“How about—a penguin?”

“What even is that? Can you get one out here?”

“Hmm, true. But I found Char down in a cavern, so who knows what is laying out there, hidden away. Let me think for a moment… an owl? I’ve heard those can be pretty clean.”

“No. No birds. I hate birds. So many droppings…”

“Isn’t that true for most animals? As a [Maid], you’ve had to clean up after a lot of different things, right?”

“Well, I suppose that is true…”

“Maybe we could match? I get a giant spider, then you get a—hmm—giant ant? They’re orderly, right?”

“Ew—no bugs either. I don’t know how you can stand that thing. Look, it’s wiggling again!”

“Pat pat, good girl, Char.”

“Don’t encourage it, that looks disgusting.”

“Well, maybe you are just really hard to please. What do you think, Marie? Is Char really that bad?”

“—I hate to admit it, but she’s starting to look sort of cute to me too…”

“Not you too! No, I’ll find a nice, clean and cute pet.”

“Maybe a reptile of some sort? They don’t leave fur or feathers around at least.”

“Now that’s an idea… Maybe like a snake or something could be good—it could even eat that stupid spider and—”

“Hey!”

Fayette stuck out her tongue, snickering. “It was your suggestion, Mirrie dear.”

Mireille grimaced, patting the spider on her shoulder. “Don’t you start doing that too.”

“It is a pretty cute nickname…” Marie admitted, trailing the other two.

And finally, Olivia spoke too. She was leading their procession along the road, keeping a watchful eye forward, and very distinctly not participating in the prior convo. The gloomy [Doctor] looked back, sunken eyes halting the rest of the crew, and she spoke two words. “We’re here.”

Everybody looked forward.

Past a bend in the road, the trees finally got out of the way to reveal a building standing atop a hill, the sight every traveler eagerly awaited, hunger in their stomach.

The inn.

This one was just like many others, boards and crimson paint worn by age and wind, but still inviting. The party hurried their steps. Mireille hid Char inside her cloak and Olivia took a sip from her flask. Marie took a few running steps, then realized she really didn’t have the energy for it and slowed down—they had split up their supplies more, so everyone had to carry packs now.

Just as she was about to lag behind. a [Maid] grabbed her by the hand and forcibly dragged the [Lady] forward. “No getting left behind!”

It had been a dreary journey from their previous stop, and Fayette still found herself looking up every now and then, searching for that magical second moon.

Mireille had seen it too by now, but only Fayette still occasionally begged for another viewing, which the [Lady] had relented to giving the first few times. But it took resources—so eventually they stopped. And Fayette didn’t feel satisfied.

Need to get to a proper town so we can stock up on all those fancy materials! Ah, if only I could see it with my own power…

She gripped the lagging [Lady’s] hand tighter, dragging her up the slope, all the way to the inn’s door. There, she finally let go, and Marie collapsed to the ground, panting. Fayette looked at her exhaustion, disapproving.

“If you’re really going to live this on-the-road lifestyle, you have to work on your energy!”

Marie looked up, meeting her eyes, and some form of not-quite-resolve burned there. Slowly, she stood back up, wiping the dust off her dress. “Don’t—worry. I won’t—get left—behind,” she managed to say between intakes of breath.

Fayette smiled, took out a handkerchief, then wiped the sweat off the [Lady’s] brow. “That’s the spirit”.

For some reason, that seemed to make her face redden more. Fayette narrowed her eyes, staring. Did I push her too hard? I don’t think my training regimen was quite this bad…

“I—um—just,” Marie sputtered, frozen in place. With a flick of her wrist, she snatched the handkerchief away and took a step back. “I… I’ll do that on my own. But thanks.”

Was she the type who didn’t like to be fussed over? For some reason, Fayette didn’t feel that was quite right… Noble customs are so complicated—I might have to get back to my books if my [Maid] instincts are this lacking.

Shaking her head, she turned back towards the inn, then paused. A [Seamstress] hurriedly turned away. Why does Mireille look so smug?

Mireille pushed past Olivia and stepped into the inn first.

And in an inn, there was of course an [innkeeper].

—

The man was already waiting at the reception table—a wide stomach but a wider smile. Like the jolly man from winter solstice celebrations. He gave their group a relaxed bow, gesturing them forward.

“Welcome to L'Auberge de Peyrebeille, I’m Martin, and I keep this here inn.”

The counter was clean, and the inside of the inn seemed to be in good shape, despite the slightly decrepit outside. Grey autumn light filtered through windows, but the fire roaring in the central hearth gave it a warm glow and drove the cold away.

Mireille stepped forward, taking charge of money matters. They had let Marie have a go at the last place, but a [Lady’s] spending habits had been a bit… questionable.

“We would like to have four beds, and a proper meal as soon as possible.”

“Long journey?” The [Innkeeper] asked, leaning on the counter.

Mireille nodded. “You could say that. I assume there’s space?”

“Too much space—really,” the [Innkeeper] said, sighing. “Not a road oft traveled these days—you would be our only customers today.”

The man’s eyelids were just a bit droopy, hinting at slight exhaustion, but his wry smile drove it away.

The glint of coin shone in Mireille’s eyes. “Ahh, a shame. I trust we can get good bedding then?”

“Yes—but it also means food will take a bit. We don’t have a pot boiling right now, you see.”

“How long exactly would it take?”

Martin thought for a bit. “If you can wait—dinner would be best. My wife could prepare her special dish then—she’s a pretty high-level [Chef].”

Fayette blinked a moment, getting a certain sensation from the man. She had been getting at it recently. “You’re high level too, aren't you?”

The man winked. “Don’t worry, my inn always provides proper rest.”

Mireille was thinking. “If there’s no lunch… isn’t there a town quite near here? A detour off the big road?”

The [Innkeeper] nodded but grimaced right after. “An hour's walk—maybe. The path goes right nearby—good folk living there. But… there’s been trouble on the road from what I hear.”

Fayette perked up. “[Bandits]?”

He shook his head. “The road itself is apparently safe enough, people have been coming and going, but don’t venture further out. I haven’t gotten the latest news, but they found some trouble in the swamp a week back it seems.”

“Well—that should be fine,” Fayette said, thinking. “As long as we don’t go alone or in the dark.”

Marie groaned. “We have to walk more?”

Right, she was so red in the face earlier… maybe I should—?

Fayette patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, you can stay here while I bring food back.” She tapped her [Apron of Holding]. “We’ll just need to reheat it afterward.”

“Ah, thank you,” Marie said, flashing a brief smile. “But I think I can just wait until dinner. I’m not that hungry. You had stuff you wanted to take care of, right?”

The [Maid] nodded. “Need to see about broom repairs.”

“Right—so don’t hurry needlessly for my sake.”

Fayette frowned—hurrying for other people’s sake was sort of a [Maid’s] whole point really—but… she shrugged. “If you don’t need it.”

She turned to the others. “Who’s coming with me?”

Mireille shook her head. “I need to work on our winter cloaks—last night was already too cold for my liking. Can you hand over my stuff? Mister Martin, exactly how dangerous are things?”

“People from the village have been walking the path without issue from what I’ve seen.”

“Probably fine then,” Fayette said, turning to their last member. “What about you Olivia?”

The [Doctor] stretched out, more like a scarecrow than a cat. “Yeah, I’ll head off to town too, I think. Errands of my own.”

“Need more of your supplies, do you?” Fayette asked, squinting.

Olivia grimaced. “No—probably nothing good in a backwater like this. I just want to see the news.”

—

“You call it a backwater, so why would there be better news than by the road?” Fayette asked, walking along the narrow trail, occasionally reinforced with planks.

“It’s a backwater, yes, but a riverside backwater. They get ships every now and then—those carry news fast,” Olivia answered, walking in front.

Fayette nodded—that did make sense—then hopped over a puddle, careful to not get her apron wet. The forest had gradually changed to a swampy bog, and now they had to step past water and mud every now and then. Fayette understood why the inn and road did not near this place—who wanted to walk in sludge like this?

She was keeping a wary eye on the murky bog, but she hadn’t seen any hints of danger. Animals seemed to be living on as usual. But still—this road is really in bad repair. Can’t they like… use some [Remove Water] skills? Are those a thing?

Luckily, planks of wood had been placed in the worst bits, so she never actually had to wade through water.

“Hey—Fayette—by the way...” Olivia suddenly said.

The [Maid] looked up from her musings, surprised that the [Doctor] was asking something of her own. “What is it?”

Olivia turned, giving her a questioning look. “What exactly are we going to do next?”

“Next, as in, as a hunter party?”

“Yes.”

“Hm.” Fayette thought. They had been focused on moving forward for a while now, just making sure that whoever would come after Marie would have to work for it—but it was true. They did need a task.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Olivia, you joined us because you wanted to do more than just a lone [Doctor] could, fix the world up a bit, right?”

The gloomy woman nodded. “Yes.”

She always gives such simple answers. I wonder… does she know?

“Do you think we did good at the last place? The situation in Arreau… it ended messy.”

“I was pretty satisfied with it,” Olivia answered, with no hesitation. “We got rid of a monster that would have kept getting [Miners] hurt. Also got rid of that annoying guy and those others. Don’t think the world is worse off for it.”

Fayette sighed. She agreed, but for some reason, the end just felt so messy to her. But if a [Doctor] thought it was okay… “Remind me to loan you a book once we’re back at the inn. Me and Marie have been reading it, but I think I could use your thoughts too.”

The [Doctor] looked back forward, musing. “That man, the one in the shaggy robes—”

“Pierre?”

“Him, yes. I think… if there were lots of people like him out there, the world would get a lot uglier.”

Fayette looked forward, focused. Hadn’t she said what happened was good?

“But.” The [Doctor] suddenly added, looking back at the [Maid] again. There was something dark in her eye. “If there were only a few of them…” she shrugged, then turned back forward.

Fayette hummed in thought. Not quite the answer she needed, but it was interesting. Maybe I should force Mireille to read that book too. Oh, right.

“You know Olivia, I don’t really think I’m in charge of this group or anything—if there’s something you want to go do, just say and we can,” Fayette said, remembering how this conversation had started. “Or we can just go hunt a monster or something.”

The [Doctor] nodded. “I’ll remember that. I appreciate it.”

“I just hope we don’t suddenly get wrapped up in something big again, I’m so done with annoying guys suddenly showing up, and then I have to—”

Suddenly, sounds from the side interrupted her words. Monsters? No—people. She looked and saw several people—men and women in rather ordinary clothes—at work, deeper in the swamp, like eerie gravetenders. They were walking around, peering carefully into the water, prodding long sticks inside. Searching for something.

Guess there really isn’t that much danger if folk are about like that.

A few of them noticed the approaching pair, and dark gazes of suspicion fell on them.

Fayette turned away, grimacing, and kept walking past the group. Would they get the same reception in town? “What was that all about?” She asked, feeling just a bit offended. [Maids] don’t deserve looks like that!

“Maybe all my practice at being ominous and dark is finally paying off.” Came the answer.

Fayette chuckled—Olivia was in a joking mood? That was rare.

Focusing on her footing, she hopped over another puddle and felt the gazes from the bog fall off her. And she saw the first buildings of a small town up forward.

For some reason—she felt a shiver go through her—like the air had suddenly turned bad.

She frowned. Ominous.

“You are getting too good at that, Olivia.”

And so they stepped into town. A town… where bad things had happened.

—

As they walked past the wards into the small village, a place where the border between bog and building was narrow indeed, there was a gloom in the air. It could be felt in the humid air, seen in the clouded sky—but most of all—in the eyes.

It was an ordinary sort of riverside settlement—a place where wood was cut, worked, then shipped along the river—but the typical friendly faces didn’t greet them. Windows were closed, hushed conversations silenced, and gazes of suspicion came.

Strangers were not welcome here—not right now. It was like the murky waters of the bog had rolled over the place, clouding it in a dark miasma.

“Ok, I don’t think this is my fault,” Olivia said quietly, carefully not answering any silent glares.

Fayette took a step closer, whispering. “What do you think it is? My old hometown was about this size, and things never felt like this. Even if some smelly hunters arrived.”

“I don’t think it’s us”, Olivia said, carefully looking around, eyes held low. “—I’ve felt this air before. It’s like… when there’s word of [Bandits] about, and somebody in the village has gone missing. Suspicion on everyone not familiar. Not even [Doctors] are welcomed then.”

Fayette thought about the broom in her [Apron of Holding], and nodded. “Right, [Bandits]. I can do [Bandits].”

Olivia elbowed her. “It’s probably not literally that. Details are wrong. And the ones outside seemed rather carefree. Just the same kind of air.”

“If this means nobody will have a look at my broom…” Fayette said, groaning.

“Eh, money talks. Even in these situations, if the ordinary folk are prickly, the shopkeepers usually are friendly at least.”

“Hmm, makes sense. [Maids] are supposed to be happy types too.”

“Shouldn’t you be diffusing this situation, then?”

Fayette looked around, met a few eyes, then used [Disarming Smile]. It felt very strained.

“Olivia, I don’t think this is helping.”

The [Doctor] snorted, then held out her flask. “This is usually much more effective. I’ll probably stop by the docks, see if any ships stop by. [Sailors] are not grouchy types usually.”

Fayette nodded, agreeing. Yes, most of the villagers may not have been in the best mood, but no mood was ever universal. There were always exceptions. Shopkeepers, travelers, and of course—

Children.

“Miss, are you a real [Maid]?”

Fayette turned and met the gazes of a gaggle of children, who were busy whispering to each other. Around seven to ten years in age, maybe. Three boys and two girls, one of whom had asked the question in a bright voice.

Fayette turned around, meeting a deadly-serious girl’s eyes, and nodded with a polite bow. “Indeed miss, I am a [Maid].”

The girl examined her with a critical eye, but the spotless uniform seemed to convince her, so she nodded. Then she asked another question. “A real [Maid]? Someone who serves pretty [Ladies] and handsome [Lords]?”

[Lords]? Well, I do tend to serve them something indeed, but as for [Ladies]…

She nodded. “Of course, I am the realest [Maid] you’ll ever see.”

The second girl stepped forward, face still in a frown, unconvinced. She pointed at Olivia. “She doesn’t look like a pretty [Lady].”

Olivia scowled, but Fayette just bent down to the girl’s level with a smile. “That’s not a very polite thing to say, young miss. But Olivia here is no [Lady], the [Lady] I am traveling with is much prettier.”

And something in her tone—it convinced the children. The children from a village that only tended to get drunken [Sailors] as travelers. Children who were in a way, just hungering for a good story.

They all started speaking at once, the boys loudest.

“Have you met any [Knights]?”

“What about the [Lords], the [Lords]?”

“I want to be a [Knight] when I grow up!”

“What does a real [Lady] look like?”

Fayette faced the onslaught, unwavering. “Yes, I have met [Knights], though our meetings tend to be short. [Lords] too, the partings always give me trouble. I don’t recommend a career as a [Knight]. A real [Lady] is very pretty and elegant.”

The tide was met with a damn sturdy enough to block an ocean—and the kids fell back, beaten, but eyes shining.

Even Olivia was staring, impressed. She took a step closer, then whispered. “I didn’t know you were this good with children.”

Fayette scoffed. “I spent a lot of my life in an orphanage, helping to look after the younger ones. If it was a class, I would be a very high-level [Big Sister],” she whispered back.

“What would that class even do?”

“Maybe help me handle Mirrie when she gets cheeky.”

Olivia snorted. “Really—I thought you would hate children. They’re always so messy and annoying.”

Fayette turned back to the kids, who were peering, trying to hear their words. Why did she not find them annoying? A sense of nostalgia, maybe? She didn’t really care much for most strangers, or for what happened to them, as long as things were clear and orderly. But weren’t children disorder incarnate?

Is that one thing I care about? Children? Maybe there is still a bit of orphanage girl left in me.

Maybe.

She clapped her hands, and the kids almost saluted, falling silent. Fayette surveyed them. “Children! I can tell you more, but we have errands to do. You, mister on the right there, can you direct my friend to the docks? Rest of you, could you take me to a [Blacksmith]?”

“Miss [Maid], we don’t have any [Blacksmith] here.” The boy she had pointed out said.

Fayette frowned. “Erm, right. This is a woodworking town… Do you have a—what’s it called—[Woodsmith]? No? [Carpenter]? Someone who can turn a stick into a weapon?”

The kids looked at each other, then started pushing her forward, to one edge of town, while one boy rushed to push Olivia to the docks.

Fayette smiled, satisfied, and let the kids lead the way. She found she didn’t really mind their grubby paws that much, really. Maybe some things are excusable for kids, and it's a [Maid’s] job to teach them to know better. I suppose [Maids] have a particular role regarding children…

I wonder what the others think of kids. Mireille’s probably with Olivia, hates ‘em. Marie? I wonder.

Then she went back into serious [Big Sister] Fayette mode and began quelling the next endless tide of questions.

—

“And then you helped arrange a barbecue for the annoying [Lords] who were bothering your [Lady], and they all went away?”

Fayette nodded. “That is indeed exactly what happened.”

The crowd of children had grown, and though some adults had tried to pry them away from the suspicious stranger, childhood’s curiosity could not be easily defeated.

A boy pushed forward. “Back to the [Knights]! How can you become one? Can I get the class eventually, really?”

Again with this line of questioning… Fayette sighed, then gave an admonishing wave of her finger. “Why do you all want to be boring [Knights]? Who wants to do that?”

All the boys started shouting their opposition. Fayette frowned, and began to give her answer when suddenly a loud voice blasted by the lot.

“Silence you all! You are distracting me from my work!” A bushy-bearded man shouted, coming out of his shack, waving a fist.

Fayette motioned a hand at the kids, and they all took a step back. She nodded at the man. “Sorry for the disturbance, mister. I’m afraid I had them lead me here.”

He finally took notice of her and fell serious. “An out-of-town [Maid]? Haven’t seen your type often. Do you have some orders for me? I’ve only made things for nobles a few times.”

“Not for a noble, for me. You are a [Carpenter], yes?” Fayette reached into her pouch, then took out her broom. The children shouted out with awe and delight at the magical pouch. “I am in need of a better broom.”

He stared. “You seek out a level 26 [Carpenter] for a broom?”

Fayette smiled at his level. Yes, he should do well. She reached into her pouch again, then pulled out her old broom, steel ends melted down by elemental, and shaft snapped in two by sword. “This is what happened to my last one. Can you make something stronger?”

She threw it onto the ground, and everyone stared.

Eventually, the [Carpenter] took a careful step forward, picked it up, then inspected it. His gaze turned sharp, and he looked up at Fayette with new eyes. “No ordinary [Maid], are you?”

Fayette turned, then gave the wide-eyed kids a wink, a twinkle in her eye. “I’m a special kind of [Maid] you see, much cooler than a stupid [Knight]. I’ve killed monsters with that broom!”

“Really?”

“Real monsters?”

“But you’re a [Maid]!”

The [Carpenter] looked at the kids, and they all fell silent. “I can attest to that—this broom has seen mighty battle indeed.”

Fayette looked through the crowd and found the boy who had asked that one annoying question so many times. She pointed at him. “You! Boy there! If you really want to become strong, forget about becoming a [Knight]. The cowards need swords and armor. No, you should become a [Maid] instead!”

And finally, that served to quiet the kids once and for all, as they realized that maybe this [Maid] they were talking to was quite different from the ones in the stories. And perhaps just a bit odd in the head, though none of them dared even whisper it.

The [Maid] nodded, then turned back to the [Carpenter], satisfied. “So, can you make me a worthy broom?”

The man nodded, but he was not looking at the broom. He was examining her, measuring something. “Yes,” He finally spoke. “I can make something worthwhile to you, maybe convert a reinforced ironwood quarterstaff into a broom? Something of the sort. But more than that…”

He paused for a second, and for a moment, the town’s gloomy air returned, back from its temporary retreat at the enthusiasm of childhood.

The [Carpenter’s] voice was dark. “This town has a need for hunters right now. There’s a monster about.”

—

Fayette grimaced, then hiked up her skirt and stepped into the boggy mire. Her boots held the water back alright, but it still came up all the way to her shin. This is going to be a nightmare to handle after.

Still, she only hesitated a moment, then followed the [Carpenter] into the bog. No children came with them—they all had strict orders to not stray from the town’s wardings.

Because there was a monster about.

And if there was a monster… it was the duty of hunters to handle the matter. So, Fayette walked in, into the bog, from that point where she had seen the villagers poking about before. As she came closer the gazes she got were not so hostile now—the [Carpenter] was a familiar face.

And Fayette saw why exactly the villagers were poking the mire with long sticks. They were digging, searching.

Bones.

Over seven skeletons had already been assembled by a tree, on the side facing away from the road. Fayette shivered. Seeing that on entry would have been creepy.

“They were discovered just a few days ago, and the signs point that some of them are fresh. But many are old too—very old.”

“But nobody from the village is missing?”

The man shook his head. “Not one. We made sure, gathered everyone, even sent letters asking about those who’ve moved away. Word has not come back yet, but everyone seems to be accounted for. Martin, [Inkeeper] and good man, also confirmed that any guests he's had have been seen off, safe.”

Is that why they aren’t that guarded? “Do you have any clues on what type of monster it is?”

“We do,” a new voice answered, as a thickly built man with a face of stone approached. He only grimaced at Fayette, “Who is this, Albert? Has some [Lord] shown up on a boat?”

The [Carpenter] shook his head, then turned to the [Maid]. “She’s a hunter, believe it or not. I can attest to that. Miss, this here is our [Guard Leader], Lyam.”

The man nodded at her, eyes sharper. “Miss, I would shake your hand, but I’m afraid—” he waved his gloved hand, grime and mud spraying below him. “—it would just get you in a mess.”

Fayette nodded. “I appreciate the gesture. You said there was a clue?”

He nodded. “If it’s one thing, the bastard’s thorough. Nothing but bone ever gets left.” He pointed at the bones. “Just have a look, the ones that are rightmost are fresh.”

She splashed her way closer to the tree and stepped onto the more solid ground there, finally getting a good look at the bodies. No, not really bodies anymore. Just bones.

No children among them, just adults. All cleansed down to the bone of all flesh. Fayette bent down to the freshest one, curious. There was something eerily familiar about all this. Like she was recognizing something. She poked a finger closer, feeling at the swampy residue left on the bones. No, not swampy resiude… Something different. How long were these down there? This feels like—

Then she paused. For a long moment, her mind ground to a halt as a dreadful possibility came to mind. S-surely it can’t be. The coincidence would be too—no.

Slowly, like a rusty wind-up clock, she turned her head to the [Head Guard]. “Sorry, mister, I can be a bit forgetful about my geography, so could you answer me a question perchance?”

He nodded. “Sure—if it helps.”

Fayette swallowed. “T-that river of yours, the one your town sits by. What towns are there upriver? I can’t really remember river names, sorry.”

He frowned at the strange question, then started listing. “Well, we do most of our trade with Palogne, then there’s—”

She did not hear the rest of the answers. Her head snapped back to the bones, and she started sweating.

Surely, surely not, that couldn’t happen, absolutely—

She felt a touch at her back. “Hey Fayette.”

Her head spun around, and she bolted up, panicking. “No! I didn’t do it! It wasn’t me! It wasn’t… Olivia?”

The [Doctor] gave her a strange look, then sighed and shook her head. “Hey, I came to find you here. You all, could you take a step back? I need a private word.”

She waited for the others to retreat, then continued, turning back to Fayette. “So, anyways, about that whole I-get-to-decide-where-we-go thing, I’ve decided. And I think we need to hurry. I had a bad feeling about some news from down south, felt too familiar, and I checked it and the situation seems to have gone…” She paused, then looked to the side, seeing the bones.

“Are those the supposed monster victim bones?” she asked, bending down to examine them.

Fayette jumped. “Victims? No! Yes! Not my fault. Not my fault at all—nope. Cannot be.”

Olivia just sighed. “What’s gotten into you? First of all, these aren’t even from a monster attack, it’s obvious.”

The [Maid] instantly relaxed and let out a sigh of relief. “They aren’t?” She bent down, closer to Olivia. “What are they from, then?”

The [Doctor] poked at an indent in a rib, muttering. “Just look at this. An obvious blade wound, like someone sliced this up. Here, here and here too. I think this fellow was cut up quite a bit after he died. The flesh disappearing—that came after. Quite late for the older ones, had to be recent. But the deaths... no animal did this.”

Fayette shivered, looking at the [Doctor]. Because something like this… Bodies hidden away in a swamp, cut up after being killed, over a long period… It spoke not of a literal monster, but also still a monster. Something more human.

Her voice was ice, and her eyes sharp. “A [Murderer].”