A Sinner's Eden

Chapter 74 - EVO

***Tirnanog, The Plains***

***Magnus***

Once morning came, our delegation met up with the Caravaners in one of the public meeting rooms to figure out what had happened last night.

I am glad you people were all awake and managed to repel the damned thing. There's no telling how many lives more it would have cost us if the alarm hadn't been called, Holly said gratefully.

The unsaid question in her statement caused Astra and me to exchange a conspiratory glance with each other.

There was no way for us to explain why our delegation was awake and alert before the creature infiltrated our space. We hadn't even explained the true nature of our ability to our people.

While there was a predominant religion among the clans, claiming a 'higher power' had warned us would have caused more than just a few people to call for a psychiatrist. Especially among the folks of clan Aerie who valued science and logic just as much as the church.

Everyone with rank and name was present, even the elusive priestess. With Maria's identity uncovered, she had given up on avoiding me which was a very childish thing to do in the first place as far as I was concerned.

Going by Holly's recount, the Caravaners had lost twelve of their outlooks before the nightcrawler tried to get deeper into the fortress and encountered us.

The fallen would be mourned together with the remains of one of our guards.

I had been told his name was Wesley Travers, a partnered warrior who had lost his wife some years ago on a hunt. There was no direct family to inform, just friends back in Aerie. His family had been his fellow hunters who stood by his side when he fell.

It wasn't the first time for me to lose someone under my command, but I still wondered whether I could have done something differently to prevent his death.

Thankfully, I didn't know him well enough to truly feel the loss. Though, I would have lied if I claimed utter equanimity. The man had died right in front of me while I was too stunned to do anything.

Honestly, I was annoyed with myself because I had fallen for the creature's trick until it was too late. Something had been wrong with how the fake Caravaner moved, but I had only seen a person in need of help.

It's unheard of for nightcrawlers to behave like this, Luka continued in a somewhat perplexed tone when nobody spoke up. They are pure ambush predators. They don't climb onto sahernas to hunt. And they can't camouflage their entire body.

Maybe it wasn't a nightcrawler, but something different? I suggested. Nobody truly saw the creature as far as I understand. It was under partial camouflage the whole time.

Two seats over, Thalia shook her head. No. The smaller tentacles you cut off and the large one Loopsfast brought back definitely belonged to a nightcrawler or something very similar. Together, they are a distinctive identifier.

Then it mutated? I suggested with a questioning undertone. If humans could mutate, then why not the animals who ate them?

I've never heard of a creature mutating just like us exiles, Holly muttered. If that's the case and the monsters don't die from too many mutations, then we are fucked.

Luka waved her off. Before considering such a possibility, I would rather believe it was something new.

Holly looked at him and shook her head in disbelief. We've been travelling this route for decades. Do you really think there's some unknown predator we haven't come across in all this time?

Her partner shrugged. No human knows all the creepy shit crawling through Tirnanog's shadows. And we seldomly take this route so early in the season. Then there are the strong rainfalls. Maybe the thing wasn't from this region and migrated. It wouldn't be the first time for us to encounter a predator from the Mycelium Jungle. The wet conditions enable the creatures to travel far beyond their natural hunting grounds and I doubt anyone aside from the cultists who settled there knows what lurks in the region.

Holly let out a frustrated sigh. I am afraid you might be right. We will have to adapt and overcome this new challenge like all the others. Make sure the rest of the caravan is aware of the threat in case we encounter another one. It would also be a good idea to keep an eye out for mould infection. I doubt the creature from tonight will come back very soon. As distasteful as it sounds, it got its meal and has to lick its wounds, but we should anticipate other things from the Mycelium.

She thought for a moment. Being complacent only leads to death. Until we are out of this bog, night watch is abolished. Nobody leaves the fortress once the sun sets and in turn, we double the active guards at all the entrances. The entrances stay closed. Everything and everyone outside the fortress after shutdown stays outside.

They will complain, Luka pointed out. It means more people will have to stay awake.

Tell them they can be awake and tired or dead and asleep forever when I catch anyone shirking their duty, Holly grumbled. We didn't lose anyone when the parasites attacked and now we will be holding vigil for far too many. We don't even have their bodies.

Astra inserted herself into the conversation. If you will allow it, we will join your people tonight and mourn our loss with you.

Holly and Luka didn't object to us joining the silent and demure funeral service that night.

The short vigil was orchestrated by our priestess and followed by a reverent party.

Astra left me standing in the mess hall where the gathering was held. She wanted to have a word with Maria about her antics and having me at her side didn't seem like a good idea.

Not knowing what to do, I scanned the hall until I found Elijah and his partner Linda sitting with four other Caravaners at a table.

Shrugging to myself, I made my way over and greeted them as soon as I was close enough. Hey, Elijah, how are you doing? Didnt see you last night.

The huge Caravaner raised an equally oversized mug fitting his stature. I have my quarters on the last saherna in line, if you ever try to visit me. Today, we drink for the fallen. Have a seat.

With some shuffling, the Caravaners made space for me and I sat down.

One of them filled a mug from a clay keg which had been sealed with wax and shoved it over to me.

Raising an eyebrow, I looked down into the mug and regarded the foamy, dark liquid which smelled like pure alcohol, combined with some methanol the thing which could blind people.

Like any good student, I had experimented with homemade brews during my university days, and this stuff looked like one of my failed attempts at making dark beer or mead.

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My hesitation was additionally supported by the over months ingrained aversion towards eating things which hadn't been made by my own hand. Even though we had managed to switch off the forced mutation function, the times of eating random things without a care in the world hadn't quite returned yet.

Don't worry! one of the Caravaners assured me. It's bahal! Cooked and fermented from ashtree pitch. It would be safe for anyone, even if you people hadn't managed to switch on the UI.

I can tell by the smell, I commented and took a sip.

As expected, the strong beverage burned down my throat, but it left behind a slightly sweet, smoky aftertaste, combined with something which reminded me of cedar liquor.

Not bad. I took another sip before I nursed the mug between my hands.

The Caravaners nodded and Elijah slapped me on the back. He had held back, but the force rocked me slightly forward nonetheless.

Haha, not only can he fight, he can also drink! How are ya doing? the large man rumbled.

Fine, considering the circumstances, I answered. You have much more to mourn than us.

Yeah, one of the fellers was a distant cousin of mine, the giant replied.

I offered my condolences, but the giant only shrugged.

Don't worry. Didn't like him anyway.

Linda raised her mug and grumbled. The nay-sayers among the family will nonetheless use the fact that the saherna with the delegation was attacked to continue their discontent.

She looked over at me and grinned. I heard you stood up for your wife during the attack. How is her oversized ego doing? Took her down a peg to be saved by her man?

I shrugged but still wondered how this information had left the ranks of our delegation. There had been no Caravaner there to witness the events.

Astra and Linda had trained together while I took Elijah as a training partner, but their relationship was strained. In public, they played nice, but in private they didn't like each other. Their two personalities simply didn't play well together, so it wasn't a surprise for the woman to jump on any gossip which could be used against her frenemy.

Astra is a very confident person. We are a team. There is no real competition on who saved who between us. I think she saved my ass just as often as I did hers.

Linda scoffed. Someone with her ego? I thought she was the boss in your relationship.

I took a sip while I pondered how to manage the discussion. Such topics weren't something I cared about one way or the other.

To be honest, she is a little bossy, but it always works out between us. She always goes soft once the fight is over. Last time, she got down to all fours in front of me and begged for it.

Linda raised an eyebrow. She did what?

Elijah nursed his cup and distanced himself slightly from me.

Yup. I nodded to myself and grinned. And when I refused, she screamed. I quote: Get out from under the table, you damned coward!

The corner of Linda's left eye twitched before the others got the joke and the table broke out laughing, followed by Linda herself.

The mood was a little bit lighter afterwards and we kept drinking while the Caravaners told tales of the fallen. There wasn't much I could say about our fallen hunter. So, not knowing how else to contribute, I told them how Astra and I had gone on our first hunt in Aerie's caves, just to rescue a poacher from a gruesome death.

By the second round of bahal, I got an uncertain feeling about the situation and our drinking game of telling tales.

By the third, I had a rough idea of what was wrong.

When the fourth came around and all the Caravaners at the table laid down their arms, I knew for sure.

Even Elijah was slumped over and passed out. The brute of a man had lasted the longest, but in the end, the bahal had been too much for him.

I sat and glared angrily at the empty mug of bahal in front of me. It was the first time I had seriously tried to get drunk on Tirnanog.

And I had failed miserably. Woe is me. Who knew poison resistance would also account for alcohol?

Someone touched my shoulder and I looked up to find Astra taking in the group with a questioning expression. What the hell happened?

I sighed and took in the Caravaners who lay in various poses. Two had slipped off their chairs. Elijah was slumped over and Linda was sleeping beneath the table.

Turns out, our poison resistance applies to alcohol. I literally drank them under the table and don't even feel anything. I turned my empty mug over and shook it to emphasize the point.

Oh. Astra pursed her lips with a conflicted expression before she shrugged. Meh, never was one for alcohol anyway. Being able to drink all the liquor I want without repercussions, all the better.

I got up. And what did your investigation bring up?

Astra rolled her eyes. Maria is a coward. Forgive me, a very sheltered person, given her ability to influence the believers. The church pampered her a little too much. When my parents informed the church about your misadventure and handled things, her superiors chewed her out for misusing her suggestive powers. Then she heard rumours about your other mishap with the Patels and freaked out, thinking she would be next if she ever met you again.

She linked arms with me and waved her hand dismissively. The nail in the coffin was her superior sending her on this mission in the hopes of mending the relationship with an apology.

Mend the relationship? I asked.

We are important people now that we hold the title of protector, Astra pointed out. The church thought it a good idea to demonstrate their well-meaning intentions by sending one of their acolytes to our assistance. Maria can contact the churchs branch organisation in Hochberg to make things easier for us.

I see.

What they didn't anticipate was for Maria to hide in her quarters and avoid any contact.

So, everything is fine now? I asked. I don't particularly care at this point as long as she doesn't try to root around inside my brain. You know my feelings on the matter.

Astra smiled. I am sure everyone of import in Aerie knows your feelings.

Together, we retreated for the day.

Whatever creature had attacked us didnt come back and after a few more days the caravan finally left the marshland which also slowly dried up after the rainfalls had stopped.

At the same time, Astra and I became slightly worried about our situation. Not only had we left the UIs communication range once we fully departed the mountains, but Gaia had also gone silent. Normally, the avatar visited our dreams like clockwork every day. To the point that I was seeing her either as an uninvited guest or a new family member who I couldnt get rid of.

As for the reason, we could only speculate while we waited for her return.

Leaving the bog behind, the caravan entered a hilly plateau to the west of the Sanguine River. These were the Hochbergs heartlands, and it didnt take long for a scouting party to spot the caravan.

As soon as a lookout identified them, Astra, I, and our advisor Peter Rumen were informed. So we were watching the following proceedings from the parapet.

The scouts rode in parties of three on animals which had no Earth analogue. Maybe eight-legged waterbears with fur was the closest I would ever get to describing them without an actual picture. The elongated head ended in a trunk with a lampreys maw which had me thankful that the things were too big and had to stay down at the sahernas feet.

They were the size of a rhino and flowed strangely on their eight legs over the hilly grassland. It wasnt a true running motion and reminded me more of a caterpillar.

The Hochberg scouts had arrived with a party of ten animals, which meant thirty scouts in total. Of the group, three took the offered climb up a rope ladder to have a chat with the Caravaners.

The Hochberg scouts clothes had similarities with the Caravaners, but while our hosts were a designers nightmare and sported a ragtag assembly of handcrafted equipment, the Hochbergs design choice was more streamlined. Their clothes relied mostly on fur and leather armour, but it was identical for all of them. A uniform which distinguished them from the closely knit group of traders.

Holly and Luka received them and waved us over after a short exchange.

this is the reason why we are deviating from our normal route.

I caught the end of the short exchange between the two seekers and the scouts as we approached. It wasnt hard to guess that the scouts had inquired about the Caravaners reason for being here.

At our elders insistence, Holly and Luka had deviated from the caravans normal route to arrive earlier at Clan Hochberg. They had also been paid generously in the form of resources to do so.

As the one with the most experience with Hochberg, Peter took the lead. We are a diplomatic mission from Clan Aerie. I am Peter Rumen from Aeries leading strata. These are the protectors Astra Frost and Magnus Frost.

After a short pause, the huge Hochberg who was competing with Holly in size introduced herself. I am Captain Mia Lexis, leading the fifty-fourth patrol group. May I inquire about your reasons for being here? This is a highly unexpected visit.

The dark-haired and a little lanky captain studied us with narrowed eyes while the two scouts behind her exchanged nervous glances. It looked like they were worried about something.

Of course! Peter gestured towards Holly and Luka. Please dont blame our hosts for violating your borders. We paid them well to arrive as soon as possible. There are things your matriarch has to be informed of asap. Things which shouldnt be discussed in public until authorities higher than us had the time to make preparations for the coming changes.

Mia looked down at our slightly smaller advisor for a long time without any reaction. Meanwhile, her two subordinates were showing signs of nervousness for some reason.

Finally, she turned around and nodded at one of her subordinates. Climb down and instruct the three teams with the fastest animals to head directly to central. They are to inform our superiors that a delegation from Aerie is about to arrive in...

She looked toward Holly.

Three days, the seeker answered.

Mia gestured for her subordinate to get going before she returned her attention to Holly. I hope you wont have any objections to us escorting you the rest of the way.