Several days had passed since the fight between Norbert and the vampire. After the fight concluded, everyone became at ease with the vampire. Assuming that someone could take him on if the vampire decided to turn on the group.
Things were packed, and new clothes were brought out after the brawl for both of them. Norbert now needed two coin pouches. Obsius insisted on the coins she made not getting mixed with Norbert's. Relenting, Norbert saw the silver pieces glittering in the pouch, compared to the one he had of mainly copper coins.
Having found the daggers from the night slightly dull from the use, Norbert went to sharpening them, happy with how it was now.
Norbert, wondering what else they would be doing, spent the rest of it recuperating both mentally and physically. Hearing what happened with the others. In the whispers of the night confirming what he thought, Dousan said there was another force in the jungle looking for something.
The expedition initially thought it was chalked up to spotting Norbert running around the place doing who knows what. However, as the incidents increased more and more, it became impossible for one person to jump all over the place; they realised another force was in the jungle.
Playing dumb, the expedition did not want to take on an unknown force from someone else, letting them hide in the shadows. Their primary focus is the Brealk and the mist, protecting the villagers from attacks in the night.
All seemed odd to Norbert, of not just taking them out. Some others agreed, but it was Dousan's call, and they would follow him through. Remembering what the man took him through, Norbert already nodded, understanding their sentiment.
Now the tents are once more being packed up, everyone on the move to take on the Brealk, Norbert just focusing on getting out of the jungle and back to the city, the sweat brimming on his forehead, once more annoying him.
Norbert sat down, kicking his feet off the side as he waited for something to happen. Norbert looked through his backpack, taking out the bestiary as he read through the contents, just passing the time as the last few tents were packed.
"Head out!" The voice echoed around the trees, the sudden jingling of movement as everyone started to move off, ready for what was happening, the sun cresting over the treetops Norbert feeling his body warm under the rays.
Jumping off the walkway onto the ground, Count von Count landed beside him, wrapped up in his clothes, the fabric seeming to shape and twirl around him, allowing only the smallest amount of fabric to be covered at one time, while breaking up his body and allowing him to move unencumbered.
Seeing some of the symbols on the clothes, Norbert knew it was some magic, possibly even created by the vampires themselves for this very reason. Shaking his head in annoyance Norbert looked at his gloved hands, wearing new clothes, thankful that the expedition could give Count von Count some extra clothes so he could wear his spares.
Only the mask on his head, taking the second part off as it was too sweaty underneath, wanting some fresh air reaching his hair. Now unable to smell himself after several days in the jungle, the only thing on his mind was returning and having a shower, knowing he smelt terrible to everyone else.
Heading to the front, Norbert nodded to Martitia as she opened it up, letting him lead the way again. Obsius fluttered onto his shoulder as the bird pecked the mask, a clang resounding. Dismissing the bird, Norbert continued forward, sure that the others were also wondering how he knew where to go.
He continued forward at a walking pace, knowing the others behind him would be searching ahead, not wanting to rush through unknown territory with some unknown entity after them. Knowing it would be several long days to make it to the Break, Norbert puckered up.
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"So, how does it feel to beat a vampire." Count von Count asked next to him.
Norbert opened his mouth to respond, before closing it, before opening it up again; at least this would entertain him for most of the trip. "I am the king of the world!" Norbert shouted in response, the jungle stopping momentarily, silence engulfing everyone as all eyes landed on him.
"Next time, let's do it in Grim. And man, your face sure was grim. I thought I had you …."
***
Creeping through the jungle, Obsius comes back from up ahead. Giving a single nod of her head, Norbert relayed the information to the others behind him, everyone silently going backwards, their target having been spotted.
Everyone was quiet a hundred meters away from the sighting, not even the sounds of people sharpening weapons filling the air with a melody. Only the tense nerves remain with nothing to do to calm them down.
Heading to Martitia, pointing in the direction, writing the distance in the dirt how far the Brealk was away. Receiving a nod of confirmation as she went over to Dousan, doing some tapping communication between them.
Everyone rising to their feet as silent as the dead. Everyone stared at Dousan, who nodded approvingly and pointed the way forward. Heading around the perimeter, Dousan being the first to strike with the other heavy hitters in the squad, the scouts were meant to keep an eye out if a third party tried to interrupt their hunt.
Count von Count sticking by Norbert's side under his incessantness. Nobody wanted to annoy the vampire and deal with the repercussions, happy that if something goes out of control, Norbert, The person with the highest likelihood, will be able to rain him in.
They were dispersing out around the fight ring, Norbert's position as the primary attack's far side, needing to cover the most distance from everyone. Faster now than before, not caring if the Brealk was alerted to their presence, Norbert went into position.
Finding a tree, Norbert grabbed onto a vine and started to climb up it, Count von Count beside him doing the same. The two of them made their way up as a roar shook over the jungle. The sound buffeted him, the two quickly dashing up, getting to the lowest branch and looking out, able to see the fighting between the trees.
Surrounded with light flashing everywhere, Norbert stare at the Brealk, already starting to flame. Changing his sight to see magic, Norbert saw the jungle alive. What was usually static now flowed around, picking up as it flowed into the Break. With a rush of movement underneath him, Norbert saw a heard go underneath him, running away from the fight that ensured.
Battling through the jungle, they made their escape, nobody giving chase to the herd. Scanning the jungle around them, not seeing anything moving out there, Norbert turned back to the fight, seeing it as it usually would be.
Vines were shooting around the place, and Norbert stayed still as the fire burned. Unable to see the fight, Norbert turned around, dismissing it from his thoughts; the vampire would alert him if anything went amiss.
As the roars continued to go, growing more desperate, the time between them was drawn out until the forest stilled again. No more flashes of light appeared from behind Norbert as it stilled. Receiving a tap on his shoulder, Norbert nodded, confirming that the beast had fallen. Now, he just needed to get their prize and leave the place.
Heading towards the fallen Brealk, Norbert watching the other scouts heading in the same direction. Convening at the centre, Norbert saw someone ruffling inside the guts, pulling out a glowing blue cube from its centre, pulsing with power. Norbert was able to feel it wash over them all.
Putting the cube in a sack, Norbert instantly felt the effects disappear, wondering what that was about as a gasp went through the crowd. Pointing, Norbert moved his eyes over to the Brealk, shocked at what he saw. Quickly, the beast shrunk down. Norbert saw nothing change over; no steam or waste was going, and the mass turned into air.
Quickly changing his vision, Norbert saw darkness, like any other dead thing with no magic left in it, watching as the darkness shrunk further and further down until it was a ball on the ground. Changing back to normal vision, Norbert stared, now seeing the typical depiction.
Staring back to the sack, the mage with blue robes holding it clasped underneath as Norbert wondered what the ancient device it was used for was and why it grew so massive just for the sake of nothing. And what was the similarity compared to the past temple he found himself in?
Staring at the mage, Norbert felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He turned to Count von Count, who also looked around behind them. As the cheers went up around the expedition, they were finally able to return home.
CRACK
Splitting the air, a lightning bolt came down, hitting straight on the mage holding the cube. Following it up into the sky, Norbert saw darkness descend, a cloud blocking the sun for a moment high in the sky.
THUD THUD THUD
Repeatedly, people came crashing down; when they just hit the ground, charging forward, Norbert unsheathed his sword as he jumped back out of a blast, aiming to grab hold of the cube before these intruders did.