As Valen walked through the rugged terrain, his path was lighten by a pale moon hanging in the sky. His destination was a small village, which was home to his only true friend, Orlen.
The village, bathed in a soft glow from its warm lanterns, seemed peaceful, but Valen mind was in turmoil... "Is that blood?" He said softly as he saw dry pig blood on the ground
Valen paused, his keen senses picking up the metallic scent of blood. It was faint, but unmistakable. As he scanned the area, he noticed more signs of a struggle. Broken branches, disturbed soil, and a faint smell of something burnt in the air.
Valen took his pace, his sword hanging by his side as he reached Orlen small forge. The soft light spilled out into the night, and the rhythmic sound of the hammer hitting iron could be heard within.
Valen pushed the door *tratgh* and stepped into the forge. Orlen, a dwarf with a wiry frame and a face lined with age, looked up from his work. He was surprised to see Valen, as he was usually nocturnal.
"Valen my child," Orlen said, his tone a mix of surprise and caution. "What brings you here so early in the night?"
"I need you to look at my sword," Valen replied, ignoring the dwarf question. He pulled the sword from its scabbard and placed it on the anvil in front of Orlen. His sword was chipped in multiple spots and had a dull, lifeless sheen.
Orlen grunted and picked up the sword. He examined the blade with a critical eye, running his fingers over the chips and nicks.
"This blade has seen a lot of action," Orlen said, his voice filled with concern. "The chips are deep, and the blade has lost its sharpness...who did you fight again?" He added
Valen was silent for a moment, the memories of the fight filling his mind. It had been a grueling battle, one that had pushed him to the limits of his strength.
"A demon," Valen finally said, his voice flat. "A young one, but powerful all the same."
Orlen let out a grunt of surprise as Valen revealed the truth. "A demon? You should have been more careful, young one," he said, his voice filled with concern. Taking a closer look at the blade, he carefully scraped away the tarnished metal with a file, his brow furrowed in concentration.
"I know," Valen said, his tone a mix of annoyance and resignation. "But there's something else I wanted to ask you about."
Orlen looked up from his work, his eyes meeting Valen's. "Oh? What's that?"
Valen paused, the words sticking in his throat. Leaning closer to Orlen, he lowered his voice almost to a whisper.
"Do demons have names? Can they speak?" Valen's face was a mask of confusion as he pondered the demon he had been fighting.
Orlen was clearly taken aback by Valen's question. "Demons...have names, yes," he said slowly, his eyes narrowing as he considered the implications of Valen's question. "And they are more than capable of speech. They are creatures of cunning and deceit. Why do you ask?"
Orlen was visibly surprised by Valen's question. "Demons do have names," he replied slowly, his gaze intense as he processed the significance of Valen's inquiry. "And they are indeed adept at speaking. They are beings of trickery and deception. Why do you inquire?"
Valen hesitated before responding. "The demon I was fighting...it felt different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it seemed like it was mocking me. Like it was...enjoying our confrontation."
Valen words caused a shadow to fall over Orlen face. "Demons are notorious for their cruel tendencies," he remarked, his tone laced with concern. "However, it's possible you were facing an oni instead. They share similarities with demons, but they also have their own unique traits, such as belonging to clans and having families."
Valen frowned, his mind racing at the information. "Oni... I've never encountered one before. How can I tell the difference between a demon and an oni?"
Orlen sighed and set down his tools. "This might be difficult, but there are some differences. Oni are usually larger and stronger than demons, with more human-like features. They also have a strict hierarchy, where each oni belongs to a specific clan or family." Orlen picked up his tools again and resumed work on Valen's sword. "I once knew an Oni, his name was Rei or Ryu, I can't remember exactly, it was 50 years ago."
"An Oni named Ryu..." Valen murmured, his mind preoccupied. The thought of a creature that fit Orlen's description gave him pause.
"What was he like?" he asked, his eyes never leaving the sword as Orlen worked on it.
Orlen chuckled, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Ryu was quite the character. A powerful warrior, fierce in battle, yet gentle with those he cared for." Orlen glanced up at Valen. "Reminds me of someone, actually."
Valen grunted in response, his thoughts already drifting to the enigmatic demon he had fought.
Orlen was silent for a moment, his eyes studying Valen's face. "You know...not all demons and Oni are evil. Some are neutral, while others have even fought with humans against greater threats." Orlen gaze turned sharp. "And some, like Ryu, have even been friends with humans."
Valen laughed at Orlen words. "Demons and Oni are monsters," he said, his tone laced with a hint of defensiveness. "They may be able to mimic human emotions, but they are still cruel and heartless creatures."
Orlen chuckled, clearly unsurprised by Valen's outburst. "And how much experience have you had with demons and Oni, my child?" he asked, his voice filled with both concern and amusement.
Valen huffed, his irritation evident in the sharpness of his words. "Fine, I'll wait outside. I don't know enough about them. I'll be back in an hour." He turned and stalked out of the forge, the door slamming behind him with a loud thud.
Orlen sighed as he watched Valen leave. He knew that the young vampire was stubborn and closed minded, but he also knew the terrible trauma that had led the youth onto his dark path. He wished that there was something he could do to help Valen see that there was more to the world than the bitter rage and vengeance that consumed him.
Shaking his head, Orlen turned back to Valen sword and worked diligently, determined to repair the weapon and hopefully repair Valen along with it.
Valen stood outside the forge, his mind a swirling storm of thoughts. The night air, chilling around him, mirrored the coldness within his heart. The conversation with Orlen had stirred something within him, leaving him feeling uneasy and vulnerable.
When suddenly as he was standing... A scream tore through the night, echoing through the quiet streets of the village. Valen didn't wait.
His body reacted instinctively he lunged forward, grasping the hilt of his sword.
The night wind carried the scent of blood, stronger than before, more metallic, more… raw.
He ran through a few streets until he reached a clearing beyond the village, where the sound of tearing flesh emanated. There, in the faint glow of the moonlight, someone knelt over a lifeless body.
Not a human, not a demon… something in between.
The figure had long, dark hair, and half its face was covered in something resembling the crust of charred wood, pulsating with red streaks. One of its eyes glowed with a menacing red, the other a cool, human blue.
A sword rested at its waist, and a cloak billowed around it like a shadow. In its hands, it held the body of a dead pig, still warm, with blood dripping onto the grass.Valen reacted instantly he drew his sword and aimed it at the figure."Who are you?!" he snarled, his voice thick with tension.
The stranger raised his head, and a faint smile twisted his lips. When he spoke, his voice was strangely melodic, hypnotic, but Valen sensed something unnatural in it, as if the sounds were forming against the speaker's will.
"I didn't know it was your pig," he said slowly, drawing out the syllables.
"I didn't mean to cause trouble…"
Valen didn't lower his blade. A single word flashed in his mind. Cursed...
He had heard of them. Beings touched by the curse of the Demon God, teetering on the edge between human and monster. They could speak with a voice that deceived, lured, and misled. And they lost control.
"You're Tahashi, aren't you?" Valen asked sharply.
The man raised an eyebrow, and the shadow of a smile returned to his lips."I see my reputation precedes me."Valen stepped closer, poised to strike.
"I've heard of your curse. Of what you're capable of."
"Then you know you shouldn't trust me," Tahashi replied softly, and there was something…
different in his voice. Something that made Valen hesitate for a fraction of a second.Was it a trick? Manipulation? Or perhaps… a warning?
The chill of the night thickened. Something hung in the air. And Valen felt that this night was only just beginning.