Nahida & Wanderer In HXH

°Hiding In Plain Sight°

The Shogun hurriedly looked around at all the colorful stalls around them. Seeing fish, human parts, corals, human hair, clothes, eyeballs, and nails. Wanderer, was getting deja vú at her actions. If he took his gaze away from her, for just a second, she would vanish. He had to hold onto her arm so she wouldn't stay behind as they walked.

Zafira was nervously smiling at each monster that glanced at them in dismay, and curiosity. They hurried to move ahead, but their curious Shogun made the trip longer than it should've been.

This whole town was quite small, the 'stalls' had a small roof made of cloth, as the items rested above a stone table. The houses were made of stone, no doors in sight, while cutouts to resemble windows allowed them to see the multiple residents inside. Zafira's body was blue, with yellow in their bubble chin and belly.

The other monsters they saw varied in color, from purple, green, red, and various shades of those colors. Even their children stared at them, at the exposed parts of skin they showed with drops of drool falling down.

Right, they ate humans...

Zafira pointed upwards, to a coral castle in the distance. The very last tower had golden light shining out, Zafiras finger moved towards that light.

"That's where our king is. He's eating right now, but, we can make it. We just, have to barge in."

Barge in, hmm? Wanderer grabbed the Shogun's arm before she could slip away, and whispered to Zafira.

"You know a way in?"

They nodded.

"I used to sneak out a lot, I know the castle like the back of my hand."

Wanderer hummed, and kept his suspicious to himself. Zafira knew so much, about the king, Nen, Gold, and now the castle?

"Why do you know so much?"

Zafira answered while pulling them forward, and passing the citizens of the kingdom.

"I'm, an apprentice of our elder. The elder is in charge of our knowledge, history, medicine, he chooses the kin. He's basically the second in command around here. Everyone trusts, and depends on him."

The Shogun suddenly spoke, her softer tone indicated Ei had taken control.

"You mentioned he was in a cave, not that there was a whole kingdom underneath the town."

Zafira flinched, but kept leading them as they explained with a wary smile.

"Well, I'm sorry for lying. I just wanted you to spare me. But, that white-haired man seemed nice. So I decided to trust you two."

They glanced back at them.

"So, please help us. This is my home, and if something went wrong, I'll be executed so-"

Zafira turned to them, and suddenly dropped to their knees, placing their forehead against the ground as they spoke.

"Please, don't fight unless necessary. I'll handle the talking, and I promise our king won't be able to harm you two with me here."

Wanderer glanced at Ei, seeing her stare at Zafira with her arms crossed.

"It doesn't seem like a lie, and if it were-"

She narrowed her eyes down at them.

"I'll simply exterminate them."

Well, that was good to know... Zafira slowly stood up and kept walking with their head down. Hoping the puppets could come to trust their words.

The small alleys they walked through revealed small children huddled together. Skinny fish people slowly breathing, and struggling to stay upright. Wanderer frowned, while Ei kept her gaze away from the sight.