DWELLING IN THE TOWN OF THE UNDEAD
***
THE BEINGS DOWN there at Contella Town are not so different from the people Astier used to hang around with back in his original world. The only slight distinction they have is the fact that these beings around his new environment are not living creatures. They are technically up and walking around but definitely not alive. They go on about their day, like mindless beings pacing with no certain directions. But they sure do arrive at their desired destinations. Their green skins would shame the leaves from the trees, except that it is tearing apart whenever they lack to provide themselves with a proper meal.
And a proper meal for them means a whole human flesh. And these beings can regenerate. They can replace their falling-apart skins simply by just eating fresh human flesh. Of course, the human needs to be alive in the first place, their hearts play a big role in extending these beings' lives as well.
They are not usually fast creatures but their unusually long nails could sprout acid on their desired prey that would immobilize them. They can walk on about like how an ordinary human being walks but just that they can't run, otherwise, their fragile skinny bodies would fall apart so easily. Reattaching themselves wouldn't be so facile.
Astier accidentally discovered that dead town after he rolled down the cliff the first time he arrived in that world. An undead found him, unconscious by the side of the river. But instead of feasting on his breathing body, the creature took him to Contella Town. And Astier woke up two days later and found himself receiving high respect from them.
Of course, the book that whisked him inside that world was written that Destroyer, a.k.a., the villain of the story, is known to be a very powerful Dark Wizard who is feared by many but is respected by creatures considered to be an ally to the dark side.
These creatures treat him like a divine being. Which is why he can freely roam around Contella without being eaten alive. Unlike those poor young souls that they've captured from the woods.
Astier reaches his humble abode, a slightly large house fitting for a high-ranked being like him. It hasn't been so long since he got whisked into that magical world. He looked for every possibility of returning to his original world but he came across nothing.
His wanted posters also did not help him to achieve his purpose to search for more information. It turns out that Destroyer's return to the world of Azalia spread great panic amongst everyone, alerting the royal kingdom of Virgam. The current ruler is a queen, and just like her title, Queen of Ice, her eternal winter spread throughout the kingdom upon hearing of his escape that day.
In the book, Destroyer was supposed to die at the hands of the Queen of Ice. Despite him being an all-powerful being, he was defeated by the immortal queen. Just as his fate was about to be ended by an ice spear directed at his heart, another being suddenly arrives and rescues him.
Starting that day, Destroyer has never been seen anywhere in Azalia. No one has heard of him and the being who rescued him also remained a mystery.
The years pass by without him and peace was somehow restored to the magical world of Azalia. However, it all ended when one royal soldier found him slacking off in the woods. That was the time he first arrived at their world. And the woman with blazing eyes who blasted him away with fireballs is none other than Princess Nyrinn, the queen's younger sister.
After his escape, his wanted posters were immediately handed out to warn everyone and now there is also a bounty on his head. So, dwelling in the town of the undead was probably the best solution for him.
Astier still couldn't understand how he got himself sucked into the pages of an old book. Now he's stuck in this magical world with no knowledge of how to return. He had already forgotten how many days have passed before him but he is certain it's already been a few days.
'Just as when I had the chance to be in the spotlight at work!' he angrily tossed away a black smoke-like spherical force that blasted his wall. He was shocked by this sudden incident. But using his power again, he restored the wall so easily. He lets out a sigh of relief before proceeding to his room. Mirrors in that world are made of pure silver which reflects their images so remarkably.
Back in his real world, Astier had a messy fringe of dark brown hair. His tan skin would often drive women to envy how fair he had it so naturally. But upon arriving at the magical world of Azalia, his appearance changed so drastically that he most of the time he won't recognize himself while looking in the mirror.
Gone were his dark brown hair and fair tan skin. His dark blue hair is long enough to reach his collar, his bangs messing around his face but wonderfully placed not to block his vision. And the colour of his skin just matches perfectly, pale white, making him stand out even more. His fancy dark-themed clothes played a part well to make him appear more exceptional, like a fugitive prince.
One would think he wasn't a villain but rather a prince.
"I've read this book a thousand times and it doesn't always end well for Destroyer," he muttered to himself after sitting at the edge of his bed.
"He had several encounters with the Queen of Ice and he never leaves their fight without acquiring severe wounds."
"Is her magic really that powerful? Even for me?"
Destroyer could never defeat her in the book. And Astier just barely had himself get used and practice Destroyer's magic. How will he ever survive in that world now if one day he'd, unfortunately, encounter the queen?
His queen.
A small chuckle escapes from his lips. "In every book, this is always that one character that never ceases to capture our hearts."
"And amongst everyone, why did I have to fall for the queen who wants my head?"
A knock on his door halted Astier's reflection. The undead doesn't usually interact with him unless he needs something from them. Who could that be? He rose and proceeded to open his unexpected guest, a gesture he immediately regretted.
"I told you, that wasn't the end, Destroyer." A mischievous grin plastered on the princess' lips. Astier's eyes widened in surprise but before he could even react, the princess had yet again bombarded him with raining balls of fire.
"Die, you piece of scum!" she bellowed.
Her fireballs landed everywhere, and her flames instantly scattered, burning Astier's house.
Astier, on the other hand, tried as he might to evade the princess' attacks, all the while trying to reason with her.
"Please, just stop! Just listen to me!" he pleaded, having himself cornered by the vile princess.
"Listen to me! I'm not the same person you think I am! I-I'm a different person. I'm not him! I'm not Destroyer! My name is Astier Igreed!"
The princess stopped on her track, and the flames engulfing her palms vanished. "What did you just say?"
"I said, I'm not Destroyer. I-I'm not him! My name is Astier Igreed and I am not from this world. Please, believe me. I just want to go home. I don't wish to harm anyone. I just want to go home."
The princess scrutinized his pathetic face. But after a moment or two of silence, her mischievous grin returned. "So, Destroyer finally had a name--- well, Lord Astier Igreed, give me the pleasure to end your life here."
"What---"
Flames emerged from the princess' palms, crawling up to her arms until her whole body was embraced by the fire. The heat emitted by her intensifying flames brought Astier to sweat. 'She's really gonna kill me! If I don't do something who knows if my death would return me alive or dead or I'll really die here!'
"Prepare to die, you beast!" With that, the princess released a vast amount of flame, devouring anything that it could touch.
But Astier's magic had unknowingly driven his instinct to protect himself and thus forges a barrier and deflected the princess' flames. The two beings battled by the measure of the strongest force to be released. The princess, with all her might, gave everything she had to destroy her opponent.
On the other hand, Astier did not even release much effort into keeping his barrier stand tall. It only proved to him just how powerful Destroyer is to withstand the princess' flames. A playful smirk suddenly brushed upon Astier's lips. He never wanted to harm anyone but if that is his only way of evading danger, then he won't hesitate to make use of Destroyer's power to protect himself.
With a small effort, Astier releases a mildly strong force channelling through his barrier and blasts the princess away, this resulted in an explosion that completely destroyed his home. The princess flew into the air, the force hurled her away to a distant house. The impact was too strong that her body broke through the wall, rendering her unconscious.
The royal guards surrounding his house earlier were also blasted away. He didn't waste a second and used his magic to create black rings around their neck and choke them all to death. They gasped for air, unable to take or destroy the black rings while Astier casually marches to the princess' location.
It was only at that moment that Astier realised that they'd already killed all the undead in Contella Town.