Chapter 19: Path to the Dark
On Soleil and Sakura's return with the medicinal herbs, the Miko has quietly gotten to work on making all that she would need to help Kallen and Logos, a process Soleil and Mei watched from the outer end of the room. However, as Sakura administered the medicine, she found her patients still weren't responsive enough.
"Maybe they need a bit more rest before you give it to them," Mei suggested, Sakura shaking their head.
"If they don't take it, their internal injuries will only keep them unconscious." Sakura let out a slight sigh. "There is another method to administer it at the least." Soleil and Mei both raised a brow, but the realization sank in quite quickly as they saw Sakura take some of the medicine into her own mouth and raised up Kallen's head, leaning in and going mouth-to-mouth, repeating the process with Logos once she was done with Kallen. Mei guarded her mouth as her face took on a red tinge, and Soleil's eyes widened.
"S-she's quite bold, isn't she?" Mei murmured, Soleil slowly nodding.
"Not how I would prefer to give treatment, but one must do as they must," Sakura said as she wiped her lips clean. "It should take effect soon. If you two wish to refresh yourselves at the basin, I will come and get you when they awaken."
"Sounds fine by me." Soleil nodded. Before he turned, he caught Sakura staring for a moment at the purple box still tightly clutched in Kallen's hands. For now, he passed it off and left, Mei following him out into the plaza. Once they were at the basin, a window quickly popped open; Bronya adjusted from seemingly pushing Kiana aside. "You been tapped in for all of that?"
"Yes." Bronya nodded. "The Bronya can generally observe what is happening within the Stigmata from the terminal. So it seems you have both ended up in a recreation of events recorded within the Stigmata itself."
"So we gathered," Soleil said. "We haven't seen any signs of Theresa so far. Any lock on her?"
"The Bronya's searching has found… odd results. I can detect her, but it's not as strong as it should be. You may need to look deeper into the data sector than this."
"Soleil-kun suggested we let this recreation play out for a while." Mei inputted. "Perhaps we'll find the Vice Principal around the town? Or maybe a path further into the Stigmata where she may be."
"The Bronya suggests doing so. We will continue to monitor Theresa from out here to keep signs for anything abnormal. You have time; as for now, she is stable."
"Got it. We'll call you if anything comes up." Soleil looked back to the still opened door as the window closed, folding his arms. "All we can do is let this play out, huh? Both the easiest but also the most time-consuming solution to this entire thing."
"Well then, we may as well-tread carefully and be watchful," Mei said, patting Soleil on the arm. "Theresa has to be around here somewhere. We'll find her for sure."
"If my luck doesn't bite us in the ass first." Soleil then got a scolding chop on the head. "Ow."
"Being pessimistic like that is exactly why those things keep happening to you."
"You try and explain half of that!" Soleil objected, Mei puffing a cheek. "It's nothing but this damn universe having it out for me. You explain getting beaned on the head by flying objects at random or even my own cursed sense of direction!"
"In some of those cases, if you were more careful, they wouldn't happen as often," Mei stated, Soleil giving her a look.
"Remember me falling off the monorail track in Nagazora? Explain that."
"That was… alright, yes, that was purely bad luck." Mei then gave another scolding look. "And even after all this time, I still don't understand how it is you got lost with a landmark as obvious as a Ferris Wheel."
"That… I… look sometimes even I can't explain this curse of mine. I just get lost easily on my own, alright?"
"Sure, a curse. And you wonder why I don't let you leave campus on your own." Mei sighed, shaking her head. Soleil clicked his tongue as he turned to the side.
"Shut it. I can't tell if you're trying to be my mom or wife sometimes."
"W-Wife?!" Soleil also seemed to catch the implications of what he said without thinking as Mei's face turned red, his own following suit a moment after.
"T-That was obviously just a joke." Soleil coughed into his hand and felt quite relieved when Sakura leaned out of the door. "Are they awake now?!" his voice cracked from how obviously desperate he was to move on from the situation.
"Yes. They just stirred, so if you two wouldn't mind?" Sakura gestured in. Soleil and Mei hurriedly nodded before dashing off to join the Miko inside.
Kiana felt a sudden shudder go up her back as she was just starting to feel the pangs of boredom hit her from staring placidly at the still unconscious Theresa. I'm missing out on something. Kiana quickly felt her earlier frustration of being left out of this mission return. Her eyes went over to Soleil and Mei. They had been moved to other beds until they returned from the data scape. Darn that shrimp for making me stay out here. So Soleil-senpai and Mei-senpai were getting a mission on their own when I had to share my VR dive with him with the shrimp! I want a solo mission with him too!
"Kiana-idiotka, please focus." Bronya scolded, then looked to Siegfried, who was yawning as he looked ready to doze off. "You as well, Subject Siegfried. The Bronya needs both of you keeping an eye on Theresa."
"This one's pretty demanding, isn't she?" Siegfried mumbled. Kiana nodded with a groan. Bronya gave her a whack on the arm in exchange.
When Kallen and Logos started rising, as to be expected, the two looked incredibly confused by their surroundings as they took in the building they were laid up within. Only compounding that expected confusion was the presence of their three saviors, particularly Sakura, who was carefully looking them over to ensure their injuries weren't acting up on the both of them.
"W-Where are we?" Kallen asked, letting out a groan as she held her side.
"The Far East, I hope…." Logos grumbled, then he wretched a bit. "What's with this bitter taste?!"
"I do apologize, but I had to administer the medicine to help with your wounds in… a different manner," Sakura said, bowing her head. "Meaning mouth-to-mouth. I would suggest you two be careful; your wounds are still not fully healed."
"Clearly, whatever you used was horribly strong!" Kallen muttered, sticking her tongue out. Then she noticed the absence of a particular item. "Wait, where's the box we had with us?!"
"Do you mean this?" Sakura drew said box out from within her robes, and in the same moment, Soleil caught Logos going for something within his coat. "You were clutching to it rather tightly. Is it that important to you?"
"I wouldn't exactly use that phrase." Logos commented, a look from Kallen making him ease up.
"Could you please return it to me?" Kallen requested, holding out a hand. "What my companion said is true… it's just an ordinary box, but I would rather keep it with me. If you would be so kind." I guess this recreation is just glossing over any language barrier there could have been. Soleil mentally noted. "Would you mind telling me where it is we are?"
"Of course. This is the shrine of Yae Village, and I'm the Miko who oversees it, Sakura." Sakura bowed her head again, then gesturing to Soleil and Mei. "These two are Soleil and Mei, travelers who are looking for a missing friend. They helped me carry you here from the river. May I ask how it even came to be that you two wound up in such a situation, to begin with? Especially considering the wounds you both had."
"Call it… an accident of the situation." Logos grunted, holding his side. "We have our reasons to be in this land… I'm Logos Empyrean, and my companion is Kallen Kaslana."
"But please, just use our first names," Kallen said, Logos giving a grunt. Kallen shot him a slight glare, and he clucked his tongue in response.
"Alright then. For now, I would ask that you two rest. If you need anything, do not feel hesitant to ask." As Sakura stood and went for the door, a sudden call drew their attention. A haggard-looking man came running into the shrine ground as Sakura headed out first. "What is it?"
"M-Monsters are near the village again!" The man spluttered, Sakura's jaw tightening. "One of the women saw it the other night. She can tell you where it is."
"I understand. I'll take care of it, do not worry. Please return to the village and tell the others to be cautious of venturing out for a while." As the man left, he gave a not-so-subtle look at Soleil and Mei, one brimming with suspicion at the sight of two foreigners, but he left without saying a word to them. Sakura shook her head then turned to the two in kind. "I do apologize, but I'll need to manage that. Protecting the village is also part of my job as the Miko."
"I ain't in the mood to sit around, so I'm helping even if you say no," Soleil said. He stuck a hand up as soon as Sakura opened her mouth. "I said even if you say no. Like I said earlier today, Mei and I aren't exactly inexperienced when it comes to fighting monsters."
"I can promise we won't be any hindrance to you either," Mei said. "Wouldn't it be better if there were more of us anyway? If you were on your own, it only means you'd be in more danger. Where we are from, we learn it is always best to fight together, no matter how skilled you may be."
"And… at least allow us to tag along." To the surprise of the other three, Kallen and Logos came out, the white-haired woman, giving a slight groan. "I promise we will avoid fighting for now, but we at least wish to watch. It is likely we may have to remain here for some time, so if we can help, it is the least we can do to repay you for your kindness."
"Ah… oh okay, you can all come with me. But…" Sakura particularly pointed at the two who were still injured. "You two absolutely must remain away from any fighting that happens, even if you suddenly feel the impulse to do so."
"Seems she already has a sense for how you can be, Kallen." Logos had a smirk on as Kallen looked at him with a puffed-out cheek. Soleil and Mei exchanged a look, Mei giggling as Soleil rolled his eyes. They're just like Kiana and me. Was Soleil's thought.
"If all is ready, then follow me. The one who saw it is probably not far from the shrine if someone was sent rushing here."
The others nodded and followed after Sakura. But, true to her words, they didn't get far from the steps of the shrine before they encountered a panicked young woman, who rushed towards Sakura once she was in sight.
"M-Miko!"
"Calm down, tell me what you saw." Sakura raised a hand, the young woman taking a breath.
"Last night, while returning home, I spotted monsters near the village. Unfortunately, one is still at the other end of the path."
"Then we won't dally. Kallen, Logos, can you please send her somewhere safe?"
"Don't try and count us out now," Soleil said, Mei nodding with him. As the three went down the path, Kallen let out a sigh.
"And we got left behind anyway." The woman murmured.
"We were asked to remain behind. Besides, not like we're in any shape to fight." Logos pointed out, getting another mutter.
"Are you the Miko's friends?" The young woman asked, looking off to where the other three had rounded the bend.
"Friend… may not be the best word to use right now," Kallen remarked.
"It's just… the Miko's looked a lot happier as of late. She hasn't seemed so happy for ages." The woman said. "Ever since her sister Rin joined the gods… she became very quiet."
"Joined the gods?" Logos repeated.
"Do you think she'll be in danger?"
"Go somewhere safe for now; we'll go after them and make sure nothing goes wrong," Kallen said, ushering the woman off. As she stomped down the path, Logos gave a loud sigh, bringing Kallen to stop. "Are you going to tell me not to go?"
"No. I just know that look of yours." Logos stated, tapping Kallen on the forehead as he passed her. "That look that says no matter what I say, you're going to run off and get your butt in trouble for someone else's sake. As usual. So let's go."
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Soleil had elected to lag behind Sakura and Mei to see if he couldn't catch anything from Logos and Kallen. And where he was hidden on the wall, he wasn't at all surprised to hear what he did. So there really is something going on about this. "Joined the gods"… I think I have a pretty good idea of what that means. Soleil sighed as he took off to avoid being caught. If they were going to solve this problem and find Theresa within all of this, who knew what he would have to dig into just to figure out what happened?
After catching up with Mei and Sakura, the rest of the task didn't take long once they were at the path just outside the village. Little more than a handful of corrupted wolves who decided to stray a bit too close for the people's comfort. Felling them was simple, hardly something Mei and Soleil would find difficult thanks to their respective experiences. If anything, Soleil found corrupted animals far too easy since he was much more used to proper Honkai beasts.
"Still, them coming this close is a problem." Soleil knelt at one of the bodies, pulling out a dagger, ripping it into the hide, and pulling it back, his brow knitting as he spotted calcification on the muscles. "Figures. Honkai corruption. Hasn't progressed that far though, else the mutations would be worse."
"But even that was enough to make them act more aggressively," Mei said, a hand to her chin.
"You two are surprisingly knowledgeable on this," Logos observed, Soleil nodding as he sheathed the dagger.
"Mei and I have had our fair share of experiences with things like this. We're really only here because we're trying to find one of our teachers. We got separated while on the road, unfortunately. We're hoping she passed through here."
"Still, why did this happen?" Sakura looked across the dead animals with a ponderous expression. "We just made a recent offering…."
"I know it may not be my place to ask, but…." Kallen spoke up. "Does that have… anything to do with your sister? That girl said she had "joined the gods." Just what does that mean?"
"Rin died four years ago," Sakura said, Mei catching one of her hands tightly ball up. "She died to save this village."
"To save the village?" Kallen repeated. Sakura let out a breath, her expression stoic but a troubled light in her eyes.
"I would rather talk about this later. The chief also saw some monsters. Soleil, Mei, can you help me out with those ones as well? You'll find him a short ways outside of the village."
"Sure," Soleil glanced to Mei, who nodded to him. "Logos, Kallen, wanna tag along for this one too?"
"No reason not to," Logos tapped Kallen on the arm as the woman watched Sakura leave, and she nodded in reply. Soleil took the lead as they headed further out, and not far from the exit, waiting at a stone formation was an older man who they thought had to be the village chief.
"Excuse me, you're the village chief, right?" Soleil asked as they approached the man, who gave a raised brow to them. "Sakura asked us to help with the monsters coming to close to the village. She said you'd seen some."
"What?" The chief gasped. "Since when does the Miko need to get the help of some… outsiders to do her duties?"
"She sent us so she could handle something else," said Kallen. The chief let out an annoyed scoff.
"Ridiculous! Nothing should be more important than safeguarding the village. She's just looking for an excuse. That cold-hearted girl just wants nothing to do with me. Tch, to think she's still holding a grudge against me after so many years."
"And what does that mean?" Soleil asked, giving the man a stern glare.
"She hates me for what happened to her sister," the chief gave the answer almost shockingly without trouble. "Four years ago, the girl named Rin's life was given to the gods to help ensure our village's safety. It's just one little girl… her life meant little next to that of the entire village."
Soleil felt nothing but a sudden flame burst through his chest as he took a step forward, only being stopped by Mei, who looked no less furious, grabbing his arm before he could do anything rash. Similarly, Logos had grabbed Kallen to prevent her from doing the same thing Soleil had been planning on. Seeing that, the chief scoffed at the four as he folded his arms.
"Oh please, you outsiders have no right to criticize our way of life. But to think she has such a grudge she'd ask strange outsiders for help! Bah, fool of a girl."
"Mind telling us where the monsters are?" Soleil's voice was frosty, the chief giving him a side-eyed glance.
"Over the hills yonder. Be done with it and out of my sight."
"With pleasure," The growl Soleil let out with those words had venom on it as he stalked past the man. Once they were away, Soleil let out a sigh as his arms finally relaxed. "Let's deal with the beasts and get back."
"I think… I think we should ask Sakura about what happened," Kallen suggested. "We may not have reason to pry but… I can't sit around and not know. She helped save us… I feel I at least owe her some form of repayment."
"As Soleil said, let's deal with the beasts first," Logos stated, placing a hand on Kallen's shoulder. "I feel we owe her as well… and something doesn't feel right about what that man said. I want to know the truth as well."
"Well then, let's finish up and head back," Mei said, getting nods from the others as they continued down the path.
Some while later, the group had returned to the shrine, finding Sakura waiting in the central yard. The Miko turned as they approach, and she clearly saw there was an air around the four as they got close.
"Did you hear out the chief and his request?" Sakura asked.
"We did," Soleil nodded. "He wasn't very pleased to see us instead of you."
"Is he?"
"He mentioned something that happened for yours ago," Mei said. "Something… about your sister, Rin. And that whatever it is that involves her, this "returning to the gods", that you blame him for it even today."
"This… isn't something we should discuss now," Sakura turned and began moving off down the path. Kallen stepped forward and grabbed the girl by the arm, planting her feet to keep her still.
"Where are you going?" She asked, Sakura turning away.
"I can sense something off in the woods. So, I'm going to deal with it," Sakura pulled her arm free and ran off. Before the others could even say anything, she had already vanished into the trees and out of sight.
"And like that she's gone," Soleil sighed. "So before anyone says anything else… we're going after her, aren't we?"
"Reading my mind!" Kallen took off. Logos sighed and followed after her. Mei and Soleil looked at each other, nodding and doing the same. But as they gave chase and followed Sakura into the woods, Soleil felt something. A pulse ran through his mind, his senses going dull as he came to a stop. As his head began to throb, he felt like something was pulling him away, back into something, away from the world around him…
"Sister… will I get better one day?"
"Of course, Rin. No more overthinking, all right?" The young girl in front of her was pale, fragile looking like a doll. She wiped away the flecks of food on her chin, raising a spoon from the bowl in her hands to Rin's mouth. "You're a good girl. The gods will watch over you, I promise."
"But, Father told me this morning… about the festival…"
Her arms shook. Rin's voice was so weak, and she could barely lift her arms as she tried to take the spoon from her. There was nothing but pain the elder sister's chest as she tried to maintain the idea herself this girl could get better.
She had to get better.
Rain… nothing but rain as now, she was looking down at Rin. Every second that passed, she saw what little life was left ebbing away from her eyes.
"Sister… I'm sorry…" Rin wheezed. "I can't keep my promise to go see the cherry blossoms with you. Please… become a great Miko… and protect… everyone…"
She couldn't find anything to say as with those words, the last bit of life in her sister's eyes faded away, a final breath passing through her lips. Rin was dead. She was gone.
And she couldn't do anything about it.
It was a windy day, at a site just a ways out from the village. The site of Rin's grave. Because of the traditions of the village, she couldn't give her sister a normal burial. All she could do was leave a marker with her name on it, out of sight and out of mind of the people there.
"Rin… I've obtained power that could kill anything, anyone. And I'll use this power to avenge you. I'll kill everyone who ever wronged you! Every single one of them! And then… I'll find you. Be it in Heaven of Hell, I'll find you. And we'll finally be together. Okay?"
When Soleil snapped back to himself, he felt his breath heaving as he leaned against a tree, beads of sweat rolling down his face as his vision refocused. What did I just… did I see Sakura's memories? Is this part of it… is this part of what she's been reliving in this memory for five hundred years? Her sister… what the hell happened to her that drove her into feeling this way?
"Soleil-kun?!" Mei's worried tone pulled Soleil out of his haze fully. "Oh thank goodness. You suddenly stopped and looked like something was happening! What happened to you?"
"I saw her memories," Soleil groaned, shaking his head to get out the last of the stupor. "Sakura's memories. I think… I think we're getting closer to when the memory starts to break down."
"What?" Mei gasped.
"I'm not sure how… or why… but it's close. We need to hurry… there's still no sign of Theresa, and we've got no idea what effect the memory breaking down again will have on her body," Soleil forced himself off the tree, hurrying off after Kallen and Logos, Mei quick to follow with an affirming nod. That promise the versions of them from that recreation shoved onto me… looks like I may actually get the chance to keep it for them.
Bronya flinched suddenly as her data monitoring showed a sudden spike. Quickly looking over it, she found the spike came not from the Stigmata on Theresa, but instead from Soleil's own. "What the…" Bronya looked over the sudden inflow of data, her eyes widening a bit. "This is… is Soleil-niisama's Stigmata resonating with the other one?"
"What is what?" Kiana leaned in to see for herself, raising a brow at the influx of windows on Bronya's screen. "What the heck is all of that?"
"The Bronya believes it may have to do with the unique nature of Soleil-niisama's Stigmata," Bronya stated. "It seems that, somehow, it has resonated with the one attached to Theresa, giving him further access to the data stored within. In short, he has accessed some of the memories stored within it."
"Is… that good or bad?"
"Unclear."
"Good, if the kid knows what to do about it," Siegfried stated, looking to Soleil's unconscious form. "The Empyreans are pretty unique even by the standards of those of us with natural Stigmata. People like Kiana's mother can match them in Honkai resistance, and us Kaslanas in physical strength… but they were a founding family for a reason. They've got something a bit more special than just enhanced strength or near immunity to Honkai. If we want to be cheesy… it's an ability to see into someone's very soul and connect with it."
"If one wants to be particular, it would be this ability to resonate with a Stigmata," Bronya said, Siegfried sighing at being shut down. "It may actually prove useful in what we need to happen. We need to do our jobs and keep watch for any reasons… there's a spike in data going on. The Bronya is worried this may have adverse effects on Theresa."
"Ahh man, I hope it's nothing too bad… good luck you two," Kiana pumped a fist, Bronya nodding. All they could really do was wish Soleil and Mei luck as they worked within the datascape to find Theresa… and do whatever they could for whoever else they encountered in there.