Act IX

by Alexander Gordon

“No, you can’t eat us. But I’m sure we can find something else you’ll like.”

  “Like what?”

  “Let’s go inside and take a look at what we have,” Daniel offered standing up, holding a hand out to Cindy who watched him with a curious eye.

  “You’re bringing the sand wraith into our home?” Specca nervously asked.

  “No, no, no, no,” Alyssa argued shaking her head.

  “I understand you wanting to speak to her about your beliefs, Daniel,” Kroanette worried. “But inviting her into our home… I don’t know about this.”

  “I think that’s a splendid idea,” Doku praised.

  “What?” Clover barked out at her. “How is asking that murderous wraith inside to eat with us a good idea?”

  “If my husband wishes to extend the offer of peace between our races, then showing Cindy our hospitality would help with that intention,” Doku reasoned factually. “In case you’ve forgotten, Clover, Daniel is out here to unite our races and prove that not all monsters are evil.”

  “Sand wraiths are evil!”

  “And he’s not your husband,” Triska flatly pointed out.

  “She doesn’t seem evil to me,” Doku replied with a shrug. “And Daniel does want to help her, to help all their kind so they’re not treated like Darker Ones in this world. I believe if anyone could help bring out the kind heart within a sand wraith, it would be Daniel. Don’t you have faith he can do it?”

  Clover stepped back with a frustrated grunt, seeming to be biting her tongue in responding to Doku’s words. She glanced to Cindy then to Daniel who along with everyone else was watching her curiously. With a low growl she rolled her eyes and looked away with a huff.

  “Well, he did tame a succubus. I guess if he can convince one of those demons to control herself… he might be able to with a sand wraith.”

  “Does that mean you have faith in him?” Doku questioned with a knowing smile.

  “I just said I did!” Clover shouted at her. Doku yelped and hid behind her wing while the other girls glanced to each other then to Cindy as she was still looking around at everyone with an innocent expression on her face.

  “You know what you’re doing, right?” Clover demanded at Daniel. He jumped a bit then nodded quickly before the elf sighed in annoyance and turned away. “Then do it. You’ve proven you haven’t been preaching bullshit so far, so don’t stop now.”

  “Clover?” Specca wondered. “You believe in Daniel now?”

  “Doku’s right,” Clover said with a shrug before glancing back to Daniel. “Dan’s the only one I know who’s insane enough to do this, and live. I’ve seen the guy do some crazy shit, so talking to a sand wraith shouldn’t be impossible for him.”

  “Well, thank you for your vote of confidence in me, Clover,” Daniel kindly replied. He then showed a puzzled smile and pointed to her. “Um, if I may ask, how come you’re out here in your bath towel?”

  “Because I was taking a bath before coming out here,” she snapped while looking away again. “Now if you’ll excuse me I’m going to get dressed. Don’t get yourself killed today if at all possible, Dan. You still need to take me home after all this.”

  The elf walked off towards the carriage while the group exchanged curious looks with one another, their attention then returning to Cindy as she tugged on Daniel’s shirt to get his focus.

  “Can I eat you now?” she timidly asked.

  “No, you can’t eat me, Cindy,” Daniel said shaking his head. He took the sand wraith’s hand and helped her to her feet, her saddened frown then being replaced with a curious look as he gestured towards the carriage nearby.

  “But we will get you something else to eat. Let’s go inside and we’ll see what you like, and while we do so we can talk some more.”

  “Talk?” she replied scratching her head. “What are we going to talk about?”

  “Do you really think Daniel can win over the sand wraiths in Eden?” Falla whispered to Squeak. The ant girl merely shrugged as she wondered the same thing while eyeing over the new girl.

  “Their inner nature is to feed, all the time,” Specca pondered. “It’s not a matter of them resisting from raping humans, it’s a matter of them resisting from eating everyone around them.”

  “Well,” Alyssa hesitantly spoke up. “We proved our inner nature could be controlled. Maybe… theirs can be too.”

  Star quietly meowed as she saw Daniel smiling kindly at Cindy. Slowly she looked down as a worried expression came over her.

  “It’s true that Cindy may have done some bad things in her past,” Doku spoke from beside her. Star saw the harpy watching Daniel and Cindy while appearing to be speaking aloud for any nearby to hear. “But it seems Daniel isn’t so quick to write her off because of that. I suppose since she didn’t know what she was really doing, or may not even know now what she did was wrong, she can’t be held accountable for her actions while under the influence of her base instincts.”

  Star mewed and tilted her head as Doku glanced to her and smiled gently at her.

  “She can still be a good girl, one that can show real heart to those around her, if only there are those to teach her how. What’s in her past can be forgiven once she realizes what it means to truly be a kindhearted soul, and to prove they can be as such in life. I believe that goes for all those in this world. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Star slowly nodded with a faint smile. With a gentle pat on the jinx’s back with her wing Doku nodded in agreement before moving closer to Daniel’s side. He smiled and said a few words to her then noticed Star watching him, the jinx slowly brushing her hair around her ear and smiling softly at him with her twin tails swaying behind her. He smiled and winked at her before speaking to Cindy again, with Star blushing slightly before lowering her head in thought about Doku’s words.

  Triska kept a close eye on Cindy while her hand remained on her sword’s handle. She saw the sand wraith watching Daniel with an innocent expression on her face while her hair gently swayed in the breeze. In her mind Kitten was growling with irritation, something she had been doing for a while now, before she appeared next to Daniel while waving to them expectedly.

  “Why are you not killing this monster already?” Kitten sharply demanded. “You do realize that she’ll try to eat him the moment she can, along with all your little friends.”

  ‘Daniel wishes to bring them to our side, he sees something in her.’

  “What could he possibly see in that menace other than a murderous monster? Seriously, all sand wraiths are known to be evil through and through, there’s no debating this.”

  ‘Just like all demons are evil?’ Triska quipped with a questioning glance to her.

  “Triska, this is different. You can’t let that monster stay near my master. Strike her down, you have the power and weapon to do so, you have to protect him!”

  ‘I have faith in him, just like Doku and Clover do. This is what Daniel is out here to do, to put a stop to the fighting and raping, and unite our races. He can see the good in monsters, despite what they appear to be.’

  “That’s a sand wraith!” Kitten shouted while frantically pointing to Cindy.

  ‘And one that he believes can be good if given the chance. If Daniel is going to have faith in that, then so am I. Just like the other girls wish to do as well. They believe in him, don’t you?’

  “But… I… he… but…”

  ‘I have no regrets sparing your life,’ Triska thought, with Kitten then looking at her in awe. ‘You’re not an evil monster, despite what you were born as and what you did in the past. Daniel agrees with that, and while the other girls may not be so quick to speak kindly about you, I’m certain they too agree that you’re nothing like demons the world knows of. You’re a good soul.’

  “Triska… I… I’ve never heard you say such things to me before.”

  ‘It’s the truth. We gave you a chance, and you proved Daniel’s belief right. She deserves the same chance.’

  “You
honestly believe a sand wraith can show heart to anyone?”

  ‘We’re going to find out,’ Triska reasoned as she set her eyes back onto Daniel. In doing so she lowered her hand from her sword, her stance relaxing as she sensed no immediate danger with Cindy anymore.

  ‘If anyone can bring out the good in a sand wraith, it’s Daniel.’

  *****

  Outside of their home at Trixton Pass three monster hunters were preparing to venture out on order by their queen. Mika, Milly, and Mae were busy getting the three horses that were left by Rockhelm knights as requested for their mission set to ride out with, with each sister strapping supply bags to the saddles of the white steeds, while next to their home Max was going through a cylindrical container that had a dozen steel tipped bolts inside. After checking that all the arrows were ready for his sister to use with her crossbow he hurried over to the girls that all had focused expressions on their faces.

  “Here you go, Mae,” he said handing her the container. “These are all set. Do you girls need anything else?”

  “Thank you, Max,” Mae said as she strapped the container next to a few others she had on her horse. “These will do just fine.”

  “Your crossbow isn’t loaded now, is it?” Max worried with a glance to the satchel that was hanging down from the saddle.

  “Of course it is, we’re going to be riding through The Outerlands towards a monster infested area. I need it ready to fire at a moment’s notice.”

  “Try not to have it shoot the horse while you’re riding it then,” Max sighed. “Those are from Rockhelm after all, I’m pretty sure we need to return them alive after this is over.”

  “I won’t shoot the horse, Max,” Mae huffed in annoyance while rolling her eyes.

  “You won’t, but your crossbow might.”

  “It’s not going to shoot him!” Mae snapped with a flustered stomp of her foot.

  “Here’s hoping,” Mika said shaking her head. She checked her claymore sheathed on her back with a quick glance then smiled at her brother. “Still, I think we have everything we need now. Time to ride.”

  “All set here,” Milly announced as she finished fastening her carrying bags to her horse. She picked up her large axe and hopped up onto the steed, the animal grunting a bit as she twirled her weapon in the air before she winked at Max.

  “How come you don’t want a sling to carry that with?” Max wondered as Mae finished fastening her provisions to her horse next to him. “Don’t you ever get tired holding it all the time?”

  “If I have a need to have this in the first place then I’m going to have it to use when I need to,” Milly reasoned with a shrug. “Besides, I don’t mind carrying it, I like to actually.”

  “Not to mention all our scabbards don’t fit that particular battle-axe,” Mae mentioned as she mounted her horse. “Milly’s is the biggest one we have. So she’s going to have to carry it whether she likes to or not.”

  “She can handle it,” Mika assured as she straddled her horse. “Don’t worry, Max. This isn’t our first assignment with killing monsters. We know what we’re doing.”

  “If you say so,” Max agreed with a shrug. “Still, be careful. That’s a whole lot of monsters you need to clear out all on your own this time. Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “Are you lecturing us on how to do our job?” Mika laughed.

  “We’ll be fine, quit worrying,” Milly giggled.

  “Just be alert while we’re away, Max,” Mae softly said. “We’re going to be gone for a while, so you need to mind the shop and take good care of it. If any suspicious people come by you can close the shop and refuse service if you need to, and make sure to always keep your dagger nearby just in case.”

  “I know, I know,” Max groaned. “I know how to run the place while you three are out there doing your job. And it’s my job to worry about you three when you’re out doing this sort of stuff; I’m your brother after all.”

  “It’s nice to hear you worry about us,” Mika mused with a curious smile. “I promise we’ll come back in one piece, just don’t burn down the house while we’re gone.”

  “Or have any of your many friends over for a wild party either,” Milly added.

  “Low blow, Milly,” Max flatly retorted. “Low blow.”

  “We’ll be back as soon as our task is complete,” Mae promised him. “Take care until then.”

  “You all as well,” Max said with a thumbs-up at them. “And make sure none of those filthy monsters get away.”

  “We will,” Mika assured him before snapping the reins. The three sisters took off along the trail, dust billowing behind them as they made haste towards their destination in the east, while Max waved them off with a small smile on his face.

  “Good luck,” he voiced before making his way back towards the cottage. “Kind of wish I did have friends to invite over right now. It’s going to be so boring and quiet here with nobody around.”

  As he went back inside the home and wished his sisters luck with their latest assignment, the young boy was unware that the nearby woods behind the cottage wasn’t as empty as he believed. Just behind a large oak tree and out of sight from the residence a centaur was lying against the mossy timber while trying to catch her breath. The monster’s green dress and purple blouse were in tatters, blood soaked the rags at her side where a large wound was that she clutched with one hand, tail having been scorched of any hair, and her long brunette hair was dirtied with twigs and leaves trapped within its tangled locks. Her dark fur covering her lower body had scrapes and blood all over while her front left leg had part of an arrow struck through it still.

  “Mama, we have to keep going,” a younger centaur pleaded at her side while covered in the shadows of the trees. “They’re still right behind us.”

  “I’m sorry, dear,” her mother spoke between heavy breaths. “I can’t run any further. I… can’t feel my legs anymore.”

  “Please, get up. We have to keep moving. They’ll be here any second.”

  “I’m so sorry, Lelu. I can’t get up. You have to keep running on your own now.”

  “Mama!”

  “I’m so sorry,” the mother panted while her hand holding her wound began to loosen. “Please, you have to go. You have to live.”

  “I’m not leaving you!” the young girl pleaded. “Please, get up! Please, mama! I can’t go on without you!”

  The cackling of gremlins started to draw nearer within the woods, the young centaur turning to the approaching voices with fright then to her mother who was showing her a teary-eyed smile as she laid against the tree.

  “Run, Lelu. Run, and live.”

  “Mama…” Lelu whimpered.

  “Go… and don’t… look back.”

  Lelu hesitated as the gremlins grew closer, their laughter echoing amongst the trees as the centaurs shared one last look at one another.

  “I love you,” Lelu sobbed before she took off running.

  “I love you too, my dear Lelu,” the mother breathed out before slumping against the tree.

  Out from the woods the young centaur sprinted in haste, galloping on all four legs as she raced towards the nearby cottage. Auburn fur covered her lower body with three dark blotches adoring her flank, her white tail flowing behind in the wind along with the tails of the tattered black dress she wore that was ripped on all sides. The white blouse she wore over her large bust was torn as well, although it was hard to tell if it was her breasts or the danger she had managed to escape thus far that was responsible. Dirt and leaves were caught in her long blonde hair, her eyes being a dark golden color and filled with tears as she tried to keep her breathing steady. She was sore, tired, and hungry, having been running nearly nonstop with her mother after their home was invaded and horrible monsters chased them out from their land. Although many withdrew back to the battle a few gremlins didn’t give up so easily on their prey, and chased them all the way to where Lelu’s mother had finally succumbed to her injuries.

 
“Why?” Lelu whimpered as she wiped her eyes with her arm. “Why won’t they leave us be? What did we ever do to them?”

  A deathly shriek was heard behind in the woods, causing Lelu’s heart to nearly stop as she heard her mother’s last cry along with the laughter of gremlins. With all the willpower she had Lelu held in her scream of agony, knowing that if she made her presence known the gremlins would chase after her still. Shutting her eyes tightly she struggled to keep herself moving forward, to fend off the urge to cry out her mother’s name, to refuse breaking down into tears completely as she had now lost everything in life.

  ‘Please! Someone, anyone, help me!’

  Opening her eyes and straining to keep her voice in she veered close to the side the cottage and ran alongside it, looking far into the distance ahead of the building towards The Outerlands that held no place she could run to for safety. As she made her way along the grass with swiftly moving hooves a door opened ahead and a young boy came running out holding a dagger in hand while quickly looking around in alarm.

  “Oh man, who screamed just now? What was-” Max managed to say before Lelu crashed right into him, the two tumbling forward with the centaur crying out in surprise and Max’s dagger bouncing away into the grass. Crashing to a halt Lelu groaned as she rubbed her head then noticed Max lying under her with eyes shut tight as he was holding his head in pain as well.

  “Ow!” Max groaned before slowly opening his eyes. “What the heck was that?”

  Blinking a few times to clear his vision he then saw Lelu resting atop him, her blonde hair swaying in the breeze while her teary eyes were locked onto him with a look of surprise on her face.

  “Wha- who are you?” Max asked confusedly. Lelu trembled then slowly got up off him, his eyes widening as he then saw her horse body and quivering legs. “You… you’re a monster.”

  “I’m sorry,” she squeaked out. “Please, I… I…”

  Max scrambled to his feet, pointing at the girl while rendered speechless, before both turned to see two gremlins hopping out from behind the trees further away. One was carrying her alchemic bags in hand while another was holding a bloody rapier.