Tales of magic: grimoire of transmogrification

  Chapter 32

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  Arc 2 - "The hunter and the beast"

  Chapter 16- "Prey and Predator."

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  "A massive beast looms over, behind you, poised to attack. What do you do?"

  "How do I know he's behind me?"

  "Your ally told you."

  "She must be really good then, staying with me."

  "Yes, both of you are close allies. But that doesn't matter. What would you do Stuart?"

  "...Must be hot too. Now I imagine it, she must be really hot, am I right?"

  The boy had a lewd expression on his face. Ashley wondered why she agreed to train the brat. Why she even took on this job.

  "Stuart!"

  "What?"

  "Focus." His instructor ordered sternly. The young man shook his head.

  "But I'm focused. If there really was a massive monster behind me, I'd be dead already. Running means death. Picking up this useless sword of mine gets me the same result. If I'm dead anyways, I might as well have fun, right Miss Ashley?"

  ~ Private tutelage under Holy Knight Ashely Greystone for the young apprentice paladin Stuart Garfield, son of viscount Tim Garfield, member of the Esteemed Court of Pridon.

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  1st May, 1886.

  Screaming woods,

  Pridon.

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  "Veronica Duncan. Curse."

  Those words rang in her ears. She felt as though she was going mad. As if Lancaster's words had anything to do with the bullet she took to the knee just a moment later. But it really felt like they were the cause. Like those words somehow, magically commanded those bullets towards her.

  In the present, she looked at herself. Her left knee to be precise. No wound whatsoever. Of course the scratches she had all over her body where still there. The pain was ever present, but it seems to fade into the background, not disturbing her thoughts in anyway. As though whatever she had on her mind was somehow more important than the pain. Than the mess of it all. The fact that she was stranded. Here.

  Another question popped up. Where the f*ck was here?

  There were clues to figuring that one out. But she pushed those thoughts away for a moment.

  More importantly, how did I get here?

  Veronica prowled the woods. The flames hadn't spread to this corner, but she could see them in thr distance if she looked to het right. All around her, all manners of abnormal things went about their activities. Some of them were in the middle of a feast, helping themselves to the raw flesh of their fallen enemies. Other monsters fought each other, she couldn't discern why and she didn't care. She stepped on a bone as she moved. Turning her eyes, she recognised it. It was a human skull. She did not feel any fear in her heart as she kicked it away. She was terrified of course, but she felt as though there were bigger reasons to be afraid. Bigger things to be scared of. And she also felt like there was no point to it. The irrational fear grating at her subconscious was useless to her. It didn't do much harm to her physically, and it didn't make her life any better. If anything, she could be worried about the psychological effects of her fears and insecurities...if she wasn't almost entirely sure she would die anyways.

  Veronica had essentially lost all hope. There was no shred of faith in her, that made her believe that things had a chance of returning back to how they used to be. So why even bother worrying about her pathetic life?

  Some of the horrific monsters glanced at her. Others stared. Each was scarier than the last...None of these things tried to attack her, though. Maybe, it was because they knew she was one of them...

  How did I turn into this?

  Her stomach growled. The hunger was still there. Veronica hadn't been hungry last night. She knew she didn't want any food. Any normal food. No. The hunger was different. It was for something else. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

  You want to see it again, Veronica?

  No...no...

  You do, don't you? Relax, My friends won't eat you while you take the time to reminisce. After all, they'd won't want to eat me, would they?

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  No.. please..

  ..Yes? Very well then. Shall we begin?

  ~~~~

  She gasped for breath. The soft bed she lay on was comfortably better than the mattress she had at home. The ceiling was unfamiliar. It was green. Not a hospital. She steadied her breathing and her eyes searched around the room. She saw her leg, bandages around the knee. The pain came suddenly without warning. She grit her teeth, refusing to scream.

  "You're strong.."

  A tall woman stood not too far away from the bed she was lying on. The lady wore a white cloak over a black tight fitting suit that had a strangely familiar symbol on the chest. She had long black hair, that was tied into a ponytail. She also had a warm welcoming smile.

  "..but you don't have to pretend." The woman said as she crossed the room. She walked to Veronica's side and touched her face.

  "Mmm.."

  Am I stammering? Is there a reason her hands are on my eyes..

  She's wiping something off. Moisture?Tears?

  "You don't even realise that you're crying.."

  "I don't need your sympathy.." Veronica smacked her hand away. The good lady withdrew her hand.

  Why am I being mean to her? What's wrong with me? She might've just saved my life...if getting shot in the knee was life-threatening.

  The lady frowned.

  "Don't worry so much. I don't mind. I..just saved you because I wanted to."

  "I'm sorry for lashing out like that. I act really stupidly sometimes."

  The two of them said these things at the exact same time. They just stared at each other for a moment afterwards before almost simultaneously turning away.

  Awkward.

  "I don't know you. But thank you. Thank you so much." Veronica said so, while looking right at her.

  "Don't try to move, you'll hurt yourself. I...I could've done more, but I.. can't because of... some reasons. But I did all I could, I guess. I'm not making much sense. My name is Ashley by the way." She turned to meet Veronica's gaze.

  "Veronica." She nodded. Ashley nodded back.

  "I shouldn't ask about those reasons, should I?"

  "No. But I have a few things to tell you before you can go home. One, I really actually abducted you just now..but please don't tell the police. I did it to save you. Some infections that came with the gunshot just can't be cured in a hospital."

  "Infections?" Something about what she was saying didn't rhyme. She looked visibly guilty too, avoiding my gaze like she was a child..she clearly didn't have much experience in decieving people. But I can't fault her for it. I actually admire that. I don't give a crap what she's hiding from me, she's just too kind. And she rescued me.

  "Ahh, you got me.."Ashley twirled a few strands of her hair. Her face stiffened and her expression suddenly went serious. "It's not an infection. But it was something dangerous. Something I just can't tell you about, okay?"

  Veronica smiled, and tried to get up. Ashley held out a hand, and she grabbed it. The petite girl was swept away by the sheer muscular strength Ashley could command. She landed on her feet, right next to the bed. Ashley simply winked.

  Another secret. Wow. I honestly don't have a clue who she is. Is she some kind of trained soldier or something? No she's not disciplined enough. A secret agent would be impossible too, for similar reasons.

  Eh. It doesn't really matter.

  "Two, You shouldn't go to your family and friends and say anything about me...not that you really no much, but just in case. Three, I have to warn you... whoever shot you might try to do it again."

  Veronica blinked twice. Her leg was shaky on the floor. Bandages covering the wound didn't make it disappear. She had been shot by someone. Someone tried to f*cking kill her. She wondered why she took this long to start panicking.

  "Calm down for a moment. Being uneasy won't change it. Believe it or not, your life might be in danger."

  She took a deep breath and sat down on the bed. Her knee still hurt. It hurt more when she flexed the joint as she sat down. She suddenly wondered why she didn't hurt at all when Ashley was lifting her up from the bed..

  "It's all right."

  Her voice was beautiful. Could she be an angel...

  Suddenly, As though she was answering the thought, Ashley blushed.

  "Erm..um.. I'm human, I think. Please don't make this any more difficult for me."

  Is she...

  "Please don't finish that thought, I beg you."

  O..kay. So she can read my mind. Or maybe I'm mad.

  "I can read your mind. It's something I can do. Just think of it as a special talent... although they say one of the bad guys can do the exact same thing, so I'm not too special."

  Bad guys?

  Ashley cleared her throat. Back to stern mode.

  "I'm sorry but I can't tell you."

  "I know. Just tell me what I have to do to get that shooter of me. I'm guessing he's one of these villians?"

  "You're right. It's a he. William Sharpside. But who he is, isn't important. I found out from the ma...I mean poison that was all over the bullet, that the shooter really really wanted to incapacitate you. But not kill you. For some reason, he prioritised that, and that was the only reason why my hea..I mean, medicine worked well. What I'm saying is, it's almost completely certain he'll go after you again, either to keep something secret, or to settle whatever problem he has with you. But don't fret, there's a way."

  That last sentence was the only thing you should've said. Now you're just making me more curious.

  "I know I... I'm not good at this. I get into trouble almost every time because of this."

  Oh crap, I forgot she could read my mind!

  Ashley grinned and sat down on the bed, next to Veronica. She dipped her hand in her inner breast pocket and brought out a card.

  "Take this."

  Veronica accepted it.

  "It's a token that'll allow you access to the inner chambers of the sanctuary of light."

  That's where she saw the symbol from. It was the emblem of the Light. A bunch of sketchy cultists..

  "Sanctuary of light? You mean, that group of religious fanatics who usually talk like they've.." Oh no she's one of them.

  "Had something to drink. I just finished your thought. I guess this era might as well be doomed. Hardly anyone had any respect for the gods nowadays. And most of you people believe the true god Tyr is just a hoax. The Crown has spun things to sound as though we were propagating lies to control the masses. Damn her."

  The Crown? Does she mean the queen?

  "I'm so sorry, I really didn't want to insult your religion like that."

  "But you said exactly what was on your mind. I can't fault you for thinking differently from me, or for not being a believer of the gods. I just hope you change your mind. You're missing out a lot."

  "Yeah, thanks...So I'll just show them the card?"

  "And request for a paladin's protection. If they ask for who sent you tell them it was Ashley Greystone, 13th High Paladin of the Thirteenth squad. They'll get it if you say it like that. Please be respectful to the old monks in there. They don't really let rude kids in no matter what. Then once they agree, make sure to shut your eyes. Under no circumstances do you open them up. There are certain things you really don't want to see, alright? Once all that is done, you should be safe from Hunter."

  I have a thousand more questions, but I know you can't answer. You're probably pushing the rules to tell me all this. Thank you.

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  Her smile was still fresh in her memory, when the image of Ashley's head getting severed from her body suddenly pushed itself into her mind. She saw the look of agony on Ashley's face, as her life faded away. She would've cried, if she could.

  But she couldn't. All she could do was stare at the messed-up image as the feeling of frustration welled up from within her.

  It really isn't much fun if you're not fighting back, you now? Have I really succeeded in breaking your spirit...or is there so much more I can do?

  No.no.no.no..

  I'm banking on the fact that there is.

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