( journey begins ":6:" Watcher Wake's )
"The Devourers of Souls?"...
Haru stared blankly, struggling to comprehend.
"Yes," Jinso whispered, his voice trembling but resolute. "They may also be called Specters or ghosts."
"Someone has merely sought to frighten you, Jinso," Sai scoffed, shaking his head. "Such things do not exist."
"No! This is the truth. Beings such as these do walk the earth," Jinso insisted fiercely, and began his tale.
"Long ago, there lived a man whose life was defined by insatiable avarice. He knew no end to his desires for gold, for women, for dominion. His heart, always hungry, drove him to pray to some dark, nameless power. To satisfy that power, he murdered countless innocent souls."
Jinso paused, swallowing hard. "For these grievous crimes, a terrible curse was laid upon him. His own soul was damned, denied the peace of Heaven and the cleansing fire of Hell, forced to linger upon the earth."
"Wait," Sai interrupted, confused. "Where in this tale is the Devourer of Souls you spoke of?"
"He eventually succumbed to death," Jinso continued, ignoring the interruption. "But because his spirit was eternally cursed, it could not leave his body. It remained trapped within, even as his flesh began to putrefy and decay. To find a temporary respite from that eternal torment, he began to consume the souls of the weak and innocent."
Sai listened now, mesmerized. "Oh..."
"It is that damned being who has taken Yin now," Jinso concluded, his eyes wide. "And no one has ever been able to destroy him."
Jinso finished unburdening his terrifying knowledge, having recounted the whole dark history of the Soul-Devouring Entities as passed down by his grandfather. Even as he spoke, his gaze betrayed his inner terror.
Sai, however, dismissed the entire account as simple peasant folly, confirming his skepticism, and lay down on his mat to seek sleep.
Haru, suspended between belief and disbelief, remained seated, staring out the window. From his vantage point, he could just discern the dark shape of a solitary, distant tree. He fixed his eyes upon the spot, seeking the aged storyteller from whom he learned the tales of old but the man was nowhere to be seen this night.
After watching the empty shadow for a long while, Haru finally lay down. Yet, his mind was granted no peace, remaining tormented by the dreadful, inescapable stories Jinso had shared.
(Master's Quarters)
Daisho proceeded immediately to the secluded quarters of Master Henzo.
Upon reaching the sliding door, Daisho paused, his brow furrowed in contemplation for a brief moment before resolving himself.
He tapped lightly on the door. "Master," he called, his voice subdued. "Master Henzo..."
"Who is it?" the Master's voice inquired from within.
"It is I, Daisho," he replied respectfully.
"Enter."
Master Henzo sat at his low desk, immersed in writing. Daisho slid the door open and stepped inside, stopping before the Master's presence, lowering his head in respectful deference.
"What urgent matter brings you before me at this late hour, Daisho?" Henzo asked without lifting his gaze from his scrolls.
"I have come to convey a matter of great importance to you, Master," Daisho responded, his head still bowed.
"What manner of importance is this?" the Master pressed.
"During the day's training, one boy was lost for a time. He was recovered shortly after, but lay utterly unconscious. Upon further examination, a mark was found: a distinct blue color manifested beneath the skin on the side of his neck."
At the mention of the chilling blue hue, the quill in Master Henzo's hand instantly froze mid-stroke. He ceased his writing, slowly raised his head, and fixed his gaze upon Daisho. A flicker of profound knowledge, or perhaps a hidden dread, crossed the Master's eyes.
"Where is the boy now?" Henzo demanded.
"He has been isolated in a separate chamber, Master," Daisho confirmed.
"Have you noted any further anomaly in his state?" Master Henzo inquired.
"None could be ascertained, Master," Daisho replied.
Henzo remained seated for a moment, then rose and walked to the window. Staring out into the silent night, he spoke with a severe tone: "Let no detail be deemed trivial. Even a small error on our part may serve as the harbinger of a great catastrophe." The Master turned slightly, fixing Daisho with a weighty gaze. "Show no leniency simply because he is a young boy, Daisho. I trust you understand the gravity of my meaning."
"What is your command now, Master? What action shall I execute by your decree?"
"No immediate action is required. Keep the boy under your strict surveillance for seven days. Should you perceive any difference or change in his condition, you are aware of the requisite action, are you not?"
"I am aware, Master Henzo."
Daisho bowed once more, resolving to proceed precisely as the Master commanded, and departed the chamber.
( Return)
As Daisho walked along the veranda, he felt the unsettling sensation of being watched, though he saw no one. He proceeded to the chamber where Yin was confined.
The Attendant stood guard outside the door. Daisho lightly tapped his shoulder to rouse him.
"Master Daisho!" the helper gasped, startled to attention.
"What is his condition now?" the Master asked.
"The fever has broken, Master. The chilling cold has receded, and his body holds a normal temperature. The sweating has also ceased," the Attendant reported.
"Has Yin awakened?"
"No, Master. Though his body has returned to its normal state, Yin has not opened his eyes."
Daisho looked intently at the closed door. "Do not permit him contact with any other disciple until I give the word," he commanded, then turned and strode away.
Inside the chamber, Yin was not lost inslumber. He was consciously alert, sitting on the floor, his face lifted toward the square of moonlight. He had heard every word exchanged between Daisho and the Attendant.
Slowly, Yin raised his chin and looked directly at the pale light. Upon his face, he offered a slow, cold smile to the moon.