Man of Styx

Chapter FIVE: The Veil of Death

"Vehement emotions — fear, guilt, or sorrow — serve to magnify the conduit's dread influence, casting a more formidable shadow upon those in their sphere. Yet, through esoteric understanding and deliberate will, the hidden force may be subdued, its darkness quelled. The conduit's inner tumult may become a beacon, drawing the spectral forces of demise toward those encircled by their presence."

Ryoichiro blinked out of his reverie, disoriented. "Huh?"

Risa, visibly annoyed by Ryoichiro's lack of attention, continued, "As I was saying, strong emotions drive your curse to manifest — fear, guilt, and sorrow. Keeping those emotions under control ensures no one gets hurt. So, what we need to focus on is making sure those feelings don't surface, that is, making one emotion rise above the rest."

Ryoichiro looked at Risa, but his distant expression revealed he wasn't fully grasping the explanation.

Risa sighed softly, taking a moment to compose herself. She knew the weight of their situation was heavy, and it was starting to take its toll on her as well. "Happy!" She said, trying to infuse a bit of energy into her voice, though her eyes betrayed a hint of concern. "We need to keep you happy!" Risa declared, standing in front of Ryoichiro and raising her hands energetically. The stoplight beeped, signaling green. Risa quickly returned to his side as they crossed the pedestrian walk together.

"Happy, huh?" Ryoichiro muttered, his gaze downcast, fixed on the ground as they moved forward.

Risa nudged him gently. "So tell me, Ryo-chan, what makes you happy?" She leaned in closer, her eyes filled with curiosity and expectation.

Ryoichiro glanced at Risa, a faint smile beginning to form, but he couldn't bring himself to tell her that she was one of the things making him happy right now. The almost smile vanished as he saw the collection of flowers marking the spot where the car accident had happened. His thoughts began to spiral back to that day. Memories of that day came rushing back — flashes of screeching tires, a sudden impact, and the feeling of helplessness. The flowers and photos were stark reminders of the life-altering event.

"Ryo-chan!" Risa scolded, her expression adorably stern.

She noticed he was looking behind her and realized it was the accident scene. She wanted to pay her respects, but she knew she couldn't subject Ryoichiro to that pain again.

Risa grabbed Ryoichiro's elbow gently, guiding him forward as they walked. "We're almost there," she said, her voice reassuring. "Ryo-chan, I know this might feel like a sudden shift, but there's a good reason he's our best option."

Ryoichiro raised an eyebrow, his curiosity evident. "Really? You've never mentioned him before. How do you know he's the right person?"

Risa took a moment to gather her thoughts, her expression turning serious. "Actually, I have heard of him before. I was introduced to him a while back during my research into supernatural phenomena. My mentor, Meme-san, mentioned him in passing. She's always been very guarded about sharing her sources, but she did tell me about this specialist who deals with rare and dangerous curses. She said he's one of the few with practical experience in handling them."