Yin sits up, breathing heavily, sweat lining his forehead He looks around. Once he realizes where he is, he instinctively reached for his chest. The wound from the spear was gone. "What…where…" he trails off, taking in his surroundings once again. His two friends, a nurse and doctor, and the small room they were crammed into.
"We came as soon as we heard what happened." Kya says. Yin has known her since they were young. She has long black hair, dark brown eyes, and is a few inches shorter than Yin. She is wearing shop clothing, a blue-green kimono. She leaned over and gives Yin a hug once he realized where he was, so she wouldn't startle him again. "I'm glad you're okay." she says. Yin reciprocates the hug, and then feels a striking pain and winced, causing Kya to step back. "Sorry." she whispers. "It's fine." he replies, grunting a bit.
Beside her was Aiguo, his other friend. He's wearing a dark gray mantle and black pants. He's a bit taller than Yin, not by much though. He has short black hair and is the brains of the group. He speaks. "It's okay. You're in the infirmary. I don't know how they did it, but they brought you back to life." Yin could barely remember what happened, he knew something was different, he just didn't quite know what.
"What… where… how? Someone explain what happened." Yin stammers. "You're lucky." The healer interjects. "You know that? Your friends here found you in the field. Realistically, you should have been dead. It's a miracle you're not. I've never seen or heard of anything like it." Yin looks at his friends, Kya smiling at him, happy to see him up. Aiguo was sitting in the corner, looking out the window, occasionally glancing back at the two.
A few hours passed as Yin was caught up on what had happened. "Is it alright if I get going? I feel alright." The medical aid walks over to him. "You need to recover." she says. "I feel alright, somehow." Yin says to her. "Well then, fine. You'll have to take a few tests first, but If you insist, you can leave. Just take care of yourself." She nods to Kya and Aiguo. "You two keep him out of trouble." Kya interjects but helps Yin get out of the bed first. "We will, don't worry." "Also-" added the doctor "On your way out, there's someone downstairs wanting to talk to you, Yin. He said that you need to answer a few questions." "Wh-, already?" he murmurs. "Cmon', dead guy. It'll be fine." Aiguo remarks, a teasing tone in his voice.
They made their way out, and sure enough in the lobby, there was someone waiting for him. "Your Yin?" he asks. Yin nods, unsure of what the man wanted. "I'm Kai. I heard what happened. You are extremely lucky to have survived that attack. You've heard of Hunters, right?" Kai says. Yin nods. Kai clears his throat. "Once every one-hundred years, someone is born with a special gene. It allows them not only to withstand their attacks but also have the ability to seal them."
Yin is completely taken aback by this. "What do you mean, seal? Is that even possible?" "Yes" Kai says. "Unfortunately, since you have that gene, you are destined to bring peace to this land. We have been haunted by the spirits for a millennium, and it is finally time to make our comeback." Yin is confused. He doesn't quite understand how he comes into this plan, much less what he can do about it.
"So… you want me to do what?" Yin asks. Kai replied, explaining in further detail. "Unfortunately, we don't have a choice. Your ability comes around only once every century. You need to eliminate the Yaoguai Kings and collect their souls. Then we can have order and peace." Yin looks at Kai, clearly confused. "Then what? It feels like there is something you're not telling me." Kai sighs, then responds. "That is true. Once a Hunter has control over all the souls, their body will quickly deteriorate because of the negative spirit energy being put against it." It suddenly came together in Yin's head. "So… you're saying… once I have all the spirits… I'll…" Kai nods. "Yes." "Unfortunately. That is your destiny. For the good of the world."
***
Walking back to their village, Yin was in shock. He stared at the ground as he walked. Kya was desperately trying to calm him down, but he couldn't really focus on anything. Aiguo was just quiet, as he normally is. "I don't really have a choice, do I?" Yin says. "I really don't think so." Kya replied to Yin. She was typically the positive one, trying to keep the groups spirits high, but even she was at a loss for words. "I really don't know." After walking for a bit, Yin broke the silence. "I'm gonna be honest, I don't want to die, but I don't see myself getting out of this either." Kya puts a reassuring hand on Yin's shoulder. "Maybe there is some other way. There must be. There always is. There has to be." Kya says, rambling, but quickly losing hope. She looks up. "Aiguo, you're the smart one here, got anything?" He replies, keeping his eyes on the distant wall. "Nah, I'm still stuck on the fact that Yin's the one who's gotta do this." Yin replies. "Same here. I mean me. I didn't think I'd ever do more in life than work in a field. But going all over the world, all alone? Shit."
Yin takes a breath, kicking dirt. "I suppose I'll do it. I mean, hey. There's gotta be a way that I can survive. Maybe this all ends well. Or it doesn't. And I die. Again. Who knows. Better than working in a field." The group walks down the dirt and gravel path for a few minutes in silence, taking in what they've learned in the past few hours. The path crunches under their feet. The evening sun is setting, and after a bit, the sun is covered by the mountains in the distance.
Yin headed home, walking slowly and looking at the horizon. The pink and orange sky makes him feel homesick, even though he hasn't left yet. "What do I even do here?" he asks himself. "I don't want them to come with me. I don't want either of 'em getting hurt. They're my only friends." he says under his breath.
Yin makes it to his home. A small traditional cabin, with enough room for a kitchen, bathroom, eating area, and bed, all crammed into one. He had been living on his own for a while, after his mother died. About five years ago, a horrible disease took out a large portion of the people in his village, both of Aiguo's parents and Yin's mother unfortunately being some of them. Yin's father disappeared when he was just a toddler. And now, he existed on his own, living as a farmhand for one of the old men in the village. He was paid decently, just enough to live on his own.
When he got home, he took off his shoes and changes his clothes. A dark green shirt and black loose pants. He lies down, and notices something different. A small wooden box sitting on the only table in the one room home. There is a paper note on top of it, which he picks up and reads.
"Yin~ When you leave on this journey, know that you are taking a risk. The people of this village, the survivors, are all grateful for your bravery - and your sacrifice. In this box, there are three things. A map of the known area, a serum that can bring one back to life (We don't know if this will work with you or not), and your closest companion. The Sealing Staff. This can only be shifted by Hunters, and once transformed, will bond with your soul, so only you can wield it. It can seal away the souls of the Yaoguai Kings that you will encounter. Imagine it at any size you wish, and it shall comply. Thank you. Good luck, you will need it."
Yin removes the lid from the box; it slides off easily. The mahogany wood feels smooth under his fingers. He takes out the tiny staff and puts it in the palm of his hand. He imagines it as a six-foot tall and one-inch-thick pole, and it morphs into that. It glows golden, humming in his hand.
The staff was made from black iron; six different sigils illuminate then fade out on the shaft. Each end had an intricate and elaborate golden design, giving the weapon a regal look. He spins it around, accidentally knocking an old clay vase over, the fragments falling to the ground. "Well, damn." he says under his breath. The staff vibrates in his hand, as if it was speaking to him. He spins it within his hand and rests it against the wall. "We leave tomorrow." he says to himself, and the staff.
Yin was very tired from the intense day. "Of all the times I get a good night's sleep..." He murmurs to himself. "Please let it be tonight." He falls back in his cot, pulling the thin, hole filled blanket over him, and slowly drifts off to sleep.