Anita's heart stopped when her gaze fell on the figure in the cage next to the Wraithborn. At first, she thought her eyes were playing tricks on her, but there was no mistaking it. Through the tangle of dirty hair, the hunched shoulders, and the sunken eyes, she recognized him. Rohan.
"Rohan!" she whispered, her voice trembling as tears filled her eyes.
The memories came flooding back—their time together on Earth, their adventures, and their friendship. But what was he doing here? How could he have ended up in this world, let alone in a slave shop?
Anita turned to her teammates, her voice shaking with emotion. "That man… he's from my world. He's my friend, Rohan. I have to help him."
Camila raised an eyebrow, her tails twitching in surprise. "Wait, someone else from your world? Are you sure it's him?"
Anita nodded, wiping away a tear. "I'd know him anywhere."
Tough-Breaker grunted. "He doesn't look like much. Seems like he's been through hell."
Anita didn't care what he looked like. She moved closer to the shopkeeper, who was still standing with a smug expression. "I want to buy him too," she said firmly. "How much for the human?"
The shopkeeper snorted, shaking his head. "That one? He's useless. Barely any stamina, can't fight, doesn't have any skills worth a coin. Honestly, I was about to sell him off for labor in the mines. He wouldn't last a week."
Anita's jaw clenched. "I don't care what you think. I want him. How much?"
The shopkeeper scratched his chin, clearly trying to gauge how much money he could squeeze out of her. "Well, since you're buying two, and the human's pretty worthless… I'll sell him to you for 30 silver. That's the lowest price I can offer."
Anita's stomach dropped. Between the Wraithborn and Rohan, she would be giving away everything she had. All the money she had saved up, the money she had planned to use to open a shop with her teammates. A shop where they wouldn't have to worry about food and shelter anymore.
But now, with Rohan standing there, weak and chained, she knew she couldn't turn her back on him. Not after everything they had been through. Her dreams of a shop would have to wait.
She reached into her pouch, pulling out all the silver she had saved. Her hands shook as she counted it out and handed it to the shopkeeper. "Here. Take it. For both of them."
The shopkeeper grinned, snatching the silver greedily. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Anita's heart pounded as she watched the shopkeeper unlock the cage. Rohan, frail and thin, stepped out slowly. His eyes were distant, unfocused, as if he didn't even recognize where he was. And when he looked at her, there was no spark of familiarity in his gaze.
"Rohan," she whispered, reaching out to him. "It's me. Anita. Do you… do you remember me?"
Rohan blinked at her, his face expressionless. "Master?" he said quietly, his voice hoarse and confused. "I'm sorry, Master, I don't know who you are."
Anita's heart shattered at his words. She shook her head, her voice breaking. "No, Rohan. It's me, Anita. We're friends. We grew up together. Don't you remember?"
But Rohan just stared at her blankly, his hands trembling. "Master… I don't know. I don't remember anything."
The weight of his words hit her like a punch to the gut. His memory was gone, wiped clean. Whoever he had been, whatever they had shared—it was all gone.
Tough-Breaker crossed his arms, watching the scene with a frown. "Memory wipe. It happens sometimes to slaves when they've been through too much. Could've been magic, or maybe the trauma broke him."
Mumu stepped closer, his voice gentler than usual. "Anita… are you okay? This isn't your fault."
Anita nodded, though her throat was tight with emotion. "I… I'll be fine. I just need to help him get better. Maybe his memory will come back if I take care of him."
Camila placed a hand on Anita's shoulder, her voice soft. "We'll help. Don't worry."
Anita gave a small, grateful smile, though the sadness lingered in her eyes. She turned back to Rohan, who was still looking at her with confusion. "It's okay, Rohan," she said softly, fighting back tears. "You don't have to remember right now. We'll figure it out. You're safe with me."
Rohan nodded weakly, though his gaze remained distant. "Thank you… Master."
The word stung every time he said it, but Anita refused to correct him. Not yet. She would find a way to bring him back, to restore the man she had once known.
As they left the slave shop, the reality of her decision settled in. She had given up all her savings—everything she had worked for. The shop, the future she had hoped for with her teammates, was now further away than ever.
But looking at Rohan, at the empty shell of the man she had once called her friend, Anita knew she had made the right choice. There were more important things than money. She couldn't leave him behind, no matter what it cost her.
Her teammates remained quiet as they walked through the streets, each of them understanding the weight of what had just happened. When they finally reached their inn, they sat together in silence for a long while, processing everything.
Mumu broke the silence first, his voice quiet but steady. "We'll find a way to make it work, Anita. We always do."
Tough-Breaker grunted in agreement. "Yeah. And when he gets his memory back, he better thank us."
Anita smiled, though it was small and bittersweet. "Thank you, guys. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Camila's tails flicked as she leaned back. "Don't worry. We'll stick together. We've been through worse."
And as they sat there, in the dim light of their room, Anita allowed herself a moment of hope.
The old man sat in the corner of the dimly lit room, his eyes vacant and expressionless. Ever since they had left the slave shop, he hadn't spoken a word. He just watched everything unfold, his gaze flicking between Anita, Rohan, and the rest of the team, but saying nothing. It was as though he was a ghost, simply existing in their presence.
Tough-Breaker had noticed. He wasn't one to trust easily, and the old man's silence was starting to bother him. As they gathered around the fire to eat, Tough-Breaker leaned over to Mumu, his voice a low rumble. "Something's off about him."
Mumu glanced at the old man, who was sitting with his back against the wall, staring into space. "He's just an old man, Tough-Breaker. Probably been through too much. He might be broken, like Rohan."
Tough-Breaker grunted, his eyes narrowing. "Maybe. But I've got a bad feeling about him. He hasn't said a single word since we bought him, and he's always just… watching."
Camila, who had been listening, chimed in with her usual nonchalance. "He's harmless. Probably just traumatized. You're always so suspicious, Tough-Breaker."
"Suspicion keeps us alive," he shot back, his tone gruff.
Anita, who had been sitting with Rohan, her hand resting gently on his shoulder, looked up. "He's right. The old man hasn't said anything, but… maybe he just needs time. Like Rohan."
Rohan, still lost in his own world, stared blankly at the fire, unaware of the conversation happening around him. Anita sighed, squeezing his hand. "I've tried everything to help him remember, but nothing works."
Mumu stood up, stretching his arms. "We've been cooped up in this room for too long. Maybe a hunt will clear our heads."
Everyone agreed, the tension in the room easing slightly. They packed their gear and set out early the next morning, leaving the inn behind as they ventured into the wilds once more.
They traveled for hours, their path taking them through forests and across rivers. The air was crisp, the sky cloudless, but there was a strange stillness in the atmosphere that made Anita uneasy. Even the birds were silent, and the usual sounds of wildlife seemed to have vanished.
By midday, they reached a town, but something was wrong. The streets were empty, the houses abandoned, and an eerie quiet hung over everything.
"This place…" Camila muttered, her eyes scanning the area, "It doesn't feel right."
Tough-Breaker walked ahead, his massive frame casting a long shadow as he pushed open the door of a nearby building. Inside, everything was intact, but there was no one there. "It's like they all just… disappeared," he said, frowning.
Anita looked around, her heart pounding in her chest. There were signs of a struggle—overturned chairs, broken glass, and claw marks on the walls. "What happened here?"
Barry, who had been quietly inspecting the ground, spoke up. "There was a fight. Recently. Look at the marks on the ground, the bloodstains. It's fresh."
Mumu crouched beside him, touching the dried blood with his fingertips. "But no bodies. Where did they go?"
Anita's hand tightened on her sword as a shiver ran down her spine. "Do you think it was a beast?"
Camila nodded, her tails twitching with unease. "Something big, strong, and fast. The people didn't have a chance to run."
As they ventured deeper into the town, the feeling of dread grew stronger. Every building they entered told the same story—violent signs of struggle, but no people, no bodies. It was as though the entire population had been swallowed by the earth.
Tough-Breaker led them to the town square, where the ground was scorched and the air smelled faintly of smoke. "This is bad," he muttered, scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes.
Suddenly, Anita noticed the old man standing a few feet away, staring intently at something. His eyes, which had been dull and lifeless before, now seemed sharper, more focused.
"What is he looking at?" Anita whispered, nudging Mumu.
Mumu followed the old man's gaze and frowned. "I don't know. He's never reacted to anything before."
Tough-Breaker gripped his axe, his eyes never leaving the old man. "I told you something was off about him."
Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled, and the air grew colder. A low, guttural growl echoed from the shadows of a nearby alleyway.
Anita's breath caught in her throat as she turned to the source of the sound. Emerging from the darkness was a creature unlike anything she had ever seen. Its body was massive, its fur black as night, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural, menacing light. Sharp spikes protruded from its back, and its fangs gleamed as it snarled at them.
"What the hell is that?!" Camila shouted, her voice filled with fear.
Barry stepped back, his hands trembling. "That's not just any beast… that's a Devourer."
Anita gripped her sword tightly, her heart racing. "A Devourer?"
Mumu's voice was grim. "They don't just kill. They consume everything—flesh, bone, even souls. This thing is responsible for the disappearance of the townspeople."
The Devourer let out another growl, its eyes locked onto them. Tough-Breaker raised his axe, stepping forward with a determined look. "We need to take it down. Now."
Anita, Mumu, Camila, and Barry formed a defensive line, preparing for the fight of their lives. The old man, however, remained where he was, watching the creature with an almost curious expression.
"Stay back!" Anita shouted at him, but the old man didn't move.
The Devourer lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air. Tough-Breaker charged to meet it head-on, his axe swinging with brutal force. The blade connected with the creature's side, but it barely flinched, its thick hide absorbing the blow.
Mumu and Camila moved in next, Camila using her illusions to create multiple copies of herself to confuse the beast, while Mumu attacked from the side, aiming for its legs. Anita followed suit, her sword flashing in the sunlight as she struck at its exposed flank.
Barry hung back, using his medical knowledge to keep an eye on everyone's condition, ready to jump in if anyone was injured.
The battle was fierce, the Devourer moving with terrifying speed despite its massive size. It swiped at them with its claws, sending Tough-Breaker stumbling back with a deep gash in his arm. Anita ducked just in time to avoid a spike that shot from its back, her heart pounding in her chest.
But no matter how many hits they landed, the Devourer seemed unstoppable, regenerating its wounds almost as fast as they could deal them.
"We're not hurting it!" Anita cried out, dodging another spike. "It's too strong!"
Mumu gritted his teeth, frustration evident on his face. "We need to find its weakness!"
Suddenly, the old man, who had remained still throughout the fight, took a step forward. His eyes, once dull and lifeless, were now sharp and calculating. He raised a hand, and for the first time, he spoke.
"Strike at its heart."
The sound of his voice sent a chill down Anita's spine. It was deep, commanding, and held a weight that seemed out of place for someone who had been silent for so long.
The team paused, glancing at the old man in surprise. Tough-Breaker, still bleeding from his wound, growled. "What the hell do you know about it?"
But the old man didn't answer. Instead, he pointed directly at the beast's chest, where a faint glow pulsed beneath its fur.
"That's its weak point. Strike there, and it will fall."
Anita hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "You heard him! Focus on its heart!"
With renewed determination, the team regrouped. Camila's illusions swarmed the Devourer, distracting it long enough for Tough-Breaker to land a powerful blow directly to its chest. The creature howled in pain as Mumu followed up with a precise strike, and finally, Anita thrust her sword deep into the glowing spot the old man had pointed out.
The Devourer let out one final, agonized roar before collapsing to the ground, its body disintegrating into ash before their eyes.
Panting and exhausted, the team stood in silence, watching as the remains of the beast vanished. Anita's hand trembled as she lowered her sword, her gaze turning to the old man who had saved them.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The old man smiled faintly, his eyes still sharp and mysterious. "All in due time," he said softly, before turning and walking away into the shadows.
Anita exchanged a glance with her teammates, a sense of unease settling over them. Whoever that old man was, he was far more than he appeared.
Rohan who was hidden by Anita come out as following master order.