Vast anthology 1: Tengu's Flight

Chapter 5: Disastrous Blessings

Chapter 5: Disastrous Blessings

"Papa, why does uncle Sojobo have wings, but everyone else doesn't"

A toddler Tetsuya asks from the backseat of a car, his black ruffled hair combed neatly to the side. His eyes filled with curiosity and optimism.

Right beside him is a young girl with short scruffy hair, her nose protruding like Tetsuya's,

but her features are rounder, her smile wider.

While not apparent, her stature is slightly taller than Tetsuya's.

The girl opens her mouth and says

: "Yeah, it's not like any of the 6 magics taught in my textbooks"

The dad in the driving seat laughs for a moment,

"Well, uncle Sojobo has a blessing"

"The gods from above granted him with this unique power"

"Re..R..Really!??" Tetsuya exclaims

The dad appeases Tetsuya and continues explaining

"It is said, that when you go through a life-changing experience, you might be lucky, and awaken to a 'one of a kind' power, and that is what we call a Blessing"

"Maybe you could breathe fire, or maybe you grow an extra arm-"

"WOWWW" Both the kids billow in excitement

"Me! Me! I want an extra arm!" The girl bickers as she cracks her knuckles

The dad laughs heartily

"Dad, will I get a blessing one day?" Tetsuya asks with a hint of expectation and wonder.

"Only if you're lucky" The dad says.

****

Back in the bathhouse halls, Tetsuya chuckles, remembering something.

Tetsuya unsheaths his sword and holds it out

"Only if I'm lucky" he mumbles to himself as the green diaphanous feathers cut into existence and glide around his body, parking themselves atop his blade.

Eimi stands in the water, her eyes widen in suspense, her abnormally long tongue quivers in the back of her head like a squirming snake. A great contrast between her cold beautiful emotions

She delicately combs her right facial fin, "What an intriguing blessing!" she remarks. "I simply can't help but wonder, what kind of trauma gave you this cursed power?"

Tetsuya pokes his sword forward, pointing it at Eimi and her cohorts

"It's none of your business." he retorts sharply

Eimi yet again ignores Tetsuya's retort and continues her monologue while caressing the back of her neck. "This jaw opened up to me during my husband's funeral,"

Eimi smiles in delight but Kano abruptly interrupts Eimi's monologue: "We don't care, put Yoshinori down"

Eimi smile trickles a sign of menace, "Oh, of course"

Her back tongue raises higher, and swings, hurling Yoshinori far back to the opposite side of the hall. Through the steam, a distant sound of splatter rings across the wooden hall

"That damn lich! I'll go grab Yoshi" Michi shouts in anger, reaching for his sniper rifle

In an instant, he shoots a wire up to the ceiling arches, he jumps and swings briskly towards Yoshinori's direction, his body leaves their sights as he propels into the misty steam.