Chapter 16C: Dabbler

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Chills run down my spine as Sasuke and I step out from hiding and make our way towards the clearing.

Coming closer to the site, I hear drums thumping in slow measured beats, rhythmically matching the frenetic chanting of the hooded people gathered around the circle of white stones. They're still burning long bundles of herbs. Smoke surrounds us, rising up to the night sky.

It's hard to see clearly... or even breathe. The thickness of smoke in the air makes my lungs feel heavy. The sharp woody scent is so overpowering that I feel a dull ache in my head.

Inside the circle, the hooded person yanks Sayumi's head, slashing a lock of her hair with a wakizashi and approaches the blazing pyre in the center of the circle. Muttering some kind of phrase, the person throws the lock of hair into the fire. From the hoarseness and depth of the voice that's speaking, I can surmise that this person is most likely a man. The man stops and takes out a thick book from his robes and thumbs through the book's pages.

What is this guy's deal?

I try to move forward and get even closer to the clearing but Sasuke stretches his right arm outward, blocking me from moving. He turns to me with knitted brows. A perturbed expression graces his face.

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