Chapter 8

5 hours ago …

I walked to my subordinates through the gates. I told them everything to be wary of the animal before them. That it is more than it seemed. And that I will take the creature myself.

"Argh. So bothersome those two." I complained. "Well, at least she won't be entering the village for quite some time." I snickered. "This is perfect to meet up with him."

I marched towards the town center of the village. The center was square like in shape. In the center of the square was a limestone fountain statue. The statue depicted of two hooded angels on a rock surrounded by water. One angel held an urn and is pouring down to the water below; signifying that the regular villagers who have expired still serve and enrich the land. Behind the angel holding an urn, the other angel is holding a sword in its left hand and a kite shield in its right hand. It was flying upwards towards the sun. That indicated the warriors who have passed by time or by battle is still protecting us by being part of the sun.

I have no idea why there is such a fountain in the center. I never paid any attention to the sermons that the Disciples of Light always spout in the streets. However, there is something special in the fountain that no one knows except us knights. Inside the open robe of the warrior angel, is a bell. That bell was meant to be used to alert the village for the protection or evacuation of the village. However, that bell was never used at all. It is probably old and rusty by now.

"Well, I should be going." I contemplated. I spun right to the marketplace of the village. It took about ten minutes until I have reached to the marketplace.

The marketplace is really an open area filled with makeshift wooden stalls. Each stall had something unique compared to the others. Hunters would sometimes give regular people some lessons on how to survive out the wild, for a shiny coin that is. Herbalists would bring in a magnificent medicinal plant from the afar. Miners would sell away some gems to Amare, he likes those stuff, if they ever found some. And farmers, sometimes are selling two headed cows or headless chickens. I think we even had a travelling merchant that sold these so called lucky items. Apparently those lucky items were purple eyes of the Dark Light Assassins and the dark gray skin flakes of the Green Devils. She was selling these demonic materials, so we drove her out. What an idiot.

I patrolled through some stalls nearby. Some hunters were back from the hunt. They had several deer carcasses hanging by on a string. They were doing this competitive arm wrestling matches. A middle-aged woman was donning a green bandanna and forest green leather armor and was triumphantly winning amongst her hunting peers.

She saw me invested in the matches, "Hey knight! Wanna lose a few coins?" She insulted me.

I replied as respectfully as I can, "Ready to become my bitch for a day?"

"Oh we'll see." She said.

She pulled out a simple wooden chair for me. I sat down on it and she gave out this boastful smirk across her face. I can't wait to wipe that smile from her face. I remove my gauntlets and set them aside. She set her arm ready for match and so did I. We locked our hands together and waited for the countdown for the match.

"A silver coin goes to the winner." A hunter reported the gambling rules.

"Okay, ready? Go!" Exclaimed the referee.

At first nothing happened. We barely applied any pressure over the other. After a few seconds had passed, the leading huntress got impatient. She applied as much force as she could to bring me down. But we stayed in place, well I kept her in place. I realized I may be fooling around too much here, so I decided to end it. I let go a bit of my pressure and it sent our arms swiftly to the edge of the table. She was shocked by all this and was too stunned to retaliate after my counter. I took the opportunity of her loosening her muscles and sent her arm straight to the other side.

"Damn!" She cursed cutely. I made a confident smirk at her lost.

"Well I'll see you all later." I informed them. I lifted myself out of the desk and collected my winning. I was about to walk away from them until someone stopped me.

"Hey!" The huntress called out to me. "How about two out of three?" She attempted to gain back her dignity in her strength.

I had to decline. "Sorry, huntress. I still got a job to do. Maybe next time you can beat me." I wanted to get another time to meet with her again. "How about next week we go to the pub and get drunk okay?" I suggested.

She retained her snicker of confidence, "Oh, you want to see who can hold their liquor the most eh?"

"Sure, but not now." I replied.

"Alright, you have a deal. If we both don't have our jobs bothering us that is." She said.

I just gave them all a faint grin of acceptance and walked away. I don't want to miss my appointment with him. I traversed through a more shops until I got where I want to. Surrounded by all the other stalls stood a tiny, old shack selling herbs and vegetables. Some of the wooden that structured this shack has already turned rotten. It needed a few more repairs and replacements if this little shack wanted to look hardly appealing to look at. Still, what it lacks in appearance, it makes up for its blemishes for its amazing wares to sell.

I approached the counter and saw all the assorted colorful plant life or grounded up plant parts in jars. Those jars were lain on the shelves of the shack's wooden walls. Sadly, he made a poor job in organizing them, it makes it difficult to discern which is the one needed. A door to exit from in and out the stall is there. But he is such a klutz, he completely lost his keys to open the bloody doors. Behind the counter was my friend crouching down for inventory check as usual.

He is wearing his usual clothing for the Disciples of Light. A purely white hooded robes that covered his body from shoulders to ankles. It has some buttons running along the middle of the robes to allow the wearer to remove it at some point. At the back of the robe, golden linen was sown to a design that is supposed to mimic a falcon flying upwards. The sleeves are annoyingly long and wide that it covered the entirety of his hands and more. All the time those sleeves would be hanging about everywhere. Under those robes though, he wears his usual farmer's clothing. Brown overalls and a cyan colored shirt.

I knocked on the counter to try to get his attention. He raised his hands and left his index finger out.

"Give me a moment please." He said in his all so joyful Indian voice. "I have to check if I harvested the radishes."

After a few minutes later, he finally popped his curly charcoal black hair out of there. His tawny brown eyes still carried his casual joviality as always. And he still have his brown skin that strangely resembled to those water dogs. At the sight of me, he cracked a wide grin.

"Hey it is Big Sister Iris." He greeted me.

"Raj," I sighed. "You know we are not related by blood. So stop calling me 'Big Sister'. Besides, you're older and taller than me." I explained.

"Whatever, it is by one year. And besides I'm taller than you by the size of an ant." He humoredly retaliated my lecture. "So what are you doing here Iris? What happened to your morning jog in the forest?"

"I got caught up with some idiots toying with me." I groaned in nuisance.

Coincidentally, that buffoon had to show up when I said those words. He was running around, panicking from the other side of marketplace. He was frantically searching through the crowds. Eventually he stopped and scuttled somewhere else after a few seconds. I cringed at the sight of the fool.

Raj immediately knew who that person was to me. "So what did that guy do to make you already disgusted by his appearance?"

I answered hastily, "He was an idiot."

"Oh," He remarked in surprise. "So like every guy you have ever met."

I was slightly offended by such terms. I remarked, "I don't call all men idiots. Just men that are really stupid."

"And yet you say that to every men." He jested more.

"I don't call you, Amare, and Eideard stupid." I defended myself.

"So other than those two and me, every other guy is stupid." He taunted me more.

I played along, "Sure, yes. Everybody is stupid other than you and them."

"Aw damn. It is no longer fun when you're not mad." He whined. He soon reverted to a more serious behavior, "So, why are you here then?"

"I haven't eaten breakfast. I was hoping you may have some raw vegetables for sale?" I clarified my presence here.

"Oh, okay. So what you want?" He inquired.

"Do you have some wild carrots or maybe some home-grown cucumbers?" I asked.

"Well, I think I have some somewhere around here." He notified me. He rummaged through shelves behind the counter. "By the way, can you do me favor later in the night?"

"Sure, I have plenty of time later." I agreed. "What is it though?"

"Alright. I will going be out of the town getting some Florescent Mushrooms later in the night." He clarified his objective.

"Are you sure do you need to do this in the night though?" I queried. "Can you not do this in the day time?"

"I would really. But you really cannot identify these specific mushrooms from the others until they grow brightly in the dark." He explained.

"Oh, so what are the mushrooms for then?" I investigated more on the topic.

"A farmer asked me to give medicine to his sick calf. Apparently it has been refusing its mother's milk and is more jumpy than it should be. So I checked it out and figured these specific mushrooms are what I needed."

"Well I cou-" I began talking more. Then Raj interrupted me by holding out the large carrots and cucumbers.

"I found them!" He pronounced awkwardly. He raised himself off the counter.

"Oh thank you. Uh, how much would that be?"

"Probably about one silver coin if you want to buy them all." He answered.

"Deal." I scoured through my little leather sack holding my coins. I picked out one clean and shiny silver coin and flung it to him.

He caught the coin mid-air and passed the vegetables to me. I was famished and gorged down on the vegetables right there on the spot. I finished my meal with a single and silent burp.

"Well excuse from that." I apologized for my indecent behavior.

"It doesn't matter."

"Well, I'll be going then. I have to escort an animal through the town."

"Okay. Got it. I'll meet with you at the forest at sun down." He scheduled our meeting.

"Alright."

I left Raj to his own and continued my way back to the gates. On my way there, from afar, I spotted Chantelle and the buffoon together. There were strolling down the road as if they were old friends. Amazing, apparently the buffoon managed to get one of the most beautiful women in the village to follow him.

"Okay, I will admit. That is pretty impressive for him to do." I mentally contemplated on his achievement.

I rushed behind them and stalked to where they are going. And from the looks of it, they are heading back to the gates. By late noon, they arrived at the gate walls and are waiting for permission to exit outside. The gates slowly opened, revealing the young monster behind them. I could hear what they are saying to the guards.

"Well then," the maiden tied the rope around the young monster's neck. "Here's the leash, now where is the escort?"

Time for my cue. I called out to her, "Here."

I also heard the dunderhead breathed out from his lips, "Oh god."

"You expected someone else?" I lashed at Bestinslot.

He was about retaliate, but it seemed Chantelle interjected him. She told me some parts of the past I do not want to hear. I had to end this now.

"Please, Chantelle, please let's go back to your house." I looked away from her.

We all huddled up with me leading them and proceeded to go to my captain's abode. A few minutes had passed, and I heard something from behind me. I turned around and spotted a situation between Lyddie and a small child. Somewhere around that time, the little child started crying after she Lyddie screamed in fury. Did she hurt the kid?

I reached out my blade to cease her aggressive nature. But a woman, supposedly the kid's mother, brushed me aside and confronted the monster. She was yelling furiously at Lyddie and it seemed like her eyes shined a bit because of upcoming tears. And before I knew it the woman smacked Lyddie across the cheek. The woman left a big pink imprint on her face. I should be happy about her getting taught a lesson. But I feel strangely nothing when she was punished. Odd.

Then the man finally did something I least expected from him. He grew some balls and started defending his monster's dignity. Through all this, he somehow scare off the woman from attacking Lyddie any further.

"Hmm. Alright I'll give you that."

After that event has passed we climbed up the hill and entered into Eideard's land. A perfect place to perch oneself up here and overlook the village. Very fitting abode for a captain of the village indeed. I dropped them off there and decided to leave the area since it was already showing signs that the sun is setting. Though Chantelle insisted that I should stay and keep them company. I had to deny that. I have already have favor to do for Raj. Once I made my point clear, I made my way through the village to head out the gates.

Raj was leaning over the stony wall, wearing the same clothes he was donning earlier. Over his shoulder is a leather satchel made from cow hide used for his harvesting expeditions. He has not exited the village yet and is waiting for my presence to go. When he saw me, he sauntered towards me.

With a gentle wave he greeted me, "Iris, ready to go?"

I have to assure we have everything though, "You have a weapon with you just in case?"

He pulled out a small but effective dagger from under his robes. The knife's ivory hilt bore a Dragon's head as a balance for the blade it wielded. The blade is double edged with an open slit in the middle of blade. The tip of dagger was sharp and on point. My gift to him when I was promoted as a Lieutenant; for raising me as his personal family. Because he is all I have since that night in my childhood.

"You kept it. I'm surprised you did after all these years." I commented. "Despite all that history of you losing your keys, money, vegetables, and herbs."

"Hey, if there is something I would still managed to keep, it would be your gifts to me." He remarked all so jovially. "They're the reason I fall asleep so peacefully."

I don't know why, but that statement forced me to turn me away from him because of embarrassment. He understood very well he hit something that irked me.

"Oh I see. If you were not favoring the bodies of women, you would be favoring my company more often."

I don't want to hear any more of this, "Just go and collect those fungi that you need."

"Why is your face red?" He jested.

"Shut up!" I barked.

He chuckled heartily. He soon exited through the gates and traversed deeper into the woods. I followed diligently, assuring that I have all sights on him at all times. He halted in his tracks in the forest; we were surrounded by the dense trees of this forest. Darkness began to engulf the land around us. The only illumination we have the moon's light shining down upon us.

We waited a few more minutes. Then we soon had other illumination sources that is closer to us. Various florescent mushrooms glowed in all assortments of colors. Red, Green, Blue, Purple, and Yellow all illuminate the darkness with their own luminescence. It is like seeing colored flames engulfing the area without the heat.

Raj soon told me, "Just keep on a look out for monsters. I'll identify which fungi is needed for the medicine."

I kept careful watch of the area we are in, my Claymore at the ready to strike. Nothing troubling has made a single sound at all. Just the obnoxious chirping of birds and the cricketing of crickets plagued this night. Not even one moan of death can be heard at all.

"Strange, there was also a lack of monsters parading around yesterday as well. Did they all just stayed in their caves?" I contemplated.

"So, let's talk about some stuff?" Raj spoke gloomily.

"Like what?" I asked.

"Like about that night."

I looked away, "Why do you want to talk about that night?"

"Because, to embrace the light, one must shine away the darkness of the past." Raj lectured. "I want to talk about it because it still bothers you to this day."

"We've lost our entire family at that night! Of course it would still haunt me!" I lashed at him.

"Yeah, I know. But we have to leave that behind." Raj said.

"Raj, you do not have a constant reminder of that night that is always so close to yourself!" I pointed at my scar.

Raj still went away harvesting the mushrooms, "I know it is more difficult for you. But I am trying to help ease your pain."

"You can only ease my pain by either bringing me the werewolf's head that took away my mother. Or you can just shut up about it all." I hissed.

"I know this will take time," He ignored me. "But we have to start somewhere."

"Or just not start at all!"

"Iris. Look at these mushrooms." He pointed them out. "These mushrooms brushed away the darkness on their own. You need to be like these mushrooms so you can light away the darkness on your own. Rather than just be engulfed in darkness until a light shows up."

"Raj … don't compare me to fungi. I'm fine as it is." I calmed myself down.

"If you want to talk about it …"

"I don't." I intercepted his sentence.

"But if you do, you know where to find me." Raj stated. He picked himself up from the ground and put away the fungi he collected from the ground. "I'm done here. I got what I needed."

"Okay, let's go."

Suddenly when we turned back to the direction of the village, we saw something that we have not predicted. It is a boy, more like a young man, standing in the road before us. His skin was of light brown tint. His gray eyes were contracted to sharp and thin slits. His hair is supposed to be for the elderly but he has such a young face. His unruly hair is gray all around except for that drooping strand of white hair in the middle of his face.

Awkwardly, we all stood there watching each other. We have to get out of here soon though. We could be surrounded by monsters any minute.

Raj tried to get his attention. "Hey you. Are you okay? Do you need help young man?"

The boy shifted his eyes at him and at me constantly but said no words. I stepped closer. "Are you alrig-"

But before I could finish my sentence, he darted towards me. There I can truly see what he is. He has the body of a young male but the arms, feet, and tail of a monster. The skin on his arm have been warped to look like a gray lizard's skin. And his hands, are replaced with four fingers, each finger fashioned with the large talons of a beast. His feet are deformed as well. They were covered in lizard skin as well. His toes were fashioned with horrible talons as well. But one talon in each of his feet is curved to resemble a Karambit blade except more curved and thicker. His tail was definitely that of gray lizard. And the worst thing imaginable, he is completely naked.

He as he darted towards me with extreme speed, his right hand extended wide. He latched that hand onto my stomach. And with that one hand he lifted me up off the ground for a short distance and smashed me down to the dirt. I didn't have enough time to even pull out my Claymore. He raised his foot off from the ground and was about to stomp on me with his large toe claw.

Luckily, Raj was there to help. He tackled onto the creature to the ground and began wailing on him with his fists. He had gotten one good solid punch to the creature. After that, the animal caught his fist and kicked Raj off of him. I stood up with my Claymore at hand charged at the monster. I swung at him but he dodged the slash by diving and rolling behind me. I turned around and he throw three strong and fast jabs at my chest. I staggered a bit. I have to retaliate against him. I made a straight kicked towards his body. Suddenly, the boy managed to grab my kick. He flipped my leg to make me fall onto the ground. My face was down at the ground where gripped at my head with large hand. He pommeled my head onto the ground. I could feel the cold and stinging touch of blood running down my head.

Again Raj was there to help to me. He pulled out his knife and was slashing away at the monster. The creature leapt off of me to escape from Raj's flurry. They were face to face. Raj made a swing at the bastard creature. But with amazing speed, he prevented Raj from finishing his slash. And within a swift second, the animal stabbed onto Raj's left shoulder with its right talons. I heard the sharp sound of bone being ripped apart from his body. Raj yelled out in pain.

The creature was not done yet. He spread out his fingers and it ripped Raj's arm off in such an instant. I didn't even have time to stand up. The animal pushed him away with a kick. He was about to go in for the kill though. But it halted itself and stared into Raj's torn off arm. The animal rushed to it and took the removed arm away from us. I couldn't focus on the monster escaping from. I need to help Raj.

I sprinted to Raj. He was lying there, bleeding excessively because of his amputated arm. All around him is a small pool of his blood spilling everywhere.

"Raj! Raj! Are you still with me?!" I frantically called out to him.

He wheezed in pain. "Oh crap! It hurts. Please, get me help."

"Alright, alright. Don't worry. I know who to go to." I told him. I picked him up with all my strength. His blood tainting my armor, but I did not care. He needs to get help immediately.

He gurgled in pain when I picked him up. "I know it hurts Raj. But stay with me. Once I get you to her, you'll be fine."

Author's Notes: Yeah, the Deinonychus makes an appearance. And guys, take note of the details I say. They'll be important later on. And yes this is quick. Even for me. Hopefully it is good for you all.