🇧🇷 (em português)

Chapter 10 — Unnatural Order

In times of despair, even mortal

enemies can find common ground in their

fear of uncertainty. The dormant fairy

ventures in a world of cosmic illusions.

An illustrated story based on the Touhou series.

"Great place, isn't it? How about we go see the Crop Fields next, Iris?"

Opening my eyes, I'm captivated by a prismatic spectacle. A chaotic tempest 
of bright colors faze me from all directions. Under my resting place, I feel 
the world shift. It's as if Mother Earth herself also watched in awe.

It's been a long day, what's wrong with a break? Not that I'm feeling tired
but we're already late anyways. I look up to the sky. The Sun seems to agree.

Suddenly, I hear whispers behind my back. Weak. Lazy. Useless. Some of the 
colors are spreading rumors. I'm not tired, honest. The Sun shakes his head.

I furrow my brows, "Look, let me show you." Standing up, I turn around and 
hug the old tree tightly. The colors watch me slowly and arduously climb it.

As I make my way to the top, its heartbeats are felt against my chest. I hear 
whispers turn into gossip, laughter and finally taunting. I refuse to listen.

I'll show them. The others may not care but I do. It's so embarrassing. The 
last thing I need is to hear about the Kisé who was too weak to climb a tree.

The further up I go, the less doors and people are seen by the corridors. The
one to my left lacks a knob, one to the right screams as I touch it, two up
ahead are drawn on the wall and the one at the end of the corridor is locked.

My skin feels cold. With each step, pieces of the room disappear, revealing a
growing, endless void. Looking down, I realize that I'm standing on nothing.

"Nothing here either," I sigh. That's when I hear muffled voices nearby.

Feeling curious, I try to listen through the door.

*** *** ***

"...Of course not. The fool is probably just hiding somewhere."

"How demon know? All demon do. Hide from god. Hide in other world."

"Hold your tongue, brat! The Ahiağ have watched over this world long before 
your kind DARED to be. Unlike you Beings, our existence has a purpose. We 
bled for the gods, stood by their side through even the bloodiest battles."

"Yes. God lose. Man win. Hide. Papa tell Taba. Papa there. Juma fight too."

"Would you look at that, a juma who knows something. Perhaps it is the end."

"Everyone, please don't fight. We have gathered here today for a reason."

"River Mother right. God gone. End of world. Taba think."

"We have noticed it. Have the Wihóg'wató said anything, River Mother?"

"I'm afraid not. The spirits of nature haven't shown themselves to anyone."

"Humph! One would think that in troubled times the 'true' pajés would step
down and do their job. Alas, once again, only the Ahiağ live up to the title."

"Fake Pajé. All know. Tell Taba. Fish talk? World end. Fish make new."

"Please, the enchanted ones? I doubt they even know he's gone. More likely, 
those degenerates would find pleasure in breaking his laws one last time."

"I'm sorry Taba, but they refuse to open the entrance to their city. I'm not 
sure how but... it feels like something is meddling with the Laws of Nature."

"Somethin'? Don't ya'll mean someone?"

"...!"

"Oh, hello there. I didn't see you two coming. Who are you?"

"You, I know you! Spawn of Matinta, visaje, begone from this place!"

"Shoot, izzat how ya treat an ol' coworker? Guess ya'll wouldn't want us ta 
shine some light on yer little problem. Point taken. Let's go home, Paulie."

"Wait! Please don't go. Is it true? Do you know what happened to god Tupana?"

"River Mother, please. Do you believe a visaje will spout anything but lies?"

"We don't have any leads, Ahiağ, and it wasn't her that caught my attention."

"Taba agree. Weird human. Why here? Tell Taba."

"Well, ya see my man-eating friend. This one — excuse her shyness — has been 
in contact with the big guy himself. Ya'll could say she's his messenger."

"Rubbish!"

"Wah? God pick human? Taba confused."

"I'm sorry but I must agree. It's hard to believe something like that."

"Heh! Ah reckon y'all would want some evidence. Show em' the thin', Paulie."

Before I notice it, my body goes numb. The door in front of me is violently 
kicked open by an invisible force, revealing a blinding light within. Soon, I
see hundreds, maybe thousands of eyes staring at me. The forest is lively.

Unable to turn my neck, I gaze at a fraction of what's revealed to be a large
crowd. on one side, creatures with horns, lost souls and eerie looking 
animals. On another, centaurs, werewolves and countless other creatures.

Walking on land, flying in the sky and in the water. Never in my life — even 
during the Debukiry — have I ever seen that many Supernaturals in one place.
Looking at me, they talk among themselves, shocked, confused and nervous.

By my side I can just make out the Pajé. Close to her is a girl who I recall
seeing when I was making my delivery and the trio, I recognize one of them.

Where am I? What's River Mother doing here?

"The Puratig̃?" The Ahiağ says uneasily.

"Paddle! Man weapon!" Taba remarks in shock.

River Mother covers her mouth, "It has to be a fake, right? It can't be..."

"It's the real one," The demon ensures. "Aged wood, with symbols painted on 
both sides. Its demonic aura is my kin's signature, impossible to replicate."

The visaje girl grins, "Y'all heard 'er. Case closed."

The demon hugs herself, "To think I would ever see this cursed weapon again."

"Bad weapon! Hurt juma! Hurt many!" Taba protests angrily. 

"I think I understand now," laments River Mother, crossing her arms, "God 
Tupana must have expected us to gather, that his disappearance would be seen 
as a bad omen, but..." she stops, "Why a messenger? Why won't he talk to us?"

The girl and the Pajé exchange looks, she giving her a "go ahead" gesture. As
the Pajé steps forward she closes her eyes, seemingly looking for the correct
words. The forest braces nervously for what could be their unquestionable end.

"The disappearance of god Tupana was not an omen but a message, a message to 
all Supernaturals who chose to live at the edge of nature a long time ago."

"To live in a world with trees and animals was a choice common to all of us. 
It was through the Laws of Nature that order was established and the world 
would continue to be as long as we lived seeking balance with Mother Earth."

She pauses. In that moment, even a falling water droplet would be audible.

"...We failed," she shakes her head. "Be it through malice or neglect. Be it
his creation or not. Be it Supernatural or human, this world lacks balance."

"It was the enchanted ones!" a werewolf Being interrupts, "They were told to 
keep an eye on the humans and look where that got us!" Some nod in agreement.

"So? You man-eaters failed to hunt them down," an anteater Being remarks.

"We should have slain them all," a demon protests. "They don't fear us nor 
care about flooding or burning down our homes." Two Beings exchange frowns.

"We could have done it. We could have won the war against the humans but god 
Tupana chose them over us. It wasn't fair at all," complains a deer visaje.

"You failed because your kind is weak," a centaur Being interjects. "Why he 
allowed inferior copies of his creations to live is beyond me," he snorts.

"At least we were planned, unlike you living accidents," another demon says.

The Pajé blinks, left speechless as the crowd is reduced to a chaotic mess. 
Insults are throw around from all angles, harsh words reopening old wounds.
River Mother facepalms while the demon and the visaje girl bet on who'll win.

CRASH!

A Being roughly the size of a two-story building stomps the floor, decisively
ending the quarrel. He scans the timid crowd, seeking anyone who feels brave.

"Thank you Papa!" Taba waves.

As if freed from a trance, the Pajé snaps back to reality and continues.

"For, ahem, many reasons, this world lacks balance. However, while he remains
silent, the end of this world is not his will." Many share sighs of relief.

The Pajé furrows her brows, "Despite prospering, humanity has grown selfish 
and distant. His will is that the recovery and preservation of the past, the 
Laws of Nature, shall be reached not through the devotion of men but ours."

Murmurs are heard within the crowd, some wondering if they heard her right.

"This path includes the creation of a new clan, one composed entirely by
Supernaturals. Finally, he has appointed me as its pajé and his messenger."

"Nonsense!" The Ahiağ angrily objects, "What are you saying? The very laws 
that fool wishes to preserve include the boundaries that separate us from 
each other. Some conflicts long predate even the existence of this world!"

She glares, "Willing us to coexist? Please. No Puratig̃ will make me believe
your 'message'. You are no pajé. Learn your place, human!" The crowd cheers.

"Juma strong! Juma fight! Help demon? Never!" Taba proudly declares.

River Mother's eyes meet the floor, looking lost in thought.

The Pajé calmly looks at the crowd before speaking, "Boundaries, old scars 
and grudges, I too wondered as we walked through the garden of Nusokén."

River Mother gasps, "Nusokén? It has returned?"

The Pajé closes her eyes, "He said... not to walk through familiar paths."

"Not to..." The demon's eyes widen, "No! H-he wouldn't mean..."

"From the independent Wiakãg’mi’yt Beings to the haunting Wãgkãgkãg visajes 
and ghosts. From the proud Ahiağ demons to the wandering Ga’apy’ty Forest 
Mothers. Friend or foe, from this day forward we shall all live as equals."

Knock!

"And once again, the Laws of Nature..."

Knock knock!

"Shall be rewritten."

Knock knock knock!

In an instant, I'm kicked out of the land of dreams.