The air was painful to breathe as ash and smoke filled the surrounding areas. Even with the pungent smell of smoke, you could still smell fresh blood. Even with heat of the ongoing fire illuminated the snow in soft oranges and yellows. Fully bloomed cherry blossom trees standing tall on the mountains mocking the village of winter’s end. Petals drifted in the morning wind scattering pink on the destruction.
People hid in the shadows of the morning, whispering and gossiping about the tragedy. Most of the bodies were already buried under rubble but some people didn’t have anything to bury. Just an empty grave with people's memories marking it.
It wasn’t shocking when Nebula returned to the town to see most of the town destroyed and even a whole district burned to the ground. Devin whined as they entered the town burying his snout into Nebula’s side. He was large for a wolf so he couldn’t hide behind Nebula. His sensitive nose hated the smoke that covered the skies. His topaz eyes wandered through the debris lingering on the strong scent of iron. His ash-grey fur was still matted and covered in mud; Nebula hoped they could bathe him soon. Nebula just gave him pats and whispered comforting words to him.
It had been too peaceful, so it had to come crashing down. When Nebula got the news of the conflict they left to travel and wait for the conflict to go down. They didn’t know how long they should wait but they thought around about a month would be enough.
Nebula was headed home slowly but once they saw the large cloud of smoke blocking the sun, they rushed home. They noticed the old bakery was still standing, it was a surprise but was still heavily damaged. Pushing past, the bushes and thorns, they found their way to their house.
Moss crawled its way around the base of the house. Vines covered most of the second floor and the bushes were overgrown. It contrasted the iconic colour of the Lotus Grove District of magenta that was painted on the majority of the house. The mud brick chimney was severely chipped and looked like the gentlest breeze could knock it over. It was a miracle it was standing even with the floral covering it.
Devin rushed into the house, found his corner, and decided to take a nap. It was a magenta pillow that a friend had crafted with embroidery of a red tulip. Nebula couldn’t blame the wolf, they had been traveling for a while and he knew that Nebula would protect him.
Quietly, Nebula put some items away and noticed that some stuff was stolen but not too much. Deciding that they should get some food, they go and look around the town. But not before laying a blanket over Devin and locking the door. They take note of how many buildings were destroyed and who they spotted. Nebula knew that they would have to find who was still alive later.
The Watchers would make a report soon.
Nebula knew who they must check on. They made their way to the tavern waving to Cal and Theo. They hesitated outside their room. The only light was a dimly lit lantern and Nebula couldn’t hear a single noise. Nebula knew there was a high chance that there wasn’t a person in here, buried under rubble or already in a grave.
Nebula took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Are you in there Mel?” Nebula's voice cracked and their palms shook as they tried to open the door.
Nebula was greeted with the familiar sunset hair that was carefully braided with marigold. A smile so soft and bright that could rival a full moon. “Nebula? Oh, I’m so glad to see you,” Mel opens up her arms inviting Nebula for a hug. Even though Nebula towered over pretty much everyone, somehow Mel was taller and placed her chin on Nebula's hair. Mel quietly shut the door behind them.
“I was so worried that you died out here,” Mel gently started to comb through their hair, “Nebula… please next time stay.”
Nebula just hummed and let the warm embrace comfort them. Nebula always ran cold and was glad to find warmth.
Nebula envied Mel’s sun-kissed skin and her freckles that looked like constellations. Nebula had sickly pale skin that no matter how long they spent in the sun never got tan or burned for a matter of fact. Mel had fluffy curly hair that cascaded down her back. On the other hand, Nebula's hair was as blue as the sky apparently to Mel was like silk.
And to match Mel’s marigold, Nebula had golden horns that glinted like gold in the candle glow. It was one of many features of Nebula that pointed out that they weren’t human. Their sharp fangs could tear anything like paper and their eyes didn’t need to blink as often.
“I mean it Nebula,” Mel locked eyes with Nebula, “No matter how dangerous this town is, outside is even worse.”
“Mel, I’m fine. I’m a dragon, remember? Those monsters can’t hurt me.” It was the thing that Nebula had to come to terms with. Not so long ago they didn’t even know what a dragon was and what made them different from the others.
Mel gave Nebula a death glare.
Mel locked eyes onto Nebula’s eyes, “Yes, Nebula you are a dragon but just like us human curses, even other evolved species you need food and sleep. And most of all care. What happens when Devin gets injured? No matter how I teach you still a fresh in this world.”
Nebula didn’t know how to respond to that. They just breathe in the floral scents of the candles with a hint of herbs. “You got new candles?” Nebula knew it was a stupid question. It had been over a month since they saw Mel of course she got new candles.
“Yeah, I made some new ones.”
It reminded Nebula of what they brought for Mel. Grabbing their bag, they let some magic flow through them, and the runes of the bag started to glow a faint purple. “I got you a present when I was traveling.” Nebula carefully handed a sapphire-like orchid that had a sweet-smelling scent.
Mel's face lit up when she saw the flowers.
“You found me these?”
“Yeah, I stumble a swamp and as soon as I saw them, I knew I had to get them for you.” Mel gave a small smile and put them in a flower vase hopefully they last a bit longer. She calmed down with a peace offering of flowers but was still very worried.
“Thank you so much Nebula, they’re lovely. Is Devin at home?” Mel patted a chair next to her and Nebula moved over to sit down.
“Yeah, he’s a bit tired after the journey. He’s been no stop talking about what we found,” Nebula sightly giggled as they remembered Devin running into a tree when he was talking.
“I wished I could talk to him like you can,” Mel's head dropped, “Sometimes I think that the mobs have better things to say than humans.” Mel rubs at her bandages and looks back at Nebula. She gave them a weak smile, “But it’s okay.”
“Can you tell me what happened this time?” Nebula asked softly allowing Mel to refuse. She tensed and her eyes fell to the ground. “It’s really bad. But I think it will take time for anyone to start anything. As most people are dead or heavily injured.”
Nebula now wished they had taken Mel with them when they fled. Maybe they could flee the whole of Merger and not come back. Nebula already survives out there for a month they could do it for a lot longer. Though Mel would probably never come with them even if the gods deemed her to. They just wished that Mel wouldn’t worry about them.
Just like outside the safety of Merger, where monsters preyed on anything. But inside the town were monsters too, some that evolved or those whose minds were just as twisted.
Inside the town, Nebula has to play a whole game that they still don’t know. Outside is safer for them but for Mel, it might be the end of her. Nebula isn’t human they can take hits that humans can’t. They can use magic that most humans can’t and the thought of Mel getting hurt because they failed to protect her makes their hearts ache.
“Do need help with anything?” Guilt gnawed at them, but Nebula knew that maybe helping her might be able to help. Anything to lessen the weight that Mel has seemed to pick up recently.
“It’s all right Nebula you don’t need to do anything. You should rest though; you have been traveling for a while. Plus, I’m sure Devin will be starving,” Mel handed them some steak and Nebula was thankful as they didn’t know if the butchers were still alive.
“Are you sure? I can make you some more-”
“Enough Nebula. I’m fine. You should get going.” Mel made sure Nebula couldn’t argue so they got up to leave.
“Please be safe Mel,” Nebula whispered as they opened the door to be met with the chilling air of the hallway.
“You don’t have to worry about my safety just worry about yours and Devin, okay?”
“Okay,” with that Nebula shut the door. They stood in the hallway not knowing what to do. ‘Don’t worry about my safety’, but they do. Mel must think they are stupid or oblivious if they can’t smell the blood that clings to Mel or the exhaustion.
Before they return home, they should explore the town. Moreover, Westhallow the district that was completely burned to the ground. A whole thick forest fall of fawn and floral was now just a crater with the scent of death.
When they arrived, it was destroyed beyond repair, and they noticed someone trying to scavenge the remains. Surprisingly, many flowers still littered the land untouched by any fire. It wouldn’t surprise Nebula if someone placed fire protection on the flower because they got bored.
Nebula always had beef with this district, so they didn’t care too much.
Nebula knows it’s wrong not to care about people dying but if it’s not someone who they care about what was the point? So many people died here, whether by the monsters, murdered or just an accident, death was a common thing.
Before Nebula can also steal from the ruins, they notice people shouting as they climb down the hill. Nebula didn’t recognize them. It was clear they weren’t around from here as they didn’t care about attracting attention to themselves.
“Pretty flowers,” the dark-haired one said as they examined the flowers. Nebula stood dumbfounded by the man as he plucked a cornflower off the ground and twisted it around in his hand.
“You guys, okay?” Normally, Nebula would ignore these people as newcomers only brought more chaos and fresh meat. But these people are new and are different and Nebula is a researcher at heart. So, they put away their usual persona and became more carefree.
The person spotted Nebula and finished falling down the hill to quickly approach them. “Hi, who are you?”
Nebula went to say their name but explained the person before them. He was just as pale as Nebula but instead of having sky-blue hair like Nebula, he had a blue of the night sky and two icy blue eyes. They didn’t know anything about Merger’s rules as everyone knows not to go asking questions to strangers. Normally it ends in a knife in the back.
“I’m Nebula, who are you?”
The other figure grew closer and punched the other in the shoulder. Note to self that one is violent.
“I’m Gabriel and this is my spirit,” Gabriel pauses a looks over, “Wait what is your name again I always forgot.”
“Of course, you forgot you are a moron after all. Anyway, my name is Icarus.” Icarus had grey skin that was covered in shiny gold trinkets and jewels. It seemed they were dressed for a lot hotter climate. They also had symbols not of the run magic that Nebula was familiar with or any languages that they studied. They took note of it in their worn notebook and left it for future them to decipher. The late sun hit perfectly on the gold making it glow. And reddish eyes that seemed to stare right into Nebula’s soul.
Now Nebula also displays their wealth but not like that.
‘It means they are not afraid. It provokes a challenge.’
Nebula still was trying to figure out how to approach this but only came up with an awkward smile and laugh. When glanced back to Gaberiel, his skin was perfect, unblemished in any sort. Awkwardly, he tried to hide the massive charcoal grey wings that were covered in stray leaves and twigs.
Nebula started to gain phantom pains from the remainder of their wings. They were glad they quickly learned magic to hide their wings. They wished their wings weren’t broken so they could fly but they had to figure out the hard way of how to fly.
It was an awkward talk as they tried to figure out how to talk to them. Soon though Nebula just said screw it, ‘curiosity killed the cat’.
“Why are you in Merger?”
“What is Merger?”
Silence fell over them. Nebula was too stunned to speak. They tried to process what Icarus said but was just lost.
Nebula peered behind them at the snow mountain that they came down from which in the afternoon sun made the mountain shine the sunset’s colours. “You don’t know where you are?” Nebula tilted their head as they looked over Icarus and Gaberial for signs of lying.
“No? We were traveling for quite a while now,” Gabriel was now confused, “Are we meant to?” Gabriel's eyes wandered through the ashes of Westhallow and started to fidget. Nervously, he started to pick at the dark cornflowers that surrounded them.
Nebula stared at them in shock as they fumbled out words, “Merger the only civilization for miles? One of the first after the calamity?” Nebula knew those came off as questions more than statements, but they didn’t know what to say.
“A calamity!” Gabriel suddenly yelled, making Nebula flinch
at the volume. Biting his nail, Gabriel looked back up and asked, “What in the
curses is a calamity?”
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