FARHAYVEN: VENGEANCE Read online

  “I disagree! This is unacceptable!” he protested.

  “Who are you?” asked Councilman Sellon.

  “I’m Lance Arman, son of Dent Arman of Sunbless Village. My entire family was killed by the demon several days ago. I can’t believe that you’re actually saying this, Councilman Sellon; and I can’t believe that all of you are actually considering this! Isn’t justice for the murder of my family, or that of the other families, important!? Is it right that we put another family through the pain and agony that I’ve just suffered, indeed am still suffering at the moment; so that you may hide behind your fear and cowardice, or so that you may only take action if it suits your convenience? It’s simple for you to ask the town to do nothing because you’re not at risk of these attacks, councilman! You live here in the centre of town in a big mansion surrounded by armed guards. But what about the common folks? They’ve neither a big mansion to hide in nor armed guards to protect them. And will you still be as passive, if and when the demon slaughters your wife and drains the souls of your children?” said Lance.

  The crowd was once again in an uproar. Mayor Conell called for order. After a while, the crowd calmed down.

  Lance was trembling with anger, disappointment and a sense of betrayal so intense that his face turned red. The face of Councilman Sellon himself was red, but with embarrassment.

  “What are we going to do now, mayor?” asked one of the townsfolk.

  “I still say that we should hire Elementhars. That’s the best option we have,” expressed the second man once again.

  “That’s a very expensive option that may not work out the way we’d like it to. Besides, where are we going to find Elementhars? There’s almost none in this province, and by the time any Elementhar arrives from the other provinces, the demon would be gone. This option isn’t viable,” insisted Councilman Sellon.

  “Option _ of this, it is most viable!” said a hooded man who had just walked in.

  Everyone in the hall turned toward the entrance. They saw vaguely a hooded man walking in with a white wolf by his side. Temporarily blinded by the ray of sunlight bursting through the opened door, the people in the hall could not make out the features of the man clearly. Only much later, as both the man and his wolf walked several paces forward; and the door of the town hall entrance was closed, could they have a proper look at him. Judging by the strange black garments that he wore and his ancient manner of speech, the townsfolk concluded that the man was an Elementhar. Yet he travelled with a white wolf, which seemed very strange to them.

  The town mayor was irritated with the fact that someone had just gate-crashed his meeting.

  “Identify yourself, stranger!” he demanded.

  “Identity _ ‘Master Elementhar’ Ray Iddell is mine of this and this is my companion, Spirit the White Wolf,” said the hooded man as he pulled back his hood, exposing his dark hair and the silver headband.

  “And what business have you here, Master Elementhar? And what manners have you to bring an animal in here?” enquired the mayor.

  “Manners _ mine of these are not of your concern as my companion is always welcome and must always be made welcome to walk with me; and though an animal he is, he is actually more humane than most of you here. Business _ mine of this is obvious, that is of demon eradication as all Elementhars are about, and my price is reasonable, a hundred gold coins for one dead demon,” answered Ray, the Master Elementhar.

  “Elementhars are supposed to be rare and even thought to be extinct in this province. How do we know you’re not a fraud?” questioned Mayor Conell curiously.

  No sooner had the mayor finished speaking, an arrowhead-shaped pebble flew through the air from the Elementhar’s fingertip and pierced the table in front of him.

  “Umm, hmmm! Right! So you’re indeed an Elementhar. And for a hundred gold coins, you’ll kill this demon that’s been killing our people, is this correct?” he said after he had managed to summon up his courage

  “Correct _ this is of this,” confirmed Ray.

  Councilman Sellon stood up and slammed his fist on the table.

  “That’s ridiculous! It’s way too expensive. You can’t expect this town to pay you this ridiculous sum just to kill a demon! That’s way beyond the market price for this kind of service,” he protested.

  “There’s no price too high or ridiculous to pay for survival, councilman,” said Mayor Connell.

  “Nor is there for justice! I haven’t much money, and even worse, I haven’t any family left. But I’ll give all I can to make sure that no other will suffer my fate,” said Lance to the townsfolk as he walked toward the mayor’s table again, took out three silver and five bronze coins from his pocket and placed them on it.

  The crowd was stunned. As a matter of fact, some even felt ashamed that an orphaned boy was willing to give money, of which he had but little, for their common purpose when others who were better off were unwilling.

  “And I ask that you help, or else this will greet you one fine evening!” said Lance as he pointed to the demon’s severed arm on the mayor’s table.

  The look of shock, fear and revulsion were clearly painted on the faces of the townsfolk. One by one, they got up and placed their contributions on the mayor’s table. The mayor himself contributed ten gold coins. Councilman Sellon, however, refused to contribute at all and stormed out of the town hall, cursing as he went.

  “A hundred gold coins. You’ll get this sum when the demon is dead, Elementhar Iddell,” said the mayor.

  “Deliver _ I shall do of this of its head,” proclaimed Ray as both he and Spirit walked out the door in the same confident stride they came in with.

  The townsfolk left the town hall with mixed expressions on their faces. Some carried with them the feeling of hope. Others carried the feeling of helplessness. Most were just plain scared. But all of them were worried, and of that, there was no doubt.

  The evening sky was crimson red. The owls began to hoot as Master Elementhar Ray Iddell and his wolf companion, Spirit the White Wolf, walked the lonely road to a nearby village on the outskirts of the town. Ray had in his hand a thick and seemingly ancient book with a metal cover. Inserted into this metal cover was a small circular frame in which a diamond-like black jewel spun freely. The apex of the black jewel pointed straight ahead. Soon, they came to a sign on the road which read ‘Eastcrop Village’.

  Ray and Spirit continued in the direction that the black jewel pointed to. Eastcrop Village, it seemed to Ray and Spirit, was very quiet and almost felt deserted. There were approximately 30 farms in total, located equally on both sides of the one and only road, which ended at a single storey building Ray assumed was the village meeting hall. Each farm had a simple house, and it seemed that most of these houses were dark. Ray could only guess as to the level of fear that consumed the villagers as they hid there in the darkness of their homes, fearing to light even a single candle lest they attract the demon’s attention.

  Ray shook his head slightly at the silliness of these people and looking at Spirit; saw that he was shaking his head as well. Ray knew that demons were not attracted to or distracted by light, but by their senses. He knew that they were strongly drawn to the aura that the souls of every living beings produced. He also knew that younger people possessed more soul energy, thereby producing more ‘prominent’ auras and this made them more appealing to demons, whereas, older people’s soul energy were faded, thus producing less prominent auras, hence, they were attacked only if no younger victims could be found.

  Sitting under a large tree by the side of the road, Ray and Spirit rested their feet. There was nothing to do now but wait. The demon was hiding somewhere nearby. Ray knew this. The jewel was never wrong, not even once. As Ray leaned back on the tree trunk, his mind drifted to an incident almost 15 years ago. The whole scene played out in his mind as though it happened only yesterday. It was the Grand Creation Day, an annual event occurring on the 1st Day of Fifth Month of Wet Season. It marked the anniversary of Pionee
r Elementhar Nova Vanguard’s victory over Lord Desolator almost 700 years ago; and was meant to be a happy occasion.

  Closing his eyes, Ray could still hear the music and taste the food at Monune Ruby, home of the Fire Elementhars, just as if he was there 15 years ago. Everyone was happy, in particular, Ray himself. He had graduated as a Fire Elementhar when he was of the age 18. At the age of 20, he had left for Monune Brown Diamond to study the earth element. He had then spent five years at Monune Brown Diamond, the home of the Earth Elementhars in Southern Falls Province. He was, at that time, one year away from graduating as an Earth Elementhar. For him, it was both a celebration and a reunion.

  Then it happened, on that fateful night of the 30th Day of Fourth Month of Wet Season of the Year 1185 of the Known Era. Almost two hundred assassins attacked Monune Ruby. One by one, Ray watched his brothers and sisters die. He heard their screams of anguish and desperation. He heard his own screams of sorrow and helplessness. Dead bodies lay everywhere. Ray opened his eyes. It was already nightfall. Spirit looked at him silently. Although he did not know what was going on in Ray’s mind, but he guessed that it was something tragic. He has seen Ray like this before. And he could identify with his human companion, for he too, had his past. Ray rubbed Spirit behind the ears. The nightly silence was broken by the rhythmic sound of crickets.

  A soft fluttering is heard. Meanwhile, the black jewel begins to spin wildly. Ray places the ancient book in his backpack and slings it over his shoulders. He gets up and turning to look at his wolf companion, receives a very dedicated and serious stare in return. The fluttering sound is erratic, which makes it very difficult for Ray to pinpoint the location of its source. After several long moments of scanning the sky, Ray sees it. The tiny, dark, unnatural figure of a half-human, half-insect demon is illuminated by the glow of the full moon. Ray breaks into a jog as he traces the flight path of the demon. Spirit the White Wolf runs along his side. It is a long distance to go, and Ray knows he will not be able to get there in time to prevent the demon from killing its first victim, so he does not bother to increase his pace. He knows that he needs to manage his stamina and endurance, or this will be the last day of his life.

  The demon lands on the roof of a dark wooden house that is approximately 300 paces from the large tree where Ray and Spirit had rested earlier. It walks on the wooden roof, peering into the house through the gaps in it. Meanwhile, inside the house, a family of three sit and hug each other in the darkness. The man of the house tries to console his wife and his little daughter, but the trembling of his voice betrays his effort. The little girl begins to cry. The demon stops, and then raises its head. It listens to the great symphony of fear and is thrilled by it. The little girl’s cries become louder, killing the silence of the night. Both the man and his wife try harder to quieten their child but to no avail. The cries of fear and sad desperation intoxicate the demon, as its body begin to sway to the tempo of an invisible melody.

  The demon leaps into the air and upon landing, breaks through the wooden roof of the dark house. Crash! Debris and splintered wood comes falling onto the wooden floor. The bright rays of the full moon illuminate the house’s interior and there, in the middle, stands the insect-like manifestation of evil. The little girl lets out a scream of panic and fear. Her mother is frozen with fear. Her father kneels in front of the demon, begging for the lives of his wife and daughter to be spared. Soon, the whole house echoes with the agonizing scream of the man as the demon drains his soul energy, leaving behind a hollowed body.

  The girl’s screaming stops. Her mouth is hung wide open. She stares blankly ahead, too deep in trauma to even think. The demon steps closer to the little girl and her mother. This time, there are no agonizing screams as the demon feasts on the woman’s soul. There is only silence; a long, strange and eerie silence.

  Suddenly, a loud explosion is heard as a fiery sphere smashes into the side of the demon’s head. The demon staggers sideways. Black liquid oozes from the burnt wound at the side of its head. It turns toward the direction of the attack and is surprised to see Ray and Spirit standing at the doorway.

  “Elementhar! I did not expect this! Leave me alone! Can a demon not feast in peace?” says the demon to Ray.

  “Feast _ dare you ask me if you can do of this in peace? Skin _ obviously yours of this is thick, both in the metaphorical and literal sense as my spell did not yet manage to kill you!” replies Ray.

  The demons snorts at Ray’s words.

  “Tough talk for a near-extinct pest! I have had my appetisers, and this little girl here was going to be the main course, but now I think that I shall be too full to consume her once I am done with the both of you. I think I shall keep her alive and toy around with her a little. I might get hungry again in a few days and I like my meals fresh! Hmm, Elementhars! I have forgotten how your kind tastes like,” it says.

  The black slit in the demon’s forehead opens and discharges a Dark Orb at Ray. Ray raises his silver staff in defence and the Dark Orb disintegrates and is absorbed by the white diamond embedded in it. Spirit runs toward the demon and sinks his fangs into one of the demon’s insect-like legs. A crisp, cracking sound is heard and the demon yells out in pain as Spirit bites off a chunk of the demon’s leg. The demon tries to claw at Spirit with its foreleg, but as usual, the wolf is too fast and too intelligent for the demon’s counter-attack. He leaps away effortlessly and circles the demon. Ray thrusts his left index finger forward and a burst of energy, taking the form of a solid, arrowhead-shaped pebble, soars through the air and cuts off the demon’s thin leg that has been weakened by Spirit’s bite earlier. The demon stumbles a little and screams in pain.

  The demon turns around and, flapping its wings, hovers in the air while the black slit on its forehead discharges several Dark Orbs at Spirit and Ray. Spirit breaks into an agile manoeuvre that avoids these Dark Orbs easily, while Ray rolls sideway to avoid them. Spirit leaps into the air and upon sinking his teeth into one of the demon’s wings, rips it in half; causing the demon to lose its stability and sends it falling clumsily to the ground.

  The demon regains its footing, but just barely, before Ray sends another sphere of condensed flames into its torso and sends it staggering backwards. As it staggers backwards, it sends another Dark Orb towards Ray. Ray sidesteps to his left and thrusting his left index finger forward, sends as series of arrowhead-shaped pebbles towards the demon, embedding them deep into its torso. The demon’s body trembles as it screams in agony. Meanwhile, Spirit leaps into the air and lands a crunching bite into its neck. The demon moves frantically in a meaningless circle as it tries to dislodge the white wolf. Ray raises his right hand to the back of his head and focuses his energy, which flows out of his fingers and solidifies into a long, sharp cylindrical piece of hard stone that looks like a spear of some sort. He takes careful aim and waits. Then Spirit releases his grip on the demon’s neck. Ray then hurls the spear as hard as he can at the demon’s head. The stone spear becomes embedded mid-way. The demon stands still momentarily. Then it screams as its face cracks slightly and tiny fountains of black liquid sprays out of it. It staggers violently before finally collapsing to the ground. Ray expresses a sigh of relief as he and Spirit approaches the near-dead woman and the little girl. Both mother and daughter wear vacant expressions.

  Suddenly, the demon leaps off the ground with a loud yell and tries to stab Ray with both its claws. Ray blocks the claws with his silver staff, parries them to the side, and then jabs the demon’s head backward and follows up with a Horizontal Strike to the demon’s jaw and neck, snapping its neck in the process. The demon collapses to the ground again. Ray slams the end of his staff down at the twisted neck of the demon several times, crushing the hard skin until its head is almost severed from its body.

  Ray moved towards the little girl. She was pale and her skin was moist with cold sweat. She was in shock and so was her mother. And the woman looked different. When he first saw her, she looked of the age 30. But after the soul-dr
aining process, she looked of the age 60. She has been aged! Spirit sat there staring at them as well, his expression passive and silent. He felt sympathy for the unfortunate mother and child, though he was not able to express them in words.

  Slowly, Ray extended his hand towards the aged woman. She stared at his hand blankly for several seconds before finally taking it and with Ray’s help, stood up. Tears began to flow from her eyes as she picked her daughter up. Then the both of them started weeping. Both Ray and Spirit stood there, in the dark wooden house that was partially illuminated by the pale light of the full moon; looking helplessly on and not being able to help the two unfortunate souls who were weeping profusely before them.

  Two mornings later, the town hall was once again abuzz with chatter, matched in intensity only by the heat and the stuffiness of the place. Mayor Conell called for order. The crowd quietened down slowly.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of Greentown, I’m pleased to announce that we’re free from the threat of demon attacks for the time being. The demon that has slaughtered so many of us is now dead. The Elementhar whom we’ve hired to perform the task will offer you proof of this,” said Mayor Conell.

  “Proof _ I offer of this to you that the demon has been killed,” said Ray as he pulled the severed head of the demon from a canvas sack and held it up so that the townsfolk could see it clearly.

  The crowd burst into a mixture of relief and curiosity. They felt relief because the threat to their lives was over. They felt curious because most of them had not seen a demon before. The mayor called for order yet again. After the crowd had settled down, he explained the unfortunate fate that had befallen the family of Eastcrop Village two nights before.