blonde miko's trembling hands. "I'll distract her then run as fast as you can"
Lara's eyes filled with tears. " What about you? You know I can't leave you behind, Yuki."
Yuki shook her head. "Don't worry about me. The artifact is more important than my life. Elder Miko is dead.. it's our duty now to protect it..... Please, Lara. Run."
A loud crash echoed through the kitchen as the door was forcefully broken open. A silhouette of a woman stepped in, her movements fluid and deadly, controlling cloth-like tentacles that writhed and lashed out. Yuki stepped out from their hiding place to distract her.
"Hey Bitch!" Yuki shouts at the figure.
Lara hesitated for a second, before grabing a cloak in the floor and slipp out.
She run out through the temple, tears streaming down her face as she passed the dead bodies of her comrades, the once-holy ground now a scene of horror.
The fire spread faster, and the heat was unbearable, but Lara didn't stop. She ran, clutching the artifact tightly.
{Present Day: Town of Narra}
Chris and Joy arrived on the bus just as it pulled into the town of Narra. Joy was asleep, her head resting on Chris's shoulder.
He smiled softly and gently shook her awake. "Hey, rich girl, wake up. We're here,"
Joy blinked her eyes open, realizing where her head had been. She quickly straightened up, blushing slightly.
"Oh, Chris. We're here?" she mumbled, looking out the window. Her eyes widened at the sight. "So this is Narra... It's beautiful, surrounded by all that forest."
Chris chuckled. "Yeah, it's pretty nice right? We're almost at the bus terminal. Make sure we have all our stuff."
{Minutes later they arrived at the Bus Terminal}
Chris and Joy stepped off the bus, the cool morning air of Narra greeting them as they gathered their belongings.
The bus terminal busy with activities, but the town itself seemed peaceful and quaint.
"Welcome to Narra," Chris said with a smile, slinging his backpack over his shoulder. "Ready for a tour, Rich Girl?"
Joy smiled, her earlier weariness replaced by excitement. "Lead the way, Captain Charisma"
They began to walk through the town, the cobblestone streets lined with charming houses and small shops. The scent of fresh bread drift from a nearby bakery, mix with the crisp scent of pine from the surrounding forest.
Chris pointed to a quaint café with outdoor seating. "That's the best place for breakfast in town. We definitely should stop there later."
Joy nodded, taking shots with her phone. "This place is so different from the city. It's like stepping into another world."
Chris chuckled. "Yeah, it's definitely got its own charm. Come on, there's a park nearby that's really nice."
They strolled down a narrow street, passing friendly locals who greeted them with nods and smiles.
As they walked, Joy marveled at the simplicity and beauty of the town.
They soon reached a small park, a lush green space with a pond at its center.
Ducks glided across the water, and children played on the grass, their laughter filling the air.
Chris led Joy to a bench under a large oak tree, and they sat down, enjoying the serene surroundings.
Joy sighed contentedly. "This is lovely, Chris. Thanks for bringing me here."
Chris smiled. "I'm glad you like it. There's so much to see and do here. We'll visit Mayari's Temple later, but for now, let's just enjoy this moment."
Joy nodded, her eyes reflecting the tranquility of the park. "Sounds perfect."
As they sat there, the sun rose higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over the town. They watched the ducks and chatted about their plans, the peaceful atmosphere allowing them to relax and forget their worries, if only for a little while.
After a while, Chris stood up, stretching his arms. "Come on now , there's a lot to see. I'll show you our market. It's got the best local produce and crafts."
Joy stood up with curiosity. "Lead the way, Captain Charisma"
Laughing and telling jokes, they walked through the town's bustling market.
Stalls lined the streets, offering everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to handmade jewelry and pottery.
Joy's eyes sparkled as she examined the various items, occasionally stopping to ask the vendors about their quality and uses.
While Joy, busy examining the items, Chris on the other hand secretly bought a small bouquet of wildflowers from an elderly woman selling flowers at the market's edge.
He handed them to Joy with a smile. "A little something to remember your first day in Narra."
Joy took the flowers, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Thank you, Chris. Their beautiful"
They continued their exploration, the bond between them growing stronger with each step.
The town of Narra, with its charm and tranquility, is the perfect place for their blossoming friendship and the adventures.
As they walked past an old, weathered building on the edge of the market, a sudden, deafening explosion shattered the calm.
The force of the blast sent debris flying, and the ground shook beneath their feet. Chris instinctively grabbed Joy, pulling her down behind a nearby stall for cover.
"What the!?" Joy gasped.
Chris peered over the edge of the stall, his face pale with shock. "I don't know, but it came from that building."
Smoke and flames flow from the ruined structure.
People screamed and ran in all directions, the once peaceful scene transformed into chaos.
Chris looked at Joy, determination in his eyes. "Let's find out what's going on in there. Come on! "
Joy nodded, together they stood up and began to make their way through the panicked crowd towards the source of the explosion, their adventure in Narra taking a sudden, dangerous turn.
To be continued...