Chương 88: Chapter XXIII Verse II — The Sudden Parting

Ugh, I forgot I promised to let her interview Asaka, Galan thought.

"Asaka!" Mizuki's voice cut through the air.

"Mizuki!" Asaka knelt, opening her arms. Galan snapped his toes, his mindcast creating an illusion of warmth as the little kappa stopped just ahead of the spectral embrace.

"Asaka, how was the Spirit River?!" Mizuki asked.

"Did you reach the Spirit Realm? Or were you sent to paradise like the humans?!"

"What?" Asaka asked, completely bewildered. Sawako caught up, breathless.

"My apologies, Ms. Asaka." Asaka giggled.

"It's fine. She's just excited."

"We miss you," Sawako said, her voice heavy.

"Although we did not expect to see you like this." Asaka turned to Galan.

"Is this a prank? Why are they treating me as if I've been dead for months?" Here we go… Galan sighed. Please don't panic.

"You want it straight?" Asaka looked around, her eyes truly seeing the scene for the first time. The pile of her old toys and crafts was her offering. The fiery hearth was the gentle lull of her final rest. The crowd was there for her parting. The tears of her companions were for a reunion she would never truly have. Finally, she approached the coffin, peering inside and realizing she existed only on borrowed time. She closed her eyes, letting the truth settle. But instead of dissipating, she remained.

"Sister… Is it true? Am I... in that box?" Umiginu couldn't look at her in the eye, offering only a hesitant nod.

"I'm sorry, Asaka... I'm so sorry." Asaka gazed into her translucent palms, then at the toys Mizuki had left behind. A sad smile touched her lips.

"I see. Then I suppose there's no walking back to the garden."

"If it makes you feel any better," Galan said while walking to her, "you can treat this moment as an opportunity to say your goodbye, knowing that those you leave behind will finally have a chance to live in peace."

"I'm not good at saying goodbyes." Her gaze swept past the altar, moving onto the crowd of faces she had once tended. She saw the young ten-gu whose storm-battered wings she had mended with mountain herbs. She saw Genbu, the old green oni whose wound-covered body she had once bandaged with a gentle smile. She saw Sawako, the kappa mother who had once hissed at her, now clutching the daughter Asaka had saved from the muddy-fever.

And finally, she saw Mizuki herself, staring back at her with a small but hopeful smile. What can I even say to them…? Asaka contemplated. The clearing was silent, save for the soft chorus of the crowd's weeping, a collective release of the grief they had kept locked away since the day she disappeared. For many, just seeing her form, even as a fragile silhouette of light, was a miracle they had never dared to pray for. She truly is just like Theara… Galan thought.

Too innocent for a world that only knows how to take.

"Then…" he pivoted, "how about you help me figure out the ghosts' inner workings? Once I understand how they work, I'll be able to settle this case for good." Asaka stood in the quiet, the weight of her sister's tears and the villagers' hope pressing against her. That was until she found the same quiet strength that had once guided her through the darkest moments. She turned to him, her mind-voice resonating with a new, firm confidence.

"Tell me what I have to do."

"Alright. First, I need you to access their memory of what they did to you." Asaka closed her eyes and recalled anything she could. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Meanwhile, Umiginu approached Galan.

"I hope you haven't forgotten your promise," she whispered, her tone sharp. Ugh, not now.

"I haven't. I'll release her, don't worry." Asaka turned to Mizuki.

"I must speak with the investigator now, understand? The ghosts serve as a barrier that prevents me from going to the Spirit River. You will be the first to know once I arrive, I promise."

"Okay…" Mizuki said, frowning, and allowed her mother to lead her away.

"Now," Asaka said to Galan, "before I tell you what they did to me, I need you to tell me how I died."

"The info isn't with them, then," Galan said.

"No," Asaka shook her head.

"I couldn't find anything relating to my deaths nor the deaths of others, only what we were used for afterwards." Galan snapped his fingers, sending her the full, brutal details of the landslide from his investigation. She winced, but her composure held.

"I see…"

"I hope I didn't just turn you into a vengeful spirit for real," Galan said.

"It's okay," Asaka sighed.

"Taking the lives of others will not return mine."

"So what else did you glean?"

"After my death, I only found memories of being inside a suit of armor, cutting down those who the memory deemed sinners. But it's… odd…"

"Like the body is being controlled by multiple people at once."

"Oh," she said, surprised.

"You've investigated quite far into this. It must've been a difficult year for you." Galan shrugged.

"Nah, it's only been like… half a day since I got here." Both Umiginu and Asaka stared at him, their mouths agape.

"What?!" They told him in unison.

"I got briefings from the archangels before coming here, so it's not that crazy," Galan explained.

"Anyway, after that, one of you spoke and did the deed, right?" Asaka nodded.

"Anything else?" Galan asked further.

"It felt like sleeping between the hunts. But aside from that, I don't have much else to provide…" she looked down.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't be sad. You've been a great help," Galan smiled.

"But there is one more way you can help…"

"Oda, don't! You promised!" Umiginu cried.

"What is it, Sister?"

"He promised to set you free once he finishes talking with you." Asaka holds her hands, the warmth calming down her turbulent heart.

"Don't worry, Sister. This is for the good of everyone."

"I don't care! A promise is a promise!"

"But what about my wish? Don't I deserve to choose my own fate?" A warning pulsed through the soul tether in Galan's hand. Hurry up, you two.

"I just… want you to rest," Umiginu sobbed.

"And I will. Once this is over."

"And how long will that take?!"

"The souls the ghosts use eventually get released," Galan interjected.

"It's Lord Zensuke's intel, so you know you can trust it."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Umiginu asked her sister. Asaka turned to Galan.

"Can you erase my memories?"

"I could, but after months with them, a blank soul would be noticed immediately."

"Then I can't agree," Asaka said. The tether pulsed again, stronger this time. Ugh, give me a break, Galan thought.

"I can tell Lord Zensuke to warn the people on your list and to have the local peacekeepers apprehend them. I'll think of more assurances, but you need to hurry. I think the ghosts are about to do a check-up on you." Asaka offered a final, resolute nod.

"I understand." She turned to Umiginu, giving her one last embrace. Umi clung to her, the silence of the clearing punctuated only by the ragged, rhythmic hitch of her sister's breath.

"Farewell, Sister," Asaka sent, her mind-voice a soft lament.

"Please be safe." Before the pining could re-anchor her, she pulled away and turned to Galan. The gentleness was gone, replaced by the fierce, cold resolve of a woman who knew what needed to be done.

"Send me back, now!"

"Asaka, wait!" Umiginu cried. Galan snapped his finger, just as Umiginu lunged towards Asaka. But Galan's mindcast can only work so far, for her arms passed right through the spirit, causing her to embrace the empty air. Fragments of glittering souls slip by in their abundance, receding into the very line that summoned Asaka, her memory and spirit body disintegrated. Galan embedded tiny fragments of his soul in hers to act as a tracker before sending her back along the tether.

But right before the line vanished, he utilized the tracker to absorb a chunk of the ghost's own soul, copying its knowledge. A head-pounding torrent of information slammed into his mind. He shook his head, grimacing. Phew, that was intense. Sure hope Puffball can unpack all of these. He turned to see Umiginu being comforted by the crowd. Not my style, but… maybe I should just sneak away. I don't think apologizing to her will make much of a difference now.

"Lord Odagawa," Tadamaru said, approaching him.

"Oh, Tadamaru. Can you apologize to her on my behalf?"

"She doesn't blame you. But she wishes for you to leave for now." Galan sighed.

"Understood. Take care of her for me, got it?" Tadamaru smiled.

"I will. Have fun… wherever you go next."

"Hmph, I'll do that. Know of any large clearings nearby?"

"For what?"

"To land my airship." Tadamaru's eyes widened.

"Your what?!"

"Is that really surprising at this point?"

"Not really," the tanuki admitted.

"There is a large, flat clearing about half a mile up the western slope."

"Thank you, Mr. Tadamaru." Galan turned and walked off.

"See you later."

"Later, Lord Odagawa," Tadamaru sent softly, before running back to Umiginu's side.