Hachioji

Takashi's train journey back from the secluded mountain area was initially uneventful.

He sat there, listening to the clatter the train made on the tracks. It was strangely calming, and it gave him the perfect atmosphere to think about everything he had been through lately.

However, as the train approached Nishi-Hachioji Station, something within him stirred with curiosity. An impulse led him to rise from his seat and make his way to the exit.

The doors slid open with a soft hiss, allowing a rush of cool air to greet Takashi as he stepped onto the platform. The city of Hachioji stretched out before him, a blend of urban landscape and pockets of nature. The city's energy was different from what he had experienced earlier, a bustling rhythm that contrasted with the serene solitude of the mountain.

With a sense of spontaneity, Takashi decided to take a detour and explore the city. He walked through the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of everyday life. The aroma of street food wafted through the air, and vibrant storefronts lined the sidewalks. People hurried by, their footsteps creating a symphony of movement.

As he wandered through the city, Takashi's senses remained alert. Earlier, his Cursed Spirit Resonance (Advanced Cursed Spirit Communication, I will call it this from now on.) ability took on a faint disturbance in the city. It was subtle, like a whisper in the wind, but it was enough to pique his interest.

'It is most likely a Grade 1 or Special Grade curse,' Takashi thought, his instincts leading him like a compass.

"If it's Grade 1, then I could invite it to my academy," he mumbled, his lips rising to a smile, "but if it's a Special Grade, then I can test a few things I've been itching to try out."

As he moved deeper into the heart of the city, the urban landscape gave way to more secluded areas, and he found himself standing before a tall structure—the Hachioji Academy.

Strangely, there was no one in sight—no students, teachers, or anyone else.

'Is it winter break?' Takashi contemplated while standing before the entrance, his entire body concealed under his navy blue cloak.

'I guess, this is the perfect time to try it out,' he thought, as he extended his index and middle finger, while raising his thumb above his fist, forming a handgun shape, and raised it parallel to his face.

"Emerge from the darkness, blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure." Takashi uttered the incantation to deploy a curtain with a smile, however, that smile slowly faded from his face.

He slapped himself on his forehead, "Of course, it won't work if you just say the incantation, you dumbass."

Takashi shook his head at his own oversight, a rueful smile tugging at the corners of his lips. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and forget the nuances of invoking techniques correctly. Obviously, there was no way for the curtain to work if you just uttered some words, while not giving those words any power.

Takashi also realized this, after all, his Cursed Technique was literally a barrier. With this realization, he made another attempt.

"Emerge from the darkness," he started the incantation, while feeding the words cursed energy, and soon enough, the black barrier started to emerge, "blacker than darkness. Purify that which is impure."

The barrier unfurled before Takashi, its inky blackness spreading and solidifying into a formidable curtain that surrounded the entire Hachioji Academy. The air hummed with the power he had poured into the incantation, and the once-open entrance was now sealed off by the impenetrable shield.

'Nice, knew I could do it,' Takashi thought proudly, and he jumped over the entrance gate.

As he landed just beyond the entrance gate, he felt a sensation—a prickling at the back of his neck that made his instincts flare to life. He turned to face the academy's main building, his gaze narrowing as he assessed the situation.

'Yep, this is definitely a Special Grade curse,' he mused, now his gaze a bit more serious.

Takashi moved swiftly through the academy's grounds, his cloak billowing behind him as he navigated the empty corridors. The stillness was eerie, only his footsteps could be heard.

The source of the energy led him to a set of double doors, behind which he could sense the curse's presence intensifying. With a determined exhale, he pushed open the doors and stepped into a dimly lit room. The air itself seemed to thicken, heavy with the weight of the curse that hung in the air.

And there, in the center of the room, was the source of it all—an immense figure that radiated malevolence.

As Takashi eyed the towering Cursed Spirit, he widened his eyes at its appearance. Its body appeared to be made of swirling gusts of wind, giving it a constantly changing appearance. It had piercing, glowing blue eyes that emitted an eerie light.

The lower half of its body tapers off into a wisp of mist, making it seem like it's barely tethered to the physical world.

Takashi observed the strange curse with caution and was a bit surprised to see that the cursed spirit appeared to be calm and collected as their eyes met. The glowing blue eyes bore into Takashi's very being, an unsettling sensation that sent a chill down his spine.

'This might be a bit troublesome... based on its appearance, it should have a Cursed Technique related to wind.' Takashi pondered, as his grip tightened on Playful Cloud under his cloak.

Takashi's grip on Playful Cloud tightened further, his mind racing through potential strategies. He knew that a direct confrontation might not be the best approach.

'First, I'll confirm what is its Cursed Technique,' Takashi mused, as he removed the cloak from his body, revealing the white uniform beneath it.

'But, why is it so calm?'

Deciding to not attack yet, Takashi asked it a question.

"What's your name?"

The towering Cursed Spirit regarded Takashi with those piercing blue eyes, its calm demeanor unshaken by his presence. The voice that emanated from it was like a whispering breeze, carrying an otherworldly tone.

"I am Fujin," it replied, the swirling gusts of wind intensified as its appearance took on something akin to a raging tornado. The calm gaze in its eyes were nowhere to be seen, instead replaced with fierceness and relentlessness.

Takashi's senses went on high alert as he witnessed the sudden transformation of Fujin's demeanor. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, from the collected and serene entity to a raging force of nature.

'Why did its temperament shift so drastically?' Takashi thought, his grip on Playful Cloud firm.

...

Would appreciate some power stones. ❤️