When Haruna stopped, everyone did.
—Well, guys… we're here —she said, turning on her flashlight.
Jake swallowed hard. —No… not again.
In front of them stood an abandoned temple, covered in vines and dust. The wooden doors were half broken, and a cold breeze escaped from within.
Haruna smiled, a glint in her eyes. —Looks like we found the energy source we were looking for.
"""""
Kairus stepped forward with a confident grin.
—Well, if there's mana here, we'll detect it fast.
Jake looked at him, doubtful.
—Oh yeah? And how do you plan to do that, genius detector?
—Hehe… watch and learn, there's only one Uncle Kairus —Kairus said, crouching to pick up a twig from the ground—.
—Behold, the ultimate mana detector plus master pro.
Jake blinked.
—Bro… that's literally a damn stick.
—Don't underestimate the power of nature —Kairus replied with complete seriousness, waving his hand. The twig began to vibrate slightly—. There you go! It's moving! It's moving! It's alive, damn it!
Jake stared at him blankly.
—Uh-huh… and I suppose now you expect me to believe you, right?
—See for yourself —Kairus said, handing him the twig.
Jake sighed, took the stick… and it started shaking in his hand.
—Holy crap! —he yelled, dropping it—. This thing's possessed! It's from the devil!
Kairus smacked him on the back of the neck.
—Idiot! If you break the mana detector, I'll use you as a replacement. Let's see if you can detect mana with your teeth.
Jake rubbed his head, grumbling.
—I don't know what's scarier… your crappy stick or your threats.
Kairus smiled, satisfied.
—Both work equally well.
—And how did you know that stick had spiritual power or whatever, enough to react to mana? —Jake asked, still suspicious.
Kairus crossed his arms with total seriousness.
—No damn idea —he said as a bead of sweat ran down his forehead—. At first, yeah, I was moving it myself… but when it started shaking in your hand, I was like, "okay, I'm definitely a damn genius."
Jake stared at him for a few seconds.
—Or a damn idiot with luck.
Kairus smirked.
—Sometimes it's the same thing.
The stick started to tremble again, and Kairus picked it up from the ground.
—Stop wasting time and let's go in! —Haruna exclaimed—. There's definitely something here!
They entered the temple cautiously. Each step made the floor creak, and the echo bounced back like the place itself was watching them in a creepy way. Haruna led the way with her flashlight, illuminating fallen statues and cracked beams. In one corner, the floor had collapsed, revealing a hole that descended to a lower level.
—This must be a trap; I haven't felt dizzy or weird near this temple —Jake said.
—You're right, that's strange —Kairus replied, rubbing his chin—. Maybe because it's abandoned.
—I don't like this one bit —Jake said, hesitant about the place they were about to enter.
—Still, we've got no choice but to go in. Charge! —Hikari said, jumping in without thinking.
—Why do you guys always do that without warning! —Jake shouted, following reluctantly.
Kairus was the last to enter. The air inside was warmer than usual, and a soft steam rose from the floor.
—Is that… steam? —he asked.
—Yes —Haruna answered—. Looks like something down there's making it rise, maybe hot springs.
Kairus blinked. —Hot springs? In a temple? The monks sure knew what they were doing. In our world, that was high society stuff.
—The perfect combo —Hikari said—. Relaxing and terrifying at the same time!
Among the rubble, they found a spiral staircase descending into darkness, from which a faint steam rose.
—This must be it —Haruna said, stepping forward decisively.
Hikari already had her phone in hand.
—This is gonna blow up on YouTube —she murmured with a grin—. Let me record this and get disgustingly rich.
They went down slowly. At the bottom, the air was warmer, almost humid. Before them was a small cave lit by candles placed among the rocks —which made no sense, since no one had supposedly been there in ages.
In the center, a set of hot springs shimmered under a dim light. The water was so clear it reflected the candles like stars, and it glowed faintly blue.
After entering, Hikari noticed something odd and lifted her camera, her eyes shining with excitement.
—Well, guys, if you want to stay here, go ahead. I'm gonna keep filming this… it's simply majestic —she said, focusing on one of the moss-covered walls as she walked toward one of the smaller entrances.
—Hey, wait up! —Haruna shouted, running after her. Before following, she turned to the others.
—Well, guys, I'm going with Hikari. Don't want her to get lost… or possessed.
Kairus nodded with a half-smile. —Don't worry, I'll check this part with Jake.
Then he approached the edge of one of the natural pools.
The twig he still held began shaking violently until it snapped in two.
—Definitely… this is mana —he said, crouching to taste the water.
—You sure? —Jake asked.
—Yeah. It feels… like energy overflowing from the water. Plus, look —Kairus touched it again with his fingertip, and a small blue spark jumped—. See? Pure energy, dude.
—Uh-huh… —Jake said—. And how do we use it?
—We have to submerge ourselves. I think mana absorbs better through direct skin contact.
Jake stared at him, horrified. —Bro, where the hell did you get that from? You want me to get in there? In shiny, obviously radioactive water?
—Exactly —Kairus grinned—. Come on, trust me.
Jake sighed. —Every time you say that, I end up injured or discovering new bones in my body.
—Well, maybe this time's different —Kairus said, taking off his shirt and stepping into the water—. It's warm… even nice.
Jake hesitated, then stepped in too.
—Hmm… not bad —he admitted—. Though if I grow three arms, I'm shoving them up your—
—Relax —Kairus laughed—. Don't be so skeptical.
They stayed silent for a few seconds, enjoying the warmth.
—Hey, Kairus —Jake said after a moment—, have you ever felt like you don't belong anywhere?
Kairus looked at him, surprised by his tone.
—Of course. All the time. Even before coming to this world. But… having people to laugh with helps a bit.
Jake nodded, sinking deeper into the water.
—Yeah… guess you're right. Though if this stuff turns out to be poison, I'll regret having feelings right before dying.
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed through the place.
—Poison…? That's not poison, you idiot brats.
They froze. The water began bubbling.
—What was that? —Jake whispered.
—Jake, you pig! I'm in here with you! —Kairus shouted, startled.
—Oh, you see the bubbles, but the voice doesn't bother you! Fantastic! —Jake said in frustration.
Suddenly, a glow appeared before them, and a translucent figure emerged from the steam: a huge human-shaped silhouette, glowing eyes, and a strangely friendly smile.
—I am the spirit of Mount Oyama —the voice boomed—. And you two are, how to put it… bathing in my… sacred puddle.
Kairus and Jake exchanged glances.
—By "sacred puddle"… you don't mean—? —Kairus began.
—Yes, my urine, pee, nectar, bladder juice —the spirit said casually.
Kairus leapt out of the water. —WHAT?! I WAS SOAKING IN DEAD-GUY PISS?!
Jake froze for a second before scrambling out too, slipping clumsily.
—That explains the weird smell! Like a bathroom that got bleached, then sulfur-bathed again! —he yelled, shaking himself off.
The spirit watched them calmly. —Well, I don't get such enthusiastic visitors every day.
At that moment, Haruna and Hikari came out of the cave entrance, laughing.
—What's wrong with you two? —Haruna asked—. You look like wet chickens.
—We bathed in ghost pee! I'm genuinely traumatized! —Jake screamed.
Hikari looked at him, barely holding back laughter.
—Again?
—WHAT DO YOU MEAN "AGAIN"? —Jake shouted, outraged.
Kairus covered his face with his hands. —Gods, this is going to haunt me to the grave…
The spirit watched, amused. —Relax, kids. For the record, my pee has high mana levels. Technically, you just received a blessing.
Haruna crossed her arms. —Well, at least you gained something. If you bathed in it, the mana probably stuck to you.
Jake sighed, defeated. —Great, blessed by a clown's waste. What an honor.
Kairus tried to stay serious but burst into laughter.
Hikari patted his shoulder. —Come on, don't complain. Look at your hands, the mana's flowing.
Jake raised his hands — indeed, a faint blue light glowed from his fingers.
—Huh?… You've gotta be kidding me.
—Power comes in many forms and colors —Kairus said solemnly.
—Though… your mana hasn't fully recovered yet —the spirit said, his voice echoing through the cavern—. What's changed is that now you can absorb energy from the ground. But… since mana's scarce on this mountain, the process will be slow. Very slow.
Kairus looked at him, doubtful.
—So, it's like… a magic wand with slow charging?
The spirit laughed, making the water's surface ripple.
—Exactly —he said with a mocking grin—. A wand… that'll take a while to shine again.
Jake froze, speechless.
—Well, at least it didn't drain completely… imagine having to plug yourself into the ground every time you're tired —Kairus said, patting Jake's back.
—Shut up, idiot —Jake said, giving him a side glance, though he couldn't help but laugh too.
The spirit smiled widely. —Come back anytime. I'll keep the water warm for you.
—No, thanks —they all replied in unison.
""""""
They left the temple as night fully fell. The cool air wrapped around them, and the city lights glimmered in the distance. Kairus walked quietly, a faint smile on his face.
—You know, Jake? —he finally said—. I think today was a good day.
Jake stared at him, incredulous. —We bathed in pee, Kairus. In pee. How the hell is that a good day?
—Because we're still alive —Kairus said, shrugging—. And that, in this group, is already a miracle.
Hikari walked ahead with Haruna, laughing and chatting about what happened. Jake sighed in defeat.
—Promise me we'll never do this kind of expedition again.
—I promise nothing —Kairus said with a smirk.
Jake looked at him. —You know you're gonna be the first to die in this story, right?
—Maybe —Kairus replied, looking up at the stars—. But at least I'll have fun till the end.
They kept walking toward the van under the starry sky, while the mountain faded behind them, hidden in the mist.
—By the way… —Kairus said, breaking the silence—, what about those disappearances?
Hikari shrugged casually.
—Oh, that. Haruna and I checked the cave path. Didn't find anything weird —no footprints, no signs of people, nothing. Must've just been another local rumor.
Kairus frowned.
—A rumor, huh?
—Sure. You know how villagers are —she replied with a carefree smile—. They see a shadow or hear a noise in the forest, and boom —they think it's a yokai eating people.
Kairus nodded slowly, not fully convinced.
—Well… if you say so.
""""
Inside the temple, the air was thick with ancient silence, broken only by the drip of water leaking from some crack in the ceiling.
At the entrance, the spirit of the hot springs floated with his usual smug grin, as two new figures appeared beside him: a serene-faced woman and a tall man, both glowing faintly blue —clearly spectral.
—Who were those? —the woman asked softly, curious.
—Ah, just some visitors —the water spirit replied, stretching lazily.
The man raised an eyebrow. —Visitors? That doesn't happen often. I hope they didn't freak out over the "secret" of the water.
—Oh, they found out —the spirit said with an amused sigh—. And yeah, of course they freaked out. But at least they didn't have a damn heart attack like you two.
The woman huffed, crossing her arms. —Let's not talk about that, alright? I'm still embarrassed.
—Hahaha, fine, fine —the spirit laughed, floating higher—. Anyway, I can still see them walking out there. I better say goodbye.
His voice echoed cheerfully through the temple walls:
—Remember to stay hydrated, kids!
A few meters away, Kairus and Jake stopped walking. Jake covered his face with one hand and muttered in despair:
—I hate him. I hate him with all my soul.
Kairus burst out laughing, his voice echoing through the trees.
---End of Chapter 16---