9 How to leave the city? (1)

My happiness does not last long. There is a loud noise outside. The building starts to shake dangerously. Earthquake? I grab Kyo's hand and run upstairs. This building is about collapse. We barely make it out in time. Close!

Fire.

The houses are fire. People are screaming and running in all directions. Soldiers are killing anyone on sight. I hide behind a broken wall with Kyo. Mogrok sits in my lap and peeks out.

"Master, where did you bring us?"

"It's called Beggar City." I look at the soldiers in yellow and brown uniforms. They are yelling and shooting the commoners with their rifles. Not even leaving the kids. The blood is washing the streets. Bodies are lying everywhere. I have never seen anything like this before. Kyo's warm hand is the only thing that is keeping my head cool at the moment. I didn't want him to see this.

"Kyo," I whisper to him. "Close your eyes and sleep."

He closes his eyes. He doesn't fall asleep right away. Mogrok blinks his triple eyes. He doesn't say anything. A few soldiers are carrying shotguns. These shotguns are barely half an arm long. When the soldiers use it, neon rays of light shoots out and blasts the buildings in one go.

"That's impure ehr, Master." Mogrok makes a face. "I miss my place. The flow of Ehr was good there."

"If you want, I can send you back there."

"No, I was bored out of my mind. I can't sleep on the cold floor." Mogrok's lips curl down. "Master, can I eat that man?"

I look at him blankly. "What did you say?"

"Ever since I ate that vessel's flesh, I have been craving it." He drools while eyeing the soldiers. "Each life carries some amount of Ehr. I want to taste the meat again."

I am going to pretend that I didn't hear it.

"Did you find them?" A big man in golden Armour appears out of nowhere. His clothes are a bit strange. He is carrying a sword. A freaking long sword. His is wearing leathers and long boots. I can't see his face because of the golden mask.

"Lord," the leader of the soldier groups bends down on his knees. "We have searched the city. We couldn't find a single one. I think that they have escaped."

"Where could they have gone?" The big man looks around. I wonder who they are looking for. Escaped criminals? Rebel groups?

"Alert everyone." The man speaks in a deep angry voice. "Alert your leaders. Look for those cursed spawns in each corner of this city. We can never be sure. The harbinger has succeeded in freeing the forbidden God. The end is near. We must use all of our forces to stop the harbinger and the dark God. We must assist the chosen one."

Wait! They are talking about me. Mogrok and I share a look. Kyo is sleeping soundlessly. How did they find out? I just brought this kid out of that place. Who is this chosen one?

"Lord, the chosen one will arrive here?"

"No, but the Renasir is coming."

"Renasir is coming!" The leader of the soldiers yells in surprise. "But, this city is..."

"Clean up the city."

I hear the sound of footsteps walking away. I wait for a long moment before I peek out. I can't see anyone. The sky is getting darker. Dead bodies are lying around us. I will not be able to forget this scene.

"Master, can I eat these?" Mogrok asks me hopefully.

"That's not respectable to the dead." My stomach is queasy. I resist throwing up.

"Master, that was your old world." Mogrok chuckles lowly. "This is Iravan. You are the harbinger. If you want to live, you need to be cruel."

"I don't know." I look at Kyo. He didn't break his promise. He shouldn't see this. He is still innocent. I know that it is wrong. But, he should remain innocent as long as he can. I turn my back at Mogrok and cover my ears.

"Eat them. Don't leave anything out for him to see."

When Mogrok is finished, he nudges my foot. I wake Kyo up and walk out of that place. I avoid looking at the cobbled street. Mogrok walks ahead of us to eat any dead body. We avoid the soldiers, thanks to Mogrok's strong sense of smell. Whenever there is a Soldier, he warns us beforehand. We hide until the soldiers are gone. The city is quiet. I can't hear a soul. I wonder if everyone is dead. But, Mogrok guesses my thoughts.

"They are hiding," He tells me quietly. "Most have them are hiding in the other side of the city. Some have run to the forest. Where should we go, Harbinger?"

"Where..." I have the universal key, but I don't know any other place. Raye has said something about a place where they could be safe. He has asked Pebby to go there in case he didn't return before the daybreak. He must have guessed that things could go wrong if we succeed at freeing this God.

Middle Realm. I should try to open the door to that place. The Renasir and Vessel have killed the previous harbingers to stop them from freeing this God. Now, the Vessel is dead. The Renasir is coming to this city alone. We should leave this city before the Renasir arrives.

I go to one of the walls with an intact door and summon the glowing key. I think of the place that Raye spoke of. I twist the key and push open the door.

"It's not working." There is nothing on the other side.

"This key only works for the gates, Master."

"But, it opened the door before." I open the door once more.

"His prison door was also a gate." Mogrok jumps in front of me. "Master, you need to summon a gate."

Back to point zero. The key disappears in my hand.

"I don't know how to summon a gate right now. We should get out of the place and figure something out."

"Why are you afraid, Master?" Mogrok jumps up and down. "I can eat them all. I can finish them all."

"I will protect you, Elder Sister," Kyo suddenly says to me. I am surprised by these two words.

"I don't want to hurt anyone." I don't have any doubt on Mogrok's abilities. But, Kyo is a kid. I should protect him. "Kyo, let this elder sister protect you. We will go to a safe place and live a happy life."

"Safe place," He mumbles to himself. "Happy life."

"Master, if that's your wish, then where do you want to go?"

"You said that people are hiding in the woods." I squat down in front of Mogrok. "Take us to the woods. You can smell it, right?"

"Yes, Master!"