Another Monster

Kingdom of Calonia, Duke Valois Estate

Bam!

The door to Duke Valois's study was slammed hard by the Duke himself. His face, still handsome despite being forty years old, turned red with anger. His green eyes glinted as if he wanted to kill the people around him with just a glance. He walked to his desk and turned to face the people standing in front of his desk.

"Why until now my child, my only daughter, can't anyone find her?! Not even the tiniest clue!" he shouted at those people.

"Captain Rafael! You are one of the elite knights of the Kingdom of Calonia. Explain why none of your soldiers could find Camelia?!" he shouted at a man around forty years old, with blond hair and a short beard.

Captain Rafael stepped forward and answered Duke Valois's shouts with a calm voice. His muscular and large body made the people behind him obscured by his figure.

"Your Grace, we have not yet found your daughter. The last clue we found was only horse tracks near Riverstone. However, the tracks stopped and were erased by the tracks of the Basilisk. The hoofprints of the horse were ridden by two people. We assume that Princess Camelia and her kidnapper were chased by that giant snake," said Captain Rafael.

Duke Valois stared at Captain Rafael with a vacant look. He collapsed into his chair. He then rubbed his eyes.

"So, are you saying that Camelia was killed... by the Basilisk?" Duke Valois asked, his voice sounding more like a faint whisper.

"We do not assume so, Your Majesty. We found another trail leading to Yellow Woods, into a cave inhabited by a bear. However, the bear was not there, and we found a piece of fabric from Lady Camelia's dress." Captain Rafael placed the piece of cloth, soiled with dirt, on the Duke's work desk.

Duke Valois stared at the piece of cloth with a vacant look.

"Then we couldn't find any more clues, because there were many horse tracks leading in every direction in the area," continued Captain Rafael.

Duke Valois let out a long sigh.

"Drake. Predict again where Camelia is," commanded Duke Valois to a man wearing a black robe embroidered with golden lines at the cuffs and around his chest.

Captain Rafael stepped back, and Drake moved forward to face the Duke.

Drake bowed and then placed something rectangular on the Duke's table. He recited a spell and from the rectangular object, white smoke appeared, swirling around without forming any images. 

Drake bowed again and said, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I have failed. Since Lady Camelia was kidnapped, all my predictions have always been like that, just white smoke."

Duke sighed deeply and gestured for everyone to leave with a wave of his hand.

Everyone bowed and left the Duke's study without saying a word. Not long after, the door was closed again.

The Duke stood up and walked towards the window, watching the people who had just been in his study, leave the estate. Some were on horseback, and some were in horse-drawn carriages.

"Lena, forgive me for not being able to find our daughter yet. But I promise, no matter what happens, I will find her." whispered Duke softly. He closed his eyes in grief.

He remembered the beautiful times when he and his late wife Lena carried Camelia and laughed together in their garden.

He has tried everything to win Camelia back, even using his privilege as the King's cousin. Because the King never wanted to manage the kingdom and instead was busy with women, Duke Valois took care of everything, from trivial matters to commanding the royal army. So he was able to deploy the army to find her daughter. But all yielding no result.

Duke Valois sat back down at his desk and closed his eyes wearily.

***

Darkmire Forest

The procession of merchants and guards, along with a young woman on horseback led by a young man, walked slowly along the path in Darkmire Forest.

Some monsters appeared during the journey, but they were all quickly eliminated by Atherion, without involving the guards at all.

Curious Camelia asked Atherion, who was walking beside her, "Atherion. Why are these traders passing through Darkmire Forest? Can't they take another route?

Ajol, sitting next to his servant, who was driving the horse-drawn carriage, answered the question for Atherion, "This is the only road to Eldrida. There is no other way to enter because high rocky hills surround Eldrida."

"Is that true?" Camelia turned to Atherion, who then glanced and nodded his head.

"Oh, I see. So, Eldrida is actually remote." Camelia murmured.

Ajol replied, "That's right. Only a few people have managed to enter or leave Eldrida."

"Then why did you take the risk to enter Eldrida?" asked Camelia.

Ajol laughed, "Because they don't have some valuable items like Ruby, which is important for their magic research." And for us, this will be a huge gold mine."

Camelia tilted her head to one side, "But the risk is greater than all your lives. Later, how will you return to Calonia if there is no Atherion to escort you?"

"Don't worry, we will find a guard who is used to passing through Darkmire Forest. Many people are great at magic in Eldrida," said Ajol with a laugh.

"Oh, I see. Thank goodness," replied Camelia, laughing awkwardly.

Atherion remained silent throughout the journey. He listened to Camelia's conversation, but his ears kept hearing the rustling sound that followed them.

His body was slightly tense. Not because he wouldn't be able to face his enemies, but because he knew he would unleash the power of the monster residing within him if he faced a monster much stronger than himself. And he didn't want anyone else to know, especially Camelia. And from his estimation, this monster is very strong...

His fears became a reality. On the fourth day, as they passed a path in Darkmire Forest, a large pile of what looked like brown human hair was seen on the path ahead of the group.

The merchants and guards were wondering what object was blocking their path.

And at that moment, Atherion whispered something to Storm, his horse, and Storm stopped walking.

Atherion looked at Camelia and said, "Wait for me back there. This monster is not an ordinary monster. Storm will protect you."

Camelia, who was confused and hadn't had a chance to respond, was suddenly taken by Storm, who ran to the back of the procession. Camelia looked back and she saw Atherion walking towards the mound of brown hair holding his unsheated sword.

And she saw the mound of hair swirling, and from that mound emerged a large head resembling a mix of a lizard and a snake, larger than the biggest horse-drawn carriage in the procession.