Bular x oc: Red Eyes

part 2: Welcome to Arcadia

Bular's POV

Bular stood at the edge of the canal, his massive form shrouded in the lingering shadows of the bridge. His eyes, glowing with barely contained rage, fixed upon the shattered remains of Kanjigar the Courageous. The Trollhunter's sacrifice had denied him the Amulet of Daylight once again.

With a roar of frustration, Bular turned and slammed his fist into the bridge's stone support. The impact sent tremors through the structure, small fragments of concrete raining down around him. As the dust settled, a faint sound caught his attention - the soft scraping of stone against stone.

Bular whirled around, his keen eyes searching for the source of the disturbance. There, crouched beside Kanjigar's remains, was a human. No, not quite human. Even from this distance, Bular could see that something was off about this creature.

The figure was unnaturally thin, as if they hadn't eaten in centuries. But it was their hair that truly stood out - a shock of white so pure it seemed to glow in the early morning light. Bular felt a low growl rumble in his chest, more out of confusion than aggression.

The sound was enough to catch the strange being's attention. They turned slightly, and Bular's eyes widened in surprise. The creature's eyes were a vibrant red, eerily similar to his own. It was a color he had only ever seen among his own kind, never in a human.

Unsure how to react, Bular began to pace along the shadowed area beneath the bridge. He expected the intruder to flee in terror - it was the natural reaction of humans when confronted with his imposing presence. But to his astonishment, the peculiar being did something entirely unexpected.

They stood, turning to face him fully, and then... smiled. It wasn't a smile of fear or nervousness, but one of genuine amusement. The creature raised a hand and waved at him, as casually as if greeting an old friend.

Before Bular could process this bizarre turn of events, the strange human vanished. One moment they were there, the next, gone - dissolving into a wisp of reddish smoke that slithered away into a nearby drain.

"What a strange fleshbag," Bular muttered to himself, shaking his massive head in disbelief.

As he turned to leave, seeking the shelter of the deeper shadows as the sun climbed higher in the sky, Bular found his thoughts lingering on the odd encounter. Something about that human - if it even was human - unsettled him. But with the rising sun forcing him into retreat, he had no choice but to put the matter aside for now.

Little did Bular know, this would not be the last he'd see of the mysterious white-haired figure.

---

Two hours had passed since Kai's encounter with the dark troll beneath the bridge. The sun now hung high in the sky, bathing the streets of Arcadia Oaks in warm, golden light. Kai wandered through the town, marveling at how much the world had changed during her long imprisonment.

The sights, sounds, and smells of the 21st century were overwhelming. Cars zoomed past on paved roads, people walked by engrossed in tiny handheld devices, and the air was filled with a cacophony of modern life. It was exhilarating and slightly terrifying all at once.

Realizing that her current attire might draw unwanted attention, Kai ducked into a clothing store. With a mixture of stealth and misdirection - skills honed over centuries - she managed to acquire a new outfit without arousing suspicion. Red sneakers, black jeans, and a black choker complemented the hoodie she had "borrowed" earlier.

As she continued her exploration of Arcadia, Kai found herself drawn to a large, imposing building. Adults and teenagers alike streamed in and out of its doors. A sign proclaimed it to be "Arcadia Oaks High School."