Within the Forest of Eyes, lies an otherworldly secret. It is a secret known only by few, spread by those favored by fortune and fate. A spectral city of phantoms, of shimmering lights. Ghostly wisps and monstrous denizens, both deadly and benign are as common as fireflies. Though to the oni, the ghostly city was their true home. The horned humanoids the citizens of Ataiyo familiarly depicted in their paintings with were descendants of former denizens of the Spirit Realm, having intermarried with the people of the land. But regardless of how many generations their successors had between their progenitors, their blood remained strong in their veins. For Myouga, said blood was especially potent. Out of all of her family members, she was the only one in her current generation who had the highest sensitivity and affinity towards the Spirit Realm. In her younger days, she wandered the depths of Menomori and had found her way into the secret city by pure chance. Now, she was back. She was older, but whether or not she was wiser was up to personal interpretation.

Today she was here for both work and leisure, and what better way to spend a summer evening than doing the age-old tradition of telling ghost stories in a room filled with lanterns? With common convenience, you could just magic a piece of ice to use to make flavored snow as much as you wanted but back in ye olden days the common folk tried to cool off by sending chills down their spines. But that would have to wait until late evening. First, she needed to visit the market. There were things that you could only find here and nowhere else, and with Calor coming up she needed to get them before they went out of stock. 

"Let's see… Demon fangs, ogre livers, wisp cores, and medicinal wine. Oohh–maybe I should buy a few fortune charms for mom and dad's shop? Definitely should get one for Yabashira too in case the whole 'haunted shop' idea doesn't keep people coming. Do you have anything you wanna get while we're here to send to your folks back home, Lise?" Looking at her to-do list through the holes in her hannya mask, Myouga asked while walking through the fantastical streets of the ethereal city. The glittering gems and materials used to construct grand pavilions and pagodas would make Arri look humble in comparison. Beautiful, amazing, and larger-than life–those words summed up Kujishoku in its entirety.

Being a close friend of her former professor had its benefits. For one, you would never find yourself bored as Professor Ryou wasn't one to sit still or rest on her laurels. With her, you could see amazing places that few would dare dream of visiting. Her professor had told her she was going to visit a place that sold some of the rarest and most exclusive items in all of Revaliir. Intrigued, she had asked her to explain further only for the mage to make her pinky swear that she would come with her after. So here they were, in Kujishoku–the Spirit Realm. As part of the promise, Liselotte wore a kimono and had markings in red painted on her forehead and the corners of her eyes. The arcanist said it was a warding charm to help her blend in with the locals, as visitors like they were a rarity. It seemed even in the realm of spirits there were common dangers like meeting those who had ill-intent. Upon entering through the hidden gateway within the Menomori forest, she was standing in a place as colorful as the box of colored chalk she had been fond of drawing with as a child. If someone had told her this was the fairy realm, she would have believed it. Everything here glittered with an ethereal light and even the buildings themselves were otherworldly. The citizens of the city had more diversity than the populations of Iria and Adeluna on a busy day. Creatures that looked like both man and beast, but possessed the intellect of sages walked about in clothing. They were as sophisticated as the most cosmopolitan townsfolk, and if you ignored their appearance the capital became an average city.

As always, her teacher's main objective was to shop for souvenirs. She boasted of the myriads of curiosities restricted to the markets of the spectral city listing strange and peculiar items such as organs from mythical beasts and funny-sounding trinkets. Mallets that changed a person's physical size, garments made from spectral thread, bowls that magically filled with the drink of the realm, and sandals that could transform into the tallest stilts were just a few. The people here certainly had their way of expressing creativity. Although when your entire society was not restrained by the needs of mortal flesh, their pursuits were bound to be directed in different ways than what mortals could comprehend. What she would see as decades likely were only a speck in their perception of time. The alchemist pondered over what she could bring back to her family. "Hmm, well it's my first time here so what would you recommend? You're met my parents on a couple occasions, and I've shown you my siblings' portraits. Nothing too fantastical, if you please. I'm afraid my brothers aren't quite used to enchanted objects and their ilk. The simpler the better, I'd say." 

'Practical items' she said. Well this was quite the conundrum for the little arcanist. For the immortal residents of Kujishoku, practicality was of little use for them here. She'd have to aim lower if she was going to hit that mark. "Hrmmm….I dunno. Most of the stuff here is really off the wall or good for a conversation starter at parties. I'll keep an eye out while I browse." Entering the ethereal city's trading sector, there were colorful stalls with odd symbols and images from flags. The writing was alien compared to the languages of Revaliir, and so far Myouga was working towards becoming fluent in reading it. She didn't need to read the signs to know what she was looking for though. With a sack full of organ oddities and a sealed clay jar of a medicinal tonic, Myouga moved on to window shopping. She would stop at every stall to ask the half-elf's opinion of items she thought would be good presents. Most of the time her suggestions were turned down, but every ten items she introduced had one which the alchemist considered.

At the end of their shopping spree, Liselotte had purchased sunstone and moonstone pendants, a magic lasso, a shamisen, and a set of foxfire lanterns. The busy streets were starting to clear out, and Myouga began pulling her former student's sleeve. "Come on, we gotta run! It's getting close to nighttime and we can't stay outside here!" Taking her along, she led them down the alleys to an estate with an eye-shaped design on the double doors. Knocking on it, she called out to whoever was within: "Hello! The master of the house's guest from the mortal realm has arrived! Please tell him that the oni is waiting for him!"

This was the house of an acquaintance of hers, named Dousatsu. The symbol of his family's house was a stylized version of a bird's eye, relating to his heritage. The doors opened, allowing them to enter into a wide courtyard. The pathway was lit by stone lanterns leading up to a set of stairs. At the top was the entrance to the main house. Following their entry, the doors closed shut behind them. "Professor, why were you in such a hurry to come here? What happens if we are outside when night falls?" Liselotte asked, looking concerned. "Well, it's kind of complicated. But basically if we don't get inside a house before dark, we'll get eaten. There's monsters that come out and stalk the streets at night, and even the people here go inside to avoid them. My friend should be able to tell you all about it when he knows I'm here." Myouga replied, relieved that they were behind the safety of the estate walls. When they reached the main house, the sliding doors opened automatically and Myouga removed her shoes leaving them at the door. Both of them stepped onto the cool polished floors made of amber, and servants bearing the bird's eye symbol came to escort them into the living room. 

The place was just like the larger, fancier buildings in Ataiyo. Even the low table and comfy cushions were present on the floor. A man with short black hair and dressed like an ascetic monk came in with his eyes closed, yet walked in as if he could see where everything was. "My little friend, you're here earlier than expected. You should have warned me you'd be bringing some friends over so I could have the evening meal ready beforehand." When he took a seat, he opened his eyes and his eyes bore no pupils. They were a reddish-brown, sharply contrasting with his otherwise normal appearance. Pulling her hannya mask off, the oni fanned herself with her hand. "Whew, wow that was stuffy. Thanks for letting us crash at your house Dousatsu! This here's my student from a few years back–Liselotte. I was planning to pick up some food on the way, but I lost track of time shopping. I haven't been back here in a while, so I ended up trying to look at everything." She put a hand behind her head, sticking her tongue out as if to say, 'Silly me'.

They had entered a strange estate to flee the coming night, and indeed the place was otherworldly. The most unsettling and bewitching part of the decor were the ever-present eye-shaped designs in everything, from the doors of the outer gate to the stone lanterns they had passed on the way to the main house. The servants here were just as unusual–many wore blindfolds or had cloth veils with the same stylized eye-design in red ink. It took her a while, but she soon realized why they looked so oddly familiar. The markings her professor had carefully painted on her forehead was a simplified version of the elaborate designs worn by the servants. So there had been a reason behind it other than to ward off evil. Perhaps Professor Ryou thought it would make her blend in with the locals better. The interior of this house was reminiscent of Ataiyan architectural and aesthetic style. Their host certainly dressed in such a way, and the half-elf eyed him curiously. Somehow the fact he looked so human-like made him stranger. The people they had passed in the streets were an assortment of anthropomorphic animals, hybrid beasts, and things that were only vaguely human in their attire and behavior. She also took note that his eyes bore no pupils, and the irises were a cloudy color. Was he blind?

When her teacher introduced her to the host, Dousatsu, she bowed. "Please forgive our intrusion Sir. My professor has a bad habit of doing as she pleases.We are grateful for your generosity in giving us shelter from the beasts that stalk in the night." The man smiled, and she swore his eyes moved as if he could see. They were looking at her and Professor Ryou, not staring past them or at the ground. "You are welcome, traveler. A friend of this little one is a friend of mine as well. Though I doubt your teacher merely decided to pay me a visit at this time on a whim." At his response, Myouga whistled nonchalantly averting her eyes from meeting his. Putting a hand to his chin, he continued making a subtle jab at the arcanist. "You certainly are more lively than your distant ancestors, young one. Perhaps in your genealogy one of your forbears married a fox as their partner?" Myouga continued acting as if she had no idea what he was talking about, and he broke the tension with a laugh. Immediately the stiff formal air that had been hanging above them disappeared and Liselotte felt her body relax a little. With that, she also picked up a faint scent of incense or some sort of perfume. It was floral and fragrant, with a mix of spices. The scent made you feel a warmth from within.

Seizing the opportunity, she then asked Dousatsu: "Sir, if I may be so bold as to inquire; why is it that everyone must go inside once night falls? Surely the Spirit Realm does not suffer from the same afflictions of society as the mortal realm, with highwaymen and cutthroats." Dousatsu nodded, giving as concise of an explanation as he could. "You are quite right, young lady. Indeed there is no need for material wealth or possessions here. However this realm is not without its dangers, regardless. Our reason for retreating into the protection of our dwellings is for the sake of safety. When darkness falls upon the realm, that is when creatures driven by bloodlust and violence roam the streets seeking for any whom they can devour. Why do they not break into the homes you might ask? All the structures and dwellings here were built and infused with spiritual purity which repels even the most hateful of beasts. The spiritual power of the city's individuals are not enough against the fiends' impurity, thus we all must retreat once we see the light fade." 

Things were becoming much clearer after their host elaborated on the details of the curfew. It was fantastical, but she expected nothing less from a place beyond her wildest dreams. Her professor would have omitted certain parts had she asked her instead, and would have likely shortened it into a summary of twenty words or less. "I see. Thank you for the explanation Sir." Liselotte wanted to be as polite as she could. Her family upbringing had emphasized the importance of etiquette, particularly when meeting strangers. Her professor then impatiently tapped her fingers on the table asking Dousatsu: "Oh hey, I almost forgot–are you busy today? Since the month of Calor's coming up on our side of the world I thought it'd be fun if we did an old-fashioned round of hyakumonogatari. I was hoping you'd have some other people over too, but we can just have your hired help to fill in the seats this time."

Sensing that she would likely ask another question, Dousatsu explained the foreign term to Liselotte. "That term your teacher mentioned is actually called 'hyakumonogatari kaidan-kai'. It is an old parlor game played during the nights of the warmest months of the year where a group of people gather in a room with one hundred lanterns. Each person takes a turn telling a ghost story, and after each tale a lantern is extinguished. Of course there are always rumors of what happens after the last lantern is put out, but rarely has the game gone on long enough that a hundred stories are told before dawn."

Once Dousatsu was done explaining the particulars of 'hyakumonogatari', she asked him: "Well what are we waiting for? Let's get cracking! A hundred lanterns is a bit much, so why don't we use candles instead? They take up less space, easier to put out. They're perfect! How many more people do we need before we start the story-telling?" Myouga was itching to dive right in. She was so excited! The last time she did something like this was at a sleepover at a friend's house way back when she was a kid. It was her and some girls, and later one some of the boys snuck in and joined too. They used candles too, since they couldn't get that many lanterns at a moment's notice. They had only gotten to story number twenty-three when they chickened out after the sound of thunder boomed in the distance. The rest of the night was a torrential downpour and everybody ended up huddling together at every bump and sound in the night. Ah, the fond memories of youth.

She also distinctly remembered gleefully grinning when the others would squeal, and ended up being the one who accompanied others down the hallway to the bathroom using the buddy system. She had to calm one of them down when a girl swore she thought a ghost was in the mirror. As much as she had wanted to ask the girl what the ghost looked like, she instead told her it was just her reflection and to hurry up and wash her hands. Being responsible was tough sometimes. Even now she knew which of her childhood playmates were squeamish–particularly the guys. Dousatsu was certainly a patient man, as in spite of the arcanist's bluntness he obliged and asked his hired help to find as many candles as they could in the house for the event. He also asked if any of them would like to volunteer, and if they did they wouldn't have to worry about their morning shifts the next day.Three offered to join, and thus each round would have five stories. The results of the search for candles produced fifty instead of the needed one hundred, but Myouga said it was fine. As long as they had enough to last until morning it didn't matter. 

Soon the room was full, seated with Myouga, Liselotte, Dousatsu, and the rest of the servants. Myouga, Liselotte, and the three servants were sitting in a circle near the center of the room which had been cleared save for the cushions and candles. Dousatsu and the others watched from the edges of the room as observers. When it came to the turn order, Myouga insisted she go first. Nobody had any complaints, as she looked as if she were about to burst from anticipation. And so, the lights were dimmed leaving the candles the sole sources of light. Clearing her throat, she began with her first tale of terror.

The story was simple. One night, a working class man went back home a little later than usual. On the way the streets were empty as it was in the dead of the night. He walked by himself with only a lantern as company, and the wind howled in a way that would make the faint of heart shake at the knees. As fearful as he was, he held fast and kept walking. Along the way he turned onto the street his house was on. All the lamps were out strangely enough, but he continued as he walked he saw a woman dressed in silk brocade. Concerned for her safety as a true gentleman would, he called out to her. She stopped and he caught up with her. He asked her why she was out so late by herself, and requested to escort her back to her place of lodging. She initially refused, but eventually he won out and he walked her home. When she arrived at her home, she thanked him for his courtesy and he said there was no need. It was simply the duty of any law-abiding citizen after all. Just then, the streetlamps that had been unlit suddenly came back on and the light revealed the woman's face. To the man's horror, she had no eyes or nose–only a wide grinning mouth with bright red rouge. 

In a panic he ran as fast as he could, screaming. He ran and he ran, until he came back to his house. He went in and closed the door shut, panting and breathing heavily. His wife who had been waiting for him called out to him and asked him what was the matter. As he took off his sandals and outer coat he told her the story of the monster woman. 'What a strange story,' his wife said. 'But are you sure your mind wasn't playing tricks on you?' The man swore that he was sure of it, and his wife then asked him if he saw the creature's face. 'No I did not, but it is possible in my fear I did not see it clearly.' His wife then turned around and then asked: 'Did it look like this?' To his horror instead of the face of his wife there was only that grinning mouth with rouge…of the no-face woman!

When she finished her tale, Myouga had her hands held high wiggling her fingers as if it would make it scarier. "Well? I started off with an easy one. Did you feel any chills run down your spine? If not, there's more to come! Kekekeke!" She said, ending with a fake cackle. She then snuffed out one candle, leaving forty-nine more to go. "Alright, who's next?" The oni asked. Her former student raised her hand in reply. "I think I have an idea of how to go about this now. I'd like to go next if it's alright with all of you." There was no objections, so Liselotte was next to tell a tale.

With forty-nine candles still lit, the alchemist began her tale. It was far simpler than that of her teacher's, but just as terrifying. She recalled having read it in a book of fairy tales and folklore while visiting her kin from her mother's side of the family. Once the room was quiet again, Liselotte started.

This was an old tale common among the Corval Basin. Rumors and whispered superstition told of an aquatic fiend that would use its shape-shifting capabilities to lure unsuspecting victims into the watery depths. According to the natives of the Highlands, it was called the kelpie. It went by many other names like water horse, nixie, nuckelavee. Regardless, its modus operandi was the same in every iteration.

Once a pair of brothers were out working in the fields. The elder one stopped halfway in his work, and coaxed his brother to run off with him to play. They left their work unfinished and ran to fish in the river, moving along the banks when they caught nothing. The younger boy was so intent on his catch that he failed to notice his brother wander off at the sight of a beautiful dappled grey horse. It was tall, and graceful with a sleek, glossy coat and snow-white mane. The elder boy then called out to his sibling, 'Come and look, brother!' The boy looked up and saw his brother beckon to him while pointing at the horse grazing meters away from the water's edge. 

'I wonder whose horse this is,' The elder brother said. 'Look at the spots on its hide! Surely it must belong to a nobleman.' He then approached the horse, but it began to shy away from him. The younger brother advised him to leave it be. He was unsure if they would be punished on account of theft should the horse's owner were to find them with it here. But his brother assured him it was fine. It was indeed a beautiful horse, and the older of the two boys used many things to lure it closer. Finally, after offering a clump of sweet grass it hesitantly cantered forward. The younger boy was sitting a little ways from both of them, and watched as the horse nibbled on the grass. His brother brushed its flank with his hand. The elder brother then had the idea to try to ride the horse now that it was no longer skittish around him. He encouraged his younger brother to try it too, but the younger boy was not as bold as he. Sure enough, the elder brother managed to get the horse to stay still as he tried to mount onto its back. 

But as soon as he did so, something went terribly wrong. Once the boy was seated, his hands became stuck to the horse's skin and he was unable to free himself. Immediately the horse gained a wicked gleam in its eye as it began running towards the river. The boy atop the beast screamed and his brother ran to prevent the now hideously morphing creature from entering the water, but to no avail. In the end, both boys were dragged under by the equine-shaped monster with reeds and grasses for a mane and tail.

The kelpie, is said to use the shape of a horse to lure people to approach. Then once a person is on its back, it charges into the nearest body of water to drag its victim down into the deep. It has been said to take many other shapes, but the equine form is the most popularly told among the elders. 

"And that, is my story. Perhaps without as much of a dramatic build up of tension like Professor's, but a terrifying tale nonetheless. If you were to see a horse grazing in the fields by a river or lake, I doubt the first thing that would come to mind would be to suspect it as a heartless fiend bent on drowning innocent victims." Liselotte concluded. "It is a good story, even for its brief length. Sometimes it is what we suspect the least that can create the most terrifying situations." Dousatsu commented. "I believe this tale would be quite well-known around the sea and regions more removed from large cities." He then motioned for one of the servants to bring a candle to her, and Liselotte snuffed it out. There were forty-eight candles left to go. 

"Good job, Lise! I think that one got me shivering just a little. You bet I'll be poking all my horses with an iron stick from now on–brrrr!" Her professor cheered, wrapping her arms around herself. Now it was time for one of the three volunteers to begin their turn. The three servants who were participating in their little game today were two women and a man. The man had a blindfold made of cloth, covering the upper half of his face. The bird's-eye symbol was painted in vivid red on it, and he wore a long robe of blue and white. The women were both dressed in pale red; one having a full face-concealing mask made of clay and the other with her eyes painted and facial tattoos on her cheeks. The woman with the clay mask went first, as she was seated closest to Liselotte. 

The masked woman whom they later learned was named Kikuyo was next. Her black glossy hair was straight as a pin and darker than jet. Two locks cut straight framed her masked face. Her hands were white like kaolin clay and her nails were a bit long, but filed neatly. When the room settled down again, she began. "My story tonight will be on the okuri-inu, known as the 'sending-off dog'."

There was a traveling merchant who went from town to town, peddling his wares. As he moved from place to place, traveling was often perilous and fraught with all forms of danger. One late afternoon he stopped by a tea house, waiting for the heat of the day to wane. When he left, dusk was quickly approaching. As the town was situated near a forest, the only way around was a well-traveled mountain path. Despite the townsfolk's warnings, the man ventured with a lamp into the darkness. As he walked it was silent. At times he thought he heard strange echoes and noises around, but pushed himself to keep going. When it became too much, he began reciting holy scriptures to ease his mind and keep the evil spirits at bay. It was then when he heard the chirping of a sparrow in the dead of night.

The chirping of a sparrow at night comes from the okuri-suzume, a creature whose call is a warning of when the okuri-inu are near. Alarmed, the merchant stopped and swung his lantern around slowly. Sure as the moon above, there were two glowing eyes on a shadowy form on the edge of the lamp's radiance. The creature did not move, watching the man from a distance. Cautious and careful, the merchant turned his back and began to walk. Along the way, his anxiety got the better of him and he was tempted to run. But just then, in front of him came a hideous and frightful beast with a large head and many horns. The man screamed, crying out whatever scriptures he could muster with his hands over his head. But to his shock, when it was about to swipe it hesitated and ran away as quickly as it had come. The man was shaken, but he continued on. 

Every time he looked behind the okuri-inu was not far off. It continued to stalk him as dawn steadily approached. His spirits were lifted as light began to come, and he began to run with the next town's gate in sight. However in his haste, he stumbled over an uneven portion in the road and as he fell the okuri-inu who had followed him all night charged forward with unnatural speed and tore him to pieces. When the sun finally rose, all that was left were his clothes and his bones…picked clean without a scrap for the crows.

Should you ever find yourself tailed by the okuri-inu, take care not to stumble. Should you do so on accident, quickly cry out and say how tired you are and pretend that you are merely taking a brief rest. Only then can you keep the shadowy dog's fangs at bay. Once you have arrived at your destination, forget not to thank the beast for its escort and offer a gift to it. For the okuri-inu's presence deters other vicious creatures of the night from preying on those who walk alone in the mountains.

The story was short, but that was how most of these folk tales were. What was intriguing was how the okuri-inu was not entirely malicious, even acting as a protector under certain circumstances. That was the curious and baffling nature of these creatures–particularly in the legends retold by elders in Ataiyo. At times the monsters could be terrible without cause, other times they could display great feats of charity. The most terrifying thing was you never knew which it would be. Kikuyo took a candle and with a puff she blew the flame out. Trails of smoke lingering from the wick drifted as it was put away.

Hours passed as they all took their turns. One after the other, candles were put out and the room gradually dimmed. Soon, there room itself was at half the light level it had originally been at the start of the game. Twenty-five candles still lit, twenty-five snuffed. There was only five more rounds to go before the room was plunged into utter darkness. Outside the howls and snarls of the fiends roaming the empty streets added to the eerie atmosphere they had gradually built. Wails of ghastly apparitions and the sounds of feet walking on the roof tiles could easily be the wind and trees scratching as they bent. It was Myouga's turn again, and this time she would bring out the worst ones she had been saving for this very moment. Taking the twenty-sixth candle, she held it below her to cast light against the contours of her face. In the dim candlelight the red paint markings at the ends of her eyes gave off an unearthly crimson, further accentuated by the shadow. Her next chilling tale would be that of the gashadokuro, the frightful skeleton who was the embodiment of people who died from starvation.

Soon hours passed and they were down to ten candles. Liselotte felt as if the room had grown colder since they first started, but that couldn't be true. Surely she was simply imagining things. The edges of the room were darker than she could see clearly, and the streets outside seemed quieter. Then, a loud musical chime rang out, causing her to jump. Dousatsu and the servants were not alarmed, and their host explained to them. "Ah, it seems the light is finally returning. My my, how the hours have passed. And we've only ten more candles left." Professor Ryou yawned widely and stretched her little arms as high as she could. "Aww, is it morning already? We've almost snuffed out all the candles too! Only two more rounds and we'd be finished! We'd better get going then, right Lise?" Gathering her things as the servants put out the remaining candles and cleaned up the area, Liselotte agreed. "Yes, let's."

Bowing again to their host, the alchemist thanked him again. "Again, thank you for your gracious hospitality Sir Dousatsu. We do hope we haven't inconvenienced you too much." Dousatsu smiled at both of them, his pupil-less eyes resting their gaze. "You are most welcome, young one. I quite enjoyed our little parlor game. It isn't often where I have the opportunity to partake in such a thing. Though the night-prowling beasts have gone, take care to watch where you step. Safe travels, friends." Once all the formalities were completed, Liselotte and her teacher returned along the path they had came to where they had entered from the Forest of Eyes. Back in their own realm, they were standing before the entryway into Kujishoku. The return trip was fairly quick, as her professor opened a portal that would send her back home within minutes. On the other side her family welcomed her as she entered the house.

Inside, she delegated the souvenirs she had brought back from the Spirit Realm. The pendants and jewelry were divided between her sisters, and the more practical items given to her brothers. Protective talismans and other trinkets were given to her father and mother, while special treats she had purchased were for Marcasite and Basilius–her pet psudo-wyvern and Harenian lizard.