Norbert ran forward, going as fast as he could, not giving the villagers any time to react, not wanting to get hit by any more projectiles. Before meeting them, leaping as high and far as he could, cleanly jumping over the group.
Continuing to run forward, Norbert slid on the ground, barrelling through the following line like a bowling ball. Everyone was on the ground as it became a mad, stumbling rush to reach their feet and gain the advantage. Count von Count ran ahead of Norbert, throwing anyone in his way over the barrier, the cries of people plummeting several meters down and the thuds they created resounding throughout the village.
Norbert stood up, the villagers scrambling for his leg, kicking them forward, feeling their arms snap underneath him, only twinging slightly, but knowing this was ultimately caused by them hiding details about the Brealk and the reason why they wanted it.
Rushing forward, Norbert ran on the handrail on the other side, feeling it groan out under his weight as Norbert chased Count von Count.
Jumping forward, neither of them caring at this point about the villagers, all of them now just running out of the way, knowing, for now, there wasn't anything they could do to stop the two forces of terror raining down on them.
As Norbert saw the people running away, he wondered where the mages were from earlier, causing him to falter on the ladder, now so close they still hadn't shown their heads. Dismissing it, Norbert charged forward, not caring about the consequences.
A final line of people, Norbert seeing his expedition starting to move from the mess hall, mouths open at the site of Norbert and Count von Count charging. Waiving his hand in the air, shouting out, Norbert stepped forward, only to meet the air, the wooden walkway having disappeared.
Falling through the air, Norbert looked up, seeing Count von Count falling several meters above him and smashing into the ground; a dust plume came around him as he crumpled to the floor. A thud appeared next to him. Norbert stood up, looking at the villagers staring down at him from the hole they just created.
Staring up, seeing the expedition leaning forward, shouting up, Norbert screamed, no longer wanting to fight the villagers, only focusing on spoiling the ruse. "They knew all along, caused the Brealk to grow and want what caused it to!"
Norbert sees Dobert leaning over, shouting back, "We know!"
Shocked, Norbert, getting ready to jump back up, just stared back at him. "What?" Norbert asked.
"Yeah, Dousan told us a day ago," Dobert said.
Norbert was just shocked as Dousan appeared behind him. Norbert changed his focus to the commander, seeing him leaning forward. The two just stared at each other. Norbert relaxed his shoulders, shuddering slightly while looking at Count von Count.
"Whelp, looks like there was a big misunderstanding," Norbert said.
Count von Count just shook his head and said, "I doubt it." The vampire replied.
***
Sitting in the command tent, which was too big to be in the trees, placed on the ground—the large round table with papers dotted around it. Small stacks of paper and a map covering the centre if the table with figures placed on it, the trees drawn in of the jungle and figurines on top, spread out, and one of the Brealk, far off the map.
Sitting down in the chair, Count von Count standing behind him, Norbert almost felt it consume the back of his neck. On one side of the table was the villager's head, and on the third point slightly to the right was Dousan, with Martitia and one of the mages there.
Feeling all eyes glued on him, Norbert moved his own to Obsius, moving the figurines around the table, pushing them around it, and knocking them over.
Swallowing, trying to wet his dry throat, Norbert turned back to Dousan; placing his hands on the table, he began tapping his finger on the edge, hearing it move around the room, the awkwardness so strong you could taste it in the air.
Count von Count cleared his throat, all eyes jumping above Norbert. Dousan, just closing his eyes, broke the silence. "Please explain what you have been doing since last we spoke."
Norbert stared back at Dousan, trying to remember what happened here. "Well, to sum it up, I returned to the tomb and found some blue smoke. Annoyed it and escaped through a teleportation sphere that shot me into the air. That's where I found this guy." Norbert said, poking behind him to the vampire.
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"Then, passed out from something in the tomb. I looked around and found the Brealk that way very easily. I would expect to take you a day to find it maybe a bit longer with the restrictions of not being able to stay out overnight, so I came back here ready to find out what was happening. Came through and was shot by an arrow for no reason, so they must be hiding something and came over here." Norbert summed up.
Dousan just nodded along, leaning forward and picking up the figure of the Brealk, moving it over to the map and plopping it down roughly where Norbert said. Leaning forward, Norbert moved it slightly to the left, confirming the position to be correct.
Turning towards the village elder, Norbert asked, "So, why did you attack me?" Norbert asked.
"Because of the curse!" The elder shouted back.
Norbert, putting his hand to his forehead. "That's the other thing. That raised my suspicions; how did you know about it popping up and not have someone investigate that but the Brealk." Norbert said.
The elder fumed back at Norbert, arms crossed over his body, muttering to himself. Putting the older man out of his mind, Norbert turned to Dousan. "So, what now?"
Dousan rubbed the brim of his nose. "Now that you are back, we continue with the original plan. Find the break and put it down."
"And also put the thing that the Brealk and the villagers were after back in its place," Norbert said.
"No, we won't", Dousan replied.
Norbert tilted his head in confusion. "Why?" Norbert asked.
"Because …" Dousan looked around at the village elder, who nodded in response. "There are more people here than us."
Norbert just stared, puzzled, back at him. He opened his mouth to respond and received a look from Dousan to close his mouth. With a chomp, Norbert closed his teeth, knowing at least when not to ask.
"So, anything else you want me to do for now?" Norbert asked.
"Relax, you've been out. Catch up with others on the expedition. We'll move in several days, so you have plenty of time."
Norbert just nodded as he stood up, positioning his sword to be accurate, saluting at the tent flap Norbert left, Obsius shooting out the flaps. Count von Count covered himself up before stepping out; with the tent flap closing, Norbert heard the voices start again from inside, changing in volume and going higher and lower.
Outside, Norbert looked up, the others in the platoon staring down at him. Norbert wondered what the next thing would be. Nodding his head and waving, the others waved back at him. Seeing the closest rope ladder, he made his way up to them.
Obsius was flying off and above him, Norbert wondering if she would find the traveller or do something else during her off time. Hand grasping the ladder, Norbert climbed up it to the top. The ladder moved underneath him as Count von Count followed him up.
Reaching the top, Norbert pulled himself up to the last bit, stepping forward and allowing Count von Count to come up. Hearing the vampire step up behind him, everyone else stepped back, forming a ring around them.
Norbert looked around his shoulder at the vampire, receiving a shake of his shoulders in response. Norbert just sighed. "Guess prejudice is everywhere," Norbert said.
Count von Count laughed as he stepped forward, the crowd parting for him as the vampire descended the walkway. "Oh no, Norbert, it's completely acceptable in this circumstance. Even what I have done to the people across the lands. Ahhhh, those were the good times."
Norbert just stared after the vampire as the crowd parted around him. Norbert, seeing he was heading towards the mess tent, somehow fitting up in the tree. Walking forward, Norbert followed him—Passing Mathaos, who pointed down at his sword and then back at the vampire with a flick.
Norbert shakes his head, saying, "He's fine. At least for now, I'm sure I can take him anyway." Norbert said.
Count von Count is spinning on his heels. "Want to have some fun tonight?" He asked, almost hearing the reaction between the former student and teacher.
"Oh, now, with a crowd, you want to? Being a bit of an exhibitionist I see" Norbert asked.
"Yes, but first." Count von Count said, looking around the others. "I'm feeling a bit peckish."
Norbert shook his head as everyone swallowed in response. Pulling his backpack to the front, he pulled a water skin with red on the mouthpiece. The vampire throws the pouch over, catches it out of the air and heads to the mess tent.
Walking through, he removed the wrap around his head, protected from the sun by the tent canopy.
***
On the ground, the mess tent above him, Norbert looked to Count von Count. His hands tapped over his daggers, his sword on his belt, and his helmet over his head, providing complete protection over himself. The torches having come out for the night, moved to the ground as well allowing the two fighters to see in the failing light.
Norbert rubbing his foot on the ground, feeling the dirt underneath it give way, the stickiness of the mud encroaching on it. Lifting his foot up, seeing a small indent as he took a step to the side, testing there as well. His foot bumping into a root as Norbert changed his vision, staring out at the rough jungle floor. Switching it back to normal, not wanting to lose the reaction time against the vampire.
"Weapons?" Norbert asked the vampire.
"Whatever makes you comfortable." The vampire responded, Norbert visibly seeing the nails on his hand extend slightly, the fangs elongating as well, becoming pearly white.
Norbert unsheathed his sword, the weight feeling weird in his hands after not using it, remembering what Count von Count told him before in his last grapple.
Quickly looking up, Norbert saw money change hands, wondering what the bet odds were. The traveller has a large sack on him, all the money funnelling towards him. Obsius watched over from his shoulder, giving a slight nod to Norbert.
Norbert nodded in return as he looked down at the vampire. Flexing his back, Norbert held the sword in the air, posed ahead of him like he had been taught, moving his weight onto the balls of his feet, slowly going back and forth.
"Ready, and START!" Someone shouted from above him. Norbert could not register who it was as the vampire charged at him, mouth agape, irises glowing red.
The sword lowered as he thrust it forward, the vampire stepping out of the blade's way as a first came forward, aiming for his stomach. Norbert was unable to respond as it contacted his stomach, feeling himself go flying back, sword coming out of his hand as he smashed into a tree, winding himself.