Megumi dashes under an awning outside a store for cover from the now pouring rain, her umbrella no longer of any protective use. Lowered visibility and now water coming down so fast you could practically go for a swim, she decides to wait it out for a moment. Knowing how the townspeople usually take a long time for debate and she is only about a 10 minute run away. Shaking the rain off her umbrella and looking around at the shop she stopped at to find it was a humble flower store. Unable to really see inside from the store being closed for the town meeting Megumi couldn’t get a great look at whatever flower was popular this season. Before turning around a flash of lightning in the distance shed a little light on the insides of the shop, revealing a majority of white lilies and some chrysanthemums. It was an odd variety of arrangements to Megumi, it wasn’t a season known for burials and the town is fairly healthy from the wealth her family brings the town through their business. The pounding of the rain onto the awning she was under had lessened, signaling she needed to press forward or otherwise be late for whatever the meeting is about. Reluctantly she pulls from her intrigue of the flowers and opens her umbrella back out into the continued storm.

The roads and buildings on this side of town are fairly tightly knit, unlike the open fields near her home. The walk from the flower shop to the Hall is mostly downhill and brings dread to Megumi’s mind of the future uphill climb back out of town. She tries to watch her step from the little rivers flowing from each side path onto the street to no avail, glad she thought to bring some rain boots. Here and there she passed people by who didn’t go to the meeting, greeting them and telling them she needs to hurry for she’s late after the long walk. She’s also oblivious to the faces of worry all of them share when she turns back towards her goal. Rounding one more curve the warehouse used as the meeting place for the City Council comes into full view and Megumi sighs in relief that her trip is half over. The crowd outside glance away as she dashes for the doors.

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“Down with the Demon!” These words bounce off the of the walls inside the warehouse and repeat out of the mouths of the citizens of Phoba. They all awaited the count of the traditional votes very eagerly. The council in the middle, however, was hesitating.

“Do I even need to read these votes in front of me? The sickening noise you all are making is giving me a clear answer as it is.” The mayor is inaudible to the crowd in his tears. “Must we torture this process more?”

The Treasurer places her hand on his shoulder. “Let’s just get it over with. It’s all my fault for digging deeper into it, I should have let it go.” Her hand shivers, obvious she’s holding back more tears.

The mayor goes to object, then gives in to the process by standing up slowly. The crowd roars out with anticipation as they were finally getting what they want. He clears his throat.

“I stand to read the final caste votes for this meeting concerning the person that goes by the name Maya Nephim. The votes in front of me were in question as to if we believe she is a demon and if so how we would take action in centuries of tradition.” He pauses to pinch the bridge of his nose and sigh after saying that sentence and then regains composure. “The final vote is 135 to 8 in favor of… in favor of the fear that she is a danger to our ways and to humans and must be rid of…”

His voice trails off. His eyes water once more as his gaze is fixated on something. The meeting quiets down from its previous excitement in confusion, mumbling to themselves briefly. The sound of doors slamming shut draws everyone’s attention to the entrance of the room. “M-Megumi.”

Megumi was appalled. Disgusted. Hurt. She couldn’t name all the emotions that she was experiencing but she felt one really strongly. Fear. She had come into the meeting room as the Mayor had stood up to announce the vote and the reason for it.

“Megumi dear why are you here? Where is your father?”

“He… He’s in his work-”

“Why should we care about his whereabouts where’s you’re best friend?!” She’s cut off from an excited male in the crowd with people around him also getting pumped.

“Down with the Demon!” The chants start back up again getting far louder than they were earlier. The City Council members try the best to quiet them but it’s pointless to the fanatical chanting. Megumi looked taken aback as she looked around herself, faces throwing blind mistrust that she had known all her life. Thunder crashes from the outside storm and snaps her awake from her thoughts. She charges to the center with screaming frustration and tackles the mayor.

“HOW COULD YOU LET THIS HAPPEN? WHY EVEN HOLD THIS MEETING!” She’s swinging wildly at him but through her frustrated emotions, her body seems to prevent her from doing any real harm to him.

“I was powerless to do anything other than my job Megumi.” His words are barely heard over the crowd. “The meeting was called so it was held. It was held and there had to be a vote so we gave the traditional options.” The frustrations are also evident on the Mayor's face and the rest of the council around the two. “I was raised in this town with the belief that our traditions were made to protect our colony town from the Demon colonies surrounding it. Our tradition was made law based on that principle. What are we even ‘protecting’ our self from if we end up killing each other in some baseless fear of the unknown?!”

“Megumi you still have time to get to her, or rather could be quickly running out of time.” She stops glaring at the Mayor to look up at the Defense Chief as he speaks to her.

“What do you mean?” Her words barely croak out.

“The meeting hasn’t concluded yet. Your entrance has delayed the ending of the meeting. However, the rest of the town has probably been notified by the signs built to show the decision of the meeting. They’re probably out there on a Demon Hunt and I’m afraid your friend is in very real danger.” The Assistant pulls Megumi to her feet. “We did what we could but were held down by tradition and law. We can only do our job. You, however, can go and try to stop this.”

Megumi looks around at all of the council members, turns and dashes out. She doesn’t look back. Not to acknowledge the crowd. Not to see the council go back to what they have to do.