It was a peaceful day in my uncle's city. The streets were not busy and time seemed to crawl by, not like I minded, not like I had much else to do. I reached up and stacked another book neatly on the shelf of the library I'd taken to working at. It was pleasantly quiet on the weekdays, little to no customers. The pay wasn't great but the work i did was minimal and the woman who ran the place always cheered me up when I was down. I trailed my finger along the spine of one of the books I was holding, simply allowing the simple texture of the cover to grace my skin.
I heard the faint creak of the Library's office door opening and turned to see Ms. Shuzima walking out of her office. I turned to greet her with a smile.
"Good morning Ms. Shuzima." I said.
She smiled in response and looked at the book I had been fingering.
"Oh, an interesting topic, that one." she said with another one of her smiles that made me feel as if I was at my grandmother's house.
I looked down and saw the title my finger had been brushing against. The legends of the Mountain God. Was written in fine, gilded print along the spine of the hardcover. I blushed and tried to stutter off a response but was stopped short by the chuckles of the librarian.
"Dear child, have you ever heard of the legend of the Mountain God?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am, I'm quite familiar with the mountain god and his Yokai." I said with another blush.
I'd moved on from Gin. Of course I never forgot about him, but I did eventually get over the hurt. It was still a sensitive topic reserved for me only.
"Have you ever heard of the Hotarubi no Toraiaru?" she asked.
I was genuinely stumped, so I produced a shake of the head and polite no ma'am before she continued on.
"Ah yes, the Hotarubi no Toraiaru, the Trial of the firefly's light. It is said that any who can make it through this trial will be granted three wishes, though no one has ever actually made it. They say it takes a heart of stone and a will of steel to complete, but eh, who knows, it is only a myth." she said, before hobbling away to leave me standing in the aisle, deep in thought.
There was a large chance that this was nothing more than another piece of folklore, but if it was real… My thoughts drifted to Gin, bringing up a new batch of emotions and unwanted nostalgia. I did like to reminisce but the memories reminiscing on the topic of bringing Gin back didn't flow so smoothly with my emotional stability. I was overjoyed at the opportunity, but also terrified of even attempting. I knew the mountain God was there, I'd witnessed first-hand his doings. I looked down at the small stack of books in my arms and glanced at my watch. It had been nearly 2 hours! I went about putting away the books hastily. Though it seemed no one came in here often, the books seemed to move from their shelves on free will.
As I finished placing the second to last book on the shelf I kept the one in my arms and walked off to find Ms. Shuzima. I walked more rapidly than I normally did and opened the door to her office. I slowed and walked up to the chair in front of her desk and placed the book in my lap. She looked up the bridge of her nose at me, removing her glasses and sitting up to smile at me, as she always did.
"Yes?" she asked.
Almost rudely I spat out, "Tell me more about Hotarubi no Toraiaru."
She leant back and motioned for the book. I handed it to her and she replaced her glasses and proceeded to search through the book's pages. I didn't show it on my face, or at least I hope I didn't, but my heart was pounding away at my ribcage and I could hardly breathe through the squeezing tension in my chest as I thought of these rials and of… him.
Her voice startled me back to reality, "Ah, here we are. Hotarubi no Toraiaru. The trial set forth by the mountain God, Öyamatsumi, to find the strongest of heart, soul and mind. Legend tells of the trial beginning at the Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine, in the forest of the mountain God. You are required to bring nothing but the bare minimums and a blood offering to begin the trial. The trial is split into five smaller trials, the trial of the never ending trail, the trial of stability, the trial of intent, the trial of purity and the final trial. No one has ever been recorded to finish the trials." she said, gently closing the book and returning it to my hands.
Before I had time to think I'd grabbed the book, placed it on the table outside the door and rushed to the exit. Bursting out of the wooden double doors I hit the ground running on the street. I had to return home before uncle did, and pack what I needed. It would worry him to death but it would be worth it in the end. Or would it? Whether it was real or not I would have to try now. Before I knew it I was back. I jumped up the stairs to the door and flung the door open. Rushing to the bedroom I grabbed a small rucksack and a pair of uncle's boots, throwing them onto my feet. They were a bit loose but I'm sure it would be fine. Running to my personal room I sent things flying across the room, throwing things to and fro, grabbing only what was necessary. Without even thinking I grabbed Gin's mask and held it in my hands. I ran to the kitchen now and threw in a few non-perishables and a small, dagger like blade. I grabbed a bottle of water and bust out the back door, still zipping up the pack's pockets.
My place on my school's cross country team would now come in handy. I had joined to be able to be closer to the forests more often. I could set a nice pace and enjoy the simpler things in life. My feet hit dirt and I could feel the weight of the boots even now. I kept running, all the way to the shrine I knew so well by now. As I tore up the stairs my memories flashed back to the first day I'd met Gin, the small stick in my hand, grabbed on the other end by Gin. I smiled as my pace slowed, approaching the large stone columns.
This was the first time I' returned here since that night three years ago. The foliage around me seemed filled with life, as if every leaf and every branch on every tree was speaking to me, the whispers on the wind trying to convey to me a message. I turned to look to my right slowly, breathing the run off. The leaves rustled in the gentle breeze. I turned to my left and saw the same black figure I'd seen when I was six, Gin's friend.
"Child, you came back. There is nothing for you here." he said in his ghostly presence.
"You are wrong, I have a new purpose in coming here." I responded.
The figure looked confused, "Now, what at all may that be?"
"I wish to participate in the trial of firefly's light." I stated confidently.
He chuckled a bit, looking a bit more sinister than before, "I do not think you know what you are speaking of. No one has ever completed the trial. They were all searching for their three wishes and all the riches that came with them."
"Kitsune Yokai, I am not searching from three wishes, nor am I searching for riches. I only have one wish to fulfill, and I refuse to give up on the possibility of such a wish."
The spirit molded from it's black and clouded form to that of a fox, trotting up to me, "You may be more ready for the task at hand than I initially thought, forgive me." he said with the best bow a fox could give.
I crouched down and rubbed behind his ears, his head pushing against my hand. I chuckled a bit and took off my pack, setting it on the ground.
"Would you like to come with me?" I asked.
"Child I would come with you whether you asked or not, but I don not need a ride." he said, his form shifting once again to that of a shadow and disappearing into the trees.
I sighed and picked up the pack once again. I walked up to the stone columns and looked upwards at the beam overhead. I closed my eyes and willed the mountain God upon me to accept my challenge.
You asked for me, young one, and here I am.
Boomed a bellowing voice which seemed almost omnipresent.
I assumed this was the mountain God, "Öyamatsumi, I have come to partake in your trials." I said with false confidence in my voice, the voice that sounded more of thunder than of voices frightened me, but I wouldn't let that seep through.
Baka! No one has ever passed my trials.
I nodded, "I know, but I am here to try." I responded.
Very well, the blood offering, and you may begin your first trial.
The voice boomed once more,and then, it suddenly felt as if a large load of weight simply vanished from the middle of the forest. I reached around and grabbed the knife from one of the side pockets on the pack and held it in my left hand. I knelt to the ground and pressed the blade against my left thumb until the blood dripped onto the blade. I winced when the small blade pierced the skin but I did not let that stop me. I stuck my thumb in my mouth and tapped the blade of the knife against the concrete, letting a drop of my blood seep into the cracks.
I looked around for a boom of thunder, or some sort of sign, but none came. When I stood and went to take a step forward i was almost scared out of my wits when the same voice boomed a final time.
You may begin.