The Eastern Forest
At the Spring of the Spirits in the Eastern Forest, to test the ability to communicate with spirits that Elder had bestowed upon me, I focus my mind on an ancient tree standing by the spring’s edge. As I close my eyes and quiet my mind, the sound of the wind, the chirping of birds, and the rustling of leaves begin to sound like the very words of the spirits.
“…Mitamu, can you hear me?”
A faint voice resonates directly within my heart. Surprised, I reply in my mind, “Yes, I can hear you. Who are you?”
“I am Kodama, the spirit of this tree. I have heard what Elder told me. I am here to determine whether you can become a friend to the spirits.”
Kodama’s voice is stern and full of wariness. I take a deep breath and speak from the heart. “Kodama, I have no intention of harming the spirits. On the contrary, I wish to protect this world together with you all. Please, trust me.”
After a moment of silence, Kodama speaks again. “…I’ll take your word for it. But words alone prove nothing. Prove it with your actions. This forest is littered with trash discarded by humans. Clean it up and purify the forest.”
I nodded and, following Kodama’s instructions, began cleaning the forest. Empty cans, plastic scraps, broken glass—left behind by humans—were polluting nature and wounding the spirits’ hearts. I carefully picked them up one by one and stuffed them into the bag I’d brought.
As I continued working, I began to see things from the forest spirits’ perspective. I could understand all too well just how much the humans’ thoughtless actions were causing them suffering. While I keenly felt my own powerlessness, a sense of gratitude and respect for the spirits welled up within me.
At dusk, I had gathered all the trash and reported to Kodama. “Kodama, I’ve cleaned up all the trash.”
Kodama replies with satisfaction. “…Well done. I acknowledge your efforts. But this is only the beginning. To deepen your bond with the spirits, you must continue to make an effort. Listen to the spirits’ words and fulfill their wishes.”
I take Kodama’s words to heart and leave the Spirit Spring behind. When I return to the village, the villagers are preparing dinner. The laughter of children, the aroma of cooking, and the warm glow of lamplight… a peaceful, everyday life unfolded before me. I decided to tell the villagers about my encounter with the spirits. I took out the Lyre of Atlantis and began to play its sacred melody. The sound soothed the villagers’ hearts and stirred feelings of gratitude toward the spirits.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
