Chapter 4: Task Uncovered
The pair descended down the tall hill without saying a word. The sight of the monstrous beast left a firm impression on both of them, neither knowing quite how to process it other than to continue forward. The land that lay before was beautifully untouched by man; The grass was untrampled, no paths were present, and wildlife and plant life both blossomed. It was a sight that was, once again, precisely what Strider loved travelling for, but under the current circumstances he was unable to appreciate it. Guts couldn't care less.
Strider heard a voice, far away.
"Do you hear that?" He asked Guts.
Guts stopped and listened intently.
"I don't hear a damn thing but the bugs flyin' around my heads."
Strider knew his hearing was beyond the regular man's ability due to the nature of his journeys, requiring him to watch and listen for incomers constantly. He was unsurprised by Guts' answer, but was certain he heard a voice. He looked forward, into a small patch of trees and shrubbery.
"Behind there," he pointed.
"Dangerous, or what?" Guts asked, although it was clear he didn't care if it was dangerous or not.
"Keep your guard, for I am unsure," Strider said, straining his eyes into the trees. They moved to the trees and entered. A squirrel scurried up a tree at the sight of the two brooding figures. Strider passed along the plants without so much as bending a leaf, while Guts trampled countless plants without caring. Strider disliked Guts' brutishness, but made no comment. The two found the end of it, and checked the surroundings before exiting the cover of the trees.
"Well, would you look at that!" Guts exclaimed. "It's a camp, and a pretty rough lookin' one."
Before them lay a band of people and animals within a terrible looking campsite set along a river. Strider watched them carefully. It was the strangest group of people he had ever seen. Some had weapons and armor, some looked like regular townsfolk, and some were of races that he didn't recognize, like the ogre Guts talked to. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the sight. Guts helped him out with what to do next.
"Alright, I'm going down there, these guys gotta know somethin'," he said as he left the shadows of the trees. Strider decided they looked friendly enough, and followed Guts' lead.
At the sight of two armed, tall men, several members of the band ran off into tents to hide. This was no bandit group, Strider figured. Guts took a 360 look around, and decided this wasn't a mercenary band. He knew the look of those far too well.
"Excuse me!" A voice said behind them.
"Hmm?" Guts hummed, sounding disinterested of loud voices already.
They turned to see a man dressed in a blue robe with a gold trim, a deep purple cape and a torn red fabric tied around his waste. His hair was, oddly enough, purple, but not quite as deep as his cape. There was a glass in front of one of his eyes, and in his arms he carried several books. He was tall, but not as tall as Guts or Strider.
"Good day, sirs! You must have just arrived, yes?" he said in a friendly tone. "My, that's a big sword you have..."
Guts removed his hood. "Yeah, we just walked in. What's going on here?"
"Why, just a collection of people who have all mysteriously appeared in an unfamiliar environment, of course! Nothing so special," the purple-haired man said with a chuckle. Neither Guts nor Strider joined in his humor.
"Ehhh..." his laughter trailed off into awkwardness. "Um, anyway, I assume you two are lost as well?"
"That is correct," Strider confirmed. "You are a wizard?"
The man made a surprised expression.
"Why, yes I am! You're very inquisitive, sir!" The wizard beamed, clearly proud of himself. Guts realized that Strider was an even better judge of character than he thought.
"Allow me to introduce myself," the wizard said with a bow. "I am Canas, student of the Dark Arts."
Strider had never heard of the "Dark Arts", but figured it had to do with some forbidden sorcery. He decided now was not the time to ask. He removed his hood for the first time in several days, revealing to both Canas and Guts a head of hair of considerable length, along with a serious but honorable face, and a stubble. He was rugged, but attractive.
"You never told me you were pretty!" Guts mocked.
"Canas, what do you know about our situation? Are all these people lost, too?" Strider asked.
Canas looked to his books. "I've been doing all the research I can with the materials I happened to have when I was... transported is the word, I suppose? When I was transported here, all I had were these few books on ancient shamanism. So far, I haven't found anything that relates to our problem."
Suddenly, Canas quickly looked up at Guts.
"You..." he said as he stepped back. "There's something evil about you... horrible, terrible evil..."
Guts looked away, putting a hand over his brand.
Canas stepped forward. "I can sense it. You're connected to the Dark Arts, but not as a student, like me. No, the Dark is infused within you, and it is giving off a powerful aura. Who are you!?"
Guts turned away further. "Don't ask me anything..." Guts said dejectedly. "I'm not a threat, so don't ask me about it."
Strider eyed Guts carefully. He knew something was off about him. Everywhere he went, nature ran from him, or was destroyed by him. There was indeed something unnatural with this man.
Canas turned to Strider.
"If you travel with this man, be careful. He's radiating the powerful force of darkness that shamans today are not allowed to explore."
"I understand," Strider replied. "Canas, do you have any theory on a way back to our lands? If it is like you say, transported, then there must be a way back. I've got to return as fast as is possible."
Canas looked apologetic.
"I'm sorry, sir, but I do not know. no one else in the camp has any lead yet, either."
Guts came back over, brutish as ever.
"Then can you at least explain to us what the hell that thing in the sky was?! You must've saw it, it blocked out the damn sun."
"Unfortunately, we're as lost as you are on that. We saw it pass overhead earlier, but no one could explain it. Most of the people here ran for cover instead of looking at it."
Strider was annoyed at their lack of progress. At this rate, he won't even get to Bree within this week. Then, he saw a figure approaching from behind Canas. Canas turned, and they all looked at the person. It was a boy, no older than 19 years, wearing a tribal tunic and a band across his hair. At his side was a sword in it's sheath.
He spoke to them.
"That creature... itself and I share a fate. It is connected to me, and an ancient evil." The boy explained. "I was tasked with defeating several of them to seal an ancient demon, and came upon this land during my pursuit of the beast. I believe the demon has cursed our world, causing it to shift to another reality."
The three men listened intently. The boy continued.
"It is my theory that this beast must be felled to return our world to normal."
"This evil you speak of," Strider said. "Do you speak of Sauron?"
The boy told him he had never heard of such a name. This was something different.
"I am certain that our world will be corrected with the beast slain. It must."
Strider was skeptical.
"Boy, if what you speak it true, and the beast is connected to why we are here, I thank you for informing us. However, there is no way we could slay such a beast with our current means."
"The mans right, kid," Guts butted in. "No way in hell we could bring it down. Also, I don't believe some giant worm in the sky would help us in any way, we'd just be wasting our time."
"What I say is true! I have slain several before, and was filled with their spirit. I felt the link to the demon, and I can feel him weakening. Perhaps he sent us all to another realm as a final effort to be rid of me."
Strider thought on it. He heard sincerity in the boy's words, but couldn't understand how a beast from a mythical land was the cause of all this confusion. This was his only lead, however, and wouldn't let it slip away. Strider had one final question that would determine his course.
"The beast was travelling south at an incredible speed. The fastest hawk in the land would have difficulty keeping up. How do you expect us to not only catch up, but locate it's position as well?"
The boy drew his sword. He raised it above his head, and the sun reflected a beam of golden light across the land.
"This blade will tell us the direction. As for keeping it's pace, I know that it must rest for several days between flights. It will land soon, and most likely burrow deep into the ground. We will find it resting, then rouse it, allowing me to climb on and begin the attack."
"In the air?" Guts laughed. "You must be crazy."
The boy and Strider looked dead serious.
"What is your name, boy," Strider asked him.
"I am called Wander, of the nomad tribes."
"Wander, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am called Strider, and this is Guts, my companion."
Strider turned to the expansive field where the beam of light had shown them.
"Tomorrow," he spoke with confidence. "We begin our quest."
...
The night was spent resting for all of them. Canas had provided them with a tent to stay in, as well as clean water and bread. With their hunger sated, the three companions went to bed. Wander fell asleep immediately, while Guts and Strider both lay awake. Strider tried not to think about his failure to reach Bree in time. He had a new quest that required his focus, as much as he hated having to switch plans. He eventually fell asleep, only to be tormented by nightmares of a flaming eye.
Guts could not sleep. He rose and exited the tent, walking into a world of darkness and stars. He walked barefoot into the field. It was cold, wet. He stared into the stars. Why weren't demons attacking? This was the first night in ages without an attack. He walked forward, leaving the camp behind him. A cloud descended from the heavens and came to him. He took a good look, and laid upon it. The cloud rose and took him to the sky. He lay on his back, gazing straight up. The stars zoomed by at such a speed that they blurred. He knew he was going far, far away, far from the pain of existence. He thanked the cloud in his head, appreciating it's hard work. He felt the wind racing through his aching hands. How long had he butchered his hands gripping onto steel? Why did he grip steel? What was his name? All thought left him, and he stared at the moon. The moon was going to take him away, to a place where he would be free of pain. What caused him pain? Was it his own actions? The actions of another? His soul left his body, and he drifted among the stars, in a place with no evil. He saw faces, but they had no visual appearance. Just as he was, without physical form, he felt the faces present, and they came to him. He knew them, but he knew nothing. He saw the earth far below, and it called to him. It was time to come back. He didn't want to go. He wanted to stay here, with the souls he knew. They pushed him towards the earth. He felt betrayed. Why would they cast him down back into the hellish world? They knew too much. They knew what was needed for the world. It was time for him to return. He saw his body, lifeless on a cloud. He filled into his body, but had no control. He knew where he was going. It was time for him to return.
Guts awoke and saw the sun creeping in the tent. He was the first of the three to wake. He saw Strider and Wander sleeping, silent as the night. Upon Striders chest was his elven amulet, one hand clutching it tightly. Guts put his face in his hand and weeped silently.