—Ehem, thank you for your trust, Mr. Ayakashi… and… we would like to know in what we can help you, isn’t that right, Inola? —Ithil, with a handkerchief, covered the blood coming out of his nose.
—Eeh? What? Eerm? Yes… yes, yes —Inola turned away, totally embarrassed with both hands between his legs.
—Aaa… Magaska and Varneth are very confused —smoking from the neck of her shirt, Magaska took her cheeks with both hands.
—Ufufufufufuf, it was a pleasure… now let’s talk about what I need from you, I won’t lie… I will tell you what you need to know —the room turned slightly colder; the light seemed to come entirely from the table in the center of the room.
—Ithil… Mina… —Jacob looked at his companion; puffs of hot air could be seen coming out of the faces of the others. The cold kept dropping more and more while Ayakashi seemed pensive with the fan in his mouth; the weak light to fight was defeated by the greedy and insidious shadows surrounding them. Soon they saw themselves wrapped in a feeling of abandonment that surrounded them and, without noticing it, they were inside the ruined house.
—I am here in the name of my people; the world is changing and the boundaries and barriers have been forgotten or erased by carelessness or negligence… —Ayakashi breathed deeply; his words guarded anger and hatred… the house breathed with him, expanding and shrinking; fury contained in the air, anger and ruin danced on the lonely lanterns that could barely illuminate their surroundings.
—The Khuarhyanos have been through a lot, they have forgotten a lot; the lightbulb, the neon, the geotechnia, the lightings; they want to cover the night with lights and noises… —Ayakashi, in a fearsome voice that spanned the whole room, closed his eyes; the adventurers watched as spirits scurried among the shadows.
—Aaaa… but the night belongs to us, we —Ayakashi’s hand passed over his neck as if the situation gave him a macabre pleasure.
—Each shadow… —shadows of deformed animals gathered to his right while Ayakashi’s hand wandered over his right thigh.
—Each creak in the darkness… —immaterial beings surrounded them, stealing more of their heat; Ayakashi trembled and both of his hands caressed his nape.
—Each nameless voice that tells you monstrosities in the night… —giant entities made their way between the ceiling and looked at them from the dark skies. Ayakashi’s hands continued with his chest inside his hakama.
—But when they forget their boundaries and treat us like simple animals!! —the lamps turned red and the walls began to spill lines of blood; the floor lost its shape and began to palpitate.
—They force me to be what my nature dictates… that’s why that day happened… —Mina and the others remained still like observers, not even daring to reach for their weapons.
—You were the one who finished off the Reclamationists, right? —Inola, pale and cold, almost breathless, found the courage to speak.
—Mm, I don’t know their name nor am I interested… but if you refer to those on the outskirts, yes, I did it… —Ayakashi regained his composure; threads of light wove back with the heat reintegrating into the world. Suddenly they were back in the comfortable house they had arrived at.
Swallowing, Mina addressed Ayakashi: —I understand you did it for your people; we apologize for these offenses.
—Aaah, don’t worry, among us there are also clans and groups —Ayakashi gave a quick look at the painting of the wolf and the fox at the door.
—Your town… to which you must arrive, needs help… they are taking spirits from the forest, and we want this to stop… It’s simple, we are being aggrieved and as such we want… Jus.. Ti.. Ce.. —skipping on the last syllables, Ayakashi’s fan gave small taps on his mask.
—What? They shouldn’t… do they have them prisoner? Mmm, it is very possible they possess some type of container or cage —Jacob, in a slightly weak tone, asked.
—We don’t know, but many of our brother spirits have been taken to the town without returning… they weren’t like that at all… things changed since that priestess arrived with them; things changed… that shameless woman!! —Ayakashi’s mask turned red again and gave off a purple vapor that the guys immediately noticed.
—But it’s not worth mentioning more about that… —a small sigh followed by a palpable frustration came out of Ayakashi.
—So… do you want us to look for your spirit friends? —Leonidas asked; his pose with his legs crossed, imitating Ithil, gave him a little more comfort.
—Hummm, if you’d like, you can do it… but if there is nothing to be done, I want you to remove the town’s boundary so I can enter to settle scores with the priestess myself —Ayakashi waved his fan; a small gold bell could be heard in the background.
—Ooh, but to be able to reach the inner circle!! Only women can. That woman threw the men to the outskirts to watch and to the outer circle of the town, that is why you will have to use costumes —Ayakashi laughed mischievously, letting it be seen that he was enjoying the situation.
—Well, Magaska and Mina can go without problems, Jacob… mmmm, maybe we can do it… Inola… —Ithil turned to look at the guy.
—Nng, I warn you, you won’t see me in a skirt!! —Inola covered his body with the cushion, hugging it in front of him.
—Well, I think I could also dress up without problems —Leonidas raised his finger joyfully, but received Inola’s cushion in the face.
—Haaa, dare, baldy, I want to see you try!! —Inola stood up suddenly as if everyone were his enemies.
—Calm down, Inola, they are just clothes —Jacob tried to calm him down.
—Ooh, then I will bring tomorrow’s clothes to prepare everything. Ufufufufu —seeing Inola’s reaction, Ayakashi withdrew, giving malicious giggles.
—Inola, calm down, it’s just for infiltrating… besides, your face is very beautiful, it will suit you… —Mina could barely avoid her smile.
—Magaska thinks he looks good with long eyelashes… and Varneth says you should try a style of ribbons and shorts with ruffled socks —Magaska imagined the full set of clothes.
—Ok, stop, if Inola doesn’t want to, maybe we shouldn’t pressure him —Mina said, giving a few pats on Inola’s shoulder, who was red from anger and embarrassment.
—Even if I die, I won’t put on a skirt!! —almost with tears in his eyes, Inola grumbled, covering his mouth with the back of his hand and looking back.
—Here I am, I brought your costumes —Ayakashi returned, cheerful and animated, with a pile of hakamas; Grandma Kasa behind brought the complements.
—Very well, here they are, now you can put them on —with a thank you, each one took a hakama that caught their attention.
—He, he, he, ha, ha, ha, how… does this go on?? —Ithil struggled with the clothes, unable to differentiate feet from head.
—Mmmm, I think it goes like this? —Jacob was able to put on the hakama in a ridiculous way, putting the front on his back. Lizva tried to adjust it with some hooks, but they failed in being able to put it on.
—I think… Mmmm GHAAAAAA —Mina, angry with the sleeves, closed them as if they were a belt at the waist, leaving a kind of skirt.
—Magaska is totally confused!!! —Magaska threw the hakama into the air in a sign of frustration.
—Mmmmm, I think it looks a bit like the clothes I’m wearing —Inola looked at the hakama that had a great resemblance to the suit he himself wore, but the hakama had sleeves and his didn’t.
—Oo, no, I am enjoying this… but young ladies!! How is it possible that you can’t put on a dress!! —Ayakashi, holding back his laughter, watched the situation. Just when he was about to intervene, Inola approached Mina.
—This doesn’t go here, Mina! I think you must pass this part through here, take… put your arm here and here, it should fit well, it’s not a belt for gorillas. And you, Magaska, you must pass your legs through there and then the camisole goes, if you try to put it on before, it will look weird —Inola helped the girls put on the clothes.
—Suddenly I want to punch him, and you, Magaska? —Mina whispered to Magaska.
—Magaska thinks Inola requires a punch —both girls, struggling with entering the hakama, let Inola help them reluctantly.
—Aaahhh, what do you think? ♪ ufufufu, that young man Inola is really special ♩ —Ayakashi, almost singing, delighted in the scene, but remembered the other three guys who were watching them trying to put on the clothes.
—Well, now guys, I will help you —Ayakashi helped them and, with a little time, everyone was done.
—Ooh, very well guys, I’ll be honest: Leonidas and Ithil are the prettiest… no, pretty girls I’ve seen —without hiding his disappointment, Ayakashi was left pensive.
—Oh, I have it… Grandma Kasa, do we still have that old ox and horse skin? —Ayakashi turned behind him, where Grandma Kasa was drinking tea placidly.
—Aaah, those skins, your excellence? —the grandmother gave a small tap with her closed fist on her palm.
—That’s right, grandma, those skins!! The two young ladies, Jacob and Inola can pass for maidens without problems, but our big friends here will be difficult! —Ayakashi shook his head as if nothing could be done.
—Suddenly I feel useless, brother Ithil —Leonidas, a little sad and with the cloak hakama, could not hide his disappointment.
—Don’t worry, brother Leo, I think it’s better this way —Ithil watched as Grandma Kasa brought with her a pair of tanned skins with small paper talismans hanging from the edges.
—Put this on and turn twice to the right —Ayakashi gently placed the skins on both guys.
An ox skin with small soft curls and another of glossy brown horse.
—Like this? —Ithil grabbed the skin as if it were a blanket over him; Leonidas also did the same. Before the eyes of the others, the guys disappeared and in their place, a horse and a huge bull replaced them.
—Ah!! Ithil, Leonidas!! —Mina and Magaska exclaimed aloud.
—Here we are, Mina, we still in front of you, we are just covered with the skins —Jacob, Inola, and the others were astonished.
—Ufufufuf, the great Ayakashi to the rescue; with this, everyone will be able to pass through the palisade. If one of the girls rides Ithil and we give young Leonidas a cart to pull , the illusion will be complete.
—Well, we will decide that tomorrow; for the moment the day has proven to be exhausting. You can wander around the house… Oo, but, do not go out to the forest, Ufufuf, I wouldn’t have the heart to deny my children a snack —Ayakashi was withdrawing from the place.
—Thank you for your help, Mr. Ayakashi —Mina gave a small bow; Ithil and the others followed her.
—Ufufuf, don’t worry, I am as interested in the town as you are. The futons are in this trunk, you can use them as you like; if you wish for something in the night, you can take it, everything in this house is at your service —Ayakashi disappeared into a long hallway for the rest of the night.