Ep.24: A Land of Ash, Part 4

As the wind begins to blow, the mysterious woman turns her head slightly to look at us. She has crystal blue hair, and I begin to wonder if she has sight or not when I notice that her eyes are a white so pure in color, like a snowstorm so thick you can’t see your own hands outstretched. As she looks in our direction, I feel a cold chill go up my spine. She doesn’t look like she is looking at us, but through our very souls.

“What in the hell is she?” I say, as much to myself as Ramsey and Maka who must have stopped with me. Ramsey, almost as stunned as I am, sets Maka down next to him. My suspicion, growing; my eyes are glued to her every movement. I watch as she looks away from us and continues to play the shamisen. “What are you doing?” I say to her and begin advancing.

“Wait up, Fukai!” Maka reaches out for me in an attempt to stop me.

“I wouldn’t get too close to her if I were you, Fukai. She might be hiding something up her sleeve.” Ramsey strides up beside me.

“Hey! Listen to me when I’m talking to you!” I lightly shout at her, ignoring my friends as my own anger begins to swell inside me.

“We should be nice, Fukai. We really wouldn’t wanna make her angry,” Maka implores quietly, “…and I- I-- I’m just saying, right?”

“Well said, Maka.” Ramsey puts his hand on Maka’s shoulder. “You need to calm down, Fukai.” Ramsey addresses me.

Frustratedly, I peel my eyes off her to look at Ramsey, upset. “I will not calm down! Look around us! This is not natural! She can’t be natural! Didn’t you hear her song! It seems she’s talking about what’s going on here!” I turn and look at the mysterious woman, the anger inside me boiling over. “So you better start talking!” I shout at her.

The mysterious woman stops playing the shamisen and closes her eyes. After getting a better look, I can tell she is of a race that I’ve never seen before. She has similar features to us, with the exception of her skin, which seems to be covered in tiny white scales. She is wearing a black scarf and a white robe, both of which have green raindrop patterns all over them. “You young boys are far away from home?” she asks, her head tilted.

“Hey! You’re one to talk, you’re not even from this country!” I point out, upset that she would act as though this wasn’t our homeland.

“Fukai, don’t make her mad!” Maka tries desperately to calm me down.

“Young boys, why do you come here?” The woman questions as she stares at the horizon.

“Why? That’s none of your business!” I snap at her.

“Shut up, Fukai!” Ramsey turns to look at the woman. “Look, I have no idea who you are, but the reason why we came here was because we heard a woman’s voice asking for help.” Ramsey takes a step forward. “…I was wondering if you were that woman?”

The mysterious woman continues to stare towards the horizon with no expression on her face. “The answers you seek lie deeper within the jungle,” she turns and points past us, “though nothing but death awaits.”

“I’m not afraid of anything! I’m a brave warrior of the land of Apo!” I shout.

The woman turns away with a smile on her face. “I’m sorry, but none of you is the Warrior I seek.”