A couple of knocks came from the door. "Come in," a raspy voice said from the inside. The noise of men simultaneously talking greets Mr. Degget, their attention falls on him.
"Chief Rondor. Elders." Mr. Degget salutes as he takes off his farming hat to his chest and lower his head, his gaze circling to the dimly lighted room as the strong scent of coffee tickling his nose, books left in disarrays in shelves and papers towering in the floors and corners, and the elders crowded the round oakwood table, settled at their own chairs. Looks like the Chief didn't get a rest again.
Chief Rondor, eyebags heavy and brows furrowed in irritation, clearly signs of exhaustion, took a short glance his way. "What brought you here?"
"I've come to report about the state of the river."
The Chief inhales deep in his mind, preventing his sanity from leaving him and exploding. I'm not yet done dealing with the pile of previous complaints, and here's another one? I'm definitely gonna retire after I solve all these. He stops scribbling on his papers. "Let's hear it." He straightened his back, ready to hear another complaint or request. "What is it this time?"
"The fishes in the river— from the bridge down to the arc are disappearing. I'm planning to visit the downstream tomorrow for a check." Mr. Degget started his report.
"I heard from the other fishermen, down there is no good either." An elderly man holding a cane speaks.
"Is that so… I've been monitoring these past three days. There are fishes remaining at the River Arc but it'll barely last for two days for a family of four– the river seems like it lost its life." He remarked.
A negative report. The old Chief placed his pen down and removed his reading glasses as he blew a long sigh hearing the news. "Before, it was the boars and chickens at the barns. The second week is the wild deer we hunt. This time, it's the fishes and our crops are dying." Chief Rondor listed the past incidents. "Is Death spread to the water too?"
It's not death this time. They fish for a living, they know when fish disappear it is solely due to instinctively running away from danger, even though wild animals exist in the area, they never disappear– truly unlike this time, and Mr. Degget sees this pattern and is highly troubled. "Do you think this incident is connected to the other incident?" Mr. Degget talked about his concern.
Even if he doesn't ask, he knows what his Chief thinks. He just wants confirmation and for someone to deny what the dire thought is building in his mind. "It might be possible." Chief Rondor– eyes shut tight– mumbled, wanting to completely deny the thought as well.
It can't be right? A sweat bud on his forehead. They are former soldiers, scouts of the kingdom, they are taught of signs of infestation,they are no stranger with these patterns. The series of unfortunate events bore a lone message. Mr. Degget hesitated heavily, swallowing hard on a non-existing blockage before speaking his mind. "He-Hey, don't you think that we're… that maybe… we're infested?" He stammered between words.
"Hold your tongue, Bimer." Chief Rondor interrupted, tired eyes sharp and piercing.
"So, it-it's not, right?" He anxiously laughed. "I mean, it's just impossible."
"I can't speak of certainty for now." He responded. "I'll be sending men to scout the woodland tomorrow."
A knock came from the door, A elderly man wearing a long, close-fitting black robe carrying faint scent of incense, it's the Priest, his face bears looming grave news. "Chief Rondor." He calls his superior.
"Spit it out." Chief Rondor crossed the line of politeness and formality.
"The headstone at the grave of Saint Aniveyn— cracked." This caused an uproar with the elders.
"What? That's impossible?!"
"That is absurd!"
"How does it crack? The blessing stood strong, it never broke down for the last 500 years!"
"Are you certain?!" The Elders brought panic to blaze. Loud murmurs filled the room.
"Silence!" A loud thud against the Oak wooden table brought stillness to everyone. Chief Rondor took the lead. "Priest, how come this happened?"
"I believe our village is tainted with evil."
"We must prepare to flee!" Another elder blurted out of fear.
"How?! We only have three wagons, we're down three horses in two weeks— it'll be difficult to transport the whole village!"
"Then women and children must escape first—!"
"I said SILENCE!!" Chief Rondor slammed his hand harshly at the table, his palm throbbing in pain.
"Like the elder said, it's been 5 centuries, we never had a problem with creatures of the night before, not even the neighboring villages. Why are they attacking now?"
"Shortage of food? Nesting? Acquiring territory? There's a lot of reasons actually." Mr. Degget answer. "The Oakwood villlage– this village, it's located at the feet of hills, beyond the valleys, and surrounded of vast woodland— it's a perfect hunting ground."
Mr. Degget's knowledge made the point that answers their questions. Their village is abundant for its agriculture, even the quality of the meat of their livestock is demanded in international trade. The whole kingdom recognizes their value, unfortunately, so do the lurking creatures.
How truly unfortunate, Chief Rondor thought, just right before the winter, dividing the rations to families, added by the demand of the Capital to supply, these series of unfortunate events happened. He feels his sanity is slipping and blood spiking. By the mercy of Lumelia, bless me with long patience "What about the blessing?" Chief Rondor asked the Priest.
"There still remains that protect the village but it is crumbling away. I do not know how long it'll last."
"Can it be repaired or strengthened by a ceremony?" Mr. Degget stepped in.
"It is possible, however, it'll only be temporary." The Priest stated. "Only a Saint or a High Priest can fully repair the blessing." Silence echoes the room, ]''[left the elders, Mr. Degget, and Chief Rondor to tend to their thoughts.
The Catdonia Kingdom lost its Saint 500 years ago in the Holy Grail War, she was never followed by another. Because of the great loss the Catdonia Kingdom suffered before, it compensated the losses by letting the Church have power on searching for children who are capable of bearing the small miracles by learning the Lumelia's Language— The Holy Language.
Their Kingdom only has one person who can perform great blessings— The High Priest residing at the Lumelia's Temple in the west region of the Catdonia Kingdom. Only the lord of the Kingdom can summon him for aid.
"What do we do, Chief?" Mr. Degget turned towards Chief Rondor.
"The obvious thing. This is beyond us, we have no arms to protect us, not enough men to fight those creatures, and all we can do is flee. What we can do is precautionary action. That is why we will leave this matter to the Kingdom."
"You'll request for aid?" Mr. Degget raises his one eyebrow.
"Not me– You will." An immediate response. "Bimer, tomorrow you'll set to leave and head to the King, you must request aid for us. Bring with you the children, women, and elderly— I'll notify the Puspin Village, we helped them before, they'll offer you shelter— yes, Priest?" The Priest raises his hand.
"I'll send the Daughters of Lumelia to protect them." He declared. Chief Rondor approved with a firm nod.
"Can you do the ceremony with few people?"
"I'll only need four pillars to cover the grave, but I request security. The ceremony cannot be disturbed midway."
"And we will provide it to you." That settled the concerns about the ceremony. "Men that are left must participate in protecting the village. We'll be having rounds for scouting the woodland."
Scouting the woodland, that is the heaviest job of all. Scouting simply means blindly facing danger. Some of the men are trained to wield a sword, however, the majority never know how to slay a beast.
Chief Rondor blew away his exasperation. Turns out, he should have taught them that. He chuckles in his mind. At the beginning, why should he? This occurence—this infestation is nearly impossible with the blessings of the grave of the last Saint. Yet here we are, having a buttload of headache.
"Elders, tell the families of our evacuation at first light tomorrow. If they ask, tell them our water and soil has been poisoned, they'll believe that." He ordered them. The elders understand his intention.
"We will tell them." For now, it's best to hide the truth in order not to create fear. If people panic the chances of their survival will be lower than what it is now.
"Will the palace answer our needs?" A quiet question mumbled by one frail Elder.
"We are in the far outskirts of the kingdom's land, we gave them no money, only our harvest." Another elder voices their concerns.
"We're under a contract by the King's words. If they do not want to starve their beloved Capital, they will help us." Chief Rondor told in full confidence the land's value. "Does anyone still have concerns?" His men only shook their heads. "Then, no more staying out of the houses at the first bite of sunset… This meeting is dismissed." The Elders exited the hall one by one.
Chief Rondor sank exhaustedly in his chair. "When this is over, I'll definitely retire. Bimer, have my position will you?" He told the man he can trust the village when he's gone.
"Nuh-uh, that is some bothersome job, too much paperwork. I'm done doing that back at Capital."
Silence fell between them. Chief Rondor stares at him. "What?" Mr. Degget asked.
"Can Ruina stay behind?" Ruina, despite looking similar to a porcelain doll with flimsy hands and pale skin, she is far stronger and faster than lots of men in the village. Being able to carry the basket full of dirty potatoes when it's her height, pulled a wagon containing freshly harvested vegetables alone without the help of a horse, quick to locate movements when hunting and wrestling with wild animals.
"I will not allow that. My daughter is not a soldier. She may be strong and smart, but she never learned to wield a weapon." Mr. Degget immediately denied his request.
"That's too damn bad, I could really use some strong hands here tomorrow." He took a paper and began writing again, work must continue even if in despair. "But I guess, she could be everyone's escort when you all leave tomorrow. Welp, if you have nothing to report, you can go." He sways his hand to shoo away Mr. Degget as he lowered his head to salute and exit the Hall too.
Exiting the Hall his eyes spotted a familiar silvery hair on the training ground carrying a basket full of cabbages and holding a sack of the last batch of sweet potato, she watched the young men learning to master wielding a sword. "Ruina, what are you doing here?" He asked, appearing at her side.
"The elders needed my help earlier at the field. They told me, one of the horses in the barn was caught dead this morning." Ruina showed the basket mounted on her back. "They give me these. It'll help feed the chickens." Mr. Degget softly smiled at her.
Their attention drifted to the sound of swords slicing the air. "Anton told me before about wanting to learn how to use a sword." She said simply. "Why don't you teach him, Mr. Degget? I'm certain he'll be happy to know you were once a soldier at the palace."
"Nah, I'll pass that job to the Chief, he's the best teacher around here after all." He answered, his hand reaching for his shoulder and still felt the soreness of the muscles contracting to each other. Ruina only remains silent, continuing to watch the fluid movement of the sword imprinting the images of them in her mind. "How about you? There's no discrimination of gender in holding a sword."
"Holding a sword brings conflict, and conflict ends in chaos. I despise chaos. It is not kind, its greed of taking cannot be sated." Ruina honestly remarks in a quiet tone.
Mr. Degget understood her hatred towards conflict, their mind travelled to the first day they first met— Drowning flames, cry of mercy, blood pooling, and mutilated bodies scattering, they reflected in her peridot eyes as if she's watching it evoke again before her.
"Nevertheless, sword or nothing, I am ready to lay my life to protect your family, Mr. Degget. I'm forever in debt to you for saving me."
"Don't be so cheeky just because you're young and strong." Mr. Degget ruffled Ruina's already messy hair as he started marching away. Ruina, wearing a blank face shortly followed behind as she fixed her hair. "And last time I checked, that family includes you."
"What did you report to the Chief, Mr. Degget?"
"Nothing of sorts you need to worry about." He confidently answers, hinting no terror at his voice. Mrs. Degget said the same words. Yet, truth always reeks. Ruina smells it. "Just trust us adults to fix it, so no more staying outside." She pressed no more, as she silently followed.
"It is not me you should tell that." She meant Anton who might still be playing with his friend.