The four remaining gargoyles took to the sky, their eyes beaming red. I didn’t know what they were planning so, as quickly as I could I took control of another gargoyle.

You have gained control of Bale.

And just as the notification popped up, I told him to stand down to see if I really had gained control over him. Now in the skies, there were three gargoyles. They regrouped around Isa. “Mother, can you hear us? What did he do to you?”

They were speaking in a terribly high-pitched voice, forcing me to cup my hands over my ears.

“Mother! Mother! Is it their doing?” They yelled. My hands barely did anything to protect me from their screams—It hurt too much. Crouching down, closing my eyes, shoving my fingers deeper into my ears, nothing did anything.

“Are you ok?” Something touched my shoulder.

What was it this time!

Turning around, an old lady was looking down at me, concerned painted on her wrinkled smile. Could she not hear the gargoyles? Glancing behind her, I found that no one had realized that the gargoyles had taken flight.

“Don’t worry Mother, we’ll deal with him.”

ARGH! Would they not shut up!

The gargoyles turned to face me before letting out a screech that made my skin crawl of my bones. I could see their wings winding up, about to dive bomb me. I ran as fast as I could while yelling and pointing up to the sky. “The gargoyles!” I screamed to make sure everyone noticed what was going on.

Pushing past the crowd, I kept low and hid around a corner. Catching my breath, I took a peek.

I had lost the gargoyles, until spurts of blood flew high above the sea of heads. That's when I spotted them. The gargoyles were swinging their claws and plunging their teeth into the necks of the closest person. The people ran in all directions. Those unfortunate enough to have been caught in the wave ended up being crushed under the boots of others only to be finished by the ever advancing beasts.

Was this the strength of gargoyles? Was this permitted in war? To surprise civilians from behind their defensive lines. Somehow, this didn’t feel right. Although this was war, this wasn’t the kind of war I signed up to.

“Quick! Encircle them!” Thankfully, the city was already preparing for a siege so the soldiers didn’t take long to intervene.

They encircled the three gargoyles. The beasts winded up their stone claws and lunged at the soldiers, but they were ready and absorbed the blows with their shields—

It wasn’t hard to see that it wouldn’t take them long to subdue them. I had to leave.

Glancing over to Isa and Bale, I worded out Leave, head to the forest north of here. Thankfully, they understood and flew off.

The soldiers on the ground were too occupied to spot them so I ran off towards the city gates.

I wasn’t the only one trying to get out.

Many who had been near the castle were begging the city guards to let them through while others pushed them away.

Soon enough we were let out while the guards went to assist the soldiers already confronting the gargoyles.

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

This let me run off to the woods north of Le Mans.

#

The woods were quiet. Dark. Sombre. I could smell fear. Why? How? For what reason? I do not know, but I smelled it.

That’s when my artifact reacted, it pointed diagonally up. Following it deeper into the forest, I spotted two shadows sitting amongst bushels of leaves. When I got near enough to see the wrinkles in their faces, their eyes opened, shining red.

“Jump down,” I ordered them. And so, they did.

Bale was no taller than myself, but Isa was huge and intimidating. Her frame was twice mine, laced with stone muscles, each of which was as striated as the most dedicated gymnast.

Each vein, each muscle insertion, each bone was present. It was more realistic than the most living human walking this earth. And in her eyes, I could see more than vapid obedience. Her pupils followed me as I walked to her side, admiring the artistry and talent which went into her carving.

I could see she wanted to speak, but there was something blocking her words. Pulling her mouth open, I looked down her throat. It was all beautifully carved. The teeth, the tongue, the cheeks, not to mention the stone used had such a luster you could mistake it for saliva. When so many gargoyles had half haggardly carved out molars made of rough rocks sanded down with a rough file, she was like a goddess.

I could only imagine the work which went into her.

Only the patriarch of the family had this kind of skill. If all his descendants had been this skilled, we wouldn’t have been relegated to the fringe circles of nobility and court.

But for now, I needed to see her strength. “Destroy the tree.” I pointed behind her.

Turning around, she walked up to the trunk, pulled back one arm—further—further—twisting her hips—her feet digging into the ground—And Bang!

Her strike, invisible to the sight blew through the two feet wide tree trunk, sending everything above crashing down.

Covering my ears and waiting for the earth to stop shaking, I couldn’t help but admire her strength. With her…I could do so much.

I don’t know, I both wanted to show her off to the duke, but also keep her hidden as my secret card. But I knew that this was a turning point in my life.

#

Parigné, thus was the name of the village I was assigned to.

The moon was high, the wind was calm, and the people slept tight. Not a single candle flickered in their homes. Standing at the top of the nearest hill, I waited for the signal.

Soon flames and smoke would rage to the east and west. All villages surrounding Le Mans would be razed. All for what?

Progress, was it?

I closed my eyes.

I had already given the command to Isa and Bale.

But even then, with my eyes shut, I couldn’t help but see the basement of that church nor the blood and guts spilled in front of Le Mans’ castle.

Was more of this needed?

For liberty and equality, was it?

It was hard to swallow, but was this hesitation not the fault of my upbringing. It was because I had been raised as a commoner that I couldn’t see things as the nobles did.

This was how the world worked. Who was I to oppose it?

A rush of wind passed by me as the flapping of wings whispered.

Five seconds passed in silence.

Ten.

Twenty.

Thirty—

Screams. Whaling. My eyelids shined orange and slowly the cool breeze turned warm.

It smelled of cooked meat, then burned steak, finally nothing more than charcoal.

I didn’t open my eyes until orange no longer passed through my eyelids.

You have led your first massacre; you have gained one level.

Now this. Was this God’s way of telling me that this was fine? That this was permissible by law and faith? Who was I to question any of this? After all, warriors level up by spilling blood. If this was wrong, then God wouldn’t have permitted it, or at the very least rewarded such actions.

I had to accept it. I had no choice.

Status

Gargoyle Craftsmen Apprentice (Level 1 class)

Level Level 14/15 --> 15/15

Vitality: 16/18 --> 20/20

Strength: 16/16

Endurance: 18/18

Dexterity: 12/12

Mana: 20/20

Abilities:

Absolute order (B rank):

Extensive gargoyle detection (B rank)

Control delegation (C Rank)

Dextrous hands (F Rank)

Additional information:

Gargoyles: Isa, Bale

Titles: Leader of Gargoyles

You have reached level 15 out of 15. Your class is ready to be upgraded.

Please choose one of the following:

…Error…

Possibility to change class type available.

Do you wish to become a warrior?