Beneath the hood

Sho pushed through the underbush into an open clearing.

There it was—a vibrant kingdom and a nearby village.

The morning sunlight covered the lush green lands, filling it with shadows hidden and dim.

Sho froze at the sight, his lips parting. "Why does this look familiar..."

A fragmented memory flashed through his mind, clouding it with visions of the past—the storming smoky violet clouds, a darkish purple beam erupting from the kingdom, piercing the falling sky.

He heard incomprehensible whispers. Whispers that came from the shadows of his past. Come to me. They say, Come to me. To reclaim a part of me.

Sho was snapped out of his visions from a loud horn that came from the nearby village.

He nearly lost his balance as he trembled uncontrollably. He barely steadied himself against a wooden brown oak tree. Sweat ran down his brow fast. His heart beats faster and greater than the last.

Sho's expression expanded, his mind streaming with pure confusion, "W-What was that?"

He looked down at his shaking hand. Why am I shaking? Was I the cause of that?

His breathing came in a ragged gasp as he closed his eyes. He took slow deep breaths and slid back down on a tree.

Calm down. Calm down. He thought frantically, rubbing his temples, trying to clear his senses.

Once he relaxed, he rose and took a moment to ponder, Come to me...

Sho glimpsed toward the kingdom, rubbing his fingers against his chin. What does that mean?

Sho sighed softly, mind filled with questions but he came to a conclusion. The only way I will know is there. The kingdom of Ymir... His brow furrowed. Wait... Is that its name? I don't remember that.

He shook it off and took it as coincidence. He made his way toward the kingdom, but first—the looming village.

If only he knew that this was a means to his end.

Walking down a structured dirt trail going down hill. Sho glanced around, admiring nature around him. He saw different types of birds and strange beautiful animals that watched him. He passed a reflecting large lake. Distant tall windmills shrouded behind trees. Wooden spinning Infrastructure that collected the simmering water.

He didn't think much about it, only the trail that led into the nearby entrance of the village. When he entered, there was no one. He looked around, passing empty shops and cottages, wondering, "Where is everyone?"

Suddenly, he heard it. A loud clank from behind him.

Sho turned slowly as he watched a metal bucket roll into the street. The rough breeze pushed it toward him. His gaze followed it as it approached his feet.

Then, he felt it. The air grew still, and he heard a rattling sound behind him.

Immediately, Sho turned as a terrified old man lunged at him with a pitchfork.

Sho trips on the bucket, barely evading death. He crashed onto the ground. The old man raised his pitchfork, his eyes wide as he brought it down. Sho rolled to the side and scrambled to his feet.

The old man pulled his pitchfork from the dirt, gripping the tool with trembling hands.

Sho raised his hands, yelling, "W-Wait—" 

He was interrupted as the old man cried, "Y-You killed them!"

Sho's brow furrowed. "Killed?"

The old man lunged again, tears streaming down his eyes. "My family!"

Sho sidestepped this time, but the old man's shoe caught on his boot. He fell, hitting his head, nearly knocking himself out. Groaning, he tried to reach for his pitch fork, but Sho stepped on it. The old man looked up as Sho said, "Who are you?"

Then, he heard multiple footsteps. He glimpsed around the deserted village, now rising with many citizens. They held weapons, their faces etched with something worse than sadness.

Sho's eyes widened. One step forward—a young boy with a furious expression. He pointed at Sho with a small wooden hoe. "Kill the murderer! Kill him and his sinfulness." He cried as his lifeless eyes had lost their innocence.

Suddenly, they rushed at him. Yelling. Screaming. Hollering.

Sho hesitated before breaking into a full sprint down the street. More came from alleyways, shops and even from roofs where they shoot arrows from atop.

He ran, dodging townsfolk left and right, even arrows that made him fright. When he reached the exit and strode quickly towards the forest. More came from its shadows, hidden beneath the trees. Some were holding torches, some cried. Everyone was chasing after him against the waning sky.

Crunch. Crunch. Rustle. Rustle.

Sho's boots pounded against the dirt, his heart racing as he pushed through the under bush. His mind raced, yet, there wasn't a moment where he had time to think.

His breath came in ragged gasps, he looked over his shoulder. They were falling behind. Close to losing him. But when he turned back, he heard something above him.

He glimpsed up and muttered, "The f*ck—" His curse never finished as someone crashed down on him.

Sho's vision blurred, his face covered in dirt. His eyes slowly but surely flickered up. There, he saw a womanly figure, whose face was concealed by a red riding hood.

Darkness was about to claim him once more but the last thing he heard. "There goes my wolf and the mystery we once had."