Beyond The Eternity

Chapter 4 - The Journey

Waiting by the pit spot, she watched as the early morning rays barely tipped the horizon. Darkness leftover from the night was slowly morphing into an amber-like hue.

To think that her arrival to the Soul Society had only been a few weeks. Her resolve to become a shinigami had not waned since only emboldened by the possibility of seeing her family again. However, as hopeful as the prospect was, it was still only a possibility. This was just the start of a long and tumultuous path ahead.

"Everything's going to be okay."

A gentle voice brought Karin out of her cycle of thoughts. She looked down to see Grandma Yuki smiling at her with a comforting gaze.

" I've already written to my grandson to visit you sometime. He works at the Gotei 13, so if you ever need any help, he'll be right there."

" Grandson?" Karin's ears perked up. She's often wondered about those two elusive figures that Grandma Yuki supposedly raised like her own. Would the time to meet them come sooner than she thought?

" If I remember right, is it —?"

The horse neighed in impatience as the carriage driver beckoned for all passengers to board. They both knew that time was running out. The small handful of people were quickly ushered onto the wooden carriage, with Karin being the last one to get on.

" Grandma Yuki, I can't thank you enough. " Karin bowed. " Thank you for taking me in and looking out for me. It hasn't been that long yet I'm leaving so soon, and I know I can't return your hospitality but—,"

" Nonsense. Don't feel bad or look back. You and I both know this is a journey you must take."

" Grandma Yuki..."

" Now get up there. We'll see each other soon right?"

Karin couldn't help but smile, " Yes, we will."

As she boarded the carriage, Karin spared one last look at Grandma Yuki, waving goodbye as the carriage set off. The more she watched Grandma Yuki shrink in size, the bittersweet taste lingered.

" You there! Sit down!"

Karin jolted and sat back down with quickness. In this tiny carriage, cramped souls made for a rather stuffy atmosphere as the vehicle shook along bumpy dirt roads. Karin sighed wistfully, taking back every gripe she had with public transportation back when she was alive. In the meantime, she awkwardly shifted to make herself comfortable given the limited space. Her only silver lining was that this would be over once she'd reached the Shin'O Academy.

Karin felt her eyelids grow heavier with time and her body turned sluggish. With how she had to wake up at the crack of dawn, she was surely exhausted.

A little shut-eye wouldn't hurt.

~

Laying face down, she rose into an upright position as small grains scattered down from across her back. A scalding heat emanated from the white sand blanketing her body, triggering her to jump to her feet. Yet, upon further inspection, she wasn't in pain. Even as her feet pressed further into the depths of the sand, the sensation of heat was heat alone — no burns in sight.

She raised her head to behold the strange sight ahead. Her eyes surveyed the dune-like landscape, which was bleak and eerily quiet. Small cries of wind swept through the empty skies.

"Where am I?" Karin's voice echoed into the abyss. Even when standing, she saw no end to the vastness of this land. She struggled to get her bearings, and her vision was blurry and hazy—it was as if she were in vertigo.

Nevertheless, Karin proceeded to walk along in search of answers and an escape. Wading through the coarseness of sand, dust painted her feet like ash the further and longer she went. Yet as aimless and lost as she was, her usually heightened sense of caution was kept at bay here, and an odd sense of familiarity lingered in the air.