Well of Sorrows

The princess looked out of the open fusuma over her vast domain. Her people were out harvesting in rice fields, burning old grass, and carefully trimming the gardens of the castle. The scent of burning yomogi wafted through the air, bringing with it a sense of peace and relaxation.

The peacefulness of the moment only served to underscore her loneliness.

Rejina of the Jiraiya clan looked toward the rooms that had been- or still were- her father’s. They were almost as quiet as her own quarters now, with only servants bustling in and out of the castle.

She’d sent most of her attendants away for the moment, behind the screen. It was unbecoming for her to be seen when she was feeling sorry for herself.

She missed her father. The castle seemed dark and empty without his laughter, his jokes. He had always doted on her, and now without him she felt adrift. Rejina was capable of managing the affairs of her kingdom, but what she was lacking was the will to do so.

‘When will the Daigo Zakura be healthy again?’ She asked to the universe at large. Father had taken a sacred quest to heal the sacred tree after lightning had struck it on a full moon.

The lightning and rain that had caused grievous damage to the sacred Daigo Zakura had caused further ill luck, flooding homes and destroying swathes of her kingdom. Her eyes rested upon the burnt embers of a family home in the distance. This family had been lucky enough to escape, but had lost everything else in the process. It would be up to her to ensure their health and safety, and order a home rebuilt. They were lucky, many were not.

But without the blessing of the Daigo Zakura, these things would only grow worse. Rejina felt a coming tragedy in her very bones. While Father worked to pray and heal the tree that blessed their kingdom, she would have to care for what remained.

She asked the world for a sign, for help.

It continued to not respond, the breeze wafting gently by.

‘I need my father’s guidance.’ She stared off into the east, beyond the mountains, and past the borders of her domain. ‘How do I find the joy I am missing?’

The glimmer of light on metal caught her eye. In the distance, a shrine bell was being rung.

‘Ah.’ She bowed lightly. ‘Thank you, father.’

The next morning, her retinue accompanied her out to the shrine. She had been there before, many times. It wasn’t her usual place of worship, but it was familiar enough. The guard hesitated but obeyed her when she ordered that he wait by the shrine gates. She slipped up the mountain path, agile and light-footed. Hope was rising in her chest that she would find guidance here.

The priest was in the distance, facing into the main shrine. She chose to go to a smaller shrine. She prayed, letting the sounds of the mountains wash over her. The wind was gentle in the leaves, and birds sang. The air was full of the scent of growth and life. As she stood, Regina felt centered. She felt a little more ready to face challenges.

Someone screamed.

She wheeled around, nearly tripping on the long hem of her kimono as she sought out the source of the sound. The priest was still sitting prone, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Regina followed the sound, and barely glanced behind at the people waiting for her. She went through a small thicket and came to another clearing on the shrine grounds.

In the middle of the clearing, there was an ancient well. She glanced around uncertainly. “Is… someone here?” She asked the empty air.

A child sobbed.

Her mouth suddenly became dry. She walked cautiously closer to the well.

With every step, the sounds of scratching and whimpering came closer and closer.

Rejina-hime looked around the shrine grounds. The priest was still at his work, her retinue were waiting patiently by the gates. No one seemed to have heard anything strange.

As she drew closer to the well, she heard a sniffle. “Is someone in the well?” She asked. She put her hands on the rim and leaned over.

It was hard to see in the darkness, but 4 eyes shone up at her. Something seemed eerie about it. She forgot to feel afraid when a child’s voice answered her from the depths.

“Can you help us? We’re stuck.”

Her heart thudded. She whirled around to signal to her guard. He took off at a run to her.

“Don’t worry,” she reassured. She searched out those catlike eyes in the dark. “I’ll get you out. Do you live nearby?”

“I want to go,” said a second child’s voice piteously. “Can we go?”

“Of course you can go.” She looked over. The guard was nearly there. “We will help you. Are you injured?”

“Not injured,” said the first voice. It somehow sounded a little sly. “Are you sure we can leave? Can you get permission from the priest?”

“Why would I need permission from the priest?” Regina-hime asked, struck by the oddness of the request. The second child started to cry again.

“It’s daaaark,” he wailed.

She forgot all about the strange question, until her guard managed to pull up two dirty-faced little boys. One of them was clutching a large toad to his chest. “You can come with me,” she said, kneeling to put a hand on his shoulder.

The dark-haired little boy stepped up boldly, lifting his face to hers. “But you have to ask the priest,” he said. “He’s in charge of everything here.”

‘Does the priest know these children?’

He didn’t seem to. He made no sign of recognition when she ushered the children over. He agreed immediately that she should take them into her custody.

As they left, Regina was too busy thinking that this must be why her father had directed her here. She didn’t notice at all the way the children flinched and gritted their teeth as they passed the boundary of the shrine.