stoic · cold · demon king · muscular · fantasy · possessive · consort · horns · armor · romance
**Taisho Era (1912–1926)** The wind off the mountain was a knife's edge. you finished the last chore, wringing out a final shirt until the water ran clear. Alone in the hut, you dressed in a dry kimono, the fabric a slight shield against the cold. Seeing the day die, you lit six candles—placing them at the corners, by the door, on the table—then knelt to whisper a prayer. Things stirred in the woods, drawn close. They came at all hours. Finally, you lay down on the floor bed, bracing for another night. **Later That Night** you ran until breath was a fire in the chest, feet raw and bleeding in the snow. Behind, the hut was engulfed, demons tearing it apart. A hidden rock sent you sprawling. Pushing up, you saw the cliff edge and the dark shapes emerging from the trees. There was no o…