The new addition to my jacket pocket repeatedly struck the side of my abdomen as we made our way back to the Hakurei Shrine. Though the weight, which sat next to my journal, was slightly uncomfortable, I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time since I'd arrived here. Looking back at all the hours spent weaving in and out of Misty Lake's surrounds, hoping not to attract the curiosity of any of the more inquisitive and hostile of the locals, I realized how nice it was to finally have a companion, if not a friend. Solitude was tolerable before, but now I felt as if I could never go anywhere within the bounds of this realm without someone - someone human - watching my back. And with the smartphone, my first source of hope, in my possession, I hoped to continued following whatever clues I could salvage. At this point, there was little I wouldn't do to get the answers I wanted.
Not that I minded any company of smaller stature, either. Reimu was next to me, and standing unusually close. Not a surprise, considering who was trailing somewhat awkwardly behind us.
"Why are you following us?" Reimu finally broke the ice, swiveling to confront our unnaturally voiceless follower.
Cirno shrugged. "I hate to say this, but like I said before, I'm curious. I want to know how the traveler got here. It's not like he's anything special, right?"
Reimu squinted at Cirno. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"You're not being yourself, Reimu." Cirno's tone was as frosty as the icy mist that steamed quietly in her wake. "Sure, we get many people who are thrown in from the other side. But," she turned to look at me, "you're... different, somehow. Maybe it's just that you're a newer face than most of the humans around here."
"What eras are the humans in the villages usually from?" I asked.
Cirno shrugged. "Can't tell you. I know nothing about human history. But they seem to accept us well enough. So we don't complain. You, though - you're different."
"I'll take that as a compliment." We continued in further silence.
The shrine came into view. With its cracks and dents accentuated under the misty moonlight, even the shadows cast on the surrounding grass seemed to capture - and hence emphasize - just how old the place really was. Which, of course, begged the question: How old were Reimu, and Cirno, and Patchouli, and everyone else who resided in this realm? Did anyone ever die, be it from overzealous skirmishes or from natural causes? Did age even matter in this place?
I relayed those questions to Reimu and Cirno, but any clear answers from them remained forthcoming. I decided to save them for a later time - I was tired, and our jaunt around the lake had only served to make matters worse. As we re-entered the Shrine's main room, I gave in to the notion of rest, and closed my eyes. When I opened my eyes again, the sunlight was streaming in, a glare that almost blinded me as soon as my eyelids parted. I grunted, and rolled over.
I then remembered where I was, and darted awake.
The same smell of citrus tea greeted my nose. A familiar warmth descended upon my senses, complemented by a cool breeze streaming through the windows, thrown wide open to allow the damp grassy odor from outside to mix with the sweetness of the Hakurei Shrine's signature herbal concoction within.
I looked around. Reimu wasn't in. Probably sweeping the pavement outside, or cleaning up somewhere.
I heard a snort, and looked down to see another figure sprawled right next to where I had been sleeping. A trail of drool had escaped from Cirno's gaping mouth, and as she turned, her mouth curled into a silly little smile, and she giggled. Remembering her verbal ferocity from the night before, I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry at the sight.
Looking out the window, I spotted Reimu in the distance, clutching her trusty broom, swinging it back and forth. The crickets sang. The trees whistled. The sun continued shining. The teapot on the stove puffed contentedly.
Whatever concerns I had could wait.
