After their stay at the spring, the beast folk had an easier time through the Dark Forest. It seemed like someone was helping them and redirecting the rogue creatures away from their path. It did not take them another day to reach the bottom of the hill that leads to the abandoned castle. All of them stood in awe at the shadow of the building that loomed above them. Some of the beast folk only heard of the castle and never actually saw it.
Now they stand in a daze as they look at every spire, at every inch of the outer wall, and at the grand keep that stands higher than the walls. Peering over them as if it is inviting them in. But they could also smell the scent of the creatures from the inside. It was mostly sinister, but they can also catch a hint of milder scents. Maybe there are some that they can speak with.It was Dimitri who first stepped towards the castle and everyone followed suit. The beast folk felt their hearts becoming lighter with every stepDimitri paced through his study. Alex constantly goes in to check on the girl and being alone with her for a long time does not sit well with him. Dimitri wished that his mother is still with him. If only she were around, she would have known what to say. She would have helped him calm down.She was the only other person that actually understood Dimitri. But her mother is not with him now, or at least she wouldn’t be able to. Dimitri could have gone to the dungeons and watched over the girl himself. But there is a very deep reason why he could not. After all, it was his mother who was first afflicted by the curse. And even until now, she is among the others who transformed and could never revert anymore. Dimitri could not bear to see his mother reduced to a mindless monster. What good is all his glory if he can’t even save his mother?Dimitri remembered the day when they arrived at the castle. The creatures suddenly met them and knelt in front o
The Hero’s party stayed in the castle for a beat after subjugating the Demon King. They needed to make sure that the Demon King is not resurrected again and that none of his generals are alive to leave the army of creatures. At times like this, there is only one thing that comes to the mind of adventurers, that is, thoughts of home and plans for the future. After all, they have ensured the world’s bright future.“So, what do you plan on doing after this?” the berserker asked, “I for one will return to the great forest, maybe live my life peacefully there. Build a home, make a family”“I am going home too,” replied the archer, “there is no place for me or my race in the city. And even if we have eradicated the root of evil, it will still take time for humans to forget about this.”“Yes,” the berserker replied, “You have a point. I am pretty sure our hero here will be m
At times when he is not needed in the village, the Chief practically disappears. Not even his trusted advisors know where he goes. His wife has an idea but she knows better than to tell anyone about it. She could not talk about it for a lot of reasons. In a dark room of a certain cellar 3 floors deep below the ground, the village chief is once again meeting with his not-so-popular clients. There is a reason why it was called an underground deal.“Them wood planks ‘n bricks that y’told us to prepare’s ready,” a short and plump man said,playing with the large gem on his middle finger ring, “I should tell ya, y’have spent a’lot more’n them improvements over th’year than all of th’previous chiefs had, ‘least as far’as I can remember. And I’ave lived a’long life.”“The village needs to attract more and more people,” the chief replied without breaking
“Felipe, listen to me,” Felipe’s father, the village chief, started talking to him as they walked along the path through the village. “You need to take care of these people. You need to take care of the whole village, without these people – without the bounty from the village – we will never be able to keep up the life that we live right now.”“Is that the reason why everyone smiles when they see you, father?” the young Felipe asked,looking up at his father, and then towards the villagers.“Yes,” the village chief replied, “when you grow older, you will understand it better. But for now, look at how bountiful this village is; look at how contented the people are. Make this village even more bountiful; make the people of your time even more contented. That is how you run a village, and that is where we get our own wealth.” Felipe looks at the villagers who are harvesting the
“This is not good,” Slabhrai, the goddess of chains, said as she noticed a change in the lower planes, “I can feel a shift in power.”“What do you mean?” Chogaidh, the god of war replied, “Is something happening in the mortal plane again?” The other gods gathered, wondering what it could be this time. The last time that Slabhrai, who governs the chains that connect the different planes of the world, felt this shift in power was when the first Demon King was born. Back then they merely swept it off as a normal event among them mortals; after all, they did not expect that the god of games would intervene.But this time, they are more vigilant. 500 years is not a long time for immortals and whathappened then is still fresh in their minds. This time, they need to watch over carefully and cull any threat that might affect the mortal plane this time. After all, anything that could destroy the mor
“What is happening?!” Felipe screamed in frustration, he just returned from a meeting with the people of the black market and it seemed like things did not go well, “Why are they doing this to me?!”“What is the matter, dear?” Felipe’s wife asked. She immediately prepared a soothing tea for him.“Those people!” Felipe said while still slumped on the couch, “They suddenly turned their backs on me!” Felipe’s wife remained silent. She knew what people Felipe meant, she has known it for a long time and tried to support him despite everything. But she also knew that this has been a long time coming. She despised what Felipe does but she still cares for him, if he learns his lesson this way, then it would be for the better, she just has to support him while he goes through this.“They said they believed in me!” Felipe continued, this time he is looking at his wife. Desperation can be s
Amanda was silent the whole day after Alex left. She can’t get her mind off of what she learned about their past and about how they were driven off of their home because of humans. At least Dimitri’s aloofness and arrogance towards her are vindicated, but she is still not comfortable about it. After all, she may be human-like the people who cause their pain, but she is in no way involved with them. Amanda thought that it was time Dimitri realized that not all humans are like that.Amanda did not speak with her friend throughout lunch. A lot of things have been going around in her mind and she is still trying to analyze the connections between what happened to Dimitri and Alex’s past, the curse, and the harvest festival sacrifice. If it was not on Dimitri’s whim, then at least Amanda also wants to know whose idea it was to request young maidens every year for the “Demon King” just to keep the curse at bay. Besides, it was not like the curse
“Pretty Human, I bring food,” the Harpy announced as she entered the cell. “Yes, thank you,” Amanda replied blandly. She did not mean to sound that way but she is just too deep in thought. “I see Lord Alex, Lord Alex talk to Pretty Human again?” The Harpy asked, trying to start aconversation. “Yes,” Amanda gave a short reply and kept looking outside the cell. “Food ready,” The Harpy replied, looking at her friend, “Pretty Human eat” “Yes, thank you,” Amanda replied and practically dropped herself to her bed and took her share of the meal. “Food delicious,” the Harpy replied expecting a usual response from her friend, but she seems to really be out of it. She started to feel concerned. “Pretty Human lonely?” the Harpy asked as she can’t bear the silence anymore. “I’m fine, I’m just thinking about things,” Amanda replied blandly. She feels sorry for the harpy, she is just concerned about her friend but she just does n