The snowflakes pelted the icy rooftop tiles like a volley of thousand arrows, the winter air biting into Rin's exposed face as he moved with unstoppable speed, each step was a skim across the slippery surface. He could see the pace of the slim shadow, Fung, in front was as fast as him, only her strength weakened by time and distance. He was also glad that the snow helped him to track his target.
After crossing few dozen street blocks, Fung's shadow vanished into a market street that had already been closed for business after dark. Rin followed her cautiously, careful not to alert her who was still unaware of being trailed. He watched Fung crouch at each shuttered stall, her nimble fingers gathering remnants of food into a plastic bag she'd picked up from a bin. Then she moved forward, her mission clarified, toward a graveyard at a small shrine nearby, its stone walls half-buried beneath the snowdrifts.
☆☆☆
Before the limestone made tomb that resembled snow-capped dwarves in the night, Rin stood as he felt it: a powerful presence that mingled both demonic and divine, unlike Fung. The snow continued to fall, each flake rush to descend as they were the arbitrator who had come late to this show down. "Why do you run? Why do you fear?" His voice rose, though faint against the howling wind.
"Hehehe, 'fear' is a strong word. Let's just say I'm cautious, shall we?" A familiar alluring sweetness replied, and the distance of its source was unclear. "But why must I come with you? I already have power beyond your understanding." The air thickened as if charged by dark forces.
"I am sorry. I did what I had to do and only thing I can do when you fell for evil. Most importantly, I did not expect Alice to be there. Now you must come with me and finish your training." Rin softly spoke, he didn't want to alarm her once again.
"Sorry? Look at me now! I am more powerful than ever!" The vicious wind blew with snow felt like needles when it hit the skin. The ground shook beneath their feet piled snow cascaded from treetops and nearly crashed into houses below.
"You are ignorant," Rin rumbled with dominion over the distraction of nature. "Any keeper can tell you're still an amateur from the way you abuse your powers! You need a full training of dark scripture, or you'll fall into a deeper pit of damnation!"
A seductive laughter sang in the obscure darkness, the sound twisting and turning as if mocking Rin's every words. "Deeper pit of damnation? Ha ha ha—I'm already there! If you don't believe me, why don't you give it a try? Ha ha ha ha!"
"Your reliance on fresh souls to sustain yourself is evidence of your failed training—you must come with me." Rin demanded, his eyes locked on Fung's form, every muscle in his body coiled and ready to act. Rin's blood ran cold as Fung shouted furiously, "You think I'm a fool? I know all about you and Alice! Don't lie to me!" Wild wind swung the snow upward.
"I'm not here to fight you, Fung. You were always my only pupil--my greatest hope. Come with me, and I'll finish your training." As he spoke, a shadow silently emerged from the void of blackness. A long shadow of a godly girl slowly approached Rin. Her thin body moved seemed coquettishly delicate.
Rin sprang into action, catching her before she crumpled to the icy stones beneath their feet. "Fung! Are you okay?" He held her close, seeking to restore her body heat. But when he looked upon her black pearl like eyes, he saw nothing but deep sentiment. "You are here! You've finally decided to come back to me!" Fung's voice bitter with joy.
"Yes, I am here. I can help you with your illness."
"Illness?" Fung pushed Rin backward and shouted, "You are a fool if you think I will ever need your help!" Fung reached behind a nearby tomb to grab a cloth sack into her arm.
A piercing shriek tore through the frigid moment, jolting Rin's senses like a blade thrust into his very heart—a baby's desperate cry.
In shock, Rin bellowed, his voice cracking by such unexpected turn of event, "Whose baby is that? You must tell me.!" As he breathed frosty puffs, his face became murky from distance.
Fung's chilling laughter rang through the graveyard, "what I do with him is none of your business! Just remember, you'll pay for what you've done—never forget!" Her voice, dripping with malice as she clutched the infant and vanished into the depths of the surrounding woods.
Rin stood motionless in the snowdrift, with agony and despair, few straight cats roamed the graveyard, toying with the falling snowflakes. Time seemed to stretch endlessly until a voice came from behind, roused him from his wretched stupor.
"So? Have you decided? Are you prepared to join us underground with the scriptures?" Shogon spoke as she had already foreseen this conclusion.
"Yes, I will go back with you! But there is one thing I must do before I leave." Rin reply emotionlessly.
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Rin sat oddly on the wood made chair against the wooden wall, rested, and meditated in a deep state. The warm and dry air of this concealed Wasaga workshop provided sanctuary and privacy for those who needed it. Sunlight filtered through the spotless windows, provided a warm, amber glow on the studio's cluttered but well-arranged contents.
Shogon's hands were busy making her new Wasaga that was at its finishing stage. She examined every little detail to ensure the final product was perfect, and she was particularly pleased with the gorgeous girl she had painstakingly painted onto it.
"Sorry, I had to draw Claus according to Alice. They were almost identical." Shogon spoke as to herself.
"Thank you. This is the last thing I can do for her." Rin opened his eyes and replied.
"You are going to pay your last visit to her tomb?" Shogon asked as she gentle placed the Wasaga by the window for drying.
"Yes, I have to see her one last time before I go."
"And Alice and your son?" Shogon carefully adjusted the Wasaga by rotating it. She had to make sure the sun spread evenly on each part that was with fresh glue.
"Alice still refuses to accept her destiny as the guardian of the Light Script," Rin sighed heavily, his chest tightening as he knew the risk of going back home. "She's not ready to protect herself from demons yet. It's safer that I am not around them."
"If that's what you need," Shogon acquiesced, she could not afford to lose the sight of Rin. She paid great effort to find him. "I'd be my honor to accompany you."
"Alright," Rin agreed. "It would be perfect if you come with me." He extended his hand to her; an unspoken camaraderie began as they both knew they need such alliance from each other.
☆☆☆
The snowstorm temporary halted to give sunlight a chance to break through the thick clouds. The bright dawn snuck between red woods of this hilltop to wake all living things to join this moment of glory, it was like heaven descended upon earth with all her blessing.
Rin and Shogon tramped on the mountain trail covered by thick snow. With long tall grass wildly grew along the tracks, their breaths formed crystalline plumes that vanished into the ether. Their journey was with perseverance and will. Rin wanted to visit Claus on foot to show his remorse and respect. Each step were penance for the love he had lost.
"I sensed someone is watching us for the past hour. An entity that I am unfamiliar with." Shogon said.
"I sensed it too. I can't identify it." Rin replied.
"Should we somehow expose it?" Shogon instigated her surrounding with her sharp eyes.
"Yes. We should. We are almost at our destination. I don't want anyone to find out where she is." Rin agreed.
"Will do." With a deep, steadying breath, Shogon closed her eyes and focused her mind. In response, the heavy clouds above seemed to disperse, unveiling a wide expanse of grey sky that stretched as far as the eye could see. Strong wind blew to ban the carpet of tall grasses to its knee and the hilltop of the mountain trail became much more visible. But they found nothing, and the entity they felt was no longer present.
"Who could it be? It couldn't be anything thing demonic, it's bright day light." Shogon spoke quietly to herself. Before she could render a conclusion, the lively wood became extremely silent, snow began to fall.
Shogon hastened for Rin, who had moved away from her in the interim. Then she found him kneeling in front of an open grave, freshly turned soil scattered haphazardly across the surface. "Don't rush to any conclusions, Rin! You need to calm down." The anguish that gripped her as she looked upon Rin's stressed face.
"It must be them! They know this is the only way to get to me. She had done nothing to deserve all this. She can't even rest in peace!" Rin shouted; the entire woods began to vibrate violently, and the snow around the graveyard started to melt by extreme temperature.
"You need to stop! You need to go back to Alice! To make sure she's ok. Demons don't just show up for no reason. They could had already found them!" The warning of Shogon wasn't without a hint that Alice could already be in danger with Rin's newborn son, Danny.