Where something seems to be off between the 2 friends as Alter prepares without saying anything to Geno and later in the day they get caught up in a mess caused by the humans.

advice: better be reading this with internet. there will be icons which will be fun to see, plus they say words as part of the story. you may proceed.

Decans' POV:
-

I'm finally here.

I made it!

Now to run fast for the monster town. I hold temporary salvation in my hands but Master will later come to stop everything. He had also said, rather had told to me that he has some delightful news which will make all monsters very happy to hear about.

From his calm but happy expression, I also assumed that these news would also make Raymond loose his hair and sleep for months!

I doubt that I will find the gates open, but I worry not. With the power I've been trusted to posses, thanks to the siren princess, I'm sure I can find more ways to enter the monster town and crash Raymond's little 'party'.

Apenas espere, seu tirano!

No one's POV:
-

Geno was looking up to Alter trying to understand.

When he woke up, seeing that the priest wasn't in the room, he assumed he went downstairs. But as he went to see the sun rising, when it was barely peeking and making appearance, he saw from the window of the room Alter walking down the street.

He had almost called him by his real name, as he tried to get his attention. But the priest didn't even seem to hear him and had just kept walking. Immediately Geno dressed up and went downstairs. The goat siblings and Atalanta were already awake.

"He said he was just going for an early morning walk to clear his mind or something. But he said he'll be back." Atalanta said when Geno asked where Alt- Guido had gone to.

The small skeleton however wasn't going to stay calm by that. He had to wait and stay, but he also really wanted to go out and look for Alter. Even watching the rest of the sunrise didn't help him. Minutes passed and each felt like a century for him. The smol couldn't stop himself from being agitated like that.

"He'll be fine. Whatever he wants to do, he can do it. He can take care of himself... can he?" His thoughts wouldn't let him rest.

They were gliding between all things they've been through together so far, justifying his positive thoughts, only to collide with what he saw in his sleep about the priest. It made so much sense why Alter deep down didn't like it at all here in Lisbon. Soon would come the human who had hurt him and many other monsters.

When he wished for Raymond go to the darkest pits of Hell... and with such voice betraying that it was very angry and personal... Geno shivered remembering that voice, so deep and unstable, so wild and threatening, more powerful than a volcano erupting, or... like an animal that has lost its baby.

He was hurting and God only knew if the "Early morning walk to clear his mind" was going to help him at all to stay collected when Raymond was showing his face. Geno didn't like it that he doubted Alter again, but with all he saw in his sleep, these doubts had grown a little stronger.

He exhaled and crossed himself 3 times as he stared at the sun rising more. He had to hope that things would be alright. If Alter was going to be once again calm and collected, he could have the mind to think clearly and save them both once again. The least Geno himself could do was stay positive and by the priest's side.

"Good morning, Eugenia."

Geno turned. Alter was standing to the opening of their room. He walked and stopped in front of him. He really wanted to ask where had he gone to, why did he leave, why-... But Alter wasn't his usual calmly cheerful self. He wasn't smiling.

At all. He was staring down to him with a plain cold expression, the very same one Geno had received after he was saved from the kidnapper. That expression, made the small skeleton unable to speak, only his eyesocket was 'asking'.

"What is going on Al-?"

"Pack your things." The priest said coldly, then turned his back and went downstairs without another word. Geno looked at him surprised. But he slowly turned and went to pack his things, even though almost all of them were in his bag already.

~

"Where are we going now?" Geno asked as he walked next to Alter, holding hands after 5 minutes of silence in the streets of Lisbon's monster town. There wasn't much movement, as many monsters were still sleeping. Again, Alter didn't speak, he was just looking ahead serious. "Seriously, say something, you'll start scaring me pal." The small skeleton talked again concerned.

Alter turned to look at him. His expression seemed to betray for a fleeing moment something between regret or guilt. But it got replaced by a tough expression, way worse than before.

"... §øməthıng." At least he had said... well, something, even though that was obviously not enlightening Geno. The smaller started observing around. The 2 skeletons walked through the plaza and kept going. Soon the siren realised that the streets were familiar. A specific path.

"Are we really going back to that ruined church?" He thought.

Yes, they were going further away from the centre. Soon Geno would realise his suspicions would be right. He saw again the church, its earie ruins greeting the 2 skeletons. Alter went for the door and despite it was broken and easy to push and get in, he knocked on it fast.

Not many seconds later, the boar monster, who had these fake scars on his face to disguise himself, appeared and spoke Portuguese to Alter. The priest replied in the same language and their dialogue was kept short as the boar turned his back and signed them to follow.

Geno looked again up to Alter confused, hoping for answers, but the priest's face was saying he wasn't in the mood to explain. Leading the smaller, the 2 skeletons walked and stopped in front of Jesus's painting. He didn't seem like he was going to pray, then why-?

"Você trouxe tudo?" Alter asked as he looked at the direction of the boar monster approaching them. He was holding a sack, which he placed on the floor and stood in front of the 2 skeletons.

"Sim. Diga-me como você quer."

"Seriously, why are they both speaking Portuguese when they can both speak normal English?" Geno thought even more confused and kinda worried about what the sack had in. Alter sat on his knees, still facing the boar monster. Then he started speaking again in Portuguese, this time moving his hands.

He was running his fingers on his whole skull, but focused mainly in the middle of his face, to his neck, then he rubbed circles around his right eyesocket. The boar nodded and started taking stuff from the bag. To Geno's surprise he saw small brushes, vials with liquids in them, containers and powders.

"Geno, step aside for a while. What is gonna happen to me will have to be done to you too. It will be important." Alter said, finally talking again to Geno. The smaller backed away one step and stared in wonder at what would soon happen.

"Agora vá. Vocês dois podem não ter muito tempo até que os soldados cerquem a cidade." The boar kept going as he opened one of the containers which had something black in it. He opened a vial and added just one drop of a dark liquid. He then took a brush with very thin fluffy top, almost like a pen and stirred the drop and the content of the container.

Just a few seconds later, he took out the brush, soaked in the black mix and approached it close to Alter. The small skeleton watched as the boar started drawing on the priest's face thin lines, which were changing direction with random sharp angles. He started by the neck and drew all over his jaw, his right eyesocket and then randomly on his whole skull.

Then the skeleton folded the sleeves of his shirt, allowing the other draw lines on them too, from the fingers to the elbow. At last the boar put down the brush and now Alter looked like someone had cracked his face and arms badly. But as Geno saw it, it was fake.

It looked so real though! With these drawn cracks, Alter almost seemed like a completely different skeleton. But the procedure wasn't done yet. The boar asked something in Portuguese always and not long after Alter replied, he searched the small vials and picked one.

He offered it to the priest, who drank it down in one go. Slowly his fake green pupils started taking strange shapes, until they seemed a lot more sick and withered. The color changed to grey. His white bones turned a tone more grey and sick too. Now Alter was unrecognizable. And creepier.

"Wooow." Geno did impressed, even though still not understanding why did that all happen. The priest signed him to come closer and the smaller approached still surprised.

"How hideous do I look?" He asked.

"Should I be honest?"

"Yes."

"Like a monster who has been struck by 10 illnesses at once. Oh and also by a hammer." Geno expressed fast. Both Alter and the boar laughed.

"Just as the little one said it!"

"Your turn now Geno." Alter said as he approached the small skeleton.

"Oh boy."

"Do you want fake cracks or bruises?" The boar asked.

~

"There are a lot of human soldiers around." Geno exclaimed quietly. The 2 were now walking again in the monster town.

They were wearing dark brown cloaks above their clothes, old and trimmed, making them look like ghosts walking amongst the living. Patrolling everywhere, soldiers were looking around with grim expressions. Some monsters that were brave enough come up to them and ask why they were here and what was going on, were getting always the same answer.

"All monsters of Lisbon must come to the plaza. Whoever disobeys and is discovered will be immediately punished with death. Lord Aristo's orders."

"They came much faster than I expected." Alter whispered looking around slightly worried.

"Does that mean we might not... make it to get out?" Geno asked hesitantly.

"Not as easily as I hoped to. God spare even Your unplanned creations..." The priest murmured at some point and the serious face he was keeping all this time around Geno softened and became rather pained as he crossed himself 3 times.

"Hey! You two!" The small skeleton froze and slowly looked behind him. 2 human soldiers were coming towards them. Alter stayed calm.

"Good morning men. What is going on today and you appea-?"

"Who are you to ask for answers huh?! Keep quiet and lower your head!" The one soldier, a blond head commanded arrogantly. Alter did so silently and the human pulled the tall skeleton's hood abruptly, revealing his skull. Immediately his face was filled with disgust and backed away.

"I know, I know." Alter said smiling inoccently.

"Eeew!" The blond did taking off his gloves and throwing them down.

"Shall I assume your dwarf companion is the same?" The other human soldier asked more relaxed but grim.

"Show him." Alter said calmly to Geno, who took off his hood. After the boar had asked, the siren had chosen fake bruises drawn on him.

However Alter had disguised Geno himself after asking the boar to step aside. With a small fluffy brush and 3 different kinds of powders, the priest made him not just unrecognizable but also unapproachable. Especially when he drank vial that changed the color of his pupil to pale yellow with black spots all over it.

His bones had turned also kind of yellow. Purposely he had also let the cloud covering his bad eyesocket to dissapear and expose it so he looked even worse. It had definitely worked to look hideous, because the second soldier hummed in understanding and disgust too, just more held.

"Enough Raul. Now back away, you'll get some illness from these 2." He said to the blonde soldier. "Remember you skeletons, gather to the plaza soon. Even you, we better not catch you wandering anywhere else." He completed strictly and with the other soldier who was looking at the gloves he had left on the ground still with disgust, they left.

"The disguises worked as it seems to repel the soldiers." Geno whispered impressed. "Where did you learn doing that?" He asked looking up to the taller. Usually Alter would share information or explain something smiling. But once again, he was serious, almost glaring at anything around him.

"We can't chit chat around here now."

"Why did we disguise again Al-?"

"Kəəp. Møνīng." The tall skeleton said without looking at the smaller, who felt a shiver running down his spine. For 2 pressuring silent minutes, Alter lead Geno anywhere but near the plaza, causing the smaller to worry.

"But the soldiers said that if we don't gather to the plaza, we will- mom, I know you told me to trust him and I want to, but-." His thoughts were cut when Alter abruptly braked and nailed his eyesockets intensively somewhere ahead.

"Droga..." He said quietly. The gates of the monster town were locked and soldiers were guarding it. He stared intensively for a few more seconds, he looked at the area around him and finally turned his back dragging Geno along.

"Now what?" The small skeleton asked.

"... How good are you adjusting to situations that need quick thinking?" Alter asked suddenly. Geno looked at him confused.

"Well, 7 years I lived completely fending for myself so I guess I am good at this." Alter hummed still not looking at Geno.

"... Alright then." He just said, in such tone that even that sounded like an insult.

~

The monsters gathered to the plaza were talking worried. The soldiers were almost circling the place, not reacting to anything and anyone. Geno was trying all this time to get Alter's attention, as he was sitting on his shoulders. But the taller was acting as if he wasn't here, ignoring him. He was looking around, scanning the area, the monsters, the buildings...

Sometimes Geno would really forget how tall Alter was. Amongst the pirates, with most of them being Animalistic monsters that were same size as the animal they were presenting, the priest seemed almost normal height.

Now that he was standing amongst different monsters, even ones that were a quite decent size, Alter was ridiculously taller than them, exposed way too much. It was a miracle how the blond soldier that had pulled his hood off had reached him.

"MOVE ASIDE FILTHS!" A soldier screamed and intensive movement from somewhere in the mob occurred. The monsters seemed to step aside and clear one of the 9 roads leading to the centre of the town.

A little army of 20 riders on horses walked and entered the centre. Everyone watched as they walked in. They were surrounding someone who was also riding a horse and as Geno could see at times, was dressed differently than the soldiers. For starters, he didn't seem to wear armor, but noble clothes.

Could that be who Geno thought it was? The soldiers got off their horses and 2 of them approached the rider they were surrounding, kind of helping him get off. Once he was down on the ground, they bowed down to him and stood motionless. The small skeleton looked at the noble dressed man carefully.

He had short curly brown, kind of reddish hair and beard well taken care of. He had a Roman style nose and 2 cold grey eyes looking around at the monsters, filled with condemn, disgust and arrogance. His skin was white. Despite the beard, short hair and eyes it occurred to Geno of who that man was.

"He has a few similar characteristics with Bernard Aristo." He thought. "If I am right about my observations, according to whatever was said yesterday and by the monsters' sour but also scared expressions around us, this right here must be Raymond. The evil Aristo." He concluded, already not liking that human. Raymond looked around some more. Very few monsters were now talking, but their expressions were speaking louder, showing fear and worry. The Aristo finally took a deep breath and cleared his throat.

"Monsters of Lisbon! Information from all around has me hearing that amongst you there are monsters who dare to disobey the laws, disrespect the power of the Government and cause constant problems."

"O sujo falando mal do mal lavado!" One of the monsters suddenly said, causing many other monsters to start yelling in agreement.

With just a little nod of Raymond's head, his soldiers from inside the circle and the ones surrounding the monsters started moving threatenigly towards the mobs with their swords and spears. Some of them pulled out some strange looking weapons and shot the first monsters they were seeing. The ones shot fell down jolting but not dusting. These bullets didn't seem to kill them.

"Anti-magic bullets." Alter murmured with clear anxiety in his voice to Geno's surprise, who truly had think for a moment that these humans could be taken down easily.

Well, by just first glance they seemed outnumbered and outmatched with just their weapons against the monsters' magic. But how the tables had turned with just a few anti-magic bullets. The monsters immediately calmed down and stayed silent, still with anger being seen on their faces as some were helping the ones who had fallen to stand up.

"In case you wonder abominações, the men are armed with just enough anti-magic bullets to give to each and every single one of you more than 10 and even more real bullets to replace your brains -if there are- with them. So one way to stay alive for now is to speak only if I allow to do so." He said calmly.

No one spoke, while Geno could feel rage building inside him by the unfairness. But it had occurred to him completely that at the moment he was in a really dangerous situation. He was in this mob of monsters with Alter, facing directly towards the Aristo and these soldiers surrounding them could very quickly end them.

"Even worse there's no way to get out of here without being spotted."

"For the past 3 years I had reports, problems caused to the humans. Goods, weapons, gold, stolen without any explanation. I am absolutely certain that some of you are acting up behind the humans' backs." Raymond scoffed. "As it seems you monsters never really learn, do you? Does it have to be reminded again what happened to the 3 Aces alongside so many of your race?" Unidentified growls and murmurs were heard amongst the monsters. "I see you still remember. After many reports, I came to theorize that these inconveniences are not caused just by a few of you monsters. In fact I believe amongst you are hiding rebels from years ago which the soldiers failed to capture." His eyes turned to daggers. "If it was completely up to me, I would have wiped you all out of existence, but no, the King had to be so gullible to believe that my bastard brother's little experiment was going to work. He just had to listen to Bernard and not end you."

"You sabotaged it all!" A monster from the crowd yelled and the soldiers started loading their weapons with real bullets. They all turned to Raymond as if they waited for allowance to wipe out a few monsters, but he raised his hand and all soldiers stood motionless.

"Nice theory whoever was foolish enough to spit it out. Now, as I was saying, these rebels that avoided death years ago, hasn't leave from here yet. They might be listening right now, they might be hiding like disgusting, slimy earthworms beneath our feet. I came here today, because I will not allow this go on anymore. I demand, right now, this instant for all rebels who dare defy the Government of Portugal to surrender. The monster town is surrounded by soldiers, after I had the allowance by the King to investigate for any rebels. Also, if any of you monsters have the slightest of information of where are these rebels, you better start talking. The silence of a few who might know can cost the lives of all." Raymond paused and looked around. The monsters were looking at each other with clearly confused expressions. They didn't seem to know.

"He's going to kill them all and they won't even be able to answer." Geno whispered actually really terrified. Alter didn't reply, he just kept staring intensively at Raymond. Suddenly from the crowd of monsters a hand was raised, surrounded by flames as it approached closer to the center. "Grillby?!" The smaller yelped as the fire monster revealed himself. The soldiers stood on guard seeing him.

"You flamehead!" Raymond spotted him and signed him to come closer. Without even caring for the nasty stares he received from the soldiers and the confused ones of the monsters, Grillby walked and stopped 3 steps away from Raymond. "Start talking if you want to save your fellow monsters."

"And this is exactly what I will attempt to do, Lord Aristo." Grillby replied calmly placing hands behind his back. He stayed silent for a few seconds before talking again. "If you want the truth from me, which will be the same amongst the other monsters, we have no rebels here. We know nothing about what is going on against the humans. None of us here does. If you would want to search even every single rock of our town, I doubt you would find anything. But even if you were indeed attempting to start searching right this instant, we shall inform you that a marriage occurred yesterday night and there is a law written by the King that humans cannot interfere with the monsters on their celebrations, with the biggest penalties occurring on marriages. Even if you received allowance from him. In fact, that law says that you humans cannot touch not even the ground where we are now-." Before Grillby could finish that last sentence, unbeknown to him Raymond had nodded to some soldiers act.

These soldiers walked towards the flame monster and wearing some thick gloves, with small spikes on the palms, they grabbed Grillby and pushed him, causing him to fall. Waves of objections and monsters ready to head towards the soldiers and finish them off for touching Grillby were barely held back as the other soldiers shot anti-magic bullets at them.

The ones who had pushed the flame head down, pinned his arms and forced him to stay there. Obviously Grillby struggled and even tried to shoot flames from his hands. But how strange, his magic fire died down seconds after trying to summon it and he seemed in pain. Raymond stood above him, staring at him with dagger eyes and a small evil smile crept on his lips.

"Oh, gloves with spikes soaked in anti-magic elixir. I absolutely love that elixir." His smile dissappeared. "I asked answers for something else you dumb monster. And if you really thought that I'm going to listen to you and your excuses, think again your situation. Now. Where. Are. The. Rebels?"

"Feed me potion of truth Aristo. You will get the exact same answer I gave. All monsters will do, no matter how much potion you give them."

"Oh, I have a much better potion for you." Raymond said and commanded something in Portuguese which Geno understood and got pale. He felt Alter getting terrified.

"Oh Deus, não." He said. Geno watched as a soldier handed Raymond a bottle. The Aristo looked again at Grillby, who's flames on top if his head started moving sharply.

"Again, where are the rebels?"

"There are no rebels-"

"I suppose this will help you remember then." Raymond barely had let him finish as he leaned the bottle, making water run down on Grillby. Geno almost fell of Alter's shoulders seeing and hearing the flame monster jolting and cracking extremely loudly, showing that way he was in pain and agony.

"PAI!" A woman screamed from the crowd. Geno understood and he looked again at Grillby as his body was still jolting and making cracking sounds. Raymond hadn't poured much water on him at all and yet he was already like this.

"He's all made out of fire and magic, no wonder even a few drops are able to make him like this."

"Shall we try again?" Raymond asked sarcastically. It took a few seconds for Grillby to muster enough strength and look at the Aristo stably.

"Of course. We. Know. Nothing-" Again Raymond threw at him water, this time for a little longer and Grillby started jolting and cracking even louder than before. The monsters attempted to interfere again.

Then, Raymond commanded something in Portuguese. This time, the human soldiers shot real bullets at the monsters, many of them falling down screaming in pain. Once again not dusting however. They were injured on their legs or arms mostly, but not on any vital spot, not even close to their souls.

"My patience is running really low, freak. Start cooperating before I throw all water left at you and your family and I order the soldiers to massacre every monster in here. I have actually been as merciful as possible so far to not instantly start wiping you all out of existence. Do not play with my nerves." Raymond said darkly as his hand raised the bottle above Grillby's head once more, ready to keep pouring water on him.

Suddenly his soul flew out of his chest, in orange color and forced the man against his will to sharply back away from the flame monster, almost stumbling. The bottle fell from his hand and crashed on the ground. The soldiers looked around concerned and raised their spears.

"Whichever of you is using magic, you better-." Fire suddenly separated the soldiers from the monster villagers, temporarily both sides loosing each other from their sight.

That fire made a perfect circle. Suddenly monsters jumped above the fire and landed inside the circle. The mermaid guards, in all their glory (and coolness) were now looking at the human soldiers hissing and holding magic spears. The fire circle opened and allowed 2 known small goats enter with their eyes glowing intensive orange.

"Os Infernals e sereias!" One monster from the crowd said and everyone started cheering. The goat siblings stared at Raymond as their magic died down and the flames dissappeared.

One insolent soldier raised his gun and attempted to aim at them, with Tefra sharply turning and throwing a fireball near his feet. The soldier jumped surprised, fell backwards, the weapon escaped from his hands, detonated and shot him on his knee. It was an anti-magic bullet and he fell down yelling in pain, holding onto his knee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X1K4cL32gk

"Your soldiers are getting out of control, ð œ π ' τ γ œ υ τ η ι π κ?" Tefra asked with poison dripping from her voice as she stared at Raymond, who however smiled lightly as if he had a friend in front of him.

"Oooh, Tefra Infernal~! How long has it been since we last spoke?" Suddenly he sounded disgustingly sweet and ironic.

"Drøp thə 'swəət' æct." She sharply told him as she looked at Grillby, who was accepting help by Pyros to stand up.

"I am better now." Tefra looked again at Raymond.

"With what right you bust in our town and already treat us like this? What did he do Ray? He stared at you for more than 3 seconds and you were ready to start gəπọcídịọ?" She asked calmly, but the anger although controlled, was obviously there.

"Your town huh? Who allowed your kind in the first place to live here and build this town to multiply like pestilence?" Raymond asked crossing his arms. Tefra exhaled from her nose and small flames came out but she still kept her cool.

"Your King allowed us to call this town as our own. If anything, we can and have the right to defend it if needed."

"Yeah right..." Raymond murmured rolling his eyes and let his arms fall.

"Why are you here and why you and your soldiers want to cause once again mayhem?"

"Take back your little army and tell the monsters to cooperate Tefra. We are investigating."

"Investigating while murdering my kind?"

"I didn't kill anyone."

"Yet."

"Oh come on princess-."

"Đœπ'τ ρrıπcə§§ mə Ræγm°πđ Ærī§τ°." Tefra suddenly snapped at him and Geno's eyesocket widened up as the female goat's eyes went empty and dark. "You might see me just as another monster, but as much as you hate it, we are equals. I am an Infernal but also an Aristo, even if it is your brother I'm married to and he is more on the monster kind's side than humanity's. Your King is is still honoring him just as much as you even after the events of 4 years ago, so you better watch that tongue of yours. Answer me, what is your business here?"

"Woah." Geno did without sound. Raymond rolled his eyes again.

"... I have gotten permission from the King to investigate the monster town." He held out a paper roll and handed it to Tefra, who took it, opened it and started reading. "It is suspected that rebels from the drama 4 years ago are still hiding somewhere in here. You and the other guards have no right to stop us from proceeding."

"I shall assume that you are incapable of doing that without murdering a single monster, huh?"

"The inhabitants here prefer to stubbornly stay silent instead of enlightening the investigation. Since they don't cooperate calmly, I am forced to use violence."

"£œrcəđ?!" Tefra took her eyes off the paper and if her look could kill, Raymond would have fallen down dead. Of course he didn't die, but secretly a shiver ran down his spine, which he hid well. "In your §īcκ æπđ §æđī§τīκ mind you are əπj¤γīπg this!" Raymond laughed quietly and in such sarcastic arrogant way, it made Geno start boiling from anger.

"Que un cerdo..." He murmured.

"Why hide it at this point indeed!"

"You may have permission from the King, but again, you can't investigate the town."

"And why is that?" Raymond asked with hands behind his back and leaned forward looking at Tefra with raised eyebrow.

"Because even with your King's approval, the laws forbid the humans from interfering in any way with the monsters on their celebrations. We had a marriage yesterday and specifically for it, no human is allowed to step foot for 3 days in our town. If the King didn't know that, telling him that will make him call back the allowance."

"Again with that." Raymond pressed his lips together and rolled his eyes even harder. "Can you just stop lying? There is no such law written anywhere in the documents, in fact, there is not a single book or even sheet of paper saying such thing."

"Am I the liar, or you, one of the few with authority high enough to have access to the documents and written laws of this land? I could even bet that you burned the laws so there is no proof that you're breaking them and you can do as you please! Raymond, you do know you're breaking the laws and yet you're here!"

"Absolute nonsense, Tefra." Raymond's eyes became sharper. "You have proof for nothing. You have no proof that I break the laws so I can do as I please, you have no right to stop me and especially..." He approached Tefra and his eyes glowed triumphantly. "... you have not a single evidence that I had anything to do with what happened 4 years ago. In reality, there is almost not a single right you monsters have and if not for that bastard half-monster, you would never stand a chance against all consequences that would find your filthy kind for what you did."

"¥ŒU did it!" Tefra spat and she seemed ready at any second to jump at Raymond and rip open his throat. "You managed to turn the crimes you did into our actions! You made sure to get rid of Arhana and Aster..." She suddenly stopped talking and looked down suddenly extremely sad. When she looked again at Raymond, her eyes were glowing with extreme anger. "You're... You're..." She couldn't speak fron the emotion.

"They had to know better than sticking their noses where they shouldn't." Raymond said purposely loud enough even for the crowd of monsters to hear him and certainly Tefra, who clenched her fists. Her eyes widened up.

"Tefra no!" Pyros prevented to stand in front of her and place his hands on her shoulders, stopping her from attacking. He turned to face Raymond determined. "Lord Raymond, we are telling the truth about the marriage and we certainly remember what the laws related to us monsters say. Destroyed or not, they have been written and have been announced once. If you want so badly to investigate the monster town, come back again in 2 days and I can guarantee that we can let you see by yourself if there are indeed rebels hidden here, as long as you do not cause mayhem. You can even search for as many days as you want. But please, allow us temporary freedom for 2 more days. It is all we ask."

"Don't bother bro. He will cause mayhem one way or another. That's what he wants..." Tefra stopped him. Raymond glared at Pyros.

"Cute little speech, but I'd rather not waste any time. If I come back after 2 days, the rebels will defnitely have plenty of time to hide or leave far away enough." His eyes glowed darker. "You have 2 choices goats: you will whether step aside and let us investigate as we please and there won't be any deaths, or you will find me proof that right now I am about to break the law because I interfere not too long after a monster marriage. Preferably, show me the laws. Tell me where is such thing written and I shall take my leave. I give 1 minute to decide." He then raised his head. "Carregue as armas!" He commanded and the soldiers indeed started loading their weapons. Panic and terror fell upon the monsters as they tried to run away, soon being forced to stay because of the soldiers surrounding them. "For your own good and if you care about the monsters, stop acting like stubborn mules." The Aristo said coldly as the Infernals stared at him shocked, Tefra also even more enraged.

Cries and tears took over, screaming for mercy and whispering prayers for salvation. The only one staying motionless like a statue was Alter, who had his eyesockets nailed at Raymond. Only then, in this panic Geno saw his expression. It was terrifying. It was crazy. It was filled with rage.

"Alter?" Suddenly the priest held Geno and put him down carefully. Then he faced again towards Raymond and slowly streched his arm to his direction, as if he was ready to-! "What are you doing?!" Geno yelped as he tried to lower the priest's arm. Well, he had to jump to reach, grab Alter's arm and hang from it. But the taller didn't even budge and kept his arm stably towards Raymond. He really seemed ready to do what Geno guessed he would. "The magic blocker will kill you! Ain't you listening?!"

"Alguém pediu provas?!" A different voice suddenly was heard above everyone's voices. Silence started falling as suddenly the ground started shaking. "Passando atravééés!"

"O que diabos está acontecendo?!" A soldier asked as he lost his balance and fell.

"Oh não, não ele!" Raymond said and facepalmed.

"Who's coming?!" Geno thought, who's imagination had already started running wild of what creature was so strong and big to cause such earthquake. Soon he would realise he was exaggerating. As he was getting picked up again to sit on Alter's shoulder and turned his head to look behind him, he saw a small skeleton running towards the crowd of monsters wearing diagonically a bag on him. With his every step, the ground was slightly jumping, in a level soft enough to not destroy any house. Suddenly, when he was really close, he raised his hand and the part of the ground beneath his feet literally went up, pushing him and making him fly above the crowd many meters high and into the center. "WHAT THE-?!" The siren shout-whispered as the new skeleton started getting pulled down by gravity. But when he was only 5m. distance from hitting the ground, he moved his arms. The very next moment he got surrounded by blue aura and started falling slower. Once he landed gently, he waved his arms sharply and the blue aura dissapeared. "He controlled his own body with blue magic! How did he do that?!"

"Decans Noko..." Alter whispered surprised. Geno looked at him confused.

"Decay who? And wait a minute, you know him?!"

"Decans Noko..." Alter repeated again and finally looked at Geno. "He is Vincent's advisor." Geno looked at the small skeleton just as surprised as every monster around. He seemed frail and sickly.

Yet at the moment he had a confidence that could make 3 times his size as he dusted off his clothes with a small smirk. He was wearing a grey shirt, above a simple beautiful blue vest, black trousers and a black belt with silver clasps. Short dark grey boots were completing his simple but elegant appearance. He had pupils yellow and mainly cyan.

"Decans?! What are you doing here?!" Pyros asked surprised.

"Coming to the rescue, L-Lord Infernal." Decans replied and suddenly he seemed shy when he faced him, his pupils turning mainly yellow. He realised Tefra was looking at him with an intensive worried expression. "T-The kids are under your advisor's care Lady Infernal."

"How did you get here?!" Pyros asked again.

"O-Orca whales."

"Orca whales?" Geno thought.

"Enough!" Raymond interrupted everything and glared at Decans. "Did Bernard send you, you filth?" He asked. Suddenly Decans' shy and timid personality of a cute little boy changed faster than a bullet shot. His pupils turned thin, almost like a snake's, in the middle yellow and surrounded by cyan. He smiled.

"Weeell well well~ If it isn't Raymond Aristo~ What did I hear about you? Attempting to annoy and threaten the monsters?! Tch tch tch..." He moved his head left and right. "No, master Vincent doesn't know I'm here. I travelled aaall the way from São Miguel to Lisbon, hearing rumors that you were going to do something reaaally nasty and play to the monsters a dirty dirty game. I came to try stop it." Raymond chuckled.

"And how exactly do you plan on stopping me? We have allowance from the King to investigate the town and search for rebels, filthy monsters that are hiding and haven't been caught. How am I supposed to feel threatened when I can just easily make you fall by blowing air on you sardine fry?" The soldiers laughed like idiots and Geno felt some anger taking over him hearing Raymond mocking Decans for being short. However the pale skeleton laughed along, covering elegantly his mouth.

"Sardine fry huh? I might be short, Lord Raymond, but it is not the size of the man or monster that counts." He opened his bag and shoved his hand in it as he looked again at Raymond. "So, I heard you won't back down on breaking the law, unless you hear proof that yes sir indeed, you may not disturb the monsters for 3 days after 2 have gotten married. You wanna hear the exact law saying that, amirite?"

"I'd like to see how you can do that so I become scared." Raymond mocked with a small smile rising.

"Oh, poor choice of words Ray. But I can give you a rəαł reason to be scared." Decans said, revealed and lifted in the air a small dark book. Seeing it, Raymond's smile dropped faster than what gravity would do. The Infernal siblings looked at the book with mouths slightly open.

"Decans, where did you get that?!" Pyros asked.

"Surprise surprise Raymond! You didn't manage to destroy all that writes about the monster laws. Master Vincent was so certain you would do such thing, he secretly asked from the King to put his stamp on this little book. These laws are valid, read and approved by him, to make sure himself that they are the ones he made when he accepted the monster kind on his lands." Decans opened the book with a smug expression. The goat siblings looked above his shoulders to read too. "Let's see. Hm, if my memory is still good it was at page 45. Ah, indeed! Exactly here: No human shall interfere when the monsters of Lisbon, or anywhere I rule, have their celebrations. Penalty, triple the taxes for any of the mankind who will be caught amongst the monsters on these days. The monsters may proceed on defending themselves if the humans deny to leave their land, oh ho hooo! I like this one! Disobedience more than 4 times will be punished with public execution. If I receive applications asking for organised actions on the monsters, it will be declined if it is on occasion where the traditions of the monsters are celebrated. If it is unbeknowst to me that the monsters are celebrating their traditions, all actions must immediately stop." Decans raised his head to look at Raymond, who had become pale but fighting to keep a straight face. "What's wrong R æ γ m ø π đ ? Cat got your tongue? Or perhaps I, the sardine fry took it huh?"

"I sense all this time something a little off with that skeleton, but I completely dip his spirit." Geno thought admiring how he was roasting Raymond.

"... Give me the book to read it. How do I know you didn't make it up?" The Aristo walked towards Decans and waited with his hands towars the small skeleton, asking for the book. The small pale skeleton turned to look at the goat siblings and seemed to whisper something to them for a few seconds. They backed away.

"Of course, Lord Raymond." He said when he faced the human and handed him the book with an inoccent happy expression.

"The f*ck, why did he do that?!" Geno thought. Raymond literally snatched it like moray catching sneakily its prey and backed away (oh wow, rhymes). His eyes were glowing in a strange way now. He opened the book and quickly looked through it. He looked again at Decans with raised eyebrow.

"For someone like you being Bernard's advisor, you surely don't think much, do you?" He asked as an evil smirk was about to rise on his lips.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Decans asked 'innocently'.

"You literally just gave him the monster laws book and won't get it back idiot!" One soldier mocked and all of them laughed quietly.

There, Decans started laughing louder and Geno was finally sure of what he sensed off with him when he saw him. Or when he heard him mentioning orca whales and Raymond called him a sardine fry, plus his pupils that were thin from round they were. As Decans laughed, small pointy teeth were seen in his pale yellow mouth.

"Mermaid! He's a mermaid!"

"What's so funny?" Raymond asked.

"Well, I gotta thank your soldiers for having a very big mouth Ray. Also for hurrying to speak too. You humans just confirmed to everyone that you truly have zero shame for your actions and that nothing can be trusted with you. Also that you really do know well the laws but pretend they're not real. You massive liar!" Decans replied in an excited and sarcastic tone.

"So what sardine? I have the book and if you touch me-."

"Oh I know. But 'pardon' me for interrupting you Ray, by monster laws you should also mean this book?" Decans asked as he revealed suddenly in everyone's eyes another little book similar to the first. He opened it and turned it towards all directions for everyone to see that it had written laws on it.

"What-?!" Raymond yelled, soon a low angry growl following.

"Oh Ray Ray Raymond..." Decans said as he turned his back at him and placed hands behind him.

"For a moment it really appeared to be like that. Of course and you would wanna keep the book, only to destroy or vanish it later. Unlucky you, we have backup~."

"GIVE ME THE BOOK RIGHT THIS INSTANT!" Raymond's chill finally broke and he yelled ready at any moment to dismember Decans.

"What was that Raymond? Could you scream that a little louder? I don't think I heard you well the first time." The small skeleton asked causing crazy laughter amongst the monsters.

"This means nothing! You have no real power over me! Give me the book right this instant! I'm superior, you can't defeat me!" Raymond seemed literally ready to start foaming from anger. The small skeleton turned to face the human and suddenly threw the book in the air and behind him.

Raymond stopped dead on his tracks seeing in who's hand the book had ended up.

Unnecessary to say he started sweating bullets.

(readers dying from laughter seeing how screwed raymond is like:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCEZC9w5cMc

"You want it? Take it from Lady Infernal's hands if you dare! After all she's on same level of hierarchy as you." Raymond looked at Tefra with nervousness in his eyes.

"Lady Tefra, ha ha, I do think we can find a way to talk things out peacefully-."

"Ə π ° υ g η." Tefra spoke. "N ° more bargaining. You wasted all chances here. You're done."

"Slay Lady!" Decans said excited.

"But wait-"

"Œ U T. Œ R | ₩ | Ł Ł P U Ł Ł ¥ Œ U B ¥ T H Ə Ə Æ R M ¥ S Ə L £ Æ Ł Ł T H Ə ₩ A Y T Œ T H Ə K | N G !"

"Oooh." All monsters did impressed while the little children were laughing like crazy. Tefra closed her eyes and when she opened them again they were back to normal. She was now looking at Raymond calmer.

"... I give 2 choices. Get out now and this chaos will be like it never happened, or we go together to the King and show him that you've been breaking the laws he wrote and stamped. Even after how you acted today, I give you the chance to leave without heavy consequences... If you are an intelligent human being, you will know what's best for you."

"Mulher incrível." Alter whispered with a wide sweet smile. Geno smiled wider, he had understood what he said. As Tefra and Raymond stared at each other intensively, agonizing silence had fallen as to what would the Aristo do.

The mermaids were glaring at the human soldiers, ready at any second to attack them if they were doing as much as to even look at their weapons. With all that had happen, they had no right at all to attack the monsters without consequences. Eventually Raymond backed away and in his eyes there was defeat.

"Get back to your horses!" He commanded. Slowly and awkwardly the soldiers walked towards their horses. Raymond's eyes turned to daggers as he stared at the small female. "This isn't over and you know it."

"It will be only if we are dead or if you die, yes." Tefra said and nodded.

"Actually!" Decans stepped up and stood next to the small female goat with a mischievous smile. "I wouldn't say that if I were you, Raymond."

"Oooh, what now?!" Raymond groaned. Decans turned to look all around and raised his hands in the air.

"Everyone! Master Vincent is on his way here! He is coming to secure us once again and last time I spoke with him, he said he is bringing some big incredible news!" He announced. The monsters started whispering to each other excited and curious.

"For real!"

"Our Ace is coming?!"

"Whatever he has for us, all hail Bernard Aristo!"

"He is coming?!" Raymond yelled. "How?!"

"Oh, you really thought that forbidding the ships from sailing would help? How funny!" Decans said cheerfully.

"You ₩ H Æ T?!" Tefra looked at Raymond and her eyes once again seemed ready to murder the man, who looked around as if trying to find a way to escape.

"Oh that's right! Raymond did that secretly too!" Decans kept fueling the fire 'inoccently'.

"Would you look at that. As it seems the rebels weren't needed at the end to stop Raymond." Geno thought.

"Better take your leave while you still can Ray. You wouldn't want the King hear that once again you messed with us illegally, if you keep testing our patience and he takes away half of your rights and power. It would be a shame if he knew that you interrupted the monsters on one of their celebrations, wouldn't it?" Decans asked sarcastically. Raymond got pale.

"Don't you dare..." He glared at the small skeleton.

"Then be clever and cooperative!" Decans turned to the crowd. "Everyone! Cheer and be happy! We will be safe!" The monsters indeed started cheering, hugging each other from happiness, some couples were both hugging and kissing. Surprisingly Raymond kept his cool there, although by his look he really wanted to commit massive genocide by himself.

In this crazy cheerful mood however, Geno felt uneasy. His siren senses were acting up again. He looked around trying to locate what was wrong or out of place in the environment. And he found it. He saw the figure dressed in a purple cloak as they walked towards the centre of the plaza with slow steps and lowered head. He froze.

"Alter? Do you see that figure?" He asked quietly. Alter didn't reply and stayed silent. Geno observed his face. He was staring to the direction of the purple figure too. Suddenly the priest got him off his shoulders on the ground. "Hey, why?!"

"Stαγ đøwn αnđ hıđđən prıncə. Ðøn't mαkə αnγ søυnđ." Alter said sharply and calmly as his eyesockets turned to daggers.

"Did he just prince me???" Geno thought as he tried to look through the crowd in the centre agitated and worried.

If only he knew how chaotic things would very soon become...

8550 words... 15 and more votes to unlock the next chapter *pat pat pat pat pat*