Asumi searched through her pockets as the loud crowds filled their ears, none of the chatter made sense, it was all jus ramble. Asumi found a bit of loose change, it wasn't enough for any of the food. She turned to Ali and Eira with a concerned look on her face. As if all hope was lost Eira's head hung low and she felt a wave of sadness and dissatisfaction swept over her. Ali laughed as he saw how many this affected Eira's mood, he dug into his pockets, his hand bumping into the wooden box that held his precious flower, under the box, a crisp note coming out of his pocket. He held it up with pride.
"Don't worry. I always have money on me." Ali grinned, as if he was the saviour of the world by pulling out money. Asumi sighed at his stupid and prideful remarks, but was grateful that he could be the bank of the group anyways. Being the one with the money, they let Ali decide. However, every food he would suggest, one of them had something to say about it. Ali got frustrated and handed the choice to none other than Eira. Who chose fried rice? The stall owner quickly prepared the rice and they all ate hungrily, the immersive flavours melting in their mouths, all taken to heaven as they took big bites. Something about the situation was quite calming, the night sky glowing on them as they ate their meals. The cold wind would once in a while blow onto them. A singular creature ruined their peace, Ali's loud crow, Ali Junior, swooped down onto Ali. Landing on his shoulder.
"Your next mission is ready. 15 kilometres north of this, is an isolated village. There are 2 demons pestering the village. It's advised that you take fellow slayers with you along the mission, but it's your choice." Ali Junior said. Ali hurriedly ate his food.
"Thanks Ali Junior, and yeah I'll take the mission with Asumi and Eira" Ali shook the crow's extended wing. Ali wiped his mouth, and started to hurry Eira and Asumi. Asumi shot him an irritated look, regardless she ate the fried rice quicker than she usually would. Eira finished as well and they started to map out the path. Eira calculated that it would take them about 1 day and a half to reach the village, including stops for food and rest.
It wasn't so bad, but it was the longest time they have faced in order to reach a mission. The sky loomed with clouds, the moon being blocked out. Ali got a shiver up his spine. He looked behind him, at the bustling crowd. It felt like someone was watching him. His instincts were telling him to run, but he ignored the desperate plea from his senses.
In Ali's mind a different thought was playing out.
"I wouldn't mind sticking with this group forever." Ali thought. Walks like these seemed to bring out the senti-mental thoughts out of everyone, everyone had deep thoughts. It would spare them from having to endure the mental challenge of awkward silence between the three. They were all in their own mind, thinking about whatever they wished. In the free world they ran in, it felt like they were the main focus of everything. The centre of their own story. They had only known each other for a good 3 months, but it felt like they had been friends for years. It's what made the friendship between them all special. The inextricable connection they had made in such a short time.
Ali stared at the flower in Asumi's hair. It shined in the moonlight. He thought about the night they both got the flower, maybe that was when his life had turned around. What would his life be like if he hadn't begged for mentoring from the wind hashira? What would he be? He had no parents to guide him, no jobs he was set to be in. He knew well that Asumi could have easily inherited the flower farm of her parents, and Eira from what he had heard, could've thrived in the mountains. So... What would he be? Ali felt as if there was nothing else he could've done. Farming? It didn't interest him, Merchant? He didn't have any jumpstart so it would be hard getting a market up and running. Cook? He sucked at cooking. Ali realised he was overthinking, and forgot a quote he had heard from a long time ago.
"It's better to live in the future than the past."
He had heard it when some townsfolk were talking. Future. What did he want to do in the future?
"Wind Hashira... Marry... Have kids. Damn maybe even teach my kids about wind breathing" Ali fantasies about his life after.
Eira was looking at Ali who was in a trance. She found it amusing knowing other people had deep thoughts too. All of a sudden, she felt an overwhelming powerful aura creep into her mind, seeping in and causing goosebumps to creep all over her body. The very image of fear projected into her mind.
A crimson red flaming around the area, bold and dense with hatred. She felt it circle around them, its main density was in the forest about 50 metres in front of them, surrounding both sides of the narrow barren path. There was a powerful figure in there, whether it was a human or demon, she was unsure, but she stopped in her tracks. Eira breathed heavily. Ali and Asumi walked a bit til they realised Eira wasn't there. They looked back with an expression of worry.
"Everything alright?" Asumi asked Eira, Ali seemed to look forward, left and right, something wasn't right. The silent atmosphere wasn't silent in calmness, it was silent in fear. Eira went pale as the aura seemed to envelope her mind completely, she sensed it crossing from the middle of the forest to so close in such a short time. Eira stepped backwards.
"Ali!" She screamed out.