It all happened so fast…
All of a sudden… in an instant, the littlest of the group darted to the front opening her arms to act as a human shield.
And in the second that followed....
Lilly jumped forward, letting go of her grandmother…
Millie, had a face full of pure regret at what might happen as she landed on the snow…
…and Arteus…
“…TCH!”
Dreaded that the sombre mood had waned his focus on the creature that stalked them!
“…”
“Is that the thing that’s been following me.”
The thought raced across Arteus’ mind as his body started to move.
“SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!!!”
“And this distance! I won’t be able to get to them in time.”
He thought…
Having chosen to deliberately walk a couple paces back when he first noticed the eyes on them.
“CRAP!!”
“CRAAAP!!--“
“--Eeehhh is this thing on?”
And then suddenly… a voice.
Like thunder… it rained down from just above the creature that floated ahead.
“…”
“Ah.”
“TCH.”
They all froze. Eyes glued to it. Tense but also fearful… a God?
“Hmmm… seems so…”
“Well then before you do anything foolish, I’d like to make sure you know I mean you no harm.”
The voice came.
“…”
“What’s going on?”
Arts thoughts were a maze at this point.
Where was this voice coming from?
What did it want?
And that creature…
That little black ball with a clear white eye so large it almost fit the whole ball, and beautiful long lashes of three… extending from both the top of the eyeball and below, a total of six.
What was it?
Why did it just float there?
How… Did it float there?
Arteus had never heard of or even seen something like this before. And that thought alone was unnerving.
“Forgive me for interrupting your journey, but after witnessing your adventures today I simply could not contain myself…”
“Due to your efforts in the first wave, you sure have a lot of eyes on you boy.”
“Would you mind sharing your name with me?”
The voice came again, its tone eloquent and noble. The air of it speaking with such authority Arteus could swear he saw Lilly flinch… almost forgetting where she was and kneeling.
However, this time… the eyeball creature had also turned to face Art and with it so did the eyes of the family around him.
“…”
“Hm.”
“Boy don’t!”
“No, it’s fine… I sense no bloodlust from that thing.”
“That is… assuming the voice am hearing is coming from you… right?”
A more relaxed stance and Art gave his deduction as he pointed to the creature ahead of him
“Ah astute observation boy!”
“Yes indeed, the voice does emanate from Gildred but she cannot speak.”
“I speak from ‘within the shadow’.”
“Hm?”
Gildred… was that the name of the thing in front of him?
That didn’t sound like a name a common beast or creature would have… that name was human… like something you’d give a pet.
If that was the case was this magic?
“…”
“From within the shadow… do you mean to say you’re not actually here.”
“That is correct.”
“And that thing is called Gildred.”
“Correct again… though she may prefer Gilly at times…”
“I see…”
“…”
“Is this magic?”
Silence befell the area when the words left Art’s mouth. And as for the family that was around him this silence was more akin to listening to people speak a foreign tongue.
*silence
How was the boy so calm? And beside that, this was the most he’d spoken all day. It seems Arteus only ever spoke when something had caught his attention
“…”
“I cannot say… I apologize.”
“…alright”
“Then could you at least share your name?”
“…”
“No, I must apologize again but that information is not mine to give.”
Sincere, the tone in the voice was so sincere it struck Art as peculiar as the group continued to watch the creature.
The more this conversation wore on their nerves seemed to relax with it. What was going on?
“…I figured as much”
Arteus stroked his chin curiously.
A creature that appeared out of seemingly nowhere… a voice that while unknown remained polite… and finally a complete lack of bloodlust.
Something was wrong with this scenario.
Was this creature even the one that had been following them?
“… alright, then could you answer me this question?”
“If it is within my right to do so then yes. But only if you give me your name.”
“BOY! --“
“--shh”
Arteus raised a finger to the old lady, gesturing her to calm down.
He could understand her worry. This was an unknown entity.
And if knowing the name of its target was tied to its magic this could be fatal for all of them.
But still…
“Its Arteus….”
“BOY!!”
“Arteus Montfreed.”
…He had a feeling this creature was here for a different purpose. Arteus’ name was nothing more than an errand, perhaps pure curiosity even.
This wasn’t the creature from before.
But besides that, something more important had been bothering Art and somehow, he knew this thing could have the answers…
“…Arteus… Montfreed…”
“How pleasant.”
“I hope that means you’ll answer my question then.”
“It is like I said Arteus Montfreed, if it is within my right then certainly.”
“…hm”
“Then.”
“…Are you the one who has been controlling the beasts?...”
And there it was…
The moment the words left Arteus’ mouth the turn of expression for all around him was immediate!
Controlling the beasts? The absurdity of this was beyond all reason!!
This was an act of All-sky, was it not?
The end of the world as we know it.
A God has no need to personally control anything, they simply wish it and it is done.
So, what Arteus here was insinuating was that-- was that this wasn’t an act of the Gods!
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
That someone else had saw it fit to bring hell’s damnation to Barley!!!
“…con..tro..lling…--”
“--BOY WHAT ARE YOU--“
“--ah…”
Shock. The respective stunned exclamations of Millie’s family were founded.
They understood him instantly.
Why would anyone seek to destroy a boon village at the edge of the continent?!
“…What makes you believe the beasts were being controlled... Arteus Montfreed.”
The creature posed the question as Arteus stared to the snow…
And then finally…
“Well…”
All throughout the day something had been peculiar about how the creatures acted.
As much as this was an act of ‘God’, it was also apparent that the devastation of Barley was more hands on.
Directed attacks, pack hunting tactics. And no care for the flesh… these beasts did not feed or act instinctual.
And that was only the first indicator for Art.
Earlier in the day when his mother had been attacked by the black yeti.
Arteus believed this to just be your run of the mill stalk and hunt when he caressed his crippled mother.
But that theory was short lived.
Because in Arteus’ preparations to leave his home… as he rummaged through the damaged things in what used to be his house that was when he found them.
The limbs of his mother.
Scattered all over the place like when a toddler plays with their dolls.
The yeti wasn’t here for a late meal at all.
It was on a mission.
And like with the rest of Barley and the wolves that attacked Millie, it became apparent that the beasts were not eating at all. When they changed targets too from Lilly to Gracie and Millie.
The beasts that destroyed Barley were here for the sole purpose of wiping out the population.
And the way in which they did it… the tactics they used… they were human.
Of all the things that happened today that’s what annoyed Arteus the most.
If the Gods wanted the world done surely, they could just snap their hands and it’d be over and done with.
They had no reason to make everyone suffer. No reason to punish those they stare at like ants.
What pleasure came from destroying something that had no ability to oppose you in the first place?
“…”
“Well… are you going to answer me?”
Arteus called out to the creature that for the first time seemed to actually exude emotion. Just what emotion… it can’t be said.
“That’s quite the deduction… Arteus Montfreed.”
“Hm.”
*sighs
“But if that’s the extent of it then--“
“--No, it’s not.”
The boy added, cutting the creature off.
“The reason I made the connection to you is all the beasts I have encountered today seemed to share a trait with Gilly here.”
“For whatever reason… as the creatures move and hunt, they all appear black. With tinted out eyes and palms even nails.”
“Everything about them is black.”
“But that’s not completely right either.”
“When I look at them, I don’t see black like the coal or the colour. This black is somewhat tinted… like that… of a ‘shadow’.”
A flinch… did the word ‘shadow’ mean something to the creature.
“…I figure if I can’t identify what Gilly is, its probably because all its traits are hidden by a shadow of some sort… just like the other beasts”
“Making the eye and voice added traits… which… am guessing is your magic…”
“…”
*Silence…
“Besides… you said it yourself.”
“’YOU’ speak from within…the ‘SHADOW’.”
It was at this precise moment that the atmosphere was now back to a suffocating tension.
Arteus… the boy was onto something… and they all knew it.
But the fact that he was able to gather all this information in the short space of time he’d been moving and fighting!
Not to forget his loss too…
“…This boy…”
The figure within the shadow pondered…
“…Ar-Arteus…--“
“I believe an apology is in order.”
“Huh?”
“Arteus Montfreed your achievements today are far greater than I had even imagined.”
“You have my highest of praise.”
Millie stood almost petrified when the voice came once more and revelled in the boy’s deductions.
“…”
“Aside from that the beasts all return to their natural traits when they are felled…”
“So… can I have my answer now?”
“…”
“No.”
” However, I would like to give you a tip as you embark on your journey.”
“…Which is?”
“Be more aware of your ‘Chaos’ Arteus. And your ‘Birthright’ they hold the answers to the questions you still withhold from me.”
“…wait what did you--“
The words hit Arteus like a train. Questions he withheld?
Arteus was still stunned when…
“Now then, it is time for me to take my leave.”
“No, you can’t just--“
“--Don’t fret I trust this will not be the last time we mingle…”
“Hey I said am not done with--“
“--I apologize but you currently have more pressing matters”
“…What are you--“
“--IIIIAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!”
A sharp scream!! Not one, but of many people. Why now of all times!
So, Barley had more survivors…
“Tch!”
“BOY!”
“I KNOW!”
“--IIIIAAAAAAHHHHH!!!! OH, GODS NO!!!!!!”
“TCH!”
“…”
“Well then until next time… ‘Arty’…”
“C’mon guys let’s… what did you call me…”
*sssSHHHHIIIINNGG….
POP!
With that the creature called Gilly begun to expand…
And expand… and expand!!
Until splat! It exploded.
Spewing its guts all over the group as its blood bathed them in red!
Arteus was right.
“IIIIAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!”
“BOY!!!”
“…I KNOW!!! I KNOW!!!”
“Let’s go!”
But Arteus had no more time to ponder this.
Barley had survivors.
And they were going to face him, whether they liked it or not!
“…”
“…”
-To Be Continued-