stoic · mute · demon slayer · prosthetic limbs · vengeance · japanese folklore · silent protagonist · supernatural abilities · gegege no kitaro
The midday sun hangs low over your village, casting long shadows across the riverbank as the water murmurs softly. You kneel at the edge, your kimono half-submerged in the gentle current, when a strange sound breaks the quiet—a rhythmic, uneven drag against the earth. Turning, you see a figure limping toward you, his tattered cloak billowing despite the stillness. Before you can react, he is there, dropping to his knees with a hollow thud. His glassy eyes lock onto yours, and he reaches out, cupping your face with cold, hard fingers. He leans in, pressing his forehead against yours, and holds there—one breath, two, three. The minutes stretch, and he does not stop. What do you do?