In This World

For a moment, there was nothing but silence between the two. The girl glanced over at 4827 who fiddled with her rusted gold compass, watching the red needle spin around aimlessly.

(“It would be odd to ask me more questions especially since she has no skill in sign language.”) the girl thought to herself, (“What a disappointment. The first person I find in days and she is unable to communicate with me.”)

She stretched out her legs before bringing them into her chest and wrapping her arms around them.

(“Oh well...It doesn’t matter now does it.”) she closed her eyes and for a brief moment, she thought when was the last time she slept without worry?

Without the Wickeds eyeing her or being woken up by the Morgos.

And don’t forget about the Balts who would walk into the opening of a Tall Leaf Tree with greedy eyes and a thirst for blood.

Balts were the worst kind of Monster that you could find in a forest for there were so many of them, big and small. They had ten skinny legs on a black oval-shaped fiber body with a bandaged ivory head and a bloody mouth filled with tiny razor-sharp teeth and was often given the nickname “The Human Spiders”. They created white webs throughout the forest in order to catch their prey. Once someone was stuck in their web, it was near impossible to escape.

4827 glanced up to see her dozing off.

“Why don’t you get some sleep? It’s nearing noon and we don’t know if or when the others will come back….” Her words dwindled off, “It must’ve been hard being by yourself. The Sun is evil and unforgiving like the Gods themselves…” she sighed, cuffing the compass in her hands as if she wanted to pray.

The girl nodded her head, drifting to sleep.

The sun brought great despair to Iparia. With its rays of light, it summons the Demons out of hiding and cast the Wicked, The Cursed, and the Despaired into view.

100 years ago, it was said the sun brought joy to humans and creatures. It brought snow, spring, and fall. All things she had heard about from her grandfather but never truly seen.

The only time the Monsters ever went away was at night and even then, there is an eeriness in the world for they know that 12 hours later, they will be back again. Staring at them from a distance. Waiting for a blood walker to cross their path.

As minutes passed by, 4827 couldn't help but stare at the girl, noting her features.

She had long black hair tied in a ponytail, and heterochromia eyes that resembled two gemstones; her right eye was blue-green amazonite, and the left, was a ruby coral with a hint of sunset. On her body was a dirty short moss green and white dress, mud-ridden white socks, and only one shoe.

4827 sighed, “Curse me for not being able to speak sign. 3675 is going to kill me when he gets back…”

Blessed Sentries are supposed to be able to communicate all throughout Iparia and she felt as if she was the only one who could speak four languages as opposed to the seven she should know.

She sighed as she keenly kept watch at the entrance.

Every so often, she would see a Shurondo Squid Wicked hover by with their 12 long, skinny, hairy legs gently brushing against the earth and an ethereal sound humming from their gaping mouths.

They were well over 7 feet tall and known for attracting and eating children who wandered into the forest. She noted to herself that there must be a tribe of them nearby and if she wasn't keeping watch on the girl, she would go and erase all of them from existence.

Suddenly fast-paced feet shook the ground and the six Sentries flooded into the empty space.

One of the shorter Sentries was carrying the decrepit and limp body of an older woman with wild grey hair. Dried red blood covered the entirety of her face and the mosaic-colored dress she was wearing. She grunted out in pain, her body contorting left and right as they laid her on the ground.

Four of the sentries placed their hands above the woman’s body and a white light glowed from their palms, erasing the blood off of her clothes and face.

The woman’s breathing fastened as several deep claw marks were revealed coming from her backside to her stomach and on her jaw where skin barely clung to her bone.

4827 jumped to her feet, “What happened to her?”

Head Swan walked over, pulling down his mask as he did, “Demons. Identifiable ones from the North Region.”

“In this forest??” she raised her voice, meeting his eyes and he gave a hard nod.

“They took advantage of those who hid from the Morgos and survived. They attacked them as they were coming out from hiding within one of the Tall Leaf Trees. The old woman is our only survivor out of the seven that was reported to have entered Akibara Forest. From what her tags say; her name is Flannery Urjack-” 4827 scrambled to get out her small notebook with a pen from her side pouch located underneath her cloak, “Age 65, resided within the city of Kaizen; 45 miles from here and was once married. We found a Caravan emblem on her wrist that stated she belonged to The Circus.”

The girl’s eyes peeled open, (“Did I just hear...The Circus?”) she thought to herself, (“I hope they don’t mean that circus because if they do they might not want to save her…”)

“We couldn’t find any more survivors. We’ll stabilize her for now but we’re going to need to head to Nora A.S.A.P.” he sighed, shaking his head.

(“No please, consider her dead she has no use for the living. Members of the Circus should be killed on sight.”)

It was hardly known to the common folk that some caravans did not deal with trading cattle, silk, and food.

Some caravans were strictly created to hunt down and sell people to Demons for protection from the Monsters when traveling. It didn’t matter who they caught wandering amongst the pastures or the forest. What mattered to them was the beautiful Coin and the thrill of hunting.

And The Circus was one of them.

However, one thing remains a mystery. Demons don’t normally mess with the Circus so why did they attack her?