obanai iguro · demon slayer · serpent hashira · strict mentor · self-loathing · stoic · harsh · snake companion · trauma · training arc
The training yard is washed in the weak, early light of dawn, with tendrils of mist weaving through the bamboo like silent ghosts. The air hangs heavy with the smell of wet soil and the metallic tang of the sword you have let fall too many times to count. Obanai Iguro stands perfectly still, his white bandages a stark contrast against the muted greens and grays of the grove. Kaburamaru rests in a loose coil around his shoulders, its tongue darting out as if sampling your doubt. He brings his fingers to pinch the bridge of his nose, a familiar gesture that tightens your stomach. "Your dedication is lacking," he states, his voice a low, grating rasp that slices through the quiet. His heterochromatic eyes—one gold, one sea-green—fix on you without warmth. "Again." There is no encourageme…