Morning has passed, and it was now a new day beginning as the Red Balloon watches the sun rising in front of the entrance of the den. Cayden hadn't slept since last night due to his new rubbery body. He didn't had the need to nod off to sleep ever, though it did bothered him. Thankfully, as the whole night went by he hadn't felt no other Mana signature aside from Kurk's and Lofa's, so things were rather calm.
'"The Waves of Calamity..."' Cayden said inwardly. 'The name itself sounds bad.'
Pulling up his Status, the Red Balloon displays and reads his stats to himself. He has great damage overall, and his speed wasn't that bad neither, but his defense was just laughable. He was really concerned if he'll be viable enough in fight against high-level enemies.
'Hope that won't happen before I can get back home. Still...I feel bad for these two.' Cayden inwardly told himself as he looked back at Kurk and Lofa sleeping. 'I mean, yeah, I know my world is shitty and all, but a world filled with monsters and crap—that's insane!'
He looked back at the rising sun, considering if he should stay for while and help out this world until he perished the thought a moment later.
'I can't do that. I got people back in my own world that need me. Besides, who would want help from some monster anyway?"
Hearing a yawn behind him, Cayden turned around and saw Kurk waking from slumber.
"Morning, Kurk." Cayden said while staring at the sun.
"Morning." Kurk responded, rubbing his eyes tiredly. "Guess you woke up before us."
"I stayed up last night." Cayden said as he turned back at the sky.
"You didn't sleep?" Kurk questioned.
"Nope, I have no need for it like I used to as a human, strange as it may sound. Didn't had anything else to do, so I just kept a lookout the whole night."
"That's it?" Kurk said with a raised brow suspiciously.
"Yep, pretty much." The Red Balloon answered half boringly. At first, he thought of venturing back into the woods to kill a few more monsters and return to the den, but leaving the two defenseless boys alone and vulnerable while they're sleeping wasn't the best idea for him. If Cayden were to move back into the cave only to find them missing, or worse, killed, the Red Balloon would've been devastated, so he decided to stay at their side.
He then looks over to the pouch beside Kurk and wondered what was inside.
"Lofa mentioned 'bout you two hunting earlier. Are y'all actual hunters?" Cayden questioned.
"What made you think that?" Kurk replied.
"Well, for starters," Cayden began as eyed intensely at Kurk's weapon, "y'all barely equipped yourselves for battle besides a sword and a dagger."
He then stares at Kurk's ragged clothes sharply. Compared to these two, the last humans he encountered had clothes that were somewhat neat.
"And you guys don't wear an attire like any hunters I've seen. I have no experience of hunting, and I'm not trying to sound like a hunting expert or anything, but I'm not sure if you were hunters to begin with."
Kurk could only stare silently at the Red Balloon, amused by the sentient monster's ability to observe everything he sees. It wasn't too amazing, but still amusing.
"You're correct. Me and Lofa are not actual hunters. Instead, we're more of commoners, needing to get quick money."
Kurk grabbed the pouch laying beside and pulled out the same Balloon skin he had stored last night.
'Hol' up, they were hunting Balloons!?' Cayden screamed inwardly. 'If Lofa hadn't stop him, he would've actually attacked me!'
Kurk stared quietly at the rubbery contents in his hands.
"These are skins came from the Balloons we slain before we met you. It was a pain, but with this amount of pieces, it will definitely be worth the struggle once we get coin." Kurk said with a smile of pride.
"So that explains why you're carrying that pouch around." Cayden quipped.
"Yeah," Kurk nodded, "but that's only half the reason why we're out here." Kurk added, making the Red Balloon furrow his brows quizzically.
"Then what's the other half?" Cayden asked the human boy.
Without saying a word, Kurk turns and stares at a sleeping Lofa, snoring softly as if there was no danger. Cayden was confused at first, until it finally hit him, widening his white eyes in realization.
'I get it now.' Cayden said inwardly. 'He's tryin' to toughen him up.'
"Lofa isn't the kind of person when it come to fights, and personally, I don't want to see him fight, but if I were to choose between seeing him standing up for himself and seeing him being pushed from the while world, I would've taken the former." Kurk said.
Cayden smiled upon hearing the older boy's words. It's important to teach the young so that they'll have the knowledge of how to face things in a situation. The Red Balloon just hoped the Demi-human child would have a better experience than he did with his own older siblings.
"How long will it be 'til it's time for the both of you to go home?" The Red Balloon answered questioned.
"Soon. Right after we trade the Balloon skins in the capital." Kurk responded as he put the Balloon skin piece back into his pouch.
"You talkin' 'bout the city close by? With the huge castles?"
"Yeah, that's the capital. Once we're done, we're heading home." Kurk noted.
'Wish I can enter a town without so many people making a fuss about a monster entering their town.' Cayden inwardly said to himself.
Both Cayden and Kurk became silent as they watched the sun rising higher in the sky and gleam on their skin. The Red Balloon honestly though he wouldn't be able to survive on his own, but judging from his time yesterday, this is a way for the new world being, as Cayden would put it, generous to him for what's really to come.
"Lofa, wake up. We have to get ready." Kurk spoke out to the young Demi-human child.
"A little longer, Kurk." Lofa groaned, twisting his body around to get comfortable in his sleep.
"Lofa." Kurk said, raising his tone a little higher.
Raising himself and sitting up straight, Lofa loudly yawned with lazy eyes.
"I'm up, I'm up. Geez..." Lofa grumbled tiredly as he stretched. He then look to the left and saw the Red Balloon sitting in front of the entrance and smiled. "Good morning, Cayden."
"Morning to ya, man. Had a good night's sleep?" The Red Balloon asked, which the boy answered with nod.
"Wish I slept on a bed though." Lofa mumbled sadly.
"No worries. We'll turn that wish into a reality once we get back home." The older boy said before standing up off from the floor.
The younger boy quickly turns at the older boy with a confused expression on his face.
"We're leaving? Already?" Lofa questioned.
"Afraid so. As much as I want to stay out a little longer, we used all our time in the woods."
"We're heading straight home?"
"No, not yet. First, we're heading for the capital so I can trade in these skins."
Upon hearing this, the Demi-human child widened his eyes in terror and had his entire body stiff.
"You mean the same town with the bad people?" Lofa fearfully questioned.
Kurk, after noticing his friend's shift in facial expression, hesitates answering with a "yes". Instead, he answers with another response.
"Lofa, I know you don't want to go back there. Tch, even I don't want to back into that place."
The older boy tensed up and made a stern look that would speak out a "This is serious now" tone.
"Unfortunately for us, we have to go there. The capital is the only nearest place I know where we can sell off these skins."
"But what if we get stared at again?"
"Then we'll just have sell these to the merchant as soon as we can. Or, if it makes you feel a little better, I can take you back home and then trade at the capital."
The Demi-human child sadly dropped his ears. Lofa was immensely worried about going into the same town Cayden saw a day back after learning his levitation ability. At first, the Red Balloon was curious of how the local was town was like. Now, he was troubled by the thought of what the town would really be like.
However, Cayden can only know for sure if he could figure out how to get through without making a scene. He thought of looking for secret passage into the city, but the chances of finding one are slim, and even if does he find one it may lead him to places where he has no business being.
The Red Balloon was pulled away from his thoughts when he sees Lofa closed his eyes and took a deep breath until his face hardened, swiftly washing all his worries away.
"I'll go with you." Lofa said firmly. Kurk silently eyed down at the younger boy. Cayden couldn't really tell what Kurk was thinking right now, but he can tell the older boy was thinking hard.
"I'm not forcing you to come, just so you know." Kurk ensured to the Demi-human child.
"But I want to come, Kurk! Wherever you go, I go!" Lofa exclaimed as he raised both of his fists in front of him.
Staring intensively into the boy's bright yellow eyes, Kurk scanned for a sense of doubt, only to find none. He couldn't decide whether to be glad or afraid from Lofa's eager demeanor so he just under his breath.
"Then we better be off while we can." Kurk said as he grabbed his pouch full of Balloon skins. Lofa also grabbed his own pouch, though it stored far less materials than Kurk's.
"Okay," Lofa sheathes his dagger in the cover beside his hip, "I'm ready to go."
Kurk nods and picks up his sheathed sword before walking out out of the entrance of the den. Lofa was about to follow suit, but he remembered Cayden being with them and turns to the sentient monster.
"You good, Lofa?" Cayden asked the younger boy.
"Well, yeah, it's just..." Lofa frowned and drifted deep into his thoughts. "Are you still coming with us?"
Hearing this, Cayden looked to side and considered what he should say to the young Demi-human. The least can do for them on their departure was to keep them from harm's way until they reached their destination. Other than that, he can't really be with them in a place where people could potentially be hostile towards him. However, before he could let out a word, Kurk beats him to the punch.
"He can't come, Lofa."
"But—"
"We can't bring him with us." Kurk interrupted Lofa mid-sentence. "Not for where we're going."
"But—"
"Nah, it's alright, Lofa." Cayden interjected.
Lofa faces back at Cayden, who stared back with calm eyes.
"The locals wouldn't want me in there anyway." The Red Balloon lightly chuckled, but deep down, he was saddened from seeing them leave. "If I was still human, I would go with you."
"But there still has to be a way for you come with us." Lofa argues back.
The Red Balloon eyed to the side and planned on how travel with the duo while also concealing himself from the public. He then stares between Lofa and Kurk, reminding himself once more of the fact the two poorly prepped in terms of gear.
'Man, that's still bugging' me. They could've just brought along other stuff, yet all they brought was two weapon and two pou–'
He paused. And then he gaped his mouth wide open with a huge grin.
"Lightbulb!" Cayden whispered, catching both boys off guard. "Lofa, do you have anything inside your pouch?"
The now confused Lofa reached down into his pouch and pulled out a few Balloon skins. "I do have these skins."
"Kurk, can ya carry any more of these?" Cayden motioned his body to the skins held by the younger boy.
The older boy checked opened his pouch and estimated his bag having plenty of room. "Yeah. Hold on, what are you planning?"
The Red Balloon smirked.
"To get inside the city."
Melromarc–Castle Town
As the group of three made their way to the capital, Lofa had concealed Cayden in his pouch before departing. While it felt a little uncomfortable, it was just enough for the Red Balloon keep him hidden once the group reaches the city. All he has to do was not make a single sound and not to shift around inside the bag.
"The capitol is close ahead. You know what you have to do, right?" Kurk said, addressing to the monster inside of Lofa's pouch
"I'm still lil' nervous about this, but yeah, I'm ready." Cayden answered. For the first time after becoming a monster, he was finally entering a human city. This was his chance he was waiting for!
"Can I ask you something, Cayden?" Lofa asked while carrying the monster in his pouch.
"Ask away."
"Why is it that you want to get into the city?" Lofa questioned.
"Well, knowing I'm in world where magic exists, I figured that a mage in the city could use a spell to take me back home." Cayden muffled in the bag.
"Didn't you just told us how you died last night?" Kurk said, reminding the Red Balloon of the conversation.
"Yeah, I did, but at the same time, I like to think I'm not really dead. As if, my soul was just taken into another realm while my everything in my world, including my actual body, left in a sort of stasis."
"Meaning everything in your world, after your death, is frozen in place?" Kurk hypothesized
"Yep." Cayden answered.
The Red Balloon heard the older boy muttering something my under his breath, but it didn't matter to him. He was determined to find a way back home, and seeing how smoothly it was going for him, Cayden didn't want to stop here.
"Maybe we should ask Granny Mito if she can help." Lofa said.
"Who?" Cayden muffled quizzically.
"Granny Mito. She's a witch who owns a magic shop." Lofa explained briefly.
"Then we'll go there next, after we're done." Kurk said.
The rest of the walking went on for a while until the group saw the entrance of the huge city ahead of them. Leading towards the entrance was a stone bridge constructed a few feet above a river, populated by a number of fish. Beyond the entrance was the city itself. Cayden remembered the city having one part of the city in the lower level and the other above, making him believe the common folk and nobles lived on two different levels of the city.
"This is it. Once we're inside, make sure not to make a sound. It will attract more attention on us than it already has." Kurk informed, receiving a nod by Cayden.
"And Lofa," Kurk called, gaining the younger boy's attention, "stay close to me, okay?"
Lofa answers with a vigor nod.
As they entered through, Cayden reminded himself not to blow his cover. He doesn't have to worry too much since all he's doing is hiding from the public's eyes, but it's best for him to keep his cool and let the boys take the lead.
Looking from inside of Lofa's pouch, the Red Balloon can see many people walking around and trading various products in the streets of the capitol. He even smelled some cooked food in the air that wasn't half bad. But what really caught his eye were the alphabets on the signs of a few buildings. They were written in a format he couldn't understand. The markings, the symbols—everything about theme was unrecognizable to the Red Balloon, and he didn't see no sign of English, or any other languages he knew of anywhere on the buildings.
Which means that he was illiterate. Great, he thought sarcastically.
Cayden focused back on the people around him and realized they were glaring towards his way. Yet, the people weren't glaring at him.
But instead, they were aimed at Kurk and Lofa.
The townspeople's glare were emitting hate and disgust. They were comparable to the same looks he seen in his own world, and there was no doubt that the two boys were alarmed.
Yet, they still trekked on.
'I wonder who will they trade the skins with in this place. Now that I think 'bout it, what use does the skins have anyway?' Cayden questioned himself inwardly.
The Red Balloon saw a man exchanging what looks like Balloon skins with a merchant before the merchant gave the man coins.
'This might be the guy exchanging money for skins.' Cayden told himself inwardly.
The merchant said his goodbye to the customer and waved as they went their own. When the merchant laid his eyes on the two boys approaching him, his expression shifted into a less welcoming look, making Cayden narrow his pale eyes suspiciously.
'Now he has sour look. ...' Cayden inwardly said.
"Ah, it's you two again. Been busy in the woods again, I see?" The merchant said mockingly to Kurk.
"I'm here to make an exchange."
"Yes, yes, I know. Many have come to trade Balloon skins. You're just one of the many few who comes more frequently, unfortunately." The merchant said bitterly, making Kurk bite hard on his tongue to try and contain himself.
"So, let's see how much you have this time."
Kurk began pulling out his horde of Balloon skins and showed all of it to the merchant. The merchant then inspected the skins laid before him, counting each one by one.
"Quite a horde you're carrying. I'm impressed. It's not common for one to have over 30 pieces." The merchant said nonchalantly.
The merchant stares down at Lofa, which made the young Demi-human startled, before staring back at Kurk.
"However, I can't exchange coin with you anymore." The merchant told Kurk, who was now angry with him. "Ever since you and Demi-human started trading with me, more and more people steered away. Keeping this up any longer, and I'll be out of business."
"Then what the hell am I supposed with the materials I gathered!? It took us days to get this much!" Kurk exclaimed.
The merchant shrugs. "I don't know—trade them with another merchant or something? What I do know is that you can't trade here—EVER. So take your skins somewhere else."
'Dick!' Cayden said inwardly, referring to the merchant.
Growling bitterly, Kurk took back the materials from the stand and stored them back in his pouch before walking off with Lofa without saying another word. Suddenly, they've been halted by someone shouting behind them.
"Hey, you!" A gruff voice shouted towards the group. "What do you think you and your pet are doing here!?"
Kurk and Lofa turned behind and saw that the voice belonged to a chubby man, alongside with two other men. One of them was more built and buff while the other was lanky and slim. Despite their looks, they all glared the same at the two boys.
'Goddamn it. Right when we're leaving.' Cayden said inwardly.
The three men walked up towards the boys with sick smile curving upwards. Seeing this, Kurk pulled Lofa behind me so that he wouldn't get caught between the conflict.
"Got some nerve showing your Demi-human loving face back in town." The buff one said roughly.
"What do you want?" Kurk growled.
The men responded by laughing and cackling as if the older boy told a joke.
"You hear him? Asking us like he has anything to give away!" The lanky man said mockingly.
"Hah, what else do you expect from a lowly brat like him?" The fat one added.
Kurk gritted his teeth angrily and gripped the handle of his sword tighter. This only prompted the men continue their bombardment of insults on the boy.
"Struck a nerve, have we? What, you gonna pull out your sword and play 'Knight'?" The fat one mocked. "Hate to break it to you, but holding your papa's sword doesn't make less of a Demi-human, loving brat."
More insults were thrown at Kurk and Lofa, unable to do anything about it. From inside Lofa's pouch, Cayden glared intensely at the men with irritation in his eyes. The more they let their mouth run, the more pissed off the Red Balloon was. He wished could jump out of Lofa's pouch and teach them a lesson, but doing would blow his cover and attract unwanted attention.
Tension grew between Kurk and the three men with neither side backing away. The men watched Kurk in anticipation, waiting for what he'll do next, and they knew he couldn't contain himself much longer.
"Is there a problem here, gentlemen?"
A voice suddenly called out, making everyone turn at the person.
It was boy clad in armor from head to toe. The boy seems to be around at least 15 or 16 years old. This surprised Cayden, seeing someone slightly younger than Kurk to be adorned in armor plates.
'Is he a knight?! How the hell someone so young becomes a knight?' Cayden questioned inwardly. He quickly regretted the thought when he realized there were many media
"I'm afraid so, sir," the merchant said, "and of all places, it has to happen right where I work."
"Can you tell me what happened?" The young knight asked the merchant.
"I told these two to sell their materials somewhere else. Suddenly these three bubbling idiots came and made things even worse. Tell them all to go away; I can't do work if there's a fight happening near it."
Comprehending what had transpired before his arrival, the young knight faced towards the three men.
"Is there anything I need to know as to why you're causing a ruckus? You're not disturbing the peace again, are you?" The young knight questioned the men, making them sweat nervously.
'Oh, the three bums started shit before, huh?' Cayden said inwardly.
"O-oh, uh, n-no sir." The buff one stuttered.
"We were just heading off to the tavern, that's all, heh." The slim one nervously added.
'If that were true you would've been gone right now, dumbass.' The Red Balloon inwardly retorted.
The young knight squinted his eyes suspiciously at the men, possibly knowing their words spoke nothing but blatant lies. He then quickly hides his suspicion with carefree smile.
"Well, off to you then. Just don't get into any more trouble. You already been jailed last time." The young knight warned the men.
"Will do, sir!" The fat one said before he urged the other two men to follow him away from the knight's sight, much to Cayden's relief.
After handling the situation, the young knight turned towards Kurk and Lofa.
"Are you all right, sir?" The young knight asked
"Other than being bad-mouthed, yes." Kurk answered. "Me and Lofa were just heading over the Magic Shop."
"The Magic Shop? Then how about I escort you there?"
"No, we're fine, we can go on our own."
"Please, sir. It would be best if I stay by your side. Seeing as how ugly things were going, I doubt it would be the end of it."
Taking the knight's word with deep consideration, Kurk stood in silence as he thought having the knight guide through the city.
"All right, then. Lead the way." Kurk told the young knight.
The young-looking knight smiled brightly upon hearing the older boy's answer before taking Kurk and Lofa to their destination with Cayden silently hiding in Lofa's pouch.
It didn't stop the crowd from staring at them, but it added a sense of security for the boys and the Red Balloon knowing that people would think twice before antagonizing someone with a officer beside them.
"So, how's your day so far, sir?" The knight asked.
"Stop calling me "sir", Ake. You know my name." Kurk said to the knight, now known as Ake.
"Sorry, I can't help it." Ake said sheepishly. "It's just something I kinda gotten used to ever since I joined the ranks."
"Still, that doesn't mean we can't call each other by first name basis."
"Heh, yeah, got me there."
'They know each other? Now shit is just gettin' weird now.' Cayden thought.
As Ake escorted the group, him and Kurk kept exchanging one response with another, talking about simple things that weren't at all important for Cayden.
"Didn't you heard?" Ake asked.
"About what?" Kurk replied.
"The Summoning. Of the Four Legendary Heroes? It just happened earlier this morning."
"Wait, all four of them? Here? In the same place?!"
"Even the Shield Hero?" Lofa jumped in.
"I guess so."
Kurk growled under this breath upon hearing the young knight's words. Cayden wasn't sure why, but he knew what the young knight said didn't sit right with Kurk.
"That old bastard!" Kurk murmured bitterly. "What made him think that was even a slightest good idea!?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure nothing bad will come out for it." Ake replied as if he had bo worries, though, this only angered Kurk even more.
"Are you serious? Every nation, including our own, should have only one Hero each! Having ALL of the Heroes in one spot can cause major problems!"
This caught the Red Balloon's attention really fast. He was told by Kurk about the Legendary Heroes and their Summoning, but he wasn't informed of how the Summoning Ritual was supposed to be used, nor was he informed why having all of the Heroes of Legend in one spot is a bad thing.
Whatever the reason, he can still be able to tell that it's not good.
"We can only hope that it doesn't." Ake replied.
"And if it does?" Kurk said with raised brow.
Ake remained silent for a brief moment until he came up with an answer.
"Then...then we'll have to be ready before the time comes."
Sighing to himself, Kurk continued following Ake on the rest of the way without saying anything else. Lofa was tempted to say something to the older boy, but after he saw Kurk in a bad mood, he kept himself quiet and continued on.
"Welp, we're finally here, guys." Ake called out as he stood in front of building, which Cayden had thought was the Magic Bookstore Lofa mentioned.
"Thanks for helping us, Ake." Lofa said to the young knight with a small smile
"It's my job, little guy." Ake chuckled. "Gotta go now. Have to make sure no one else starts any more trouble."
Walking away from the two boys, the young knight began making his own way in the city.
"Oi, Ake!" Kurk called out behind Ake, who immediately stops and faces back the older boy. "...Thanks for having my back. Truly."
"Don't mention it, Kurk. After all, we're still friends, right?" Ake said with huge grin.
Kurk smirks in response. "Right."
"Take care of yourselves, now!" Ake saluted to the other boys before leaving the scene and heading off somewhere else.
Kurk, Lofa, and Cayden watched as the young knight departed before facing at the door of store that was owned by a magician.
'This is the place. Damn, I'm so nervous.' Cayden said inwardly. He sensed a Mana signature inside of the shop. From the shape alone, it belonged to a woman.
"You think Grandma might be mad us?" Lofa asked the older boy
"For what?" Kurk replied confusingly.
"You know, for what happened last night? How we met Cayden?"
"Not really. If anything, she'll mostly be mad at me for letting you go off on your own, not saying I put my hopes on it." Kurk said before looking down at Lofa's pouch, where he can see Cayden's big pale eyes
"The part with Cayden, though, will be hard explaining to grandma. There's no telling how she would react towards him." Kurk told the Demi-human child.
"Not unless we try, right?"
"Exactly. You're scared?"
"Only a little, but I'm also excited to see her again!"
"Let's head on inside and see her then."
Both Kurk and Lofa entered the store and was greeted with a sound of a bell ring above the door and items and products you would see in a fictional magic shop, like books, staffs, and various other items. The crystal balls behind the counter caught caught Cayden's attention the most as he felt Mana stored inside, another result of his [Insight].
In the middle of the room was a counter table holding a huge crystal ball above a cushion. The Red Balloon sensed a way more potent energy inside of the object compared to the others, almost as if it was used more often than the other crystal balls.
"Coming in just a moment." Shouted a feminine voice from another room across the group. A door opened ahead behind the counter, revealing an elderly woman. The old lady was pudgy and was wearing an attire similar to a witch.
"Granny Mito!" Lofa exclaimed joyfully as he ran up to the front counter.
"Oh my goodness! Lofa, what happened to you?" The elderly woman, now known as Mito, asked when she noticed the tears on the young boy's clothes and bite marks on his skin.
"A lot! And it was awesome!"
Mito had a shocked expression before turning to face at the older boy sternly.
"I hope you have a good explanation, Kurk." Mito said in a small yet serious tone.
As he expected, Kurk only sighs in defeat and starts explaining everything that happened. He told her about their entire day hunting Orange Balloons and how Lofa was hurt during their hunting session, which made the old lady nearly mortified.
"You left him alone?!" Mito exclaimed.
"He said he was hungry, so I left him in the den and told him to stay put while I went getting food, only to come back and see him missing, so I went out once more and searched for him." Kurk explained.
"And what was your reason for going on your own through the forest, Lofa?" Mito addressed the younger boy with her arms crossed.
"I...wanted to find food." Lofa sheepishly responded.
"Even though I was already searching for food."
"You took too long!"
"I was gone for 10 minutes!'
"That's still too long!"
"How's that too long?!"
"It just is!"
"No, it's not!"
"Yes, it is!
"No, it's not!
"Yes, it is!
Once more, the brotherly duo are bickering amongst themselves while Cayden and Mito had stood in place while unintentionally sharing their frustration from listening to them argue.
"Boys!" Mito shouted, regaining the boys' attention. "Tell me what happened."
"You see, Granny Mito, after I left the den, I went off to find something I can munch on. I was minding my business until a group of Mushes came out of nowhere and attack me. I ran away as fast as I could, but they were still on my tail. I thought they would get me." Lofa explained.
The animal-earred boy made a huge smile that reach ear to ear.
"Then I ran into Cayden!"
"Cayden?" Mito repeated questionably.
"Yeah! He was the one who saved me, and you should've seen him! He was amazing! Cayden fought them off like it was nothing, even when they all attacked at once! It was awesome, and he's nice too!" Lofa exclaimed, which made the Red Balloon embarrassed from the Demi-human child's fascination in the monster.
"Hhmm, he sounds a lot like an adventurer." Mito hummed.
"I then called out to Kurk when I heard his voice and he immediately came his way. That's when he met Cayden too. Kurk didn't trusted Cayden at first, but after some time he started to lighten up with Cayden." Lofa explained
"After we brought him to our den, he told us about himself–how he wasn't from this world and how he was stranded for hours." Kurk added. "He also told us that he sought help passerbys he encountered, but they refused to help him."
"Oh, my." Mito replied shockingly. "That's troubling... Is he alright?"
Cayden, flabbergasted from the witch's sincere concern for him, made a small smile before frowning once he realized the lady said all those things without meeting him in person.
"Yes ma'am." Kurk answered. "He... didn't had anywhere to go, so we let him stay in our den for the night. Since then, he surprisingly stayed awake and kept a lookout for us."
Mito closed her eyes and sighed in relief upon hearing the older boy's words. "Thank goodness. It really sounds like he's in a bad spot right now. Is he still with you?"
Simultaneously, Kurk and Lofa had cold sweat forming above their brow.
"About that, grandmother, that's just it. We came here so we can find someone who's willing to help Cayden, and we thought you could maybe help him." Kurk said.
"Oh, why of course." Mito happily replied. "Anything for you, boys. Now, where is he?"
The older boy looked over the Demi-human and nodded, signaling him that it's time. Understanding Kurk's signal, Lofa turns and faces at the old witch.
"Granny Mito, promise you'll not to freak out. Because what we're about to show could be...strange for you." Lofa told the old witch.
Mito had confusion plastered all over her face, yet she complied with a dubious nod of her head before Lofa reached inside his pouch and grab ahold on Cayden.
'Please don't scream, please don't scream, please don't scream.' Cayden inwardly pleaded continuously as Lofa pulled him out out the pouch and held him in his hands, similar to how a child would hold a ball. Mito gasped with shock at the sight of a monster held in the boy's arm.
Cayden and Mito gave each other a nervous gaze in their eyes. The witch had sweat forming on her forehead, causing the Red Balloon to become nervous as well.
It wasn't new to Cayden; people would normally freeze and tense up, and because of that, Cayden would get anxious of how they would react. Yet, he guess it'll be a while until he gets use to it.
"Granny Mito, this is Cayden. He's our new friend, and the person we been telling you about." Lofa happily said, despite seeing the old witch alarmed look on her face.
"You mean... this Balloon saved you?"
"Yeah, but like I said, he's really nice."
Mito faced towards Kurk. "Is this true?"
"I was skeptical when I first saw him, but after seeing the huge bite marks on the Mushes I knew straight away that Lofa wasn't the one who made those marks."
The witch widened her eyes before staring at Cayden once more. This time, she gotten a good look on the Red Balloon. Balloon monsters usually have a never-ending scowl on their faces, however, this one Balloon had a more worrisome expression.
"If what they say is true, then you have my deepest gratitude for saving my grandson, Cayden." The witch told the Red Balloon happily.
Cayden was hesitant of speaking back to the old woman, but he still wanted her know that he appreciated her thanking him.
"You're welcome, ma'am." Cayden said to Mito, who was taken aback by the voice coming out of his mouth.
"So you can speak..."
"Heh, yeah, Lofa and Kurk were surprised when I first talked, so it would make sense you would too."
A monster with verbal and cognitive ability was (and is) hard to come by for the old witch–not to mention the Red Balloon addressed her as "ma'am". She curious at first, but now, she's interested.
"Well, it's a pleasure meeting you, Cayden. My name is Mito, though you already knew my name the second the little one came rushing through the door." Mito said with light chuckle. "So, what brings you here in this city?"
"Ms. Mito," Cayden began speaking. "These two told me that you're the owner of a Magic Shop."
"Correct. However, they haven't brought you here to inspect my wares. From what I hear the two, they brought you here in order for you to seek aid."
The Red Balloon nodded in response as he was held in Lofa's arms.
"Can you explain to me why, if you don't mind?" Mito kindly asked the Red Balloon.
"Yeah. To start things off..."
Cayden began telling the witch everything what happened to him, from his time as a human to the moment he was reincarnated as a new being without leaving out any detail no matter how ridiculous it sounded. To his surprise, the old witch listened to him. She was shocked hearing his story, but it was expected.
"So," Mito started speaking after listening to Cayden's story, "you wanted to find a way back to your homeworld."
"Yes, ma'am." Cayden nodded. "That's why Lofa and Kurk brought me here. I thought you might know a spell that could, y'know, take me home by any chance."
Mito frowned sadly from the Balloon's words, which made Cayden worry over her next response.
"Forgive me, but I won't be much of a help, I'm afraid." Mito said sadly.
Cayden widened his pale eyes in shock from what the old witch said to him.
"This is a bit of a hunch of my own, but your way of being brought here to our world may be similar to a summon, much like the Legendary Holy Heroes."
"Summoned?"
"Yes. However, unlike them, where the location of their summoning is accurate and precise, your's were more randomized." Mito explained.
"So you tellin' me some guy had an idea of raisin' people from the dead, only to unintentionally have them scattered in places other than the one spot he wanted them bunched up? That's dumb!" The Red Balloon said.
"I don't know who initiated the summon nor do I know the reason why they summoned you, but whatever reason they did it for, it seemed like they were desperate."
"What 'bout me, huh?! I'm as desperate as the next dude! Isn't that enough to ask for help?!" Cayden said as he floated off of Lofa's arms angrily.
Kurk was seconds away of intervening the angry Balloon when the old witch help up her palm in front of him. Mito could only stare at the Red Balloon's pale eyes. She knows that the monster was growing anxious, but she also knows that he won't like what she'll say next.
"You don't understand, Cayden. It's not that I don't want to help you. I wish there's was something I can do, but... I can't." Mito sorrowfully said.
"...Huh?" Cayden said in shock, his face dropping into that of confusion.
"There's no spell I know that can possibly take you back. The Summoning is irreversible for those who were already summoned, making transportation back to their homeworld... impossible, especially if they died prior to the Summoning. I'm sorry..."
Cayden motionlessly stood in place midair, mortified by the woman's words. He was sure there'll be someway that he will make it home, someway of seeing his family again. Now, after hearing Mito's words, he felt his entire world crumble before him.
He began realizing that this may be it for him. He was stuck, trapped, never to go back to the old life he had. He was a doomed boy, trapped in a doomed body of possibly the most weakest monster, trapped in a doomed world fated to end. Just as he feared.
"Cayden?" Lofa called him from behind. The Red Balloon hears the young Demi-human speaking, but doesn't say anything back.
"So, that's it, then? I die and get resurrected from the dead, just to be stuck here for the rest of life?" Cayden said out loud, mainly to himself.
"...Not entirely." Mito murmured. Cayden furrowed his brows in confusion, curious of what the lady was interpreting.
"Legend has it that the ritual were initiated for the sole purpose of selecting the future Heroes existing here in our world, or in other worlds. The Heroes are then tasked with fighting off the Waves, and once reaching their goal, they have a chance of returning to their homeworld."
"But I'm ain't a Hero. Neither do I want to be one."
"Yes, I know—far from it, evidently. You have no weapons, yet I can't help but to notice some similarities between your Summon and the Heroes'. Whoever summoned you and whatever their intentions are for summoning you are unclear to me, therefore a theorized explanation will be difficult. However, there may still be a chance for you getting back home."
"...What are you suggestin', lady?" Cayden asked, almost fearful of hearing the witch's reply.
"...Cayden, you must fight off the Waves." Mito firmly replied.
Everyone, especially Cayden, were taken aback by her words. Fight off the Waves? That wasn't part of his plan!
"What?!" The Red Balloon shockingly exclaimed. "You can't be serious?!"
"I'm afraid it's the only way at this point, Cayden. If you're determined to get home, then you must do this."
"Naw! I didn't die just to be forced to fight! Or fight at all!"
"I'm just as troubled as you are of the position you're in currently. However, that is your best and only chance if you're truly determined to get back home. Are you willing to throw that chance aside?"
Cayden growled lowly in frustration. He knows that the woman was only trying to help, yet he can't help but feel like he's being pushed into a corner, and he hated that. It was as if all of this was a big cheat for him; he wasn't given a choice–he was given an ultimatum! It was unfair to him!
But what can he do? Rage out like a baby until he magically appears back into his old life? Yeah, that's not gonna happen.
So, he closes his eyes and sighs before looking up to the witch again.
"How long do we have 'til the Wave starts?" Cayden asked.
"Less than month." Mito replied. Cayden winced from this. However, he reminded himself of the promise he made for himself.
"I'll... I'll do it." Cayden reluctantly spoke.
Getting his answer, Mito walk from behind the counter table and approached Kurk with a small bag.
"Boys, take Cayden as far away from the city as possible. There's been talk about your friend near the region." Mito told the boys. This shocked all but the Red Balloon, who predicted that this may happen sooner or later.
"When did—" Lofa tried to ask until he was interrupted by the old witch.
"That doesn't matter. If anyone sees him here in the city, they will undoubtedly harm him. Take this with you also." Mito replied as she extended the small bag in her hand to Kurk.
After he took the bag, Kurk opened it and was surprised to see a bunch of silver stored inside.
"It's silver. A lot of it, too." Kurk said "Why—"
"Deodore gave me it to me. He wanted me to give it you once you come back in the city, saying that you'll need them in the future the future."
Kurk stared intensely at the bag full of coins with a nasty look. Mito expected the look of refusal, so she tries convincing him.
"Deodore cares for you, Kurk. Things hadn't been easy for any of us, but he's trying."
"By just buying me like I'm some object? You can have it. I don't have no need for it."
Kurk was about to hand the bag back to Mito when she held out her palm and shook her head in refusal.
"The bag's for you, and you only, child. Besides, I have no need for it as well."
Kurk wasn't convinced from her words, making the old witch sigh somberly. However, she tries one good last time.
"I understand things between you and Deodore are shaky, but you don't have refuse just to make a point. Take it. If not for yourself, then at least for me. Please?"
Kurk stared at his grandmother in front of him, her eyes locked into his own. Not wanting to hurt the old witch's heart, he willingly took the bag of coin and put it in his back pocket, putting a small smile on his grandmother's face.
"Thank you, grandson. Now, quickly, take yourselves into safety before anyone hears us, and be careful."
"Yes, ma'am." Said the two boys and the Balloon monster as they prepare to walk out of the shop with Cayden concealed in Lofa's pouch once again.
"And Cayden!" Mito called out the Red Balloon's name.
Kurk and Lofa immediately stopped, just a feet by the exit, while Cayden popped out of the pouch halfway with only his top half of his body showing.
"There's no telling where the next Wave will happen once it begins. Grow strong as much as you can before it does." Mito advised to the Red Balloon.
Cayden shifted his eyes away in consideration before shifting them back to the old witch and nods, understanding the message. The Red Balloon hid back into Lofa's pouch as the two boys exited the shop, leaving only Mito alone.
The old witch frowns somberly as she closes her eyes shut, remembering the distressed expression of the sentient Balloon earlier.
Never in her life did she witness a Balloon that didn't act monstrously, or even talked for that matter! It was only after seeing it burst in justified anger did she realized that the Balloon was more human than she anticipated; hell it felt even more human than, dare she say, most other humans living in this world.
"Good luck in your travels, Cayden." Mito whispered quietly.
Chapter End