After half a day has passed the bar section has long since emptied. Most have returned to their homes, leaving only a handful sitting and chatting. Some playing card games while others swap stories. Behind the bar counter Roland stands across from Crim while resting his head on his hands. Thankfully, he's fully dressed. "So ya think tha otha calamities will leave their deadzone too?" Crim takes a moment to respond, glancing at Harry from across the room. "Maybe." Noticing Crim's glance Roland decides to take special note of Harry.
"C'monnnnn how do I keep losing!!!" Annoyed, he glares at Will, wondering how he keeps losing this world's version of poker. Maybe he's cheating, he thinks to himself. Seeing such a defeated Harry Will can't help but let out a small laugh. "Sure."
Despite the strands, the town has remained relatively calm. Anyone who claims this is some kind of religious punishment is immediately silenced and anyone attempting to loot is immediately punished. So far capital punishment has yet to be enforced but given time it's unknown how long that'll be.
"Dad…can I please go back to my shop."
Suddenly Lia walks out from the back with two small trays of peeled walnuts. Without hesitation Roland responds, "Nope." Annoyed, she slams the trays down and escapes to the back. "Don't botha runnin. I ain't wanta catch ya a sixth time." Ignoring him, she flips him her half raised ring finger. "Why she so desperate ta go back to 'er shop old man?" Roland lets out a heavy sigh in response to Crims question. "It was 'er moms shop." Seeing a glimmer of sadness pass by Roland's eyes Crim stays quiet, instead grabbing a handful of walnuts and jamming them into his mouth.
While the town exists in a dreadful calm, Joshua floats in the sky, watching over the strands with clear anxiety. If they have the intelligence to climb over each other to reach him while he's in the sky, why haven't they tried climbing over the wall of fire? No matter how hard he thinks about it he can't help but find the absolute stillness of the strands more concerning than if they were doing something, anything. Looking at the town, seeing people patiently waiting in line for rations he's at least thankful chaos has erupted yet.
While he watches on, Charles and Lily finally make it to the front. A warm smiled priest stands in front of a small booth in front of a large store house. Seeing the two shifters guarding the man, anyone who thought of stealing food immediately decides against it. At least for now. "Dad ya should eat too." Smiling towards Lily he gently pats her head, taking the piece of bread he was going to put on her plate and taking a bite. "There, i'm full. Ya can 'ave the rest." He's a bit hungry but he can make do with porridge, much better his little girl stays full, he thinks to himself.
Suddenly, a lone knight appears beyond the horizon. Holding a massive greatsword with one arm he swings horizontally. Instantly a massive gust of air shoots forward, cutting a clean line through the wall of fire. Instantly, Joshua moves without thinking, pushing his hand into the fire he manipulates it to rush towards the wave as it tries to breach the hole in the wall of flames. Despite the overwhelming pain and searing burns he can't stop. It's his duty as a high rank shifter to protect the people, no matter the cost
Within a second a massive serpent made of fire burst out around Joshua. Screaming wildly, his body twitching as the heat scars his skin, he slams it towards the strands. Unprepared, the strands can only take the flame head on. Within seconds, a tsunami of fire spreads forward, consuming the strands and spreading ash as they devour every singlestrand they can. The tsunami of gold runs, trying to save itself from the flames. Unfortunately, Joshua still hasn't let go of the flames. The serpent explodes into a violent rain of fire, spreading as far and wide as it can.
The town breaks into a panic. Charles holds onto and protects his daughter as a crowd of fear stricken people stampede away from the wall. Roland and everyone at the in go still and silent. Crim, Will, and Harry can only stare, Harry still doing nothing as the flames threaten to consume Joshua. Moments later the flames calm, more than half the strands now burned to ash. Joshua, barely maintaining consciousness, flies down and returns the wall of flame back to how it was, returning to the city after. Looking at the horizon with his only undamaged eye he swears he can see the knight speaking. Despite being unable to hear the knight he knows what he's saying, almost as if he can hear it directly in his head.
"Hmmm, I see. As respect for your sacrifice brave warrior I shall intervene no longer. May her will bless the flames that burn within those determined eyes."
Just as the last word appears in his haze filled head, Joshua faints. For a few minutes, he's left alone, anyone and everyone running away and hiding, some stopping where they are to pray and accept their assumed death. Eventually though, seeing the flames dye down and the wall return to normal, the people calm, even so, they don't move closer, avoiding the wall as best they can. All except Will, Crim, Harry, and Roland with a few of his underlings following close bye.
"Bloody 'ell, 'e's burned bad."
Crim, after speaking, can only wonder how Joshua is still alive. Half his body has been scorched black, no blood flowing out from his cracked and blackened skin. What remains of his hair is frayed and burnt and his clothes are almost all ash. It's almost better to call him a man shaped chunk of coal. Even so, his breath remains, albeit weakly. Will looks to Harry, remembering what he did to his arm with his threat. Seeing Will glance at him Harry shakes his head.
"Ya, get bandages, as for ya three watch him. We don't know if he'll go rampant when 'e wakes up."
Immediately Roland takes charge. After checking his pulse and making sure Joshua is by some miracle alive he steps away to start calming the people while evacuating them from the immediate area. He's seen what a high rank shifter can do when they can't control their thoughts, he can't risk anyone becoming collateral damage. And so another half a day passes, things calming down. While watching Joshua the trio play cards.
"Ya'll are cheating I freakin swear!"
As usual Harry just cannot win a game of poker. Crim looks at him with a smug grin while Will just sighs, deciding to let him at least beat him next round. "So, think ya can at least make sure the damage from 'im runnin rampant is minimal?" Harry shes his head in response to Will. "Can't get involved any more than I already have." Hearing Harrry, Crim let's out an internal sigh of relief. Just as the duo start to relax they hear Joshua speak. "I won't be running rampant so easily."
Trying to stand up, he fails, his arms sinking into the ground. "Control on the other hand will be a bit difficult." Amazed, Will raises a brow towards Joshua. "How's the 'ells ya standin mate." In response to Crim, Joshua shrugs. "Can't feel pain right now is it." With a heavy sigh he slowly pulls his arms out from the ground. Examining him Harry sees that while Joshua can move fine he can seemingly only move slowly. "I'll be staying here, let the people know that I'm okay and that if anyone tried anything funny while the high rank was down I will punish them personally." Without hesitation everyone steps away, at least they try too. "Blondy, you stay. I heard you say something about involvement. I have a few questions."
Will and Crim look to Harry. Nodding he lets them go, the pair shrugging in response knowing full well Harry's in no real danger. As soon as he's sure no one's around Joshua speaks first.
"You're an other worlder aren't you?"
"Yup, i'm guessing you're an inner member of your family?"
"Yes…now tell me. What is with you other worlders and calamities? Don't think I'll forget our encounter like other people of this world, so, don't think of escaping if you plan too."
"Don't need too."
Harry looks at Joshua's charred body, then himself.
"As for your question. I don't know, just people from earth are naturally attracted to them. Like moths to an especially dangerous flame."
"Okay, now how are you involved in the strands leaving their dead zone at the west?"
"Can't answer or everyone here dies or goes mad."
Absolute Silence.
"Fine, at least I won't have to worry about you causing trouble."
Letting out a heavy sigh Joshua leans back, choosing to move onto his next question. "Do you have any particular goals?" Harry takes a moment to think, wondering what he can get away with saying. "I have to protect someone." Joshua raises a brow wondering if it's one of the other two in his trio. Looking at Harry, he takes a few seconds to think, knowing full well he won't say who he's trying to protect. He knows it likely isn't Will, and Crim, despite trying his best to hide it, has a disabled arm.
"Final question, what is your relationship to the butler and knight."
"Enemies to the death."
Zero hesitation.
"So then, will you interfere if they get involved again? We can be considered to have mutual enemies, better to benefit each other than dance around each other."
"Depends, how many are you willing to sacrifice?"
"Dear Ouros, what is with you and putting others in danger?"
"Ask the knight and butler we hate so much and maybe they'll answer your question."
Speak of the devil and he shall come.
At his last word a familiar fog starts to fall. Joshua, unable to comprehend watches on as Harry starts to waver and fade like an illusion. In a few seconds, he's gone, leaving nothing where he was. Cautiously Joshua looks around, fully prepared to attack or defend at a moments notice. Fortunately, nothing happens. Still, despite his clear safety he can't get a feeling of overwhelming danger out of his head.
"Shite, things are about to get worse aren't they?"