He opened his eyes.
The ceiling came into focus—wooden planks. Slips of light leaked through the gaps between them.
Where am I?
He tried to sit up, but a jolt of pain shot through his entire body. His left arm was wrapped in cloth, as was his right palm. The wounds from the night before had been properly dressed.
The drawstring pouch lay by his pillow. He reached out and gripped it. It was warm.
"Thank goodness."
The faint voice of the Shrine God echoed softly from within. "I was... so worried."
Koyoi slowly pulled himself up. He was in a small hut consisting of a dirt entryway and a raised wooden floor. The remains of a hearth sat in the corner. The walls were fashioned from logs and planks, and dappled sunlight filtered through the moss-covered roof. It smelled of hay, earth, and the forest.
The door creaked open. Someone stepped inside.
It was the person from yesterday—the tall figure in the cloak. Now, Koyoi could finally see their face. It was a strange countenance, appearing both young and old at once. He couldn't tell if they were a man or a woman, but their eyes were peaceful.
"You’re awake."
The voice was deep—low, yet with a gentle resonance.
"Yeah," Koyoi nodded. "Where is this?"
"Deep within the Forest of the Boundary. You collapsed just as you passed through the gate."
The person held out a wooden bowl filled with water. Koyoi took it and drank slowly. It was cold, the moisture seeping into the back of his parched throat.
"Thank you for saving me."
"There is no need for thanks." The person’s gaze fell upon the pouch at Koyoi’s waist. "You’re a Collector, aren’t you? I can tell by the pouch."
Koyoi gripped the pouch tighter. "You know about us?"
"They aren't rare here. Collectors pass through from time to time."
Koyoi stared in surprise. A place where Collectors weren't rare. A place where there were others like him.
"I’m... not the only one?"
"Of course not. Did you think you were the first?" The person offered a faint, fleeting smile. "Can you walk? I’ll take you to the village."
Koyoi stood up. His legs felt shaky, but he could manage. When he stepped outside, the forest stretched out before him.
It was bright. Sunlight pierced through the canopy, painting intricate patterns on the forest floor. Birds were singing. The wind rustled the leaves. There wasn't a trace of the Observers’ presence anywhere.
"This place feels familiar," Koyoi murmured.
From inside the pouch, the Shrine God’s voice drifted out. "Long ago, there was a place like this."
The guide began to walk along a forest path. Koyoi followed close behind. The trail was marked with carvings on the trees and stacks of stones. Someone had been using this path for a very long time.
"Those lights... I call them the Observers," Koyoi said as they walked. "Do they not come here?"
"They do not. Beyond the Boundary, the power of the Measurers cannot reach." The person answered without looking back. "At least, not until now."
Something about the way they said it caught in Koyoi’s chest, but he couldn't bring himself to ask what they meant.
As they broke through the trees, they emerged into an open clearing. Wooden gateposts stood at the entrance, adorned with ropes and carved wooden charms. Two guards stood there, holding long staves. They immediately made way for the guide, but their eyes lingered on Koyoi, sizing him up.
Passing through the gate, the settlement came into view.
Wooden buildings were clustered around a circular central plaza. There were people there—adults and children alike. Every one of them turned to look at Koyoi.
"A Collector," someone whispered. "Look, they have the pouch. A real one."
The villagers began to draw closer. There was no hostility in their eyes; instead, they looked on with curiosity and a strange sense of nostalgia. Children pointed at the pouch, whispering among themselves.
"They all know," the Shrine God said, sounding puzzled. "About the Collectors."
The guide pointed toward a building at the far end of the plaza. It was the largest structure, built on stilts with a staircase leading up. "I’m taking you to the Elder. Follow me."
Inside the building, an old man sat before a hearth. He had white hair and deep wrinkles, but his eyes were sharp. He looked at Koyoi and gave a slow, deliberate nod.
"Welcome, Collector." His voice was calm, yet it carried a heavy weight. "It has been a long time since one as young as you has come here."
Koyoi was gestured to sit. The fire in the hearth crackled and popped.
"Did you come from Kirihara Town?"
"Yes."
"Then that town has already been measured."
Koyoi felt a sharp pang in his chest. "Yes. It sank."
The Elder closed his eyes. "I see. Another one gone."
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
"What do people here think of Collectors?" Koyoi asked. "Out there, no one knew. I couldn't tell anyone what I was doing."
The Elder opened his eyes. "Here, Collectors are revered. Without your kind, the gods would have nowhere to go. They would simply vanish. The people here know that there is a place where they must be delivered. That is why we help the Collectors."
The words sank deep into Koyoi. It was the first time he had found a place that acknowledged what he was doing.
"However," the Elder’s voice dropped an octave. "Do not grow complacent."
Koyoi straightened his back. The Elder’s gaze had turned deadly serious.
"Strange things have been happening lately. There are those who are crossing the Boundary."
Koyoi’s heart leaped. "Crossing the Boundary?"
"Yes. The Measurers. Until now, they never came here. They couldn't come here." The Elder looked directly at Koyoi. "But something has changed."
The fire in the hearth flickered for a split second. The pouch turned cold against Koyoi's side.
"They might have caught up," the Shrine God’s voice trembled slightly.
The Elder stood up and looked out the window. The setting sun was beginning to dye the village in shades of deep red.
"They may have been pursuing you," he said heavily. "Or perhaps, something even greater has begun to move."
Koyoi gripped his pouch. He had thought he’d escaped. He had thought he was safe. But it wasn't over yet.
"Rest tonight. We will speak more tomorrow," the Elder said. "About the work of a Collector. And about what you need to know."
Koyoi nodded, but a whirlpool of anxiety was already churning in his chest.
There are those who are crossing the Boundary.
The words repeated themselves over and over in his head.