“Why, yes, of course. They exist all over the world. Both Gift-users and arts practitioners. Though the roles they take and their ways of living differ from country to country.”
A single branch was jutting out in front of Eugene, blocking the path forward. He moved around it and continued ahead.
“I was born to a bloodline of so-called shamans. Do you know what the word shaman means?”
“…They are a kind of prophet, I believe.”
“Yes. That’s largely correct. The term shaman originally referred to witch doctors, spiritualists, and the like, but they have existed from ancient times, predicting the future, receiving divine messages from God, and performing rituals and leading their people… These are the positions they often commanded. This is an almost universal truth across the globe.”
“‘Leading their people…’”
“Indeed. They act as both the leader of the country and a medium serving their god. Their position means the people often seek their counsel. My family did that a long, long time ago, and I would guess the same is true of yours, no?”
A Gift-user with Dream Sight was known as a Dream Sight Medium. The word medium referred to a woman who served the gods. A woman who heard the gods’ will and was capable of imparting their divine power.
Using dreams to see through the past, the present, and the future, while occasionally appearing in the dreams of another to guide them—
Miyo agreed that the Usubas’ Dream Sight Medium did play a similar role to what Eugene had outlined. This was why the Usubas’ supernatural powers were said to be the strongest of all and were regarded so highly.
If Miyo had to guess, “shaman princess” was a term Eugene had used to refer to a woman born into a shaman family.
Miyo racked her brain as hard as she could. Watching her think, Eugene gave a startling revelation.
“I have a Gift as well: the power to enter the dreams of others.”
Miyo looked up in shock.
“Wait, do you mean…?!”
“That would make it the same as yours, yes?”
The Gift of Dream Sight was said to be extremely special and important, even among the other powers of the Usuba family. Miyo had assumed it was totally unique. Finding out there were others like her overseas was a far bigger shock for Miyo than the fact there were Gift-users across the globe.
As Miyo went speechless with shock, Eugene smiled like a child who had successfully pulled off a prank.
“Sorry, that was a bit of a joke. It isn’t the same. My power allows me to enter dreams, nothing more. I cannot tamper with people’s visions at will, and I can’t see into the future. The reason I was able to invite you into this dream at all was simply due to the mighty Dream Sight powers you possess. How can I put it? I connected two paths. I created a passageway between my dreams and your own.”
Eugene shrugged nonchalantly.
“My family, like yours, can meddle with the minds of others. That said, we haven’t produced someone as powerful as yourself in several decades, possibly in over a hundred years. At this point, even someone with only my capabilities is viewed with great promise. The idea of shamans leading the people has long been relegated to the pages of history. That is why…” Eugene stopped for a moment and turned to Miyo, who had been behind him. “A talent such as yourself is quite precious, even on a global scale. Were you born somewhere else, you may very well have been revered as an incarnation of a god.”
“No, that’s absurd… Someone like me could never be mistaken for a god.”
“How you feel about it doesn’t play into it at all. You have your powers, and there are many others who covet them. Simple as that.”
Eugene extended a hand toward Miyo. A pale, broad, soft, and beautiful hand.
Miyo looked back and forth between Eugene’s palm and face.
“What do you say? Will you come to us, as another cut from the same cloth? We seek the power of a shaman. A Gift-user with your strength will be warmly welcomed.”
“…No. I won’t go with you.”
Why did everyone seek Miyo’s power…? Actually, she understood why. Dream Sight was simply that useful.
“First of all, I don’t know what you are trying to accomplish with my Dream Sight powers, and even then, I already decided I wouldn’t live my life at the whims of my Gift. I also swore to avoid using it as much as possible.”
To Miyo, both propositions—being asked to join an organization as a Gift-user, or to use her Gift for some purpose—were completely misplaced.
Though Miyo shook her head resolutely, Eugene’s smile remained undeterred, and he didn’t withdraw his outstretched hand.
“Why not? We have a great number of similar individuals in our ranks. You won’t be viewed as special, for better or worse, and you won’t feel isolated from those around you, either. Nor will you deal with any men like yesterday, forcing their outrageous sense of inferiority onto you.”
Of course—it was none other than Eugene who had instigated the men in the park. He behaved like a mild-mannered, polite, and cautious man, but there was no denying he was the one who had put those strange thoughts into the Miyakouji men’s heads.
The experience had been awful, nothing but pure terror.
Was he really being truthful when he talked about not harboring any hostility? Recalling what had transpired, Miyo grew skeptical of Eugene’s foundational pretext.
“…Why did you get in contact with the Miyakoujis?”
“I just told you, did I not? We are searching for and gathering shamans. In the old capital, the Miyakoujis are one of the oldest Gift-wielding families. Linking up with them made it more convenient for my search. In fact, it was what made it possible to meet you.”
“Did you approach me because you knew who I was?”
“I did do some investigating. I learned there was a family of shamans called Usuba and a woman who had inherited their blood was visiting the old capital… There wasn’t any way to determine how powerful your Gift was without first meeting in person. When our paths actually crossed, I discovered you were the genuine article,” Eugene said enthusiastically, almost singing as he spoke. “I egged on the Miyakouji gentlemen because I wanted to test you a little. See how you utilized your powers, discover how you would react, that sort of thing. I wanted to learn what sort of person you were.”
“That was your reason…? I—”
I had to go through such a terrifying experience for that?
Miyo just barely swallowed her reproach before it escaped her lips. Nothing would come of saying it aloud. Eugene had likely done everything because he thought it was the right course of action.
“Thanks to that, I confirmed you are able to put people to sleep, and you are a compassionate person who doesn’t seek conflict. It appears you’ll get along with us swimmingly.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I ever agree to go with someone who put me through something like that? Unbelievable.”
For the first time, Eugene’s face darkened.
“So that was going too far after all. My boss was the one who ordered me to make use of the Miyakoujis in that way, but…evidently, her plan was a failure. If you’ve soured on me, then it was all for naught.”
Eugene slumped, then clapped his hands together.
“I understand. I would like you to meet with someone next. I shan’t take much more of your time.”
“I do not wish to meet anyone… I’m leaving.”
Eugene lightly grabbed Miyo by the hand as she turned around. Even Miyo could have shaken off his weak grip, but instead she stopped without pushing him away.
“Wait, please. I speak the complete truth when I say I have no intention of harming you. If you meet with this one person, then I promise to let you go free.”
Frankly, Miyo was sick of all this. She couldn’t empathize with Eugene’s way of thinking, and he hadn’t offered the slightest explanation as to what this group of his was actually trying to achieve. He’d simply asked her to join because they were gathering others like her.
If she had no interest in others similar to herself, then the entire topic was meaningless.
However, she was curious about the individual Eugene had mentioned.
If I meet with them, perhaps I could get useful intel for Kiyoka.
Miyo reluctantly nodded.
“Fine.”
“Splendid.”
Eugene broke into a broad smile. He snapped his fingers, and the trees in the forest around them changed to flowers.
A field of flowers stretched out all around them.
Whites, yellows, reds, light pinks, and oranges. The myriad flowers were in full bloom as far as Miyo could see. With each gust of wind, a rainbow of petals danced in the air.
“How pretty…”
“Isn’t it? This way.”
They advanced through the middle of the flower field, but it wasn’t too long before they arrived at what appeared to be their destination.
It was a white chalk gazebo built with the best seat in the house, a perfect view over the whole flower field. Miyo couldn’t get a good look at her face, but there was a woman inside, savoring sips of tea while staring out at the flowers.