Once they were inside the village Chi could not help but look around at all the dazzling lights. Everything from the dancing lights of the lanterns to the reflecting glows of the wandering souls all looked beautiful to him. It was like he had stepped into a new world all together. Whispers from the souls chattering together about the living entering their village could be heard. He wondered if something was wrong but Tyson looked completely calm in front of him so he shook off that thought.
"Refrain from touching the sword in your hands. If you draw so will they." Tyson's words were stern as he left Chi with no room to object even if he wanted to.
"Got it." Chi said with a slight nod of his head before glancing around some more.
Suddenly glancing at a bed of flowers he could see what looked like a white fox stretching its front legs out. Holding its tail high in the air the small beast yawned quietly. No bigger then a large house cat the fox's blue eyes slowly turned in their direction. Everything about the little creature seemed cute and he felt drawn to it. As he walked over to it his hand slowly reached out to pet the fox's small head. The fur of the little guy felt as soft as silk.
Pprrrreeeee! Pprreeee!
The little fox chirped up with him. It's little voice resembled that of a chirping bird as it quickly pranced its way up his arm and onto his shoulders. He had no idea what the little creature was suppose to be but it felt as though it had taken a liking to Chi immediately. Chuckling to himself as he looked at the little one on his shoulders he debated on what to do with it. Digging its little toe nails into his hair it climbed on top of his head and curled into a small ball. Leaving nothing but its own blue eyes out in the open to look around at the surroundings it began to make small chirping sounds again from behind its own bushy tail.
"We're not here to play with an usher. Come on." Tyson said while walking up to Chi. Seeing the small white fox-like creature curled up on top of Chi's sandy hair made him almost want to laugh himself but they were not in the village to play around. The little fox's ears reached halfway down it's own back in length and it had a pair of heavy whiskers like you would see on a dragon that were on the sides of its muzzle.
The fox was known as an usher among the village because it was bred and raised to help watch over the wandering souls among it. It's duty was to ensure that spirits remained within the boundaries of the village and never left. While small and innocent during it's time of relax it's form was known to shift and become larger when enraged once the creature had reached maturity. Having seen an usher in battle during his past years he knew well that they could turn dangerous if they felt threatened or if someone became a risk to the village. It felt almost strange for Tyson to see one taking up with Chi so quickly and easily.
Pulling the usher down from his head and holding it in his arms Chi looked down at the little creature. Small and innocent as it looked he could not imagine it ever being a ferocious beast but he knew that nothing was what it seemed in Numen's Garden. Wiggling free from his grasp it hopped to the ground and made its way off into the distance. The long bushy tail of it waving back and forth in the air as it pranced away.
"Its only cute on the outside so don't worry too much about it. Its not like you, little rabbit." Tyson tousled the man's hair gently as he spoke.
Did he just?! Chi shouted the question at himself inside his mind as a faint flush coated his face. He could not be certain but it almost sounded as if Tyson had complimented him while trying to go about it in a way that would not be noticed that easily.
While the three of them were gathering their thoughts back together in order to find a place to eat and rest the little usher had scurried its way off into a distant yard. Jumping into the lap of a man dressed in black who's bright red eyes seemed emotionless and empty. The man's hair was white but at the roots of his hair it was black as the night itself. Stroking the silk fur of the usher a relaxed hum could be heard from him. Smiling as a glint of something unknown filled his eyes he sat the usher on the ground and climbed to his feet from the wooden chair he had been on.
"He's back this year as well you say?" He spoke to the usher in a calm and questioning manner. Sipping away at a glass of red wine with his other hand. Sensations of bitter sweet wine gave him a warm feeling throughout his body.
Pre! Pre! Pre!
The usher danced about on the ground below him. Motioning for the direction in which it had come from to find him. Its duty was to report in to the one who ran the village when new living visitors arrived immediately just as its fellow kin were required to do as well.
"Perhaps we shall greet this man yet once more." He said to the little fox as it pointed with its small paw. Sitting his wine glass down on the glass table to his side so that he did not need to carry it with him. The man was one who loved to drink the finest of wines he could have brewed within the boundaries of the village. Though his body was incapable of reaching a drunken state it was still the one thing he enjoyed in his physical form.
As the man began to walk through the streets a black fog wafted from his back into the air around him. His red eyes glowing as his movements gave no sound. Without so much as a heart beat he was like a phantom moving among the streets. Not even the souls of those lost would risk going near him with the look of determination he held in his eyes. All the souls among the Village of Lost Souls knew never to get in Loe's way when he was busy.