Susuki Sasaya

“Human child, you shall become my bride.” — Deep in the mountains, far from human settlements, there was a village where shrine maidens lived. In that village, twins were born into a shrine maiden family—one of them being Uika. In the village, which strictly adhered to ancient customs and was ruled by religious beliefs, it was absolutely forbidden for shrine maidens to interact with outsiders or show human emotions. However, Uika, who was supposed to be a shrine maiden, deeply loved her sister, who was chosen as a sacrifice to a dragon deity. When the time came for her sister to be offered, Uika, who could not bear to lose her, tried to defy the fate imposed on them. But the village labelled her an “unfilial child,” imposed harsh days upon her. Eventually, the time of the sacrifice came, a day when the death of a chosen maiden would calm the wrath of the god. Uika, who had been chosen in her sister’s place, prepared to accept that fate. When the dragon appeared with a thunderclap, Uika, now turned into a sorrowful and beautiful non-human being, left her final words directed by the flowers, like a fleeting bloom.