Chương 17: An incounter with a purpose
Jacob left Sarny at dawn the next morning, the memories of his reunion with Juan still fresh in his mind. It was good to catch up, to be reminded of old friendships, but his restless spirit drove him to continue his journey. He packed his belongings, saddled his horse, and headed out on the road once more. The open road felt like home—the stars above him at night, the whisper of the wind through the trees, the quiet solitude that allowed him to reflect.
The days passed uneventfully at first, with Jacob following a well-worn trade route toward the southern regions. His thoughts often wandered back to Terespol, wondering how Kevin was managing things, and occasionally he found himself missing the warm smiles of the townspeople. But the world ahead beckoned, full of new opportunities, new places, and perhaps new challenges.
One evening, as dusk began to settle over the horizon, Jacob found himself on a narrow forest road. The canopy of trees above him thickened, casting long shadows that danced in the dim light. He intended to make camp soon, but something in the air—an unusual stillness—kept him alert.
The quiet, however, was soon broken by a faint, distant sound. At first, it was barely audible—a muffled cry carried on the wind. Jacob halted his horse, straining to listen. There it was again, clearer now. A scream, unmistakably human, filled with terror. His instincts kicked in immediately, and without hesitation, he urged his horse forward, galloping toward the source of the sound.
As he drew closer, the cries grew louder, more desperate. He could hear the snarling of beasts, the unmistakable growls of monsters—creatures he had grown too familiar with during his time in Terespol. His heart raced as the road led him into a small clearing, illuminated only by the pale glow of the rising moon.
There, in the center of the clearing, stood a woman surrounded by a pack of monsters. The creatures were hideous, their grotesque forms twisting in the shadows. They had her cornered, their yellow eyes gleaming with hunger as they circled her. The woman—her clothes torn, her long dark hair disheveled—clutched a broken branch in her trembling hands, desperately trying to fend off the beasts.
Without a second thought, Jacob leaped from his horse, drawing the sword he carried at his side. His time as governor had sharpened his combat skills, and though these monsters were vicious, he knew how to fight them.
"Stay back!" he shouted to the woman, who looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes. Then, with a swift, practiced motion, he lunged at the nearest monster, slashing at its neck. The beast howled in pain, its black blood spraying as it collapsed to the ground.
The other creatures snarled in response, momentarily distracted by Jacob's presence. He took advantage of the opening, moving with precision and speed. Another swing of his sword cut down a second monster, and a well-placed kick sent a third staggering backward.
"Get behind me!" Jacob called to the woman, positioning himself between her and the remaining beasts. She stumbled backward, still clutching her makeshift weapon, though her hands were shaking too much to use it effectively.
The monsters, enraged by the death of their packmates, charged at Jacob all at once. He met them head-on, his sword flashing in the moonlight as he deflected their attacks. One of the creatures lunged for his throat, but he sidestepped just in time, bringing his blade down with lethal force.
For a few tense moments, the clearing was filled with the sounds of battle—the growls of the monsters, the clang of steel, the heavy breathing of the woman as she watched in terror. But Jacob was relentless, his movements sure and swift. One by one, the creatures fell until only the silence of the forest remained.
Panting, Jacob wiped the blood from his sword and turned to the woman. She was pale, her hands still trembling as she stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you all right?" Jacob asked, his voice calm despite the adrenaline still coursing through him.
The woman nodded slowly, though she was clearly shaken. "Y-yes… I think so," she stammered. "Thank you… I thought they were going to kill me."
Jacob sheathed his sword and approached her carefully. "You're safe now. What are you doing out here, all alone at night? This is dangerous territory."
The woman seemed to gather her composure, though her voice still wavered as she spoke. "My name is Anne. I… I live in a village not far from here. I was traveling back home when those things attacked me."
Jacob frowned, glancing around the darkened forest. "Traveling alone at night? That's risky, especially with monsters roaming these woods."
"I didn't have much of a choice," Anne replied, her voice tinged with frustration. "I left the village in the morning to gather supplies from a nearby town, but I was delayed. I thought I could make it back before nightfall, but…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I've never seen monsters like these before. I didn't think they'd attack so close to home."
Jacob studied her for a moment. She was younger than he had first thought, perhaps in her mid-twenties, with a determined look despite the fear that still lingered in her eyes. Her clothes, though torn, were simple—clearly those of a villager, not a merchant or traveler.
"Which village are you from?" Jacob asked.
"Langston," she replied, gesturing vaguely to the east. "It's not far, maybe an hour's walk from here. Or… at least, it would have been if not for those creatures."
Jacob nodded thoughtfully. He had passed by Langston on his way south once before, a small, quiet place nestled in the hills. It wasn't known for trade or much of anything, really, just another rural village trying to survive in an increasingly dangerous world.
"Do you think more of them will come?" Anne asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jacob glanced around the clearing, scanning the darkened forest for any signs of movement. The air was still now, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves overhead. But he knew better than to assume the danger had passed entirely.
"It's possible," he said cautiously. "These creatures usually hunt in packs, and where there's one group, there might be more."
Anne shivered at his words, clutching the broken branch in her hands even tighter. "What should we do? I can't make it back to the village alone…"
Jacob considered their options. He could easily escort her back to Langston—it wasn't far, and he couldn't in good conscience leave her to fend for herself. But there was also the matter of these monsters. They were becoming bolder, attacking travelers like Anne, even venturing closer to settlements. Something wasn't right.
"I'll take you back to your village," Jacob said finally, his voice firm. "But we need to move quickly, before anything else shows up."
Anne looked relieved, nodding gratefully. "Thank you… I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along."
Jacob gave her a reassuring smile, though his mind was already racing ahead, thinking about what might be waiting for them in Langston. Something was stirring in these lands, something dangerous, and he couldn't shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning.
He helped Anne to her feet, steadying her as she took a few shaky steps. "Can you walk?"
"I think so," she replied, though she winced slightly as she put weight on her left leg.
Jacob frowned. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," Anne insisted. "Just a scratch. I can keep going."
Jacob wasn't entirely convinced, but there was no time to argue. "All right. Let's get moving."
They started down the forest path, Jacob leading the way with Anne close behind. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground as they walked in silence. Every now and then, Jacob would glance over his shoulder, half-expecting to see another pack of monsters stalking them from the darkness. But for now, the forest remained quiet.
As they walked, Jacob's thoughts returned to the strange encounter. These monsters—what were they doing so close to civilization? In Terespol, the attacks had been relentless, but those were different times, different creatures. This was something new.
"So… are you a soldier?" Anne's voice broke the silence, and Jacob turned to see her looking at him curiously.
He chuckled softly. "Not exactly. I used to be a merchant. Spent most of my life traveling between towns and cities, trading goods."
"A merchant?" Anne repeated, sounding surprised. "But you fought those monsters like you'd been doing it your whole life."
Jacob smiled faintly. "Let's just say I've had some experience in dealing with them. I was governor of a town for a while—Terespol. They had their fair share of problems with monsters, too."
Anne's eyes widened in recognition. "Terespol? I've heard of that place… everyone says it's been doing well recently. They say a new governor took over a few years ago and rebuilt everything."
Jacob nodded. "That's right. It was a rough time, but the town pulled through."
Anne looked at him with newfound admiration. "So you're that Jacob? The one who led Terespol?"
Jacob chuckled again. "I suppose so. But I've left that life behind now. I'm back to being a merchant, at least for the time being."
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