Reaper's Purgatory-Chapter 21:The Journey Forward

"I feel dirty." Megumi said.

Megumi looked at the same clothes that she's been wearing since arriving in purgatory. She was now traversing alongside K with Cider close behind, resting the back of his head in his palm.

They were calmly trotting along, leaving the busy streets of Gondola into a large area at a large gate where a plethora of people were preparing to depart. They entered into a large sled that could hold over a hundred people. At the reins were three people with several large strange looking dogs in each of the several sled that laid in wait.

Looking around, Megumi found that there were people still trying to fix the wall from the invasion that occurred some weeks ago. and despite some of the work that still had to be done, the time to depart from Gondola was arriving.

"Are you sure we can't just stop somewhere to shop for a moment?"

"The caravan will be departing in an hour so no." K said.

Megumi could only grumble in silence, prompting K to speak up again. "Look. Once we arrive in Arc, I'll bring you somewhere where you can get new clothes. Also, you do know that you can change into other clothes you wore in your life, right?"

"Y- Yeah b-but I want to look presentable, a-and the clothes I have... aren't the best."

Cider was left to wonder about the potential clothes she would have. Most of the thoughts drifted to her wearing a mascot costume of his favorite superhero for some reason.

Looking around more, Megumi noticed that there were some demons of a lot of different shapes and sizes joining in with the caravan. Noticing that, Megumi's gaze was glued on a group of demons.

"Those demons are likely looking for treatment for their condition." K explained.

Megumi's attention turned back to K.

"Not only is Arc a place to find out your sin, and the headquarters of the reapers corp, but it's also been a place for some demons to slowly heal to hopefully regain their human form. Many of them try, but only a few are able to succeed in this..."

Megumi's gaze softened on the group as they helped each other up. "That's sad..."

"You can feel sorry all you want; be they are only few in a billion with the same stories as others that came before them. I've seen this sight so many times I can predict how things will turn out for them in the end. And I can assure you that it's not good."

"But what if it's different this time for them." Megumi quickly asked.

"A person's fate is dependent on themselves." K said. "If they're unable to make that change from within, then they'll stay the same forever. And very few people can make that change, whether it be because of their inability to overcome their innate desire... Or circumstances that led them back the same path."

Megumi became silent for a little. She glanced at Cider who was minding his own business, watching all the people boarding the sled.

"What about Cider? Do you have any predictions for him?"

"That boy..." K pondered to himself for a moment, before answering. "To be honest. I see him returning down a dark path. Despite his childish nature, I can still see he's hiding a darkness in his heart. What it is I can't tell. But other than that, it's still uncertain."

"Uncertain? What do you mean by that?"

"Unlike many like him, he has a walking anomaly by his side."

"Walking...Anomaly?" Megumi wondered what he meant, but didn't have to wait long.

"Unlike many of the people I've met here in purgatory, you seem to be quite the wildcard. So what will happen to him, I'm still unsure. But keep in mind that your naivety and kindness will only get you so far. Remember Megumi... Not everything here in Purgatory deserves mercy."

Megumi her hands. "I... I already know that."

Memories for those demons that attack her flashed through her mind. Despite this she could only wonder what they were like before they became demons.

"Megumi! Look!" Cider yelled.

He brought Megumi from her stupor, pointing at Kailey who was boarding the a sled along with a few other people and Dove.

"That other guy..." Megumi said quietly.

"She's with that cheater guy I was playing with the other day."

Megumi could only chuckle a little awkwardly. "I don't think that's what happened..." She thought.

"Our sled is that one over there." K pointed over to the very front of the line of sleds.

With their new destination charted, they proceed past the many different sleds with regular looking folk to some demons that were malformed and misshapen. Eventually they made it to their sled that looked to have been made of wood.

Despite its rustic exterior the whole sled felt smooth as metal as she grabbed the edge of the sled. She stepped onto a step ladder, lifting herself up only to be met by a familiar face.

"D-Dino!? What are you doing here?"

Dino, who sat with his arms crossed, glanced over to Megumi. "You're finally here and you're surprised to see me?"

"I thought you were going to stay with that Liang guy."

"I am..." DIno said. His tone, more sour.

Megumi's expression turned from confusion to despair as she understood the meaning behind his words.

"Y-you gotta be kidding me..." Megumi irked.

"Get in." K urged.

With great reluctance Megumi continued into the same empty sled with Dino, sitting right across from him. Cider quickly followed in, seating himself next to Megumi.

Megumi quickly crossed her arms and questioned Dino, and K entered into the sled too. "So where is Liang anyways?"

"Like the hell I know. All he said was that he'll be right back."

"Really? I wonder why he's even joining this expedition?"

Ka started to speak up. "He's-"

"Welcome everyone!" Liang interrupted with his booming voice.

Megumi and the rest quickly jerked their heads from the direction his voice came from. As it turned out he was at the top of the large wooden gate. He wore his same fancy attire from the day of the invasion and had his sword at his side while holding a microphone in his other hand.

Right next to him were some reaper's including a familiar boy with a conductor's hat, let of Liang. There was also an elderly looking man to the right of Liang. Standing by his side like a bodyguard.

"To the uninformed, "I'm Liang Yun. But you can simply call me Liang."

"Obviously." Megumi thought to herself.

"I still currently hold the occupation of a demon hunter here for Gondola, but as of now, I'll be the one leading this journey to Arc."

"What!?" Megumi quickly erected onto her feet from the sheer shock. "He's leading us to Arc!?"

Liang quickly bent down to the height of the kid, Arnold. He looked a little tired.

"But I won't be guiding you alone since we'll be accompanied by a grimm of the reapers corp."

Megumi immediately recognized the kid on stage as the one that attacked her and Cider over a difference of opinions. It felt like one shock after another was coming her way. "I-isn't Grimm a high level for the reapers corp, K?"

"Yes. it's the second highest rank you can achieve within the association." he affirmed.

"And me and Cider fought that kid?" Megumi felt like puddy at that moment.

She watched as the Arnold simply yawned

"Yeah, yeah." Arnold said. "Nice to meet you all."

"Lame~" Cider called out.

Arnolds instantly bulged a vein on his forehead, quickly clutching his fist and darting his eyes at Cider. "That damn youngin!" he hissed.

"Liang patted Arnold's shoulder. "Now, now, being angry isn't good for your heart Arnold."

"Tsk. Whatever." He glanced away from Cider indignantly.

The old man by Liang, right, gave a glance at Cider too. He stroked his chin gingerly.

Liang spoke up loudly once more. Presenting the old man before the crowd. "Before I continue, I think I'll thank Harold here for helping with some of the accommodations. Without his help, this journey wouldn't be possible."

Liang then turned to Harold. "Is there anything you want to say?"

"I supposed that there's something I'd like to get off my chest."

Liang allowed him to take center stage, handing over the microphone. Harold gripped the microphone tightly.

Suddenly the pan started to inflate. It started with his neck, then his body and arms and he contorted like a balloon being filled. Not long after his clothes ripped from his body leaving him in a pair of shorts.

Megumi as well as the other uninformed listener watch in shock as the feeble old man turns into an overly muscular man with tons of chest and biceps.

Megumi's mind at this point started to shut down due to the sheer absurdity of what she just witnessed. "Right. I guess I should've expected this somehow..."

Even Kailey that was watching from a distance was taken aback, as well as Dino.

However, Cider simply pointed to the man. "Hey! You're that old man that beat me up!" he yelled.

"Of course he beat Cider up. Why not..." Megumi's mind was officially drifting off to space now.

Dove, glancing at Harold, looked on more seriously. "Looks like he's serious..."

Kailey, who was listening to Dove, raised a brow and looked back at the muscular, young-looking man on the gate.

After a moment of keeping everyone in deep anticipation, Harold finally spoke. "As the Ruler of Gondola, I would like to remind you all that this is 'purgatory'. For many of the unfortunate few, I am already aware of the many scars you already have from this world of ours. But for those who are fortunate, remember this..."

A suffocating aura made its presence known, emanating from Harold and his eyes darkened. "When you venture through those dunes of purgatory. You are putting your very soul on the line."

Soon after, Harold spoke. Some of the normal people and demons quickly changed their minds and left the group.

"That is all..." he finished.

Harold handed the microphone back. "There... I culled the herd."

"I-I see..." Liang watched on as a few more people left their group. Not long after Harold shrunk back to being an old man and repositioned back to Liang's side. He then gave a quick glance at Megumi's group, gardening Megumi's curiosity.

Liang continued his speech shortly after.

"Like Harold said, going through the dunes is dangerous, especially in a large group like ours. But that's why we have some reaper's accompanying us to Arc. Just do as we say, and everything should go off without a hitch."

Megumi turned back to K who was barely paying any attention to what was being said. "Hey k, how dangerous is it out there in the dunes? I don't remember it being that dangerous when we walk through there."

"That was because we were walking from the rift to Gondola. Most demons are usually dealt with during that time for safer travels. And the path we're going to take hasn't been secured since the journey there could take about five or so days."

K Glanced back up to Megumi. "While most reapers are able to travel safely on their own through the ashes of Purgatory, souls like yourself can become prime targets for the primordial demons that wait out their days in the ashes of dunes in purgatory. For this reason, a city like Gondola makes life easier when in purgatory."

"And that's why it is also one of the most popular places to set up a shop..."

Megumi turned back to Liang who seemed to be finishing up with some rules being set.

"Alright and before I finish, I would like to remind everyone here that we'll depart in the next thirty minutes so make sure you have everything prepared and on your person."

With those last few words, Liang finally finished. Megumi groaned and narrowed her eyes. She wished she could get some new clothes, but the fact that they were so far away from any shops made it justify getting something quick. Even if she would take an hour looking for something.

Far within the alleyway, a group of familiar demons prodded into the large docking area of sleds fitted for the dunes of purgatory. They kept a low profile keeping themselves hooded.

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Within the group, there was a very tall demon, short stubby demon and a normal sized one that kept his hood as far down as possible.

A reaper quickly confronted them, seeing them as suspicious.

"This area is only for those heading to Arc. Do you have the 'Harold's Opal'?

The tallest demon quickly brought out an Opal with an insignia of the city. It features curved horns and circles.

The reaper casted another glance at the group of three demons. Despite his suspicions with the three he allowed them through.

One of the demons, snickered to themselves quietly. Just from under the hood, a familiar demon with many eyes and mouths on his face smiled.

"Devon, be quiet." The tall demon said. "Remember, we can't screw this up. Otherwise lord Dragerd will be displeased."

The many eyed demon, Devon smiled. "Yes, of course."