Chereads / The Price of Magic: The Cheater of the Price / Chapter 24 - Chapter 23: Men-fish

Chapter 24 - Chapter 23: Men-fish

The Nightwatchers gathered around the table as Cassandra spread out a map of the wharf area. The Traveller, Sally, and John leaned in, listening intently.

"We have a mission, everyone," Cassandra began, her tone serious. "A fisherman has gone missing from the wharf. His family reported it this morning. We suspect it might be related to magic due to some strange behaviors he exhibited recently. According to his wife, he's been sneaking out in the middle of the night to go to the river, and he's developed a strange craving for raw meat."

The squad made their way to the fisherman's house, situated near the river. As they approached, they saw a group of Imperial Guards stationed outside. Despite their presence, the guards stood to the side. This investigation fell outside their jurisdiction. The Imperial Guards' magic was potent against ordinary citizens, capable of enforcing order and compliance, but it was less effective against the Cursed and magical event. Anything involving magic was given to the Nightwatchers.

Inside the modest, dilapidated house, they were greeted by the wife of the missing fisherman. She was a weary-looking woman, her face lined with worry, clutching the hand of a small boy who seemed too quiet for his age.

Cassandra stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm. "We're here to help find your husband. Can you tell us everything you know about his recent behavior?"

The wife nodded, her eyes red from lack of sleep. "It started about a month ago. He was… well, he's always had a problem with dream liquid. It's why we've been struggling for so long. But then suddenly, things changed. He started bringing home a lot of fish—more than he's ever caught before and he stopped using. We thought maybe he'd gotten better, that he was trying to turn things around. I was so relieved." Her voice cracked, and she took a moment to compose herself. "But then, strange things started happening."

The Traveller noticed how tightly she gripped her son's hand. "Strange how?" he asked, prompting her to continue.

"He started to smell like dead fish all the time," she said, her expression twisting with a mix of disgust and sadness. "I mean, I know fishermen smell of fish, but this was different. It was… rotting, like something long dead. And then he'd go missing at night. I followed him once. I thought maybe he was gambling again, or doing something else to make extra money, but… he went to the river, and just swam out into the dark. He was out there for hours."

The woman's voice dropped to a whisper, as if afraid of what she was saying. "When he came back, I tried to ask him what he was doing, but he just… stared at me. Like he didn't know who I was."

The boy tugged at her hand, looking up with wide, innocent eyes. "Daddy wanted to eat me," he said, his voice barely audible. "He said he was hungry."

Cassandra's expression hardened, but she kept her voice gentle. "Did he ever hurt you, or try to?"

The boy shook his head quickly. "No, but… his eyes looked scary. Like he wasn't daddy anymore."

The Nightwatchers exchanged glances, their expressions grim. Cassandra turned to the fisherman's wife, her tone resolute. "We'll take care of it," she assured her. "We'll find out what happened to your husband."

As they stepped outside, Cassandra's face was lined with concern. She signaled for the group to huddle closer. "I've read about this before," she said quietly. "This sounds like Men-Fish magic. The signs are there: a need for water, an affinity for control over aquatic life, and the stench of rotting fish."

"Men-Fish?" Sally asked, her eyes widening. "As in the spawns of... you know..." She hesitated, not daring to say more. "I thought they were eradicated."

"This isn't a true Men-Fish, but their magic," Cassandra replied. "The fisherman must have formed an unfortunate connection with that entity. It's rare, but it can happen."

The Traveller's curiosity was piqued. "What is this entity you keep skirting around?" he asked.

Cassandra's expression grew serious. "I'm sorry, I forgot you're not from Rivendale. Our city is built on what was once the domain of an evil entity, a dark presence that lingered in these waters. The Goddess' power banished it, but speaking its name in Rivendale could still have... undesirable effects. That's why all mentions of its name were erased. Any connection to this entity is dangerous, and we need to act quickly to find and eliminate this fisherman."

She turned to Sally, but before she could say anything, the Traveller interjected. "I might be able to help," he said. "My magic enhances my sense of smell, I can track scents. That rotten fish stink isn't hard to follow."

The group followed the Traveller as he led them along the riverbank, his nose twitching as he searched for the faintest trace of the stench. They moved quickly, the air thick with tension as they drew closer to the water's edge. Finally, he stopped at a point where the smell was strongest.

"The trail ends here," the Traveller said, gesturing to a patch of muddy ground near the water.

"He's probably in the river," Cassandra said, scanning the dark, murky waters. "But he could be anywhere now."

"I'll try to divine his location," Sally offered. Cassandra gave her a nod, and Sally's eyes glazed over as she began to focus. Her breathing slowed, and a few seconds later, she spoke, "He's in a section of the river a few hundred meters ahead."

Without wasting a moment, the group rushed to the indicated area, moving along the bank until they reached a wider, quieter part of the river. But to their eyes, it appeared normal, with no signs of disturbance.

"John?" Cassandra asked, turning to the stoic Nightwatcher. "Would you be able to catch him in the river?"

John considered the request before shaking his head. The currents were strong, and whatever this creature had become, it would likely be difficult to catch underwater. They needed another approach.

"I might have a way to lure him out," the Traveller said. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small piece of the flesh of the lamb. "If he's developed a craving for raw meat, this might draw him out."

He crouched by the water's edge and carefully placed the meat so that half of it dangled into the water. Almost immediately, small fish began to swarm, nibbling at the edge of the meat, their movements creating tiny ripples on the surface. The minutes dragged on, the piece of meat already have eat by the fishes. But nothing happened, aside from more fish fighting over the meat.

Just when it seemed the bait wouldn't work, a larger ripple broke the surface. The water churned, and suddenly, something huge and grotesque emerged. The creature had the head of a bloated, oversized fish, its eyes bulging and lifeless. Below its head was a humanoid torso, slick with scales, and webbed feet that slapped against the mud as it stumbled out of the river. Its mouth, lined with rows of sharp, jagged teeth, opened wide, aiming for the Traveller's hand, flesh of the lamb still dangling in his grip.

The Traveller's enhanced instincts flared. But just as he started to pull his hand back, a flash of light illuminated the dark waters. The creature's head snapped backward, its jaws still gaping, before it slumped forward, lifeless. Blue blood spewed from its severed neck, staining the riverbank.

The Traveller turned his head, following the path of the light. Even with his heightened senses, he'd barely caught the movement—just a brief, blinding slash and then nothing. John was already sheathing his sword, his expression as stoic as ever, his actions swift and precise

The green blood seeped into the river, darkening the water around it. The Traveller stepped back, trying to avoid the spreading stain. He turned to John, who had already sheathed his sword, his expression as stoic as ever.

"That was... quick," the Traveller muttered, still catching his breath. "Thank you."

John simply nodded, his eyes scanning the river, as if expecting more threats to emerge. Cassandra moved closer to the edge, examining the remains of the creature. The body still had the tattered clothes of the missing fisherman, but his transformation into the men-fish had been nearly complete. His limbs were webbed and scaled, and gills flared on either side of his neck. His human features were twisted and stretched, almost unrecognizable.

"He's completely transformed into men-fish," Cassandra said, "his connection is strong than we imagined. 

Sally's face was pale, her eyes unfocused as she processed what had just happened. "I didn't think we'd find him like this. We'll have to tell the family,"

Cassandra placed a hand on her shoulder. "We did what we could. If we didn't kill him, he might have killed his family or someone else. And the transformation, there's no way to reverse it anyways."

The Traveller looked at the remains, trying to understand the magic that had twisted the fisherman into this creature. "So, what happens now?"

Cassandra replied, her tone resolute. "We need to purify his body before it spreads more corruption. If we leave it, the magic could seep further into the river, and more people could be affected. Even though he's not a fell, we'll take him back to the Tower of Pure Fire to be purified. We cannot let any trace of this magic remain in Rivendale. Then we need to tell the family as well."

As they prepared to retrieve the body, the Traveller's mind wondered to something Cassandra said. "What did you mean earlier, about the connection being stronger than you thought?" he asked Cassandra. 

"As you know, there are people that have affinity for certain magics. They will form special connection by chance with spirit realm," Cassandra explained. "This fisherman might have been someone that had that affinity. However, there is a limit to the extent of that connection. Very little magic can be transferred through and it normally manifest as dreams. It should only work during certain months when that particular part of the spirit realm is closest to the material. However he managed get enough magic to transform himself in so little time... There was no sign that he performed any ritual either... It's a bit strange...." 

John waded into the water and effortlessly hoisted the body onto the shore. Even as it lay there, limp and lifeless, the grotesque form was unnerving. Sally stepped back, her hands trembling slightly as she avoided looking at it. Cassandra, however, didn't flinch. John finished off baggint the creature.

"We should head back and report," Sally said, her voice quiet. "And… maybe warn the other fishermen, in case there are more out there."

"Agreed," said Cassandra. "We'll need to investigate further, make sure that he has spread any knowledge about the entity, especially rituals that can channel its power."