Vagan walked through the narrow streets of Bularn, her steps slow and deliberate as she took in the sight of the town. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and despair, and the deeper she ventured into the town, the more it became clear. People , families , lined the streets. Children with gaunt faces and hollow eyes huddled in corners, their bellies bloated from hunger. Many of the adults were no better, their faces gaunt, eyes sunken, and bodies frail. Some coughed violently, while others simply sat in a daze, as if all hope had drained from them long ago.
As Vagan passed by, she could see a woman, her teeth missing, and several others with sores on their faces and bodies. A deep feeling of unease settled in her stomach as she looked at them. The suffering in this place was almost palpable, and it gnawed at her.
She spotted an old woman sitting at a small stall, a few bananas laid out in front of her. The woman looked frail, her hands trembling as she held a basket. Yet, despite the poverty around her, she wore a small, warm smile.
Vagan walked over to her. "Hello, ma'am. How are you?"
The old woman looked up, her eyes gleaming with a kindness that seemed out of place in such a broken world. "Oh, hello dear. I'm great, and you?"
"I'm okay," Vagan replied, though the heaviness in her heart said otherwise. She glanced around again, at the starving children and the broken faces of the people. "But... why are you all living like this? What's happening here?"
The old woman's smile faltered. She looked away, her gaze drifting across the street, at the sick and starving. The sorrow in her eyes deepened as she spoke. "It's because of the Bureau... They come and take everything from us. All the food we grow, all the work we do. And the ruler... the ruler does nothing. He doesn't care whether we live or die. As long as he's safe in his castle, he's happy. We mean nothing to him."
Vagan frowned. "The ruler? Who is this ruler?"
The old woman's face changed instantly, a flash of fear crossing her features. She glanced around nervously, making sure no one was listening. Then she leaned in, gesturing for Vagan to come closer. Vagan bent down, her curiosity piqued.
The old woman whispered, her voice barely a breath, "His name... is Van Helsing Dragul."
Vagan's eyes widened, the name unfamiliar but carrying an ominous weight. The fear in the old woman's voice was unmistakable. "You need to leave," the old woman continued, her voice trembling. "Leave this place as soon as you can. Otherwise, he'll find you."
Vagan stared at her, unsure of what to say. "But why? Who is he?"
The old woman shook her head, fear still in her eyes. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that you run while you still can." She reached into a small pouch and pulled out a weathered amulet, its surface cracked and old, but a faint glow seemed to pulse from within it. She pressed it into Vagan's hands. "Take this. It's all I can give you. Now run, girl. Run before it's too late."
Vagan took the amulet, her hands trembling slightly as she looked at it. "Thank you," she whispered, her mind racing. She didn't know what this amulet was or why it was important, but the urgency in the woman's voice left her no choice but to trust her.
Without another word, Vagan turned and ran. She darted through the crowded streets, weaving between the people, her heart pounding in her chest. She needed to find Blue and Pluto. Something was wrong with this place, something dangerous, and they had to get off the island fast.
As she ran, she glanced back over her shoulder. The old woman was still at her stall, waving at her with a sad smile on her face. Vagan couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just a random act of kindness. The old woman's final words echoed in her mind: "I wonder if I made the right choice giving it to you... but we'll see. The future tells no lies."
And with that, Vagan disappeared into the streets, the amulet clutched tightly in her hand, as the old woman watched her go, her eyes filled with a mix of hope and fear.
End of Chapter 69