.11.

There was something undeniably eerie about Nibelhiem. After the past two months of travel across land and sea, Mr. White thought nothing could unsettle him. He'd fought monsters, endured relentless weather, and spent many sleepless nights praying to cross paths with a town so that he could restock his supplies and rest without worry of attack. But as he entered the quiet mountainside village, an aura of despair seemed to consume him.

Where were all the people?

Slowly, he drew deeper between the tin-roofed houses, his gaze drawn towards a battered water tower. It was old, Nibelhiem, but something was off. It did not feel like a humble mountain village. The way each dent and rotten board was placed seemed like an artifice. A shell.

Boots crunching across pristine frost, Mr. White could only shake his head in confusion. The snow should have been worn and muddied by the paths of the inhabitants. Checking that his recently purchased sword was sheathed in a such a way that it could be quickly drawn, he continued onwards, deeper into the silence. Much like his recent discovery of his aptitude with a blade, the endless quiet of Nibelhiem struck a dissonant chord within him.

This was a place of troubled spirits and unspoken secrets.

Allowing his chin-length bangs to veil his face, Mr. White attempted to shadow his anxiety. He had to keep calm. But it was difficult to do, especially with that incessant ringing in his ears. Apparently the voices that liked whispering inside of his head were silenced here, and their cries and taunts were muffled. Although, whether this fact was good or bad was up for debate. Hearing voices was never a good thing. But thus far, one of the voices had never done him wrong. It had commanded him to run from Hojo and then urged him to travel here…the other, the one that possessed a corporeal form on occasion and enjoyed haunting his dreams as a brutal antagonist, disturbed him. His words never offered any comfort, and only served to fuel a growing sense of paranoia within the silver-haired man.

Feeling vulnerable and distinctly alone, he allowed his pace to grow.

His footsteps echoed.

Gaia…why did he feel like he was being watched?

His gaze swept the houses, the snow, the trees, the mountains, before settling on an elaborate mansion just ahead. A few more long strides brought him to the gate that surrounded it. One step within the boundaries brought him to his knees.

Fire. Screaming. Death. Smoke filled the air. The heat was all consuming. Nothing remained. All was ravished by the gluttonous flames. And he, tall and solitary, stood in the heart of the village, fire dancing about him like a billowing curtain. With an uncontrollable smirk, he lifted his left arm and brought it down in a lightning quick arc, the flash of steel a testimony to his power.

Mr. White gasped, pulled roughly from the scene by a hand roughly gripping his hair. His neck was pulled back at an unnatural angle, the vertebra on the edge of cracking, and through the pain he managed to catch a glimpse of his attacker.

It was the blond.

He looked furious.

"On your hands is the blood of innocents," he hissed. "and you smiled all the while reaping lives at your whim."

"No," Mr. White managed to rasp, but it hurt to speak.

Cold steel touched the exposed flesh of his throat,"It would be so easy to kill you, quick and clean, here and now. But that would be too good for you. I want you to suffer. To beg for death." The blond released his grip and backed away, annoyance written upon his features, as if his thoughts were elsewhere. Mr. White stood and scrambled away, not ready to face this particular demon. How real, the blond seemed, yet he could not be… Was he a malevolent spirit seeking revenge? Was he seeking peace so that he could at last pass into the afterlife?

Uncertain, he watched as the blond shot him a glare before disappearing. Literally, disappearing. No sign, not even footprints, remained. Gaia help him, Mr. White pleaded, for he was going insane!

On weak legs, he made his way to the mansion and pushed open the door. He needed to sleep and this place looked abandoned. Perhaps he could take shelter here and determine his purpose in Nibelhiem come morning—

-Suddenly, the sound of screaming filled his ears.

Tbc

A/N: (Yes, I know, I missed a few days. I was visiting my family and the drive took up the better part of two days. I literally had one day to spend with my folks despite my heading home on Friday, 'cause I had to head home early this morning. I was so busy that I did not even touch my computer.

But yeah~

Word Count: 784)