Chương 39: Sirenis
The vendor, a grizzled old man with a missing eye and a gruff voice, displayed an array of weapons and trinkets that promised to ward off evil.
Including a seemingly ordinary hunting knife. The knife measures 25 cm in length, with a sharp blade of 15 cm. However, it features engraved rune-like symbols on one side of the blade that change to a deeper, darker color when touched.
"This knife," the vendor said with a toothless smile, "has the ability to detect and mark the proximity of anomalous life. When using the blade in a hunting scenario, the user has the active ability to point it at a living or supernatural object to sense the target's signature. In the case of a target that is classified as particularly threatening, the rune-like symbols on the blade will glow in red color and the knife will become more sensitive and effective for the user."
The price was 25 gold, which seemed reasonable for an artifact of that kind.
Aldwyn thought about the benefits. „It detects danger and can even classify it based on the runes. That's not bad, although my assassin sense already takes care of that..."
Aldwyn looked up at the vendor, " Do you have any other weapons or helpful objects?"
The vendor nodded, he searches under his desk and pulls a hunting bag out of an unidentifiable, biological-looking material. "This bag can absorb and release various items and tools that are useful for hunting."
He paused briefly before continuing. "The bag itself is activated by physical contact, allowing the user to summon usable equipment. In addition to the equipment, it can generate unique "attractants" that can influence the behavior of supernatural creatures. These attractants can be used to attract or scare off creatures, depending on the hunter's needs."
Aldwyn's interest grew. „It's very useful, it's basically an infinite storage space for me, it doesn't necessarily help me defeat the monster, but I could still use it."
"How exactly do I activate these 'attractants'?"
The vendor's smile grew wider. "Ah, young hunter, that is the beauty of this bag. You need not concern yourself with such details. Simply hold an image of what you wish to attract or repel in your mind, and the bag will respond accordingly."
„I understand... it's very useful, but since I don't really know what that monster I'm hunting is, I guess it's irrelevant."
Aldwyn was skeptical but intrigued. "How much?"
The vendor's gaze was sharp. "50 gold."
Aldwyn's eyes narrowed, weighing the cost against the potential benefits. The idea of such a versatile tool was tempting, especially when venturing into the unknown. After a brief internal debate, he reached into his pocket and counted out fifty shiny gold coins. He placed them on the counter with a decisive clack.
"You've made a wise choice," the vendor said, his one good eye gleaming with approval as he took the coins. "This bag has served many hunters well, and it will serve you too." He handed over the biological-looking bag.
Aldwyn felt the weight of the bag in his hand, the material strange and slightly unsettling. He stowed his coin pouch, the map and the contract safely before leaving the market, letting the whispers of the crowd behind him.
....
Back in his room in the Hall of Swords, Aldwyn laid out his new item on the table.
He took his potion of endurance, the box with the blessed ammunition, his diary and the box with the cube of possibilities and put them in the bag as well.
Aldwyn strapped the bag to his belt and began experimenting with it. He visualized the item he wanted, when he did that he heard a slight heartbeat coming from the bag. It wriggled like a living creature and spat out the potion of endurance.
He put it back and also tried it with the other items. The result was the same every time.
„That's very useful... This means that I don't have to worry about my baggage anymore. I'm just wondering if there's a limit on how big an item can be..."
Last but not least, he put his bank medallion in the bag and made his way to the place where the last corpse was found.
The journey to the outskirts of Helgarde was a quiet one, the city's chaos and chatter slowly fading into the background as Aldwyn approached the foreboding forest. The sun was setting, casting long, eerie shadows through the dense canopy of twisted branches.
As he ventured deeper, the underbrush grew thick, forcing him to move with precision to avoid the snapping twigs beneath his boots. The biological hunting bag felt alive against his side, pulsing in rhythm with his heart. He clenched his fists around the handles of his twin blades, their silver gleaming faintly in the dwindling light.
Finally, he reached the clearing where the body had been found. The foliage around the site was stained crimson red.
Aldwyn looked very carefully around. „Although the report said that no evidence was left behind, my heightened senses should allow me to recognize more than normal people."
Crouching down, he studied the disturbed earth, his eyes catching on a peculiar set of tracks. They were unlike any he'd seen before, a mix of claw and paw, but with an unmistakable human-like imprint. His pulse quickened, and he knew he was on the right path.
He followed the trail deeper into the forest, his silver eyes piercing the gloom as the last vestiges of daylight disappeared. The heartbeat of the bag grew more insistent, a silent reminder of the looming confrontation ahead. His mind raced, piecing together the puzzle of what he was hunting.
He reached a clearing illuminated by the moon. Suddenly he heard something that gave him goose bumps. A melody sung by a woman, it was hauntingly beautiful and eerily familiar.
His senses began to turn against him, he saw figures moving and dancing like leaves in a storm. His heart began to beat extremely fast.
He began to stumble, „What the hell is happening here... It just seems so... Familiar..."
The melody grew louder, and the figures grew more distinct. They were not leaves, but a group of twisted, humanoid creatures, their bodies a grotesque tapestry of shadows and moonlight.
In the middle of the clearing stood a figure, a woman. It was none other than the Sylvan Siren, the female elf from Vellaris. Her voice was like the call of a siren, beckoning him closer.
Aldwyn's eyes widened, „I'm stuck in an illusion... Now I understand why this seemed so familiar to me... This illusion shows me... what I saw in my vision with the old scholar..."
Aldwyn pulls his revolver with one swift movement and pulls the trigger. The bullet flies and hits the singing elf. The illusion shatters with a bang and Aldwyn wakes up, in the gloomy forest.
Aldwyn looked around to get an overview. He noticed that he had walked several meters without being aware of it. It was like sleepwalking or falling into a trance.
„So the monster is using illusions to kill its victims... It could even fool my senses, which indicates enormous power." He had to be careful not to let the creature's powers overwhelm him again.
He took a deep breath and focused his mind, pushing away the remnants of the illusion. The forest was eerily silent now, save for the occasional hoot of an owl or the rustle of leaves.
But then, from the distance, he heard it—a high-pitched screech that seemed to pierce through the very fabric of the night. It was unlike anything he'd ever encountered, sending a shiver down his spine. The sound was distant but grew closer with each passing second. It was as if the very air around him was vibrating with the creature's malicious intent.
Aldwyn drew his twin blades, „Holy shit that was horrible.... My senses are still relatively calm, I don't sense any major danger, but it could also be, because this creature can fool my senses."
The screech grew louder, and the ground beneath him trembled slightly. His silver eyes searched the darkness, before he retreated into his shadow.
The creature emerged from the trees, this humanoid creature is around 2.3 meters tall. Its body surface is completely covered with shimmering, scale-like skin. It has oversized eyes with no discernible pupils and hypnotizing swirling patterns.
It sniffed the air, searching for prey, and its gaze fell upon Aldwyn, who had gone unnoticed in the shadows.
Aldwyn remained still, his blades ready for combat. He watched the creature's movements, noticing its erratic behavior. It would be a tricky opponent, capable of confusing and distracting him. The creature's elongated limbs ended in sharp claws, and its gaping maw revealed teeth that looked like sharpened stalagmites.
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