Chapter 19: A Glimpse Of The Future

The village was quiet, everyone was still asleep, except for the guards and a few people that woke up early to do some works.

I stare at them silently with a small smile on my face.

"Kufufufu those kids are really hardworking.....that reminds me...how is that young pup faring?"

I mutter quitly as my thoughts go back to the 'young pup' that appeared in front of me 2 days ago.

It was quite a shock when I first saw him, something demonic but isn't demonic at the same time.

An anomaly.

Been a while since I saw one, but this child...is the first of his kind that enters my sight.

It was cute how he clearly strains his ears and listen in to the villagers' conversation and acting nervously.

"Pfft~"

A small chuckle escaped my lips, that shows me that he's clearly a child if he's nervous about a few villagers

Then again, his aura was blaring, telling the world that he's a demon. A clear lack of control on his part

How cute, another proof that he's a young pup.

A small smile forms on my lips as he looks around right after entering the village, then looking at me before moving towards the place I was sitting.

I was quite curious about him so I used a spell on him. I look at his eyes and activate the spell.

'Kioku' (Remembrance)

Then time slow as the world turns black and white, his eyes and mine reflected each other and starts to show a similar image at the same time.

An image of his memories. From his thought after he enters the village, his reaction to the villagers' words, his walk towards this village, the weird song and tune he was singing up until the moment he woke up among snows.

.. And that's where it ended.

I was bewildered. It should have showed me his memories of this life, then I tried harder to look at his memories...but nothing happened, I started gathering more qi to empower my spell.

.....then the spell broke.

I jolt in surprise.

'Impossible! Why I can't I see more of his memories? It's as if...something strong is blocking...as if it's a….divine...in..ter…vention...'

Time returned to normal, at the same time I heard him greeting me.

I quickly adjusted myself and put my thoughts aside and smiled 'gently' at him.

He then asked me for directions and I gave him one. He bowed in front of me to show his gratitude.

'seems a waste to send him off just like this...'

That's when I had...an idea..a brilliant idea.

But first, let me get his attention.

I gave him some parting words that garnered his attention. Then I bring about the topic of the demon from the Kibutsuji's manor.

Fufufu, kinda cute how he jolts and stutters a bit when I brought that topic up.

I then used the 'wise old human' form and gave him the talk about demon and what I think about the demon that is being hunted. Also I bash a bit about his brother, considering he did mention his brother's handiwork.

It seems his brother might be the same type of demon or perhaps a different one entirely?

Hmm. Questions, questions.

I removed the grim atmosphere by smiling once again and cut off our conversation by asking him to ignore me and to move along.

Giving a sense of mystery always does wonders in attracting one's attention.

He stutters before turning around and started walking away.

'now..i wonder h-'

I then saw him turning a glance at me and telling me that he'll heed my words...while also mentioning about demons.

...did he really believed all those words coming from an old lady? He believed a stranger easily just because they gave a small help?

'...how amusing, truly amusing.'

My smile turned soft as I look at him, it's like looking at a delicious meat that delivered itself into my mouth.

This was my chance to enact my..'plan'. So without delay I casted a spell on him once again.

'Sasayaki' (Whisper)

I told him about the existence of that....human and of the village he's protecting and the way to go there. I also slipped in my name, fufufu I wonder how that man might react when he hears my name?

Anger? Fear? Either way, it'll be a very interesting reaction…let's just hope the little one won't have too much of a hard time.

The pup gave me a small nod before continue walking towards the other side of the village.

...ah, I wonder where those other humans are staying and what're they doing.

I closed my eyes and used another spell to locate the group of young humans that have just arrived a few hours ago.

'Kenshutsu' (Sense)

My qi expanded outwards like a ripple on top of water, it quickly covered the whole village.

'...they're still enjoying themselves huh?'

A group of humans was having fun inside the only restaurant this village has, drinking, eating and being mer-

I snap out of my thoughts when I felt a sudden surge of energy. It was quite weak and faint even for me to detect.

Perhaps I was quite lucky to be able to catch the faint energy. If I was two-no, a rank lower perhaps I wouldn't be able to feel it at all.

I look towards the mountain to the west of the village, the one where I suggested the young one to go too.

I look at it for a second before triggering a spell.

'Enpo Shiryoku' (Far Sight)

My sight moved forward as my surroundings turn blurry like a horse that was galloping as fast as the wind.

Then suddenly my sight stopped. Blocked by the mountain. Normally, I would've been able to see through this mountain...but this time I couldn't...that means...

"Somebody put up a barrier...that's not good."

Realizing something was wrong I channel spiritual energy around my body before activating my spells.

'Mushi' (Ignore)

'Isoide' (Haste)

'Hanabiri No Komichi' (Petal Path)

One moment I was sitting in front of the house, the next I exploded into petals and flew away like a storm towards the mountain. With isoide giving me a speed boost, I'll reach there in no time.

The mushi spell ensured that no one notice my dissappearance, while also making them ignore the fact that I turned into petals and fly away with a slight whistling sound.

A few seconds later and I can see the mountain becoming bigger and bigger as I come closer to it.

I didn't land on the mountain or try going through it. So instead I try to rise up to the sky for a higher ground advantage.

...that's right, 'tried' cause something went flying towards me, making me stop ascending in favour of evading it.

I normally wouldn't dodge something that comes flying at me when in petal form…..but my instinct tells me that this time I should do otherwise.

So I dodge the object, unfortunately a few of the petals got grazed by it, sliced into two and fading like a mist.

I flew down as I gather my petals together to reform my body. Then I landed on the ground, back to my physical form.

*drip*

I raise my hand to touch my cheek, then I look at my hands and saw blood on it.

"...It connected? How?"

"Of course it connected, that's what it is meant to do."

I put my hands down and look at the source of the voice and saw a.. male human? standing a bit further away in front of me.

He was wearing an all white kimono with a white mask on his face. His face was covered in darkness except for two yellow lights in them.

I freeze up for a moment when I saw him. Not because of his attire cause I've seen even crazier attire.

His aura. Was...different. It's as if he's human but not human at the same time....his spiritual energy is...foreign.

"...who are you?"

He merely shook his head with a slight chuckle. As if he's...amused.

"That is not important, what's important now is that i cannot let you pass this mountain...please turn back."

I look at him for a moment before giving him a grin.

"What if I said no?"

He shook his head and sigh loudly. He broke his gaze from me for a moment.

And I took that chance.

'Isoide'(Haste)

I reach out my claws as I leap at him with speed that is hard for even a demon to react too.

*ding*

My claws stop an inch before his face, a transparent yellow wall in between us both, protecting him from getting sliced by me. I tried to move back but couldn't do so, not even moving by an inch.

He sighed as he lifted his hands in front of my face, with the palms facing me.

"I didn't want to do this...but my job here is to stop or...kill you...no hard feelings okay?"

His hand glows with bluish white lights.

"Karyoku Ao" (Fire Force: Blue)

Then suddenly a large fire erupted from his hands and engulfed me, the force of the spell blowing air everywhere. Then, as if a dream the fire soon started to slowly fade away in the air.

The masked man put his hand down and gaze on the fading fire. He scoffs as he shook his head.

"Tsk, seems like she was all talk. How bor-URKHH!!"

Something hit the man on the stomach and sent him flying towards the tree with boom.

The tree creaks before breaking and falling down with a loud crash.

*BOOOOM!!*

The impact caused a mini earthquake as it shook the earth, sending shockwaves to the surroundings.

A bit further away from the crash site, where the man originally stood were a different situation.

Flower petals dance and float around before swiftly flying backwards...right into the hands of the old lady.

She was fine and didn't have a single scratch on her. Only a grin on her face with a chuckle under her breath.

"tut, tut, tut. Youngsters these days have no manner, they would even attack an old defenseless lady with no mercy."

She started to walk towards the crash site before stopping a few steps later. That was because she could feel that the spiritual qi in the area was gathering towards the fallen trees. Or, to be exact. Towards the man.

The shockwave was blown away with a single burst of wind. It blew the old lady's hair back but she herself just stood there, unmoving. One of her brows were raised as she looks at the situation in front of her.

The man look fine except for a few tears on his robes and mask. But the chest that was pristine white before is now dyed in red. He was also slightly panting, his eyes though was glaring at her and on her hand she was currently holding a talisman.

"I....might've underestimated you...for that i apologize.."

The old lady smiles at him.

"If you're sorry..how about letting me pass?"

He then chuckles, which causes him to spit blood once again. He then shook his head,

"Hahahaha....no...this time, i won't hold back anymore!"

"Chikara o ataeru!" (Empower!)

The talisman glows in a bluish light and flows into his body, causing his body to be cloaked in a bluish aura.

The old lady was stunned for a moment, then starts to move but before she can react the man casts another spell.

"Yowameru!" (Weaken)

The talisman now glows in a red light before the light flies towards the old lady. Hitting her and cloaking her body in a red aura.

"Kuh!"

The old lady could feel her body and overall abilities got weaken quite considerably.

"Wh-what the -"

Her words got cut off as the man now threw a fireball towards her.

And so the tango between the two of them resumed anew.

...

In another place far away.

"*huff, huff**wheeze*"

I feel so tired, dammit I'm getting old!....also...

I turned my steely gaze towards the bakeneko. He was currently sitting quietly with his head down. Gazing at the ground.

I then call him.

"Oi Tama."

He didn't reply and this time I call him even harder.

"Tama!"

He only twitched one of his ears in response. Rude cat! I'll show you.

I grab a paper from inside my clothes and channel my spell into it.

'Katachi' (Form)

I triggered the spell silently and in and instant the shape of the paper started to change according to my will. It starts folding unto itself and transforms into a round shape.

I lifted the round paper back and behind my back as I channel another spell into it.

"U-Otaboru" (Water ball)

The ball started to be infused with water, moments later I threw at the lazy cat and it hit the nape of his neck.

Water exploded and he gave a shriek-like meow before jolting and turning towards me with tears and betrayal in his eyes.

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR MASTER!?"

"You forgot your catspeak."

"WHO THE CAT CARES BOUT CAT SPEAK WHEN YOU JUST DOUSED AN INNOCENT CAT WITH WATER!?"

I raise my eyebrows at his statement.

"Innocent? That's cute bold coming from you."

He jolts once again and looks away at me while whistlinh.

"*phweet. phweet* I dunno what you're talking about meowster."

I nearly snapped at him and strangles him to death for this statement.

"You...misread the rank...of the demon."

"....."

"...."

Our conversation turn into an awkward silence as we look at each other's eyes. Not a moment later Tama moves his gaze away.

"It...it was only a one rank difference anyways...It's not like I mistook a Ryoumin and Senmins...also! How am I suppose to know it was already on the verge of turning from a Kanko to a Ryouko!?"

I grit my teeth at his annoyance and took a deep breath to calm myself. I opened my mouth to start a lecture on the hierarchy of demons and why even one rank difference matters when one of my the prayer beads that is actually are orbs cracked.

I was stunned by the situation and not a moment too soon the other's started to crack too..

"...master..that..doesn't look good."

I didn't notice when did Tama snuck beside me. But i found myself nodding after him, agreeing with his words.

"...Master....aren't these life orbs? didn't you connect it with them?"

His words snap me awake from my thoughts. It should be impossible for something to happen to them. I gave them a charm good enough to take down mere Senmins....unless...oh no.

"...what should do next master?" Tama asks nervously.

I gaze at the direction where the village should be. Behind the mountain's over there.

"...I'll summon Yoru right away." I said answering Tama's question.

Tama's eyes widening, mouth open and with his twin-tails flickering here and there madly would've made a funny sight were it not for the serious situation.

He snap out of his trance and quickly grab the hem of my yukata with an anxious expression on his face.

"B-but master, it's too dangerous! You're not young anymore. You won't be able to handle repetitive or long period usage of that spell!"

"...I know but I-We must return to the village Tama, Those people need our help and i rather die than not being able to help them.

Tama turned silent after that, giving me the chance to call Yoru. I took out a single black feather from inside my yukata and cast the spell that i was goimg to use.

'"Shokan!" (Summon)

The black feather started to pulse with a black light before it floats in front of me. Then with a poof the feather disappears and in it's place was a large black bird. A raven.

It started to open it's mouth but i manage to react faster than it.

I touch it with one of hands and touch my heart with the other one.

"Sorry Yoru no time for chitchat, we need to protect the village."

Then without wasting time i cast my spell.

"Yugo" (Fusion)

A bright light erupted from both of our bodies and basically turn ourselves into glowing objects. Then suddenly I felt as if I was flowing towards him as he is flowing to me. Then we managed to fuse and soon the glow disappears.

Gone is the old man and the raven. All that was left there standing was a man with a bird mask on his face and a pair of large jet black wings on his back.

He then looks at Tama, point at him before casting.

"Modoru" (Return)

Tama then turns into light and flies towards the birdman, or to be exact towards one of the papers. Albeit looking way different and has a different feel than a normal paper.

He then looks around before flying upwards. His powerful wings beat with all it's might causing him to fly at a fast pace. Perhaps a few dozen minutes later they'll be able to reach the village.

"Tch, too slow" The man complained before casting another spell.

"Isoide" (Haste)

The spell manage to give a much needed boost to the birdman's overall speed. This made him go even faster than beofore.

At this speed perhaps he'll reach there in 10 minutes or so.