Chapter 12:

THESE PEOPLE

STAR AWESOME


I wonder if others knew about his powerlessness. "So Toby, do others know about you not being powerless?"

"Yeah..." There was an emptiness in his eyes.

"Did they bully you because you were powerless?" Ren's brow twitched, already regretting asking such a question.

"No-no," Toby waved his hands while shaking his head. "They didn't bully me; they thought it was funny that I was this weak, so they messed around with me, that's all."

"Like...?"

"They would use their powers on me to make me fall, spill my food, soak me, hide my clothes, accuse me and..." 

He paused, looking down, and said, "Hit me."

 He sighed, "and make me take part in fighting tournaments."

Ducking his head, "A-and ignore me."

Ren's eyes widened as he remembered the silent treatment. He took a deep breath, his eyes glistening with tears. I hate these people; they are truly pathetic. 

"How can they do something like this to you?" Ren stared.

Toby gave him a faint smile. "Don't worry, everything became better when I began writing a diary."

"Diary," Ren clenched his fist, his breath heavy with anger. To escape from his loneliness. 

Toby smiled. "An old lady gave it to me. I was really down, so she suggested I start writing a diary."

"Toby, why would anyone suggest using a diary?" Ren's voice was louder than he intended; his anger for these people kept escalating.

Toby's shoulders shrivelled as he tucked his head lower, his lip twitching and his eyes more blank. "I-I-had a ho-bby... I helped old people cross roads. T-That's when I met her. She gave me the dia-diary... I swear I didn't steal it."

Toby sat curled up on the floor. Ren teared up; he sat down. "I—I am sorry. I didn't mean to, I swear, Toby. Forgive me." Ren burst into tears.

Toby glanced at him as he raised his head to pat him but lowered his hand back. "Ren, it's okay; you didn't do anything wrong, and not everyone hurt me."

"But picking on you just because you are weak, that's unfair," Ren cried out.

"Oh, but I don't think that was the main issue."

"Huh?"

"Things got bad when we played truth and dare, and I told everyone that I confessed to Nami." 

"Nami?"

Toby smiled gently. "Nami is a very kind girl." He glanced at the clock; it was almost 1:21. "I should go now. Let's meet again tomorrow, but please don't tell others about meeting me."

.


.


Beyond the lands of the Star Area, beneath the red moon, echoes of boots clicking against the wet shimmering cobblestones, followed by the dark-haired man's humming, filled the silence. The flickering postlamp cast halos of golden light from atop. The man's shadow danced underneath, twisting into eerie shapes; dark, thick threads rose with each movement. 

Hmm...I really hate these slums of the demon land. The cities have such a traditionally gorgeous aesthetic.

Droplets fell from the iron-ivory-wrapped railings of the balconies. The glass windows reflected the golden light, making interior visibility impossible. He took a turn into a dark narrow alley. Alexander hummed in amusement; despite the cold, his breath didn't fog.

Even though this place has an abyss underneath, it's still cold.

Alexander twirled his black hair, walking down the dark alley. Under the silence, the clicking sound echoed louder. Aha, even if the slums aren't the best, I still feel the acceptance.

He stopped in front of a wooden door; the soft sound of a violin came from within. He pushed the door open, entering inside. In the centre a woman stood playing the violin; above her the red light flickered.

"Brave, brave Miss Sorceress, Alexander at your service." Alexander walked up to her. 

She glanced at him. "Ralph's demon?"

He paused, his bright red eyes aglow. She sighed, "Oh so you are that ex-star-awesome member who Ralph turned into a demon."

He chuckled, "Well, I still got the batch and the same appearance, so technically I am still a member."

"What's your name?" She lowered her violin.

"Miss, the one which my parents bestowed upon me is Alexander, so you may call me Alexander."

"You've got an awfully annoying speech pattern."

A sigil appeared underneath them; the creaking wooden floor broke open, pulling the two down. Their hair and clothes ruffled as they fell. A chair formed underneath them; the two sat down. Between them the air twirled, hardening into a table. They floated within an empty void; they were still visible to each other.

"Some tea, maybe?" Alexander added.

A glop raised from the table's surface moulded into a tea set. A sigil appeared above the teapot, spilling golden tea into it. Alexander poured them both some tea.

"So, give me all the details." The sorceress took a sip.

"Well, I delivered the black potion, and I found out that the new member returned from the dead land." He softly sniffed the tea, admiring the aroma, before taking a sip."

"That's quite bothersome." The sorceress tapped her nail on the table. "other dark forces members were so glad that the immortality of those warriors ended but alas..."

"Miss, so then why was Toby not able to return when he died?"

"there are three possibilities; he might have been turned into a demon—"

Alexander interrupted her, "But when a demon is born, they emerge from the flames of the abyss, here in demon land." He took another sip. 

"I know, if that were the case, then other demons would have sensed him around." She sighed, "So we are mostly concerned about the other two speculations; he might be alive, or he might have become one of those."

Alexander hummed. "I don't think he is alive."

"Me neither." she took a sip before continuing, "There is place in desert land of the Star Area where i found out about that curse and met the leader."

"That's fantastic; our people are already assisting Prince Torpedo of the Sand Dunes."

"I know, so I want you to go back to the western branch of the Dark Forces and tell them to increase their people." She placed the cup onto the table, which melted into the table's surface. "by the way, i am just curious, why did you become a demon?"

Alexander smiled. "For revenge."

She shrugged. "Did you accomplish it?"

"No," he replied in a jolt.

"what do you want?"

"I want to cross dimensions and go to my previous world so I may kill those who sacrificed me," he spoke with a close-eyed smile.

"Ah, so you can't cross dimensions yet," she added smugly.

He slightly frowned. She chuckled, "That's what I like about you demons who were originally other beings."

He raised his brow inquiringly. She smiled. "You guys still got your feelings and emotions, even if those are less compared to when you weren't demons."





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