[Day 9, EN] Call of Darkness

[Reo]

Reo takes another look into the darkness, the rebuke in his head still fresh.

"I don't know if it's just the cave. More that it was a place where it could be strong...But yes, for now, the other mission takes priority."

There's still something here.

As much as he wants to go on, the words of warning have Reo return to the mouth of the cave.

[Canary]

Reo takes another look into the darkness, the rebuke in his head still fresh.

"I don't know if it's just the cave. More that it was a place where it could be strong...But yes, for now, the other mission takes priority."

There's still something here.

As much as he wants to go on, the words of warning have Reo return to the mouth of the cave.

The laughter follows him, never pausing to breathe as something limited by physical form might. Eventually, it fades away as he reaches the entrance.

[Reiko]

Reiko tensed slightly when she saw two shapes approaching, her eyesight even worse in these conditions.

"Kanna? Reo?"

[Kanna]

Kanna lifted her arm, revealing the jade necklace to the hard-of-sight Lady. "It's us. I talked him outta going, don't worry." She got close enough that Reiko could get an appropriate look at her face, then gave her a reassuring smile.

[Reo]

"It's us." Reo returns the words, shaking his head as the laughter continues to peel unheard by the others. "Something in there spoke to me Madam Reiko. It wanted me to go further. It knew things about me, things I felt. It offered me..."

Reiko trails off and looks back. "And as terrifying as that is, a big part of me wants to go back there. Wants to know what exactly it offers. If not for you two calling me, I probably would have kept walking."

[Reiko]

(Missed this! Sorry!)

Reiko breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing her stance as she heard the voices.

"Thank the Fortunes..."

She moved forward, placing her hand on Kanna's shoulder.

"Thank you, Kanna-san."

She then placed her hand on Reos shoulder.

"That is what Jigoku wants you to do. To tempt you with things it could to. Draw you in with wonderful offerings, as the cost of your soul and your very being. The cost is never worth it though, and you don't need what it has. I'm truly thankful you have returned."

She took a half step back, smiling to both of them.

"I don't want to lose any of my kin on this trip. Not to Jigoku, not to anything."

[Reo]

Reo is slightly surprised when a hand is placed on his shoulder, such a familiar almost motherly gesture. A nods, and does his best to not look back, even as it calls to him.