Galen Vesa

“Where in the abyss do you think you are going?!”

“I'm going for a stroll. I'll be right back.”

“Bullocks! Young lady you will stop right this moment! I forbid you doing anything you intend!”

The angry wolf stomped her foot. Her gown fought with all it had to remain in place.

“No.”

Altina shrunk under my mana's pressure.

“It’s best if I go. No, I must go.”

Go before the mist could devour me.

“Cora?”

“Yes?”

“How long can you stay here while I’m away?”

“I don’t think that’s…”

“How long?”

“About three days. Perhaps more if I am careful.”

“Good. Keep our guests entertained while I'm gone.”

I kicked off the ground and sailed away over the rooftops before any of them could say something. Wind danced around me as I run through the night only to stop atop the outer wall and call upon my spirits.

“My love, we are here.”

Even the new wind came yet stayed further away from others.

“A child is missing. Sister of the one called Zee. Find the girl.”

“We know, the wolf already asked. We could not find her. “

“I am asking you now, look for her. Take as much mana as you need. They probably hold her somewhere near. Less hassle with transportation.”

“My love, please do not ask of us what we cannot do. Wherever they hold her, that place is beyond our reach.”

Useless. How useless. All this power and I cannot even save one little girl or keep a simple promise. How useless. My body boiled with rage against this useless me…

I screamed. Howled at the moonless sky. Ungodly roar erupted from my lungs. How useless I felt.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“If you wanted my help, you could have said so. No need for such outrageous displays. I am not deaf.”

The odd one hooped around the edge of the wall jumping back and forth between merlons. I had not seen her in a while and hoped I will not see her again but here she was.

“Now, now mister whabbit, don’t stare at me like that. My tender flesh won’t stand such vulgar eyes.”

“Whoever or whatever the hell you are, leave me be. I want nothing to do with you.”

Especially not after she punctured my core.

“Eh? And here I thought you wanted to know where they hold the girl. Must been my imagination. In that case, I’ll bid you adieu… ”

“Wait. How do you know that?”

“I know lotsa things mista whabbit. And you would too if you trust me.”

Trust a psychopathic hallucination that may or may not be a hallucination? I’d rather play Russian roulette.

“Ah not the most trusting are ya? Ha… Alright, let us make a deal. I’ll tell you where they hold her, you’ll do me an itsy-bitsy favor.”

“No.”

“Now, now, don’t be like that mister whabbit. They’re preparing a package as we speak…”

“Where is she?”

“Tsk, tsk, bad mister whabbit, bad. You should ask what kind of favor I want.”

“Where is she?”

I could feel frost creeping up my arms.

“Oh well, I’m sure you’ll do fine anyway. This one time, it’s on me. Follow the fireflies and you’ll find her. You’ll also find a bunch of creeps in need of murdering… Just saying. No need for the cold stare. Now, do your worst mister whabbit, I’ll be counting on you.”

Her frame burst like a bubble, spewing out hundreds of tiny lights that circled around me then floated beyond the wall and off into a distance. Great. Either I follow that and do what that delusion wanted, or I’ll stay here and hope to find the girl in any other way. There’s no harm in taking a look, right? Let the perverts search again and, in the meantime, I can see what’s this all about. I’m going to regret this aren’t I?

“Try again, perhaps they moved the girl. Try looking for people that made the deliveries, see if they went to places you can’t locate. Search for empty spaces where people disappear from your view. She must be somewhere offering privacy, a place where no one would look. A place that wouldn’t raise any questions. Perhaps a place surrounded by some barriers, like sound muffling or anything else that may stop captives from escaping. Go.”

“As you wish my love.”

They vanished while I went chasing fireflies the odd one sent away. Funny, I did not run that far. A little bit beyond the city outskirts. There, I found a perfect example of old and dilapidated farm. Nothing much to speak about. A house and a barn. As common and generic as they can get with all the colors washed out by rain.

And the fireflies went inside the barn.

Well, I came, and I saw and probably wasted my time. This place was deserted or so said my senses until I saw a man leaving the barn with a bundle under his arm. A man that shouldn’t be there. Holding a bundle…

I ran to intercept him, smashing on the way through a barrier that I overlooked.

“Open that parcel and pray it’s not what I think it is.”

He froze when I appeared before him but instead of following my words, his hands grabbed a dagger and tried to shove it into my face. Unsuccessful. My body moved without me thinking, I blocked his thrust with my left hand while my right fist made sure his elbow bent the wrong way. That did not deter him. He twisted around and tried to kick me. I repeated the previous procedure but this time with his knee. Not waiting for more, I broke his other leg then I also broke his other arm just for good measure.

That gave me a moment to unpack his bundle… a hand. A child's hand… Once again my memories became vivid before my eyes.

“Where is she?”

The man grinned then bit off his tongue and was gone. At least his head was. It splattered like a crushed watermelon. And I just took a bath… No matter. His friend came to see what was going on, half of his torso poke out of a trap door hidden among the straws…

I let my rage go.

It did not matter.

Not anymore.