Yappers

Chapter word count: 2257

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Walking around, Airot could see what state the people were living in. While they weren't desperately struggling, it was clear that they weren't living in luxury either.

It wasn’t long until they reached a shabby building. It had multiple, collapsed, floors. The first floor was the only floor that was intact. There was no door, either.

Inside was a sizable lobby, which was accompanied by working lamps. Withholding from mentioning them, Airot helped Simon to the front desk which was manned by a male receptionist.

“Ah, let me help you.”

Seeing the injured Simon the receptionist went around the desk to help him. While supporting Simon he guided the two to the back.

“I assume you’re new here,” he gestured towards Airot.

Airot nodded, “I am.”

Getting to a sizable room with a few beds this place resembled a school’s nurse office rather than a proper hospital. Sitting on a stool was a man with a white coat on, though it was no doctor’s coat. It could pass as casual clothing instead of a health professional. But in this setting, it drew more attention to him as the healer of this place.

“Set him down,” the man on the stool said upon seeing Simon injured.

Rested on the nearest bed the man rolled the stool towards Simon. With a quick look around Airot could see that most of the beds were empty, with only two seemingly being used. One definitely had someone sleeping on it, but there was another bed with curtains covering it. Back to Simon, the man on the stool raised his hand to Simon’s head.

“Vanquished, your ailment must be. Banished, your woes are. Reduced, your pains. Return, your vitality shall. The brightest sky, the light of Aiden, the quiet recluse, and Eskal’s song soothes you.”

A shining light emitted from his hands, and after it died down Simon’s bleeding slowed down. Though the blood that already poured still stained him.

“Wha…?” Airot couldn’t help but be shocked.

“How new are you?” The receptionist whispered.

“I arrived here today.”

“No wonder.”

Before the receptionist could explain to Airot, Simon stood up to stretch his body.

“Just because the major wounds are closing doesn’t mean you can move freely.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You should rest.”

“I will,” Simon replied while still moving.

The man sternly stared at Simon which subdued him into getting on the bed.

“So, what happened?”

“Well, you know, I wanted to try my newfound abilities. So I picked a fight with some guy.”

The man exhaled. “You’re still new here, you shouldn’t be doing that. What if you fought someone who’d kill?”

“Relax, I knew he wasn’t any major threat.”

“Yet you still lost.”

“I just need more experience. That’s all,” Simon shrugged it off with a chuckle.

The man turned to Airot next.

“And what about you?”

“Ah, I just saw him bleeding on the ground and thought I should help.”

“I see. Well, thanks.”

“It’s no problem. But if I may, what’s with the… magic?”

“Hmm, did you say you got here today?”

Airot nodded, realizing that he heard the receptionist’s whispers.

“That explains your ignorance. Some people within this city, myself and Simon included, were granted a special ability.”

“A special ability…?” Airot seems stunned.

“It seems that the Earth gives us these powers, but I’m not too sure why.”

“I see…” Airot begins thinking about what happened when he first entered the city’s walls.

“The Earth gives us our ability’s names as well. But as a collective, we call these unique powers a Yapst.”

Airot silently listens, taking in the bewildering information.

“Mine happens to help heal one. There’s a few others who take care of the populace with our yapst, but we’re small in number.”

“You said they have a name,” Airot inquires.

“I did, but one shouldn’t reveal it so easily. Apparently there’s repercussions if one does. I’ve never experienced them, though.”

“I see.”

“Well, I should rest up. Using my yapst drains my energy. Have Simon explain the rest to you.”

“Alright.”

The man directed the receptionist to return to the front desk while he headed for the hall. Stopping just short of exiting the room.

“Oh right, I’m Zorin. Call me if any of the other patients wake up.”

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Both of them nodded as the other patients still seemed to be asleep.

“Oh~? The doctor is leaving his station to slack off?”

A new voice appeared and interrupted Zorin from walking off.

Zorin gave off an annoyed groan. “Can’t have the doctor falling ill. They can just call me if something happens,” he shrugged the voice off.

“‘They’, huh? Making your patients do your work.”

Zorin just shooed the voice away and walked down the hallway. While a new face entered the doorway.

“So, who’s on watchdog duty?” He asked playfully.

It was another man, this time in an eye-catching long coat. Like Zorin’s, it was mostly white, but had a fading effect into bright red at the bottom tail of the coat. It looked like a purposeful design choice. What’s more, is that compared to Zorin’s shaggy coat which was rugged and obviously used, this man’s coat seemed fresh and clean. In fact, compared to the people Airot has seen up till now, this man was the cleanest.

“Narroah!” Simon greeted the man joyfully.

“Wrong,” he smiled. “While I may not know the correct answer, I know that I’m not watching over sick patients,” he referred back to his question.

“Ah, well, that’d be us. I guess,” Simon responded.

Taking a quick look, Narroah asked, “So, who’s this?”

“I’m Airot.”

“A newbie?”

Airot nodded.

“Call me Narro.”

“Narro…” Airot followed.

“I prefer it over my full name. Though Simon likes being a bother.”

Before Simon could oppose that statement and show offense, Narro grabbed his face and pushed him down into the bed with one arm. With Simon tucked in, Narro turned to the other patients.

After seeing their condition he then went to the stool Zorin was sitting on and sat on it himself.

“Alright. Let’s hear your story,” Narro said, intrigued.

Seeing Narro look at him in specific Airot began explaining. “It’s not much, I just arrived in this city today.”

“Oh, did you now? Condolulations.”

“T-Thanks…? Should I be thankful?” Airot asked, unsure of the proper response.

“You could,” Narro nodded with his eyes closed. “But back on to you, how old are you? You look like you’re close to Simon’s age.”

“Eh?” Airot thought about it. “I’m not sure…”

“Well, what age were you when it started?”

“I believe I was thirteen.”

“Young indeed, like many others. My apologies,” Narro turned somber.

“...I’m sorry,” Simon also added.

“We don’t have any clear dates either, but you’re probably around twenty or so,” Narro cleared up.

“So I’m twenty,” Airot ruminated on the revelation.

“Surviving seven years out there isn’t easy, especially for a thirteen year old. Good job on that,” Narro patted Airot.

Airot didn’t say anything to their sentiments, as he was indifferent to them.

“At least now you can live in a more safer environment. And if you’re lucky you might see a cool fight break out.”

“Right, those yapst are a thing.”

“Mhmm, yappers are really the only entertainment around, though it does threaten one’s life if they get too close or if the yapper happens to be extra destructive,” Narro ranted on.

“‘Yappers’?”

“Ah, that’s what we call the people who have a yapst.”

“I see… and how does one obtain a yapst?”

“Of course you’d be interested in getting one yourself,” Narro chuckled. “Why don’t you have Simon explain it to you.”

“Eh? Me?” Simon pointed at himself.

With a nod from Narro, Simon spoke. “Er, well, It varies for people, for me it occurred when…” Simon trailed off.

With a long pause Airot began to ask, “What’s wrong—”

“When I almost died.” Simon blurted out, cutting off Airot’s question. “Yeah, that’s it.”

“Oh, I see. Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I heard that Zorin awakened when someone close to him died.”

“So it has to involve death?”

“Nah, not all yappers went through extreme circumstances to unlock their yapst. I’ve even heard some just had it handed to them.”

“How lucky.”

“Indeed, I would say I am,” Narro interjected.

Turning to Narro his gaze questioned if Narro had a yapst.

“Yup,” Narro answered before Airot could even verbalize his question. “Enough with the questioning now,” Narro got up from the stool.

Walking pass Airot he reached the patient tucked away in the exposed bed. He leaned over and spoke to the body.

“You’re bad at acting, but I’ll play along and come back later.”

Narro lightly slapped the bedridden patient. He then turned back to Airot. “Why don’t we go explore the area? I’ll be your guide.”

“But Simon—”

“I’ll be fine, I have to rest anyway. Zorin will kill me if I leave. You should explore the city more, and with Narroah being your guide you’d be much better off.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t want you wasting your time.”

“Alright then, I guess I’ll be off.”

“Don’t worry, there’s no safer place than by Narroah!” Simon encouraged Airot.

Waving goodbye Narro guided Airot out of the hospital. Outside the building he led Airot down the street.

Despite being the tour guide he didn’t bother talking about the multitude of buildings they were passing.

The more they walked the more it became clear that battles using superpowers had taken place here, and constantly at that. Wreckage and damage that couldn’t have been caused by normal warfare were plentiful.

While it wasn’t everywhere, it was impossible to look down a street and not see at least three spots affected by the supernatural as an aftermath of some fight.

“Say, how many people in this city are yappers?”

“There’s definitely quite a few. But it’s still uncommon rather than the majority. I’d say about one in ten have a yapst.”

“And how many people are here?”

“Hmm. Good question. I don’t know for sure but it’s probably just a few hundred.”

Remembering the human population before everything changed, just a few hundred people living in the last human city was shocking.

“Is… Is this really all that’s left of humanity?”

“Most likely.”

Airot was speechless. But after a while he continued questioning.

“So, what’s the purpose of letting this city live?”

“Who’s to really say? The Earth has never given any reason as to why it started this. But I can say that even if it wanted to end this, it no longer can,” Narro smirked.

“Why’s that?”

“I can’t really say. But you know the answer. It’s because of the yappers. They’re controlling the city and can’t be controlled anymore.”

“They’re that strong?”

“Not that strong, just strong enough to protect a single city. Though I’m sure those at the top would like to retake Earth,” Narro spoke in a slightly sarcastic tone.

Unsure of what he meant Airot just continued following him silently. After a bit longer they finally reached a notable building that was splashed in color which contrasted with the ruined, gray city.

“This here is one of the best restaurants in all of Panceia. You said you just got here today, right? Then surely you’re hungry.”

Used to the never-ending hunger without needing food, Airot didn’t even think of getting something to eat.

“Will eating even stop the hunger, “ Airot complained but complied.

“Hmm? Well, yeah?” Narro answered, almost dumbfounded. It was the first time his tone shifted like this. “I guess you just didn’t eat enough out there.”

“I guess.”

“How often did you eat?”

“I don’t really know. I ate here and there for the first few years after the heated war but at one point it became too hard so I kinda just gave up.”

“You… gave up?” Narro asked, seriously confused.

“Yeah, I mostly just stopped eating then, I laid down for an entire day waiting out the grueling stomach pain, and the next day it faded away only becoming a more subdued but never-ending hunger.”

“‘Mostly stopped eating’???”

“I tried a few snacks here and there but I never seriously ate again.”

“Seriously… how long was the time between your meals?”

“I don’t know, it might've been weeks to a year or two.”

Narro was the one that was speechless now. He just couldn’t comprehend what Airot was saying.

“Do you know how to tell time?” Narro asked, thinking Airot just had a misunderstanding of time measurements.

Airot explained a simple grade schooler description of how there were 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, up to 365 days in a year.

As Airot explained his understanding Narro sat them down on a table.

Once seated Narro tapped Airot to check if he was real. Confirming the physical contact and pinching himself, Narro looked like he was facing a ghost.

“...”

“D–Did I say something wrong?” Airot worried.

“No… it was all correct, but…”

“But…?”

“...I know a lot of things here,” Narro seemed to change the topic. “I’m one of the earliest people to arrive here. So while I may not have experienced the outside that long myself, I’ve heard about it from various people coming here.”

Narro pulled out a menu from inside of his coat.

“And I’ve never heard of anyone who didn’t have to eat. Even amongst all the yappers.”

Placing the menu on the table toward Airot, he pointed out a few meals.

“So, what are you?”