Chapter Eighteen
Tides of Fate
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We returned to the house after a while of ‘hiding.’ Kurai was unable to use his portal magic immediately. Still, the darkness disappeared soon, and we could head back home to the silence of my room. I sat on the lavender sheets of my bed and sighed as I tried to recollect everything that happened. My body felt cold and weak, and I felt heartbroken after the turn of events. Between meeting that woman and the world freezing around me - she told me I wasn’t ready. What was I not prepared for? And why did she interact with me? I thought it was a memory?
Kurai stood awkwardly a few feet away, holding his arms together. He took a deep breath.
So many unanswered questions - and it seems that the only one who could answer them would be that demon who is literally trying to, well, kill me, I guess? Who was my mother, really? Who was the woman I had just encountered? Was that my mother who raised me? Did she look different back then? What did the demon mean when he said Kurai let everyone burn?
My head raced with questions, and I dropped my head into my hands. I had to figure out why this demon was so interested in me. I remembered how he stated, ‘To take the Reaper’s soul was delicious.’ Was he the one to have killed the Reaper, the Queen and King, and Kurai’s tribe? How many souls has this demon eaten, and how has he not been found yet?
“Snow?” Kurai brought me back to reality and out of my head of questions.
I looked up at him, his amber eyes glowing faintly, but his body and emotions were calm.
“Tell me more about this contract between us,” I asked him, standing on the bed as my emotions went up and down.
“What?”
“Tell me exactly what this contract is,” I demanded from him.
“It’s…” He started, “I just told you.”
“You said that it was forced, ‘a thousand lives for one.’ What do you mean?”
“Did you not listen to anything I just shared with you?”
“No,” I told him, gazing up and down. “Something happened…” I paused and frowned, “I just want to know what you meant by that.”
He sighed, “Fine. Ren and Sayuri, your parents, have heard about it. Well, me, born as a Nogitsune… Your parents promised redemption to me. I would be respected as a Kitsune rather than treated as a demon. So to do so, my parents promised yours that I’d be there to… Well, I guess, be a guardian or something like that,” He muttered. “When the village was attacked, Ren’s pact with my father’s pact became active, and I was banished permanently from the Kitsune world, as per the contract… They believed that I was the one who led the demon there,” He murmured. “I met Lord Zonoth and Lady Serelia when I was young, and my parents agreed that I would be better with ‘my own kind.’” He said sadly, the little fox ears on his head flattened. “Ren and Sayuri… They were wizards - your parents were. They were there to help the War. But not Lady Serelia and Lord Zonoth - they couldn’t breach the world’s portal for whatever reason.”
Sorcerers? I was born of sorcerer’s?
“Weird, huh? Lord Zonoth and Lady Serelia took me in when I was young, but the day we learned about the Kitsune Land war, we couldn’t get there on time… Again, I’m not sure what happened exactly - they wouldn’t tell me. But I was raised alongside Mundus.”
“That must be why he’s after me, then,” I said sadly, “because of my mother and father—the contract. He wants me gone—and out of the picture.”
“I still don’t know why - you were raised as a human. You have absolutely no magic in you at all.”
I gave him a cold glare, turning to face him. “I mean, no. I had no connection with it? I’m just finding out about my entire past life. My parents were normal humans in our realm,” I replied hastily.
“To you - sure. To the Underworld, they were stronger than Enoxon,” Kurai replied.
I couldn’t help but feel giddy about that, knowing the fact that they were actually murdered by the same thing that was chasing me. There was so much that I had to do - so much I had to discover. Who I really was and why I was still necessary. Was there more of a reason why my parents were chased to their demise? Did they really help fight the War of the Kitsune? I began to pace back and forth, trying to piece things together, while my emotions went null. I was angry about this entire situation.
“Kurai,” I said, approaching him. “Thank you.” A soft smile played on my lips as I nodded, “Thank you for saving my life the other day. However, we need to stop this. How do we do that?”
“Removing the mark is one thing,” He replied, “But… To completely erase a demon - a spirit that’s already dead - is damn near impossible. It’s not as simple as stabbing it or throwing fireballs at it,” He said, holding out his hand as a flame appeared. “They will come back until their marked one is dead. A demon of higher power may be able to mark you, too, but it starts the process over. You will be chased until you are dead, Snow.”
“Can a demon with five nogitsune tails mark me?” I asked, looking him over and raising an eyebrow.
“I cannot do that,” he stated. “I don’t have the strength to do so. Nor have I marked anyone, nor do I want to. I hardly wanted to be forced into a contract with a human.”
I nodded and pushed myself up off his bed, thinking about this. “Well, I have you, so I have nothing to worry about.” I offered a friendly smile. “We’ll figure this out, right? If they did have some magical powers, I’m sure I’ve got to have something. Maybe being connected through that dagger is a good thing for us. Maybe we can conquer the underworld,” I jokingly said, trying to lighten the mood a little. I was distraught about learning the truth about my parents, but it was for the greater good. It made me feel more like I belonged here in the Underworld. I feel like I have a cause to be here, and it's to take that demon down before it takes another tribe or race out.
“Thank you again, Kurai,” I quietly said as I turned away from him to leave the darkened room. “I am indebted to you for saving me and telling me all this. I hope we can figure things out. Thank you.” I bowed to him and provided a soft smile. Letting out a soft sigh, I took my leave full of new knowledge and confusion, unsure how to process all this new information. Leading the room, I shut the door gently behind me and remembered that I needed to find Yushin. Though, my emotional state isn’t auspicious right now.
Downstairs, I heard a mix of voices coming from the living quarters. My head spun with questions and concern as I listened to the conversation before leaving.
“Yushin, you’re asking too much of Snow,” Enoxon echoed. He sounded worried, but what could possibly concern him? “We don’t know anything about her.”
“But I do,” Yushin responded with empathy. “You don’t understand the situation we’re in. Without a Reaper or Yuna, we’re lost. This is critical. You said it yourself, Eno—she’s not human. She saw Yuna and could see the second Spirit Walker. I need her help!”
“Yushin…” Enoxon sighed, his tone gentle. “You can’t take her with you after what happened last time. If that demon gets to her, you’ll lose all hope. We have the Council of the Sinless to guide souls when you cannot.”
“They don’t know what they’re doing, Enoxon, and you know it! Look at the state of your Underworld and their Celestial Skies. There have been more lost souls these past years than ever before. And Yuna is missing. If we find Yuna, we find the Reaper.”
“The Reaper is dead, Yushin. He is gone. No one has seen him since Lady Serelia disappeared. And we don’t even know where she is!”
“Her light hasn’t gone out, nor has Lord Zonoth’s. They’re here, somewhere—I know it!” Yushin groaned, frustration evident in his voice. “If we can’t find them, who knows what the Council of the Sinless will do with the rest of the world? You’re already in chains here, on lockdown—to the human world, to her world.”
I could hear the disappointment in Enoxon’s voice as he tried to respond, “I don’t know.”
Knowing that Kurai shared with me who my parents were and what they were, I felt intrigued. I wanted to find out who I was.
What could I be? I questioned myself. I stretched my hands out before me, examining them closely and frowning. If I concentrated hard enough, I could conjure something. Sitting on the stairs, I focused on summoning a magical power, like water. Forming a little water ball would be a good start…
Ultimately, that failed. So I moved on to the next element, fire. I thought of Kurai’s magical fireball and tried to mimic his hand movements to create one. That didn’t work either. After attempting all four essential elements, I let out a soft breath. Of course, it didn’t work. I was crazy to think I had some magical power that controlled an element. Could I fly? Did I have wings? I had never seen scars on my back, so I couldn’t imagine that was possible. I gave up, slumping my head onto my knees.
When their conversation turned silent, I continued walking downstairs. I made my way into the kitchen, where the two were standing. I came face to face with the Spirit Walker, his yellow eyes lighting up with delight when he saw me. A smile danced on his soft lips as he greeted me, “Hello, Snow. Are you feeling better?” he asked gently.
“Yes, thank you, Yushin. From what I recall last night, you asked for help, correct? Whatever it is, I wish to assist you.”
“Snow, I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Enoxon quickly interjected, reaching out to me.
I shook my head and gave Enoxon a soft, reassuring look. “It’s really okay, Enoxon. If I’m here in the Underworld, it’s for a reason. I want to go.” I understood the dangers, especially after what Kurai had shared with me. If I can find Yuna, I can see and destroy this demon. I’ll explore every option to figure out how to eliminate it. My smile radiated confidence. I could avenge my family and Kurri’s tribe. I needed to erase that demon from existence. If it was powerful enough to wipe out an entire tribe and murder my parents, then I must get rid of it. I want to see it burn in hell. I’ll make it work, one way or another.
“I really don’t think that’s a good-”
“I’ll be fine,” I told him firmly. “Yushin, what did you want to talk about?”
Yushin’s gaze met mine, a hopeful twinkle in his yellow eyes. A small, earnest smile played on his lips as he nodded. “There’s so much we have to do, Snow,” he said gently, resting a reassuring hand on my shoulder and squeezing it. “We’re going to find Yuna,” He said with a chuckle. “Though, I want you to hear Enoxon out. I know he’s a bit of a protector and ‘do-gooder,’ but he’s smart. This demon that’s marked you…” He frowned as he looked down at my arm, holding it. “It’s someone strong. We will be with you - two of the most powerful magic spirits here.”
His words didn’t make me nervous or worried. Instead, they ignited a burning anticipation within me. The thought of taking out this demon and building a better Underworld, free from corruption, filled me with hope. Perhaps this specific demon was the cause of all the strange phenomena that had plunged the Underworld into a frozen state. Or maybe there was still more for me to learn.
“Two powerful magic users?” I echoed, glancing over at Enoxon, who nodded.
The sorcerer sighed, “I couldn’t let you go off with Yushin alone. He’s still new to the whole Spirit Walker thing.”
“New? I’ve been a Spirit Walker for a long time,” Yushin retorted, crossing his arms and giving Enoxon a playful yet determined look. “It’ll be okay.”
I smiled at their bickering and let out a soft sigh. As they argued back and forth, I looked out the window over the sink. Will it really be okay, though?
Nothing will hurt you, Kurai’s voice entered my head.
Spinning quickly as if I had seen a ghost, I looked around the room to see if Kurai was there. He locked gazes with me as he strolled into the kitchen. As soon as he entered, he glanced at Yushin with an almost palpable disgust. He mentioned that he and Yushin chatted about a few things the previous night. Still, it seemed more likely they had argued than had a civil conversation.
When Kurai and I locked eyes, a sense of calm washed over me. His presence was enough to ease my nerves. After he had shared his history and part of mine, and knowing that my dagger connected us, I felt reassured.
“Glad to see you unscathed, Kurai, my little Snow-Snatcher,” Enoxon called, giving him a wide smile.
“Shut it,” Kurai growled as he poured himself a drink of what looked like coffee. He froze when he saw Yushin, his attitude matching when he greeted him with a simple “Yushin.”
“Kurai,” the man said, matching his energy. His blue eyes shimmered with amusement, and a smile peaked at the corner of his lips.
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"I'm okay," I said to them, forcing a smile as I did so. My heart was racing from everything I had just discovered, but I’d rather not talk about it. My main goal was clear: I wanted to help Yushin and simultaneously take down this creep.
"I'm glad to see you're okay," Yushin said, his eyes filled with relief as he turned his attention back to me. He stood tall and confident, his posture emanating a sense of determination.
I smiled in response, trying to match his confidence. "So what do we need to do?" I asked, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
Before Yushin could reply, Enoxon squeezed between us with his usual "big brother" attitude. His gray-white hair framed his face, and his green eyes, filled with concern and worry, locked with mine. "I think we really need to sit down and talk about things," he said, his tone gentle but firm. "You can't just jump into things, Snow." Enoxon seemed genuinely concerned about it, knowing that that’s who he was.
"I’ll be fine—despite whatever I have to go through," I stated firmly, standing my ground.
"Until you’re locked in Tartaros one day with no escape," Enoxon grumbled, giving me a stern look. His concern was evident, and his posture remained protective.
"Eno, I’m okay," I reiterated, my voice steady. "I want to help Yushin!"
Before Enoxon could respond, Yushin stepped forward with his medium-length, deep indigo hair streaked with silver and gently pushed Enoxon aside. His bright turquoise eyes sparkled with determination as he immediately linked arms with me. He gave me a reassuring pat on the head, his playful nature shining through. The touch was comforting, and I could feel the warmth of his golden-toned skin. His flowing, deep blue robe adorned with celestial patterns shimmered with silver accents, enhancing his otherworldly aura. He was definitely not like the demons I’ve come across.
Kurai, seemingly jealous, rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. A cold aura surrounded him as he aggressively spoke to Yushin: “If anything happens to Snow, you know you’ll be my lunch, correct?” he threatened.
"Kurai," he began, his tone calm but edged with a hint of disdain, "if you think your threats scare me, you’re mistaken. I won’t let anything happen to Snow, and I certainly won’t let you intimidate me." He held his celestial-engraved staff firmly, the glowing tattoos on his skin subtly appearing as he channeled his inner strength. "Focus on what matters instead of playing the villain," he added, his voice steady.
“Eesh,” Enoxon sighed, sensing the tension. Enough, both of you,” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Nothing will happen to Snow, Kurai. Calm yourself before you set the house on fire.”
A smirk appeared on Yushin’s face as Enoxon jumped to his side in a heartbeat. He’s not wrong, though. I will be fine, and so will they.
“Besides,” Yushin simply replied with a shrug, “I don’t make fates or choose Destinies; I’m just here. I’m not a Reaper,” He offered a friendly smile to Kurai as if he were trying to make common ground with the fox-demon. “Anyyyyway, Snow,” He turned toward me as he scanned me. “As Enoxon stated, this isn’t an easy trip. This so-called ‘adventure’ will be dangerous. You’ve got to show me where you saw Yuna - and I am in hopes I can try and pick up traces of her. Perhaps we could try memories again.”
“Ah, I don’t think we should try my memories again!” I quickly said, rubbing my head and twirling a piece of my white hair.
“We could try–”
“No,” Enoxon and Kurai immediately stated, giving the Spirit Walker a cold glare.
“Fine,” Yushin bit his tongue and threw his hands up.
“Try what?” I questioned immediately as curiosity built.
“Nothing,” Enoxon said with a friendly smile.
Yushin brought me into the living room with him, and the other two closely followed. He motioned me to sit down and then motioned the other two. “The first thing we really need to do is have her take me to where she first encountered Yuna,” the Spirit Walker said firmly.
“We could just talk to Mundus and Astaroth about it,” Enoxon suggested. “If traveling between the worlds is their major concern, perhaps they’d know a few answers.”
“Do we really want Mundus here?” Kurai immediately objected.
I said, “I’d rather not. Something about him just gives me the creeps. I don’t know,” I told them.
“Great, we’re uncomfortable with the King of the Underworld - the perfect excuse for a Young Lady not to travel with a ‘big bad demon,’” Yushin mocked Lord Mundus. “Next?”
“We can check in with Astaroth,” Enoxon pushed. “Maybe?”
“Then they need to let us into the Sacred Halls,” Yushin argued.
“Perhaps I can talk to Astaroth?” I offered it to them. Sure, Astaroth still has major manipulation powers, but they did apologize. Do apologies mean anything to demons? “We could just burn everything in our path,” I said, motioning to the Firefox demon beside me.
“I like that idea,” Kurai shrugged. “I like burning things,” He said.
“Demons don’t just die, Snow. You cannot burn them—as they’re technically already ‘burning in Hell’—as they're practically immune to fire. If I find Yuna, she and I can work together to Banish it to Tartaros. Some sorcerers, such as Enoxon, can learn Dark Magic and Holy Magic,” Yushin argued, pointing to the sorcerer.
“Both are impossible to learn or extremely dangerous,” Enoxon stated. Holy magic can be taught by a Celestial, but not just any Celestial—they must be of a specific rank.”
“Oh! Like Casielle or Zarall?” I squeaked.
“Perhaps, probably not a good idea to get them involved either. We’ll just be forced into a more frozen state.”
“We’re going to the Portal that Snow activated. We can retrace memories there.”
I could feel Kurai getting angry, and his voice snapped, “The last time you retraced her memories, that demon interrupted,” His eyes narrowed.
“Most likely because it was nearby. Perhaps it won’t be this time, though,” Yushin calmly fought back.
“I’m not letting you retrace her memory,” Kurai growled, the room heating up.
“It’s not your choice, Nogitsune,” Yushin said, his gentle gaze resting with mine, “Besides, Snow said she wanted to help.”
I smiled in response, “I do want to help. Let’s get started.”
Yushin nodded at me, a sly and subtle smile on his lips. He seemed calm, as if he had Nothing to worry about. The Spirit Walker had a surprisingly gentle side for someone usually so serious. His soft smile struck me as that of someone who had endured a lot, and I was sure he had. Being a Spirit Walker, his history was a mystery. Still, I remembered Enoxon mentioning that he knew Yushin long before he became one.
I returned his friendly smile, feeling a surge of confidence. I was ready to get involved, one step at a time. “Enoxon, can you take us to Abigail’s Tree?” I asked, turning towards the sorcerer, who had been relatively quiet.
When I turned my attention to him, Enoxon seemed annoyed or worried—I couldn’t tell. His stance made me feel uneasy. He was usually outgoing, but now he was reticent, even staring off into space, which was unlike him.
“Enoxon?” I called out to him, my voice tinged with uncertainty.
He quickly lifted his head to meet my gaze. “Hm? Oh, yeah, I can do that,” he replied, his tone reassuring. Enoxon gently grabbed my arm to steady me. Within moments, he teleported all four of us.
Enoxon's teleportation magic worked differently from Kurai’s. There were no portals to walk through—just a simple "ding," and we were in a different area. It seemed a lot more straightforward than Kurai’s elaborate teleportation portals. Kurai's method felt like traversing through an empty space.
We landed gently in an open clearing, and Enoxon steadied me to ensure I didn’t stumble. He patted the upper part of my back and smiled warmly. “Glad to see you’re okay,” he murmured.
I nodded appreciatively. “Thank you for bringing us here.”
The clearing we arrived at was expansive, a mix of snow and patches of grass. I noticed a faint, glowing light with a red tinge not too far ahead. Ahead of us was a small, narrow path framed by overhanging tree branches. The area was dimly lit, with the moon casting a soft glow that bounced off the surroundings. Despite never having been here before, this place felt oddly familiar. I didn’t feel the cold—just a comforting warmth.
“Welcome to Abigail’s Tree, M’lady,” Yushin announced with a touch of formality. “Right around this tree is one of the 13 most important Spirit Portals, so please, be careful.” With a slight bow, he pulled back some moss that hung over the clearing and gestured for me to proceed.
“Thank you,” I replied, taking a few steps forward. Something significant and awe-inspiring lay before me as I stepped through the moss. I could hardly believe my eyes. This was truly amazing.
In front of us stood an enormous, breathtaking tree. Its branches and leaves had a red-tinted glow, towering high and spreading wide. The tree emitted an immense red glow, lighting the area like the moon above us. The leaves and flowers were a brilliant red, and large brown roots protruded from the ground. Surrounding the tree was a slim black gate adorned with small birds. Beyond the tree and gate lay a large body of water, with flowers from the tree floating on its surface, drifting from the center to the edge. Unlike the dead, decaying trees I’d imagined in the underworld, it was stunning. This was indeed a fascinating place.
“Let’s go! I want to see everything! This is so amazing! Look at how pretty this is! Eno, Kurai, loooooooook!!!!!!” I exclaimed with the excitement of a child at a fair. My eyes must have been twinkling with joy, and my body was ready to explore, even though I had completely forgotten I was here on a job. I ran up the little path to the tree and waited eagerly for everyone.
Yushin was the first to stroll down the path, watching me with amusement. I could see him suppressing a chuckle, likely because he didn’t often see excited humans—if he saw any. “We call it the Soul Tree. You call it Abigail’s Tree, as all humans do. When we cross the river, you and I will enter through the gates to the other side. Unfortunately, our gates have been disconnected as The Council of the Sinless takes care of souls,” he explained gently, stepping beside me.
“Who is the Council of the Sinless anyway?” I asked Yushin, scanning the lake for any means of transportation. I had heard people mention them sporadically, and I assumed they were a group of angels. But if Spirit Walkers existed, why did they need to direct souls?
As if anticipating my question, Yushin answered, “They are indeed a group of Angels—some of the strongest and most well-known. After the Seven Brothers fell, the Council of the Sinless took over to ensure there would be no repeat of the Seven Brothers' actions,” he explained, his gaze wandering around the lake. Now, there is usually a courier here…” he murmured, walking off to the side to investigate.
“Snow,” Enoxon's voice sounded softly behind me as his hand rested gently on my shoulder. He approached quietly and spoke in a low tone. “Please be careful, Snow. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, I will know. I will make Yushin release your Spirit if you do not ask him to.” He locked eyes with me, his gaze intense and reassuring. “You don’t need to worry; I will always know.”
Enoxon smiled softly, his eyes still worried.
Kurai joined us at the top of the path just as Yushin found the courier who ferries souls across the lake from the portal. The courier was clad entirely in black, with their face covered, and they held a stick-like paddle. They didn’t speak, merely motioned for the five of us to board. Honestly, it was a bit creepy. I knew the underworld had various guiding souls, as I couldn’t imagine all souls flowing through the same portal. But why 13 portals? Maybe they led to different areas of the world or levels of the underworld? I shrugged off the thought as Yushin extended his hand to escort me into the boat.
“I wish souls were as easy and willing as you, Snow,” Yushin commented. “I’m grateful I get a lot of easy souls, and Yuna handles the complicated ones. If only they could all just accept their fate,” he sighed.
“Do souls… ever try to escape you?” I asked, taking his hand as he helped me onto the little wooden boat. The moment my hand touched his, I felt a twist of guilt from my fox demon. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw he looked just as mopey as Enoxon. Yushin's grip was firm yet oddly tingly, almost as if his hand wasn’t entirely solid, which made me wonder if being a Spirit Walker meant he was somewhat ghost-like.
With Yushin’s help, I steadied myself on the rocking boat and took a seat, letting out a deep breath. Meanwhile, the emotions of disgust and jealousy from Kurai flowed into me, making my own gut twist.
“Do souls try to run? Some do, which is why Yuna chases them. She’s faster than I am and ensures they go where they need to. Some souls rest easily, while others do not. It all depends. However, since the portals were closed, we didn't get many souls... I’ve been so bored without them,” Yushin sighed as he sat beside me, gazing at the beautiful tree across the lake.
“Then where the hell have you been, Yushin?” Enoxon demanded from the back of the tiny little boat. “No one in the Underworld has seen you since the day the Reaper disappeared.”
“Uh,” Yushin ran his hand through his indigo-silver hair, shrugging a little. “I’ve been searching for Yuna, easy.”
“For almost 10 years?” The sorcerer questioned.
“Exactly. I still think that the Sinless Council has her,” He muttered, crossing his arms as he huffed.
I glanced at him curiously. “Why would they have her?”
“As punishment to the Underworld,” He replied.
“But that doesn’t make sense. If they let her go, wouldn’t she be able to find the Reaper?”
He put his finger to his nose and pointed at me, his blue eyes wide. “Exactly—why would they do that? Did they want the full control of guiding souls? What more do they know?!” he said, questioning loudly.
“Yushin, stop,” Enoxon sighed, glaring at him. “We don’t know anything about what the Council did. You can’t make accusations like that, especially as a Spirit Walker.” His voice was dark, revealing his discomfort with the idea of Yuna being in trouble.
Yushin lowered his head, his eyes glazing over. “You’re right,” he murmured. “I just... If we find Yuna, we find the Reaper. If we find the Reaper, I can return to my job and do what I should. I didn’t get to be around the last Reaper very much.” Shifting his feet, Yushin looked back at the tree we were approaching. “I really want to know what happened to them. I can’t even find their candle…” he murmured.
“Exit...” the guide's creepy voice sounded as we approached another dock beneath the tree on the other side.
My eyes lit up like fireworks on the 4th of July as I watched the twinkling red lights with glee. They were so pretty, so magical. Absorbed in their beauty, I stood up without paying attention and tripped on the side of the boat, falling forward onto the dock.
I felt Kurai’s warm body reach out to catch me. “Watch where you’re going,” he murmured.
“Come on, Snow,” Enoxon said, helping me from behind and guiding my steps. “Please be careful.”
Embarrassed, my cheeks flushed as I thanked them both. Stepping onto the dock, I felt a strong presence in the area—like a surge of magic swarming through me. The atmosphere felt different—unlike the boat or the underworld's mainland. My heartbeat slowed, matching the powerful energy around me. I couldn’t see anything, but I heard faint whispers. Though I couldn’t make out the words, they sounded like whispers of souls.
Noticing my change in posture and attitude, Enoxon immediately lifted my arm over his shoulder to help me. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Things just feel weird,” I replied to Enoxon, “But I feel fine, thank you.”
“Since this is a powerful source of magic and you’re not used to it, that might be why. Maybe being human also has something to do with it,” he suggested.
“Humans never travel to the Gates of the Underworld,” Yushin pointed out.
“I feel fine,” Kurai stated, coming to my other side.
“You’re a demon,” Yushin retorted, glaring at him. “Not a human.” A slight furrow appeared between his brows as he stared pointedly at Kurai with an icy gaze.
Kurai shook his head in frustration, pinching his brows and growling, “I’m not a full demon.”
I quickly stepped between them, trying to disperse their argument. “So, what do we need to do, Yushin?”
Yushin’s tone completely changed when I stepped between them. “Yes, of course,” he began, “You and I will enter the deactivated portal to clear the memory. This is the first step to locating Yuna and the demon that attacked you.”
“Do we need to do anything to prepare?” I asked.
He shook his head, looking back at the tree. The glowing red light reflected off his face as he stared at the massive tree. “We just need this to go smoothly,” he told me. “Come with me, Snow. Enoxon and Kurai will stand guard and intervene if necessary.”
Enoxon and Kurai exchanged glances before the four of us stepped towards the tree, making our way up the narrow and broken cobblestone path that led to the tree’s roots. At the top of the path sat an old, black-colored, raven-decorated fence. It looked like it had been there for a long time. Yushin led me up another small flight of stairs to the extra-large tree. At the top of the stairs was a half-round stone circle with words written across it. Surprisingly, the words were clear: “Gates of the Underworld - The Spirit Tree.” Though it was written in a different language, I somehow understood it. Perhaps I had seen it in a book before.
Underneath the half-circle stone was an opening that remained dark, as if I couldn’t see the other side. Yushin and I stopped in front of the portal gate, and I stared through it. The portal was empty, with nothing visible on the other side but darkness obscured by the tree roots. I wondered what an activated portal looked like.
I approached the stone, running my fingers along the ancient writing. I felt the texture of every crevice that lined the portal walls and nodded. It felt cold, like snow. I wasn’t sure how portals would feel, but this one was cold. Turning around to face Enoxon and Kurai, I put my hands together and smiled brightly. “Wish me luck! I know it’s not much, but this is a start!” I waved to them and went through the portal, Yushin following closely behind.