Dein stared outside as he watch the light coming from afar. It was the bonfire.
Earlier, her couldn't see it because it was daytime but now that the sun had descent, replace by the moonless night, the flame of the bonfire could be seen. Shining brightly than anything.
Dein looked down to see the little girl sleeping beside him, using his lap as a pillow. Though Dein is still warry of her, he couldn't just refused the little girl, especially when she didn't even asked for permission and just lay down on his lap like she has every right to do so!
He sigh, glancing behind him where the fog hovered like a wall just few meters away. Time to time, the fog will stir, sending feelings of unease running on Dein's back but nevertheless, it remained just that.
Dein looked down again, watching the little girl.
He really couldn't sleep...
After hearing Clay talk about the monsters falling asleep when they left the fog, Dein had become somewhat afraid to sleep. After all, if he somehow never wake up just like them, there's no telling what would happen next. He might even fail the nightmare the moment he does, or maybe woke up only after the tribe had already been destroyed.
Speaking of Clay.
Their conversation had not lasted very long. It might feel like it did but Dein is quite sure it had only taken a few minutes at best.
After Dein found out the number of awakened in this tribe excluding the priestess, he tried asking more questions to Clay such as their names, abilities and even their flaws, masking it with adoration, but unfortunately Clay only know their names.
With two that Dein already know; Lei and Clara and other two that he's unfamiliar with; Quin, who is apparently the chief of this tribe and Bon, a hunter same with Lei and Clara.
After that, their conversation shifted again in a different path and Dein doesn't even know how it happened. It seems that he too, enjoyed the conversation somewhat.
But non of those are actually important, its just stories of how Clay became in charge of taking care of this part of the tribe.
As it turns out, when children from the tribe reach a certain age they'll be given a task they'll be in charge of such as; hunting monsters, finding foods, taking care of the children and more.
It seems that's just how this tribe works.
After that, their conversation ended.
Dein would've love to get more information from Clay but sadly; he had to go to the north at times to help guarding the huge monster that's imprisoned there.
It's a pity really, but Dein doesn't mind. He's also getting a bit tired of speaking after all. More so because he's trying to be friendly – not that he's a bad person of course. He just couldn't help not to curse at times, it had become part of his personality after all.
Anyway, after Clay left, Dein was left processing all the information he received.
First was the thing dancing far in front of him right now. The bonfire – or as they call it, sacred flame.
Clay said it could awaken people but after thinking about it for a while, Dein came to a conclusion that it doesn't, instead, the four people just awakened on their own naturally and decided to credit it to the flame due to them seemingly worshipping it. Another possibility, however, is that the priestess, Gi, had made them believe that their powers were granted by the flame for some unknown reason. But Dein no longer care about that.
Whatever Gi is trying to accomplish in this damn tribe, Dein no longer have anything to do with it. He doubt it will impact his trial anyways.
And he also has more problems he had to think about. That being…
…How he would escape.
There is also the "lord" Gi had spoke of and said that Dein would meet in three days after he recovers and honestly, Dein wished to escape before that. He just have a bad feeling about this supposed lord.
At the same time, Clay also spoke of the huge nightmare creature locked up on the north which he said can awake from time to time.
'Ahh! So many problems!'
And he doesn't even know what kind of nightmare creature he has to defeat to end this stupid trial yet!
So, in order to prepare for all of that, Dein had decided to escape before the three day due.
And Clay seems to be the only one who can help him with that... However, there lies a problem.
It was that Clay seems to be too loyal to his tribe, even looking up to those of higher status like the chosen to the point where he proudly boast about them.
And he might act friendly towards Dein but he doubt Clay actually trust him.
Convincing him to help him escape would be closed to impossible.
And worse, Dein couldn't even move properly yet without being electrocuted with pain.
Closing his eyes, Dein sigh. He really doesn't feel good tonight.
'I wonder… what would Freya do in this situation?'
*****
The light of the sun fell on Dein's face and he heard a clap near his ear. It was the little girl waking him up.
"Morning mister!"
He opened his eyes, blinking a couple of times to adjust to the sun. 'I… fell asleep?'
Indeed, even after all that, it seems Dein still fell asleep. 'Is it because I'm tired?' it could be, but whatever the case is, Dein is sure happy to know that he could still wake up – which was, in and of itself, a big relief.
Just then, the voice of the little girl reach Dein's ears again as she giggled. When Dein turn to his side, he saw the little girl wearing a grin and is almost jumping in excitement for some reason.
Curious, Dein raised an eyebrow – or at least mimicked the motion since his current body doesn't have eyebrow. Nevertheless, he asked.
"What's up with you?"
Instead of answering, the little girl just exclaim joyfully, her eyes sparkling. Finally, she stood up, uttering as she ran towards one end of their cage.
"Look mister, look!"
She said before pointing outside of their wooden cage. Dein did not understand what she's doing at first but after following her and gazing down to where she's pointing, Dein quickly realize. His eyes widened.
Below them, a good number of tribes people gathered, each one holding a weapon of their own except a sword and behind them, a large pulling wagon could be seen.
Still, however, non of that cought Dein's attention as his wide open eyes focused on the lowered prison – one similar to them – and the monster inside it being forcefully pulled out of its cage by the people using only thick ropes.
'A-are they insane?'
He couldn't see it clearly but Dein is a hundred percent sure the nightmare creature they were trying to pull using only a rope is an awakened beast!
An awakened beast for spell's sake!
Yes, to awakened beings, an awakened beast might not pose that much of a threat but non of the people below were awakened, they were just mundane people using mundane tools and if back on the waking world, where people have advance mundane weapons like guns and could still be slaughtered by dormant nightmare creatures then these guys below Dein would definitely stand no chance if this beast accidentally wakes up.
But is begs the question though…
'Why are they doing this?'
The simplest answer would be because of the lack of food source in this forest, it seems animals doesn't exist here after all – or maybe not in the entirety of dream realm – and if they only kept on eating fruits and maybe vegetables they wouldn't get any protein.
So it is possible that they capture this abominations as a means of food, keeping them alive so they won't spoil before taking them out only when needed.
The not simpliest answer however…
Dein gritted his teeth as he force himself to stop his train of thoughts.
Below him meanwhile, the people are already trying to lift the wood looking monster on top of the wagon and just few moments later, they did it.
Then beside him, the little girl spoke again. Excitedly as she tugged on Dein's shirt.
"Look mister! Look! Isn't that the old mister!?"
At the words, Dein cursed "Old mister? What are you–" but he stopped, following the kid's gaze, Dein saw Clay cowardly hiding on one of the trees, nervous and sweating, and also… afraid?
His hands still holding the rope of the now empty cage.
This time however he wasn't alone, beside him, stood another guy of the same attire – albeit of a different color.
The guy faced Clay with an angry glare as he pointed fingers at him, as if scolding him or maybe berating him. Sadly, Dein could not hear from this far but he could at least see and so he saw the other tribe warriors glancing at the two but not stopping them.
Others simply shrugging, some completely ignoring, while few even smiled.