Inside a room surrounded by damp stone walls, a young boy was shivering on the floor, minds fresh with the scene of horror he had just witnessed.
When the corpse looking man had left the room earlier, the sound of woods being torn apart had made the servant take a peek in the hallway towards the noise.
He couldn't even describe what he saw, or what he thought he saw. A monster kneeling over Father Vylard's body, tearing away at its body, blood and gore flying everywhere. He wanted to forget, gouge his eyes if necessary to ease the fear of seeing something similar in the future.
The next thing he knew, somebody was picking him up from the floor by the armpits. Nearing a heart attack, he kicked away while screaming with his eyes still closed.
-SLAP-
A hand flew and hit him hard on the cheek, twisting his little neck by force of impact. His nose started bleeding and lucidity was back in his eyes as he opened them to look in front of him.
A harsh looking soldier was in front of him. He was actually lifting him in the air while looking at him. Since he had calmed down, the strong soldier placed him on the bed and kneeled in front of him to make eye contact.
He reluctantly averted his gaze because that was how they were taught to behave. Every new slave, or church servants as father Vylard called them, were taught from the start with a strict program. It involved things like never making eye contact, always looking at the floor, only speaking when asked or when necessary. Behave or punishment. Their hunger dictated their behavior.
The soldier's big hand cupped his face and planted its stern eyes into his own once more.
" What happened to the reverend? " The soldier asked him in a grim voice.
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Isern was a relatively big town considering its founding five years ago. Being the center point between two big cities, Biefeld and Stugatt, Isern was the destination travelers stopped by when they crossed. Isern was founded inside a clearing bordering the cursed forest. Since no living being could breathe the air inside the forest, it was a natural defense and only the front has had a stone rampart built.
Paved roads were built inside the walls and the crime rate was low. The town market was fairly huge, since it comprised most of the town. Apart from the varieties of shops, you could find two or three Inn's, the church and a big two story building that made up the brothel.
Some of the town soldiers were peacefully enjoying ale and women in the brothel when they heard kids screaming outside. Rushing outside to see the cause of the commotion, they learned from the bystander who was soothing the kids that the town cleric was killed.
Without further ado, they went directly inside the church to see for themselves what happened. No one was really prepared for the mess down there. Some of them were even retching their previous meal directly on the stone floor.
Closed doors filled the hallway with one exception. The last one, where the reverend's body fragments were found, was destroyed. A scent of excrement, urine and gore coated the air as they closed on the room.
The dismembered corpse of the clergyman was lying in a pile of blood and gore. The gruesomeness of the act was vivid. The head was ripped and the belly was torn apart, organs spilling on the sides of the wound.
One of the soldiers was choking on its bile when he asked "W-what kind of animals would do that, inside the church nonetheless"
Another one added " No animals would go that far, plus the church is always locked at night "
" What do you imply then? They bred something inside and it broke free? "
" Hell if I know… search every nook and crannies in case it's still here. No one's staying alone. Pair up! "
Every soldier down there had sobered up, formed a pair and scattered to search the church. No one wanted to come across the beast that could reduce the reverend to that state and fortunately for them, it seemed like it had already left. What they found though is a witness, or so they hoped.
A small boy dressed in a white robe, now stained by urine, was shivering, eyes closed and covering his ears. He was fuddled in the corner of the first room when a soldier first saw him.
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" What happened to the reverend? "
" T-the guards? " The boy looked around, startled.
" Sure do.. Now tell us lads, did you see what happened? "
As if a burden had been lifted from his shoulders, the young boy started bawling, now free of the death's grasp he felt earlier.
Sadly for him, the soldiers weren't as lenient as one would expect and he was slapped again, harder. The soldier's grip on his collar wouldn't let him stumble and he forcefully stopped crying, fearing to get beat up again.
" What. Happened. " The soldier asked slowly but more firmly than before.
Suppressing the urge to cry, the young servant swallowed hard then tried his best to dictate what he had seen earlier. He didn't bother talking about the man who was in the room earlier, since in his mind, the two weren't even related to the event.
The monstrosity he had seen made him even forget about the man itself. He spoke about how he saw a monster mounted on the fallen priest, ripping his body apart, the scream of terror that escaped Father Vylard's throat and the sound of eating, chewing flesh and breaking bones.
He then proceeded to tell them how he saw the creature pulling up Father Vylard's decapitated head and holding it right over his grotesquely huge mouth. A barbed red tongue darting left and right to catch the remaining blood that escaped the ripped throat.
The soldiers listened to the young servant's tale with a doubtful but stern face. The creature the boy talked about sounded like the ancient invaders, the now extinct Drelg.
Their last sighting was over 17 years ago, one years after the war against them was won. Hiding inside ruin or forest, trying to prey on solitary bypasser.
Since then, no one has ever seen or heard anything relatable to the Drelg. Today's children only know about them because of the tale they heard or the history they learned.
That is why they were doubtful about the identity of this threat. No doubt it was dangerous, easily accepted facts just by looking at the reverend remains.
Although dangerous, they couldn't just spread the words that a possible Drelg variant, which only witness was a church slave, was roaming inside the town.
Pointing to two burly men on his left, the veteran soldier barked out his orders.
" You two go and report everything to the captain, tell him everything the slave told us"
They saluted and left immediately.
" Vallar, you will range towards the holy city of Visagred and report to the bishop in charge of Isern's area. Don't delay, I don't whish to deal with them and see a flocks of templar roaming our streets. "
Vallar made a quick salute then departed.
" The rest of us, we continue our hunt of the beast, or whatever it is. Don't extend your search over the walls and see if there is more witness outside "
The rest of the troup shouted and saluted in unison and left immediately, leaving the young slave and the veteran soldier alone.
He looked at the boy who was still shivering, scrubbing his face with its tiny hand to fade away the sting of the previous slap.
" Who's the one in charge when Vylard's away? "
" I..I don't know, I'm one of the latest servants and father V..Vylard hasn't been away since then " The slave hurriedly answered.
" Why do I even care, you are all the church property anyway. They'll manage it "
Contempt could be seen on the old soldier's face. He knew these kids were orphans, leeches that polluted the streets of their beloved town. The church bought them to serve their purpose, but he still depreciated them greatly.
The soldier turned around and left the boy alone in the room, he had too much to handle for wasting anymore time here.
Once outside, he could see most of his comrades in action. Checking alley, interrogating nearby civilians, looking for damaged furniture or traces of blood. Unfortunately they found nothing. Not even a speck of dry blood. As if the thing never existed in the first place.
By the time they were done inspecting the whole place, the soldiers he had sent earlier to report to the captain were spotted running towards them.
" Reporting to the squad leader, we fulfilled our duty and are ready for further instruction " They quickly snapped and saluted.
" We are done here, return to your usual duty. We will wait for the news of the holy city and I know it won't be pretty. Anything the captain wants us to do? "
" No sir, no instructions given! "
" Alright, dismissed "
Even though it was frustrating to let a dangerous creature roam free, they couldn't do much if it was hiding, since they didn't have any tracker in town. The night was dark and it was hard to search thoughtfully. All they could do was staying alert and wait for a response from the Holy city and God knows it will come.