An earth-bound spirit is a phenomenon from supernatural folklore.
When a person or object perishes, their sphere of activity becomes geographically restricted. They are亡灵 (wánglíng)—undead spirits—shackled to a particular place. Such spirits often harbor lingering resentments that prevent them from moving on, causing them to become malicious entities.
They are a common trope in Japanese manga. Generally speaking, those who die with unresolved grievances, lingering attachments, or unfulfilled vengeance do not ascend to the heavens. Instead, they remain in the mortal world to see their wishes fulfilled, and are thus known as earth-bound spirits.
They do not harm people without reason; they simply wish to accomplish their goals. There is no other way to help them ascend—only when their heart's desire is finally realized will they depart.
Yae Rin was one such spirit, a soul bound to this world by her wish.
---o---
In that cemetery, the petite figure of the deceased stood before a gravestone bearing her name, Yae Rin. She gazed out at the small path in the distance, the one that led to the Yae Shrine.
Her face bore a striking resemblance to Yae Sakura's, though she appeared thinner, more delicate. Her features lacked the sharp intensity of the miko who guarded the village. Her long, sakura-pink hair was not worn completely loose; the locks at her temples were tied into twin tails that fell gently over her shoulders.
"Sister… are you still not free?" the spirit whispered, her voice tinged with loneliness. Bound by obsession, she had long been stranded in the mortal realm, her gaze perpetually fixed on that distant path.
"Sister, you must become an outstanding miko!"
Those had been her last words, spoken to her weeping older sister after their father had severed the tendons in her arms and legs and sent her to the sacrificial grounds.
In the wake of that tragedy, her sister had sealed away her heart.
She had transformed herself into a merciless blade, an instrument for performing the ritual, unconditionally executing the villagers' will. It was a destiny that had been decided for her before she was even born.
Her sister, the miko named Sakura, was shackled by her duty.
No, she was shackled by Rin's own final words.
All the young girl had wanted was for her sister to cast off her burdens and fulfill the ritual. Yet, every time she watched a new grave being dug beside her own, her heart grew a fraction heavier.
In the beginning, her sister would often come to gaze upon those who had died in the ritual, her expression filled with remorse. She would even break down, wailing in despair.
But as time went on, her visits to the graves of the other sacrifices grew less frequent. Her expression, as she looked upon the newly turned earth, became cold and detached.
As she grew up, shaped by Rin's last words and the villagers' expectations, her sister's sense of self was slowly but surely being devoured by the "responsibilities of a miko."
"How… How can I save my sister?" the long-departed girl named Rin murmured, her expression growing ever more anxious.
"That sort of thing is indeed quite troublesome."
Without any warning, another voice sounded beside her.
Rin, the deceased spirit, froze. She turned toward the source of the voice.
It came from a young man of breathtaking beauty. He had hair as black as ink, skin as fair as jade, and features so exquisite they seemed unreal.
And this young man was smiling in her direction.
His long eyelashes fluttered faintly, and a warm smile flickered like a brilliant light within his vivid red pupils.
He's so handsome.
Though she was already a spirit, Yae Rin felt an inexplicable fluttering in her chest, a phantom sensation like a racing heart. This person who had appeared out of nowhere was the most handsome male she could ever remember seeing.
Is he from the outside world? Yae Rin's thoughts ran wild.
Wait.
He was just answering her.
An immense wave of surprise washed over the heart of the girl who had died so young. Since becoming an earth-bound spirit, she had never encountered another of her kind, nor had she met a single living person who could see her.
"You… you can see me?" the girl's voice trembled with excitement.
"I can see you, yes," the young man replied with a gentle smile. As a magus who dealt with spirits and demons on a daily basis, this was nothing unusual for him. He addressed the girl who lingered by her own gravestone.
"To encounter such a beautiful young lady in a desolate place like this is quite a surprise."
Beautiful young lady?
Hearing such praise, the spirit girl named Rin felt her face flush a deep red.
How can someone say something like that to a girl the moment they meet?!
A… A lecher!
"Our meeting must be fate. So, my dear young lady, is there anything I can help you with?" the young man asked, finding Yae Sakura's little sister to be unexpectedly amusing.
"You… You're willing to help me?" the young girl stammered, momentarily stunned. She was, indeed, in desperate need of help.
"Helping a cute girl in need? Isn't that just a matter of course?" the young man declared with great sincerity, his gaze fixed on the girl's eyes, which were identical to Yae Sakura's. He had certainly changed a little under Rita's tutelage.
Helping a cute girl is a matter of course?
Hearing these words, which carried a truly flirtatious undertone, Yae Rin's face grew a little redder. This time, however, the thought of him being a lecher didn't cross her mind.
"May I ask, miss, do you have a wish you long to fulfill?" the young man asked with a blink. His eyes were incredibly lively, shimmering with a strange light, as if ripples were stirring in their depths.
"Can I… Can I really ask for your help?"
"Of course."
The girl named Rin looked at the young man, who seemed so kind and approachable. Following a habit from when she was alive, she took a deep, spiritual breath and bowed deeply.
"Excuse me… could you please deliver a message to my sister?"
The girl, who was deeply loved by her sister and loved her fiercely in return, looked at the stranger with pleading eyes as she gathered her thoughts.
"And what is the message you wish to convey? And to whom should it be delivered?" the young man asked, blinking as he feigned complete ignorance.
"My sister is the miko of the Yae Shrine." The girl, who had once bound her sister to the role of an outstanding miko with her dying words, did her best to float closer to Li Zihan, afraid he wouldn't hear her. "If it's possible, I hope you can go there and tell my sister, 'Rin hopes that you can be freed from the chains of being a miko.'"
With that, she fixed her earnest gaze on the handsome young man, who, by all appearances, couldn't possibly be a bad person.
"I can't do that."
The young man's voice was light and cheerful. His sudden reversal made Yae Rin's eyes widen in disbelief, and her heart sank like a stone.
Didn't this guy just promise to help me? How could he go back on his word so quickly?
But before she could voice her unhappiness, her indignation, or any other emotion…
The young man's voice rang out again.
"Because some things are better said face-to-face, aren't they?"
Under the girl's slightly bewildered gaze, the young man who had just reneged on his promise clapped his hands. Instantly, invisible ripples materialized in the air before him.
Then, a slender, sakura-colored silhouette stepped out from within.
The sudden appearance of this figure made the girl, who had long since become a ghost, begin to tremble.
It's Sister.
Unlike all the times before, when her sister's gaze would pass right through her as if she wasn't there, she was now staring fixedly at Rin. Her eyes burned with a fervent intensity.
Then, she called out her name.
"Rin!"
---o---