Chương 5: The Watcher

The forest around me had gone silent. Not the peaceful quiet, but the kind of silence that meant something dangerous was close. The river flowed beside me, water was flowing smoothly over stones. The wind shifted, rustling of leaves in soft blowing wind. The sun was going down; sky began to look more orange. I had just increased my perception stat. I looked around, everything looked normal to me but somehow, I know something was wrong.

My hand grabbed on the multi-tool in my pocket, though I knew it wouldn't do much good against what was out there. The velociraptor pack had disappeared into the trees ten minutes ago. They'd given up the hunt after I'd escaped their ambush. The urgent quest had been completed. I'd survived. So why did every instinct in my body scream that I was still in danger? Slowly, carefully, I moved near the riverbank. To see clearly… My eyes scanned the opposite side of the riverbank.

Trees stood tall and dark against the sunlight. Shadows extended between their trunks, growing deeper as the sun settling down. Nothing. I frowned; scanning left to right. Still nothing. Maybe I was losing it. Two days of being hunted by dinosaurs would definitely leave that impact on anyone, right? I started to relax, my shoulders dropping slightly — But I knew my perception stat had increased my awareness. I was reluctant before but I knew something was there. Then I saw it. There it was… A shape.

Standing motionless between two trees near the riverbank. At first, I couldn't see. Maybe shadows were hiding its presence. My blood ran cold. For a moment, I didn't move. I wasn't able to. Across the river, perhaps twenty meters away, a single velociraptor stood at the forest's edge. It didn't screech. It didn't move. It didn't call to its pack. It simply stood there. Perfectly still. Just watching. Watching me. The distance between us wasn't great. It was close and if it charged, I wouldn't make it.

But the river was the one thing that stopped it, its current was flowing steady. The water looked deep enough to sweep away anything that tried to cross carelessly. Most predators wouldn't risk it. they are afraid of water. But not this one, I think. The velociraptor tilted its head slightly to one side. Observing me. A strange chill went down my spine. Something about this one felt different from the others. The pack had been aggressive towards me. But this one was focused on me.

I squinted, forcing my eyes to focus in the fading light. That's when I noticed the scar. A jagged mark ran down from its jaw around its neck, as if someone had dragged a blade across its throat and barely missed the killing stroke. Or like another velociraptor's claws. That's where I recognised that Velociraptor. It's the one that watched me from beneath that tree. During the pack's earlier attack, while the others had circled, this one had hung back. Watching from behind a tree. Tilting its head just like this.

Staring me while its pack attacked me.

"You again," I said loudly. The velociraptor eyes were focused and was aware, it eyes remained locked with mine. It didn't react to my voice. Just kept staring. The forest remained silent between us. The rest of your pack gave up. Why are you still here? My mind worked through possibilities, trying to figure out something that I didn't understand. Maybe I was in its territory and its being protective or maybe — It took a step forward. One slow step toward the river's edge. It was trying to find a way over here.

Every muscle in my body tensed. The velociraptor stopped at the water's edge. It looked down at the current flowing through. Figuring out. I grabbed a rock from beside the log. It was heavy, roughly the size of my fist. I picked it up and —"Hey!" I shouted.

"Get out of here! Go!" I threw the rock. It skipped through the surface and splashed into the river between us, sending up a spray of water. The velociraptor flinched. Stepped back, only half a meter. But it didn't run. It just... adjusted. Moved few meters downstream. And tried another spot along the river surface, staring down and carefully stepping in and out. Then it looked back at me. And sat down. Just sat there. On the opposite side. Just kept watching. What are you doing? I waited for it to move or leave.

To do something. But it didn't.

"Fine," I muttered, grabbing my backpack.

"You want to watch? Watch." I couldn't stay here anyway. The night slowly took over and I needed to put distance between myself and this area before it got any darker. I started walking upstream, the river was on my right, it was the only thing between myself and the velociraptor that kept us at distance. The velociraptor stood up and followed. Stolen novel; please report. It matched my pace perfectly on the opposite side of the riverbank, moving with that massive foot. Never taking its eyes off me.

Never falling behind or rushing ahead. Just... following.

"Oh man, you're still following. Why won't you give up? Just great, now I have a personal stalker." We walked like that. Me on one side, it on the other, the river flowing between us. It was creeping me out. So, I started walking faster. The velociraptor matched my pace. Easily. I walked even faster. It kept up.

"Fine. Let's see how you handle THIS!" I broke into a sprint. It kept up the pace. I stopped. Then — It stopped.

"Are you KIDDING me?!" It seemed to be that it was mocking me. But I hadn't gave up. I ran faster; it matched my pace. Then I finally stopped. My lungs started burning, I breathed heavily. It stopped and sat down. Crouching.

"Will you stop already!" I shouted across the river. It blinked slowly. Once. Then just kept staring.

"You know what? FINE!" I swung my palms in the air.

"Do whatever you want. Follow me. Stalk me. I don't even care anymore!" I turned my back on it and stomped away from the river, heading into the forest.

"Hmph!" That'll show it… Wait. Did I just 'hmph' at a dinosaur? I've freakin… lost it. I lit the torch crafted from wood and cloth to give the light source.

"It will definitely keep the insects away." The forest grew darker with each passing minute. That's when the trees began to change. The rocky surface started showing up. I turned away from the river and started walking deep in the forest, following the rocky surface. I looked back, the velociraptor stared at me, looked where I headed, it stayed.

"That is one stubborn velociraptor." I kept moving ahead. There were less trees as further I walked, and the sound of the river grew fainter behind me. And then I saw it. The Ruins. Rising from the forest floor, like it was something ancient and massive. Stone structures, half-buried into the ground. It looked like it was built many centuries ago. Archways, doorways, windows and corridors had some strange symbols. Of course, it had to be creepy ruins. And why wouldn't there be ruins on a planet that has dinosaurs?

At this rate, I'm gonna find a dragon by tomorrow.

"Seriously, this is one strange— weird planet. I wonder though… how many years ago this place was built?" A flicker appeared in my vision. TECHNOLOGY LOG ANALYSIS: ANCIENT RUINS AGE: 847 YEARS BUILDER STATUS: UPGRADE REQUIRE (ADVANCED STRUCTURE ANALYSIS: AVAILABLE COST: 50 EXPERIENCE POINTS CURRENT BALANCE: 30 EXPERIENCE POINTS)"Wait, fifty experience points?" I said loudly. Then I realized I might not be alone here.

"I only have thirty of them." I mumbled slowly. Why does it ask for fifty experience points?

"Well, I can't unlock it. So, I have to let it go for now." I approached the nearest archway, my fire torch guiding the entrance. The opening was massive— ten feet high, covered in hanging vines and moss. But the floor was cleaned. Untouched by time, in a way that shouldn't be possible. I ducked under the vines and stepped inside. The temperature dropped immediately. The air smelled different— dry and dusty. My flame torchlight revealed a corridor stretching ahead into darkness.

Stone walls extended deeper into the structure. I moved forward slowly, carefully. Looking for traps that might trigger in this unknown place. My left hand was trailing along the wall. There were no traps so far. The corridor is divided into 3 ways. Left and right and straight, multiple passages leading deeper into the ruins. I chose left, following a downward slope. The passage opened into a larger chamber. I stopped in the doorway. It was huge. A Cathedral-sized.

The ceiling arched overhead, supported by columns carved with those same symbols. And at the end of it, there was some kind of door. I got curious and tried moving closer. But I stopped. A sound echoed from somewhere above. Voices. They were people. Footsteps of multiple people. Coming from a passage on the opposite side of the chamber. I hid behind one of the massive columns. I killed my torchlight instantly. They were here. The fire torchlight began to fill the chamber.

Same torchlight that I crafted, orange and flickering. Three figures walked down the stairways. I didn't presume any of the humans would be in this area. Two of them were wearing long, plain, dark grey robes and hoods. Both were carrying wooden staffs and clay containers. And the person walking in front wore plain, white hooded robes. They were Bishops. At least they looked like bishops. They certainly moved without any precaution. It was safe to presume that they had been here many times.

I held my breath, watching them by hiding behind the column. Two men, one woman. The older man was maybe fifty, seemed to be leading. The younger man and woman followed, each carrying two large clay jars. They approached a section of wall I hadn't seen before. The older bishop placed his hand against a specific stone, pressing it gently. Something clicked. A section of the wall slid aside, smoothly. Despite being an ancient ruin. A hidden door, white light came from the opening. What...!

The bishops entered the hidden wall- door. Their voices echoed back; it reached me. I was not able to understand it. A Flicker TECHNOLOGY LOG LANGUAGE: ELGARD TRANSLATION AND COMMUNICATION: AVAILABLE COST: 10 EXPERIENCE POINTS CURRENT BALANCE: 30 EXPERIENCE POINTS (DO YOU ACCEPT?) Ten experience points just to understand what they're saying.

"Hey, don't you think that's kind of expensive for just some subtitles?" I whispered. It didn't change. Although if they are talking about something important, I need to know. This better be worth it.

"Yes," I whispered. TECHNOLOGY LOG ELGARD: LEARNED I was able to understand their language and what they were speaking. I heard their conversation in Elgard, but somehow. It seemed like I was able to interpret it in my mind without any difficulties. It was natural to me, like my mother tongue, English.

"Careful with those containers," the older man said.

"The archbishop needs three of those filled with holy water tonight."

"For the sick people?" the younger man asked.

"Yes, in the lower district. The fever's spreading. We need as much purified water as we can carry. Go inside the chamber and bring the holy water." The young man went inside. I leaned forward slightly, trying to see into the hidden chamber.

"How many does that make this week?" The younger woman said.

"Forty jars," the older bishop replied.

"Forty families with holy water.

""The archbishop is a blessed man. Who looks towards this place..." An older woman from the other side of the door said.

"The divine provides the holy water," the older bishop said quietly.

"We are merely His hands." The young bishop emerged from the hidden chamber carrying their jars, now full. Holy water. This is where it comes from.

"That's the last holy water for tonight," the older bishop said.

"Let us go now."

"The families will be grateful," the older woman said softly.

"God is kind, they'll recover. The holy water has saved so many already." The older bishop said. They walked in the door, and the bishops sealed the hidden doorway. The wall slid back into place, perfectly the way it was before. You'd never know it was there unless you knew exactly where to look. I waited longer, making sure they were truly gone. When the silence had held for several minutes, I moved toward the wall where the hidden door had been. I ran my hands over the stone, searching for right place to press.

But there were no hidden bricks, just a plain wall.

"Oh what! so it's a password protected wall?"

"Let me see… Aloho-mura" and then I pressed the wall.

"I guessed so, it doesn't work that way."

"Alright I give up." I saw them using that door, but I couldn't figure out where it was. It was perfectly leveled with the wall.

"I think they knew exactly where to press."

"This isn't something you stumble upon. They've been here before. Many times." I stepped back, looking around the chamber. The bishops are using an ancient ruin. Is this blessed by the divine? They are providing the holy water after all. Taking it to the place where the sick families live.

"I think I should leave before anyone shows up here." As I was walking out of the ruins, I noticed something. The wall was carved and hand-drawn. I didn't notice it before. I looked closer. It looked like an ancient story. Maybe it was the story 800 years back ago when it was built. I could understand it. The first picture showed two people holding hands and smiling. I wonder did they live together, they do seem like a couple. The second picture here shows someone was approaching them. Aggressively and threatening.

Is that jealousy or something else? The third picture couple were fighting against the army. Are they using some kind of magic, no that can't be right? but it does look like it. The fourth picture look likes one of them died. They lost the battle... The last picture shows one of them survived, holding hand and other holding on something small maybe valuable. Hard to see that in the small carving. My chest tightened. The survivor carved this. This is a memorial for the people they lost.

"Tragic." This place, does it really have magic? Or I am just going crazy. I am sure there is not a thing like magic, but I can't deny it either, after all, I do have this strange Log with me. I walked out of the ruins and started heading towards the riverbank again. The forest seemed dangerous to me at night. It was wise to camp a night near the river in case something goes wrong. I reached the surface, and my eyes went across the riverbank. The velociraptor had left.

"That's good. At least I don't have to worry about it stalking me." I set up a barrier around me, crafted with ropes and empty food cans. The sound of cans would wake me up, if any danger befalls. And then I slept. I heard Iris laughing in my dreams. I heard her voice"Nova" Her face started to fade away.

"Nova."

"Why… did… you… leave… me." I woke up from that nightmare. Breathing heavily, my heart was beating fast. The sun was shining bright. Well, I survived yet another night. I gathered everything and continued towards the upstream, towards the north. As I started walking, I couldn't believe my eyes. I froze. It was here in front of me, on my side of the river. When did it— How long have it been there? The river wasn't the barrier between us anymore.