บท 21: Oni?
It had now been a month since John and Liz had started their journey. The murkwoods hadn't changed much besides there being less big rocks the farther they got from the ruins. During their travel they had encountered 4 more ghouls that John used to practice on. He no longer got sick after beating one to death now. They even found a battle field that was making them after catching a rotting smell on the wind. No animals approached the battlefield so they decided to take a day and gather some wood to set afire the remaining corpses that numbered 20. They continued on while discussing the body's. The corpses seemed to belong to two separate forces one in blue and the other green. They all seemed to have died from a magic attack using the darkness as a base with another element mixed in.
"After seeing that battlefield I think they must have been fighting over some kind of precious resource. The leaders of both seemed to have gotten away though."
"Just what did they find? A gold vein?"
"No, when I say precious resource I mean something like an herb needed for a special medicine or a rare monster. My guess is that they found a monster and wanted to capture it only for it to launch a surprise attack. It should be at about the 9th level of the mortal stage or even going into the next stage."
"In other words if we encounter any of them run."
"It would be best to avoid fighting if we can but if they attack don't hesitate to smash some skulls."
"Got it. Lets hope our luck isn't to bad."
After they finished talking they both took care to check their surroundings more. They traveled for five days with only a few ghoul encounters. Liz took a count of the weapons and clothes back at the battlefield and determined that only 10 corpses had turned to ghouls so there shouldn't be more than 4 left to encounter.
They had reached the edge of the murkwood forest after another 3 days and entered the mountainous region around them. They got to refill the water jars at a stream that was nearby.
"It would be best to find a cave and rest for a few days here before going again. That hill over there might have some."
The hill that Liz referred to was one of the walls for the valley they had entered into from the murkwoods.
John was definitely looking forward to the rest. Although Liz wasn't heavy by any means carrying her for so long had certainly been wearing on him. He quickly climbed up and just as Liz had said there was a cave not to far up. After checking the surrounding for animals and finding none he entered into the cave.
The cave was of a decent size with a ceiling about ten feet up and about six wide with the back not being visible. John let Liz down and took a seat on a relatively soft looking patch of moss near the entrance. Liz decided to inspect the cave interior just in case there was anything dangerous farther in.
"John there's something you need to see."
He got up and started to walk deeper into the cave. After moving farther inside he found Liz looking around a corner in the cave. She signals for him to be quiet. He comes closer to her to see what she was looking at.
"Seriously what could it be that made you call for m"
He stops before he could finish his sentence though as his eyes adjusted to the dark. A few feet into the cave was a small form. It had ragged clothing and more than few cuts on its body. It appeared to be a small child easily only eight or nine. This wasn't what caught his attention though. The child had reddish skin and on it's forehead was a pair of small black horns.
"It's an oni child. Why would one be here of all places?"
"Oni? What kind of creature is an oni?"
"Oni are one of the few subraces that are strong in general. They mainly have a focus on Aura use in junction with their innate darkness affinity. It's pretty hard defeating them because of this. Most fight in extreme close range with either fists or blunt weapons."
"OK are they native to this continent or could something be up."
"They are most definitely not natives. They come from the continent of Dwargon same as the dwarves. For one to be here is not normal."
"Got it. So what do we do? It doesn't feel right to leave a child hurt like this."
"Then we help her heal her wounds and give her some food. That should be more than enough help."
"I'll wake her up first then. Make sure to be on high alert though just in case."
John came out from behind the wall and slowly approached the child. As he got close they stirred and raised their head. Their eyes opened to the sight of the slightly crouched John with both his hands to his sides and a bit up.
They immediately jumped to their feet and raised their hands.
"St...Stay away!" The voice was high pitched and sweet sounding.
"Um. I'm not trying to hurt you I just wanted to heal your wounds. They look like they could start to fester at any moment."
"Why? Aren't you with the other humans?"
"I haven't met any other humans since I came here let alone be with them." The child became a little less weary and lowered her hands a bit but still kept them ready as if to fight.
"Wha.. what is your name?"
"My name is John, John Cantwell."
"Why would you try to help me?"
"Well I'm no saint but I feel as if I would be left with a bad taste in my mouth if didn't."
"You.. you really won't hurt me."
"What reason would there be for me to attack a child in the middle of nowhere with only some ragged clothes?"
"Pedophile?"
"I'm not! Wait, where would you even learn that word?!"
"From my brother. He said to stay away from random strangers."
"That is honestly some good advice but before that is it OK for me to treat your wounds?"
"Ah. Yes."
The child comes near John and he places a hand on her shoulder. Soon the wounds quickly heal and are gone in moments.
"There that should be good."
"Amazing! Your a healer!"
"You don't have to be that surprised."
"But but healers are supper rare and hard to find. Once Daddy and Mommy spent a whole three months trying to find medicine when my brother was injured in a fight. It cost a super large amount of money and even then he took another month to fully recover. They said an actually healer could do the same in a snap."
"So those who can heal are rare in your home town. Why are you all the way out here then?"
"Bad people attacked my home. Every one got away but for some reason the transmission platform sent me here after not letting me off at the safe place. Everyone else got to stay but not me. After that I was in the forest and the bad men appeared. They caught me but then men in a blue uniform came and started fighting. I used my special necklace that Mommy gave me and ran. I came here to hide and haven't left since."
(So that explains the whole battlefield ending up like it did. So the people in green must have been with those that attacked the kids family. Why then would those people in blue attack them then? Could they also be after the kid? Why then? They clearly don't have anything of significant value on. Could the kid have a unique talent or something?)
gurguh
The sound came from the child's body. They lowered their head and a blush could be seen. Even with a read face it could still become more red.
"Seems like your hungry. You did say that you had been here since then. Want to eat with me then."
"Um, Yes."
"Good. Oh! what's your name?"
"It's Evadne or Eva for short."
"It's good to meet you. Now lets get some food in you before your stomach starts complaining again."
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