[BL] Guardians of Fate -
Chapter 124 - 26: The Stirring Shadows [3]
Chapter 124: Chapter 26: The Stirring Shadows [3]
Hearing those words, Ardyn felt himself relaxing in turn. Funny, it was as if Luke could see right through him sometimes... which, now that he thought about it, wasn’t so strange since Luke was his Summoner, after all.
When Luke placed the bowl in front of him, Ardyn couldn’t help but stare for a moment.
The bowl was filled with a rich, deep crimson broth and was steaming hot. There were also chunks of meat mixed in with what looked like colorful vegetables he had never seen before. Not to mention, the stew seemed to have a faint glow to it, almost like a faded illusion of flames.
It was mesmerizing to look at, and it smelled really good, too.
"Try it, I’m sure you’ll like it," Luke encouraged.
So Ardyn tried a spoonful of the stew. If he were to be honest, he had raised his expectations a bit after his buffet feast at the White Castle last night, since the food there tasted amazing.
And it didn’t disappoint.
The soup was rich and spicy, just the way he liked it, while the vegetables were sweet with a hint of earthiness to them. The meat, on the other hand, was juicy and tender. Overall, it was like eating a combination of spicy broth, roasted carrots, and beef, but with a unique and flavorful aftertaste.
"How is it?" Luke asked, watching his reaction.
Ardyn nodded eagerly. "This is delicious! I’ve never tasted anything like it before."
Luke smiled. "That’s good. It’s better to eat well before you focus on your worries."
Luke turned to his own bowl and began to eat as well. His expression and posture were relaxed, and he seemed to let his guard down. Even though he could hear the animated whispering and exclamations of the guests around him, he didn’t let it get to him. After all, the three of them weren’t under suspicion at the moment, and hunger came first and foremost.
Ardyn glanced over at Leon, and although the latter still had his hood on, he was now happily eating the roast, as if he hadn’t been meek and quiet ever since they entered the town.
Feeling a small sense of relief, Ardyn continued to eat his own meal, his inner satisfaction drowning out the constant arguing and discussion going on around them.
When they finished eating, Luke decided that they should leave as soon as possible so that they could reach Ravencoast early the next morning. Ardyn agreed since the more time they spent here, the more the possibility of them getting suspected. As always, it was better to be safe than sorry.
Ardyn accompanied Leon out the door while Luke carefully arranged the plates. When the woman came back to collect the empty dishes, she looked a little grateful.
"The three of you are travelers, right?" she asked as she started to pick them up and place them on the tray.
Luke nodded.
"Be careful out there," she advised. "They say that the beastspawns have become more violent, especially at night. For a couple of travelers, you might find yourselves defenseless out there. Unless you have weapons with you? Do any of you have hunting experience?"
Luke considered it for a moment before nodding. "We have hunted beastspawns before," he fibbed with a natural smile on his lips. "But we will continue to stay on our toes. I truly appreciate the warning."
"Good, because you guys seem like nice people." She sighed. "I wonder what the world is coming to now. It’s like that... that monster really is coming back. But I hope not! That would be a disaster! But I believe in our Summoners. Surely the sealing crystal will hold for another five years!"
Luke watched her leave with mixed feelings in his heart.
People were usually afraid to say the monster’s name out loud, for fear of somehow conjuring it back into existence. Hearing those words from her also made him feel sad. Even though he knew that he wasn’t the one who caused it, he felt like he had something to do with what happened.
He was just relieved that at least Ardyn did not hear it. Otherwise, he might feel guilty again, even though Luke believed that it wasn’t really his fault.
The three of them were just unlucky people, that was all. It was their fate, and they couldn’t do anything to escape it.
* * *
They managed to leave the village without arousing suspicion, much to their relief. It seemed that the rest of the townspeople had retreated to their respective homes, wary of what was happening out there. The evening was quiet, and the cool night breeze blew across their faces.
"We have to be more careful from now on," Luke said suddenly, his expression conflicted. "I had forgotten about the beastspawns. If we suddenly encounter them on our journey, I’m not sure if we can handle them with just the three of us."
"What are these beastspawns anyway?" Ardyn asked, swallowing hard. Would he be forced into battle so soon? "I’ve heard a lot about them, but I don’t really know the details. I only caught a glimpse of them during the evacuation earlier this morning when the soldiers were unexpectedly ambushed, but that’s it."
"Beastspawns are dangerous creatures that roam our lands," Leon explained. "They are not ordinary beasts. They first came into existence when the Calamity was born, and after that, they spread like wildfire. The history books say that the people were initially overwhelmed by the attacks, but they eventually found a way to defeat them using the Summoners’ and Guardians’ abilities. Soon enough, the humans also learned how to hunt them. After all, their skin and bones are worth a pretty penny."
"Wait, so they came from the Calamity itself?" Ardyn questioned.
Luke nodded. "When the monster sheds its skin, the fragments turn into beastspawns, which soon multiply over time. So yes, you could say that they are a part of the Calamity. The creatures are controlled and twisted by the monster’s demonic energy and come in various forms. They can be easily identified by the aura they emit and their glowing red eyes."
"Red eyes?"
"Those who have demonic energy or possess demonic power have glowing red eyes. They also emit a certain malevolence that one can clearly sense."
Ardyn’s eyes widened. "Are they that tough? I mean, are they hard to defeat?"
"For ordinary humans, yes. Hunters can do better if they have the right weapons. Naturally, Summoners and Guardians will have an easier time. But even though the beastspawns possess demonic energy, they are not invincible like the Calamity is. They have weaknesses, and that is where we target."
"So when you mentioned that they have become more violent, especially at night..."
Luke nodded. "They are usually sensitive to light when exposed to it for too long, which is why they hide in the forests during the day. They are more aggressive at night. However, with the Calamity’s reappearance, they are now strong enough to be out for longer periods of time during the day. Their movements have become unpredictable as well, so we should be careful and stay hidden from their sight."
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