Saving Touma

Chapter 1.G - Mountain Spirits

The sun was almost down, and they were starting to lose the light. Ryo was about to order his team to make for the forest and set up a camp when he spotted a person down the stream.

It was an old lady tending goats. Not far from the stream was a streak of smoke towering over the trees. He realized they had found the first sign of life since they left the village. 

Almost immediately, he began walking towards the old lady to inquire about their whereabouts and destination. The boys curiously followed behind him, struggling to maintain balance on the rocky and muddy path.

"Obaasan!" Ryo yelled to announce their presence. He also waved to ensure the old lady didn't feel threatened. The old lady saw them and waved back, which Ryo interpreted as a welcoming gesture. 

They then started walking towards her. She didn't move until the boys reached her.

"Ohayo, 'baasan. We're heading to Tabishiki Village. Do you know where that is?"

Ryo didn't dilly-dally, and as he had expected, the old lady's reaction was akin to that of the servant at the inn. She was taken aback and couldn't respond for a good five seconds.

"Why do you want to go there?" the old lady asked, her voice faintly strained.

"We are traveling tradesmen. We were commissioned to work there," Ryo answered with a jovial and innocent look on his face.

"Haven't you heard of what happened to the people who tried to go there years ago?" the old woman continued. Ryo instantly regretted asking after hearing that from the old woman. He didn't want the boys to hear the story. He was afraid some of them might back out.

"What happened 'baasan?" Shingen asked, curious. Ryo's worst nightmare was unfolding before his eyes. He desperately wanted to change the subject, but that would only further inspire their curiosity.

Somehow, the old lady sensed unease in Ryo. His face contorted into an outcry of despair. She instantly gathered that Ryo knew about it but hadn't told his companions. 

Whatever his reason was didn't seem fair at all, as lives were at stake. Still, she surmised that it wasn't her place to reveal such information so casually, especially to a bunch of strangers, only to ruin their plans. 

Besides, that happened a long time ago, and it had never happened again since, but only because no one had dared to go to the mountains again. These boys were the first people the old lady had known to have reached this far in a long time.

"They got lost for days. They wandered in the forest for days," the old woman responded, hesitant. She could almost hear Ryo's small voice saying thank you to her as his eyebrows softened and the creases on his forehead disappeared.

"Could you possibly tell us how to get there? We really need to reach the village before sundown," Ryo asked again. 

The old lady was stunned by Ryo's eagerness. Despite knowing the tragedy that had taken place in the mountain, he was still willing to press on. 

The only reason she could think of for anyone to continue such a risky journey was either they wanted to harm someone or take their own life. Lost in thought, she didn't respond until Ryo prodded her.