SideQuest!

Act 5 - Lady Yui

Fireflies flew about as we made our way up the steps, with Sev carrying me on his arms. Though dimly lit, the light of the blue flame flickering from the bowls held up by pedestals arrayed on either side of the path illuminated the way - just enough for our entourage to see where we are going.

Interestingly, I can feel Sev's arms shaking a little bit as he walks - probably strained for carrying me on such a long walk.

"You doing fine there, Sev?" I asked as I slid my hand towards my wound, feeling it to check if I can walk a few distances so I can alleviate his burden.

"I'm fine. Don't worry. We're nearly there anyway." he grunted as he tried his best to hold me up.

"You sure? I mean, you can just fly me to the top of the staircase first if you want. You don't have to walk all the way carrying me like this."

"I'll manage. Just hold tight." he replied as his lips curled into a smile.

"Okay. If you say so." I answered. "But don't drop me, all right?! Your shaking arms are worrying me."

"You'll be fine." he replied, his smile turning into a grin.

"I don't like that smile of yours, Sev. Not one bit." I commented as I clutched tighter around his neck. "You're not planning on dropping me on these steps, are you?"

"And risk angering Dr. Fuhan? No way. Besides, why would I want to do that, even for the purpose of pranking you?" he replied.

"Then why are you smiling like that?!" I asked with a raised voice.

With his grin growing wider, he said, "Nothing! I...didn't think a woman of your size would be this heavy."

"Are you complimenting my figure or are you mocking my weight?" I asked.

"Well...yes." he answered, chorused with a stifled smile.

"What do you mean, yes?!" I growled as I struck Sev's chest.

I paused for a few moments before moving on to a new topic.

"By the way, what's inside that box?" I asked him.

"We don't know. But what we do know is that Lady Nima, before her death, used the remainder of her energy to release this box so that we may be able to deliver it to you. Therefore, its contents must be very, very important." Lady Yui interjected.

"Ohh..." I gasped as it dawned on me that a life was taken to take this box to me. "I'm...I'm sorry to hear that one of the shrine guardians...To think that I didn't even get to thank her..."

"She wouldn't have minded." Lady Yui interjected. "Her last will was for us to bring you this box. However, the question remains: can Nima rest knowing that her death wasn't in vain?"

I paused, unsure on how to answer. "I...I don't know..."

"I suppose we can only speculate, Lady Yui." Sev interjected. "We've only just begun. With due respect, it is too early to make the final say."

"I suppose you're right." Lady Yui agreed. "However...we have a situation at hand. Your second-in-command, Shinjiro, spoke of four warriors whose combined abilities and powers far surpass that of one shrine guardian like myself. Shrine guardians are immortal beings, Prince Josen. We were chosen by the ancient powers of Tosen-Kyushu to watch over the land. If there exists people that can kill immortal being such as us, then I'm afraid Tosen-Kyushu's fate hangs in the balance if we do not find a solution quickly to this dire situation. The other shrine guardians would not act unless their respective towns are provoked, and your uncle is apparently eliminating all of us one by one..."

Lady Yui then turned her gaze towards the box.

"Let us hope that Nima's death was worth something." she said softly.

"If I may, my lady...why won't the shrine guardians act after what happened in Manjeong? Surely, that would be enough catalyst for other towns to join forces. An event of that magnitude would most likely-"

"Nima and I...are not like the others." Lady Yui replied. "You see, there are two ways one can become a shrine guardian: either you are brought into being as an immortal being or turned into one. Nima and I belong to the latter."

"Well...what...makes the others different from you?" I asked.

"The others, well...as they are immortals through and through, do not understand human concepts, norms and ideas - let alone human nature. They are very mechanical in thought. They live to fulfill their purpose - to defend their protectorates. Nothing more. They do not possess empathy like us humans. " Lady Yui answered.

"Us humans?" I clarified.

"You heard me correctly, Outsider." Lady Yui smiled, her eyes gleaming as she looks at the horizon. "I was once a native of this place, beholden by the entire town."

"I see." I commented. "But, my lady...what happened? How did you become a shrine guardian?"

"A curious one, aren't you?" she commented as her lips curled into a smile. "The original shrine guardian of Junjo is a...shall we say, a primordial being. She represents the life force of all living beings on this world. When I was little, I was stricken by a strange disease that even my father wasn't able to treat. Having no other choice, my father asked the help of then Junjo's shrine guardian, Shizen, to cure me. Shizen granted his wish...but at a great price. Just like the old folks say, one does not simply bargain with a shrine guardian."

"What was the price?" I asked.

"Shizen is a powerful being, but she has no physical form to protect her subjects in Junjo from physical harm - unlike the other shrine guardians. To put it simply, I was saved...to become her avatar. When I was cured of my disease, I became immortal. But in exchange, my body now belonged to the town. I can no longer live a normal life. I cannot eat nor drink nor love. A shrine guardian must always be at a constant state of zen. I cannot be that if I give in to the demands of my earthly body."

"Why?" I followed up.

"The consequences would be disastrous for the protectorate of the shrine guardian." Lady Yui spoke softly. "Just look at Nima for example."

"I don't understand." I asked.

"She...she fell in love." she answered curtly.

"Fell in love? Is that a bad thing?" I asked some more.

"Yes." she replied. "She could have evacuated the citizens of Manjeong before the Interior Ministry attacked...but she didn't. Her judgement was so clouded by emotion that her devotion to her duty as a shrine guardian diminished...which, ultimately brought her downfall."

"But the army that scouted Manjeong said that the four warriors that went with the Interior Ministry can kill a shrine guardian, didn't they? Didn't Lady Nima said it herself? The citizens would not have stood a chance even if they tried to flee." I argued.

"Even so. She knew the risks. We all know that by standing your ground against an unstoppable enemy, you would've effectively doomed your people. And yet, knowing this, Nima opted to stay and die than to take the much greater chance of survival by fleeing and living to fight another day." Lady Yui retorted.

"I see." I conceded. "That is a fair point."

The way Lady Yui answered was a surreal experience for me. Ever since I became...entangled in this virtual reality, I kept reminding myself that this world is not true, no matter how real it may seem. But no matter how hard I tried to shake off the idea, I can't help but wonder how everything that's happening right now felt so...organic and natural. It was as if I was indeed taken from my 'real world' and suddenly thrust into another one. I don't know if the RealityVR has its secrets that perhaps only a select few from Rabid Games have knowledge of, but what I do know is that there's a creeping dread in my heart that's slowly eating me from the inside out, telling me that I need to get out of this world as soon as possible.

Honestly, I don't know what else to do. I was thrust into this world without any prior briefings about...well, this. Perhaps the next best thing is to follow the oldest non-spoken rule in the videogame rulebook: If there are enemies along the way, then you're on the right track.

"Is something bothering you, Outsider? You seem lost in thought?" Lady Yui asked, snapping me back to a conscious state.

"I...It's nothing, my lady. I just...remembered something." I replied hesitantly.

"Well, I suggest you save that though for another time. We're here." she answered as we entered the Torii gates at the entrance of the house of Dr. Fuhan - which, if one was paying attention, loosely resembles the structural design of traditional houses from Japan and Korea.

Near the entrance of the room that I was confined in, Dr. Fuhan stood with his hands on his waist - his face showing a very sour mood.

Upon setting foot on the entrance, Sev slowly put me down so I can walk my way towards the house.

"What in damnation did I just tell you, young woman?! I told you to rest! I'm not going to tell you twice!" ranted Dr. Fuhan as he rushed towards me, arms flailing about in anger. "You really love making my job harder, don't you woma-!"

"Hello, father." Lady Yui interjected, smiling as she approached the old man.

"Lady Shizen?" Dr. Fuhan gasped, immediately stopping in his tracks to prostrate himself. "I wasn't expecting your arrival." Seeing this, the other servant girls walking around the estate grounds followed his example.

"Arise. Please. There's no need for such formalities." Lady Yui responded as she gently held Dr. Fuhan by the hand, asking him to be at ease.

"Y-Yui...is that you?" Dr. Fuhan softly inquired as he rose his head.

"Yes...father." she nodded. "Can I come inside the house?"

At this, Dr. Fuhan's lips curled into a smile. "Always...my sweet. Have you eaten?"

"You know I can't do that." Lady Yui responded with a grin. "Perhaps your patient here would love to have some."

"Ahh. Of course." Dr. Fuhan chuckled as he turned to his servants. "You heard the Lady! Ready tonight's supper!"

At this command, all of the servants scrambled to go to their respective posts. Handmaidens going from the pantry towards the large section of the house in the middle of the estate carrying baskets of dumplings, fried meats and other meals while the men, with their sleeves rolled up, carried large jars of what I can only suppose to be wine.

"Come! Let us feast!" invited Dr. Fuhan. "We have a long night ahead of us."