parentshiftbook Chapter 257: Goodbye Ruins
Chapter 257: Goodbye Ruins
The figure in the window is gone before I can get a better look.It almost makes me question whether someone had actually been standing there in the first place.
"Did either of you see that?" I ask quietly.
Alice follows my gaze toward the large stone building.
"I saw movement," she answers.
Akina narrows her eyes.
"So did I," Akina agrees.
None of us say anything else for a few moments.
The building towers above the rest of Xaer, looking far older than every home surrounding it. Moss and vines crawl over its weathered walls while cracks spread across the stone like spiderwebs. Despite its age, the structure appears well maintained compared to the surrounding ruins.
"If anyone here knows what’s going on, it’ll probably be whoever’s inside there," I mutter.
Alice doesn’t immediately agree.
"We shouldn’t rush toward the one place that’s clearly different," she replies.
"I wasn’t planning to," I say with a serious tone.
Before either of them can continue, the older demon returns carrying three small wooden cups balanced carefully on a tray.
"You’ve traveled a long way," he says with the same warm smile as before. "You should have something to drink."
He holds the tray out toward us.
Alice doesn’t move.
Akina reaches toward one of the cups before Alice gently catches her wrist.
"We don’t know what’s in it," Alice says.
The older demon chuckles.
"Tea," He speaks up.
He raises one of the remaining cups to his own lips and drinks from it without hesitation.
He smiles again.
"Now you know it isn’t poisoned," He assured us.
Akina grins.
"I like him," Akina says with a casual tone.
Alice slowly releases her grip.
"You can never be too careful," Alice replies.
The older demon nods.
"A fair way to live," He says with an understanding in his voice.
I accept one of the cups and take a cautious sip.
It is warm, bitter, and a kind of nice.
Akina quickly follows while Alice waits another few seconds before finally taking hers.
The older demon seems pleased.
"My name is Eron," he introduces himself.
"I’m Rokuro," I introduce myself.
"Alice."
"Akina."
They both introduce themselves right after I did without any problems. It seems Alice is slowly starting to understand.
Eron gives each of us a polite nod.
"You’ve arrived during a peaceful evening. Most families are preparing supper before everyone returns home," Eron explains.
"Returns?" I ask.
He gestures farther into the village.
"The children enjoy wandering after sunset," He answers.
Alice raises an eyebrow.
"I thought you said nobody should remain outside after dark," Alice says with a bit of confusion in her voice.
Eron’s smile falters.
"They don’t leave Xaer," He replies.
His answer is immediate.
"As long as they remain within the village, they’ll be safe," He continues.
He keeps talking about safe without truly explaining what he means by it all. Safe from what?
I understand something can take people within the ruins but not once have I been told what it is that takes us. I don’t understand why it is so mysterious.
The questions lingers in my mind, but I decide not to press him yet.
Instead, I look around the village.
Children chase one another through the dirt roads with wooden swords in their hands.
An elderly woman hangs freshly washed clothes outside her home.
Several blacksmiths continue working beneath open shelters, their hammers ringing against glowing metal.
Everything feels too normal here. Almost like nothing is wrong with the ruins in the slightest... But that’s why I think this could be useful.
This place definitely holds some sort of information that we need to keep pushing forward.
"You said travelers rarely come here," Alice speaks.
"They rarely find us," Eron corrects.
I glance toward him.
"What’s the difference?" I ask, curiosity still evident in my voice.
He smiles knowingly.
"The roads have a habit of changing," He answers.
Akina laughs softly.
"I knew this place was weird," Akina says with a carefree tone.
Alice, however, looks far more interested.
"Changing how?" Alice questions.
"Sometimes a path leads where it should," Eron starts to answer.
He points toward the entrance.
"Other times it doesn’t," He finishes.
"That’s impossible," Alice says.
"The roads decide who arrives. I don’t really know how else to tell you about this," Eron replies with a slight shrug.
Alice folds her arms.
"Roads don’t decide anything," Alice says with certainty.
"Perhaps it isn’t worth explaining," Eron replies.
Eron doesn’t argue further.
Instead, he begins walking through the village.
"If you wish to stay until morning, I’ll show you where you’ll be sleeping," He explains while leading the way.
After exchanging brief glances, we follow.
The dirt streets twist between rows of repaired homes.
Almost every building bears scars from another life.
Old shields have become shutters.
Fragments of enormous stone columns have been carved into benches... the entire village feels stitched together from the remains of forgotten civilizations.
"They’ve recycled almost everything," Akina whispers.
Alice nods.
"They would’ve had to," Alice whispers back.
As we continue walking, I notice something else.
Nobody stares at us for very long.
The villagers acknowledge our presence before returning to whatever they were doing.
It isn’t the reaction I’d expect toward complete strangers.
"They’re acting like visitors are normal," I say quietly.
"They probably aren’t," Alice answers.
"Then why aren’t they curious?" I question.
She doesn’t respond.
Truthfully, I don’t think she knows. I mean, why would she? None of us have ever been here or even knew this place existed.
We eventually arrive at a modest wooden building near the center of Xaer.
A faded lantern hangs beside the entrance while flowers grow beneath the windows despite the rocky ground.
"This house is empty," Eron explains.
"It belonged to my daughter who left several years ago," He finishes explaining.
Alice studies him.
"Left the village?" Alice questions.
"Yes," Eron answers instantly.
"Where did she go?" Alice asks with curiosity.
Eron smiles sadly.
"I wish I knew," Eron answers.
Silence follows.
I’m guessing she just disappeared and that she didn’t just leave.
He opens the front door.
"You’ll find blankets inside. Help yourselves to anything you need," Eron says softly.
"We appreciate it," I reply.
He nods once before turning to leave.
He stops without looking back.
"If you hear knocking tonight... Don’t answer," Eron advises with a serious tone.
Akina’s smile disappears.
Alice immediately steps forward.
"Who would be knocking?" Alice asks before anyone else can.
Eron remains silent for several seconds.
Finally, he answers.
"Nobody you wish to meet," Eron responds.
Without another word, he continues walking down the street until he disappears around the corner.
The three of us remain standing outside the house.
"...Well," Akina finally says. "That’s concerning."
"You think?" Alice replies.
We step inside.
The interior is surprisingly clean.
A wooden table rests near the fireplace while several books sit neatly arranged on shelves against one wall.
Dust is almost nonexistent.
It looks as though someone cleaned the house only yesterday.
Alice immediately begins searching the room.
Drawers, cabinets, and even the shelves.
Anything capable of hiding information.
"I thought we’d be resting," Akina says.
"We are," Alice replies in an instant.
Alice pulls another book from the shelf.
"After we learn where we are," She continues.
I look toward the collection myself.
Most of the books appear to be handwritten with no titles on them at all
Others are written in the same unfamiliar language from the sign outside.
Alice carefully opens one before frowning.
"I can’t read this," Alice says with frustration.
"You couldn’t read the sign either," I point out.
Alice doesn’t speak this time, just glances back at me as she flips through several pages.
Then she continues her search as Akina wanders toward the fireplace.
A collection of framed drawings rests above the mantle.
She picks one up.
"This family looks happy," Akina speaks up slightly.
I walk over beside her.
The drawing shows Eron standing beside a woman and a young girl.
Behind them is Xaer.
Exactly as it appears today.
Even the large stone building in the distance is identical.
"How old do you think this picture is?" I ask.
Akina shrugs.
"No idea," Akina answers.
Alice suddenly freezes.
"Rokuro," Alice calls out my name.
I turn around.
She slowly holds another book toward us.
Unlike the others, the cover is written in common demon script.
"What is it?" I ask.
Alice brushes a layer of dust from the front.
"’Records of Xaer," Alice answers.
Akina immediately walks over.
"Can it tell us what happened?" She asks with curiosity spilling out with each word.
Alice carefully opens the first page.
The paper crackles from age.
Her eyes scan the writing before she suddenly stops.
Then she slowly lowers the book.
"The first entry... was written over four hundred years ago," Alice responds as her face goes pale.
The room falls silent.
Outside, the cheerful sounds of the village continue as though nothing is wrong.
Children laugh.
Blacksmiths work.
Families prepare their evening meals.
Everything appears to be perfectly fine as if nothing ever happened.
Yet the book in Alice’s hands claims Xaer existed centuries before the village supposedly disappeared only thirty years ago.
Before any of us can speak again—
Knock.
A single, slow knock echoes against the front door.
Nobody moves.
Akina slowly reaches for one of her pistols.
Alice closes the book without taking her eyes off the entrance.
Another knock follows.
Slower this time.
Then a quiet voice calls from the other side.
"...Is anyone home?" The unknown voice asks from outside the door.