As I stare at the strange device, I notice the dark clouds with a slight fade of purplish coloring coming towards east from the horizon of the woods.

Looking at the others, Alta look at each of us, question Trake, “What is that? Is the lake drained or vaporized? Did that pillar took up the water?”.

Trake reply, “Maybe. I didn’t see it, but I wanted to show as to reveal the strangeness that have entered our lands.”.

I said in despair, “I wish I knew where they came from. I have never read anything about this.”.

Moi said, “This is creepy, let just meet up with Yogmor.”.

Alta said, “A strange technology at the lake still doesn’t explain if Rit was polymorphed into one of us.”.

I grin my hands, not liking them grouping me up with them.

Moi start flying east. Alta follow them, then Trake start moving.

Trake looks to me and ask, “Are you coming?”.

I reply, “Yeah… it’s just… if you have any other information on these outlanders, I would like to hear.”.

Trake said, “Well at least your curiosity out weights your prejudice.”.

Looking at the ground, they are right, as much as I dislike them, that fact that they are a bridge to these strange phenomenas, have led me to make further investigation.

I start following with the rest of the group to reach Yogmor.

After travelling through the clean woods, we arrive at the goldens walls of Derlia, the city north of Ender, I have been here a couple of times as a child when my parents made dealings with the mayor and we celebrated in festivals and events.

The urbanscape is mainly of two to three story structures, with yellowish bricking, due to being build on a hilly mountain edge, it has three main levels, going from lowest to highest, west to east, there are many stairs and as such, roads are engineered for walking rather than wagons. The central district is the governor district with the west side of the city consisting of science centers, arcane archieves, and engineering bays. The south and east side are specialty markets and the north side are residents and food shops, with the agriculture outside of the city north.

As we go to a low point of the wall, filled with a dense growth of bushes, I get closer to Alta, informing him, “Alta, I know this city. If anything, I can navigate us around here at the low, but you…”.

Alta spout at me quietly, “Shh. I do not trust you leading us anywhere in these parts of the world, okay? Do you not…”.

I sadden, and while I understand its point, I can’t help but have a temperament towards the Yink.

Alta look at me and said, “Look, just… try to more thoughtful of us and the current situation, I already gave you this opportunity, let’s just get the goods.”.

Trake whisper, “You know, Rit doesn’t seem all that excited for getting close to an Onen city, their first respond was to tell us that they know this place and where to go, nothing about getting anywhere specific.”.

Alta rolled their eyes and ask, “And what would make you say that, Trake?”.

Trake answer, “It just seem… very genuine. A faker or someone who is delusional would have been smiling intensely or say some like, oh this is my home and assure that.”.

Alta said, “Please just… lets go.”

Trake spoke, “I am just saying.”.

Looking at Trake, they were the best part of this entire mishap, smiling, I whisper, “Thank you.”.

Trake stick out its tongue, I didn’t know why.

At a small broken hole at the wall leading to an interior of a building, Alta point at it and said, “Get in, don’t worry, it’s saved.”.

Moi entered first, then Alta, I was next in line.

Alta looks back as it crawls the tunnel, they said, “Get in.”.

Look back at Trake, I said, “I think Trake should go before me.”.

Alta ask in a rough tone of frustration, “Why?”.

I reason, “I just don’t want Trake to see my… behind.”.

Trake giggled a little, then said, “Rit, you have one… oh nevermind.”.

Alta splated, “That’s stupid, just let’s go.”.

Trake move and hop onto the hole, stating, “Onens don’t like butts, but Rit have one of the best I’ve seen.”.

The embarrassment came up like a volcano, I mutter, “Stop, please.”.

Trake said, “Alright. Come, Rit.”.

An old, deep voice spoke from the interior, “Oh, I see my guests have arrived.”.

I started to smile of hearing a voice possibly of the people.

I hop onto the tunnel and crawl to the other side, greeted by a large workstation of various tools and machinery that I can’t really identify, looking like metal rods and boxes. At the wall of the larger wall, was a large two-handed sword glowing of changing arcane, flowing through metal rods, with four circular objects at the handle’s cross guard, laying upon a stand.

As the three foreigners were there, there was a tall, elderly male Onen, with a brown rope, light brown shoes, a grey bread and long side hair. It has circular eye glasses and green eyes.

They looked down and greeted, “Hello all, Alta, may you greet me with your two new friends?”

Alta said, “Ah yes, maybe you two should introduce yourselves.”.

Moi greeted nervously, “Hey, I am Moi. Nice to meet you, Yogmor.”.

Yogmor said, “Ah, yes, no need to be scared. And you, Yinky?”.

I started to shake as it has been a while my people have treated me as I should be treated, but I disliked how they called my Yinky. Alta was giving me a stare, seeing what I will say.

I wasn’t sure what to put out, so I just put it out there, “I am… Rit. Just Rit.”.

Yogmor said with surprise, “Rit? That is the name of the daughter of the king, but that accent, that sound Onenian.”.

I wasn’t sure if I should tell, but Trake intrude in and said, “Well, they claim…”.

Alta interrupt, “Trake, come on, we got trading to do.”.

Yogmor said, “No, no, no, Alta, I want to hear this.”.

I am getting extremely nervous, considering that all have not believed me, and I have been attacked, I wasn’t sure how Yogmor would react. I edge to the tunnel.

Trake explain, “Well you see, this Rit, claim to be the actually Rit of the royal family… thing. They said that they have been transform to a Yink not so long ago.”.

I mutter, “Two… days ago… exact.”.

Yogmor ponder with its left arm at their beard and their right arm supporting their left arm, voicing, “Interesting.”.

Alta spout out, “Oh come on, you don’t actually believe this dung, do you?”.

Yogmor said, “Well I’m not convinced but it does seem suspicious with the missing posters being placed today with a missing date you know, two days ago, and the accent really helps.”.

I ask, “Missing posters?”.

Yogmor reply, “Yes, I saw them as I went for a little bolt shopping.”.

I ask, “Can you get one?”.

Yogmor said, “I can’t just take government papers like that.”.

I said, “You can just get them at the guard station.”.

Yogmor said, “Oh yes, but I don’t like them brutes, how they…”.

Alta ask to finish, “How they what?”.

Yogmor reply, “No, I was surprise that they just know this, not even you Alta are aware of this.”.

Baffled, Alta said, “Buh, they just practiced and did their research.”.

Trake ask, “Alta, I’m not trying to go against your argument, maybe even supporting it, but what purpose do you think Rit would fake this?”.

Alta said, “I think they are just delusional.”.

I really wanted to say something, but I know only future evidence could convince Alta.

Yogmor said, “Well then, let’s just get into the main business here.”.

Alta reinforce, “Agree.”.

Yogmor ask, “You have the blue arcane conductor?”.

Alta search their pocket for a small rock with a marking like that of the stones back in the clinic, then present it.

Yogmor said, “Ah good, let’s get those herbs for you.”.

They took the stone and install it in the central part of the sword’s handle, then close the lid. They walk to a box and took bags out, taking a green line plant with white covering on the heads, then put it back.

Yogmor said, “I’m guessing these folks came with you to carry this.”.

Alta said, “Yes.”.

Moi ask, “Do you know anything about the strange machines around the wilds, like in the lake.”.

Yogmor answer, “Uh, no, what strange machinery?”.

Yogmor then brings three begs up in front of us and lay it down.

Alta said, “Yeah, there is this obelisk in the middle of the lake west of here, with the water half drain. There have been animals with collars cannibalizing each other, what are your people doing?”.

Onen said, “I heard of no such thing, but that seem like a dumb idea, seem more like experimentation rather than extinction. Wait, we don’t have such technology, techniques or arcanic methods.”.

Alta said, “Well that is what’s going on there.”.

Trake put forth, “Oh, and Rit said they are responsible for their change.”.

Yogmor had this face of pure curiosity, speaking, “This all sound interesting, I would actually love to check it out, and with my sword just completed, it would be great to do some hunting with it.”.

Moi question, “Just monsters, right?”.

Yogmor cheered, “Ho, ho, ho, of course.”.

Alta said, “Well, we better get going, a storm is coming, and we don’t want to be caught by the rain.”.

Yogmor said, “Rain? Bah, I’ll test my sword later. Well, I’ll see you all later, I guess I might just read one of my books.”

Moi said, “Farewell, Yogmor.”.

Yogmor said, “Goodbye all, safe travels.”.

Alta took a bag and spoke, “Cya and thanks.”.

I took a bag, Moi took one as well.

Trake went to the tunnel and blurt, “What the?”.

Alta said, “What is it?”.

Trake back away, then a pale male Onen came out from the tunnel, rolling forward then standing up, they were quite short for an Onen but still taller than me and the other non-Onens, they were wearing dark clothing, have black hair with a long front hair, and blue eyes. They have a belt with various knives and a small back bag.

Everyone but me and Yogmor back away, the mysterious Onen smirked, “Well Yogmor, you have been smuggling animals in your little hole. What a shame that such an inventive person like you would reach such a low.”.

Yogmor rough out, “They have been one of the key assets of my projects, and they are of great friends, Jari.”.

Jari quickly sweep its right hand and grab my neck, lifting me up from the floor and choking me!

Moi yell out, “Rit!”.

I mutter in desperation, “Please… let me go… I can help…”.

Jari blurt out, “What!? Rit?”.

Trake said, “Yeah, that is the daughter of the king.”.

Jari question, “Is this a sick joke, creatures of filth?”.

Yogmor push a button at the wall and take his sword out of its stand, then spin right ward, stopping with its sword pointing at Jari’s face, threating them.

Yogmor said, “So it’s finally happening, huh?”.

Jari said, “Yeah, your sister sent me.”.

I try to open their head to release my neck, but it was completely futile. I never realize how strong we are.

I attempt to speak but their grasp on me was just too tight.

Yogmor said, “Release the Yink and let us settle this just the two of us, young cho.”.

Jari claim, “They are the reason why I am here.”.

Being unable to speak, unable to free myself, the helplessness is so daunting, feeling suicidal again, then Yogmor make a slash and Jari backstep, releasing me, having me drop to the floor, I cough after the tension that my neck experienced.

Yogmor yelled, “Run!”.

Hearing the footsteps, I look back and see the others run to the front door and escaping to the outside streets. Yognor and Jari start fighting, slashing and dashing.

Jari comment, “You are quite agile for wielding such a heavy sword.”.

Yogmor smirk, “Heh, it’s an engineering secret but it isn’t as heavy as it appears.”.

I reason but my voice was rough due to the stress inflicted on my neck, “Please you too, we must unit as people and…”.

Jari makes a horizon slash towards me, I freeze in shock and dread, then Yogmor came in and block.

Jari push its blade, but Yogmor was resistant.

Yogmor inform, “Not a good idea being an Onen when we don’t even reach a hypothesis. Run and hide, I’ll find you all later.”.

I clutch my fist, but he was dead right, I must make up my mistake. I get up and make it to the door. Jari and Yogmor break away from their clash.

Jari said, “You will be a convict, Yogmor, but if you help me get those monsters, I can clear your name and you will be clean, able to go back to your workshop.”.

As I reach to the other side of the door, Yogmor said, “Sorry, but trade is so good, Jari. The powerful technologies, while different, have enable me craft this wonder of applied science.”.

Looking around my surrounding, I am at a short road, buildings of workshops, libraries and laboratories fill the district, with residential floors on top of some.

I’ve notice Alta and Trake heading east to the center district of the city, a really bad place for a non-Onen to step foot on as there are many guards. Moi was nowhere to be found. Then I felt empathic… for Trake. It was… weird, because it was a Pok, is this even okay? What would my parents, siblings and friends think of me?

I need to go left, north, as the science district isn’t heavily guarded or populated like the other blocks of the city, but I… have to get Trake first.

I ran quickly to them. Alta look left and right at the other side of the road, Trake look back and smile.

I warn, “Trake, don’t go there, it’s too populated and the military are there.”.

Alta look at me with furiosity, then step up to me, I stop on my feet.

Alta lean on me with an intimidating face of disgracing, he warn, “Yink, I have had it with your spout, you know nothing. I think you have just been playing around because no Onen have seem to notice you as part of royalty as they just treat you like everybody else. I think you just want to be special or something but whatever it is, stop it. I have seen this city before from the forests and I will run away from its weak point.”.

Alta back off, then look at Trake, then said, “Come, let’s go.”.

Trake said, “Where?”.

Alta said, “To the houses.”.

Trake said, “The houses?”.

Alta said, “Yes, the houses, that is where the weak people are at, the walls are guarded, but up north, there are farm lands, they don’t care about those peasants. I saw it when I was up in the forest there.”.

I warn, “No, no, no, that’s is the worst, the farmers are hunters!”.

Alta left slap me in the face, making me fell to the ground.

Trake spout, “Alta!”.

Alta said, “I’m just going to leave you here, Yink, if this is where you so belong, have fun. Let’s go, Trake.”.

Trake said, “No, I think Rit is right, I think going through the farmer’s place is a bad idea.”.

Alta admit, “Look, I never been in this city before, so I don’t know how to get there but we just have to go north.”.