Mentioned Characters: Chimi

A sanctuary is a sacred place where human entry is restricted. Attacking or interfering with a sanctuary is taboo. Such a place lies deep within a forest on the Youkai Mountain in Gensokyo. It's a safe haven for some, perilous for others. And the reason is simple: uncharted land always hides something unknown.

Nature is the untouched state of the world―mountains, rivers, plants, and creatures, exactly as they are without human interference. In a sense, it's the mother of every living thing. That's exactly why no one, apart from the gods and divine spirits who've existed since long before, can explain how it all came to be. So what, then, is Chimi, who also possesses this knowledge? No one can say for certain. Only nature knows, having existed alongside her since long before anyone else was there to see.

Chimi listened closely to the cool rustle of wind, the calls of animals, the whisper of trees, and the laughter of fairies. On their own, these were just the ordinary sounds of nature. But to her, they came together as an exquisite symphony performed by the mountain itself. She found moments like these to be pure bliss.

But the moment was short-lived. As soon as an unfamiliar footstep broke the quiet, Chimi slipped behind a large tree. It was probably just some lost traveler, and there was no need to confront them. Even so, she couldn't help but sigh. Humans, she thought, never seemed to know when to stop and turn back.

"Oh, it was that girl! What in the world was she doing all the way out here?" Like everything else that wandered into these unknown depths, whoever it was had already gotten spooked and bolted at the sound of her own footsteps. "Come to think of it, she did say she lived at Hakurei Shrine." The sanctuary had been changing lately. More visitors were passing through, and even the youkai who lived there seemed livelier than before. No matter how untouched the land, change always finds a way in. That's simply how nature works. "...Well then. I suppose it's about time I did something different myself, for a change." Chimi murmured to herself, then hopped lightly down from the great tree and quietly made her way east.