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Chapter 4: The Cursed Temple | Sparrows of Xia

Updated: Jan 31

Lying on the rustic bed in his small inn room, Yuki stared pensively at the wooden ceiling. “I’ll go explore that temple, just to be sure...” he thought, before the accumulated fatigue finally pulled him into a deep, dreamless sleep.


The next morning, before the first rays of the sun had even touched the horizon, Yuki set off. He passed by the rice stand, where the vendor and the hunter, already awake, gave him respectful nods. The village was slowly waking up, and daily life resumed its course. However, one detail caught his attention: Dame Kea's house was crowded with wounded soldiers. Most of them were far too young to be on a battlefield. A pang of sadness pierced Yuki's heart. This generation, thrown into war without ever having known peace, carried a burden far too heavy for their young shoulders. A burden he knew all too well.


He shook his head, refusing to let himself be distracted, and ventured into the forest. The first few kilometers were peaceful, the path well-trodden by local hunters and the rare travelers who passed through these woods. The air was crisp, and the birds chirped softly, as if accompanying his steps. But after about an hour, things began to change.


The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, almost suffocating. Every breath Yuki took felt more difficult, as if the air itself had thickened around him. He paused for a moment, his brow furrowed, sensing that something invisible and undefinable weighed upon the forest. The silence was too dense, occasionally interrupted by indistinct sounds, like whispers carried on a non-existent breeze.


He resumed his walk cautiously, and soon, an old bridge appeared before him. It spanned a narrow but deep river, lined with trees whose twisted branches seemed to bow under some unseen weight. On the other side of the bridge, he finally saw the abandoned temple, its ancient stones blackened by time and the elements. Just then, a small bird appeared. But it was no ordinary bird: a sparrow, its feathers glowing with an orange hue. A fire sparrow.


Without hesitation, Yuki crossed the bridge and entered the temple grounds. The main door, despite its massive size and the wear of years, was slightly ajar, letting a thin beam of light filter through. Though his senses were on high alert, Yuki couldn’t shake the persistent feeling of being watched. The dim light barely illuminated the dusty interior.


Then he saw it. A figure, seated cross-legged, with its back turned to him, facing a small ruined altar. Long hair, tied in a messy topknot, revealed a bare back marked with a tattoo that made Yuki shiver. A demon tattoo, etched into the skin. The symbol of the oathbreakers, reserved for those who had betrayed their sacred duty to protect the royalty.


There was no doubt left. This man was Benkeï.


Yuki’s body tensed, every muscle ready for action. He had spent his life training for this moment. Silently, he drew his sword, the metal glinting faintly in the flickering torchlight. His feet barely touched the ground as he launched himself forward, like a falcon diving toward its prey.


His heart pounded furiously, but his focus was absolute. Just a few steps away from his target, he raised his sword and struck with precision at Benkeï’s back. A cry of pain echoed… before the figure disintegrated into a cloud of dark smoke.

Yuki stumbled backward, his eyes wide in shock. It wasn’t Benkeï... It was merely one of his clones! He cursed himself internally for not anticipating such a trick. Benkeï, one of the few Chibians capable of elemental cloning, was rumored to create up to a hundred clones at his peak, if the legends were true. Yuki knew this was only a small fraction of the extent of his power.


Before he could collect his thoughts, the temple door, which had been ajar, slammed shut behind him, plunging the room into near-total darkness. Breathing heavily, Yuki strained to listen, trying to catch any sound. Suddenly, a low, hissing voice emerged from the shadows.


Boo…”




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