1. Revelation
Reimu woke up slowly. She stretched and dressed with a simple silk semitransparent white gown, and take her daily spiritual purification bathe.
After that, she brushed and combed her hair with great care, placed her trademark ribbon and dressed. After a frugal breakfast of a simple tea of cup and two onigiri, she went outside to check the weather.
-How strange…-thought- Suika isn't anywhere.
Everything was calm. Any movement around the temple's surroundings and even the faint whispering of the wind could not be heared. That wasn't normal, and Reimu felt an unusual discomfort inside her.
A disturbing sense of emptiness was born in the depths of her being and spread throughout her body, and even her mind.
Tired of this situation, she re-entered the shrine, determined to face what was causing it. She took her gohei, the Yin-Yang orb, exorcism amulets and her trusty spellcards.
-You are not going to need those today.-said a voice behind Reimu. Reimu turned, surprised.
-Keine! You scared me! What are you doing here?
Keine remained silent staring at Reimu. In her eyes there was no expression. There was no joy. Or sadness. Nor hatred. There was nothing.
-Glad to see you, but don't appear like that again, please. What were you saying?
-I said that today you are not going to need those.-she repeated, staring at her spellcards.
-I don't understand you, Keine… Has something happened?
-Not to me. Come. Come out, there is something I must show you. Follow me. Come.
Given the inquisitive gestures of Keine, Reimu had no choice but to follow her outside. They walked a few steps and stopped.
Keine went a step further and stood before her, a few steps.
-Reimu. Can you feel it?
-I feel something, yes. A strange feeling since I got up. Do you feel it, too?
-The silence, Reimu. The end.
-You're starting to scare me, Keine. Seriously, what's happened?
-Look. The trees are completely still, their leaves do not sway in the wind. Nor is it felt in on skin. The birds are not seen, not heard. The sun does not give any heat.
Her voice was solemn, but nostalgic at the same time. As she spoke she looked at the sky with a dreamy look.
-Nothing. Just a great silence, Reimu. Can you feel it?
-Yes, Keine. Yes, I feel it. Do you know something about?
-That is true. And I have come to tell you. But it is you who should go for the answers.
-Then tell me.
Keine approached Reimu to a few inches from her face. Put her mouth to her ear and said it.
-It's the end of Gensokyo.
