After I realised my role in this world might be coming to be, I went home then went to bed. Brad who was in the background all night came into the house with a grin on his face. "You had fun I see brother but why are already trying to sleep?" Brad said to me and I let out a loud "Ha" then I said to him through the wall. "I found out that Helda is actually a Viking Princess, and with the long night she did something that made me confused." I heard my brother by the door and then he opened it seeing my sitting up worrying about it. He looked right at me when I looked right up at him.
"What did she do to you that made you like this brother?" He asked me and I told him, "She gave me a kiss on my cheek then she gave me this thing." I showed him the badge coin thing she gave me and he started laughing. "Well seems you stole the heart of a Princess Bro, but isn't that just like you to do?" He said making me feel even more weird about it but then he told me this. "When she was here did she ever do anything to show you that she liked you?' I looked back then said, "She stayed with me while I was making those Knives and stuff why." He smiled at me, "I thought I was the younger brother, she must of saw something she liked."
He then left my room and I fell asleep with more questions in my head. Then as I slept till morning I felt warmer than before, I looked up to se the sun was shining on my body. It was now early morning, I got up then headed to the forge and I grabbed a few things to hunt with. A bow, couple of metal arrows I made instead of the wooden ones. I saw my old axe that Helga gave me on the boat ride here. I put that on my belt then I headed to the woods right as Brad woke up. It took me an hour to get to a good spot, which was about a mile from the village. I went to the ground to track the animals I saw in the woods to see a feline track on the ground.
This scared me a bit because I didn't know that there was an wild cats here. I looked up to see something I've only seen in a mythology book from my school days. It was a Manticore but it looked more like a Minotaur. Though the face was a lions face with a scorpion tail, I saw it was chilling on a rock next to the water. I sniffed the air and looked in my direction, I froze a second then I felt my body step out of the brush I was behind. The creature looked at me and saw the bow and axe I had with me. For some reason I wasn't scared of it just more curious of why it hadn't attack me yet.
"I'm Jake, I live not that far from here, I've just come here for a deer or something for food." I said to the creature and it stood up, "You're looking for a fight then?" it said in a woman's voice glaring at me, I raised my hands to reply to her question. "No ma'am, I'm here to get deer or a boar, I have issue with a Manticore like you." She sat on the rock then looked me up and down and asked me. "Why do you have those human weapons then especially that axe thing on your side?" I looked at my axe then took it out, "This thing I only use for defence, like if I get attacked by another person, you can never be to careful."
I said to her as I got closer, she now saw I wasn't scared of her. "You're not a normal human, where do you come from?" She asked me and I hesitated, but I told her. "I'm not a human from this world, I'm from another world like this. I've only seen your kind in books and on paintings on cave walls from my world." She then grabbed me with her tail and picked me up off the ground. I was now scared but I tried to hide it from the female Manticore. She laughed, "Your scared now but I guess that because I just grabbed you, why aren't you really scared of me?" She asked me and I got loose and fell to the ground.
"I've met gods before hit the ground in this world, I've met kings that have told me this worlds has magic. I'm not suprised this world has creatures like you here, I'm guessing dragons and other nonhumans are real too." I said to her and she shook her head telling me that I was right about the end part. "I will not tell anyone you're around since I know how humans can be, but would you let me hunt for my food. I will only take one deer or boar, I'm not a glutton like some people are." The Manticore looked at me then she waved me off, "Don't over hunt otherwise I don't care what you do just leave me to my rock."
She said to me and I smiled as I left for the rest of my hunt. I headed down the river moving as quietly as possible to were I couldn't hear my own steps. For a while I kept looking back just in case that Manticore decided to follow me. I got to this clearing and I saw a huge boar grazing in the field. I knew my arrows wouldn't kill but with a shot I could get it to chase me so I can kill it with my axe. So I waited till it faced in my direction and I beemed it in the but. It quickly turned around and saw me standing about 20 yards from it, super close. It didn't hesitate and charged right at me with great speed.
I waited till it was about to hit me then I put my axe right in between us. As It hit my axe head I twisted my body and I slashed it's neck with one swing. It died from that one hard swing and I fell to the floor in relief since I didn't have a follow up attack. I felt it was to heavy for me to carry all so I cut it up and made a stick dragging waggon for the way back. I had meat for a solid month with the boar I killed but I knew I had to much. So when I crossed where the female Manticore had been I laid an offering for her as I returned back home. Now with the load lighter I made great time going home to my village.
When I had left home for the hunt it was early morning but now it was about mid afternoon. Helga was at the entrance of the Village worring about something and I guess it was for me. I had been gone a bit to long or it was something else. She saw me with the spoils of the hunt and she kind of smiled but she looked at the village ship docks. A large black ship was there and I saw a couple of men arguing with Ursa and Astrid. I handed the waggon to Helga which she almost dropped from the heavyness as I ran to the docks. I passed my house and I yelled to my brother who was coming out to see what was going on.
"We got a situation with unwanted," I said to him and he grabbed his short sword. Brad was a bit behind but I got to docks as a guy went to slap Ursa in the face. Right before he got the chance to get her I caught him in the face with a punch of my own. The guy flew about ten feet back on his ass as his men gathered around us. Then the leader came up to see who came to the girls rescue, but laughed when he saw a chubby guy was the savior. "Whats this my second getting knocked out by a fat guy, how shameful." He said and I smiled, "Touch my friends and you'll meet the same fate as him."
I said looking at the man I punched coming to, I took a second look at the man and saw he was the guy I faught from that first port. I took off my shirt to show off my black smith muscle from working nonstop for a couple months. My arms were tight and chest was just a slimmed but I still had a gut. I then went to strike first but Helga came to stop the fighting. "You need to leave my land and my waters!" She ordered the rogue man but he just smiled as I was hit by a stray arrow to my leg. I couldn't move as the men closed in to hit me over and over. I saw my brother was finally getting here but I stopped him.
"Stay there brother, they'll kill you!" I yelled out accepting that I may die for a moment. Then I heard wings above me flap and the men attacking me stopped. I then heard screams and a loud scary roar over me. I looked up for a second to see that the Manticore I met and gave my heavier meat came to save me. She killed many of the enemy then she breathed a very hot fire at the boat that fled for their lives. I passed out for a moment to fell a warm hand touch my chest. The Manticore was healing my wounds and then she sat me up as I was better. I opened my eyes to see she looked sad for me.
"I was going to find you and thank you for that food, but I saw those human bottom feeders killing you." She said to me as everyone who ran off were now watching me and the Manticore speak to eachother. "Thank you, for saving me, I thought I was a goner with how hard they were hitting me." The Manticore heard my brother approach from behind us. She spun around but she didn't snarl or growl at him she just smelled him. "He smells like you Jacob, is he your family?" She asked me and I told her that he was my younger brother. She seem to be smiling right as Helga came back to see if the battle was over.
The Manticore looked at Helga and she seemed to growl at her but I put my hand on her arm. "She's a good friend, she's the one who gave me my new life please don't harm her or the village." I said to her and she walked right up to Helga. "Jacob why do you know this creature, you know what she is right?" Helga asked me and I laughed, "Yes ma'am, she's a Manticore and a new friend I made today when I was on my hunt. She promissed not to harm everyone if we leave her alone." I said back to Helga and she looked relieved but still scared till Miss Manticore spoke to our leader.
"Jacob here found me on my rock sun bathing and instead of attacking me like your people like to do he asked me questions. Then when he went to complete his task he gave me some of his kill for some reason." Miss Manticore said to Helga and she looked at, "Seems like you can make friends with anyone even if they are creatures this scary." She said to me and Miss Manticore laughed with Helga for a bit. Then Miss Manticore looked back at me, "I wanted to give you something, after you got your ass handed to you by a easy batch of humans see you need help."
She said getting up and close to me, She then placed her hand on my head. I could feel a warm energy pass through my whole body to my toes. I watched as she began to turn into a regular furry woman instead of the monster she was. Helga blushed as she grabbed Miss Manticore a sheet to cover up with. "I gave you a bit of my magic so you can use it to defend your people better than you did before. I Fill also with this contract become your servant till you die." She said to me and I was confused, "So this just became a fantasy story with one single move of her hands." I said out loud as Miss M looked at me funny.
(Flash to Winter)
A coouple cold months later its mid winter and snow covered the village. My new job for this season was to make sure everyone had wood and warm food. From the fall I gained fire magic, iron skin and super strength with the contract I was given by the Manticore that we call Manti. Which she is now living with me and my brother, from what Helga said that some monsters and creatures like Manti can form contracts with humans. With me giving Manti food she wanted me for she put me under a familar contract by force. With this new found power it took me a long time to master my strength but made it easier to craft iron.
Today marked the sixth month of me being in this strange world. Vikings, Monsters and magic, what a combo right. Helga around noon came to see me and told me that the orb I let Astrid barrow was lighting up and it was Helda. I ran out the door and I headed at great speed to the Chieftan's hall to speak with her. Manti looked confused on what I was freaking out about so Helga had to tell her. "She's the daughter of the Second King in the west. She's also King Thorin, third King's Military general as of a month ago." Helga said but Manti asked, "so why is he freaking out over her then?" Helga told her that I and her were kind of infatuated with eachother since our week around each other.
Manti smiled, scaring Helga a bit with her sharp lion like teeth. I was running through the village to the hall passing everyone. All the adult women seem to smile or laugh because ever since I handed over the orb and it would be Helda calling I'd do this. It was funny for everyone else but I only got to talk to her once a month. Otherwise I'd be working in the forge or then new Lumber shop with Brad. As I got to the building Astrid opened the door for me. I sat at the desk the orb was on and I said, "Hello Helda?" It took a moment but then a image casted up out of it with her on the otherside.
She looked nice but even more fit if that was even possible. She took a second look at me and saw my gut got smaller and my arms got larger from the lumber work. "You look good Jacob, have you been working all nighters again?" She asked me and I told her a few but not to many. Then we talked about stuff from the month over, Astrid was in the next room rolling her eyes when she heard us laughing.
Then when it was time for her to be done she handed the Orb to King Thorin. He looked concerned then he asked me to get Helga, which Astrid already grabbed her for me.
"What can we do for you my King?" Helga asked him and he told us, "We are have that meeting of leaders this spring, you've been requested to join us since your village has gotten, famous from his iron work." He looked at me when he said that and I smiled, "Good iron work is hard to find and even harder to do by hand." I said and King Thorin agreed but then he said, "The other two want to meet him since I've told them about his trip here." I froze for a second then Helga comforted as King Thorin continued. "The First Queen Scree and First King Canutis will not harm one of my people without wanting to start a war."
He told us as if it was going to make me feel better. Then King Thorin looked at the orb closer and saw something more about me was different than just a fit body. "When did you learn magic sir, and how did you learn?" He asked me and I wanted to lie to him but then Manti came into the room to check on me. "Sir, back a couple months ago a group of rogue pirates invade our the village and were about to kill me. Before that I made a very dangerous friend that wasn't human at all durning my hunt, while I was getting my butt kicked she came to save me. Then she contracted with me to heal my wounds with also giving me magic."
I said and he sat back into his chair and asked what type of creature contracted with me? Thats when Manti came into view so show herself to the King. "I am known as Manti, your people call me a Manticore. Jacob here was hunting in my territory when he crossed my path. To make a short story shorter he gave me his extra food when I wasn't on my rock. I tried to find him to thank him with magic and saw he was being killed." She then backed away from the orb and King Thorin sighed at this news. "Just like you to get into trouble, well nothing we can do now, Manti can you do my a favor?"
King asked her and she came back into view to hear his request. "Can you keep Jacob safe and keep that village safer from invaders?" He asked her and she laughed at him, "sir I'd use my body to shield them for a taste of Jacob's food." The King laughed and then told us why they were having the meeting with all the leaders and Chieftains. "We have a problem with the people in the south and we need a united salution with everyones help. We are also having a warrior tournament with the strongest in the three Kingdoms, Jacob you are welcome to attend." He told me and I actually wanted to go even more.
After about an hour of going over details I end the call with the King and saw Helga was annoyed with something. "We have to prepare for the worst if this meeting goes bad, who should we take and what should we take?" She asked herself and I suggested that we take at least Brad and Manti with the crew we had before. Helga was didn't want to bring Manti, "We need her here to protect the village with you gone for so long." I didn't think about that but then Manti said from behind us, "I can get my family to protect them, my sisters and brothers don't live that far away from the village."
Helga and I were walking out the hall when she said that but we froze at the front steps. "What do you mean you, you have siblings and you never mentioned about them before?" I said to her and she smiled saying, "Yeah, they are very nice but they don't like normal humans, but I thing they might like Jacob here." Helga looked at me and I shrugged, "I guess I can visit with them and asked them before we leave for the meetings. When do we leave for the meeting, isn't the capital about a months journey from here?"
I said as Helga told me that we had to leave in two days, I looked at a Manti. "We have to meet your family soon then, I'll not bring a weapon but I bring smile." I said to her but she said, "You might want to bring a sword or something just in case my father attacks you." I felt a shiver go down my spin for a moment, "I'll be fine since you gave me a few powers to help me fight." After that we had to leave but I had to climb on Manti's back while she flew to the place where her family lived. Manti in her normal monsterous form took off the ground the moment I hopped on her back and we flew right above the clouds.
It took only moments but it felt like a hour while I saw the world once more from the sky above. Then I saw we were heading right for a old village that seemed to be lost to time. The buildings were old as hell but still in good shape. I looked at the ground and saw people walking around, thats when Manti landed just outside the village. "My village is just up a head but take it slow, just in case my people try to attack you." She told me, I got nervous as hell but I didn't have time to waste with my feelings. I had some control over my magic power but not much, I tend to get a bit hot with my hidden temper.
We got with in a foot of the village gate when I heard a sound of a jet coming right me. I looked and I saw a fire shot coming right at me, I took the shot full on. Manti thought I was hurt but I brushed it off as a Manticore not like Manti came right at me. I saw it was male, as he closed in I saw Manti stepped in between us. She was still in her normal form and stopped the rampage with one sentance. "Father stop this human is with me." The creature stopped and he walked right at me, "You took my attack without a scratch, who are you?" He asked me and then he saw his daughter was a bit different.
"You made a contract with him didn't you, a human wouldn't be able to take fire magic like that?" He asked Manti and she shook her head, "Yes" then she told him about what happened. He backed off then turned into his human form. I saw that everyone in the village was in there human form as well but for Manti. "Kid, you have something to request of my don't you, or otherwise you wouldn't be here?" He asked me and I shook my head "Yes and I told him. "I need some of your people to watch over my village in the north, there's been some concern for when I'm gone." I then told him about the Vikin leader's meeting in the spring.
He began to laugh at me, "Ha,Ha ah, you think that I'm going to have some of my family protect your little village. You must be one of those idiots that human kind have spawned?" He stopped laughing but I never looked away from his eyes. "I'm asking for you to protect the women, the children and my dear home from those Viking pirates that might come back. Manti here scared the first ones off but they might return. If they take my home away who do you think they might track down next knowing your kind is out here?" I said to him, he heard me say "Women, and children," Then he took a long look at Manti.
"Father that village knows of us because of me, I'm sorry about that but this man here. He's helped them see that we are not monsters, that we can become allies and friends. Maybe he can show you with a dinner conversation tonight?" She said, we had time and I was willing to try anything to help my people. Manti's father gave up after a minute of Manti begging him to spend a moment with me to see my heart. "Alright my daughter, you both can stay for dinner which is being made right now." He said having us follow him into his home, as we walked along the road I saw more of manitcores glaring at me.
I chuckeld at the memory of the time when I arrived to the village I called home. "My real name Jacob is, Corie, my father is known as Slay." Manti said to me and I nodded in acknowledgement. Her father opened the door but he turned to me. " My wife might not like you but you'll not know since you're with Corie." I understood what he meant as I looked eyes with Manit's mother. She was much like her daughter. Brownish tan skin with sharp teeth and black hair, but her eyes glowed a bright yellow which scared me to death. "My dear wife out youngest has joined us for dinner and she's brought a visitor."
Slay said pushing me out for her mother to see, I bowed my head a bit without looking away from her. "Hello ma'am, I'm Jacob Wellings and I'm contracted with Corie here." I said to her and she seem to switched a gear in her head. When that happened I saw a couple of people coming down the hallway. I saw it was a large man and a tall woman who also looked like a older version of Manti. Both of them went to move forward but Manti's mother stopped them. "I'm Cary, I am the mother of Corie and her twelve siblings, welcome to my home for tonight." She said as the two next to her where shocked to see her not flip out.
We all went to the middle room where a large table was made for 20 plus people. I was sat right next to Manti's two siblings I meet as dinner was brought into the room. I waited for everyone to make a plate for themselves but no one made a move. Then Slay said out loud for everyone to understand why I was here. "So why did you come here again, I want everyone here to know why but first tell us about yourself. What do you do in your village and do you have people in your life you hold close to your heart?" He took a long drink of tea or whatever he was drinking then he looked at me.
I took a deep breathe and like when I would talk to King Thorin I didn't hide the important truth. "I'm not from this world originally, I'm a human from another world much like this one, but without magic. I was technically adopted but the village north of here towards the ocean. The Woman who brought me there is the current Chieftain, she gave me a new home and job as a iron worker. I also build furniture and hunt from time to time. About six months ago today in fact, three months into my new life in this world I met Manti or Corie here. She was resting on a rock as I was on a hunt for my food for the week."
Everyone stopped when I said "hunt" But I continued with out skipping a beat. "I was scared of her for a moment but with the moments I watched her from a distance I saw she was an intelligent being. Not like the monsters from my worlds lore or history books. We talked for a couple minutes then I contiuned my hunt for a deer or a boar. Which I got with in a hour, I had to much for me to use so I gave some to Corie to eat. After I returned home I saw there were pirates invading my village. I tried to fight back but there were to many, I got hit by a lucky arrow to the leg and he rest I only saw glimpes of."
I stopped and Manti told what she did when I was getting my ass handed to me. "He was on the ground when I went to find his village to thank him for the meat. I got angry seeing my new friend getting killed so I stepped in to save him. The only way I could heal him from his fate of death was to contract him with me. Which was a good thing since he's been a kind and generous person, his people of that village have been the same. Though at first they weren't to fond of me till he showed them I wasn't a monster." Manti looked right at me and I then told them why I was here.
"My cheif wants Corie to remain behind when we go to a meeting for leaders of the Vikings, Since I'm a respected iron worker who makes iron works for the second King he requested my presents. Corie wants to go with me but," I was saying going to tell them about wanting them to protect or watch over the village while we were gone but Manti spoke for and over me. "We need a couple of you to watch over the village while I meet with King Thorin and Jacob's lover Princess Helda of the Ox Horn. I know he's a human and we don't have a good history with them for our people, but this village is different and good be a good change for us."
I smiled at her words as she tried to plead with them, till her oldest brother next to me slammed his fist to the table. "Why should we help them out. their men would most likely betray us in the end." He said and I shook me head "No" he seemed to get angrier with me. "what's funny about that, they will they always do?" He said to me as he saw Manti shook her head in disappointment. "That Village have no grown men, Jacob and his brother are the only ones." Manti then explained what happened to them, "Ten and half years ago a huge battle for land took place in the deep east and all the men from that village were taken and lost their lives to the sands."
Her brother looked at me, "You are their only defence from invaders aren't you?" He asked me and I said back to him. "Yes, my brother can fight but with me being going away he'd most likely be overwhelmed with invaders. I only ask this if I didn't have another choice, I have so much respect and love for them to be defenceless." I will even when I return repay this favor with anything you need of me." I got up from the table and I bowed to everyone begging them for their help. "Please keep them safe for I have no one else to turn to," I felt a hand on my shoulder but It wasn't from her brother or her sister next to me.
It was from her mother Cory, "I can see you have told the truth, I also seen you do love this village. I can only have my people accept this under the condition I and my husband meet with your Chief." She said to me, I agreed but Manti looked a bit uneasy with that request. We ate the rest of dinner after they told me who would be going with Manti's parents. Which would be her sibling next me and two more sisters. Then as fast as the dinner was we left for my village, and the ride back was faster than going to the Manticore village. I saw we were closing in on the village so I yelled to Manti, "Land by the hall right by the front door!"
I knew that Astrid and Helga would still be up so this made sence for me to have them meet with Helga right away. As we landed I saw that Aldi and Ida that one boys mother saw us come flying in. They didn't run after the Manticores turn into their human forms. They watched us enter the hall to see Helga was reading a book at her desk. Helga looked up to see me with six people like Manti behind me. "Helga you got a minute, I have some visitors from the Manticore village to see you?" I said to her and she stood up and came to greet Cory and Slay first.
"I can spare a few minutes before I rest for our journey to the capital tomarrow." She said back to me, she took a long look at the people in front of her. "You must be the leaders?" She asked Cory and Slay and they shook their heads, "Yes" as they shook her hands. "Jacob here told us a bit of what you needed and we are saddned to hear about the passing of the men from this village." Slay said to Helga, I then took the four siblings with me to my home so the leaders could talk over things. When we walked into my home I showed Manit's family my work shop where Brad was.
Brad was working on a desk for a random order so he didn't notice our new visitors. He though smelt Manti was with me, "Ah you both are here can you help me lift this top on the frame?" He asked us and we jumped right in with Manti's siblings standing in the doorway. I then gave a hammer to Brad and he finished the desk with a couple nails on the top and to the sides. He whipped his forehead then he finally noticed the other people. He jumped a bit then he started to laugh a bit, "Ah, oh hey next time can you let me know we have guests brother, they made me jump a bit."
He said to me still smiling, he took another look at the people and noticed they weren't human. "These must be Miss M's family, they smell just like her." He said making all the Manticores feel weird with his comment. "My brother is a hunter and developed a skill where he can smell his prey durning a hunt." I said to them and they thought I or he was a strange human. The oldest brother looked at all of his sisters then he said. "I'm Roni, I'm the eldest of these women here, It's a pleasure to meet you young human." He said to Brad then he introduced his other three sisters to us since they didn't back in the village.
There was De, the third oldest, Lee the oldest sister and Brand The second oldest sister. They kept quiet as we moved into the living room area, where Roni asked me a hard question. "Why do you help these people out when you don't have any real connection with them?" We sat from across eachother at the small table while Brad fixed some tea for us all. I poundered the question for a moment, then Brad handed me a cup of hot tea. I took a long sip then I said to Roni, "I can't explain why in a simple answer, It's like when you find your place in this world you just know it. Helga saved me from a life of a slave after being brought here. I guess I've been repaying her with my iron work, but it's more then that."
I took another sip and Brad said why he cares for the village. "I feel like this place has more peace than hell, even with what happened to them they all seem happy. We didn't have that growing up so I guess it's the pace that makes us stay. A simple life for to men who never had that when we were young." I raised my glass to that and I drank my cup then I took a new cigar for myself. I cut it at the bottom then I used my magic as I lit the other end. Manti curled her nose at the smell as she opened the window next to me. Iaughed as we heard Slay and Cory where coming out of the building.
We all met up with them and Helga told us what was going on. "As of tomarrow you four Manitcores will be living here in the village while I and my crew leave for the capital. Brad here will be your guide and the person you'll be staying with." Then as she finished with that Cory spoke for her people, "As of now we are allined with the Humans of this village to protect ourselves with them. Jacob when you return with our daughter you will be helping my people fix our village and repair what ever you can for us." She looked right at me and I shook my head in agreement.
That night was a bit weird for the siblings of Manti stayed in the village while the parents went back home. I let Brad deal with his new duities while I got sleep for the journey for the next month. Manti like she did every night slept in my room on my bed as her third form as a small cat. I slept well even though Manti's family where in the makeshift bed room in the storeroom That Brad made. When morning came around I felt the sun hit me in the face. It was nice and warm with a harm feeling on my feet. I looked up to see that Manti was laying on my legs like a real cat.
I got up and got dressed as I was happy to travel again, it had been six months since I was on a boat. So this might be fun with Manti coming along, sad to see Brad was going to stay behind but I knew he'd be fine. I woke up Manti so she could get ready for the boat, she stretched when she opened her eyes. Then she looked at me and put her new traveling clothes on to fit in with the crew. We left the house without waking anyone and headed to the docks. I saw everyone was there and waiting for Helga and Ursa. The crew who brought me to the village was the same one for this journey.
It took an hour till Helga came down to us with Ursa in toe. I saw that Astrid was with them to see everyone off as this might be the last time she might see anyone. Traveling by boat was dangerous even for seasoned pros like this crew. Astrid when she got to me didn't even yell at me like she liked to do. She just patted my shoulder like I was her buddy and told me to keep everyone safe. I thought that was weird since she's never been nice to me sober. I nodded to Helga and I got on the boat with everyone. I watched as Aldi pull down the ropes for the sails, then she got all the oars ready to get us to the open waters.
Helga said goodbye to her youngest (Astrid) then we rowed away from the village and began out trip. I was tasked at steering for the first moments then I went below the boat to check the supplies and Manti.