Jerona: Lessons in Psychopomping

[Blaze]

The cross shines with a pure light and engulfs the family!

"Miss! Could you please kill that dragon for me..." the boy starts to say, his voice fading

When it fades, there are three musical notes where they were standing, all emitting their own tone as they drift upwards, moving through the roof.

[KonokoHasano]

"I believe I already did, kid." She said softly as the musical notes drift away. "... poor kid was only curious about the egg." She muttered to herself with a sigh as she turned and headed out of the house.

[Blaze]

"It is sad, but no you didn't. What you saw was the residual image of the dead boy's last memories. The dragon is out there somewhere." Yama says, appearing behind Jerona suddenly!

[KonokoHasano]

Jerona almost jumps at Yama's sudden appearance, but managed to keep her composure. Her hand grips her scythe tightly as she hears what he said. "... do you know where it is? I just lied to that kid, and I want to fix that."

[Blaze]

Yama chuckles, noticing Jerona's surprise and nods.

"I can tell you. But you must not spend all your time making promises to the dead. There are always others you have to help, and they take top priority."

Leading Jerona from the house, he points to a mountain in the distance.

"It's in a cave at the summit."

[KonokoHasano]

"Mmm... you make a point." She said, giving a nod. "I won't make a habit of doing it, but I feel as if I should deal with this one." Turns her head and looks at the mountain. "Way over there? Can I get a lift?"

[Blaze]

Yama shakes his head.

"I cannot aid you in such a thing as this. You'll have to get there on your own. Besides, you could use the practice with your wings."

He hops up onto his water buffalo and it plods off, suddenly seeming to stretch all the way to the horizon before vanishing.

[KonokoHasano]

"... that is true." She muttered to herself as Yama vanishes. "I cannot be guided all of the way." Nodding a little, she proceeds to start flapping her wing to take off.

[Blaze]

As Jerona flies towards the mountain, she soon learns her first lesson: flying in high winds is hard! The cold winds cut her to the bone and makes her flight difficult to control!

[KonokoHasano]

Jerona gives a small sneeze and a shiver, noticing just how chilly the winds were. Quickly, she willed her clothing to expand and cover any exposed skin, as well as her cloak to tightly wrap around her. The winds pushed her back, but she forced herself to keep going, lowering herself a little in an effort to loosen the issue.

[Blaze]

Eventually, Jerona does make it to the mountain itself, finding herself on a ledge outside a cave. Maliciousness seems to flow from the opening of the rock, causing her hair to stand on end and her stomach to churn.

[KonokoHasano]

"Urgh..." She lets out, frowning some as she hakes her head. She's never had to encounter that level of maliciousness before. Clutching her scythe in her hand, she proceeds to make her way inside.

[Blaze]

As she walks into the cave, the cold is replaced by a warm humidity... as she seems to arrive at a dead end?

[KonokoHasano]

Jerona seems to relax somewhat as the warmth spreads through her body. With a sigh, she walks until she hits the dead end, which she observes for a little bit as she puts her hands up onto it and searches for a possible secret if there was one.

[Blaze]

Suddenly, the dead end seems to shift... as part of it slides up, revealing a reptilian eyeball that narrows, focussing on Jerona!