The main street of Melisse was full of life. Elves, dwarfs, humanoid beings with animal body parts, talking animals... Tia couldn't believe it. They all lived in harmony there. Or at least that was what she thought. The main street was also filled with stalls that sold everything from food to furniture. She noticed that there were also humans but they were minority. The main street later splited into two narrower ones so Tia had to dismount from her horse. The wolf she saved was by her side. As she continued walking on her feet she noticed an inn in distance. She headed there. She tied the horse to the trunk in front of it and went inside.
The dark room was filled with scent of beer and roasted meat. Giant candles on the walls and chandeliers were providing enough light. Tia could also feel the smoke from the kitchen and humans, who were smoking some kind of drug at one table. She went to sit to the corner. The wolf was following her. She sat down and a waitress, who was a humanoid-shape lizard, came to her. She ordered a proper meal for herself and some meat for the wolf. Then, one elf who was standing not far from Tia came to her. "You chose a bad time to visit this town."
"Why is that?" Tia answered, she kept neutral expression.
"This town is cursed. Some deadly disease has been spreading here lately. The Black District and the Poor District are in a quarantine but who knows how long it will take for it to spread even further." he said as he sat in front of her.
"Why are you staying here then?"
"I have nowhere to go. I will rather enjoy my last moments here in the warm inn instead of dying somewhere alone in the wild."
"I see." she answered and finished the meal. "I'm actually looking for someone. His name is Artrog. Do you know where I could find him?" He smirked.
"He arrived few days ago. He went to the Poor District to cure the ill inhabitants. Nobody has heard about him since that day." That made Tia at least a little happy. She knew where he was.
"Can I get into that district?"
"That would be suicide. The disease kills everyone - humans, elves, dwarfs ... It's so bad The Black District is already in chaos. Inhabitants are killing each other for food, water and medicine that doesn't help." he stopped, hoping he would convince her, but then he noticed her stare which made him realize she was prepared to go there no matter what it would cost. "The Poor District is still in a better state, but I guess it won't take long for it to meet the same fate as the Black District."
"So can I get there or not?"
"Yes you can. Two wagons full of supplies are sent into the districts every morning. But I have to warn you, nobody can return back. Archers on the walls, which are protecting the districts, shoot everyone who would try to escape." Tia smiled.
"Thank you. You can't even imagine how much you helped me." But he looked at her with worrying face.
"You should think about it more. There is no return once you get there." But she wasn't going to change her mind.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine. And I'll be leaving." she said as she stood up. The strange elf smiled.
"Well. Good luck then. You will need it."
"Thanks." she left the elf alone, paid for her meal and then she headed out to the room she had rented for one night. The wolf followed her. They were both tired after the exhausting journey.
*
Anju was following her trails. Some time had already passed since he had found the remains of campfire in the small cave. He could also see paws of wolf in mud on his way. She was persistent and hardly ever stopped moving. Thanks to the horse, which the village leader gave him, he was really close to Melisse. He could already see the huge city far in the distance. Interesting thing about it was that several districts were formed in the city and each of them had own walls and gate. So when anything happened the districts could isolate themselves from each other... which was exactly what had been happening there at that time.
Anju rode his horse through the town's main gate. This was the Main District, it had the best living conditions and the town's castle was located in this part too. That's why even though disease was destroying parts of the same town and killing the inhabitants, those living here weren't affected in any way. At least not yet.
*It's impossible for me to find her here* He thought as he left his horse in stable near the gate and begun walking on his feet. There were too many people and he doubted that anyone would notice her. Maybe except Kale's thugs but it wasn't like he could ask those anyways. While he was walking up the street he could feel the presence of demons around him. They weren't strong enough to endanger him though. He stopped at one stall whose owner was selling apples here. It was an old lady. He greeted her. Even though she looked and sounded like a normal human, she was a demon. He could sense it. "You are new here, aren't you? Haven't see you here." He picked one apple and paid for it.
"Lots of people go around your stall every day. It would be hard to remember everyone's face." he answered.
"Well let's say I haven't sensed your powerful aura. Could you do something for me?" she asked him with a kind smile.
"I really have no time for ... " she interrupted him before he could finish.
"Here." she gave him a red apple. "There is one boy in that narrow street behind you. Please give him this." He was surprised.
"An apple? Why won't you give it to him yourself?"
"Let's say I'm old exhausted lady. Please. I will be really thankful." he was suspicious.
"Fine. How will I recognize him?"
"Trust me. You will." she said. He sighed and headed out towards the narrow street she had mentioned. It was a little darker here than in the main one. Although not many living souls walked through here, he could see a small crowd in the distance. He could also hear their shouts.
"You shouldn't be here, you bastard!"..."You will infect us all, you sicko!"..."You should have died there!"..."Freak!"...
*What is going on there?* Anju thought as he quickly walked towards the crowd. Then he realized what they were shouting at. It was a frightened human boy who was wearing ragged clothes. He was also skinny and dirty. The crowd around him was formed by many creatures but mostly rich elves. Anju wouldn't normally care enough to do something about it, but it was something different when he had made a promise to that lady. The closest elf kicked the boy on the ground. Anju came to him and punched him. Everyone was shocked and the elf spat blood on the ground with rage in his eyes. "You bitch. Do you know who I am? I'm one of the most powerful citizens of this town!" Anju wasn't really impressed.
"Leave that boy alone." he said with harsh voice. The elf looked at the others to gain confidence.
"Do you know who that pathetic human is? It's an orphan from the Black District! He must be infected too!" said one lizard. A dwarf next to him joined him.
"We should kill him and burn his body before he destroys our city!" Anju carefully looked at the boy. He looked terrible, yes, but he didn't show any signs of disease that Anju would know. He also didn't sense anything strange. He was a normal human boy.
"He is not infected." Anju said with a calm voice. The elf in front of him, who he had punched a moment ago, didn't believe him.
"How would you know? You don't look like a doctor to me!" Others agreed with him.
"I can sense it. He just has to live in the dirt which you selfish upstarts leave behind." The elf was furious.
"How dare you! Kill him too!" he shouted. The lizard man tried to punch him, but Anju dodged it and punched him back. One elf pulled out a small rusty dagger and tried to stab him but he wasn't a skilled fighter. Anju easily knocked the weapon out of his hand and broke his arm. He felt on the ground in pain. The main elf was frightened.
"You useless fools! Retreat!" he shouted and everyone begun to run away. Anju didn't pay more attention to them and looked at the boy.
"Are you okay? Can you walk?" he asked him. The boy nodded and stood up with Anju's assistence. Anju gave him the apple. "One lady wanted me to give you this." The boy was very hungry so he begun to eat the apple immediately. While Anju was waiting on the boy to finish his apple, he thought *Was that a reason why you sent me here? You knew what was happening because of your demon senses.* It made sense. That's why she told him she was an old exhausted lady. The boy finished and Anju told him. "We can't stay here. That mean guy can return any second and we don't want more trouble, do we?" He would probably be able to deal with him again but he didn't want to waste more time there. He got an idea. "Come with me." The boy nodded and they both left the street.
"... and that's what happened." Anju finished his explanation. The old lady showed her kind smile again as she stroked the boy's hair.
"Don't worry, I will take care of you. You are safe now. What's your name?" she asked the boy.
"Zane." He silently answered.
"Will you be okay?" Anju asked the lady.
"You don't have to worry, me and my husband will take care of him as if he was our own." she reassured him.
"Good. Well I have to go now." Anju waved and turned around. But before he could continue with his searching for Artrog, the boy said.
"Thank you sir." Anju turned back at him and smiled. And then he disappeared in the crowd of people walking through the street.