ACIEL'S DIARY : INDIGO
SHEET 5.13: MASKED SPIRIT & A PIECE OF BANDAGE

"I'll go to the family's house tomorrow and perform a ritual on the building, I'll wait for your arrival there."

Brother Ren gave me a small fold of paper containing a location plan, I took it and opposed the unilateral decision.

"No, I still haven't told you if I'll help you."

"Yah~ you don't have to think about it too much, your job tomorrow is to watch. I don't intend to involve you."

Brother Ren laughed, with his shoulders trembling slightly. I prefer to ignore it this time and go home since it is already afternoon. Unknowingly this takes a lot of time.

"Alright, then I'll say goodbye."

"Yes, I'll see you tomorrow."

Leaving Ren's sister waving behind, I walked home with Master on my shoulder. Just as I was beginning to think that the black cat was a little quiet today, he started to open his mouth.

"When the boy touched my head, I could clearly feel how much hatred he was harboring in the Spirits.

"Hm ... Is that so? I didn't feel it at all because of the smile she put out. From wherever his personality looks so relaxed that I don't think about it."

"Well, apart from that stupid laugh and fake smile that he let out, he must have experienced quite a lot of trouble because of the Spirits. It was no wonder he had such thoughts."

Without anyone believing it, being faced with something as uncommon as the Spirits is indeed quite troublesome and makes you depressed. I have always felt that way until recently.

As I began to enter the residential area, at the intersection, I saw five ropes lined up beside the road. I approached the rope, picked it up and pulled the rope. Until a voice calls out in the back.

"Stop that, human boy."

I turned around and the one over there was the masked spirit girl with a rope on her neck, hands and feet that I had met before. The spirit came closer to me and fell silent.

I immediately raised my hand.

"Ah, sorry. I'm just a little curious ... Hm? Is there something?"

The spirit fell silent in front of me, staring at my face without saying anything. He answered the question I asked with something unrelated, and it confused me.

"You ... It smells the same as her."

"The same smell? Whatchu mean?"

I stared at him, lowering my gaze to the point that caught my attention. It was heading towards his hand that was wrapped in bandages.

"Ah that, this is indeed quite bothering me so can I help you fix the bandage? You can ignore me as much as possible afterwards. Hows it? Do you approve?"

"Ah? Hm .... Whatever, do as you please. But because it's a little flashy here for a human like you. I'll take you to a lonely place."

"I understand, thank you."

The spirit took me to a place where an old house and building were inside. I entered with a hint of hesitation and turned in several directions warily.

"Is there no one here? What if they misunderstand me and think of me as a thief and take me to the police station?"

"Just calm down, that over-imagination won't happen. It was still late afternoon, the residents of the house were not going home anytime soon. And the one in this barn is also just me."

The spirit took me to a barn and we sat down on the steps in front of him. Next to the door of the barn, I could see a dull slap rope glued to a giant iron.

It was five ropes connected to the masked girl spirit and constricted it. It didn't take long until I realized it, but it's better not to bring it up this time.

The mask spirit sat down first on the steps and extended his hand to me. I just look at it confused.

"What are you doing?"

"Aren't you the one who said you wanted to fix this bandage because it was distracting you? Then do it quickly."

Ah, right too.

I immediately touched the girl's hand, then fixed the bandage. As I did my best, the masked spirit began to tell me something.

"I used to be the Protector of the Lake. But one day, came a Spirit Exterminator who caught me. That man then tied up and forced me to protect this family and the warehouse that was where he kept his property."

I nodded slowly to respond to that, The Spirit Mask continued.

"I initially tried to get away as hard as I could, but eventually I gave up and chose to spend my time just sitting and daydreaming all day. It's been going on for years. Until one day, there's a kid coming up to me."

I looked at the Spirit's hands and feet, there were indeed many scars on his nails and fingers. The former did not disappear as he tried to fight the seal that bound him.

"Just like you, the boy can see me. The boy tied this bandage to me at the time, so we ended up talking about quite a lot afterwards."

The spirit touched the rope around his neck. Then bow his head. It looked as if he was looking through into the ground.

"Today, someone opened the barn and if I didn't fulfill my duty, the rope tied to my body would narrow even further, eventually severing my legs, arms and head. That's why there's no choice for me but to instill a curse on those who open it."

The spirit let out a breath, a tired sigh.

"But I'm getting sick of this obligation. Maybe for the next time, I won't fulfill my obligations and let my neck be cut off. At least I won't regret it. It's just, I thought if destiny was something interesting."

The spirit raised its head upwards, looking at the afternoon sky.

"Who could have thought that the child who had tied the bandage to my hand had returned and become a Spirit-exterminator. Even so, I would still be happy if he were to exterminate me. It wasn't a bad thing to be one part of his achievement."

I finished tying the bandage and tightened it again, practice realizing what this Spirit is trying to talk about.

But in contrast to him, I could only see it as something sad. I rubbed his hand and showed it to him.

"Look, with this the bandage will not slack again. You better take care of her."

The mask spirit twisted his hand, looking at the entire bandage lining there, the mood of hiss seemed to shine. I was so happy to see it that way.

"Thank you, son of man."

"Yes, you're welcome."

Maybe I should pass this on to Ren's sister. I don't know if the guy remembers it anyway but it's not bad to try it. Therefore, I guess I will come for purification tomorrow.