Sekai Break

Boots crunched softly behind them. Sen's body tensed before he turned. Two figures—one cloaked in dark green, the other with a bow slung across his shoulder stood along the street, eyes narrowed and tone sharp.

" Who the heck are you two ? " The cloaked one asked.

Sen didn't answer . He gazed at them ,his eyes bagged and droopy .

" Didn't you hear him?" snapped the boy with the bow, yanking Sen by the collar.

As he started in Sen's eyes he could see a reflection. A lone figure stood atop of a house gazing into the far east. A swirling mass of smoke coiled in the air, slowly condensing into the vague outline of a man, unmoving amidst the drifting breeze.

Then it turned .

Its silver eyes met Sen's revealing the fiendish grin on its face. Its mouth moved inaudible to the world .

" What is that ?! " The boy asked shocked frozen to the ground.

Sen's eyes still fixated on the silhouette widened.

" Corpus ! " he said under his breath.

" Will enough of that ! " Ery beckoned as she marched towards them.

" This two are guests of the elder. " she said pulling his hand off Sen's collar.

" Are you okay ? "she asked checking on Sen .

" Yeah am fine just zoned out a little. " he answered.

" This is Sen and Liora… " Ery said pointing at each respectively. " So you better be nice to them. You got that Will? " she said glaring at both of them crossed.

" Yeah am sorry Ery. I didn't know. " Will said his face softening from the scolding.

" And as for this two , The loud one is Will. And the other standing over there is Elren , my elder brother. "

Elren stood a few steps from the observing them. His eyes searched through their faces and finally rested on Sen.

" Sen , huh ? " he thought.

He then moved closer to them his hand crossed at his back hiding the fist in his hands.

" Please understand his outburst. As the village guards we are kind of suspicious of unannounced visitors. " he said with a gentle smile on his face.

" What brings you to our humble village? " He added.

" Investi… "

" Not much you need to know, brother ." Ery said cutting short Liora.

Elren squinted his eyes at his now protective little sister . He gave her a smile before retreating his approach.

" Night is nearing better show them to their rooms , sister. " he said before pacing back to their wall posts.

Ery glared as they walked away . She watched as her brother lazily waved to the as he walked away.

" I hope you enjoy your stay. " He said disappearing into the streets.

" Don't mind him. " she said turning to Liora and Sen.

" He's cocky coz he thinks he the strongest in the village. "

" He said something about the village guard. What's that all about. " Sen asked .

" They just protect the village from shriekers and other beast that may attack the village. If you ask me they are just reckless . " she answered with hint of disapproval lingered couple with a stare at the two who they had just been acquainted.

" You think they can let me in ? " Sen asked quietly, his voice hollow.

There was a brief silence. Ery glanced at Sen's face. His face had started to pale. Even in the creeping darkness she could see it. The sluggish eye movement and the sudden drop of his tone flagged to her like a dimming beckon, the flame of joy was going out.

She couldn't place a finger on it.

" I don't know. "

" It's okay. It was just a passing thought. "

" If so let's hurry up I'm sure we are needed to be somewhere more urgently than here . " Liora said pacing forward.

" Oh yeah! We going to be late. " Ery said frantic.

" Hurry up Sen . "

" Yeah am coming. " he said.

Before running after them Sen turned to the roof top where he saw the silhouette figure. He slowly raised his right hand looking at the now flaring rune on its palm. The gentle hue rose and fell like a melody ,like a hum. A song Sen had came to know far too well over the past two years of his travel.

' Why now '. He thought as the words of the smoky figure verbalized in his head.

" Welcome home , Sen. "

< Log cabin. >

Sometime latter the three arrived to log cabin west of the village. The village was generally small relative to Laptove but with all the moss covered house looking the same one would easily have gotten lost.

The moon hung like a pale coin in the ink-black sky, casting silver shadows that danced between the wooden cottages. Owls hooted from hidden perches, their calls sharp and distant. From the forest's edge, the sound of rustling leaves echoed, stirred by a slow, bone-biting wind that curled around doorframes and slipped beneath shutters. In the distance, the soft crunch of fallen dried leaves signaled the returning of the village guard .

Standing on the wooden raised floor platform of the cabin was Dym . His back was against was against a wooden support beam pocketing as he watched the trio walk closer to the cabin.

" Dym sir. How'd you get here so fast. " Sen asked surprised when he saw Dym.

Dym exhaled, his condensed breath getting carried in the breeze.

" Well none like you two I didn't take detours. " he said with a slight shutter in his breath.

" Let's talk inside . The night is rather cold in the woods. " he said as he shivered his way into the cabin.

The rest followed with Ery last closing the door behind her.

Within the cottage, a single stubby candle burned low on a wooden table, its glow painting the rough walls in swaying orange hues. The room breathed with quiet life dried herbs hanging from beams stirred in the heat, and the faint scent of resin and smoke clung to everything like memory.

Around the table they each took a sit Dym the only one on his feet. Across to the sides of the room were staircase leading to the first floor above them. There were doors along the floor easily visible even on the ground floor.

" Ok there has been a change of plan. " Dym said as he walked to the apex of the table.

" What changes ?"

" Aren't we here just to investigate and go back home ? "

" I understand your worry Liora but they have been new developments and have changed the course of our previous plan. " Dym answered picking up on the distress leaking from Liora.

The soft glow of candle flame danced on the brass holder. Its flickering light carving out shadows along the timbered walls and the ones that were now approaching the table.

" So these is the help the guild sent ? " a mocking voice from the shadows said.

The footsteps grew louder as they strode into the room. Emerging from the staircase from the upper floor was lady in a kimono with a green robe over her shoulders. To her side were two archers cloaked dark green one with a grin on his face as he gazed at the table.

" I knew Laptove had sunk but never thought this low. " the grinning one said.

" What is he doing here ? " Ery snapped pointing at him.

" Calm down Ery . " the lady said walking to the apex next to Dym.

" But Elder Lin… "

" No buts. Your brother is needed for this as much as you are. "

" So please sit down. " the elder said.

" Yes. " defeated Ery said.

A while later the new arrivals , Elren and Will, were seated . Tension was thick in the air with the grin from Elren irritating all who were seated but Sen.

Sen's mind was occupied by something else. As the candle flickered shadows formed and took form. Their eyes met and locked, commencing the dance they had started from.

As he stared onto the upper floor the shadows stared back with silver eyes as they shimmered in the moon.