We Can But Pity You
A group of four translucent human shapes, their heads held down, greeted the group that had just entered the network of the caves. The light from the rice paper lantern held by Wazuka flickered in the rough-hewn stone walls. The ghosts had snow white bats perched on their shoulders.
- "Our most respected ancestors in Enlightenment, the ones who guarded the temple before our time," Saori said, "let me offer these humble gifts for your companions, to thank you for offering to aid the empire in our hour of need."
She gave a handful of jewel-encrusted stalactites to the ghosts of the deceased sohei, who solemnly accepted them and started to feed them to the white bats.
The eerie spirits nodded their thanks, but didn't really pay much attention to Saori. Their black, sorrowfully glittering eyes were intent on Sarevok, who stood his head erect and proud, a bit taken aback by the intensity of their attention.
- "Yogenii Wan... Yogenii Wan..." they whispered, and their voices were like rustling leaves in the autumn breeze.
- "That is what I have been called by many as of late," Sarevok said, smiling darkly.
- "Your arrival, foretold, may be the salvation of the Empire, indeed the very life," said one of the spirits.
- "But then again, it may not," another added.
At this point Peri was about to make an impatient cynical remark, but Winski noticed her expression and grabbed her hand.
Sarevok, however, could feel the deep compassion and sorrow emanating from the ghosts. So could Mei.
- "Why is it that you approach my loved one that way?" she asked suspiciously.
The ghosts muttered and looked away.
- "The First Oni has been awoken, and it is but a question of time before he will ravage all the realms, spiritual ones and Ningen-do alike. And, it is foretold, Yogenii Wan is our only hope against the Wicked One..."
- "Well duh. You know, she found that out herself," Peri said. "Are you going to be of any help or not?"
Saori and Wazuka gaped at her in horror, but the ghosts didn't seem to react in any way. They just continued gazing at Sarevok.
- "No man, no woman can follow the bushi who would be courageous enough to fight the First Among the Distorted. The secret passage lies with the Lord of the Seas, and from there on it is a lonely road to almost certain doom," one of them went on.
- "Perhaps a handful of bushi could prevail against the beast in its incarnations... but now that it has been released upon Ningen-do, only one thing can banish it - honor," anothersaid in a hollow voice.
- "The Heavenly Sister and Brother, in the beginning of Kozakura, banished the most powerful creature of Jigoku to a place only the Lord of Seas knows... for they knew that it would tear their creation apart if it ever was released. However, a soul so honorable that it would sacrifice itself so that others can live can kill the beast. But can such a heart dwell in the chest of a bushiso powerful that the beast can not kill him by its raw power?"
- "That is your question, poor Yogenii Wan. For the Lesser Oni Lords counteracted this magic, by putting a curse upon the road leading to the beast. There is no coming back unless it is dead. Should the bushi fall in the battle, his soul will know only eternal torture, where the Celestial Ones can not help him. There is only one coming out - either the First Oni, or the victorious bushi. And should it be the Oni... then it is the end."
- "So you see... there would not be many courageous enough. Yogenii Wan, only you can decide. We... can but pity you..."
The ghosts wept silently for a moment, everyone gazing at them in awe.
- "A small village, Tatsuname by name, has an ancient lair of hai nu nearby. They know how to contact the Lord of the Seas, and to seek the passage to the First Oni. Seek them, for any victory in the war now ravaging the spiritual realms will be in vain if the First Oni is released."
- "Good bye, Yogenii Wan... may you know peace one day..."
The ghosts faded away.
- "Sounds like a relatively shitty deal," Peri said, but her eyes were deadly serious as she shot Sarevok a look full of anguish and protective anger.
hai nu - an Oriental aquatic humanoid race
