'That Mr. Abernathy, does he not know what kind of headache having a Parent would be?' But in truth, Hunter was simply thick headed. A mere mortal like him did not want to be entangled with those Primordial Entities. 'Besides, there was something I did not tell him. That warning of never open doors in my dream is related to opening possibilities with those builders of the Towers and me not claiming that opportunity!'
HE HAD BEEN falling through the white void for quite some time. He no longer had an inkling where it was taking him, but he had already desired to damn it. His jaws clenched as dizziness built up.
Until out of nowhere, he fell into cold water, as it chilled him to the marrow.
'Heck, I am not even afraid of this. Try again!'
He swam with whatever strength he had left. When he finally reached the shore, he crawled onto the black sand, coughing violently with each spasm like a suppressed curse. When he wiped his arm across his face in hopes of clearing his vision, he finally saw vividly what lay ahead of him. His soul nearly left his body from sheer confusion, but, of course, that's Hunter merely overreacting.
He saw dark grey trunks with thick, pointed crowns and lobed leaves. They brushed against clusters of white, five-petaled flowers that carried small black haws. Crows circled above the area as the sun remained obscured by an ongoing eclipse. When he looked closer at the unfamiliar trees, he noticed a thick fog emanating from within.
As he was about to fix his stance, two pairs of bare and gaunt feet stopped in front of him. When he lifted his head to take a glance, two human figures came into view, clad in barkcloths and baggy trousers. Bark woven shell bags hung from their shoulders, and bandanas were tied around their heads. One of them carried a wooden staff, likely for support, yet both regarded him with odd expressions etched on their faces.
"What a strange look you have there," said the man with the staff as he adjusted the strap of his shell bag. "Are you lost, lad?"
Hunter stood up, about to speak, when a scroll appeared in the air like a black phantom, pale and semi transparent, emitting a faint blue aura. It rolled open and displayed text on a panel.
「The Handscroll」
It vanished and was replaced by another message.
「Welcome, [Slumberer]! Accumulating your [Sequence of Event]: [Fear] trial. Please standby...」
'Hmm, so this is the design of the scroll, and it is called a Handscroll. Also, it is Sequence of Event, not just Sequence, probably shortened for convenience. It really is about fear as the manifestation of this trial.'
When the Handscroll faded, he turned back to the two shell collectors, judging by their posture and state, at least by his assumption.
"Yes, misters," he said with a smile. "Could you perhaps show me the way, if there is a village nearby?"
'Shell collectors, black sand, and a strange forest lurking under the omen of crows.' A shiver ran through him. 'They are more hideous than I am.'
"Can you also tell me about this place?" he asked, adding the question to gather more information.
"Well, yes, of course, stranger." The one beside the man holding the staff nodded. One of his eyes was covered by an eyepatch. "But first, may we know your name so we may address you properly?"
"I am Hunter."
"Well, Mr. Hunted—"
"Hunter," he corrected.
"Yes, yes, Mr. Hunter," the eyepatched man said, accepting the correction. "This is the Isle of Umbra, an island where day remains in eclipse and night shines as brightly as day." Darkness seemed to fall over their faces. "It is not safe to wander along this shore. We should hurry before the crows gather as omens."
They began walking east, with Hunter moving alongside them as gentle sea waves washed over their feet. The water seemed to be rising, as if a tide was about to come. Hopefully not.
Hunter thought of what to ask and managed to form only one question. "What does it mean when there are so many crows in the forest?"
"The Soulrend will awaken."
'Soulrend. What does it even do?' Hunter thought, though he showed none of his curiosity.
"Long ago, there was a man named Agnar," the shell collector continued. "He was a commoner accused of studying dark entities and attempting to create one within himself."
"A man studying the creation of dark entities?"
"You are wiser than a tortoise, Mr. Hunter," the man with the staff said in sudden praise. "Not only women were accused of such heresy. A man practicing it was considered far more dangerous. Worse, the people of that time witnessed his deeds. He massacred his own family in hopes of completing an evil ritual. He sought to summon dark entities, but only one answered his call. It was known by many names, the dark entity of innocence, of corruption, and of violence."
"It was said that a group of fiends tried to seal the dark entity and attempted to burn Agnar alive, but they failed. The dark entity consumed Agnar instead, and thus Soulrend was born. Whenever the eclipse remained, it lurked within the forest in search of prey, as it could not be seen at night. No one truly knew how to kill Soulrend. They could only ease his hunger. That was why a ritual was performed and they bound an agreement with the evil. In this ritual, even a name is important."
"What kind of ritual?"
"A sacrifice every week."
"What kind of sacrifice, and why weekly?"
The two shell collectors fell silent.
Then the one with the eyepatch answered, "You will know soon."
'A sacrifice . . . Perhaps a lamb to the slaughter?' He pondered of something far more sinister but he shook that thought away. 'Maybe they found a better solution.'
When Hunter checked his Handscroll, the message was still the same.
「Welcome, [Slumberer]! Accumulating your [Sequence of Event]: [Fear] trial. Please standby...」
'Why is it still accumulating? Should it be triggered by something, like I am the one who has to find a way to begin the trial? I remember what Mr. Abernathy said about what I fear the most. How am I supposed to know that when I do not remember my past? There must be another way to determine it.'
AFTER CIRCLING THE SHORE, they passed a deck near the water, connected to a wooden walkway that threaded toward the village they were heading to. Once inside the village, every corner outside the rows of houses felt isolated. Not a single figure could be seen, only scattered leaves and thickening fog, while even the harsh wind carried the threat of a bad omen.
The one with the eye patch suggested that Hunter stay there for the night, having checked whether there was a place for a lost stranger like him. Since the offer was a kind gesture from a villager, Hunter accepted it without hesitation. He sensed no vile intent toward him.
It was already lunch when they arrived at the house, and the family was just preparing the meal. There were three small children and their mother, who was pregnant. She prepared roasted salmon, porridge for lunch, and fish soup.
When they were seated at the table and the meal was finished, Hunter managed to ask a question.
"Mister, I am curious about what Soulrend looks like."
"Hmm," the man across the table scratched his chin. "He is the crows."
"What he means is," it was his wife who continued to explain more, "he can take the form of a dark, slender figure and can disintegrate himself into countless flocks of crows."
"If that is the case, what pact did the village make to stop him from devouring human souls every day?"
At some point, Hunter began to feel hazy, and the movement of the man's mouth seemed to slow.
'What is happening? I am suddenly sleepy.'
"It is simple. By sacrificing a human."
'I want to sleep, but why do I feel a bad premonition?'
"Did I not tell you that you would know soon?"
'Why are they looking at me as if I am something feeble? Why are they smiling like that . . .'
"You see, today is Sunday, and every Sunday, one human soul is sacrificed."
Though his vision blurred, the Handscroll appeared and displayed its message.
「The [Sequence of Event]: [Fear] trial has been successfully accumulated.」
「This is a Trial by [Fear]. 」
「You are scared of [Clowns].」
Hunter cursed in his mind.
He could hear the kids giggling.
Before he succumbed in darkness, a vague and echoing voice reminded him of something.
"Stranger, you are that sacrifice."