Chapter 32: Chapter 32: The Grass is Always

The Skylight was waning.

The crowded streets began to thin out as the merchants and tradesmen began packing up shop for the day, and shoppers returned home.

On the moderately packed streets, 2 short figures wearing black cloaks much too large for them shuffled amongst the crowd as the long swaths of fabric dragged against the ground behind them.

One of them was holding a large silver case with a black handle.

Figures like this that wanted to be inconspicuous or hide their identity when shopping was nothing new to the townsfolk, so they just ignored the 2 as they went about their daily lives.

However, as the pair walked, one of the figures muttered to the other, "ugh, did we really have to trade my bread for these lousy things?"

The figure carrying the case sighed as he responded, "What else did we have to trade?"

"How about that silver case of yours?" the other cloaked figure groaned back.

"Oz..." the figure carrying the case exhaled out, "we aren't trading this case." the boy affirmed, as he adjusted his grip on it, 'and plus, it's too late. We should be there soon anyways."

Oz just grumbled to himself as he followed after the boy, "I coulda at least taken another bite..."

"We should count ourselves lucky you didn't. People would trade an arm and a leg for that bread." the boy carrying the case responded.

Oz frowned, "and yet all we got were some cloaks" he looked to the bare, darkening sky, "we could've traded more."

The boy glanced back, "maybe, but we were in a rush anyways, so let's hurry and get back before it's late." he began to pick up his pace into a brisk walk, "I don't want my Nana to worry."

'Nana?' Oz wondered to himself as he hurried after the boy.

--

Finally, after around 15 minutes, the boys arrived at the outskirts of town and at the edge of the grasslands.

"We're here." the boy called out to Oz as he continued forward, walking through the knee-high grass.

"Huh?" Oz looked around in confusion and then back towards the town.

Floating green lanterns were floating above the ground illuminating the village as the people walked home, giving a vibrant vibe to the nightlife of the town.

Oz shot a confused look from under his cloak, "the hell are we goin?"

The boy carrying the case looked back, an enthusiastic smile on his face, "Home, now, c'mon, I can't wait for you to see Nana." he turned back and continued forward.

Oz's peeled his eyes as he slowly followed behind, 'hmmm, this kid probably still thinks he knows me, and no doubt this Nana may know me too...'

Oz stroked his chin as he continued to process, 'I don't like going all the way out in the middle of nowhere with someone I don't know, especially when I feel so powerless, but...' he gazed at the boy's back as he continued to silently follow, 'I don't got much other options, plus, he did help me back there."

Oz gazed forward with a resolute look as he sped up and walked along with the boy; after he did so, he turned and spotted a bright smile on the boy's face that practically said, "you do I know who I am!'

'Oh, brother.' Oz thought to himself, 'hopefully, wherever we're going.' a grim light briefly shone in his eyes, 'I can find out what the hell is going on.'

--

The two continued through the lush, grassy fields for around 10 minutes.

The sky had a faint speck of light left, barely illuminating the pathway ahead yet still coating the land in a subtle blue light.

The rustling sound of leaves and the gentle wind were all that filled the air, and humid moisture filled the boy's lungs.

"Oh yeah." the boy suddenly spoke up, breaking the awkward silence, "I never told you my name." a bright smile was on his face as he looked over at Oz, "its-"

SHSHSHHH

The two stopped dead in their tracks, cautiously looking around.

Oz lowered his stance into a combat-ready position with both his hands raised, preparing for a potential enemy.

The boy aside from him looked at Oz and then did his best rendition of his ally's fighting pose, "heh,' Oz smiled to himself, 'at least he learns quick.'

The sound of rustling grass and approaching footsteps continued to play in the pair's ears until finally, out from the knee-high grass, 3... knights (?) walked out from behind them, about 20ft (6m) away.

However, this trio was wearing armor that looked to be unique.

Gone was the silver armor and helmet; these troops were sporting what looked to be armor made of grass, as each strand could be seen intertwining over the men's bodies as they stared at the boys.

A dangerous green glow pierced out of the dark holes where eyes would be, covered by grassy helmets that were shaped like a cube.

Both sides stared at one another, yet neither chose to make the first move.

The boys felt the oppressive aura leaking from the men and choose to wait, yet, they had no clue why the men continued to stare in silence.

It felt as if an invisible clock were ticking down, with even the most minute of actions being the one to set it off.

--

Gulp.

An audible gulp sounded out from the wheat-skinned boy's throat, and with that, both sides moved.

"Run!" Oz yelled out as his fighting disposition had all but vanished, with both boys turning and rushing off through the thick grass with their pursuers closely following in tail.

Shuff

Shuff

As the boys frantically rushed forward, Oz called out to his fellow escapee, "where to?!"

The sky had gotten slightly darker in that brief period, and as such, it was now harder to see.

The boy glanced around, sweat was streaked across his skin, and a look of panic was plastered on his face, "Uh-uhh!"

"C'mon!" Oz interrupted the boy's rambling as they ran, shouting out in between panted breaths, "which way?"

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The boy shook his head and slapped the side of his cheeks, taking on a resolute look as he gazed ahead, "uhh, that way!" he pointed out to the front, angled to the left.

As such, they steered in that direction and continued onwards.

After around 2 minutes of running through the murky shadows and the shuffled tall grass that hissed in their ears like snakes, they finally saw it...

Up ahead was a large wooden house, towering in the air with lights beaming out of the windows as if beckoning the boys toward it like a lighthouse.

"Huff-huff- h-home." the boy barely managed to pant out as they ran.

"Home." Oz thought to himself as he eyed the approaching building, a vague sens of Deja Vu washing over him, 'home...' the word played in his mind once more as he examined the building.

His lungs were burning, and his body which had yet to recover, began popping and creaking as he forced himself to move, 'ggrrr, almost... there.'

His bloodshot eyes stared down at his target, that house.

At this pace, it was only a minute away.

Everything else was insignificant compared to staying alive and getting to that house.

Yet, as Oz's fate would have it, his body collapsed on him, his body flailed to the ground like a puppet with no strings, limply flopping onto the ground, 'nonononoNOOOO!!'

Oz screamed at his body to listen to his command, yet its as if his body was made of jelly, unresponsive and with no strength to move.

The boy up ahead stopped upon hearing the sound of dropping and turned to see Oz lying on the ground desperately attempting to crawl forward.

"Oz!" he called out to him as he ran towards him, bending down and attempting to pull him towards the house.

Yet, the pursuers were fast approaching with the shuffling grass sounding their arrival, "Damnit!" the boy cursed out as he lunged Oz onto his back.

"Ughh!" sounds of strained grunts escaped the boy's mouth, yet a determined look flashed in his eyes as he squatted with the full weight of Oz on him.

His legs wobbled as he tried to maintain balance.

Finally, as the sounds were becoming closer and closer, their pursuers nearly on top of them, the boy glared at the house with a renewed conviction, his sparkling with a subtle twinkle, not gone unnoticed by Oz, who could only cross his fingers and hold his breath.

"Woooh..." the boy calmly breathed out.

WHOOOOOOSH!!

"Aaaaaghhhh!" Off they were.

The boy sprinted while yelling out with all his might, with Oz on his back and the silver case in his hand, and only a few meters away from the door.

"Almost.... there...." the boy grunted out as he reached for the door.

The knights behind were so close they could nearly smell their horrid breath.

One of the knights lashed out, its hand morphing into a green tendril whipping out towards Oz.

"No!" the boy yelled as he planted 2 feet and quickly leaned over, launching Oz off his back and into the door!

BOOM!

Oz was sent plowing through the door, and luckily opening it as he landed on the wooden interior, 'ughh... my head.' he mumbled to himself as he grabbed his forehead, yet he then heard a scream of agony behind him, "Aaghhh!"

Right behind him, the boy was sent flying through the doorway but landed on his feet as he quickly turned and closed the door, swiftly locking it behind them.

SCRTCH

SCRTCH

SCRTCH

The vile sound of scratching and inhumane moans could be outside the door.

"Huff... huff... we should..." the boy dropped to his knees, his eyes waned as he tilted back and forth like he was about to pass out, "we should be safe now."

Oz, who had regained some of his mobility, quickly came forward asking the boy, "yo, what wro-"

Yet, he didn't finish that sentence as he saw it.

On the boy's back, underneath the large gash on his robe, a large circle of red was soaking through.

The boy looked back, his eyes beaming, and a bright smile surfaced on his cracked lips, "heh, I never told ya..."

"Huh?" Oz was confused, not understanding what it was the boy forgot to tell him.

"My name... is Zee..." as the boy slumped onto the ground, a puddle of blood gushing out from his body.

"Fuk!" Oz cursed to himself as he scrambled forward, yet before he could do anything, a gruff voice called out to him.

"Well done on getting here."

Oz froze, 'that voice.'

"I wasn't expecting you 2 to be so resourceful."

Oz turned to see the source of the voice, and there he was, still wearing that white buttoned shirt and with muscles as brimming with power as ever.

There was that man.

"Now then." the man smiled, "let's finish our conversation."

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