World Between: Chapter 9 part 1

A crowd surrounded the bar as Aaron and Jared approached on a wagon. “We’re not here to fight any of you,” Aaron said as jumped off the wagon.

“You are, actually,” Meisa said as she steps forward. “With the exception of myself and 4 other realm breakers, you’ve been fighting against all of these people and then some.”

“What are you talking about?” Jared asked.

“We’re from Earth. Your Earth.” One girl replied. 

“All of us.” Another man added.

“That’s not possible,” Aaron said. “You’d be more spread out.”

“World trade isn’t limited to the top!” A dwarf yell. “We can travel all over now, and live a life and then some.”
“You could live your lives with your families!” Jared said. “At home!”

“Don’t talk like you know about my ‘home’” The same girl responded. “Because you’d never drag me back there if you did.”

“You go back there if it’s so great!” the same dwarf yelled, and shouts of agreement followed behind him.
“So is this suppose to get us to turn back?” Aaron replied. “How do we even prove the people were humans?”
“They're lives,” Meisa said. “Lives that are happier here. Lives you’ve been trying to drag somewhere they don’t wanna go!”

“Lives that are fine with leaving people in a worse world than they came from,” Jared said.

“You think we didn’t try? Those of us that could.” Another girl replied.

“What else were we suppose to do?” A boy next to her said. “Run from law enforcement until we could tell a story the news would barely cover?”

“It would’ve been better than leaving!” Aaron shouted.

“Would it have, now?” Talmo asked as he approached from behind. “I’ve greeted many a kind in my expansive lifetime, and I’ve begun to wonder just how young your lot is.”

“So certain were a young species?” Jared asked.

Talmo pointed to Meisa. “Filing to gather a protest I understand. Defending what ya got for as long and it holds.” He said after pointing to himself. “I’ve done. Disowning the traitors? Disgusting, but some merit. Chasing them down, and dragging them home.” holding his arm open wide. “Like they’ll be willing to work with ya, after!” He allowed the crowd’s roar to subside before he finished. “That’s a mistake from ancient days. Probably longer than you wee pups even walked your soil.”

“A protest is it?” Aaron looked around. The crowd still glaring at him, but none willing to step forward.

“She said not to… And believe me, it wasn’t easy to tell them that,” Meisa replied. “But from what she has told me this her fight more than anyone else’s, so if you still want to go—”

“We do.” Aaron interrupted. “We intend to do what is right.”

“Mcanegiv,” Meisa muttered as she walked away, and had the other clear the path.

“What does that even mean?” Jared asked.

“Heartless,” Talmo answered.

“No, why would it be more her fight than any of the others?” Jared questioned.

“Go in, and find out,” Talmo replied. “Some of us got actual good to do.”

With the crowd slumping away dejected.  Aaron and Jared walked back into the tavern where it all started. 
When they first found the tavern there was never a dull moment. People were always walking in and out. Some to drink, some to pick up a mission, and some just needed something to eat on the road. Now it was lifeless, a desert of barren tables and chairs scattered throughout. Misplaced pan hanging, if they were hung at all.

“They left in quite the hurry…” Jared said, looking around.

“I know we took the fastest way back, but it was still a week-long trip,” Aaron replied. “News travels pretty fast around here, so they must’ve had a few days at least.”

“What was the purpose of messing this place up?” Jared asked. “Seems likely it could highlight the entrance to—” Both turned around as a thump quietly echoed out behind them.

Aaron tried to grab a chair as wood sliding on wood sounded out to his right. But as he reached out, all he grabbed was air. No chairs were even close to him. “Nothing?”

“No,” Jared replied as pans clanged in the kitchen. “Two elements each. Her are Dark and Shadow.”
“How would that hide the entrance?” Aaron asked. A feminine chuckle filled the room as pans clang loudly again.

“Who’s knows?” Sofia’s disembodied voice took the place of her laughter. The sound of wood sliding against wood covered the floor after. “I’m sure you can find it no problem in this mess.”

“We can simply search everywhere,” Jared replied. “This only delaying our battle.” He turned again at sound wood heading right for him. The clang of a pan echoing in his ear moments after he saw nothing behind him.

“Maybe,” Sofia said. “If you somehow manage to keep track of everything. Doesn’t make it any less fun~”