Aroused from my examination of the gathering inside me, I hear shuffling echo inside the cavern. One of the skin wearers seems to have awoken from its unconscious state. I choose to stay still and observe it. Unlike me, skin wearers seem to rely on light sources to see in darker environments, this will prove whether that is true or not, as there is no light source in the cavern. While observing the skin wearer, I also take notice of the fact that the wound I received earlier seems to have healed mostly.
After raising itself from a lying down position, its head swivels from left to right. "????" it produces a similar sound to the small skin wearer that approached the cavern. After making the same sound a few more times, it goes silent and instead starts to use its hands to feel the surface around it, it seems to be trying to observe its surroundings with touch rather than sight. I decide to call this one, 'First' as it was the first one to wake up.
I placed both of the skin wearers next to each other earlier so they can communicate, learning their way of communication will be much easier when I can see it happen naturally. The skin wearer eventually finds the other one, as it does, it becomes much more energetic and starts producing a different type of sound from its mouth while seemingly trying to rouse the other skin wearer from its unconsciousness by rocking it back and forth.
The previously unconscious one suddenly bolts up from a lying down position into a sitting position. I call this one 'Last' as it awoke last. "????" First produces a new sound in a much different tone to Last, after doing so Last looks in Firsts direction and leans over to embrace First. While embracing I hear them both making whimpering sounds.
After a short while of embracing, the two of them finally separate. "????? ??????" First produces the longest continuous amount of sounds I've witnessed them do so far, while doing so it brings one of its hands to a similar storage to the one I found on the corpse in the forest. Out of the storage, in the hands of First is a blue crystal.
In the hands of First the blue crystal starts emitting a blue tinted light. After a short while the light seems to be at its brightest, it roughly reaches halfway across the cavern, being on the opposite side, I'm still in the darkness. With the surroundings now lit up, First gets up and brushes off the dirt from its second skin. Last tries to get up as well but whimpers in pain from the gash on it's leg.
First turns around at the sound that Last produces and shifts back over. First rips off some of the second skin on Last and wraps it around the gash. "?????" First makes a sequence of different sounds towards Last then gets up with the crystal.
With the skin wearers seemingly wide awake, I make the decision to show myself to them. As I raise myself from a sitting position, the cavern floor cracks, making crunchy noises from my weight. Along with my movement, both of the skin wearers stop all their movements, look in my direction and I see them visibly tense up.
Not certain whether or not they are still a threat to me, I walk cautiously towards them, scrutinizing their every movement in great detail. "????" First produces the familiar sound again. Receiving no response except the clopping of my hooves, First takes a similar stance like the one that striked me before, it stands in front of Last, it looks to be a protective manoeuvre.
Finally, I reach the halfway mark of the cavern and the blue light starts to illuminate my body. Like every previous interaction with the skin wearers, they seem to all react the same way to seeing me. "HAAAAAAA" First and Last both scream out, from my experiences with these beings so far, I can confidently associate this reaction to fear. I focus on the sensations, to further my analysis, I feel the erratic, jittery wave surge towards me from them along with a blue miasma surrounding their bodies.
After screaming out, First falls back to the ground and embraces Last while watching my direction. From what I gather, these beings seem to find some part of my existence terrifying. I decide the best course of action, if I want to learn from them with my current capabilities, is to show them I am of no threat unless they provoke me.
I stand still, watching them, my breathing being the only sound I make. Focusing my senses purely on them, I can feel their hearts pumping loudly and their breathing erratic. It may take a while for them to transition from this terrified state, if they can at all.
"????" After a long while of silent staring, First produces a sound in a much quieter tone close to the head of Last. From what I've heard so far from how the skin wearers communicate, it seems to consist of a variation of specific sounds combined together. The two of them communicate between each other in the same quiet tone.
Getting slightly impatient, I think of options I could take to further this process faster. I know from when I was bitten I have the capability to produce sounds through my mouth, however that instance was in reflex to the pain, I don't know the capabilities of the sounds I can produce on purpose. Thinking over my experiences with the skin wearers, they all produced the same sound but in different tones when they found out of my presence, this could be a good place to start.
While I'm trying to get a feel for the process of forming a sound from my mouth, First seems to be getting up from it's sitting down position. Now standing up, First walks unsteadily closer towards me, at a very slow pace. I feel the same sensation surge towards me increase with every step First takes towards me. Last is still up against the wall of the cavern, watching me intently while embracing itself.
I realise as it reaches nearly halfway through the cavern, First was probably moving to better illuminate my body. First takes a large breath, then exhales, I notice it's heartbeat and breathing become slightly less erratic due to this action. After calming down slightly, First produces the familiar sound again but seems to have a hard time producing it, "?????".
Hearing it again, I'm now confident that this sound is some sort of greeting, the scenarios it has been used in always consist of the first thing the skin wearers communicate towards me. Confident in the meaning of this sound, and having got a feel for my mouth muscles, I attempt to mimic the greeting. "GHRREELLOO" I let out a booming, guttural sound.
Hearing my attempt at their greeting, First recoils and slips over onto its backside while Last lets out a small squeak. Being my first time trying to communicate, I can feel that having a snout may cause some problems when trying to mimic the skin wearers. I do notice ways in which to better my imitate through my first try though, I feel I will be able to get closer to the same sound with further tries.
With First still leaning on the floor, from apparent shock based on its heart and breathing rate, I decide to try again. "HRRELO" I utter in the same booming tone, but this time slightly closer to the sound im trying to make. Content with my attempt at their greeting, I decide to wait and see what the two of them will proceed to do next.
First continues to stare at me while slowly getting back up. After doing the same calming process as before, First produces the sound back, "H-hello?" I focus on the sensations, I can feel the surge coming from First reduce slightly, the surge from Last is still the same however.
I can gather from this greeting that the intent dictates the type of sound a skin wearer makes. Going on the basis that if I show my intent, First will respond with a sound to accompany it, I can learn specific sounds individually. To test this, I slowly reach down to the ground and pick up a rock. First flinches and takes a step backwards towards my action, obviously still on the defensive towards me.
With the rock in my hand, I raise it up between my forefinger and thumb to First and stay still. First's facial muscles change drastically, similar to the skin wearer earlier who attacked me. This facial contortion may be linked to the current thought process, as I've seen their faces go through similar changes when they first see me.
While holding the rock still, Last makes a sequence of sounds towards First. I notice some parts of the sounds Last makes are similar to some parts in the sound I produced, but I can't comprehend the rest. First turns it's head back briefly to Last. "????" First communicates with Last, this time I can't comprehend any of it.
Apparently done with their back and forth, First shifts and turns back to face me. After a short while, First bends down, I narrow my eyes concentrating on his every move. First picks up a rock like me, with the rock between his forefinger and thumb like me, First makes a different sound, "???"
With the sound being much different to the last one, I think of ways to produce the sound easier. Hearing no response from me, First repeats the same sound again, this time it points at the rock in its hand. I decide the best way to make the sounds is to split it apart. If I learn how to make both parts of the sound I can combine them together after.
I attempt the first part of the sound, "Rgho."
First repeats the sound again. It seems to think I'm having trouble remembering it and repeats itself in an attempt to help me. Ignoring Firsts useless efforts, I try to produce the second part of the sound, "ckgh." Content with my efforts for now, I combine them together and attempt to produce the full sound, "Rhoockgh."
First moves it's head up and down quickly, not understanding what this means, I ignore it. While I'm pondering how to better mimic the sounds, First puts the rock down and then points to itself. I focus back on First as it points at itself and makes a new sound, "????"
From Firsts previous action, the sound it makes seems to be related to what it's pointing at. Pointing at itself, it repeats the sound again. Firsts intent seems to be that it's related to the sound. From the experience so far, I feel I can better mimic these sounds.
"Khhrray" this time I manage to mimic the sound much better.
First does the head gesture again, it seems this is an affirmation of some sort. I gather from this interaction that the sound associated with this skin wearer is Kray. While me and the skin wearer Kray are communicating, Last still stares at me with the surging sensation flowing the same as before.
Kray continues to teach me new sounds that relate to items, none of us move from our positions while doing so. I learned that the sound associated with Last is "Skely", this sound was much harder to make than Kray. I also learned the sound associated with their second skin is "clothes", the sound for the top part is "shirt" and the bottom is "trousers".
As I learn more sounds, I get much better at assembling the parts of each sound and new ones become much easier to form in my mouth. Eventually Kray stops teaching me new sounds, I am confused by this until I realise it has no more items to associate sounds to. At this point, Kray moves back over to Skely to communicate together.
After communicating for a short while, I see Skely pull out another crystal and hand it over to Kray. I observe Kray get up and do the calming process like before, after it's done it walks its way over towards me slowly. I watch Kray intently, making sure not to miss a single movement it makes.
As Kray comes closer, I can sense it's heart rate quicken more and more. I lower my head slightly, gazing down at Kray, it's short height compared to me makes itself apparent the closer it gets. Still holding the blue crystal at nearly arms length from me, my whole body is now illuminated for Kray who seems to be staring at the appendage between my legs. Getting slightly impatient at the skin wearer, I slightly move my hand which instantly causes him to recoil slightly.
Kray seems to take a short while to calm itself again, then walks back towards me. At arm's length from me, Kray now looks at my chest as he slowly raises his right hand holding the back crystal. I scrutinise Kray and the crystal intensely, watching for anything harmful. Kray stands in the same position and it's display begins to baffle me. I don't understand what it is trying to do.
Kray notices nothing happening, glances up to my face but flinches back down again. With Kray looking towards my chest again, it raises it's right hand, uses its forefinger and thumb to pick up the black crystal on the palm of its left hand and then puts it back on it. It repeats this movement a few times, then holds the black crystal out towards me again.
Catching the reasoning for its repetitive actions, I move my right hand to mimic its action and take the black crystal. I make sure to move slowly keeping in mind their weariness with me. As my forefinger and thumbs nails click on either side of the crystal, I see Krays hand shaking visibly. Taking the crystal from its hand, it quickly retracts the hand back to its side and rigidly shuffles backwards.
With the crystal in my grasp, I regard Skely and Kray one last time cautiously before examining further. With Kray now back together with Skely, I can hear them communicating again but I disregard it for now and focus on the crystal. Immediately after I concentrate on the crystal, I notice a familiar, but slightly different feeling to what the gathering inside me gives. The similar release feeling it gives off feels easier to accept, I'm not sure why but I feel like if I accept it, whatever its purpose is will be activated.
After checking my body for any changes, making sure the two skin wearers are in the same position, I accept whatever is inside the crystal. Immediately after I feel a stream of something similar to the swirling mass next to my heart travel towards my head, vigilant of its intentions I ready myself for anything.
The imperceptible stream enters my head and I feel a slight nausea develop. My vision starts to fade along with my muscles relaxing, I feel my head become extremely heavy. I try desperately to keep myself aware, my instincts flare in protest at the weakness I exhibit. I stumble, barely catching myself with my arms, then a huge wave of nausea assaults me and my vision fades away quickly.
"Kray, we should leave, we have no idea what it's going to do when it wakes up." I faintly hear a voice echo inside the cave.
Suddenly, I remember what happened. On instinct the first thing I do is try to get myself out of this powerless position, my muscles burst into action and push myself off the floor purely with my arms strength to an upright position. Now standing upright I scan my surroundings, everything is the same, except the human Kray is now huddled with the other human in the corner.
"HEEE" Along with my loud manoeuvre which crushed the ground where my hands met, Skely lets out a screech in surprise and fear.
< I see, the back crystal seems to have implanted the knowledge to understand the language as they call it. But this feels odd somehow, I feel like some part of me reject the idea of using this type of communication. >
While examining myself, I also recognize that I seem to be thinking with these human words now. The knowledge of these human words seems to have added a logical "thoughts" layer above my instinctual subconscious layer. This seems to be what my body is rejecting somewhat, it doesn't feel harmful but more like it is wrong for me to have this.
< This would explain the humans slow reaction time. This could also be linked to how their facial muscles, or expressions as they call it change as they experience a range of different thoughts. The humans also seem to use their language as a way to express their thoughts. The humans are worthy of my apprehensive stance so far, such a comprehensive communication tool would be immensely useful in a group. >
"U-umm, hello?" Distracted from my thoughts, I hear the human Kray call out to me.
I look over to Kray. The knowledge gained didn't give me any insight into anything but words and the intent behind them. Knowing the way to communicate I can now learn more about the workings of these humans. I answer back in the same booming tone as before, "Hello Human Kray."
Both Kray and Skely look taken aback at my reply. Not wanting to waste any time, I make my objective clear towards the two of them. "I will ask questions about humans and this place, you will answer." I assert this to them.
Kray seems to be the first one to re-adjust itself, it replies to me quickly while stuttering, "W-wait… w-what are you? What are you going to do to us?"
< This is troubling, If the humans are so easily controlled by emotions this could be much harder not knowing the right approach. I could try to force them into answering but then I might be met by them falling unconscious as before, which would just waste more time. >
Deciding to go the route of satisfying their curiosity, I answer back, "I am a being, if it is a name you are asking for I have none. For your second question, I am going to ask you questions about humans and this place."
< This word name came with the knowledge of their language, I will have to get used to this way of naming everything. >
Kray seems to process my answer for a short while, then replies hesitantly, "S-so, you're not going to kill us?"
< This explains the fear, they seem to think I will end them similar to the one earlier. >
"No, I will not kill you. All I want is for you answer my questions about humans and this place"
Kray sighs in apparent relief at my statement, but Skely whispers to Kray in an aggressive tone, "Kray you can't trust this, whatever it is, it killed Skev remember!"
< The one called Skely seems to think that by lowering its volume I won't be able to hear it. I'll stay quiet, this may give me more insight into their workings. >
Kray glances to see if I change in any way after what Skely said, after seeing nothing he replies in an equally quiet tone, "Skely, I'm as scared as you but what can we do? You saw how easily he killed Skev, and we don't even know where we are."
After that the human Skely opens and closes its mouth a few times but nothing comes out, it seems that what Kray said has won this argument if I understand the word correctly. Getting impatient I once again repeat myself, "I have answered your questions, so now you will answer my questions about humans and this place."
Kray focuses its attention back onto me, with some hesitance it replies, "I will answer the questions to the best of my ability. But you have to let us leave once you're done asking."
< This could be a problem. Without how these humans work they could go back to their gatherings and group together to dispose of me, however being able to communicate with them could also allow me to perhaps learn what I am and what my purpose is. >
With my mind made up I accept its request, "Very well, you can leave when I have asked the questions." I pause for a short while after, making my mind up as to which question I will ask first. "What is this place?" I ask thinking this may unlock some sort of memory inside of me as to what I'm here for.
Kray stares at me, then inquires. "What do you mean exactly?"
< It seems I will have to give more descriptive questions. >
"I am referring to this world and where I am on it." I explain.
"Oh, well the world is called Aeteneon and unless you have taken us off it, we should be on the island of Skut'Hirin."
< This Aeteneon name doesn't affect me in any way, however I'm curious as to what these island and Skut'hirin are. >
"What are these island and Skut'hirin things you speak of?" I inquire.
"Hmm, I guess it didn't teach you that. Well an island is a portion of land surrounded by water. Skut'hirin is the name of the island we are on, I only know that the name comes from an old language before Skorons time."
"And where are we on this Skut'hirin you speak of?"
Kray looks troubled by my next question, he looks up to me and creases his eyebrows, "I would have to know where you have taken us to answer that question."
< This doesn't seem like much of a risk, if I end up releasing them they will find out either way. >
"This place is inside the forest not far from where I found you." I obliged, disclosing our whereabouts.
Kray sighs, I can see his body visibly relax slightly after saying where we are. "Well, let's see. To start with, the forest we are in is called the Devouring Forest which is at the centre of the island. You found us on the path from Dur village to the town of Asgot."
< This village must be the smaller structure where Skely and Kray came from, which means the town of Asgot was the much larger stone structure where the humans were coming and going from. >
Interested in the meaning of these structures, I inquire for more details, "Village Dur and town of Asgot you speak of, what is their purpose."
"They are fortifications, places for people to make their home. We gather in large groups and build them to protect us."
< This is interesting, they seem to carry over similarities of the quadruped beings I encountered earlier. However the human's intellectual levels allow them to gather in much larger groups, there must be some sort of hierarchy in these groups, as they are beings so affected by emotions. I'll have to inquire about this later. >
Being interested in the field of influence humans have, I ask, "And these fortifications, how many of these are there?"
Kray looks at me troubled, then replies, "well, I can't really answer that question. Just on Skut'hirin, even I don't how many there are. The best way I can explain it is that there are fortifications all over the island, like Village Dur and the town of Asgot along with much larger fortifications."
< This raises the threat of these humans even more. Depending on the size of this island, there could be an enormous amount of them. It seems in my best interest to not openly antagonise the humans without knowing their strength. >
While thinking of strength, I remember how the human who managed to slice into my arm. Curious as to how it managed to utilise such speed and power, I ask for an explanation, "The human you were with earlier, how did he manage to move so fast and with such power."
At the mention of the human, the expression on Krays face changes. I decide to focus on the sensations. I feel the erratic, jittery sensation from Skely be overwhelmed by a hot, blazing fire-like one, a red miasma starts to amass around its body. Kray also exhibits similar changes but less intensive.
< I have had my ideas on what these sensations and colours are, but this seems to prove what I have been seeing and feeling the emotions of the beings. This red intense emotion seems to be anger or rage, the blue erratic jittery emotion seems to be fear. This still doesn't explain why these emotions surge towards me in particular, as of yet I haven't witnessed any other being absorb emotions like I do. >
While I'm in thought, Krays emotions have lessened, Skelys however are still raging as before. Kray eventually answers my question in an indignant tone, "Skev was his name. His body was tempered by Enhancement through his work as a mercenary. Enhancement allows the body to go beyond its normal limits by gathering magical energy inside the body."
< So the human used this magical energy to boost its seemingly weak body to a much stronger and faster state. Kray also addressed the human Skev with the word "his", I'll have to ask later about how these humans differentiate between their female and male counterparts as they address them differently. This mercenary thing also intrigues me, another thing I will have to ask about later. >
Intrigued, I demand, "What is this magical energy you speak of."
Kray takes a short while to think, then clarifies, "I'm not too knowledgeable on the magics of Aeteneon, however I do know that magical energy is all around us and people can harness it to empower themselves or create extraordinary effects. That crystal you used is one of the ways magical energy can be used."
< This is most interesting. I need to learn more about this magical energy, perhaps I am also able to harness it to strengthen myself. >
While thinking about the human named Skev and its ability, I get curious as to how many of the humans are like it. "This human Skev, how many more like him are there among you?"
This question seems to unsettle Kray, I can see him hesitate to answer me like when I asked about Skev before, however this time I sense a fear coming from it rather than anger. Kray eventually answers me, in an energetic tone, "Yes there are many more like Skev, in fact Skev was extremely weak among us humans." I catch Skely finally look away from me towards Kray at this statement, but I don't have enough experience with humans to understand the reaction. Kray continues with emphasis, "In fact in the town of Asgot we have hundreds of us much, much stronger than Skev."
< Well this seems to further my decision to not antagonise the humans. In my current state, not knowing the full capabilities of my body, or what the gathering mass inside me of me is, battling a mass of humans like I saw outside the town of Asgot with capabilities higher than Skev would result in me perishing. >
After brooding over what Kray said, I get troubled and ask, "If you have so many powerful humans, why do you need those fortifications that you say are to protect you?"
I see Kray start to fidget with its hands and the emotion of fear starts to surge again as I ask my question. I do not have sufficient experience to know the current emotional state the human is in, but it seems to reply in a similar way when it asked me what I was earlier. "Well… you see. We have many powerful people as I said before, but we also have weak people like us who need protection, this is why the fortifications are built."
< These humans seem to mystify me more and more. Why would they have any need for the weak? >
Bringing my thoughts forward I ask Kray to enlighten me, "And why do you humans who have so many strong have use for the weak?"
"All humans, whether weak or strong, have a role to fill. Like the mercenary job I mentioned before, these are where our strong go to do jobs that others may not be able to, like killing beasts. We also have many jobs for weak people like managing shops, forging equipment or making food and much more." Kray proudly declares.
Thinking back to my thoughts on the hierarchical structure, I ask for further information, "What human decides the allocation of jobs? Does one lead all of the humans of the town of Asgot?"
Kray scratches his head and goes quiet, the human Kray seems to have become much more relaxed in my presence. After a brief moment, he says, "again, this question isn't as simple to answer. We do have a ruling human in Asgot, but the job of the ruler is no to manage each human individually, but make decisions that affect the population as a whole. Humans choose the job they want to pursue in life, for example I am a merchant, someone who sells goods to others."
< Once again these humans perplex me. Giving such availability to every single being is incredibly wasteful, it would be much better to assign them jobs based on analysis. Hmmm, it also mentioned they choose their own job, what is there to stop all of them from trying to be ruler? >
"And how exactly do you decide who is the ruler?" I question.
Kray sighs and replies in a familiar tone, which I can now assume to be slight annoyance or exhaustion, "same as before this question is not easily answerable. We Hirin, the name of us people on the island of Skut'hirin have relied heavily on families and bloodlines. Our current lord, Guruek Tidir, is of the Tidir family, which has ruled Asgot for hundreds of winters. Once Guruek dies, or is not fit to rule, a member of the Tidir family will take over the position of ruler."
< The more I learn about these humans the more interested I am. They seem to have a very high intelligence among them but they have rules which seem illogical. >
While I'm in thought, Skely speaks up suddenly, "Kray come here." Kray glances at my direction, then makes its way over towards Skely. Kray kneels down next to Skely and I hear Skely whisper in a taut tone, "When are you going to ask to leave? Are you going to just let it ask questions forever?"
I catch Kray eye my direction briefly, I make no reaction to observe further. Kray whispers back, "I know, I know. It's just I'm worried if I stop asking questions it will kill us."
< I am reluctant to let these humans go now with so many questions I still have to ask, but their agitation seems to be rising. With my experience so far with the humans, this agitation might lead to an unfavourable report of myself when they go back. From my experience with Kray they seem to be able to communicate with me, so if I allow them to go back I may be able to communicate for more knowledgeable ones. >
Skely counters back, "What do you mean? What's stopping it from killing us after we answer all his questions?" Skely winces and presses around the wound. "Kray, my leg needs treatment."
< The human named Skely seems to have an immense influence on the human Kray, I wonder if she is from one of these bloodlines as Kray mentioned. >
To Skelys harsh tone, Kray frowns looking down at the now blood soaked bandage. Instead of responding to Skely, Kray gets up and makes its way towards me. I can sense fear surging towards me from Kray again as it demands quickly, "We want to leave, we have answered many of your questions and been here while."
Having made my mind up previously, I accept, "You can leave. You should tell the other humans I wish to learn more of what you know."
The fear from Kray weakens slightly to my answer, and it shuffles back towards Skely. Kray helps lift Skely off the ground and Skely leans on Kray for support, most likely the wound has made it incapable of moving. As I watch them limp to the exit of the cave, Kray periodically shifts its head slightly to check in my direction.
< The humans may have me outnumbered and be strong but with just this encounter I can see many weaknesses that could be exploited. I need more observation of them, but from the humans I have met so far their emotions take too much of a hold on them. So far I have only encountered a single combat oriented human, I anticipate they rely heavily on working in groups to win in combat, like how they group up to survive. >
While they leave the cave, I go back to sit down in the corner. These humans have given me much more knowledge than I originally anticipated and there seems to be even more I don't know. With these humans apparently being the strongest inhabitants of this world I have met so far, I brood over the knowledge I've gained and also think of ways I can better protect myself.
Intermission Krick
"So Tlifae and Gieliack went to war huh" I mumble to myself, relaxing back in my cushioned chair. "Thank god the most action we get here is a beast wave every twenty or so winters. I'm sure the Skhitir family is going to be busy meanwhile, trying to gain favour with either side, which means they'll be busy for however long it takes the war to end."
I raise my hand and massage the bridge of my nose in an attempt to ease my headache. I ease my body and release some of my magical energy to re energise myself. I feel a lukewarm wave of pleasure roll through me as my headache slowly fades away. The dreariness from a lack of sleep last night because of work in preparation for the incoming beast wave recedes.
< hah, imagine if they knew the highly acclaimed compressors resort to using their pure magical energy to ease sleep deprivation. >
I chuckle to myself. Looking back down at my desk full of reports and other assortments. One report in particular is my focus, it was given to me by Ordornan last night. Possibly the most peculiar report I've ever received, even as a guild manager. I thought this Ovin was high on Ficsee when I read about his illustration of the hoof size.
< Ordornan even said he believed the boy, now I'm wishing I did to so I didn't send some of our own people to check it out. Fuck me, what sort of monstor rips a mutated Krald mothers head clean off and breaks through Deavine trees like they are twigs. They said the path ended at the treeline, but an inner forest beast would have trampled towards us in a mindless rage. No, this is something different… something much more terrifying. >
Deep in thought and not keeping my senses enhanced as normal, I'm caught off guard by a knock on one of the double doors leading into my office. Almost on instinct, I sit back up with a perfectly straight back and immediately reply in my usual well-spoken tone, "Come in."
Swiftly entering my office is Ordornan, who out of sorts, hurriedly makes his way over towards me. I stare at him as he responds quickly and slightly flustered, "Guild manager, I have urgent news. We have found another occurrence of the being that was reported to us yesterday."
I tense up and prepare myself for some bad news, then demand with authority, "tell me where it happened and when, I want to know all the details now."
I can see Ordanan visibly sweat as he begins to deliver the details quickly, "We know from the guards at Dur Village that it must have happened a short while after Sovignar set. A very well respected mercenary, by the name of Skev under the private contract to Honourable Diran Skiltit ,was escorting his wife and a merchant friend respectively named Skely and Kray. They were making travel to Asgot from Dur village after selling goods and attacked on the path." I grimace slightly as I have an idea where this is going. "Kray and Skely's bodys were not found, however Skevs body was. There were signs of battle, but there was apparently only a slight amount of blood from whatever attacked them and a broken in half Kilunum sword. Skev was lying dead, the messenger's description was a whole the size of his chest that seemed to have been forcefully torn through."
Trying my best not to shout in surprise at the utterly ridiculous report, I bring my hand up to massage my nose bridge as the headache comes assaulting back like it never left. Not letting my thoughts get out of control, I quickly demand back in a taut tone, "We need to notify Guruek at once. I want the boy, Ovin was his name to come as well. Bring all of the people who saw the scene as soon as possible. And send out an urgent job for treeline inspection, I want to know where this thing is right now!"
Ordornan tenses up and shouts back, "Yes guild manager. Right away!" He then paces out of the office trying to look as dignified as possible but failing miserably. Once outside, I completely relax and press my face into the palms of my hands.
< For fucks sake! Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse with a strong beast wave we have a possibly worse than seen before inner forest beast with intelligence. >