The Disappearance - Zallo Village Arc

“Honnnnōōōōōō, wake uuuuuup I’m bored there’s nothing to do in this place” whined a distant voice coming from beside Honō.

When Honō opened his eyes he found himself in a sturdy yet comfy hospital bed after a moment he came to the realisation that he must of had fell unconscious during the fight, after this realisation he began to look around in which he saw old yellow fluorescent lights on the ceiling and Witz slouching in a chair beside his hospital bed with a bored expression on her face.

“Hey, what time is it?” Asked Honō as he slowly begun to sit up in the bed he was laying in.

“Oh, your awake its around nine in the morning, you feeling ok?” Asked Witz in a casually tone acting like this was a normal occurrence in her everyday life.

“Ya I’m fine heads a little sore, what happened?, we beat the beast?” Questioned Honō as he felt the side of his head where the A-rank wolf had hit him in their fight.

“Huh, ya you’re the one that defeated it, how come you don’t remember?” Chuckled Witz with a confused expression.

As they were talking a oldish blonde haired doctor in a red shirt and large white unbuttoned doctors coat entered the room adjusting the glasses that sat on his nose and began to talk “Ah Honō you’re awake, let me introduce myself I’m Doctor Eric Ray” as the doctor said this, he put out his hand to Honō.

“Thank you Doctor Ray for looking after me” said Honō accepting the good doctor's hand for a handshake.

“Eric is just fine Honō, also no need for thanks it is the least I can do for the two who helped the village as much as you did” replied Eric

“You say that, yet I don’t remember anything after Witz getting knocked out?” Questioned Honō repositioning himself in the hospital bed.

Witz joined in saying “Actually, ya I want to know what happened as well, all I’ve heard is that Honō bet the beast and fell unconscious.”

“I see well after you were knocked unconscious Witz, Honō continued to fight the beast and won. He did though sustain an injury to his head which is probably the reason in which why he can’t remember what happened. Oh, by the way while we’re on the topic, a man dressed in black attire came shortly after the fight ended and disposed of the beast bodies” summarised Eric further adjusting his glasses.

“What do you mean someone came by and disposed of the bodies?” Asked Honō confused by the remark the doctor had made.

“A man dressed in black came by saying he was part of the Meka guild and he disposed of all the bodies in seconds with his aether” stated Eric with a puzzled brow on his face.

“What was his aether, may I ask?” Questioned Witz with a more intrigued yet serious look then before.

“It was an aether of darkness, he swallowed all the beasts in seconds with it to be honest it was quite the spectacle to see” responded the good doctor.

“I see, thanks for answering our questions” smiled Witz before giving a serious nod to Honō signalling that they should talk about this more later.

“No problem, also Honō I recommend you take it easy your shoulder is fractured, and you may have a concussion” suggested Eric as he began to turn and exit the room. As the good doctor left the room Honō and Witz turned to each other.

“Their’s no one in the guild with a darkness aether so this isn’t one of us” stated Witz with a now serious expression on her face.

“Ya but what could they want with the bodies of some dead beasts” asked Honō

“Who knows, maybe they’re a black-market salesman?” Suggested Witz unable to think of any better ideas.

“Either way let’s just rest for now and report back to the guild tomorrow. Also, could you get me a coffee please?” said Honō as he began to look around for a coffee.

“Sure” nodded Witz in agreement with what Honō had said.

Witz began to leave the room to go get Honō a coffee, while Honō laid back down in the sturdy bed as he reflected on what he could remember of the battle that had took place and the man in black that disposed of the bodies.

Was this man in black a friend or a foe? Only time would tell.