Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 61

Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 61 (End)

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Sivantic.

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Ever since I left the As’Kari, my travels made it so that Cornelius was my most common compatriot. Upon his back were all my belongings, and he was stalwart in his duty, as my loyal companion.

Now, it was time for me to bid him farewell for a few years.

The new region did not suit him. His shell was not built for constant rain and water gathered in the space between his shell, wings, and flesh. His growth in size also made it so an entire barn would be needed to house him, and even then he would be stuck inside it for days on end. With his life rendered sedentary and food becoming common, he will molt and change rapidly in size and scope. In but a handful of years, if food is constant, he will grow truly immense and be able to carry thousands on his back.

I could not give him the food he needed, the space that he required, and if he remained his health would be at risk.

So, in the sight of his bead-like, black eye, I handed his red cord to Djet’Is and a low, deep chittering resounded from him as he understood and walked to her side to face me.

He allowed me to reach out to him, and nudged my hand, but only for a moment.

Then, he returned to her side.

Cornelius was trained from birth to follow those who held his cord. This only reflected his good manners and training.

“He will be taken care of, until you can take him again. We will keep his size similar to now. Mostly lighter work, but work.” I nodded at Djet’Is’ words. The As’Kari had a compound in the fledgling village now. A grand tent surrounded by stone walls. When rain fell the din within the tent was cacophonous. They were working on building a stone dwelling, but unlike wood they were unused to construction with stone. “We’ll have him father a few broods. That will pay for his care. Hm, with you new ship, you can be without him? Why not sell him away?”

“That ship is not mine. It is the child’s and it is hers to do with as she wishes. Once she is grown and strong, I will need Corenelius back to continue my journey.” The ship given to me along with the contents of its hull and the servants that accompanied the child were in my own compound wrought of stone. They were all living well, secluded from the attention of the rest of the people of the land. The ship was under my protection, along with the people that it came with, and so there was no dissent regarding their place here. Most believed that they were hostages to prevent their former homeland from attacking us. “Whatever path she chooses will need that ship. Whether to cause great harm… or to leave and find her own place in the world.”

“With the rate that she is growing, that will be but a handful of years.” Djet’Is stared in the direction of my erstwhile home. I did my work by traveling through the town and helping those who were ailing, so it was on the outskirts of the city. Clear lines of sight and a few strings allowed me to keep track of anyone who drew near. Though she was a child, the enmity the majority of people felt here was all too clear. Those who did not care would follow the majority. Those who wished to see the child well will be silenced by the masses. “Perhaps, it would be best to bring her to the Great Desert from time to time. There the people will not care for her bloodline.”

“I will consider it, if I have your word that the As’Kari will not move to take her.” It would be all too easy. The child will be surrounded by many who feared and disliked her here. Going to the As’Kari, she will only be measured by her own merit and strength. She had the latter in spades and her talents seemed boundless. They will treat her well, and she will be easily swayed to join them. “She may become part of the As’Kari, but only by of her own choosing.”

Djet’Is did not reply to my request, and I knew that I correctly discerned her intentions.

She was growing into a leader that the As’Kari required.

“How goes the conflict in the Great Desert?” The long night was now starting to fade. The hordes of monsters were dying down. Winter was brutal, but spring held promise. News from the kingdom of the forest came only through the As’Kari themselves, as they traded with them. The parasites could no longer find purchase in those lands, their source of bodies were depleted, and now they were being torn apart. Rumors stated that the lands that rebelled called for a ceasefire and it was accepted. Now, the parasite was being burned out. The long night was fading. That meant that Kan’Is’ war was now being waged with supplies and weapons and armor. “Well, I hope?”

“The other tribes are tenacious and they often do disgraceful things in order to stymie us. How could they not when they know annihilation awaits them?” Djet’Is would’ve once said that the As’Kari’s victory was assured. However, she has grown after seeing these abandoned peoples and the work of the forest kingdom’s rulers. The dissent of the northern portions of the country, the exodus that created this town, and the war waged against the parasite all contributed to her changing. “We will be victorious. The Great Desert will be called the Land of the As’Kari, and I will spend my reign invigorating it after my father destroys so much.”

Her gaze turned to me at those words.

I already knew what she intended to ask.

“The war will end and the As’Kari will need to win the peace that follows. May we hire your services, physician?”

Or, so I had thought.

I gave a nod, instead of letting the refusal on my lips loose.

She had not asked me to return to the tribe.

“You will need more than me. You need to lay the groundwork for it all now… if there are any in the As’Kari who refuse war and will not use my teachings for conflict, I will train them here.” The Great Desert will need many physicians and people. Though I loathed Kan’Is’s methods, I could spread my knowledge and techniques to the conquered tribes. The As’Kari will move to bring them into the fold until they are all a single tribe under one chieftain. If the other tribes were weak and sick, then they would drag the rest down. “And, I will consider your request. My intention is to seek the land of the shorter peoples and see their sleeping king. I believe that I can undo that so-called curse.”

Djet’Is gave a nod at my words, before asking another question.

“By the time you are a man grown, you will be written in the histories of many nations, Will. I can only wonder what will be said of you by those who come after us… so, I must ask: what do you intend to do with the rest of your life?”

My answer came forth with ease.

“I would like to continue helping people and seeing the rest of the world.” There was so much to this world when it was not marred with desperation and violence. The Great Desert was beautiful. The As’Kari’s resiliency and innovation was to be cherished. The forest Kingdom held multitudes of people and created wonderful things. Many more such cultures were out there and with many other peoples. Not to mention the numerous beasts that existed in this world had need of cataloguing and information of them spread. “I would at least see my journey take me across its entire width at least once.”

In my previous life, I had dreamed of going around the entire world in little more than a month.

With flight and navigation via the stars, it was entirely possible.

“The entire width of the world.” Djet’Is shook her head at my words. A faint smile played across her face. “You will be old and gray by the time you’d had your fill, Will. Your funeral will be one for the ages with multitudes coming to visit… but what of your deathbed?”

A family.

I had desired one in my previous life. In this one, my body was still young and I had little interest in such things. But I knew myself. A wife and children would make me happy. However, a woman with child traveling across this world would be hazardous. There are many monsters out there and with my power, some may make the effort to use whoever I hold dear as leverage against me. Any family that I would have requires me to settle someplace for a prolonged period of time.

I did not wish to be an absent father, after all.

My father had been a controlling and overpowering man, but even he was present in my life.

“I will have a family someday, but not in the near future. As you said, I’m not even a man yet by As’Kari standards.” Djet’Is nodded at my words, but blinked as soon as she realized what I just implied. She stared at me with wide eyes. I gave a nod. “I believe that I can circle the world at least once within the next decade.”

Djet’Is could only shake her head at my words.

…

I rarely saw Gale now. Within a few months of the establishment of the town, she was entrusted with the role of leader. In that time, she hired as many learned people within the town to her side, and worked with them to bring governance into the land. For now, the fledgling town only had enforcement of laws, agreed upon by the majority of the townsfolk, and a coordinated force of hunters to keep the town safe and trade strong.

Education was next, and I hoped that she would take care to bring in more learned people to this land.

My focus on these lands was much like the old doctors in the Wild West.

If needed, I was called upon for advice by the local government.

I always hoped it would be pertinent to my profession, yet it sometimes not the case.

This time, though, it thankfully was.

“So, there will be no problems?”

“No, the treatment is working and is successful, but only I can perform it.” Gale wore a tunic and pants. The only sign of her station was a pendant stuck onto her tunic. A simple, silver rendition of a wyvern’s head. The primary creature hunted by the town, and its best source of trade goods. “If I am unavailable, there is no one who can extract these ticks and heal the wounds they leave behind.”

The large rams that the wyverns feasted on, which were the size of buffalo and incredibly strong and dexterous, had an additional predator. Ticks the size of a grown man’s thumb when not engorged with blood. When they had their fill, they typically were the size of a man’s hand and was bloated to the size of a baseball. Their mandibles were jagged and sliced through even the flesh of strengthened humans with ease. Their barbed probiscis would then tear through flesh upon entry and suck up blood so fast that a grown man will feel faint within moments. They left their host after having their fill, but left behind wounds that humans can’t withstand without aid, and if they found a child or elder they would surely perish.

“Henceforth, once one of the Rams are killed, throw them into a nearby river for a few moments. The ticks drown very easily. It will be pain to haul them out of the river, but better that than death.” I informed Gale and she nodded easily to my suggestion. Her gaze was on the jar of the specimen I removed form the young man’s arm. A few inches higher and it would’ve latched onto his neck and killed him. “An emergency method of killing the creature is to manipulate water and cover its face. It will retreat immediately and try to flee. Trying to cut it or brush it off will have it attempt to relocate and inflict more wounds.”

“I see.” Gale gave a nod. “I’ll have the safety rule set. Thank you for your time, Physician Will.”

She had been a refugee like many others. Someone who I had saved and taught. Now she kept her distance from me, referred to me as physician, and saw me as an asset to the town she led. In time, I was sure she’d try to keep me here, but for now she was content to hire my services when it was needed.

“I’ll be going now, then.” I stood and gave her a nod, before parting way with her and exiting the clinic.

I was sure that she’ll try to emulate what I did by herself.

But I was no longer her teacher.

With that in mind, I moved to walk to my home for the next handful of years.

The town of refugees was large now. It took many minutes to reach one end to the other. People wore cloaks with wool on the inside and hoods kept their heads free of water as well. I adopted their choice of clothing and was thus unnoticed by many as I made my way through the town.

There were small shops now that offered haircuts, some offered clothes, and even cookhouses. Constant trade with the As’Kari brought in spices, and the As’Kari were willing middle-men for any good from the Forest Kingdom. It was a triangle of trade, benefiting all parties, and bringing much wealth and strength to each part.

But I doubted it will last long.

Kan’Is’ war will be settled within a few more years and there will be less need for materials from outside the Great Dessert.

The Kingdom of the Forest will be restructuring their lands and working tirelessly to prevent a revolt against them.

Gale’s people will plot and plan for some form of retribution the moment that I leave.

Just like in my previous life, everything will be fine, until things fell apart once again.

But I will stay my course and do my best to help and aid others.

I do not know why I was reborn into this world.

But I did know what I had that this world did not.

So, I will share and spread my knowledge until such is no longer the case.

Hopefully, after I am done and once again on my deathbed, I will feel satisfaction at a life well-lived.