Isin’s life shattered around him as he saw his mothers body collapse to the ground. White flames engulfed what remained of the woman, the aetheric heat reducing her to ash in mere moments. Bazaath didn’t look at Isin even though he called out his name. Instead the Angel turned to face the other Angels high in the sky and kneeled.
“It is done as you have asked Grand General,” Bazaath said. “I have only worked for the betterment of the Chorus and our people. I care not for the slave race, only for the will of the Ivory King.”
“Very well Bazaath. We will see how your little experiment worked,” the Grand General said. His voice thrummed with power.
“Oh my, so we get new toys?” The Angel woman that looked to be made from white marble said.
“Grand General, are you sure? This-this is outrageous!” Hasmanuel protested. “Bazaath should be executed and these defective slaves recycled.”
“Peliel, what say you?” the Grand General asked.
The metal Angel gazed down at the humans below. “I say we take them. Split them between us and cut them off from Bazaath. If what he said about them being able to travel into corrupted land is true, recycling them would be a waste.”
“You too?” Hasmanuel questioned. “Nuriel you have to be on my side.”
“While normally I would, but I can’t lie, I’m intrigued,” the white marble Angel said with a devious smile gracing her face. “The slave race may actually be useful and it is not like we have a lot of time. If we are splitting them up I will take the young boys.”
“Bazaath, you will be sent to facility seventeen. Wait there for more orders,” the Grand General said.
Isin and every one of the humans fell to the ground if they weren’t already on their hands and knees. Most of them threw up in pain as the aether tore open a rift in space and time directly beside Bazaath. The power was so intense that people started blacking out. Isin only remained conscious by sheer force of will. His eyes were locked onto his father. Confusion, and fear were replaced with sadness and unbridled rage as his father disappeared in the swelling power.
The Angels continued to talk amongst themselves, deciding how the humans would be split up. Isin didn’t hear a word of it. The only thing he heard was the beating of his own heart in his ears. The sound of his breath as he struggled and failed to keep in control of his breathing. The world was cascaded into colorlessness as Isin’s world shattered around him.
The morning began as it normally does, breakfast followed by breathing and stretching training with Joha and a few errands to fully prepare for the day. Bjorn had been out of sorts after the revelation that his father killed his mother. Him being upset just made Tanisha more affectionate towards him in her attempts to cheer him up. She had no idea why he was so down in the dumps, but that didn’t stop her from the near constant pets and nuzzles.
He really wanted to go out and hunt something to take his mind off of things. She could apparently feel his anxiety too, and so she sped up with her errands so they could go to the Jackrabbit’s camp and set up there. Joha was going to stay back; he was having no problem selling his spices in town and he doubted he would do better with monster hunters than with the townspeople.
“I don’t think you should get involved in the hunt for the skinwalker,” Joha said, as he was setting out his spices on his stall. “We are here to sell goods and I am sure the Jackrabbits and town guards are more than capable.”
Tanisha let out a breath as she leaned against the stand. “So, are we going to let them suffer as one of those things?”
“Not every problem is your problem, Tanisha. The Jackrabbits handled these types of things before us and they will do so after we leave. Why are you so eager to go after this thing?” He tosses her a small glass container. “Place that over there for me.”
“I know. It's just… What if it were me? I was close to becoming one of those things if this didn’t happen.” She pointed at herself. “I would not want to lose my mind and become one of those monsters.”
“It’s not you. I won’t stop you if you decide to pursue the creature, but I won’t recommend doing so either. I think your time could be better spent finding out why there are so few healing potions here. Creating as many as you can and selling to the Jackrabbits and Apothecary Office.”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Yeah, I was going to go see the apothecary before heading to the Jackrabbits’ camp. Maybe they could use some help with brewing some potions. I have plenty of ingredients I could sell too.” She set the spice she had been holding on the table. “Maybe you are right though. Ever since the Show of Power I have been on edge especially after I talked with Ingrid. Only a few more days and we are saying goodbye to Yuhia for a couple of decades. I think that is what I need.”
There was a big difference between an alchemist and an apothecary. For one, apothecaries specialized in healing techniques that required specialist attention. While both alchemist and apothecaries could make general healing potions it was the apothecary that regularly created specific recovery draughts, ointments, and long term rehabilitation plans. Alchemists on the other hand were just as much researchers and pioneers of alchemical arts as they were healers. Between the two the alchemist would be the most rounded in their knowledge, but the apothecary would be the better choice for an injured person.
The last stop Tanisha had before going to the Jackrabbits was the Apothecary Office. She was curious as to why the town was running so low on potions if they had a resident apothecary. The disruption to trade because of the Show of Power should be resolved by now. Not to mention there were no signs of bandits stealing cargo so something else was disrupting trade.
“I guess they are closed,” Tanisha said as she looked in one of the windows of the shop.
Bjorn tasted some unusual magic in the air around the shop. There was also the taste of death, but that could be because there is a butchery across the street selling fresh meat. Tanisha knocked on the door and waited for a while. Then a man opened the door although he was not what they expected. He was a human town guard dressed in his full uniform. He appeared to be sick with dark bags under his eyes and pale skin, which made sense. He was at the apothecary.
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Identify
Name: Herschel Calihan
Species: (Human)
Level: ??
Vocation: ??
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Well that is different. I can’t see his vocation?
“Failsafe what is going on with the vocation?” Bjorn asked mentally.
“I don’t know? Maybe he doesn’t see himself as having one,” Failsafe responded. “Identify works by scanning their core which is what they believe themselves to be. So, if he is in the middle of some identity crisis, depressed or finding himself, that could be why. Touching him would tell us everything though.”
Bjorn couldn’t see or sense anything off besides his sickly appearance, but something in him told him to be on high alert.
“Somethings not right,” Bjorn said to Failsafe.
Herschel swept over the two with an assessing gaze. “Sorry, the office is closed today.”
“Oh, did something happen?” Tanisha asked. “I am an alchemist I just wanted to see if the apoth—”
“No, the office is closed today,” Herschel said, then he shut the door.
Bjorn and Tanisha looked at each other for a moment.
Tanisha shrugged. “Well, I guess off to the Jackrabbits. Let's go get the wagon.”
The Jackrabbit bar and administration office was as packed as ever with people drinking and at least one fight causing bets to rapidly be placed. The fight started over someone spilling their beer and escalated to the point where a tired Alfred had to show up and close the bar again. Everyone booed as the bartender started cleaning up and bets were paid out.
Tanisha and Bjorn were at the contract board near the door which had all available contracts. There was a notice that due to the presence of skinwalkers no solo hunting parties were permitted. Familiars or hunting animals could go out on their own since skinwalkers didn’t hunt animals. The exception looked to have been written last minute as an afterthought probably by Alfred specifically for Bjorn.
“I am going to be staying in the camp today. Are you going to be alright on your own, Big Man?” Tanisha asked.
Bjorn nodded, not seeing any reason he wouldn’t be. Not to mention he needed to get stronger and whether or not Tanisha joined him thanks to the familiar bond she would still get experience from him killing monsters. It was a win-win for both of them, he got to take his mind off of the terrible memories by hunting evil and she would get more money and levels.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite noobie,” Alfred said as he walked up with a yawn. “Bjorn is going out by himself today right? I suggest you get him a hunter animal storage item.”
“That’s a thing?” Tanisha asked.
“Of course, it is, head over to the hunting supply shop in the camp before he leaves. He will still need to bring back proof of subjugation for you to get paid. I also wanted to give you this, on the house.” He handed her a small leatherbound book.
Tanisha opened the book. “A monster bestiary? Wow, thank you.”
“We have to look after each other when we can. Anyway, back to paperwork for me, unless you need an instructor again today.”
Tanisha patted Alfred’s shoulder. “You will be missed.”
Alfred made a few more suggestions on the contract Bjorn should take and they settled on more of the crawling stalkers. The proof of subjugation was smaller since it was just their right hand and it would get him used to hunting in the area. The crawling stalkers were also in the opposite direction of the skinwalker sighting and away from the armored chrysalis hunt. He was sure to throw in a few more attempts to accompany Bjorn but Tanisha shot him down which caused him to pitifully slump back up to his office.