They had dark skin with white markings. Their hair was a mix of white and black, long with various braids keeping parts of it back. Contrasting with their colors, which were loose and natural greens and browns. The person had two glowing rings surrounding their face, making an X. Their horns were white at the tip, looking like paint had dripped onto their black backing. 

"It's quiet, isn't it?” The person grinned, “Let me see your pieces.”

Everyone handed over their hair pieces. The person inspected them with a neutral expression. 

"Follow me,” they said. 

The white markings on their body began to glow when they stopped walking. Unknown symbols floated around them, coming together to create a portal. They turned back with a smile before walking through. 

They exited into a town with a main road leading to a clearing in a forest. In the middle of the main road stood a tall building, the road going around it on both sides. Their guide walked them up to the tent, standing outside as they walked in. 

Inside sat a woman with dark skin and white hair. She wore loose white robes and a large moon-shaped pin in her hair. Around her head was a spinning white halo, the same color as the long earrings she wore. She had large horns, forming a circular shape before going vertical in the front with similar markings etched into them as those on her skin. 

The woman gestured for everyone to take a seat. A creature, looking similar to a fox with a white body and black feet, sat in her lap. It began to glow, then her tattoos, appearing in the shapes of lines and stars, also glowed. 

"Hello all, my apologies for the delay. Laxen please take Ren to see Wekn so they may discuss the findings from the farmland. Ayra and Kalin, please head outside and to the right, there are some people who would like to talk with you,” the woman spoke and their guide opened up the door for Ren.

Once everyone had left, the woman smiled. The creature jumped off her lap, disappearing further into the building. She raised her hand and all the windows and doors closed. 

“Did you enjoy meeting Reix?” She asked, Meyra’s eyes darting around to see if they were there. 

“Oh goodness they're not here darling. Don't worry.” The woman laughed. 

Deities in this world are people that are contracted with gods directly. They are able to sense the divine energy in other people. True divine energy is only found in people with the purest hearts, making them trustworthy before meeting them. 

“Your divine energy glows like the sun, that's why we feel comfortable speaking with you instead of your comrades,” the woman said.

She wondered if the energy glowed that bright because she was a student under her god but didn't pry for fear of exposing herself. Meyra smiled and looked down at her hands. She played with her fingers as the two sat in silence. 

“Well, let me look at this mark on your hand now.” The woman gently lifted Meyra’s hand from her lap. 

Her hands glowed white as she held Meyra’s hand in hers. Meyra felt her hand start burning and tried to yank it away but the woman didn't budge. The symbol appeared on her hand, staying there like the marking on the woman's skin. 

“Hmm, this is worrisome,” she said before letting go of Meyra’s hand. 

The woman stood up and walked to the back of the building, disappearing from Meyra’s sight. She came back with a small bowl of water and a rock. Myra raised a brow when she sat down, placing the rock in the water bowl. The woman placed Meyra’s hand into the water and looked up at the skylight in the ceiling. 

“It feels like a barrier is over your head, are you sensitive to barriers?” She asked to which Meyra nodded. 

“Interesting, very interesting,” the woman spoke, gently removing Meyra’s hand from the bowl and placing it in a towel. 

“I apologize for not introducing myself. I'm Stasia, and I'm the leader of this town.” She smiled and got up, walking with the bowl away from Meyra. 

Meyra looked down at her hand to see the marking gone. A residue remained on the towel and she frantically looked around for Stasia. She came back with some fruits and a glass of water. 

“Don't panic sweetheart. Your marking was temporary as a note for me only.” She chuckled and sat down. 

Meyra began to eat the assortment of fruits provided, shocked at the variety of colors and flavors she never had. Stasia smiled and started to explain the abnormalities within the forest. 

“It feels like something is keeping the spirits in, we feel caged in here,” Stasia said as she took a bite of the fruit. 

The spirits within the forest venture out into Rildin, helping to keep the soil fertile. However, Stasia suspected someone put a barrier on this portion of the forest. She had no idea who would have the power to do so on such a scale. Someone powerful enough to cause a famine is her hypothesis. 

Meyra explained the monsters that the group had seen the previous night, along with the farmers. Stasia stayed quiet and looked towards the skylight. 

“The monster situation along the border is outside my knowledge, we are already struggling keeping our numbers in check.”

She explained that the monsters along their borders were quieter than usual. The town increased their patrols, worried that something was brewing. Their monsters usually move alone, but the scouts have seen them moving in groups. 

“The last time they moved in groups there was a large predator targeting them. We are unsure of what the cause is this time,” Stasia sighed through her words, appearing exhausted. 

Meyra inquired about the scouts. It was agreed that the group would join them to watch the monsters along their border the following morning. Stasia stood up and walked to the back door facing the clearing. She waited, then Meyra awkwardly rushed to get up, nearly tripping on her way over. 

Stasia laughed and Meyra blushed as she resituated her bag on her back full of the necessities she was given. Although the sun had not set, the moons were bright above the clearing. Meyra watched as Stasia stood in the center of the clearing, the moons directly above her horns. Her halo stopped spinning abruptly before spinning in the opposite direction. 

“Come here,” she spoke in a different voice. 

Meyra walked so she stood in front of her. Stasia grabbed Meyra’s hands into her own. Her eyes became entirely white as claws began to grow out of her fingers, digging into Meyra's hands. She winced, trying to pull back, but was stuck there. 

The blood on Meyra's hands began to pool in her palms. She continued to pull away to no avail. Once the blood began to drip onto the ground, the blood shot up and wrapped around her hands. Her wounds disappeared and one vertical white line appeared on each palm and back of her hands. 

“I'm sorry. This is all I can do because you are not from here,” Stasia said with a small smile. 

The scouts have been dying at much higher rates than normal so Stasia has begun this protection ritual on anyone that leaves the village. She sat down in the grass catching her breath. Performing the protection ritual on Meyra took the same energy as 10 spiritualists. Stasia whispered something in Meyra’s ear but it screeched like static, making her wail and collapse to the ground. 

"I'm sorry about that," Stasia cleared her throat and whispered, "They are always watching." There was still the static, but Meyra could piece together what she said.

The two made their way back to the town, bypassing the building they were just in. Stasia guided Meyra towards a short but long building, explaining it was their entertainment center. 

“My scouts wanted to learn from Ayra and Kalin, so they asked them to duel for them to watch,” Stasia said while opening the door. 

Meyra watched as Kalin and Ayra fought. Ayra allowed her scales to cover almost all of her body, deflecting Kalin's magic. The two appeared to be taking it seriously, but Ayra never touched her weapons. Kalin stayed still, hitting his staff against the ground when he used his magic. 

By the end of the duel, the ground had been split into multiple areas, never close to the viewers. The top of the building had been charred and had dents in multiple locations. Ayra and Kalin both sat on the ground catching their breath. A child ran to give Kalin a drink, allowing him to stand up and repair the facilities. 

Kalin helped Ayra to stand, both bowing and waving to the crowd. Meyra watched as the scouts started to exchange money around. Stasia glared at them and the scouts hastily put their money away. 

“I don't believe I allowed betting, but I will pretend I never saw that. Everyone, please thank our guests!” Stasia said while standing up.

The crowd clapped and cheered before the two moved off the stage. Stasia shook her head, mumbling something about morale. She stayed behind to talk with her scouts while Meyra walked outside. Meyra looked back and everyone had disappeared from the building.

She looked down to see white lines originating from Stasia’s building all over the town. They touched every building and moved to touch every person. The lines began to glow, shocking Meyra at the electricity in the air. 

"Everyone return home for the evening. Scouts return to your outposts. No one is to leave until sunrise." The voice boomed in everyone's ears, but not a sound was heard other than the rustling of the trees. 

Meyra saw Kalin and Ayra walking away, laughing and exchanging money between themselves. She walked until she caught up to them, walking to the building closest to the scouts. Ren was seated inside, looking out the large window away from the village. Monsters banged on the barrier around the village, crying and fighting amongst themselves. 

“I'm glad they have a barrier,” Ren mumbled quietly. 

They pulled out their crossbow, having it ready by their side. Kalin was ignoring it, putting away his belongings in his bedroom. Ayra paced in the common area, wincing when she heard them cry. She went to the front door and Meyra stood in front of the door. 

“Please don't go outside,” she begged, explaining the markings on her hands. 

“These monsters are not acting like the ones by Rildin. Something is going on and we need to investigate,” Ayra said firmly, her hand on her hip. 

“Stasia said that the scouts are dying! Please wait!” She called, terrified that Ayra was unprepared. 

She had already stepped outside, pulling out the poison-laced daggers from her leg straps. Meyra raced out of the building, her ears ringing as she felt the lines shocking her as she stepped. 

“Please,” Meyra paused to catch her breath, “Please allow me to place support magic on you.” 

Ayra stayed still, looking back at her with an annoyed expression. Meyra began to cast magic, feeling the lines on her hands warm up. They gave her larger stores of magic, allowing her to cast more magic than usual. All four lines remained as she did not surpass her limits. Ayra smiled faintly, rubbing Meyra’s head before running off. 

Meyra ran back inside, wincing at the burning feeling on her feet. She looked down to see blackened and smoking shoes. Meyra kicked off her shoes before going to bang on Kalin’s door. He narrowed his eyes as he opened the door, looking down on Meyra. She explained the situation and he sighed, walking out and closing the door behind them. 

He saw her shoes on the floor and used magic to repair them. Meyra thanked him as the three went to sit in the window. They watched as Ayra walked up to the underside of the outpost, the ladder retracted. She took off her gloves and extended her claws, climbing to the top of the tower. 

All three winced as they heard screaming in the tower, with one person being thrown out the window and onto the ledge surrounding it. Ayra came out shortly thereafter and waved down to the group. She jumped off the ledge and rolled when she hit the ground, jumping up. Ayra trotted up to their home and walked in the door. 

“I think we should go on a slaughter mission. Thoughts?” She said with a grin. 

In the tower, Ayra was able to see large monster swarms in the distance. They were acting the same as the ones outside their home, clambering over each other to get towards the barrier. She kept her smile with her hands on her hips and she stood by the front door. After some convincing, everyone decided to head out much to Meyra’s dismay. 

The four left, with Ayra whistling up to the people in the outpost. Four small bags descended from above containing some emergency equipment for their venture out. They walked up to the barrier and were unable to leave. The people in the outpost audibly laughed and Ayra turned back to glare at them, they quieted down after that. 

Kalin tried to use magic on the barrier to no avail. Meyra walked up to it and placed her hands on it. The barrier shocked her, causing Meyra to collapse to the ground. A small hole formed, and the barrier opened to monsters.