"Boy, sure seems busy around here," I remark. I take a look around the village. If I thought the town of Asteria was strange, this is a whole other world entirely.
The Ferin are truly an altogether unique race, and none of them necessarily look like each other. Many I see are covered in fur-skin, and many others have smooth, natural skin visible, like mine. Others are a mix of hairy and smooth. Some are covered in scales, and others in billowing plumage.
All sorts of tails, claws, hooves, and paws dance around my vision. Ears of every shape. People of every height. What a miraculous place!
We're stopped by the front of town by a Ferin guardsman. He's a tall fellow who looks more 'wolf' than human - other than the fact he's on two legs, of course. Sola shows me an image of a wolf. They look pretty ferocious for an animal. This guy must be tough.
"Lord Commander Adma, it is an honor to receive you here." his voice is deep and masculine. He sounds like he's been in a fight or two. "What brings you here? We were not expecting any guests from Asteria."
Adma places her hand on my head to direct Wolfman's attention to me. She's a tall woman, so she can rest her hand atop my head in a very natural and comfortable position. Not that I approve of this.
"This lost Nephilim child is looking for another of his kind. Do you know anything about it? A Nephilim no older than this one, blond hair? Perhaps wearing yellow?"
The guard nods his head. "Yes, a young master Kieran of the Nephilim arrived early yesterday. He spoke of an acquaintance. This must be him."
My whole demeanor shifts, as if restorative light has swelled up inside me. "Really!?" I say, grinning ear to ear. That is the best news I've ever heard.
"Where is he? Take me to him!"
The Wolfman nods. "I must remain at my post, blessed Nephilim. Please inquire at the east end of town, at the Red Talon Inn. I believe that is where our guest has adjourned."
"Alright!" I make a fist with my hand and hold it close to my heart. Kieran, I'm coming.
"A most fortuitous turn of events," Adma notes. I can tell from the slight shift in her voice that she's holding back her excitement. She's as happy for me as I am, but a professional like her would be loathe to admit it. I've grown on her these past 24 hours!
I start to rush down a side street, but Adma grabs me by the back of the collar. "That's north, August Madera. Follow me."
So I might be a little directionally challenged. I heard the humans use the sun to tell which way to go. I don't see how. It's... Just sort of floating there, directly above us. I'm supposed to be able to tell which way it's moving?
I feel the earth rumble slightly as we walk through the town. It gives me an ominous feeling. Too similar to the moonquakes that heralded my departure from home. That led to the destruction of the barrier.
"Hm," Adma mutters to herself. The quake lasts just a moment but the demeanor of the townsfolk quickly shifts. What was seconds ago a lively, bustling, and energetic town has now slowed to a crawl. The people look anxious.
"Perhaps nothing. Come, now. The village is small but fairly spread out. We've a bit of a walk to the inn."
Shouldn't the inn be close to the gate? Never mind. I'm no city planner.
We walk for another minute, and there is another quake. This one feels bigger. And in just minutes, we hear bells chiming all over town.
"The city alarm. It is as I feared. Those quakes are unnatural."
Worry starts to set in on my end. Everyone on the streets is shutting themselves up inside. In moments, the whole village appears abandoned.
It's at that point that we hear the source of the disturbance. A horrid roar erupts from somewhere in the direction we're headed. A sound not unlike a 'whale', as Sola puts it - but several, in unison. Like the gasping, desperate screams of humans being immolated in one tinny, otherworldly vibration.
Adma withdraws her sword, though there are no enemies in sight. She's prepared. "That sounds like a big one. No fiend would make such a ghastly wail."
I look to her and draw suit, my sword flying into my hands as I prepare for anything. "If not a fiend, then what?"
"You call all these dread beasts Encephalim, do you not?" Adma and I continue forward as we talk, toward the sound of the noise. "We refer to those of ranks one through four as fiends. Those who are rank five and above are called Harbingers."
Ranks? Someone's going around ranking and studying these things, not just killing them?
Sola fills me in some. There are ten ranks in total. 1-4 are fiends, as Adma mentioned. But a rank 4 fiend can be just as strong as a Harbinger - ranking is mostly based on size, with rank 4 beasts being roughly double the size of a grown human.
Ranks 5-8 are Harbingers. These boys are huge. Sola shows me some comparison images. The rank 8 Harbingers are easily the size of a house or bigger.
Then, there are Calamities. Rank 9 and 10. Sola says nearly all Encephalim on the moon are in this category. These are the size of whole cities, and mountain ranges - BIG.
"There."
Adma points into the distance and I see the Encephalim 'Harbinger' for the first time. Or at least, the top of it. It's a knotted orb of tendrils that seems to be hovering above the tree line, but upon closer look, I see some of those tendrils fall down lower. It must be walking on them and keeping its main mass suspended above.
"An Oktinu. I haven't seen one since -"
She's interrupted as the earth quakes again and the large creature begins to violently thrash about. I don't know what it's doing but after a moment it begins to lurch toward the village.
"We must help defend the village no matter the cost!" Adma commands. We're running towards it, just on the outskirts of town, when we see it finally step out of the woods. Long, slimy legs dance around, slipping and sliding through the tall and golden grass.
And then the mass atop the Harbinger rotates toward us. A slit opens up in the center, revealing a gelatinous amber eye. Staring right at me.
"It's you it wants," Adma realizes. "Stay back and provide what cover you can with your corestone. I shall handle this."