Page 22 of Their World

He held up a claw-tipped finger, walked behind the counter, and grabbed a book. He paused and said, “You must swear to tell no one that I, a male, have a book.”

That seemed a bit odd, but I nodded and said, “I swear.”

Zoman dipped his head.

The storekeeper opened the book and read, “In the realm where demons dance and death looms, in a time when darknessthreatens to eclipse the light, a savior shall emerge as a ruby-eyed serpent with sparkling silver scales, born of mystic origins. Within the serpent’s gaze, a flicker of crimson defiance against the usurper will weave salvation and life into the fading realm through a harmonious dance of serpentine and floral grace. Upon the eve of despair, when the moon ascends to its zenith, the serpent, bathed in ethereal radiance, will sacrifice all to save the worlds. The savior’s sacrifice will bloom into a silver lily as a testament to the power of love in the face of darkness.”

My hair began to glow, but I took shallow breaths to calm myself and stop its glow.

Was I just being conceited to think that the prophecy sounded like it could be about me? I was a ruby-eyed serpent with white scales. And my origins were definitely unique, even amongst the hybrids back home.

“Can … can I copy that down?” I asked.

The storekeeper looked around nervously. “Don’t let the Grand Advisor see it. This is from the Third to Reign’s time and we aren’t supposed to keep items like this.”

I made an x over my heart and said, “I promise I won’t tell.”

After another moment of hesitation, he slid the book towards me and my notebook where he’d drawn the symbols and their meanings.

Quickly, I copied down the words, being sure to copy it exactly, word for word.

“Thank you,” I said and put the book into Dhun’s bag.

“Take these,” the shopkeeper said and held out the serpent and the strength totem.

“I don’t have any money or anything to barter,” I said quickly.

“You’re the first to show such interest in a long time, and all demons should have at least one totem. Consider it a welcome gift.” He smiled, showing off serrated, triangular teeth.

“Thank you,” I said and clutched them to my chest.

Zoman held open the door for me and we went to another store.

After looking at the other three stores, we sat on what used to be a fountain, but was empty of water and filled with ash. I pulled out a granola bar that I’d found in the kitchen and ate it.

Even the fountain here had mana stones. What did they use them for? They seemed to be placed all over. They weren’t being used as a barrier that I could tell. It seemed strange to have so many mana stones not in use.

“Do you believe in prophecies?” I asked Zoman, while watching the demons around us.

Many were curious about me, openly staring, though from a distance.

“Prophecies do have a tendency to come true, but Ihatehow convoluted they often are. They’ll talk about a flower, but it’s actually a power or something crazy like that,” Zoman answered.

Dhun snorted in agreement.

“Hmm,” I whispered.

A thought occurred to me.

“Do you have magic users?”

Zoman scoffed. “Of course we do. What do you take us for?”

“Why haven’t I seen any?” I asked. “The only demons I’ve yet to see are fighters.”

“You have only seen a few of our kind,” he replied. “We’re spread out all over our world, waiting for portals to open, to go and find supplies, and bring them back.”

“What type of powers do you guys have? Elemental?”

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