Part 6. New Arrival.
The loud crash rang through the entire forest.
Vera dropped the basket, leaving it with the foxes, running home.
Mutsumi pet the fox in his arms, before setting it gently on the ground, and following behind.
It let out a small yip before going to the berry-filled basket.
“Aww.”
He looked at Vera running, but felt no bother to go with. Sitting with them for the moment.
. . . . . . . . .
Earlier…
The light stung as a new demihuman got sent to the void.
They went hunting in the wrong place, being an elf, it was part of their nature, after all.
A stray arrow had accidentally killed a bystander.
Witnesses saw.
They took pictures.
“I didn’t do anything, I swear!”
They pleaded in court, unable to avoid their fate.
The evidence showed various pictures of them sitting in the grass, bow in hand.
“I-”
They fell silent.
They closed their eyes, waiting for punishment.
The court voted to send them to the void as well.
The shouts of the crowd roared: “Guilty! Guilty!”
Then, the crowd’s noise slowly went silent.
They opened their eyes, and saw nothing but bright white light.
It surrounded them. They were alone.
Or so they thought.
They went to sleep, finding comfort in the darkness covering their stinging eyes.
(End of Part 6.)
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Part 6.5. Encounter..?
The elf felt a loud ringing in their ears as they woke up.
They didn’t know where they were.
Their head had hurt quite badly, as they sat up.
They got tired of sitting up and laid back down, staring into the night sky.
. . .
Meanwhile, Vera was rushing through the woods.
No thoughts were really on her mind, she was just running.
. . .
Mutsumi decided to stay with the foxes, just for the night.
He thought it would help him sleep, being surrounded by the cute little animals.
He watched them climb all over him, licking his arms and face slowly.
“H-hehe…”
He couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of them all waddling around him.
. . . . .
Back at the cottage, it looks as if the elf landed in the exact pile of snow that Mutsumi fell into.
“Ugh… my head…”
They sat up, covered in snow, and started looking around.
Conveniently, a bow and a quiver full of arrows sat beside them in the snow.
The snow they sat in already seemed as if someone landed inside of it.
Perhaps the next wouldn’t be so lucky?
As they picked up the quiver and bow, they turned to the path that sat ahead of them.
“Hmm… Where exactly am I…?”
They walked along the path, not knowing what awaited them.
. . .
Back at the den of foxes, Mutsumi sat, petting the small foxes.
He thought it was nice to watch them for a while.
To sit with his own kind, ignoring all bad things of life.
It was calming.
. . .
On Vera’s end, she was rushing back to the cottage.
She bumped into a person, getting disoriented.
They rushed to help her up.
As she looked up at them, she couldn’t tell with the scarf covering their face and ears.
She tried to distinguish their voice as male or female, but even their voice sounded off.
Their thick clothing didn’t even make them look distinguishable, either.
“Ah… thanks for helping me..” Vera said, as she got helped up by the mysterious person.
“No problem… Say, do you mind telling me where I am, Miss?”
She took their hand and stood up, dusting the snow off of her kimono.
“Sorry, no can do… these forests get me lost enough, and I need to get back to my cottage…
There was a loud crash, and-”
They cut her off. “There was a crash, huh..? I think that was me. I landed in a pile of snow not too far from here behind me. Was that your place..?” They asked.
“Who are you..? Yes, that was my house. How did you get here..?” Vera asked in response.
“I don’t know, I think I fell or something… How else would I have landed in the snow..?”
“Feeling tired? I know the last time this happened, Mutsumi had gotten sick, and was in bed for days..”
They coughed, but denied.
“No thanks… I don’t think.. I need it..”
They coughed again.
“You don’t have to lie to me, you know..” Vera replied, sternly
She took their arm, leading them back down the path they walked.
“It’s fascinating, really…”
They looked at Vera.
“What is?”
“You. Mutsumi. You both fell from the sky, supposedly. You both don’t know how you got here, -you’re both slightly sick, you’re probably a demihuman like he is, what else, hm? You landed in -the same snow pile, yes?” Vera queried.
She glared at them.
“Uhm… yeah.. I think? Who’s this Mutsumi guy you keep bringing up? I still haven't gotten your -name, you know..” They responded.
“You’re not getting mine unless you tell me yours.”
“Then I guess we’re at an impasse, hm?”
“I guess so.”
They continued walking down the path, nearing the cottage.
They shrugged.
“I’m Dahlia.”
“I’m Vera. Thanks for helping me up.”
They shook hands and continued walking.
. . .
The den of foxes was oddly warm, as Mutsumi felt a drowsiness overcome him.
Since he was already there, he fell asleep as the little foxes surrounded him, making him even warmer as he slept.
(End of Part 6.5.)
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Part 7. State of Mind.
Mutsumi woke up again, in a green field of flowers.
Then he saw the cliff. The drop seemed longer as he climbed higher and higher to get to it.
Then, as he reached the top, he saw his mother’s face.
He didn’t understand how he didn’t get it before.
He could move freely.
“Mom..?”
She turned around, and hugged him.
He couldn’t say anything, then.
She smiled at him, walking back over the edge.
He grabbed her.
“Son, let go.”
He listened.
He decided to follow her this time.
When she jumped, he followed behind.
As he was falling down, feeling the cool air hit his face, he began to decide that it wasn’t as bad as he thought.
He opened his eyes again, but this time he was floating.
He heard voices.
The small area around him turned into a vast space.
The sky was purple, and the floor reflected his curious looks.
He thought it was strange.
Looking around him, he saw memoirs of the past, and before he was here, even before he was in the void to begin with.
Then, some questions came to his mind.
Why did these memories return to him? What purpose was it that his mother led him here?
He looked back into some of his memories for a while, realizing how bad the world he lived in was.
The government controlled the world, and it was a bad thing.
Far off in the distance, he saw a window.
He ran to it, but it seemed to get farther and farther, and farther.
He gave up chasing the window and turned around, seeing a mirror.
A smooth crack went down the middle of it.
“Hmm…”
He was curious, reaching out and touching the mirror.
He saw a glance of the world he lived in.
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The government was hiring people to find demihumans. To take them to the void. To kill them.
This was bad. Very bad.
He felt like he had to do something.
But he had no more time to think.
He woke up, with a renewed feeling of hope.
As he got up, it was daytime.
He felt a strange power flowing through him as he walked back to the cottage.
(End of Part 7.)
Part 7.5 Catching Up.
. . .
Two swords sat beside him. One was smaller than the other, and together they looked more like a spear combined.
They were burning, and linked by a chain.
He reached for them, and they floated to his hands.
The small foxes were curled up around him, all of them sleeping soundly.
He smiled and patted the one nearest to him, before getting up.
It was cold out, as always.
The snow was all over the forest floor, and he shivered a little.
It was quiet.
It was also getting dark. He had to get back soon.
He started to walk down the path back to the cottage.
. . . . .
Thunk!
Arrows were being shot at a tree.
“Sweet.”
Vera sat quietly, watching Dahlia shoot arrows.
It was a fun sight to see.
It reminded her of a snowball fight.
Then a snowball pelted her face.
Unironically, the bow she was holding had dropped, shot an arrow at the tree, and it hit a bullseye.
“Oh come on!”
Dahlia couldn't help but laugh a little.
. . .
Mutsumi arrived at the cottage, hearing loud noises coming from the back.
He walked around the side, and saw Vera and the mysterious person -Note that they haven’t met yet- playing in the snow.
“Um…”
He stepped forward, looking at the two in confusion.
“Vera, who is this?” He started.
“This is-”
*Crash!*
Before she got a chance to actually respond, some boxes fell over.
The group ignored it as Vera began to introduce the two.
. . .
(End of part 8.)
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Part 8.5. Villainous Intent.
He woke up to screams.
Fire.
All he could see.
The room was filled with smoke.
Furniture burned.
He heard his family's screams.
“Damian! Help!”
He had to rush out of bed before the fire reached his bedroom.
He peered out of the window to see a helicopter flying away.
The government did this to him.
What did his family do to them?
He couldn't think of an answer as a fire creeped to his room.
He went to his door, knowing it was hot, but he pushed through the pain.
The door opened, and all he saw was fire.
The screams silenced.
Fear, despair, and hopelessness covered his eyes as he turned back.
He had to rush and grab his belongings before breaking the window and jumping to a roof.
That's the last memory he had of them.
He turned to a life of crime after that.
. . .
A new demihuman got sent to the void.
This sly fox went around, stealing items from people and stores.
*BEEEEEEP!!*
He froze in his tracks as a sensor beeped when he walked past the doors.
All eyes turned to him.
He dashed out of the store.
It wasn’t part of his nature, and he knew it.
Normally, the stealing wouldn’t be a problem, but this time the cameras of millions had their eyes on him.
Even with a cloak on, they knew better.
It was all too familiar.
His face was known.
He was caught.
And just like the rest, he was sent to the void.
He was angry.
The world didn't know his name yet, but maybe it was for the better.
He ran around, holding his small knives.
Soon, he got restless.
He went to sleep.
Some sort of darkness welled within him as he slept.
. . .
*BOOM!*
He opened his eyes, being covered in snow and fire.
"The hell...?"
He looked around, confused.
"Hmm... might be able to have some fun here..."
That feeling of darkness didn't leave.
It started to take over.
He laughed.
He started to walk forward, taking a few steps into the forest, setting fire to everything in his path.
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"Hmm..."
He had a wicked smile on his face.
"How about some chaos..?"
He shrugged, not having a care in the world.
He sat and waited for someone.
(End of Part 8.5.)
(New dialogue format from this point!)
Part 9. Burning Embers.
Mutsumi got woken by a scream.
He shot out of bed, rushing out of the door.
“Vera!? What’s wrong?” :Mutsumi
That’s when he saw it. The forest was in flames. Its orange hue covered the dark night sky.
He noticed Vera on her knees, staring at the flaming inferno.
Vera: “It’s all in flames… Who could have done this…?”
“I don’t know… It’s kind of unselling…” : Mutsumi
“Wait… where’s Dahlia? Where are the foxes?”
His voice was filled with panic.
Vera: “I don’t know!”
For the first time in a while,Vera felt uncomfortable.
Mutsumi ran off into the flaming forest without a second thought.
. . .
Earlier…
Dahlia was exploring the forest with her bow, looking for berries.
She didn’t quite know what she was gathering them for.
She looked around the bushes and saw a demihuman. It was a fox.
She poked it with an arrow.
???: “Hey.. go away..”
“Who are you..?” :Dahlia
Dam??: “Call me Damian.”
“You don’t seem like the kinda guy to be lying around in the forest. It’s cold out, y’know?” :Dahlia
Damian: “I guess it is kind of cold out, hm?”
“Then how about I make it hotter?”
Damian's eyes flashed purple.
The entire area around them burst into flames.
The surrounding trees started to catch flickers of fire.
Damian: “Is that better~?”
“W-what are you doing! The forest will catch on fire!” :Dahlia
Dahlia shuffled away from him, but got pulled back by some sort of magical force.
“W-what the hell! Let me go!”: D’Lia
D: “I don’t think I have to, little lady.”
. . .
Back in the present
Fire was everywhere.
The hot air hit Mutsumi’s face as he ran endlessly down the flaming inferno.
The chain of his polearm rattled as he ran.
The darkness showered him, as the heated embers of flame illuminated his path.
He heard scared barks coming from somewhere nearby.
The cave of foxes.
He turned around and ran towards them.
. . .
Mutsumi had arrived at the cave.
The foxes were cowering in fear.
They were all gathered in the deepest parts of the cave.
He couldn't tell how much longer they could hold up.
He could sense their fear.
He had to help.
He sat down, feeling a strange power flow through him.
He closed his eyes, the tip of his ears and the tip of his tail turned to a bright blue.
. . .
The air felt colder.
The foxes pressed against Mutsumi for warmth.
Then, his eyes opened, a bright blue.
He could tell he had a certain power now.
It was ice.
He could use the power of ice.
He held out his hands, and the air around him dropped several degrees.
Soon after, the forest outside started to refill the cave with smoke and heat.
Mutsumi picked up as many foxes as he could carry, rushing out of the cave and back towards the cottage.
. . .
To be continued in Part 9.5.
Part 9.5 Icy Shock.
As Mutsumi ran, the ground was getting covered in ice, leaving a trail behind him.
He was still a ways away from the cottage, and the brazen air around him made it harder to see than it already was.
The foxes that he held squirmed in his arms as they tried to huddle for warmth.
He started to get tired of running, and luckily enough, the ice had passed in front of him to make a path he could slide on.
He sat there, sliding on the ice and having a moment to catch his breath.
The foxes started to bark, and as he looked back, he could see a small trail of flames following him.
He had to go faster.
He continued to slide down the ice path he had created, the cottage not even in view.
The longer he slid, he felt himself getting closer. The fire crept up behind him, as he got into a full sprint, down the path of ice.
Soon, the flames were getting closer and closer, as he could feel the heat on his skin.
He was running out of breath.
As he ran, the flames were catching up, the trees burning and falling as he ran by.
He saw the cottage, getting closer and closer.
He jumped over a log, landing beside Vera, who was still sitting in front of the building.
Mutsumi: *panting*
He set the foxes down and turned around.
He sighed in relief.
Mutsumi: “You think that’s all of them…?”
Vera, who didn’t respond, just nodded her head.
She held a fox, petting it softly.
That's when they both heard a scream.
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Dahlia tried her hardest to hold back her screams, but the heat was beginning to be too much.
The magical force holding her back had weakened, and she let out a shriek.
It rang through the forest.
. . .
Mutsumi stood frozen, hearing Dahlia scream.
He didn’t have a chance to react before he felt a strange energy wash over him.
It was electric.
He buzzed off into the fire without a second thought.
Cracks of electricity pulsed through the ground as he ran towards her screams.
His tail turned yellow, and one of his eyes changed hue to a snarky mint.
Vera stood there, shocked and confused at what she just saw.
Her face had a look of worry.
(End of part 9.5.)
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Part 10. Sparking Assault.
Mutsumi, filled with determination, ran deeper and deeper into the fire.
All he could see were flames.
He stopped and tried to listen for her screams, but nothing.
The air was too hot, and it was hard to breathe.
His heart was beating fast, and his breathing became quicker and more ragged.
He stomped the ground, and ice flew out, extinguishing some of the flames.
Mutsumi: "Come on, come on!"
He felt a wave of electricity flow through him.
It wasn’t quite enough to do anything.
He had to push harder.
His hands started to spark as he pushed the energy out, the ground crackling with energy.
He flew forward, a burst of speed getting him closer to the source of the screams.
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Dahlia was being dragged across the floor.
Her bow was on the other side of her.
She couldn't move.
She felt paralyzed as she stared at Damian, who was floating above her.
D: "You've got a lot of guts, don't you, little missy~?"
Dahlia: "I-I'm not a little girl, I'm-"
D: "I'm not done yet. I'm not gonna let you talk, I'm not gonna let you do anything, got it?"
He grabbed her bow and threw it across the field.
D: "You're lucky you have me, because otherwise, you'd be burnt to a crisp."
"Or worse, even."
"You'd be rendered unrecognizable."
The words were cold and full of malice.
She wanted to respond, but stayed quiet.
The area got hotter and hotter, as she waited for someone to come to her aid.
. . .
Mutsumi continued to run through the flames.
The energy was starting to flow out of him.
He started to feel dizzy.
His head felt foggy.
He knew he had to keep going.
That's when he saw her.
Dahlia was lying on the ground.
A boy was floating above her, and her bow was thrown to the side.
That's when he heard her screaming again.
He felt a rush of anger.
He tossed his spear forward, and the chained sword shot out.
It pulsed with electric energy as it stabbed the floating boy in the shoulder.
Mutsumi: "Let her go!"
Holding his spear tightly, he ran up to Dahlia, his tail glowing a bright yellow with small sparks flying off of him.
She whispered in his ear.
"H-help... me.." :Dahlia
She fell unconscious.
Mutsumi sighed, and looked up at the boy.
"I said..." : Mutsumi
"Let."
"Her."
"Go!"
His spear shot out again, this time powered with both ice, and electricity.
It jammed directly into his shoulder before retracting back into place.
???: "A-agh! W-who the hell are you?"
"I'm here to stop this! Now leave her alone and snuff out these fires!" :Mutsumi screamed.
???: "Oh really? Or what..?"
He smirked, and winced a little at the pain.
The electricity hurt, but the cold sting of the ice made it even worse.
His eyes were flashing purple.
"I-I'm not here to fight! Please, put out the fires! It'll burn this entire forest down!" :Mutsumi
He had a pleading look in his eyes.
???: "Fine."
He scoffed.
Raising his hand, a strange energy flowing through him.
He was putting out the fires.
After the fires puffed out, the air cleared.
He fell unconscious.
Seems like all of that magic took a lot out of him.
Mutsumi stared at him, then back to Dahlia.
He sprayed a path of ice back to the cottage, picking up Dahlia in his arms.
He went and got her bow, setting it onto his back.
When he turned around, the mysterious figure was gone.
. . .
(End of Part 10, and Chapter 2.)