A loud shriek drove shivers up my spine. I tried to see what was going on, but the dust cloud was too thick for me to make out what was inside of it.

One thud sent the dust away and then complete silence.

Shortly after, a silhouette of someone standing on the body of the beast with two lights shining appeared.

I didn't care who it was, I was looking for Devi.

“Where the fuck are you?.” I cried out.

“Watch your mouth --- kid, ---.” My master coughed.

Tears fell on my cheeks and on my master's face uncontrollably.

He's awake! I was so relieved.

As the silhouette got closer, I recognized who it was. It was Devi. But how?

He walked towards us. That was when I noticed all the blood covering his body. I knew it wasn't his. He seemed fine, all in one piece, give or take.

“De--vi ---.” My master muttered in pain.

I saw the two strange lights drop from his hand and disappear into nothing. He ran in our direction with a look of relief on his face. He got on his knees next to us. His eyes trailed down the scar covering Sylas's body.

He was the man who took us in as orphans, raised us, and trained us with the villagers. That kind man was the only family we had. Losing him meant losing everything to us.

Devi placed his fingers on Sylas' face. He followed the scar down his cheek, neck, and chest until he reached the right side of the abdomen. There was a little spark under his fingertips, as he did so.

The wound seemed to close up as gray Ashe formed on it.

“What! What have you done?” I asked.

Devi looked at me. He seemed as confused as I was.

“I'm ... not sure,” he replied.

What mattered was that we were alive. I didn't care about 'whats' and 'whys' at the moment. So I didn't ask any more questions.

I placed my hand under Sylas's shoulder, and Devi did the same. We helped him get up and supposed him walking to the village.

We noticed there was a commotion as we approached.

It was the villagers, they were fighting little versions of the beast we had just encountered; They locked some up in cages. Others were desperately trying to get away as the villagers tightened ropes around them. It was a wild mix of different birds casting attacks of wind, fire, water ... and even sand. I couldn't quite figure out what was happening.

I glanced at Devi. His eyes were shining with excitement. But there was something else behind that look. Was it pity? Sympathy? For the beasts? I wasn't quite sure. I wasn't sure about anything at that point.

From here on out, I didn't know what was happening or where things were going. But one thing was clear, things were about to change around here. Sylas and Devi knew it too.