Chapter 8.5: First Meeting

Chiri took her time. The long stick she held leaving a trail behind her as she walked. It had been years since she had taken in the air outside of the Alliance and was in no hurry to return. Distanced from its walls and stifling atmosphere, she experienced pure unfettered contentment in this moment of freedom.

Windy and spotted with clouds, it was not a remarkable day. Nonetheless, she was determined to enjoy her limited independence, even if it was to play a game of whack-a-mole. Gradually, Chiri had earned enough of the organization’s confidence to allow for a few menial assignments. Provided, she met the 10pm curfew and was under the constant surveillance of Cazer’s shadows. Any perceived misconduct would result in immediate removal by said shadows.

Pausing at the edge of the field Chiri admired her work. The circle encompassed the entire plot of land. Surrounded by ruins, it held a lattice pattern and smaller incircle with intertwined sigils. Dropping the stick, Chiri brushed the dirt from her hands. Making a few broad motions in the air, the lattice pattern slashed across the dirt in streaks of light. Disappearing after the spell was evoked, no evidence was left on the surface and no animal, Murland Mole or otherwise, remained beneath it.

“Ha, those pests didn’t stand a chance.” said a man’s voice from behind her. Under the shade of a tree, he’d watched Chiri perform the extermination and protection spells on his land. The middle-aged man had a friendly smile, his skin around his grey eyes crinkling a bit as he spoke. “But why send an elite Witch from a distinguished family to do this kind of work?” He mused casually leaning against the bark of a leafy oak.

Chiri turned, eying him guardedly at this remark. It was apparent her identity was not anonymous to this man. “You must be mistaking me for some other esteemed figure.” She replied monotonously. Still smiling kindly, he left the shade. Coming to occupy the empty space beside her, both stood in the empty field, as if it had been preordained. “It’s been awhile, Miss Crouse.” He replied, unaffected by her indifference.

“It’s Krane now, Mr. Pierce.” Chiri corrected.

An acquaintance of her father, Chiri met Harold Pierce on a number of occasions when she was still a child of the Crouse household. His masculine chiseled face aging gracefully and confident easygoing demeanor enduring through the years, Harold had change very little from what she remembered. On the other hand, Chiri had changed considerably. Grown now, behind her bright and clever amber eyes, there lurked a secret knowingness that came with experience. However, the more striking than this was the pristine white of her hair. No longer the sleek black that was characteristic to the Crouse family not even a strand remained to hint at their relation.

Staring at the overturned dirt, the events that had led them to both to meet here so many years after they had occurred went unsaid. After passing a few minutes in each other’s company, some quite understanding was reached between, as they regarded each other respectfully. Smiling peacefully, Chiri said “I should be moving on.” Amused Chiri had inherited his partner’s aloof personality, Harold chuckled “Fine, fine, I’d expect as much from you.”

“That protection should hold, until the next crop rotation.” She added.

Harold nodded in response. Outstretching a hand, they both shook acknowledging each other professionally. Smiling warmly, Harold placed his other hand over hers, in the familiar gesture of good-natured she remembered. “Thank you for the hard work then, Guardian Krane.” He said.

After their parting, Chiri spent the rest of the day moving from one farm to another farm repeating the same process, her mind occasionally drifted back to her encounter with Harold Pierce. Completing the last spell well after dusk had fallen, Chiri reluctantly began her walk back. Heading along the outskirts of the city, Chiri eventually neared the Pierce farm. Hesitating at the fork in the road, she thought ‘Perhaps, I should put a protection on the house as well? ‘

Sensing she was beginning to dawdle, a shadow tugged at the hem of her cloak. Reminding Chiri of her curfew, it made an overt attempt to hurry her toward the Alliance and its awaiting Master. However, unable to ignore her initial whim to return to the Pierce residence, she became more resolute. Decisively breathing a rapid curse, Chiri felt one last tug, as she dismissed the specter. Gripped by a consistent uncomfortable tightness in her chest, she was assured of the spell’s success. Assuming this to be but a momentary deviation, Chiri veered toward Harold’s cottage, with the hope that her little trick to escape Cazer’s monitor shadow might go unnoticed.

However, Chiri was half a field length away from the little dwelling, when she became aware of the werewolf’s killer intent. Freezing in her tracks, she turned toward the oncoming direction of the creature’s bloodlust. Emerging from the darkness, its eyes red, engulfed with rage they burned holes into the night.

Flying towards her like a possessed hellhound. Chiris was forced back, as she dodged a frenzy of claws and teeth. Taking a defensive stance, she drew a thin blade in preparation for the next attack. Her thumb pressed into the weapons metal; it prompted a few drops of blood the flow. The red liquid, glistening as it skimmed the edge, they fell onto the ground softly.

The scent of fresh blood provoking a distinguishable shiver from the beast. Shaking his head in aggravation, he sprung forth in another assault. Rapidly descended upon, Chiri retreated further. Luring the werewolf away, from the Pierce house, she allowed their exchange to be pushed into a neighboring field. Secure within its borders, the protection she had placed on it earlier reacted to the werewolf’s presence.

Stung by the enchantment, the werewolf recoiled howling in pain. Stalking hungrily around the spell’s perimeter, the animal concealed itself in the dense brush of the woods. Abandoning the strategically defensive position behind, Chiri followed suit without hesitation. The heels of her shoes sinking into the wet ground, she ran after the beast. Pushing past the foliage, nettles and branches tore at her arms as she felt her way through the total darkness of the forest. Proceeding like this for a fair distance, Chiri eventually conceded defeat. No longer able to detect the werewolf’s presence she lashed out with her blade in aggravation striking a nearby tree.

Still berating herself over her failure to exterminate the creature on the spot, Chiri reached the main road. Knowing she had missed her deadline, it seemed relatively unimportant to her now. Certain there must be a magical manipulation at play, the priorities of the Alliance were inconsequently compared to the unsettling feeling she had about the werewolf’s bizarre behavior.

Absorbed in her thoughts and attempting to quell the increasing stress of the curse on her body, Chiri did not notice Allen Pierce as he approached.