On the remote island of Tsurumi, the people had long followed the custom of revering the strong in order to survive. They worshipped gods or powerful beasts, relying on them to fend off pirates from the sea and the ferocious creatures that emerged from the ocean, allowing them to endure in the chaotic land of Inazuma.
Before they worshipped the Thunderbird, they had followed a god who had fled to this island. According to that god's demands, every few years they would offer living blood in sacrifice—a young boy or girl—to gain its protection.
When the Thunderbird descended upon Tsurumi centuries ago and defeated that god with overwhelming force, the people mourned not the fallen deity but immediately shifted their faith to the Thunderbird, making her their guardian deity.
As they had done with the previous god, every few years the people would offer living blood to the Thunderbird—a young boy or girl—to gain her protection. Even though the Thunderbird never acknowledged them, never demanded sacrifice, never required their worship, and never once communicated with them, the islanders simply believed that their guardian deity was too exalted to bother with them. They held no resentment.
When the mysterious mist enveloped the island, bringing peace and quiet, their faith only deepened.
To show their gratitude, under the command of the tribal high priest, preparations for a new ritual had already begun.
According to tradition, the living sacrifice offered to the guardian deity must be the purest youth—a boy or girl. Only then would the guardian deity be satisfied, granting them her protection.
So the high priest gathered all the young boys and girls of the tribe, from whom one would be chosen as the fortunate sacrifice.
Even Aru, the high priest's own son, was brought along with the others.
As the square filled with hundreds of young faces, Aru looked up at his father and asked, "Father, does the guardian deity truly love us?"
The high priest smiled at his son. "Foolish child, of course she loves you. Why else would she protect this island?"
The Thunderbird, whom they called their guardian deity, had never said she desired living blood. But because the previous god had demanded it, the people naively assumed the Thunderbird did too. So they followed the same rituals.
Young Aru looked fearful. "If I'm chosen as the sacrifice, will I die?"
The high priest paused, then said, "Foolish child, not death. You will become part of the guardian deity and be with her forever."
Aru's gaze grew resolute. "I understand."
Though Aru had overcome his fear, the selection was not something he or his father could control. It was determined by a special ritual, choosing one from the hundreds of boys and girls.
Because of their faith in the Thunderbird, many of them had conquered their fear of being chosen. Some even saw it as an honor. But others trembled in fear.
Under the high priest's orders, after several rounds of selection, a young girl was chosen as this year's sacrifice.
The moment the result was announced, the high priest breathed a quiet sigh of relief. His son Aru had not been chosen.
When the frightened girl learned that in a few days she would be sacrificed to the guardian deity, she burst into tears.
"Mother, I don't want to die. I don't want to be a sacrifice."
She wept, trying with her small strength to defy the customs of her tribe. But a single girl could not stand against the will of the whole tribe. No matter how terrified she was, she would be executed in three days' time.
On the square, watching the crying girl being led away by the adults, many of the other children who had feared being chosen breathed sighs of relief. Aru, however, watched the girl's fear and tears with mixed feelings.
He knew that after being sacrificed to the guardian deity, the girl would die. But if they didn't offer a sacrifice and the guardian deity grew angry, the entire tribe might suffer. So he could only remain silent, his heart heavy.
After the selection, the chosen sacrifice was locked away, and the ritual would take place in three days.
Young Aru, his heart unsettled, wandered out to the open plains. Before the mist had enveloped the island, this field had been covered in blooming flowers—Aru's favorite place. Whenever he had free time, he would come here to play, to run alone, to sing freely.
Now the mist surrounded the once-flower-covered plains. Only by drawing close could one see the small flowers still growing on the ground, bringing Aru a little comfort.
So Aru did as he always had. Facing the mist, facing the fields, he sang with a clear, pleasant voice, praising the guardian deity and singing of freedom.
On any other day, after singing, he would have left. But today was different.
As Aru sang, no one noticed that the Thunderbird, whom the islanders called their guardian deity, had returned from Seirai Island and was passing directly over Tsurumi, about to land on Mount Kanna as she always did.
But just as she spread her lightning-clad wings to descend, a beautiful song rose through the mist and drifted to her ears.
In the past, she would have ignored such human noises. To her, humans were no different from tiny ants—equally weak, equally annoying. If she grew angry, she could crush them all like insects.
But this time was different.
Young Aru's clear, melodious voice seemed to stir something in her.