Yumi froze a fraction of a second longer than usual at the end of her swing, the scythe hanging low to her side. She hadn’t flinched when the blood splattered on her face, which remained stoic, but the whiteness in her knuckles as her grip tightened showed she was unnerved. Her stomach twisted as her gorge rose, and she doubled over as a dry heave shook her frame. She closed her eyes as she barely managed to keep it down, forcing herself to steady and slow her breathing.

Yumi regained her composure after a few seconds. She straightened up and opened her eyes, her face slightly pale but calm. She swung her scythe once, flinging any remaining blood off the edge before returning it to its place on her back. She reached down, dipped her hands in the water, and rinsed the blood off her face. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before turning to see how her new acquaintances were doing