Chapter Text

Part IV: Where Things Heat Up

You stroll through the manor’s gardens, Sakuya following at a polite distance but still well within earshot. Under the red light of the false moon, the plants seem almost to glow. You hadn’t noticed before, but the flowers have a waxy sheen to them- apparently replicas of those on the surface. The real ones would need sunlight, which they don’t have right here, and these radiate faint magic approximating the feeling of a smell as opposed to any real fragrance.

“The gardens are really lovely. You probably have your hands full with it.” You try making some small talk as you proceed towards the exit staircase.

“I’m not really much of a gardener.” Sakuya replies, holding her left arm with her right as she glances away. Her mask of stoicism has apparently lowered a bit after leaving her station. “Some of the fairies are attuned to it, being tied to nature in the first place. But they have different ideas about aesthetic appeal than the vast majority do.”

Yeah, you can imagine how that would look. Although, considering everything else about the manor’s decor, whoever was in charge before seemed to be almost as eclectic.

She stops, looks at you, and manages a small smile. “Meiling comes every now and again to help out too.”

“Really?” You aren’t so much surprised by her having an interest in gardening- that seems to fit her, if anything- but her coming all this way for that.

“She feels obligated to patrol Waterfall when she has time, which isn’t that often. And while she’s here… she insists on butting in.” Sakuya sighs, but her expression’s more fond than anything.

“I see.” You nod, willing to leave things at that. The stone structure housing the staircase is at hand- you can’t quite think of the formal term for something like this, it’s too enclosed to be a gazebo and it’s not a mausoleum.

Descending the stairs, you consciously slow your pace for Sakuya. You don’t doubt that she can keep up, but her pace is deliberate, like she’s thinking about something.

“Speaking of Meiling, you fought a duel with her, correct?” She speaks up, voice echoing fairly well in the damp cave.

“That’s right. She tell you about that?” You say.

“Not really, but it’s her usual routine. She wouldn’t dare let a newcomer pass without trying to engage them in one.”

“Yeah, well.” You try to grin. “You were pretty quick on the draw yourself.”

“Would you like to test your skills against mine?” Sakuya asks calmly.

“No thanks, I’m good.” You wave with both hands.

She chuckles.

You weren’t joking, though. The idea of controlling time is terrifying. You suppose she could hold back in several ways for the sake of a duel, but even then, you’d probably have to…

“Don’t look so serious, it was just a joke.” Standing before you abruptly, she puts her hands on her hips. “I’m willing to oblige you if you really want to, but I’d rather not fight unnecessary battles.”

“Thanks, but no thanks… ‘Unnecessary’?” You look a bit incredulous.

“How is that so surprising? I’d thought you would understand the principle-”

“So when you took those Survivalists on, it was to save Kogasa?” You question.

“Huh?” What must be a very rare look of confusion is visible on her countenance. “...Oh, that. I had no choice but to deescalate the situation.”

“...You blew the camp up. I don’t think that was deescalating anything.” You deadpan.

“Those with the firethrowers were flame elementals, they were not seriously harmed. Neither were the others, believe it or not.” Sakuya returns.

“No, I believe you.” Her precision is definitely not in doubt.

“I was simply uncertain how you would respond in that situation.” She amends.

“I could have taken ‘em.” You shrug.

“That wasn’t the main reason.” She clarifies. “...Of course, I have confidence in your restraint now.”

“I was playing it up to get them to surrender. Didn’t quite work.”

“Of course not. They felt they had nothing left to lose.” How nonchalantly she says that. Just when you were starting to feel that ‘business casual’ Sakuya was less unnerving than ‘chief maid’ Sakuya.

Moving on, you’re back at the distillation device, looking down the vertical shaft leading to the healing pool.

Sakuya steps up beside you. “Will you need any assistance in finding a way to descend?”

“Nah, I’m good.” You roll your shoulders experimentally, feeling in good shape.

“Alright. I’ll see you at the bottom, then.” She blinks out of existence.

You take two quick steps forward and leap. The wind rushes around you and whips your hair as you accelerate. Feeling your heart pulse, you begin to slow, stretching your arms wide as you bask in the middle of a rare shaft of genuine sunlight from the top of the hole.

You look down as you angle yourself to the side so you won’t land in the pool. Sakuya’s already made it down, unsurprisingly. She’s standing on a large rock, arms folded. Next to her sits a woman in an unmistakable conical hat, bare feet idly kicking in the pool’s water.

“Narumi!” You call out in greeting, touching down gently on one foot by the side of the pool. “Good to see you again.”

“Oh, and you as well!” She smiles back, lifting her legs out of the water and swinging them under herself to stand. Sakuya doesn’t move, looking down on you both as you meet. “How are you feeling? Are there any residual issues?”

“Not that I can tell. Everything feels good to me.” You nod. “Thanks again for the help.”

“Oh, there is no need for that. It is a joy for me to perform the work of healing.” Narumi insists, reaching for your hand with hers. You hesitate for a moment, before recalling her earlier work, and letting her do so. She seems to concentrate for a moment before looking up at you again. “Yes, everything seems in order. Would you like an examination as well, Miss Izayoi?” She turns, addressing this last part to Sakuya.

“...There’s no need.” She replies, seeming almost stand-offish. “I appreciate your offer.”

“Alright then.” Narumi doesn’t show any hesitation at the denial. “Well, it is fortuitous to run across you now. I was just about to return home.”

You hadn’t thought about it, but her living in this pool doesn’t quite make sense.

“Have you been busy?” Sakuya asks.

“Not more than usual. I am sure you have been, though.”

“I certainly should be returning to my duties.” Sakuya replies, addressing both of you. “Reimu, it was good to have you stay with us.”

“Yeah, it was. Thanks for having me.” You give her a small bow, which she returns.

“I suppose this means goodbye.” Sakuya says, almost as if she’s repeating it to herself because the fact isn’t sinking in.

“Yeah, guess so.” You muse. But then you realize she’s already gone in an instant. “Well… I was going to say something else…” How rude of her.

“Not everyone is comfortable with long goodbyes.” Narumi adds. “Miss Izayoi is simply that way.”

“Well, whatever.” You shrug.

“You are departing for the capital, correct?”

“Yeah. I am.”

“Then I wish you safe travels.” Narumi bows. “‘May the road rise to meet your feet…’ I think there is a saying that goes like that, anyway.”

“Thanks. You too.” You add, cringing a little internally as you question the applicability of returning that.

She doesn’t seem to notice. “Farewell, Reimu.” Bowing again, Narumi departs. She walks to a seemingly impassable pair of boulders, and they roll themselves aside with a deep grinding sound to open up a path wide enough for her to pass. They close back together, sealing her home off. You can’t help but gawk a little- that’s one way to keep your privacy.

BGM - Waterfall

You hesitate before the pathway to the falls and dump. On one hand, that spirit wasn’t looking too good. On the other… it’d be really awkward, to say the least. She has her friend with the mask, at least. You’ll just need to trust that they’re looking after each other.

The only remaining exit to this rounded chamber is small. You can fit fine, but someone taller would need to duck to get through. It also looks like it’s been carved out by hand, you can see the unnatural marks and cracks where the rock was shattered and moved away by force.

The tunnel widens out into a much larger, more natural cave. Stalactites hang from the ceiling.

The near-constant sound of dripping water, a constant companion through the ravine, gradually fades as the distance between you and the pool increases.

This place is dimly lit, whatever magic providing light to most of the underground is weaker here. Maybe this tunnel was never a priority to begin with. The shadows fade into each other- in their midst, you see a shapeless figure.

You have to squint to make it out clearly. There’s no prickling sensation of unease, no foreboding born from intuition.

Which proves to be the apt response. It’s the masked woman from before, Narumi’s mother. She’s leaning against the wall, arms folded in a display of intentional nonchalance. Her robe almost trails against the ground as she pushes herself off of it, scooping up her staff from where it’s leaning against a rock.

“Thought you might be passing by here.” Her deep voice rumbles. You can barely make out a glimmer of reflected light from her mask’s holes. “So you’re heading out. What’s next?”

“The capital.” You remind yourself of your ultimate goal, clenching your fist in conviction. “Or I suppose the lab first, for whatever testing the UDF wants to do.”

“For Soul Nature.” Mask says, folding her arms. You can make out a pair of darkened metal gauntlets as her robe adjusts, and their sharp-looking fingertips. “Ask yourself who stands to gain from this, and what they stand to gain.”

“Well, I won’t really know for sure until I meet some of those people.” You retort, a bit peeved at the return of word games which you’d been grateful to leave behind with Patchouli. “That was the one thing the Librarian was close-lipped about.”

“Heh. Well, there’s not much more I can say either. …Sorry, but it’s Reimu, right?” She gestures to you.

“Yeah.” You admit. “Good memory.”

“Well, you’re fortunate to have made it past the Survivalists unscathed. Most of their number aren’t too happy about the Hakurei.”

“I managed.” You’re a bit testy at having someone see through you again, even if you haven’t really been hiding it.

“I’m sure you’ve already seen the fear that name inspires down here. But it’s not just fear.” Mask shrugs her shoulders as she lets out a deep sigh. “Even just as a representative of divinity, you’re the recipient of misdirected awe and faith- and that can be just as bad as being feared or hated. I know, I’ve seen it happen all too well.”

[ ] “But I’m a human. A shrine maiden.” It’s absurd for youkai to direct worship toward their ancient adversary.

[ ] “Don’t remind me.” You’ve had more than enough of overawed gawkers back home.

[ ] “The Saint who created the barrier saved the youkai, shouldn’t they be worshiping her instead?”