The sun gleamed high in the sky.
The blue sky was appealing as there were clouds woven which appeared to be quite a masterpiece.
Under the shade of a tree, slept a girl with her tiny feet moving left and right. She wore a long-green skirt with her brownish hair tied up and her arms lifted up scaling the sunlight which penetrated through her fingers.
"Huff!" she exclaimed and stood up, "I wonder what Mort is doing right now?" she said and started walking through lush green field. She jumped and danced as her fingers touched the flowers on the either side of the field. As she ran across she made her way towards a giant stoned gate.
"Ishiki?" asked the guard at the gate as he was curious to see running around the field, "You know right, you shouldn't wandering around alone?"
"Uh-Don't worry. I was close-by." she answered.
She entered the door and started walking down an alley. An alley of a village named 'Kaeri'. The village was a part of a bigger kingdom which was ruled by the 'John Gloom'. It is said that John was chosen by the Gods themselves to rule this land.
Ishiki ran through every alley as if she was finding something and finally after a search of about 15 minutes she found what she was searching for.
"Mort!!" she screamed as she ran towards a man.
The man turned around and then in flash Ishiki was over him.
"Seriously, could be anymore of any idiot?" he asked her sarcastically.
"Oh! Come on. You like it. I know you like it,"
"No, I don't." he said as he tried getting up.
"No, I won't let you. Say you like it."
At that moment everyone around was watching them and so the man thought it was a right move to just submit himself, "Okay fine. I like it. Now, will you please let me up?"
"Sure, Mort." she responded and got up with a blooming smile.
"It is Mortis,"
"But, I like calling you Mort."
"But, I don't like it."
Mortis, was the person Ishiki liked. She liked him a lot. It was always them, from their childhood till now. They have always been together.
He was a fair skinned man, with black wavy hair. He always wore a long black coat with a white shirt and brown trousers. He always carried a spear with him, which he always covers with a cloth. His eyes were blue-colored but something in them made them look ferocious rather than beautiful.
"Where are you going?" Ishiki asked him.
"To the 'Tavern'. I heard they had a job. So, its better if I get there first and take it."
"You are going outside. Again?"
"Yeah, I have to. I need money....."
"How many times have I told you. You can always come to me."
"I told you, Ishi. I want to try and live alone. I can't be dependent on you forever. I don't want be a burden to you..."
"I like to have you as my burden." she interrupted with a worried face.
Mortis walked closer to her and as he patted her head he said, "Come on. Don't you trust me. I'll be fine. And I promise we will have a great dinner together."
Ishiki nodded in response with the same innocent face as earlier.
They both parted their ways. Ishiki headed towards her home whereas Mortis to the 'Tavern' he mentioned.
After a walk of two minutes, Mortis reached the Tavern and entered inside. He walked towards the owner who stood behind the platform serving drinks.
"Young man, here for a drink?" the owner asked who appeared to be large bald guy with a towel on his right shoulder and an apareon tied on his waist.
"No. Um- I heard that you had a job," said Mortis in a polite tone, "For which you needed an 'Adventurer'?"
"Oh! You are here for that. I am not the one hiring," the owner replied and lifted his hand and pointed towards a table at the end, "They are the ones. It felt like they desperately needed someone."
"Thank you,"
"No problem. Have a good day,"
Mortis walked towards the table the owner had pointed out for him. He saw four people. Three were sitting and one of them was walking hastily behind.
"Hello," greeted Mortis, "Are you the one hiring for a job?"
"Yes?" said one of them.
"I am an 'Adventurer'. A Spearmen. I thought it would be great if you...."
"Can you drive a chariot?" asked the one who was behind the chairs behind them.
"Yeah."
"Come along then."
They all stood up and started walking towards their chariot.
"Where are we going?" asked Mortis.
"To get some herbs," said one of them, "Here's the map. The location pin-pointed--You'll be taking us there."
"Okay. I am Mortis by the way...."
"Yeah."
"What does he mean 'Yeah'?" thought Mortis.
"Hey, don't think about it. Krial has always been like that," said one of them as he walked close to Mortis, "I am Shin and this is my brother Chin," he said as he pointed out his brother, "And that's Buzz,"
'Krial?' Mortis thought as he had heard that name before.
Mortis took control of the chariot and paved his way inside the forest. Their was a pathway pre-determined for the chariot so that there would be no trouble in moving them around.
"So," said Mortis as he drove, "You guys are 'Herbis'?" he asked.
Herbis were a special kind of people who excelled in botany and had a knowledge of creating medicines from herbs and flowers.
"Yes, all of us except for Krial." Shin answered, "He just likes hanging out with us."
"I don't," argued Krial, "You pay me. It's nothing more than that" Krial said it with a cold look and voice.
"Oh! Come on.."
Mortis looked at them, Buzz was sitting in a corner with his axe and was pretty serious as he always payed attention to his surroundings.
"We will be there in ten minutes." alarmed Mortis as they were reaching their destination.
"Good." said Krial as he stepped in, "Mortis, was it?" he asked.
Mortis nodded in response.
"You will stay with Chin and Buzz with Shin. I'll scout the area and if there's any threat we don't fight. We walk out. No need for unnecessary action. If anything happens fire up the flare." said Krial as he jumped of the carriage and held out to a branch making his way inside the forest through trees.
Mortis halted the vehicle and walked with Chin as he searched the forest to find his herbs. As he walked, he could see the light penetrating through tall trees as if it was heaven's light which could become a boon. The atmosphere was surprisingly quiet which made Mortis a little suspicious.
He watched all over the place and tried to as attentive as possible and as he did he heard a noise. A crunching noise of a fallen branch.
He lifted his arm and signaled Chin to stay where he was.
Mortis took his spear and removed the cloth of it. With a defensive stance he measured his steps slowly and steadily.
As he reached the bushes, he heard a howl and a wolf-like creature jumped on him.
It was disgusting to look at as it appeared to be half-dead. It's limbs were skeleton but the stomach area was flesh, whereas half of the head was alive and half was entirely dead.
Mortis struggled with his arm stuck between its mouth and after a valiant effort he pushed it away.
"Let's go," said Chin with concern.
"No use," Mortis replied, "These are Rabid-Dogs. They are not alone, they always move in packs."
"Huh?"
"Fire up the signal for Krial. It won't do any good, but at least we would have some fighting hands because we are being surrounded."
Chin reached out his left pocket and fired flare up in the sky.
Hearing the loud noise the dog ran back in the bushes, but it was clear that they were determined to hunt their prey.
"What's happening?" asked Buzz who came running from the opposite direction as soon as he saw the flare.
"There's pack of Rabid-Dogs." said Mortis with a concerned tone, "They have already surrounded us. We need to make a break for it,"
Buzz nodded and Shin asked, "Where's Krial?"
"I am here," came a voice from above the trees. They all looked towards the source of the voice and there, Krial jumped of the branch he was standing on.
"Let's go," said Shin.
"Yes. Follow me."
They all started running towards the chariot and seeing that the dogs ran behind them, trying to circle them but Mortis and Buzz kept them away.
Mortis with his spear would pierce anything which comes between their path and Buzz smashed every dog with his axe. Krial on the other used his bow to clear the path.
"There it is," said Shin as he saw the chariot. His face was delighted, but it turned stern again.
As the ground started shaking and dust blew over their faces and as the dust cleared they saw another creature. A monster, with a body that of a man but with no legs. It had a tail like that of a serpent. It was tall, taller than them. They gazed into its eyes as they saw its nasty face with eyes filled with bloodlust.
"A 'Lamia'?" asked Chin with a frightened face.
"This is my worst nightmare." Buzz said as he crushed one of the dogs.
"What do we do?" asked Shin as he saw the Rabid-Dogs regrouping.
They were between a rock and hard place and had no chance to escape as one side had countless enemies and other side had enemy who is equal to countless.
Mortis raised his spear and hurling in air he smashed it on the ground making a loud noise, which made the dogs run back inside the forest. "This will keep them off for five minutes," he said.
"Five minutes?" said Buzz as they weren't enough to defeat the enemy in front of them.
"We'll have to work with it," said Krial as he fired an arrow from his bow. He aimed it towards Lamia's head, but it didn't gaze it's head. It was as if he didn't aim properly.
"What? How?" thought Krial as he summoned another arrow and fired, but the same result altogether.
Seeing that Buzz became furious and charged with his axe leaping in the air to attack. Mortis supported him by charging beside, but when they attacked it, the weapons never reached the Lamia. Instead they were deflected prior before it can reach its body. As the attack failed, the Lamia pushed them back. Buzz was inquired and Mortis was bruised.
"It has a barrier around it. No attack can reach it.....they are rather deflected or reflected. I just can't figure it out," said Mortis with a stunted expression.
"If this goes towards the village..."
"No one can stop it. How can it be so strong,"
As there were thought running through their minds, the Lamia raised its arm and smashed it on the ground. It off-balanced everyone and some of the rocks came flying which hit them. There was no way they could survive this.
But, at that moment a thought came across Mortis' mind, "If this goes towards the village...No one can stop it,". These words kept circling his mind and that point a face came in front of him, "Ishiki," he said.
He knew that, if the Lamia wasn't defeated the the village was going to get destroyed and people within it might die. Just the thought of that made him more desolated. But, it was not the sorrow of not being able to save the village but not being able to save her.
"I will always protect you. I promise." a memory flashed before him and in that instant, he realized something. He stood on his feet, lifted his spear and watched the Lamia in his eyes. The Lamia was certainly petrified as fear rushed inside its veins. Mortis threw the spear with a massive force, the spear travelled with tremendous speed which not only crushed the barrier but also travelled through its chest, piercing its heart.
After that, Mortis felt a little dizzy and fell down, where everyone rushed to help him.