Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 23

Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 23

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Sivantic.

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The As’Kari’s arrival was at first considered strange, but as time passed, they became a welcome sight. The strength of the As’Kari warriors were undeniable and they went forth to fight monsters without question. Whereas many in the village just began to fight against the beasts born in the endless night, in the Great Desert it was a constant of life. Thus, the As’Kari gained favor amongst the townsfolk, and we gained the time and resources necessary to refurbish the largest structure within the town.

Previously a hall where the mayor and the town’s leaders would meet, the hall was a large two-story building that was used to hold events according to previous residents. Festivals, dances, and times of remembrance were conducted within the hall. It was a large, circular building with a tiled roof that converged into a flat cone, which could be furnished for many events. Initially, I had its surrounding fortified and forged it into a shelter should the walls be overrun. Whenever monsters struck at our defenses, all those who couldn’t fight were gathered at the reinforced shelter, which would have our third line protecting it.

With manpower freed up by the As’Kari, additions were made to the construction. Sheds and lean-tos were added to it. I centralized the location of all supplies into the keep. It was As’Kari custom to have all necessary things held in the most defensible of positions, with tribes taking what they needed from the stores always held on the backs of their massive steeds. Some tribes of the Great Desert decentralized their supplies across many lesser beasts, but they easily split apart when shattered by an opposing tribe, whereas the As’Kari rallied around their homes and fought harder.

In a way, by making the town hall a supply hub and the most defensible shelter, I was forcing the people to band together behind it. The investiture of labor and supplies made it so that they could no longer leave this place. It was a grand structure, a place to rally behind, and kindler of hope for the displaced and destitute people now contending with the night. Though I used my influence to make them construct it, I couldn’t help but be proud of the results.

The people gathered around it, looked upon its walls, defenses, and full supplies with hope.

I’d thought that with it finished that I could take a step back, and begin planning on creating a solution to the problem of monsters that plagued the blossoming town.

Instead, I found myself afraid.

Afraid that I gave the people I wanted to save a weapon to use, instead of a beacon of hope.

…

Averi, with her hands and legs chained, gazed at me while I worked on my latest dissection and study. Another “Demon” had come forth from the ranks of monsters.

A female variation of the other male creature. It had attempted feigning being human, mimicking a young woman’s form and crying. According to the hunters who first met it, from afar it looked human, but it could not remove the scent of the wilderness from itself. It wasn’t as deadly as the male counterpart, but its claws were still sharp and its speed beyond that of a normal human being. Thankfully, those who had met it were an experienced group of hunters. They were five in number, and they put it down with a measure of effort and only a bit of healing required on my part.

Averi, typically, acclimated to being a research assistant of sorts. She drew odd looks, and some curses from the townsfolk. The point where she could use her armor and weapons, and assist us in battles was far in the future, but for now she assisted in my research by writing what I told her in her kingdom’s tongue.

Still, after the completion of the “Great Hall,” Averi had been listless.

So, after finishing my latest work, I addressed.

“Share your concerns, I will listen.” I reached for a plate of smoked meat and bread and consumed it. It was the flesh of a large, monstrous boar that the monsters rallied behind to try and breach our gate. Its hide had been too tough for my wires to cut, but it died all the same when I stuffed its throat with silk threads and wrung its neck. Even monsters needed to breath. The great beast fed the whole village for two nights and even then there was plenty of flesh to spare to be smoked. “What ails you now?”

“What ails me? Is it not plain to see and hear?” Averi grunted and glared at me, but I did not rise to her attempt to taunt me. I simply consumed the meal that I had. The amount of grain we had was limited and so I savored the bread that I had. Only time will tell whether the nearby fields can be sown again. The As’Kari amongst us were hard at work trying to divine from where the monsters came, so that we could create a fortification that would secure the region. “Do you think I can ignore the citadel you’ve created?”

Averi saw the fortification and shelter and warehouse as some sort of declaration of success and independence.

“These people have long stopped being part of your kingdom. The construction of that building has merely made it plain to see.” From an abandoned village with a haphazard wall into a true town of survivors, that was the transition made by the change from hall to the center of the town. “Barely anything has changed.”

“Perhaps here, that is the case, but not for others. You told me that you have no intention of waging war, but this monument can be the rally cry that will spark a frenzied flame.” Averia insisted, while I finished my meal, and began to bind my papers. The ink was already dry, because the past few days have been warmer. Even without the sun, the seasons passed. “Those who come here to trade will see it. They will speak of it. They will carry the word.”

With the passing of time, we met with other communities that arose in the desolate darkness. Those abandoned by their leaders did not simply meekly lay down and die. Many banded together, struggled, and forged their own sanctums. Within five days ride, there were now three other settlements, with which we now worked.

Two were mining towns with steep and narrow passes or canyons. They defended their paths rigorously, and were already strong. Much like hunters, the miners consumed monsters even before the night set. They knew it gave them better health and strength, both of which were necessary for their work. Still, they lacked other foods, people, and they could only hold out for so long, thus we were greeted with open arms. They had smiths and made iron weapons, tools, and armor, but more importantly they provided us with other necessities. Hinges for doors, nails to rebuild, and repairs.

The other town that we found was a stranger one, which hid into a system of caves they used to grow mushrooms and swine. The addition of both mushrooms and pork were more than just culinary improvements. These people knew how to use an animal and not let a single piece of it go to waste.

Beyond casings for sausages, they could make water skins from bladders. Their hooves and cartilage could be used for glue, and their bones were easier to break than those of monsters, which made them more useful for crafting rough buttons and needles. Some of the mushrooms they grew were reportedly dried and worked like herbal remedies, while a rare strain that Gale and Erucic fawned over were reportedly capable of helping wounds heal quicker when ground and applied as a paste.

Averia’s concerns, thus, made more sense to me.

The white-haired young woman saw the makeshift alliance born from necessity as a threat to her people, especially with what we constructed as a banner to tie them together.

She was right.

“Ah, I see. You are correct. What we have created will embolden them all.” The freedom from ever-present death, the renewed confidence, and the establishment of something new. All these things were the foundation of a nation. In fact, nations were born from less than this. Some simply declared themselves king after deposing a warlord. This was a wholesale shout against the world that these people would not surrender, that they would not meekly bow their heads and die, whether by the will of some greater evil or a nation that abandoned them. “But, you are wrong in thinking that I want these people to fight against your own. I would rather all fight to survive and thrive against the eternal night.”

Averia opened her mouth to speak, but I cut her off.

“But it is impossible. Too much pain has been inflicted. Hate fills the hearts of these people now, and in their eyes, they are just, while your people are evil.” They had every right to fight back. Averia and I both knew this. Even with all my influence and ability, I could do little more than try and slow them on their current path. “All I can do now is slow the oncoming war. A war that will decide the fates of all in this land.”

Averia let loose a dry chuckle at my words.

“You mean the oncoming slaughter.” Averia turned her gaze downward. “With your numbers and your methods, they will soon become a force we cannot fight.”

We were both about to fall towards our typical argument when a horn blared from the walls of the gate.

It was not the horn for enemies, which a deep one that told all of attack.

Instead, it was more like a sharp whistle, which signaled the arrival of allies.

Our allies here were not due to arrive today.

So, the whistle could only be for our last ally.

The As’kari were now truly here.

…

Djet’Is was as I recalled her.

A titan with tanned skin, blazing red hair, and ever-glaring eyes. As always, she was covered from head to toe in scarlet robes hemmed with golden threads. She arrived astride her mount, which was a Desert Wasp much like all other As’Kari, but bred and fed more carefully to greater size to be more suitable for her frame.

She arrived with a guard of a dozen warriors, not like the scouts sent ahead to meet us, but true veterans. Each one loomed over all the villages, even as they barely reached Djet’Is’s sternum in height. They were clad in green robes, and I sensed beneath those robes was the carapace armor of the As’Kari. Their faces were wrapped, and their eyes concealed by the goggles I’d taught the tribe to make. If they left their mounts, then they would become terrifying creatures that could prowl the forests undetected and with terrifying strength.

Still, while all the inhabitants of the village looked upon the arrival of the most elite warriors of the As’Kari I stepped forward to meet with them all.

Djet’Is’s gaze was harsh as she looked upon me, but she gave me no recrimination or declaration of hatred.

Thus, I could only offer her my hospitality.

“I greet you, Djet’Is of the As’Kari. I am Will and this is the place where I have settled.”

As I thought, Djet’Is did not follow custom.

“There are less here than there are amongst the As’Kari. You speak of saving the most people, but you have left the As’Kari for this.” Djet’Is threw my words upon me without a hint of mercy. A frown formed on my face, while she gave the reins of her mount to one of her attendants. She crossed her arms and looked upon me. “You left us to save a whole kingdom, if I recall.”

“Circumstances changed, and I do not regret leaving. I would’ve left all these people to die.” I answered her honestly. Some noticed the animosity between us, but most were focused on the Warriors moving through the camp with their steeds towards the As’Kari’s compound. Erucic eyed me with some concern, but left when I shook my head at him. “And, I intend to save more than these people. Three other towns with the same number of people rely upon this one. I am saving more than you see.”

Djet’Is’s glare strengthened, but I met it without backing down.

I knew her well enough to not fall for her provocations.

“I see, then I hope you are proud of your choice.” Djet’Is grunted and looked to the lake. She moved towards it and I followed after her. “The As’Kari would have been victorious weeks ago, if not for this damnable darkness. It is slowing us down and more are dying because of it.”

“Less would’ve perished, if the war had not taken place.” I spoke only for Djet’Is to scoff. “You disagree.”

“The monsters of the Great Desert are beyond the ones here. Our Warriors hold fast because of all that you left behind. The other tribes suffer and only stand strong because they have united against us and the monsters.” Djet’Is wandered to the shore of the lake and gazed upon it with crossed arms. Oases in the desert could not compare. This was vast lake that held enough fish to beyond our ability to harvest before its population refreshed. “If you were present, if you fought with us, the Desert would’ve been united already. Far, far fewer would be dead.”

Over the months I spent fighting against the monsters of this eternal night, I could not disagree.

But I could still stand my ground.

“I would’ve still not tread the path of war.”

“Then, you remain a fool to the truth of things. There is no world without violence and pain.” Djet’Is took a seat and gazed upon what must’ve looked like endless waters to her. A faint sheen of admiration flashed across her handsome visage for a moment, before fading to her steely countenance. "But, I will make use of you nonetheless. I offer my strength of arms and those of my guard for a place for children and elderly here in this land. They will work and they will contribute to the village, under my rule.”

I would’ve taken her offer without a hint of hesitation, if only for the safety of the children and elderly, but with the current tensions… I had to pause.

“I will speak to the leaders of these people and bid them to allow it.”

Once again, at my words, Djet’Is scoffed and shook her head.

“And, I thought you finally decided to cease lying about your true destiny, Will.” Her words made me frown, but I offered no response as she cast her gaze across the lake. “Go then, I will wait here.”

Nothing changed between us, even with my self-exile.

There remained a gap between us that could never be breached, even with the world around us becoming unrecognizable.

She and I will never understand one another.