Scars Of Love | Iguro Obanai

30

A panicked mother searched for her child in this painful night after realizing that her daughter is nowhere to be found. She ran house to house where some of their people stayed during the night in fear of being devoured, they had a look of pity and worry for the wife of their chief. Was their daughter even alive at this point?

"Please!" she cried helplessly "Help me find her, help us!"

Her voice of plea awakened the villagers' heart, causing the village men to gather weapons and torch so they could search. The chief of the village finally came to pick up his wife, to tell her that she stays back at their home and wait just in case their daughter comes back. Even if the assurance of their child coming back is close to zero.

The mother's tears were clear in the night as she stood weak before the women in their village helped her on her feet with worried faces, lurking around the night with no guarantee of ever finding their only daughter is devastating and frightening at the same time. With the snow getting stronger minute by minute, they don't think they'll ever find the child. How could they? They were afraid themselves, even if their chief kept them safe from demons. They still felt fear.

A fear for their own lives, a fear that one day their chief will fail his duty.

"Do anything to find our daughter, Haruto. I cannot fathom a life without [First Name]!" his wife cried in fear "Haru! Bring her home, please."

The husband simply took her hand to kiss it, bringing assurance despite doubting himself if he could ever find their love. Their baby, the only thing that ever gave them happiness despite a demon waiting for his daughter.

"I'll bring her home" Haruto assured her wife with a weak smile "You don't have to worry."

With a final kiss, he left with some of the men while the others stood guard of the village just in case something happens while the chief is out of the village's borderline. They walked out of the village's, the feeling of dread entering the chief's body as he thought about the possibilities of danger while their daughter is out of their sight.

The night is cold, the snow is thick, the woods is dark and it was only him and some of the village men in search. Being a former pillar won't be enough to deal with demons outside the village, as he won't even know how many of them are outside. They might be somewhere around the area, which is why he's keeping his guard up to protect his people. He needs to, so they can come home without having to experience any injuries- or worst, death.

As they walked further down the woods, one of the men noticed an almost wiped out footprint leading to a dangerous path in the woods. Haruto took notice of this with his gaze firm.

"In all my years as a demon slayer, this has been one of the most dangerous area I have patrolled back in the days." His gaze then followed the trail of footsteps with a heavy heart, praying to the Gods above that whatever is in there he hopes for his daughter to live.

Meanwhile, the men shivered at their chief's piece of information. Feeling hesitant to even go there with him, but they didn't say a word.