Airi reached the top of the stairs and met the eyes of people "Ojou-sama!" shouted by one of the shrine members. All the members on the yard circled around her "Are you alright?!" "Were you attacked by the spirits?" "Please get inside quick!" "Is that the shrine's artifact?!" Everyone spoke in chorus that she only understood some people. "A-Ah..! I-I'm fine! A friend of mine protected me! Our a-artifact also protected me!" All the ranting stopped for a moment as they noticed the staff she was holding, but then she was barraged with questions all of a sudden. As she tried to talk to everyone, she noticed two other disciples near the main hall. They were talking in whispers and kept pointing at Airi's house 'What are they talking about...?' she tried to keep her eye on the two, but they quickly left the yard.
Sotoki was still climbing the stairs. Climbing the stairs was harder for him as he was more tired than Airi, who was just resting in his arms not too long ago. Suddenly, chatter was heard above the stairs, which prompted Sotoki to hurry up. After reaching the top, he saw people circling around Airi "A-Airi... huf.." he panted. "T-That's my friend, Fujisaki-kun." Then all of a sudden, the shrine members bowed to him "Thank you!" Sotoki felt awkward and embarrassed from what just happened "Welcome." he said with a frown, still bearing untrust towards other people. A shrine member calmed the crowd then they were brought inside the main hall.
"Waah... What happened here?" Airi baffled. the roof of the main hall was broken. The one who answered her was an old lady "The staff flew out of the shrine, through the roof." Then she was suddenly hugged "Grandmother! I'm glad you're alright!" she cried. Airi was really relieved to see her grandmother. Sotoki bowed to her and was greeted back. They sat on the floor after the disciples brought them sitting pillows. The high priestess, who introduced herself as Kiyo, was holding the staff "It just fell from the sky. Do you know why?" Sotoki asked her. "Yes. It was brought to its rightful owner." she spoke, her words directed to Airi "M-Me?" the old lady nodded. Airi had her eyes on her grandmother the whole time 'Why...? Is she sick...?' The light, a blinking pale blue light, is within the old lady "Well... Let me give you something." the old lady went towards the altar.
Sotoki asked "Is something wrong?" he had noticed that something was happening, Airi's expression was saying it all. "Grandmother... She's.. The light is.." she was in tears. He already knew what was happening, but he felt the need to reassure her "It's probably because she's old. That's why the light is like that." that was what he said, but he wasn't certain, it could have come off as a lie too. "I-Is that so?" Feeling more relaxed that she knew it wasn't because of sickness, she stood up to help her grandmother "I'll help you!" she said. As they searched for something, Sotoki just looked around the main hall, standing up soon after "I will just be outside." he said to the two and they agreed.
Sotoki sat by the stairs "Hah... It's really relaxing here." he smiled, then frowned "TAKO?!" he stood up. Only remembering his cat now, he checked his bag, which is not on him "Where is he?!" If the bag wasn't with him, then that could only mean that it fell. Thinking about it now, he never heard a meow since the time when Airi found him "Ta-" "Meow." he heard meowing behind him "Tako?" there was a man carrying a bag with the cat inside. "I found this little guy on the road." the man spoke, noticing that the cat belonged to the person in front of him "Thank you very much." he said with sarcasm as he took the bag. He really hates other people.
Lightning bolts fell down from the night sky "Huh? What is that?" Nikko mumbled while looking above. He had a bad feeling about those lightning. When he brought his head down, a mass of walking shadows were headed towards them "W-what is...?!" Quickly, he recovered and commanded the ents to the block the creatures and defeat them "Run! Quick!" he carried Yuriko and made the third ent carry her while they ran. Nikko made sure that Harashi was following. Looking at the ents that were left behind, they were getting dissolved "What are those creatures?" The ents were shrinking, but also were defeating some shadows. "Thank you ents...!" he said before looking straight. He ran behind the ent carrying Yuriko to be sure that she doesn't fall behind.
As they ran, more and more of the shadows were appearing. They had been turning left and right. Nikko kept tapping trees to make branches grow and block the monsters. However, those monsters seeped through the little gaps "Hah... Hah... Yuriko.. Do you know where the end of the forest is?" he asked, he knows they have to get out of the forest. In the worst case scenario, they'll be fighting the monsters. He continued to tap trees with his naginata and was getting the hang of it. He also had summoned ents at certain times. 'Hah... This.. is.. tiring...' he felt more and more tired as he used his powers while running.
