Number 100 Red Nova Sorcerer

Chapter 32: The Quartet part 2

They traveled through the prairie for the longest time. Nothing interesting really happened until gradually, the flat land started showing signs of sprouts jutting out through the grass. Soon after, the forest, small and immature, appeared before them. They walked through the foliage for quite a while.

"How will we know when we hit the border?" Crystal asked.

Sei, who was holding Coal's hand because the volcanic Number was a little frightened despite it being bright out, shrugged. "Ojii-chan said we would feel different, and sometimes, it'll look obvious."

"W-will it be scary...?" the frightened child asked in a trembling voice.

The shinobi shrugged. "It's nowhere here, though. Ojii-chan said that it's so deep into the forest that light can't even get in." This statement only caused Coal to whimper and bury his face in Sei's chest.

Ichigo sighed. "Sei, don't scare him like that, and don't say such things with such a straight face!"

"Would you rather me say it with a scary face?" Sei huffed, hugging Coal close.

"No, but saying it like it's natural makes it creepier!"

"Whatever!"

"Stop fighting, you two!" Crystal interjected. "You'll make things even worse for me and Coal." The red rose petals on her short, puffy black dress shook as she trembled. "We're both more scared than you, okay?"

The older two nodded with small sighs. They treaded along in silence, the sounds of insects and other animals ringing in their ears. Gradually, ever so gradually, the light dimmed, and the trees slowly turned gray. The eeriness shot up, as did the tension.

"M-maybe this was a bad idea?" Coal whispered. "What if something tries to eat us?"

"We're safe, Volca," Sei assured, using the five-year-old's nickname while stroking his hair. "In the dead forest, nothing can survive for more than a week. Even the trees are dead. We're safe."

Coal nodded. Suddenly, a large line of bushes just popped out of the darkness. What was different besides the fact that they were all in a straight line was that they all were alive and green. Insects buzzed around the lush greenery.

"This looks like it would be a border," Ichigo mused. "It looks like it, but wouldn't that seem too obvious?"

"Only one way to find out!" Sei exclaimed, pulling Coal along through the bushes. The moment they both crossed, the smell of fresh grass filled their nostrils. Ichigo and Crystal soon followed, and like the two boys, they stopped in shock.

"Whoa...!" Crystal gasped. "Where are we?"

"Let's ask around," Sei suggested to the dragon girl. "Maybe someone will tell us."

They all linked hands as they looked around for any signs of intelligent life, which they soon found when the quartet traveled far enough. The village was very plant-like, from the residents right down to the houses! It was rather strange seeing people like Crystal even though they weren't Numbers or Monsters of any sort. Their energies just seemed normal and nothing like the ones they knew.

"They look so much like me," Crystal whispered, hanging on to Ichigo. "Why? What are they?"

"Let's ask," Ichigo suggested.

"I'll do it!" Sei said excitedly and, being the charismatic little Number he was, strutted up to one being with Coal in tow. "Hello!" He didn't know if his lack of knowing this language would affect communications with these strangers, but the one he was talking to seemed to understand just fine, surprisingly.