The Day of Thunder

"The new year about to start," she said with a smile. The room behind her was, over all, relatively normal, though there's a box with a wooden lock on it visible just past some shoji doors, next to a glimpse of what might be a low desk. "Sort of a purification and celebration to prepare for the comi...

Chouri smiled warmly. "I'm so glad. They are such sweethearts, really." She pours herself and Han-Hei a cup, taking a sip herself. "Well... I think it's more accurate to say that the community sort of... formed on its own here. I just help organize, and lead the festival. Everyone here does so much ...

She bowed deeply to them both. "I'm honored by your visit to our village." She enters the house, leading them into the hearth room, where a red panda is lounging near the fire. She crouches down and scritches it gently. "I just can't get over how cute you are." Standing, she takes the kettle from ov...

She hears a young woman call, "Hai! Be right there!"

A few more minutes, and a pretty young woman with dark eyes and brown hair appears at the door. "Ah, some of our visitors." She bows. "I'm Chouri, the village headwoman. Won't you come in?"

She stepped aside.

She nodded to him. "Indeed. If one issues a challenge, one will get a response, ne?"

"I was born along the coast, in lands now managed for Emperor Shiba by the Crane Clan," she explained with a smile.

Chouri smiles at them. It was so nice when people got along. "Well, basically, it's the magic that the Nezumi Empire in the South use. I traveled there for a little while, but I didn't think it was anything that would help. But they delved much deeper into it than I did, it seems."

Chouri leaned back with a sigh. "Well, they seemed to have had an interest in Name magic. I have no idea how they got information about it - possibly they traveled south before finding the best place for what they wanted to do. Again, that's just supposition, though."

Chouri nodded. "They were quite thoroughly sealed. We didn't even expect them to have them - we ran across them entirely by chance when we were cleaning things up to build."

"I get the impression that they were quite secretive. If had been a long time, their records wouldn't be readable, I suspect," she mused. "My personal theory is that they might have been a heterodox group of former Isawa, but I don't have much to back it up aside from the extent to which they wrote."

"Not much. Considering I've only heard of them through scant rumors, it's not surprising there wouldn't be much written about them," she replied with a shrug.

"It was actually something we uncovered while we were rebuilding," she said with a smile. "Old records from the tribe that used to live here."

"That would be greatly appreciated, Wu-sama. Whatever you feel moved to contribute, I will gladly accept," she replied warmly. "Ah, yes. Part of the festival involves clearing one's mind by decorating an effigy and naming it after your greatest fear, then beating up on it."

"Indeed," she agreed. "Using the effigy and putting a name on it sort of... brings it down to earth for many people, if you will. Makes it feel less vague and overwhelming and puts it in a concrete form."

"He seems like a fun companion. And very cute!" Chouri bowed deeply. "I appreciate your courtesy, Wu-sama. There is a great deal of preparation to do, especially with so many more people than expected. We'll have to expand what the plan was for the feast, and grab more materials for the effigies for...

"The physical component is pretty simple. Basically, creating an effigy of it, naming it, and... well, beating it up," she said with a small smile. "Usually it comes with facing that fear in some way soon after. AFor some, it would be less painful to have physical wounds than face the past."

"Oh no, not at all! It's my duty as the head of the village to be the first in line to offer our hospitality," she said, straightening. Her expression turned from serious to a delighted smile. "Oh, they're adorable! Where did you meet your friend here?"

The shape moved and... it was just the heat distortion creating hearth illusions. It was just a normal fire.

"Oh, there wouldn't be any of that-" She starts, then looks embarrassed. "Oh, ah... Or were you obliquely saying no? I remember some of the followers of the Kami speaking rather indirectly..."

"Mm... The dreams that I've heard of lately do seem eager to pull people's worst fears out and showing them to them," she mused, shaking her head. "I've seen it often with the people who come here. It's part of why the festival coming up has a part about purifying our minds of our worst fears."

"Well... You'd be welcome to stay here, if you wished. I have too much room for just one person, anyway," she offered, also studying the fire. It's actually surprisingly interesting. The flames move oddly, maybe? Or is it just your imagination?