After few minutes, a messenger came with a horse and he was trembling in fear. He shouted out what he sees and he said that hundreds of corpses are found. He said that those corpses are laying down in rows. He reported that none of them live.
From what he reported, I guess it is our work this time but who could have killed a mass number before us. The captain trembled in fear. The whole camp is in chaos and it is now out of order. Our mission is to be spy in this camp but I guess there is something more.
Night came and the village people are begging the soldiers to let them in but they were chased away. Cayden, with his good-natured personality, speaks with the soldiers in their behalf but he was push aside as well. These soldiers are terrified of something. Cayden stayed with the villagers and told them that they should camp outside the gate. I left Cayden and went to the tavern. The adventurers are also terrified. I went nearer to the trembling girl.
"What really happened in this town?" I asked.
Her eyes are trembling and her hands are shivering drastically. "There are two monsters who are merciless killing people while they are smiling. They are enjoying the scream of those people they are killing. No. Killing is not what they are doing, they were torturing them. They are monsters." She suddenly cried and swinging her body trying to calm herself. Then one of her team members, I supposed went closer.
"We weren't there at that time but since she is a half-blood, she said that she hears the cry of those people. They were on agony she said. From that day, she never sleeps for fear that she can hear those screams again. We are actually worried about her. There is no healer around not even in this camp." A man said.
I put my hand on her head and put her into sleep. Those dark circles around her eyes are proof that she not telling a lie.
That night, I decided to leave the camp and I sneak out. I walk around the town and there are still few people around but they are preparing to leave. I ran to the deeper woods into full speed but the whole forest is quiet. There is a cave hidden in that forest and I decided to enter. I went deeper and deeper until I found a nest of sylphs. They did attack me and they became very hostile against me. In the end, I killed hundreds of them by turning them into a block of ice. I got also wounds from their attack and some of them are deep.
"Oh, you want to fight more, ok bring it on!" I shouted. But those sylphs stop as a blue tall sylph appeared.
"Why are you attacking us human? We hid from deep below so that you wouldn't find us but here you are trying to destroy our home and killing my people!" He raised his voice.
"I didn't know that you can talk but I wasn't planning to attack you in the first place. Your people attack me first so I just defended myself." I reasoned out.
"But isn't that your reason for coming here? To kill us and take our precious belongings?" it said.
"Look blue air, I entered here because I am looking for an answer. If you don't know, there is something going on in the surface and I am trying to find some answers." I said.
"Is it because those ghouls are now awake after hundred of years of being slumber? If it is, then you humans are no longer going to be peaceful. They will kill and kill alone is their purpose like you humans are busy tarnishing the world." It said.
"Ghouls? What are they?" I asked.
"They are the dark creatures that went into slumber after being defeated. Now, they are going to cause havoc once again."
"Do you know anything that can defeat them?" I asked.
"If you promise to leave this cave alone, I will tell you what I know about them." It bargained an offer.
"I will leave this place, I promised. But tell me what do you know about them?" I asked.
"The Ghouls are dark evil creatures and they usually take human forms. They are extremely powerful and no humans can beat them. They can disguise themselves as you but they cannot retain their appearance for long. However, there is an exemption, ghouls who are in the top of their pyramid can retain their appearance for a long time by devouring human lives. Ghouls never eat but they suck your life form. That includes all living being including us. The more they devour the stronger they get."
"Then are you all going to hide hear? For eternity?" I sarcastically asked.
The blue sylph didn't answer.
"Ok… I am a woman of my word. I will leave this cave but if I felt that you are going to sabotage me. I wouldn't think twice to freeze all of you." I said.
"We are creatures that never betray if we promised." The blue sylph said.
"Then one last question, how can I defeat a ghoul?" I asked.
The blue sylph suddenly gave me a dagger.
"The only weapon that can kill them are holy weapons. That dagger is anointed by a holy water so you should not miss their hearts if you are trying to kill them. That dagger can only be used once. So in able to kill the rest, you should look for holy weapons. I am giving that dagger to you as a parting gift and wishing that we shall not meet again." It said.
"Don't worry, I don't plan on meeting you again." I said.
I left that cave holding that dagger. It is already rustic but it is worth a shot. As soon I got out of that cave, it suddenly went under the ground. The sun is already high and I need to hurry back to the camp.
As soon I arrived there, there was huge commotion going around. I immediately ask the people and they told me that the captain left earlier leaving his crew behind. There is also a message that the two monsters, which are the ghouls, are heading towards their town. The captain of the Saha army got scared and run away along with some few soldiers.
Bunch of stupid people. The villagers are left behind along with the soldiers who are terrified. Cayden in the other side securing the elders, females and children to evacuation. I went near to Cayden.
"Where have you been? The whole camp is in chaos." He worries.
"I don't care about the camp but what I care the most are those ghouls. I never met one but I heard that they are pretty strong. We should leave also." I said.
"Leave? What about these people?"
"What people? I don't care about them. They are just going to hinder me. Beside they are just going to die anyway." I said.
"What is really wrong with you? Can't you pity them? At least give them consideration. These people are innocent." Cayden argued.
"They are yet innocent, in the future, they will be my enemy." I reasoned out.
"If you insist, ok fine. You should go and I will meet you in the next town. For now, I will stay with these people. The sun is about to go down and there is no enough time to evacuate them all." Cayden argued.
Cayden is really a good-natured man. But he is going to risk his life protecting these people. I went back to meet the other adventurers and sad to say they also fled out. The only people who are staying here are those villagers and soldiers. I took my bag and take my horse. Cayden went closer to me to stop me.
"Are you really going to leave?"
"I don't want to die in this place. Those monsters are called ghouls and I am not match against them. Our mission is to be spy in this camp and not to be front liners. I fight for Hana; I fight for Norvin. But I don't fight for these people. If you want to help them, then go ahead help them but I am not going to help." I said steadily.
Cayden looked at me with disappointment. Although I feel a little bit hurt but I know my limitations. If the sylph said that only holy weapon can kill them then this camp would not stand a chance. They might all perish. Although I am not scared to die but I am not ready to die. At least not now.
I grabbed the rein and push my horse forward but Cayden grabbed it.
"Please stay." He begged.
"Make me." I said firmly. I looked into his eyes and gave him a serious stare. I am not joking. I don't have a valid reason to stay at all. Why would I even have to put myself into this mess when I am not even part of this kingdom? Besides, their commanding officers even know what they are up against and ran away. So, why should I stay?
Cayden's grip to the rein became tighter and it looks like he doesn't plan to let go. I don't have enough time. I need to leave.
Cayden's grips are so tight that I can see the veins in his arms clearer. If he wants to die, then at least he should die alone and don't drag me with him.