Hotaru's future
Mount Katsuragi.
Morning light filtered through the treetops, dappling the stone path.
The Tsuchigumo Clan's village had been built into the mountainside, its wooden houses nestled neatly across the terraces. Thick thatch covered their roofs, stained dark brown by years of mountain mist.
Two old cedars at the village entrance were draped with sacred ropes resembling spiderwebs. They swayed gently in the morning breeze, marking the Tsuchigumo Clan's distinctive barrier.
En no Gyōja stood at the top of the stone steps by the entrance, leaning on a wooden staff taller than himself.
The old man was past seventy, yet his back remained ramrod straight. His unruly gray hair was tied loosely behind his head with a straw cord, and his deeply sunken eyes shone keenly.
Beside him stood a girl of twelve or thirteen, with short, chestnut-colored hair and a smudge of dirt still on her cheek. The instant she spotted people coming up the mountain path, she rose onto her tiptoes and waved with all her might.
"Sōji!!!"
Hotaru's voice rang through the entire valley, startling a flock of birds into flight.
Karin was walking at the head of the group. At that shout, her steps faltered noticeably for half a beat.
She adjusted the round glasses on her nose. A subtle glint flickered in her crimson eyes, but a polite smile remained on her lips.
"You must be... Karin, right? I've heard so much about you!"
Hotaru ran down toward them as she spoke. She nearly tripped on the stone steps, but Karin caught her.
"Yes, that's me. Sōji talks about you all the time, too!"
Karin held her arm steady, her voice as gentle as if she were soothing a child. "We brought you some grilled shellfish from the Land of Water. I'll give it