Chapter 3 - Called to action

Trent forest was a lush canvas of deep, rich greens and earthy brown hues that came together to paint a beautiful landscape. Behind every great tree however was a shadow hiding the unknown. Dangerous beasts were known to lurk deep within the forest, and it was not unheard of for brigands to skulk near the few paths that cut through the woods.

Eran had read about the majesty of the land’s forests in different books that described them in various ways, but they all paled in comparison to the real thing. His sense of smell was overwhelmed by the fragrant, sweet smelling flowers that were accented by the earthy undertones of decaying logs and dense shrubbery. Birds chirped overhead, and as their morning song bounced around the tall trees it was difficult for Eran to pinpoint their location. Every now and then, a gust of wind would graze against his cheek like a needle, the sharp sensation mingling with the cool, moist air that dominated the forest.

“This must be the fork in the road, so… left, then.”

The young adventurer was thankful to have received directions from the guards stationed near Oakwood’s entrance. The road to Trentmoor Manor was more or less a straight shot from the town, but there was one divergence in the middle of the forest. It supposedly led to a port town called Barnesville, but that road was known for having a high chance of being accosted by local thieving gangs. Eran shuddered at the thought of getting lost and wandering through such a dangerous area by himself, especially while carrying something that was potentially very expensive.

Mist condensed on Eran’s neck and dripped down his back like a cold sweat as he reached inside his shirt. Stashed away was a small wooden box that had been entrusted to him by the guild house. His job was to deliver it to the Trentmoor family, and he could only imagine how priceless its contents must have been. Whatever was inside the box was worth enough money for him to be paid five gold coins for making sure it arrived safely; a paycheck that equaled nearly a month’s worth of work at the rate he was going.

Fallen leaves satisfyingly crunched under Eran’s feet as he continued down the path. It was well traveled enough for him to follow without much trouble, but if he wasn’t paying attention he could have easily wandered into an animal trail by mistake. After a bit of walking, Eran noticed something peculiar about a set of cart tracks that ran through the road. The leaves that rested on the forest floor looked like they had been pressed down into the earth.

“Fresh. I don’t think someone from the manor would have come from the town, so then who…?”

The discovery left Eran on edge. When he had asked for directions, the guard assured him that once he made it past the fork in the road he would be safe. Local criminal organizations knew better than to draw the ire of the Trentmoor family by colluding near their domain. Eran wanted to believe in the friendly gate guard, but as the forest became more dense he found himself less open to taking risks. He thought back to a lecture he attended at Greenhorn Academy. The instructor had given plenty of useful advice that could be applied to any situation, and one of them suddenly became very relevant to the graduate.

“It is impossible to remain on guard at all times. You can’t do it. That is why it is vitally important to know when and where you are allowed to give one-hundred percent of your focus.”

Eran took in a few deep breaths to recenter himself. With a calm mind, he sharpened his sense of hearing. He was able to pick up on the sound of a distant brook that bubbled with rushing water; a sound that had been previously drowned out by the chirping of birds and the wind blowing past his ear.

Rustle rustle.

Without hesitating, Eran drew his shortsword and pointed it in the direction of the sudden noise. A nearby bush shook as a rabbit snuck out from underneath. It clenched a low hanging berry with its paws and snagged it before running back into the forest.

“... Whew.”

Eran sheathed his sword with a heavy sigh. The initial shock he felt did not dissipate, leaving him feeling skittish as he continued to flinch at every unfamiliar sound. It only took a few minutes before the young adventurer gave himself a headache.

“This is rough… I didn’t think staying alert would get taxing so quickly.”

There was still roughly an hour of walking left before Eran would reach Trent Manor. He wouldn’t be able to go on as he was, so he decided to take a break. The brook he had noticed earlier was louder than before, and the bubbling sounds it made caused the young man to think about how parched he had become. Drawn in by the promise of fresh water, Eran left the path in order to find the small stream. It was only a brief walk away, and when he dipped his hands into the shallow water, he was shocked by the way its ice-cold temperature bit his flesh. The crisp water burned as it went down his throat, but he couldn’t deny how refreshing it was. With every handful he drank, Eran felt his headache melt away bit by bit.

Rustle rustle.

Just as the young man had regained his composure, the sound of distant rustling caught him off guard. Something deeper in the forest was coming toward him, and it was approaching fast. Before he had the chance to reach for his weapon, the creature that rushed in his direction sprung out from the dense undergrowth and came into view. It had the appearance of a short young woman with dark skin, the color of which resembled the bark of the surrounding trees. Her hair was a dark green color that matched the forest canopy above, and as Eran took a closer look he noticed that her hair didn’t just resemble the leaves; there were actual leaves sprouting from her head. There was no doubt in the fledgling tamer’s mind that he had encountered his first monster girl.

“...”

She did not speak at first, opting to analyze the young man from a distance instead. Her blue eyes locked onto him, gazing intensely as she made her appraisal. She looked panicked, and her small chest was heaving underneath her sleeveless crop top.

“Hey, is everything okay?” Eran stood up from his crouched position and called out to the monster girl.

In response, the girl shook her head and pointed at the shortsword that hung from the adventurer’s hip. “Weapon.” Her voice was hoarse, as if it was a struggle for her to get the word out of her throat.

Eran grabbed his scabbard and tugged it back a bit, his gaze darting between his sword and the girl. “Don’t worry, I’m not here to cause harm!”

“No. Need fighter. Need help.” She grabbed at her throat and massaged it, her brow furrowing in frustration at her inability to speak without difficulty.

“What can I do?” Eran didn’t fully understand what it was that the monster girl was trying to say, but the fact that she needed help was simple enough to grasp.

The girl turned back the way she came and pointed in the direction of the manor. “Follow.”

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The novice adventurer never had to run through a dense forest before. Unlike the path that had been smoothed out through decades of travel, the footing throughout the rest of the forest was unstable. The monster girl ahead of him was able to glide through the brush like nothing, but when it was his turn to dash through, Eran received several cuts and got caught on a few particularly stubborn branches. She seemed to notice how much slower Eran was and led him back onto the main road.

“Hurry!”

Before long, the two came across a person lying face down on the road. They were in full plate armor, and along their back was a gash in the metal that dripped blood. Eran rushed to their side, only to be horrified as he pressed his hand against the person’s neck. “Cold…”

The monster girl grabbed onto Eran’s hand, squeezing it tight. There was an even fiercer look on her face, one filled with determination as she pointed back toward the forest. The cart tracks that ran along the road to the manor suddenly veered off into the denser part of the woods, leaving behind a trail of bushes that had been trampled.

“I see. Alright, let’s go then, uh… Do you have a name?” Eran glanced down at the monster girl.

She looked up at him in return. There was a flash of understanding in her eyes, but instead of giving an answer she chose to remain quiet and tilt her head to the side.

“If something happens I’ll need to call you something. How about… Leafa?”

As soon as the name left Eran’s lips, the monster girl opened her mouth and took in a short breath. For a brief moment the young man noticed her eyes begin to sparkle, but it disappeared with a nod of her head.

They continued running back into the forest, following the runaway cart tracks. After a short distance, Eran suddenly felt Leafa’s hand wrap around his own. Her fingers elongated and snaked around his like vines before they yanked him back. He was about to open his mouth and speak out in protest, but when he turned to face her she was holding up a finger to her lips.

“Shii…”

Eran took the hint and kept going forward at a much slower pace, skulking close to the ground to keep his footsteps as quiet as possible.

The dense forest opened up into a small clearing, and it was there where the wooden cart had ended up. One of its wheels was destroyed, and standing all around it was a group of four rough looking thugs.

“Like I’m tellin’ ya, ain’t no one gonna notice a couple missing items.” The first to speak was a man who leaned against the cart, casually cleaning his axe with a bloodstained rag.

“We can’t afford to get on the client’s bad side. A man like him wouldn’t hesitate to put our heads on a pike.” A tall, skinny man with a cleaver challenged the axe-wielder, casually twirling his weapon out of boredom.

Popping up from behind the cart, another thug wielding a dirt-smeared dagger lifted up an old man, and he held the blade’s point to his neck. The hostage was bound with rope and had a piece of cloth wrapped around his mouth. “Aww lighten up, Cleaver. Who’s gonna snitch, a corpse!?” He cackled as he pushed the blade a little further, causing a bead of blood to form from the minor puncture.

“Push that knife any further and I’ll kill you myself, Jag.” The thug cleaning his axe was quick to snap at his comrade. “He’s worth more alive than dead. Client’s orders.”

Just as Eran began to clench his fist, he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder. Leafa was staring at him with her concerned blue eyes. They were silently begging the young adventurer to do something about the scene unfolding in front of them.

“I can’t take them all alone. Can you fight?” Eran whispered.

The monster girl strongly nodded, causing the leaves on her head to rustle.

One of the thugs snapped his head to where Eran and Leafa were. “Shush up. I ‘eard rustling.”

“Probably just some animal. The client made sure no one would approach the manor.” Jag let go of his hostage and began to sift through the cargo within the cart.

“Freshie, go check it out.” Cleaver looked back at the youngest looking thug, who likely was still in his adolescence.

“Yes sir!” The young boy scrambled to fetch his dagger before he cautiously stepped toward the edge of the clearing.

Time was running short for Eran to make a move, but he had already come up with a plan. He didn’t know what Leafa was capable of, so he needed to trust in her abilities. If he couldn’t, then his plan would end badly for himself. As the boy approached, Eran thought back to the guard that had been slain by the group of thugs. The wound was delivered to the back, meaning it was an ambush. In this situation, even if he was outnumbered, he had the advantage against such cowardly fighters. Eran took in a deep breath through his nose, holding it until the perfect time to strike presented itself.

“What!?”

The young thug tripped and fell as Eran rushed forward and threw his bola at the youth's feet. The ensnaring tool spun in the air before wrapping around its target’s legs, knocking them down onto the floor. Without missing a beat, Eran dashed as fast as he could toward the thug with an axe, drawing his blade and striking him on the head with the handle. A satisfying cracking sound echoed throughout the clearing, and the man crumpled onto the ground a second later.

“Two against one you meddlesome cur!”

The remaining thugs drew their weapons and flanked Eran. The dirty dagger and cleaver both came swinging at him, and all he could do was deflect their conjoined attacks with his shortsword. They weren’t skilled fighters like his former classmates, but a different issue prevented Eran from going all out. The image of the dead guard entered his mind each time he spotted an opening to counterattack. Thinking about taking a life made his blood run cold, freezing his arms and locking them in place.

“Leafa! Now!”

Like he had thought, Eran couldn’t handle them all on his own. Thankfully, that was not the case for him. At his call, the monster girl rushed out from the clearing and swung her arms forward. Her fingers stretched outward into long, vine-like claws that wrapped around the thugs’ wrists. They groaned out in pain as their wrists were twisted, forcing one of them to drop their cleaver. Eran took the opportunity to punch that one in the stomach and hook his leg, tripping him to the floor. The thug with the grimy dagger swung his weapon down at Eran, but it was simple enough for the trained adventurer to catch the restrained attack with his sword and fling the dagger away.

“Damned creature, I ain’t afraid of you!”

The last standing thug rushed toward Leafa. She was able to easily send her claws out and fully wrap them around his body. With a groan of exertion, Leafa lifted the man into the air before slamming him down onto the dirt floor. A pained wheeze escaped him, along with all of the air in his lungs.

Eran stepped onto the cleaver-wielding thug’s chest, the tip of his shortsword pointed down at him. “Surrender, lest I deprive you of your life.” Without thinking, he had spouted out a line from one of the books he had read in his childhood. The embarrassment immediately settled in, but his recited words seemed to have had the intended effect.

“Sure! Yeah! We’re not trying to spill blood or anything like that!” He raised his hands in surrender. A cowardly shrill squeaked out of him as Leafa’s claws suddenly wrapped around both of his wrists and bound them together.

“Good job, Leafa. Hold him there, I’ll tie them up in a second.” Eran sheathed his sword with an exhausted huff. Somehow, fighting against people made him feel more drained than going against a fully developed salamander. He wanted to collapse and take a few minutes to calm the adrenaline that coursed through his veins, but there was still something he needed to take care of. Eran circled around the cart and helped to free the old man from his bindings.

“... You have my gratitude, brave and noble sir.” The former captive was dressed in a butler’s uniform and spoke in a refined tone. His eyes were incredibly sharp, so much so that his gaze alone nearly intimidated the young adventurer. The first thing he did upon being freed was to stand tall and proper before deeply bowing his head to Eran. He was a gentleman through and through.

“Don’t thank me, I’m only here because of that one over there.” Dismissing the praise, Eran pointed over at the monster girl.

The old butler’s sharp eyes widened ever so slightly upon noticing her. He cleared his throat to recenter himself as he brushed off the dirt from his suit. After making himself appear just a bit more presentable in his dirtied state, he placed one hand behind his back and the other resting gently across his chest. Naturally, he made sure to look both Eran and Leafa in the eyes as he introduced himself. “I am Cedric Everglade, a humble servant of the Trentmoor family. You both possess my deepest thanks.”

Eran felt himself straightening his back involuntarily as he became swept up by the old man’s refined aura and discerning gaze. “I’m Eran, an adventurer from Oakwood. I’m just glad you’re mostly unharmed.”

The monster girl glanced over at the old man and pointed at herself, a small smile on her face. “Leafa.”

“Sir Eran and Lady Leafa, is it? What brings you to the Trentmoor domain? If there is something I could assist you with, I would be glad to do it.”

“Actually, I came here to deliver a package. I think it’s for Lady Elizabeth?” The young adventurer reached into his shirt and pulled out the wooden box he had been entrusted with.

A small smile formed on the old man’s lips, though his gaze remained as sharp as ever. “Allow me to escort you the rest of the way, my lady’s manor is not far from here. But first, let us take care of these brigands.” Cedric procured two sets of rope from the cart, handing one of them to Eran. Together, they rounded up all four of the thugs and bound them with rope. “Leave them here with the cart. I shall have our guardsmen retrieve them and our nearly stolen goods later.” Paying them not a second thought, the butler briskly walked away toward the main road.

Eran and Leafa followed along, the two of them glancing back nervously as the thugs slowly disappeared in the distance.

Upon reaching the dead guardsman, Cedric paused. Eran could not see the expression on the old man’s face, only hearing him softly mutter a few short words. “A brave soldier. You’ve done well.”

A weighty atmosphere took over the forest road, making each step feel heavier. Now that the fighting was over, Eran had time to process seeing his first dead body. He didn’t know the guard at all, but that was an opportunity that had been taken away forever. The thought created a pit in his stomach that made it hard for him to swallow.

“By the by…” Partway through the walk, it was Cedric who managed to break the tension. He gave Eran a much needed distraction from his introspective thoughts. “I see the little one has taken a liking to you. Would it be correct of me to assume that you are a monster girl tamer?” The old man glanced backward, his discerning gaze piercing through Eran.

“Yeah, I became a tamer not that long ago. That being said, I haven’t actually tamed any monster girls yet. I only met this one because she needed my help saving you.” The young man looked down at Leafa. She was gazing up at him with an innocent expression on her face, and it was only then he noticed that they had been holding hands. Sometime during his meditation on mortality, she had reached out to offer him a comforting touch. As he continued to stare at her and take in her foreign features, a realization came to mind. “Oh, right. I don’t know what kind of monster girl she is. Would you happen to know, Cedric?”

The old man turned around to give Leafa a good look. He glanced back and forth between the young tamer and the short monster girl before adjusting his monocle and giving his answer in a low voice. “I do not… That being said, I believe it is about time for a certain scholar to make his appearance in Oakwood. He goes by Professor Croix, if I remember correctly. He is a monster girl scholar, and is liable to have the answer you seek.”

“I see, thanks for telling me that.” Eran looked down at Leafa and squeezed her hand. “Wait, do you know what kind of monster girl you are?”

“Dneuma?” With a quizzical look on her face, Leafa tilted her head and responded with a word the young adventurer had never heard before.

“I’ll take that as a no…” Throughout the rest of the walk, Eran thought about what kind of monster girl she could be. Some of the older farmers from Greenhorn liked to tell the story about a time when their fields were overrun with plant-like monster girls called mandragoras. They sprouted flowers from their head and disguised themselves as weeds, sapping all of the nutrients meant for their crops. Even when the farmers discovered and pulled them out, they continued to be an antagonizing nightmare. Perhaps Leafa was one of them.

“We have arrived, Sir Eran.” Snapping the young man out of his reverie, the gentleman butler extended his hand outward to gesture toward the magnificent white building that came into view. It rested near the back of a massive clearing, which was bisected by a stream that cut through the property’s front garden. It was a beautiful arrangement of flowers possessing vibrant colors that could be appreciated even from their distance, and it was all enclosed by an impressive bush that had been finely sculpted into having the appearance of a wrought iron fence.

“So this is what a manor is like…” Eran said. It was difficult for him to imagine a single family occupying such a large property.

Cedric nodded his head firmly. “Indeed. Welcome to Trentmoor Manor, honored guests.”