Echoes of a city that’s long overgrown

[temperedwill]

[It's said that a long time ago that the volcano on the island was the home of a divine entity with a temper that could not be quelled. The volatile nature of the creature gave no rest to the mountain villages that inhabited the forests and lands surrounding the great mountain. No one knew as to when the otherworldly being would lose their temper and if they would eventually be doomed to be buried in the lava that would pour out if the creature became too enraged.

It is said that brave warriors would venture to the shrine at the base of the volcano and would challenge the creature to battle. The villagers thought that if they were to imprison the being and force it to become dormant; they would finally have the peace they sought after. No warrior could best the entity at combat and the villagers continued to worry of their future livelihood.

A valiant warrior then approached the shrine, but they did not come for further carnage. Instead, he extended his hand to the being. A bond formed between the two and the divine entity seemed to have been quelled. The villagers, too stricken with fear, by the strength of the being betrayed the trust of the creature. The valiant warrior slain despite the peace that had came while trying to reason. As the villagers entrapped the being into the volcano did it howl a great howl. It's said that the eruption that buried the island was fierce and the howl that resounded was the most heartbreaking sound that rung in the hearts that heard it.

At least, that's the supposed tale of the great eruption. It's been many centuries since the eruption. The volcano is dormant and the island is one of the most beautiful islands to exist It thrives and many scholarly types now visit the island. Archeologists and scientists alike are unearthing the history of the island and the villages that used to reside.

Some have said that the mountain is haunted. That one could feel the sadness that comes from deep within the volcano.

Despite what some say in the small town that has flourished since the volcano eruption, the island thrives with tourism. A shrine at the base of the mountain had recently been unearthed and remnants of previous mountain villages have been found.]

Comments

[felidae]

[ When Dr. Holt had decided to investigate the island, having found signs of a lost culture in the fertile land that's grown up because of an ancient eruption, many people in the small town had told him about the stories. Rather than being frightened off by them - especially since they were half serious, believing the stories to be superstition of the old - he'd brought his team with him to excavate the shrine, and he'd had every intention of digging deeper, looking for more of the old villages that'd been swept up in the lava flow.

Takashi Shirogane is one member of his team, and a close friend of the Holt family. At first it'd just been curiosity and their preexisting relationship that'd brought him to the island, but it's more than that, when they step foot on the shore. Almost immediately, his heart aches, like someone's twisted a knife between his ribs and lodged it there. There's something sad, heartwrenching, about this place. He doesn't know what it is, but he feels it.

Ever since he was young, his mother would say that he was touched by something. In another life, tragedy had struck him - that was why his forelock grew in white from birth, a sign of what'd happened to him. He'd always told her, when he was older, that it was simply genetics. But somehow, seeing this island, this mountain that stands above everything, dormant... it makes him question his explanation, and wonder if hers was the right one.

So it doesn't take long for him to trek out on his own, telling Dr. Holt that he's going to explore the trails, see if he can't spot something that the locals simply consider the norm. It's the truth, but more of an excuse for him to leave. He has to, to find out what this feeling is. Something's calling to him, and he needs to find it. It's not even a simple want.

He needs to.

It leads him to the shrine, at first. Like it's the gateway to where he needs to go. ]

[temperedwill]

[If only it were just an old myth, but it was at least a reality for one creature. The entity that was caged into the volcano was very much the same whom the tale speaks of.

The passing of time is hard to tell when the only light he's seen is the glowing remains that he keeps enlightened so he doesn't have to sit in complete darkness. Time had done nothing but to make his heart ache more and for him to grow more and more bitter. Had he not just given in to his temper sooner, he could have wasted those villages. Perhaps he could have spared the warrior whom was slain by his own people to protect him. He would have had a life of solitude, but circumstances would be different.

Today was different though. He felt like there was something out there that was important. He had these feelings before, but it was more prominent. It was out there. Somewhere on the island. It's the first time in awhile he's ever attempted to discard the shackles that keep him locked in, but he does. Helplessly. How frustrating.

He lets out a growl. He needs to find the source. What if it slips through his fingers?]

[felidae]

[ Shiro, prepared for a trek in the darkness beyond the flood lamps that the excavation crew have set up in the shrine, pulls out a flashlight from his pack and takes a deep breath. The air here feels clean, but something about it is charged. Like power runs through everything, all the way up to the mountain that's been made of the dormant volcano. But more than that, something about it is... familiar.

He sets his hand on the worn wall nearest him, assessing, before he shines the light down the path.

He exhales his held breath, and starts his journey deeper within. They haven't finished clearing the shrine out yet, as far as he knows, so he's running a very great and dangerous risk by going into it alone. It's just - he needs to know. There's a calling there, and it's suffering, in pain and lonely. He can't just leave that there, can he? ]

There's someone here, isn't there? [ A part of him feelings a little crazy, calling out like this. But he does anyways, because... it's worth trying, isn't it? ]

[temperedwill]

[It's been a long time since anyone has even approached the shrine, much less enter it. He was sure that it was sealed off, but perhaps time had worn down what was blocking the entrance to get deeper into the mountain. That, or people are just crafty creatures who only care to trespass into wherever they please and bother him and further irritate the already bitter creature.

Still, the presence feels so calming. He hadn't felt soothed by a presence since he had been free to go where he pleased.

He hesitates for a moment before bringing a hand to his mouth. He blows gently and small embers float and illuminate the caverns. He doesn't have a lot of power accessible to him, but he can at least do simple things like illuminate the cavern around him. The flames float but touching them doesn't burn. They merely flicker if touched.

The worst that can happen is that an unwarranted person will arrive and he'll eat them or kill them. Even if he's sealed, it isn't as though he can't do some things. He's just severely limited.]

[felidae]

[ The flames surprise him, but they're just - will o' wisps, really. Shiro only hesitates for a moment with his hand raised before he reaches out, fingers of his whole and flesh hand curling through the fire, despite the logical part of his mind telling him it's foolish to touch it. But he doesn't feel like it's dangerous. He feels comforted, instead. Like the familiarity has simply increased, making itself better known. ]

Okay. [ He's still speaking to the cavern at large, hoping that the presence hears him. It seems like it did, initially, so it's worth calling out. ] I'll find you. Wherever you are, I'm coming.

[ It's a promise - and one he'd made before, even if he doesn't realize it. No matter what, I'll find you. Wherever you are. So he heads down the path, letting instinct guide him, trusting the flicker of embers that float around him. Whatever's at the end of this journey, Shiro just knows he has to get to it. To them.

He won't stop until he does. He just has to trust that it won't lead him into danger. ]

[temperedwill]

[The flames lead him. There's a lot of winding paths and forks in the road. It was obvious that no one was supposed to ever get to the end for whatever reason. Despite Shiro going deep in, the cave only seems to grow warmer. Like there's a brilliant source even though the volcano was dormant.

The tunnel widens and he must be underneath the center of the volcano.

Purple eyes are staring at him with a fiery intensity. Sitting in the center was a fantastical entity. He wasn't particularly big in actuality. He looked young and his hair was dark and long. His horns seemed to shimmer and flicker the colors of flames and were ornate with chains and beads. He wore long flowing robes. He had chains and shackles around his neck and limbs.

He had been forced into a human form, never being able to form into the terrifying flaming creature that the villagers of old had feared long ago.

It may be a myth to many, but he had always been very real.

He recognizes him. The person is not how he remembers, but the soul is the same.] You are...