Cyra was woken up by the loud murmurs outside the tent, her eyes blurry and disoriented. it took her minutes for her to remember where she was. She sat up hurriedly and looked outside to the open slit. she saw the crowd of people trying to look into the tent. she was confused, 'what's going on? why are all of them gathered here?'
she walked out under their scrutinizing gaze, she felt their probing gazes, sizing her up. which made her uncomfortable, but her face was a mask of calmness. She heard the murmurs in the crowd.
''she looks so manly...
''won't she be a burden n with her feeble statue ...
''how did she come from the other side...
''what's the other side like?...
They discussed among themselves looking at her as if she were an alien, she looked at Zane whose face was getting darker, the air around was cold, and she felt he was furious. she was about to introduce herself and let their curiosity subside. but a huge curvy woman walked out of the crowd. she raised her hands and everywhere was quiet.
''hello am Magert the leader of this settlement and you?'' her tone filled with authority. her eyes filled with pride as she looked at Cyra waiting for her answers. Cyra looked at this woman and felt she was a difficult person to get along with.
''Cyra,'' she answered in a calm tone, looking at her without being overcome by her show of power. magert smiled but her eyes were cold as she gazed at Cyra. ''welcome to desolate lands. here we hunt and only on ourselves for survival. what you hunt, half of the mana stone will be given to the base, the rest is yours.''
she turned back as she finished her last statement. ''everyone scatter and prepare for the coming wave,'' she looked at Zane with a conceited gaze,
''I hope you give me an answer to my proposal.'' she left and everybody walked out, whispering to their partner obviously cyra was their main discussion and they looked at Zane with a meaningful gaze which Cyra caught. She sighed under her breath. it seems she has to build a house for herself or Zane will be tainted with bad rumors. but first.
''am very sorry. I caused you trouble.'' she looked remorseful and helpless. Zane looked at her and hummed in agreement and walked back into the tent.
''you were telling me yesterday how to leave this place. please tell me, I need to know.'' Cyra followed his steps into the tent, her tone was tinged with anxiety and hope.
Zane paused and continued ''After the wave.'' he spoke, compromising. cyra was clueless about the so-called wave, she had been hearing. opening her mouth to ask . she heard a loud shout.
''Gather! Grab your weapons! '' she moved quickly out of the tent, she saw women hurrying to the front, armed with different weapons. she looked around feeling the tense air she saw Zane walk out with a sharp sword. The wind blew up dust in the air, every woman covered their face with strips of fur. Cyra was almost blinded by it.
''here.'' Zane handed her a fur, and she nodded in thanks as she covered her face from the dusty wind. She saw in front, was a crowd of black dust, the ground trembled as if it was experiencing an earthquake. She heard stomps on hooves on the ground.
she saw everybody tense like a bow on a string ready to pull. the air around her made her break into a cold sweat, nervous about the unknown.
she saw them summon their soul beast, it was a magnificent sight to behold but she had not to mind to appreciate it. what she saw unfolded after the dust brought terror down to her very soul. her sight was a thousand beasts formed of an abomination of monstrosity. it was like a horse mixed up with a goat and a monkey. the sight of it made her throw up her nonexistent food. and they were covered in black furs, their gold eyes flashed with madness. she gulped.