Chapter 7: Harmony Grove 

In a dark space of what appears to be an endless void, at the centre of the void stands a small Caucasian boy with long black hair and dark brown eyes adorned in a red jacket. The boy turns his head as if wondering where he is. Suddenly, the void manifests into an empty city street. 

Before the boy, a male and female figure materialize, their faces adorned with genuine smiles as they aim their open hands towards him. Initially hesitant, the boy willingly attempted to hold their hands. Suddenly, the sound of a bullet breaks the sound barrier. The expressions on the male and female figures shift from warmth and comfort to deep fear and disparity, casting a chilling shadow over the scene.

A gathering of towering figures, clad in red and blue jackets and adorned with black face masks, brandish pistols with their fingers poised on the triggers. They encircle the boy, the male and female figures. Fear etches across the boy's face as the figures raise their arms, pointing pistols at each other. Sensing the danger, the male and female figures swiftly run towards the boy, clutching his small hand, and hasten to flee. In response, the red and blue figures unleash a barrage of gunfire, erupting into laughter as red fluid splashes from the temporal sides of their heads like a splash of water.

The boy's body quivers uncontrollably, sprinting away from the hail of bullets in the air. Questioning the sudden surge in tension, the red and blue figures seek refuge behind cars, traffic lights and benches as they relentlessly exchange gunfire. Amid the chaos, a figure in a blue jacket rushes past the male and female figures, holding the boy's hand as a figure in a red jacket carelessly fires bullets in their direction. The boy crouches to avoid the onslaught. Abruptly, the entire area falls silent as the boy notices red liquid beneath his feet.

The male and female figures lie lifeless on the pavement with bullet holes in their heads, prompting a shocked scream from the young boy. The blue and red figures fixate intense stares on the boy, cackling and pointing fingers. Overwhelmed, the boy begins to cry, unable to comprehend the tragedy. The figures, growing in height, sprout horns, demon tails, and wings, bearing an eerie resemblance to devils. The boy falls to his knees, clenching his fists tightly, making a vague declaration.

The boy: YOU MONSTERS!

Despite not comprehending the reason behind his words, the boy continued to speak, compelled by an inexplicable force guiding his utterances.

The boy: YOU PEOPLE ALWAYS TAKE PLEASURE IN committing CRIMES AND HURTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR PROBLEMS!

The boy: I HATE YOU ALL, YOU ALL DESERVE TO DIE!

The boy's brows furrow aggressively, teeth audibly grinding as he lifts his head to glare at the figures. His face contorts with immeasurable hatred, tears cascading like a waterfall from his bottom eyelids, a poignant manifestation of his intense emotions.

The boy: DAMN YOU!!

The boy: I WILL KILL YOU!!

The boy: I WILL BURN YOU ALL ALIVE!!!!

The boy yelled at the top of his lungs, staring at the tall demonic figures above him.

???: Rico!?

???: RICO!!

…

Faint voices call out to Rico, prompting him to open his eyelids to identify the source. As he awakens, he finds himself in a dimly lit room with a bright white window, wooden walls, and furniture. Lying on a white bed, a fuzzy red blanket brings him warmth in this tranquil space.

Nico: He's awake

Elara: That's good

In front of Rico's point of view are Elara and Nico, seated across from each other.

Rico: What the?

Rico's eyes dot around the room

Rico: Where are we and why is it so cold?

Rico, bewildered by the unfamiliar surroundings and the sudden change in temperature, questions the anomaly while noticeably overlooking the absence of Banko.

Elara: We are in a nation called the Ephemeral Haven, a country where people of many different races come to take refuge and coexist with one another.

Elara: At the moment we are in a small village called Harmony Grove and to answer your second question, it's snowing outside.

Elara gestures towards the pristine white window behind her, using her thumb to indicate the vast expanse of snow. She elaborated, explaining that the sight before them was freshly fallen snow.

Rico:  Oh…

Rico said with a quiet tone.

Nico: I'm surprised we managed to get a place to stay a lot sooner than I expected.

Nico cited

Elara: That's because the nation has a small population which makes it easy to find abandoned houses.

Elara followed up, answering Nicos question.

Banko: Y-you know the village ch-chief was pretty n-nice to us even though he ch-charged us quite a lot for an ugly abandoned house.

In a corner of the room, Banko is curled up like a ball, arms crossed protectively in front of his face, resembling a child on the verge of tears. His lifeless eyes peer over his arms, gazing at the group with an expression of haunting detachment.

Rico: What happened to him?

Elara and Nico turn their gaze towards Rico simultaneously, their expressions etched with concern and worry.

Nico: You…don't remember? 

Rico: Remember what?

Elara: The bandits

A series of memories from the bandit attack flash through Rico's mind, replaying until he recalls his final moments before passing out. The vivid recollection brings back the intensity of the encounter.

Rico: …

Rico stays silent for a brief moment

Rico: Anyways, what happened to the old dude?

Rico quickly changed the topic to avoid discussing the traumatic event, Elara and Nico foresaw this reaction from Rico and replied accordingly.

Elara: He's a busy man, we are not the only clients he has to transport.

Elara: He informed me that he will return in a few days so until then we should spend our time here in this village.

Rico lowered his chin to Elaras reply, expressing his disappointment with their situation.

Rico: How long have I been unconscious?

Banko: Y-you've been out for a c-couple hours my friend

Banko: It's probably midnight already and n-not to mention y-you were shaking like crazy

Banko: D-did you have a b-bad dream?

Rico struggles to gauge who was most mentally affected by the bandit attack, especially with Banko currently exhibiting erratic behaviour akin to a overdosed stuttering cr##khead on the streets.

Elara claps her hands together, catching the gaze of all the boys in the room. 

Elara: It's time to get some rest to prepare for tomorrow.

Nico: What does master mean?

Nico, with widened eyes conveying curiosity, asks Elara about the meaning behind her words, as if he has unravelled a hidden piece of a puzzle and seeks further understanding.

Elara: We will be taking quests from the villagers to earn money, so get ready.

Elara exits the room as she gently closes the wooden carved door.

Banko follows accordingly

Banko: ( I could really listen to some idol girl music right now)

Banko exits the room.

Nico follows behind Banko, leaving Rico with parting words.

Nico: see you tomorrow morning

Rico: sure

Nico: ( I wish there were phones in this world)

Nico exits the room.

Alone in his room, Rico is left in solitude, gazing at the ceiling as he settles comfortably in his bed. His contemplative demeanour raises the question of what thoughts might be occupying his mind.

Rico: ( I wanna see some t#ts)

…

(Next morning)

In the heart of a village street adorned with a blanket of white snow, resembling an incomplete painting on a white canvas, Elara and the boys find themselves encircled by a diverse array of people, including dwarves and more. The bustling street hosts numerous shopping stalls, each catering to a distinct clientele. Elara engages in conversation with an old Dwarven man, while the boys, their eyes wandering, observe the surroundings, occasionally focusing on passing females.

All three: ( Smash)

They're telepathically playing smash or pass

Concluding her discussion with the dwarven male, Elara is handed a slightly tattered sheet of golden paper. Banko's curiosity is piqued as he examines the contents concealed within the paper.

Banko: Master, what is that paper for?

Elara holds up the paper in the air.

Elara: This is a quest paper and luckily for you boys-

Elara wears a small grin, her eyelids subtly straightening, as if concealing a special secret behind the veil of her expression.

Elara: You are going to fight a high level common ranked monster in the Woodlands.

The boys share a collective look of displeasure upon learning they must face a high-level common-ranked monster. Abruptly, a small figure, shrouded in a black knitted cloak, brushes against Rico's hip. Reacting swiftly, Rico grabs the figure by the shoulder, restraining them to prevent any attempt to escape.

Rico: Got you

???:  UWAH!?

The small figure's voice was irresistibly cute, adorned with a soft and endearing tone. It exudes warmth and playfulness, carrying a higher pitch that complements their charm. It's the kind of voice that effortlessly draws others in with its innocence and sweetness. 

Banko,Nico and Rico: (What the?)

In unison, the boys contemplate as Rico instinctively pulls back the hood of the small figure. Revealed beneath is a young girl with Lapis blue eyes and hair resembling the dark shade of the night sky.

Rico notices a small bag the girl is holding in her hand as he pats his pockets to see if something is missing. 

Rico: ( MY MONEY)

Observing the boys surrounding the young girl, Elara perceives a scene reminiscent of bullies targeting the young girl for the money in her hand. Approaching to de-escalate the situation, Elara is left speechless as she notices something that catches her completely off guard.

Elara: ( That girl, her ears)

Elara, in her observation, is astonished to find that the little girl's ears exhibit no irregularities – they are perfectly shaped, adhering to the natural form of ears.

Elara: ( No, she can't possibly be a-)

Before Elara could finish her sentence, a substantial cloud of black smoke billows between the girl and the boys, shrouding the area in an enigmatic veil.

Rico: Ugh!?

Nico: What the!?

Banko: Not again!

In confusion, the boys collectively yell at the sudden appearance of the black smoke, their voices echoing uncertainty in the obscured surroundings.

???: Quicky!!

???: This way!!

A stack of high-pitched voices lay upon each other, emanating from behind the smoke. Elara, drawing her sword, swiftly clears the way through the black haze. However, as the smoke dissipates, the little girl is nowhere to be found, leaving an air of mystery in her wake.

Rico: Ma- My money!!

Elara: You'll get it back later, let's go

In response, Rico sulks, leaning forward with a dejected demeanour. Banko and Nico express their confusion, questioning the sudden turn of events and the mysterious disappearance of the little girl.

Elara: ( No, maybe I was overreacting)

Elara turns her head over her shoulder to face the boys.

Elara: I forgot to mention, once we arrive at our destination you boys better be prepared to start running.

The boys collectively tilt their heads and raise their eyebrows, their expressions conveying a shared sense of confusion and curiosity.

All three: Why?

Elara smirks

…

In the heart of a snow painted Woodlands with each tree branch delicately frosted in glistening white. A soft, serene hush blankets the landscape as the snow-covered ground sparkles in the ambient light. The air is crisp and pure, carrying the scent of winter and pine. The trees, standing tall like guardians, wear a mantle of snow, creating a magical and tranquil atmosphere. The silence is broken by the occasional creaking of branches under the weight of the snow or so you'd think.

Nico:  AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!

Banko and Rico: Nico!!

Amidst the snow-laden woodlands, Nico sprints desperately for his life as a colossal white bear with icicle spikes on its back pursues him relentlessly. Banko and Rico follow, wearied expressions etched on their faces. High above, Elara perches on a tree branch, bow in hand, poised and ready for whatever unfolds beneath the snowy canopy.

Elara: ( I warned you boys, from now on you will be fighting against monster who will kill you in an instant if your not careful)

Elara: ( Let's see what you boys can do)

Nico: I DON'T WANNA DIE!!

chapter 7 ends.