An old guardsman sat by himself in an office. He sipped on a tea that smelled of chamomile and would have calmsed the nerves of anyone who entered the room. He wore a necklace with a angel winged emblem hanging from it. On his chest he wore the badge of a badger. No weapon was in the room and the turmoil of the outside could not reach within.

“Charastro please! We need to get you to safety!”

“I’m not the one you should be protecting, there are countless numbers of our people cowering in fear from those things outside! Go help them you buffoon!”

The door to the office burst open, revealing Angelica Charastro and a guard that seemed to cower at the sight of the room.

“Timothen! What are you doing here! Our people are dying outside and yet you sit here sipping on some tea!”

Timothen took a sip of his tea, “Show some respect girl. This was only inevitable. My men are inexperienced they were bound to not meet such a threat.”

Angelica strutted into the room, “And why is that?”

Timothen looked up. The two endless wholes where his eyes should have been gazed directly at her, “Because all the experienced ones died thirteen years ago from the whims of a clown.” he spit.

Angelica bit her tongue at the remark, but Leren simply shook his head, “Be gentle with him. He might grow more bitter every passing year, but he still has more experience than you.”

Angelica took a deep breath and referred to Timothen, “That may be so, but we are under attack again. What are you doing to defend us by simply holding yourself up in here? Where is your sense of urgency!”

Timothen stood up from his desk, running his hand across it as a guide, “Urgency? Going into a panic will do us no good. From what I’ve heard these are monsters that mere towns guards should not be fighting,” he paused then furrowed his brow, “Isn’t it the church’s job to exorcise demons?”

“These are no demons.”

“Then what are they?” he said mockingly.

Angelica hesitated, but the words eventually leaked out of her mouth, “I…I don’t know.”

Timothen grabbed a white cane that leaned on the side of the desk and gave a laugh, “What difference does it make! They are monsters that don’t belong on this earth!”

“Then why did you ask!” She raised her tone to match his.

“I am a simple man, Charastro. I know nothing of demons, monsters, or the like. However, you are close to God, you should know about the things that don’t comply to the rules of the world.”

Angelica tried to grasp for words, but every single one slipped through her fingers. She looked to Leren for support, but he didn’t even react, “He has a point.”

She threw her hands in the air, “Just tell me what you’re doing about it!” Her frustration was not well hidden in her words.

“Will you continue to attack my actions?”

Angelica gave him a look that seemed to satisfy him as he gave a self-conceited smile and hoisted himself up onto his desk’s ledge.

“I have sent many of the guards to find people in need, and bring them back to the barracks for safety, but unfortunately, we’re only able to go so far. These creatures are able to pick us off easily if we stray too far away.”

Angelica gave a nod, “I evacuated everyone I could to the clinic before coming here, so that area should be taken care of, but that leaves…”

“The whole west side of town, yes.”

Angelica turned her back on the old guardsman, “Then I’ll go there at once.”

Timothen put his hand up to stop her, “That will not be necessary.”

“What do you mean?”

Timothen started to scratch the sparse hair on his chin, “We have received…strange reports from those who have escaped here from there. About stone statues of the creatures covering the road and…”

Angelica raised her brow, “And?”

Timothen rubbed the back of his neck, “In many areas people have said that they’ve seen the identical corpse of a man right next to each other.”

Angelica thought about it for a moment then looked to Leren once more and he simply shook his head in thought.

Timothen on the other hand shrugged, “I don’t know what’s going on, but the creatures in the west side of town seem to be held at bay, barely.”

“In that case what should our next course of action be?”

“You should go to the clinic. It is in a vulnerable…”

“No.”

Timothen tilted his head, “How cruel. You’re practically throwing them to the monster. I never knew you could be so heartless.”

Angelica avoided his gaze, “Tanthia has contracted…a witch. The clinic is protected for the moment.”

Timothen gave a smirk and the dark holes of his eyes seem to take on an emotion, “A witch? My how useless you must feel for Tanthia to resort to dark magic when there is a saint in the village.”

A quiet chuckle came from the corner of the room, and Angelica instantly spun to scold the source. The Jester covered the mouth of his mask, “I am so sorry my lady! I seemed to have lost control of myself. I eagerly await your punishment!”

Angelica rolled her eyes at the Jester and turned back to Timothen, “Nonetheless, the clinic is reletively safe, and you seemed to have things under control despite my initial perception. If that’s all then I will be going now.”

“Wait a moment,” Timothen reached his arm out, “It would be wiser if you stayed here. Your powers would be of great use.”

Angelica glared at the suggestion, “That’s a polite way to say that you want to command a saint.”

Timothen gave a shrug, “Your abilities would be of greater use here than if you were on your own.”

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

“I am more than capable of taking on this threat on my own.”

“Never have you ever sounded more like a child.”

Angelica burst into a rage and Timothen mostly blew her off. Leren gave a sigh and started to walk around the office and eventually came next to the Tamer as he leaned against the wall.

“I am eternally grateful that you came to her aid when you did. I know she is difficult to listen to, but she is a lot more tolerable when she is not conducting herself based on her position.”

“I hope I’ll be able to see that one day. She lost the respect of The Wizard and The Hunter that way. I couldn’t help but take pity on her.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, why did you answer her summons now of all times. You ignored them countless times before.”

The Tamer looked down at his feet, “I had no other choice.”

“I see…”

“But I must admit I am surprised.”

“By what?”

The Tamer drew his gaze towards the window at the end of the room, “The things I had to fight. What were they Charastro?”

Leren waved his hand, “No need to call me that. The title was passed on after my death.”

“To who?”

Leren scratched the side of his neck and nodded towards Angelia who was still having a spat with Timothen, “Angelica of course.”

“Really? She’s so young. How does tht make you feel?”

“She’s older than she looks but…wait how did you…”

Suddenly the Rogue appeared next to them, “Not old enough to have faith in herself.”

Leren went rigid at his appearance while The Tamer didn’t react, “It seems like your mask repaired itself all right.”

“Of course,” The Rogue replied with sand in his mouth, “I hope you savored that. You’ll never be able to do it again.”

“I hope I’ll never have to again.”

“As long as the girl fulfills the end of her deal,” his cool voice contained a twinge of doubt.

“She will,” Leren said without hesitation, “You ‘ll see.”

“But how much longer must I have to wait in this little town.”

Angelica caught sight of the Rogues pitch black mask and a chill went down her spine.

“What is Charastro? Finally decide to listen to reason?” Timothen gave a wide smile.

Angelica continued to glare at him as she walked past the old guardsman to the window. The Rogue followed and began to speak.

“I lost them towards the west end of town. It was as if they vanished from this world completely.”

Angelica tsked as she tried to keep her glance from straying from the window.

The Rogue raised his hands in defeat, “If only we had a hunter that specializes in this sort of thing.”

Angelica gripped the window still until her knuckles went white.

“Anyway, there is an odd shadow in that direction on the seawall. All it does is just stare at the moon no matter what happens around it. I got right behind it, but it didn’t react one bit.”

Angelica took a deep breath to calm herself then spun around and strutted out of the room, “Apologies commander, but it seems like there is a powerful creature to the west on the seawall that I must see to. Goodbye.”

She slammed the door behind her before Timothen had the chance to get another word out.

***

Tanthia took a deep breath as she prepared herself to knock on the closet door next to the room the stranger was in. She knew what she was about to do was in vain but she would have to try anyway.

“Mom?” The inquisitive voice of a young voice came from the stairs.

Rendri came up the stairs with a handful of bandages, “The assistants are starting to get scared. They told me to come ask you what’s going on.”

Tanthia took a a reassuring but worn smile, “Is that so? Well tell them that we are safe, and that we are protected by a powerful magic that even the Charastro acknowledges.”

Rendri looked to the side doubtfully, “They’re talking about where their familys are at right now, and what they would happen if they died and left them.”

Tanthia got down on one knee and laid her hands on his shoulders, “None of us are going to die. Angelica will be able to stop whatever it is that is causing this.”

“But she’s just a kid!”

Tanthia shook her head with a smile, “She protected us earlier, didn’t she?”

“Well…”

“Exactly she protected us then so she’ll be able to protect us no matter what happens. Don’t lose faith, alright?”

Rendri gave a soft nod and gave her the bandages, “Alright, I’ll tell the others that. Here are some bandages for that guy in there. Is he looking good.”

“Yes, now go on now. The assistants need all the help they can get.”

Rendri nodded and ran down the stairs in a hurry.

Tanthia’s smile faded as she looked down at the bandages, “If only things were so simple.”

She moved to the closet door and gave a timid knock

“Come in.” An authoritative voice boomed

Tanthia took another deep breath and opened the door. She was greeted with the sight of a room twice the size of the room the stranger was in.

It seemed as if every piece of the wall was covered with some type of herb or ingredient. The room itself was filled with tables with papers and bottles scattered about.

In the absolute center of the room elevated a woman with long flowing hazelnut hair.

“What is it?” She said not opening her eyes.

Tanthia fidgeted with the bandages in her hands, “I was just wondering if you could come help heal some of the wounded.”

“I’m sorry, but regrettably I have to hold up the barrier.”

“But…surely…someone of your prowess would be able to do both.”

“I’m flattered, but these shadows are like a virus to magic. I’m barely holding them off at the moment.”

“But the clinic is not being attacked at the moment.”

“Those shadows don’t just lurk in this world but the one in the inbetween. For myself, having to be present in both is extremely straining.”

“Surely you must be exaggerating…”

“I’m not!” the witch let out in frustration, sending a rumble through the house.

Tanthia instinctively backed away to the door, clutching the bandages to her breast.

Despite having her eyes closed the witch seemed to percieve her reaction, “I’m sorry, this barrier is difficult to maintain. If you need to understand the threat we are under, the person responisble for this attack is of the same caliber as the man responsible for the attack on this town thirteen years ago.”

Tanthia let out a gasp, “Forgive me I had no idea.”

The witch shook her head, “How is the warrior doing”

Tanthia looked down at the bandages in her hands, “His condition has no signs of improving, unfortunately it seems like it's getting worse.”

“Is there anything else you can do?”

“No, his illness doesn’t appear to be physical, but mental.”

“Well just keep trying. I’m sure you’ll be able to do something.”

Tanthia took a step towards the witch, “If you don’t mind me asking, why are you so obsessed with him?”

The witch's expression turned to stone, “Because I will not let him run away from this.”

Their voices reverberated through the walls into the stranger's room. By his bedside sat the lady in shadow. She gazed at the wall in longing, “Pity they will not be able to do anything,” She turned back to face the bed, “Soon you and I will not have to fear the others. Soon you will you will not be alone anymore. Soon this night will come to its completion.”