Lili-Chwan
Kage in the Making 👑
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Of Tales and Tastes
The Candymaker
Chapter 6
Hozuki Umur tasted exactly like a swine submerged in the stale waters of the bog. But, even amidst the rotting flavor, there was something that couldn’t be ignore. Most of all, Hozuki Umur tasted like Fear. Cold, Pure, Sweet Fear. As it took his wooden mask, the Candymaker inhaled deeply, feeling it’s taste glands rejoice at the savor. It laughed. His laugh was rich and creamy. It was not a nightmarish laugh, even as it removed the bloody bandages around its face and coated the corpse of Umur with sugar. It was nor a nightmarish laugh even as the dead became ablaze, and the sugar taste fused with the taste of fear and death. It was not nightmarish at all.
The Candymaker
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Chapter 6
Hozuki Umur tasted exactly like a swine submerged in the stale waters of the bog. But, even amidst the rotting flavor, there was something that couldn’t be ignore. Most of all, Hozuki Umur tasted like Fear. Cold, Pure, Sweet Fear. As it took his wooden mask, the Candymaker inhaled deeply, feeling it’s taste glands rejoice at the savor. It laughed. His laugh was rich and creamy. It was not a nightmarish laugh, even as it removed the bloody bandages around its face and coated the corpse of Umur with sugar. It was nor a nightmarish laugh even as the dead became ablaze, and the sugar taste fused with the taste of fear and death. It was not nightmarish at all.
Even as the dim light of the sunrise breaches through the mist, the settlement as dunk in darkness. The morning dew gathered in the cold wooden planks of the buildings, and the torches fizzled and died after a whole night aflame. After the last attack, the fear of the Candymaker multiplied, yet so did the feelings of anger and injustice. The demon was a constant and serious threat, but it had never been so public. The deaths and losses would come, yet at a great distance, the placid mist and the secret night bringing the Candymaker to a taboo status, whispered in fear. With a few houses burnt by the chaos of the pursuit, all the villagers had now felt the monster in their skin, and it was not a ghost anymore. Even at that early time, people gathered around the plaza. Far from sparse, the crowd was restless and ablaze, prepared for justice, in whatever form it may be. The air was filled with fury and determination, tasting the bitterness of their thoughts. The sheer amount of people, joined in their mutual cause, was a force of nature.
The wooden planks of the improvised stage shrieked under Ota's weight, as he rose up the stairs. Not even his influential power could quench their spirits and calm their minds. The people demanded action. This time, not even the Kaguya missed. A restless settlement meant a potential problem to the balance of the peninsula, and, case Ota wasn't able to handle it, the Clans would have to take a step, for better or for worse.
It was then that, midst surprised gasps and acute shrieks, Milia came through the crowd, dragging behind the limp corpse of Hozuki Ayu. Her face was covered in dirt and blood, her body in no better face, yet her expression was solemn and steady. Her eyes did not show the usual sleek and greasy shine of the Hozuki, replaced by a much more humbling feature, brought about by confidence and tiring effort. She hauled the corpse to stage and turned her attention to the Hozuki clan. The more attentive of them beginning to recognize the body, but silenced by Milia before their mouths could even open.
"Hozuki Ayu’s dead. I killed the pig."
The crowd was silence in awe, yet the Hozuki, even if after a moment of hesitation, gripped their weapons tightly and moved to Milia.
"Down fishnits. Ye dare raise yer hands against the head of yer clan?"
As the words fell from her mouth, her eyes began regaining their former shine, and a sardonic smirk punctuated her cheeks. An Hozuki shinobi spat the ground at her feet.
"Yer a woma-"
He didn't manage the completion of his accusation, as a blade of water pierced through his throat. Drowning in his own blood, the man was silenced, along with the few who shared his ideals. Yet it was not Milia, but another woman who produced the blade. Surprise flashed through Milia's face, yet her determination did not waver, she would have done the same had the woman not anticipated it first. She was Hozuki Nala, wife of Umur, Ayu's counselor. A tall woman with silky smooth black hair, that shone dark blue at the light, and an stoic yet characteristically sly shine on her eyes.
"Nala."
"Milia-Sama. I believe it was about time the pig fell."
The Hozuki men looked towards the two women in front of the wooden stage, and then quickly to their wives. There were no more accusations nor hesitations. They lowered their heads as Milia and Nala joined Kemono and his general on stage, as Hozuki Clan Leader and second hand. Ota looked to the scene impassible, as it unfolded. He met Milia's defying glare as she moved up the stage, yet simple met it with a smirk, half admiring her stand, half taunting her.
He approached the crowd and projected his voice, regaining control of the situation in a blink of an eye.
"The Candymaker took more victims this passing night. Illia Sanaia. Omour Panna. Omour Ao, 6 years old. Toro Lau and Eanne. Hozuki Umur was found dead in the street." His eyes trailed to find Nala, yet she made no sign. "The house of Gann burnt down, along with 4 more down the street. Many died trying to put it out." He looked to the Kaguya, who had some losses to the fire, as their shinobi braved the burning settlements to rescue people. "I thank you and your men, Kemono-"
"Well ye shouldn't"
Milia voiced, with a most greasy and sleazy smirk on her face. The crowd had gained their fire once more, hearing the names of their loved ones, and stood eager in front of the stage, drinking every word said.
"I saw the Candymaker."
The crowd's excitement began to rise.
"I fought the Candymaker."
She opened her clenched fist and milky white braids of hair flew in the morning breeze, blown towards Kemono and the Kaguya general, as she delivered a cheeky wink.
"The Candymaker is a Kaguya"
All the plaza gasped. In a moment, two parties were created, as the Kaguya took a fighting pose to face the roaring crowd and the Hozuki along them. Kemono lashed out towards Milia.
“That’s an insulting accusation! I will not stand idle while you spout these lies”
“They’re not lies, savage! I saw him runnin’ towards yer village, to rejoin his savage friends no doubt!”
"Watch your tongue, slime, or prepare to have it ripped from your skull!"
The angry mob moved on to the Kaguya, with the Hozuki close by, slyly following. They had much to gain at the decimation of their rival clan, and, as is the Hozuki way, always follow the crowd. Like the rest of the Kaguya,
Kemono lost much of its calm, and his eyes were wild with anger. Milia stood in the middle of the stage with a mocking smirk. As Kemono moved to attack, a great spike of bone growing from his palm, Nala moved from Milia’s side and deflected it with a kunai in hand. As she forced the spike away, Kemono spun around, delivering a fast kick on her jaw with his heel, a great impact due to the heavy accumulation of calcium like a baton.
“Oh Silence, child! You are far too green to be of any challenge”
And again he moved towards Milia, but stopped short. Not just Kemono, but everyone suddenly hesitated. Milia quickly looked around. She tasted the bitter flavor she learned to associate with fear, with the Candymaker. Ota looked baffled at the scene, but took the chance to act, intercepting Kemono and stepping between him and Milia.
Raising his voice, he spoke to all.
“Stop this now.”
Either by the eerie savor, or by his commanding tongue, the whole plaza stiffened. Milia kept looking around. He was here, hidden, making sure she did what she was told. She rode the cold sensation that rose by her spine and found her center, pushing away the fear and replacing it with anger. She would find him and kill him. At the edge of the stage, Ota had carried on his speech, and was now turning to Kemono.
“I will not accuse you of being the demon, my friend, but the fact remains. Milia says she saw the Candymaker.”
“And yet you believe this wretch “
“It is not a matter of whether or not I believe the demon is a Kaguya, but if she says she saw him heading towards your village, we need to make sure we don’t miss him.”
Kemono spat at Milia’s feet before turning his eyes to Ota again.
“Because of some...speculation by these grimes, you wish for me to let foreigners roam free on my land?"”
“As did, I, my friend. This is a time for unity. The Candymaker needs to be brought down, and we can only do that if we stand together”
The crowd mumbled in disaccord, but was silenced before Ota’s glare.
“Never before has outsiders blood stepped on our pure soil!!”
“We’ll respect your traditions, but we’ll need to survey the village.”
Kemono locked eyes with Ota. His eyes were commanding and threatening, but Ota did not back down. Finally, he moved his hand and prompted the Kaguya to stand down.
“Temujin Otaghen, you truly do have an impressive display of bones”
He moved closer, leaning on his ears, whispering so close no one could hear.
“But, I will not hesitate to geld you from the marrow, like a spine-less cattle at the first sign of your betrayal.”
And so he went, towards the village. Ota stood in the stage for a few moments before turning around and point out a dozen of men from the crowd, which promptly followed the Kaguya. He turned to Milia and voiced
“You better be right about this”
She threw him a disdain look before rolling her eyes and helping Nala to rise.
“And you better shut your mouth and stay out of my business. I can handle myself on my own, no need for saviors.”
And, pointing down Hozuki shinobi of her own, she followed the Kaguya.
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Last edited:
. Maybe something related to the candy maker?
