6. Turtlebacks

The settlement of Jinor is a largely peaceful settlement.

Largely. Except for the farmers bickering over from exhaustive work, the professionals queasy from haggling traders, the housewives nagging from poor income and the children sully from the lack of excitement, the town remains a peaceful abode for most oxen, horses, sheep, other cattle and the elderly.

It is not even clear whether it can be called a town. The area was blessed with fertile soil and rich crops, replenished by a slightly whimsical river Vineer. The setting up of a well maintained route to the capital lead to an urban trend around the adjacent parts. So while the northern part is more along solid houses and crowded buildings, the southern part leaves much open to nature. Even the people in the southern part are open to nature, so much that they answer nature’s calls out in the open. The northern arrogants call them southern vulgars, but a fight rarely breaks out over more than a beautiful lady. Beautiful ladies are rare in Jinor, though there are plenty of decent ones. It must have something to do with the mundane lives that have turned even the people into mundane, removing beauty from grace.

But mundane placidity is the charm of simple life. Not all change is good.

Tensions had spiked in Jimor over the last couple of days. A part of palisading across the Sikri road had been broken, and the guards and woodcutters that entered the forest did not return. The troubled chief had sent for a scout to find them or report their whereabouts. The scout himself went missing. The residents felt concerned and approached the chief. The chief felt concerned and spoke to the local garrison. The local garrison shared the concern, but they already had received a note from the scout. They had contacted with the northern garrison and received orders to standby. Then the local garrison broke great news. The heroes were coming.

The townsfolk had never seen heroes their entire life. They had only heard legends and tales. And now the legends were coming to their town. It was an occasion of great honor and excitement.

Bizarre excitement is the thrill of simple life. Not all change is bad.

True to their word, the heroes came to the town that evening. They rode upon the winds of demonic horses, their cloaks fluttering magnificently in the air. Half the town greeted their entrance by crowding up the entrance of town. They waved banners and shrieked in excitement. The village chief and his daughter welcomed them with grace.

All the heroes were young, some extremely so. A little girl with mage robes was among them. Five taller ones stood by her side. The town gaped at the heroes in excitement, their first time seeing people who went to all the trouble of killing demons without a reward. A look of close scrutiny followed each member of the hero party.

The heroes responded modestly, some of them were even too shy. They only loosened their cloaks further into the town street and finally stood at the town square. The town square lighted the newest decorations with flame pillars and glowburners. Banners and boards stood everywhere in jubilation. Night was burning with excitement.

The new heroes stood before the forgotten statues of the old ones as the village chief gave a boring speech upon a wooden podium. People paid no attention. All eyes were focused on the heroes, their features now clear in the glowing fire.

Loud raucous cheers emerged from the front row, waves passing through the crowd in their infective capacity. This was different from mere excitement. This was true bliss. Five of the six heroes were beautiful, a cute girl, a feisty girl, a cool beauty, an elegant lady and a beautiful woman. There was a female for every age group. It had been a long time since townspeople welcomed such a dense bounty of gorgeous maidens. The northern arrogants admired them with vigilant eyes, while the southern vulgars feasted with starving sights. Both groups shook hands in a beautiful display of camaraderie, the strife ended before it could begin.

The last hero was a good-looking boy, and he could only evoke subdued squeals of blushing missies.

A night of feast and celebration followed. People hollered and cursed, mostly cursing the male hero for having the fancy of all girls. Instead of getting a chance at the women in heroes’ party, they were overwhelmed when their own girls tried to get at the boy. The women in the party clung closer to him, arousing envious stares.

The merriment continued as bards and mistrels sang pennyworth of few songs, the town was poor after all. Drinks were passed around and roast potatoes went as delicacies. The heroes accepted humbly, partaking of their joy. They were soon escorted to the best inn by guards.

People continued to scramble around into the night, cursing the boy hero for monopolizing four beauties. The next day would be one of poor productivity for Jinor.

……

The sun dawned early the next morning on Jinor, even the tall mountains in the horizon could do little to keep it hidden. The night of revelry had left the town exhausted but the roosters blasted their way at the first hint of light, obviously angry that they had been left out of the fun.

Ray stirred weakly in his bed. After a tiring journey yesterday, they had finally arrived to find the town all joy and glee, no traces of any trouble. A festival was put up for their reception and they meekly accepted it, it tired them all the more. He pulled the sheets over his head in order to get some sleep. Heroes needed rest.

The door flung open with a bang! “Get up! We need to go!”

In seconds, Ray was up beside his bed, a sword in his hands as he flung the bed vertical as cover. It made another bang on the floor. The innkeeper would be mad. He peered from behind the bed to find Violet standing there. Tension left his grip as he softly put the sword back.

“What do you need?” he asked, mildly shaken.

“Get changed,” Violet told him, “we need to be out before the town is up and running or we will hoarded together like an attraction. Did you forget yesterday?”

“Alright,” Ray nodded, remembering the last night with weariness.

Violet closed the door softly leaving Ray to prepare.

In a short while, they sat at the breakfast table. This one was a lot smaller than the castle’s, with space barely enough to fit six people around it. The wood was light and softer, making it cheap to replace in case of mishaps. A breakfast of eggs and potatoes was served with hot milk. Potatoes seemed to be a hot favorite here.

The innkeeper was a gentle old lady with good cooking skills. They met her courteously and apologized for the ruckus, she forgave them with a kind smile. Ray made sure to smile back positively in return, creating doubtful glances from Claire and Sylvia.

“Alright, look sharp here,” Diana called their attention to the table after they had finished breakfast. A rough map was placed on the table. “We are here,” she inscribed a small circle on the side of a road, “south of the Sikri road near the river Vineer, the one we saw yesterday. North of the road is the Laur forest, the place we need to enter, the southern part of the same forest you were training in. But it is more dangerous,” she cautioned, “so before you enter get your bearings right. The mountain ranges, the Shadows of Sik, lie east of the Laur forest near the horizon. They are too tall to miss, so you can always notice them. The forest is north, the town is south and the river here flows from north to south. Remember that and you cannot get lost.” She looked across to each and everyone, explaining the map.

The discussion delved deeper into the topography as she explained the grounds, the incline and possible problems. They got a brief understanding of the trees and animals nearby. Oaks and conifers dominated the spectrum. Wild animals were mostly harmless deer and bison, but boars and hounds would also be present. Wolves rarely made it this south but if ventured deeper, wolves and foxes would be common occurrence. Monsters included the ever-present slimes, the fang-rats, the screech wings, and the sourfill spiders. All were relatively prone to both magic and physical attacks.

“This is your first quest and while I will be guiding, I will provide no direct support,” Diana told the heroes, “it is best if you get used to working in a team. Ray, act as the leader and vanguard. Sylvia, you will form the mage support to deal with hordes and mobs. Claire, you are the rearguard in fights, responsible for scouting otherwise. Pay special attention to surroundings and traps.” Diana divided the roles well.

“What is it?” Diana asked when Sylvia raised her hand.

“Isn’t our party missing a healer?” Sylvia did not know proper healing yet, it was unorthodox magic and difficult to grasp.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Violet is the healer, she will be participating as well but try to rely on yourselves as much as you can.”

All eyes turned to Violet who puffed her chest and slammed a fist upon it, “Leave it to me,” she said with great pride.

“And what about Elaine?” Elaine was dressed much simpler, no trace of armor or weapons on her person.

“I will not be accompanying you,” Elaine replied, “My part is to stay here and await your return.”

The heroes prepared to leave, equipped with armor, weapons and necessary items.

Ray wore leather armor, with overlying metal plates on vital parts. He abandoned full body metal armor in favor of mobility. A sword held on his thigh and a small circular shield on his back, with some daggers and pouches at his waist belt. Sylvia wore dark blue robes of a mage, with high collars and loose sleeves. A light yellow blouse and long skirt under it. She sported her usual staff in hand, and a small knapsack behind her. Her pony tail hung from under her pointed hat.

Claire was wearing a hooded brown cloak over leather armor, with belts crisscrossed at her chest, one holding the quiver and the other a small knapsack. Her bow was slung over her shoulder, two dirks hidden under her cloak with an assortment of stilettos and other items at her waist.

They moved through the town, carefully avoiding the inebriated gentry the lay at the corners and sides. The morning sunlight had yet to stroke the shaded faces of these snoring men. The guards escorted the heroes to the forest entrance, a small gate in the palisading with an iron frame and double grills.

In the soft morning air, they entered discreetly. The scout went missing about two miles north from the gate, according to an estimate. That was their first stop.

Following the creed of non-violence, mostly because Diana had warned it would be a mess if they created too much ruckus, the heroes arrived at the spot. It was evident from the surroundings that the scene had witnessed violence and bloodshed. The ground was naked and dented, grass scattered and trees tattered. Fragments of bark and broken twigs lay interspersed between fallen leaves. The trees were not naked but the density of foliage was lesser than what Claire had encountered during her training. It made navigation easy but also exposed them.

They scanned the ground sweeping away the fallen leaves with wind. In places the ground was tarry black, a film of crusted blood mixed with dirt and drudge. Claire recognized it and Sylvia felt uneasy. The faint smell still lingered here and the air was wary and ominous.

Claire found a severed finger, with exposed bone and flesh as she scanned the ground with her cocoon. Diana had called the magic ranging but Claire preferred calling it cocoon. She picked up the evidence of death, examining it. A small ring sat on the crushed joint, and the bone jutted out. From the insignia of eagle, this was definitely the scout’s remains.

Sylvia retched.

Ray closed behind her and supported her back, patting it gently in reassurance. Violet cast a healing magic as she fed her some potions.

Claire frowned, “Sylvia, you need to get used to this. This is something bound to happen, so prepare yourself. If not, all of us will be in danger.” She tried to warn Sylvia earnestly, a weak heart would only spell trouble.

Sylvia nodded desperately, “I am trying, it is difficult for me.” Unlike Ray who took everything in stride and Claire who dealt with it proactively, Sylvia would usually need some composure to deal with unexpected events. Once she overcame it, she was better than the other two.

Claire on the other hand found Sylvia unnatural. Claire herself was slightly shaken by gore but she fought off fear with confidence. She expected the same of others. It was good that Boris was not here, that coward would piss his pants at this.

She searched for marks and trails while Sylvia recuperated.

The scar marks and the destruction roughly pointed them east. She searched intently, her cocoon grasping at individual trees and segments of ground. This was her limitation, while ranging magic could amplify minute findings it was too taxing to extend far and wide. If she exerted all her capacity, the most she could do was about ten meters all around her spherically.

She thinned her cocoon into an arm, scanning only fractions of surroundings to extend the range. It worked well though the keenness declined over large distances. This gave her a sweeping radar with a range well over thirty meters. The only other problem was anticipation; to detect something it was better to expect it beforehand. Otherwise sometimes looking for small discrepancies was like looking for a needle in a haystack. But Diana had trained her well, allowing her to detect anomalies in natural mana flow and follow them.

She found the trail shortly, spiked claw prints etched into the ground were mostly turned east. She felt for hostile monsters but found none. Most were hidden away and not nearby.

“They ran east, a group of ten or so, clawed monsters, hostile.” She told Ray.

Diana was watching from afar, out of their sight. Ray was to take decisions.

“Alright, we will mark the spot and follow the trail. If they are still nearby, eliminate them, if they are too far, evaluate the risks.”

Claire scratched a prominent tree with a symbol she had been using since earlier, then left a scouting glyph there. The trail of magic would last over a week and could be reactivated later. Sylvia fired up a green flare, indicating their current position to the guards and that they would be moving east.

The forest thickened eastwards, the trees got taller and the grass higher. The air felt cool and refreshing, a gentle breeze making its way into the forest. Claire led them through cautiously avoiding hostile monsters as and when possible. A few who poured in were easily dealt with.

They happened across the river Vineer, its stream of water as pure as the Ciona brook, and cool to touch. They drank from it in a small break as they watched a small family of deer across the other shore. The animals ran off in fear. Claire lost the trail there, probably washed away by water or hindered by the gravel or masked by other animals.

“What now?” Ray asked, “Do you think we can make out where those monsters may be.”

“I will need some time, we may need to camp if takes too much time,” Claire answered.

“Sylvia,” Ray asked, “any suggestions?”

“Sylvia sat beside the river on a conjured mound of earth. She had regained composure and was thinking deeply.

“Violet,” she asked, “if we cross the river will we encounter different monsters?”

“Yes, the territories change across the river though I don’t know which specific monsters dwell east, they are usually more dangerous.”

“Then we go north,” Sylvia told Ray.

“Why?” he asked.

“These are pack monsters, and from their trail they mostly avoided the territories of other monsters. I somehow doubt they would cross over the river and create a war. Besides, it feels like they are bad with water. They did not go south or the guards would have spotted them, that only leaves north.”

Ray smiled at Sylvia’s suggestion, Claire felt envious and Violet admired her.

“Then we go north,” Ray concurred. Another scouting glyph and flare later, they found themselves following the river up north. A new trail was discovered not far away. The creatures had apparently waded by the river’s shores for a length before crossing back onto dry land.

Claire became alert as the trail turned sharper and fresh, keen on signs of danger. The others adopted her vigilance. She soon hid behind an oak tree, feeling the presence of a large monster. The air carried the same scent as it had at the scene of bloodshed. She bid the others to silence as she probed gently for others in the pack. She found another, and some more. They were close, and getting closer. A shiver ran down her.

“Ray!” she turned abruptly, “they have found us!” she spoke in hushed tone.

Ray darted across into the open, his shield lifted and his sword drawn. Sylvia and Violet took cover behind him and Claire occupied the rear. The air stirred, a hustle of scattering leaves was heard as Claire shouted loud, “Here they come!”

They came like the wind, swimming through the trees on an ocean of grass and fallen leaves. Fast and blurred was the first creature that pounced in, Ray took the entirety of impact upon his shield, raising a war cry. The impact was heavy, almost as heavy as Arthur’s deft strikes but Ray repelled it, augmenting strength. A surge of power flowed into him as he smashed his shield hard, flinging the creature into the air. It landed a few meters apart, its eyes in feral anger, its tail rippling about.

“Turtlebacks!” Violet exclaimed.

Ray glanced curiously at the creature. The only feature Turtlebacks shared with turtles was, well, turtle backs. They had the shell of a turtle, the form of a lizard, the height of a lion and the length of thrice as much. The speed was comparable to lizards and the ferocity comparable to lions. By no accounts was turtleback a fitting name. It should have been giant vicious hard shell lizards. Ray did not have a sense for names.

“Careful,” Sylvia said as she raised a wall of earth, blocking two more contenders who had swept in. Their whipping tails easily demolished the wall. Sylvia screamed in surprise.

“More!” Claire screamed as two more joined in on the assault. A total of four were ready to pounce in, the fifth one still lying in the distance.

“Huddle up!” Ray screamed as he activated shield barrier, engulfing all the four members. “Sylvia, find weakness to attributes. Violet, mention special attacks and characteristics. Claire, distract and deter.” He shouted orders as the first Turtleback he had thrown away jumped back into the fray.

Sylvia fired rapid shots of elemental magic as Ray strengthened the barrier, blocking physical attacks. Yin restraints sprouted from the grounds withholding two turtlebacks for a moment, as the magic attacks by Sylvia landed. Each attack was a different elemental attribute.

“Weak to wind, strong to earth, poor with water!” Sylvia shouted as she examined the effects.

The turtleback at immediate front hissed, its bifid tongue slithered as it opened its mouth menacingly, spewing a foul, purple gas onto them. The barrier could not stop it.

“Poison!” Violet roared after remembering, “claws and poison are deadly. Tail can be shed.”

Sylvia hurriedly blew a gust of wind to dispel the poisonous gas. The little smell remaining in the air was obnoxious and unsettling. Claire fired arrows that lodged into the tails, barely penetrating the scales. Violet cast healing spells, eager to subdue any effects of poison. She did not have time to retrieve antidotes.

The barrier was shrieking and thumping as claws gouged at it and tails lashed out. It would hold but the poison gas could easily cross, making it less effective.

“I am taking these out! Buy me time.” Sylvia spoke.

Claire created more restraints of yin, they lasted a moment serving merely as distraction. The arrows were useless at short range, she drew her dirks. She leapt out of the barrier, under the imposing tail and darted behind of one.

“Claire!” Ray shouted as he prepared his own sword. The sword shimmied, enveloped by a layer of wind.

Claire lunged at a Turtleback, avoiding another whip of his tail. Her dirk found its way into the eyeball as she landed. She thrust sharply, hoping to blind the creature, but the thrust slowed. The eyeball had small gash, blood flowing out of it. The creature screamed in rage, its vision obstructed by blood. Its eye was harder than Claire had expected, possibly hardened by magic.

Ray swept in as Claire jumped back, finding support on a nearby trunk. He dispelled the barrier and roared to attract all attention. His voice was imbued with mana, creating the warrior’s taunt. The turtlebacks responded immediately, shifting their focus to him. Ray parried a claw with his shield, sparks and screech resounded as the turtleback prepared another volley of poison gas. It was prevented.

Ray was swift, his sword slashed in seven consecutive strokes of blur, each higher than the previous one. One of them scratched the claw, the next four wounded the leg as Ray climbed them like an incline, two more gashed at the narrow neck and he leapt into the air. The eighth strike was sonorous one, the wind sang menacingly as his sword executed a full overhead swipe, widening the gash in the neck into a deep wedge. Blood spurted out as Ray evaded, jumping back to the ground. The whole sequence took merely few seconds, leaving everyone but Sylvia aghast.

Few seconds were enough for Sylvia and she raised her staff for the first time. “Get back,” she warned the others as Ray retreated and Claire jumped back into their midst. The turtlebacks were eager to jump in too.

The wind rose, flushing away the grass and leaves from the ground. It was sharp and sickled, whirling in a small anticyclone that blew out from their spot. They held their ground sternly while the wind stormed out, flecks of grass spraying out in its wake as it assaulted every turtleback outside. It gained velocity as Sylvia finished her spell. In moments, it was roaring and screeching, scattering away the monsters like pieces of paper. It sheared their skin and scraped their eyes, dug fiercer in and blew at their shells. The trees bent and cracked, thick oaken grandeur falling in horrified surrender.

The scene turned chaotic. When it was over, a pitiful sight greeted them.

The soil had eroded, the grass vanished, and piles of wreckage lay about for hundreds of meters. The creatures had toppled over onto their shells. None of their appendages were visible, not even the head could be seen. They had shed their scarred tails that were chopped up into pieces scattered about, and they whinnied in lizard tongue as they hid inside their shells.

“Sylvia, that was overkill,” Claire told her in daze. Another teetering oak creaked to its demise, falling slant on the ground.

“That was too much,” Violet agreed.

“I didn’t know how strong they were, alright? I didn’t hold back.” Sylvia retorted.

“Good work,” Ray encouraged Sylvia. “Also Claire, are there anymore nearby?”

“You want to fight more?”

“Best to kill all nearby ones, so they don’t cause a problem later.” Ray dug his sword in heavily, piercing the carapace and killing the monsters. A weak squeal left their shells as Sylvia turned her face away.

Claire rested a bit before searching around. She found a few more north and they approached cautiously. The forest was now silent and afraid, the animals scuttled away from them even faster and the trees seemed to sway away from their path.

“What is that?” Ray asked as he noticed a mound.

“A turtleback nest,” Violet explained, “They seem to be building a new one, perhaps their old nest collapsed. That would also explain why they roamed around. In search of a new home.”

“No time for pity,” Ray decided. Violet could barely object when he ordered an attack.

What followed was mostly a massacre. The whole nest collapsed under Sylvia’s spell as Ray and Claire hunted down every last monster to death. Wind magic was highly effective, making the battle extremely one sided.

“You didn’t have to do that.” Violet told Ray in defiance.

“If I left them, they would kill the townspeople.”

“Once they build a nest, the turtlebacks never venture far from it. The killing near Jinor was an accident.”

“Are you blaming us for killing bloodthirsty monsters that would have killed us in return?” Claire asked in an angry tone.

“No, just practice some moderation,” Violet told her with a sigh.

“It’s alright Violet, this much should be necessary to prevent another attack,” Sylvia justified.

All said and done, they had accomplished their goal well. A look of satisfaction made their faces as they travelled back, following Claire. Diana followed them overhead, leaping through the treetops. She suddenly felt another gaze upon the heroes. It was faint and indistinct. Diana hid herself as she traced it back, it came from east but snooper could be traced no more.

‘Well, I will deal with it later,’ she decided as she followed the heroes back to Jinor. Some lessons and celebrations awaited the heroes.

……..