The westward road was narrow and crooked, carved through forests that leaned in too close. Trees older than cities stretched their arms overhead, muting the light. The sound of birds faded the farther they walked. Only the crunch of boots on broken leaves remained.
Venshiro walked a step behind Rin, his hand resting lightly near the hilt of the Black Vein. It hadn't spoken all morning. Not a single whisper. Not even the usual cold hum beneath his skin.
He hated that it made him uneasy.
"How much farther?" he asked.
Rin didn't turn. "You're impatient for someone who claims to want things to move slowly."
He narrowed his eyes. "That was for life. Not walking. Was it?"
A hint of a smile appear on her voice. "Same thing."
They came to a wooden sign barely standing. The writing was old, nearly eaten by time. But the mark was unmistakable — a crescent eye carved at the top. Rin ran her fingers along it and nodded once.
"She lives past here," she said. "Don't speak unless she speaks to you first."
Venshiro raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because Seers see different from us. They see everything. And when you talk out of turn, they see the wrong version of you."
He didn't reply. Just followed.
They climbed for another hour. The trees thinned. Mist began to creep along the roots, clinging to their boots. It grew colder.
Then the path opened — and in the middle of the clearing, sat a house made of bone and blossom.
Venshiro stared.
It was built from pale white wood and wrapped in vines that bore violet flowers glowing faintly in the shade. Hanging charms clinked softly in the wind. The whole place smelled like burned sage and rain.
"Is she… human?" he asked quietly.
Rin didn't answer.
They approached the crooked doorway. No knock. Rin stepped inside, and Venshiro followed.
It was dim and warm. Dozens of wind-bells and talismans hung from the beams. Shelves full of cracked bottles, dried herbs, and folded cloth filled the corners.
And at the center, seated in a low chair wrapped in moth-silk , sat the Seer.
She was ancient. Skin like pressed blush. Her eyes were closed, but lines ran down from the corners as if they had cried a thousand truths. Her fingers, resting on her lap, both hands had beautiful golden rings.
Without opening her eyes, she spoke.
"You've brought the boy."
Rin bowed her head slightly. "Yes, Tsuyu-sama."
Venshiro opened his mouth, then shut it.
Good.
The Seer's head tilted. "You burn, child. And yet you freeze."
He stoned.
Rin motioned him forward. He stepped into the center of the room, where a symbol had been painted — a circle with three eyes inside it, dripping.
The Seer raised one hand. "Give me your left hand"
He held it out slowly. Her fingers curled around his wrist — shockingly strong. Her eyes remained closed.
Then the room changed.
Or maybe it didn't. But Venshiro felt everything tilt. Like falling without moving. He saw flashes — not visions, more like impressions. Smoke. Blood. Wings . A temple buried beneath roots.
His blade made is of night.
The Seer drew in a breath.
"…You have no Vein Root."
Venshiro blinked. "What?"
"Not one I can see. Not one that should exist."
Her eyes opened. Pure white. No iris. No pupil. Just light.
"You were not born of one path. The sword has rewritten you. But even before it… something in you was not meant for this world."
He stepped back, heart quickening. "Then what am I?"
She smiled, soft and terrifying.
Rin walked him out after.
He didn't speak.
They were halfway back to the path when Rin finally asked, "What did she show you?"
"Nothing clear. Just… broken things."
"That's normal. She never speaks plainly."
He looked at her. "She said I had no Vein Root."
"...That's not normal." Rin said.
They paused at the edge of the trees. Mist was paused too.
"She said the sword rewrote me," he added. "What does that mean?"
"I don't know," Rin said. But her tone was tighter than before. "Maybe… you were never meant to draw it. Maybe someone else was."
"But I did."
"Yeah."
They started walking again.
"I'm tired of riddles," he muttered.
"You're going to hate the next place, then," Rin said. "We're heading to Tsukikages Moonshade Clan's borders."
Venshiro blinked. "That's one of the Six."
"It is."
"Why?"
Rin didn't answer.
Just ahead, the road split. And far above, the clouds began to part — revealing a pale crescent moon