The tremors were growing worse with each one of the monster's calamitous strides; every step was causing the stonework of buildings to develop large cracks, and their creaking timber frameworks were starting to split with ease. It wouldn't be long before the structures began to buckle under the strain, and at that point, the monster wouldn't even need to attack us as we'd already be buried alive.
'Why did it have to appear now?' I ask my mother.
'You mean to say you've seen this thing before?'
'Yeah. Anya's pet monster, only it was flying last time.'
'So it's been left to wander the lands like a wild dog, and its casual stroll has somehow lead it straight to our doorstep... I don't think so.'
'Everyone get inside!' I started waving everyone forward before kneeling to help an older lady to her feet.
I saw that my mother was doing the same, guiding any stragglers back to the safety of the castle. As if its meagre defences would somehow repel a beast such as this. One could only hope.
'Jake!' Violet called. I could see the concern on her face as I jogged towards her.
'Any sign of Asher and Avrae?'
She must have thought I was going to ask something else because she seemed startled by the question. 'Avrae's fine, look.' She pointed at the southern steepled tower.
I had to look twice, but sure enough, there he was, comfortably curling around the top of the spire as though he was a giant snake. 'What the hell is he doing up there?'
Violet smiled briefly. 'He said he'd had enough.'
'Of course, he has. Mind you, Violet, after what happened to him in that last battle, I can't say I blame him.'
She nodded, giggling as a thought struck her. 'Should we just tell that thing out there that Avrae needs his rest first?'
I pointed at the goliath. 'No need, look, it's not even heading this way anymore.'
'Actually, the thing's just walking in circles.' Violet corrected.
'Now, why would it be doing that?'
Violet shrugged. 'How should I know?'
'Right,' I agree. 'Where's Asher, by the way? You never said.'
Her face did crack this time. 'I don't know. There's a lot of wounded still to search through, though; maybe he got lucky.'
'There can't be that many people left to find, surely?'
Violet was exasperated, shaking her head. 'How about the thousands of wolves your former girlfriend sent to kill us.'
I frowned at her before biting my lip. 'Fair point.'
We weren't looking for long when a strange-looking rift appeared nearby. This one was different, much smaller, and tumbling out of the magical portal, I saw two people wearing pointed hats and long wavy black gowns chasing a third. I recognised the fleeing man right away; it was Professor Melia.
They disappeared soon after, reappearing only a few metres away. They hadn't even registered the hulking presence of the monster looming over them; it was as though only the chase mattered.
'Stay back!' One of them yelled at a limping werewolf before blipping out of existence again.
The other hunter tapped me on the shoulder. 'Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you, but you all need to hear this,' he began waving over anyone who would listen. 'We've been tracking the movements of Professor Magnus Melia for some time. Up until the day of your exam, his fantasies of ruling over multiple worlds were merely that. Fantasies.'
I scratched my head. 'Who are you?'
'My name is Inspector Garland, and Rufus over there is my second. Also, young man, I wasn't finished speaking,' he flashed a false smile before clearing his throat. 'As I was explaining, this all changed upon his appointment to being an examiner for all fifty students. At this moment, with his fantasies on the cusp of becoming a reality, he couldn't resist the temptation and began his manipulation of your realms.'
I looked back at my mother, speaking so quietly that only she could hear me. 'So it seems Anya was lead onto this path then.'
She nodded slowly; her attention was locked onto Inspector Garland, though. 'How did he think he could get away with such a thing?'
'He won't, now if you'll excuse me.' He vanished and rejoined the hunt.
I could see the sparkling blips of their teleportation magic from hundreds of yards away as the chase took them across fields, through the winding river, over rooftops and into the dark skies. The scene bore some resemblance to a comedy sketch, with the villain and his pursuers locked into an endless pursuit.
I noticed that Professor Melia was tiring, though, and his pursuers were gaining on him. In a bold attempt to catch them off guard, he turned, not to face them, but the clumsy monster instead.
'Cleebahooray!' The Professor yelled, firing whips of orange and yellow out of his hand at the head of the beast.
Suddenly, the monster perked up, and with a sense of clarity, it started stampeding towards us with fierce determination while smashing through houses and shops just as scissors would cut through paper. I could hear Professor Melia's disgusting laugh from here. Either the inspectors' would decide to save the village or maintain their hunt. They wouldn't be able to do both, though.
'That was old elvish magic,' Violet gasped, covering her mouth. 'I never thought I'd get to see it.'
Of course, she'd know that.
The monster was now clambering over piles of rubble and sweeping any smaller chunks of debris aside with ease. It was spewing acid out of its bulbous head while pecking at even the slightest sign of movement and then roaring with frustration when it couldn't capture its prey. I looked on in horror; the inspectors had weighed up their options and chosen to focus on the Professor.
There was a sharp yelp as the beast finally caught something, then its victim started calling out for help, though their pleas were useless.
Fixating upon the monster's rampage, I'd almost forgotten about the chase. A flashing light appeared out in the middle of the village's main street, and I felt a tight knot form in my guts as Inspector Rufus looked up to see a colossal foot stamping down on him. He was holding both hands above his head, forming a flimsy shield, and he only had a second to realise his fateful mistake.
'Rufus!'
The Professor's smirk soon vanished when Garland swooped towards him instead of the murderer. He'd caught him by surprise, and it wasn't long before he started twisting the older man's arms behind his back and pinning him to the floor. Snapping golden metal cuffs onto his wrists, the Inspector wasn't gentle with detaining Melia, having broken both arms in the process.
Professor Magnus Melia was finally getting what he deserved. Our only worry now would be dealing with this maniacal beast. We set off sprinting towards the castle drawbridge, and I didn't even need to look behind to know it was gaining on us. My arm hairs standing on end were enough of a warning. 'There's got to be something we can do? Maybe I could enchant a weapon-'
'Not even Avrae could kill that thing. How about those weird orbs of yours?'
'I can't control them!'
Violet stopped running.
'What the hell are you doing?'
'We can't defeat it, but perhaps we can send it away,' She must have seen the look of scepticism on my face. 'Watch and learn. Cavaagio!'
Several purple bolts shot from her hands, and a few seconds later, spindly wings ripped out of the monster's sides. They were flapping wildly and carrying it away into the night sky, kicking and screaming.
'Why didn't you do that earlier?'
'I only just thought of it, Jake. A conjuring spell, combined with a little possession spell. It was a gamble; it wouldn't have worked on a person with higher intelligence, but something without a consciousness, no problem.'
Was there anything that she couldn't do?
She caught my gaze and looked away, her face reddening like a tomato.
Great, what have I done now?
I was still in a world of my own, thinking about what was making her so upset when something feathery landed on Violet's shoulders, scaring us both half to death.
It was some type of bird, raven-like, enormous, and squawking relentlessly, trying its best to attract attention. As we gathered around, the irritating birdsong quickly morphed into a strange static. We were even more stunned when it spoke again, though, this time with a strained human voice, much like crackling music playing from an old gramophone.
I recognised the voice immediately. 'Dad, is that you?'