An Ember Among Shadows

Chapter Ten

"Evils will persist throughout existence. Evil is everywhere, and unpredictable. But so do kindness and compassion, for these virtues among many may counter evil."

- Sacred Scripture, verses ten to twelve of Spirits.

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The moment the sun became visible enough to walk under, the trio left the grotto. Nezha had woken just as dawn was breaking. The sorceress was rather lively today. "All the work of a good rest," she had said as she stretched her arms and breathed foul breath into Ruqa's face. They had argued over which way to go yet again, only this time Yu was around to make things worse. At last, Ruqa grudgingly relented and allowed Nezha to lead the way. Not because he trusted her, but because Nezha claimed she knew a shortcut. Although listening to Nezha was the last thing he wanted to do, ignoring the nearest route would be foolish and impractical, and he was neither. Now she was leading the way, with Ruqa and Yu walking a safe distance behind her.

As the day went by, the forest gradually thinned, and more sunlight reached the tawny forest floor. Bells and chitters of badgers, birds and other woodland creatures rang in the background. Flying insects buzzed around them every now and then. There were squirrels and tree shrews alike, and a deer who hid itself after noticing them. Although the afternoon sun was bright, the air was chill. Once out of the forest, they arrived at an expanse of grey field dotted with yellow sternbergia. Within the horizon, steel mountains soar against the azure blue sky. Trees sway in amber and russet, colouring the world in a rustic overtone. The air was crisp, the breeze cool against skin.

Blissful was the afternoon that day, although Ruqa did not share the same euphoria as he climbed cresting lands and crossed creeks with his two travelling companions he so despised. Truly, monastic teachings had grounded him to count his blessings, but right now he was feeling anything but blessed.

First, he had lost his travel supplies to the bandits along with a good portion of his exorcising materials. Then the remaining of those were now buried among the remains of Yu's labyrinth, including his cherished prayer strand. Second, there was Yu, the spirit he was bound to. Like everyone else, Ruqa wanted to ascend to heaven once he died, but with a spirit bound to him he could not even begin to imagine how he may pass even death peacefully. That consequence alone was too much for him to think about that his steps dragged and his feet reluctant to move, afraid of what will await him in the future.

Yu slithered not too far beside him, soundless in his move. It was difficult for Ruqa to imagine that this boy was in fact, a ten-stretch snake spirit that could transform at will. He was still not used to seeing a spirit walk ever so freely and had the unrelenting urge to exorcise, but would then be dejectedly reminded of his binding.

But despite everything, Ruqa found himself more motivated to reach the northern mountains. He would have to deal with Yu and Nezha later. Besides, he had already conspired with a sorceress and associated with a spirit. For all he cared, he was already damned. The last noble thing he could do was to keep moving on and find the source of the plague. He hoped the monastery would at least acknowledge this.

"There's a big river up ahead," said Yu, sniffing the air. "And humans, too. Many, many humans." He stood on the peak of a low hillock, a curious little boy in the open.

"Could it be a village? Must be a used trail," suggested Ruqa. He was hunched over with one hand cupping his waist, panting as he caught up to the spirit. Since the hailstorm, he had seen two more sunsets before they arrived to wherever they were at now. His injuries had healed and he felt far more capable, but they've been walking since morning without break. His energy had waned.