Eda loaned me one of her cloaks for the walk the following morning back to the library. Unfortunately, Eda had school, which meant a bright and early morning was in order for the both of us. Pulling the hood over my rounded ears, we made our way down the forest trail without any incident.
It still blew me away how diverse the town was, but I fought to make sure I was not caught gawking. Somebody staring at the slime monster dripping down the street would be noticed immediately as a foreigner. No. The goal was to blend in, like a smoothie. Smooth and part of the program. Still, it was difficult.
As Eda dragged me down the cobbled path, my eyes were drawn to a small shack labeled "Bounty." Immediately, I was attracted to the board, not so much by the money on the board, but by the artistic renderings of different beings, all wanted for one reason or another.
"Ah!" A large, lizard-like figure lumbered up to me, giving me a large 'Whack!' on the back, "I see we have ourselves a future bounty hunter! When you graduate Hexside, I bet you're going to face all of the strongest beasts!"
Part of me was annoyed at that comment, before remembering that I was stuck in the body of a child. Turning back to the hunter, he began pointing out the figures, naming them with excitement.
He pointed to a picture of a teen, half his face covered in long blond hair. "You have Archer- former Golden Guard, the highest bounty is on his head, for betrayal of the Emperor's Coven!"
"Then there is Alathor!" the hunter showed a young man. Even his picture gave off an air of power. In his hand was a badger shaped staff, "Wildest Witch of the land. Though rumor has it he is dead, many say otherwise!"
"Then there is the human!" my head snapped to the hunter now pointing at a silhouette of a person, rounded ears and all. The caption read, 'Captured Alive! The Emperor Requires this rare beast!'
Pulling my hood tighter to my head, I glanced at the lizard-man and started to sweat. There was a price on my head, and I had just stepped up to the stand where bounties were turned in! Giving a pained smile, the lizard hunter cocked his head at me before giving a fanged smile.
"You probably have to get to school, don't chya?" I nodded. Giving me one more 'whack!' for good measure, he ushered me forward. I scurried along, holding my hood to my head the whole way down the street before realizing I lost Eda!
