Kamen Rider Kenzan: A Myth

A Little Granddaughter

***

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, a kind knight lived with his father. The knight dreamt of going to the moon, so he packed his bag and prepared to leave.

'Every year, when the moon shines at it's brightest, a path to the moon will open,' said his father as he handed him a map. 'This will guide you to the witch who will take you to that path.'

With a smile on his face, he headed west, to where the moon would rise everyday. Following the map, the knight went into dark forest, where a monkey was crying.

'Hu...hu....my sapling is dying! Please help me!' he cried, as the sapling inside his pot was drooping low.

Without hesitation, the knight drew his sword and starts to cut some trees. He worked tirelessly for days until there's enough clearing for the sun to go through.

'Thank you! You're such a kind knight! Now, my sapling will grow big and strong! Please let me repay you!'

The knight refused and said his farewell. He then continued his journey. After following the map for days, the knight arrived at a barren land, where a frog was sobbing.

'Hu...hu...I keep messing up this rain dance. At this rate, there won't be any rain at all!'

After cheering the frog up, the knight started practicing with him. The rain dance was really difficult, but with the knight's support, they managed to learn it. The day he said his farewell, rain was pouring down.

'Thank you! I won't ever forget your kindness! Please tell me if you need some help!'

The knight went on his way.  With the map in front of him, he walked and walked, until he found a lonely house on top the mountain. It's the witch's house!

Knock Knock!

'Well hello, little knight,'  a kind witch greeted him with a smile. 'What brings you here today?' 

'I want to go to the moon!' The knight exclaimed.

'Oh no...,' The witch's face turned into a frown. 'I'm sorry young man, but the path just closed yesterday. 'But don't worry! It will open again next year!'

A year was too long. He had come a long way, but couldn't get anything in the end. If he had known, he would have hurried. He wouldn't have stopped to chop some trees or learn to dance.

'LITTLE KNIGHT!!'  

The little knight looked back and found the Monkey and the Frog coming over. They had been following him to help. Seeing them, the witch had an idea. With the help of The Monkey and The Snake, the witch opened a path to the moon, but the moon was still too high to reach.

'Hu...hu...'  The knight started to cry.

Then, the map glowed. It kept glowing, before turning into a tall ladder that reached up through the clouds. With a smile, the knight started to climb and climb until he reached the moon.

 ***

'...the end.' I closes the book as the story ends.

'That sounds lame...' Ren comments.

With everything that happened yesterday, I have decided to help the Sword of Logos. I thought that Grandpa's grave would be a great start, so I decided to drop a visit. Honestly, I expected some complaints from Ren, but he'd been surprisingly compliant. 

Grandpa's grave is only a thirty minute train ride. It's located at the back of a big temple. Coming there feels really nostalgic to me. After all, Grandpa and I used to visit this grave often to pray for Grandma. Our family grave is a simple stone monument with some space for offerings. On the back, two lovely sotoba stand, leaning on each other.