They only stayed on the beaten path for about half an hour, however, after which they forced their way onto the mountain and pushed through tall wild grass. Two butterflies searching for nectar flew past Yae, flying in perfect harmony like a pair of lovers.
“Miya Province is in the valley, but it’s a bit difficult to find. The path around the foot of the mountain from here is interrupted by cliffs, so it would be difficult for you all to manage,” a man said, politely explaining their change of route.
Yae looked up at the densely packed giant trees around them. Everything was bigger in this world. Livestock such as horses, pigs, and rabbits were all a size larger. Animals and plants tended to get bigger the closer you got to mountain summits and forbidden grounds. The mysteriums that drift in from my former world are so big they tower over you, Yae recalled.
Thinking about that was Yae’s way of escaping from reality. There was no other way she could handle the persistent gaze of the man leading her horse. It looked like he was starting to get suspicious. What should I do? Maybe I should speak up and try to convince him that while I may be Natureless, I have knowledge that can prevent deformation?
Yae felt empty for a moment at the thought of pandering to the man, but she quickly shook off that pointless sentimentality. She could bear just about any pain if she thought back to the day she devoured that rotten fruit to survive. Underneath the front she put on for others and her own sense of reason was an intense desire to live. Back then, she had hungered for life like she was starving. All she had to do was close her eyes to remember the bitter taste of that fruit.
Yae knew what it was like to live through an extreme situation. That was the most helpless and painful moment I’ve ever experienced. I’m perfectly happy now compared to then. There’s nothing I can’t endure, she assured herself. She had decided to explain her position before the man asked any questions and was just about to speak when she was interrupted.
“Wait!” The man in front of the procession raised his hand and called out in a deep voice to stop everyone behind him. “There’s something ahead of us.” The man grabbed the spear from his back. Oshiro, who was sitting on the horse he had been leading, looked back at the women with concern.
“Is it a boar? Or a bear?” a man in the middle of the procession asked quietly.
“No, it’s not…” The leader stared ahead fixedly. “It’s a shade,” he declared, clicking his tongue.
Yae and the women gasped. A shade was a monster with a soul afflicted by deformation. Once the soul completely transformed, there was no going back.
“To think one would appear on this day of celebration… I guess the ash we sprinkled on the road didn’t work. Here it comes.”
The Miya Province men reached for their weapons and readied themselves in perfect unison. Some even removed their veils and transformed into lions or wolves. Elebeasts with a Wild Nature often possessed the forms of beasts of prey.
It was clear from the warrior-like eyes of the men that the shade was approaching the procession with the intent to attack. Feeling nervous, Yae reached for a small bag that was tucked inside her sash. Almost all monsters, including shades, spirits, and fallen gods, hated the ashes of peach trees. She always carried a small bag containing some on the off chance it was needed.
…Wait, I don’t have it?! Yae was beside herself with shock. It’s all because of these clothes!
She had planned to change into her wedding garments after arriving in Miya Province. She was currently wearing formal clothes that were a little easier to move in, but they were not what she usually wore and were of a higher quality silk than her everyday outfit. The colorful veil was red, green, and yellow, and just like the men, her robe and pants were white with geometric patterns on the cuffs and hem. She must have forgotten the bag when she changed her clothes.
Of course I wouldn’t have it the one time I actually need it! She was furious with herself for her oversight.
Then a strange sound reached Yae’s ears. The others heard it, too. Something was rushing toward them, crashing into the trees and kicking off the ground violently. The rays of the midday sun peeking through the branches illuminated the creature as it appeared before the group.
It was a monster with six heads and many legs like a spider. It was about twice as tall as the men. Its six heads—a cow, horse, frog, boar, monkey, and bird—were positioned in a circle like a string of prayer beads. The round, puffy eyes of each head reminded her of a Japanese dogu figurine. The eyelids were squinted like those of a Buddha, and the corners of their mouths were curled up or down in large smiles and frowns.
Most shades were flamboyantly colorful. Some had a design like marble and others like tie-dye. Some even had color patterns so complex that to look upon one was an experience akin to looking through a kaleidoscope. The more colorful the monster the more dangerous, and the more likely it was to try to eat people or livestock, as if trying to take the place of what it devoured.
The men who had transformed into beasts attacked the shade first, trying to bite off its spiderlike legs. A chunk of flesh flew toward Yae and fell to the ground with a splorch.
“Those in the rear, take the women and go forward!” the leading man yelled. He and three of the men who had turned into beasts intended to stay behind to kill the shade. They fought in perfect sync.
The others moved quickly and jumped onto the horses behind the trembling women. The man who had been leading Yae’s horse climbed up behind her as well. He gave a piercing whistle, and they raced ahead, guiding the horses that were only carrying women.
They didn’t get far before a woman screamed. She had fallen from her horse. Women from Kaki Province could ride horses, but they couldn’t match the horsemanship of the warriors from Miya Province. They had been riding at full speed and jumping over rocks and fallen trees without slowing; there was no way the women were going to be able to handle that kind of violent movement. Another woman tugged recklessly on the reins to try to go back and help the one who fell, but she, too, lost her balance.
In another stroke of bad luck, a new shade appeared from the shadows of the forest. It was bipedal and shaped like a stick insect. Once again taller than the men, this one had two heads—one a white crow, the other a black dog. It was slow, but its flexible whiplike arms spelled trouble. Its attack hit Yae’s horse.
“Look out…!” Yae shouted.
The horse was struck hard in the side, and it fell, neighing in distress. Yae and the man crashed to the ground like rag dolls. The man quickly got up and extended a hand toward her. She was holding her back in great pain; she had landed on it hard. Yae looked up and reached for his hand, and she was startled when their eyes met. The man was looking at her with surprise as well.