Once in the village, Mason noticed the people were having a sad look on their faces. He needed no one to tell him it wasn't because of the Hissers' visitation. He knew too well to assume such, as nothing scares the villagers no more.
Then what was it? He thought in his mind as he walked past them. Daniel and his wife stood not far from their house, staring at him.
Mason asked the reason for the mood and Daniel sighed deeply. "We are in debt to you yet again," the old man said. "We gave the hissers what belongs to you."
So that was it! Mason thought. He smiled at the man and clapped him on the shoulder. "Worry not, old man. I will take whatever you offer, gladly." He stepped closer to Daniel. "Say that to the villagers on my behalf. I wish you could read my mind and know I am alright with whatever you give me."
He approached Diana, Daniel's wife, and gave her a faint smile. "I'm starving, let's go eat," he told her before going inside. As he stepped across the threshold he heard Daniel beginning to speak.
The rest of the day went by uneventfully. Later at night, Mason turned around on his bed to see Amie staring at him. When they locked eyes she smiled and gestured to him what he was up to.
Mason raised his head to glance at Mia. She was fast asleep, or probably pretending to. He sat up, resting his back on the wall.
"Sleep wouldn't come," Mason replied to Amie.
"Nervous?" Amie whispered.
"Nervous? Why?" Mason repeated more to himself, uncertain.
"Perhaps because you're leaving tomorrow."
"Uh, maybe."
"Worry no more, I shall protect you."
Mason glanced at her and smiled. "You only know how to shoot arrows," he said. "You'll leave me alone to find a better spot for a clear shot."
"My, you haven't seen me in a melee yet," Amie cackled. "I'm a better fighter than my sister. My swordsmanship far surpasses everyone in this village."
Her boasting looked so real that Mason wanted to burst into laughter, but he decided against it. He just nodded and played along. Amie went on and on about how she single-handedly defeated a horde of shakases two moons ago, and how she scared away five goblins stealing the village farm products about three weeks prior.
She explained that the reason why she switched to range weapons was because she felt like Melee was making her more of a killer than a protector. Mason didn't find such an excuse plausible, however, as he had decided to pretend to play along.
"Goblins exist here?" he finally asked.
"Exist? Of course, thousands of them!" Amie exclaimed.
"Whoa, I can't wait to meet them," Mason said, grinning from ear to ear.
Amie put her legs down from the bed and leaned closer to Mason, scanning his eyes. "Do you jest?" she whispered.
"Of course not," Mason replied, waving his hand. "I've heard tales about them in high school and—"
"Ha! If you wish to die in the hands of those little beasts I wager you think it twice," Amie interrupted. "Those tunnel-dwellers would crush even your bones. At least they would kill you before devouring you."
"What? Are there no monsters that don't eat people?"
"There he goes. Seeking another way to die? Well, you may consider the Vampires. They only need your blood. Ogres? No, those would eat you. Trolls, Orcs. If you're lucky you'd meet the leprechaun."
"The wish granter?"
"I'm not sure. I only learned how they reveal hidden treasure to whoever caught them."
"Do you know where to find them?"
"I and my family wouldn't be in this dangerous settlement if I did," Amie scoffed.
Mason sighed as he shivered and gritted his teeth against the chilling breeze pouring in from the room's opened window. That was certainly the weather for two! He glanced at Amie. She was staring lustfully at him. Maybe it was a gaze of love; there was no way to know, as even he was having stupid thoughts in his mind.
After all the afternoon's couple of minutes rhythmic movements of pleasure!
Mason shook his head severally to get rid of his mischievous thoughts.
"Sometimes I wonder if you're from this world generally," Amie said. "How could you not know about the beasts?"
Mason shrugged and lay down. "I'll tell you when I'm ready. Don't be disappointed then."
"There's nothing to be disappointed about. I expect it to be something either amusing or surprising. Nonetheless, I am ready for either," Amie said, smiling.
"You should rest for tomorrow's journey," Mason said. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
*****
The previous night…
Nana woke up with a ringing in her head. However, it doesn't look like she'd woken up. Everything and everywhere was dark, too dark to know where she was. And then the memory of her capture a few hours ago came flooding in.
After a minute or so of roaming the dark, using her hand to trace the walls she finally came upon a door. She tried to open it but it appeared to have been locked from outside.
"Hello! Anyone there?" She shouted as she banged on the door. "Open this door and let me out!"
Not long after she heard footfalls. Stairs? she wondered. Then footsteps, followed by lock clicks. The door opened and Nana averted her face as she squinted to adjust to the light pouring in from lanterns held by the newcomers.
"I told you, she's stronger than she looks," a familiar voice came from one of the people. She must be the one who hit Nana with the hilt of her sword. Her akin-to-male voice was not difficult to recognize.
"WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?" Nana seethed, glaring at the four hooded women in front of her. One of them pulled back her hood to reveal a pale middle-aged woman underneath. Her jet-black hair fell far from her shoulders, nearly trimmed.
Nana was only able to see half of her face clearly due to the one-sided glow of the lantern held aloft by one of the women.
"My name is Luliar," the middle-aged woman said. "What is yours?"
"Why do you care about my name?" Nana shouted. "Let me go at once!"
"Do not dare speak to Luliar in such a manner!" one of the hooded ladies groaned as she lunged, but Luliar held her hand up, signaling her to stop.
"Well then, I shall call you Eaglely," Luliar said. "It is not like whoever you are matters here. Likewise your real name."
"I wonder where those outfits come from," one of the hooded ladies whispered, looking at Nana from head to toe.
"Somewhere not from this world, I suppose," another whispered back.
"I don't like her a bit."
"You don't like anyone, Dora."
"I like skilful men."
"Of course you do. Those you can brag about on how you defeated."
Dora grinned and clapped her friend on the shoulder. "I like you too, Ellia, don't forget," she said.
"My, am I supposed to be honored?" said Ellia sarcastically.
"Silence!" Luliar hissed. Her eyes bore into Nana. "Follow me Eaglely," she told her. With this, she turned back and began to leave. Nana's gaze met Kiya, the magic practitioner among them. The girl nodded at her to do as Luliar asked.
Nana rolled her eyes, her gaze softening slightly as she exited. Kiya closed the door and followed her afterward.
Ahead the passageway was a stair ascending to meet a small door above. Luliar and the two other ladies waited beside the door, staring down at Nana.
"Don't be scared; just do as she says, and you'll be safe," Kiya whispered. But Nana turned to glare at her.
"If whatever she has to say is not about me getting out of here, neither of us would be safe," she said through gritted teeth. She turned and ascended the stairs. When she reached the top Dora opened the door.
Luliar was the first to go through the door, and then the rest waited for Nana before following. Nana found herself in a large, brightly lit room filled with hooded women. There are several lamps hung on each side of the walls, and some are placed on a large wooden table at the center of the room.
Several papers were scattered on the table, some of which were maps and others portraits. Wooden chairs surrounded the table. When the women spotted Luliar, those who were sitting down stood up and bowed.
Luliar waved at them to continue what they were doing as she proceeded toward the door on the far wall, flanked by two ladies in robes, their hoods down. The group walked past a large double door on their right. Nana wondered if the door held her freedom. But she couldn't be sure, and neither could she risk running through it in fear of getting into even more trouble. She decided to investigate at an opportune time.
The two ladies flanking the door opened it for Luliar as she approached with the three ladies. They all went in, and the sight Nana beheld beyond the door made her heart shred to pieces.
There are dozens of bodies tied and suspended in the air like pendulums. Screams of pain and agony filled the atmosphere as ladies in black outfits used different types of weapons to torture their captives.