Alchemy Of Abyss

Chapter Fifteen~1

Senso-ji Temple, Japan, 1749.

Jien watched quietly as Eisai's body disappeared. He took a deep breath, almost freaking out about what happened. He was always a curious soul, and tales of ancient myths were his favorite. Even though most monks treat those stories as pure myths, he secretly believed them.

He didn't waste a beat. Jien ran his way to the temple library, grabbing every book he could find about the legend of the powerful people. He wanted to be ready with all the information his friend would need.

The following days, Jien informed his elder monks of his decision to study more about the legends. The elder monks weren't fond of his sudden decision. Jien informed them that his curious soul was hunting for more knowledge to help the new generations of monks and they must learn from the past.

He even argued with one of them, who refused to let him do so. Jien eventually convinced him and promised everyone that he would bring new knowledge that would benefit all.

Jien traveled across the nation searching every temple for answers. He talked with hundreds of monks and old people who witnessed the legendary lives of those mythical humans.

Five years passed awfully slowly to his liking. Every morning, he thought Eisai would come back, but he never did. One morning he was sitting on the porch of the east, north small temple. One of the oldest in the kingdom with the oldest library with the most collection of stories and information about the legend ones. Jien was meditating quietly when suddenly a young mother came rushing from outside screaming for help.

Jien was the nearest one to the scared mother. He rushed to her and said, "What's wrong sister!?" the young mother was crying and shaking; her words were not clear. Jien tapped on her shoulders, trying to calm her down while another young monk appeared behind him, holding a cup of water for her.

"My son... he... he is sick! I don't know what to do!" the young mother said. She looked between both monks who were staring at her. "My husband and I got him a doctor. We tried to know what was happening to him, but ... He is possessed!"

The other monk shared a look with Jien. He slowly asked the mother to repeat herself and tell them exactly what had happened. The mother was a lot calmer. She wiped her tears, yet her agonized frown was still on her youthful face. "My son is seven. On the night of his birthday, he woke up in the middle of the night screaming loudly. We ran to him, and we found him lying in his sweat. Breathing hard and not able to speak." She took a sip of the water and continued, "For an entire week he didn't speak, not even a word... every night he screamed in the night... he looked scared every time he woke up. But this morning he finally spoke."

The monk smiled a little encouraging her, yet Jien looked rather nervous. He felt something was odd with her story. After five years, he adapted some sort of six senses toward unusual events. He waited till she finished the glass of water and said, "My son is a bright child, always happy and smiling, when he finally spoke, he took my hand and his father's, and... he told us something I couldn't believe how a young child like him can even say."

Jien and the monk looked at each other and then eyed the young mother, who looked more scared while telling them what her son said. The monk's eyes widened, and Jien's mouth parted, and a small gasp escaped. Jien told the monk to tell the old monks he would accompany the mother back and not to tell anyone about what they heard.

The young monk nodded and left them. "I need to talk to your son if you don't mind?"

The mother nodded eagerly and said, "You will help him, right master? You will cure him from this possessed demon... right?" Jien frowned at her words and tapped lightly on her shoulder, pointing her to the main gate.

"That is not a demon sister... he is an old friend."

...

After Donggun finished reading Jien's papers, he went to his place and stayed in for two days refusing to meet anyone or even leave his room. He read them repeatedly; he couldn't believe such a thing existed.

For the past two days, his body has been getting better slowly. The pain he felt since the moment he appeared in the temple was the same as someone beaten hard and every inch of his body felt broken, yet he regained his old strength surprisingly fast.

Iksoon couldn't leave him alone, he went to his place every morning to bring him food and potions made by Jinpyo to help him recover. Iksoon was curious about Donggun's condition; he believed what was written by Jien, yet it was unbelievable for him that his childhood friend was about to go through such a hard path.