Hymn of Time
Prologue
What Lurks Beneath
"Midoriko-sama, we are forever in your debt."
The Priestess nodded distantly, her dark eyes staring unseeingly into the depths of the well. Small droplets of rain began to fall steadily from the dark sky above her head full of purple and inky clouds. A breeze shook the trees penetrating the thin material of the villager's clothes. They shivered as their hair whipped and billowed in the gusts of wind. They began to shift awkwardly; their eyes venturing towards their heroine to see if anything more was required of them.
Midoriko watched as beads of water slid down her pale hands, trickling from her fair digits into the bottomless pit below. She sighed softly and looked up to address the headman who was awaiting her reply eagerly wishing to retreat out of the foul weather. A nod was all that was required and then they withdrew bowing lowly as they went and ushering words of gratitude. The young miko watched them recoil until the last figure had faded into the trees.
"Mew…" The call of a cat cried above the winds and out of the shadows stepped a cream colour nekomata with fearsome fangs and two long tails. Despite it feral appearances it bounded over towards it's mistress like a kitten and rubbed its mane against her waist allowing to scratch its ears fondly.
"Oh Kirara-chan…what have I done?" The great Priestess moaned softly. Thunder rumbled and the rained flowed from the sky quicker and more aggressively. Soon her long black hair was plastered to her face and neck uncomfortably. The smells of wet pine and grass were carried through the air like dandelion seeds. Kirara mewed softly cuddling closer to her mistress to warm her cold frame.
"Spirits…forgive me my sins," Murmured Midoriko sombrely as her hands moved towards the folds of her armour to withdraw a sacred object. From a thin piece of black silk there hung a smooth crystal like amulet shaped in a perfect flat oval. Its surface shimmered the colour of aquamarine and it looked almost like a glowing diamond. The renowned lady held it aloft before her dark eyes as they peered into its depths.
"I pray only that no more fools play idle to your games. When my life ends so shall yours but until that day you are a prisoner," Midoriko ushered softly before outstretching her hand over the rim of the well. The darkness inside the well churned until a soft purple light imitated causing the surface of the amulet to gleam temptingly. Midoriko frowned and then squeezed her eyes shut as though in pain before her hand slowly released its grip dropping the necklace into the well.
Time seemed to linger and last. Her gaze followed it on it's descent until it finally faded from sight. Suddenly a pale blue light consumed the depths of the well and the Priestess gasped taking a step backwards and the light spiralled uncontrollably towards the surface until it swam towards the sky causing the clouds to part as it illuminated the surrounding areas like a tall glowing majestic pillar. Then, as swiftly as it had came it was suddenly gone once more leaving only the wind and the rain.
"It is over…finally," Sighed Midoriko rubbing the temples of her head exhaustedly. She faltered sharply as she heard the snapping of twigs in the forest behind her. Grimacing she reached for her katana with one hand and shifted into a stance. Whirling around swiftly and decisively she gave a startled gasp and dropped the katana to the ground.
"Kyo-chan!" Exclaimed Midoriko in astonishment, "I thought I told you to remain outside the village!" A young boy with the youthful looks of about twelve shuffled forwards furtively and kneeling picking up the Priestesses katana and offering it to her. She swiped it out of his hands and sheathed the blade. Her accusing expression softened slightly as she watched the boy peer curiously over the rim of the well.
"Is it gone?" He asked hopefully.
"Hai, it's over now," Midoriko answered with a faint smile hovering on her lips as she put a hand on his shoulder to pull him further away from the treacherous edge, "Let's go Kyo. There's no point in lingering here anymore, especially in such ill-fated weather," She didn't add how she could now feel each droplet drip slowly down the back of her neck.
"Midoriko-sama?" Kyo enquired keenly allowing himself to be guided away towards the shelter of the forest. His long red hair was floating around his shoulders in the breeze while his deep golden eyes stared up into Midoriko's dark ones inquisitively.
"Hai?"
"Where does it lead?"
"A place a long way from here. What he once controlled now is his master and his cage. It will remain that way for centuries to come, until the ending of this world," Midoriko reassured assertively. The trio continued into the forest until they vanished among the greenery. Only the boy spared the well one last look and sighed.
"Farewell my first love…" Murmured Midoriko pensively.
One year later at the tender age of Twenty-four Midoriko, the most powerful and gracious miko to walk the Earth sealed her soul and another's to form the Shikon-no-tama. Her legacy would continue to live on for centuries after her death in the form of that myth. Her mightiest conquest came at the price of her own life. It would be centuries before she would be free once more.
All the while the Bone Eaters Well remained harbouring her darkest secret in its depths.
An extremely short Prologue but the next chapter is much longer. This story used to be called Between Duty and Souls on another name BUT I have permission to re-draft it and re-post it so please don't come at me with your pitch forks! Instead leave reviews! I have this up on Deviantart under its original name plus I even have an artist drawing Izayoi for me. Her name on DA is KitsunekoShojo so please feel free to leave her a nice comment on her art work of Izayoi.
R&R