fabrecation | 017 [Voice]

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017 [Voice]

[It's rather late at night when the journal clicks on. Luke had waited until he had calmed down from the nightmare he had to make the post, and good thing, too. Otherwise it'd catch the tremor he surely had in his voice.

Instead, he merely sounds subdued, and maybe a little hesitant.]

Does anyone have any good stories to tell?

Or... any advice on how to get back to sleep? [Nothing he usually does is working right now.]

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...They fought.

Every strong and able warrior took arms up against the demons, but it was not enough. The twin devils slayed many of the tribesmen, and greatly injured the village chief. [She flips the page again, this time painting a chaotic scene (http://images.wikia.com/okami/images/0/0c/Oki_sam_kemDE MONS.jpg) of the demons looming down on a single man.] One lone, and mighty warrior by the name of Oki fended them off, just to allow the others to escape. ...But even he could not defeat them alone.

The twin devils called upon a great snowstorm, one that engulfed the entire northern land. And with the Day of Darkness, a day when the sun was blocked from giving its warmth and protection to the land, fast approaching...the threat became all the more grave. Hope, and time...was short. It was only a matter of time before all of Kamui became an icy tomb.

Their only hope lied within the Guardian Sword and its prophecy: The wall of ice shall shatter and open the way to the heavens when the guardian sword, Kutone, glows silver".

[That... sounds awful. Being encased in an icy tomb, because of those twin devils... No one being able to defeat them. It sounds terrifying, to be there with no escape...

Luke grips his pillow tighter as he leans his head forward.]

Did they use the sword, then?

[Doesn't it just? But the worst part of her story is that it's a reality she lived through but one short year and a half ago, back in Nippon.

Miyabi takes a deep breath, turning her head away and closing her eyes. This part was always hard to tell, if only because she, like many, respected Oki very much as such a great warrior.]

...Yes and no. Oki, who sought glory and vengeance for the ruthless slaughter of his comrades and fellow villagers, took the sword as his own, believing he could bring about the prophecy of this mighty blade...but even after slaying demon after countless demon, the sword would not shine in his hands. How could it, when its wielder was so bent on mindless destruction himself?

[Another deep, long breath, and Miyabi paints again, this time of a small girl (http://okami.neoseeker.com/w/i/okami/thumb/e/ea/Lika.jpg/150px-Lika.jpg).] But the villagers had another idea. The guardian peaks, Ezofuji, would erupt and warm the icy land of Kamui when enticed by the volcanic incantation, a tribal dance done by the elder. However, with the elder injured and resting, this lone girl, Lika, was the only one who could perform the ceremonial dance and warm the land before the Day of Darkness, and before Kamui would be buried under the snowy assault.

[... He could see why Oki couldn't get the blade to shine. And he can't understand why Oki didn't see it himself. Luke himself can never understand vengeance, as he's never sought it our not felt the need to obtain it. Guy... Guy would have killed him thanks to that, if it weren't for him changing. Maybe Oki will change...

The next part makes Luke shift, as he if he's preparing for the story to end.]

So the girl danced?

[Aha...ha. Sorry, Luke, this story is far from ending. Miyabi herself isn't even sure of how it will really end. But she hesitates a moment before taking a deep breath, then exhaling. It's a kind of exasperated sigh. Telling this story almost brings to light how grave the situation back home really was. Oh, and that poor little girl...Miyabi still prays for her, just in case.]

You would think that, wouldn't you? [Her tone is sad, and hides a hint of bitterness and resentment.] No, the demons were one step ahead of everyone. It was as if they knew of the girl's importance, so they tricked her into following them into the cursed forest on the outskirts of the village, where only the bravest of the Oina people even dared to enter. They took her into the deepest part of Yoshpet...through the Spirit Gate, an evil iron gate from eons past. People say anything or anyone that happens to go through the gate, if and when it opens, will never return.

[Sound familiar yet, Luke? Miyabi's sure to have told you about the consuming forest at least once.]

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