𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩

You couldn't believe what you were hearing. Yukino watched the muscle beneath your eye pull and then you turned.

"Oh no! It's him again!" Kuschel cried.

"Hey, darlin'," the owner of the voice spoke - it was, indeed, Kai Slothe. He had barely changed within the year you'd seen him, except the stubble on his chin had grown out slightly.

"[Y/N]—" Yukino started to say, but stopped herself when you drew back a fist and smashed it into the middle of Slothe's face with no hesitation.

"Oi!" the bartender jumped the bar, "there's a no fighting policy in my bar."
"What?! But- he's a criminal! Call the Rune Knights or something!" you exclaimed.

"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave the premises," he spoke calmly, "though I won't hesitate to remove you forcibly."

"It's alright," Slothe had regained his bearings, "I'll escort these two out."

With that, he grabbed you and Yukino by your upper arms and your body was frozen in place thanks to his Body Restriction Magic.
"[Y/N]?!" Yukino whimpered as he started to drag you both along.

"It's alright, don't worry," you said, before starting to chant a spell, "Sound Dragon's—"

Before you could finish, two black chains made of pure magic power wrapped around you and Yukino and pulled you back, away from Slothe. The brunet man turned in disgust at who had taken you away, but promptly made his leave when he saw. The man who stood beside you had long, silver hair that was slicked back, and a beard. A scar crossed his face diagonally from above his right eyebrow, across his right eye and to the left corner of his mouth. His irises were red and had flecks of amber in them.

"Ay yous two berds or'rite?" he spoke in a heavy, Scouse accent, "that must 'uv beun a scary experience."
"Y-yes, we're fine," Yukino nodded, "thank you for saving us, sir."

"Don't mention it. I would 'ate ter see two berds as sound as yous two get put in 'arm's way," he spoke, glancing you open and down, "you're the Sabertooth wizards, aren't yous? That must mean you're e'yer fe me."

"I think so. You're Mister Aleksander, aren't you?" Yukino said.
"That's right," the man nodded.

At that moment, Sting hurried his way over.
"Hey, you're not causing my guild any trouble, are you?" he asked outright, observing over Aleksander, "oh, wait. You're the man we're looking for."

The rest of your team approached after Sting, deciding that the older male in front of you wasn't hostile - you, however, thought slightly differently. His scent was extremely similar to some of the people you'd met over the past year during your infiltration of Dragon Tongue, but particularly one person.

"The woman who requested this job, she told us to come and find you," Sting said, "she said that you were the only one who's seen this monster and escaped with your life?"

Whilst they spoke, you tuned out. Your past self was trying to convince Past Rogue to have a thumb war with her, which he begrudgingly accepted and lost miserably within the span of eight seconds.

Aleksander then started to lead your team along as he spoke, to a large round table. You all sat yourselves around it as he talked.

"That's true. I'm the only one ter 'uv ever seun it and escape alive," Aleksander confirmed, "er so they say..."
"What do you mean by that?" Sting asked.
"Wa' ay saw was no monster. Well, it was inna sense, but ay didn't see it as one. It was one gaffer clump o' magic energy ter me, as far as magic goes," the older man explained, "I believe that it's someone else's magic - someone's terroris'n the village."

"Pardon, but, if I may intrude... how do you know that it's magic?" Yukino poked in.
"I 'uv the magic o' the God o' Shadow, and I've tasted the flesh o' this creature. it's nowt nat'ral at all," Aleksander said.

So he was a Shadow God Slayer. That explained the scent. Out of the corner of your eye, Rogue's head swivelled to look at you with wide, sanguine eyes. Your irises flicked to meet his slightly, eyelids lowering. Your focus stayed on Aleksander, however. In your books, he was the most suspicious person in the room.

"I like this guy. I've never met a Shadow God Slayer," Past Sting commented.

You cleared your throat, "so, where will we find this... monster made of magic?"

Aleksander shook his head and shut his dual-coloured eyes.
"Ron this even'n the village will choose a sacrifice ter bowl ter the edge o' de forest ter be consumed by the monster," he said, "if yous wanna see it for yourself, you're best ter bowl ter the ceremony and meet ewever the chosen sacrifice is. Then yous can see them off and kettle them sate the creature's 'unger."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Sting nodded.
"Agreed," you and Rogue said in unison.
"If you're all in, then I am too," Yukino agreed.
"Sounds fun. I just wanna punch it," Past Sting grinned.
"And I guess I need to keep his ass in check," Past Rogue sighed.

All eyes turned to Past you for her answer, but she was busy trying to glare holes into the table apparently.

"What's up with you?" Past Rogue nudged her.
"It's just not right. How can people here sacrifice their own friends and family?" she said.

"That's juss the way it is around e'yer, kill er be killed. S'vival o' the fittest and all that," Aleksander replied.
"Survival of the fittest, huh..." she mumbled, "that's no way to live at all."