Return of the Fallen Volume 13 Chapter 48
This large city was colored red. Not by blood but instead of many buildings built with dark red brick. Some buildings were carved from plain stone but for the most part, each building was layered up and constructed using a type of red brick. From one side of the city to the other, nearly all buildings were two stories or smaller. It was rare to come across a structure taller than that.
(This place is…lacking in development. Even the road we’re walking on is mostly dirt. Only a few roads are made from the same-looking brick as the buildings.)
Walking through the city behind the many soldiers, Kazuki took in every detail. The tallest structure he could make out was the broken stargate in the center of the city. Besides that, most structures were smaller.
(No doors and the windows instead of using glass are simply carved out.)
Kazuki could see into many of these homes and the interior was just as plain as the outside. No beds, no furniture of any kind. Not even a stove for cooking.
Kazuki realized his thoughts were kind of stupid.
(Of course, they don’t have stoves. All of them can use fire.)
There was usually one large pot hanging in the middle of the room. It was obviously made for cooking. Besides the large pot and a few bowls, Kazuki saw no other utensils of any kind.
Not just the homes but there was no well for water, again that made sense but even the people had almost nothing. Very little clothing and most were dirty. No jewelry or decoration. An air of depression ruled this place overall. Even those that looked better off just walked quietly as they went about their business. There was very little emotion causing this entire city to feel creepy and off-putting.
This was not a lively place. Even the city that the Shadow had taken full control of was more than this. Yes, he had possessed everyone there but this place was almost soul-sucking.
Besides the poor arrangements, everyone had a weapon of some kind. Even if their swords weren’t of metal material, they still had a club made from some type of animal bone or a rod made from stone. Whether it be the old or the young, they all had weapons. The only exception was the infants. The mothers carried them as if they were lucky to even be held.
Making their way through the city, Kazuki half-expected jeers or snide remarks. Maybe someone throwing stones at them or laughing at their expense but it was just a strange silence. More like these people were holding back. Kazuki did see some change in expression but these looks were not on Kazuki, Monsuta, or the other slaves being brought into the city. No, these odd looks were directed at the many soldiers proceeding down the road.
(This place is strange. Do these people not like their own soldiers?)
The creatures of this place had very little in terms of items as well as a voice it seemed. Eventually, they turned a corner and the sound of people could actually be heard. This was the city bazaar but even here, the people talking were so quiet it was hard to even distinguish at times.
There were many stalls and small shops here and there with people buying things. Again these things were not what one would expect from a normal bazaar. Usually one would see fresh food being sold or things for the home. Yes, there was that but only one or two stalls had such items. For the most part, what was sold was a small statue. It looked similar to these creatures. Although the statue was only half a foot tall, it had wings on its back, red eyes, like everyone else as well as a horn atop its head and a long thick tail.
Besides this statue, some people were actually selling fire, primordial flame to be exact. Kazuki didn’t understand this. To him, it was an insane concept. The primordial flame was something that was a part of one’s soul. To remove it, to give some of it away was to damage one’s soul. These people were buying primordial flame from the vendors and some were even giving up some of their primordial flame in order to purchase the small trinket of a statue.
(What is wrong with them? Is it me that’s missing something here? Why would they give up parts of their soul for a tiny statue?)
Kazuki could repair his soul. So even if he gave a part of it away, he could recover from such a trade but these people, as far as he knew could not.
(If they are replacing what they’ve lost are they actually losing something? Are they actually damaging their souls? The primordial flame can be fused to one’s soul, does the fact that they are trading it like cards means it can just as easily be unfused?)
Kazuki thought about the primordial flame. It had fused with his soul but in the end, it was not his soul. When he inspected Monsuta’s stone, that contained his aura but Kazuki did not detect any primordial flame.
(The primordial flame allows those of this Hell Realm to use fire energy and it is inside one’s soul tree but that does not necessarily mean it is my soul. If it were actually someone’s soul, I would have gained memories and experience after every creature I’ve eaten. Every time I’ve consumed a beast’s flesh, it gave me fire energy. Inside that energy, there was Primordial flame which I absorbed directly into my soul tree while the rest of the fire energy I used as power. Some went directly to my core and the rest, the purest part became a growth catalyst for my all that also went t my soul tree. Is the primordial flame more like a container or a core? It allows the beings of this world to use fire energy and
Before Kauzki could finish his thought a commotion arose at a nearby stall.
“You dare pass this fake off as if it’s genuine. TRAITOR!”
This was the first time Kauzki heard a shout since entering the city. All eyes fell on two individuals. A skinny old man standing behind one of these stalls selling the statues with wings. The other was a bigger man, with a large bone club tied to his waist. The man with the club was yelling at the stall owner and accusing him of something.
Even though this caused a commotion, the soldiers taking Kazuki and Monsuta away did not pay attention to it and continued to lead them somewhere. Before Kauzki could see what was happening, he rounded another corner.
*FFWHHHOOOSSSHHHHHHH!*
The sound of fire rising and pushing the air sounded behind him. In the sky, one could see an orangish red flame fly upward and the sound of the old man behind the stall rang out. After that, the fire retreated and the cries of pain were no more.
Besides that, Kazuki was unsure what happened as he was taken to a large open field. From one side of the field to the other, there was nothing but dirt beneath their feet. At one end of the field, Kazuki spotted the exact same statue as before. This one however was nearly 50 feet tall. One of the rare structures in the city that was built higher than two stories.
In its eyes was a glowing red fire that constantly burned.
“Soldiers, you are relieved!”
Verick leaped into the sky. His large wings held him in the air as he gave orders here and there. The soldiers saluted before they all took off without looking back. A large gush of wind was kicked up from them flying into the city. An edge of excitement as they were now off duty.
Kazuki could not understand why they were so happy. What was there to do in such a dull city?
After they left, there were hundreds of carts and wagons left behind. Many were filled with materials and several were filled with creatures. To those bigger creatures that could not fit in said wagons, they stood quietly beside them.
Some of them looked as if they wished to run away, now that the soldiers left but they had seen or sensed what had happened to Kauzki and Monsuta. They had felt Vrick and Bodock’s power. Some did not even have slave collars yet. It was fear that held them bound in place.
Runa flew up next to Verick and asked sheepishly.
“Verick, you won’t tell father about what happened earlier right?”
To this, Verick asked her back.
“And what would I tell him exactly? Do you mean how you lost to that weird creature not once but twice, or do you mean how you goaded Bodock into almost damaging the Master’s property?”
Runa wore a pained expression.
“Yes yes, all of those things. Please don’t say anything. Father would surely punish me for making so many mistakes.”
Runa held her hands together like she was praying. Verick sighed inwardly and shook his head.
“Master would punish you accordingly for your own failures but I suppose if I offer a punishment in his place, you may avoid the worst of it.”
Runa hated this but it was the best she could get from this loyal dog of her fathers.
“Name it!”
Verick thought for a moment before he pointed toward the other side of the city with his tail.
“10,000 laps around the city, no flying and no fire. Complete it before sundown and I will not purposely mention your…failings.”
Runa bit her lower lip before staring hatefully at Kazuki. In her eyes, it was his fault that she lost twice. In the end, though she accepted this new punishment and darted out of the city.
Comment (0)