The room was spacious, but the furniture was sparse. A massive wooden desk stood in the center, behind it shelves filled with books, some tilted, some covered in dust. The walls bore old maps, and the lighting was dim—a single lamp barely lit the space.
The window was slightly open, and a breeze drifted in, carrying the scent of paper and cold air. Everything was quiet… a heavy silence.
Then…
TAP... TAP... TAP...
The sound of footsteps broke the stillness.
A young man entered the room slowly. His face wasn't visible at first—just his feet, then the shadow of his tall figure. He stepped forward quietly, his eyes gleaming under the light, his dark hair nearly touching his shoulders.
A man in his fifties sat behind the desk. His features were weary, hair gray, chest rising slowly as if burdened by a great weight.
The man (raising his gaze and gesturing with a hand): – Sit.
The young man sat without a word.
Moments of silence passed.
The man (in a calm voice): – I need to tell you something.
The young man: – What is it?
The man: – Four days ago... we sent an elite squad to the mountains. The Hezanka Mountains.
He paused briefly, then continued, locking eyes with the young man:
– We exterminated the Kaji Clan.
The young man's eyebrows rose, his eyes widening slightly.
The man (in a calm but sorrowful tone): – It had to be done. They… are the source of the Ashin. They allowed these monsters to be born. Without them, we wouldn't be in this situation.
The young man (coldly, with a hint of disbelief): – Demons? That's what you see them as? But… why haven't the Ashin disappeared yet?
The man (looking away): – I don't know. Legends say the Ashin die with them… but the situation is worsening. The creatures are multiplying more than ever.
The young man (in a low voice): – That means something's missing… or some of them are still alive.
The man (sighing): – That's what I fear.
He paused, then looked directly into the young man's eyes.
The man: – Listen, I have a mission for you. Top secret.
The young man: – What is it?
The man: – Find the remaining Kaji. If they're alive, they might hold the key to understanding what's happening. Maybe… they're the reason the Ashin haven't disappeared.
The young man (his gaze silent): – Do you have any idea where I should start?
The man: – I'm not sure. Some might've fled… but we found them in the Hezanka Mountains.
The young man stood up silently.
The man (in a low voice): – Be careful. If they're still alive… they might not be what we remember.
The young man didn't answer. He turned toward the door and left without a word.
Elsewhere, it was still dark when they left the village. The sky held a faint blue hue, and the mist crept between the trees like a guide toward the unknown. Ivan carried a small bag, and Akari clutched the edge of her cloak to avoid snagging it on branches.
Ivan (looking back): – Are you sure this is the right way?
Akari (confidently): – There's a small river we need to follow. It'll lead us out of the forest.
The soft sounds of birds accompanied them, and as time passed, light began to filter through the trees. They passed massive trunks, jumped over a narrow stream, then climbed a small hill where they took a short rest.
Akari (breathing heavily): – I didn't think it'd be this tiring…
Ivan (smiling): – That's the adventure, isn't it?
They continued on, crossing dry lands and passing abandoned orchards. Along the way, they came across a cabin with a broken roof. They entered briefly to rest, then resumed walking west, where the sun began to dip.
Suddenly…
Ivan: – Wait… what's that?
Before them was flat ground, covered in gravel, with two long metal rails stretching endlessly into the distance.
Akari (amazed): – These are… tracks? Iron? Going on like that?
She approached and cautiously touched one of the rails.
Akari (flinching slightly): – It's cold…
Ivan (leaning his ear to the rail): – Wait… there's a sound… do you hear it?
From afar… a faint noise gradually grew louder.
Akari (eyes widening): – Wha… what is that thing?
Ivan (stepping back): – Is it… a creature? Or… an alien?
Suddenly, the air split with a loud roar, and an old train passed by them at speed, nearly knocking them down with wind and dust.
Akari (screaming): – What is that?!
Evan (staring in awe): – I've never seen anything like it…
After the train vanished, they stood still for a moment, catching their breath.
Akari: – We have to follow that thing… maybe it leads to civilization.
They walked alongside the tracks. After about half an hour, they saw a man in the distance carrying a stick and walking slowly, wearing a straw hat. When the rural man saw Ivan and Akari approaching the train tracks, he stopped and eyed them cautiously.
The man (warily): – Where did you come from? Don't think I've seen you here before…
Akari (about to speak the truth): – We're from the vill—
Suddenly, Ivan's hand shot out and covered her mouth. She looked at him in surprise, but his face was serious… cold.
Ivan (in a composed tone): – We got lost in the forest… we don't know the way.
The man studied their faces, then nodded.
The man: – The countryside doesn't forgive the lost… come, you'll find some warmth at my place.
When they reached the farm, the scene was like a lost dream from another world. Clean air, the scent of damp soil, the sound of cows, chickens running freely, and thick grass brushing their knees. Akari's eyes sparkled with wonder, while Ivan remained quietly observant.
Haru ran toward them with childish curiosity, circling them as if discovering aliens.
Haru (excited): – Are you from the city? Do you have fireworks? Do you fly spaceships?
Akari laughed for the first time in days, while Ivan remained silent—but a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
Inside, everything was simple… wooden floor, old furniture, and a square vintage TV standing like an antique in the corner.
Ivan (curiously): – Can I use this device?
The man (laughing): – Hasn't worked in months, but go ahead and try.
Ivan approached, pressed the power button, and the screen flickered slowly to life. Then…
"Breaking – New disaster strikes the northern region."
The image appeared on screen: their village, completely destroyed, flames still burning, bodies lying around, smoke embracing the sky.
The reporter, voice trembling: – Three days ago, the village of Victoria—home of the demons known as the Kaji Clan—was completely wiped out. Strangely, the monsters haven't vanished. In fact, Ashin birth rates have surged like never before.
Akari (choking up): – No… this can't be…
She looked at Ivan and saw his clenched fist, trembling. His eyes burned with rage… with hatred… with vengeance. Inside him, volcanoes waited to erupt.
Meanwhile, Haru stared at them silently, sensing a hidden darkness surrounding these strangers—despite the smile on Akari's face moments ago.
Hours later, they all sat around a simple wooden table. The food was rustic but warm. A heavy silence lingered.
Ivan (calmly, setting down his fork): – Sir… are there monsters in this region?
The man (slowly sighing, staring at the table): – Yes… they exist. We call them "Ashin." Dangerous… terrifying creatures. (He pauses, then speaks in a hoarse, sorrowful voice) – They took something from me that can never be replaced…
Akari (lowering her gaze, gently): – Did they hurt you, sir?
The man (unable to look up): – My wife died at the hands of one of them. It was an unforgettable night… we thought our house was far enough… but darkness knows no boundaries. (His voice shakes) – Her screams… still echo in my ears.
Akari: – I'm so sorry… (she lowers her head respectfully, feeling a tightness in her chest. For a moment, she imagined her mother in that woman's place…)
Ivan (his eyes colder, but his facial muscles tense): (thinking: They're everywhere… these Ashin… never done taking everything.) Yet instead of showing sympathy, he says with quiet deadliness:
– Was it long ago?
The man (softly): – Two years… and since then, I haven't had a single night's sleep without nightmares.
Haru (in a small voice from the table's end): – I don't remember Mom's face very well… but Dad says she used to laugh a lot.
Silence cloaked the table… Akari wiped away a tear b
efore anyone could see, while Ivan stared at the flame of the oil lamp on the table, as if it represented something from his past slowly burning away.
End of chapter