Maxwell couldn't believe his eyes. Down in this hidden world was... a normal town?! Tall buildings stretched towards the sky, their glass facades reflecting the sunlight. Streets buzzed with activity, lined with shops and cafes that gave the place a lively atmosphere.
As they walked through the city, Maxwell noticed something different. It was the people. They weren't ordinary humans. Some had animal-like features, while others had ethereal glows or unique markings. It was a vibrant mix of beings, each with their own distinct appearance, blending seamlessly into the urban environment.
Maxwell looked at the shops on display. All of them seemed so normal, despite the unfamiliar people.
"Welcome to Aisiki Town!" Glade said to Maxwell with a hint of irony. "Where everything is... normal."
Maxwell looked around, still in awe. "I... can see that? How long has this town existed?"
Hito shrugged. "Who knows... it's been here for as long as I can remember."
Maxwell's eyes widened in surprise.
Hito scratched his head. "Oh, that's... it?"
Maxwell exclaimed, "The hell you mean, that's it?!"
Hito shrugged nonchalantly. "Time flows differently here. Aisiki Town has its own rhythm."
Maxwell shook his head in disbelief. "Still, 500 years is a long time."
Akuro smirked. "You'd be surprised how much can stay the same yet change over centuries."
As they continued walking, Maxwell took in more of the town, still trying to wrap his head around the idea of such a place existing for so long.
"And... is this some type of underground city?" Maxwell asked, scanning the surroundings.
"Not exactly..." Akuro replied, his tone cryptic. "It's more like a pocket dimension, existing alongside the human world but hidden from plain sight."
"So... this is a hidden world?!" Maxwell's voice betrayed his amazement.
Glade chimed in, "Yep... and fun fact, did you know you're not supposed to breathe here?"
"Not exactly..." Akuro said, shaking his head. "Aisiki Town exists in a space between worlds. It's not underground, nor is it entirely hidden. It's just... apart from the usual flow of things."
Maxwell's eyes widened in realization. "So... this is a hidden world?!"
Glade nodded. "Yep... and fun fact, did you know you're not supposed to breathe here?"
"W-what, what do you mean?!" Maxwell exclaimed, panic rising in his voice.
Glade explained, "Well, the air in Aisiki is much denser and stronger, but it's also very dangerous to humans."
"B-but... how can I breathe it?" Maxwell stammered.
Akuro chuckled. "You're not human anymore, Maxwell... relax."
"Why didn't you guys tell me earlier?!" Maxwell demanded, feeling a mix of confusion and frustration.
Hito pointed at Akuro. "He started it," he said, then turned and left, leaving Maxwell to process the new information on his own.
Maxwell grunts, but there was something else that didn't make sense."How can you guys breathe human air?" Maxwell asked, puzzled.
"Meh... it wasn't that hard," Glade replied casually, flapping his wings.
Maxwell raised an eyebrow, still trying to grasp the concept. "So, you're saying you're used to both types of air?"
Hito nodded. "Exactly. Living in Aisiki Town means adapting to different environments."
Maxwell nodded slowly, starting to understand. "I guess that makes sense. It's just... a lot to take in."
Akuro chuckled. "Welcome to the world of the extraordinary, Maxwell. Things aren't always as they seem."
They continued their walk through the city, Maxwell trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together in his mind.
—
Later, as they were still walking, Maxwell realized that despite him having a human body, nobody seemed to care much.
Akuro spoke up. "Surprising, isn't it?"
Maxwell nodded. "Yeah... that's kinda refreshing."
Akuro chuckled. "There are a lot of monsters that have a normal human body just like you."
Maxwell's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Like... shapeshifters or something?"
"We could say that," Akuro replied cryptically, leaving Maxwell to ponder the mysteries of Aisiki Town even further.
Maxwell looked into the distance at Hito, who seemed to be gazing into the horizon. He walked up to him. "What's up?" Maxwell asked.
Hito looked down at him. "Nothing... I just don't really like this town," he admitted with a sigh, his gaze returning to the distant skyline.
"Why's that..?" Maxwell asked, curious.
Suddenly, Maxwell's eyes widened as they heard a police siren coming from the distance.
"Those fuckers..." Hito growled, his expression darkening.
The police car was definitely different from the average patrol car. It was sleek and black, with tinted windows and flashing red and blue lights that cut through the darkness of the night.
"They have a horrible way to secure the town," Glade continued, his voice tinged with bitterness. "Always sticking their noses where they don't belong, causing trouble for everyone."
Hito nodded in agreement. "They claim to protect, but they only bring fear and chaos."
Glade's expression darkened as he began to speak, his voice heavy with sorrow. "You know, there was once a friend of mine who got on the wrong side of the rangers. He made one small mistake, and they took everything from him."
Maxwell listened intently, his curiosity piqued by Glade's somber tone.
"He was just a simple merchant, trying to make an honest living," Glade continued, his voice tinged with sadness. "But when he accidentally crossed paths with the rangers, they accused him of crimes he didn't commit. They raided his shop, destroyed everything he had worked for, and took him away."
Maxwell's heart sank as he imagined the injustice of it all. "What happened to him?" he asked softly.
Glade's eyes filled with sorrow. "He never returned... They said he was a threat to the town's security, but in reality, he was just an innocent victim of their tyranny."
Hito walked past them, breaking the somber atmosphere. "Let's get out of here..." he said quietly, his voice heavy with emotion.
As they continued their walk, Maxwell couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the air. The sight of the police car driving away served as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of life in Aisiki Town.