[Aldrin Forest]
[Kurt POV]
'We are almost at the clearing now, I don't know if what that so called God, or demon, or whatever they really are was saying, but while I don't trust them, I did take the warning seriously.'
'Just because I don't believe they are a god does not mean that I'll be so arrogant as to dismiss information that could cost everyone their lives if ignored.
I don't know exactly what we will be facing that could wipe us all out, so I have made it a point to make sure that we have A-Class hunters with us, top of the line fighters, experienced not just with the sword, but also bows, and hand-to-hand combat.
If anything on this hunt could actually kill them, I'd be very worried for the future of our kingdom. Even knights struggle to fight on equal footing with them, some knights have even been trained by those A-Ranks.'
Shaking my head to get rid of these thoughts and get my head back in the game, I look up ahead at the very forest that could very well be the place that I lose a lot of friends and acquaintances, my horse making whinnying sounds the closer we get to the clearing.
"I have a bad feeling about this, guild master." Stacey muttered, having to reign in her horse who had started turning off-course.
"Usually, the horses wouldn't be this frightened even if they were right next to a beast, for them to act like this, something is seriously wrong.
Are your sure that we aren't walking into a trap, I know that they don't have much intelligence, but if someone is leading them then things could get ugly really quickly."
"I think so to Stacey, but we don't have a choice, their numbers are growing, like they are preparing for something. If all of those beasts decided to attack right now, we wouldn't be able to protect everyone. Citizens would die.
Even if we had the guards at the entrance drop the portcullis while we fraught, we can't guarantee that a few would not slip in before they managed to do it.
To be honest, it would be better to fight in the forest with obstructions that we can use as shield, or to dodge anything we don't have the time to bring up a shield for.
True, this is practically their home ground, but nature doesn't take sides." I say, both of us grimacing as we picture those beasts running rampant in the city, tearing people apart limb-from-limb.
"Yeah, this probably for the best, I just wish we had something to make this easier, and safee, for everyone."
"One day maybe, but right now we have to fight with the tools at our disposal, we have built our bodies to take all kinds of punishment, trained multiple forms of combat, built on our mental fortitude to keep fighting even as we have had to watch those we care for fie right in front of us.
If we are to die today, then we will at least die knowing that we did everything we could, it's not that we were too weak, it would just be that the single strength of a mortal can not compete with that of a horde.
That's nothing to be ashamed of, we would have done our duty, given our lives to keep the peace, and I would hardly call someone who could defeat an entire horde of mutated beasts a human, hahaha."
Stacey gives a slight smirk at that, mishiech dancing in her eyes.
"Yeah, someone with that kind of strength would to be blessed by a god, or something. It would be ridiculous, and I would be super jealous if I am to be honest. I've always dreamed of having that kind of power, I'd never have to worry about dying in battle.
I might even be able to look for a partner, knowing that it would be highly unlikely that I'd die on the field, and leave them all alone one day."
"Yeah, you all deserve to be happy after all you have had to go through. Maybe we will get lucky and suddenly awaken such power, that would definitely make tonight easier."
"Psh, unlikely, since when has the world been that kind? It's more likely that the beasts would get a new power up and start slaughtering everyone without any of us being able to fight back."
"Yes, that is certainly the trajectory that the world has been taking so far. We get strong, and everything else gets stronger. Almost like someone is purposely pulling the strings that lead to the world's demise."
'Perhaps a demon disguising itself as a god? Ha, now that would make more sense, they'd grant us power just to watch us struggle harder like toys, and when they get bored, they'll design the fight that finally puts us down.'
"Still, maybe if their is a god, perhaps they'll make it so as many of us as possible can walk away from this as possible, with little more than a few scratches."
I look over at Stacey, a shocked at her words, I had never pegged her for a believer in god, a person who chugs that much alcohol on the daily is usually someone who curses those kinds of beings, they don't usually give out belief that they will help bring a welcome change for their path in life.
"God? I never pegged you for a believer." I chuckled.
"Oh, you think that just because I like drinking that I can't believe in god?"
"No, no, no. I just, uhh-"
I watch the Catsith's tail brissle in annoyance, her eyes narrowing as they fix onto me. Damn, quick, come up with an excuse.
"Ah, no. It's just that their have never been many believers in a being like God, it's just a surprise, and it's rare to meet a real believer."
She keeps her eyes fixed on me for a few seconds longer before turning away with a huff. I sigh in relief, making a note to be more cautious in my wording from now on.
"I'll have you know that I drink purely because I like drinking, it's not in any way because I want to drown in my sorrows and curse at all matters of existence about how unlucky my life is."
She gives of a sigh, calming down, and looking back towards me with a sad smile back on her face.
"I-I just really need to believe that their is someone up above watching over us, trying their best to protect us all, and guide us to be our very best. I need to believe that everything happens for a reason otherwise... I have lost so many people, we all have. I just can't except that they died pointless deaths.
We keep fighting, keep bleeding, keep dying, and yet, the monster just keep coming.
It's not fair."
For the first time since I had met Stacey, I see a spark of vulnerability in her eyes, as she looks at me in sadness, a small tear forming at the corner of one of her eyes.
"I'm sure you're right Stacey, besides, they didn't die for nothing. Think of all the people they have saved, The countless times the kingdom has been protected by them, that's not nothing, they gave their lives so that families could live. I'd say that makes them a hero in my books. A very noble purpose."
I pat her head, as she wipes the tears from her eyes, getting regaining her composure a bit.
"Yeah, you are right. They were heroes. We all have lot to live up to so that we do not disgrace their sacrifice."
"Indeed."
We stop our horses near the edge of the forest, and secure the perimeter. Being cautious to check for anythibg nearby that may suddenly jump at us.
"Doesn't look like their are any beasts in the immediate vicinity, we may have a few minutes to reast and have a quick bite before we get to work. Fighting in the evening is always a struggle. Some of us havn't eaten yet, not to mention the scarcity of light, we'll be lucky if we don't get eaten without even knowing how."
A round of muttering erupts as Garret walks up, giving a report of our current situation.
I sigh, rubbing my forehead. Everyone is hungry and slightly tired, I'll make sure to give everyone a high reward after today, hopefully most of them will take a days rest to morrow to recover.
"Alright everyone, tonight may be one of the hardest fights of your lives, we only know that mutant beasts are growing in numbers and gathering together near nearby, so take a ten minute rest to eat, drink, and recover, because after that we might just be fighting for our very lives.
I want to see everyone make it home tonight, so everyone stay vigilant and prepare for the worst, understood?!"
I look up at the sky, seeing the stars and moon starting to shine, and wondering just how many of us will actually make eit back this time.
'I really hope Balhael was wrong.'