Jackal Among Snakes

“Someone is following you,” Galamon informed Argrave as they walked side-by-side out of the gates of Mateth.

“Really?” Argrave asked, surprised. He was tempted to look back, but that might give things away. “I suppose Prince Induen took a greater interest in me than I thought he would.”

“Doubtful. He’s an amateur, and rather young.”

“He?” Argrave repeated, getting a hunch. “Describe him.”

“Tall for a human. Shorter than us. Well-built. Dark red hair. White clothes—expensive, somewhat worn.” Galamon listed off monotonously.

“Damn it,” Argrave complained. “Really? And he’s alone?”

Galamon grunted in confirmation.

“How annoying. Just… scare him away,” Argrave commanded in exasperation. “Like a stray dog. No violence, preferably. I’ll take the time to clean myself off.”

Galamon turned on his heel and walked away without so much as a confirmation. Argrave moved onto the beach in his absence. He conjured some water with simple F-rank magic and cleaned some of the blood off his handkerchief, wiping what spots of red remained on his gear and body and draining them into the ocean. Responding to the blood, something swam up to shore. Argrave backed away warily, but then started smiling.

It was a small school of Irontooth Piranhas. As their name suggested, they were vicious predators. In the game, they appeared whenever the player swam too far from the shore, killing them instantly. They kept the player locked on the continent of Berendar. It was one of the reminders that the game was a game—few and far between in ‘Heroes of Berendar,’ where immersion was a top priority.

But this isn’t a game anymore. I could buy a boat ticket, sail from the continent, leave this nightmare behind. Let the continent fall into disarray. Why is this my problem? Why should I step forward to deal with these things?

Argrave felt a lump in this throat. Almost vomited from seeing my own blood. Almost cried from getting punched. The future holds a lot of that—taking hits and giving them. I talk nonsense about killing druids. I’ve never even killed an animal. I’m no hero. What the hell am I doing?

It was difficult to appreciate how good life was in the 21st century until one was deprived of its basic liberties. Cruelty and tyranny were relics of a bygone era for many people living well in first-world countries. He had a warm bed, cheap food, and trivial concerns. He missed that. Argrave blinked quicker, holding back tears—a fact which only made him angrier at himself.

“It’s done.” Galamon’s deep, grating voice drew Argrave out from his depressive haze.

to hide his embarrassment. The water was cold, and it sharpened his mind back to the task at hand. He wiped his face down thoroughly until he

smoothed his wet hair. “Now, I have to go communicate with an ancient god. I implore that you restrain yourself in the event of seeing strange, inhuman creatures

#####

Galamon had merely been considering that his self-confidence had landed him in an unfavorable contract, that consideration had turned into certainty. He kept an unsteady hand on the pommel of his Ebonice axe

of Erlebnis and had a moniker for him: ‘Hand

bottomless and unknowable; it told of unending offerings. At the same time, all it took was a mere stumble, or perhaps the push or pull of a hand, and one would be forever lost within its

it a point to rarely ask the details of the contracts that he took. It was part of his faith. The Veidimen’s chief goddess and namesake, Veid, governed justice and contracts and guided the Veidimen

of death. It left him with an indelible guilt, though. He had made his peace with his blasphemy

Galamon used this to explain why Argrave knew so much about everything around him—royalty had vast information networks. But seeing

a mortal agent

communication with one of the ancient god’s emissaries… what else

should be his atonement for fearing death, let it be

Argrave was just as uncertain as—if

he was speaking to was different than the one he spoke with last time. His proportions resembled a T-rex: giant legs, and two tiny, baby-like arms. The voice was identical to the previous, but Argrave was

a lovely treat. Which is it?”

from our lord Erlebnis cannot be called either of what you spoke of. It is an utmost privilege for any mortal to be given the Blessing of Supersession, and even greater

well. Oril Valar is in

that a question? If so, it

concerns me. I came to receive my half of the trade,

stubby arms to the side. “Indeed. Come to our lord Erlebnis’ shrine,

ground as it walked up the stairs carved into the tree’s roots. He followed behind, keeping a fair distance away. It moved to the side of the shrine, towering over Argrave. The same stone shrine awaited him, those

at it for a second, confused.

teeth. Argrave slowly dropped to his knees and bowed before the statue. When he straightened his back, he kept his eyes

base instinct to dodge. He felt nothing touch his head, but

per se. It was somewhat frightening, yet concurrently oddly refreshing. It felt as though he’d just taken a drink of icy