Whispers of the Shrine

chapter 1

In a quiet village nestled at the base of a towering mountain. The village was a simple place, where the air was filled with the scent of pine and wildflowers, and the wind carried the soft murmur of a distant river. The mountain, however, cast a long shadow over the village, looming tall and mysterious. Its peak was often hidden by swirling clouds, and the villagers rarely ventured up its rugged slopes, believing that ancient spirits guarded its secrets. Among the whispers and superstitions, there was one tale that persisted above all: the story of a shrine near the mountain’s summit, where a powerful spirit named Taroku once dwelled.

In the village there lived a young girl named Yuna.

Yuna had always been a frail girl. Ever since she could remember, her body had been a cage of weakness. She would watch from the window as the other children ran and played in the meadows, while she lay in bed, her breath shallow, her limbs heavy with fatigue. Her illness was a mystery that no healer could unravel. Some said it was a curse, others believed it was simply bad luck. Her parents tried everything—herbal remedies, prayers, offerings to the village gods—but nothing could bring Yuna the strength she longed for. Despite her fragile body, Yuna’s spirit remained unbroken. She filled her days with quiet pursuits: reading old tales, drawing pictures of places she dreamed of visiting, and listening to the stories the villagers told of the world beyond her small, secluded life.

But as Yuna grew older, her illness worsened. The simple acts of sitting up or walking across the room left her exhausted. The once-bright spark in her eyes began to dim, and the villagers spoke in hushed tones about how little time she might have left. One day, an elder of the village visited her home, bringing with him a glimmer of hope. He was a man of few words, but his knowledge of the old ways ran deep. Sitting beside Yuna’s bed, he told her of the mountain shrine and the spirit called Taroku.

“Long ago,” the elder said in a voice as weathered as the mountain itself, “Taroku was a guardian of the shrine, and he possessed great healing powers. People would climb the mountain to seek his help, but over time, they stopped coming. The shrine fell into ruin, and Taroku’s presence faded into legend. Some say he still resides there, but he has not answered a call in many years. However, if there is any spirit who can help you, Yuna, it is him.”

Yuna listened intently, her weak heart stirring with a faint flicker of hope. She had heard stories of the shrine before but had never truly believed them. Now, with nothing left to lose, the idea of seeking out Taroku felt like her last chance.

After hearing the elder Yuna decided, despite her frail condition, that she would make the journey up the mountain. The thought of reaching the shrine and calling upon Taroku for help was her only remaining hope, a thread she clung to with all her might. Her parents, fearing for her life, pleaded with her to reconsider, to stay in the safety of their home where at least she could be cared for. But Yuna’s resolve was unshakable. She couldn’t stand the thought of simply wasting away without trying, without seeking the one possibility that could save her. She would rather die fighting for her life than wait for her illness to take her.