Chapter 685 - Sitting by the Staircase, A Huge Surprise for Mei and Mark (1/2)
Day 150 - 1: 48 PM - Panganiban Central Elementary School, Bagong Bayan, Municipality of Panganiban, Catanduanes
Deciding to take a day and a half break, Mark's group finally had the opportunity to relax.
Mark sat on the foot of the staircase of one of the school buildings. He was observing the scene in front of him.
This school seemed to be a decent one. Compared to Queens Row Elementary School, the grade school Mark attended in the past, this place may not have more buildings, but it was a far larger school. By his estimate, two Queens Row Elementary Schools could fit in the plot of land the Panganiban Central Elementary School had.
There might be a lot of students that attended this school. But now, the whole place was empty and dilapidated.
From what it appeared, the school became an evacuation center. Since the outbreak started during Christmas break, schools were supposed to be empty. However, there were a lot of traces of human inhabitation in this place, albeit old.
There were destroyed tents on the school grounds. A lot of trash was also left behind.
And, of course, the stains of blood in the walls along with the traces left by the assailants.
By how it appeared, it was not the infected that devastated this place. It was either evolved animals, or worse, demons.
”Hmm?”
Mark looked up, detecting his connection with Ignis. The Demon Sword was flying in the sky, from the southeast direction of the town. And from how it felt like, Crimson was also with Ignis. He began to wonder why he did not see these two here when his group arrived.
Ignis stopped in front of Mark. Crimson also materialized, bouncing off from Ignis' blade towards Mark like a child. Mark immediately caught Crimson in his hands.
”Where did you two go?”
Mark asked while poking Crimson's jelly-like body.
”Master, welcome back.” The voice of Ignis echoed inside Mark's head. ”We found some settlers in the southeast side of the town, so we investigated a bit.”
”Settlers? That's odd.”
Mark tapped his chin, thinking.
”Yes. I thought the same, Master.”
Ignis replied. Even Crimson agreed, bouncing on Mark's palms.
”Considering this place is not too far from the Antis' Base, it's surprising that there are settlers.” Mark surmised. ”Are you sure that they are just normal settlers and not members of the rebels?”
”I thought that at first too, Master,” Ignis replied. ”However, I dropped the thought when I saw that they only had cold weapons with them, not a single firearm. Furthermore...”
”Furthermore?”
Mark asked as Ignis paused.
”We weren't able to go close to observe them closer. When we tried to approach, the settlers immediately detected us. We can only flee.”
”Even when Crimson is his Miasma form?”
Mark asked once more.
”Yes, unexpectedly.” Ignis shook as he replied. ”They can't see Crimson, but they were searching around the area where he was even when he moves around.”
Crimson also bounced several times, understanding what Ignis was saying.
”Strange...” Mark nodded. ”You two can't tell whether they are humans or not?”
”Hard to say, Master,” Ignis replied. ”They all looked humans, so I needed to come close to confirm.”
”But you can't.”
”Yes, unfortunately.”
”And Crimson can move close to them, but this little guy can't distinguish the difference without attacking them first.”
Mark frowned. He did not expect to come across something like this when he decided to take a break.
”By the way, you two can understand each other?”
Mark asked, noticing that Ignis and Crimson seemed to understand each other while talking to him. This was the first time he saw this happen.
”Hmm... Master,” Ignis spoke. ”I think we are able to since I became your Demon Sword. It's just we didn't have any chance to notice it since Crimson always hid in the shadows.”
”But Ignis,” Mark tilted his head. ”You can't understand the other [Blood Children], right?”
”Maybe it is because the two of us had the closest connection to you Master,” Ignis explained. ”I'm your contracted Demon Sword while Crimson shared your blood and Miasma.”
Mark fell silent. It was surprising that Ignis and Crimson could actually understand each other. Of course, understanding did not mean a complete conversation. As it appeared, Crimson could not understand everything that Ignis was saying, considering that he was just a baby at mind. Also because of Crimson's age, it was easy for Ignis to understand his simple thoughts even if he could not speak.
In any case, this was a good discovery. Since the two could converse to some extent, it would be easier to send the two together for scouting things. It would be safer for the two if they went in pairs.
”It's good that we now know this.” Mark patted Crimson. ”Still, we should check those people the day after tomorrow. We're taking a break, so you two should relax too.”
Before Ignis and Crimson could reply, however, Mark suddenly turned his head as he sensed someone suddenly popping out behind him.
”You don't have to check on them. Those are good people.”
A sweet voice entered their ears from where Mark was looking.
There, a woman in a white dress and flower crown stood. Behind her were a few black children that were the ones likely to be the cause of the woman suddenly appearing out of nowhere.
Seeing the woman, Mark sighed.
”Grandmother, what are you doing here?”
The woman that appeared was no other than Mark's ancestor, Aliya.
”Can't I come to see my Grandchild?” Aliya smiled. ”This area is within Diwata Iraya's territory, so she knew what is happening around here. Actually, we detected an unfamiliar presence of a Tamawo. That's why we've been watching his group since they entered the area. We didn't expect that he's part of your group, though.”
Hearing that, Mark understood. The mountain he ended up exiting when he left Diwata Iraya's domain was not too far from here. It was not surprising that this fell into her territory and was able to observe the events here with the abilities of the spirits.
”What are those people, anyway?”
Mark asked, changing the topic.
”They are Half-Demons. They were descendants of Demons from Human partners. However, they did not turn into Demons and retained humanity, albeit having abilities from their Demon parents and ancestors.”
Hearing the words of his Grandmother, several thoughts entered Mark's mind. He remembered that in some pieces of Japanese literature, Otaku-oriented or not, Half-Races were utterly subjected to spite of Pureblooded races.
”Are they exiled by Demons because they are just failed offsprings?”
Mark asked.