A grassy terrain with Trees and Mountains. Wide blue sky with stars shining in daylight. The occasional wind blowing along with the rich wildlife. It all felt out of place when he looked back at the Fog surrounding the edge of the Island.
Indra felt his vision shift as he surveyed his surroundings with the Rinnegan for a brief movement. Looking around him, All he saw was the bizarre shaped ropes and circles made of Shinsu littered on the Sky and the surroundings. Whether it's a Tree, Rock or a Mountain, everything has been linked to the core by this constantly flowing Shinsu Rope.
He also noticed that his Pocket and communications seemed to cut off once he entered the Island. He really hoped there wouldn't be a situation like these…
"Hey.. what's going on?" Indra questioned.
"Remember, What I told you, This is an artificial Island made by Workshop." Ehra completely ignored his words and waved her hands nonchalantly before her expression turned serious.
She scrutinised his Rinnegan a bit and said unsure, " It seems, You can see those Spells laid all over. Interesting~"
'It seems he really is useful. I was a bit unsure when the Captain suggested I form a Team with him. But now that I'm looking at him closer, he'll definitely be a great asset on this Mission.'
"Anyway, don't touch anything or else we wouldn't know how we died."
"It seems the Workshop put a lot of effort into building this place. That only makes me curious…"
Indra smiled as he once again realized how awesome this trip's going to be. He was not sure, but since it's something related to Jahad and Workshop, he wants to mess it up. These guys always bothered him in his earlier days.
The Wilderness they were in currently was on the outskirts of the Village, where the inhabitants of the Island live. It is also their only capital city. The journey was roughly around half a day. If he flew there, it would take him a short time to reach, but he wasn't planning to.
'This place is already packed with Spells and what not, if I were to fly or Teleport, I don't know how many more traps I'll trigger.'
He was planning to train his Body Flicker using this chance anyway. Of course, it wouldn't be too hard on himself to relax a bit.
"Hmm? What are you planning now?" Ehra questioned with a curious look on her face. As some who watched Indra for long, she knows what kind of troublemaker she is following around.
There was even one time she wanted to look for someone else because of his knack for trouble.
"Oh? Are you perhaps interested in learning a movement technique?" A small smile appeared on Indra's face as he replied, "I have an inkling that you will need it soon enough in this place."
Ehra just remained silent and looked at Indra with a straight face.
"Whyyyy? Do you not want to Learn it?" Indra questioned. He looked like a poor man who was betrayed by the love of his life.
A tinge of red appeared on Ehra's face as she nodded.
While the two intruders start moving for the Village, Meanwhile, in the central Mountain behind the village, someone was roused awake.
Inside the Mountain, A large cave with only light source illuminating the cave comes from naturally found luminous stones on the cave walls.
If one looked closer on the walls of the Cave entrance, it would be filled with mural markings of an Ancient beast of long proportions fighting against an army of warriors with 3 Eyed crests.
In the core depths of the cave, a skinny old man wearing worn down old Cuirass could be seen seated on a large mound with chains wrapped on his legs connecting him to the same mound.
Suddenly, He opened his eyes and looked somewhere far,
"Someone found this place after too long. Unfortunately…" The old man got up from the mound.
Creak Creak
Like a centuries old rusted chain, His bones creaked making a weird sound inside the cave. He removed the chains on his legs and climbed down the small mound,
"My sole purpose in living is to keep this place hidden."
He can still remember the days when his innocent people were punished for the War they waged. All these years, even if the people lived or living here didn't know anything and were kept as prisoners, it's still better than getting slaughtered by the very same man they fought the war against.
He can only do this much to atone the Sin he and the rest committed.
…
In a Hill near the village, Indra and Ehra looked down at the worn down wooden houses and people going about their daily lives.
"Well, they dont look like prisoners," Indra said quietly, watching the villagers through the Rinnegan. "No guards. No one seems scared. Some of them are even laughing." He sounded disappointed, like this place was supposed to be more dramatic.
Ehra watched with eyes narrowed. A faint light shone through her eyes like a glass shining under the sun.
The villagers carried baskets and went on a shopping spree in the local shops, some children playing in the streets bumped into the people, earning an earful. A group of men smoked pipes and traded stories in the shade under a tall tree.
Everything looked normal.
Everything looked so normal that a layer of sweat dropped from his forehead.
Ehra's eyes kept moving, not at the people, but the space between them.
"What do you see?" she asked quietly.
"Those ropes, connecting everything," Indra said, "You feel it too? The whole island… ."
"Someone casted a powerful Spell on the entire Island!"
"It's like a spiderweb. Even the people are tied to it. I don't know how, but they're part of the spell. Is it using them as the source?"
Indra squinted, letting his vision adjust to the way Shinsu flowed through the island. He traced the threads from houses to livestock to street lamps, and every single person had a tight helix of Shinsu twirled up their Soul. It felt wrong to look at, but also mesmerizing, like staring into a knot you couldn't possibly untangle.
"I don't think these are just Spells anymore." Ehra said,
"Maybe It's how the Spell maintains itself."
Indra wanted to say it was harsh, but he didn't have a better idea. What could keep an Ancient sealed for tens of thousands of years, if not this?
He watched the children a little longer, then stood up. "Guess we'll have to be careful how we break it," he said.
Ehra didn't answer. If she has to, She wouldn't mind destroying the entire island.
She has seen far worse crimes committed by the 10 Great Families or the Jahad Family to feel pity. In fact, even she herself is partly a mistake of the Jahad Family.
The two of them followed the main road downwards through the fields and into the heart of the village.
It smelled woodsy, slightly bitter like someone was always burning dried grass. Shops lined the road, their makeshift roofs made with the skin of animals. Oddly, a crest of three-eyes and a water orb could be seen on some of the shops.
Indra let his gaze wander. When he looked from atop, it felt as though the entire village was united. But now that he looks closer… it almost seems the village has been divided into Two different factions.
'History'
Ehra paused in her footsteps seeing the dazed Indra.
After a few minutes, Indra opened his eyes wide abruptly, panting wildly.
"King, Sea God, Old Guardian of the Mountains. There is one more detail … The Sea God that's been sealed by the King.."