Chapter 3: Chapter 1 DESERT TOWN, THE RUIN – PART 1

The sun was still setting in the western sky.

It took me a couple of hours to walk over quite the distance—what would have probably taken an average person half a full day’s walk. Not that I was in haste but I needed to.

Entrance:

Something about this place is familiarly unsettling…

As I walk underneath the sleeping building, a breeze spins around me when its thick shadow begins to mask over me.

It’s like I just entered into another world. The buildings are tall and run-down. The tallest, way back, being the one at the end of the town with twenty eight floors and the smallest, ten floors.

A trading post?

Clip, clop… Thump… Kriii… clank.

The sounds of boots and hard-on soles walking on the makeshift stone street; hammer pounding on anvil and the squeaks of moving carts made the desert town alive.

The street isn’t too wide but enough for some stalls to be set up and still have way for a crowd.

Yes. There are shops and stalls here and there: weapon smith, fruit stand, cloth shops, a couple of bars, supply and item shop.

A couple of people are standing by the fruit stall browsing the fruits and comparing which is better…

“What about that one?”

The fruit stand has weird looking fruits, a few round ones with tiny spikes. It resembles a cactus, but it wasn’t or was it? It’s green like that of a watermelon and the size of a head and called Spine fruit or Hikacae. Another which looked like an apple but had a shade of blue-purple, Avle. Another looked like a banana but had a weird gray, now Banaani.

Others include: Orange—Reddish with dark spots, apelsin; Mango—black, Angi; one that resembled pineapple had a large orange crown and the fruit, reddish-brown, the size of an orange and extremely prickly, crown fruit or Kruunu Karpos.

They are the same fruits from time before but it looked like cause of evolution and lack of proper nutrients had taken effect on them, some had a change in their physical structure others in texture and I think it would be safe to say taste as well.

Even though the event had wipe away many species of plants and fruits the few that survived were misshapen, discoloured and would taste weird, but some still looked attractive. A few others I know and heard of but haven’t eaten in the times before, I think—I haven’t cared to try any of the fruits in this era because well… you’ll know—were the dragon nut—dragunat; pomegranate— Fuala’au polo mumu or by its meaning red ball fruit; red/green grapes— ghrappes: Passion fruit— Pathos: and red/blue berries— Berlies. The naming sounds just weird.

Subconsciously, I picked up on a few things moving around.

“This one…?”

The merchant carefully grabs the Hikacae not to get pricked.

“What is it?”

“Hikacae…”

“I don’t believe I’ve ever seen it before. How does it taste?”

“It tastes great, sweet and sour and has a nice fruity flavour. I guarantee you’ll love it.”

“How much for it then?”

“Just two silver coins”

“… Alright, I’ll take one, six aplesin and four avles.” A moment of contemplation the man that had a wrapping around his head, intrigued by the fruit bought it adding taking a few more.

“That’ll be a total of eight silver coins.”

… And a few browsing the other shops and stalls.

I walk alongside the multiracial crowd—not many, I add—on the street which is made with the broken concrete and polished to look like cobblestones.

Almost all the shops have customers.

Kids are running around, most of them in filth.

Hybrids, Faes, theriantropes and monster people trading goods—I see Gargoyles, elves, dwarfs and others, some in “normal clothing” and a few others looking intimidating in light protective gears roam the busy trading post.

All races look alike to me but…

The world isn’t as it used to be.

After the event that decimated the human population leaving only but a few thousands; monsters and other races of beings, known to have not existed, came out in the hordes to claim this new earth as their own and they plagued the remaining of human population. Blood flowed free soaked in the sands, coating the streets of ruins and bodies left under the sun to rot.

The war raged on only ending a couple of decades back, but there still is prejudice among them, and soon war may break.

Guess over that cause of time they decided to coexist after finding out the war among themselves was pointless, aside from other reasons, but even that did not stop the strong and powerful from ill-treating the weak…

Hybrids, to put, simply are all people born when two races mate. They come with a ratio of traits from both races, from clearly visible being, less visible being and hidden traits being that they take form of one particular race with only their blood being diluted with both.

Animal people or beastkins: the name speaks for itself. They are humanoid races with full features of animals, horns, tails, ears, snout, fur and all. They can either walk on all four or on two like humans/human-like races. They include reptilians, cat people, dog people and others. To me it rather seems like evolution had taken place and made them what they are… Evolution? Why blurt out a word I’m unfamiliar with. What does it mean? …Anyway, It is said this originated from “Greek mythology” that is from the past’s standards, at least from I know from the fragments of memories I have. They are also known as theriantropes.

I don’t where to classify some of the races like the Minotaurs, Centaurs, Satyrs and so on after all they have human parts but from ‘back then’ they were said to be born through curses or when humans and those ‘supernatural beings’ mate. But now they just exist. There’s no point trying to wrap my head around this.

Demihumans, a hybrid of humans and theriantropes or monster people—as they look human with animal or monster parts like ears, tail, horns and the likes.

As for the Faes all that needs to be known is they are people with spiritlike abilities and such in the time of old—if that even existed anymore. Elves, dwarves, hobbits, fairies and so on should fall in this company.

Finally, monster people, as they name implies they are race of people with monster features. They are also called demi demons, as some of them were said begun as spawns from demons and creatures as such. Gargoyles, Ogres, Orcs, trolls and so on. Now in recent time they are picking on the Monstrose.

Complicated isn’t it…?

Monsters on the other hand, to the things that now exist on this destitute world are beasts, vile creatures that are said to have originated from the deepest bowels of hell, brainless and all they aim is to just devour everything in sight. There are all sorts of beasts out there, so much so that it’s hard to keep track of—not that I need to.

About the origin of the phrase ‘Monster people’.

During the all out war fought by the races now present on this new earth, monsters lurked, preying on anyone that came into sight. So to clarify they were not like those ravenous creatures, they insisted they be called ‘Monster people’ in lieu of what they look like so not to be looped in with the mindless creatures that devoured anything and everything they came across…

How can something as trivial as adding ‘people’ to what you are make a difference to what you are?

One thing I clearly know about these races that now inhabit the earth is the fact they had also lost others at the hand of an event similar to what happened here, so a lot of them had been wiped out as well. And now all races are like are a few generations in on this place.

It’s easy to get the theriantropes and the Monstrose mixed because they are in a way, similar, after all if it were to be in the past they all would have been classified as monsters. By human concept: anything different from them is a monster.

None of that matters in the slightest to me. Monsters, Dwarfs, Elves, Humans, Orcs, Troll or whatever, they’re all the same in my eyes, they do not exist. I would not hesitate to remove them should they stand before my goal.

Weird things have happened in this new world. Even weirder, fetishes were made possible.

There are other races of people I am not quite familiar with. Their features a bit difficult to describe. Some come off with human-like features but also resembled that of reptilians. Others, just plain horrifying. Since I have no clue on what category they belong to, it would be best to classify them under monster people. All in all these races attribute the two humanlike traits; sentience, being the first and most important and walking on two feet.

Humans are here too.

Like the other races, some working, others begging for aid. I see them, bullied and thrown around just like anywhere I’ve been.

Strength is what governs the people of the new world, and should they sense any weakness in you, you will be no different than the sand we walk on. The stronger you are the higher the chance of surviving.

There is an Orc beating on a man in the slightly dark alleyway. Orcs are Monstrose, almost human like, with skin tone ranging from roughly humanlike with a light shade of green to a deeper green, pointy ears that are jagged on the lower lobes; tougher muscle tone than that of humans and two canine teeth protruding out of their lower jaw. The males in particular have hard intimidating faces and are built like average men or tougher and a tad larger body frame. As for the Orcettes they are feminine and less intimidating—some even looked as beautiful, just like the human women but it’s rare—only that their smaller tusks, pointy ears and coloured skin set them apart.

I feel no remorse for my own kin, in fact:

I hate humans.

Humans are the scum of the earth; among the races: the weakest. I should know, for… I was once one of them. They felt they were too weak to stand up for themselves and I abhor them for thinking so little of themselves.

Basing my hate on something like that is shallow but it’s true. A recovered memory led me to believe that they considered themselves the stronger species but what I have seen so far contradicts. The larger populace cowers in fear. How demeaning for a self proclaimed stronger, superior race. That said it’s not as if I truly feel emotions, so, me even wording it means nothing. And not forgetting the fact; the possibility of me not scouring the larger world out there, so I don’t know if that is still true about them being weak, but so far that’s what I’ve seen. Though I have also come across those that are strong.

Sniff… The air reeks of one of those ‘beings’—a demon— overlapping that of the fear in the people.

I’m still unclear as to what really happened during the event but what ever happened made demons and monsters now roam free.

I’m sure that wasn’t the case for the past. Humans didn’t really believe that races of other beings existed besides them. These demons and monsters would have probably been in hiding, although some would stay/enter into towns doing what they do best, feeding on people.

I heard the wars only came to an end due to the rise of these monster and demons. So all the existing races came to a compromise just to end the plague of vile creatures and those supernatural beings/creatures called demons—

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In hindsight people in the ruin, no (!), the new world as a whole did look like that of a fictitious world; like one from a book if you considered the races of people around and the terrains. I don’t remember what they were called back then.

I wish it were so. Then all this would have been easier. But this is the real deal, the real world where not all of those things applied. It was vile and brutal for all races alike, but to keep everything in motion things from those stories were adopted, so it seems.

All eyes are glancing my way. Among the clamors I hear.

“A Hunter?”

I earned myself the title ‘Hunter’ over the years, slaying the Demons and monsters I came across. Taking one glance at me they concluded I was one. Maybe I just look the part? But I wasn’t one of them.

“Not another one.”

“What’s he doing here…?”

“He looks so young to be a hunter.”

“This is no place for a kid like him.”

Whispers grow among the crowd as I make my way up the street.

Hunters are basically, as the name implies, hunter. Their job: to capture or kill any assigned target, to eradicate monsters… and demons. On that note Demon hunters are those who specialize in, specifically eliminating demons. They are rear among the hunters.

Hunters being the general given title to these people, demon hunters tend to separate themselves from the norm.

—hence the title slash job: demon hunters, I think.

I’ve heard a lot about these demon hunters. Their reputation is rather sour to the people.

They are hated by people for various reasons. They are often destructive in their work and the fact that where they went blood and body trails followed. They didn’t care to take down innocent people if they had any suspicion about them. Their rarity is not only because the job itself is dangerous but due to the immense strength they posses. I haven’t met any so I can’t say for certain is that is true. Even with the few places that I’ve come across, most believe that they are a Myth as the beings they hunt.

Makes them sound more like mercenaries… No, they are mercenaries. What’s the difference between them and bounty hunters, mercenaries? If they harmed normal people like the way these bounty hunters do then I see no difference. So I’ve heard and seen at least. Further evaluation of them: They are the very monster they slain.

I, on the other hand just hunt demons for information to further progress my mission. Killing them only happens out of necessity. And so it is for monsters, only if they cross my path. Same goes for humans and the other races!

Mission:

Find the one who cursed me, take back what belongs to me; my soul, and undo what has been done.

Recover forgotten memories.

There’s so little I can remember of my past and just as much I know of this world—sometimes it’s just too annoying, words come out but I have no recollection of their meaning; familiar things, things I might have known in the past are hazy. Right now all I can say is I am living on fragments of memories which sometimes make no sense.

Eight settlements, over thirty low ranking demons, eleven high ranking and one other within the span of fifty years and the only thing I got was the races on our new world and the harsh truth of being asleep almost a hundred and fifty years. By accounts, there seem to be less of them than the previous hundred and fifty years. I guess I can say the demon hunters are truly doing their job. But that is no more than a hindrance to me.

Of course, I know to everyone I am no more than a sixteen year old kid, but two hundred plus years… so long.

So far I’ve only been to settlements like this but it’s a given that there might places that have gone a ways advance over the passed decades.

The growth and changes that comes with the passage of time and my journeys make it difficult to keep track of other things—not that it’s something I care about. So for now I will continue to assume that I only know just a little of this new earth, explored just a fraction of it, so of course there may be places that are just a tad advance than where I now find myself and were I have been.

The now priority is to find information, find a place to rest…

“Grrr…”

 … and something to eat.

In a flash my mind floods with the image of the face of a black figure jump at me.

“Food!” It cries out in a distorted voice.

There has always been something so eerie about it when it comes upon me.

“Not now…”

Its will to take over is getting stronger. I must hurry, if not I don’t know what will happen this time.

What it is I have no idea. It has been with me longer than I can recall. Maybe it was the result of what happen between me and the one who cursed me.

I glance at the handmade-handwritten wooden posts and signs walking up the street.

Who knows where I was going?!

My feet come to halt in the middle of the town when my eyes set to a sign…

              …TRe BoC Alayne …

… INN and LODGE: all races allowed…

The buildings that sat above the market served as homes, inns and storage facilities to its inhabitants.

An Inn.

Where better to find information? It’s normally a den filled with gossips and heathens. So that’s a good place as any to start.

Turn and head for the entrance of the inn.

Light footsteps make it to my ears, but before I could turn to see who the person was—bump.

“Huh?”

I hear the beating of a heart to my body.

It had a rhythm like that of a song. Sweet and melodious. It’s so calming.

I’m a bit stunned at the guts of the girl that looked four, holding on to my right leg in a tight embrace. All I can do is simply stare.

She wore a cream coloured rugged one piece dress with a thin rope for belt. I can tell the dress was white but dirt has made it the colour it is now.

Her long blond hair was frizzy and covered in dirt.

Fair skin stained from living in filth. She smelled foul like she hadn’t bathe in weeks—yea, water was scarce. Not only that, but just looking at her, it would seem she has undergone constant abuse.

What’s with this girl? Something’s off about her. I can’t place a finger on it, but… all my instincts are running wild telling me she isn’t like other humans. All in all she’s kind of… no; she is really cute for a kid.

She looks up at me, her big golden eyes piercing into the empty void that is supposed to house my soul, glistening as she tried to tell me what she wanted with her soulful eyes… They look like stars. She’s looking even more cute looking at me…

No matter how beautiful they are I don’t give a crap!

I see my dull face reflect in her golden stare. Her eyes tell no story, just almost like mine—empty although, there is life…

“She’ll do. Eat her!” That voice again. Ever since my awakening, over fifty years ago it has been. Like a separate personality, an ego, capable of thinking on its own. At first I thought it was my conscience—a silly, childish notion—but I soon remembered, it wasn’t close to being me. It was a sentience very much alive, living inside me.

It occasionally speaks to me, but mostly when it feels I am threatened or when hunger arises, trying to take control of my body as well. I always ignored it and made sure never to give it the condition to have control over me, again.

…Undoubtably, she wants a hand out!

The growl from her stomach vibrated through my leg into my body, gives me the conclusion I need—she was hungry. I have no time for this!

“Hey, Let go pipsqueak!”

“Eh” she whimpered.

For some reason, that break in her voice should have made me question my reaction but nothing.

“I said let go!”

She lets go taking a couple of steps back, holding her hands, fingers interlocked, to her chest wearing a much sadder look on her face.

Just ignore her and she’ll leave.

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