Death’s words hung in the air, stark and unrelenting. "They’re all dead."
I stopped in my tracks, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow. "My love, you really need to work on your timing. Maybe learn how not to break a romantic atmosphere?"
Death tilted her head, her silver hair catching the ethereal light of the dreamscape. "My apologies, dear," she said with a teasing smile. "Sometimes I forget how sensitive mortals can be about their companions’ mortality."
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Sensitive? It’s not sensitivity; it’s about timing, Death. You don’t just drop a bomb like that in the middle of a nostalgic stroll."
Her smile only widened, an air of amusement radiating from her. "Oh, but isn’t that part of my charm? You never know what to expect."
I shook my head, my exasperation quickly replaced by a smirk. "You’re incorrigible, you know that?"
"And yet, you adore me," she said, her tone light and playful.
"Guilty as charged," I replied, resuming our walk. The icy plains stretched endlessly ahead, their stark beauty reminiscent of simpler times. Yet her words lingered, no matter how much I tried to brush them off.
"They’re really all gone, huh?" I asked after a moment, my voice quieter this time. I wasn’t sure why I was pressing the issue—I knew the answer. Death wasn’t one to lie or soften the truth.
"They are," she confirmed gently. "The world they knew has long passed, and with it, their mortal forms. But," she added, her voice taking on a softer quality, "their stories remain alive in you. In your memories. Isn’t that the beauty of life."
I glanced at her. Death rarely offered comfort, not in the way most would. Yet there was an undeniable truth to her words. The bonds I shared with my guildmates, the memories we created—they were still alive, even if the people were not.
"You’re right," I said finally, a small smile forming. "They may be gone, but they’ll always be with me. In my memories."
Death nodded approvingly. "And you carry them well, my love. They’d be proud of you, I’m sure."
I let out a laugh, shaking off the lingering heaviness. "Proud of me? Maybe. But I can guarantee Peroroncino would be more interested in what you’re wearing right now."
Death chuckled, a melodic sound that echoed through the frozen landscape. "That he would, but now you should focus on the child that entered your spiritual space; at the rate that child is going, he will be killed when he reaches the center."
Death said as she vanished.
•••
Enmu stood atop the moving train, the wind whipping through his hair as his voice carried softly into the night. "To die while dreaming, how fortunate can one be? No pain, no fear, just the embrace of eternal sleep." His lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes gleaming with malice. "It doesn’t matter how strong you are. The heart, the spirit—those are the true engines of a human. Destroy their spiritual core, and their body becomes nothing more than an empty shell."
As he spoke, a strange sight unfolded—a dismembered hand floated through the air, twisting and curling as if alive.
It landed beside Enmu and, in a grotesque display, attached itself to his arm. His smile widened further as the new appendage fused seamlessly. "Ah, perfection. My gift from Lady Muzanette grows ever stronger."
Inside the train, the atmosphere was unsettlingly quiet. A group of children crouched low, their movements precise and deliberate as they worked to tie thin ropes to two Demon Slayers—Mitsuri and Alex—both seated and seemingly unconscious. The faint hum of the train’s engine masked the rustling sounds of the ropes.
"Do we tie ourselves to them by the wrist?" one of the children whispered, holding the frayed end of a rope.
"That’s right," another child replied, his voice low and tense. "But don’t forget what he warned us about. If you mess up, you’ll regret it."
Their hands trembled as they worked, the weight of their task evident in their somber expressions. One child, a frail boy with dark circles under his eyes, glanced nervously at Alex. "Are you sure this will work? He doesn’t look normal..."
"He’s human," the older child hissed back, tightening a knot around Mitsuri’s wrist. "And humans all dream. Just follow the plan."
The boy swallowed hard, his gaze flickering to Alex’s still form. His aura, even in this dormant state, was overwhelming. Unlike Mitsuri’s serene appearance, Alex’s presence was imposing, as though even in slumber he could strike down anyone who dared to come close.
"Stop staring," another child muttered, giving the boy a shove. "If he wakes up, it’s over for all of us."
With the final knots secured, the children each tied the ropes to their own wrists, their faces pale with anxiety. The connection was set, linking their lives to the Demon Slayers’ spiritual realms. They sat back, their breaths shallow as they prepared to carry out Enmu’s command.
Meanwhile, Enmu continued to watch over the train, his satisfaction growing with every moment. "Soon, their dreams will become their prisons, and I shall have the honor of sending their heads to Lady Muzanette. Ah, what joy it is to serve her!"
~~~
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