animal squealed for a second, and then went on
about its business.
Sara could see a small container on the
device collecting blood from the animal.
“Don't worry,” Leon said. “It'll be fine.
These animals are much more valuable alive than dead, so they're
very well taken care of.”
“You farm them for blood?” asked Sara.
“Yes, the farmers store it, or turn it into
something harder like a blood marble to carry around.
Sara looked on at all the animals. “How much
do you have to drink to live?”
“On a full stomach we can live for years, but
when we use it to do things you humans find impossible, it's a rare
commodity.”
“So blood is everything. Without it, you
couldn’t move so fast, or lift heavy stuff.”
“Among other things, pretty much,” Leon
said.
“Has it ever been a problem?”
“It wasn't called the Dark Era for
nothing.”
One of the larger farm animals suddenly
roared and burst through a pen like a bull, charging at Sara. It
didn't have horns, but much of its body was covered in exoskeleton
armor.
Sara froze. There was nowhere to run except
back, but as fast as the animal was running there was no point.
Leon pulled Sara behind him.
The farmer quickly jumped the fence and ran
between them and the animal. She stared at the oncoming animal, her
eyes turning completely black. The animal skidded to an abrupt stop
inches from plowing through the trio.
“Sorry 'bout that. Your smell’s a bit strange
to him.” The farmer said, then following the animal back to the
pen.
“You okay, Sara?” Leon asked. “You're shaking
a little bit there.”
“And you're not?!” Sara said.
Leon gave a little shrug.
“How far till we pass all this?”
“Just a few minutes. The farms are only at
the outer edge of the city.”
Sara calmed herself as she walked with Leon.
“How did that lady do that? That animal could have easily torn us
apart.”
“She's a Liro,” Leon said. “They have a way
with animals, not to mention they can turn into them, too.”
“But how can you tell exactly?”
“Aside from the fact it didn't kill her? Most
Liros will be covered in tattoos. The shoulder-length hair and
prickly attitude sealed the deal.”
“You can control animals?”
“Me? No, only thing I got from them was a
semi-final form, which comes with heightened senses. I can't
completely transform, though.”
“So, the House you're born into determines
what abilities you have?”
“Yes, and even then it depends on age and
practice.”
Sara looked behind and saw someone following
a short distance, keeping a close eye on them. “Who's the
escort?”
Leon kept his eye's forward. “What does he
look like?”
“Like he eats too much red meat.”
“He's a Remia--extremely strong and extremely
fast. A group of them can put a building up in no time!”
Sara noticed they were headed in the
direction of a watchtower. The closer they got, the more
unbelievably tall it seemed. “The Houses are that distinct, huh?
Which House was Bekal from?”
“Kanara. They like to mess with your
head.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bekal could have put you in a trance, maybe.
Older members of the House can cause anything from hallucinations
to memory loss to possession.”
“How can I tell when I see one?”
Leon thought for a moment. “It’s more
difficult with them. Their outward appearance isn't influenced by
their abilities.”
The closer they got to the watchtower, the
harder it was for Sara to take her eyes off it. She could see a set
of cables extending from the tower to another far off in the
distance. “Leon, what in the world is this?”
“Remember when you asked how we would reach
the center of the city?”
“I'm starting to wonder if I want to
know.”
“Towers!”
Sara looked at Leon. “What?”
“We call'em towers.”
“That's original.” Sara shook her head.
They walked into the base of the tower and
entered a large basket connected to ropes that went all the way
about its business.
Sara could see a small container on the
device collecting blood from the animal.
“Don't worry,” Leon said. “It'll be fine.
These animals are much more valuable alive than dead, so they're
very well taken care of.”
“You farm them for blood?” asked Sara.
“Yes, the farmers store it, or turn it into
something harder like a blood marble to carry around.
Sara looked on at all the animals. “How much
do you have to drink to live?”
“On a full stomach we can live for years, but
when we use it to do things you humans find impossible, it's a rare
commodity.”
“So blood is everything. Without it, you
couldn’t move so fast, or lift heavy stuff.”
“Among other things, pretty much,” Leon
said.
“Has it ever been a problem?”
“It wasn't called the Dark Era for
nothing.”
One of the larger farm animals suddenly
roared and burst through a pen like a bull, charging at Sara. It
didn't have horns, but much of its body was covered in exoskeleton
armor.
Sara froze. There was nowhere to run except
back, but as fast as the animal was running there was no point.
Leon pulled Sara behind him.
The farmer quickly jumped the fence and ran
between them and the animal. She stared at the oncoming animal, her
eyes turning completely black. The animal skidded to an abrupt stop
inches from plowing through the trio.
“Sorry 'bout that. Your smell’s a bit strange
to him.” The farmer said, then following the animal back to the
pen.
“You okay, Sara?” Leon asked. “You're shaking
a little bit there.”
“And you're not?!” Sara said.
Leon gave a little shrug.
“How far till we pass all this?”
“Just a few minutes. The farms are only at
the outer edge of the city.”
Sara calmed herself as she walked with Leon.
“How did that lady do that? That animal could have easily torn us
apart.”
“She's a Liro,” Leon said. “They have a way
with animals, not to mention they can turn into them, too.”
“But how can you tell exactly?”
“Aside from the fact it didn't kill her? Most
Liros will be covered in tattoos. The shoulder-length hair and
prickly attitude sealed the deal.”
“You can control animals?”
“Me? No, only thing I got from them was a
semi-final form, which comes with heightened senses. I can't
completely transform, though.”
“So, the House you're born into determines
what abilities you have?”
“Yes, and even then it depends on age and
practice.”
Sara looked behind and saw someone following
a short distance, keeping a close eye on them. “Who's the
escort?”
Leon kept his eye's forward. “What does he
look like?”
“Like he eats too much red meat.”
“He's a Remia--extremely strong and extremely
fast. A group of them can put a building up in no time!”
Sara noticed they were headed in the
direction of a watchtower. The closer they got, the more
unbelievably tall it seemed. “The Houses are that distinct, huh?
Which House was Bekal from?”
“Kanara. They like to mess with your
head.”
“What do you mean?”
“Bekal could have put you in a trance, maybe.
Older members of the House can cause anything from hallucinations
to memory loss to possession.”
“How can I tell when I see one?”
Leon thought for a moment. “It’s more
difficult with them. Their outward appearance isn't influenced by
their abilities.”
The closer they got to the watchtower, the
harder it was for Sara to take her eyes off it. She could see a set
of cables extending from the tower to another far off in the
distance. “Leon, what in the world is this?”
“Remember when you asked how we would reach
the center of the city?”
“I'm starting to wonder if I want to
know.”
“Towers!”
Sara looked at Leon. “What?”
“We call'em towers.”
“That's original.” Sara shook her head.
They walked into the base of the tower and
entered a large basket connected to ropes that went all the way
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