The sun's rays came onto the hidden world, glaring upon the stone-formed structures. Some were bigger than others, creating shadows among the smaller ones beneath their feet—window curtains, some thick wool and thin silk, flinched from the slight winds that passed. Rows of tables and booths were filled with recently created items and produce, the occupants trying to advertise their goods to the various people walking by. Women and children went past men with weapons, big and small, adorned on their belts and backs. Heavy tunics and rerebrace armor covered the men as they walked through the dirt path. Numerous old posters were attached to the walls, advertising many future events.
Ronan patrolled the marketplace, where he could smell the ripening fruits and smoky cured meats from a butcher away from the harvest. The people who saw him gave him enthusiastic waves, for which he returned. But that was all he could do, and he was trying to find two men to help him find the Pencari. Of course, he would explain as they got to the location—no reason to delay.
He knew where one of them would be, and the sounds of laughing children guided him to that spot. It would lead him to an area between two buildings. A giant statue was erected between there, an image of his father in his younger years. It took a lot to chuckle as he approached the area. Beneath that statue was a small, wooden structure that stood on its own, a puppet stand with curtains in white and blue design. The children sat down to watch, their eyes gleaming in delight. They waited for the curtain to move and to be engulfed into storybook wonders.
Between the children was an adult—a slender male who sat there crisscrossed with a child on his lap. He had a short, feathered yet trim hairstyle. His eyes were slanted and colored in ebony. He was so focused on the puppet show that he almost jumped when Ronan got down and tapped his shoulder. "Kyle?" he said.
Kyle flipped his head back. "AH! Ronan sir! How're you?" He slowly gave off a smile. His body eased as Ronan sat down beside him. "Fine. Do you have anything going on right now?"
The man looked back at the puppet stand as the curtains pulled back, revealing a poorly drawn background of trees and the ground.
One puppet came out, revealing itself as a jester, eyes with noticeable sowing marks. Bouncing around the stage, it greeted the kids with enthusiastic expressions. "Well..." Kyle mused, "Just here with my little brother, really...why?"
"I need help with patrol today, and I can think of no one else but you."
Kyle raised his eyebrows, "Must be important then."
"It is." Ronan got up. "I am going to find Huon. Whenever the show is done, meet us at the cavern passageways." He waited for Kyle to nod to leave. He got back onto the busy streets, now almost covered in the excited shouts of children. He used to hear stories from his father about how 'empty' the settlement was before the attack forty years ago. Compared to now, the former area was just passageways and had no access to sunlight. His father used to joke that the attack was some 'blessing.'
When he heard the metal clanking, he stopped and turned to the Blacksmith Forge. The sizzling of recently worked hot metal in the water was confirmation enough. He walked over to see one of the men he wanted on patrol.
A bulky man stood there with his arms crossed, watching the Blacksmith work on a longsword. His hairstyle was a dark-colored crew cut with strong, bulging shoulders and arms. His steely eyes noticed movement and veered at the approaching Ronan. Seeing him, the man's face did a one-eighty, giving a heartfelt laugh. "Boy! You tryin' to scare me?" He went over and gave Ronan a one-sided hug around the shoulder. "What brings you here? Need to fix that scraggly lil' crossbow of yours?"
"What? No!" Ronan jumped. That's not why I'm here!" His stammering caused the man to chortle. "A'ight, well, why are you here then?"
"Huon, I need help with a patrol today, and I was hoping you could come."
"A patrol?" Huon stood straight up, his arm off of Ronan's shoulder. "I reckon it's serious if you ask an old bull like me."
Ronan coughed, "It's more complicated than that. But this group is going to be small. You, Kyle, and I are going."
Huon blinked, "Uuum, ok. Why Kyle, though? He's only good at running away from things." That caused Ronan to lower his brow and give off a darting gaze. "Kyle does more than running, and you know that."
"Aye, I do." The bulky man cracked his knuckles. "Well, my battle-axe is getting its usual care. So once it's done, I'll come on over."
"Just meet Kyle and me at the cavern passageways." Ronan's face eased by then, and he lifted his hand. "We'll see you there." He reeled back toward the busy streets, planning on getting the stuff he needed for the patrol, including the shackles.
He hoped his father was right about those things.
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The unaccustomed warmth of the sun's rays radiated from their backs, with its light dancing across fern fronds and glittering off the morning dew. The panting and snorting of unknown animals left a tingling sensation inside their chests. Their weapons were set out, ready for anything or anybody to jump out from the fallen trees, leaning drunkenly against one another. The hum of insects was the only sound in the area, with tall, rusting buildings tall enough to reach the skies. Ivy vines wrapped around it like makeshift scarves and unusual mechanical carts. Some of those carts were upside down, missing wheels. The dirt ground below them became broken paved rocks. They were careful not to have their feet caught between the cracks, passing by downed wooden poles. The thin black rope around the poles was everywhere, some of which were separate from their original spot. The rotten houses are together in a perfect line.
Ronan had often been to this place, where his people had scavenged for years to find anything useful. It was usually simple things: books, toys, and scrap metal that they converted into something more valuable, such as weapons.
Behind him were Kyle and Huon. He trusted these two men more than anyone to get the job done. Of course, this was more than just patrolling and hunting that they were used to.
A lone Pencari was undoubtedly a cause of concern for them. If it was getting closer and closer to the entrance of the caves, they could be found, possibly slaughtered, with a few of their survivors forced to find another home again. He clutched onto the crossbow against his chest, eyes narrowing on the dirt beneath them. Then he stared at the shackles hung around his belt, its color and metal shining brightly against the sun. He didn't know what to think or if his father's statement was true. Could it capture a Pencari and seal off their powers? It felt too good to be accurate, but he needed to try...to find out if it was true.
With the empty, lonely world in view, Ronan tried to find any tiny traces of life, whether animal or 'creature.' He turned to the two, his hand low as if to say, 'quiet.' "This is where the patrol from yesterday had seen a lone Pencari wandering about. Our objective is to capture it or kill it. We cannot let it wander too far into our territory, or it could inform his kind about the location.
"Huon," he turned to the bulky man who held onto his now shiny battle-axe. This will be your opportunity to get close. However, be careful; we don't know how strong this monster is." He then turned to the other man. That's where you come in. Kyle, if Huon cannot subdue it or these shackles," Ronan's hand went to them. "We will need to depend on your sedatives."
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"Ronan, sir, this is not our usual patrol route." Kyle meekly said.
"Thank god the boy has a brain." Huon huffed, causing Ronan to glare at him. Huon only responded with a shrug, "Anyway, those shackles...are those the damn things people are talking about?"
Of course, rumors would spread. A chain that can subdue and seal off a monster's power? It would be an entertaining gossip for everyone in hearing range. Ronan nodded, "Father found these while they were digging around. They believe it can subdue a Pencari and seal their powers."
Huon scoffed, "What a load of shit. Does he believe such tales?"
Ronan exhaled, "Do we look like we have time to debate what is true and what is not? Either way, we need to find the Pencari and kill it."
"Just like how he believed in Coria, right?"
Ronan widened his eyes. "Well," he tried to get the words out of his mouth. There's no proof of its existence or lack thereof. So, who is to say what is true and what is false? Look, I am not here to have a debate with you. We will see if the shackles really can subdue a Pencari or not. A good old-fashioned ax to the face shall do the trick if they can't."
Huon sighed, "Aye, Aye." He bumped the wooden beam of his battle-axe on his shoulders as he walked forward. Kyle eventually followed him, with Ronan jogging to get in front of them.
They continued their walk through the desolated city; their feet kicked the stones that casually skipped through the empty rock path with jagged yellow lines. Ronan eyed his whole surroundings, imagining life before the Gaian Collapse. Before a massive rock from the sky caused the world to explode, it caused the lands to shift and drown into the 'ocean,' as books called it, and his kind, in the mercy of black smoke, suffocated them to the last breath. How the dark, moist rock ceilings replaced the skies above them. With only beams of light to remind them of what was lost.
His foot caught onto something, and it made him stop. A small square-like object caught his eyes, and he picked it up. It was too smooth to be paper but thick and robust. Adjusting the position, he soon saw it looked to be a portrait...but it looked too realistic to be so. A crowd of people, beaming eyes with huge smiles, right at him. Children, Men, and Women together. Must be a family, he thought as he continued to examine the portrait. Their clothes looked very different, though, compared to what the people in the settlement had worn. Colorful, vibrant, full of life...Clean, healthy, not a sign of struggle.
"Ronan?" Huon had noticed that he wasn't moving.
Before Ronan could say anything, an abnormal noise came their way—an echo from far away. The group looked at one another before they saw the sound's general direction. With his free hand, Ronan pointed to a nearby moldy house. They ran over to the location, hiding behind the walls. Some got on their knees, with trembling hands and sweat forming on murky skin. "Get the sedatives out." He whispered to Kyle, who fumbled around the bag around his waist, pulling out needles with a feather hung on it and a straw he used to aim and fire. That was why he brought him to this patrol. Although not very strong, his smarts and agility were well known, if not for the herbal sedatives he used when trying to capture roaming cattle from up above...and perhaps a Pencari. It was a marvel how strong it was when thin, sharp needles pierced their necks. Of course, their supplies were minimal, and there were times when the Pencari found them before they could even fire. Their pointed ears were believed to be picking up sounds that human ears could not.
Kyle nodded as he pushed one of the needles into the straw. Ronan, meanwhile, went behind the bushes, standing in front of them. He deftly went through his quiver to take out a bolt. Fully loaded, he tried to listen in to anything noteworthy. He narrowed his eyes, focusing on the background noises. Chills went down his spine as every sudden noise caused him to jump slightly. He took out the shackles his father gave him and used the key to open them.
"Are you seriously going to use them?" Huon sneered.
Ronan turned back to him, pressing a finger to his lips, before returning to the scenery before him. The birds chirping did not distract him from the ghostly town that his ancestors once lived in—the collapsed cities that were once glorious before they fell into a sea of fiery demise and demolished hopes. They stayed still in the silence, unmoving in their hiding spots. Listening...and waiting for anything out of the ordinary. Soon, the stillness around them was pierced by the anguished cries of an animal: birds flying away at rapid speed in response. In sync, the three men diverted their attention to the direction of the sudden shrills. Ronan tried to figure out how far away it was from them and if the sound reminded him of any familiar animal. But noticing the other two men with him and their reactions, they likely had no idea the source of that grating scream.
"Let's go."
"Sir?" Kyle blinked, almost perplexed, as Ronan stepped forward, slowly coming out of hiding. With his crossbow held close, he was ready for a possible fight. Ronan eyed them, "Remember: If this is the lone Pencari, we must kill it. Knowing where it is, we can hopefully get close enough and surprise it." He took out a bolt from his quiver and loaded it onto his crossbow as he continued. Eyes darted left and right, keeping out for any sudden movements as he approached the source of the sound. With Kyle and Huon following behind him, they kept their feet on the concreted path.
Once they reached a square building made of faded bricks, they heard the same cry, albeit quicker and degraded into a whimper. Before Ronan approached closer, he felt a hand firmly gripping his shoulder and pulling him back. Huon pushed himself forward, giving Ronan a firm nod, "I'll be in front. Stay in the middle." He didn't wait for Ronan's response as his hand was squarely planted on the brick, slowly leaning in to look inside. The room barely had anything save for a dirtied couch that leaned against the even dirtier walls. Taking note of everything, he stared at the archway in front of him that led to another room. He controlled his breathing so he could detect any abnormal sounds besides the constant whimpering. He turned his attention to his left, where there was a closed door...and where the noises came from.
He beckoned Ronan and Kyle to come, nodding his approval as he entered the ruined building. "Coast clear; noise coming from the door. Be prepared. A Pencari will stoop low enough to get their prey." His hands gripped the battle-axe, turning the blade toward the door. Narrowing his eyes, he lifted the battle-axe over his shoulder and took a vast horizontal swing at the door. The blade sliced into the wooden door, creating a big crack and weakening it. Huon took multiple swings onto the door before breaking off its hinges. Once the dust had settled from the rupture, the room appeared empty, wide, and colorless. Scanning the room, Huon stopped, noticing something out of place. In the middle of the room was a huge hunting trap he recognized as his creation, and in the middle was a caught animal.
"False alarm, it was an animal caught in the trap." He didn't pay much attention to it afterward, disappointment written on his face as he stepped aside. Ronan peered in the room, his mouth agape. "What is that creature?"
Hearing the question, Huon stared at the animal, taking in what it was: a black dog with thin-appearing fur, a slender body, and a tail that even he had to admit was strange—a thin, forked tail that rapidly moved left and right in desperation. The dog's paw was caught in the foothold trap, and from the looks of it, it was trapped recently. "A strange dog?" Huon questioned half-serious. "It's not a Pencari, though; most likely, someone set the trap here. We should ignore it and focus on the task." As he suggested that, Kyle moved into the room and approached the trap.
"What the hell are you doing?" Huon demanded, realizing that Kyle was trying to open the trap. Working with the mechanism, it opened wide enough for the animal to get its paw out. Whimpering some more, it licked its paw, trying to clean it. Going through his pack, Kyle took out his medical supplies and gently took the paw so he could work on it. Huon scoffed at the gesture he saw, but Ronan glared at him, preventing him from interjecting his opinion. Kyle tenderly patted the dog's head as he wrapped the bandage around the paw. "There you go, don't get too curious about the traps now, ok?" He whispered with a small smile. The dog tilted its head, almost inquisitively in response.
"We should get going, Kyle," Ronan urged politely, "We did come here to find a Pencari after all." He angled his head to the exit, watching Kyle get up. "Right. Sorry, sir,"
Before Kyle placed one foot forward, they heard movement rapidly approaching them. The crackling of rocks, twigs, and dead leaves caused Huon to whip his head, realizing what was happening. With that many noises, it caught someone's attention.. or perhaps something. Cursing to himself, he took out his battle-axe and prepared for an inevitable fight. Kyle took hold of the dog, having it stand still as Ronan aimed his crossbow, ready and waiting. Staring into the other room, they watched as prolonged hands cusped into the door opening. Then soon, a skinny, pale arm came forth, pulling itself inside. The three men felt their blood grow cold as a humanoid figure on all fours came in, letting out a guttural growl as if searching. Then it turned to them: a hallowed face with no pupils and a sharp jaw to rip apart the toughest of meats. And when it let out an inhumane bellow, the three realized what had just come for them.
A Rakshasa.