Chapter Text
You were close to the monster city now. It took a long time to get here. Not just due to the distance but because of how careful you needed to be getting here. The last thing you wanted was to be caught by those cursed humans....
You pulled your hood lower and adjusted your scarf to better conceal your face. Your left eye was hidden behind a swath of fabric tied around your head. Your attire was far to hot for the summer. Black hooded jacket, black wool scarf, black leather gloves, black jeans, and combat boots adorning your feet. It was night time now so it wasn't nearly as hot as it could be. You always felt safer traveling at night. Just a shadowy enough area can conceal you from unfriendly eyes.
You focused on your destination. The gates to the monster city becoming clearer as you approached. To either side of the gate were what looked like dog monsters in black cloaks and bearing huge axes. You took a deep breath, steadying your nerves, before you entered their line of sight. Your appearance immediately made their hackles rise.
"Human-"
"You are approaching-"
"The city of Ebott!"
"Turn back now-"
"-or face the consequences."
The two monsters took turns speaking. You rose your hands to your sides showing that you are unarmed and carefully approached. You moved slowly and deliberately not wanting to appear as a threat to the monsters. They continued to warn you as you got near but you largely ignored them. You've come all this way in hopes to change things. You were not being turned away at the gate without at least trying to get in.
You came to a halt a few feet in front of the guards.
"Human!"
"Your kind is not welcome here unless it is on official business."
"No humans are ever allowed in at this hour."
You waited a moment staring down the two with your one uncovered eye. "I come seeking asylum. I am as unarmed as I can be, and bare no violent intent towards you or your people."
The monsters glanced at each other seemingly communicating in some way you couldn't hear. "Human! You will place your hands on your head and kneel to the ground." The male monster (if the deeper voice was any indication). "If you make any sudden movements we will have to remove you by force." the female announced. You complied slowly and once you were prone they shared another look. Then the woman desummoned her weapon and tore through the gates on all fours heading into the city.
Left with the male monster you waited silently. He stood close to you with his axe at the ready. No words passed between you two until around 5 minutes later his ears perked up and you looked to the gate. On the other side you watched as the woman returned with a tall fish monster running along beside her. She looked buff and held a teal spear in her fist.
She walked right up to you and brought the tip of the magic weapon to your throat. "I believe my guards told you your kind isn't welcome here." she growled. A trickle of blood slid down your throat from where her weapon pierced the skin.
"I come seeking asylum," you repeat. "I am as unarmed as I can be, and bare no violent intent towards you are your people."
"SHUT UP! My guards already relayed your pansy ass message. What makes you think we'd trust you? What the hell are you seeking asylum from!?" She demanded.
Instead of answering her questions you repeated your message a third time. Anger flashed in her golden eye and she threw her spear through a nearby tree before summoning 3 more to hem you in. "ANSWER ME!!!"
You didn't cower. You looked steadily in her eye and said, "Take me to your King. I will answer anything he chooses to ask me at that time."
"HA! YOU THINK WERE DUMB ENOUGH TO JUST LEAD AN ASSASSIN STRAIGHT TO HIM!?" The fish monster was getting increasingly agitated.
"You can tie me up. Knock me out, and lock me up if you want. I just want to speak to your king." The Monster took a breath, likely to yell at you again, but you continued before she did. "I do not come to this city empty handed and looking for a freebie. I have information that your king will no doubt want."
"WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU!?" she screeched.
"You don't have to believe me. but I don't think you should judge what the king may or may not want to know. Turn me away now and you might find yourself in a tight spot one of these days. A situation in which my information would help you prepare for."
"Is that a threat?" she glowered.
"No, it is a statement of fact..."
You stared each other down. The sounds of summer night seemed even louder in the oppressive moment.
"NGAHHHHHHHHHH!!!" she suddenly screamed. A flock of birds flew from a nearby tree. Startled by the bestial howl. With a wave of her hand the teal spears dissipated.
"Dogamy," she barked "Get some rope."
The male dog saluted and ran off to retrieve it. "Fine, I'll take you to my King. You will be blindfolded and tied up. I will personally drag you before him and when he kicks you out for you insolence I will make sure you're removed most painfully." She grinned a sharp toothed smile.
"Thankyou," the woman reared back a bit. Obviously not expecting to be thanked after threatening you. You slowly moved your hand to your face. She watched the movement carefully. You brought a hand to the fabric around your head and pulled it down to cover you other eye as well. "Will that suffice?"
"FUHU-" You heard her cackle. She cut herself off quickly though, and judging from the smacking sound you heard, forcefully. She was not expecting to laugh at the action any more than you expected her to. She cleared her throat. "Uh, yea that's fine."
You smiled a bit, though it went unnoticed beneath your scarf. The blindfold was just a handicap. Your left eye was long since blinded to the physical world but it was opened to the magical. You focused on your left eye and soon bright auras came to light. You could see nothing beyond the three figures but it was enough. If you had to you would be able to dodge them and get away.
The leader of the guards aura was teal just like her magic. It was a bright silhouette where her body was but spread out from her in a large aura. Behind her you saw the matching pink silhouettes of the female guard dog and Dogamy returning from the guard house. Their auras were a lighter shade and far smaller than the fish monsters. This was your first time seeing monsters. You were briefly surprised to discover that their physical forms were made from magic. They looked more like a projection of the soul. The few times you met humans with magic or the potential for it their auras just wafted out of their bodies like smoke. Held back and suppressed by their physicality.
The pink figured handed his leader something invisible to your eyes. She then made her way behind you. You were sure to keep your head still. You don't want her catching onto the fact that your not as blind as she might think.
Scaled hands roughly pulled your arms behind you. It wasn't long until you felt the rough twine of the rope restraining your wrists together. She pulled too tight at one point and you couldn't help but let out a grunt at the pinch. Surprisingly enough she loosened the rope and retied it. Ensuring it was firm and restraining but not going to cut off circulation. You suddenly felt a lot better about your decision to come here. If they cared enough to worry about their prisoner's condition, then surely they will hear you out.
Maybe you can finally stop running...