Chapter 2
For the past three days Janus continued to investigate late in the nights, while also keeping a low profile and trying to look professional. The mission stated that odd happenings are going on in the village. He started by interviewing the local people. The events started a month and half ago with strange sounds every few nights or so. Then claw marks were seen on trees and fences with more odd sounds. A couple of weeks ago chickens were found slaughtered, and a pig torn completely in half as well as a beehive smashed.
At first it seemed obvious that an animal was loose from the forest. Likely a bear people have said to Janus at first. Now normally jobs like this with forest creatures wouldn’t be set up on a mission board out of town. Well usually not until one recent night a guard was found disembowelled with teeth and claw marks across the body. With his Plate armour shredded as finely as tissue paper. Safe to say not a bear but likely a monster, possibly even a wild wolf man.
Janus grimaces at the thought of fighting such a creature. He has done so before when he was a member of the Fellowship and adventurers' guild over a year ago. He may have to request aid if the creature is too much for him. Yet he still needs to adapt as Dullahan in combat. Plus having people around who can discover who he is might be dangerous.
Janus begins to wonder how his former fellows in the adventurer’s guild would react to this. Monsters or demi-humans have started to be welcomed in the ranks but usually that is fine because they are born that way. If the Fellowship were to ask how he became like this and discover that he has been studying out of a black book of forbidden magic they may take drastic action against him.
No, Janus considers to himself, I must deal with this himself. Since becoming a Dullahan, my combat ability has greatly degraded. Janus wasn’t the world’s greatest swordsman before, but he certainly didn’t get any better. Plus, on the other hand, Janus really needs the money to help stay hidden and splitting the reward money is out of the question. Speaking of money, Louis’s mother and father are too kind. I am now insisting that they accept some coin for the bed and breakfast they provide but they continue to refuse. They insist that if I plan on slaying whatever is terrorising the town, Janus may stay free of charge. Given that Janus may likely die in the attempt, is possibly the reason why they wish him to be comfortable. Yet what is death after facing it twice at this point?
So, Janus continued his investigations, and nothing really happens and I can’t tell if I should be annoyed or relieved. One morning Louis’s father decided to show off the famous gold maker of the town. He led Janus Inside of a barn where the machine itself was made; it is as long as a truck. The device is an amalgamation of human chemistry laboratory, dwarven forge runes and elf spell cycles. Honey is poured into one end of the machine. The device continues the honey in a continuous motion through magic spell cycles and runes that lasts seven days. Until finally it reaches the end in which the process gets more complicated. The magic honey is now slowly spilled out of a rune carved tap in one continuous drip on another spell cycle carved into a sink. The honey in the sink is wasted and disposed of instantly but when finally, over. A strand from the top of the tap to the sink drain is one long piece of gold, a thick single strand of hair. Litres upon litres of honey is used to make one piece the length of my arm.
They repeat this process, then take multiple gold strands and tie them together like rope. Beautiful spinning strings of gold in twists and turns that make rings. Cuff bracelets or wedding rings and necklaces. They even made a crown once for an elf princess years ago for her one hundredth birthday.
The process is long, boring with a ridiculous margin of error. Truth be told Janus was really fascinated. Back on earth in Janus’s old life he was told a story that the Romans invaded his homeland because of a rumour that the natives made jewellery out of honey just like this. if the story is historical or not seeing it with his own eyes is magical.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Well, he would like to think it would be, but Louis’s father was not allowed to make any gold this year. He explained the elves sold some gold reserves recently, the dwarves gave gold gifts on several diplomatic missions and to top it all off the empire of men have found several new gold veins in old rundown mines. All in all, this is the worst few years for their gold business.
In the mornings, I am asked if I could help out around the village. I politely refuse because I may literally lose my head if I’m chopping wood and I do not want to cause a panic.
But back to my objective, instead I search the forest for clues and tracks. In the afternoons I set up bait and traps in distant safe locations, not to kill or capture but to see if I can get the creature to leave a trail. In the nights I patrol the village streets, staying in the shadows out of sight to catch whatever this thing is. Fascinatingly the village has its own streetlights, not powered by gas or electrics but with and you guessed it, beeswax. Their own substitute lights for the village, specially made wax with magic to glow in the dark and no not powered by honey or bees. just wax harvested from hives custom to that spell. They give off a nice golden glow not to bright. It doesn’t even hurt to look at them directly, but they show the surroundings effective enough.
After seven days I am told this still silence has not been common this past month. I begin to think my forest travel and bait has thrown the creature off in a loop. I suppose I can tell the villagers to set up blood and piss trails leading away but I doubt I’ll get paid for that.
As I consider this as a possibility, one night it happened. I was outside the village tavern while Louis’s family and the rest of the town gather to discuss the upcoming winter, plus drinks obviously. I lean my back to the tavern wall outside and close my eyes thinking on my next move. I then hear it, a very slight and hoarse whistle sound. I turn to investigate silently approaching. I can hear it better now; it sounds like an out of breath whistle like blocked nose or a hole in someone’s neck. I am just at the edge of the village as the whistle turns to a throaty grunt around the corner of a cottage and it turned back to a whistle sound. My nerves are on edge as I hold my breath while I slowly get closer to the corner to peak my head around. Then I hear horse blow its nose to my right startling me as I jump a little with my head almost falling forward off my body. I stabilise my head holding my chin with my left hand. I turn my head to the horse down the road on my right, it seemed as curious of the whistling sound as I was. The owner is likely in the tavern, but it is tied to a fence. I then hear a growl back around the corner as I turn back. Eyes wide as a dark figure leap past me towered the horse. I could hardly see it; it was as large as a bear yet moved like a gorilla. It charged hunched over in an odd shape on its knuckles. Moving weirdly, partly in a sideways fashion rather than directly forwards. It let out a strange animal roar that I have never heard in any of my lives.
The monster leaped toward the horse ten feet away, arms stretched out wide. It was a horrifying charge as the clawed hands fire forward in a flash and the creature missed... It actually missed an immobile target anyone could have hit blind folded. well not really, the horse was in a panic and the clawed hands shot over its back, but the monsters full body crashed dead centre of the horse. The sound was a sickening, a loud snap and crunch of bones and meat. I suspect the speed and weight of the monster shattered every bone in the horse’s spine, ribs and all.
I stand awe struck and see the horse fall, jolted back several feet ripping apart the fence it was tied too. The monster rolled passed, stubbles on its claws and feet. Then with an odd movement I’d never expect from such a thing it stands perfectly upright like a tall man looking at the dead horse dumbstruck. First dumbstruck it seemed infuriated not to get its claws into flash and unlike before, it drunkenly but still as fast jumps. Arms up high delivering a downward strike like a monkey, I heard another loud thud and broken bones shatter much more. It then attacked again with another downward strike so hard I’m positive I saw one of the horses’ eyes pop out it’s socket. Then it stopped. Looking at its work as if exhausted by the challenge. I hear that whistling sound again out of breath.
I stay perfectly still, and I think to myself that I am now done here, I have to go. Call me coward if you wish but I know when I’m in over my head. That horse likely died in my place, if I was less cautious it would have seen me first. I dare not let a heroic sacrifice go to waste, but I’m honestly too damn scared to move now. I should go, I need to go and get guild help, inquisitor help, whatever help. Even the Men in Black or Ghostbusters if I have too. I see this thing, and it is not a monster; it is worse than a monster and likely less than a demon.
Holding myself still with fear, all I can do is observe this thing as it slowly lifts its head to stare back at me. Taking notice of my presence it slowly stands straight. While it stared at me in an oddly human posture, I know without question I should have run and gotten help when I did. Now I know without a doubt, I am now about to die… Again.