Chapter 5 - The Midnight Baboon
They begin to descend towards the forests of Yconav, Ardagius has left the group and stayed in Hamuleif with the hope of traveling to the capital. Victoria and Fiona have continued with the group hoping that this trip will strengthen their feelings, make them stronger and overcome their fears. Yovun, Barleif and Nom continue to lend their support, although in a certain way, Egios keeps Yovun in watch, he knows that he is a stubborn and aggressive person, perhaps it wasn’t the best option to hire him and he feels that he can not trust him completely. On the other hand, he still thinks about that night when Kathrinna spoke with Ardagius under the moonlight, what did the vampiress reveal? And even more, what was hiding from him?
They travel in a rented cart that will take them to the next town, a small village at the entrance to the forest, home to lumberjacks, hunters and people who live especially from the travelers and caravans that cross those lands
- Hey Egios - Vicky says - Is it true that you’re a writer?
- That's right, ... do you like to read?
- Yes, I love it, when I was young my father brought us stories, it's been a long time since I read a complete one.
- However, I think the last book I brought was given to Kathrinna, is not it?
- What? ... ah yes ... the book - replies Kathrinna
- Have you finished reading it? - he asks
- Not quite, is that, I have many things in my head and I feel that I don’t enjoy it completely.
- Don’t worry.
- If you want I'll lend it to you - Kathrinna says to Vicky, passing her the book.
- Yes! - She replies receiving the manuscript - I will read it quickly and then I will return it for you to finish it.
- I think it's a good plan, it's a good book, as far as I read ... although the author is a bit crazy.
- Hey!
The three laugh out loud as the cart ends up being parked near some merchants' stalls. Egios hands some coins to the driver and then they walk to an inn.
- Hey Yovun - Nom says - Have you been in these forests before?
- Not really, but our friend Egios, I’m sure he knows the place - he says holding him tightly - Isn’t that right? This time we are not so adrift.
- Yconav is a huge forest, there are no large or medium-sized cities, only towns. There are three main roads that cross the entire territory, one ends in Alvadon, the largest town to the north, on the coast. The other leads to the mountainous pass towards the Haddartz desert, and the central one, which interests us, takes us directly to the tundra of Dwaralav.
- Hey my brother - Nom asks - how long will it take us to cross these forests?
- If there are no complications ... about 20 days.
- Complications - Yovun question - What complications?
- Yconav is a territory of witches - adds Kathrinna - The deepest forests are home to ancient and powerful witches.
- And where there is magic - continues Egios - their residues remain, residual arcane magic affects living beings and creates mutations, and even the invocations and experiments of witches can escape and reach the roads and villages.
- ... I think I'm going to miss those apes - says Nom.
- The roads are protected by the Boreal Guard, they operate from here to some villages of Saggadya and they are the authority - says Egios - but once we are in Ergaddya, the dark elves have control.
Yovun turns to look at Barleif and their faces show an expression that says "what we got into?".
- I want to see some witch - says Nom - maybe hunt them, do they pay well for it?
- You are not going to hunt anyone - Yovun says. while putting his hand on the boy's head and pushing him down.
- Hey, I just want to hunt a little witch.
- It's not a game, Nom - Egios says. - Really, as Yovun says, the apes are much easier to deal with.
- How will we cross then? - Yovun asks.
- We need a magician - says Egios.
- Or a witch - adds Kathrinna.
After registering at the inn, leave the luggage in charge of Vicky and Fiona, Barleif stays to take care of them. The rest leave in search of a magician or a witch.
- You say that witches are bad - says Yovun - so why do we just look for one?
- The only way to protect ourselves from magic is with magic - says Egios. - And as far as I know, nobody here is good with magic... unless Kathrinna hasn’t told us the whole truth?
- Me?... What truth?
- You are a sorceress.
- Why do you say that?
Egios approaches and looks at her carefully, Kathrinna shows some confusion in her eyes, but doesn’t say a word, her face of doubt and disbelief make Egios reassure her a bit.
- Egios smiles - I'm sorry, I just wanted to cheat on you.
- It's not funny.
- Well, I still know you have things that you have not told me, maybe that was one of them... but apparently I was wrong.
- I've always been honest with you, what do you want me to tell you?
- Yes, I know ... but hey, how long have you been taking human blood?
Kathrinna looks away and stops her step.
- What's with that? - she asks
- We need to know - Yovun says in a serious tone. - We don’t want you to betray us.
- Didn’t you buy those potions? - Egios asks.
- Yes, I bought potions.
- But…
Again she looks away.
- I'm not going to judge you, I just want you to tell me the truth - Says Egios.
- It is a dangerous mission, you haven’t yet met the subjects that persecute me, we only saw their silhouettes. A vampire drinking only those potions can only survive, has as much strength as a normal human, only fresh blood can give it its full potential, I cannot risk losing this mission.
- You know... I understand you, and that's what I assumed - says Egios.
- I have not killed anyone if it is what worries you - she continues - I only take what is necessary, sometimes from several people in one night to avoid them leaving very damaged, at dawn they don’t even notice it.
- No, of course not, they just wake up with two holes in their necks! - says Yovun.
- Life is not fair and unfortunately for you, it is my only strength sustenance ... I didn’t create the vampire race.
- Excuses ... just excuses.
- Calm down Yovun,... - Egios says - you know, in fact I'm glad you did it, that makes me feel a little bit more secure.
- Witches or vampires, something tells me we will have a hard time in this forest.
- Bandits ... I think I forgot to mention - says Egios - there are many bandits too.
- Great ... just great.
They ask villagers, most people are somewhat withdrawn and avoid having much contact with strangers, especially when they are close to their children. An old man gives them vague instructions that eventually end in nothing, finally a woman in a small farm tells them to go to a cabin on the outskirts of town where they can find what they are looking for.
The cabin turns out to be a vineyard, there they get attend by a young woman who offers them to taste the wine, after accepting, with Egios being the most enthusiastic, they enter a room where there are some tables, inside there the owners attend the clients, there are a few people seated.
- Hey girl - says Egios - they told us that here we could find a sorcerer.
- Here you can find what you want, ... as long as you're lucky.
- And how about today?
- Well, today you're in luck,... that guy over there, he says he's a magician, I have not seen him do any magic, but hey, it's not like they're casting spells everywhere.
- Thank you.
- It is with pleasure!
The girl says goodbye and goes to another table, the group looks at the man, is tall, thin with a slightly smiling look and tangled hair, young, without a beard, and his clothes are quite modest.
- If that is the best magician we will get, we are well fucked - says Yovun.
- Maybe we can find other options - adds Kathrinna.
- I think he's a good guy - says Nom - he sure is one of those who tell jokes.
- We don’t need him to tell jokes - says Yovun. - But I'm with the girl, we should look for more options.
- We've been searching all afternoon - says Egios - I'm going to take a chance, the other time it went pretty well or not Yovun?
- If you mean the adramus... well... something like that, I recognize that the man had talent, although I didn’t like him.
- Wait here - says Egios, as he gets up and goes to where the magician is.
The man is a little frightened when he sees Egios, but allows him to sit down, still looks at him with some caution.
- They say you are a magician.
- Yes, that's... a magician - says the man with a somewhat shy and quick voice, trying to avoid eye contact with Egios.
- We seek protection, travel to Dwaralav and have a good pay.
- Good for you.
- You are a magician.
- Yes, that's right... I already told you.
- And we... look, we need a magician in the team to cross over to the border with Dwaralav, since you are a magician, I thought you would be interested.
- Oh no, I'm not going to any trip, I'm enjoying my wine... I'm not leaving here, come on, go away.
- We have money - says Egios showing him some coins, the man's eyes light up before the brightness of the coins given by the candles.
- Where did you get them?... Abezzel coins, are you foreigners, are not you?
- So is.
- Oh I'm sorry, my name is ... mmm ... Gal, that it’s... Gal.
- A pleasure Gal, my name is Egios.
- You come from a distance, eh.
- So is.
- Well, if you need protection, it's because you carry valuable things, don’t you?
- Apart from our own lives, yes, something like that.
- I love protecting people with things of value, is that you see, whenever they find out you’re magician, the villagers come in droves to ask you to help them out of this dying town, they think we can make money appear or teleport them.
- In fact, there are magicians who can teleport...
- Ah well, it's just an example, come on... it's for you to understand me, they come without money for charity, I can’t live on charity... do you understand me... I just want to enjoy some wines, which are really good,... and you already have half a village on top of you, it's terrible!
- Yes, I understand... it is terrible to have to help others.
- To others without money, that's... because when they have money to pay you, things change, don’t they?
- I suppose.
Egios sees the man and asks himself, how many of that traveling group would really be there but for the money, even he was promised a payment when they delivered the box. Who were they really loyal to? For example Ardagius, so much that he professed his devotion for Kathrinna, but as soon as his contract ended, he simply left.
- Well, and what kind of magic do you master?
- Oh! I master the arcane arts, the occult and the visible, I can see through the mind and the things, and I can teleport too.
- Hey, but... you just... you just said that you don’t ...
- They call me the Midnight Baboon, because wherever I go with my magic and elegance, I enchant all mystical and earthly beings.
Egios puts his hand to his forehead, when a baboon was elegant ... or had something to do with magic, everything seemed as he was being teased.
- Hey, friend... ehh... Gal. I don’t know if…
- Oh! you don’t believe me, right?
- Is that…
- You doubt of the great Midnight Baboon, for I will show you that I am no fraud.
The man takes out a crystal sphere from among his clothes and begins with his hand to turn it around, a smoke begins to emanate from it, he says some magic words and then all the candles in the place go out.
- Well, you know how to do some magic.
- It was just a sample ... the man stands on the table, wraps himself in his cloak and then disappears leaving only his cloak behind him, a moment later, enters through the door of the place.
- Yes, very nice, but can you do something against an enchantment or a hag?
- Hags? ... Do you plan to enter the depths of the forest or what ?, I thought you only traveled to the border.
- Yes, we will do that, only that we need to be more prepared.
- Is that I don’t know what else tricks ... spells! ... What spells do you want me to do for you to believe me, hags?, You just have to enchant protective talismans, I will teach you how to assemble them and with my magic I will give ’em power.
- Well, that sounds good, come then, I'll introduce you to the others.
- They are many?
- Maybe more than you would expect.
Egios and Gal get up and walk to the table where the group is, they have already set their sights on Gal since he did the trick of extinguishing the candles. Egios moves a chair to allow him to sit next to them.
- He is Gal, he’s a magician and he will accompany us.
Yovun sees him and breaks into laughter.
- That’s a magician? ... I'm sorry, my friend, from afar you look pathetic, but up close ... please.
- You know you should not judge a book by its cover, it may surprise you.
- Yovun, calm down please - Egios says.
- It's just that, magicians have a great presence, even if they are in ragged clothes, but this guy... well, if you decided to hire him, it was something.
- You will see that you will not regret having the Midnight Baboon by your side... - Gal says with some suspense.
Yovun and Nom look at each other for a moment and then they burst out laughing, in the middle of their laughter Yovun prefers to take his beer and go to another table.
- Well Mr. Baboon and do you know how to fight against black magic? - Kathrinna asks.
- Oh yes, black magic, the witches of these forests are dangerous, so many people want to hire me to help them cross them. Look - the man takes out a kind of doll armed with pita fiber and wood with some inscriptions on its body. - This is a talisman that I learned to make when I was in the Hermit's Grove, that's where I learned sorcery. These magical runes protect from dark magic and creatures of the night.
Gal passes the doll to Kathrinna but as soon as she touches it she feels a kind of discharge so she drops it on the table.
- I'm afraid creatures of the night also includes you Miss.
- Yes, I notice.
- Hey ... hey - says Yovun approaching - how much for the doll?
- Eh... it's not for sale.
- Ahh of course yes, you’re a magician, you will have a lot.
- But if you hire me ... I'll teach you how to make them, what do you say?
- Well, it certainly seems to work - says Kathrinna.
- Alright, welcome to the Gal team. - Egios ends.
The group returns to the inn where Vicky, Fiona and Barleif wait and after introducing Gal, take rest until the other day. Egios gets up early and finds everyone else sleeping, except Kathrinna who is sitting in front of the building.
- Don’t you sleep or what?
- Hello Egios - she greets - getting up early?
- Like you, well unless you haven’t slept all night.
- The vampires that drink blood... we cannot sleep, our dreams are just nightmares, that's why many prefer alchemical potions, in a way it makes them more human.
- Is it hard to be a vampire right?
- In a certain way you learn to take it.
- How did you transform? Was it by own will?
- Not really, there are very few who do it of their own volition. I... am from Abezzel, from the province of Dalias.
- Mmmm... the floral fields.
- That's right,... it's a beautiful place, especially in spring and even autumn.
- I was there once, I was a season where a good friend who was looking for ways to make wines from flowers.
- And he achieve it?
- He made the attempt - he says laughing - he got a drink... his taste, well... it was like drinking a perfume.
- I had never heard of flower wines. - she replies with a smile.
- There are some, but hey, I don’t know the subject very well either... and what happened?
- Well, you know, typical... one night, you're at home resting and a vampire approaches because he has chosen you.
- It usually occurs, although they’re more common in small towns and abandoned areas.
- But it usually happens, and it happened... I never heard anything about my family, my friends, or my people. When I woke up that night, I was in a coffin, when I opened it I found myself in a grotto, in the middle of the Agkier swamp, far away from my village, in fact I didn’t even know that 3 months had already passed.
- It's terrible ... and you,... have you converted someone?
- Why? interested?
- No!... no, how can you think! ... it's just curiosity.
- I've never done it, and I hope I don’t.
- I never thought I'd know a vampire like you.
- Like me?
- All the vampires that I have known are cold, calculating, self-centered, and dangerous, but you dismiss a certain confidence, a certain humanity, that's why when I first met you it seemed to me to be feigned.
- Well, it's not that I'm the most human either.
- I've seen a lot, and it's possible that you still have something of that human heart there beating.
- It's hard to feel when you can’t do it.
- Who says no?
- Kathrinna smiles - You have great optimism Egios.
- I like to be an optimist in life, you would know if you had finished my book.
- It's a good book... surely I'll finish it... hey, do you think Barleif and Yovun hate me?
- Because you’re a vampire?
- Yes.
- I don’t think that even to hate you,... there are many people who are quite cautious with those of your race, even I, I must admit it.
- But Barleif, his family... is something horrible.
- Hey, you didn’t do that, you can not take blame for what others have done. Just try to be her friend and show him that not all vampires are like that.
- Yes, I think I will try.
Egios saw in Kathrinna's eyes an immense confusion, as if she really did not care what they thought of her, but at the same time as if she was struggling to truly show interest in it, it was true that the vampires were losing their humanity and couldn’t really feel anything for other people, it was like a struggle to hold on to those feelings even knowing that maybe they did not exist anymore.
After breakfast they take their luggage and start walking the road to the northeast. Even in this part the forest can hardly be seen, but the few mountains show a huge valley full of trees and all kinds of vegetation that extends as far as your eye can see. The more they walk, the darker the vegetation, the more humid the atmosphere and the uncomfortable silence around them, the trees have that strange twisted shape that seems that they observed you and moved to the sound of the footsteps, the birds have hoarse screams and they are only heard in the distance.
After several hours of walking, when the sun begins to set, they arrive at the crossing of a small stream, its waters are particularly crystalline and a varied vegetation grows on its shore.
- Well - Gal starts - from here is when things can get ugly, at night it is when there is more activity on the part of the witches and ghosts and all the horrible things that can be imagined.
- And what is the plan then? - Egios question
- We are going to assemble the dolls, each one will carry a doll that will be their talisman and protection, but for it to work, each one must make his own doll.
- This place doesn’t look very nice - says Fiona - isn’t there a town?
- There is a town I think a couple of hours later, but if we do, the night may catch us before we arrive and that’s not very recommendable.
- Hey - Yovun says - you were seeing plants and picking things up all the way, if you had not wasted so much time we would have reached the town.
- Hey! These things are very important, don’t think I picked them up only because yes... they are... medicinal and arcane... they serve to make spells and potions. And... also... I was looking for traces of hags or enemies, you have to be careful when walking.
- Well, in any case, we're already here - says Egios - how do we make the dolls?
- Very well, - Gal takes from his backpack several pieces of cloth, pita fiber and some lumber that he picked up on the way and gives each one a piece.
- I'm going to do a part, and then I'll leave you the sample model to finish it.
- Aren’t you going to explain us to the end? - Kathrinna asks
- You don’t have the dolls yet, there is no protection, while you manufacture them, I will raise some magical barriers that will protect us from the witches.
- It's okay. - says Kathrinna.
After making the explanation, the group begins to assemble their dolls, Barleif, Vicky and Egios make it relatively easy, Nom is hurried and his doll is somewhat deformed, Kathrinna and Fiona take a lot of time in the details and perfection of the dolls, and Yovun just seems it like a stupid task, the truth is that it is terrible with the crafts. While everyone focuses on assembling the talismans, Gal goes around the place throwing an incense and blowing some herbs and fumes.
- Hey, are you a magician or a shaman? - Yovun asks with some disbelief.
- A bit of both - he says - why be one when you can learn both arts, I know many arts, it is better to know a lot.
As a joke Gal approaches Yovun and throws some fumes from his incense, he gets a little dizzy and drives away the boy, who laughs.
The truth is, that night nobody manages to finish the dolls, overcome by fatigue end up sleeping, even Kathrinna. Early the next day, the first one to get up is Yovun who awakens Barleif and then Egios.
- What happened? - Egios question
- We fell asleep - says Yovun - that's what happened.
- Where is Gal?
- And what will I know, I just woke up just like you.
- Here is a note - says Barleif, passing the paper to Egios.
"Hello, I have gone ahead to the town, in the morning the forest is not dangerous, but I remembered that an ingredient was needed to finish the dolls, we will meet at the entrance of the town tower.
Gal
The Midnight Baboon! "
- We will have to hurry, wake up others.
After everyone is awake, they proceed to collect their things, Nom runs to pass the box to Kathrinna and with some surprise manages to lift it easily.
- Hey! I think that magician made me stronger with those fumes! - he says
- Don’t be an idiot, give me that - Yovun takes the box from Nom and realizes that he can also lift it easily.
- Something happens? - Egios asks.
Kathrinna quickly approaches and puts her hand on the mark on the box, when raising her hand she can see that the design has been run, as if it were made of fresh paint. She then proceeds to take the box and forcefully throws it on the floor causing it to be destroyed in several pieces of wood.
- This is what happens, ... that guy tricked us and took the box.
Egios is very surprised, feels that all the blame has fallen on him, it was he who decided to give the opportunity to the man and who insisted to others to trust the magician, really now wondering if he really was a sorcerer, is more... It really was called Gal? The others soon rush to check their luggage but it seems that nothing else is missing.
- We have to move forward - says Yovun - we will arrive to the town, we will put our luggage and the girls in a safe position and then we will start looking.
- Yes, it seems to be the best option - says Kathrinna.
Egios was unable to articulate a word, he didn’t know how to look at his companions, but more than disappointment he felt fury at the thought of such a mistake, he was always a cautious person, what led him to trust this subject ?, if he really thought a little , there were things that were out of place, why did he overlook them?
- It's not your fault - Kathrinna says.
- Yes, of course it is... I insisted everyone to hired him, they trusted me.
- Maybe we will find him in the town.
- You know I really doubt he's there, maybe we should go back.
- If he is so clever, he would know that it would be the first place we would look.
- The half-haired baboon... a whole mission at risk for a guy like that.
- We'll find it, I trust we will.
- I don’t know what to trust anymore.
The group continues on the road, but after walking almost 4 hours, they still do not reach any town. Egios remains lost in his thoughts.
- Egios, do you know the way, right? - Kathrinna says - because I think we really are lost.
- I... yes... I walked many times over here... the town, well, there was a town by the river. You came to the river and you walked by the river until there, it was not very big.
- The river! - Nom shouts - We passed it about half an hour ago brother, you would have said before.
- I'm sorry, I'm ... thinking about many things.
They return by the same road when they hear some horses, looking back some men come near them, they also bring some hounds. One of the men approaches the group.
- Good morning travelers, have you seen this guy perhaps? - Says one of the men while showing a drawing quite similar to Gal.
- Yes, we have seen it - Says Egios.
- Where can we find it?
- We would like to know that too.
- Well, follow us!
Egios turns to look at the girls, fears that it can get dangerous, He knows that they must find Gal but taking Fiona can pose a threat to everyone.
- Barleif, Nom - Egios tells them - please, when we get to the river, go with the girls to the town, I don’t want to risk them.
- Oh, what's up... I wanted to go hunting the magician! - says Nom.
- It's for their safety, and in a way, for us.
- Well, then, we'll see you later in the town.
The group marches through the forest, following the trail of the hounds, the men all look like villagers and farmers, but they are armed with axes and swords. Egios still carries his mind in confusion, at what moment was he neglected? How long had he the guard lowered? What other things had he overlooked? He starts looking at his companions and felt that he could not trust them, who they really were, had they been honest with him? Kathrinna was little affected because the box had been lost, was it by her very nature or did she really not care? Maybe it would be like taking a load off, but he needed to know the truth and knew that the key was that box. He puts his hand on Kathrinna's shoulder.
- What’s the matter? - she asks.
- I need you to be honest with me ... why did those men know you?
- What men? ... Do you mean those who appeared before? ... Didn’t I answer your question before?
- You know something about the box that you have not told me.
- Are you still insisting on that?
- You are too quiet for someone who has just lost his mission.
- And you... you're too tense, and that doesn’t allow you to see things clearly.
- We just lost the box!
- Yes, for trusting Gal... but it's not just your fault, anyone could have said that they didn’t like him, but we're all silent, isn’t it right Yovun? - Yovun looks away and then nods.
- We are going to recover that box - Yovun says - that's for sure, I don’t intend to lose my record.
- Your record... what matters a record,... you don’t know what that box can be worth, more than all our lives together. - says Egios.
- Did you open it? - Kathrinna asks
- No... of course not, but it is clear that there is something very valuable in there, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing this.
Kathrinna smiles a little then says
- Thank you, it's good to know that you care so much ... have some faith, let's find this guy.
The leader of the group makes a sign and everyone stops, the hounds begin to sniff the place.
- We are close - says the man.
- This isn’t good - says Kathrinna - there is something around here ... I don’t like it.
- Are you sure? - Yovun asks
- It’s a strange feeling.
The men separate to start looking for different fronts, Egios, Yovun and Kathrinna continue with one of the groups.
- Maybe it's a witch - says Yovun.
- There are no witches on this side of the forest - says one of the peasants - only bandits, cowards and dirty people who cheat and attack travelers.
- What did this guy steal from you? - Egios asks
- The man arrived early this morning, dragged a kind of box ... or so I was told, from my farm several tools disappeared, a man told us he saw this guy leaving with our things in this direction.
- He’s a scammer
- It's not the first time he does it, but he always runs away, we didn’t know where to look, but apparently this time his luck failed him, he dropped several items from the cart he stole, which helped us track him, I'm sure that should be around here.
- You, wait here - Kathrinna tells the villagers, as she pulls out her dagger - I don’t like this feeling.
Kathrinna puts her dagger to the front and then the eye begins to turn, ends up resting on Egios again. She closes her eyes and concentrates on her dagger, the eye begins to look again, finally closes and when it opens a different colored eye appears, it turns her gaze to the northwest.
- It's over there.
- What happened? What did you do? - Egios asks.
- This dagger can visualize important things for me ... in fact, it is the second time it works for me, I usually can’t open the second eye, I lack practice.
- Well, that dagger is very practical - says Yovun.
- You never told me you could do that ... - Egios says.
- I didn’t know if it would work, if I had told you ... you wouldn’t worry so much.
- So that's why you were so calm.
- Who said it was calm?
- Well, anyway, let’s keep going.
- Hey, do you want us to accompany you or what? - say the villagers.
- Go for the others - adds Kathrinna - show them which is the right path.
The men leave to look for the rest of the group. Kathrinna and the others continue advancing, in a moment, the eye of the dagger changes back to its normal shape and quickly lands on Egios.
- I'm sorry, I lost it ...
- Can you go back out? - Egios asks.
- It will be difficult.
- It doesn’t matter - adds Yovun - We already have the direction.
They advance again and finally visualize a hut, somewhat abandoned but with light inside, two men watch outside, they have the typical appearance of road raiders, dirty, with leather armor and even one of them is missing several teeth. The group sneaks to the back of the cabin, Yovun, being the tallest of the 3, peeks out the window and can see Gal sitting drinking.
- There he is - he murmurs - that little fellow.
Kathrinna gets up to observe but cannot see the base of the cabin, Yovun picks her up and when she sees Gal her eyes start to shine bright red. Yovun drops her immediately.
- Hey, you're going to make us exposed.
- Haven’t we come to that? Do you see the box?
- Let me see…
- Wait, crouch. - Kathrinna says.
At the time, Egios puts on his amethyst ring and puts his hands on them. Gal goes to the window without looking out and then it is heard that another man enters the room.
- What is that box you brought? What is there?
- I don’t know, those subjects protected it a lot, surely there is something valuable.
- The boys tried to open it all morning, but they did not make it, the locks are very strange.
- The box is very heavy, something must be in there.
- Well, at least you brought tools to open it.
- Tools? What tools? ... With what that box weighed, I only had time to drag it here.
- So who brought the tools?
- What do I know ... maybe one of the guys.
- Wait ... I think ... listen, are that dogs?
Kathrinna turns to look at Egios knowing that soon the villagers will arrive and maybe the bandits will try to flee. She jumps easily through the window, breaking the wooden bars where Gal meets the other bandit. Egios and Yovun turn around towards the main entrance and are intercepted by the two men outside. Yovun attacks with force against one, the other rushes against Egios that when trying to confront him, resents his wounded foot again and falls, the bandit launches once more his attack and Egios rolls to avoid the blow, in spite of the pain rejoins and when the bandit attacking him manages to push him, in that moment Yovun arrives and with an onslaught causes the bandit to fall down the railing hitting the floor.
- Go with Kathrinna fast! - Yovun tells him, while continuing to fight with the other bandit.
At that moment, one of the men who was in the cabin is shot out of a window hitting a tree, Egios rushes in and sees Kathrinna lifting Gal who is very scared, when seeing Egios, Kathrinna turns to look at him and Gal takes the opportunity to throw one of his fumes on the vampiress who ends up letting him go, Gal jumps through one of the windows and starts running. Egios tries to keep track of him but Kathrinna stops him.
- We already have what we were looking for - She says pointing to the box that is in the next room.
- No,... we still don’t have everything.
And after saying this, he leaves the cabin, beckons Yovun to follow him, they both run after the Gal track, they can see the villagers coming to the cabin. Gal runs between the trees putting bags that emanate smoke, Yovun and Egios cover their faces to pass them, Gal finally ends up hitting a man who hides his face behind a black hood. Egios and Yovun stop at a safe distance. With the man, there are other two.
- Ah ... boss ... - says Gal -
- What's happening Nimo? - the man asks as he looks up at Egios and Yovun, allowing them to see his bright crimson eyes.
- Those fellows attacked the cabin.
At a superhuman speed the man rushes and takes them by the neck.
- Who are you?
- We only came to recover what this bandit stole from us - says Egios.
- And who said that belonged to you? - The man says as he begins to tighten the neck of both.
Yovun pulls out a small bottle and lets it fall, breaking a strong light that forces the vampire to release them. Then he attacks him and tries to drive his sword into the man's chest, but his companions arrive and stop him.
- We will give a banquet with you. - says one of them.
He then hits Yovun hard, knocking him out and preparing to take a second hit, Egios prepares his dagger and then he lifts it, it receives some rays of sunlight becoming bright, the vampires then turn their attention towards Egios, one of them launch his attack, Egios manages to avoid it and sticks his dagger on the vampire's abdomen, an ash begins to sprout from his body while a part near the wound falls apart.
- Damn human!
The other vampire remains expectant and somewhat confused, what Egios takes advantage to make a cut in the face of his attacker, the vampire ends up turned into ash.
- Take off the dagger from him! - the boss tells them.
The vampire draws a sword, with a very long and thin blade, throws a thrust at Egios who manages to deflect the attack with his own dagger but receives a slight cut in the arm. The vampire continues throwing lunges from a distance, Egios covers himself as he can but begins to receive cuts, he knows that if he does not approach he has no chance. Taking advantage of an opening, he lets himself fall to the ground while throwing the dagger against the vampire, ends up hitting the vampire's leg that disintegrates. Without his dagger in hand, the chief vampire takes the opportunity to approach and capture him.
- What an annoying human, I will destroy you slowly.
- Get out of me! creature. - Egios says to him while with a swipe he throws the hood.
Some smoke comes out of the body of the vampire who has been exposed to sunlight, however on his forehead appears a magic symbol, the vampire laughs.
- The mark of the witch, protects us from sunlight.
The vampire takes the arm of Egios with the intention to split it, then receives a strong blow that throws it several meters. It's Kathrinna, who leaves the box near Egios.
- Take care of this please.
- Good thing you came.
- You already start to miss me, uh ...
The vampire rejoins and walks towards Kathrinna, she wraps her face more in her clothes revealing only her eyes.
- Do you betray your own race to protect a human?
- You are not a loyal vampire ... when was the last time you were in Escyddar.
The vampire smiles at her and then spits on the ground.
- You have sold yourself to a witch because she promised you power, you have betrayed our guardian. - she says.
- A guardian who forces us to hide in caves and only go out at night, because sunlight would destroy us. That's not protecting, those are chains, I'll show you what the occult power can achieve.
The vampire takes out of his backpack a kind of heart still bleeding but that emanates a greenish steam and bites him. His eyes turn green and his blackish veins protrude from his pale skin, his muscles grow as do his clawlike nails.
- You will never leave this forest.
The vampire rushes at Kathrinna who tries to stop him but he easily overcomes her. Both begin to fight but soon it is noticed that the force of the vampire is superior to hers, in an opportunity Kathrinna nails its dagger on an arm of the vampire that simply removes it, of its wound begins to emanate a black smoke.
- Your attacks don’t work against me
Egios sees the situation and begins to walk stealthily to his dagger. The other vampire sees him and with his hands he crawls on the floor quickly behind him. Before he could reach his dagger the vampire approaches and pulls him from his leg, quickly digs his fangs into it. Egios hits his head with his other foot, but the vampire just smiles. Egios takes out one of the papers that he had received from his friend, without any other alternative he prepares to use it without knowing the result, before that, Kathrinna manages to push the dagger towards Egios hitting it with force, he takes it and quickly nails it in the head of the vampire, which turns to ash instantly. He stands up leaning on a tree. Seeing Kathrinna dodge the vampire attacks again and again, He sees Yovun and approaches him, looks through his clothes and finds 3 more jars of that luminous liquid, an alchemical potion designed to generate light in dark places but that ended being an effective weapon against vampires and shadows, moves Yovun a little that begins to come back to itself, coughs a little and feel somewhat dizzy.
- Yovun, I need your help ... we must defeat that vampire.
Yovun looks at something disoriented and visualizes the strange vampire, there he is surprised and scared a little.
- What thing is that?! That is not a vampire!
They hear a scream from Kathrinna and then they see her on the ground, the vampire approaches her. They both run out almost instinctively, Egios hands one of the bottles to Yovun, and in unison they are thrown against the vampire who covers his arm but can not avoid the flash of light and some burns on his body, Kathrinna covers but the intense light also affects her. Egios throws himself against the vampire and cuts him with his dagger repeatedly, but from his wounds only black smoke emanates, the vampire moves his arm and throws Egios against the floor. Because of his injuries and burns his body begins to become normal, so he quickly takes out the heart again.
- Don’t let him bite it! - Kathrinna yells at them.
Yovun comes forward and throws his sword at the vampire who tries to block it with his hand and ends up stuck in it. Then he pulls a dagger from his boots and throws himself at the vampire, but he kicks him off. Kathrinna seizes the moment and hits the side of the creature that by the blow falls to the ground releasing the heart. Egios approaches and stabs it with his dagger, burning it instantly.
The vampire observes how the heart burns while his body is returning to normal and his wounds are destroying him. He turns to look at each of them until finally his whole body turns to ash.
- Hidden magic is powerful - says Kathrinna - but you have to make great sacrifices to use it.
- And we have just entered this forest - replies Yovun. - It will not be a very pleasant trip.
- It was just a stroke of bad luck - says Egios - we have to be vigilant next time ... yes, especially me.
They look around but there are no signs of Gal, so they decide that it is best to leave. On the way back, they find some villagers taking care of the bandits who remain tied awaiting the arrival of the guards. They retrace the path until they reach the town, on the riverbank. More than a village, it is a small community, the houses can be counted on the fingers of the hands and a wooden fence keeps the beasts away from the forest.
They find Nom waiting for them near the door and he takes them to an house where an old woman decided to give them an inn for some coins. Vicky continues reading the book of Egios, Fiona sleeps and Barleif polishes his ax. Yovun, Egios and Kathrinna rest a little while looking after their wounds.
Egios reclines while thinking about how well they worked as a team, hadn’t fought in the company of other friends for a long time, not since his time as a smuggler. He watched Kathrinna play a little with Fiona, who would think that a vampire could show affection to other people, Kathrinna had left her dagger on a little table, uncovered, and her eye always turned to look at him. "Destined for great things," despite what it meant, that eye always on him made him feel uncomfortable, he gets up and puts a coat on the dagger to cover it, Kathrinna sees him and smiles. He returns to the bed and looks out the window, so much greenery around him, a clear sky and few people in the streets, no noise of markets, no caravans, no persecutions, workshops or armories, it is such a quiet place that even he understands why someone would want to live there despite the remoteness with civilization. He decides to go out and buy fruits. Fiona is encouraged to go with him. Yovun and Barleif are out of the house, although the danger has passed, he sees in Yovun a look of tiredness, confusion, a cold look. Barleif waves their hand in farewell, Yovun just looks at them without making any gesture.