“So let me get this straight,” he growled as he rubbed his temples with his illusory finger tips, “You're telling me that slavery is rampant throughout the country?”

“Um,” came the confused voice of a skinny young Human who was just starting to grow a few whiskers on his face, “Yes?”

To which Karastak sighed in exasperation, especially towards the truths he had learned from the group of bewildered and frightened Humans around himself. For he had learned that slavery was an issue in the major cities. Where the Flesh Trade was the most prominent of them all, with a ratio of 8:1 of each group being sent off to the various brothels, whorehouses, and lavish parties set up by prominent men and women of society. Though all genders, races, and creeds were sent there, the most sought after race was the Elf. This was due to their beauty within both sexes which drove both men and women of society to lust after them whilst spending copious amounts of coin to obtain them. It also was what drove them out of society and into their various forests, deserts, mountains and cavernous homes. Not to mention such a race, if found, would have many an army on their doorstep with a great multitude of Slavers in their midst.

As he was not a true Elf, he was not privy to such an information when he decided to become one through his magicks, and found down upon Puella who flittered about Lupa like a mother hen would her chick. “It seems I've unintentionally brought them to harm,” he muttered to himself and checked on his mana reserves within his peripheral. 368/440 was what he read, and watched as it continued to climb.

Sighing once more, he spoke with a deep voice, “,” and smirked as most gasped. For the world around him was enveloped in mists that were tinged with the colours of Madness. The former illusion shattered, and he noted the eyes of the Humans nearest himself widened at the dark fur exposed, as well as the snout he purported. These then vanished as the mists settled upon his body, and transformed him into a venerable old sage with shoulder length hair. Upon his face was a beard which stretched to his abdomen, though where he sat and the posture his body was in, the beard was tickling the ground.

A curious sound came from his left, as Puella's eyes widened whilst she came upon his new form. After which she reached out and ran her small hands through his beard, then smiled and giggled as she snuggled into them. Whereas atop his head came a series of soft squeaks, and revealed a small white bat's head above the centre of his forehead. Of whom then squeaked at the girl, turned towards the group of confused Humans, squeaked at them, then vanished back inside the silvered strands.

Whispers of “Witch Magicks” made it to his ears, and he grinned a maniac grin at them. This caused all to squirm and shiver, and off to the side came the shiverings of Lupa who couldn't understand why her friend didn't see the insanity that Karastak projected. However, his arms reached down and scooped up the illusory Elf girl's form. Of which caused her to release a, “Weeeeee,” as she giggled with happiness whilst using the long beard as a scarf.

Normally, this would have elicited many a chuckle from those who saw these antics, but these Humans knew what he was. He then turned to leave out the door, but heard the whistling of the air as a knife stuck itself into the entryway's top frame near the girl's head. Of whom let out a frightened, “Eep,” and hugged his head as she shivered in fear from the shock of what had almost occurred.

This was his breaking point, as something within Karastak's mind snapped. His eyes glared a baleful red as he slowly, with shaking hands, placed the girl down upon the ground. Whereupon Lupa, noting his eyes, rushed to her friend's side as a pair of tiny, beady red eyes flared into life beneath his hair.

“Cov-ver her-r ears-s, Lu-u-upa, an' shut your ey-yes,” his voice came out strange, haunted, as though he fought to not release something full of malice for all things living. To which, upon so saying, pushed them into a corner of the inn, away from the crowd, and turned towards them.

What the Humans saw, however, was a mistake on their part. For upon his flesh, literally stretched to his temples, was a grin full of sharpened teeth. One that, although gave off the feeling of joy, was devoid of everything as he laughed. His voice was strained, cracking, as the bottom jaw unhinged and slammed shut in such a way that the only real thought came from one who released what was within their bowels and bladder, “M-M-MONSTER!”

“,” the illusory monster's voice cackled, and a jagged line of dark energy launched itself from his fingertips.

No. To call it a dark bolt of energy would not do it justice. Instead, think of it as a lightning bolt devoid of sound and flashing lights which ate through the fabric of the Universe until it stuck something solid. Whereupon that something was simply gone. No booms echoed throughout the establishment; no blinding flash of light to accompany the spell's impact; nothing.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Instead, this bolt removed the head of the closest Human, and the body toppled over with a thump. After which, Karastak's head woodenly moved towards the next Human, and cackled out another, “.” Which landed squarely upon their chest and removed their torso. With the arms, head, and lower body toppling away once it was removed.

Finally, the Humans around the bodies came to their senses, but only when the hot blood of their compatriots spurted all over their bodies. Whereupon they cried, begged, and struggled as the illusory monster continued to call out, “,” one after another. Each time it was cast and landed upon the bodies of those before him, pieces and chunks went missing. Whereas the fabric of the Universe, which had the appearance of being torn, continued to knit itself back together after each casting of the spell.

All the while, amongst the screaming Humans, a mad laughter was heard. This, along with the soft squeaks of a tine white bat, echoed throughout the whole of the village. As this occurred, the residents of this walled settlement dashed into their homes, clutching their loved ones in fear of the unknown.

*

Outside the inn, however, half a dozen brave, or perhaps stupid, souls clustered underneath one of the windows. Each wore a set of thick leathers, and had the only swords drawn, but they were rusted from time. These believed themselves to be the Heroes of the village of Stormhaven, and would go off to the capital for a warrior's training and teaching after the next harvest. However, as there was some sort of a commotion within the inn, they believed it was their duty to stop it. When the screams began, and the chanting of witchcraft was heard within, on the other hand, they hesitated. Even as the screams slowly dwindled from a dozen voices to only a handful, they still hesitated.

“We have to do something,” frantically whispered one of their number.

“But what?” a softer, more effeminate voice drifted into their ears. Upon a more closer look, one would be able to see that this group was, but five men and one woman.

“I don't know,” came a third, who shut his eyes as the voice of someone begged for life as the soft footsteps of another came upon their position.

Whereupon they listened as the unknown monster spoke with words of malice, dripping with venom, “I was willing to let you all live when I left,” giggles followed the statement, “but you all had to try and kill my dear child, didn't you?” Again, more giggling ensued, and the party heard the sickening crunch of bones breaking and spiking out of flesh. Of which was followed by a man's high pitched scream of pain as more crunching noises flowed into their ears.

“I'm sure you regret it now,” the voice was higher in pitch, but then dropped to a low baritone as the man whispered something frantically, “I don't care.” After which the screams continued along with more crunching of bones and the removal of something which squelched horribly enough to cause all six underneath the window to vomit.

What came next would forever haunt the dreams of the living, as the window crashed outwards, showering the group in a fine spray of shards of malformed and dirty glass. They, of course, protected themselves with their arms and bodies, but when they looked up, their eyes were wide. For upon the ground, only a metre away, was a skull attached to its spine from the man who was tortured. One that still held the eyes, face and bits of muscle and nervous tissue.

Whereupon the group screamed and howled as they fled the scene, whereas the blood red eyes of Karastak fell upon them. He then pointed at their fleeing backs, screaming in a maddening voice, “Feast upon their bodies, Little Mother. There will be nO WitnEsSeS!”

A small white bat streaked out from underneath his illusory hair, cracking and shattering the illusion to reveal a grinning Foxman in the light of the terrified and retreating sun. The creature then released a series of delighted squeaks as it plunged in and out of the bodies of the Hero party. Thus causing them to fall and writhe upon the hard packed earth as their blood leaked. More screams ensued from them, as many a frightened head ducked away from their cracked open doors and windows, desperate to hide themselves from the monsters.

Whereas the group sobbed from the slow torture of Little Mother feasting upon their living bodies. Their blood, hot and wet, was soaked into the ground as their lives were extinguished one after another. Upon each of their cooling bodies was the expression of complete and absolute terror, as their bodies writhed and bubbled from the little bat's chewing of their organ meat, muscles, and bone.

Once satisfied with the meal, she squeaked long and proud before dashing off to her master. What was left would forever haunt the minds and hearts of the village. For the bodies had been eaten from the inside, which caused their abdomens to distend inwards from the missing meat. Whilst all over them were a series of bat shaped holes which allowed the creature an entryway and exit from their bodies.

Upon her return, she landed on the counter and began to clean herself of the blood and gore which coated her body. Whereas Karastak had gripped his head, fighting something within his mind and tossed his body around the blood soaked room. As this occurred, Lupa had stood with her back to the scene in order to shield Puella from the sight as she covered her young friend's ears. Of course, the latter fought against this restraint at first, but when the screaming began, she forced the former to cover her ears as the illusory Elf girl covered her friend's.

After the crashing of the glass window, and the order from a deranged Foxman, they turned to watch as his blood and gore soaked body was flung around the room as he gripped his head. Howling and cursing echoed from his throat as the establishment shook from the impacts, but eventually it all ended with a long and angered howl. One which was picked up by the Wolf Beastgirl, and shared in the event until the man slumped to the ground. Whereupon he panted and stared about the room as placards filled his vision.