faepuns | --Faerie--

[Bingo.]

It is, and it's a shame. I travel the country, looking for magic and painting what I find. I'm running out of locations!

... I suppose it is.

[Takame knew nothing about magic intricately. Just that he could sense it. That he always felt drawn to it. That it was his only companion as well as what isolated him from other people.

He wished to lean into it, but he was just a weak human. One who should not become involved with it. He wasn't sure of the "correct" way to feel about it.]

Is that why you have come here? To paint the scenery?

Yes. There's something...alluring about this village. It's hard to explain.

...

[... Takame was taking a risk here. He was told for most of his life in the west to never reveal his ability. "Good eyes" could mean anything in a casual context. But.

Well, Takame always had striking green and teal eyes. They were as striking as they were strong magic sensors. And something about this man was alluring... or perhaps it was just his loneliness desperately seeking a connection.]

... Do you see it as well? The veil of power woven throughout this village like the northern lights?

[Ah.]

I do. It seems to be getting stronger, doesn't it?

[Because he's been working on it.]

You do? You do...

[Someone else has this? Another human? Takame knew it was rare among humans, but he's never seen another with it.]

It has. Even in the short time I have been here, I have noticed it.

I wonder why. Maybe a spirit finds this village interesting?

Perhaps. I know little of the deeper workings of magic. I am not meant to. It is for the yokai and fey as well as those blessed by them to use, not me.

[Takame made peace with that long ago. His tone was resigned and matter of face.]

...but you wish that were different.

[He's too smart, sir.]

...

[He hesitated, not realizing that was an answer in itself quick enough. So he shook his head after not too long.]

No, I do not. Things as they are now are fine. I've no reason to seek out anymore than I have, nor any reason to be different from what I am.

I am not different. It is what it is.

I see.

[That is mostly the end of the conversation, though Yusuke is still sociable if prompted. Soon, though, he leaves with his entourage for the inn.

Two nights later, on the night of the full moon, a song starts playing over the village. It is haunting.]

[Takame was not great with small talk, but tried to engage as much as the other man was able and left the teahouse not long before him.

His sister figure hadn't returned "home", though he'd seen her with her friends these past few days and was not concerned. In truth, he hoped she stayed with them. She seemed a fine young woman, bright and ambitious. A better person than her father.

Takame was always an early riser and a late sleeper, so when the song began to play over the village on the full moon night he was drawn to it immediately.]

... That song...

[His superior had long since fallen asleep at his desk, so Takame went outside to find the source of the song playing. This captivating tune tinged with magic.]

I'll take thee away, into a land of enchantment...

[The song is gorgeous, and Takame is not the only one coming out to see what's going on. Others, all of them somewhat outsiders and a few children, are wandering out.]

...

[So, he wasn't the only one drawn. As drawn in as Takame was by this melody, some old habits died hard. He never left the house unarmed, and a hand rested on the hilt of his katana.

His hand was shaking, though. Something that has not happened in many years.

And his feet kept drawing him forward, heartbeat echoing in his ears. A welcoming warmth washed over him.]

The song tempts us... [Said to the others around, but without projecting his voice. As if his effort to dissuade himself and the others around was half-hearted.

Take me with you. Unto this land. There is nothing for me here. Perhaps there I will belong. That was what his heart said, loudly and desperately.]

[One of the other villagers, a young girl who's never really fit in with the others, looks to Takame.]

It does...but I want to go.

[As does everyone else. The song keeps playing, luring the villagers out of the village and into the nearby woods. The trees are alight with silver, blue, and red, and there's a path to a hill.]

... Why do you want to go, too?

["Too". It was added unconsciously, Takame wasn't even entirely aware he said it. The longer the song played, the faster Takame's feet seemed to carry him. He fell in perfect synchronized step with the others, only faltering a few times because he wanted to stop and look at the colors the trees have become.

There is no color for me here. Is it in your land?]

[The girl doesn't respond, too enthralled by the music.

As they reach the hill, the doors open and let them into a gorgeous manor-under-the-hill. It's brightly lit, somehow, and not at all cold or musty. It's warm, inviting, and covered in gorgeous tapestries and paintings.

A harp plays in the middle by itself, and a white fox sits on a throne.

Everyone kneels.]

[Eventually, even Takame stopped trying to speak or stop. The hand white knuckle gripping his katana relaxed and he fell in complete step with the others. Like he was in the same trance. He just wanted to listen to the song. Follow the first thing that made him feel anything since he was a child.

He even kneeled with the others. But he seemed to snap out of it somewhat seeing that same white fox, pulsing with magic.

It was sheer shock, honestly, that made him stand again.]

You... I saw you before.

[The fox yips and jumps and turns into the man from the teashop. Just...rather more inhuman and with furry pointed ears.]

You have. Welcome, lost ones, to my home.

...!!

[It startled Takame, that sudden shapeshift. He could see magic, but he's never seen it being used right before his eyes. Habit again made him reach for the hilt of his katana, but was so surprised to see the man from the teashop that he dropped his hand again.]

... You are... traveling artist-san. From the other day. You are the white fox as well?

I am. I went to the village to find those who would be happier here with me. Shockingly, it was quite a few, as you can see.

... I don't understand. Everyone else here... I cannot speak for them, but I was content with where I was. So why have you brought me here?

[The proof spoke for itself, but it didn't register to Takame. He glanced at the girl who spoke to him earlier.

He still wondered why she wanted to be away like he did.]

Because you weren't content. No one who came out to hear the song was, even if they're denying it.

[Yusuke flips and starts to float on air.]

The girl you just glanced at--her aunt and uncle didn't want to take her in and made it known. The boy to your left, well, right now he looks like a girl, doesn't he? And the couple behind you, they've been mocked as outsiders since arriving. And you...

[Takame looked at each person pointed out. He recalled arguments about a "useless little girl" from the home down the street. Heard incredibly unpleasant words said about the child to his left that even made his blood boil. And the couple behind him hailed from the central continent.

As for himself, he looked down. Down at both of his hands that once held tight onto his katana.

"You weren't content. No one who came out to hear the song was."]

... Was I not content...? I was taken away... brought back to my homeland... was... was I not content with that?

Given the way that one idiot was speaking to you? I don't think you were.

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