The village of Lavender is solemn. I don't know if that sentiment is because the sun is setting, casting shadows at every building or the people dinging from the street as we walk on it. I can see people whispering, taking a peek at us. At me especially. On the street a paper flies by us, my face, my title.
Also I haven't seen one lavender ever since I came here, either they are gone or the people just named there village that just because.
"Rumors has it," Mina starts, "That the lavenders they grew up here as transitions start releasing strange gas and killing people in the progress."
The fox supports, "That's not rumor. It happens. Husband, wives, and children. Died before the guild can act. Their bodies can't even be moved, since they instantly melted into the ground."
I suddenly feel shiver down my feet. The dirt down here seems to be looking at me. You're telling me I am walking on corpses? All right that's it, I'm walking on the grassy side.
The fox continues, "The grass you see along this street was what left of them."
… CAN YOU TELL ME THAT SOONER I ALMOST STEP ON ONE OF THEM GRASS CORPSES!
I return at Mina side, sighing. "So that's why we were sent here. The demon that we're looking for must be around."
The Flower, a higher-demon. If you never knew about the demon in this world, so basically there's two type— higher and lower. And that's pretty much self explanatory.
Suddenly, a kid barges out of the door. His mom yelps for him but quickly closed her mouth. The kid has clothes wrapping around his lower face, covering both his nose and mouth.
"Hero! Hero of The West, is it truly you?"
No, "Yeah."
His eyes were like bubble, it is ready to pop out anytime soon. "My sister! My older sister, she—she went to find the demon that caused our suffering. You must save her!"
I look at Mina who nod and sigh silently, turning back at the kid with a smile that I practiced to match the same in the drawing of me. "Rest assured, little ones. If she is still breathing, by the time I found her, she will still do."
That's what a Hero would say, right? At least that what I imagine myself speaking with one when I was a child.
The kid has his face brightens up. He's probably the only one with this kind of face in this village now.
"Thank you!"
As we continue walking, the fox starts, "His sister is probably dead by now. She came to the guild asking for our assistance. Of course we can't since the demon has been decided to be taken by the West Councils. Sending you. That was three days ago."
Mina is still writing her journal as I keep quiet. How unfortunate it is for them. But I guess the child had to learn. In the Compass, if you don't see a person in three days, they're most likely is to be dead. Back in the orphanage I learn the same as he did. A group of kid plans to search for a new life outside. After five days of leaving, a knock on the door, delivering what's left of their body.
We reached the guild. Fox Section 5 building.
Inside is more people wearing foxes mask, great. Now I feel more out of place since I am the only one who is not covering their face. Mina? Do you see her? She's practically has her notebook glued on her face. She has a mask, okay. I am forbidden to wear one, want me to show you the paper again?
We were guided upstart where we wait in the couch.
There's snack in from of us on the table. I for one have no appetite to eat one after hearing the chilling story what happened here. That's not the same case as Mina who is munching and still jotting down her notepad. What a good fake apprentice she is.