When Sakura had finished packing everything, she turned around only to find her father standing at the door of her room.
Perhaps because the ritual was approaching, heavy dark clouds blotted out the sun. Lightning flashed, and in its light, the High Priest's figure appeared somewhat terrifying.
*When did he arrive? How long had he been watching?* Sakura couldn't help but ask in her heart.
But Sakura didn't ask anything.
"Father," Sakura said in a small voice, her head lowered.
The High Priest didn't reply. He just looked at the small bundle in his daughter's hands, his expression serious, showing neither anger nor joy.
"The ritual is about to begin." After a long silence, the High Priest's deep voice finally broke the stillness.
With a *clang*, the bundle in Sakura's hands fell to the floor, its contents scattering everywhere. The medicine pot hit the ground and shattered into a hundred pieces, strewn all over, just like the young girl's heart.
Sakura didn't speak; her mind was a complete blank. She finally remembered that today was the day of the ritual.
"Take the lady shrine maiden down to prepare," the High Priest ordered faintly.
"Yes."
Two young women immediately and obediently led Sakura aside to wash and dress her. No matter what, the ritual was the top priority, and the shrine maiden held the most revered status in the village. Even the current Sakura was not someone they could compare to.
Sakura didn't resist, didn't cry. She was like a puppet, allowing herself to be manipulated.
The High Priest let out an imperceptible sigh and turned to go to Rin's room.
In Rin's room were quite a few villagers. They examined the little girl carefully, their eyes full of reverence, as if they were looking at a peerless work of art, an exquisite gift to be presented to the great god.
The little girl seemed a bit scared, her face paler than usual, like thin paper. She nervously clutched the blanket, trying to cover as much of her body as possible to avoid those terrifying gazes.
The High Priest walked slowly into the room, his shoes creaking on the wooden floorboards.
When Rin saw her father enter, some of the panic in her eyes subsided, and her racing heart returned to a peaceful rhythm.
The villagers also noticed the High Priest, all showing respectful expressions. With the ritual imminent, the High Priest's status had become even more revered.
"Out," the High Priest said faintly. His tone betrayed no emotion, but the villagers all knew who he was referring to.
After one last look at the little girl, the crowd reluctantly departed.
"Lord High Priest, you should sever her hand and foot tendons. That way, the little wench won't think about running," an old woman said as she neared the door.
Upon hearing this, Rin's body couldn't help but tremble, but seeing her father's tall figure, her heart settled again.
The High Priest looked indifferently at the old woman who had spoken. His eyes contained no emotion, yet no one dared to meet his gaze.
The old woman just stared at the floor in front of her and said no more, as if she hadn't been the one who had just spoken.
"Out," the High Priest said again. His tone was the same as before, impossible to read.
But this time, everyone quickened their pace as if granted a pardon, and even the old woman dared not say another word.
After everyone had left, the High Priest slowly walked to his daughter's side, gently stroking her head, and asked with a slight tremor in his voice, "Are you afraid?"
"With Father here, Rin is not afraid," the girl said, rubbing her head against her father's hand like a kitten.
The High Priest's body stiffened, and his hand on his daughter's head paused. He didn't know what to say. After a long while, he finally whispered, "If you two could have really escaped, that would have been for the best."
Rin didn't answer. Perhaps her father had truly entertained such a thought, but as the High Priest, it was something he could not and would not do. The Yae clan had received offerings for generations; it was not something the High Priest could overturn on a whim.
After an unknown amount of time, Rin said softly, "Father, the ritual is about to begin."
Hearing this, the High Priest finally withdrew his hand. Looking at the daughter before him, his heart felt stuffed, yet also empty, and in the end, it seemed he couldn't feel anything at all.
The High Priest took a knife from his robes and viciously slashed his own arm. A long, narrow gash instantly appeared on his fair arm, and red blood flowed ceaselessly.
"Father!" Rin cried out in alarm.
The High Priest paid no mind to his daughter's cry, simply smearing the blood from his arm onto his daughter's wrists and ankles. He applied it again and again. The blood from a shared source clung to his daughter's fair skin, and after it dried, it looked as if it had flowed from the girl's own body.
"Your sister is also a stubborn girl. Now, your hand and foot tendons have been severed," the High Priest said solemnly, as if the words, once spoken by him, were an unalterable fact.
Rin did not object. She nodded and said softly, "Mhm."
"Let's go," the High Priest said, scooping his daughter up in a princess carry.
Perhaps due to her long illness, the girl's body was very light. Even with one arm injured, the High Priest could lift her effortlessly.
Lying in her father's arms, Rin felt very secure. The weather was a bit cold, but her father's embrace was very warm.
The crowd waiting outside had grown anxious after the High Priest had been inside for so long. A few young men were on the verge of going in to urge him but were held back by others. It was not a good idea to offend the High Priest at a time like this.
When they saw the High Priest emerge carrying the sacrifice, they all noticed the bloodstains on the sacrifice's wrists and ankles, and joy welled up in their hearts. They knew that there would be no more variables in the ritual.
…
The plaza in front of the shrine was packed with people. Nearly every villager had come to watch this ritual that would decide the fate of their village.
A wide space had been cleared in the center of the plaza. Before the massive altar, the High Priest was lighting incense and praying with a pious expression. And on the altar, Rin, dressed in a small, provisional shrine maiden outfit, had her hands and feet bound with red and white shimenawa, like a carefully decorated gift, a gift for the gods.
As the ritual proceeded, the dark clouds overhead grew thicker, and the sound of thunder rumbled. The villagers' expressions grew more fanatical. Although no one was shouting, through their Inari masks, everyone's eyes burned with an intense heat.
The High Priest finished his prayers. Next was to present the gift to the god.
Sakura, washed and dressed in a new shrine maiden outfit, was also brought forward. The red and white, small-sized shrine maiden outfit was dignified and proper, enveloping the girl's small body and adding a touch of solemnity and gravity.
The High Priest took the somewhat dazed Sakura from her escorts, placed Sakura Fubuki in her hands, and said sternly, "Lady shrine maiden, the ritual has begun."
Then, he grasped Sakura's slender wrists with both hands, guiding her while whispering, "Rin's hand and foot tendons have been severed. Only you can end her suffering!"
Sakura looked at her sister on the altar, the dark red bloodstains still visible on her wrists. Her dazed eyes finally showed some emotion, and she couldn't help but cry out, "Rin!"
Rin looked at her sister dressed as a shrine maiden, a faint smile on her face, and said softly, "Big Sis, it seems our promise to see the cherry blossoms together cannot be fulfilled. Big Sis, you must become an excellent shrine maiden and protect the village and everyone."
*And Father,* the girl silently added in her heart.
Hearing her sister's words, Sakura's mind went blank. By the time she came to her senses, the crimson blade of Sakura Fubuki had already pierced her sister's chest. Blood of the same crimson color flowed down the beautiful blade, staining her entire chest red.
The thunder suddenly intensified, and a torrential downpour fell in an instant.
The drought was over!