It's about midday. The sun is as high up as it can go. And thanks to the dense tree tops it's warm but not hot like it would be in the village currently. It's been about a week since we left and we are just one camp away from the outter Ardenne.
We finally left the Meld forest behind yesterday, so the ground is much more…well..actual dirt. So that is nice. But sadly we ran out of the snacks we brought from home.
Mr. Thorpe says once we reach the next camp we'll hunt for something decent. It shouldn't be dark yet by then.
The grass and twigs snap beneath our boots as we move. Keeping a standard traveling pace that won't exhaust us. The sun peeking every so often through the canopy far above us. The trees in this part of the forest are a lot further apart, more slender and tall with ashey white bark covered in spikey growths. But their tree tops are lush with green flora and spread out incredibly wide.
I readjust my sword on my back as it was beginning to knock against the back of my head. My mind wandering through the casual quiet between me and my teacher. My attention shifting over to Old Guard hopping over a small crack in the earth ahead of me.
"Hey…Mr. Thorpe?"
The old man kept moving but cocked his head back towards me. "Somethin up?"
I shake my head, picking up my speed a bit to catch up to him. Hopping over the crack as well. "No. Nothings wrong. Just…what do you think he's doing right now?"
Thorpe raised his brow and then gave a low hum. "You mean Leo?" His expression turning pensive. "Well I'm not sure. I don't know that much about how the Orders training goes." He admits, scratching the back of his head. "I mean I know a little from a few of the paladins I served with during the war but Leo's training is going to be unique to him due to his rare class."
My lips purse but I nod in understanding. "Well..what is the paladins training like then?" I ask a little quietly, hoping I'm not being annoying about it.
Thorpe sighs but smirks over at me. "What's to say. They are the elite soldiers of the Grand. Much better than even the Knights of the actual Kings Army." He began, resting his spear over his shoulders to hang his arms off of. "Obviously not all Paladins on the grand are with the order. There are plenty in the Mercenary Guild but a lot of them are there because they flunked out. So MOST of the Paladins are with the Order because they are…like Leo…scouted from birth."
The old man rolls his shoulders, honestly looking pretty displeased with what he's talking about. "But to be a Paladin of the order is to have your whole path in life dictated by the church. You learn the skills they want you to, use the weapons they want you to, do the quests they want you to, level at their pace and do not deviate."
I frown a little, keeping up pace with him. "That…sounds pretty frustrating."
Mr. Thorpe nods. "We already get narrowed enough by our own god given classes. But they take all the rest of that control away." Letting out a long sigh. "But I guess I have no room to complain. They do it for very good reasons."
My brows furrow, looking up at him again. His expression has gotten…somewhat haunted. I'm almost afraid to ask. Almost. "What do you mean?"
Old Guard is quiet for a few steps before he finally speaks.
"Demons…"
A chill creeps up my spine. My eyes widening. And it's like the whole forest falls quiet just at the mention of them. I have heard of them mentioned before of course. But that was mostly in scary stories Papa always told me. Or mama would tell me demons would bite my toes if I didn't eat my vegetables.
"I…didn't think they were real…" I admit timidly, shoulders sinking some. The crunch of leaves and twigs beneath my steps amplified by the quiet.
Mr. Thorpe is staring dead ahead, his brows furrowed. Looking almost angry. "They are very real. And paladins spend their entire training aimed towards fighting them. They are what keep demons from infecting the rest of the Grand." His walking starting to slow down. "Every 16 years the Order is supposed to produce a certain number of paladins and clerics with very specific skill sets to send to the shield wall far out east. Past the shield walls is demon territory and they've been in a constant skirmish with the church for decades now."
Mr. Thorpe's tone and expression just seemed to get more serious. Which just served to make me more anxious about digging deeper. But the idea that Leone might be sent to such a horrible place just makes me want to know as much as I can. "Have you been there before?"
Old Guard stops completely, causing me to stop as well a bit more clumsily. The old man does not turn to look at me. His eyes locked forward as if glaring at the forest in front of us. "We will talk about this later…"
My heart sinks a bit. Taking a couple steps back. "Uh…okay. Sorry. Didn't meant to bother you with all the questions."
Old Guard waves his hand dismissively back at me while still staring forward. "No no. The questions are fine. We just…well…" clearing his throat. "…we're being stalked currently."
I tilt my head and lift my brow in confusion for a few seconds as I absorb what he just said. But soon enough the realization dawns on me. My body going rigid. Palms getting sweaty.
The forest didn't get quiet because of the conversation.
It got quiet because a predator entered the area…
My eyes begin scanning around our surroundings but I'm not seeing anything nearby. In fact all of the smaller creatures have entirely hidden. And so far on this trip we haven't seen any predator monsters. Old Guard said the horned wolves from a few years ago weren't even native to this forest and Leone killed the last of them.
"Where…I don't see anything…"
Old Guard grunts as he gestures with his free hand very subtly forward where he is staring. "Over there…about 30 yards ahead of us."
My brows furrow, trying to make out what he's looking at but all I see is a small cluster of the tall thin trees. "I…I don't see anything…" My voice stutters out. Knowing something is there but not being able to see it really is sending my nerves off the deep end.
Mr. Thorpe reached over with his free left hand to grasp my shoulder firmly. Giving me some stability. "Take it easy…deep breaths…focus." He states calmly and gives my shoulder a squeeze. "Look around you. What have you noticed about this part of the forest?"
I can feel sweat building up on my forehead. Apprehensively looking away from where Old Guard is glaring. Taking another scan around and noting again the specifics. Thin trees, wide roof-like tops, large spacing between each tree.
Oooh…
"The trees don't group together…their solitary. They don't bend or curve either. They go straight up." I answer cautiously, returning my attention to where Mr. Thorpe is staring.
Now that I notice it more clearly the grouped up trees seem very out of place now. The one in front looks fine but the two behind it are slightly tilted and the white ashey wood is much darker. Not to mention that if you were to look up you'd immediately notice there are no extra canopy above from them. Which makes the visual all the more unsettling.
I gulp. "Are…are those trees…"
"It's legs…yes." Old Guard finished, confirming my fears. The old man starts to step forward carefully, keeping his eye on the trees. "They are one of the local predators in the outer Ardenne. Which is also called the Dominion wood. These emperor trees are perfect for them. They strip the bark off of them and wear them like greaves. Camouflage themselves and then wait for you to pass by…then spear you from above with their beaks."
A shudder runs up my spine at the description. "How…how is it hiding behind such a thin tree?"
Mr. Thorpe chuckles lowly while we slowly and cautiously approach the tree it's hiding behind. "The only really solid part of it is its beak and talons. It's skeleton is very pliable and it can shrink and expand it at will. It's organs are compact as well."
Every detail of it sounds both fascinating and terrifying. As we creep along I start reaching my right hand back to my sword…
"DON'T…don't draw any weapons." Old Guard warns without even looking back as he stops. "We don't always have to fight."
I furrow my brows. Definitely more than a little concerned about letting something that dangerous live. "Isn't it…a monster? Shouldn't we kill it?"
Old Guard stands up straight and turns to me, fully looking away from the hidden monster he just got through explaining in terrifying detail. "Liore…monsters are basically just animals with skills. They level up the same way we do. But they also survive just like we do. And they are just as wary of getting into fights as we are too."
Despite my rising anxiety, I apprehensively look away to focus on Mr. Thorpe for a moment.
The old man was looking at me quite solemnly. "You don't have to fight and kill everything. Sometimes even monsters can be reasoned with…even if you can't get it across with words."
I can tell by his expression that this advice is important enough to take pretty seriously. So I relax my shoulders as best I can and nod. "I understand."
The old man seems satisfied with my answer and turns his head slightly back towards the monsters hiding spot. His lips form a thin line below his bushy mustache. And I watch with deep concern as his eyes slowly look upwards. "Oh wow…she is BIG."
My blood runs cold. I didn't even hear it move. We only looked away for at most 10 seconds. A shiver rolls down my spine while I slowly turned my head back in that direction.
The two trees that had been behind the one we were staring at before have now moved to just a few meters away. And if I hadn't been warned otherwise I probably would still have mistaken them for trees. But instead of roots at the base of the trunk there are three large toes with massive blackened talons on each. And one small toe at the back of either foot.
I gulp as my eyes just as slowly trail upwards. Following the towering length of the monsters camouflaged legs until they reach a knee that bends backwards before slanting up into a mass of dark gray feathers that seem to be expanding in size as the creature inflates its skeleton.
Its main body is about the size of a small carriage at this point, it's black and white wings unfurling outwards. Two gnarled and taloned fingers stretching out from the last knuckle of each wing. It lifts the wings threateningly. Its long neck looms it's narrow head over us and tilts it to the side so its right red eye can get a full view of us below. It's beak is wickedly long like a spear, ending in a sharp needle point.
I can barely move. The creatures wings over shadowing us. This is the first time I've seen a monster like this. So far I've only ever fought things like Jackelopes and Saber Badgers. But this is on a whole different level.
Mr. Thorpe doesn't seem all too bothered by the massive bird though. "Their called Sovereign Cranes…or Emperor Cranes depending on who you ask." The old man says calmly as he very carefully sets his spear on the ground. "Unbuckle your sword and set it on the ground. Do so slowly. Do not touch the hilt at all."
I frown deeply at the idea of disarming but Old Guard clearly knows best.
Reaching to my chest, I unbuckle my scabbard from my back. Lifting the sword from behind me by the belt and slowly lower it to the ground. Trying not to look up at the creature that I can FEEL staring at the top of my head.
Mr. Thorpe nods. "Follow my lead. Do exactly as I do." He says carefully before fully facing the monster bird. The old man spread his arms out wide with his hands angled upward and elbows pointed down. Places one foot directly in front of the other and gives a deep bow forward.
It looks pretty silly. But as Old Guard does it the monster bird bounces its head up and down, it's chest and head plumes puffing up as its beak snaps rapidly up towards the air. The sound of it making my ears ring. It then quickly tilts its head again to stare directly down at me.
Every fiber of my being wants me to run from this thing. But that'd probably not end well.
Following Old Guards instruction, I stretched my arms out, one foot in front of the other, and bowed deeply. Gasping sharply through my teeth as I almost lose my balance but manage to keep still.
In response the bird bounces its head and snaps its beak before it spreads its wings out wide, lifting one of its massive tree legs to place it before its other and bows back. Its head getting dangerously close to both of us for a few moments before it raises its head back up near the tree tops.
The old man then stands up straight and casually picks up his spear. "You can buckle your sheath back on. We can go."
I look over to Mr. Thorpe very worriedly since the monster bird is literally still looming over us. But it seems it's attention is now elsewhere as it has retracted its wings to begin preening them.
Taking a deep breath, I reached down and pick my sword back up. Making sure to grab it only by the belt and sheathe. Buckling it back in place. Once it's there the bird lifts its leg and begins to walk past us. It's feet barely making even the slightest crunch against the grass.
I honestly can't help but wonder what sort of skill I'd get if I killed it. But I shake that thought away and look to Mr. Thorpe who is smiling quite cheekily at me.
I purse my lips. "What?"
The old man chuckles. "You were shaking in your boots. Scared of a big ole chivalrous bird." He teases.
I immediately pout at him, my brows slanting inward. "It's scary! You said that it ambushes you and spears you with its beak!"
Old man laughs and pats me on the shoulder. "You are definitely still right on that, I'm just teasing you." He admits before he begins pushing his along. "They are definitely powerful and I was just as nervous as you are. But they are pretty amicable as long as you are polite. They have a sort of 'honor' system to them. So we basically just swore not to cause trouble for it and it won't for us in return."
The tension in my shoulders finally releases. Keeping close to Thorpe as we started moving again. "Does it…eat humans?"
The old man shakes his head. "Not unless it's desperate. It tries not to eat anything that is bigger than its stomach which is pretty small." He answers with a much calmer attitude than he was a few minutes ago. "It tends to the Emperor trees around here cause their vulvernable to insects and parasites."
My eyes widen a bit in surprise. "That's…honestly pretty wholesome…" I comment. But I guess Mr. Thorpe did emphasize pretty well that monsters aren't that different from regular animals except for the skills. Which makes me wonder a bit.
"What about demons? Are they like other monsters?"
"No." the old man answers pretty flatly.
Both of us are quiet for a few awkward moments. My question seeming to have killed his better mood. "I'm sorry…"
He shakes his head. "Don't be sorry. Just have a rough history with the subject. But once we get to the next camp. I promise…I'll explain…"
I watch his face as it hardens. His expression sinking. As if aging 10 more years in an instant.
I feel bad for making him thinkmof difficult things. But it is certainly something I want and NEED to know.
No matter how much it hurts.