The sun hung high in the sky, shining brightly and casting its warm glow across the horizon.
From a bird's-eye view, immense rolling mountains stretched into the distance, their peaks seemingly reaching for the heavens.
Clusters of fluffy white clouds surrounded these majestic giants, while the distant roar of beasts mingled with the melodious chirping of birds echoing through the valleys.
Towering trees and vibrant foliage adorned the mountainsides, dotted with colorful flowers that gave the landscape a celestial feel.
At the very heart of this sprawling mountain range stood an extraordinary peak, twice as tall and grand as its neighbors.
This towering mountain was unique, cloaked in a lush forest of bamboo trees that swayed gently in the breeze.
What made it even more enchanting were the bamboos themselves: shades of green, white, pink, and even purple created a breathtaking scenery against the backdrop of blue skies.
Nestled deep within this verdant paradise was a spacious residence crafted from bamboo, a stunning example of Japanese minka architecture.
With its expansive courtyard, tatami flooring made from exquisite wood, sliding doors, and a ring of wooden verandas encircling it, this home felt like a sanctuary.
Flowers bloomed in various corners and a small pond glimmered nearby.
Master Arcturus sat quietly on one of those verandas, enjoying an unobstructed view of his front yard.
His weathered face bore witness to countless experiences; scars etched across his skin seemed to tell stories all their own.
Just then, a sliding door creaked open at the far end of the veranda as Azrael emerged from his dimly lit room.
He stepped outside cautiously, shielding his eyes until they adjusted to the bright sunlight after two weeks spent in darkness.
Once he could see clearly again, Azrael squinted at Master Arcturus sitting in silence before him.
Hesitating for a moment, he slowly approached.
"Kid! You finally decided to come out from that room!" Master Arcturus exclaimed with warmth in his voice.
"Come sit down and enjoy this beautiful view with me." He gestured invitingly.
Azrael settled beside him as they both took in the picturesque scenery, the gentle wind bringing forth cool breezes that sent shivers down Azrael's spine after so long without them.
The sweet sounds of birdsong filled his ears as he stared blankly into space while lost in thought.
After several moments passed in silence, Azrael broke free from his reverie and turned toward Master Arcturus. "You said you knew my grandfather?" His voice was hoarse but filled with determination.
Master Arcturus paused thoughtfully before responding. "Yes," he said slowly. "I was friends with your grandfather, we fought side by side through many trials...but it's unfortunate..." He trailed off slightly as something flickered behind his eyes.
Azrael felt emotion well up inside him; anger mixed with sadness painted his features red as he pressed on, " What else do you know about my grandfather?".
"Why don't you find out for yourself?" Master Arcturus replied with a faint smile.
"Find out for myself?" Azrael muttered, casting a wary glance at Master Arcturus. The two fell silent again, their gazes drifting to the desolate scenery outside the veranda.
"What were those things?" Azrael suddenly asked, breaking the stillness.
"What things?" Master Arcturus replied, his expression one of confusion.
"I mean those hideous monsters that slaughtered my village and killed my friends!" Azrael's voice trembled with anger, his eyes brimming with hatred and spite.
"Oh! You mean those creatures? They're called Demons," Master Arcturus said nonchalantly.
"Demons? Huh." Azrael clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles turned white.
"Yeah, Demons," Master Arcturus confirmed with a nod.
"Where do they come from? Why have I never heard or seen them before? Are they everywhere? How can we kill them? How can they be so cruel?"
Azrael fired off questions in rapid succession, nearly roaring by the end as his eyes flared red while staring at Master Arcturus.
Master Arcturus paused for a moment, letting out a heavy sigh before responding. "Nobody knows where they come from. All we know is that years ago they just appeared in this world and began slaughtering anything living in sight. You're not the only you had his family and entire village slaughtered; many have lost their villages and friends right before their eyes." His gaze went distant for an instant before snapping back to focus.
"As for why you haven't seen or heard of them before… your grandfather isolated Wind Moon Village from the rest of the world, even from some of the older villagers who've never encountered Demons," Master Arcturus explained.
Azrael was taken aback by this revelation. "If my grandfather could isolate the village so effectively, how did the Demons find it?"
"Your grandfather had a powerful enemy, that's all I can say," Master Arcturus replied with a shake of his head.
"You mean he has an enemy who is a Demon?" Azrael asked incredulously.
Master Arcturus simply nodded in confirmation.
"Tell me which Demon it is!" Azrael urged eagerly, hope flickering in his eyes.
"I'll tell you, but not now. Even if I told you right this moment, what would you do about it?" Master Arcturus challenged him.
Azrael hesitated for a heartbeat before clenching his fists tighter; anger simmered within him.
After a few moments of contemplation, he sighed and shook his head. "You're right… even if I knew what could I do? It would only lead me to my own death."
"That's right! Looks like you're not going to be a total fool after all!" Master Arcturus chuckled, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
Azrael's lips twitched slightly as he turned to face Master Arcturus.
Taking a deep breath, he voiced the turmoil within him. "With demons running rampant and taking lives left and right, how are we supposed to fight back? Just look at their size and power! How can ordinary people defend against such monsters? Aren't we just meat waiting for the butcher?"
Master Arcturus nodded solemnly. "You're absolutely right; they are incredibly difficult to kill. For an ordinary person to confront them is akin to signing their own death warrant, it's practically suicide. They can't be harmed by ordinary people."
A bitter smile crept onto Azrael's face as despair washed over him. "Then what's the point of living? Even if I managed to escape this time, sooner or later, I'll meet my end too. It feels like we're just waiting for our turn on the chopping block."
Master Arcturus leaned in closer, still smiling gently. "Did you catch what I said earlier?"
Azrael furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mentioned that ordinary people can't hurt or kill demons," Master Arcturus explained patiently, "but that doesn't mean there aren't others who can't."
Azrael's eyes widened with surprise as realization dawned upon him. "You mean…?"