Free Rupture: Rise of the Demon King by Milo Woods

out of the city. “Why is the city so populated?” he asked, looking at the worn-down houses within the walls.
    “Layis holds the majority of the kingdom’s food,” Mori replied. “It’s a major trade hub. I’ve been here a few times with my dad. He’s a merchant, so I would go with him for trade negotiations.”
    In no time, they were inside the city. Buildings were placed haphazardly, with no discernible pattern to their placement. In the center of Layis, past the scattered buildings, was the keep, smaller than the one in Asilis. The owners of the caravan came to a stop in front of a smaller building to unload the supplies.
    Seeko and Mori hopped out of the wagon and thanked the two for their help. Then Mori motioned for him to follow her to the center of town. Unlike Asilis, this town was bustling with people.
    “The people seem content. The war doesn’t seem to affect them,” Seeko said.
    Mori looked back at him with a scowl. “Are you kidding? Caravans are ransacked all the time. It’s demons whenever it isn’t bandits. The war affects the city more that way than the threat of a conqueror does.”
    “I didn’t know … sorry,” Seeko said. A second examination revealed that many people were down on their luck, wearing rags and begging for food.
    Mori smiled. “It’s okay,” she said. “It makes sense that you wouldn’t know.”
    Seeko smiled back, strangely comforted. The duo made their way to the keep. There was no wall surrounding it, like in Asilis. Instead, there was a large park in front of the building. Beautiful trees and a garden of flowers led up to the entrance of the building. A bridge crossed a small pond populated with small, unrecognizable birds. Guards matching the ones in Asilis let the two into the keep.
    “It’s you!” said a voice from down one of the hallways.
    Seeko looked to see maybe an eighteen-year-old girl with silver eyes. Her clean green jacket and brown trousers looked better kept than Kismetian normal clothing. Her light brown hair was neatly pulled back into a ponytail that left her eyes shrouded only by her bangs. She must be wealthy, Seeko thought. He concluded his survey of her and then stared into her strangely colored eyes. Was this girl blind?
    “You know who I am?” he asked.
    She walked closer to the two and said, “Yes. My name is Hannet—and I knew I would see you, and I know of your quest.” Her voice was high pitched and airy, and slightly annoying, giving her a continuously distant feel.
    Seeko looked hard at her and then waved a hand in front of her face.
    “What?” she said. “You don’t believe me?”
    “Uh, no, that’s not it …” Seeko looked at Mori, and she shrugged. “Can you see me?” Seeko asked the girl.
    Hannet frowned at him. “Why wouldn’t I be able to see you? I’m not blind.”
    “I just assumed because your eyes …” Seeko looked to Mori again—and she just shrugged again and then looked at the girl.
    “I get that a lot. My eyes are silver because I am touched by the gods.” Hannet took a deep breath and frowned. “I am a seer. I can see the future, or at least parts of it.” She smiled faintly.
    “Really? Can you tell me what I need do to succeed in my quest?” Seeko asked, suddenly intrigued.
    Hannet took a step back and held up her hands. “I can help, but I don’t know everything, so don’t rely on my gift too much. Besides, my visions are sometimes incorrect.” She looked away. “I can only see what might be, not what will be. But I can affect the future just by saying something here, doing something there. I can change what I see.”
    “That’s great and all,” Mori said, “but Seeko has to be somewhere. Maybe afterward.” Mori pulled on Seeko’s arm, forcing him away.
    “That’s fine, I’m heading there as well,” Hannet said, following them.
    Mori continued to pull Seeko, trying to outpace Hannet behind them.
    Hannet laughed. “There’s no need to rush. The future here is not going