Massacre

As Rin walked through the village, the whispers grew louder and more distinct, carrying through the air like an ominous breeze. The villagers' voices were a mix of awe, fear, and curiosity, their eyes widening as they recognized her. The murmurs became a symphony of hushed tones, each word laced with the weight of their memories and judgments.

"Isn't that Rin? I thought she was gone for good," one elderly woman whispered to her companion, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and apprehension.

"Look at her hair and eyes... She's even more striking now. She looks like she stepped out of a cursed place," another villager remarked, unable to tear his gaze away from her ethereal appearance.

"Those clothes... she doesn't belong here anymore. She looks like she comes from another world," a young man muttered, his eyes filled with a strange blend of admiration and fear.

"Should we just bury her alivee in a coffin?" an older man asked, his voice barely above a whisper yet loud enough for those around him to hear.

Rin smirked, her eyes flickering with a mix of amusement and disdain as she caught snippets of their conversations. The corners of her mouth curled into a knowing smile, and her light grey eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire. She stopped abruptly, her presence commanding and impossible to ignore, and turned to face the gathering crowd of villagers. Her voice, when she spoke, was cold but carried a confidence that sent shivers down their spines.

"You're all so ugly," Rin mocked, her tone dripping with contempt. "How can you live with such faces? Thank the heavens I wasn't born like you."

Her words sliced through the air, causing an immediate reaction among the villagers. Faces flushed with anger and humiliation, some turned away, unable to meet her piercing gaze, while others clenched their fists in silent frustration. Rin's disdain was palpable, her words a stark reminder of the chasm that now existed between her and the people who had once been her neighbors.

"Shut up! You're just a woman with a different look! Who do you think you are?" a man from the crowd shouted, his face contorted with rage. He approached Rin with his hand raised, aiming to slap her.

Rin caught his hand with ease, her reflexes swift and precise. In an instant, she activated her cursed technique, ice spreading from her fingertips and rapidly engulfing his arm. The man's eyes widened in shock as the cold crept up his body, freezing him solid.

With a single, fluid motion, Rin twisted his hand, and the man's entire body shattered into countless icy fragments, scattering across the ground. Gasps of horror and astonishment echoed through the crowd as they witnessed the brutal display of her power.

"Forget it," Rin said, her voice dripping with disdain. "This village is boring. You will die because you are boring."

As she spoke, she noticed the father of Uraume staring at her in horror, his eyes wide with fear. A malicious smirk spread across her face as she decided to end them all for no particular reason. She placed her hand on the ground, her fingers spreading out like the roots of a tree, and chanted in a quiet, menacing voice, "Ice Formation: Ice Fall."

Immediately, the ground beneath the village began to rumble and crack. A chilling wind swept through the streets, carrying with it an unnatural cold that seeped into the bones of everyone present. The temperature plummeted, and icy tendrils began to spread from where Rin's hand touched the earth.

Massive spikes of ice erupted from the ground, shooting up into the air and crashing down with devastating force. Buildings were torn apart, and villagers screamed as they tried to flee, only to be caught in the deadly barrage of ice. The entire village was enveloped in a blizzard of razor-sharp ice shards, the air filled with the sounds of destruction and panic.

Within moments, the once lively village was reduced to a frozen wasteland, the ground covered in a thick layer of ice and snow. The villagers lay still, encased in their icy tombs, their expressions frozen in their final moments of terror.

Rin stood in the center of the devastation, her light grey eyes glowing with a cold, unfeeling light. She took a deep breath, the cold air invigorating her, and turned away from the ruins of the village, leaving behind a landscape of desolation and death.

"The village is too small and I just used half of my tank of cursed energy. I'm still trash," Rin thought to herself as she surveyed the aftermath of her actions. Despite the overwhelming destruction she had caused, she felt a pang of dissatisfaction.

"Not a single feeling of guilt? I really have no boundaries, huh?" Rin mused, her thoughts echoing in the icy silence. She realized that the complete lack of remorse for what she had done only underscored how far she had drifted from the person she once was.

"Let's search for sorcerers in this era, shall we?" Rin talked to herself as she started walking in a random direction, her steps carrying her further into the unknown.

In an old, fancy Heian-era office, a man with black hair and a menacing look on his face stood, looking intently at someone in front of him. The office was adorned with traditional furnishings, a testament to the wealth and power of its occupant.

"Aqua-sama, there is a report saying that they found a village on the border with all of the people and structures completely frozen and dead. We concluded that it's the work of a sorcerer or a curse user. It could potentially be the work of a cursed spirit, but that's unlikely. The one who did this possesses an ice-related cursed technique," Tetsuya said, bowing as he informed Aqua.

Aqua's expression darkened, his piercing eyes narrowing as he absorbed the information. "An entire village, you say? Frozen completely? This is no ordinary sorcerer," he mused, his voice cold and calculating. "Have we identified the source?"

Tetsuya shook his head, still bowing respectfully. "No, Aqua-sama, we haven't identified the source yet. However, we are actively gathering more information. The immense power required to perform such an act suggests that this individual is at least a grade-1 sorcerer, if not higher."

Aqua leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled as he considered the implications. "We cannot allow such a powerful and reckless individual to roam unchecked. Increase our surveillance in the border areas and deploy our best agents. This sorcerer must be found and dealt with swiftly."

Tetsuya nodded, his posture rigid with determination. "Yes, Aqua-sama. I will see to it immediately."

As Tetsuya left to carry out his orders, Aqua's gaze turned to the window, his mind already calculating the next steps. The presence of such a powerful sorcerer was a threat, but also an opportunity. If he could bring this individual under his control, or eliminate them if necessary, it would solidify his power and influence.

"An ice technique, huh?" Aqua murmured to himself, a slight smile playing on his lips. "This will be interesting."