Chapter 28

Part 1

(I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep. I can’t sleep!) Even a vice would’ve failed to keep my eyes closed! I shot up, still wrapped in my sleeping bag, unable to drift off no matter how much time passed. “Bramble…” I called to the dogman familiar atop my chest who was rolled onto the factory floor when I sat up. “How long have I been asleep?”

“…You haven’t, young Fate. Your eyes have been closed for roughly five minutes.”

“It felt longer than that.”

“It was not.” Anesha sat opposite me, reading a book with one hand and channeling her radar with the other. She’d removed her mage’s robes and changed back to her pajamas, not bothering to climb back into her own sleeping bag. Clearly, Anesha was still on guard after the incident with the Seer. “Fate, I will ask this of you. Close your eyes, and do what you can to sense mana in the area.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Do it. I wish to know what you are sensing.” She ordered.

Eyes closed; I meditated to become in tune with the flow of mana. Particles clung to everything, resonating calmly. The abandoned factory, my sleeping bag, the floor, Anesha with a massive presence; and next to me was Bramble, echoing the seed’s particularly strong mana. “I feel…everything.” As soon as I began to speak however, it faded from my mind’s eye! Focusing bolstered my senses again, but any distracting thought would weaken them.

“Minutiae, then. What’s the smallest being, living or recently living, that you sense?” Perceiving Anesha’s voice disrupted my concentration, so it took a full minute to return to that meditative state. It wasn’t hearing, or smell, or sight, but my sixth sense, not exactly feeling but a perception of mana itself which filled my mind. Surrounding me and in the distance, I could feel smaller and weaker life than Anesha, Bramble, or myself, wandering through the woods. Further, I stretched my mana perception, but as I did, my other senses faded. The ground beneath me all but crumbled, sound had completely deafened, smell was no more…and I floated through the void!

“Fuck!” I was on the brink of sinking into that nothingness again! “Sorry…I can’t do it any more than that.” Tears formed and my heart broke into an erratic rhythm, even a second more and I’d have gone over the edge.

“Worry not. What did you sense?”

“…A lot. All the way into the woods and almost a bit further. I could tell there were animals, but not what they were.”

“Astounding. You can read almost as far as my radar, almost. The perception seems to be on the same level, yet the range is less.” A sprig of disappointment flashed across Anesha’s often serious face. “This means at some level; your perception may be of use when tracking Magekin. Regrettably, tracking was never my strong suit. This tome has done wonders in explaining mana tracking and magic hunting.” She handed me a small tome with the title ‘Magic Hunter’s tome’. Curiosity flaring again, I popped it open and my jaw nearly hit the floor!

“Why are there so many math formulas written in here?!” Each page was only a few sentences, then a plethora of calculations, long division, algebra, and calculus! Numbers and letters, some I’d never seen before, broken up by small snippets of the author saying to ‘visualize’, and then giving an example. Every single page, and some lasting tens of pages, were filled with formulas. It was absurd!

“Magic, in simple terms, begins with mathematic calculations, several hundreds, in fact. Magekin run through the calculations in their heads, visualize a structured form of said calculations, they tap into their mana cache, and construct it all as a spell. That is why deep concentration is needed whenever Magekin cast spells.”

“I…never knew you were doing all of this whenever you do things.”

“Hmph!” The witch’s characteristic smirk crossed her lips. “That is but one of many tomes in my possession, having many spells within its pages. Every spell, even the most insignificant, requires a calculation be done, lo’ the breadth of the formula will change. The more used to the formula one becomes, and the better they are at recalling it, the easier and quicker one may cast a spell. Should a Magekin lock into a spell, however, they can cast it repeatedly, though it will often be a lower-level spell.”

Looking over the calculations, my mind spiraled into the horrors of algebra, like I’d never escaped junior high. “Ugh…I’ll stick to throwing kicks.”

A shriek resounded throughout the night! Both Anesha and I shot up, me, nearly tripping as my legs were tangled in the sleeping bag. “What on earth was that?”

“Sounded like a kid…I think.” I closed my eyes to enhance my other senses. In the distance blobs… “Uh…I can’t tell but there’s something in the distance. Maybe…a person and something else big…? I can’t tell. Can you?”

“…” Looking into her radar, Anesha replied by shaking her head. “There are many creatures about this night. I cannot specify the origin.” Another shriek rang out.

“Do we investigate?”

“No.”

“No?”

“No. That came from the east. The information given to us spoke to them being north, and moving south west. We have the information, there is little reason for us to-”

“Mommy! Daddy!” A clearer voice pierced the darkness of the surrounding woods! The pungent odor of mud and beleaguered breathing, not dissimilar to a car engine failing to start, grew from the silence! Anesha checked her radar again, and was spooked by something!

“They’re coming in this direction?!” We got up and ran to the entrance again, ducking beside the doorway. The ground quaked as a massive lumbering presence approached.

(Starting to think I should just stay transformed at this point.) That sentiment vanished as I felt the silvery locks creeping down my back and weigh heavily on my head. (Nah.) I scooched near Anesha, trying my absolute best to avoid contact, but just enough to see over her shoulder. “What is…?”

Right in through the tall grass, a little girl in a red dress ran frantically with tears streaming down her face as a huge shadow encroached from behind. Each tiny step of her mud caked black shoes kicked up gravel, with earth shaking footsteps in hot pursuit! Barging into the clearing nose first, a wooly, massive, dirt covered monster chased behind the child!

“What the hell is that?!” Taken aback by bizarre creature’s sudden appearance, my attention was pulled away from the young girl in danger! (Now’s not the time! I have to help her!) I recomposed myself, preparing to step out into the open! In the corner of my eye, I saw Anesha’s hands move. A gun pointed at the back of my head wouldn’t have given me as much pause. My feet froze in place, time slowed, and my breath became so heavy it felt like cement was funneled down my throat. (What do I do now? I can’t leave that little girl!) The monster’s massive hooves stomped craters into the ground. Its body length maw salivated behind an equally gargantuan nose. Five fingered mitts clutched, reaching for the terrified little girl!

“Rebuke!” A blue sphere enclosed the girl, levitating her slightly off the ground, and protecting her from the monster’s grasp! Index and middle finger pointed ahead, creating that barrier, Anesha then turned to me! “Enough gawking? Go!” I didn’t need to be told twice! Sprinting like a madman, the ground exploded under my feet! Each steps tore apart the earth, sending mana coursing through my veins like molten lava, shooting fissures of adrenaline up my legs! I planted a foot on the barrier, leapt up and met with monster’s red eyes. Pulling both legs to my chest, I launched the most intense dropkick I could into the creature’s nose! Cartilage tore, bones sundered, blood spilled, and the monster was blasted off its feet!

The beast fell back and crashed onto the ground! “…Oh! Shit! I hope it’s still alive!” I’d gotten ahead of myself; didn’t realize how much force was behind that attack until I landed! Upon getting close to the creature, I noticed not only was it still breathing, but almost smiling… “Uh…what the hell is this thing?”

“Ogrekin, likely a hill ogre.” Anesha replied casually, walking up and dispersing her barrier cast around the girl.

“Hill ogre?! Like, an ogre, ogre?!” Couldn’t help but allow my enthusiasm to froth! I’d never have though an ogre would just be wandering the woods! Before I knew it, my hands were running across the patchy fur, grazing against fleas the size of water bugs, and clumps of dirt matted tighter than rocks! The monster’s gray arms were marked by fresh burns, yet were studier and wider than my whole upper body, it was like holding up an anaconda that’d swallowed a cow!

“I ask that you control your obsessive compulsion to study and grope creatures we come by until we settle this other matter.” Anesha pointed to the little girl, on the ground in tears. “Speak with the child, now.” She demanded.

For the time, I stifled my curiosity. “OK. Um…” I knelt down, and tried to smile. “Are you okay, kid?” She cried, louder. The sight of my fangs, wild silver hair, and haunting golden eyes must’ve provoked that. To be fair, I was never good at naturally smiling anyway.

She quickly ducked behind Anesha’s legs! Expecting Anesha to slam her onto the ground like a ragdoll, the witch surprised me by not moving a muscle. “Fate…” She began in monotone. “Have this child remove her hands from my thigh…immediately.” Muscles rippled across Anesha’s tensed up body with a vein nearly erupting in her forehead; I could feel her mana even tightening, twisting like a knot!

“Uh…c-come here…” Slowly, she did just that, taking her hand off Anesha and slowly approaching me. The exposed skin between Anesha’s pajama shorts and thigh-high socks that’d been touched began breaking out in hives. I didn’t know how serious her condition was, even then, it surprised me. “I’m Fate Isley, what’s your name?”

“Rita.” Rita, the young girl was Native American; surprising me. Aside from the indigenous people my father introduced me to people growing, my circle was totally empty. While wondering if it was bizarre to feel shocked, my eyes turned to the trembling girl’s long raven hair littered with leaves and red dress peppered with dirt. Emulating mom, I decided it best to comfort the likely traumatized child.

“It’s ok, let’s get you cleaned up! Uh…stay here with the nice lady, I’ll be right back!” I jogged back to camp and dug a towel and water bottle out from my bag, then rushed back to the waiting child. “Here, we’ll rinse your hair and then figure out what to do.” I wiped away the tears too, then began helping the kid, likely no more than eight, clean her hair.

“My…I’d have not taken you for the fatherly type.” It wasn’t clear if that was jab from Anesha, or a compliment.

Helping Rita towel off, it gradually became obvious to me, her clothes were startlingly familiar! That red dress, black shoes, and a scarf secured around her waist… “Anesha?” She’d obviously noticed too. The child I was helping was the Seer’s previous proxy.

Part 2

“What do we do now?” I whispered to Anesha. We’d left Rita with Bramble, clearly not enjoying the little girl’s poking and prodding, sporting a pronounce frown on his doggy face. “Why didn’t your ward…ward them off?”

“I’ve not set up a ward in some time. It would expose our position, which is why I endeavor to keep barrier and my broom usage to an absolute minimum. Large obvious surges of mana must be avoided.” I had noticed that, but always assumed she’d set up wards whenever we weren’t alert or slept.

“Makes sense.”

“As far as the girl…” She pondered. “Have her contact her parents.”

“Why me…?” A scowl was shot at me. “Ok.” I walked over to Rita, having a fun time rubbing Bramble’s fat belly. “Rita, can you call your parents?”

“I don’t know the number.” She responded.

“Oh…uh…where are you from? Like, where’s the town?”

“Um…Gold River.” Pulling up my phone, I could see Gold River wasn’t too far, with another smaller town and large hill sitting in between us. “Anesha!” I called her over. “Rita doesn’t know the number, but she does know where her home is!”

“…You lack the knowledge of your phone number?!” The frightened child hid behind me! “I-I mean…” She cleared her throat and started again. “You, child, are old enough to know the number of your parents. Being in a situation such as this, it would behoove us for you to have it memorized.”

“…I mean; I don’t know my mom’s number by heart.” I chuckled at my own ill-advised self-deprecation. Unleashing a ferocious glare from those reddish-brown eyes in my direction, the storm of fury blew by me, by Rita, by Bramble, and by the ogre, as everyone cowered behind me! “Sorry! Sorry! It was a joke…I…” The ogre was awake! “What the hell?!” The titanic monster smiled, nose smashed and crooked to the left, pouring a liter’s worth of blood down its furry body.

The monster leaned in, and I pushed Rita behind me, readying to attack with the strongest kick I could muster! It extended a noticeably burnt hand, then a finger, and smiled. The creature’s flat and wide teeth were larger than my head, coated with green leaf flakes. “Ogrekin pack dynamics are based around power and supremacy. Should one be defeated, they tend to pledge allegiances to the victor.” Anesha explained.

“I’m guessing based on the teeth; these aren’t typically carnivores.”

“Oh my, how insightful. Clap for yourself.” Wasn’t sure if she actually wanted me to, so I worked with the idea she was being facetious. “No clapping? How unfortunate.”

“…Right. Well, I guess it’s ok then.” I grabbed the monster’s finger and shook it, to which the ogre’s smile grew warmer. “Why chase Rita around though?” There didn’t seem to be any animosity left in the ogrekin’s demeanor. All tension had evaporated from the mountain range of muscles along the hill ogre’s shoulders.

“The Seer. Just as you and I felt that primal being’s aura the minute it made itself known, one would assume any beasts within the forest sensed it as a threat.”

“That thing brought Rita all the way out here just for us. Are we taking her back home?”

“Excuse me?”

“We can’t just leave her.”

“We can, and we will.”

“…But…” Couldn’t work up the gall to argue.

“But…leaving a child…is a bit uncouth.” Crossed arms, head turned, probably frowning, Anesha was at odds with a piece of her moral fiber even she couldn’t accept!

(Do I push? I push!) I turned to Rita. “Rita, do you think you can make it home on your own?”

“No! I…” She teared up.

“Can’t have that…It’d be awful to have this poor little girl walk all alone by herself.” Shaking, noticeable trembles in Anesha! “Even calling the cops would be bad. She could have to wait…” Shutter! “And be around unfamiliar people.” Squirm! “I mean, she wants to be safe, right?” Steam basically wafting through the witch’s hat, fighting against some kind of moral instinct I never knew she possessed.

“I just want to go home…” Petting Rita on the head, I hoped the girl wouldn’t take my words too seriously. “Mommy and daddy…I’m scared.”

“Geez…” I felt terrible seeing Rita sob into her hands. The ogre leaned over, trying to comfort her. “You moron, you were chasing her here in the first place!” I swear the monster looked at me, offended by the truth!

“F-Fine…” Was muttered.

“Huh? What was that, Anesha?” I asked, fighting back a smirk.

“Fine.”

“One more time.”

“Fine! I said fine! We shall return the child to her home! Prepare, immediately!” She stormed away, fuming as she moved to retrieve our bag of supplies and redress in the factory. “Fate, get in here, now!”

Part 3

We walked through the tall grass, using my phone as a map to lead us in the right direction. Our line was me, Bramble, Anesha with Rita at her side, and the hill ogre… “Honestly?! For what purpose do you shadow us?! Be gone!” Anesha screamed at the ogre, who responded with a smile, causing her to fume more! “Once this diversion is completed, we are returning to our mission. I refuse to lead a troupe of idiots, monsters, familiars, and children! We shall reach Gold…what-have-you posthaste!” I had to assume I was the ‘idiot’ in the troupe.

“Well, if the ogre comes with us, then maybe the Magekin or whatever else will only think of him or see him if they’re scanning the area!” Her characteristic look of ‘are you a fool’, Anesha frowned.

“Are you a fool? Stop thinking, you're ill-equipped to do so. Take the hand of the child.” Passing off Rita’s tiny hand to mine, Anesha took the lead as Bramble ran alongside his seething master.

“Don’t worry, Rita. We’ll get you home soon. I know you’re scared, but everything’s going to be alright, so don’t cry.” With my winningest smile, I attempted to reassure the child after my heartless display in trying to persuade Anesha.

“Oh, I won’t.” She said plainly.

“…Uh…Y-you also don’t have to worry! I’m strong, so I’ll make sure nothing hurts you!”

“I know, I saw you. I’m fine.”

“…” Her responses were so flat; I began suspecting something. “…You’re not the Seer, right?”

“Seer?”

“You’re…not, right?”

“What’s the Seer?”

“Then…?”

“I know what you were doing. Mommy does it whenever she wants Daddy to do something. It’s called plucking at the heart strings!” She smiled back at me, innocently. “Mommy always says a woman needs to control their partners stomach, hearts, and minds in order for both to be happy!”

“…Your mom sounds scary-er – philosophical.”

“Philo-what?”

“Nothing…”

The child snickered. “Thanks, Mr. Isley.”

“Just Fate, ok?”

“OK! What do I call your wife?”

“Haha! She is absolutely not my wife!” The absurdity caused me to nearly break down laughing on the ground!

“My…how funny that must be.” Frozen under the eyes of the witch, I couldn’t manage to look up. She was standing there, staring down at me with her lips pursed, eyes squinted, and nose wrinkled, I could tell without looking up from her platform boots. “You being married to me, is it that funny to you? Well, it’s far, far funnier to me. The idea of marrying a tool, and a foolish one at that! Now, that is comedy! Hahaha!” Fortunately, she took mercy and decided on humiliation over torture, laughing as she went back to walking.

“Hmm…” Rita placed her finger to her chin, thinking. “Miss Anesha wears the pants, but she’s also easy to pursued, like Mommy and Daddy at the same time! That means you’re like Daddy and Mommy too, Fate. You don’t wear the pants and but do the persuading!” The child laughed as she ran to catch up with Anesha. I just knelt down in the mud, feeling defeated by the women in my life…again. The ogre rested a finger on my shoulder, and gave me a look of ‘brother, I get it’.

“Fate! Come!” Anesha and Rita stood at the hill’s peak, calling back to me. I ran up and was astounded at the site of two towns divided by a forked river! At the foot of the hill before us, lights gleamed, music played, and car mufflers sputtered, with the more active town’s nightlife being anything but quiet. Bathed in moonlight, on the opposite bank, was Gold River. Far fewer lights twinkled from the quiet neighboring town, trapped on both side by flowing water. We descended the hill, using the oak trees about to keep from stumbling. “Fate! Tell that creature to be gone! If we get any closer to the town, inevitably, it be noticed.”

She was right, just the stomping alone caused rocks on the ridge to dislodge and tumble past us. “Gotcha’! Hey buddy…” When I turned back to our lumbering companion, he was halted, looking off to the far side of the hill. My eyes tracked nothing, or at first it seemed, but as mine adjusted a figure became clearer! “Anesha!” The ogre roared, shaking the entire mountain! Before I could do anything else, the behemoth charged, wildly smacking aside trees and boulders on its path toward a set of glowing eyes in the darkness!

The figure unfolded like a spider, with long legs and arms reaching outward as it stood up on its hind legs, brandishing a prominent, toothy smile! Sparking forth from its hand, a fireball swirled! The creature reeled back and launched the blaze into the ogre’s face, blasting our traveling companion off of his feet! He rolled down the hill, toppling trees and sending large chunks of earth and rocks airborne! Quickly drawing her saber, Anesha destroyed two of the rocks heading in her direction, taking special care to look after Rita behind her. It was in vain however, as the ogre’s massive body rolled toward her! There wasn’t much time, but I managed to snag onto the creature’s calf, swinging the two of us around just enough to avoid Anesha, Rita, and Bramble. Tumbling further down the hill, I was able to right myself, but the grooves of my sneakers only barely held in the soft dirt under the weight of ogre!

Finally stopping our momentum, I called for, what I was wary to refer to as, ‘my partners’! “Anesha, Rita, Bramble, you all ok?!”

“We are–” In from the debris, the monster lurched for Anesha! With only a second of awareness, she prepared to throw up a barrier, but the monster reached past her and grabbed Rita! “Dammit! Ignit-” Anesha primed a spell, but the creature held up Rita by the scruff of her neck! “A human shield…? Coward!” The monster angled Rita in-between itself and Anesha, and I could’ve sworn…it was chuckling. As the light of the moon revealed more of the area, the beast came into view as well.

Thick black quills spread like a hedgehog across a wart riddle grayish-green back. Long ears, fitted with several gold piercings, shot outward like horns from the sides the monster’s slender head. Chuckling with a sadistic wide, jagged, toothy maw stretched out further than anyone would’ve thought the creature’s skull could allow, the beast slowly stood upright. Its hunchback folded inward, giving the creature an extra 3 feet in height as it stood totally erect. “Get your hands off her! Look down here! Hey!” I tried to get the creature’s attention, but it kept eyes on Anesha, even when I was sure the seed was pumping mana! Leering with twisted pleasure, the monster’s large hands wrapped almost completely around Rita’s head as it taunted Anesha, waving the defenseless child around. (What the fuck?! It’s like it does even care about me and the seed!)

A pop, like a tiny cough, rang out from up on the ridge and the cryptid’s head rocked to the side! We all collectively looked up toward the source, seeing nothing, but another shot rang out! It was obviously a rifle, and the shooter was accurate, though the hide of the monster was so thick. An opportunity presented itself however, as the second bullet caused the monster to stumble! I dashed in, and Anesha readied her blade! Suddenly, the area began swelter, and in the freehand of the monster a ball of fire swirled. With a swing of the fire clad hand, an inferno encircled it, spreading outward into a ring of fire! I stopped in my tracks, and Anesha leapt back, grabbing Bramble with only a second to spare!

The flames caught some of branches and leaves in the woods, igniting into what could’ve been a forest fire if not for Anesha’s quick thinking! “Dance water, that within my grasp, shower the lands!” An orb of water the size of a basketball formed in her hand and she cast it up to the sky! It exploded outward and into a squall of hot water, dousing the flames! Once settled, the forest was silent again, and the monster was gone...along with Rita.

End of Chapter 28