Komo-Doubutsu

Chapter 4: A Twinkle in Darkness - Part 2

By: Midori Ushi Law

"Is there ever a right time?" Lipagron asked.

Ray thought about that question the mysterious teenage boy asked her. Then, as they made it to the entrance of their neighborhood, she stopped walking. "Right now is the right time," she said hesitantly. Ray watched Lipagron walk a few paces in front of her and stop without facing her. "Do you really believe you saw and acquired the abilities of the Light Beast?"

Chapter 4: A Twinkle in Darkness - Part 2

Silence followed her sentence. Lipagon's messy hair blew as a light breeze paid the two a short visit. Ray decided to clarify as she watched the palm of her hand produce a small, sharp quill. "Though Zumi only allows its people to accept the abilities of the Great Porcupine, no one has ever seen it. I've heard that there are some people, who claim to have seen Doubutsu before. It's just... rare. That and the fact that people must meet certain criteria before they can receive the powers of any Doubutsu. For some, the criteria are simple. For other Doubutsu, the criteria are a bit more difficult. People have studied as many Doubutsu as they could, trying to discover the tasks it takes for people to gain the abilities of certain Great Animals." More quills arose from the pores of her palm. "I remember it being hard fulfilling the Great Porcupine's criteria, but when I did, my family celebrated. They told me all I had to do next was just raise my hands and tell my Doubutsu that I accepted its abilities. That was the happiest moment of my life."

Lipagron did not respond. He stood still, as if he was a statue.

Ray walked up to him and put her hand on his shoulder from behind. "P-Please don't think I'm looking down on you. It's just that there's no way a person can properly fulfill the criteria of a Doubutsu if they've never known what those criteria were."

"The Light Beast has only one request for a person to receive its power," the boy said in a soft tone.

"And what's that?"

Lipagron looked back at her with a slight smile, "You believe it exists."

The wind blew harsher. The sky slowly became tinted with the coming clouds.

"Lipagron," Ray said with a look of concern in her eyes. "The Light Beast is just a creature in that children's story. Besides, I learned something a while back." The teenager turned back around and continued walking. Ray quickly followed. "I learned when a Doubutsu dies, its power transfers into another animal of the same species. If the Great Porcupine died, another random porcupine in the world would receive the title of Great Porcupine. If the Great Ox died, another ox would receive the power to be the new Great Ox. All Doubutsu have animals of the same specie roaming different parts of the world, however, there is no animal of the Light Beast's specie, is there?"

Lipagron continued walking in silence.

"Fine!" Ray yelled quickly. "If you can show me what power you have, I'll believe you! You didn't use your powers when I first met you, to avoid getting beat up. You didn't use them, when you almost got your head bashed in by that Ox kid!"

"Buey."

"Just prove me wrong!" she requested almost forcefully. "Display the powers bestowed on you by your Light Beast!"

Lipagron stopped walking a second time and turned, looking Ray deeply in the eyes. She blushed slightly as she heard him ask the question, "Do you believe anything I told you?"

The young woman slowly shook her head.

"Then I can't show you," Lipagron responded. "Nobody believes what they don't see in this world. It's understandable, yet sad."