“ This war fought by the druids has left our world broken with little left of the old ways except for the occasional looming metal structure. Those damn immortals fucked us this time.” 1 AGC, Excerpt from an ancient diary found in the Targan mines
The path through the forest looked as if nobody had walked it for years, the morning dew which had once clung to the tall grass now clings to the fibers of Iris’ pants changing the color from that of light buckskin to a dark nearly tree bark-like color and texture. The duo walks with confidence yet still cautious of their surroundings, their steps so silent that not even the most trained ear could hear, a looming rusted metal structure peeks its way through the thick trees.
Alo stops and motions toward the building, “That is where we’ll find our mounts, a looming relic of the old world turned into a stable to keep a great many exotic beasts. With their master gone some will be starving, and furious so ready yourself.”
The rusted, barely standing walls loom before them, long and tall yet open on one end except for a crude brick wall with a tall iron gate. The sounds of countless abandoned, starving creatures scream for a meal from within. With what seemed like as little effort as pushing any door Alo pushes the heavy gate, breaking the lock and causing it to clatter to the ancient stone floor below. As the gate opens, the symphony of cries stops and in that moment they feel countless eyes lock on them.
Alo walks forward with no fear as Iris follows cautiously behind stunned by what’s before her, unknown creatures peer from the darkness in poorly constructed cages, some large and some small but all starving and wanting an easy meal. The building that surrounds them allows just enough light to see where they place their feet.
The sound of approaching wet footsteps and a putrid smell of rotten flesh stops Alo in his tracks so rapidly that Iris nearly walks into him. Alo places his hand back and grasps Iris’s wrist “Ready yourself.”
From the darkness emerges a figure, it appears almost like a man yet disproportionate the arms too short and legs too long. Its face is contorted and broken revealing the nothingness within. Its very existence feels unnatural. With a movement of its hand the cages open and the starving abominations within begin descending upon the uninvited guests.
As Alo releases Iris’s hand he says but one word “Now!”
Alo grips a handle yet unseen, with a mighty heave he pulls his third rib from his chest, and the smell of fresh blood draws the creatures closer. Before Iris can react, a creature with the body of a canine and two heads that resemble snakes pins her to the ground and a small cry leaves her lips “It’s a fucking Seffure!”
Alo’s tattoos begin glowing as he focuses on taming the Seffure before him to no avail. Alo yells to Iris over the cacophony of noise caused by the animals “The Caltuss is blocking my power. This is no normal beast, I believe it’s a Grand Caltuss. Fucking run as soon as you can.”
Iris fights back against the Seffure driving her hunting knife into the left head and rises to her feet. She takes a step back and removes her bow from her back and nocks an arrow, letting it meet its target in the neck of the Seffure. The beast appears uninjured despite it’s wounds and lunges for Iris, with a leap back she dodges.
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The Seffure’s massive body continues forward and pins Iris to the ground once again. With an ear piercing hiss the two heads bite either side of her neck then, darkness.
Alo grips his handle tightly, swinging his sharpened rib and removing the left head of the beast, as the head falls to the ground he hears Iris’ breath growing softer. The beast turns to strike with its remaining head but Alo is prepared and he ducks under the strike. With another precise swing, he removes the right head and watches the beast collapse yo the ground.
Alo pulls a small vial from a pocket opening it into Iris’ mouth, “Fucking Seffure venom, just what we need .” A sense of joy comes over him as he returns his focus to the Caltuss, he smiles as he realizes this could be the fight has been looking for.
Alo moves towards the figure, who does not move. With one swift movement, his bone blade comes down on the being's throat. Darkness instantly envelopes the entire building, a grotesque being with the head of a goat now stands where the man once did.
The being speaks in an unfamiliar language but somehow Alo understands “Who are you to challenge my power?”
Alo takes a deep breath and steadies his nerves “That is inconsequential now, just know you are my dream and I am your nightmare.”
No sooner than those words left his lips, he felt it. The pain of his flesh being burnt from his body, his eyes feeling as though they would burst. Every movement is pain but the blade must find its mark. A blow strikes Alo on the side of his head and he falls to the ground. His flesh sticks to the stone floor with every attempted movement.
The burning and sizzling of his flesh deafens him until eventually no more pain, just numbness and in that moment when the pain stops Alo stands returning face to face with the being before him. Despite his vision being gone he can feel the presence of this powerful being. His very soul feels as if it’s being torn apart yet he holds steadfast and through rasping breaths raised his blade.
With a mighty swing the blade pierces the neck of the Caltuss and the heat stops yet he still feels life. The blows of a thousand hungry beasts rain down upon his battered body. No pain, just anger. One by one they fall, one by one by one until only the original two men remain.
With a lunge, and a scream from the very depths of his being Alo’s blade finds its true mark. With a thud that far outweighs its size the Caltuss falls and the nightmare ends. Alo collapses and finds himself among the mutilated corpses of the creatures he slaughtered.
He crawls through the mutilated corpses trying to get where Iris can find him once she awakens. His flesh sticks to the stone floor with every movement. Finally free from the mound of corpses, Alo stops when feels the warmth of the sun through the holes in the dilapidated roof and lies down. He can’t help but feel sorrow because this is not what he needs, he needs more.
After what feels like a lifetime Alo feels a soft hand grab his and he knows this nightmare has finally truly ended as he falls into a deep sleep.
As Alo awakens he is no longer in the building and Iris is next to him, in front of them a campfire dances across the darkened trees, providing just enough light to see the 2 horses in the edge of the woods.
As Alo raises himself to sit he speaks, his voice still raspy and some skin still but that but nearly fully recovered. “I see you found our targets. Which one is to your liking?”
Iris takes a moment to think, “I quite like the Percheron, his color is black as the very night yet his eyes still shine like no other I've ever seen.”
Alo nods in approval and lays back on his side “So the buckskin Andalusian is mine, as long as she is swift I will not complain. For now, I require a bit more rest, wake me come morning so we might ride to meet our powerful friend.”