The Scent Of Death

〈 You fear death. You lie to yourself. You hide your true nature. 〉

〈 You lie to those around you. 〉

I opened my eyes.

The last thing I remembered was getting hit in the back. Father was strong—too strong. I doubted I’d ever beat him in a fair fight.

“Son. Finally awake?” Father asked, taking a bite from a rose-red apple.

I sat up, glancing around. We were on the side of the road, resting on a bed of soft green grass. The sun shone gently in the distance, announcing its presence with warmth.

“Here,” Father said, tossing an apple my way.

I caught it effortlessly. My instincts had sharpened considerably since I started sparring with him every morning.

I stared down at the apple.

Blood red—like that day.

A beautiful, yet ugly color.

I took a bite just as Father’s tone shifted. Serious. Like he was about to tell me the world was ending.

“Siegnir. You know what a Strigon is, right?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the distant treeline.

“Yes,” I replied before taking another bite.

The undead. In this world, they were called Strigon—monsters that stirred fear in every living soul. And the Executioners? Those were the ones brave—or mad—enough to hunt them.

That world had nothing to do with me.

“The villagers said they saw one. In the forest.”

'So? What does that have to do with us? Normal humans couldn’t kill Strigon.'

I opened my mouth to speak, but Father beat me to it. And what he said froze my jaw mid-bite.

“We’re going to hunt it. You and me.”

He wasn’t joking.

Hunting a Strigon? Only a lunatic would attempt that—and Father wasn’t a lunatic. He had to have a reason.

He loved us too much to do something reckless.

“Dad! There’s no way we can—” My words faltered.

That look again.

That same face he made when he could see straight through me. A look filled with pity… and quiet sadness.

“You’re scared, right?” he said. “There’s no shame in being afraid. Even I get scared.”

He paused, staring down at his hand—covered in old scars and marked with a burn that looked like molten iron had pierced straight through his palm.

“But overcoming that fear,” he continued, clenching his fist, “that’s what makes you a true warrior. A true man.”

I bit my lip.

I wasn’t scared.

I was worried—what if something happened to him? Father was strong, sure—but against a Strigon, we were nothing.

Dammit. If only I could lock both him  away in a safe place, far from danger.

“Son. I’m doing this for you. You have to learn to overcome fear,” he said, grabbing my shoulders. “If you don’t… it’ll be the death of you.”

“But—!”

“No.” His grip tightened. “I’m using my authority as your father. We're going. Like it or not.”

He let go, his expression hardening.

“Hate me if you want—but this is for your own good.”

Haa… When Father got like this, nothing could stop him. He was stubborn. Whenever I refused something, he always used his so-called authority.

Father stood up, casting a glance over his shoulder. “I’ll grab our steel weapons. Clear your head, then meet me here in a few minutes.”

He turned and walked off, disappearing behind the trees.

'Clear my head...?'

He probably meant there—the waterfall east of the village.

And so, I made my way there.

***

Waterfall — East of Cinderdust Village

The sound of rushing water grew louder as the waterfall came into view—like the continuous roar of a lion. Yet amidst the noise, flowerbeds of every color bloomed in peace, and the scent of lavender drifted gently through the air.

It was the perfect place to discard unwanted thoughts.

I walked through the flowers and crouched beside the ankle-deep lake, surrounded by smooth pebbles.

The village’s water supply ran through a wooden pipe connected to this waterfall, so the water here was always shallow and clear. You could see every rock beneath the surface.

I took off my boots and dipped my feet into the cold, refreshing water.

Then I heard soft footsteps muffled by grass… and darkness.

Two warm hands covered my eyes.

〈 It’s Ellie. 〉

“Ellie. What are you doing?” I asked.

She removed her hands with a pout. “Aw. How’d you know it was me?”

She crouched down beside me and set down her straw basket.

“A voice told me,” I said with a grin. “It whispered your name.”

She poked my cheek. “Does that same voice tell you that you have soft cheeks, too? Handsome Sieg~”

I pushed her finger away.

Ellie—our village’s flower girl. She tended to the blooms around the waterfall and always carried that mischievous charm.

“Here to pick flowers again?” I asked, catching her annoyed glance.

She probably wanted to keep poking me.

“Yes. In fact, I just found the most beautiful flower,” she declared, gently tilting my chin toward her. “I came to pick you, beautiful Siegnir.”

My face went blank.

She probably thought that was a slick line.

Despite acting like a shameless flirt, she was undeniably the most beautiful girl in the village.

Mother was said to be like a flower of warm ice. Ellie was more like a teasing black cat.

She giggled at my blank stare, then dipped her fingers into the water, swirling them gently.

“I heard you’re going to hunt a Strigon,” she said, her voice quiet as her fingers danced through the ripples.

“Yeah. My father asked me to come along.”

She glanced sideways. “Aren’t you afraid? Old Man John’s stories always had Strigon in them… and those were some of the scariest tales I’ve ever heard—even if he is a little crazy.”

I gave her a smile, voice steady. “Nah. I’m not scared. Honestly? I’m excited. I want to test my strength.”

I wasn’t afraid.

Ellie narrowed her eyes. “Oh~ really?” she teased with a grin. “Siegnir is so brave.”

She looked back at her reflection, drawing circles in the water.

“Anyway… be safe, okay? Come back safely.”

Her voice was soft. Her cheeks were flushed.

“Can you do me a favor?” she asked, barely looking at me.

“What is it?”

“Close your eyes. Just for a moment.”

She was acting shy… I’d never seen her like this. She was usually bold—even shameless.

I closed my eyes.

〈 Liar. You’re afraid of the Strigon. 〉

〈 You’re trembling. You think you’ll die.〉

〈 You’d abandon your father—Ellie too—just to save yourself. 〉

'Shut up. You don’t know anything. You’re the liar.'

I shouldn’t have closed my eyes.

But through the storm, something soft brushed my cheek—a kiss.

Warm lips. Then gone in an instant.

I opened my eyes.

“Ellie…? Did you just—”

She pressed a finger against my lips.

“That’s my good luck charm,” she said, smiling softly. “Please come back safe.”

My heart was pounding.

Why?

Was it because she looked like an angel in that moment?

No. I was just caught off guard. Anyone would be startled.

She pulled her hand away and ran off, cheeks glowing crimson, as if she’d done something forbidden.

I held my hand to my chest.

“Ellie… what did you just do to me?”

This feeling. It was uncomfortable—but thanks to it, I could push away the storm of thoughts raging in my head.

With that, I made my way back to Father.

***

Outside Cinderdust Village — Midday

The sun blazed in a cloudless sky—an unblinking witness to our mission.

“Son. Are you ready? Did you clear your mind?” Father asked, handing me a steel longsword.

A common sword. But to me, it was proof—proof that he had trained me with his own hands.

I took it and fastened it to my waist.

“Yes,” I answered, firm. No hesitation. No fear.

But my gut screamed at me like a banshee.

Don’t go, it whispered.

I should’ve listened.

I should’ve stayed behind.

But it was already too late.

The time of loss was drawing near, wrapping itself around my neck like a coiling serpent.

A scent I would never forget.

The scent…

Of death.