Eric and Sil left the town immediately after their confrontation with the village chief. Eric's sense of danger constantly going off as though something was following them.
'His eyes flashed purple has a high sex drive, demon raiding parties, and was murderous. I'm positive I've read about this somewhere. Damn, of all the times to forget. We just need to get outta this forest and we'll be fine. I'd use another thousand-mile talisman but it's better to save it for a last-minute save.'
"Eric, you seemed ready to fight the man, but you didn't. Could you feel it on him, that sense of danger? I felt like my bloodline was warning me to stay away from that man. He took the life force from the girl he was having sex with."
Eric stopped running while Sil followed suit. 'What is it called damn it? Wait..' Eyes going wide, Eric remembered the term he'd been trying to unearth.
"A follower of Quarmo, he's halfblooded demon kin. Shit, how did this guy become a chief?"
"Demon kin, you mean one of his parents was a human and the other a demon?"
"No Sil. Usually, half-bloods regarding demons are those who have sold their humanity in exchange for the demon's lineage."
"Acquiring and using a demon's bloodline is forbidden by the Covenant of Myriad Races."
Eric looked back at the village they left and shook his head. 'I want to help but I don't have the strength. I can't even use my proper identity. Nobody will take a couple of kids serious about demons. Most people haven't seen or heard from them in God only knows how many centuries.'
"Sil we're leaving this damn forest. I'm sorry if it sounds selfish but I can't do anything to these beings right now. If we make it to Dragon Fish City, they might be able to assist us."
Sil smiled, "I'm not a wall flower Eric. You know that I'm a spirit beast. We live by might makes right, though father and mother did have morals. We tried to help those women but we were weak so their lives became forfeit. It's ok---I'm ok."
Eric looked at Sil and felt conflicted. On one hand he just watched women be sacrificed and a man of status abusing his power for sexual gratification. Eric could feel the sting of the world pricking his heart, but Sil.
'She's so calm and matter of fact about the entire situation. Calm, down Eric. You can only control so much.'
The two pressed on as they ran throughout the forest. Eric slapped a couple of Meek Covering talismans on the both of them to avoid attracting more difficult and powerful beasts.
There was the occasional spirit beast that tried to stop them, but they were quickly disposed of. A week passed quickly as Eric and Sil barely rested. The two looked haggard but the feeling of danger diminished.
Another week on the road almost non-stop and the two were finally but another week from Dragon Fish City. Eric and Sil climbed the tallest trees they could look at it.
The wall was a pure white as it held strong, only the towers of the city were visible past the walls.
'They're huge Eric. Look at that wall, I've never seen anything quite like this.' Sil jumped around excitedly while Eric contemplated.
'I have to keep a close eye on her when we enter the city. That place probably isn't as simple as some of the villages that we've been to. A new experience, let's go.'
Despite the rough go, Eric and Sil became jovial at the prospect of entering the city. Checking to see if he had enough coin, Eric smiled as he looked at a pile of irons, bronze, silver, and gold.
"This is more than enough." Excited the two ran and ran for six days. Nights atop the trees were hard because the destination was so close. As they approached the city, Eric stopped Sil about an hour from their destination.
"Sil, do you think you can put this veil on. I'll be putting on some wrapping over my face because of the burns. Remember, this is going to be different from any other experience you or I have had. I read that those with status, money, and power can get away with a lot. We should take some precautions."
Sil laughed, "Alright Eric, but sometimes I think you're just being overly cautious." Eric squinted with his good eye. "Sil, this isn't your parents mountain. You're used to having at least a certain amount of power and privilege. Don't---" Sil snatched the veil from Eric, promptly putting it on.
"You talk too much. I'm not a child Eric, lets get a move on." Eric could feel Sil's gaze turning pensive and annoyed because of his words but he shook his head. Eric took out a pouch for money and put a certain number of each coin in the pouch, then doing the same for Sil.
"Keep the pouch tucked in tight."
Eric was met with a snort and Sil's foot rhythmically tapping the ground. "Haaaaa, alright let's go."
Reaching the city, the two were in awe as they saw how tall the wall was, it could've been 6 miles high easy.
"Woah!" The tenseness from before nowhere to be found as they looked at the walls. People around them moved about with carts, livestock, goods, and even weapons. Some smiled seeing the two's expression, others annoyed, while some did the exact same thing.
Eric observed how everything was proceeding and noticed that the people who freely entered, merely showed some type of badge that flashed green. Yet it wasn't long before a man tried walking through and the badge, he produced flashed red.
There were dozens of guards, all around the city entrance. The entrance itself was massive, the moment his badge flashed red a guardsman reacted less than a heartbeat later.
The guardsman flashed as he entered a transformation. His figure that of a red cheetah as he snatched the man's arm and disappeared with him. Some applause rang from the crowd while the other guards just chuckled a bit.
'We don't have a pass.' Sil observed the same phenomenon as they look around and saw a line off in the distance. Eric looked around and found a man with an easy-going demeanor.
"Excuse me sir, what is that line over there for?"
"Oh that, that's for those who have never been here before. That's a pain in the ass but it necessary to filter and observe who's going into the city."
Eric bowed to the man as the duo left to enter the line.
***************
Six hours later*
Eric and Sil exhaustedly left the line with their badges in hand.
"Two silver each for a year pass. I'm limited to only book smarts but that seems a bit steep."
"Oh what are you complaining for, you didn't even work for that money, just think of it as the price for having a great experience." Eric grumbled at the jab.
'I swear it must be a woman's special power to not care about prices and get other people to pay for them.'
Sensing Eric was thinking something rude about her, Sil tripped the back of his feet when he was walking. Falling face first, Sil laughed.
"Haaha you ate dirt."
"Shut up, at least I don't have boogers in my nose." The kids bickered with one another as they moved to enter the city."
Seeing the lights, the architecture, and the many races coming and going, the two were excited. "Eric we have a lot of money, what should we do?" Eric grew on guard at once as Sil's voice was too loud. Multiple people eying them now.
'No, they may have been eyeing us even before. We should get somewhere and get some information.'
About to suggest somewhere, a man approached. A young man about the age of 17 with sharp black hair and green eyes. He was lanky but his face full of smiles. The man wore a robe with his strings tied tight, a short sword at his side.
"Greetings guys, I couldn't help but notice that you guys have just arrived here. I'm available to hire in case you want to go somewhere or do something."
Eric looked at the man and felt his gut telling him, 'This guy is bad news. Intentions of Man was the book mom said to read over and over. Be careful trusting a smiling face." Eric was quiet as he observed the surroundings, he noticed that they were still in the outskirts of the city.
'It's normal for guides to sell their services but...' Looking at a couple of people's expressions when they looked at the man before them. 'They're wary, on guard even.'
Sil tugged him as she had already paid the man. "Wait Sil-"
"Don't worry, I already paid the guy. His name is Yulo by the way."
'Great, a crash course towards danger our first day here.'
"Well guys I'd like to welcome you to Dragon Fish City. This place here is one of the bastions of human civilization. You can find damn near anything you'd like here. Danger, excitement, love." His last sentence pointed towards Sil as she blushed seeing his eye contact.
Eric's eye lowered as he stared intently at the man before asking a few questions.
"What are the different powers in the city?"
"Oh that. Well there's a lot frankly but to name a few. The Mercenaries Guild, the military, the council, and the Merchant's Clan. Those are some of the most powerful organizations."
Nodding, Eric continued. "How is the city split up?"
The man smiled, "Excellent question, um... Do forgive me my good man, what are your names?" Sil rushed to answer, "My name is Selene Macaque."
"What a lovely name for a lovely girl."
"As I was saying, the city is split into the outer, inner, and central. Do understand that this city is home to many and has multiple functions." Eric fumed internally, 'This guy doesn't even care about my name. He only wanted Sil's.'
Eric glowered at the man as Yulo pretended not to see.
"Onwards my good people, in this city you'll want to rent some form of transportation like a Orange plumed Ostrich or a wagon led by a Stag Horse."
Eric studied his surroundings, immediate to the entrance was what seemed like a residential district with a variety of stores all over the places. There were people in carts and wagons yelling prices.
The smell of different foods made the boy's stomach growl.
The trio didn't have to walk far before coming to a shop that rented orange plum ostriches. About to pay for the beasts, Sil stepped in and paid the fee. Stepping to the counter she set her money pouch on it and opened it up completely.
Eri's face further scrunched up. 'Does she have a crush on this guy or something. There are people watching, she just opened her bag up completely in front of a bunch of people. She could've easily slid her hand in the pouch and just taken out the money.' The frustration on the boy grew as he noticed whispers when Sil opened her pouch, he watched Yulo intently as though studying the man.
'This guy is probably affiliated, but with who?'
The trio got on their ostriches and Yulo took the lead. "Alright people, now that we have proper transportation, it's time to see the sights." Eric looked at the sky, it was getting late. The sun was starting to fall.
"Yulo, it's starting to get late."
"Don't worry about it my man, I promise that everything's going to be just fine. Night life is something you wouldn't believe." Yulo's voice was easy going but Eric noticed the immediate dismissal.
"It's fine Eric, don't be such a worry wort." Eric snapped.
"What the Fuck is wrong with you. You're gushing over this guy like he's the best thing since water. You haven't been paying attention this entire time. You just used my real name."
"At least I know how to live. You're always so timid, you can't even look at the beauty before us." Sil was dismissive of Eric as well further infuriating him but Yulo hopped in.
"You know what, how about I show you guys the inn. It's cheap and relatively safe, you might like it."
The trio went ten minutes into one of the outer city areas, coming upon a four story inn.
"Roadman's inn, a great place to rest." Sil pulled up to Eric on the ostrich, "Eric, I want you to go in the inn by yourself. I'm going to see the sights with Yulo." About to say something, Eric saw Sil's eyes.
'Why are they so cold? When did that happen?' Eric closed his mouth, the pain further embedding the silence in the air.
"I'll be back later Eric, don't wait up."
Eric was both angry and depressed, he turned around to look and saw Yulo's hand on Sil's back as they laughed. Yulo looked at Eric and smiled.