Fading**

"Take me to Okami," Damien pleaded.

"What? How—"

"Please" Damien's voice echoing through the dense forest, desperation lacing each syllable as he faced the man before him.

The man hesitated, his gaze flickering with uncertainty as Damien's injured hand hung limply at his side, a painful reminder of the chase that had led them here.

But as Damien met his gaze, a glimmer of recognition sparked in the depths of the man's eyes, and with a resigned sigh, he relented.

"Follow me," he finally said, turning away to lead Damien deeper into the heart of Okami Village.

- - - - -

[SOUTHEASTERN PART OF ROTHNIA]

[OKAMI VILLAGE, 456TH CENTURY, WINTER]

As they stepped onto the wooden bridge adorned with shimmering blue lanterns, Damien's senses were overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of the bustling village. 

Snowflakes danced in the air, mingling with the warm glow of lantern light, while the villagers moved gracefully in their traditional attire, a long piece of fabric with additional layers draped around their body and secured with an obi belt, tied at the waist. Their movements a symphony of elegance and grace.

The man glanced at Damien, his voice breaking the heavy silence that hung between them. "You've been here before?" he asked, his tone cautious.

Damien's response was terse, his gaze distant as memories from long ago flooded his mind. "Long… long time ago," he murmured.

"What is your name?" Damien asked back.

"Gin" Gin's brows furrowed, sensing the tension that lingered beneath Damien's stoic facade. 

Then, Damien redirected the conversation, his eyes narrowing as he inquired about another name, "And Yukio?" Damien's voice was steady, his expression unreadable as he locked eyes with Gin.

"What do you mean?" Gin asked back.

"Who is he to you?"

"He is my master" Gin's answer was left hung with no other reply in any form from Damien. The air grew heavy with anticipation as Damien's question hung between them, leaving Gin momentarily speechless. 

But as Damien continued on his path towards Yukio's dwelling, a sense of unease settled over Gin, his breaths growing shallow and ragged. He furrowed his eyebrows.

Damien sensed something wrong with Gin. As he turned around, Damien saw back those intimidating fangs, growing bigger as a pair of golden eyes lit upon the blue shades of the street's lantern.

<growl > "How do you know this path?" Gin asked with a growling voice.

Suddenly, Damien's crimson eyes widened in alarm as he turned to confront Gin, the air crackling with tension as the man's form began to shift and contort. Fangs glinted in the moonlight, eyes blazing with an otherworldly fire as Gin's true nature was revealed.

"Stop it!" Damien demanded.

Gin's responded a low growl, "No one know this path, only us do"His words dripping with menace as he questioned Damien's knowledge of the path they walked.

"I have told you, I was here long time ago!" Damien clarified.

"What do you want?!" Gin growlings continued as he started circling around Damien. Being cautious.

Damien's control slipped, and with a surge of power, he started to show his true form, a being of darkness and fire. But as he began to transform, Damien collapsed to the ground, his body wracked with pain as unconsciousness claimed him.

Gin was shocked, immediately transformed back to his human form and hurriedly stepped towards Damien and lifted his body.

- - - - - 

"Cold…" Damien began to feel the cold air on his skin. He opened his eyes to a hazy and disorienting surroundings. 

His body felt heavy, lethargy clung to his limbs, making even the simplest movement an arduous task. A blurry sight of a lady appeared, 

"Master…"

Gradually, a lingering feeling of confusion disappeared as he regained control of his body. As the blur became clearer, Damien saw an unknown young lady sitting beside him. 

She wore red clothing. The lady's eyes were the deepest pools of amber, sleek and agile, a graceful testament completed with her elegant long-brown hair tied to her back.

"Who—" Damien weakly said.

"I am Inoue, Master Yukio's apprentice. Wait, I shall call him," Inoue stood, her movements fluid and her steps soft and silent like the whisper of leaves in the wind.

Damien's thoughts were fragmented; he took a moment to remember where he was and what happened. On the corner of the room, Gin sat crossing his hand on his chest. That moment reminded Damien that he was in Okami Village.

Damien's brief silence was broken with the arrival of an old man.

"Damien," he smiled.

"Yukio…" Damien replied.

"It's been a while; I remembered seeing a young boy near a lake, vulnerable. Yet, to my surprise, the boy was a devil. I haven't seen him for a long time after I taught him how to use his power. Yet, now, he sits before me, looking fragile, once again," Yukio said.

Damien lowered his head, saying "My power is fading…"

"You're getting weaker," Yukio added as he sat beside Damien, along with the young lady beside him.

"Why did this happen?" Damien asked.

"Only you could find the answer, Damien," Yukio replied while sitting. "Inoue, come," the old man added, ordering the young woman to sit beside him.

Inoue kneeled gently upon the wooden floor.

Yukio reached Inoue's hand, then, he gave it to Damien, "Drink her blood," he said.

Damien's eyes widened, "What?" He stammered upon the sentence.

"What are you planning, master?" Gin raised his body and voice upon Yukio's sudden order.

"Silence, Gin. Now, come with me," Yukio stood up. "We will leave them alone. Inoue knew what she has to do," Yukio tapped onto Gin's shoulder, calmly suggesting him to go outside along with him.

The door was closed, and both of them left the room.

"Master…" Inoue said softly.

Damien immediately let her hand go as he sat there in silence.

"Master, this is master Yukio's order. Help yourself," Inoue handed her open wrist. Suddenly, the room was enveloped in a swirling mist, casting an otherworldly hue upon the scene.

Damien felt as if the very fabric of reality was unraveling around him, his senses intoxicated by the intoxicating aroma of the mist.

As the mist danced around him, Damien's focus narrowed, his gaze drawn irresistibly to Inoue. With each graceful movement, she exuded an aura of irresistible allure, her every step like a mesmerizing dance in the moonlight.

Inoue glided towards Damien, her movements fluid and sinuous, her clothing clinging to her form in all the right places, hinting at the soft curves beneath.

Damien's pulse quickened as he watched her approach, his breath catching in his throat at the sight of her fair skin bathed in the ethereal glow of the mist.

Her smile was a siren's call, luring Damien deeper into her spell. It was a smile that spoke of secrets whispered in the shadows, of desires left unspoken, and Damien found himself utterly captivated by its enchanting allure.

With a tender touch, Inoue guided Damien's hand to her neck, herskin warm and inviting beneath his touch. Damien felt a shiver run down his spine as he inhaled the intoxicating scent of sweet berries that seemed to emanate from her very pores, filling his senses with an overwhelming sense of desire.

As their eyes met, Damien felt himself falling deeper and deeper into the golden pools of Inoue's gaze, lost in a sea of longing and passion. Her smile deepened, her lips parting ever so slightly as she leaned closer, her breath mingling with his in a tantalizing dance of anticipation.

In that moment, Damien was utterly and completely under her spell, his body and soul surrendering to the intoxicating embrace of the mysterious woman before him.

And as their lips met in a tender kiss, Damien knew that he had entered a world of ecstasy from which there would be no return.

- - - - -

—to be continued