Summary

Do Not Speak of Strange Powers

In a quiet village, there was a place called "Shirokiri no Sato" located at the base of a mist-covered mountain. The villagers adhered to the traditions passed down through generations and never spoke of strange powers and deities. However, a young man named Tō was intrigued by the legends. Although the strange phenomena lurking in the mist were rarely discussed, Tō could not help but yearn to uncover the truth behind those words.

One day, Tō visited the village shrine. Behind the shrine lived an old man, known as the village elder, who everyone also turned to for counsel whenever something mysterious occurred. Tō asked the elder, "Do you know anything about the strange beings or deities?" The elder quietly closed his eyes and uttered the words, "Do not speak of strange powers," but his voice trembled slightly.

Tō was puzzled by the meaning of these words but eventually made the decision to step into the mist on his own. As he ventured deeper into the fog-laden forest, he suddenly heard an eerie voice. It was a ghostly whisper. "To the seeker of truth, what is it that you desire?" Guided by that voice, Tō eventually arrived at a large stone pillar. Ancient characters were carved into it, and it held the meaning, "Power lies within the heart."

The moment Tō touched the stone pillar, he felt a mysterious force surge like a torrent into him, opening his heart. For the first time, he came to understand the truth about the strange phenomena: that they existed to protect the village and test the hearts of its people. However, Tō made an important decision. He chose not to bring this knowledge back but instead to follow the teaching of "Do not speak of strange powers" and keep that truth locked within his own heart. Since then, his heart remained calm, and he continued to pray quietly for the protection of the village.