Crossing Illusion: Reflection (Book 1) #Wattys2017

Chapter 56: Humanity Against Calamity

( NOTE: This song is considered as the theme song of the whole arc and can be played in a loop for the whole chapter, but it's not easy to make the music sync with the reading. If by a lucky chance that you manage to make it sync, then the final chorus of the song will be a good battle music on the final showdown that happen right before the end of the chapter )

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Long ago, in the ancient past, 12th century, Heian period of Japan, Kyoto, when it was still the capital of the empire, was home to Emperor Sutoku. For many, he was considered as nothing but a miserable, unfortunate man, hated by his own father, denied the right of his bloodline, then defeated in utter shame, that cost him many lives, some that are dear to him, including his family that was executed by the court. Some believed that the Sutoku was then exiled, becoming a monk, living in peace writing holy documents to the end of his life. Some said that he live in regret for his action, tried to redeem himself, and even his plea for forgiveness was then rejected. Some claimed that even after his death, his vengeance continue to curse the realm, bringing disasters and conflicts, that eventually ended the empire of Japan.

The tale of Sutoku, the 75th emperor of Japan, remain as an obscure myth even after almost a thousand of years later. Many said that he became a ghost, some said a goblin. Nevertheless, many believed that he caused many calamities to the world of man, until about seven hundreds years later, in the 1868 of Meiji era, when his body was moved and enshrined in the Shiramine shrine of Kyoto. Many hoped, now that the terrible emperor finally returned to the capital that he longed for, he would be appeased. However, little do they knew that the spirit of Sutoku was never there in the first place, and his enshrinement in Shiramine was merely to convince the public that the deed was done.

The true battle happened there, in Kyoto, as the descendant of the legendary onmyouji, Abe no Seimei, was fought in a supernatural battle between one of the greatest evil in Japan, against the greatest line of exorcist in the land. The one that leads the battle was the older generation of Daisenkou, and they remember how fearsome was the raven that shaken the mountains of Kyoto, resulting numerous of casualties, but their death was not in vain. They may not be able to vanquish the creature, but manage to finish their rituals to exorcise the evil spirit, sealing him in the vessel of his own creation; the original cursed scroll that he made long ago. 

Thus, one of the greatest evil force in Japan are banished from existence. The cursed scroll is then buried deep underground, never meant to see the light of day again. Ever since then, Daisenkou continue to protect the artifact, protecting peace of the world as they continue to serve the greater good of mankind. 

However, they knew that this is not the end. Even now, the vengeance of Sutoku refuse to cease, as his hatred continue to accumulate, deep in the darkness. The best that they could do is to lock the place, and to purify the leaking curse, until they find a permanent solution. Yet, his hatred only get stronger as years passed, and the scroll begin to deteriorate. 

Many generations later, Urahime Masakura, the current leader of Daisenkou, prophesied the return of the emperor with her poem and passed it down to her daughter. She knew that the day would come sooner or later, but what she never expect was the intervention from an outside factor that attacked them at that night. They did their best to defend themselves, but it was inevitable that they fell...

A thousand years worth of hatred is now flowing free to the world, ascending to the sky, and his wrath warped the night. A storm is upon them as wind blew through the burning forest, rain washed the remaining snow of the valleys beneath, and the earth was shaken by an unseen force.