Realm of Token {Season One}

Episode 36, SugarPop arc part 5: Lollipop and Sugarstick

Ah, Beggar's Hole. A small ramshackle village where the criminals and outcasts of society resided. There was almost no law present, save for the occasional patrols of the mercenary guards. The village itself was built on a hill, overlooking a dense forest teeming with life.

The buildings were constructed from various materials such as stone, wood, and even the occasional bit of metal scavenged from long-abandoned structures. Everything was either stolen, salvaged, or built by the villagers themselves. Nothing was new, which was evident by the smell of rot and decay that hung heavy in the air. Even the animals that roamed the streets looked like they had seen better days, their fur matted and their eyes dull.

The most notorious criminals in the village resided in the center of Beggar's Hole, where the largest and most well-fortified homes were built. These were the leaders of the various criminal organizations, and they ruled with an iron fist. Their homes were adorned with the spoils of their ill-gotten gains: stolen jewelry, gold, and even works of art. Their personal guards were some of the most muscular and intimidating individuals in the village, always ready to protect their bosses at a moment's notice. They all seemed to have scars and eyepatches and spoke in a distinct accent, as if they were all from the same place.

Rumor had been going around Token that one particular criminal, a man by the name of Eriksin, had just kidnapped his fifth victim, a young Elven girl, this time. The others had been Kemonomimi, dwarven, and Demon woman, all around the same age. The people of Beggar's Hole were furious, but none dared to confront Eriksin directly. His home, a large stone mansion in the center of the village, was well-fortified with guards and traps. It was said that even the guards who worked for him were terrified of him. Daily, they'd hear the screams and pleas of his latest victim coming from within his home, but no one could do anything to save them. No one really wanted to do anything to save them. In Beggar's Hole, everyone looked out for themselves.

Sawyer stared at the bounty poster for Eriksin posted on the Beggar's Hole community board, his hands on his hips. He hummed to himself as his gaze traveled down to the reward for information leading to Eriksin's arrest. Even with the reward doubled, no one had come forward. They were too afraid of what Eriksin could do. From his bounty picture, he looked like a regular Elf, albeit one with a scar over his left eye and a wicked grin. His hair was a bit longer than most, and he wore an eyepatch over his right eye. But looks could be deceiving, as they say.

Yoko peeked over Sawyer's shoulder. "Wow, that's the guy we're after? He looks tough, are you sure?"

Sawyer shrugged. "I guess so." He reached out and ripped the poster off the board, tucking it into his pocket. "All we have to do is capture him and turn him into the guards. He can't be that bad, right?"

Yoko shook her head doubtfully. "Beats me. But on the plus side, the reward for his capture is huge! Maybe we should go scope out his place? I heard it's pretty fortified, though."

Sawyer frowned thoughtfully. "Well, if it's well-fortified then there's probably a good reason for it. You know what they say in Beggar's Hole: 'If you've got something to hide, hide it well.'"

Yoko nodded with a wide grin.

It had been ten years since the two had run away from Aurilon, becoming vigilantes of sorts in the process. Sawyer's once scrawny body had become more toned, his abs visible even under his clothes. He had grown taller, reaching a height he had thought he'd never reach. His black and white hair was fluffier and more spiked, and his Demon tail had gotten thicker, the fur along it almost like a brush. He was still slender and slim, far skinnier than the average male.

Unfortunately, the only part of him that hadn't matured was his sarcasm and wit.

Yoko, on the other hand, was slim and petite, with a lithe, agile build. Her voice was still rather high-pitched for an Elf, especially a 20 year old, but it suited her well enough. Her now medium-length pastel pink and blue hair was held in two pigtails, and her bright blue eyes were more sparkly than ever. Her vigilante costume had been inspired by her candy ability; a short pink lolli dress with so many candy accessories she almost resembled a walking candy shop. Even her dress shoes had candy clips attached to them. Her dress had ruffles at the shoulders and a white lace trim along the hem, making her look like an overgrown doll. She had also grown a few centimeters since they were children, though she was still shorter than Sawyer by about a foot.