After finishing his dish from Lavon, Korosu's eyes dropped down and he slipped from the table. He let out a long sigh as he made his way through the cheerful people of the Festival. With a slight glance to the side he noticed a girl being confronted by a man with an ethereal glow. Korosu could smell the angel's aroma as it filled his lungs, he grimaced.
He looked for Maware now, for there was something he'd been meaning to show him- something dire.
A loud thud sounded from the sparring ring, one of the clansmen warriors falling hard on their ass. Hand stretched out to them not but a moment after, grin plastered all over the victor’s face. He was covered in sweat that seeped through his clothes, which were unusually lacking in armor due to the ongoing festival. Hoisting the clansman up, the deputy gave him a hard pat on the back before leaving the ring himself, handing off the practice sword to the next contestant.
Water was practically chugged down, Warrior tossing the mug away before patting his face down with a towel. It was clear he had been enjoying himself to the fullest during the week— despite the Goddess’s forewarning.
Leaning on the wooden fence of the ring, Korosu watched him leave it then followed him quickly. "Deputy." He started, catching up and speaking in hushed tones. "There is something I noticed near the border earlier today. I believe it's something you should see immediately for I fear, if neglected, it may lead to accusations between clans in time."
Practically ignoring the serious tone laid clear as day on the Hunter's face, Maware extended his arms out before moving in for a fist pump or a shake-- it was always a bit hard to tell with the warrior.
"Great to see ya! You tried the drinks yet? Hoo, they pack a punch!"
Booming voice morphed into chuckles as he leaned down a bit, trying to get a better ear for whatever Korosu tried to inform him about.
"Hah! What were ya just saying? Ears' still ringing so you're gonna need to speak a little louder, pal."
"Oh yeah? Sure, sure! Wait-- one sec, pal." He agreed before turning slightly and giving a yell back to his subordinates. "YOU GOT THIS HANAKO!" Raising a fist up with a mighty cheer, he backed away from the sparring circle and gave full attention back to the Hunter.
"Alright, lead the way. What are we dealing with, which side the border? And uh, you haven't bothered Yomi about it, have ya?"
Korosu quickly began leading him away from the ring and out of the festival.
"I have not. Sir, I found Avinus growing on the west side of the border. I may have been given a hunter's position, but I am well educated in botany. I'm not sure how it is handled here, but it caused serious turmoil between Welkinclan and it's neighbors when it was found between borders.
"As you probably know," He said, giving Maware a complimentary tone, "Avinus is extremely dangerous and can be deliberately planted for it grows quickly and many do not know how to recognize it. I thought I should show you and hear where you think it originated from before any suspicions arise. I understand a plant may not seem important, but under the right minds I have seen it used for assassinations and ambushes. "
“Er, of course. I’ve never seen either clan use it that way, but... can’t hurt to be on the safe side.”
He was listening, that was for sure. Intently following a bit behind the hunter as he elaborated. Maware might not have had the brains to come up with something that elaborate as that for a plan, but Korosu explained it all well enough.
“I’ll be honest, recognizing plants really isn’t my thing. Don’t know if they bloom or just grow or whatever, that’s why I’ve stuck it with sparring. Gonna need you to point out the details when we get up to it.”
"Oh yes," Korosu said in response to being on the safe side, leading Maware into dark places through the forest where there was little moonlight and the brush was thick. "I have seen clanmates die by this method."
After walking for a while, Korosu stopped and pointed ahead of him. "It is just there, sir, by the dead tree. Be very careful."
Just as he turned his head, he felt the sharpness come up from under him, drawing blood. Suddenly, it rushed up his chest and up his throat, gushing out his mouth. Coughs wracked his body further as he tried to pull away, his other arm reaching for his sword as he began to shut down.
“You...”
The deputy truly was blessed by the goddesses themselves; one hit that should have been fatal to the warrior needed to be doubled for the kill.
With an eye on his target, the warrior shakily grabbed for the opponent’s weapon, his grip alone against the weapon enough to crush more than bone.
“. . .”
The words he mouthed were muted as he ripped out the spear by pure muscular force, though he dropped to his knees in the process. Blood streamed from both the wound and his hand, beginning to haze his surroundings.
If only he had been in the presence of his goddess— perhaps he would have had more strength to kill the man than what he was about to do.
With his hand still deathly attached to the other, he tightened his grip further, his aim set on breaking, tearing, or ripping off the weapon itself while he sword rained down upon the “hunter’s” arm.
Korosu's eyes flared in furious shock that this man was still living, and it was a few long seconds before he realized his arm was gone. There it was in Maware's grip, leaving him nothing but a blood spurting stump. "Oh you fucking bastard.." He hissed, comprehending it just enough to hold the arm against his side before kicking Maware backwards into the Avinus that was- you guessed it- full of splintered spikes waiting for their prey.
The deputy’s head dropped as Korosu’s arm was haphazardly severed, his face hiding what little smirk grew onto his features. He didn’t fight against the kick, although he definitely didn’t realize exactly what he was falling into.
Most of his armor stopped the trap from piercing his body, though he remained stuck there as he bled out. A cough jerked him forward as red splattered around them, sinking the spikes in further.
His whole being shook during his last few minutes, his whispering voiceless as he spoke to figures unseen. Silence followed the last of his coughing, with no extra attention given to his attacker.
...
Hardly minutes after the death of the fallen clanmate, light seeped out from Maware’s mouth and bee-lined to the demon, igniting the grass upon where he stood. The fire was cool as it danced around and followed him, only growing taller in an inescapable spiral.
Peering over the grasses into the chasm, an ugly and pleased smile twisted up Korosu's face.
"Die, you-"
That smile vanished instantly as the light jumped at him and ignited the ground. "What!" He exclaimed, turning around and holding his arm as the fires surrounded him. Suddenly he was struck with fear. "I...What did I do wrong?!" He asked the fire frantically until he realized it wasn't even warm. "W-wait, what the hell?"
