Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 38

Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 38

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Sivantic.

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I dreamed of fire and flame beneath a sky filled with burning ships and a tree of light fading away.

I stood atop a tower and I was not alone.

At my back there was a young woman covered in a pure white dress. From neck to toe, her body was covered in flowing garments, and her face was half-obscured by a veil of gold that hung from a circlet around her skull.

It felt like a dream, until I reached deep and took hold of that thing within this body that I did not have in my previous one, and so I came into being.

And, I turned to face the young woman, while doing away with the vision she was sending me.

We were alone, face-to-face, in an empty dream.

I opened my mouth to speak to her, but she faltered and fled as soon as she realized what I was about to do.

Leaving me in darkness, until I awakened.

…

“The princess of this land invaded my dreams last evening to entreat me to aid your people.” Lucien paused as I spoke to him. We were all gathered in his manor to eat dinner after I had closed my eyes to rest. Gale had left, so there was no one to glare at the foods being presented. Ornate breads filled with meat or sweets. Soups and stews were offered fresh from pots on moving carts. Fruits were aplenty, and there were whole hunks of roast offered alongside wines and spirits. “She wore a plain golden circlet with a golden veil and wore a white dress that obscured her whole form completely, but from what I know of your people only royalty has such power.”

Lucien pondered my words for a moment. He sat at the head of the table and I was to his right in the seat of honor, while Djet’Is was to my left. Immense windows three stories tall fed the light of the tree of light into the dining room. The table we sat around was a deep red hue and it was so long that a hundred people could eat at it without brushing shoulders. Only three of us were eating and the servants milled at the boundaries of our vision in black and white.

“And… why would the princess do such a thing, esteemed physician? May I know what vision she showed you?” Lucien spoke calmly, but I could tell that he was guarded. He moved his hand and some of the younger servants left. The older ones remained… and just outside the doors behind him I heard the shuffling of booted feet and armor. “If we caused any discomfort, then I apologize. The nobility receives visions from the royal family and see them as decrees or warnings. It is the swiftest method of telling us what needs to be done.”

“I am not of your people and my mind is my own. It is your way to do such things. Not mine.” Visions composed by others inserted into my dreams to send messages? I could see the worth of such a thing in a world without telegrams or telephones. However, I did not permit the princess of this nation to send such a message my way. If their nobility accepted it, then I held no issue with the crown’s methods, but I was not of this nation. “My mind is my own, Lucien. Tell that to your rulers in your next missive to them.”

“…I see. I shall make sure that they know to not do such things again, physician.” Lucien nodded slowly, and some small burst of magic came from him. It reached those waiting outside, and the people waiting and ready departed with relief. They had thought that I would attack them for their actions. Perhaps, if they had tried more than give me a dream and a vision, I would’ve. If they could manipulate dreams with such ability, what else can they do to us? That question made me convinced that I should protect myself constantly now. “However, again, may I ask you to describe the vision sent to you by our princess? She is known as a seer. One who can pierce the veil of the future and guide our people to prosperity or avoid costly threats.”

Djet’Is decided to speak.

“With such powers, I see how you people of the Forest have survived with so few strong people.” Djet’Is spoke with care and a measuring gaze leveled at Lucien. He did his utmost to seem calm, but there are very few people who can meet Djet’Is’s glare head on without backing down. He was not amongst those individuals. “Know that the As’Kari do not believe in such tricks or methods. We have strength to carry us through, and even then, our own users of magics educate themselves in protections against it.”

In the Great Desert, there was an eternal race for new weapons and strategies and usage of people. The warriors were the core of every tribe’s fighting force, led by their chieftains covered in living armor, but they were supported by those who could heal and those who used magic in all manner of ways. Some tribes were said to create songs that danced across the battlefield that would put the weak to sleep and slow the strong. Others created poisons that could harm other tribes but not their own. The As’Kari methods of overcoming them was simple: increase their resistance against such tricks so that they could win with pure strength of arms.

And, so far, brute strength has carried them to being the mightiest tribe in the Great Desert, but the continued resistance of the other tribes spoke of the efficacy of their magics and their creativity in their development.

Still, though, there was no tribe that came to mind that could do the same as the princess of this land.

“Once again, I apologize on behalf of my people and I assure you that it will not happen again. We meant no offense.” Lucien apologized once again, but I only nodded in response and Djet’Is did the same. Without the words shared, without us accepting the words aloud, then the cost of the action remained in play. A mere apology was not enough to assuage the breach in my privacy. “Our princess merely wanted your help and sent you a vision that would see you join us… so, once again, I would like to know what she showed you.”

I relented in my obstinacy.

“She showed me of a sky burning with many ships. The tree of light withering and fading away. And, finally, the lands surrounding your capital city burning.”

“Burning how? With flames wrought by magic?”

I closed my eyes and recalled for a moment, before shaking my head.

“Torches held by armies marching across the night and setting those that opposed them alight.” The scene of war was easy to recall. Too easy, in fact. I worried that it was left in my mind as a sign of dominance. Could this power be used to bombard the mind with so much information that it drives a man mad? I grimaced at the thought alone. The royalty of this place was treading upon dangerous grounds indeed. “It seems that they fear a rebellion and not the coming disease.”

“As we all do. This parasite can be overcome by the nation. It has cast this dark spell as a means of overcoming us, but it was foreseen and we acted to create the tree of light. Now, they seek peace and terms while pressuring us with monsters that we can kill and methods that we can overcome.”

“Overcome? The first city of your people that I entered was destroyed. We passed by countless villages that were abandoned. Some of these creatures were attempting rituals of unknown goals to us.” I understood. These people saw what I described as casualties, but they did not see them as losses. As long as the nation endured, then the loss of a several thousand people was an acceptable price. They were at war, thus they considered the losses as they would a great and terrible conflict… and they feared a civil uprising more than their foe, because it would throw a wrench into their grand design. They can endure and overcome the current darkness and disease, but not both those and a civil war as well. “Lord Lucien, I don’t know what the rebels demand, but you must at least consider drafting a ceasefire at least overcome the current challenge.”

“They demand independence when their lands are from where we source the metals for our arms and armor, physician. Not only that, but they demand for several lords to be deposed.”

“After your people left so many others to die.” Lucien grimaced at my words, but nodded. “Did you believe that none would oppose the actions of your people? That none would rise up to oppose you?”

“We expected opposition and rebellion if it were known ahead of time. However, we believed that once people were safe and secure that they would understand that we took the only choice we could.” Lucien shook his head and carefully explained. “We needed to concentrate our population, protect them in large cities with defensible terrain and fortifications, and make the most of all our existing resources. If we spread our army across the land, then we would’ve only been cut apart.”

“And, the people who were judged unworthy were left behind to die, not even allowed into the fortresses and towns established to create holdfasts on regions.” I accused Lucien simply and concisely.  “Not only that, but I know from the strength of your personal guard and yourself that your people know of the strength gained from consuming monsters. However, such strength cannot be allowed to spread with your tenuous hold over your people, can it?”

Djet’Is paused mid-bite at that statement, before her brow furrowed.

She had realized that Lucien and his personal warriors were strong at first sight, much like our own Warriors. However, I doubted that she realized the implications behind it. The rest of the population looked down on those who consumed the flesh of monsters. Only those without a choice or those who hunted monsters did such a thing.

Therefore, there was only one conclusion to which I could surmise.

“Your people have made your population easier to control by denying them the strength gained from consuming monsters.” I spoke, and the City Lord looked at me. His face was placid and controlled. However, I felt no anger or hate in his eyes. Only a faint sensation of acceptance. “Even with the weak monsters that exist in this land, if you had let your people grow strong, then this wouldn’t happen… but you already knew that. Your people weighed the risks and benefits of its allowance.”

Lucien was quiet for a long time, before nodding.

“Aye, such is the case. Long ago, our people were much like yours. We ate and consumed the flesh of monsters and we were also constrained by a lack of unity. Imagine the tribes of the Great Desert, physician, but unconstrained in their violence with a glut of resources.” I had suspected such was the case. Too many empowered individuals in such a safe environment would lead to conflict. Warriors and strength for the individual was necessary in the Great Desert for survival. To consume monsters in these lands was for the sake of strength and domination. “Stories tell that this land used to be fertile plains, but our ancestors harvested tree nuts from many groves as rations, and they died with bellies full of seeds that enrobed this land in forests.”

This land was born from conflict between tribes just like the Great Desert.

“We fought and fought amongst ourselves, until from tribes came forth the first nations, and then the first King arose and united us all under one banner. Still, there were constant uprisings. Many broke away, many forced them back, and the forests continued to grow and grow.” Lucien gestured at one of his servants and a bottle of wine was opened shortly after. It was poured and a tall glass with chilled water, until the concentrated brew was somewhat opaque. When it had been poured from the bottle, its deep color reminded me of blood. “Then, henceforth, it was decided that the flesh of monsters would belong to soldiers and warriors… and as times changed the law was altered and customs were crafted, until it became as you see now.”

“If your people did not choose to meddle, then your people would be strong enough to overcome this calamity. By chaining down your people, you’ve robbed them of their strength.” Djet’Is accused, and I levelled a look at her. The As’Kari were setting out to do something similar in my eyes. She scoffed and crossed her arms at my accusing gaze. “The As’Kari intend to take the whole Great Desert and its treasures. We will grow strong and we will fight against those who oppose us through the proper rites. We will never rob our people of strength.”

The As’Kari and all the other tribes of the Great Desert were forged from constant conflict. Their culture and beliefs were forged by the adversity and dangers posed by the Great Desert. Even with all tribes unified, they will continue to find themselves fighting against the land that they lived in. Thus, they will never have the same abundance that the people of this land felt.

I could imagine it.

Armies of warriors enhanced by consumption of the flesh of monsters clashing against one another covered in the enchanted arms and armor wielded by the people of these lands. The conflicts would’ve been brutal and unrelenting. Warriors were frighteningly durable, with immense reserves of stamina, and they had immense strength. Battles between warriors of equal skill was one of removing limbs from one another, pinning the loser down, and crushing their skulls while relying on armor to not have their guts ripped from their abdomen.

Thus, I could accept the decision to remove such a thing to establish peace and prosperity, however there was another thing entirely that I couldn’t abide with.

“Your people could have shared this knowledge along with all your other preparations, City Lord.” At those words Lucien went still and gingerly placed his wine glass down. Through the taciturn mask, I saw a glimpse of realization… and horror. So, it wasn’t out of malign intent. My anger rapidly turned into pity, and I lowered my voice with my next question. “City Lord, did it not occur to your people that with the undoing of that singular tradition for one generation, so many could’ve been saved?”

The silence that came forth from Lucien was damning.