I expect that when I woke up there would be blinding light and the sound of a woman's cry.
There was the sound of a woman crying but..
wait a minute… this isn't a hospital?!
The air was thick, heavy with something sharp and bitter. Inc— incense? It burned my nose. Instead of white tiles and fluorescent lights, I saw shadows across layered curtains and wooden beams darkened by smoke.
Looking around, I could see several women in servant-like outfits assisting with my birth. Their movements were hurried but precise, hands slick with blood and water, sleeves tied back with cords.
But that's not the weirdest part.
All of them wore what looked like traditional Japanese clothing layered robes, wide sleeves, muted silks.
And not only that, there were several… monks? And Weird dudes in robes circling nearby while chanting something under their breath.
The sound vibrated through the floor.
Talismans hung from strings overhead, swaying slightly despite the still air. Inked characters bled into the paper like they were alive.
One of the robed men suddenly froze.
His chant stuttered.
His face twisted in confusion — then horror.
He violently coughed, veins popping up on his face.
Blood sprayed across the white cloth at his knees.
The chanting faltered.
The others exchanged glances but continued, louder now, as if trying to drown something out.
The women assisting the birth stiffened when their eyes landed on me.
a look of utter fear appears on their faces.
Raw, instinctive fear like prey realizing a predator is already inside the room.
One servant's hands began shaking so violently she dropped the cloth she was holding. Another covered her mouth. A third stumbled backward, knocking into a folding screen that rattled softly before settling into an uneasy stillness.
Their eyes stayed on me As if a literal demon were staring back. The chanting grew harsher.
The incense smoke, instead of rising, seemed to sink.
Just then one of the servant dropped her cloths eyes widened with a deathly pale complexion.
"T-the lady.., The lady has d-died!"
——
"Sir, I recommend you cast that child into the forest far from the estate and let the beasts claim what should not remain among men."
The words fell heavily into the room, as if even the tatami beneath us wished to recoil from them.
A monk and an onmyōji stood opposite the lord of the household.
The man, a middle-aged noble with faint threads of gray at his temples, wore layered robes of subdued elegance befitting his rank. His face remained composed, the stillness of practiced authority, yet the worry within him seemed to stack upon itself like unseen weight pressing against his chest.
Incense smoke drifted between them in thin, trembling ribbons.
"The heavens have cursed this child," the onmyōji said, fingers tightening around the prayer beads at his wrist. "His birth was attended by ill omens. The barrier talismans failed. My divination… shows only ruin." His voice faltered for the briefest moment. "If he is allowed to live, I fear he will bring an end to this world."
Silence spread across the chamber.
The lord lowered his gaze, long black hair sliding forward as he leaned slightly, hands resting upon his knees. He did not speak. He did not look toward the curtained chamber where his wife lay lifeless.
He did not ask to see the child.
The monk folded his hands within his sleeves, his voice calm though the tightness in his brow betrayed him.
"We must sever the trace of this malicious presence before it binds itself to your household," he said. "Purification rites will be performed. The chamber will be cleansed. For the safety of your lineage, you should summon a sorcerer of the Fujiwara to inspect the grounds and ensure no lingering corruption remains."
The incense flame flickered.
Somewhere in the distance, a dog began to howl.
The lord exhaled slowly, as if releasing something lodged deep within his ribs.
"Very well."
His voice was quiet, but firm.
"Take the child beyond the forest boundary. Do not return until it is done."
He lifted his eyes at last, and though his expression did not change, something within them had hardened into iron.
"My guards will accompany you," he continued. "No word of this leaves the estate. What happens in that forest… remains in that forest."
———
I am utterly baffled by where I am.
Currently I am wrapped in weird cloths and placed in a small… basket? Something similar to that.
Not only that, a large amount of talisman paper is placed on the basket, and several men in robes with weapons follow behind.
The main group carrying me are monks and onmyōji, which I only learned after hearing one of the guards talking to them earlier.
After I was birthed, I was carried by this group of men toward a dark forest. Unless you're stupid, it's pretty obvious why.
People passing out, mom dying, oh, and also my missing left arm.
My missing left arm probably gave them enough reason to throw me out.
That action also helped me understand that I reincarnated into ancient Japan instead of the modern age.
At least not prehistoric times, I guess.
As the group walked further into the dark forest, the darkness seemed to grow closer. I could hear the monks and onmyōji chanting something while carefully threading through the narrow path.
At last, we arrived at a riverside where they carefully placed me down after laying straw mats on the ground. They lit some sort of strange candles and placed more talismans on the basket.
From our journey here, I could tell what they were trying to do… well… somewhat.
Letting me starve, or get eaten by a wild beast?
Or maybe… hmm…
Ah, I give up.
Strangely enough, I didn't feel fear nor worry about my circumstances.
I felt nothing but boredom as they performed their ritual.
———
After placing the baby down, one of the onmyōji seemed to tremble a little. More accurately, all of them did except for the sorcerer of the Fujiwara.
He simply stared at the baby with a look of undisguised curiosity, particularly sensing the immense cursed energy.
With this amount of cursed energy leaking, no doubt he'll be killed by a cursed spirit before a wild animal could.
The sorcerer fell into deep thought before being gently pulled back by a guard.
"I apologize, Sir Fujiwara. It is time for the ritual to commence."
"Of course."
A deep sense of uneasiness filled the sorcerer. The forest seemed to tighten on every side.
This feeling… it's… a horde of curses!?
The sorcerer's eyes widened at the sensation of hordes and hordes of curses closing in from every direction. Everyone present monks and onmyōji alike shuddered and quickened their rituals.
"Sorce—"
"Make a formation! We don't have time to escape! Guard the monks and stay close!"
The sorcerer gritted his teeth at the horde's pace. He quickly leapt toward the branches of the trees, observing the situation.
Multiple guards closed in, forming a circle of defense, ready to defend the monks and onmyōji with their lives while the group practically shouted their chants.
h-how? Despite the talismans and barriers… how could there be hundreds of them?!
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A/N: I'm a bit disappointed with my writing but maybe I'll come back and polish this after a few chap