Post by CJ on Aug 23, 2015 19:33:29 GMT -5
Qi breathed a sigh of relief when Alden offered his hand and Jupiter used his magic not only to help her, but the others too.
"Thanks, guys."
Briar somehow managed to slip on Jupiter's bridge of marbles, even though they formed a smooth, solid path. When he got up, he casually answered Maisie's question.
"No. Most of us can't choose our form. Otherwise I wouldn't have these rabbit ears. Even if we could though, I'm not sure many of my brothers and sisters would change their appearances. Most demons aren't me... like humans, that is... they think more like animals and... well, the others I have no comparison for. You'd think life would be lonely as a tree, but there are demons who want nothing more than to be alone. Human wants don't apply to demons. Personally, I just want to go to sleep like everyone else."
The group went at a slow pace for about an hour before Qi summoned Sheep again.
---
Finally, the group made it to EverAfter. The town was quite like what the Renascence group was used to, albeit smaller. EverAfter's population was about 2,000. It was primarily a farming town with shops selling crops, meats, fruit and other goods. Red roofs contrasted the orange leaves of the trees and the bright blue fall sky about them. Everyone they encountered was kind and respectful, though some had accents so thick it might have been difficult to understand.
This town was the purest example of a simple life, but it begged the question. What kind of stolen artifcat would belong to a town like this?
It wasn't long until they found Brook Hall, a large building in the center of town. A large clock was placed two stories above the front entrance. It wasn't working, stuck on 6:40.
Beyond the entrance, they would enter a long hall . It was toward the end of the day and many higher class workers were leaving and preparing to close the building. The hall was fairly simple with several wooden benches to sit on and four corridors that led to other sections of the building. There was a large oak desk at the end of the hall.
Seated at the desk was none other than Winter Blank herself, reading some documents as the group came in. Her eyes lingered up at the group. It was not hard to see the contempt in her eyes.
"No animals in Brook Hall," she said plainly.
As usual, Qi rode her Sheep summon straight into the hall. It was a habit of hers that she didn't seem to get a hang of. She was so used to riding her as a way to get around and it obviously didn't always occur to her that having a large, bat winged sheep would be a nuisance to others.
"I... uh... sorry, Sheepy," she said as she slowly got off the summon.
"No worries," Sheep bleated. "I can wait outside."
As the summon began to exit the hall, Winter didn't seem to be amused. She sighed and glared at the group.
"I said, no animals in Brook Hall."
"B-but, we don't have any more animals," Qi said nervously.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? The mayor doesn't permit inhumans here. The demon will have to wait outside."
Briar's face somehow grew more pale. He glanced at the others, as though hoping she was somehow talking about someone else. He gulped and put on a forced, twitching smile.
"It's OK. It's fine," he lied as he tried not to show his sorrow.
He turned to leave, double checking with his hair to make sure that his rabbit ears truly were tucked into his hair. He was wondering what the others were likely wondering. How did Winter know Briar was a demon? There was no indication that she could have known when they first met.
"The mayor will be ready to meet you in 6 minutes," Winter said unceremoniously.
"Thanks, guys."
Briar somehow managed to slip on Jupiter's bridge of marbles, even though they formed a smooth, solid path. When he got up, he casually answered Maisie's question.
"No. Most of us can't choose our form. Otherwise I wouldn't have these rabbit ears. Even if we could though, I'm not sure many of my brothers and sisters would change their appearances. Most demons aren't me... like humans, that is... they think more like animals and... well, the others I have no comparison for. You'd think life would be lonely as a tree, but there are demons who want nothing more than to be alone. Human wants don't apply to demons. Personally, I just want to go to sleep like everyone else."
The group went at a slow pace for about an hour before Qi summoned Sheep again.
---
Finally, the group made it to EverAfter. The town was quite like what the Renascence group was used to, albeit smaller. EverAfter's population was about 2,000. It was primarily a farming town with shops selling crops, meats, fruit and other goods. Red roofs contrasted the orange leaves of the trees and the bright blue fall sky about them. Everyone they encountered was kind and respectful, though some had accents so thick it might have been difficult to understand.
This town was the purest example of a simple life, but it begged the question. What kind of stolen artifcat would belong to a town like this?
It wasn't long until they found Brook Hall, a large building in the center of town. A large clock was placed two stories above the front entrance. It wasn't working, stuck on 6:40.
Beyond the entrance, they would enter a long hall . It was toward the end of the day and many higher class workers were leaving and preparing to close the building. The hall was fairly simple with several wooden benches to sit on and four corridors that led to other sections of the building. There was a large oak desk at the end of the hall.
Seated at the desk was none other than Winter Blank herself, reading some documents as the group came in. Her eyes lingered up at the group. It was not hard to see the contempt in her eyes.
"No animals in Brook Hall," she said plainly.
As usual, Qi rode her Sheep summon straight into the hall. It was a habit of hers that she didn't seem to get a hang of. She was so used to riding her as a way to get around and it obviously didn't always occur to her that having a large, bat winged sheep would be a nuisance to others.
"I... uh... sorry, Sheepy," she said as she slowly got off the summon.
"No worries," Sheep bleated. "I can wait outside."
As the summon began to exit the hall, Winter didn't seem to be amused. She sighed and glared at the group.
"I said, no animals in Brook Hall."
"B-but, we don't have any more animals," Qi said nervously.
"Do I have to spell it out for you? The mayor doesn't permit inhumans here. The demon will have to wait outside."
Briar's face somehow grew more pale. He glanced at the others, as though hoping she was somehow talking about someone else. He gulped and put on a forced, twitching smile.
"It's OK. It's fine," he lied as he tried not to show his sorrow.
He turned to leave, double checking with his hair to make sure that his rabbit ears truly were tucked into his hair. He was wondering what the others were likely wondering. How did Winter know Briar was a demon? There was no indication that she could have known when they first met.
"The mayor will be ready to meet you in 6 minutes," Winter said unceremoniously.