When we exited the forest, I hadn't noticed the light change; it felt like crossing over from nighttime to early morning. The sun peeked from the horizon, on the cusp of rising.

"Wow, we were in there a lot longer than I thought," I said.

Devon shook his head. "Step back into the treeline."

Okay?

I shuffled a few steps back and blinked. It was night again.

What?

I exited the forest, and the early morning skyline lit the sky. Devon stood there with a smile, one of the first I had seen in what felt like ages.

"Right. Magical forest. Magical, creepy forest that's permanently nighttime. Who the hell would willingly set up a village around this? That's just asking to be eaten by a monster."

He motioned with his head, and we moved towards the road. "You assume they had a choice in the matter."

"They're not being magically compelled to live here, are they?"

"No," he replied. "The royal family understands that places like these need people around them to keep the magic in check. And they have a higher chance of receiving wizards and sorcerers this way."

"Wait. Are you implying humans are like sponges, and their being here somehow absorbs mana or something? How does that work?"

"Yes and no. Most monsters and magical creatures stay away from people. Every beast learns to fear the mob. But yes, places like the forest are seeped in magic, and the ambient mana slowly spreads and is absorbed by the village people."

"And that's a good thing?"

"Most humans lack the aptitude for mana control. So, the mana is absorbed and helps keep the body healthier; that's it. On the other hand, if a child grows in an environment with higher mana, the odds of them adapting to the mana is higher, which means a better chance for the kingdom to acquire someone who can wield the power."

That explanation ticked me off. To willingly put your people in harm's way to profit off them for such a low chance sounded too calculating and cold. But I couldn't think of an appropriate response. If the village kept the monsters from spreading, the kingdom would be safer unless I misunderstood everything Devon said.

"I'm not sure I agree with the policy, but I don't know enough to offer a solution."

"Good. It's not our place, either way. We hunt, we grow, we protect the pack and the nexus, that is all. Anything else to that is secondary."

That doesn't sound fulfilling in the slightest.

The conversation died, and we made our way to the gate. Different guards stood at the entrance but must have recognized us since they waved at our return.

One guard entered the gate, and I saw him run toward the center of the village.

The other guard opened the gate for us and saluted. "Welcome back, sir Grimms. Was the hunt successful?"

Devon pointed a thumb to the sack hanging off his spear. "It was. Will Carter be expecting us?"

"Yes, sir." The guard pointed deeper into town. "My companion set off to inform him of your return. We have orders to do so if we see you approach the gates."

Devon nodded and entered the village. While we were leaving, the guard dropped his salute and called out, thanking us for our work.

Once we were out of earshot and alone on the village road, I dropped my smile. "Okay, what gives? I thought the people were afraid of us. Which, frankly. I don't understand why we have such a negative reputation."

"People are afraid of us. We're monsters who hunt monsters. To think otherwise would be foolish."

"But he sounded happy? Respectful?"

"He was. Not everyone sees a monster and only feels fear. You didn't, after all."

"I-" I sighed. "Touché."

We arrived at Carter's house in relative peace. A couple of early risers were out and about, and Devon was right. Only one out of seven people waved hello. The rest turned the other way or made themselves smaller.

The guard from before stood waiting with the village leader outside his house. His eyes narrowed on the cloth package behind Devon's back. "Greetings, hunters. I take it your hunt went well?"

"Indeed."

The village leader wrung his hands and seemed antsy. The guard next to him looked nervous.

"Is something wrong?" I asked.

Carter turned to me and clenched his fist before smiling. "No, nothing's wrong. But uh, would you happen to have any proof of the beast?"

He's so antsy. And the guard looks ready to run.

I expected Devon to drop the stag head on the ground and demand payment. It seemed the correct thing to do, but no—he reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a small doll. The same doll the little girl had inside the cabin.

He held the doll out, and Carter signaled for the guard to take it. The guard complied but with fear and disgust in his eyes. He glanced at Carter and then scowled. Carter himself looked wide-eyed and angry.

"I assume you recognize this," Devon said coldly.

"Ah… I do," Carter replied. He clenched his fist, his anxiety gone. His mouth was set into a hard line when he looked away from the doll. "This is, unfortunately, very familiar... Did the monster have a missing finger?"

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"Yes, the ring finger."

Carter exhaled slowly and raised his chin while straightening his shoulders and back. He turned to the guard. "Nicholas, Signal the morning bell, please. After doing so, I'd like you to take a few men and apprehend Darren and his wife. Bring them to the center right away."

"Yes, sir!"

Nicholas, the guard, took off, leaving the three of us standing there. Devon looked bored again while Carter fumed underneath his stiff shoulders.

"Will you be staying for the trial, sir Grimms?"

"We will. But we'll take our payment now," Devon replied.

"Right. Right. Give me a moment."

Carter entered his house, leaving the door open.

I turned to Devon. "I'm assuming the people he mentioned are the parents. Will they be thrown in jail?"

"There will be a public trial. Grimms do not interfere in the town's justice, but you need to see what most of the worlds we protect are like. I get the feeling your world is radically different."

I didn't get a chance to respond since Carter returned a second later. He held a large sack in his right and a smaller pouch in his left. The sack looked heavy, considering the shaking in his arms. He held out both for Devon to take.

"The silver price is inside the pouch, all twenty-six," Carter explained as he handed over the pouch first. After Devon took the pouch and counted the coins, he offered the larger sack. "Inside is smoked venison and fish. I included some jams, preserves, and fresher parcels of fresh meat wrapped in wax paper. Is it satisfactory?"

I peeked over Devon's hand and took a whiff. It smelled salty but delicious.

Devon glared and closed the sack before tossing it to me. I shuffled to catch it and nearly dropped the thing. It wasn't that heavy, but it wasn't light either. After tossing it over my shoulder, I glared, but Devon ignored me.

"This'll do. The contract has officially ended."

Carter nodded. "Thank you. Now, let's get this over with. I do ask that you refrain from interfering. This is now village business, and we'll take care of it ourselves."

Devon didn't respond, and Carter didn't wait for one. He shoved his hands in his vest pockets and began walking to the center of town.

The village bells rang out, sending birds soaring into the sky. Their screeches filled the air, turning our walk into something straight out of a movie. The bell's old-church tone pierced my eardrums, adding to the grim mood.

I doubt anyone could sleep through that.

When we arrived at the center, a large crowd had already formed, and they stood next to a stage. On the stage, two guards held their spears over a couple bound in rope. The woman sobbed, her tears splashing the dusty wood. The man looked on with dead eyes, unblinking as he stared at the ground.

The crowd spotted us approaching, and a surge of whispers sparked. They parted a path towards the stage, and Carter carried on while we stopped near the front. People who stood near us deliberately moved away, treating us like lepers.

This is getting old real quick.

Devon was unbothered as usual, so I stood alone in my grumpiness.

When Carter got on the platform, the woman turned to him. "Mr. Prelus, please, let us go!"

The crowd whispered fiercely, their eyes glued to the stage like it was a show drama meant just for them.

Carter stared down at the woman, righteous fury in his eyes. "Viviene. Silence yourself, or I will have you gagged."

The woman's eyes became saucer plates, and she choked back a sob while her lips quivered. Carter ignored her and stepped closer to the crowd while clearing his throat. His eyes scanned the villagers, and he nodded.

"Good, enough people are here," he said to himself. Out loud, he cleared his throat and nodded to the guard, who slammed the end of his weapon on the stage, creating a loud bang. When the crowd grew silent, he spoke. "Everyone, I'm sure you've seen or heard of the Grimms entering our village late last night."

Whispers started up again.

"Grimms? Where?"

"They entered the Mracker's pub, I was there."

"Did they have glowing eyes and sharpened teeth?"

"Sssh! They're right there; they can hear you."

"Everyone be silent!"

Seriously? We're the only two people who know what colours are in the place. How do you miss us standing ten feet to your left, lady?

Nicholas slammed his spear again. "Silence!"

The crowd complied.

"Thank you, Nicholas," Carter said. He gestured to the couple in ropes and held out the little girl's doll. "We know hardship. We are a village near the outskirts. It is not uncommon to lose people and suffer tragedy amongst our numbers."

His words carried over the square, and straggler villagers who only just arrived stopped in place to stare at their village leader.

"Last summer, Darren and his wife Viviene reported their children had undergone a tragic incident, and all they could find was a single finger from their little girl."

"We searched those woods!"

"Did they find them?"

"I knew it was suspicious!"

Viviene squirmed. "They died, I swear. The wolves got them! Darren, tell them!"

She knocked into her husband, but he ignored her. Her jaw hung open as Darren raised his head to the sky. Tears streamed down his face.

"I'm so sorry…" he whispered.

Viviene dropped to the ground, her face falling into despair.

The whole situation made me feel sick. These people were obviously monsters, but public trials like these felt… savage. The crowd's angry muttering, and the guard holding spears over the prisoner's heads made me think of the Salem trials.

I don't like this.

"The Grimms have gone into the forest on our behalf. We have lost too many villagers to some unknown beast, and the nobles will be breathing down our necks. We needed to get rid of this monster."

More eyes tried to pierce my hood, but I did my best to ignore them. My cloak tightened around my shoulders, and I smirked.

Thanks, uh, buddy.

The cloak didn't respond, but something resonated from the fabric. The pressure lessened, giving me a thin bastion against the scrutiny.

I watched the woman shaking in fear as she squirmed against her bindings.

"We all know the deep woods. The kind of creatures and monsters that come from within have always struck fear into our hearts, and we know not to meddle in their woods. But these two have. The monster who slayed some of our best hunters was none other than the child of Darren and Viviene. Their daughter."

Gasping and shouting began, and a few spat on the ground. The whole crowd erupted in chaos at the reveal. With Devon and I standing on the sidelines, everything felt surreal, like this was a story script being acted out.

I placed my hand on my axe when one of the villagers stumbled towards us. How the man got pushed or tripped, I didn't know, but he caught himself and scampered away.

Nicholas banged his spear again and then twice. The crowd returned to audible whispers but nothing more.

"Darren, will you deny these claims," Carter asked as he leaned down towards the father.

Darren closed his eyes and turned away. "No…"

Carter nodded grimly and then moved to Viviene, who looked up with quivering lips. "And you Vi-"

"I claim innocence; it was all Darren's idea. I- I had to go along. Please! Let me go!"

"Shut up!" someone shouted.

"Monsters, they are monsters."

"Poor children. Their mother rolls in her grave."

I shifted closer to Devon and whispered. "Is it always like this? This is insanity."

His eye flickered over. "Yes. A village this small is close to one another, and for one of their own to slay their children and cause problems to this scale, the crowd is reasonably angry. Carter is just making it easier for what comes next."

"Next?"

"For causing direct harm to their children and for causing the indirect deaths and harm to several villagers, I declare these two guilty. Their actions filled the ground with blood and fed the Mother. If anyone objects to this declaration, speak up now."

No one did.

Carter motioned to the guards, who moved to stand directly behind the father and mother. "The penalty for such actions means death. Guards."

Wait! What?!

Nicholas and the unnamed guard stepped forward in synch. The heads of their spears entered the backs of the prisoners and then exited from their front. Blood-coated spearheads protruded from the center-right of their chests and were then ripped out in one clean motion. The crowd roared, and the prisoners sunk to the floor.

I took a step forward, but Devon's arm shot out and gripped my shoulder, squeezing tight enough that I felt my bone creak. My head whipped around, but he shook his head.

"No. Let's go."

My teeth ground against each other, and I tried to resist Devon's fingers, but his hand was iron and refused to budge.

"Let's go, Cain. We're done."