Rouhuo walked in front, pushing Aya’s wheelchair along. Gari and Maldie kept pace with her on either side, looking around carefully.
"We’re almost there. Once we get close to the foggy path, it’s just a short walk and we’ll reach the shrine," Aya said.
Then Rouhuo suddenly bristled like a startled cat.
"I think we’re closer than you think, my lady. Sothing’s really off here..." she muttered, her teeth starting to chatter.
The mountain forest path was swallowed by thick, heavy fog as a cold wind swept through.
"Brrr" Gari shivered hard. "Yeah, it suddenly got freezing."
Maldie looked around, confused.
"Seriously? I don’t feel anything."
"H-huh, that’s weird," Rouhuo replied. "I’m g-going to f-freeze to death."
"Let’s just focus on what’s important" said Aya.
After a bit of quiet walking and a short climb uphill, the shrine’s silhouette began to take shape in the mist.
Aya frowned.
The atmosphere here... it’s bleak. Heavy. Like whatever exists in this place is caught between life and death.
They finally reached the chapel. It was a small, cube-like structure made of worn, grey stone, with a black triangular roof covered in moss – so tiles already slipping loose. In the center there was no candle, no fla – only a pile of black, heavy ash even the wind didn’t dare disturb.
Soone was here recently? Aya thought, startled as she stared at the ashes.
"Ughh," Rouhuo sighed. "After this trip, I’m taking a long break from carrying heavy stuff."
"Yeah, sa. I’m really feeling it in my arms," Gari groaned.
Another gust of wind blew out from the shrine, whipping everyone’s hair - yet the black ash didn’t move an inch.
This isn’t normal ash, Aya realized. It’s a relic.
I don’t know what – or whose – remains were used to make it, but the longer we stand here, the worse this aura gets. Sothing feels trapped inside this shrine.
Aya turned around when she felt soone touch her shoulder.
"What is it, Rouhuo?"
"Huh? Nothing, my lady."
"You didn’t just touch my arm?"
The half-lioness stared back at her, just as shocked.
"N-no..." she whispered, her lips trembling with fear.
Aya began to hear heavy, low breathing right above her.
"You..." a distorted voice echoed through the empty space, like the creature speaking was choking on its own words. "You..."
Gari yawned. While she did, she pulled Maldie close, rubbing her back to warm her up.
"So, Aya, anything happening yet? Because this is painfully boring."
She didn’t see Aya’s profile, didn’t hear her, like there was so invisible wall between them. The only thing she saw was Rouhuo turning the wheelchair toward... nothing. Off to the right, just past the shrine. Only then did Gari spot a fragnt of Aya’s face.
She was terrified.
What’s going on? What is she seeing? Gari thought, worried.
"Stay here a second, sweetheart. I need to check sothing," the half-dragon said, and once Maldie nodded, Gari shot forward.
Her instincts didn’t lie.
Aya and Rouhuo were separated from them by an invisible barrier. Gari tried to hit it, push through it – anything.
What the hell? My wings should protect from stuff like this!
Maldie saw the shock on her partner’s face.
"W-what’s happening?" she asked, stepping closer.
"Whatever Aya’s seeing," Gari answered, terrified, "it’s strong enough to break the protection in my dragon wings. And it’s hiding itself inside this barrier."
"Oh god, what is that..." Maldie whispered, covering her mouth. "Please don’t tell Aya dragged sothing nasty onto us again..."
"Damn it, there’s really nothing we can do?!" Gari snarled, smashing her fist against the invisible wall.
anwhile, Rouhuo stood frozen as she finished turning Aya’s wheelchair.
She could see it now too – the thing guarding the shrine.
The creature was several ters tall, with wrinkled pale skin and long, straight black hair. Its eye sockets were empty, hollow voids, its limbs thin and stick-like. Beneath its tiny nose stretched an unnaturally wide grin full of yellowish fangs. Its hands ended in long, black claws that glead like tal.
"Ho...shi...gane..." the monster rasped.
"W-w-what t-the h-hell i-is that?!" Rouhuo yelled, horrified.
Aya, who had been equally terrified at first, cald down. The sinister aura changed – now it felt... sad.
Does it just want... contact? she wondered, stunned.
"Aya, we need to run," Rouhuo whispered.
At the word "run," the creature twitched just a little, as if reacting.
"No. You’ll only provoke it," Aya said, though her voice trembled.
"Hoshi...gane..." the creature repeated. "The second one... is dead..."
"The second one? You’re connected to her sohow?" Aya asked, confused.
The creature opened its maw unnaturally wide. From its exposed, black-purplish throat, a beam of energy shot straight through Aya’s forehead. Rouhuo scread, thinking her lady had died – but Aya survived.
Images flashed through Aya’s mind – scenes, monts, chaotic but clear enough to form a story.
The Second created a naless being. She wanted – just like the Fourth – to create her own gods to inhabit the earth. But... her first experint failed. Born from darkness, flawed and horrifying, it wasn’t fit to be a guardian or a patron of humanity. The Second sealed her failed creation here.
Centuries later, locals discovered the forgotten chapel, but refused to approach it, sensing its overwhelming, sinister aura. They warned others away, and eventually the Second’s failed creation sank into emptiness – starved for contact, drowning in loneliness.
"What’s your na?" Aya asked.
The creature shut its jaws. Aya felt those two empty sockets staring straight into her soul.
"Lánshuò..." it whispered, as if afraid of its own na.
"If you help , I’ll give you freedom," Aya said firmly. "I’ll trust you, no matter what you look like."
"My lady! She literally just–" Rouhuo began, but Aya cut her off:
"That wasn’t an attack. She wanted to understand her."
"Hoshi...gane... the second is dead... Yuri..."
"Yuri?!" Rouhuo exclaid in shock. "How do you know her na?"
"She was probably connected to the Second’s mind sohow. What do you want from my brother’s daughter?" Aya said. Then, slowly and steadily repeated her na: "Lánshuò."
The mont Aya spoke her na, the shrine shook. The ash scattered, and the whole structure collapsed. Lánshuò threw her head back and scread like she was being skinned alive.
Her mouth split open, cracks forming and glowing with purple magic.
"Aya!" Rouhuo cried, hugging her lady in panic.
Gari and Maldie turned toward the collapsing shrine, then back at Rouhuo and Aya.
"What the hell is going on over there?!" Gari shouted.
"I don’t know, but I hope Aya’s safe..."
Then they heard a scream – a scream coming from nowhere.
From their perspective Lánshuò’s towering form flickered into existence for a split second, then vanished again.
"W-what was that?" Gari whispered in terror.
Maldie swallowed hard.
"Is Aya... fighting that thing?"
Lánshuò arched her long, skinny neck, her veiny skin stretching. Cracks stayed etched around her lips, filled with glowing purple magic. In her empty sockets, sothing like pupils ford – two pulsing orbs of purple energy. They trembled, rotated, drifted slightly - unstable, restless.
"So you really are just like I thought," Lánshuò said, her voice feminine but unnaturally deep and muffled, echoing as if from behind a wall. "Voices from the world told you’re wise, Aya."
"Voices from the world?" Aya said, then gently stroked Rouhuo’s hand, letting her know everything was okay.
Rouhuo slowly opened her eyes, relaxing her tightly furrowed brow as she released Aya. Even though Lánshuò looked terrifying, Rouhuo didn’t feel any malovent intent from her.
"I was so lonely for so long... I kept listening for anyone’s voice. Eventually, I started hearing voices from the farthest corners of the world. I could speak to them too. I’m the one who spread the rumor that I grant wishes for a price. Well, it was partially true. Unless soone wicked ca. Then I killed them without hesitation."
Lánshuò’s gaze drifted over Aya and Rouhuo.
"Ohh, I see the flas in your hearts, dancing in ti with each other. So you’re more than just lady and maid."
"Why did the Second One seal you here? If you were just flawed or failed creation, she wouldn’t have sealed you off like this. There must’ve been more to it."
Lánshuò grinned demonically, stretching her unnatural smile even wider.
"The Second One protected the balance of this world. When the Fourth flooded the world with gods, the world longed for emptiness. I’m the embodint of that longing. I devour the Fourth’s gods to make more space in this world. My lady decided I was too dangerous, because my hunger won’t be satisfied until the last of the gods dies."
"What kind of monster are you?!" Rouhuo burst out, unable to hold back.
"Rouhuo, calm down. Honestly, this works out for us," Aya said. "I freed you, but I want your help."
"I don’t have to obey you. You inherited my lady’s power, but you’re not her successor."
Aya’s expression faltered.
"What do you want from Yuri?" she asked, a trace of fear in her voice.
"I’ll be her guardian angel. She’ll see too. And in return... I’ll devour other gods. That’s enough. The Fourth one keeps sending them after you anyway, and soon he’ll co himself— or so the voices tell ."
"Wait, what about your wish, Aya?" Rouhuo asked.
Aya sighed.
"I lied about wanting my old power back. I figured I’d bind her with a pact, but if she sees Yuri as her new master, that’s even better. And since I’m the one who freed her, I can set her demands. Protect Yuri, even if it costs your life."
"Oh, don’t worry. I plan to. And if I ever see you two as a threat, I won’t hesitate to kill you either."
"I don’t care – as long as my family’s future stays safe."
"Careful what you say. You humans never realize which words turn into prophecies," Lánshuò said, then glanced toward Gari and Maldie, who were still trying and failing to break through the barrier. "Well then. Ti to et my new lady. Hopefully she’s better than my creator."
Lánshuò vanished, lting into the shadows. Monts later the barrier dissolved, and Gari and Maldie rushed to Aya and Rouhuo.
Before Gari could speak, she noticed Aya’s expression – fear mixing with hope and surprise.
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