The black bird opened its beak and croaked. Even though it was only the size of a canary, its cry sounded just like a crow’s.
A light went off in Wataru’s head. I know who that is! “Kenji! You’re Kenji Ishioka!”
He and his goons had surrounded Mitsuru in the haunted building—Mitsuru had summoned that creature, Balbylone—and Kenji had been left without a soul. Just like Kaori Daimatsu.
“So you were in here too.”
Wataru hurriedly opened the door to the bird cage. The black bird shot out like a bullet, flapping crazily around the room, smacking into the walls and ceiling with such force that more than a few black feathers fluttered to the ground.
“Hey, you’ll hurt yourself. Come over here,” Wataru said, offering his other shoulder. The black bird landed on his head, yanked at his hair, and made a horrible raucous cawing before finally hopping to his shoulder. “You’re a troublesome one, aren’t you.”
The bird pecked at Wataru’s ear in reply.
“Ouch! Knock it off.” Wataru laughed. It’s Kenji, all right. “Behave yourself, or I’m not taking you anywhere.”
The little black bird blinked dejectedly. Wataru cautiously patted it with his palm. He could feel it trembling.
Oh. “You were scared.”
Once again, a scene from the real world unfolded in Wataru’s mind. Mitsuru stood, teeth clenched, his cheeks flushed, gazing at the dark creature he had summoned with his magic. Kenji was cowering with fear, his face as pale as ash.
“It’s okay. I’ll take you home too.”
Here, in this crystal city sprawling at the base of the Tower of Destiny, Wataru had found two souls that belonged in the real world. Now they were riding on his shoulders.
He began to walk again, passing through the buildings from Tearsheaven, until he found himself walking down a street in the residential section of Lyris. He remembered when Branch Chief Pam brought him here and how shocked he had been to see the open discrimination at work in the town.
Eventually he came to a small park. There was a bench and some potted flowers. This must be a part of Lyris too. Everything was made of crystal, down to the delicate blooms in the planters.
Wataru happened to glance down at his feet, and stopped.
There was a pattern there on the ground, faintly glimmering. It looked as though something hard and sharp had been carved into the smooth surface of the crystal. The more he looked at it, the clearer its outline became.
Can I go back to the real world from here? Come to think of it, he had just gotten the fourth gemstone.
But he was no longer standing next to Meena with her piece of the Mirror of Truth. If he stepped on the sigil without the mirror, would it open the Corridor of Light all the same?
The white bird twittered next to his right ear. It was talking to him.
“Wait—of course. I get it.” Wataru nodded. “I can take you two home first, can’t I?”
At the end of this strange city, Mitsuru was waiting. Wataru would win—he had to win—but what if he failed? He forced himself to think about it.
Okay, then who should I go meet? Wataru didn’t have a lot of time. Even as he was walking here, the demonkin were spreading through Vision below. He needed someone he could give the birds to without having to explain all the details, someone he could trust…
Wataru’s face brightened. Of course. How could I have forgotten?
Katchan. My friend. My real friend in the real world. I’ll go see him!
Back in the real world, it was evening.
Katchan was upstairs in his room, sitting at his desk. He was swinging his legs back and forth. A textbook and his class notes were open in front of him, but he didn’t seem to be studying. He was staring off into space, his elbow on the table and his cheek resting in his hand.
Outside the window, the last glimmer of pinkish light twinkled in the dusky sky. The veranda was empty—his mom must have already taken in the laundry. The warm night air floated steamily through the screen.
He stepped out of the Corridor of Light directly behind Katchan. For a moment, he merely stood there, staring at his old friend’s back, the nape of his neck turned dark by the sun. He had probably been to the pool every day over summer vacation.
“Katchan,” Wataru said, putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Katchan flew out of his chair so fast he knocked Wataru backward. Katchan’s eyes were as large as chestnuts. His mouth opened wide.
“Sorry to scare you.”
At the sound of Wataru’s voice, all color drained from Katchan’s face. Even his tan seemed to fade in an instant. “Wa-Wa-Wa…”
Wataru smiled.
“Wa-Wataru, is that really you?!”
He nodded. “Yup, it’s me.”
Katchan hugged him. Before he knew it, Wataru was crying.
“Where have you been? What happened to you? Where did you go?” Katchan fired question after question at his friend, shaking him by the arms.
“I’m sorry, Katchan. I can’t talk about everything right now. I don’t have time.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
Wataru grabbed his friend by the arms. “Look, I need you to do something for me. These birds…” The two birds were flapping their wings, clinging desperately to Wataru’s shoulders. He could feel tiny claws pricking his skin. “Can you release them for me—just let them out the window or something? That’s all you have to do. You’re the only one I can ask to do this, Katchan. Please?”
Katchan’s eyes were swimming. He looked like he might pass out.
Wataru reached out to steady him. “Stay with me, now.”
Katchan’s head wobbled on his neck. When he spoke, his voice was barely a squeak. “Why’re you dressed so funny?”
Wataru laughed.
“You look like a character out of Eldritch Stone Saga or something.”
“I guess I do. Look, I’ll explain later—once I’m home for good. I’ll tell you everything. I’m just in kind of a hurry right now.”
Wataru gently picked up the white bird and held it out to his friend. Katchan loved animals. As disoriented as he was, he picked up the little bird with natural ease. “Where’d you catch this?”
“Actually, I freed it.”
Katchan gave the bird a pat on the head with a tan hand. “I think I’m dreaming,” he muttered.
“Probably not far from the truth. Open the window, quick.”
Katchan shuffled across the room, carrying the white bird on the palm of his right hand, using his left to open the door to the balcony.
He stuck his hand out, and the white bird flapped its wings a few times, then suddenly took off. It swept past the railing and disappeared into the night sky.
“Now this one,” Wataru said, holding out the black bird. The bird panicked, missing Katchan’s hand and instead flying straight up to smack into his forehead.
“What’s with you?” Katchan said, waving his hand around and snatching the bird out of the air.
“Whoa! Watch out! Don’t crush it!” Then Wataru laughed. “Well, maybe you can crush it just a little. This one’s given us a lot of trouble.”
“This bird? Us?” Katchan’s eyes were rolling in his head again.
“Yeah. But, we still have to let it go.” The black bird didn’t fly so well. First it slammed into the railing, then it came to rest on the laundry pole where it strutted and fretted for a while. Katchan leaned out and swiped at the bird with his hand, knocking it into the air. At last, the little black bird took wing and sped off into the night.
“That all you wanted?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Wataru felt a great weight lift off his chest. He took a deep breath, smelling the familiar smells of Katchan’s room.
“Wataru…” Katchan began, sniffling.
“Thanks. I-I gotta go back.”
Somewhere, far down the Corridor of Light, a bell was ringing.
“Go back? Back where? What’s happened to you?”
I’m sorry, I can’t say anymore. Wataru felt his resolve strengthen anew. I have to get back to explain everything to Katchan, to tell him the story of all my adventures in Vision.
“I’ll be back soon, promise. Wait for me.”
Wataru stepped back toward the corridor. Katchan reached out to grab him, but then the strength left his arm and his hand dropped. “Wataru!”
Wataru could hear Katchan calling for him all the way back down the corridor.
Back at the sigil, back in the crystal city. Wataru was alone again.
Time to go meet Mitsuru.