Chương 19: Chap 19 - What Slouches Towards Cinderleaf?

"Was that everything you expected your triumphant return to be?" he asked Fiona. She seemed to think the whole thing was rather funny, or like she enjoyed the drama it had all provided.

"You know what? It actually was."

"Merlyn bite," was all the wolf had to say about the run-in with the pompous Fireknights. The three of them were headed to the central quest hub of the town, the place where the biggest trees in this jungle grew, and perhaps where a sense of greater purpose might be obtained. Although Elias' ambitions had been stirred by the discovery of the alchemy bench, and secret plans had already begun to hatch in his mind, he still couldn't let go of the need for direction.

And now, with his reputation coming along nicely, he had unlocked the ability to take quests directly from the quest board. Apparently, Fiona had as well. That excited him. They followed the cobblestone path, and Elias kept a sharp eye on the branches overhead. He remembered those imps that had set upon him last time he'd tried to venture through the park. They had been cringey, but their claws were razor sharp.

Perhaps they would be here again, shouting sappy slogans as they tried to disembowel him and his new friends.

"I feel like the whole blightmaw thing kind of robbed me of the glory, though," Fiona continued.

"Nothing ruins the taste of a victory ale like a sense of impending doom." It was true, the jostling and boisterousness of the afternoon would have felt somewhat triumphant, had the mood not been darkened. There had clearly been fear in Brock's eyes. And something else, as well. And still that roar echoed from the distant jungle, louder and louder, as if it were growing nearer by the hour. And what were those occasional tremors he felt shaking the ground?

"Why do you think the Fireknights would want to keep us away from the ruins?" he asked.

"Good question," she replied.

"I suppose a sense of superiority and an inherent bossiness is not enough of a reason. They seem to think they own this whole world. Who knows what gave them that impression."

"There isn't like a … king or something?" he tried.

"Is there any kind of formal government? Or is it just the biggest flaming sword makes the rules?"

"There isn't really a system like that here, not that I've ever heard of. To be honest, I kind of like it that way."

"And are there other towns out there in the jungle, do you suppose? Other groups of people."

"Listen, champ—has anyone ever told you that you ask an awful lot of questions? My best advice is to try and not think about it all too much," she said, the tips of her fingers lightly brushing against his arm.

"Seriously. This is not some cozy cafe where you can sip coffee and contemplate life. You'll not only drive yourself crazy, but you will take your eyes off the long grass, if you catch my meaning." He did. There were certainly a lot of things thirsting for his blood.

"Focus on what is in front of you," she went on.

"Be like Merlyn here. The only thing he ever thinks about is what's next. Ain't that right, boy?" He supposed it was good advice. But his was a curious mind. At times, too much of a weapon for him to control.

"Speaking of what is in front of us, getting back to those assholes in the white tabards. Do you think they are really going to protect the town from this … giant thing that is coming?" he asked. She shrugged.

"They are the biggest guild at the moment, and they do have the most flaming swords. So I guess that may be our best chance. But I don't trust them." She seemed to have the right of it there, Elias noted to himself. He was starting to think Fiona had more wisdom than he had originally credited her with. They arrived at the central park a few moments after, and Elias was delighted to find the friendly healer Goggs sitting near the quest board. He wasn't just sitting, though.

Instead, he seemed to be deep into some sort of meditative trance, floating a few inches above the large roots that broke the soil near the quest board. Elias didn't want to interrupt, but Merlyn had no such qualms. The dog immediately rushed up and began to lick Goggs' face, as if he were some long lost friend. This caused the healer to cease floating and drop to the ground with a rude thud. This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Ahh," he said.

"What a beast."

"He's friendly," Elias called out.

"At least, if you aren't a monster. He seems quite taken by you."

"Hail, Druid," said Goggs, wiping the slobber off of his face and giving the wolf a rub on its head.

"I see you've progressed." He looked at Fiona.

"And made friends."

"Do you two know each other?" Elias asked.

"We've met," said Fiona, smiling.

"It isn't a very big jungle village."

"I'm glad to see you've found strength in numbers," said Goggs.

"It is a dangerous world we find ourselves in. But you've probably learned that by now. Still haven't found a decent set of armor?" Elias realized, with a small tinge of embarrassment, that he was still wearing most of the garments he had died in. A flimsy khaki shirt and waterproof hiking pants.

"Speaking of danger," Elias said.

"I suppose you've heard the roars from out in the jungle. And I'm guessing you know what they mean."

"I do, unfortunately." He nodded.

"The blightmaw will come and take its due. That much is inevitable."

"So you know about it? You've been here before when it rampaged?" Fiona asked. Goggs set his jaw and started casting his buffing spells on both of them. Elias felt the waves of stoicism and strength coursing through his veins, an almost addictive buzz of power.

"I believe this creature is nothing more than a … a reset."

"Sorry?"

"A mechanism devised to keep us heroes here in check. A sort of cap on our development."

"Fascinating. Please do go on," Elias pushed.

"Well … the creature arrives roughly every three hundred suns, or so I guess. It is a massive beast, taller than any of the trees you see here. What strikes you most about it is the mouth. There is no other way to put it, but the creature is all mouth. The gaping maw of it is the size of a five or six story building."

"Wow," said Fiona.

"Does it … speak?"

"It only eats. It only consumes," Goggs said, looking in the direction of the latest roar, which was definitely getting closer.

"And it makes … whatever noise that is, but you knew that already."

"You said it was a mechanism to keep us in check. Could you explain what you mean by that?" Elias pressed again. A doubtful look flashed over Goggs' chiseled features, the last wisps of his buffing magic fading away.

"I've only been here long enough to see two other Blightmaw attacks. What happens is this. The beast shuffles through the jungle, coming from some hinterland, roaring and announcing its presence. A few days later and it arrives at our settlement. At which point, it simply opens its mouth and waits."

"What?" Fiona asked, a confused scrunch troubling her eyebrows. Elias had to gently shush her. He was entirely enthralled by Goggs' words.

"At which point, the people of the village have a choice. Either about a third of all the town's resources have to be thrown into the creature's mouth. Or else …" Elias leaned in close, not wanting to miss a single syllable.

"Or else what?" Fiona demanded, unable to wait.

"Or else it attacks. Or else a fight to the death. Obviously." Elias blew out some air. Fiona's eyes got wide. Merlyn did a yoga pose and sat on the ground.

"A third of … everything?" Elias asked. Goggs' shrugged.

"Something like that. Basically a third of all weapons, food, coins, armor. Anything valuable. And the worst part is, the creature passes these treasures almost instantly. It doesn't seem to even make proper use of them. But everything that it digests becomes … blighted. Unusable. Virtually worthless. The coins spread illness and the merchants won't take them. Weapons become unbalanced and won't hold an edge. The armor becomes brittle and weak. Grain becomes …"

"Yeah, we saw some blighted grain," Fiona said.

"Not something I would want to have for breakfast."

"A third of everything. My God. No wonder this place remains so primitive. So, this begs the obvious question: what are the odds of beating the thing in a fight?" Elias tried.

"You'll know when you see it. But certainly not great. The creature is massive enough to swallow you and not even notice."

"And you mentioned you believe the creature to be a mechanism. Does that mean … it was created by someone?" Goggs seemed to grow a little uncomfortable with this particular line of questioning. He shook his head and bent down to pet the wolf a few more times.

"My spiritual ideas are not something I want to get into in detail. At least, not at this time. But … suffice it to say that … yes. I believe there are Gods of some kind at work here. Gods that do not want to see us grow too materially comfortable. At least, not easily. That is why we are kept at this rather primeval state of organization. No roads. No running water." Elias had to bite his tongue. There were so many questions. But Goggs seemed eager to take his leave.

"I've got to be getting back to the guild. I have to select which third of the precious icons and goblets to feed to the creature this time. Each time it comes, our treasures grow thinner. I try to keep up with fresh loot. But I am only one man."

"Thanks for your help," Fiona called. Goggs had already turned his back and was striding purposefully out of the park.

"Be well," he said.

"Stop in and see me after a while. I may be able to help with your armor situation."

"Alright." Elias called after.

"Thank you."

"He seems fun," Fiona said, after they'd been left standing there.

"Kind of got this … tough guy thing about him. But you can tell he really cares. Kinda sexy, if I'm honest." Elias could only raise his eyebrow. As enthralling as all of this information was, it was not his first reason for coming here. The quest board beckoned at the other end of the area. With a last glance up into the trees to check for imps, he made his way over to it, ready to find purpose of his own.