15. Hanako Fights The Monster King.

History Town turned out to be a boulevard of empty stalls, shaded by overgrown trees. The gloom quickly opened out to an open-air exhibition, where smiling mechanical people cried rust from their cold, dead eyes.

Oh yeah, this is where I get murdered.  Hanako thought.

Daphne took a left-hand path toward a stone seating area, similar to a Planetarium.

Under a dome of murky glass, stood a giant figure dressed in tattered silks and velvet. The statue was supposed to represent a Monarch, but there was a change in its appearance: The right arm held a large club and on its left, a net filled with rocks.

"Old Copper-Nose." Isaac said, looking up. "Otherwise known as: 'The Monster King'. A useless glutton, whose only contribution to history was to make everyone look better by comparison."

~Why does it look like that? ~

"It's been altered to train students. Not that we had a great selection to begin with."

Daphne tapped a crystal on the fat man's belt.

"Wake up, you silly Golem." She said. The statue creaked stiffly into life; its eyes blazing with a hideous green intensity. "Haha! Never throw away leftovers. Alright, lass, you're up."

I have to fight this thing?

"Or we can go home and wait for your complete dismantling. Personally, I know what you'd prefer."

Hanako's shoulder slumped as she accepted her fate.

Let's get it over with.

"No rush. Remember, you've got forever and a day."

The girl slowly unsheathed her sword and shifted into a battle stance. Without hesitating, Copper-Nose swung with great force. For something so cumbersome, it was surprisingly agile and employed realistic moves, such as slashes, chops, and lunges.

The net arm was deceptively vicious. It would cock back slowly to the sound of clicking, before swinging forward in a fierce arc. Something Hanako found to her displeasure, when the clutch of rocks sent her flying back for the umpteenth time. 

Isaac found her upside down at the bottom of a wooden stage.

"I felt that one." He said. "Did you forget how to duck?" Hanako gave him a cold look and dusted herself off.

~We already did this on the beach! ~

“That was entry level, this is advanced.” Isaac said. Hanako looked away. "Anytime you want to quit, just say."

~No. I can do this! ~

"Just take the head off and it'll be over."

"Oh, the irony," Daphne said, with hands on her hips.

The girl picked up her sword, planted her feet and waited for another turn. This time, she was able to link her previous training and roll out of the way. Despite her best efforts, Hanako was still unable to cut any part of the dummy and found herself being thrown across the room.

***

Later that night, as Hanako was passed out under a pile of blankets, Daphne prepared a campfire under the Panda-shaped climbing frame.

"How's she doing?" Isaac asked.

"Can't say fer sure," Daphne said. "I have never seen the dead faint from exhaustion."

"She's still only a kid; all this is new to her. And yet, despite being assailed on all sides, she keeps going. I'm not going to blow smoke, but that girl earned those skills through hard work and training. Real grit. It's not like someone who was gifted supreme powers on a whim."

"She wasn't hit by a truck, by any chance?"

"No? I don't think so."

Daphne looked back. "It's okay, she's not pretending."

"Why is that important?"

"I noticed you brought the Claymore. The question is...what giant are you hunting?"

"Maybe I'm sentimental."

"You can’t win on strength alone. Did you think sneaking into enemy territory would work? The Abyssal Lord knows, Isaac. He’s known from the start. Why do you think an entire army let you go?”

“And what purpose would that serve?”

“To make you think you got away with it. And every time you sneak around, you leave a little piece behind. That’s all it takes.”

"Mere conjecture."

"It doesn't change the fact you're a useful idiot," Daphne said. "All they had to do was wait for a fool to lose his way; a fool who happens to be a Knight." She nodded solemnly. "What better prize than one that delivers itself?"

***

On day five, the horns of three moons appeared faintly in the sky. Every day, Isaac would choose the exact same place to sit: the middle row and centre. He wondered if it was due to his Academy days, somewhere he couldn’t stand out and with less chance of being 'volunteered'.

Thinking back brought him serenity, but it was dangerous to stay too long. Jenny once stated: 'Those who live in the past, stay in the past, with no way to cope with the present.' He wondered how much of that was true.

Any further reflection was suddenly shattered when an unholy scream filled the air, as green smoke was quickly ejected from the statue..

Daphne smiled to herself. "A promise is a promise."

Isaac stepped down and saw Hanako on all fours, barely able to move. Eventually, she rolled onto her back, with legs still tucked.

~What was that noise? ~

"A Genie in a bottle, if said Genie did all the wishing. Witch burners get what they deserve."

~Is it over? Can I stop? ~

The Old Knight smiled and offered a hand.

"My dear Hanako, you are without a doubt the best apprentice I've ever known."

"Good for you," Daphne said, placing the statue's head on a seat. "Except now I have to find me a new dancing partner. By which I mean: 'A spiteful villager who lied and got someone burnt'."

"Or you can just leave them be."

The Witches' eyes darkened.

"Not until it's over."

"I guess that means it's time to go," Isaac said.

***

Back at the Wolf-shaped Cottage, the group were surprised to find Jenny preparing a nice lunch with sandwiches and fancy cakes.

"I hope you don't mind," She said. "The old girl was feeling a bit gassy, so I had to open the windows."

"Huh. Figures." Daphne said, stiffly. "The ash needs changing every day, or everything gets bunged up." She eyed the place up and sniffed. "Is that Lavender?"

"Plus a drop of Bancha from the other side." The Bard said, offering a small cup.

The Scotswoman begrudgingly accepted the drink.

"Alright, you can stay." She said, before pointing to Hanako. "And you  -my girl- need a bath. I didn't want to say anything before, but it's been five days, you're having one."

The girl looked down and removed her helmet to reveal bandages wrapped around a miniature tornado with amber sparks for eyes.

Jenny stared in awe.

"Incredible." She said. "It seems to be some kind of Alteration. I can't be sure."

Daphne eyeballed the faceless void with a magnifying glass.

"These bandages are the only thing holding it in. I’m thinking a containment spell using Metamancy or Zeromancy. Secrets lost in some ancient library, guarded by statues that come to life if you take the jewel out of their hands."

"Ah," Isaac said, sitting down. “I see you've visited the same places I have."

"It's always the same."

"Never take the jewel out." Daphne and Jenny said in unison.

The Old Knight smiled and looked away. A pained expression crept over his face, as his eyes glazed over, and blue liquid poured from his mouth. His body fell on the chaise-lounge and convulsed.

Daphne rushed over and got down on one knee.

"No-no-no-no-no!" She said. "Don't you die on my couch."

Jenny looked stricken, "What's going on?"

"The injury went septic. What attacked you? I need the exact species."

"They were...Sea-Trolls. Shore-folk! They came up with the river."

"Ah, that figures." Daphne said. "Looks like Ocean Trout Syphilis." She clicked her fingers and knotted her brow. "Magnesium root on the bathroom shelf. Yellow bottle, blended silver pepper. Bureau. Go! Allez!"

The Bard rushed around, gathering the ingredients. The Witch took a handkerchief, dabbed the lotion and slipped a blue leaf into Isaac's mouth. His body slowly settled until it slumped into unconsciousness.

"That'll do for now," Daphne said.

"Did it work?"

"It's a poultice. It'll keep him stable, but without the pure salve, he's not going anyway."

"And the supposed cure is from a legendary creature that may not exist."

"Sod’s law." The Witch said, getting up. "You picked the wrong fight, mate. The worst." Hanako tugged at her dress. "What?"

Legendary creature?

"A Brokenbranch Caterpillar." Daphne said. "Some giant monstrosity with metal teeth." She made fangs with her fingers. "Spits out burning yellow goo."

Hanako became excited.

I have seen it! A woman was turned into one by a Witch.

"Bloody Nora." Daphne said, eyeing the jotter pad. "It must be one of those Blood-Skulls. They are so vindictive.”

So we can get it?

"No. The way back has been washed away. We don't have enough time to walk in a circle. Plus, I have to monitor the patient." Hanako thought for a while and pulled on her helmet. Daphne nodded. "I guess we have our courier. Talk to the Mouse, she will fill you in on the details. All I can say is good luck, and when you get back, I'll put the kettle on."

Outside, the girl looked down and felt a gnawing pit of sadness fill her form.

"Hey now," The Bard said, placing a reassuring claw on the girl's shoulder. "You must  ‘ave faith. Here." She handed over a thick, iron key set with a purple stone. Give this to the Blacksmith. From the exit, make your way to the 'Dismal Wharf' and then 'Thankless Burgh', until you follow the St Martin's River back ‘ere." She gave one of the straps a flick. "You might want to upgrade your gear." Hanako took her hand. The Mouse smiled. "Alas, I cannot take you there, but I know something that can..." Jenny took a playing card, threw it high in the air and watched it burst into a shower of confetti. She quickly made her way to the edge of a hole lined with brickwork. "I shouldn't be around when it arrives, our kind makes for a tasty meal. Keep a lookout and don't let your guard down for anything. Bon Chance, Mademoiselle!"

The Bard gave a two-finger salute before disappearing into the well. Hanako wondered what she meant by 'When it arrives...' and was suddenly lifted high, over the forest. Gripping her Javelin, she wondered if it was worth stabbing the creature, but in the end, decided against it. If this was Jenny’s plan, who was she to ruin it?

Feeling helpless, all the girl could do was watch Wolf Cottage shrink away, until it was lost behind moon-silvered mountains.

Ten minutes into the flight, Hanako was surprised to find they were still over the forest. She wondered what the rest of the country looked like. 

Rufus had talked of other villages, which made her curious to visit them. Would they be better or worse than Ilith Londo? Were there other Mouse people like Jenny? She was excited at the prospect of adventuring and uncovering mysteries.

Before the girl could dwell on this further, she was suddenly dropped onto a broken bridge and went tumbling off into a stack of crates. Lying flat, a pained moan shuddered through, and she found herself staring at a familiar floor. 

Turning her head, she saw a dark shape come into view.