The girl took me to her village. At least I assumed it was her village. But the people there didn’t look like her or me.

They had two extra limbs. No, not two extra arms that hung below their actual arms. Rather, these people had the very same build as humans for the top half. Their bottom halves were different though. A bit similar to the mermaids who had fishy bits instead of legs.

But no, these people didn’t have fishy bits. They instead had horsy bits. In other words, centaurs.

But unlike centaurs, they didn’t have actual bodies of horses. Rather it was like their bodies had curved and just formed two extra legs on their crotch, and the hip portion stretched like a horse’s stomach and produced hind legs. Clothed, they looked very much like horses. And they had hooves. But the skin, the build… everything was so very human.

“I have so many questions right now,” I said.

Roughly twenty small huts. All huddled together; a large cloth covered the whole area and made it seem like a big house.

There was about twelve or so centaurs just chilling, most of them being women. They even had two children, both of whom had no clothes on. Which seemed to answer two of my question.

So, they have stuff both at the front and the back… But if males didn’t have it on the front, how in the world-

“Of course, you do,” the lady by me said. “But for now, come, you need rest. You are injured… and I apologize for… you know.”

“Me too. I didn’t mean to- you know.”

“Yeah…”

***

This place was rather peaceful.

But I had a lot of questions. And of course, I didn’t have any logical or delicate way of handling the situation. Actually, fuck all that.

“How do I get out of here?” Because if Goribo was right, then this was also just a big island and the actual mainland was still further ahead.

One of the older looking centaurs walked and sat down in front of me. They looked rather awkward when they were sitting like that. “You’ve never seen our kind, huh?” she wondered aloud as I kept staring.

The other centaurs were also mostly sitting. Four guys were patrolling the area.

“Yes maam.”

“Feel free to ask any questions that may arise in your innocent mind,” she said, and very kindly too.

“Um… before that… how do I get to the mainland?”

“You wish to venture to the land of chaos?”

“I’m not from this land. I came from the outside… through the sea and washed ashore on the island over there.” I pointed. “I don’t know what this place or the land of chaos is. But I came here to find my parents. I would really appreciate it if you’d explain what this place is and how do I-”

“This is the outer edges separated from the land of chaos. To enter the land of chaos, you will have to cross a sea of salt, due north, go through molten rocks and further north, you’ll find the great beast of Vice. Only after escaping that beast can you enter the land of chaos.”

“And the alternative route?”

“Through the sea. You’ll have to swim through Sirens-”

“I’ll take my chances with the sirens.”

“And great sea beasts. Listen first, child.”

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“Okay…”

She went on.

Apparently, there were multiple routes to the land of chaos. But all of them were about equally terrible as the first one.

Some involved Hulahooping through lava, while others required me to actually sleep with certain things that came out at night….

“Why is it called the land of chaos?”

“Perpetual war,” the black-haired lady said. She was nearby. And she also sat down next to me. she sat somewhere between kneeling and downright squatting. Weird.

“What’s the chance of them washing over to the other side and-”

“Wait you don’t know for sure if they’re here?” The black-haired lady asked. “Did you come all the way to this place, without knowing?”

Ah…well… “You see…” Yeah, I didn’t have an excuse.

I wanted to have an excuse.

But I didn’t.

I came here based on a hunch. And I didn’t know how I could find them. Heck, I didn’t know if I could ever find them. Yet, I came here on a fucking whim thinking I could find them when the rest of the world couldn’t.

What am I even smoking, man…

“Child,” the centaur lady spoke. “Show me your hands.”

“I’m afraid…” She shook her hands. “Only sad news awaits you. However, you shall have a reunion if you head south.”

“But that’s where Halfat is,” the black-haired lady said.

“Yes,” the centaur said. “Head to Halfat. You shall have the reunion you crave.”

“What do you mean… by sad news? Are they dead?” The words came out a bit too casually. Yet when they actually left… I didn’t want to hear the answer anymore.

“I cannot tell. My blessing can only sense… and I sense sadness in your future along with great relief and reunion. And… you’re destined for greatness, child. Whether you choose to admit it or not, or no matter how much you try to run from it; destiny will find you.”

“Too much information,” I sighed. Still… “How does this work? I think the mermaid queen did this too.”

“Truly…” a bit surprised but… “You really are destined for greatness…” she mumbled, cleared her throat. “It’s prudent you head out immediately and reach Halfat within a week. Otherwise, you risk missing them.”

Not answering me, I see.

“But he’s injured. He’s just a child. He doesn’t even know the way!” The black-haired lady yelled. “And he’s so weak to the mind-altering substances. He’ll be devoured alive.”

“Then take him there yourself,” The centaur said.

Meanwhile… I was confused. But I got at least some hope. Hey, if this random horse lady from the woods- who I’d never met in my life- thought I could find my parents if I went south instead of north, why not? I didn’t have any reason to doubt her. (I didn’t have any reason to have faith in my own judgement either, especially after royally fucking up several times.)

The black-haired lady stared at me and back at the centaur. “You know I cannot return.”

“Then he will get lost and lose his way and end up as a Siren’s plaything by nightfall. He will die without you. It’s your ego, or his life. Choose Methilda.”

She didn’t say a word. The black-haired lady just left.

“I’m gonna die if she doesn’t come with me?” I wondered aloud.

“Not soon,” the centaur said.

“You mean, you lied.”

She winked, rose and started walking. I walked by her side. “Now, you had some questions regarding us?”

“Um you see… I find it rather odd how you people differ from my image of centaur. I always pictured a horse body stuck to a human body. But you look-”

“Different?”

“Yes.”

She smiled. “Yet you’re not afraid or lusting for us.”

Lust? Why? “I’m not sure what you mean, maam.”

“Just call me Aida. I’m not old enough to-” she cleared her throat. “You’re different from Halfatians, who only know of war.”

“Are Halfatians humans?”

“Yes. And they are… terrible.”

“I can imagine.”

“Is war still ongoing outside?”

“There’s been plenty of wars but right now, the world is at relative peace.”

The church was controlling everything and how people got to live but yeah… peace.

“I am glad to hear that.” She stopped, turned around. “Get on top of me.” She lowered her body.

I got on. Very similar to that of a horse…. Yeah no, absolutely not!

She didn’t have a mane. No fur. She didn’t have anywhere I could hold on to.

And the moment she started walking, the only way I could hold on, was by hugging her tightly. But the lady didn’t seem the least bothered. Instead, she occasionally chuckled and muttered- ‘If only people were as innocent as you.’

Lady, I was nowhere near innocent, but this was fucking embarrassing.

After getting over the awkwardness, I finally understood why she took me on top of her. The terrain wasn’t that suited for me to travel on foot. Foliage was too dense and there were a lot of large bugs, and the actual ground was unstable. “We didn’t live in this place originally. We were driven out. Pure breed centaurs had horse bodies, just like you spoke. But they were sought after as… playthings. And bred like cattle. We are the fourth generation Centaurs, mixed breed. I ran with four others two decades ago to this place and have been living here since. Many of our kind suffer in Halfat. Yet we live in peace here…”

I didn’t know why she was telling me all that. I suppose she just wanted to ease her own pain.

“Perhaps,” she continued. “Perhaps you going to Halfat would benefit the world… after all, you are destined for greatness. I just hope… that greatness… that greatness is for the betterment of this world and for… us.”

Hmm… yeah, but I have to find my parents. I’m sorry but I can’t get tangled up in your shit. She probably understood as much and didn’t say another word on the matter. Instead, she gave me sex ed on how centaurs….