Three Spheres

Chapter 28 - Golem

Amadeo creates a series of light discs that he distributes around the putrefied corpse. He and Gamila approach to study the specimen. Mooya steps away unable to handle the smell. Johan seems distracted by the surroundings.

_ It doesn't make sense. I've never seen this. _ Amadeo says, analyzing the parts that Manan manipulates.

_ Me neither. We'll have to take a look at the Taxonomica...

_ No, Gamila. I know that book by heart. This isn't there. _ He walks away from the table and sees Johan sniffing something _ Johan? What is it?

_ It smells like rotten egg...

_ Hydrogen sulfate? _ Gamila and Amadeo say in unison.

_ Hm... And rain? That smell of wet earth. _ Johan says with a questioning tone.

_ Nitrogen compounds and more sulfur, then. _ Amadeo looks at Gamila.

_ Is that mud...? _ The woman asks _ From a swamp, perhaps.

_ There's a swamp outside the night area, about 30km from here. _ Manan replies.

Silence takes over the place. Johan steps away, following his nose. Looking at the open space that precedes a forest, he says:

_ Amadeo. _ He extends his arm towards the blonde.

Quickly, the Paragon pulls small metal cubes out of his pockets and uses them to create a spear. He hands it over to Johan, who doesn't look away from the gloom.

_ What's it? _ Mooya asks while the weapon is delivered.

Without answering, Johan slides down the small hill and runs into the night. Without hesitation, he throws the spear. Everyone looks at Amadeo, who shrugs in ignorance. A painful howl resolves a doubt. Johan runs towards the target, as his silhouette is illuminated by the strong light of the Moon.

_ Don't ask me! I don't know either! _ Amadeo follows him.

In the distance, he sees Johan dragging a struggling creature; the spear pierced its abdomen.

_ Wait... _ Manan says _ How the-? Did he capture one...? So suddenly?!

Gamila smiles and nods. Amadeo celebrates:

_ As expected from an Aberration! _ He slides down the hillside and approaches the other _Step back!

Johan obeys and Amadeo makes the stones from the ground restrain the creature. He bends down to examine it, but Johan pulls him by the shirt, remaining silent.

_ Wha-...

_ Shhh...! Listen. _ He remains attentive and quiet for a few moments _ Can't you hear?

Amadeo rests both hands over Johan's ears and closes his eyes.

_ WOW! Do you hear like that?!? _ He lets go; Johan rolls his eyes; Amadeo holds his head again _ That sound, seems like running water... Or maybe wind?

_ Comes from it. _ Johan points to the monster that only growls and salivates.

_ It's the missing ingredient. _ Gamila says _ "A breath of life".

_ Gamila? Wait a minute, do you think this is...? _ Amadeo replica.

_ It's a Golem. Certainly. _ She pauses _ Take a sample for us to analyze it better, but I think the problem here may be worse than we've imagined.

Johan takes one of the creature's legs and with a quick twisting motion, ripes it off and the monster screams. He goes up to the others. Amadeo thinks: "This is horrible... I'll get you out of this misery...". He takes the spear and uses it to behead the creature. Gamila thanks Johan, who answers with a cordial headshake. Everyone returns to the fort with a dense atmosphere hovering in the air.

Upon seeing the severed member, Penan screams and approaches Johan; stars in her eyes:

_ Oh!! Are you hurt?!ヽ(' □ '。) ﾉ _ She takes him by the arm _ Ah, no, thank goodness! _ She slightly squeezes the place where she holds; Johan silently gazes at her for some time.

Gamila signals for him to take the leg to an upstairs room. Johan dodges Penan as if she didn't even exist and follows the woman... Curiously, Penan smiles, with the same joy as a young girl in love. Manan outlines all of her disappointment.

Mooya goes up after the other two, but Amadeo lingers in the hall, thinking, while he scratches his hair. The District's Werewolf, Phil, comes closer and asks if he can help. Amadeo grunts when trying to put his thoughts in order. Finally, he says:

_ I don't know... There's something about it that doesn't make sense. Did you notice anything different in the city? Anything.

_ Eh, we were thinking about it when these things started to show up. _ He moves his ears from side to side _ Nobody has recently entered or left the city, at least not through official ways. We investigated some reports, but we didn't find anything either. If you want, I'll give you the papers.

_ Yes! Please!

Amadeo then receives a large folder filled with colored sheets. The Werewolf smiles. He thanks him and goes up to the second floor.

A shiver runs down his spine, suddenly, as he passes in front of a half-open window. He turns to the outside slowly. Nothing. He feels his cold fingers brushing the leather of the briefcase... "Eeks! It feels like I'm being watched. Ugh!", he thinks, back on his way.

In the room, Mooya and Gamila debate about the creature, leaning over a bench. On the other corner, Johan, leaning against the wall, seems to be sleeping. Manan walks around anxiously. As soon as Amadeo enters, Gamila exclaims:

_ I confirmed it. It's a Golem! Which beings can create Golems, Amadeo?!

_ Ah... _ He hangs for a moment, but then starts talking _ Humans are the main producers of Golems. As far as I know, among Fabulares, the only ones who can do it are the Ents*, the Djinns (Genies), the Giants and the Witches. There are Ents in Albam, but only in the deep forests and they're very few... The Djinns are from Nigrum and I don't think there are any without a master. The Giants are friendly and most of them live in the mountains... There has been no record of any Witch activity for over 100 years. So the only one left...

_ A human attack...? _ Manan approaches Amadeo with red eyes, and pulls him by the collar _ It's a very, very problematic hypothesis, Alscher. Do you know what would happen if the news of a human terrorist act against one of the biggest Fabulares cities spreads?

_U-Ugh, it's just a hypothesis, Gaan... _ He holds the Vampire's fist _ And I know the consequences. _ He forces the woman to let go _ It'll be better if we solve this without anyone finding out, don't you think?

Manan steps back and combs her hair, frowning. After a few moments of silence, the group engage in discussion once again. Probably part of the Golems' raw material was mud from the nearby swamp with some type of organic waste produced in the city itself. They share options, strategies, hypotheses, etc.

Johan takes a deep breath. What he understands, of all those complex lines, is only the essential: The problem is worse than it seemed and maybe someone with a bad intent is behind it. He thinks to himself: "This peace... is very fragile. Very...". He looks at Manan, with some suspicion. "The only thing worse than a human attack is a Witch... I wish I knew what they're like", he thinks, facing the ceiling. Sighs.

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Author's notes:

*Ents: They are rare creatures that live isolated in forests, without any type of social structure. They are conscious and rational, but hardly interact with humans. They usually appear as immense and old trees. The average lifespan of Ents is around 300-500 years. They are very adept at using spiritual energy and are therefore sought after by humans who wish to learn different forms of magic. Like Witches, they have Crescent spheres.