The world of Arcaeus was vast and expanding, Magic and familiars, beast people and demons, druids and vampires. There were many races out there in this world, and most of them have some sort of beef with the others. Though no more than the beast people and demons. There are rare circumstances of beast people living with the other races but if anyone were to see them... they would be taken to their nearest church to be euthanized...

That was the harsh reality of this world, beast people and demons were treated one and the same. The only race that seems to be at odds with the other races for their deplorable actions were the druids. The druids were mystical beings of the forests that knew that no one should be at odds with one another unless they did something drastic, being born into a race that they had no control over was not deemed as a good reason... So the druids disappeared, going back to the realm of spirits, or some people theorized.

The races that were considered "Superior." were the Humans and the Elves. Of course druids were above them for a time, but since no one had seen a druid in years, they were quite literally exiled from people's hierarchy, only told as a tale to children's bedtime stories.

The Elven kingdom of Riverthorn and the Human kingdom of Azathore were the two largest capitals of the continent, Sorhaven. Being the largest and most renowned kingdoms, of course they were at odds in terms of resources. The Dwarven settlements under large mountains were the only thing keeping the two from tearing each other apart, they, the Dwarves, were trading with both kingdoms in a sealed defensive pact. Whoever started the war... the Dwarves would turn on.

This wouldn't seem as much of an issue as there were other allies to be had, but because of how strong the materials that the dwarves had excavated and expertly molded into weapons. If either of them were to attack, they would surely fall. Of course there were other powers at play in the mighty game of chess. The religious power of Heaven's eye. The occult group that believed in the power of their god Belara was one of the most influential parties on the same level as the dwarves. They could topple hundreds of towns in civil wars and would likely come out unscathed.

These Heaven's eye members are the ones that carry out the euthanization of beast people and they always succeeded... until.

...

The screamed that pierced the forest died down, the flame Kitsune fell to the floor, her tail curling up in distress, her hand against her head in shock. "W-Why did I-I d-do that? A-All of th-them a-are d-dead..." It was as if her body completely moved on her own accord. Flinching at the sound of a tree branch snapping, she scrambled away as a squirrel seemed to land with the branch before scampering back up it in a panic.

Breathing in slowly and exhaling just as quickly left the girl in her thoughts. "They would have killed me... don't feel sorry for them for reaping..." She paused again... that overflowing rage of emotions almost escaping her again. "What they sow..." Looking down at her hands, she didn't know what to think of this...  She tiredly looked down next to the tree to see a flower growing right before her very eyes. "W-What?" Alex lifted her arm up, just as more flowers and grass appeared below her. "A-Appraise!" it was more out of panic more than anything. The panel appeared.  "Natures blessing." there seemed to have been more as the voice reached her ears.

'the blessing of druids promise towards beast people. It heals and camouflages beast people.' Alex sat still in confusion as the grass grew around her. "Why would I need..." She paused her train of thought as she heard clops of hooves onto the road nearby. She saw flashes of white, and that damnable symbol she had sat above as she was about to be euthanized by the old man. She scowled in anger, but couldn't help but be grateful for whatever blessing she got...

She blinked for a second as she wondered if there was a way to look at the skills that she had... it felt so easy to use the hell fire when she was in the state she was in... but now she can't feel anything... did she have to remember every skill she gained? Giving a sigh to herself. "I guess it's not exactly like a video game."  She watched from the now bush she was hidden in as a large amount of caped and hooded figures searched around. Assuming for her or other beast people...

She gave a look of pure anger, wondering how many people that had done that to... she needed answers... If the 'beast people' were given a blessing to hide and be healed in the forest, perhaps I should stay hidden from people... there has to be a reason for it... Then there was a loud growl, she stared down at her stomach in pain, remembering just how hungry she was... "It would have been helpful if the natures blessing made food too..." She said as she looked around the bush for any signs before sighing. Touching all the plants in there and muttered appraise. Some of them seemed to be poisonous, so she was glad that she didn't just start eating petals...

After a couple of minutes of waiting, the natures blessing seemed to react and slowly retracted around her. She stood up, staring at the tree she leaned against and couldn't help but bow silently, muttering a small thank you, she turned and started to walk around the forest, hoping to find some sort of food or clothing to cover herself. She was still in the rigid clothing, some of which was bloodied and burnt.

Placing her hand against her stomach once again in a wincing motion, she went through some foliage and saw a town. Grimacing at the situation she found herself in she looked at the edge of the town, hoping to find something, or anything to cover up her tail and ears... or something to eat. She remembered the squirrel that dropped next to her and she couldn't help but salivate at the thought of squirrel...

"I'm a flame kitsune... I have fire... I could make one and hunt... but that would take to long..." She groaned as she walked forward... knowing this was going to be a bad idea. Looking around she tried to keep her tail in line with her hair and her ears down... though it was pretty obvious from behind as she walked around. She saw a couple of people walk past and point and whisper and she had half a mind to flip them off. "I just need food..." She kept thinking before she bumped into someone. Making herself as small as she can to try and play her appearance... looking up slowly, her eyes met sharp blue ones, Time froze for just that brief moment before she quickly said, "S-Sorry... e-excuse m-me..." She shook at a breeze blowing through as she started to smell something wonderful... steam cascaded, and she followed it.

Walking towards the stand, she opened the flap of the stand before she got punched. Her body falling backwards into the dusty road. "Out of the way, beast!" That got eyes on her alright... She felt a small amount of angry flare in her chest, but silently stared down at the ground. Muttering a small, "Sorry." Trying to get up but was knocked down again, in shock she heard a sharp sound. Looking up at the man, he was burly, as a few more people came out of the stand. "Terra, now isn't the tim-" "Of course its the time, this beast existed in my presence." The girl bit her lip as she silently looked towards Alex, who gave her a pleading look.

"I swore to kill every beast person I find, or send them to the heaven's eye." That got to Alex... Heaven's eye... that sounds about right. Looking up, she had no time to move out of the way, bringing her arm up and closed her eyes... only to hear a clang. "Why must you do this every day." A smooth voice hit her ears as she looked up, seeing the blond she bumped into briefly had saved her from the slice, he looked down, his ears were the first thing in her sight, pointed ears and blue piercing eyes. "Lio..." Looking back as 'Lio' stared at Terra "How many times is this Terra?" The elf asked the burly man, surprisingly it was Terra who was shaking and Lio was completely composed with his sword. The brown cape flapped into the wind for the blond before the man grumbled, and gave a glare towards Alex who was still shocked at the whole experience.

"Next time Fox" Alex gave a small glare as he scoffed and walked off. Lio turned around and gave a hand out for the girl to grab. "Are you okay?" Staring at his hand for a minute, she looked back up at the blond that saved her, and he gave a grin, closing his eyes, which made her completely relax. Slowly she clasped his hand and he pulled her up, giving a look towards the sword he still had out, he pushed it back into his sheath. "T-Thank you..." Alex muttered before the breeze chilled her again. Lio frowned at that and grabbed the leather cape he had around his shoulder and unclasped it from the front, before putting it around her.

Alex's face flashed a confused expression towards Lio who was meerly inches away from hers. Flushing, she pulled away as Lio gave a small look and waved her forward. "Come on." Alex looked up quickly at the mere mention. "H-Hey!" She shouted as he gave a flex of his left arm, giving a smile towards her. "It's fine, the cold doesn't bother me." Alex followed after him, her ears still showing, she grabbed the back of the caped hood and pulled it over her head. She wondered where exactly they were going. 

"You look hungry... and you need clothes." Like Lio could read her mind he said simply with a shrug of his shoulders. The sword clanged to his side before Alex walked a little closer before muttering small thoughts as she walked past door to door before they walked into what looked to be a large lodge, opening the door, Lio held it open for Alex who peaked her head in cautiously. Slowly walking in, a door opened from the back and she jumped and covered herself with the cloak and Lio, looking behind him in surprise he gave a sad smile before hearing.

"Oh Lio! I'm so happy to see you again. How was your mission?" Lio turned back towards a woman with dark curly brown hair. "It was good, I hate to ask this since it's so early, but can you make some food for my guest?" She tilted her head in confusion before seeing the very timid girl behind the blond. "Hello darling, are you okay?" Alex looking towards the woman and Lio she shook her head. It had been a long day... and she felt pain all over her body.

She walked forward and gave a small hand out towards the girl as Lio gave a small smile towards her and nodded. inching her way forward, she let the hood drop and the girl's kind smile stayed there, she gave a small look at her battered form, a lot of bruises litered her arms and stomach, her face sporting one fresh from Terra. "My name is Sara, whats yours?" Sara asked kindly as Alex looked up, before back to Lio who was watching. "A-Alex..." The girl smiled brightly and nodded her head. "How about we get you a bath and clothes and i can make you some food. How's that sound?" 

Breathing out in relief, she nodded her head, happy to get a bath atleast... but she could only wonder how that would work... She was pulled along as she looked back towards Lio who silently sat down at a table in a soft groan... she wondered if he was injured... looking back towards Sara as the headed to a back room, looking around she saw a few things that seemed off from her normal bathroom... she did see a tub of some kind as Sara walked in and opened a cabinet, grabbing a blue crystal Alex stared at it for a moment as if it was the most interesting thing imaginable. "Here's the water crystal. It should still be warm but if you need..." She paused as she grabbed a red one with a rag and placed it in her hands.

"I-I do-don't..." Alex muttered as she stared at them for a long time. "This your first time seeing them?" Sara asked curiously as Alex nodded. She was itching to appraise them to see exactly what they are. Sara placed it in the bathtub as Alex leaned over, Sara grabbed Alex's hand and she immediately flinched. Sara stopped as she whispered. "I'm sorry Alex, I should have asked...  but do you wanna see how it works?" Alex bit her lip in frustration, knowing she shouldn't freak out. "Y-Yeah.. sorry..." Sara shook her head and offered her hand once again.

"So you push this part right here into the tub, and then twist and it will fill up. The red one you just drop in." She did as she said and awe appeared as the water started flowing out of a little hole from the crystal and it was like it wasn't going to stop. Alex let out a breath that was awe and gave a sharp laugh in surprise while Sara smiled at the noise. "I'm glad Lio found you, it's not the first time he saved beast people, its not right for people to persecute your kind..." She turned to look at her as the gem was still filling up the tub.

She could have guessed that there was some sort of bigotry going on in this world when it came to beast people, the best way to find who was persecuted in older times was to look at religious applications in older times... she remembered hearing about different perspectives of the bible so often that it hurt to think about... but there was one thing always in common... a fear towards the minority... and assuming Beast people are being killed off like this every day... she was the minority.

The water filled up as Sara twisted the gem back and pulled it out. "U-um... what do i do with the water a-afterwards..." Alex asked curiously as Sara pointed towards the plug at the bottom of the tub. Feeling like a idiot Alex just nodded... at least some applications of the old world was in the new... Getting up Sara turned to give the girl privacy before Alex called out. "S-Sara!" She turned as she was closing the door. "T-thank you." Smiling at the girl she nodded, "Any time." Closing the door Alex slowly lifted off her shirt... and looked down at her new... assets and gave a sigh... "This is going to be... awkward..."

...

TBC