Our Journey

The First Step

An overwhelming stench of fear and death. The cries of terror and despair. The heat of roaring flames billowing overhead. The normally, bright blue sky now painted red. A deep, crimson red.

It didn’t matter where he looked, the scenery was all the same.

Corpses littered the cobblestone pathways, buildings were demolished and in ruin, still set ablaze in a fiery inferno.

No matter what...All was dominated by that same, endless red.

Right before his eyes, a brilliant, white castle towered above it all, ethereally standing out against the deep crimson all around. Those glistening, snow white towers dyed in the same, fiery colors.

He felt as though the image had seared itself within his mind...That image alone would forever remain, branded into his eyes.

The sight of everything he knew and fought for burning away before him, engulfed within that fiery abyss.

He cried out, his voice seemingly trapped within his throat. No sound would escape him.

He couldn’t bear to see it.

Turning his gaze away, he refused the very existence of this memory, even if it would continually play against the backs of his eyelids. Over and over. Like a broken record, forever on repeat.

He desperately willed it away.

He didn’t want to see.

All would fall silent and dark...Until...He heard voices, muffled and inaudible...Yet, somehow, they continued to grow nearer, rather than farther away.

Emerald eyes eventually opened slowly, blurry vision refocusing onto a gray ceiling he didn’t know, the memories of his ‘dream’ already growing distant.

“Ah, he’s awake!” A voice called out as the fox turned his gaze to the side, what appeared to be a doctor only mere inches away from his face. One might even say he was practically breathing down his neck.

A...Doctor?

He immediately shot upright, fur swelling out in alarm as a low, threatening growl rumbled from within his throat. His pupils narrowed into needle thin slits as he glared the man down, but the doctor didn’t seem the least bit phased by his display of aggression.

“Oh! You poor thing, you’ve gone all fluffy!!” One might say the doc looked almost ecstatic to an uncomfortable degree, his chocolate brown hair slicked back as he stared the little fox down almost hungrily with honey colored eyes. “You’re a Farronian Demon, aren’t you? I’ve never had the chance to study one up close before...Oh, I can barely contain myself!! Tell me, do you see in color, or is your range of vision limited? Does it resemble a dog's? A cat's???” The doc was practically fogging up his own glasses as he bombarded the poor fox with a myriad of questions...Not that he gave the fox a chance to even answer a single one of them, of course. He seemed to be incapable of restraining his excitement, and this gave the fox a different sense of danger entirely.

“Sage, that’s enough. You’re scaring him.” A voice called out from just behind the man, and this, in turn, had the man turning around, rubbing his hands together excitedly.

“Oh, yes of course, I would be more than happy to study you as well, Eon!”

“...That’s not exactly the issue here.” Eon frowned, looking exasperated with the man. “If you’re done, how about reporting this back to headquarters?” He suggested before finally managing to shoo him away.

“Fine, fine. I’m sure I’ll get more chances once you return with him.” The doctor, apparently going by the name of Sage, frowned, admitting defeat and leaving the room.

Eon couldn’t restrain the small sigh that escaped him as he turned his gaze back to the little fox, who was glaring daggers at him the entire time.

If looks could kill, he’d probably be dead a hundred times over with that look he was given.

“Yeah, yeah, glare all you want, it’s not gonna get you anywhere.” He grinned smugly with an amused flick of his long, black tail. “You should be thanking me for taking you in. I didn’t have to, after all.”

...Taking him in? The fox couldn’t help but narrow his eyes even more than before.

“After incessantly hounding me, throwing me to the ground not once, but twice, and dragging me off to who knows where? Forgive me for not leaping with joy.” He spat, flattening his ears and rolling his eyes in sarcasm.

Eon’s brow twitched slightly in response, staring down hard at the little fox.

The fox held Eon’s gaze, however, refusing to break eye contact. Doing so would be the same as admitting defeat. Once their eyes met, he had to hold his gaze. Such was a tacit rule between Demons, and he sure as hell wouldn’t submit to this one.

The two locked gazes for several, drawn out moments, testing boundaries...Until finally, Eon sighed, the charged atmosphere deescalating.

“...Stubborn, aren’t you?” He frowned, crossing his arms in slight annoyance.

“Hmph.” The fox scoffed, finally turning his face away, his gaze dropping to realize he had been carefully bandaged.

He could still feel mild pain, but compared to before...That pain was significantly lessened.

“How did you get those wounds?” Eon questioned, as though somehow being able to get a feel for what the fox might have been thinking about.

However, perhaps because he was still upset, the fox didn’t answer, as petty as that was.

Silence ensued, as though Eon refused to not get an answer from him...But no such thing came.

“...Are you usually this bratty?” He muttered, growing ever more agitated with the fox’s unnecessary, stubborn attitude. “What about your name?”

Still no answer. The fox wouldn’t even look at him.

“...Well, I can always change my mind about shooing the Doc away. I’m sure he’d be more than happy to get a nice look at you. There’s a slight chance he just might decide not to take you apart, after all.”

Finally, a response was given to him as the fox’s ear gave a slight twitch.

“...Max.” He mumbled, tossing Eon a sideways glare. “It’s Max.” He repeated. “Do you usually make a habit of hounding people so unfairly? Or is there a small chance that you’re not really as unpleasant as you seem?” He snapped, practically spitting his words at the man.

“Unfortunately for you, this is my usual. The real deal. Pretty good package, if you ask me.” Eon grinned, feeling victorious with Max’s response. “Now then, Max…” He began, making his way over and closing the distance between them as he lifted Max’s chin, forcing him to meet his gaze. “Are you gonna answer my first question, or not?”

“...No.” Max replied firmly, jerking his chin away and averting his gaze.

That silence once again passed between them, Eon leaning back and finally giving Max some space. 

“...Sage said you were Farronian, yeah? I can’t imagine how you ended up all the way out here.”

...Farronian? Max’s ears perked, having forgotten about that comment during his confusion earlier.

“This...Isn’t Farronia? Where am I??” He questioned, finally lifting his gaze again.

“You won’t answer my question, yet you seem to have plenty of your own, it seems.” Eon rose an eyebrow before looking out the window. “Raoul. Pretty far in too. We’re close to the Capital now. Probably just another week to get there on foot, give or take.”

But the rest wasn’t heard by Max’s ears, his thoughts spiraling off upon hearing where he had ended up.

He was in Raoul, of all places? He suspected he had ended up quite far, but...Not this far. Raoul was across the ocean, for heaven’s sake. He was nowhere near Farronia anymore.

But...Perhaps this was also a blessing in disguise. Surely he wouldn’t be able to handle seeing what state Farronia was in right now.

Perhaps things were better this way.

What a pathetic way of thinking. Honestly, he was just running away. He couldn’t help but silently curse himself.

“Something funny?”Eon quirked an eyebrow, and Max realized a dry laugh had escaped him.

“...No. I just found the situation was a bit ironic, is all.” He replied blandly, letting out a small breath as he finally decided to swallow his pride. “Anyways...Eon, was it? I suppose I should thank you for having me get patched up, at the very least. Even if you were a brute and completely manhandled me for no reason before.” He added in, saying that last bit with clear disdain in his tone. He was still a bit salty, admittedly.

Eon looked a bit taken aback, seeming to not have expected genuine gratitude from Max so soon, even if he did throw in a snarky comment or two.

“...No problem, I suppose.” He replied with a smallish shrug. “Originally, I had intended to just dispose of you, honestly.” He admitted.

“Well then, why didn’t you?” Max questioned, his previous aggression all but gone. He was simply genuinely curious. Given Max’s previous state, offing him would have been all too easy.

“...Why, indeed?” Eon mumbled, looking as though he didn’t quite understand why himself. “...A whim, I suppose?” He finally answered with a nonchalant shrug.

He really didn’t understand it, but at that moment back there, he just couldn’t bring himself to abandon this person.

Eon’s answer was somewhat anticlimactic for Max, but he still found himself being able to respect such simple reasoning. It was thanks to that reasoning, after all, that he was still alive...Even if he didn’t know if being alive meant anything of significance to him at the moment.

An awkward silence ensued after that, the conversation having died off as neither of them seemed to know what to add to it.

“...Think you’re feeling well enough to walk?” Eon was eventually the first to break the ice, his two-toned gaze fixating back down on Max.

Once again, Max found himself seized by that gaze, unable to really understand why, exactly...Those eyes just seemed...So clear. So confident, as though Eon didn’t question or doubt for even a moment as to where he stood, what path he wanted to take.

They were the complete opposite of Max’s, which looked so uncertain. So lost.

Eventually though, he did answer Eon’s question with a meek nod, rather than words.

“Good.” Eon nodded, his long tail giving yet another flick. “Let’s get a move on then. I plan on bringing you back with me.” He explained as he pushed himself off of the wall he had been leaning against. “...Unless you have something better in mind?”

“...Ah, no. Not really.” Max admitted honestly, finally pushing himself out of the bed.

He didn’t have anywhere to go. No where to return to...So, he couldn’t really find any solid reason as to not tag along with Eon at this point. At the very least, it gave him a sense of motive. It was far better than wandering aimlessly.

So, the duo left the room, and the little building they had been residing in...And Max finally got his first look at the surrounding area beyond that little room.

It was all quite a contrast in comparison to the run down, dusty little village he had stumbled upon before. The scent of green and moisture filled his lungs, bright green grass reflecting in his adjusting vision. Dirt and cobblestone paths winded throughout a small, but bustling crowd of people going to and fro.

Vendors and kiosks littered the area, lined with a delectable looking array of fish, meat, fruit, and vegetables. A pleasant smell wafted through the air, straw and wooden buildings intertwined throughout the little village. If Max were to look even further, he would catch sight of glistening blue waters in the distance.

Any way he looked at it, this little village was the epitome of calm.

Occasionally, people would pass them by, that same, cornered look in their eyes, and yet...It was considerably lessened compared to those Max had come into contact with from before.

They were wary, but they didn’t look as though they may snap at any moment.

“They’re a little more used to it here.” Eon broke the silence, as though reading Max’s thoughts. “This village is closer to the capital, and there aren’t many forests or mountains around, so it makes things relatively safer for them. Though I’m sure seeing Demon’s so close to home certainly makes them feel a bit uneasy.” He explained, that black tail flicking behind him somewhat restlessly, as though he were more bothered by the passing stares than he let off. “I’d imagine you might get a few odd looks yourself.”

Max’s ears perked at this, recalling that some of the men from the previous village had looked confused with his appearance.

“...Do most look more like you?” He questioned, admittedly curious as he gave Eon a quizzical glance.

Any way Max looked at him, Eon stood out in comparison to the rest of the Humans wandering about.

...Come to think of it, Max realized most of the Humans here all seemed to share the same, key traits. Dark colored hair, often ranging between brown and black, with either brown, or hazel colored eyes. Was that simply a trait of Raoulian Humans? It was something interesting to think about, though Max found it to be rather mundane. He felt as though they all began to look the same, if he stared for too long, anyhow.

“Ehh...Not really. Even by Demonic standards, I’m pretty out there.” Eon spoke up, snapping Max out of his previous thoughts.

“...Really?” Max blinked, tipping his head to the side, his ears flopping over just so, perfectly in time.

If Eon wasn’t the norm, Max had a hard time picturing what a regular Raoulian Demon might have looked like...He couldn’t even begin to imagine it.

“…” Eon rubbed the back of his neck, the tip of his tail curling just a tad. “...At any rate. Let’s get a move on. We’re gonna want to make some good distance before night fall, after all.” He said, turning on his heel and beckoning Max to follow along after him with a swift flick of his tail.

Max was struck with the sudden sensation that Eon had felt awkward somehow, though he couldn’t imagine why...Regardless, he trailed right on after him as the two began to make their way beyond the little lakeside village.

Spanning out beyond that point was nothing but a vast field of grass, as far as the eye could see, the only thing splitting it apart being the dirt road cut cleanly through it.

The grass was so tall that a grown man could easily disappear within it...Truthfully, it gave Max a somewhat uncomfortable feeling, being so out in the open.

At some point, he had walked a little ways ahead of Eon, his gaze glued to the path as they walked.

As for Eon...There came a point where his attention became fixated on Max’s tail just ahead of him.

The way it just swayed in time with each of his steps was somehow tantalizing. His tail was just so...So...So fluffy. He’d never seen a more fluffier thing in his entire life.

And then...He was struck with a hopelessly strong impulse.

That tail...He wanted to touch it.

He was seized by that impulse, being so terribly strong that he was pretty much glaring daggers at Max’s tail. It were as though he was staring at his life long foe. His mortal enemy.

Needless to say, Max had long since picked up on the piercing stares stabbing at him from behind, his ears flicking back in response. He began to feel uncomfortable, honestly.

Just...What was Eon’s problem, exactly? It was just as Max caved in on the need to question him...That Eon lost to his impulsive need almost spectacularly.

Instantaneously, Max let out a startled shriek of surprise as a hand clamped firmly around his tail.

Like a startled cat, Max bristled, snapping around and swatting at Eon with a hiss.

“The hell are you doing?!”

“...Ah.” Was all that Eon said, as though he had only just realized what he had done. “Woops. My bad. You’re just so darn fluffy, I couldn’t help myself.” He answered on the dime, thinking nothing of his actions, as though they had been completely natural. How couldn’t they have been?

“...Is that so?” Max narrowed his eyes, though he couldn’t bring himself to stay angry at him for some, inexplicable reason. “...You walk ahead this time.” He added in with a small sigh, not trusting Eon with walking behind him now.

“Oh, did you want to touch mine too?”

“No.” Max frowned, exasperated. “Just go.”

“Alright, alright.” Eon snorted, feeling oddly amused as he began walking on ahead...But he paused when he soon realized Max had suddenly halted in his tracks, his gaze fixated towards the tall grass. “What is it?”

No response.

Max’s ears were upright and alert, occasionally swiveling off in a certain direction, picking up on a nearby sound, the base of his tail trembling with tension.

He wasn’t certain at first, but then...He heard it.

Rustling. The sound of something shifting through the giant grass...Something large, and it was ever so steadily closing in on them.

He instinctively lowered his ears and body, muscles going taut.

“...Something’s coming this way.”

“...Shh, stay quiet.” Eon suddenly hushed him, grabbing ahold of his arm and tugging him off into the grass opposite of the source of the noise. “Don’t make a sound. Not a peep.” He hissed under his breath, gaze fixated on the grass on the opposite side of the road.

The moments of silence that ensued after that seemed almost suffocating.

And then...The grass trembled, rustling noisily as a large, lithe body came crawling out from beyond it, coming directly onto the road.

Cringe worthy, glistening white teeth vividly gleamed from agape jaws as the creature glanced from side to side, seemingly searching for something.

Why...Why the hell was a Demon hunting out in broad daylight? And in an open place like this?? It was entirely out of the ordinary, but Eon couldn’t afford himself the time to try and make sense of this behavior. He needed to dispose of the creature, and quickly.

‘Don’t move.’ He mouthed these words towards Max, reaching down for his pistol, his gaze locked onto the beast just ahead of them.

Slowly...Slowly, he crept forward, inching closer to the beast, as quietly as he possibly could. The situation would be much more favorable if he could get the jump on the Demon before it charged at them. If he could only just make it past the inconvenient barrier of tall grass.

He only needed one, clear shot.

The creature still tossed it’s head from side to side, seemingly preoccupied. Bestial growls and groans rumbled from it’s throat. For the time being, it seemed unaware of their presence, and yet it continued to pace to and fro, searching.

Searching…

And then, blood red eyes suddenly bore at him, the beast looking precisely in his direction.

Eon halted in his tracks, holding his breath, his heart beginning to thud loudly in his chest. He feared so loudly, in fact, that it just might have been heard.

The tip of his tail trembled, but he didn’t dare take another step, the creature maintaining it’s distance...And then, it suddenly let out a blood curdling cry, lunging forward at breakneck speed.

There wasn’t any time for Eon to get in a shot, only just barely managing to sidestep the creature as it rushed past him...And yet, to Eon’s surprise, the beast didn’t come to a halt, as one would have expected after it had missed it’s quarry. No, it just continued barreling forward...But, why was it…?

Eon only realized why when it was already too late.

The Demon was beelining directly towards where Max was still in hiding.

“...Fuck…!” Eon hissed under his breath, hastily charging forward despite knowing he wouldn’t be able to make it over to Max first.

A flash of white leapt through the air as the Demon crashed noisily throughout the grass, missing it’s mark.

“Wha-” Eon blinked, struck speechless as the sound of boots hitting the dirt beside him resounded throughout the area, Max having leapt nimbly to his side.

Despite the fact that he shouldn’t have had the time to get away safely, Max leapt right out of the way with fluid movement, making it look as easy as playing a game of hopscotch.

It was only a brief moment, but Eon was struck with the sensation that Max carried himself well. There was a look in those emerald eyes that somehow gave off a sense of experience. It was a strange thing to note, given the moment, but Eon felt as though if Max had not been injured during their first run in...He might have struggled with him a lot more than he initially did.

“The hell is that?” Max questioned, fur swelling out in alarm as he stared the beast down, only being able to make out a thin, scaly tail lashing about through the grass.

“That, is your typical Demon.” Eon explained, c*****g his pistol as the beast took a 180, fixating back on the duo with a hiss, and charging headlong towards them once more. “Thankfully, it’s not as bright as the one I took out before.” He frowned with disinterest, a loud bang echoing throughout the air as a bullet made impact with the Demon’s shoulder, a screech ripping from it’s throat as it collapsed to the ground with a shudder, unnaturally colored veins pulsating out along the bullet wound.

It was grotesque really, spreading out along the Demon’s scaly hide like poison. Until Eon made his way over to finish the creature off, a final shot ringing out as it pierced the Demon’s skull, and all fell silent.

Max almost felt sorry for the poor thing, having seen the creature writhing in such pain and agony within it’s last moments.

He noted the wound, still festering even after death, his gaze trailing to Eon’s pistol.

“...What was that?” He questioned, retaining the urge to give it a curious sniff. No matter how he looked at it, that couldn’t have been a normal bullet.

“Ah.” Eon blinked, glancing down at his pistol before returning it to it’s holster. “The bullets are made from a type of hardened, liquid metal that’s toxic to Demons. Once it makes impact, it dissolves and passes through the blood stream. In small doses, it can cause paralysis. In large quantities, necrosis, and eventually death.”

Recalling the gruesome, festering wound he had seen, Max thought that made sense...But it was also a bit unnerving how Eon didn’t seem to bat an eyelash at handling something so potentially lethal to himself.

What’s more...The difference between Raoulian and Farronian Demons was vast. The ones back home didn’t look nearly so monstrous, and weren’t so aggressive either.

He was lost in thought comparing the differences when he jumped as he felt Eon give him a sudden sniff.

“What are you doing?” He frowned, feeling as though Eon just didn’t seem to have any sense of what personal boundaries were.

“That Demon seemed awfully fixated on you, so I thought maybe ya smelled nice or something.” Eon admitted truthfully, looking up to see a clear look of doubt and distrust color Max’s expression as he took a cautious step back. “...What? It’s not like I’m gonna eat you or anything. I don’t bite.” He frowned before a mischievous grin crept over his face. “...Unless you wanted me to?”

“…!” Max cast Eon a sharp look before scoffing and walking ahead a few paces.

“Don’t go too far. Not like you know your way, after all.” Eon called out, finding Max’s reactions amusing.

He was surprisingly fun to tease.

“Can’t exactly get lost on a straight path.” Max replied tartly, yet despite saying that, he still waited for Eon to catch up with him.

He had a feeling this was going to be a looooong trip, and yet…

Max wouldn’t know it yet, but this meeting would have been one to forever change his course in life.