Chapter 10_A Clear Choice with an Unclear How

Chapter Summary: Shouta makes his decision to save Hizashi. The question is how and what he'll have to leave behind to do so?

Shouta's eyes shot open as his body jolted upright. Skin paler than the usual snow-white color shivered as sweat as cold as ice formed in droplets. His blood-red eyes were dilated as everything he saw replayed in his mind, over and over at varying speeds. His breath was heavy and fast, but it could not match the way his heart was racing.

Hizashi was being tortured, and it was all his fault. All because Hizashi wanted to protect him like he always did. Snow—Snow White had to save him! He had to go back and-

"Shh… Breathe..." Chiyo's voice cut through his frantic state and gently managed to bring him back to reality. Her hand was on his back, rubbing it to offer the horrified man comfort. "Calm yourself. It won't do to panic."

At first, Shouta was angry at her words. Calm himself? Hizashi, his lover, his best friend, his everything, was being tortured all because of him! How could he even consider being calm? He wanted to throw her off him and run out of the door, through forest back to the palace so he could murder that bastard king who dared to hurt his sunshine and save Hizashi.

Despite all these emotions, Shouta's breath and heartbeat did settle eventually. When he was steady, he dropped his head to his hands. His eyelids fought against tears that started to form.

"He's hurt..." he mumbled.

"I know. I saw."

"You did?" Chiyo nodded, her face solemn. Shouta shook his head, not really caring about the explanation. Not when he had more important things to worry about.

"I have to go. I have to save him!" He swung his legs over the table and tried to stand only to stumble back. His limbs felt like jelly, and he was light-headed, just barely able to stay upright. Chiyo balanced him and sat the man back down.

"You need to steady yourself," she told him. She went over to the tea kettle and poured some herbal tea into a cup. "Here. I know you don't have a taste for it, however, it'll help you recuperate." Shouta growled.

"I don't have time for your damn tea!" he snarled. He slammed a palm on the stone table, sending a jolt of pain up his arm, which he ignored as he gritted his teeth. "Hizashi is being tortured, maybe even killed! I have to save him before-"

"And how are you going to do that?" Chiyo's smooth tone delicately cut through the fog of anger in his mind like a knife. The man blinked, thrown off slightly.

"What?"

"How are you going to save him, hmm?" She pressed the tea to his hands. It took everything Shouta had not to smash it to the ground. She continued, "You have no magic, no army, no fighting skills that I can see—can you even use a weapon?"

"Yes!" Sort of. He could aim a crossbow—mostly. "I'll think of something! All I know is that I have to go back!" he said, his expression that of a stubborn child.

"And then what? Get your heart ripped out and make your Hizashi's suffering be for nothing?" Chiyo scolded. Shouta flinched at her words, his shoulders rising as his head sunk. "I understand it's hard to accept, but we both know that if you go back to the castle now, then not only will you die, but so will Hizashi." Shouta's grip on the cup tightened. Even if another part of him wanted to deny it, the other couldn't. Chiyo pressed onward.

"King Shigaraki has your friend alive for one reason, and one reason only; as live bait. Once you bite the line, then the king won't need him anymore. For all his faults, he's well aware that if your friend dies, you'll most likely disappear to honor his memory. If he's alive, however, Shigaraki knows you'll come to save him."

"Tch!" Shouta made an unhappy sound in his throat, hands yanking at his hair. Shouta lived his whole life rationally and logically, but for once in his life, Shouta didn't want to be rational. Not when it kept him from rescuing Hizashi.

"So what do I do then?" he snapped. "I can't just leave Hizashi there. I won't!"

"And I would not ask you to," Chiyo said. As usual, she remained calm, making Shouta wonder what it would take to shake her. "What I am asking is that you calm yourself and think before you get yourself and Hizashi killed."

Shouta muttered a few curses under his breath but complied, if only for Hizashi's sake. He knew she was right, as much as he loathed it. It wasn't likely that Hizashi would be killed—yet. However, if Shouta ran in there without a plan, then that vindictive bastard would kill Hizashi in front of Shouta's eyes before cutting out his heart.

He groaned and leaned forward, a few stray tears dripped into the tea as he started to cry at his helplessness.

"Why is all this happening?" he muttered to himself.

"Is that a rhetorical question, or do you actually want an answer?" Shouta thought about this for a moment. It was rhetorical as he didn't think she had answers, but now it was something productive to think about. Plus, the information might give him ideas on what to do next.

He wiped away a few stray tears with the back of his hand and looked up with determination.

"I know that King Shigaraki wants to cut out my heart," he explained. "I don't know why though. Hizashi said he might need it for some dark spell but why is he so desperate for mine? And why now after all these years?"

Chiyo grabbed her tea and poured it into a bowl. She picked up the jewel and touched it to the surface of the liquid, then gripped it in her palm. As she did this, Shouta noticed her eyes were glowing. Her pupils vanished along with the whites of her eyes, giving her an unearthly look.

She was silent for a time, making Shouta more anxious with every passing second. He jumped when she spoke.

"The king doesn't want just any heart," she said. "He wants your heart and yours alone. He is being led down a path by-" She paused too long for comfort. "Something that should have been destroyed a long time ago. It blinds the king with half-truths and promises of power, your power, down a road he won't be able to come back from." Shouta's confused frown tightened between his eyes.

"What are you talking about? What thing are you talking about? And What power? I don't have any power, magical or otherwise." If he did, then he wouldn't be in this mess. Chiyo shook her head.

"That's not true, your highness," she said. "In fact, you were born with a very unique power that no one else has; one called 'Erasure.'"

"Erasure?" Shouta repeated. "And that's…?"

"It's a power that allows you to nullify magic completely," she explained. "It's a very rare form of wizard magic. Only instead of drawing energy and converting it into power, it cuts magic from its source. Any spell or curse, your powers will dispel it. It's not honed very well yet, so it'll only work for a small amount of time."

"And you think the King is afraid I'll use it against him?" he asked.

"I know it."

"What does my heart have to do with it? It is really important, or does he just want me dead?" Was he just too fixated on that detail? Maybe the king just wanted to kill him.

"It's very important. If he wants your power, then he has to eat it."

"What?!" Oh, wonderful! Not only did his insane stepfather want to cut out his heart, but he wanted to eat it. Even Chiyo grimaced at this.

"It's a warlock thing. If they have a contract with a demon then the warlock can devour the hearts of others and steal their powers." Shouta remembered something; as a child, a ton of witches and wizards would visit the palace from far and near to impress the royals. Nowadays, none of them came near the kingdom. Was that why? Did Shigaraki kill so many witches and wizards in the past that it became well known that they stayed away?

Shouta swallowed.

"You said 'if they have a contract with a demon?'" he said. "Does that mean…?" The nod the witch gave was sad and solemn, as if she were at a funeral, mourning the dead.

"Yes. And a very, very powerful one. One we hoped and prayed was dead and gone. Now I see that was a fool's hope. He may not be as powerful as he once was, but he's still powerful enough. Even trapped behind diamond and gold, he has still caused countless pain and death by mere influence alone. It's not long before he'll be free. When that happens-" She didn't finish, but she didn't have to. A shiver was already racing down his spine.

Even Shouta knew the dark history of demons; how they nearly destroyed the continent and everyone on it. They were said to disappear but there were always stories and rumors of how some were still around. How they lurked in the shadows just waiting for the siren's song to call them back to the world.

The witch went on with her speech.

"And it is because of him you cannot even hope to face Shigaraki head-on. If you even try—your fate will be worse than death, just as Shigaraki's will be one day."

Shouta's head dropped forward into his palm with a curse.

This was insane. This was all insane! He had magic powers? Powers Shigaraki wanted to steal by eating his heart? And he was working with a demon? Seriously—well, okay that part made sense. It had been rumored for years he was doing just that. The rest though was all madness. This whole situation was just-

"Insane..." he muttered. "There's nothing rational about this… why wait until now? I've been living at the palace for years under his nose. And as far as this 'Erasure' crap goes, like I said, I've never used magic before in my life." Chiyo's eyes sparkled.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Of course!" He would know if he cast a spell or erased something, wouldn't he? He pushed his hair back.

Okay. So the situation was this;

Shigaraki wanted to devour his heart to steal a power Shouta wasn't even sure he had and was using Hizashi as bait and torturing him with every moment that passed. To top it all off Shigaraki had made a contract with a fucking demon.

In short, he was screwed.

Even so, Shigaraki had Hizashi and Shouta had to rescue him—no matter what.

He looked up, determination blazing in his gaze.

"So, what do I do? How do I defeat Shigaraki?" he asked. Chiyo squinted at the water, clutching the jewel a little tighter. Sweat was starting to form on her brow.

"...You can't."

"What?!" The witch shook her head.

"As I said, Shigaraki holds the power of a demon that you are no match for. Your power is strong… but it's no match for it. Not at this point."

"Then what should I do?"Shouta asked. She was right, he couldn't fight Shigaraki. Maybe he could sneak in the palace dungeon and then break out with Hizashi? It was risky, but he didn't see another choice.

He was surprised when Chiyo grinned.

"Since you are unable to face Shigaraki and his demon, it stands to reason that you find someone who can," she said as if it was the simplest thing in the world. Shouta looked up, annoyed at her tone but hopeful at her words.

"And do you know who can?" Chiyo looked harder at the vision, swaying just slightly. Shouta tapped his foot and fidgeted as he waited, biting his lip so he didn't snarl or snap at the woman. After a long few minutes, her expression became one full of surprise.

"It can't be…" she gasped.

"Who is it?" Shouta asked, his patience dangling by a thread that was inches from snapping. Chiyo took a deep breath to steady herself.

"The one who can defeat the demon trapped in the mirror—the ONLY one—is none other than the great hero of legend himself-The Demon Slayer; All Might."

Shouta stared at her, expressionless. Moments ticked by before the man jumped to his feet, growling.

"Are you kidding me?!" he snarled, feeling his temper rising. Of all times to tell jokes…! "You're telling, you're actually telling me, that to defeat my insane warlock stepfather I need to find a fairy tale character that doesn't even exist?!" The witch shook her head and fixed him with a look that froze him in place.

"He does exist," she said calmly, but firmly. "He used to live in these very woods, in the cottage where the dwarfin children now dwell. Now, however, he lives in the Golden Valley near the sea, past these woods and over the mountain with the Elfs."

"The Elfs?" No one had seen the elfs in over a few decades. It was believed that they all died during the war, leaving only humans, like Hizashi, who had elfin blood. But if Dwarfs still existed why not elfs?

'So what? I'm supposed to travel who knows where to find a fantasy warrior from stories?' Even thinking it was insane.

None of this seemed reasonable or logical, but then again he was sitting in a cabin in the middle of an enchanted demon forest with seven dwarfs playing outside with a stone golem. Logic's hold was very loose here. Besides, it wasn't like there were any other options presented to him at the moment. He wasn't good at sneaking and if Shouta was caught then both he and Hizashi—well, he heard the tales about demons and he knew Shigaraki well enough to know that he didn't even want to imagine it.

Even so-

"...This is all real? Not some sort of crazy lie?"

"No lie. it's all true."

"And All Might can help me save Hizashi?"

"Yes." Shouta took a breath.

"Then how do I find him?" he asked. The old woman's body started to quiver, but she swallowed hard and spoke through trembling breaths.

"You must journey South; pass the woods and over the Crystal Mountain, and through the Ashen Plaines. There you will find the Golden Valley where the Elfin Folk dwell-"

Chiyo stumbled back and the stone fell from her hand. Shouta rushed to her side and caught her as she started to tumble.

"Are you alright?!" he asked her. She took a breath, then gave a small nod.

"I am. Just… Just haven't used that much magic in years," she said.

Shouta didn't realize it before, but Chiyo had done a lot today;

First, she healed the dwarfs and himself, then used her powers to astral project Shouta to Hizashi, before using her seerer abilities to tell him all this information. Of course, she would be exhausted after all that.

"I'm sorry," he said, genuinely.

She gave the young prince a soft smile, her eyes crinkling as she patted his hand.

"I know how it is to love someone so much that nothing else seems to matter," she assured him. Shouta helped her over to her chair where she sprawled out.

"This is all I can do as far as your quest goes," she told him. "I don't know what you will find on your journey, but it won't be easy. Currently, the forest is the only thing protecting you from Shigaraki's magic. Once you leave, however… I cannot guarantee your safety." She looked him square in the eye. "You're sure you want to do this?"

Shouta didn't even hesitate.

"I will save Hizashi—no matter what awaits."

777

Cementoss took the kids to the center of the yard. After they were all settled, he started to entertain them by creating stone statues. They were all amazed by this and were shouting out requests for different animals, or in Izuku's case, heroes.
"This is amazing!" he said as he stared at the All Might statuette. Cementoss had made it the size of a toy so that Izuku could take it home as a souvenir. The golem smiled appreciatively.
"I'm pleased to hear you like them," he said. "As I'm sure you've noticed, making things is sort of my hobby." He nodded to the statues.
"You made all of these?" Momoyao asked, her eyes wide with awe.
"Yes. It helps pass the time. And if I'm honest, it makes things a bit less lonely." he admitted. Izuku tilted his head, sympathetic.
"You're lonely?" The golem let out a heavy breath.
"A little. Chiyo and I spend a lot of time together, however, it has been just the two of us for a long while now," he explained. The dwarfs shifted. They understood that feeling. They loved each other and they were always together, yet there were times that they felt alone, even with the others.
Cementoss continued, "I couldn't believe it when Chiyo told me that dwarfs and a human were coming our way. Did you just enter the forest?" The dwarfs shook their heads.
"We live here like you," Tsuyu explained. "We even have our own mine and cottage."
"Truly? How did you survive all these years?"
"With our jewels!" Toru said eagerly. She reached to grab one, only to remember that it was in the river. "Oh… we lost them." The atmosphere dropped at this as their stomachs tossed. The only comfort was that they still had one jewel left with Mr. Aizawa.

"That's too bad, I would have loved to see it."

"Mr. Aizawa has it! Maybe he can show it to you when he's done talking to the witch." Ochaco said.

"That would be wonderful." The stone giant looked curious all the sudden. "Do all your jewels protect you from the forest?" Izuku shook his head.

"Uh-uh. Just the ones with this symbol carved into them." He asked Momo to make him some chalk and he drew the symbol on the ground.

Cementoss' eyes widen with interest.
"That appears to be a rune symbol. Did you make them and carve them onto your jewels?" Again the dwarfs shook their heads.
"We found them after…" Tenya trailed off but shook his head. "A-anyway, Izuku said that they reminded him of the ones in his stories. And they protected the cottage area so we thought they might work for us as well. So, we tried them, and they did!"
"I see," Cementoss returned his gaze to the drawn symbol. "I haven't seen that rune combination in a long time. And the fact they've managed to keep the forest at bay proves that whoever made them must have been a great wizard." The dwarfs beamed, happy to hear that they possessed something so special.

Suddenly Izuku became curious.
"Um, Mr. Cementoss?" he asked. "Can you tell us more about the runes? How they work? I mean, I know how they work in the All Might stories, but they never talked about what runes actually were. At least I don't think so…" The stone man nodded.
"Of course!"
Cementoss stood and beckoned them to follow. He led them to a stone arch. There he pointed out a strange carving.
"Most people think runes are stones but actually they're carvings that wizards focus their magic into. For instance, this rune is 'purity,'" The children looked the symbol over with awe, Izuku more than the others. "You can combine symbols as well. For instance, your runes have 'purity' and 'light' on them."
"Is that why they keep the woods from killing us?" Denki asked. Toru shivered and Tsuyu hugged herself as they were reminded of their earlier venture.
"Yes. The woods are infected by demon energy, so when the rune's light touches them they are instantly repelled."
"That's so cool! All Might used runes all the time to help fight the demons!" he said. He looked up at the golem. "Do they have to be specific symbols? And do they have to be on stones?"
"I don't think so. However, the symbols help to focus the intentions for their use. In theory, any image can be used. These symbols are just traditional," Cementoss explained. "Runes can be carved into anything; wood and bone runes are also popular, however, stones are more practical." Izuku was in awe.
"That's amazing! Could we make them?" Izuku was excited now, eyes glittering like the gems in their mine.
"Perhaps? If I'm remembering correctly, dwarfs are very gifted at magic."
"Which is why we have quirks!" Ochaco popped up.
"Quirks?"
"She means magic! We all have them except… oh. Sorry." Momo looked apologetically at Izuku who just laughed it off.
"Well, you'd have to talk to Chiyo about that but I personally don't see why not."
"Speaking of Miss Chiyo she's been talking to Mr. Aizawa for a while," Ochaco thought aloud. "I hope everything's okay-" Coincidentally that was the moment to door to the cabin opened.

When Shouta stepped out of the cabin the lights were shining a little brightly, almost blinding him as he stepped out, and the laughter of children filled the air a bit too loudly. It was as if he had a hangover after a night of drinking ale.

Squinting over the yard he saw the dwarfs and dwarfelles standing around a pillar.

"Mr. Aizawa!" Ochaco exclaimed when she saw him. She and the others quickly ran towards him. Tenya was the first to reach him.

"Was it successful? Did you find out about your friend?" he asked. Shouta's feelings must have shown on his face because their faces dropped.

"Oh..." Tenya started to say something but didn't. Shouta was glad for this. Cementoss stood.

"I'm sure you're all eager to return home," Not really. They could still feel the cold of the dark water as it tried to drown them, despite being dry. "However, before you go I believe Chiyo would love to have you stay for dinner first." The children all cheered.

"Wait. You don't mean AS dinner, right?" Denki asked. Cementoss chuckled.

"No, not as dinner," he assured the boy.

"Honestly, Denki! You think everyone is going to eat you." Toru sighed.

"Not everyone! Just witches and vampires."

They ran inside the hut, arguing. Shouta didn't even have the will to say anything. He didn't have the will for anything.

"They have a lot of energy," Cementoss commented. Shouta sighed with a hand to his head.

"Too much energy."

They went into the house. While Chiyo rested and regaled the children with stories, Shouta helped Cementoss fix supper. Chiyo had done a lot for him, and he needed to keep his hands busy while he thought about things.

The children were excited to taste chicken for the first time in their lives—Shouta had no idea where they got the meat-though they were less fond of the peas and lima beans.

"Toru! Don't push your green stuff on my plate!" Tenya huffed.

"I'm sharing!"

"No, you're not! You're just trying to make me eat it so you don't have to!"

The familiar, mindless chatter filled the air. They were loud, squeaky, rambunctious, and a giant headache. Still, even in their short time together, Shouta had become fond of them.

'It'll be hard to leave them behind.'

Shouta froze as he realized it.

That's right. Going on this quest meant leaving the dwarfs behind. But if he did, who would look after them? The logical part of his brain told him that they took care of themselves before he came, and they could do so after he was gone.

The other part of his mind said, screw that. They were babies (okay, he was exaggerating, but not by much, if he guessed right). They shouldn't have to take care of themselves.

Even then, just because they survived alone didn't mean they were okay. They lived in a house they never thought to sweep, they threw things away after a single use, hell they almost drowned themselves when he had them wash their hands for the first time. Plus… they just needed someone to be there and take care of them. He couldn't leave them alone, he wouldn't. But he also had to find All Might and save Hizashi. That wasn't up for debate.

There was only one rational thing to do.

"I need to talk to you for a moment," he said to Chiyo, using his head to motion that he wanted to talk away from the others. Chiyo nodded.

"Of course."

The dwarfs observed the two adults leave the table curiously.

"What are they talking about?" Denki muttered, his mouth full.

"Who knows?" Toru said, munching. "Maybe they're exchanging recipes?" Izuku was quiet as he watched them talk in the corner. He frowned a little. From what he could tell, they were talking about something serious. Miss Chiyo was smiling and nodding, but Mr. Aizawa seemed nervous, even reluctant.

'I hope everything's okay.' Izuku thought to himself, fiddling with his fork.

It was a few more minutes before Shouta and Chiyo returned to the table.

"Is everything okay?" Tsuyu inquired gently. Shouta looked over each of their curious but worried faces then sighed. There was no rational reason to delay it any longer. Time to rip off the bandage.

"I'm going to have to leave soon," he said. The dwarfs felt their faces drop except for Tenya, who jumped up.

"Right! We should all get back home," Tenya said, jumping up. "Since we missed work today, we'll have to work twice as hard tomorrow." Denki and the others groaned. Shouta shook his head.

"No. I mean, I'm going to have to leave the forest… and you."

A heavy silence fell.

"Why?" Momo finally asked. "Did we do something wrong…?"

"Not at all. You were all amazing." Shouta quickly assured her. "It's just—my friend needs help, and I have to save him."

"You mean Hizashi? Is he in trouble?" Tsuyu asked.

Shouta nodded.

"Deep trouble," he said solemn and bitter. Seeing their expressions he continued. "I'm grateful for everything you've done for me. When you found me in your home that first night you had every right to throw me out. But instead, you took me in and gave me a place to heal, shared everything you had, and then when I shared my concerns about my friend you took me to see someone to help, even almost drowning. You did more than I ever expected and more than I deserve. I… I will never be able to repay you for everything you've done. But I have to go. You understand, right?"

They didn't look at him but nodded slowly.

"I'm not leaving you alone," he told them. He motioned to the old woman. "Chiyo agreed to take care of you." Chiyo smiled as kindly as she could.

"I know it won't be the same," she said. "But I can cook for you, keep house, and tend the gardens. And Cementoss here can protect you when you go mining. He can even help you there."

The kids didn't reply. They appreciated that Chiyo and Cementoss were willing to come and help them out, but at the same time, they were losing Mr. Aizawa. It had only been a month, but they loved him. They liked having him around and now he was leaving?

Even so, they knew they couldn't ask him to stay. How could they? He had to go save someone he loved who was in peril. They couldn't ask Mr. Aizawa to abandon that person just so he could stay with them. No matter how much they wanted to.

Tenya stood and spoke for all of them.

"We understand. Thank you all for everything."

No one said what they really wanted to say.

It was quiet after that. The dwarfs and Shouta went back to eating their supper though no one was hungry anymore. When they were finished, they said their farewells for the night.
"I need to take care of some things here, but I'll come to your cottage tomorrow, alright?" Chiyo said. They nodded, but didn't reply. On any other occasion they would be ecstatic, but now their hearts were too heavy to feel happy.

"Mr. Aizawa?" Momo asked suddenly. "You have our jewel still, right?" Shouta's heart dropped straight to his gut.

'Shit.' With all the new revaluations he had learned that day he forgot he gave it to Chiyo as payment. It was only as the seven children stared up at him did he realize what a betrayal that was—not to mention the stupidity. They trusted him with one of their most prized possessions, one of the only things standing between them and a painful death.

And he gave it away.

Not to mention without it, there was no way for them to make it back to the cottage safely, even with Cementoss to protect them.

Shouta looked away, as the feeling of shame at giving in to his selfish worries filled him. He opened his mouth to admit his failure.

"I—"

"Here you are," Chiyo said suddenly as she held the diamond out. "Mr. Aizawa allowed me to borrow it for a bit. I hope you don't mind." Momo shook her head as she took it. She crafted a lantern from her thigh and placed the jewel inside. Shouta looked gratefully at Chiyo.

"Thank you," he said. The old witch smiled sadly.
"Your quest won't be easy," she told him. "But I think you'll manage just fine." Shouta wished he could believe it.
The dwarfs waved goodbye and started back to their cottage with Shouta and Cementoss, the optimisim from the day's start gone.

777

As soon as they were home, Shouta took all the dwarfs upstairs, and one by one tucked them into their beds.
"Will you… come back?" Tsuyu asked as he smoothed her sheets. "After you save Hizashi?"
Shouta hesitated.
Honestly, he didn't know. There was no guarantee he'd even make it to the elfs and find All Might. Even if it all worked out, it might be too dangerous to return with the king hunting him.
To say that he would be back would be a lie and cruel one. These kids had given him everything and lost so much in their lives.

And yet, he couldn't tell them the truth. He couldn't say that this quest may take his life and that even if he survived circumstances may take him further away. If he said that then… he couldn't imagine the looks on their faces, he didn't want to.
"I will."

After tucking the last dwarf in, Shouta returned downstairs where the golem waited. They didn't have any chairs for him, so he sat on the floor.
"I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of making a fire." Shouta shook his head.
"I don't mind but can golems get cold?"
"Not exactly. I've just become accustomed to it over the years."
"I see…" Shouta rubbed his eyes. He was both wired and tired at the same time.
"I don't think we have a place for you to sleep," He said when the thought came to him. "There might be some blankets..." Cementoss waved off his concern.
"That's all right. As a golem, I don't need to sleep." He explained.
"Oh. Then that works out." Shouta sat next to him, his mind going around in circles.
"...This guy's real, right?" he asked after several minutes of silence. When Cementoss raised an inquiring brow he went on, "All Might?"
"I don't know. Chiyo says he was, but I was made after he disappeared." Well, that didn't help him at all. Shouta wasn't one to do anything on faith as that was irrational, and for all he knew Shouta was heading out on a wild goose chase.

"How are the children handling things?" Cementoss asked suddenly. The human shrugged, staring intently at the fire.

"Pretty well, I think," Shouta said, mostly to himself.

"They seem very mature for their age," the other complimented. "Even adults wouldn't be able to take such news very well.

"I guess they've had to grow up quickly in some aspects to survive this hell hole." Shouta nodded to a window to indicate the woods. If Shouta had his way, he was going to be having sweet dreams of burning the whole place down. Cementoss chuckled.

"No argument here," he said. "It wasn't always like this. Once upon a time, the woods were actually an enchanted place filled with all matter of kind beings." A thought came to the human's mind.

"Like dwarfs?"

"Especially dwarfs." Shouta finally decided to ask the question he had been wanting to ask for a long time now.

"What happened to them? The dwarfs?" he inquired. "The kids said that there was a fire and an earthquake, but is that enough to wipe out an entire race of people?"

Cementoss' face dropped and became dark. "It is if the fire and earthquake were created by demons."

{To be Continued...}

A/N: Lotta talking, lotta exposition. Ironically that was the original name for the chapter. I have to get better at naming. Next week's chapter might be a little intense, so be ready!

*Fun Fact; I was thinking about calling this story, "Red as Blood" but I worried that gave off the wrong tone.