They were led through the black mist. They were forced to wear masks with filters in their mouths. Igneous was reminded of the gas masks from his world. Apparently, normal human beings couldn't breathe in that black mist, so masks were necessary.
However, it was different for those 'demons'. They could easily walk through the black mist without masks.
Why? Igneous had no idea. There were many things in that world that were confusing, and odd.
When the soldiers asked them to come with them, the girl tried to wield her sword, but she was quickly reduced to the ground and her weapon was taken from her.
"I'm sorry," said who seemed to be the leader, "but I have to take this from you."
The girl gritted her teeth.
She couldn't do more. They outnumbered her.
Igneous, on the other hand, was much more intelligent. His experience on the streets had taught him that there were some fights that were lost before they started, so when you could give up, you had to.
The boy gave himself up without resistance.
Minutes later, they were walking through the black mist, towards an uncertain destination.
"Where are you taking us?" the girl asked. Her voice filtered through her mask.
"To a place of safety," answered who seemed to be the leader.
A safe place? So why did she feel as if they were being forced to accompany them?
They emerged from the black mists and came upon a rock bridge. On the other side, there was a small town, with cobblestone roads, stone and wooden houses. Children's laughter was heard.
At last, a town, Igneous thought.
"You can take your masks off now," the leader of the soldiers indicated.
They took them off, Igneous and the girl.
"Please join me," the leader said.
Igneous and the girl looked at each other's faces. She didn't look very convinced. Neither did he. However, the boy had long lived on the streets. He had gotten used to judging people. Quickly assess whether someone was an enemy or a potential ally.
And those soldiers didn't seem to want to hurt them.
Igneous followed the man. The girl hesitated, she looked from one side to the other and must have realized that she had no other choice.
"Sorry," Igneous spoke to the soldier, "but we don't know your name."
"Oh, my name is Yao," he replied in a kind voice, "nice to meet you. What's your name?"
"You can call me Igneous."
He nodded and then looked at the stranger:
"And the girl?"
"He didn't want to say her name," replied the boy.
'Although for me she is called Brisa.'
Igneous saw some children running, playing with a ball. They also had a skin full of green scales and those eyes like two black nuggets.
One of them waved his hand.
Igneous returned the greeting by waving his hand.
Some people (also scaly-skinned) looked at the young outsiders with curiosity. Whispers were heard.
They came to a house a little larger than the others. Yao opened the door and led them into a room that appeared to be an office, full of books
"Books?" The girl spoke, "Do demons read?"
"We are not the savages you think," said a faint old voice.
Igneous and the girl turned to find a small, stooped man with scaly green skin, silver hair, and eyes as black as night.
"Humans," Yao spoke, "this is Zenda. The governor of the town."
"Why did you bring us here?" The girl asked, her tone defiant.
"Hey, a little respect," Yao demanded.
Zenda raised his hand as if asking the soldier to be quiet.
"It is normal for humans to be wary of us," the old man spoke.
"You are demons," the girl's voice seemed to hold stale anger, "things as they are."
"Are we?"
The girl nodded.
"Why did you bring us here?" she asked again.
The old man looked at her.
"The soldiers told me that you destroyed Sharina's sentinels."
Sharina?
"Who is she?" Igneous asked.
"The woman who attacked you with the sentinels," Yao replied, "she is from the Legion."
"Oh! Sure! Yes, I defeated her. What's with that? Is she an enemy of yours?"
"Something like that," Zenda stated. "she's your enemy too. She won't stop until she kills you."
"Oh, is that it?"
"Of course! You guys are marked ones, right?"
"No!" The girl roared, "he's the marked one," she pointed at the boy, "not me."
The old man looked at her suspiciously.
"All right."
"Well, well," Igneous spoke, "I hear 'marked one' a lot, but I don't know what that means."
"You must have a mark somewhere on your body," Zenda assured.
Igneous checked his body and found a mark on his right shoulder. It was like a black ink tattoo. It was shaped like a flame with pointed edges.
"Where did this come from?" The boy asked with wide eyes.
"It is the mark of the eon. An eon must have given you his powers, that's what the mark means."
'The fire lion,' Igneous recalled.
"You must also have a 'Treasure,'" The old man said.
"A treasure?"
"Yes, he does," the girl chimed in, frowning, "I've seen him talk to it."
Zenda raised an eyebrow.
"A Treasure is a pendant," she explained, "like a jewel. Yours should be red."
"Oh, sure!" The boy exclaimed, pulling out the sphere. He extended his arm so the old man could see it better.
"Fascinating," Zenda smiled.
Yao also smiled.
The old man grabbed Igneous' hands, he was so small that he seemed to be on his knees.
"It is a blessing…," Zenda said, "that you have come is a blessing."
"Ah?" Igneous was confused.
"For a long time, we were waiting for a marked one. The last marked one disappeared. We haven't heard from them in years. Perhaps, they were all defeated."
"I wish," the girl huffed.
The old man ignored the comment.
"The return of the marked one fills us with hope," Zenda continued, "perhaps one day, if we fight hard enough, we can fulfill our deepest wish."
"And what is that?" the boy asked.
"Destroy the human cities," the old man replied.