Destroyer Blades
Chapter 1 – Cruelty
The mountain always breathed in silence.
For Kaien Arashi, silence was both a blessing and a curse. It meant the snow lay untouched, the forest still untainted by prowlers. It meant his siblings could laugh freely, their voices carried only to the ears of the trees. Yet it also meant responsibility weighed heavier than the cold air pressing against his chest. Since his father's death two winters ago, Kaien had shouldered the role of eldest, the one who had to protect what remained of their fragile world.
He pulled the door of the cabin open with a grunt, snow scattering from his sandals. Warmth instantly brushed against his frozen face—the warmth of fire, of roasted chestnuts, of home.
"Kaien!" his youngest brother, little Hoshio, scrambled across the floor, clutching onto his leg like a koala. "You're late again!"
"I wasn't late." Kaien laughed, ruffling his brother's hair. "The slope was just stubborn. Blame the mountain, not me."
Their mother, Akeno, lifted her head from where she stirred a pot. Age sat heavy on her face even though she was barely past thirty, grief for her husband marking her features. Still, her eyes softened when she saw her son.
"You work too hard," she said. "The market won't vanish if you go one day later."
Kaien shrugged. "But the bread would. And you know how much Nira loves it."
At the mention of her name, his younger sister peeked out from behind a quilt she was sewing. Nira Arashi was fourteen, bright-eyed with a quiet strength Kaien often admired. She smiled faintly, though she did not speak. She was the kind who let silence carry her feelings instead of words.
Kaien moved toward her, placing the loaf he had bartered for into her hands. "Fresh, still warm. Eat before Hoshio finds it."
Her lips twitched into something almost mischievous as she tucked the bread behind her back.
The family shared dinner in peace, the snow hushing the world outside. For that night, laughter and crackling fire ruled the cabin. For that night, Kaien could almost believe the shadows that plagued travelers' tales were only superstition.
But in the back of his mind, a whisper lingered—stories of creatures called Curses, dark spirits that roamed under the moonlight, devouring families as easily as winter claimed crops. Kaien had never seen one. Yet the thought gnawed at him in moments like this, when everything seemed too precious to last.
Dawn broke cold and thin. Kaien strapped a basket of charcoal to his back, readying to descend the mountain once more. The village below needed it, and the Arashis needed food.
Nira fussed over the strap on his shoulder. "At least wear the thicker scarf," she said softly.
He smiled. "If I wear every scarf you hand me, I'll look like a snowman by the time I get down there."
Her cheeks puffed in mock annoyance, but her eyes shone. "Be careful."
"I always am."
He left with their voices trailing behind him. Snow crunched beneath his sandals as he wound down the path. Hours later, the warmth of the small town greeted him. People waved as he entered, offering greetings and smiles.
"Kaien! You brought charcoal again? Always reliable, that one."
"Arashi boy, you've got the same kindness as your father."
Kaien accepted their words with humility, though his heart pinched at the mention of his father. Selling the charcoal was quick—he always priced it fairly, never haggled, always helped carry heavier loads for the elderly. By late afternoon, his basket was empty, and his pockets carried a handful of coins and small bread rolls gifted by grateful villagers.
He set out back up the mountain as dusk painted the sky violet.
"Heading home this late, Kaien?"
The voice stopped him at the edge of town. An old man, weather-beaten and stooped, hobbled forward. His eyes darted nervously at the darkening horizon.
"You shouldn't," the man whispered. "The night is theirs. The Curses prowl when the moon rises."
Kaien forced a smile. "I'll be quick. My family is waiting."
"No." The old man grabbed his sleeve with surprising strength. "Stay here tonight. You'll bring death upon yourself if you climb now. The Dark Spirits spare no soul. Even the strongest men vanish without a scream."
Kaien hesitated. The urgency in the man's grip rattled him. He wanted to be home, wanted to see Nira and the others, but… the man's eyes were too sharp, too desperate to ignore.
Reluctantly, Kaien nodded. "Alright. Just for tonight."
The old man's shoulders sagged with relief. "Good lad. Live today, and you can see tomorrow."
That night, Kaien lay awake on the man's floor, staring at the rafters. His heart tugged toward home, but unease held him down. In the silence, he swore he heard something outside—like claws dragging across stone, like whispers that weren't carried by the wind.
At dawn, Kaien bid farewell and raced up the mountain. Snow stung his cheeks as he climbed, urgency burning his muscles.
He smelled it before he saw it. The metallic tang of blood.
His legs faltered, breath ragged, but he forced himself onward. When he reached the clearing, his basket tumbled from his grip.
The cabin door hung open. Red stained the snow like spilled paint.
Inside, his siblings lay scattered, their small forms lifeless. His mother's body slumped near the threshold, arms outstretched as if shielding them until her last breath.
"No…" Kaien's voice broke, his knees buckling. "No, no, no!"
He stumbled from body to body, shaking them, begging for movement. But the mountain gave him only silence.
Only one remained.
Nira.
Her chest rose faintly, shallow and strained. Relief surged through him—until she stirred, her eyes snapping open.
They were no longer the gentle brown he knew. They glowed crimson, slit like a beast's. Her mouth bared fangs where her teeth had been.
"Nira?"
She lunged.
Kaien crashed backward as claws swiped across the air where his face had been. Her strength was monstrous, inhuman. Snow scattered as she leapt again, jaws open wide.
"Stop! It's me!" he shouted, tears blinding him. "It's Kaien!"
For a heartbeat, she froze. The hunger in her eyes wavered, replaced by something fragile—recognition.
But the curse within her twisted again, and she roared, slamming him into the snow.
Steel flashed.
A figure appeared between them, blade pressed against Nira's throat. A man in dark robes, his posture calm but suffocating in presence. His eyes were colder than the mountain air.
"I am Renshiro Kurozawa, Water Hashira of the Destroyer Corps," he said flatly. "Step aside, boy. That thing is no longer your sister."
"No!" Kaien scrambled, shielding Nira with his own body. "She's still Nira! She hasn't completely changed—I saw it! Please, don't kill her!"
"You're blinded by grief." Renshiro's grip tightened on his blade. "Curses are merciless. To hesitate is to die."
Nira stirred again, baring her fangs. Instinctively, Kaien threw himself over her.
"Then let me die with her!" he cried. "If she's gone, I don't want to live!"
For the first time, Renshiro's eyes flickered. He had seen countless families torn apart, countless siblings consumed. But never had he seen a curse hesitate to harm the one they loved.
Nira growled, but instead of lunging at Kaien, she staggered back, positioning herself between her brother and the Hashira, as if protecting him.
Renshiro slowly lowered his sword. "Impossible…"
He sheathed it, though his expression remained guarded. "If you truly wish to save her, there is one path. Seek Master Urokai at the foot of Mount Suganami. He will decide if you are worthy to join us."
Kaien clutched his sister, tears freezing on his cheeks. "I'll do it. I'll fight. I'll destroy every Curse until I find the one who did this!"
"The Curse King, Kuzan Ukoten, is the one you seek," Renshiro said quietly. "Pray you never meet him before you are ready."
And with that, the Hashira vanished into the snow, leaving Kaien and Nira kneeling among the corpses of their family, the first cruel step of their journey carved into destiny.
TO BE CONTINUED...