Norbert stared up at the three faces looking down at him. Hoping that the first foot forward would have the advantage Norbert spoke up “Before anyone says anything I just wanted to see what was out there, what made you so nervous at night. And look, I came out of this unscathed with a bit of help so nothing bad see.” Norbert said, holding his hands out in front of him.
The others just stared at him, not moving as the villager just said “Take your shirt off.”
Norbert just stared back at the man “Excuse me, why would I do that? I’m not into that sort of thing with you old man” Norbert questioned.
Dousan stepping slightly forward as he leaned down “We were told before that there was a curse placed on those attacked at night. The reason why you’re not on night duty.” He said before taking a step back and looking down at Norbert.
Sighing in annoyance Norbert placed his backpack on the side, Obsius sitting on the rail looking down at him. Taking his jacket off rolling his top up, exposing his chest and stomach. Staring down surprise stricken on his face at what he saw. In the centre of his chest, where his solar plexus was he stared down, knowing the black splotch now resting on him wasn’t there before.
In a rough circle, some parts going out he saw a dark black spot. About the size of a coin, an ink spot on a perfectly white canvas, controlled by gravity the ink spot wasn’t a perfect circle. Around it what really amazed him and everyone as they all drew in a breath was the perfect purple circle surrounding it.
The skin itself turned purple, similar to his veins when pushing energy through his body, but right now he wasn’t forcing anything through. The veins around the spot where also purple, getting darker the closer it was to it. Poking the rings with his finger it felt normal, nothing weird or giving away. Stretching it around it felt perfectly fine with his skin, not feeling any weird lumps or pain when he attacked it.
Staring back up at those around him he dropped his shirt back down and looked around. “Well, does this mean I’m kicked out until it can be figured out?” Norbert asked.
All eyes turned towards the villager, wondering what his take would be. Silent for a moment Norbert could tell the man was thinking about the outcome. Looking both to Martitia and Dousan gauging both of their responses as he opened his mouth “You will need to be away from the rest of us. We cannot afford anyone here to get infected. We will carry on and try to find a solution. Any supplies you need you can have. That is all we can do for you.” the village head said as he took a step backwards and bowed down slightly.
Dousan just nodding in approval as Martitia just pinched the brow of her nose. Norbert just smiling sheepishly as he looked at those around him. “Guess I’m in the thick of it once again.” Norbert notified them, keeping the smile from wavering he had plastered on his face.
Martitia just snorted in response. Shaking his head Norbert speaking to himself “And I thought Luck was supposed to get me out of these situations.”
Martitia just shaking her head saying “Luck was the thing that brought you to it. People that follow Lady Luck are lucky. You can now go out in the night and see what we are dealing with. But you now have the added risk. Luck doesn’t care about risk, your just lucky with everything.”
Norbert gulped his throat suddenly scratchy, nodding his head “So, what’s going to happen for now?” Norbert asked.
Dousan clearing his throat as he composing himself “You can have the food that you need, won’t be much. Go out at night and explore as much as possible. Report back when you can and notify when you need help. Use your compass to find your way back when you can. Let us know what’s happening out there and make it back alive. Here take this” Dousan said as he reached into his coat and brought out a stone, throwing it to Norbert before he continued “That’s a tracking stone, in case you ...” He finished trailing off his sentence.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Norbert just looking down at the metal disk sitting on his chest. Picking it up he saw it had some engravings and a stone hanging out of it. Taking his pendant off Norbert threaded it through the hole, letting the two magical devices sit next to each other. Placing it under his shirt, he smoothed it out making it so it wouldn’t stick out.
As Norbert went to his feet, looking down at Obsius he asked the bird “So, you going to travel with me or stick with these guys?” Norbert asked the bird.
Obsius flapping her wings hopped up and landed on his shoulder, Norbert looked down at the bird as he heard her chirp at him. “Yes, I am thankful for what you do, coming with me on all these perilous journeys.” Norbert replied.
As he looked back to Dousan and Martitia he looked through his backpack, seeing no food inside. “Wondering if I can have some food for me and Obsius before I leave and face whatever is out there.” Norbert said to the two of them.
Dousan just nodding “Food will be brought shortly. Guess this means goodbye for now.” Dousan said as he waited in silence. Norbert just staring between the two of them. A villager that Norbert had never seen before came running to the group before handing the sack to the villager at the meeting, who Norbert assumed was the head.
The old man opening it up bringing his hand around the sack, ruffling the contents inside before nodding his approval and handing it over to Dousan. Not even looking at the contents he passed them over to Norbert, who caught it out of the air. Staring inside Norbert saw some preserved meat and some bread. Taking a piece out of the hard and granular bread he nodded, it wouldn’t be fun but it would be enough.
Looking back up at Dousan Norbert saw the leader salute to him. As he did so back he stared around at the rest of the village, mouth agape as a tear formed in his eye. Hanging over the railings Norbert saw the rest of the Frontier that came with him, standing there and giving the same salute. Thrusting his hand in the air Norbert showed them the salute while shouting “I will return one day, this will not break me, and it will not break you!”
A roar came from those around the village as Norbert nodded his thanks to the village head before leaping off the railing, falling to the ground. Once hitting it Norbert dashed forward, away from the eyes of everyone there, Obsius still on his shoulder as the darkness consumed both of them.
The village head looked over to Martitia and Dousan, dropping their hands from the salute as they made their way back. “Aren’t you concerned about him?”
Dousan just chuckling as he walked away without saying another word, heading to the meeting room to confirm what was found out about today. Martitia blowed air out of her nose as she also shook her head.
“It was bound to happen to him. Man can’t get away from things like this.” She responded to the man.
The villager just stared back, shocked “But aren’t you worried that he won’t even make it through the night?” he asked again, trying to strengthen his point.
Martitia now also walking away stopped as she turned around “Let me put it this way, out of everyone who could have been marked I’m happy it was him. Not that I don’t care about one of my scouts. He just has the highest chance of pulling through.” She explained.
The villager leader just shocked at the remark, unable to move his feet as he stared back into the forest, following where Norbert was last seen disappearing into the darkness.
***
Running away from the village in the trees Norbert couldn’t look at any of them as the darkness hit him. Changing his vision Norbert didn’t stop, cupping over Obsius, not wanting to lose the bird in the forest. Eyes and ears peeled this time for whatever could be out there. Constantly flicking between magic and night vision Norbert slowed down after the first minute, getting nauseous and head spinning from constantly changing his vision from grey to colour.
Standing still and nothing reaching out to attack him Norbert wondered what was going on, staying still Norbert focused his energy on his listening, trying to get as much as he could out of the dark forest. Slowly Norbert could hear the forest come alive, as he focused on what he could hear, the bushes rustling, insects scrambling across the grass, as he tried to listen nothing sounded like before.
Heart now calmed down he looked around watching the world in grey as he tried to find anything out of place. As he watched and waited attentively Norbert just stared out, wondering what would happen. As nothing appeared Norbert just shook his head, and began walking again.
Whistling to himself Norbert slowly walked throughout the night, one hand on his sword and the other catching leaves as he tore them off bushes, wondering when he would get attacked again by whatever. When will it next peak its head out for him?