"Just where are we going?" I whined to the rest of the group since we had been walking for what seemed to have been at least an hour.
"Don't worry Chihiro, we're almost there. I'm sure you won't regret it." Kamaji kindly replied. I immediately felt bad for being so rude, especially since they had helped me so often during my last visit, I stayed quiet until we reached our destination.
We continued walking through the town for about another ten minutes and it became apparent that we were in a less populated part of the town. We continued along the main path even though the buildings had fallen away behind us and after a few more trees and shrubs we came to a clearing with a cliff.
"Here we are." Lin said triumphantly as she stood just by the cliff edge and looking on. I joined her side to see what was of interest and the view had taken my breath away.
"It's...beautiful." I mumble with awe.
"Isn't it? One of the few things that have remained unchanged over the centuries, probably because very few humans make the journey to even here.
Before us laid a vast lake completely surrounded by dense, undisturbed forests. In the centre of the lake stood a lone small but magnificent island which boasted the most ornate and by far the most beautiful temple that must have ever existed in the world. The rest of the island was shielded from our view by the trees and other plant life that consumed the island in a natural beauty unmatched. Towards the entrance of the temple just before the steps was a torii that seemed to have been standing there since the beginning of time.
"What is the name of this place? Of that island?" I say still quite astonished by the view.
"There isn't a name for this place. I'm not sure though what the human world calls it." Kamaji replied quietly, almost sadly.
"It's gorgeous, I didn't believe such places completely untouched by anything for years even existed anymore."
"Yes, a place such as this is very rare to come across nowadays even in the spirit world. That's also what makes it very sacred." Haku spoke up.
"If that's the case, doesn't that mean many pe-spirits come here for rituals or even normal visitation?" I asked curiously as many people would travel far and wide for a place only because it's sacred.
"No. Things work a little bit differently in the spirit world. If a place is considered sacred, no spirit is allowed to visit too often or they will face great consequences. Even Yubaba wouldn't risk it." Lin informed me.
"She's right." Haku commented, "This allows the site to remain as it is and not lose its powers and beauty too quickly. It may even allow the land to stay for thousands and thousands of years in the human world."
"And if people visit it?" I asked wondering if people affected any of this.
"Depending on what the people do. Normally, humans cannot take away a significant amount of power on their own if they just visit, so it doesn't matter too much. However, if they try to reform it, then the land could lose everything in a matter of a few hours even if the reform isn't complete." He answered with a very serious tone in his voice.
"But thankfully," Kamaji interjected, "we have nothing to worry about for a long time as humans seem to know better than to cause harm to such a place. Now come, we must return to the bath house before it becomes too late." He turned away and started heading back into the town.
Lin and Haku nodded their heads and agreed and joined him. I stood at the edge for a few moments trying to take in the view as much as I can, before I catch up to the others as well.
It's odd, but I can't help feeling there was a very significant reason for them to all bring me here. I have no idea why that would be the case at all, but ever since I returned I felt that something wasn't quiet right. Coming to this place today further convinced me of this feeling. However at present, I felt there's nothing more I can do but to wait until the time is right.