Dust exploded, and demons cheered in the middle of stone and wooden homes. Soon, the dust settled, and the crowd gasped in shock as they saw red challengers planted in the ground, headfirst. A large blue hand slowly clutched the jutted demon by his legs and pulled him from the ground.
"
Slowly, the crowd of demons shrank back, the men growing hesitant as they watched her impatiently glaring at them.
"
Another blue demon with matching clothes and straight front horned pulled at her sleeve. "
The woman glared at her subordinate, indignant. "
"
The crowd quickly cleared the way, squeezing and letting both Weth and her followers' carrying supplies, though, allowing them into the slow-moving town's market. Within, whispers and rumors were spoken about between the shopkeepers and bounty hunters, shopping and searching. One after another, the whispers of the soon-to-be king's decree echoed, with each passing stall.
"
Koph quickly grabbed the nearby ramp and placed it at the entrance before sliding the doors open. The box carrying demons entered one at a time, storing the boxes before locking the storehouse.
"
With a nod, the two other demons departed, leaving Koph with Weth.
"
"Ooww," he inked out. The blue child carried a stone stick and a pouch of crystals. Confused, the boy gazed up at her, confused. "
From the corner of a building, a stone-masked, white-hair person ran in. He stopped and stared at Weth silently before looking at the boy.
Suspicious, Weth narrowed her eyes at the men noticing fragments of ginger hair poking from beneath the short white hair. "
Hearing her remark, the man tensed. Desperate the man leaped and the child away.
"
"
They followed past crowds and through narrow alleys, pursuing the masked man. They broke through the street, pushed through crowds all as the boy was continuously dragged by the feet. "
Losing track, Weth, stopped and scanned, and with his desperate movement and stone masked she spotted him as he climbed up a steep road. "
Desperate, the stone masked man pointed a white crystal with a growing fireball at the ready. Amused, Weth flashed a sly grin. "
The fireball shot, and with ease, she blocked and crushed the attack with her hands. An explosion of smoke quickly filled and masked the pursuit. They pushed through with dirt, crumbling from the Weth's hands. She posed, with her hands at the ready, and pounced.
"BJORN!!"
Weth's gaze slowly wandered up, discovering a group of demons standing by a cart with a masked red ogre that drew her attention. He raised his arms, and in seconds, a blob of earth shot and snaked her neck, knocking her to the ground. Not relenting, several more blobs of earth shot and pinned her to the ground.
"Wow, Bjorn, color me surprised." A woman said.
"
"Tch. Who cares."
Weth glanced down, watching as the stone masked man stumbled back to his group, heaving and in and out from exhaustion. She saw as the blue-skinned woman absorbed a blood blade into her, surprising the man.
"Hey, Donovan, are you okay?"
"Y-.... Yeah."
Growing even more determined, Weth pulled, attempting to free herself from the shackles of earth. "
Kalika cocked her head. "
"
Not long after the earth shackles dissolved from her neck and wrist, putting everyone on edge.
"
Weth froze, stunned by the mention. Recollecting herself, she stood and glared at the group. Eventually, she glanced at the several scholarly demons that carried small pouches from the cart and into the stone building behind them. Suspicious, she stared at Bjorn. "
""
Weth narrowed her eyes at Bjorn, scrutinizing the stone mask he wore, curious. "
"
"
"
"
"
"
Bjorn cleared his throat. "
"
Kalika, along with Bjorn and Donovan, watched as the large ogre woman left with curious onlookers beginning to crowd the streets, curious about the finished drama.
Exhausted, Kalika sighed. "So much for that friend of yours. And Donovan, what are you thinking?"
"H-hey, don't look at me!" he quietly retorted. "That kid decided to go crystal hunting all of a sudden."
"Then tie a rope to the child," Bjorn suggested. He tossed a thick piece of rope at Donovan's feet. "It'll be much easier to manage him."
"U-uhh… I'm not sure that's a good idea. What if it unties-"
Ignoring Donovan, Kalika grabbed the rope, tying the waist with it, then repeated, tying it to herself. "Easy."
The child, confused, turned in circles, attempting to grab the rope.
Donovan watched in awe, shocked at the boy's inability to escape. "I-I don't know what's worse. The fact that you did it, or the fact that it's working…"
"
"
"
"
The leader laughed. "
"Kalika, Donovan," Bjorn called. He held their supplies out expectantly, handing Kalika pouched of their crystals and jerky while Donovan took the food and some clothes with Bjorn.
"
Bjorn pressed on ahead, forcing Kalika and Donovan to follow. "
"
"
Both Kalika and Donovan quickly fell silent, listening quietly as they maneuvered along the dirt road. All the while, the boy looked demons with a growing curiosity.
Eventually, the wave of bounty-hunting demons dissipated.
"Damn… There was a lot of them." Donovan quietly remarked.
"All the more reason to stay quiet," Bjorn stated. "
From the distant Kalika, I saw the humble stone building, surrounded by an army of bounty hunters drinking outside.
"
"
Walking down the cool and shallowing road, a familiar sensation buzzed at her shoulder, neck, and ears. She stopped, suspicious of the eyes watching her.
"Hey, Kalika, what happened?" Donovan asked.
With a deep breath, Kalika continued. "Nothing. Come on, it looks like the end isn't too far."
"Sure."
Reaching the very end, Kalika and Donovan emerged into a bustling market of demons, moving crates, sharing booze, and selling goods. The stench of fish filled the air along with the strong scent of the fresh water that held the black wooden ships.
"Wow…" Donovan scanned long rows of docks, almost unsure where to start. "Hey, Kalika." He whispered. "We should probably start asking around for any escort ships."
Kalika nodded and eyed the stalls and mats where the demons shopped and approached, leading Donovan and pulling the boy with her. "
The merchant, sitting, stroked his chin thoughtfully. "
Kalika scoffed. "
"
Irritated, Kalika scowled at the demon.
"
Kalika turned. "
"
"Yes." The pink-eyed demon smiled.