Chapter 4
659 Words
HATORI’S POV
Hatori waived and started to take his way home. It's almost Five in the afternoon the sun is now turning dark orange and the breeze of the air is getting cold. He need to hurry before the sun sets. He needs to walk out of the village and it'll take an hour since he reached almost the end of it. He also need to climb up the mountain for more than an hour but he will try to hurry and walk faster. He is exhausted but he needs to try his best.
The snow started falling when he reached the bottom of the mountain. The smell of the air is different and there seems to a storm approaching. If he continues he might be stuck in the middle of the blizzard but, he needs to go home. It's getting dark and the blizzard will be approaching any minute.
"I will not go to the mountain if I were you, Hatori." The old man said while sitting at the balcony of his house. Hatori just past a few steps from the house when the old man calls him.
"Good evening, Mario-san." He greeted.
"Come here, Hatori. You should rest here tonight." The old man said and went inside without waiting for Hatori's answer.
Hatori gaze at the mountain before following the old man inside. He leaves the cart outside and come in. The house is warm so he removed his coat and fold it properly like what Nikumi and his mother used to do for him.
Old man Mario is preparing food for Hatori. He's house is not huge so his kitchen. The lights are lamp hanging on the ceiling and candles on the table. While heating up the soup the old man offered him a hot tea to lessen the coldness from the outside. Hatori sat down on the floor and took a sip of the tea which is on the small table. (Japanese style)
"Thank you for your concern, Mario-san." He said in gratitude. "And thank you for the tea." He smelled the green tea aroma coming from the tea, it's so relaxing and removes his fatigue.
"Do not wander at night, Hatori. You know that man eating demons are lurking around. It's dangerous to go in mountains alone."
"Mario-san, I have never seen a demon before. Aren't they just a conceptual or a rumour?" Hatori asked in curiosity.
"Demons are real. They lurk around at night to find a human victim and drink blood to feast." The old man replied.
"Why blood?"
"Blood is the only way for them to live. It said to be that the more blood they drink they will evolve to a stronger form of demon." Mario explained. He went back to the kitchen to get some soup. When gets back he served the soup to Hatori.
"Mario-san, why does demons can't go out to broad daylight?"
"Demons will turn into ash once exposed even in a small amount of sunlight." Hatori nodded. He finishes his soup and never asked about demons again.
Mario prepared the bed for Hatori after he ate. The old man is very kind and accommodating. He's not a stranger to Hatori in fact he is friends with Hatori's late father. They usually work together back when Hatori was just a 5 year old kid and Nikumi is still a baby. Mario used to visit during night time to fetch Hatori's father. But Hatori can't even remember what is the job of his father and this old man in front him. All he new was they both have long swords and mask.
"You might be tired. Lie down now and rest." Old man offered after finishing the preparation for Hatori's bed. Mario do not smile, he is always serious but kind at the same time.
"Thank you for everything, Mario-san."
"It's nothing. Rest now, I'll check the outside first before going to bed." Mario replied.
- Writer
