Life Is So Fragile; Aging, Eternity?

At the edge of the grassland, a white figure was curled beneath a rock.

It was a female demon.

Her white hair was completely gray as she curled in the rock's shadow, like something abandoned and forgotten by the world.

His left leg had been severed below the knee. Several strips of cloth were wrapped around the stump, soaked through with blood that had dried into a dark brown.

His face was covered in wrinkles, as though time had carved them into him stroke by stroke. Some were deep, some shallow, and every one held countless untold stories.

His Demonic Power...

Suiko walked to the front of the group and looked at the white-haired female demon.

She could sense that the demon's Demonic Power was pure.

There was not a trace of impurity in it, nor the slightest evil aura or baleful presence.

Clearly, this was a good demon.

"Master."

She turned to Chiyo.

Chiyo nodded.

"Go take a look."

Suiko jumped down from Kirara's back and walked toward the demon.

Her footsteps were light, but the demon still heard them.

He raised his head, his cloudy old eyes turning toward Suiko. There was neither fear nor hostility in them, only...

Weariness.

"You are..."

His voice was so hoarse it was nearly inaudible, as if he had not spoken in a very long time.

"My name is Suiko. I'm a Miko."

Suiko crouched before him, her gaze falling on his severed left leg.

"Your leg..."

"It was severed a few days ago."

The demon gave a bitter laugh and lowered his head to look at his broken leg.

"I'm old. Can't fight anymore. A Little Demon bit me once, and my leg was gone."

He spoke calmly, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with