A Trail of Darkness (Part 3)

…

"HERRR MAARCCOOOOOO!!!"

Suddenly, an incantation is casted, "Fire Line."

In a blink of an eye, a thread of fire generates on the soil, forming up a long line dissecting both sides. In the next second, the small fire bursts into wall of fire, preventing anyone from passing it.

"…Fire Wall."

Shocked, both sides hopped back avoiding the flame.

"Sheesh, don't start another conflict now, Zeugen," Ognist stated. He appeared as the culprit behind the fire display just now with his index finger lighting up in fire and a long thread of fire comes from it.

"You humans, too." he added solemnly. "Fighting each other will not reduce our troubles whatsoever."

Recognizing the fire caster, Aily says, "You are from before…!"

"Yep, Ognist at your service, little lady," the dragonian said gently. "Sheath your weapons, humans. I've told you before, right?" he added in a serious face. "We are not a threat to you."

Pio also realized the horned guy and responds while pointing at him, "Uwah! It's that flashing man! Your flash was hurting Pio's eyes, you know?!" she grunted.

"About that, I'm very sorry. I promise to find a cure if you suffer any further injury in your eyes."

"As for Zeugen, I apologize for his behavior. I didn't think he'll be acting aloof like that. Nevertheless, you humans are also questionable. We are in a dire situation yet do you wish to ignite the roar of flame further?"

Marco thinks about it, "H-He's right. Dammit, ME! Seeing Zeugen really makes me want to hurl him to the nearest trash bin. The loss I felt in that time is coursing through my veins, making me… emotional."

Despite on bad terms between Marco's party and the Dragonians, Marco remembers that wicked dream of his. He learned that the Dragonians weren't such a prick. The hate he harbored before was nothing but a false hatred. Putting that into the case, he draws himself back from raging out.

He and his friends stare at them dragonians leaning back against the dead tree. Marco realizes that this might be… a chance to fix his father's mistakes. With all bravery, the explorer steps closer to the fire dragonian, "Yo, big guy," he greeted casually.

Scias reflexively calls his buddy, "O-Oi, Marco, what are you—

Nina, who's also concerned, warns him, "Marco, you know he's a dragonian, right?"

"It's okay, guys," Marco replied calmly. "Come on," he asked his friends to follow. Burdened to go, but since his friends acknowledged him as the leader of the group and respect him, so they follow.

The explorer then proceeds to walk closer than ever, "Sorry for the ruckus, mate. Seeing that steam dragon makes my blood pump real hard."

"AHYAYAYA! Thoust art even making mine blood boil even hotter than mine gas! Zee art—"

"—Hush, shut it, you idiot," Taizun clogged the steam dragon with his hands.

"HRRRMMMHRHMRMRMRMRGGRRMRMMHRMRM!!!"

Seeing Zeugen's attitude, Ognist shakes his head, piqued. He lets out an annoyed breath as a result. "Took me more than 15 years to counsel you and you're still like that, dammit…" he said in his mind.

Ognist turns his attention towards the explorer, "Then we're both on apologies. Fair enough, I suppose," Ognist stated gently. He then flicks his finger epically, dismantling the wall of fire, diminishing it from plain sight. The steam dragon, Zeugen, forced to walk back under the guid of Taizun. He appears to be annoyed rather than angered.

"Mister Ognist, care to explain about you saying "I'm alone" while here you are with your boys?" Marco asked in a rather funny voice. Even he appears smiling. Ognist noticed the teenage in front of him had no bad intention, regarding the sense of danger he had.

Ognist crosses his arms while replying in the same tone, chuckled, "Hah! I thought you're a fool once. By knowing you a bit further made me realize that my lonely presence would go off in a matter of time… So with that being said, I hope you will forgive me for underestimating you."

As the explorer's party is standing before the dragonians, Taizun asks their intention.

"So what brings you here? Seeing Ognist being so kind to you, I'll believe you're no threat, after all. So tell me—no, tell us. What do you want?"

As the atmosphere gets calmer, Marco tells the situation inside the village immediately. The village had known the dragonians' presence and is currently at arms. Hearing him so, Ognist quickly conveys another apology.

"Sorry for the inconvenience of you being hung up in confusion in there. But I was the one responsible for their actions. To be frank with you—"

"Wait just a moment there, barbecue head," Taizun halted him quickly.

"Barbecue head?" Marco frowned funnily.

"The village was indeed at alarm after we arrived there. But something was amiss," Taizun stated his concern. "As we arrived, a banquet was held. Mostly every one of them was so friendly. Even we, dragonians were greeted kindly."

Excited with the progression of discussion, Zeugen jumps in their conversation, "Indeed! None of zem was hostile to us. Even after Herr Ognist dropped the veil we wore during ze party, revealing his horns, ze villagers didn't react that much."

"Precisely," said Taizun. "But when we left the village and then returned again, the entire village has gone crazy."

Sitting down on the grassy field, both sides discussed.

"This is just my opinion, though… I just think there is someone willing to dispose you guys," said Nina. Having her hand poses like she's thinking the best theory out there, she says, "There might be an individual that was trying their best to take you down. Their way of doing so is by spreading false news among the villagers. It could be like that or so…" Nina explained.

"No, I can't concur with that," Taizun replied.

"How dare you! Are you saying my sister's explanations wrong?" Aily nagged. "Boo~ how mean!" Pio added. She thought Aily was joking around, but in reality, Aily still has hatred for the dragonians.

"I really want to turn your spicy mouth into a frozen sausage, little bi—GIRL!" Taizun said in irritation to Aily's response. Aily then backs off behind Nina. Realizing he went a bit too far, Taizun apologizes, "My bad, I got carried away. Anyway, I didn't say her words are wrong. But it's just that I can't agree."

"Why?" Nina asked kindly while gently rubbing Aily's head and patting Pio's.

"Your sayings might be true, but there is a puzzle piece you miss. I did say the village is suspiciously treating us with sudden hostility. But there was a story of that village being completely hostile to strangers. Their actions tonight proved that the story was correct, after all," Taizun explained.

"Then I've got to stop you right there, icey," Ognist shrugged unconditionally. "The village of Yugos was supposed to know of us being Dragonians, as they are the people of Gaia. Even if they don't know us, they will never act harshly to Sacranopolis people, in this case, our soldiers. It's all because the emperor and the village are in a relatively good relationship."

"Aye," Zeugen agreed with a subtle voice. "But still, zees people art very eerie when we arrive'eth there. Indeed, they wert not hostile, but their sudden change of heart was just too illogical, and of course, impossible!"

"Huh? That's strange," said Marco frowning.

"What are you muttering about, Istinggar?" Taizun asked.

"You guys just said that they won't be like that because you guys were from Sacranopolis, right?"

"Yes, why is that?" Taizun asked again.

"Then, it sure does bear strangeness," Marco answered.

"Why is it sounded strange to you, friend Marco?" Ognist asked.

"Friend Marco? What an awkward way to call me… anyway, it's all because I heard the head of that village saying you guys were outsiders. They never, even once, called you guys as Imperials, or even as Dragonians."

Hearing Marco's testimony, the dragonians were surprised. "This, I haven't known!" Ognist replied yelling.

"Is what you've said true, Istinggar?" Taizun reconfirms.

"Yes, I swear on my namesake firearm!" Marco declared.

"What an intriguing turns of events, ja, Freiherr Ognist?"

"Grrrr…" The fire dragon appears restless. He finally found the answer to the question he wonders all this time. "So… the villagers have no idea that we are from Sacranopolis or even from Dragonia. It explains greatly of their hostile actions to us. But still…"

"…Their instant change of behavior ist rather unsettling, ja? Those people art eerie, no doubt," Zeugen continued his senior's words.

"Hmm… I can buy that information of yours," said Scias implying agreement. "It is true that the village is odd."

"To think of it again…" said Nina shortly, "About the curse that just got lifted… They said to us that they are all magicians, but none of them even bother to find a way to get rid of the curse."

"Huh… it's true," Marco agreed, too. "Kinda odd to see them doing everyday activities like normal people, but they were so gloomy. If you knew they were all magicians, then the creepiness kicks in even further. It was as if they were waiting for someone to do their biddings."

"Not to mention the demons that assaulted me, Marco, a-and Nina are none the lesser strange," Scias stated with a deeper voice.

"Once those demons were gone, everyone was so happy and celebrated for us," said Nina.

"And as soon as we, the dragonians entered and then left the village, that's when the oddity takes its peak. They suddenly turned alarmed and prepared here and there as if they knew who's going to attack." Taizun stated.

"Hey, all of you," Pio suddenly called everyone in a cute voice. Everyone turns their attention to the petite girl. Seeing everyone looking at her in seriousness, she turned nervous, "U-Um… uh… uuu…"

Nina rubs her head and asks her with a soft voice, "Dear Pio, what is it? Do you have something to say? We will hear you out,"

Pio gets enough bravery, thanks to Nina's supporting attitude, "Pio also found one strangenessy thingy-thing!" she said adorably. Everyone was silent upon hearing her, confused.

"I-I'm sorry?" Ognist retorted.

"U-Um… when we arrive here, a wrinkled lady was very kind to give Mister Marco and everyone a place to stay. Pio was introduced to a veeery good food by her. Pio was happy, but Pio realized something very fishy-fishy!"

"Will you be so kind to tell us?" Ognist noticed she might have vital information. Any source of information will be helpful, even from a mere child.

"Sure! Pio loves to help people like Miss Nina! Kee-hee~" She giggled. Aily smiled sincerely looking at her attitude.

"U-Um… what was that again…? Oh! The granny that showed Pio delicious soup! Um… when Pio introduced Pio's name, she only said, "Is that so?" and that's it! When Pio asked her name, she didn't answer! No matter how many times Pio asked her. Pio gave up asking her name because Pio don't want to be rude."

"A villager refused to tell their name even to a mere child?" Taizun wondered in disgusted look.

"That's another point of oddness… good one, Pio! That's important information, of course!" Ognist gave his biggest thumbs up. Pio responded with a wide laugh and happily thanked back. She scrubs the back of her head in embarrassment.

"Geez, Pio, you should've told us earlier," Marco jokingly said.

"Hee-hee-hee—OH! Pio almost forgot!" Pio stopped scrubbing the back of her head. "Pio deactivated Pio's powers when we reached this village,"

"Thine… powers…?" Zeugen wondered.

"Yes! Esper powers! Pio can feel someone's true emotions, you know?" said Pio excitedly. "But, when reaching this village…" she said with a lowering voice. "Pio felt nothing but hurt in Pio's head. Pio never suffer like that before. Um… but Pio managed to understand and feel granny's emotions a bit."

Everyone, including the dragonians were unexpectedly keeping a close attention to her. They are all keeping their ears high to listen and discern completely.

"That granny's feeling was…"

"…cold and empty like a deadened body,"

And with that, Pio felt a crawling trauma reaping her. She cradled quickly on Nina's chest and hugs her tightly, scared.

The Fire Dragon grins slightly, chuckling a bit and says, "Is that so, huh?"

…

Ognist takes a breather and continues, "With so many peculiarities running around the village and its inhabitants… I guess I can finally conclude what is really going on with the village."

"Sudden change of heart, actions and situations that somehow don't match up…" said Taizun summing up their discussion.

Everyone, Marco, Scias, Nina, Aily, Zeugen, and Taizun prepares to hear Ognist's final conclusion. None of them will interrupt, because this is their moment of truth.

Ognist finally unveils the truth, with full confidence, he says, "I believe what really happened in the village is that the village is under MIND CONTROL."