CHAPTER 2: The Zettai-Rin Temple

  The following morning, the temple was crowded. Ren and two other assistants were there to help.

  "It’s always the same one," commented an old man kneeling before Ren.

  "I understand. Take this small jar, place it in your house, and you will see that tonight will be the last nightmare you have," Ren said with a warm smile.

  The client left. Mugen, Yumi, Haru, and Kumiho were tending to the temple.

  "But... why a jar? Wouldn't it be easier if we went there directly?" Haru asked.

  Mugen (exploding): "Because we aren't trackers, noodle! The jar is the bait. Ren blesses it, the nightmare takes the bait, and boom—a gate is created. We can't enter if there is no gate, and there is no gate if the jar doesn't catch the old man's fear. Is it really that hard to understand?!"

  "But don't be mistaken; just like with the lights, the gate can only be seen and touched by people with exorcist vision. The responses reach the temple because the golden circles surrounding it light up; that’s how we know a gate has been created," continued Kumiho, who was watering the plants.

  "Eh?? That’s a lot of information," Haru complained.

  "That's not all. The gates can only be opened by the spiritual force of the temple, so only one person is capable of opening them," Yumi whispered.

  "Master Ren?" Haru answered immediately.

  "That's right. But to avoid problems, the Master gave us objects with which we can open the gates without him being there, and they also allow for short communication with him. I have a bracelet," Yumi continued.

  "I have a ring, and Mugen has a necklace," Kumiho interrupted. "The dream world works differently with the gates because, depending on who enters, they will have two different tools. Mine are a sanchaku and a revolver. They are tools that appear upon entering that world; you can imbue them with your spiritual energy and they will have even more power," Kumiho finished.

  "So... will I have tools too if I enter?" Haru asked, his eyes shining with a mix of curiosity and fear.

  "That depends on your soul, kid," Mugen let out a laugh while playing with his necklace. "But don't get excited; first, you have to survive the trip."

  "One more thing," Yumi interrupted. "In the dream world, there aren't just monsters with claws and teeth. Sometimes they are a trauma, abuse, etc. There are nightmares that seem more real than reality itself."

  Then, the sound of a gong resonated through the place.

  "Thank you all for coming and giving us your requests, as well as your voluntary cooperation. I assure you that starting tomorrow, there will be no more nightmares!" Ren shouted to the people in the temple with excitement. "Those who couldn't make it can come tomorrow. You can have some tea or water from the shelf for the journey, and may the peace of the temple comfort you!" Ren finished joyfully.

  Once the temple was empty again, the boys approached Ren.

  "Seems like there will be a lot of work today," Mugen sighed.

  "Yes, but we cannot fail them; they are our heart," Ren replied with pride. "But now I'm hungry. Let's go eat, Mugen! Wah-hah-hah-hah!" Ren reiterated, happily patting Mugen on the back.

  Mugen nearly fell forward from the force of Ren’s pats, but this time he didn't stay quiet. With a growl that seemed to be born from the depths of his chest, Mugen turned around quickly, slapping Ren’s hand away.

  "Enough already, you damn midget!" Mugen exploded, the veins in his temple bulging under his blue hair. "I’ve told you a thousand times not to hit me like that! One of these days I'm going to send you flying with a punch, Master or not!"

  Ren, far from being offended, let out an even louder laugh, dodging a half-shove from Mugen with an agility that seemed almost supernatural.

  "Wah-hah-hah-hah! Look at you, Mugen! Always so bitter," Ren mocked, poking his cheek. "That's why you have those wrinkles; you're going to look like the old man with the jars before you're thirty. No wonder you don't have a girlfriend."

  Mugen’s face went from an irritated red to a nearly black purple. His hands clenched into fists so hard the leather of his gloves creaked.

  "What the hell does that have to do with anything?!" Mugen roared, causing a couple of crows resting on the temple roof to fly away in fright. "I don't have a girlfriend because I don't have time for nonsense because of you, not because I'm old!"

  Ren was already running toward the back dining room, leaping through the hallways with the agility of a cat, laughing at the top of his lungs.

  "The truth hurts, Mugen! The truth hurts!" Ren shouted without looking back.

  "Get back here, you piece of—!" Mugen shot off after him, stepping so hard on the wooden floors it sounded like they would snap.

  Haru stood frozen, rag still in hand, looking at Kumiho and Yumi.

  "Are they... are they always like this?" Haru asked with a trembling voice.

  "Only on days that end in 'y'," Yumi replied with a resigned sigh, beginning to walk toward them.

  Before Mugen could catch Ren, a pair of feet landed on his head, making him crash against the floor.

  "I'm hungry," said Yumi, who unperturbedly walked toward the dining room. Kumiho and Haru followed; Kumiho remained unfazed while Haru looked at Mugen with concern.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Mugen was left sprawled on the concrete floor, with the tread of Yumi’s boots still fresh on his neck. The hallway echoed with a deathly silence for three seconds before a volcanic roar shook the roof beams.

  "YUMIIII! You damn impertinent brat!" Mugen jumped up, his blue hair messier than ever and his eyes bloodshot behind his glasses. "Who do you think you’re stepping on?! I’ll pull those blond hairs out one by one!"

  Yumi didn't even turn around; he simply raised a hand and waved his silver bracelet in the air. "We’re five minutes late because of you, Mugen. Punctuality is a virtue you clearly do not possess. If you keep shouting, I’ll eat your portion of shrimp tempura."

  Mugen stopped dead in his tracks, fist in the air. The threat of losing food seemed to be the only way to tame the beast. He let out a loud huff, adjusted his leather jacket, and passed by Haru, giving him an accidental shove that nearly sent him into the courtyard.

  "Move," he growled, though his gaze held more hunger than actual hatred.

  The temple dining room was a spacious hall with dark wooden beams that had survived decades of incense and prayers. In the center, a low solid wood table was already set with bowls of steaming rice, grilled fish, and the famous shrimp tempura that had managed to silence Mugen.

  Ren was already seated at the head of the table, chopsticks in hand and a grin from ear to ear, as if he hadn't just caused an earthquake of rage in his strongest subordinate.

  "Time to eat, my brave exorcists!" Ren exclaimed, attacking a piece of fish with lightning speed. "Haru, sit next to Kumiho. He doesn't bite... unless you're a nightmare."

  Haru settled in carefully, feeling his hunger finally overcoming his fear. Beside him, Kumiho ate with an almost ethereal elegance, without making a single sound, while across from him, Mugen devoured the tempura as if he were punishing the food for the sins of Ren and Yumi.

  "Hey, Master," Yumi said, taking a sip of green tea, "the lights of the golden circles are vibrating more than usual today. Do you think the density of the dream world is increasing?"

  Ren stopped chewing. His brown eyes narrowed slightly, losing that playful spark for a second.

  "It’s possible," Ren replied in a calm voice. "People are becoming more afraid, and fear is the favorite fertilizer for nightmares. So, there will be a lot of work today," he said, taking a bite of fish. "Hey, Kumiho, take Haru with you. If you find a heavy gate, he can help you open it, and while you're at it, show him the basics."

  "What?!" Mugen exclaimed, a grain of rice stuck to his cheek ruining his attempt at looking threatening. "You’re sending the kid with Kumiho?! That guy doesn't even have the patience to explain how to use a fork! If the brat gets paralyzed by fear, Kumiho will use him as a human shield or leave him there for the shadows to eat!"

  Kumiho didn't even look up from his plate, chewing with a calmness that drove Mugen to despair.

  "Hee-hee-hee," Ren laughed at Mugen's comments. "You're right that Kumiho is cold, but he would never let an ally die." He looked at Mugen with sudden focus. "Besides, you have no right to talk; you're the worst at teaching," he said, excitedly grabbing a piece of meat with his chopsticks.

  Mugen gripped his chopsticks so hard the wood creaked, threatening to splinter. His face was a picture of contained indignation.

  "Me, the worst?!" Mugen exclaimed, pointing to his chest with his thumb. "I teach through practice, Master! If someone survives one of my sessions, they can survive anything. The problem is this brat is made of glass."

  "He's not made of glass, Mugen," Yumi intervened, setting his teacup down with a sharp thud. "It's just that not all of us are brutes who think a punch to the stomach is a 'breathing lesson'."

  Haru, who was trying to bury his face in his rice to go unnoticed, felt all eyes fall on him once again. Kumiho, for the first time, stopped eating and slightly turned his head toward the boy. His purple gaze wasn't one of hatred, but it was so deep and icy that Haru felt as if his soul were being read.

  "If you come with me," Kumiho declared, his voice cutting the air like a knife, "you will obey every order without hesitation. In the dream world, a second of doubt translates into a lifetime of regret. Understood?"

  "Y-yes, Master Kumiho!" Haru replied almost by instinct, bowing so abruptly he nearly hit the edge of the table.

  Ren let out another of his characteristic laughs, but then stood up, brushing crumbs off his jacket. The atmosphere changed immediately. The air in the dining room seemed to grow denser, and the shadows in the corners of the room lengthened, responding to the Master's energy.

  "Enough talk," Ren said in his warm voice. "The gates are now visible; it is time to hunt."

  Upon stepping outside, they could see what no one else could: the yellow and purple lights, butterflies and bats. But at several houses where the latter light was seen, there were hundreds of giant doors standing in front of them.

  "There are so many..." Haru whispered. Although he had seen them his whole life, he had never seen them "active" all at once. "Why are there so many today?"

  "Those things I’ve seen since I can remember... were they really the entrances to nightmares?" he continued, his eyes scanning all the lights.

  "That's right, kid. But before you go with Kumiho, take this." Ren approached Haru. He handed him a pendant that felt different from any other.

  "Wh... what is this, Master?" Haru asked nervously.

  "This is an object that will allow you to open the gates. You just have to touch the door and it will resonate with the object," Ren replied calmly.

  Haru looked at the object and felt a warmth like never before. By then, Yumi and Mugen were already gone from the spot.

  "Shall we go?" Kumiho commented at the temple entrance.

  "Yes!" Haru replied, now with a bit more determination in his eyes.

  As they walked down the street, Haru grew nervous every time they passed a door.

  "Aren't we going into one?" Haru asked anxiously.

  "Those are high category. We need a Grade C to be able to teach you," Kumiho replied while observing the gates.

  [Grade A Gate] [Grade B Gate] [Grade C Gate]

  "Perfect," Kumiho remarked, stopping in front of the gate.

  Next, Kumiho rested his hand on the giant door. His ring began to glow, and the door started to change—everything except its outline. Now, a purple and black spiral lay within the frame.

  The environment shifted drastically the moment the door’s surface transformed. The air around them grew thick and began to swirl, sucking the sound of the street away until only the electric hum of the spiral remained. Haru felt the pendant on his chest vibrate strongly, as if trying to warn him that the reality behind that frame followed no logical rules.

  "Listen well, rookie," Kumiho said, his voice sounding strangely sharp despite the rising wind. "The dream world is not a physical place you simply enter. It is an isolated dimension, a bubble of memories and fears that shouldn't exist in our plane. What you see here is an access point, an artificial bridge that Master Ren has allowed us to open."

  Haru swallowed hard, staring at the purple whirlwind. "A bridge? So we’re not 'there' yet?"

  "No. We are forcing entry," Kumiho explained without looking away from the access. "The dream world rejects what doesn't belong to it. Without the object the Master gave us, it is practically impossible to open these doors."

  "And even if we managed to open them," Kumiho continued, with a coldness that sliced through the atmosphere, "your body and mind would disintegrate instantly. The dream world does not tolerate intruders. Your pendant is your reality anchor. Once Master Ren places his blessing upon it, the object becomes autonomous. It is a container of pure energy."

  Kumiho looked at the spiral with indifference. "But don't get overconfident. The object's energy is finite. If you tried to open a Grade A door with that pendant, the pressure of the nightmare would ensure you could never open it. For a Grade C door like this, any of us can open it alone. A Grade B requires two exorcists, a Grade A requires three, and anything higher is simply impossible to open. But there is an exception to the rule: the Master can open any door, even without touching it."

  "Now let's go. We have a long night of work ahead," Kumiho said before vanishing from reality.

  "I'm ready!" Haru remarked, stepping into the portal, which closed and disappeared as soon as he entered.