"Ok, Merry. If you truly believe this forgotten land exists-"

"I know it exists!"

"-fine, know it exists, isn't there a reason why it's called 'the land of the forgotten'? I mean, judging by the name, maybe it wants to stay forgotten?"

Maribel suddenly stopped walking once she was at the entrance to the shrine, resulting in Renko walking into her due to being distracted by the deteriorating shrine that looked more desolate as well as dangerous the closer you are. Undeterred by her brunette friend, Maribel turned around with a determined look on her face, placing both her hands on Renko's shoulders once more.

"Just because it's named that, doesn't mean it wants to be!"

Renko ended up staring at her expressionless. Then after a brief moment of silence, Renko started chuckling, quickly realizing the contradiction in Maribel's statement.

"That's kinda the point Merry."

Maribel sighed, knowing her outburst had little thought to it.

"What I meant was that it's named the 'land of the forgotten' simply because of the inhabitants who were forgotten by humans. It refers to the youkai, not the land itself."

"Oh."

It was Maribel's turn to chuckle as she reached for Renko's fedora and pulled it down over her face in an affectionately joking manner.

"Silly. Now, I want to investigate this shrine before midnight. So, are you coming in or staying there where wild animals will eat you on sight?"

She grinned at Renko's panic, who turned around to see if there was any animal behind her, very quickly backing into the derelict place in fear before realizing the very slim possibility of attacking animals. She then glared at Maribel, who couldn't keep in her laughter much longer as she walked into the shrine. Renko mumbled something about Maribel's jokes before following her inside.

"To be honest Merry. Looking at this shrine doesn't convey safety. Are you sure it's alright?"

"Of course! What's the worst that can happen? See, perfectly fine."

Maribel began jumping on the wood flooring to prove her point, much to Renko's dismay and slight panic. Although the boards seem to withstand the pressure, Renko quickly saw the strain the planks had once Maribel's feet connected with them.

"Ok, ok! I get your point! Please, stop jumping. I don't want this place to fall down on us because of you."

Maribel immediately stopped jumping, noting the panic in her friend's voice and decided to not joke around. Her tone changing to a more serious one as she took in the decor of the shrine.

"Ok. Well, should we look around? Take note of the place and try to find anything that's related to the forgotten world?"

Renko nodded, thankful in the change of tone from Maribel and started searching through the shrine. Almost everything they saw wasn't noteworthy as most of it was degraded to a point of being unrecognizable, or broken. Moving further inside, they had more hope. Objects that look at be memorabilia from when the shrine was abandoned.

"Wow, judging by these objects, this shrine seems to date from the 15th century!"

Maribel turned to look at Renko with a skeptical look.

"Really Renko? Has History taught you nothing?"

"What?"

Maribel extended her arm out, gesturing to the objects sat on the table she was near.

"Do you really think people from the 1400s knew how to make paper? Or even card? I know Japan quickly advances in technology, but I think it didn't advance that quickly in that time period. However though, on second thought this might not be paper."

Renko was inspecting a purification rod she found, swishing around and admiring the yellowing trail fluttering in the air.

"I don't know. I didn't really pay attention to it in school."

Maribel sighed.

"I think this all dates to the Edo period. "

Renko placed the purification rod back onto the table and proceeded to another corner of the room.

"You mean when the Tokugawa shogunate was in power, where it's known for economic growth, strict social order and a sustainable forest management?"

"Well, I can tell you did pay attention, yes you're correct. Although I'm not sure if the shrine was abandoned during the period or after it. As I assume many people would still come here even after it was abandoned for a while before forgetting it exists."

Renko shrugged her shoulders before exiting the room, to come back with a large yin and yang ball. Causing Maribel to chuckle slightly.

"You planning to take that home and play with it?"

She only glared at Maribel.

"Very funny. It caught my interest as I've never seen one. I regret picking it up, it weighs a ton!"

Renko attempted to get a better hold of the ball, but in doing so it slipped out of her grasp. To fall onto the ground with a not so pleasant sounding thud that was accompanied with the light sound of wood splintering, the shrine groaning with the sudden jolt. Renko winced at the sound as she shifted backwards away from the object that has partially embedded itself into the floor. Maribel, who witnessed what had just happened only sighed.

"That's why I never trust you with valuables Renko. You're such a klutz sometimes."

Renko smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of her neck as she knew Maribel was right. She was about to joke but as soon as she opened her mouth, Maribel instantly felt a headache wash over her. Strong enough for her to wince in pain and take a step back.

"Merry? Are you ok?"

Placing her hand across her face as the headache worsened, her vision blurring and spinning. She dropped to her knees as she faintly heard Renko's voice calling out her name before confusing visions flash in her eyes. Going as soon as they come, but staying long enough for Maribel to see them clearly. One after the other, more confusing than the previous. Until they stopped at one that looks all too familiar. She could see herself and Renko in the shrine. Renko yelling at her, while she was unresponsive. Renko took a few steps towards Maribel before disappearing.

"Renko."

She opened her eyes to the sound of wood splintering, realisation quickly dawning on her as she turned to Renko, calling out to her to stop. She was too late as more wood splinters and breaks. It was all too quick. Maribel scrambles and reaches her hand out, but she was too late as Renko's barely brushed against hers, watching her descend into darkness.

"Renko!"