Several Days Later | October 25th, Year 110
Remaining Distance to Kysora: 1000KM
The Crescent Forest
01:22
The trip to Nightfall Village had been relatively calm since departing from the Crescent River Bridge. We ventured through the dreary cold forests and came across others who walked the roads. Getting to know the unusual trio quickly became an enjoyable part of the trip. I didn't usually encounter many people outside my hometown, so learning about their lives was exciting to me.
We were walking through the dead of night to disguise our group from unwanted attention. It was unfortunate to know that the group was being hunted by bounty hunters and guards during their day-to-day lives, and all because they were members of enslaved races. It was hard wrapping my head around the cruel treatment of Kryos, but I needed to focus on the objective ahead of me. The problem of their treatment was too big for me to handle; I was not powerful enough to change what was set in stone.
The forests left a silence that unsettled me. I knew we were nearing Nightfall Village, but the area remained desolate. These forests were known as the Crescent Forest. According to Macau, these forests are filled with unsightly beasts and people, and much criminal activity is run through this region. The group had done a few jobs in this area, although I didn't know what they did specifically.
The silence would continue until Macau had come to a stop, and Koba and Sulkir followed suit. We had stopped in a clearing that the dark forests surrounded. I looked around the area, not spotting anything. The sudden stop confused me.
"Why did we stop?" I whispered, mindful of the potential dangers.
Macau placed a finger over his mouth, gesturing to me to be silent. He slowly lifted his right foot, moving it slightly forward before subtly placing it down. He continued this pattern until he was about ten steps away. Macau turned to face us, motioning us to do the same.
I looked at Sulkir and Koba, both of which had an unsettled appearance, and they diligently took Macau's exact steps. I didn't understand what was happening, but I made sure to do as they did before I ended up in a potentially dangerous situation. A sour fragrance filled the area. I tried to ignore it and continue following the path, but Macau's eyes widened.
"RUN!" He shouted.
I felt an intense sharpness coming behind me as if something or someone wanted to kill me. Before it could make contact with me, I jumped into the air, dodging its attack. I glanced at what tried to attack me, and I plummeted to the ground.
"Lux!" Sulkir yelled out, "We can't fight that beast. You have to run!"
I stood back up, running toward the group. I understood enough to not question their decisions at a crucial moment. It was apparent that any hesitation would get me killed. I sprinted with the group into the dark forest, taking cover from any open spots. Upon running, I caught a glimpse of the beast, and it was horrifying. We continued until we knew we weren't being chased, stopping near the location of Nightfall Village, only a kilometer out.
Macau stated, "We should be safe for now. The Yelwah doesn't like to hunt outside of its territory, so I doubt it would make its way over here."
"Yelwah?" I asked, panting from exhaustion.
"It's a high-tiered Erudir or manabeast. To put it in simpler terms, it's a super-duper-charged beast capable of wiping out a village in a matter of minutes. Its speed and camouflage make it nearly impossible to detect until you smell a sour odor when it is near you unless you have a heightened sense of smell, as I do. It likes to lurk within trees surrounding clearings or open spots in the forest, waiting until someone steps into its trap," Macau replied.
"Is that why we were following your movements in the clearing?"
Macau answered, "Yes. The Yelwah creates natural pitfalls that don't alter the surface's appearance. If an unsuspecting person walks over it, the ground will crumble beneath them, and they will either die in the fall or once the Yelwah comes."
Macau's description only added to my relief that I didn't fall victim to such a scary creature.
Sulkir added, "It's a massive insect-like creature that has torn wings, four back legs, two front legs that act as arms, and sharp mandibles to compliment its horned head. Thankfully, there's only one variant, unlike most Erudirs."
Koba shook at Sulkir's description, which also left me feeling itchy. I hated every bit of what was said and that the scary-ass mega bug existed.
"It's really odd, though. Yelwahs tend to hibernate during the colder months, only becoming active from mid-spring to early fall. We should stay on high alert as long as we are in these forests," Macau warned.
We kept our guards up as we walked the remaining distance to the village. The forests were shrouded in a thick and unnatural fog, further obscuring our surroundings. Combined with the dense forest and darkness, it became difficult to even see a few feet in front of us. We continued through the quiet forest until the sounds of people could be heard.
"We must be close to Nightfall," Koba said.
The eeriness of the forest faded with the candle-lit posts that came into view, followed by several people walking along the dim path ahead. The village enjoyed its shrouded surroundings, as the lighting was minimal, and the people wore dark clothing that covered their faces. The buildings were made of worn dark oak, showing its ruggedness and decay. Nothing in the village was appealing to me, nor did I want to seem appealing to it.
"We should stop at the inn down the road. We should have more privacy to say our goodbyes there," Macau said.
I nodded in response, understanding that I would be alone again once I left the village. The inn was about as run-down as the other buildings, appearing slightly better upon entering. There was a load of people inside, drinking and partying, lighting up the drab moodiness that the structure gave off. The inn featured a decent staircase along the leftmost wall, which I assumed led to the rooms.
However, just as in the last inn, we were met with many looks. Unlike that time, the people went back to their partying, ignoring our group. Among the people, there were a few goblins and dwarves, sharing drinks alongside the others and laughing together. We approached the bar, which was run by a burly orc.
The orc noticed Sulkir and Koba, greeting them, "I see you ruffians are finally back. I'm happy the Yelwah didn't snare you two along the way, so you can pay the damages you both caused last time."
Sulkir sneered, "Like I said last time, it's not my fault those guys tried something so stupid as to attack us. You should be paying us for not maintaining our safety."
He turned his attention to Macau and me, brushing off Sulkir's comment. "The dragonkin returns. Having to deal with these two must be tiring, huh? Who's the new guy? Is he an adventurer too?" He asked.
Macau responded, "This is Lux. He's accompanying us for the time being." He sat at a larger stool, seemingly made for the bigger races. Macau asked, "Do you know anything about the Yelwah nearby, Roake?"
"If I knew anything, I'd have a few more coins in my pocket. You know the deal, Roehtek," he replied.
Macau let out a chuff before handing out a handful of silver coins, "Speak."
I observed the conversation, curious as to what Roake said that angered Macau. There was still a lot that I didn't quite understand about the group I was with, but it wasn't my business to know in the first place.
After pocketing the coins, Roake shined a glass with a rag in hand, cleaning it thoroughly as he revealed the situation. He spoke, "From what I've been hearing, the Yelwah that moved in is slightly different in appearance from its normal bugginess, having a dark purple color instead of black. It's very violent; hunting for sport instead of survival and moving closer to the village each day."
Koba interrupted, a shakiness consuming her speech, "You mean to say that this Yelwah is a different variant?"
Roake shrugged, maintaining the group's suspicions. Roake continued, "We aren't too certain if it's a new variant since it hasn't shown anything new in terms of ability. Not much else is known since these criminals are too scared to check it out."
The last comment Roake made was met with the tucked heads of several patrons. They were too afraid to challenge his snide remark. I understood their fear, having almost been caught by the Yelwah.
Roake poured the group some drinks before asking me, "Want a drink?"
"I'm all good, thanks," I replied.
Roake poured another glass, taking it for himself. He downed his drink, then looked up at the group, "We have three rooms available if you're all planning on staying the night, about four copper a night. If not, I have no reason to keep wasting my time with non-patrons."
"I'll take a room for myself," I said, handing him my remaining coins as he passed me a numbered key. I exchanged glances with the rest of the group, "I'll be heading up now."
Walking up the creaking staircase, I heard Roake continue the conversation, which faded as I approached my room.
"He's an interesting one. What's his d–"
Opening the door to my room, I was met with a blast of cold air that was coming from the only window inside it. The moonlight peered through the window while the rest of the room was quite dark. I decided to sit down on the bed, replacing my bandages with clean ones. I left my door open, waiting for the group to come up.
One Hour Later | 02:34
I heard a set of footsteps approaching the room, the floorboards creaking as they neared. My sword wasn't too far from my bed since I understood what types of people this village had, though I had a feeling that it was just the group. I knew upon hearing Macau's heavy footsteps loudly creak the floor. The footsteps stopped at my door, Macau's hand knocking on it as he poked his head into the room, ducking down to fit in the frame.
He asked, "May I enter, Lux?"
I gestured him into the room, saying, "Of course you can. Are Sulkir and Koba coming in as well?"
Macau entered the room. It had a lower ceiling than what he was comfortable in. He yelled out into the hallway, "Koba, Sulkir, hurry along now."
The pair hurried into the room, closing the door behind them. Koba and Sulkir's faces were flushed, seemingly drunk from the drinks offered downstairs.
Koba hiccupped, "I think we dr–ank too much."
I laughed at the two, "Good to see you guys relax some more." I switched the topic of the conversation, "So, what are you guys planning on doing after this?"
Sulkir replied, a bit more used to drinking than Koba, "We planned on heading back to the guild in Marlokar after this. If we see each other again, I'll be happy to give ya a hand."
I smiled at him, "I'll have to take you up on that one day, but it won't be any time soon. I still have a lot to do before that."
"Check in with the adventurer's guild named 'For Glory and Fame.' If we aren't in the city, they'll be able to assist you," Macau said.
I nodded, "Sounds like a good idea. I appreciate the help you guys have given me."
"We should thank you for accompanying us to this village. You made the journey much safer to travel and more exciting at that," Macau thanked.
As we were talking, a loud crash sounded from a nearby building. People ran out of the dust cloud, screaming and shouting. We stood up, and I grabbed my sword, ready for a battle.
Screams filled the village as we headed downstairs. Roake and the drunken group were taking cover behind the bar. The darkness outside made it hard to see what was happening, except for the flames growing over the debris.
"Roake, do you know what's happening?" Macau asked.
The man trembled, "The Yelwah, it's attacking the village. I can't believe it."
Macau's eyes narrowed, and his demeanor was fierce. He looked at us, giving out orders, "We need to stay together to keep our advantage in numbers. Lux, watch the flank since you're the quickest of us. Koba, support Sulkir while he shoots his poison darts. I'll take care of the front since it'll be more difficult for it to take me down."
We took to our positions, walking out of the inn to confront the Yelwah. Our group stayed alert, watching for traps set by the tricky creature. There were massive pits where large portions of buildings fell into with bodies laid out on the ground that were gnawed at. I wasn't sure how many people had died, but the Yelwah's bloodlust was not stopping soon.
We heard a loud screech from on top of the inn's roof. I was looking right at the building, but the Yelwah wasn't in sight. The fog was too dense to track the monster, perfectly covering it from view. I heard a light footstep in the distance, which drew much closer with each step it took, almost dashing at me.
I swung my sword for an attack, warning the group as my blade clashed with it, "It's behind you guys!"
I saw the monster before me, its bladed, insect-like arms struggling against my sword. Sulkir turned around, immediately shooting poison into the Yelwah's underbelly. The Yelwah let out a screech, backing away from me and retreating into the fog.
"Be ready for its next attack," Macau warned.
We continued walking around the village, waiting for the Yelwah's next strike. The screams of the villagers became quieter and quieter as time progressed. It was feeding on the stragglers and the bodies it had left in the pits. Approaching one of the holes, we decided to jump down into it. I felt that we were going to be picked off if it kept stalling us, so jumping down where it was most confident would bring it right to us.
The pit was about thirty feet deep without the debris, forcing the group to scrape down the sides of the hole, which I used my sword to do. Upon reaching the bottom, there were a few bodies on the ground. The bodies were uneaten, seemingly dying from the fall alone.
Macau began digging into a wall of the pit with his claws, creating a divot within it for one or two people to hide. He turned to Sulkir and Koba, who were struggling to maintain sober minds, motioning them to use the small space he created. Once they fit into the divot, he placed a body over it. Macau hurried over to me, digging out an area in the ground, where he gestured for me to lay.
"Wait for my signal," Macau whispered.
Macau dragged a few more bodies around, scattering them before laying himself over the hole I was hiding in. I was a little concerned, but I trusted Macau's judgment. We waited for the Yelwah to come. Our trap was set, though it was a risky one. Macau's body blocked my vision of the area, so I had to rely on his signal before acting.
Five Minutes Later | 02:52
I heard a loud scuttering above me. Something was moving around the pit, shifting the bodies. The sounds neared Macau's body. It was definitely the Yelwah, finally coming down to eat its prey. The bug was making a strange sound, almost chattering. It stopped at a body next to Macau, preparing to bite down on the dead, letting out a low buzz.
My vision quickly shifted from the darkness as Macau jolted upwards and grabbed onto the Yelwah from behind. I came out of the pit with my sword readied. Macau was holding down the Yelwah, which struggled against his size and strength. I ran at the bug monster, swinging my blade across its eyes and slashing them open. It let out a loud cry, trying to escape Macau's grasp. The Yelwah was stuck, open to all attacks as long as Macau could hold it.
"Lux, escape with the others! It's too strong for me to hold," Macau shouted.
The Yelwah's mandibles clamped down on his arm, attempting to rip it off entirely. Macau began bleeding from his hands, holding the Yelwah's sharply serrated arms ripped into his flesh. I was watching him lose his grip on the beast as it started humming.
I looked at Macau, whose face winced in pain, and I thought back to the death of Sancto. I could save Macau here; he didn't have to die. I knew I could kill the Yelwah with the next strike.
"I'm sorry, Macau, but I'm here to fight. I'm not here to watch you die in front of me," I stated.
I rushed the Yelwah as it had almost cut entirely through Macau's arm, taking one final swing at the bug. My sword dug into its chest, dragging downward through its abdomen. The Yelwah's humming faded as it stopped cutting through Macau's arm. I kept my sword inside its body, shifting the direction of the blade sideways and pushing it through, cutting the bug's abdomen into two pieces. Macau let go of the Yelwah, and its body fell to the ground, lifeless.
He sat down on the ground, holding his arm in place. Macau asked, "Why didn't you listen to me?"
"Listen to who? I'm just saving someone in need. It's not like you're my superior," I replied, rubbing my nose and a smirk appearing on my face.
Macau sighed, "You are right. You don't have to listen to me." He smiled, "Thank you for the help, swordsman."
"It's my pleasure. Now, let's get back to the inn. I'm exhausted and still injured from my previous scuffles," I said, helping Macau up.
We headed over to the divot that Sulkir and Koba were hiding within. The two were concerned. After all, seeing Macau's arm had made them worry. I looked at the walls surrounding us, trying to find a way to climb back up as the group dealt with treating Macau's arm. The walls' formation was strange, and since the Yelwah couldn't fly, it needed to have a way to climb up the pits.
"Any luck on the way out?" Sulkir asked, wrapping up the rest of Macau's hand.
I continued scanning the walls, and I finally found a path upward. Several parts of the walls had jutted out in small sections, creating a far-apart set of stairs.
"I think I figured it out," I said, approaching the base of the obscure stairs.
I jumped onto the first jut of rock and hopped to the next part, continuing all the way to the top of the pit. The juttings were sturdy and supported me as I jumped onto them. Scaling the hole was relatively easy, and I could now understand how the Yelwah was able to climb them so quickly.
After reaching the top, the fog had already dissipated, and I could see the damage done to the village. Close to half of it was wiped out – buildings were wrecked, the bodies of those who fled filled the streets, and the Yelwah's numerous pitfalls contained even more death and destruction. My mind struggled to wrap around it all. There was so much more that could have been done.
I whispered under my breath, "Why do things have to be this way?"
The others of the group made it up to the top of the pit. Macau's arm was wrapped up, although he would need to be treated by a doctor soon to avoid bleeding out or any other complications. Sulkir had sobered up, while Koba remained a little tipsy. They all looked exhausted, having traveled for so long and dealing with the Yelwah. However, they exchanged looks, talking about something before approaching me. The three of them shared a bitter-sweet look on their faces.
Sulkir was the first to speak, "This will be the last time you'll see us until you reach Marlokar. I'm sorry that Koba and I couldn't help against the Yelwah."
I was taken aback, but I had a feeling that it would turn out this way. I reassured the two, "Don't worry about it. You guys were ready for a peaceful and fun night after a long day of traveling."
Koba's guilty expression lightened, "Thanks for covering our asses back there, country boy."
"We greatly appreciate what you've done for us, Lux. We hope to see you in the future," Macau said, extending his uninjured hand.
I smiled, shaking his hand, "I hope to see you guys again. Stay safe."
The group turned away, walking off to another building, probably one with a doctor in it. I looked back, facing the inn. There was nothing else to do in the village other than sleep. Thankfully, the inn remained undamaged, so I could get proper sleep. Tomorrow, I'll continue my journey to Kysora.