"Tell me, little yokai, have you not felt yourself becoming weaker?" the Nure-onna inquired with interest. "Don't you feel your very essence dissipating and going somewhere?"

"N-n-no?"

"And how long ago did you leave your home?"

"Perhaps a few weeks ago?" Kaede cautiously responded, more of a question than an answer. The spirit girl still had a poor grasp of time.

"Congratulations," the snake-woman said with a smile, showing her long fangs. "You are quite strong to have lasted this long."

"And what will happen to me?" Kaede leaned forward trustingly.

With a noisy surge, the water swirled upward and then crashed down with a thunderous roar. The whole body of the Nure-onna coiled around the shrinking Kuchisake-onna. A couple of seconds later, the snake rings gently placed the spirit girl onto the scales right in front of the human half of the Nure-onna.

"I dislike talking to someone below me," the half-serpent explained her actions. "Ah, where to begin. Hmm. Perhaps from the beginning."

The huge monster settled herself more comfortably.

"The world order is such that spirits and demons are born from the emotions of humans. And by the same order, it is established that our worlds, although located next to each other, hardly interact. We live by ourselves, and so do the humans. However, among us and them, rebels are born from time to time. Those who cannot and do not want to abide by the Status."

"Status?"

"Yes, the Status. The great spirits of the elements and places, the shamans and the onmyoji of the people, have made an unbreakable agreement. Each of them prevents their younger kin from starting a world war against the other party. The second point of this agreement compels us to put aside any grievances in the face of invaders from other worlds."

"Have you seen these invaders?" Kaede asked eagerly.

"Yes," the Nure-onna nodded slowly. "I was a little snake in the entourage of the Great Serpent King. Besides our master, there was also the Huge Imperial Turtle and the Nine-Tailed Fox with their troops. I don't remember well who was there from the humans, but it seemed like everyone was there. Both the warmasters and the onmyoji."

"And when was this?"

"About five hundred years ago?" the half-serpent recalled. "It was a fierce battle. The skies split, and unholy fire spilled onto the earth. At one point, everything around lost its color. Only two colors remained – black and white. The world tore and moaned under unbearable pain. And at that very second, waves of chaos crashed upon us. Monsters and creatures so bizarre and ugly that there are no words to describe them accurately. I don't know much, but it seems our world tried to be taken over by one of the dark gods. An archdemon of chaos who had managed to attain the power of an entire god."

The lamia's eyes blindly stared into the distance.

"A terrifying battle, where death could turn into something truly dreadful. And defeat would have ended with the final demise of everything living and dead. But we held on. As I later learned, this also happened because the dark god was greatly weakened by our world, which devoured much of his power. The strongest warmasters of mankind, together with the great spirits, managed to defeat the demon, the onmyoji tore his essence into parts, and these parts were consumed and digested by the Great Spirits."

The Nure-onna shook her head in sorrow.

"Unfortunately, the battle cost us all dearly. None of us remained who had not lost something precious in that battle. We reptiles lost our beloved master, the Great Serpent King. His body was terribly disfigured by unholy flames. And since the wounds were inflicted by cursed chaos, he could not heal them. Unable to bear our gazes, he left us, plunging into the Great Ocean."

The lamia sadly lowered her head.

"We still feel his presence. He is still protecting our world, watching from beyond the edge."

"How did you find out about the invasion?" Kaede clarified the confusing point.

"Chaos's minions are very cunning, my dear. They scavenge and prepare the ground for the arrival of their vile masters. Besides, we spirits can sense the smell of chaos. To us, it is..." the Nure-onna struggled to find the words and, looking at Kaede, decided to convey her feelings directly.

The yokai's consciousness was flooded with strong but so familiar sensations. Kaede's eyes lit up with recognition.

'That's exactly how Shiro smells! That's why I was so drawn to him!'

"It's just as..." The accusatory words were ready to slip from the girl's lips when she froze.

'But Shiro doesn't resemble these demonic servants. He was always kind, honest, and polite. Can I really betray him to this strange Nure-onna? Maybe it's just a mistake. But I will still get an explanation out of Shiro!'

"Did you remember something?" the massive yokai asked suspiciously.

"No, no! I just thought I recognized a similar smell. But it was just my imagination!"

"Just your imagination, you say..."

"Excuse my rudeness, but what is your name?" the young yokai hurriedly diverted her conversation partner, simultaneously making a grave mistake.

For if Stas Ordyntsev really was an emissary of doom, her actions could have signed a death warrant for this entire world.

"Name?" the Nure-onna asked, pleasantly surprised. "Does that mean you have a name, little spirit?"

"Yes," the girl nodded proudly. "My name is Kaede!"

"Minoru," introduced the woman. "And who gave you this name, Kaede?"

"Maybe I made it up myself?" the spirit girl deflected, but under her companion's knowing gaze, she quickly conceded. "His name is Shiro. Because of him, I left my home. Imagine, because of him, they burned down my part of the palace, and now he owes me a new home! Until he gives it to me or builds it, I won't leave his side!"

"I somehow thought so," Minoru said with a kind smile. "But you do realize that even if your palace was destroyed to the ground, it wouldn't have affected you? You could have continued to live there. But you still followed this man? And even building a new palace won't change anything?"

"No... I..." Kaede was indignant. She tried to find the words to refute Minoru's statement, but to her horror, she realized she couldn't. "Yes... You're right."

"I'll tell you about the spirit guides," Minoru nodded reassuringly, not pressing further. "Sometimes spirits take an interest in certain humans. Usually, in those among them who already possess a great amount of spiritual energy but are not onmyoji or shamans. In such cases, spirits can become attached to this person and not long for their previous home. Their view of things changes, and centuries become replaced by years. They now live more in the world of humans, not spirits."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Am I now bound to always follow Shiro?" Kaede was horrified.

"No, child," Minoru laughed. "You are not obliged to do so. Nevertheless, the fact that you left your home will affect you."

"What do you mean?"

"Your body will begin to change," explained the Nure-onna. "For now, the bulk of your essence is on the spiritual plane, making it very difficult to kill you in the human world, but easier in the spirit world. Gradually, it will become the opposite. Only a smaller part of you will be in the spirit world, and the larger part will be here. You will have to learn how to live among humans, my dear. Some of your abilities will disappear, but new ones will emerge, so don't be sad. Unfortunately, invisibility to the senses of this plane of reality will no longer be available to you."

However, Kaede didn't hear her, being in shock. The information didn't fit in the mind of the relatively young yokai.

"Tell me about your spirit guide," the tip of the tail nudged her right in the forehead, eliciting an irritated look that only seemed to amuse the powerful spirit.

"Why should I tell you?" Kaede frowned. "You're keeping me prisoner here. What if you want to harm him?" she braved, not knowing where this sudden courage came from.

"No, child," the Nure-onna sighed sadly, and the rings parted, opening a path to the outside. "I'm not holding you, and you're free to leave at any time. I just wanted to dispel my loneliness. Go if you want. The way is clear."

Kaede leaped down and, stepping onto the spiritual plane, was almost immediately by the exit. A few steps, and she entered the corridor leading away.

Step by step, she moved further away, until she broke into a desperate run.

The stone walls blurred, so fast was her rush to the long-awaited freedom.

She stopped only when she was almost outside. But when she was just a couple of steps away from stepping onto the surface, Kaede froze, unable to take them.

She couldn't get the terrible loneliness that had settled in the eyes of the Nure-onna out of her head. What could a sentient being feel, doomed to stay alone in a dungeon for hundreds of years?

'She let me go. Why is this so hard?'

"Damn it." Kaede cursed in a strange language, using the words she had heard from Stas when he swore while alone.

Turning around, she trudged back, feeling she was making another mistake in her life.

"Why did you let me go?" Kaede began on the move, demanding an answer from the mysterious, smiling, majestic spirit towering over her. "Why did you help me? If you needed a conversation partner, you could have never let me leave."

"I could have," Minoru nodded. "But I have never done so with my fellow spirits, and I don't intend to start. And secondly, I need your help."

"Help you escape?" Kaede finished for her.

"Yes," the yokai exhaled heavily. "These walls... I know every nick and chip, every little crack and pebble. For four hundred years, I sat in this dungeon. And although I slept most of the time, it's still too much even for the likes of us."

"And for what were you imprisoned here?" Kaede's question made Minoru freeze.

The serpentine eyes seriously looked at the squinting little spirit.

"When the first of the Sumada clan came to these lands, they killed those who worshipped me. I started a war with them, but the earth rats turned out to be stronger. I am the same as you, Kaede. One who lost her home. This body," she ran her hand along the base of her tail. "Can be killed. Then they somehow made a deal with the onmyoji."

"If I help you. Will you not seek revenge?"

"Why are you so interested in the lives of these mortal bugs?" the mask of calmness cracked, revealing eyes burning with anger. "What does it matter to you about the Sumada?"

"It's all about my spirit guide," Kaede explained. "He's currently serving the Sumada. I don't want him to have any trouble. If you promise not to seek revenge, then I can ask him to help you. He owes me, so he will fulfill my request."

If only the naive yokai knew how questionable her statement could be.

"Is he so powerful that he can stand up to the great clan on equal terms?" the snake woman was surprised. "I can sometimes hear what's happening above. The Sumada clan is very strong even by the standards of the heyday of warmasters in the past. Your guide must be a legendary warrior."

"No, but he's very smart," Kaede smirked mischievously. "Let me tell you a little about him, and then you can make your choice."

And so, before an interested Nure-onna unfolded the story of a weak, poor man who used intrigues and deceit to pave his way up.

He didn't shy away from using the most dubious tools. Bribery, blackmail, and threats were his brushes with which he painted his future path.

Samurai bowed before a penniless vagabond, cities burned and palaces crumbled, hundreds of people killed each other in a bloody frenzy while the culprit of it all calmly went about his business.

"...That's why I think he can figure out how to help you," Kaede finished, looking at the very pensive Minoru. "Shiro can do cool things with just words."

"Your guide is really not that simple," the Nure-onna assessed Kaede. The wise yokai was surprised that such a pure soul could get attached to such a sinful and cunning man.

It was completely obvious that he would only use and discard this naive girl.

Minoru had no intention of allowing this to happen. She wouldn't let a sly man hurt this sweet Kuchisake-onna.

Moreover, though she didn't want to admit it, the yokai's story had piqued her interest.

Lamia had tried more than once to negotiate with her captors, but forceful attempts to solve the issue had repeatedly failed. Perhaps a different approach would be more successful?

In that case, she would help herself and save an innocent yokai from a cunning and cold-hearted man.

"Alright, I agree," she nodded majestically, making Kaede smile broadly, showing off an unnaturally wide, slit mouth. However, Minoru was unimpressed. If she wanted, she could swallow a human whole.

"Then I'll go to him right now," Kaede attempted to turn around, but it was not to be. The gentle hand of the woman clamped onto her shoulder as firmly as magical chains. She slowly turned her head. "What?"

"First, we'll work on your skills," Minoru said sternly. "From what you've told me, this sly... Smart Shiro-kun won't just disappear. People like him are too tenacious to simply vanish. But you are not strong enough and will begin your transformation in the coming months. I will teach you to control your new form and hone your reflexes."

Looking into the promising eyes of the ancient yokai, weary from idleness, Kaede realized how much trouble she was in.

'Shiro-kun, save me!'

"Your spirit guide won't hear you here," the snake rings lifted the Nure-onna to the very top. "Now attack, and let me feel your resolve!"

*****

Stas's training came to an end in the ninth month of his stay in this world. Ordyntsev managed to gain a whole two extra months after speaking with the clan head.

Nothing fundamentally new Ordyntsev had time to master, but he did manage to strengthen his existing base.

Since it was unclear how soon Shiro would be sent to the front, they decided to have a farewell dinner that very day.

No one spoke of future dangers. It was a peaceful and cheerful gathering. Hideo invited an old lady, who turned out to be a rather famous poisoner in the past. She herself asked to be called Kio-san.

The elderly woman brought with her incredibly delicious dango. Japanese dumplings or round balls made from sticky rice varieties on sticks. This time, they were made with honey, which melted on the tongue.

Ordyntsev appreciated the irony of such an invitation. As it turned out, dango from a master poisoner had a divine taste.

The old folks humorously told stories from their "service." Though, some of these tales were more suited to the horror and thriller genre. They were just too full of blood, fallen comrades, and slain enemies.

And somehow, Stas realized with surprise that he was listening to such stories as a matter of course.

This world, like a worm, was burrowing into his soul, devouring something important.

Or was Ordyntsev wrong to blame this world, and the problem was within himself?

In any case, the dinner was excellent.

Kio-san, at one point, said her goodbyes and left. Kizashi also departed, and Stas was left alone with Hideo.

"Take this," the old man handed Stas a small blue pill and answered the unasked question: "It's the poison of the last breath."

"If you're threatened with capture, I advise you to swallow this little one. It belongs to the long-acting poisons but also has a fast-acting element. It quickly reduces pain sensitivity."

"It won't let me feel the pain from an on-the-spot field interrogation, and I won't live long enough to reach the experienced specialists because I'll already die from the long-term effect," Stas nodded understandingly.

"I knew you'd understand," Hideo approved. "I didn't want to give it to you when my grandson was here. No matter what, he's still such a child," a soft tenderness could be easily heard in the old man's hoarse voice.

Ordyntsev nodded in agreement.

"I'm not particularly good at giving advice," Hideo finally said, looking sideways. "But I'll say this. Never underestimate your enemies. We warmasters often have secrets. Though who better than you knows that?"

Ordyntsev smirked, almost closing his eyes, which were beginning to elongate and slenderize at the pupils.

"Kampai!" The toast, meaning "drink to the bottom," was received with great enthusiasm.

The contents of the sake cups were heartily downed in one go.

Amusing, but the sake of warmasters was almost deadly for ordinary people. Even so, intoxication passed very quickly. It became clear why Fierce Ishiro was constantly drunk, as due to his strength, even from the strongest alcohol, he sobered up almost instantly.

Between the two warmasters, the old and the young, a cozy atmosphere was maintained until the end of the evening.

They both knew how to appreciate and enjoy the silence, while thinking about something of their own.

As soon as the last drops of the rainy season fell on the stone citadel, Master Jun stepped into the city, and at that very moment, the milk in the entire city turned sour.[1]

[1] Perpahs, this is a reference to a superstition that a person with an "evil eye" could cause milk to go sour just by paying a visit. I think it's not well known, but it does exist both in Russian and English culture.