Kode

Monkey

   A voice: young, nonchalant, and male, filtered between fern fans, "Hello? Anyone there?"

I backed away, leading each step in retreat by sandal toe and letting the rest follow behind. No sound. I could not afford to make any. I feared either my pounding heartbeat or rushing breaths would give me away regardless. Whatever skulked about would trace them to me.

"C'mon, I can't be worse than whatever made you shriek like that. Probably, anyways."

My instincts screamed to flee. Was this Zhin? Here to avenge his loved one's soul? Who was I kidding, with time Lelou would simply manifest once more. I had not put her to rest, after all. In the best case Lelou would simply haunt me. The lackadaisical tone pressed fearful daggers into me. Would this be my fate? Turned into a pincushion, devoured by some evil spirit? My body, a tight-wound spring, prepared to leap into the air at the faintest trigger. No. I would be no victim—I would destroy the evil spirits with my bare hands or die trying, as father would wish. At least I would die with honor intact.

A boy emerged from the ferns, face coming first, and likely the reason I did not charge upon first spotting him. A calm face, two chestnut pupils dull and flicking about me half-heartedly. Not in a manner I would expect from a bloodthirsty spirit, but rather of someone being forced to endure a lecture they held no investment in. A sword, positioned to his side with a black wooden hold and no guard. Curved, gleaming, a young moon on a dark night. His eyes locked to mine and a lopsided grin creased his face.

"You've got a really loud and feminine scream." He said,

The boy, clad in a pale tunic depicting an orangutan in crude orange brush strokes, drew closer. I stepped away, "Who are you?" I said, trying my best to deprive the question from anxiety.

He set his swords non-bladed edge across his shoulder so its tip emerged on the opposite one. A smile. "Call me Monkey, I'm on the Xui journey," he nodded towards me, "you are too, right?"

"Yes," I brushed what ash lingered on my clothing away, drawing deep breaths. "My name is...it is Ash."

Monkey cocked a brow, "Is it because you smash offering urns?" His eyes were on the patchy grey desert now occupying my vicinity. "I mean, I guess that makes sense."

"N-No," I did not want to be referred to as Ash, "I am Kode. That is my name. Forgive me."

"For what?"

My eyes fell. I could only hope the reason I acted this cowardly was due to the horrors mere minutes ago. Simply having a conversation such as this so soon after felt surreal. I had failed to fully cope with my experience, it must be.

"So listen 'Kode,' don't apologize to people unless you've made a real blunder. Otherwise they'll step all over you, right?" Monkey reached to a wooden sheath by his side, guiding his blade into it with a steady hand. "Anyways, what was that screaming about? Damn near jumped outta' my skin."

"An evil spirit, I smashed the urn to drive it away."

Monkey made down the steps, stopping only for a brief bow as he moved beneath an archway shadow. He motioned to follow, setting his eyes to the steps flowing downwards towards a brook. The chimes sung in a gentle breeze. Resonant—tranquil like still waters. The mist began to lift, from both the forest and my mind. Memories returned. Disciplines.

Monkey said, "Offering ash won't solve the problem long-term. Besides, some really dark stuff happened in these woods after the rebellion. Plenty more restless souls."

"I know," The fires on the tree branches were no more. Had I imagined them? The pain in my back began to gnaw at me, stinging with hornet pins. The blood along my back had stopped dripping, it was no longer a concern. "I know permanent ways as well."