Chapter Text
The boy was taken back into reality by the smell of wood burning and flesh cooking. He looked up with unshead tears, his lips trembling with words he can't say.
When had this started? His pack didn't do anything at all, but their shouts said a different story—a fake lie. They made up an excuse so they could kill his parents; they were cowards.
He staggered as he ran, back to the last of his pack. She could still be alive.
The merucuian boy had gotten lost in the woods, as he breathed erratically he could hear the howls of his pack getting hunted down. The darkgreen-haired boy inhaled slowly, breathing out of his mouth as he calmed himself; being irrational in this situation would be his last night.
As he walked around the surroundings, he sniffed the air for the familiar scent he's known for years. Cringing when he smelled iron and burning wood, his ears perked up, his eyes becoming sharper as he sniffed the scent of his older sister.
[Timeskip.]
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"Scythhh, do you think it's a good idea??" The bloodfiend whined, her tail moving erratically.
His ears twitched, listening to the sounds of the forest; the air smelling fresh and clean. He looked at the greenery, mentally noting how well cared they are despite the large forest.
"Yes, Liffy. Stop whining; you've heard the rumors, Palacía accepts every race. Including you." He said, eyes narrowing at the bloodfiend's crimson eyes. "Plus, we have to keep moving. It's not good that the sun is already setting." He opened the lantern they brought for the occasion. Runes on the top and bottom glowing a faint green color.
Liffy broke the eye contact, the smile turned into a frown on her lips. She kept her eyes on the path, listening to the loud forest.
They continued in silence, Scyth taking quick glances at Liffy before moving his eyes on the path. The sun has completely set now, the night sky a mix of purple and dark blue; green to red auroras glowing in the atmosphere. The forest has significantly lowered its volume. There were much more noise before, compared to now which was almost deafeningly silent.
They kept walking, the only sound accompanying them was the crunching of gravel, dirt, and dead leaves.
The darkgreen-haired unconsciously tensed up, the air around them had become heavier; like someone—or something was waiting. Scyth looked around, becoming more conscious on how quiet it was, how he had not noticed? He blew a strand of his hair of his face, they don't need any danger. He grabbed her hand, tightening his hold.
Liffy huffed, she did not like the lack of sound. She let out a breath of air, sighing loudly. She looked down at her hand, noticing the hand occupying her own, she smirked.
"What." he stopped, eyes narrowing at her
"What?" Liffy responded, tilting her head; her smile widening.
"You—" he stuttered "never mind." He murmered. They continued walking.
"Alright~" she was internally bursting with excitment, the silence wasn't that oppressive anymore, wrapping her tail around her leg.
rustle
The bloodfiend pointed her head in the direction the sound came from, eyes rolling she moves forwar—"Wait." Scyth said, grabbing her arm. His voice firm and grounding, he pushed her out of the way; making her tumble to the ground. "HEY! WHAT'S THAT FOR?!" the slender tail wrapped around her leg tightening.
He ignored her and went closer, hand on the hilt of the dagger. He sniffed the air and smelled a bittersweet taste, Scyth pushed the bush away. Nothing. He sighed, shoulders dropping.
"Hello." It was from behind them.
Liffy sweatdrops, screeching like a cat she jumps from her position and grabs onto Scyth.
"SCYTHHH!!!" she cries, making the aforementioned cover his sensitive ears.
"shut your mouth!" He hapazardly throws her off his waist, his face hot with anger, almost faltering before returning to. He snarls, his eye twitching; he exhales loudly, his hands clutching his pounding head. Scyth drags his grey–crimson eyes to yellow.
"That's not nice young man, to throw a perfect and nice woman..." They said in a honeyed voice.
"Who.. who are you." Scyth asked the feminine figure, his body tensing at her as he grabbed his bow, he pulled the string—not all the way, pointing it right at her neck. He might've dropped his lantern somewhere.
She wore a hood over her head, covering most of her features; a witches hat on top of it. It's not hard to know what she is. She removed the long cloak and raised her hands, surrendering.
"Excuse me young man. I'm not here to hurt you." The woman explained, her tone sounded like a siren. Hypnotizing, but Scyth wasn't affected by it.
"Well, who knows what you might do." Scyth snarled back, his ears lowering and his pupils contracting as he keeps his aim right for her throat, just in case she tries something stupid. "I asked you a question. Who are you." he asked again, bearing his sharp canines.
The woman chuckled, her voice low and smooth. "Alright, alright.. wouldn't want an arrow through my neck, wouldn't I?" She joked. Scyth grumbled, lowering his bow and changing his stance.
"I'm Scar," She finally said. "If you think I'm here to harm you, you're wrong pretty wolf." she took off her hood, holding the hat before taking it off, placing it back she stared at the girl on the ground. "We have to get going, pick her up." she announced, her gaze sharpening as she takes in the surroundings. The half wolf complied, grumbling something about manners. He puts his hands under her knees and back, he stands up and carries Liffy—bridal style.
'she's still awake.' Scar observes. "Opprimere ad me lux." the witch murmurs, opening both of her palms and closing her eyes. A ball of pure energy lit the surroundings, showing red-brown stains on the dirt road. "Hurry and follow me." she urged, letting the ball float up and illuminating further. Scyth stared at the back of Scar, he narrowed his eyes. "Why?" he said with a curious tone, staying exactly where he was seconds ago. "..." the witch stayed silent, she slowly turned around; her irises no longer bright yellow but now vermillion.
She glared at him; the witch looked like she was about to strangle Scyth, her fists clenching and unclenching, she sighed loudly. "Won't you follow me pretty wolf? I would do that if I were you." she teased, an tilting her head and putting both of her hands in prayer near her ear. Scyth on the other hand was getting ticked by that stupid nickname. "He would be so disappointed If I returned with a corpse!" she said with a controlled smile. "I would If you called me by my name." he said in a chiding tone. Head cocking to the side, copying her. "oh dear, you haven't told me yours. Where are your manners?" she commented, putting her hands behind her back. "Scyth." he said gruffly.
"Now then, Scyth. Let's go." she turned around and started walking along the path, dead leaves and gravel crunching. Scyth begrudgingly followed behind.
"It's dangerous at night, Scyth." she chimed in, the ball of energy following behind her. "Why? It's not as dangerous as the rumors are, right?" he questioned, tightening his hold on Liffy. She was still unconscious, she would be awake from a hit like then, now. "There are creatures, Scyth." She continued. "Very. Dangerous" She punctuated every word, she quickened her steps. They were jogging now. "Let me tell you a story while we go to Palacía." She proposed.
"There was once a girl who burned and killed people, she would go to people that hurt her and murder them. In the tale, she would take their skin from their chest and force feed them it, she would then tear their limbs—slowly, tendons, bone, and muscle being gruesomely torn apart from the body." Scar stopped, letting it sink in.
'That sounds delicious' Liffy thought as she listened in, mentally licking her lips.
Scyth swore he felt shivers going down his spine, he already could see and smell the gruesome picture. Disgust and fear plastered on their faces (maybe anger too.) Blood covering their hands and face. Him crying. His parents burning at the middle of their hometown.
He shook his head, not wanting to remember about that any further. "Tell me more." he's already invested, why not tell the whole story? The witch smirks, shoulders hunched she coughs on her fist. Balling it before looking up. "If you so desire, Scyth..." She drags his name longer than she should've but oh well. "She was hunted, losing her left arm while running. Eventually, she got captured, meeting the Queen..." she halted her movements, immediately turning around and placing her hand on his mouth. The ball of energy has disappeared, sparks falling to the ground and being swept by the non-existant wind.
His hold on the bloodfiend tightened, he brought her closer to his chest.
Yellow turns into vermillion as Scyth stares into Scar's irises, he was slightly intrigued and scared. Why did it change again?
The witch, took her messenger bag; hands digging in, to come out holding a pack of flowers. Slightly creased and messy but it still was in good shape. A bouquet of marigold.
"What? are you confe—" he got slapped, his eyebrows furrowing as he glared at her, he faltered when she returned the glare; she shook her head, her brows furrowed and her lips pressed into a thin line. There was beads of sweat forming on her forehead, she looked away from the merucuian, her shoulders tense.
Scyth raised an eyebrow. What had exactly ticked her off so badly? And so, he followed her gaze, a shiver went across his body; the sight making him shake his hands, his knees felt weak at the sight, almost dropping the unconscious bloodfiend.
There was multiple pairs of red dots boring into his head, the lack of a proper lightsource intensified the feeling of utter dread. His breathing grew ragged, he could feel his face drain of warmth.
There. Was. Multiple. Pairs. Of. Red. EYES.
Liffy peeked, wondering why they had stopped talking. When she saw Scyth not moving she frowned, was the witch that important? She noticed he was breathing heavily. The bloodfiend became livid, did the brat that scared her kiss Scyth?! Did she not know boundaries? Utterly unforgiveable!
"How dare—"
Scyth flinched, glimpsing at Liffy before returning to Scar. "Ofcour—" 'SHUT UP!" Scar shouts, no longer hiding the fear.
"CRAP. Jus- Just run! Just run!" Scar panicked, shoving a flower or four to Scyth. "Follow me! Jus—" she was stopped as a human grabbed her hair, making her stumble back. "Shoot- Liffy get off of me, we have to fight!" He urged, Liffy complied, feeling freaked out of the situation and slowly understanding why they had been become quiet. She hopped off, glancing at the surroundings she thought of a phrase. 'Farger'
Liffy saw the world as it was as daytime. Immediately she ran up to a human, grabbing their wrist and twisting it unnaturally. The bone showing as she twisted it further—there was none of the red blood she was accustomed to. Much to her fading glee, it didn't scream or yelp at all. It just looked at her casually. 'this thing must be the reason Palacía is a dangerous place to travel to.' She grimaces.
Scar wrestles with the one who pulled her hair, scratching at the arm that has put her in a chokehold. 'I don't have a staff or even a wand to properly even channel my mana into!' she struggles as the human overpowers her. 'I only have one spell that i can summon without one.' she opens one of her hands. 'Opprimere ad me lux.' she thought, pushing all thoughts of a bright orb, as bright as the sun to the forefronts of her mind.
The ball of light floats to the air, blinding everyone in the area. Quickly, as the one who choked her let go, she squinted her eyes; running to the merucuian and bloodfiend, grabbing their hands and practically yanking them.
They sprint away from the conflict. Scyth lagged behind, his senses not catching up to the fast moving events—he was being avoided by the human looking things, the next he's being blinded by a flash of light, getting dragged not soon after. Liffy on the other hand was faring alot better, she had already adjusted to the light and was just following the witch.
When they finally see the gates of Palacía did they slow their run, they were reasonably exhausted, having ran from a group of humans—whatever they were. "Scar—whatever is your name, what was that?!" Liffy was the first speak up, making gestures with her hands. One pointing behind them with her index finger. "Those are The Withered." Scar panted, looking at the gates she gestured them to follow her once more. "And what are those?" Liffy continued
The witch sighs "I.. I don't have much information but I do know that they are a hostile species." She walked up to one of the guards, speaking inaudible things.
"Scyth, I knew this wasn't a good idea!" Liffy whisper-screamed.
"I know, but we've traveled for 2 days and 2 nights, why waste it?" He said with a casual smile. He patted her head, ruffling her hair.
"Don't treat me like a child I'm over 800!?" She said, her face becoming red from the touch; unconsciously leaning into it. Tail wagging like a puppy.
"You sure act like a hormonal teenage for someone that's 8 centuries.." The merucuian rolled his eyes, perking when he was called.
"Scyth, and you annoying brat. Let's go in." Liffy gasps, her nose scrunching up. The witch stares at Scyth's clothing.
"Excuse me, what the HELL is that outfit." Scar blurted, face full of confusion. "...Just, follow me once more." Scar said, having enough of their shenanigans. Scyth and liffy glanced at eachother, quickly looking away and begrudgingly follwing the bitch witch once more.
When they finally entered Palacía their jaws dropped wide open. Liffy was stunned and Scyth was enamored.
It was bright, the warm color caressing their faces. The streets were surprisingly well maintained, not like Spinā where it had dirt in the crevices and a cacophony of colorful language. This place felt very welcoming, every person they saw was smiling and they weren't scolding anyone. No guards and no discrimination going their way.
"You can stop sightseeing now, you can both do it tomorrow." Scar suggested.
Liffy glared daggers at Scar, exhaling loudly she grabbed Scyth's wrist and brought it up to her mouth. He flinched, his hand almost pulling from her grip before relaxing as he looked down at her. "Just make it quick." Liffy lights up like kids getting presents on their birthday. She sinks her teeth in, slowly drinking to savor the taste. After a quick second she lets go, licking the bite wound instinctually.
She let go of his wrist and instead kept guiding him. He really needs to finish looking at this town.
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After a few minutes they stopped, Scyth bumped into Liffy muttering apologies and mentally noting he should be more careful.
Scar opened a door, leading them inside she handed them keys. Saying goodbye she left pretty quickly, leaving both Scyth and Liffy inside the house, alone.
"I'm going to find the bedroom." Liffy declares, leaving Scyth's side as she snooped around the place. It had nice walls, not dilapidated like the ones they were given—if they were allowed something so nicely without paying. Which has never happened. EVER.
"That's was a first..." Scyth mutters in a daze.
Without having anything better to do they both accompanied eachother in finding the bedroom, their faces showing different levels of exhaustion. Going through multiple rooms, gosh why was this house so big?
When they found it Liffy bolted to the bed, jumping on it and sighing a sigh of relief. Scyth joined in, falling asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
'This house must be expensive...' Scyth thought as drifted into unconsciousness.
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"How many times do I have to say it you insolent guard?"
"Leave them alone. I know they're dangerous. We accept every species FOR GOD SAKE." They growled, rubbing their temples as they tried to calm down. This day is going to end with another pile of things to add to their already mountainous things to do.
"Leave"
"Yes—sorry for distrusting you. I w—"
"Leave."
The guard tensed, bowing once more they slowly—hesitantly they walked off. Shutting the door as quietly and carefully they could.
"Scyth, huh?" they mused, turning to stare out the window streaming moonlight onto their face.