[Day 3, Late Afternoon] A Staring Contest With a Rock

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora shook his head, remembering Jin's words on communing with Earth.

"It's not human, and it's slow to respond. Ask it who shaped it."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka stares at Ayumu blindly for a moment, the turns back to the rock. "Old rock spirit, who crafted you?"

[Canary]

"... I WAS CARRIED AND GOUGED BY THE FIVE..."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"Is that... new information?"

[Shoji Haka]

"Carried and gouged by the five," she repeats, translating kami-speak into human speak.

Turning back to the water, she continues. "Is there any spiritual corruption in the area?"

[Canary]

"... ONLY THE HOME REALM OF THIS PLACE LAYS CLAIM TO IT..."

[Jiyo Sora]

"The five..."

Sora filed that away for later use."

[Shoji Haka]

"No spiritual corruption, so that is good." She pauses. "If there are other questions that need answering, now is the time for them."

[Jiyo Sora]

What did one ask a rock?

Well. It was worth a try.

"How many times has the war happened?"

[Canary]

"... TIMES UNCOUNTED, AS LONG AS JIGOKU AND NINGEN-DO HAVE EXISTED... IT IS PART OF THE RHYTHM OF THE WORLD..."

[Shoji Haka]

Haka relays the reply, then asks her final question. "How have mortals armed themselves for this fight in the past?"

[Canary]

"... I DO NOT KNOW ... THE STORY OF THE FIVE... THE STORY OF THE OGRES... THEY WERE IMPRINTED UPON ME BUT THEY ARE NOT MINE..."

[Shoji Haka]

"Rock does not know," she relays, turning back towards the two others. "This one hopes that some part of that was helpful."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

"I'm not sure what to make of this. If I understand what you said correctly, this rock is actually a stele upon which is inscribed the story, or at least one story, of its makers. Who were some ancient people... From another realm? This part, I'm having difficulties with.

Nothing seems to be written on the rock. But I guess very different people would have very different ways to leave a message to the next generations. Like, there are some very specific centuries-old rock alignments in the Isawa lands which clearly meant something important to people of their time, but whose meaning is utterly lost to us nowadays.

By the way sempai, why did you ask about a war? It said nothing about a war.

Either way, I think we should thank the spirit for his help. I feel a bit bad for having awaken from its slumber such an old thing with our silly human curiosity and giving nothing in return.

Someone gifted it a roof recently. I think the least we can do is to offer this old being a bath. Pluck the weeds, clean up the dirt, make it a bit shiny at least for a moment, as we would do with one of our ancestors' gravestones. It sure seems to require it."

Ayumu was already getting out the cleaning supplies that he had planned to use since the beginning.

[Jiyo Sora]

"Do as you see fit, Ayumu. As for my question... let us say I have my reasons for asking."

Sora frowned.

"Thank you, Person Who Doesn't Like Her Name being Spoken. This is... a fair bit to digest."

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Unless Haka actively prevents him from doing so, Ayumu will begin the tedious task of scrubbing clean a big old rock while the other two continue talking.

[Shoji Haka]

Haka nods at the thanks.

"If a great deal of time has passed, a larger portion of the rock may be buried," she points out. "There may be more to it, unseen by your eyes."

[Jiyo Sora]

"I saw all I have any desire to... But it's a point well-taken."