Chapter 18: Horrores Of The Night (3)

The footsteps grew closer, slow and deliberate, until the source of the voice finally moved into his limited view. Mizan's breath hitched. From his position on the ground, squinting through half-closed eyes, he couldn't see its upper body, but what he could see sent a chill down his spine.

Standing before him was the back of a woman—naked, pale, and unnervingly still. Her exposed bottom glowed faintly in the firelight, but her legs told a different story entirely. From the knees down, they were covered in coarse black fur, ending in cloven hooves like those of a goat.

Mizan barely stifled a gasp, his trembling hand clamping over his mouth to keep silent. The other gripped the blanket so tightly his knuckles turned white. He lay frozen in terror, unable to take his eyes off the grotesque figure.

The creature's laughter continued, shrill and haunting, as it moved closer to Ark. Mizan's breath hitched as he watched, unable to look away.

Finally, Ark spoke. His tone was calm, almost detached, as he uttered a single word: "Leave."

The creature paused for a moment but then let out another wicked giggle. Ignoring Ark's command, it continued its slow approach, as though testing his patience.

But when Ark's composure broke, it was like a dam had burst. His face twisted into something sinister, his calm demeanor replaced with an expression of pure malice. A wicked smile stretched across his face, and his green eyes blazed into an unnatural, glowing blue.

"PISS OFF!" Ark snarled, his deep voice cutting through the air like a blade.

The campfire before him reacted violently to his words, erupting into a roaring pillar of flame. The fire hissed and cracked, as if alive, casting terrifying shadows that danced across the forest. The sudden burst of energy illuminated the creature fully for a brief second, its grotesque form recoiling in visible terror.

The creature shrieked, its shrill voice trembling with panic. "Mercy! Great One, mercy!" it cried as it scrambled backward, realizing that Ark wasn't someone it could afford to trifle with. Without another word, it turned and dashed into the forest, moving with an unnatural, blinding speed. Within moments, it disappeared completely, leaving behind nothing but the fading sound of its desperate pleas.

The fire settled back into its original state, casting long, flickering shadows over the forest. Mizan remained frozen for several moments, his chest heaving as he struggled to calm his racing heart. Cold sweat clung to his skin, and his trembling hands refused to let go of the blanket.

Finally, with great hesitation, he sat up, his breath shaky and uneven. His voice came out in stutters, barely above a whisper. "W-What... what was that thing?"

Ark didn't respond immediately. His glowing eyes faded back to green, and his sinister expression melted into his usual calm demeanor. He looked directly into Mizan's wide, terrified eyes for a moment before shifting his gaze back to the fire.

"Is this your first time seeing someone from the djinn race?" he asked, his tone matter-of-fact, as though he'd just described a mundane occurrence.

Mizan, still trembling and stuttering, repeated Ark's words with disbelief. "D-Djinn race? That... that wasn't a spirit?"

Ark shook his head calmly, his expression unreadable. "No, it wasn't a spirit. Unlike spirits and other races, djinn are actually more similar to humans, as they exist everywhere."

Mizan blinked, struggling to wrap his mind around the revelation. Ark continued, his tone calm and measured, as if he were explaining something trivial. "Normal humans, and those with weak perception, can't see djinn. But djinn can always see humans. That's why they can appear and disappear at will, unnoticed by most people—unless they choose to reveal themselves, that is."

He paused, his eyes flickering toward the direction the creature had fled. "They also have a natural ability to shapeshift. A djinn could show itself as a cat, a dog, or even another person. The one from earlier was weak—that's why her transformation wasn't perfect."

Mizan shuddered at the thought, his mind flashing back to the creature's grotesque goat-like legs.

Ark poked the fire with a tree branch as he calmly continued, his voice dropping. "The stronger djinn are far more dangerous. They have the ability to possess weaker humans, taking complete control of their bodies."

Mizan's face paled as he glanced nervously around the dark forest.

"Places like this," Ark gestured vaguely at the surrounding trees, "where there's nothing but emptiness, are where they're most active. They thrive in isolation." He paused, locking eyes with Mizan for emphasis. "But don't fool yourself into thinking they're limited to places like this. They're everywhere."

Mizan was startled. "Are you saying these... evil beings actually live among us?" he asked, his voice uneasy.

Ark shook his head. "They're not inherently evil," he replied. Staring into the flickering flames, he added, "They're just like humans—some are good, and some are bad." His tone softened as he glanced at Mizan. "You shouldn't judge them with prejudice. It's not that simple."

He added, "Among humans, there's even those known as contractors—individuals who form contracts with the djinn."

Mizan's eyes widened in astonishment. "C-Contractors?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Ark nodded slightly, his expression calm but serious. "Just as there are humans who contract with spirits and summon them to fight on their behalf, there are also those who form contracts with the djinn. The djinn possess natural abilities that most humans lack, so some people seek them out to do their bidding."

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before continuing. "Some contractors willingly enter into agreements with the djinn, forging pacts to benefit from their power. But there are others—more unscrupulous individuals—who use seals and wicked methods to imprison the djinn, forcing them into servitude."

Mizan shuddered at the thought, his grip tightening on the blanket around him.

Ark's gaze hardened as he added, "That said, it's not easy to force a djinn into submission. Dealing with them requires immense mental strength. Without it, a human would be nothing more than prey to their manipulations."

Mizan began to settle down, curiosity replacing some of his agitation. "Then what's the difference between djinn and spirits?" he asked.

Ark thought for a moment before answering. "Spirits don't reproduce like humans, animals or djinn. They are born from natural things that live long enough to absorb the world's energy. Take a tree, for example. If it lives for thousands of years, constantly drawing in the natural energies around it, eventually it could awaken a form of sentience, becoming a spirit." He paused, letting the idea sink in. "That's why there are different kinds of spirits—fire spirits, mountain spirits, forest spirits—each with its own abilities and powers."

He paused before adding, "Some spirits are born from negative energies, from things tainted by malice and sinister emotions. These are the evil spirits. Others are born from pure, positive energy, and they tend to be good."

Mizan listened quietly, feeling a growing sense of realization. Despite all the time he had spent reading in The Luna Ray Academy's library, there was so much about the world that still eluded him. 

Across from Mizan, Ark's focus returned to the fire in front of him, his gaze fixed on the flickering flames. He watched them dance, entranced by the sound of their crackling. The warmth of the fire seemed to pull him into a trance, and as he peered through the flames, strange images and haunting screams began to emerge—people crying, screaming, and begging to be spared. Unbeknownst to him, a wicked smile spread across Ark's face. It lasted only a moment before he shook himself awake, rubbing his eyes.

"Try to rest a little longer," he muttered to Mizan, his voice distant. "We'll resume the journey at dawn."

Mizan didn't dare say a word. He simply nodded slightly and pulled his blanket back over himself, lost in thought as he processed the overwhelming experiences of just one day. The fact that he was sleeping outside, deep in a forest with a complete stranger, was unsettling enough for anyone—let alone a thirteen-year-old boy.