Part 1°
The rusty, metallic edge of the pitchforks gleamed faintly among the green underbrush of the forest.
The slender rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves of the trees, providing just enough clarity for the people who ventured into the deep earthen corridors.
Rovna's eyes were tired, yet they still held their shine. Two hours had already passed since they decided to enter the forest, a group of five consisting of herself, a close friend, two healthy, young women, and three younger, stronger men from the village.
The distant singing of birds distracted her more than her neighbor, who had been talking to her the entire way, gripping her pitchfork tightly as a way to calm her nerves.
"I don't understand how I agreed to accompany them," she sighed. "Though on the other hand, I should be thankful for this situation; after all, it might allow me to get closer to Alexander."
Milia, Rovna's closest friend, sighed with a face that showed both interest and sorrow as she looked longingly ahead. Rovna squinted at the young woman, acknowledging that their friendship was mainly due to the proximity of their homes, shared anecdotes, and common interests.
But in common terms, Milia was much younger, only 24 years old, compared to Rovna's advanced age of 56. Obviously, that age difference was no reason for rejection or enmity; knowing that there were so few women in the village, seeing one was a comfort after all.
"You're the only one with knowledge of medicinal herbs," Rovna said. "Besides, you said it yourself: if Alexander is here, so are you."
"Oh, come on, I can't be that obvious, can I?" She chuckled softly. "Even so, my grandmother would have forced me to come; I didn't have many options left."
"Your grandmother Durinal is already on her last legs," Rovna said thoughtfully. "It's only natural that her only family must carry on the legacy. She wouldn't have taught you everything she knew just so you could spend your days mending and washing clothes."
"It's just a saying," Milia spoke quickly. "I'd rather be doing that a thousand times over than be in this situation."
Milia's eyes were as blue as the night sky, with a round but attractive face adorned with freckles scattered gracefully. Her beautiful figure was complemented by her loose, straight hair, which cascaded down to her hips in its natural blonde hue.
However, her usually cheerful face was visibly worried, not because she feared her hair or clothes would get dirty, but because her eyes were fixed on the young man with brown hair, certainly attractive, who was leading the way with two other men.
"But it doesn't seem like you care much," Rovna said. "No matter how much you deny it, you would do anything for that boy, and that's okay; you don't have to lie about it."
"It's easy for you to say; you don't have to worry about anything, just feeding and taking care of the animals," she lowered her gaze, embarrassed. "Of course, we still have to find Melody, but I..."
Rovna shook her head. "You're still too young to worry about such things. Love can sometimes be hard to understand, and even harder to predict. But rest assured, that man will come into your life when you least expect it," she concluded with a small smile.
Rovna smiled with sadness and nostalgia, still remembering her husband, a victim of illness, who had left her to bear the burden of raising a child alone. Far from hating him, she missed him madly. Raising and caring for a child was more difficult than it seemed, and that only made memories of him surface more frequently in her mind.
"Thank you, and sorry for mentioning your daughter in all this," Milia apologized, bowing her head. "But I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Don't worry," Rovna said, shaking her head with a smile.
The previous day had been terrifying, a real nightmare come true. Every time she remembered that moment, her heart pounded with pain, and the horrific scene of her daughter being attacked by that creature replayed in her mind like a horror movie.
Her daughter had been brutally assaulted by a degenerate being, a monster. The commotion had attracted the attention of the village inhabitants, who, paralyzed by horror, hadn't moved a muscle.
Paralyzed by fear, only two young men, whether friends or suitors, had thrown themselves at the creature with their hunting halberds. The creature, although small and no larger than Melody, had a robust and terrifying appearance. Both boys died instantly as the monster fled, taking the girl with it.
And now, they were here.
After a heated discussion at dawn, it was decided that a group would stay in the village to wait for Dolvio, an old man with the energy of a twenty-year-old. Normally, the older people stayed behind, waiting for the help that Dolvio had promised to bring.
Meanwhile, they ventured into the forest in search of the girl.
"Hey, girls! Don't fall too far behind; I think I found the missing trail!" shouted a young blond man, Adam, the youngest of the group, but the one with the best sense.
"Adam's right," Alexander turned around. "Don't stray too far from us; we found several tracks. It might not be just one as we hoped."
"Hey, why did these women come with us?" the third man whispered with simple curiosity. His name was Daman, a generally calm but very direct man.
"Because they know something about medicine," the brown-haired man said. "And in case you forgot, the missing girl is one of these women's daughters, so try to be considerate."
Daman raised an eyebrow but nodded slowly, not arguing much. He had volunteered for the meat and skin of the monster since it was common knowledge that these were highly valuable in the market; even a small portion would be enough to restore his financial stability.
"Come on, man, you're talking like we're facing some super powerful monster," Adam whispered. "I would think they're safer in the village."
"Let me remind you that two boys died trying to kill that thing," Alexander scolded. "I wouldn't say it's weak."
"Yeah, well, they were just kids. What else could you expect?"
"Besides, that doesn't explain enough why they had to come. I can still worry about the village's future, you know?" he continued.
Alexander frowned, casting a discreet glance at the two women. If it were up to him, he wouldn't risk the lives of two innocent women with so much life ahead of them either. The men were supposed to handle this, but most of the adults were already too fragile, too old.
"I know," he sighed. "But you have to understand... Not everyone is fit for these kinds of expeditions," Alexander turned his gaze forward. "Imagine, only five of us are 'healthy' enough to participate, out of the hundred who stayed behind."
"And you're saying these two women are the most fit for this?" Daman expressed some discontent.
"As I said, they have considerable knowledge of medicine. They're very good at it."
The two boys sighed; they were still stubborn, young men after all, that need to bear the weight always existing within them.
"Well, it's better than nothing." Daman sighed, his rusty halberd pointing toward the sky.
But something caught his attention as he lowered his gaze forward. The wooden handle of his halberd was adorned with an old, neglected cloth, a relic his mother had given him when he was still very young before leaving him alone in the world. He squinted, intrigued by the discovery.
"Wait," he said, raising his arm firmly.
The other two boys immediately stopped at his warning. The girls quickly caught up, panting slightly from the effort of walking through the dense forest.
"Is something wrong?" Milia asked, concern in her voice.
"Look," the oldest of the group pointed with his finger at the handle of his halberd.
Adam squinted, straining to see what his friend had noticed. Suddenly, his eyes widened in astonishment.
"It's... vibrating?" he murmured, incredulous.
"Yes, barely perceptibly, but I noticed thanks to my mother's cloth," his eyes scanned the surroundings cautiously. "In case you haven't noticed, there's no wind here. It's impossible for the cloth to flutter in the opposite direction."
Alexander raised an eyebrow and lifted his halberd to examine it more closely. It was also vibrating in his hand. If Daman hadn't mentioned it, he would have thought it was just a slight tingling or even a small cramp.
"Uh, guys? W-What is that?" Milia pointed in a direction.
Sure, they were in a forest, but small hills surrounded them, seemingly encircling the very axis of the world. Hills and hills of trees rose and fell randomly in all directions, creating an optical illusion that made them feel like they were at the epicenter of a vast landscape.
As they advanced, they traversed hill after hill, each with its own personality, but all sharing a palpable atmosphere of unease.
And how could they not feel uneasy? The trees ahead of them swayed from side to side as if they were small branches whipped by the wind. The leaves fell to the ground in a constant cascade, like a spring drizzle, creating a collective echo of loud footsteps that sounded like leaves being crushed.
"What the hell is that?!"
"Move!"
It all happened in an instant. Adam charged at Alexander. The two rolled on the ground as an enormous hand passed centimeters above them; it was hairy, inhumanly hairy.
Damán recoiled, horror filling his eyes as he raised his halberd, his mind struggling to grasp the size and threat looming before them. A sense of helplessness overwhelmed him as the shadow of the hand cast itself over him and the women behind him.
Rovna and Milia huddled together, trembling as sweat beaded on their foreheads. Desperation was evident in their eyes; their bodies pressed against the ground, seeking protection as their pitchforks shook in their hands, knuckles white with tension.
The monster rose fully, revealing a colossal and deformed figure. Its steps rumbled like thunder, making the earth tremble beneath them.
Damán shouted a retreat order, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind accompanying the monster. Rovna and Milia began to move, crawling and risking being crushed by the tremorous movements of the giant entity.
Adam and Alexander sprang to their feet, quickly shaking off the dust.
With a shudder, Damán looked up. The shadows around him moved ominously among the trees. Creatures emerged from the gloom, their twisted and bulging bodies barely visible between the trunks. Their faces were a vision of pure horror: eyes bulging, mouths twisted into grotesque grimaces, and distorted smiles that seemed to mock the despair emanating from the group.
The creatures crept forward slowly, savoring every moment of their torment. Their bodies were an amalgam of diseased flesh, with tentacles and protrusions that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. Their movements were erratic, as if they were dancing.
"Guys, regroup!"
Both the women and Damán heard Alexander's cry and, with every ounce of strength they had, rushed to where the other two were, forming a defensive circle, with Rovna and Milia at the center.
Around them, dark-furred trolls gathered, their horrific laughter making their hearts race faster than they should.
"Blue-furred trolls? I thought they were extinct for decades!" Adam exclaimed.
"Well, you see they're not, so don't get distracted!" Damán raised his halberd in unison with Alex's. "We need to find a gap between the trees, or we'll just be food for that giant!"
Rovna's eyes widened in despair. "But..."
"Don't worry, ma'am, we'll find your daughter!" Alexander braced himself, watching as the smaller trolls began to advance. "But to do that, we need to survive this first!"
"Alex, look out!"
"Aghhh!"
At Milia's scream, Alexander raised his halberd, its rusted tip plunging deep into what he believed was the troll's skull as it lunged at them without hesitation or any sign of reasoning.
The other two couldn't even see the action, as they were in the same situation, their halberds slicing into the monsters that seemed to feel no pain at all. However, they could only keep them at bay, using the length of their weapons to their advantage.
"Damn it! We have to find a way out, or we'll be ground into mince!" Damán killed a troll with a thrust, quickly replaced by another.
"I know, damn it!" Alex shouted between gasps, trying to regain his balance as he withdrew his weapon from the troll's corpse. The beast collapsed with a dull thud, but there was no time to rest. Two more were already advancing, their deep roars echoing through the trees like the rumble of a distant storm.
"Adam! Cover the right flank!" Damán shouted, swinging his halberd in a wide arc that tore through the flesh of the nearest troll, its rusty blade splintering bone like dry branches. The creature fell forward, but another, larger one emerged behind it.
Rovna, pale and wide-eyed, watched the scene in terror, her legs paralyzed by fear. Milia, still panting from the effort of staying sane, quickly approached, grabbing Rovna's arm firmly.
"Come on! We can't stay here, Rovna!" Milia's voice cracked like a whip, snapping her out of her panic. "We need to find your daughter, but we won't succeed if we fall here!"
Rovna nodded, though her legs seemed ready to give out at any moment. Milia dragged her toward the thick undergrowth, where the trees grew closer together, forming a labyrinth that could hide them, at least temporarily.
"Damán! I see an opening!" Adam shouted, retreating as he dodged the trolls' attacks, their fangs dripping with blood and saliva. He pointed toward a section of the forest where the trees were thinner, offering a chance to escape.
"Run!" Damán bellowed, launching himself forward with ferocious intensity, his halberd slicing through the air to sever the legs of a troll too close to Alex. The creature fell to its knees, roaring in fury.
Alex, still staggering, seized the moment to retreat toward the opening. But before he could take more than a few steps, he felt the ground tremble. The largest troll, a colossus nearly three meters tall, was charging toward them, its eyes bloodshot, and its roar made the leaves around them quiver.
"Damn, it's coming right at us!" Alex exclaimed, barely able to keep his balance as the monster approached like an unstoppable avalanche.
"Use the spears! Now!" Damán shouted.
Without hesitation, Adam and Alex hurled their weapons in unison, their tips slicing through the air. Both spears buried deep in the giant troll's chest, but it barely staggered, its body convulsing violently before it tore out one of the spears with its own hand, tossing it aside like a mere stick.
"Damn it!" Adam gasped, his heart pounding with urgent terror. The monster kept advancing, its footsteps thundering like war drums, its gaze fixed on them.
"Now!" Damán yelled, charging at the giant troll in a desperate act. Seizing the distraction, Alex and Adam dashed toward the opening Adam had pointed out earlier, Milia and Rovna already in the distance, disappearing among the trees.
"Don't look back, just run!" Adam shouted, feeling the weight of imminent danger closing in on them.
Alex recovered almost instantly, but something was wrong—Adam's shocked eyes stared at him, and Damán's back grew more distant with every step.
He spat a mouthful of blood as his feet left the ground and his vision spun, his body twisting in the air until it crashed against a sturdy tree.
"Alexander!" Adam's shout echoed in the distance.
Alex felt a searing pain in his chest, like a red-hot iron had been driven into his flesh. His whole body trembled as he struggled to stay conscious. The tree bark he crashed into cracked, leaving splinters lodged in his back. He tried to move, but his arms barely responded.
The blurred figure of Adam running towards him cut through his clouded vision as the buzzing in his ears mingled with the trolls' roars. He breathed with difficulty, each inhalation a torment, feeling warm blood filling his mouth.
"Hold on, brother!" Adam slid to Alex's side, his trembling hands trying to lift him. But before he could do anything more, a violent gust of air forced him to turn. The troll that had attacked him was there, breathing heavily, its massive hand raised to crush them.
"Damn you!" Adam growled, backing away, his frantic gaze searching for something, anything, to stop the beast.
The troll swung its hand toward them, but just when the blow seemed inevitable, Damán suddenly appeared, hurling one of his daggers directly into one of the creature's eyes. The monster staggered, howling in pain as it clutched its face.
"Get up, Alex!" Damán shouted, trying to stay between the injured troll and the two boys. "We can't waste time here!"
Alex, barely conscious, forced his legs to respond. Adam helped him to his feet, though he swayed as if he might collapse at any moment. Sheer willpower kept him moving, but each step cost more than he had ever imagined.
The troll, blinded and furious, pounded the ground with its fists, tearing up massive chunks of earth and roots. Damán exchanged blows with the other beasts, his movements growing increasingly frantic. Despite his skill, it was clear the creatures wouldn't relent.
"Come on, hurry!" Adam insisted, pulling Alex as they ran toward the forest. The echo of the trolls' footsteps pounded in their ears like an unstoppable war drum.
Suddenly, a piercing roar cut through the air. The largest troll had found a tree and tore it from the ground, hurling it at them as if it were a mere stone. The enormous trunk hurtled towards them, its roots still hanging like twisted serpents.
"Watch out!" Damán shouted, pushing Alex and Adam aside just as the tree crashed down with a terrifying thud, shaking the ground beneath their feet.
They tumbled to the ground, barely avoiding the impact. Dust and leaves filled the air, clouding their vision. Milia and Rovna were further ahead, shouting something, but their voices were barely audible over the chaos.
"We can't keep this up!" Adam panted, getting to his feet as he watched the trolls, relentless and brutal, begin to close in around them.
"Damn it, we have to reach the river!" Daman gritted out, his eyes desperately searching for an escape route. He pointed to a clearing up ahead, where the silver glint of water was visible through the trees.
"It's our only chance! Let's go, now!" Daman roared, charging forward with renewed energy.
With the last breath of strength, Alex and Adam ran after him, the trolls' roars chasing them relentlessly as the trees blurred by like shadows. Each step was a battle between life and death, the ground beneath their feet giving way with each onslaught from the beasts that wouldn't cease their hunt.
Finally, they reached the river. The cold, churning water splashed their faces as they raced toward the current. As they crossed, they could feel the weight of the trolls lessen, as if the creatures feared what lay hidden in the water's depths.
But even then, they knew they weren't safe.
The trolls' roars rumbled on the far side of the river, and though they had escaped immediate danger, their eyes watched the darkened trees that surrounded them.
"Dammit... what the hell do we do now?" Daman asked the void. "Alex is hurt, and we have no idea where we are."
The trolls' growls were terrifying, numbering around twenty, with one towering above the rest. Rovna collapsed to the ground, her legs giving out after so much running, her adrenaline spent.
Daman spat on the ground in frustration, his breath ragged from tension and exertion. His mind raced as fast as his heart, searching for a solution as the trolls' roars echoed in the air, growing ever closer. They were cornered, with the river as their only barrier between them and the creatures. But that barrier wouldn't hold forever.
"We have to move..." Alex murmured, his voice trembling, his face pale from blood loss, each word costing him as if it were tearing pieces from his soul.
Adam clenched his teeth, watching his brother. He knew Alex couldn't go on much longer; the wound in his side was severe, and the chances of infection were high. They needed medical attention, and fast.
"Move? Move where, Alex?" Adam shook his head, his voice laden with disbelief. "We're lost in the middle of this damned forest, with a horde of trolls on our backs and not a damn clue where to find help."
Rovna collapsed completely, her body trembling as she tried to control her erratic breathing. Despair had pushed her to the edge, and now her energy was abandoning her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mixing with the mud and grime.
Milia quickly moved to Rovna's side, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. Her expression, though filled with exhaustion, showed a determination that hadn't wavered since the battle began.
"We can't give up now," Milia said, her tone soft but resolute. "Rovna's daughter is still out there somewhere, and if we fall now, there will be no one left to save her."
"Milia's right," Daman added, though his voice was tinged with doubt. His eyes scanned the surroundings, searching for any sign, any trail that could guide them out of this hell. "We need to find shelter. We can't face all those trolls in this state."
Suddenly, a rustling in the underbrush across the river made everyone turn their heads, their bodies instinctively tensing. The trees shook, and a massive troll emerged from the shadows, its blue skin glistening in the sunlight. Its massive head whipped around in their direction, bloodshot eyes searching for its prey. Other trolls followed close behind, fangs protruding from beneath their hideous black lips.
"They're crossing the river!" Adam shouted, gripping his sword with a trembling hand. It was impossible to stop them all, and they knew it. Even the cold water wouldn't hold them back for long. If they reached them, it would be the end.
Daman straightened, clenching his fists in a mix of frustration and resignation. But just when it seemed all was lost, his eyes caught something at the edge of the darkness, to the left of the river, where the trees closed in more densely. A cave.
"There!" he shouted, pointing towards the opening. "There's a cave! It's our only chance!"
"A cave? Are we sure it's not occupied by something worse than the trolls?" Milia asked, her voice full of skepticism.
"I don't know, but I'd rather take my chances with whatever's in there than face those damn beasts again," Daman growled, helping Alex to his feet as Adam supported him on the other side.
There was no time to hesitate. With Rovna staggering and Milia pushing her forward, they made their way quickly toward the cave. The trolls were already entering the river, their massive bodies advancing with heavy steps, causing the water to splash violently around them.
"Faster!" Daman shouted as he urged everyone forward, his steps slipping on the wet mud as the beasts advanced.
They reached the cave entrance just as the first troll stepped onto the shore. The dark mouth of the cave seemed like an abyss swallowing them whole, and the air inside was cold and damp. Without a second thought, they all rushed in, their footsteps echoing against the stone walls.
"Keep going... don't stop," Adam gasped, glancing back in fear, watching as the trolls hesitated at the river's edge, wavering before the cave's darkness. The beasts let out loud growls. Their leader, the enormous blue-skinned troll, took a step towards the entrance, its gaze full of fury.
Parte 2°
"How far are we from your village?" Tanjiro's calm voice filled the air.
Dolvio turned his head, startled by the sudden question from the man beside him. They had left their horses at a safe stable a few kilometers back, just outside the forest, and now had to traverse the cold landscape on foot to reach the village.
"We've still got a few kilometers to go," he replied, adjusting his coat. "Like I said, this area is really treacherous—narrow paths, mud, fog... Before you know it, you could find yourself on a 20-kilometer climb." He chuckled.
Damán was rubbing his arms, his breath visible in the chilly forest air. He watched the man walking with him. Tanjiro didn't seem cold at all, yet his eyes moved subtly, constantly scanning their surroundings, always on alert.
The journey had been mostly silent, apart from a few stops and detours. That was why it had taken them two days to reach this familiar forest, the one that merchants often passed through.
Far from being an uncomfortable trip, it actually felt peaceful. Tanjiro exuded a remarkable serenity, especially considering his status as a witcher and the bad reputation that usually accompanied it. But he was different.
Dolvio glanced at Tanjiro again, noting the unshakable calm that radiated from the man beside him. He had heard stories about witchers, tales of their battle prowess and unwavering determination. But Tanjiro was different. Despite being a witcher, his mere presence instilled a sense of tranquility, as if his very existence was enough to ward off the dangers lurking in the dark woods.
"You don't seem too worried about this dangerous path," Dolvio remarked, his tone light but tinged with curiosity. His earlier laughter had been nervous, more an attempt to deflect the growing tension in his chest than a true expression of joy.
Tanjiro smiled slightly, not taking his eyes off the narrow, muddy trail ahead of them. The fog swirled around their feet as if trying to envelop them, but he continued forward with steady steps.
"I've been through worse places," Tanjiro replied in a calm voice, though his senses remained on high alert. "This forest... has an unsettling energy, but nothing that can't be handled with caution."
Dolvio nodded, though inwardly, he wasn't so sure. He didn't like this part of the forest. He'd heard too many stories, some from travelers who never returned to tell the tale. His grandmother used to say that the forest had a life of its own, that it harbored secrets better left undiscovered.
"Tell me more about your village," Tanjiro said, trying to keep the conversation going, to help Dolvio stay focused and relaxed. He knew fear could cloud perception and slow reflexes, and he couldn't afford to have his companion succumb to panic.
Dolvio shook off his thoughts, grateful for the distraction. "My village... well, it's not very big. Just a few dozen families, mostly merchants or farmers. There's a tavern, of course, and a small temple dedicated to the harvest deities. Nothing too fancy."
As he spoke, his mind began to drift toward warmer memories. He could see the familiar faces of the villagers, hear the laughter in the tavern, and picture the green fields surrounding the village. Though now wrapped in the cold and dangerous fog of the forest, thinking of home brought him comfort.
"It sounds like a good place," the witcher smiled as he listened to the old man's words. "It's rare to hear someone speak so fondly of their own village."
Dolvio let out a soft, almost nostalgic laugh as his gaze got lost in the thick fog around them. "I suppose when you've been in one place for so long, you start to appreciate it more. The people are kind, though a bit superstitious, but they always help when someone's in need. It's the kind of place where old stories about forest beasts and wandering spirits are still told around campfires."
Tanjiro observed him in silence, feeling the weight of those words. Though Dolvio tried to maintain a carefree attitude, the hunter could sense the underlying worry in his voice.
The villagers' superstitions were not unfounded; in his experience, there was often a grain of truth behind every horror story. In nature, especially in places as remote as this forest, strange things tended to lurk in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Silence fell between them again, broken only by the crunch of their footsteps on dry leaves and mud. Tanjiro remained vigilant, his senses sharpened by the unsettling feeling of being watched.
The presence he had sensed earlier was still there, lurking in the darkness beyond his sight. It wasn't a demon, but it carried a similar energy, an aura of constant danger.
"Have you ever seen anything… strange in this forest?" Tanjiro asked, keeping his voice low while his eyes continued to scan their surroundings.
Dolvio swallowed before responding. "Once… a few years ago. I was hunting with my grandson, near dawn. We went deeper into the forest than I usually allow, and just as we were about to head back, we heard a growl, like a wounded animal. We thought it was a deer trapped somewhere, so we followed the sound, but…"
His voice trailed off for a moment, and Tanjiro could see how Dolvio's hands trembled slightly as he recalled the memory.
"What we found wasn't a deer," Dolvio finally continued, his voice now a whisper. "It was… something big, covered in dark, tangled fur, almost as if it were part of the forest. It stood on two legs, nearly as tall as a young tree. It didn't attack us, but its eyes… those eyes were red, like embers glowing in the darkness. It just stared at us, sizing us up. I… I grabbed my grandson and we ran as fast as we could."
"Mountain troll," Tanjiro thought instantly.
He listened carefully, his face calm but his mind processing the information meticulously. Dolvio's story matched the rumors he'd heard about creatures living in the deepest corners of the forests, beings that weren't exactly demons but were far from ordinary beasts. Blue-furred trolls weren't common, and the last time Tanjiro had encountered a pack of them had been decades ago.
"Since that day," Dolvio continued, "I've never gone back to that part of the forest. And I'm not the only one. Some of the villagers who ventured there never returned. I always thought that maybe… those stories about wandering spirits and monsters in the mist weren't just tales."
Tanjiro nodded slowly, understanding Dolvio's fear. "The world is vast and full of things we don't fully understand. Not all of them are evil, but many won't hesitate to attack if they feel threatened or hungry."
Finally, after what felt like hours of walking in silence, they arrived at a clearing. Tanjiro stopped, his eyes scanning the open area in front of them. The sunlight filtered through the mist, faintly illuminating the ground, and although it seemed like a safe place, Tanjiro did not lower his guard.
"Here," Dolvio said, breathing a sigh of relief. "This clearing is known as a resting place. Merchants usually camp here before continuing on to the village."
Tanjiro sniffed the air for a moment, his eyes narrowing as they scanned the area. Curiously, the air was tinged with the metallic scent of blood, though there was no visible trace of it—likely carried away by the current.
"The trolls' nest is nearby, no doubt. Probably in a nearby cave," he thought.
Dolvio continued talking, unaware that the false witcher was barely paying attention to him.
Tanjiro was too focused on the details of the surroundings, every fiber of his being attuned to the subtle signs of danger that Dolvio, wrapped up in his own relief, couldn't perceive.
The clearing, which was supposed to be a resting place for travelers, was charged with a dark tension. The air was thick with the feeling of recent violence, and the nearby trees, with their torn branches and exposed roots, bore witness to a fierce battle.
Dolvio's words echoed distantly, as if they came from far away. While the man continued to speak about the safety of the clearing and old tales of merchants resting there, Tanjiro knelt down, touching the marks left by massive, heavy feet.
They were troll footprints, without a doubt, but something didn't add up. Trolls were brutal and destructive creatures, yet these tracks indicated a hasty retreat, almost as if something had scared them off or they were chasing something.
"Dolvio," Tanjiro finally said, cutting off the man's monologue, "this place isn't safe."
Dolvio frowned, looking around, trying to see what Tanjiro was seeing. "What…? But this clearing has always been safe."
"It's not safe now," Tanjiro stood and looked toward the edge of the clearing, where the trees grew denser and the mist thickened. "The trolls have been close, very close."
Dolvio paled at the mention of "trolls." It wasn't a creature he wanted to encounter, especially in such a remote place. "Are you sure?"
Tanjiro nodded, adjusting his stance. "The signs don't lie. It wouldn't be unusual for them to be searching for a new place to settle or to defend their territory."
Dolvio began to fidget nervously, glancing at the trees as if something might emerge from the mist at any moment. "We should keep moving… right? Maybe if we get to the village…"
Tanjiro stood still, weighing the possibilities. "We're close to the village, aren't we?" Dolvio nodded slowly. "You need to go there. I don't sense any presence ahead; the path is safe."
His tone implied that it was an order, expecting no argument. Dolvio looked at him as Tanjiro firmly secured his sword to his waist. His charismatic voice had been replaced by an authoritative and mature one, sending chills down Dolvio's spine.
"And you?" Dolvio asked, his voice trembling. "What will you do if those… trolls show up?"
Tanjiro calmly adjusted his sword at his side, his determined gaze locking onto Dolvio. "If they appear, I'll deal with them. But right now, the most important thing is for you to reach the village. There, you can warn the villagers and alert them to the possible threat. We can't allow the trolls to find a defenseless settlement."
Dolvio knew Tanjiro was right, but fear still clung to his chest.
Despite that, he nodded and slowly began walking toward the path that led to the village, though he couldn't help but glance back occasionally, as if expecting Tanjiro to call him back or for something to emerge from the darkness to devour him.
Then, the hunter's eyes shifted to the cave on the other side of the river, his brow furrowing with concern.
Parte 3°
The cave stretched out like a dark maw in the mountainside, its entrance barely visible beneath a canopy of thick vines and damp moss. The air that seeped from within was cold and heavy, laden with the scent of wet earth and stone. At the entrance, the cave floor became uneven, littered with loose pebbles and small rocky protrusions that made the path treacherous.
The black coat billowed in the wind, as did the cloak draped over it, its folds dancing with an unsettling grace. His hand, with well-kept and delicate skin, rested on a small rock precariously wedged among the gray stones of the cave. Every detail of his stance reflected tension and alertness.
The trail of that dark red liquid stretched like a snake into the depths of the darkness, a viscous and ominous path. His sharp, watchful eyes scrutinized every shadow, searching for any clue that might reveal the truth behind the events. The trail was thick and plentiful, an unmistakable sign for the hunter: someone was bleeding out, and soon, very soon, that person would die.
The ceiling of the cave, much higher than the entrance suggested, was adorned with thin stalactites, some of which seemed on the verge of breaking off, like stone swords suspended in the air, ready to fall at any moment.
Here and there, pools of stagnant water faintly reflected the irregular shapes of the ceiling, distorting reality in murky mirrors that warped the perception of the surroundings.
Stones scattered as Tanjiro began to walk cautiously, the stagnant earth and mud crunching under his boots, echoing in the growing gloom. As he advanced, the darkness grew denser, though this only affected humans, quite different from the Demon King.
The walls were stained by centuries of moisture, which had sculpted irregular patterns into the rock, forming grooves that snaked downward as if the stone itself were weeping. Tiny droplets of water condensed on the surface, faintly glimmering with the scarce light that managed to filter in from outside.
"The blood is starting to disappear. There's no logical reason for it—either the earth swallowed it, or something else did. Who knows?"
His steps were slow and deliberate, but above all, silent. His eyes, capable of piercing the darkness, made the path seem almost insignificant. Yet, as he progressed, numerous gaps and corridors emerged with each meter he traversed, like hungry mouths waiting to devour the unwary.
The trail of blood had already dissolved into the stagnant waters, taking with it its metallic scent. Now, he had to press on, relying on the tracking skills he had learned from Muzan and the countless years of experience he carried with him.
He paused momentarily, bending over the muddy ground to examine the barely visible marks that blended with the undergrowth. The tracks were subtle, almost imperceptible to an inexperienced eye, but to him, they were as clear as day. Broken twigs, displaced leaves, and a slight depression in the damp ground indicated the recent passage of a heavy creature, too large to be human.
The stench of decay grew stronger as he advanced. He knew that trolls often dragged their prey to dark caves or abandoned ruins, where they could feast away from curious eyes. "And where there are trolls," he thought, "there could be something worse."
The tunnel widened, revealing a vast cavern illuminated by the faint glimmer of bioluminescent fungi. He paused at the entrance, concealed in the shadows, while his eyes scanned the area attentively. In the center of the cavern, several dismembered bodies lay stacked like broken dolls, their faces frozen in expressions of terror.
Children, elders, women, and young men. It was a deeply unsettling sight, but without a doubt, some were still breathing—the faint rise and fall of their chests betraying that a young girl still lived.
He unsheathed his sword slowly, the metal barely grazing the scabbard to avoid making a sound. With a whisper, he advanced, keeping his body pressed against the cavern walls.
He knew trolls weren't intelligent, but their instincts were sharp, and once they detected an intruder, they would attack with all their fury.
Reaching the girl, Tanjiro quickly checked her vital signs. Her pulse was weak, almost nonexistent, and her skin was pale, not only from the cold but also from the trolls' abuse. This explained the numerous creatures dwelling in her abdomen—a sight that turned his stomach.
Tanjiro squinted with annoyance and sadness; he had arrived too late.
"I'm so sorry, girl," he said with resignation. "If only I had arrived a day earlier…"
"M…M…M-Kill me… P-please…"
The girl could hear his words and, with a titanic effort, managed to utter a few weak pleas.
"You must have suffered so much, haven't you?" His hand gently caressed the girl's cheek. "I truly regret that I can't help you beyond this point, but please tell me your name. I will honor it for all eternity."
As long as her name remains in his memory, she would exist forever.
The girl's eyes glimmered faintly upon hearing those words.
"M-Mother… M…M-Melody…"
Tanjiro held the girl's hand gently, feeling its coldness and fragility. Her words mingled with the silent sobs she struggled to suppress. The pain in her voice was palpable, resonating through the cave like an echo of her suffering.
"Melody... It's a beautiful name," he murmured, trying to offer her a shred of comfort as the weight of the situation pressed down on him.
Melody's eyes fluttered, attempting to focus on Tanjiro's face, as if she wanted to imprint the image of the young man who, though he had arrived too late, was the only one to show her some compassion in her final moments. Tanjiro squeezed her hand gently, feeling the fragility and pain she was enduring.
"I promise you that your suffering won't be in vain, Melody," Tanjiro said, his voice wavering for a moment before his sword glinted in the darkness, ready to end her life swiftly. "I will take care of those who harmed you... they won't be able to hurt anyone else."
He tried to smile, but his lips only trembled faintly before settling into an expression of absolute exhaustion. His eyes, which had struggled to stay open, began to close slowly, as if the effort was too great.
The pain on her face softened, transforming into a strange peace that could only come from the relief of knowing her suffering was coming to an end.
By then, his sword blazed with a brilliant crimson glow. Unlike other times, the warmth emanating from it was neither suffocating nor painful; it was warm, as if basking in the summer sun.
By then, his sword blazed with a brilliant crimson glow. Unlike other times, the warmth emanating from it was neither suffocating nor painful; it was warm, as if basking in the summer sun.
He extended his arm, and the sword's tip shone dangerously close to the girl's head, quickly finding the brainstem.
"May Buddha light your way," he murmured softly.
"NOOO!!"
The sword quickly approached the target area, but his hand shook and the blade stopped just inches from the girl's skull. His attention quickly turned to the unfamiliar voice, an adult woman approaching with a companion.
—Get away from the girl, monster. — Her violet eyes flashed with hostility. Ready to tear him apart at the slightest hint of threat.
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