Vivia

A dragon above us. The dragon, a light blue color, was perched on the columns of the shelter, only observing everything until it noticed us. Maybe it's because of the woman I freed.

"AHHH"

Everyone started to panic, including Mom, who, carrying a bag on her shoulder, grabbed Vivia and me to find an exit. While she dragged us to the exit where many people were heading, I saw the chaos starting in the shelter. For the moment, I never saw the dragon attack, but the monsters coming from the warehouse were different. Some continued fighting the guards, and others went out attacking people in the shelter. Luckily, we managed to escape the shelter unscathed.

...

We arrived in the city near where the carriage left us, but the area looked different. It was somewhat destroyed; I could only think it was due to the fight against the monsters.

"We'll be safe here," said Mom, placing us in a small alley, well-hidden among some debris.

Vivia was crying, but Mom comforted her to keep her quiet. The only things Mom managed to grab were a few important items. Due to the unease I felt, I still didn't know what to do. Lairen surely took Benily before she woke up or possibly escaped before all this chaos erupted. Either way, I couldn't save her, I couldn't do anything… I was just resigned while peeking through a small opening where we were hiding to see how the situation was.

"…"

Guards everywhere, some people in panic, and surprisingly, I saw the dragon leaving, but the woman I freed was on its back. After it started flying, I lost sight of it.

"Jinta, don't peek so much!" Mom warned me.

I didn't want to cause more problems. Some monsters were outside, so I reasonably backed away to avoid drawing attention. And so we stayed for a while...

...

After some time, we all went out into the streets, but nothing looked good. Everything was destroyed; I saw many bodies, both people and monsters, though I didn't look too closely out of fear, just like Vivia. Mom went to a guard, probably to tell him about our situation, but he seemed to already know what to do with us:

"You're also from the refugees in this area, right?"

"Yes, but…" Mom affirmed.

"Don't worry, I'll guide you, you're not the first."

The guard led us to another refugee area, but it looked more disastrous than the previous one. There were no walls or good conditions, just many guards.

"Help yourselves with what you have," the guard said before leaving.

They weren't going to provide anything. There were many people; we might be with another group of refugees who went through the same as us. Really, this feels like discomfort… it's horrible. Ah! Before the guard who guided us left, I had to ask him something, so I let go of Mom and went after him.

"Hey!"

"???"

If I don't ask him, I might not be able to be at ease.

"Do you know Lairen?"

"He's the captain of the second division. Do you know him?"

"Yes, but do you know where he went? Or if he took someone?"

"Lairen went to Lovania, but I don't know more details, I'm not in his group. Sorry…" The guard continued on his way.

Mom caught up with me along with Vivia.

"Jinta, what's wrong with you!?"

Mom grabbed my hand again, a little angry this time, but I didn't pay attention. We were heading again to find a place to rest with all these people, but for some reason, I didn't care. I only thought about Benily. She must be worse off than me; I couldn't do anything. I freed a monster which might have called the ones that attacked our shelter. Maybe there was another way to save Vivia, but I didn't think clearly. Maybe I could have avoided the shelter's destruction, but I got desperate again.

"Jinta!"

Ah, Vivia is calling me. Yes, we're all sitting together on the ground, and it seems she's handing me a piece of bread, so I take it.

"Vivia saved her food when she couldn't eat anymore," Mom said.

Vivia isn't one to eat much nor get scared easily, and she no longer looked scared… I'd better stop thinking about all this. What matters is that we are safe and still together. Yes, nothing else matters.

...

Two days have passed since we arrived at our new shelter, and they no longer seem to have the intention of taking people with a Sico, though I do criticize the poor food compared to the other shelter and the few privileges for the people, although the security seems better. Either way, it will be hard for me to get used to it. The time here also made me notice the device Lairen placed on me; I couldn't even feel it. The device is like a collar. The question is how to remove it, but I haven't told anyone yet.

Night falls. We weren't inside a tent like before since we didn't have one, nor did this place provide it, but we had blankets to cover ourselves with. We were lying very close to Mom: Vivia on one side and me on the other, but I still couldn't sleep. Maybe it was due to the discomfort of the place.

-noise-

I hear footsteps, though I don't want to look. Being out in the open makes me very insecure, after everything I've been through. So I simply open my eyes and get up.

"…"

I don't see anything, just guards patrolling far away, but…

"!!!"

Vivia wasn't there. It can't be… desperately, I look around again, but I still don't see her. The shelter where we were staying was surrounded by a wire fence about 2 meters high. I analyzed that she might have climbed out, but I don't believe it due to the barbed wire on top. Besides, I see guards patrolling outside the fence…. Ah! That's it… an opening. I approached the wires without raising too much suspicion around. If it's an opening, she might have gone through there. So, taking a sharp tool from the backpack, I slipped through the fence via the opening.

...

I'm outside. There's no guard seeing me, so I quickly head to the city alleys.

Everything is horrible: many structures on the ground and sheets covering what seemed like bodies. Although there weren't many, they didn't help to muster more courage to continue. I really don't know why I'm doing this. I'm a little scared, but it doesn't stop me from moving forward…. No way out.

"Damn"

I return and take another alley. I only see more of the same, but in the distance, I see a small light, as if it were a candle. It seems to come from across the left of this alley. I move forward, hoping to find Vivia and fearing to find a monster. My feelings are mixed, but what's certain is that I won't hesitate to use this knife if necessary. A few steps before crossing, I prepare myself.

"!!!"

I quickly cross, holding the knife to attack at any moment, and something comes at me like a water jet.

"Ah!"

I dodged it; it only caused a small scratch, but it was really a surprise. My heart is pounding, but I'm no longer afraid. The thing that tried to attack me is now stuck to the wall. After dodging it, it seems to be a viscous mass. Whatever it is, I start moving quickly toward it…

"Wait!"

"!!!"

I turn and see Vivia. She was on the side where the light was coming from. I don't know how I didn't notice her; maybe I was too focused on attacking the monster that my whole view blurred. One of her hands pulls me, trying to stop me.

"Vivia? What are you doing?"

I feel the reaction of the monster that attacked me again, and once more, it lunges at me, ignoring Vivia. I concentrate to kill it, but a very nostalgic sound makes the monster fall to the ground without making a single move. Now it just looks like a drop of water.

"Vivia?"

Seeing Vivia, I see she has a flute. She was the one who made that noise, but what terrifies me is that the noise was similar to what the shapeshifter made in the shelter we escaped from.

"Vivia, who gave you that? Why were you with that thing?"

"N-no, wait. It's not bad, we were just playing."

"Playing?"

I glance at the illuminated area and see our chessboard. I don't think she's lying, but I still don't understand.

"Haha, sorry. I know everything is strange… ah, better I give it back to you."

Without understanding anything, Vivia heads towards the chessboard to pack it up, and now she heads towards me with it packed.

"it was fun. Ah… I owe you one. Vivia went to the bathroom with a guard's permission. Try to leave this place in 30 minutes," Vivia tells me with a smile.

I have nothing else to think about, I think it's clear… I take the chessboard and leave. I exit the alley somewhat agitated, but my goal remains to find Vivia and now to leave this place.

...

I re-enter the mediocre security shelter. Now I just head to where Mom is and… there she is! It's Vivia. She's sleeping… now that I think about it, I could have stayed and saved myself all this nervousness, but knowing she's okay, we just need to get out of here.

"Mother… mother…"

She wakes up a bit startled. I leave the chessboard on the floor and continue.

"Mom, we need to go. Another wave of monsters is coming again."

"Ah!?"

That last part made her more alert. Although I don't know if that's what will happen, I don't plan to stay to find out.

"What are you talking about? How do you know?"

"The chessboard. I was looking for it, and a weird, slimy monster had it. I managed to take it, but I also saw more approaching."

"…"

I think it's better this way. She saw me with the chessboard, so she might believe it.

"Fine, let's tell the guard. Maybe that way they'll find a way to evacuate everyone."

Mom wakes Vivia, and we all head to the nearest guard. I quickly tell him everything I told Mom.

"You know where the place is, right? Let's check it out," the guard says after I finish.

"Yes."

Affirming, we head to the same alley, but this time I believe there will be no trace of a monster, so I don't know how the guard will react.

We reach the end. Of course, the fake Vivia isn't there, but luckily there are liquid remains where the monster that attacked me collapsed.

"!!!"

I noticed something. It seems to be the object that was on my foot. It was broken on the ground. I check my foot, and indeed, it's no longer there. I'm stunned. It must have been the girl's doing.

"If it's a shapeshifter or a guli. But I don't see the monsters that are supposedly approaching. Finding these things occasionally doesn't pose a danger."

Damn, what do I do now? The 30 minutes must be almost up.

"Do carriages leave at this time for Louen?" Mom now talks to the guard.

"Yes, ma'am, why do you ask?"

"Is there a problem if the three of us go in one?"

"I'd have to ask."

"I'll pay 5 lue per seat. It's to visit a relative in crisis as soon as possible."

5 lue is a lot. I guess she's doing it because she trusts me.

"You say it so suddenly… fine, let me talk to the others."

"Thank you."

"Go back and get ready, they might be about to leave."

The truth is, everything went very well… I can't stop worrying about the amount of money she offered to get us out of here, but anything to avoid another tragedy. When we got to the shelter, Mom noticed I was a little puzzled.

"Jinta, from the beginning, I planned to go to Louen, so don't worry. The sooner, the better."

"…"

After getting everything ready, the guard approved our departure in the carriage. We boarded with our things, the three of us, and set off for Louen.

Louen… I don't know that city. I just hope things get better there.