Perceived Memory 3: The Tale of the Mural

Chapter 1:

I forget how long it's been since the emissary of the shogun told me,

"You are hereby ordered to complete the murals for the new shrine. The shogun himself chose you for this task after hearing of your great skill. Give this your best efforts."

I happily accepted the commission, of course, responding with a, "Sir! It is an honor!"

Now here I am, thrilled as I walk up to the entrance of the shrine.

Finally, I thought, my talents are appreciated! Personally chosen by the shogun to create the centerpiece for a new shrine! I'm sure to be seen as Hinomoto's chief artist! The thought was enough to make me laugh.

"What's so funny, you stupid painter? Have you no respect for this shrine?"

Who was this kid? Probably just some brat.

"Oh, if it isn't the head of the shogun's personal guard. I'm honored."

"Very funny. You're the rising star. I heard the shogun personally chose you for something?"

"That's right! I'll be decorating the walls of a new shrine that's going to be built here with my masterful murals! Mark my words, these works will be spoken of for generations, like the new reliquary hall at Kitayamatei."

I was the picture of enthusiasm as I said this, but the boy didn't seem impressed.

"You mean that hall covered in gold leaf? You think it'll be spoken of for generations? If you ask me, something more subdued would—"

"Hey, got any ideas for the subjects of these murals?"

For all that I'd accepted this commission, I'd gotten so carried away I still had no idea what to paint.

"Thoroughly self-absorbed, I see. As for subjects, are you familiar with the local Kemonogami faith?"

"Nope. What's a Kemonogami?"

"They say people once performed a ritual here that involved sending sacrifices to another world. Then powerful gods appeared from that other world. They called them the Kemonogami, and some people still worship them. A pretty typical local faith."

"Hmm, the Kemonogami... I like the sound of that! Tell me more about these local gods, or point me to someone who can!"

"What a way to ask for help! Anyway, you should talk to the shrine maiden. Her job is to pass on the history of this place, so she knows more than anyone."

"Great, thanks!"

So I went to meet with the shrine maiden. She heard me out with composure, then said, "So you would learn more about the Kemonogami faith."

"Yeah, I got the gist earlier, but I was hoping you could tell me something more striking!"

"Heheh. You are the very definition of rudeness. How amusing."

The story she told was long and rambling, but the events were fascinating. It was about a boy sacrifice and his older sister.

Long ago, when the world was in chaos, a group of children were sent to another world to save this one. There, in the world of the gods, they gained the power of Kemonogami, and brought peace to humanity, or something.

The shrine maiden spoke of this as a great achievement, but it sounded like pointless human sacrifice to me. What's worse, one of those children was a boy sacrificed by his own sister.

Did the boy hate her for what she did? What was the girl thinking?

Anyway, after hearing the story, I got to work. I threw myself into painting the murals, my head full of what I'd heard from the shrine maiden and others.

I lost track of time completely, working until I got tired and decided to go out for a break.

I'd been in the dim light of the shrine for so long the sunlight stung my eyes.

Then, as my eyes adjusted, I grew completely astonished. However long I'd been in that shrine, I still remembered what it looked like outside.

"What is this? Where am I?!" I cried, staring out at an entirely different world.

Chapter 2:

I'd just finished some initial drawings on an important commission, only to find myself in a strange new place.

"What is this? Where am I? Who even am I? No, forget that last one, I'm the world's best painter!"

"Shut up! Stop yelling right next to me when I'm trying to sleep!"

"Huh?! Who's that?!"

I turned around to find a strange monster at my feet.

"Never mind that! You... You're a human, aren't you?"

"That's right! I'm as human as they come! What are you, some kind of spirit?"

"Hahah, well, at least you've got spunk. I like your attitude! I'm gonna see what you're capable of, Boss!"

"Boss, huh? I like that. And if you want to see what I'm made of, look all you want! Though, I am in some trouble right now.

"I'm here to paint the murals for this shrine, but while I was working everything changed.

"Can you tell me where in Hinomoto this is? Is there a village nearby?"

"I don't know about 'Hinomoto', but there's no village around here. You're the first human I've ever seen, Boss!"

According to this spirit, I seem to have been transported to another world, and if the shrine maiden's legends are true, no one has ever come back from here alive. That means nobody knows anything about this place.

"Well that's not good. I'm really in another world? Listen, you don't know of a way to get back, do you? I've got a job to do."

"A way back? I only just found out about your world!"

"Well, then... This is going to take some doing."

If there was no way for me to get back, I'd have to survive in this world.

"All right, I've made up my mind. I'd better keep working on those murals."

"Hey, Boss? What are these 'murals' you keep talking about?"

"You don't know? A mural's a mural! Er, how can I explain... Actually, I'll just show you. Follow me! Then you'll see what I'm capable of."

Then the spirit and I went back inside the shrine.

"There! Feast your eyes upon my magnificent murals! Though they're not done yet."

"Wow! I've never seen anything like these before! I don't know what to say, they're incredible! It's like there's a human right there!"

"Heheh, it's nice to see you're so thoroughly impressed. There's no higher compliment you can give to an artist."

"I drew these based on legends that I heard about in my world. Who knew I'd wind up living out those legends myself? Gahahaha!"

"Oh, so humans know about us too?"

"Anyway, heheheh, now that I'm here, I can hardly just sit around painting all the time."

"What's with that grin, Boss? Something on your mind?"

"Yeah, this whole world! Ever since I figured out where this was, there's one thing I've just been thrilled about. According to that shrine maiden, this place is full of gods. Like, they're all over the place! Isn't that great?! I can't wait to learn more!"

"Oh! You mean you want to learn about us, Boss?"

"You bet I do! There's a whole world out there to explore, full of strange and powerful beings. It's an artist's dream! I'm ready to get out there and see the world. Let's go, buddy!"

"You got it, Boss! Where you lead, I follow!"

And so I set out with that spirit-like creature on an incredible artistic journey. I didn't care if we met with good luck or bad, so long as it was fun.

Chapter 3:

Somehow I'd been transported to another world. The place was brimming with spirit-like beings, and everything about it was constantly changing, from the mountains and trees to the very ground.

"Whoa! That was a close one!"

"You okay, Boss?"

"I'm fine! One more step, though, and I'd have gone head over heals down a cliff!"

"Well, I'm glad you're all right, but could you try not to get so carried away?"

"Yeah, sorry. It's just hard not to react when everything here is so amazing. Right when I thought the ground had vanished, a new patch of earth was born in its place. It's like we can't trust the ground anymore, and we're standing on water. Heheh, I love it! This place is the best! I can't wait to learn all about it!"

"Then I know someone you'll want to meet, Boss."

"Sounds great! Take me to 'em!"

"You don't want to hear more? Wait, why am I surprised? Follow me!"

So the spirit led me to a river.

"Found 'em! My friend there's a real old-timer, and can probably answer any of your questions."

Then the spirit introduced me to another, more impressive spirit. If I'd been on my own, I may have gotten the shivers.

Instead, I asked the old-timer my most burning question: how this world came to be.

To be honest, the answer surprised me. I expected to hear a myth or a legend, but the way the old-timer talked it was like he'd seen it happen.

In fact, he said he had! Now that's an old spirit!

And that's to say nothing of the tale itself, which was just astonishing. I learned not only about the creation of this world, but about an even larger truth!

"You satisfied, Boss?"

"I couldn't ask for more. I want to draw it so badly it's killing me. Between this and the legend I heard in my world... Well, it'll make for some incredible art! Heheheh!"

"That's great! Because you won't be hearing another story like that."

"Why not?"

"I don't know any other monster as old as that old-timer. They've all been getting lost as this world changes."

"That...sounds like a real shame."

"Heheh, you comforting me, Boss? Well...thanks, you crazy human."

"Listen, Buddy, I can't go home anymore, but I want to keep painting. The world may be changing, but I'm not about to let that change the core of who I am."

"Boss..."

"Come on, let's go. It's too early for us to just give up. I'm going to shake you down to your soul with my incredible art!"

"Well, now! That's something I've got to see!"

Chapter 4:

After hearing about this world's creation from that old-timer, part of me was ready to start painting, but another part wanted to hear more.

After all, that spirit didn't know everything, and while my buddy said the ancient monsters were disappearing, there had to be more he didn't know.

"Excuse me. Might I speak with you two?"

Someone had turned up while my buddy and I were in the shrine.

"Oh, you must be...

"Boss, you're in luck! It's another ancient monster!

"This is amazing! I've never met you before!"

"Yes, I heard about you from a mutual friend. Said I should speak with the human boy."

This was such a stroke of luck, I couldn't help dancing with joy.

"That's great! Perfect timing! I was just thinking how I'd love to hear more stories!"

Thrilled, I led the old monster into the shrine.

"Ah, so these are what you call paintings. Impressive."

"Oh, but this scene could stand to be more impactful. It's depicting the moment of the world's creation, after all."

"Oh, so you think it should be even grander?"

"Yes, and this one here... How can I put this? The link between humans and monsters is lacking."

"Once, you know, humans and monsters shared the same soul. It was a world of harmony."

"Shared souls... A world of harmony... Yes, I'll have to start over."

More ancient monsters who'd heard about my work kept showing up. Listening to their tales of how the world used to be improved my art.

It also made me sad that they were now facing extinction. If all their memories, everything they'd lived was going to disappear, I wanted to at least capture some of that in my art.

"Hm...this color's a little off."

"Hey Boss, you sure you want to leave the art upstairs unfinished?"

"Yes, I want to preserve the flow of the story. The order is important."

"Oh, okay. Well, I'm excited to see it when it's done."

"It's not striking enough, but I can't change the composition. Should I add lines? What if I painted over this?"

"Just don't take too long, Boss, or you won't make it in time."

Several days went by as I lost myself in painting.

"Hmm... Hmm... Yes. I've captured the impression I got from hearing all those stories. I don't think I need to add anything more."

How long has it been since I started these murals? I'd gotten so absorbed in my work I'd lost all sense of time, and now I needed a break.

When I went back to the entrance of the shrine, my buddy was standing there stunned.

"Hey Buddy! Let's take a break. What're you doing just standing there?"

"Boss, I think we're out of time."

"What happened to the exit? Why's it just a wall now?"

"That's all that's left. The doorway's been sealed and this world is about to end. Who knows what's happening out there?"

"Hmph!"

"Boss? Where are you going?! You're heading back inside?!"

"That's right! I haven't finished my murals, and if we can't leave, all that's left for me to do is paint!"

Chapter 5:

"Damn it! So what if the world is ending? I need to finish these murals! I just need to do the coloring, but that's the part that takes the longest!"

How much time do I have before the world ends? How much more can I paint?

"Hey, Boss! Something's on the floor beneath us, and I don't like it!"

"What the—?! Fog?!"

"Boss, no! Don't touch it! I don't know what it is, but it's dangerous!"

"The fog's rising in here, and the world's ending outside. Hah, talk about being caught between a rock and a hard place! How am I supposed to work like this?"

"Should we run, Boss?"

"There's nowhere to run to. Besides, if I'm going to die, I want to finish these murals. That way part of me will live on. ...These murals are done. Let's head up, Buddy."

And so we climbed to the shrine's upper level.

"We don't know when that fog will get us, Boss. You can't just take your time!"

"I know that! I'll paint as fast as I can! But this mural is missing something. The worlds were divided, and the four great beasts subdued the chaos among monsters... But what about the humans? I need to add them!"

"There's no time for that! The fog is going to-"

"Shut up! I'm not leaving behind a half-finished legacy!

"There, done! Perfectly colored too. I'm the best! Now for the next one."

"Boss, the fog is starting to move faster!"

"So before long it's going to fill the whole shrine? Fine, bring it on!" I'd left these murals mostly unfinished, but now we'll see how fast I can work.

"Oh no! The fog's starting to pour in!"

"Damn it, it's getting hard to see. This mural is...the worlds divided, but with the door between them still in place." *cough* *gasp*

"Boss?! Did you breathe in the fog? Maybe you should rest—"

"I'm fine! I need to finish! This is the end, right? Let me finish what I started."

"Boss..."

"The door...I don't know what it looks like, so I'll just have to make it up. What about the two worlds? What must it have been like for the creatures living in them?

"There, that's it! Now for the people and monsters manipulated by the door! Okay, how's that?"

"It's incredible, Boss! Really striking!"

"Heheh, of course it is! I painted it!" *hack* *cough*

"Ugh, I've breathed in too much fog. It's getting pretty thick in here." *gasp* *pant* "Just...one more. Let's...go..."

It took all my strength to climb up to the top floor of the shrine.

"That's...funny. I can't...lift my arm..."

"Boss...let me help."

"Couldn't ask...for more, Buddy. Now...that color goes... Yeah, you got it. Heheh, this is...great. I can just...take it easy..."

It took some time, but we finished painting the mural.

"I'm done painting, Boss. This is...incredible. You really are the best. I've never seen anything so beautiful."

"Hey, why don't we go back down and look at them all in order? I'm sure I'll be moved to tears!"

"Hey, Boss! Boss! Did you hear me? *sob* Wake up, please! We have to go see...all the great murals we painted together! Please, Boss! Please, wake up!"