There were a lot of people in the castle.
And by a lot, Shaden meant less than a hundred but more than fifty. Indeed, the castle grounds were extensive; over a hundred rooms existed within its dark grey walls, and the Central Hall provided space fit for a thousand. But never before had Shaden been able to see people besides the servants. He had believed that the area was empty of residents.
Everything had changed when he had begun to use his newly-mastered skill of stealth.
The first person he saw was a hooded man reading a book. He seemed to float across the stone floor, moving silently like a ghost. But when Shaden made a small tapping noise with his shoes, the man vanished like smoke.
So as practice, he would activate his stealth and sit in a corner of a hallway for a long time. If he waited long enough, people would pass by him. But the moment he made noise or undid his stealth, they would disappear from his sight.
It was truly a weird experience for him. Why was everyone avoiding each other so much? Or perhaps there was a way to interact with the others which he did not know of.
“I did what you told me to, but I don’t know how to talk to the others,” complained Shaden. It was becoming slightly frustrating as the only human contact he had was with his grandfather during mealtimes. He plopped a slice of meat into his mouth and chewed slowly. “The moment I make noise, they are just—gone.”
His grandfather wiped his mouth with a napkin and balanced his cup on his hand. “That is the nature of this residence. We do not speak. We are not seen. You, my child, are the only one who is allowed to.”
“Only me? It’s becoming a bit boring though.”
Shaden instantly regretted what he had said. His grandfather’s expression turned sad, and his cheeks seemed to sink under his mood. His grandfather really was an emotional person.
“Perhaps so. I had forgotten that you are a boy. You must seek companions your own age, no?”
“Well…I suppose. Or anyone I can talk with. Is there a way to talk to the people here?”
There were the servants, but all of them were masked and didn’t say anything. It was eerily weird and slightly creepy, so Shaden had ceased to initiate a conversation with them after a maid stood still like a statue, motionless to his works.
“For you…it is impossible. It is still very incredible that you have spotted the castle’s residents.”
His grandfather took a sip out of his cup and looked into the distance. “You have stayed here long enough. It is time to fetch you a tutor.”
Shaden’s eyes gleamed. “A tutor.”
“Yes. Someone who can watch over you when I cannot. You were progressing excellently, so I had postponed on it, but if you wish for it—”
His grandfather looked at him for an answer, so Shaden nodded.
“Then—it is settled. You have mastered the first of our techniques; you must want more. A suitable teacher…”
He put a hand on his chin and rubbed his grey beard.
“We have many. Any preferences, my child?”
Preferences?
Shaden was suddenly ripped between a variety of choices. A tutor? Should they be male or female? If it was a male, he would feel more at ease and learn things quicker at a faster pace, but if it was a female—he would feel happier, would he not? And how specific could he be? Like height, or age, or anything else like that? Even hair color?
“A goth—”
“A goth?”
Shaden stopped himself. “Um…Grandpa, may I think about this?”
“Of course. Take as long as you desire.”
〄 〄 〄
Shaden was torn.
Had this just been a dream, he would have instantly picked a pretty, young female as a teacher. But since he understood and accepted that this world was as real as any…he had to reconsider his choices. First of all, the place was no joke. His grandfather always told him to do as he wished, but during a stroll to a nearby village below the mountain, almost everyone had seemed a little off. Like they feared him.
If it was a dream, he would have thought of the interaction as ‘pretty cool’. His family was both respected and feared.
But since this was reality, Shaden couldn’t help but feel that something was wrong. The villagers hadn’t been dismissive of him. The air had just felt…a little heavy. He was but a child, yet they treated him like some young master or noble, cautious and careful not to cross him.
It made him uneasy. He just hoped they would loosen up as he visited them more and more. He had had one short encounter with the ‘normals,’ but the few moments had told him much about his family.
It wasn’t something he could carelessly mess around with.
His grandfather’s love, or rather, infatuation with him was genuine. Which meant that if he said something careless, one of the servants or villagers would have their head cut off.
Or so he suspected. No one had been killed yet, thankfully, but he was always nervous now.
Which was why he had to be careful with his words. If he were to have a tutor who would accompany him for who knew how long, he had to go over his choices carefully.
He sat on top of his large, comfortable bed and thought. These were real people. Even if he asked for a female tutor who was very pretty, she wouldn’t fall in love with him. No; it was better to have a man who he could train under without restraint.
And yet…he felt slightly sad. It was a chance to live out a great dream, after all.
He slapped his face and sighed.
〄 〄 〄
“You wish for a man with lots of experience?”
“Yes. Someone who is skilled. Someone who will push me on.”
Shaden had visited his grandfather’s office after some thinking. His grandfather was working on his desk, somewhat hidden behind stacks of paper.
Stolen story; please report.
His grandfather suddenly pulled an arm over his eyes and let out a small cry.
Had he said something wrong?
“Grandpa…are you okay?” he asked slowly.
His grandfather remained in the position for a few seconds before letting down his arm. Then he cleared his throat.
“I am glad. This is perfect, this is perfect,” he mumbled. “Have I told you this before? You are much better than your father.”
“Yes, many times.”
“He was an indecisive, nervous—”
“Grandpa.”
“…an experienced person who will push you on. Very well.”
He fetched a sheet of yellowish-brown paper from within his desk, and with his fingertip, he scribbled something onto the parchment in a swift motion. A servant promptly entered the room, took the rolled message, and left the area.
“You will begin your lessons as soon as your tutor arrives. Be ready and prepare your valuables, including the dagger. Ah—so you have it on you. Very good.”
“Will I be leaving this place?” asked Shaden.
“The castle, yes. Skotos—no. Your tutor loves to hunt monsters, so that’s where you will go.”
What?
“Wait, grandpa. Did you say monsters?”
“Why yes. It is natural for a child your age to begin hunting monsters. Your father did the same.”
His grandfather looked into his eyes. “Or would you not?”
There was something in his tone that screamed disappointment. His eyes were kind, and yet—so dark.
Too mysterious.
“No. I’d love to.”
The smile returned to the old man. “That is excellent. You are truly my child. Prepare to leave within two days’ time.”
“Yes, Grandpa.”
〄 〄 〄
Shaden looked into the abyss that lay below the castle and yawned.
He was currently leaning on the stone fence that circled the castle’s courtyard, situated right on top of the giant hole that gaped up from below. The wind howled up from the hole onto the courtyard, filling the night air with a cool and refreshing wind.
The large, silver moon was illuminating the whole place with light.
This was the only ‘outside’ that the castle offered besides the bridge. It was always nice to relax under the open air and see the night sky in its full glory.
The heavens were full of stars. Like jewels on a crown, they sparkled and gleamed, not losing to the silver moon that shined the brightest. It was always such a beautiful sight to look at, and one of the sceneries that Shaden had come to love.
The cliff was scary, but the view compensated for it. Shaden had no idea how someone had managed to build a castle on something so dangerous, but if they hadn’t, this view wouldn’t have been possible.
For some reason, the mist grew even thicker around the mountain at night. But only here, above the courtyard of the castle, the skies remained mist-free.
He stretched his arms and turned around. At the center of the yard, there was a black tree, much like the ones beyond the gates. But unlike them, this one lacked the characteristics white leaves that they possessed. It also lacked any markings on its bark. It looked a little out of place as its thick roots bulged out around it.
Shaden cushioned a root with a piece of cloth and rested his head on it. Weirdly, it was perfect as a pillow. One of the things he did to relive his boredom included sleeping in various places around the castle. This was one of them. And he liked it very much.
The grass felt soft underneath him, and he stared at the sky.
He closed his eyes and fell asleep as the wind sung him a lullaby.
〄 〄 〄
He woke up on his bed.
He always did. Wherever he slept, he always found himself lying on his bed the next morning. He stretched his body and circulated a little to clear his somewhat groggy mind.
He yelped after seeing a mass of black hair before him.
“Holy—”
The mountain of hair that puffed out under a thin, black robe with a hood didn’t reply. It stood in front of him, silent and staring. Shaden wasn’t sure if it even had eyes. Only hair was sticking out everywhere. But he saw its shoulders go up and down, a sign that it was breathing.
Shaden froze and observed the figure. It had been two days since his conversation with his grandfather. His thoughts clicked in his mind, and his expression grew worried.
Suddenly, the dark mass of hair spoke.
“Greeetttinggss, litttle boooy, I aamm heerre to be youuur tutor.”
With a voice that sounded like an ogre was gurgling on some slime while trying to impersonate a bear, the figure raised its arm towards Shaden.
This…this thing was his tutor?
“Erm…nice to meet you too.”
Trying to keep up his smile, Shaden shook a lock of black hair with his hand, a nervous drop of sweat rolling down his back.
Was it even a person?
〄 〄 〄
“A capable, skilled tutor,” stated his grandfather.
Shaden wanted to argue. He wanted to retract his vague request and ask his grandfather to reconsider. But his face held no signs of joking—his eyes were utterly serious.
“And…what is…his name?”
“Hairy.”
“Oh.”
Shaden held in a scream and glanced at the mass of hair. He couldn’t even see the person’s face but saw something glow within the area where the sockets should be. The creature, or whatever it was, was literally made out of hair.
“Is he…a person?”
“Why don’t you ask him yourself,” his grandfather suggested.
With a nervous laugh, Shaden slowly turned towards his tutor.
“So…Mr. Hairy?”
“Caalll Meee Haiiry.”
Shaden gulped. Its voice was a thing of nightmares.
“Are you…human?”
“Hooowww ruuudde. Offf Couurse, I aamm.”
How? HOW!?
“I’m…sorry. You just look…never mind.”
“Uundersttandaable.”
“If you have packed your things, you may leave immediately,” his grandfather stated. Again, there were no hints of all of this being a joke on his face. Shaden’s dread grew even more. He had to accept this?
He nodded. “I have my things next to me.”
“Good. I must leave now. Good luck, my child. I do hope you make it back. The tutor is quite stubborn if I must say so myself. If you remember how to stealth and run, you will be fine.”
Without pausing to take a look at his grandson’s shocked face, Shaden’s grandfather removed himself from the area, leaving a very worried boy alone with a very overwhelming presence of hair.
〄 〄 〄
Cursing his vague answer all the way, Shaden walked out of the gates of the Limen Estate with his small bag in hand. The mass of hair walked in front of him, almost gliding on the cobblestone as its long robes dragged behind it.
“Itt will taaakke a feeeww hoouurss iff wee ruun,” the figure stated.
Great. Shaden shook his head and gave his cheeks a light slap. He had to get used to this. Fast. Or else, this world would turn into a nightmare.
Act normal, act normal. If I think about it, getting taught by a hair-person isn’t that bad…right? It’s cool and refreshing, and completely out of my expectations. I mean, Grandfather himself agreed to this, so it must mean…damn it.
Within himself, he let out a huge sigh. And then he stopped thinking.
“Let’s run!” he said cheerfully.
Just for now, he would think of this as a bad dream.
〄 〄 〄
Through the endless forest, they ran. For a large figure, the mass of hair ran very swiftly between the woods. Shaden didn’t have a problem keeping up thanks to his boundless reserves of mana, but his mind was becoming exhausted from the hours and hours of seeing nothing but trees and hair.
They had stopped once to eat lunch, and Shaden had watched in horror as his tutor swiped a small rodent from the ground, swallowing it wholly within his hair. Where the heck was his real body?
“I don’t mean to be rude, but…why do you have so much hair?”
“Hmmm. Beecaauusee I’mm Haairry.”
……………
Of course. Shaden gave himself an imaginary slap on his head. How could he be so stupid?
He laughed sadly.
Would this nightmare ever end?
〄 〄 〄
By now, the area around Shaden had turned darker as the sun was setting. The sky was vaguely dyed red behind the thin mist, and the fatigue within Shaden’s muscles had gradually built up during the run. They had taken some breaks along the way, but running this long really had made him weary. He slowed his breath, circulated to recover himself, and sat down in front of his tutor.
His hands hurt from carrying his bag for the whole time. It didn’t contain much—only clothes—but the rigidness of the wood hand rubbed against his bones, making them slightly sore.
“Did we arrive yet?” asked Shaden as he sat on the ground. His tutor had abruptly stopped on what looked like a small sign in the middle of nowhere. Possibly a kind of checkpoint. In fact, there were multiple signs around the area that were crudely set up.
“The dagger always leads home…?” Shaden read internally.
“We are hallffwaay therrre nooww.”
“Great!” said Shaden, trying to remain optimistic. So, do we sleep here?”
“Nooo, I haavvee dinner. Buuut firrrst, reaaad the siggnns.”
The signs?
“IIff youuu weerre apprroovved byy the Heeaad, thheenn theerre iiss nooo neeed to resstraain myyseelf,” growled the figure.
Shaden barely heard his tutor. He was too busy reading the signs.
“Don’t look back. Stealth hides you from the monster. The monster can smell the dagger. Run for your life. Hairy, what does all of this mea—”
Shaden turned back as the monster threw off its robe and revealed a pulsating, writhing, freakish mass of hair. Two, red glowing orbs that looked like crystalized blood stared at Shaden with their pitch-black irises. Its tentacle-like hair-limbs wriggled all around it, and something like a mouth smiled gleefully as it made a kind of smacking noise.
A nightmare. This was a nightmare.
“Oh shi—!”