Chapter 3

I stumbled forward and crashed into the ground. And I’m back… how long was I out for. I slowly climbed to my feet. Wait… I saw that thing chewing on my leg before. What is going on? I looked up into the dark star-filled sky. There was a soft glow about that reminded me of the Auroras. As I looked around I found I was in a town of some sort. There weren’t many people about but there were still some walking the streets. As I looked around I noticed many of them staring at me. Yea, I’d probably stare at myself too, looking like a fool, just standing in the middle of town. There was a soft breeze that drifted by and it felt cool on my skin, causing me to shiver a little. I pulled my jacket… Oh. Oh. No.

My jacket was gone. I looked down already knowing that I was going to be disappointed as I confirmed that all of my clothes were gone. Whatever had caused me to come back from the dead hadn’t brought my clothes back. Although, I wonder if that’s not because they were torn to shreds by whatever that thing was. Lazera, wasn’t it?

“You must be new to being a spirit walker, eh?” A voice called over as I looked around quickly noting the fountain near the archway I had just stumbled out of. Standing near the fountain were creatures that I could only describe as demons. One was s tall thin being easily six feet with two sets of knees, a backward bent one, like from a wolf, and a normal humanoid one about six inches above the other. The upper torso of the creature was lanky with long arms reaching down to where that backward bent knee was, and its hands ended in thin fingers with sharp tips, not quite claw-like but they looked sharp enough to still do damage. The head though, the head sealed that it was some kind of demon. The creature had a goat-like head with what seemed to be exposed bone instead of skin covering its head. The eye sockets were empty-looking save for an inner blue light that radiated from deep within their pitch-black depth. Massive horns jutted from the creature’s head thick at the base curving out the side and then again toward where it faced tapering to sharp points. Just between the horns, I could make out thick red and black hair that trailed down the creature’s head to rest on its shoulders.

Standing across from the creature was another creature from the demonic stories I remembered. This one was shorter but had wings tucked tight against its back. The creature also had a tail, and a more humanoid head, but its ears were bat-like, and from the sides of its forehead and following just above the ears were two horns. Its mouth sport long fanged canines along with sharp teeth in full view from its lip-less mouth. Its nose was more gorilla-like, flat with the nostrils visible and designed to draw in lots of air. Its hair went straight back behind its head and was hard to tell how far down it went.

Both creatures were dressed in armor and holding spear-like weapons, the winged creatures seemed more like a throwing javelin, and the goat skull creature’s longer and with a border spear point. The armor they wore had a red and black tabard over it with a symbol of a clawed hand.

“You seem a bit disoriented, Spirit Walker, please, follow me and we will get you where you should have already gone. Take this for the moment.” The goat skulled creature’s head tilted slightly as the voice spoke again. The creature’s mouth didn’t move but I noticed his throat did. He pulled a cloak from a bag at his waist that I swear could not have fit within it and handed it to me.

“Please, come this way.” I had failed to notice the creature was standing just outside of the archway area. He turned and lead me toward one of the bigger buildings near the river that cut the town in two.

I quickly followed the sky was darkening with clouds and I did not want to be stuck in the rain. The building we approached reminded me of a medieval church the outside was made of thick stone blocks with ornate designs embedded into the stone and various gargoyle statues adorning the steeple. As I looked at the building I caught movement just from the corner of my eye. Turning my gaze to the section of roof I thought I’d seen I found one of the statues staring directly at me. Oh shit. Wasn’t expecting that.

Gargoyle

Level 35

Fuck, it’s a higher level than that creature that killed me. As we entered the building I realized that my initial thought had been correct, it was indeed a church. The entranceway opened up to a huge hall filled with statues, with another set of doors that were closed at the back of the huge hall. Each statue had a small bowl in front of them some with items and coins resting in them.

The creature’s long legs let him make short work of the walk through the other doors and I had to quicken my pace to keep up. Passing through the doors I came into a hallway that led deeper into the structure with various doors spaced along the walls. I followed down the hall, noting that the building looked to be entirely made from stone with craftsmanship that would rival many of the great buildings of modern Earth. There were various depictions and designs carved into the stone along the walls showing huge battle scenes and others showing people kneeling to a figure like they were in worship.

He lead me toward a door that was tucked into the back of the corridor. Walking into the study I noticed the entire back wall was lined with bookshelves that were overflowing with books, double stacked and some even tucked on top of others to try and use every empty spot possible without damaging them. In front of the bookshelves was a desk that was covered in neat stacks of papers with another demon-like creature sitting in a chair behind it.

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“Excuse me, Master Ch’rka, there is a spirit walker that has just come through the Gate. A first-timer.” The ram-headed creature spoke, body at attention as he stood straight-backed and waited for a response.

“Ah, a newly realized spirit walker. Come in, have a seat. Skrov, please fetch some clothing and refreshments while I get our guest settled then.”

“As you wish, Lord.” The demon bowed at the waist slightly. It, he?… whatever, walked away as I moved to take a seat in the room. The creature in front of me looked me up and down as I moved toward my seat.

“Alright, best to start from the beginning, my name’s Ch’rka, as you heard, and I am the overseer of this temple. I handle all affairs of the new spirit walkers within Erihar, which is where you are in case you didn’t know, and I will be helping you with your new status, getting you situated with anything you need, as well as, getting you into contact with friends or family that may be worried about you.” The overseer pulled a book from the shelves behind him and opened it as he finished speaking, then dipping a quill pen into an ink bottle on the desk he looked up at me, “To start, what is your name and where are you from?”

My mind whirled as the realization that this is normal sank in. Magic. Death-defying magic was a common thing here. No, not just a thing, but an expected outcome.

“I need to get back home,” I whisper.

“Where is home?” came the response, not realizing I’d spoken loud enough to be heard.

“Far from here if I had to guess,” the bitter response escaped before I can stop myself. The demon, Ch’rka, tilts his head to the side as he looks at me. His mask-like face did not reveal an expression, but his eyes seem to squint at me. Their iris-less gaze bored into me as if trying to figure out what I mean.

“Come now, it can’t be too far from here, Erihar is just at the border of the Kashgarn territories. Unless you’re claiming to be one of the few that hail from outside of our area?”

Skrov returned handed me the clothing and then closed the door on his way out of the room. It’s a simple linen shirt and a pair of trousers with a simple drawstring to keep them tied as well as a pair of undergarments. I throw them on quickly, cinching the ties tightly and stuffing the strings under the hem at my waist. The shirt hangs a little loosely on me, allowing for it to breathe.

“You have no idea.” I should use an alias. “My name is Rune, and I’d rather not say where I’m from currently. As for friends or family, there isn’t anyone like that that I need to get into contact with.” I try to stay calm as my mind slowly tries to process what’s going on.

“Just Rune? No family name?” Comes the response as he begins filling out a sheet of paper on the desk. “You do understand what being recognized as a spirit walker means for you and your family, do you not?” the tone becomes haughty as if he’s come to realize that he’s dealing with someone ignorant of these things, someone beneath his attention normally.

“Not a clue,” I reply stiffly, anger beginning to form as I finally begin to process everything that’s happened to me since I first woke up back in the desert. “I haven’t the foggiest idea of what it means to be a spirit walker or where I am, or how I even got here.” Getting louder as I speak, the simmering anger has been sparked into a bright flame. “This morning I woke up and was shot. Then I come to in some random cave, with no idea of how I survived without a scratch. Only to find out that I’m not even human anymore!” At this point, I’m screaming. “And then, while still grasping at that I’m attacked while walking through a forest by some creature I’ve never seen before and killed again. And somehow I come back from the dead, naked, to be brought here before you.” The anger was still there, burning in my core but it was more a simmer than the roaring flame it had come during my tirade. I slumped back into the chair breathing heavily as I realized I had said more than I probably should have under the current circumstances.

Ch’rka seemed to take my outburst in stride, leaning back in his chair as he stared at me. Then with a wave of his hand, the door opens, revealing Skrov standing outside it still. He turns his head and looks at Ch’rka expectantly. “Go inform the Guild Master I’m on my way to see him. Tell him that if it isn’t worth his wild to be ready I’ll owe him a keg of ale.” With that Skrov bowed his antlered head, and bounded off. Disappearing from the doorway at a far faster pace than when he was leading me earlier.

“Come we must hurry. Do not speak until I say otherwise,” Ch’rka said standing, grabbing a cloak from a hook by the door, and walking out. Stepped in it this time. Way to go, Geoffrey, Rune, going to need to remember that one. At least dad liked the name, maybe he'll recognize it when I see him again... if I see him again. Throwing the cloak Skrov had given me back over my shoulders I followed Ch’rka.

We traveled back out of the temple and Ch’rka quickly headed to the bridge that spanned the river splitting the town in two. Not so disoriented now, I noticed that many of the buildings were designed similarly. Squat buildings with one or two stories and thatch roofing. We quickly made our way past the buildings, I noticed some with signs hanging from them. Guessing those are shops. After fifteen minutes of walking through this side of town, we came up to a building with a sign showing a shield and sword with Adventurer's Guild written underneath. Ch’rka pushed the door open and made his way in and quickly headed to the bar at the back.

Walking in I could see Skrov sitting at the bar talking quietly with Ch’rka. Despite the late hour, there were still quite a few people about the tavern. Many sat in groups but with a few sitting alone, but all of them were decked out in gear of some kind, either armor and melee weapons or robes and staves. As I approached Ch’rka and he nodded at the door behind the bar.

“We’ll be meeting back there, go ahead in.”

I nodded and walked behind the bar, keenly aware of the eyes now looking my way from the various people sitting in the room. Ducking into the room quickly, I found a bare-bones interior, just a table, and chairs nothing more. Guess I’ll just take a seat. Pulling out a chair across from the door I sat down and waited for Ch’rka and this Guild Master to join me. A few minutes passed and Skrov and Ch’rka came in, Skrov carrying a tray with drinks and a platter of food. Fuck. When was the last time I ate? I’m starving. As soon as he set the plate of food down on the table I snagged what looked like a cracker and some cheese and popped it into my mouth. Ch’rka took a seat to my right and looked like he was about to say something when from behind the door we heard stomping.

“Bastard thinks he can just summon me outta bed in the wee hours o’ tha nigh’. It ain’t even close to dawn yet.”