Prologue

Shihoro Temple | Yokasu . Ergon

The halls were empty, the sound of a grandfather's clock echoed through it. The faint golden glow exposed the cream colored walls and rich wooden floors. The maroon curtains flowed as there was a small breeze that passed by within the long corridor. Shuffling was heard, a door opening before being closed shut in a gentle manner. 

A quiet humming grew louder as a person was seen walking past the opened windows. Their face was covered by a white mask, their small frame was consumed by the large haori. The humming was put to rest as the person would stop at grand wooden doors before pushing them open with a creak.

Upon the doors opening, birds were singing as they flew around the large forestry room. The large open space was full of life, and various plants and creatures roam. A river ran through the entire ground, a waterfall placed in the back which is where the side river runs from. In the center of the room surrounded by water was a shrine. There were two large, stone statues of an odd creature that stood side by side near a large wisteria tree

A creature scattered across the deep, oak floor as the scraps of its claws clashes against it. It make its way over to the person, their long hair flowed with the breeze as they let out a deep sigh. The creature sat on an edge, staring at the person who stood there for a few moments before walking along the edge of the platform before taking a step into the river. The blissful, cold water sent chills up their spine with each step they took. 

Their feet guide them, letting their clothes soak before they reach a small stone path that lead to an open shrine. The shrine rests on a small hill to the left of the river with two large, stone statues resting on either side of a small staircase. The soft thumps of feet padding clashed with the sound of the wooden creaks. The wind howled softly as leaves began to fall and float. Standing at the edge of the path, they stood there for a moment before ascending the small wooden stairs forward. Soft patters of their bare feet against it before stopping, they slowly sat on their knees before speaking.

"I never understood how you view this world with purity... All the wars you fought against your own and amongst others, how can you see positivity? The world is full of hatred and rage- Surely you see it now?" 

She spoke in a gentle tone, the curiosity was prominent as well as the lace of concern. She removed the mask that hid her face, scars along her jaw and lips- an uncomfortable tear of her skin that partly revealed her sharp teeth visible on the right side. The female spoke out loud to the stone statue with strange words written across it. 

"Lord Leonidas saw it, why couldn't you? I know you held great power, why not use it?-"

The female choked out, her voice laced with frustration as she used her large sleeves of her haori to wipe her tears. She felt the creature from before sit next to her, staring at it before gasping softly. Those eyes... Dust and Dawn... Two pools that can easy be stared at for hours on end. The female sighed deeply before standing. She trailed her steps back to the entrance of the shrine room before turning once more, 

"𝘐𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘥... 𝘔𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥'𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘪𝘴..."