Grimm Tales

The Boy Who Fought Monsters

Once upon a time, there was a land filled with monsters. They destroyed crops, homes, nations, and killed innocents. No matter where the people fled, the monsters chased them down. All defences they built were torn down.

One farming village on the edge of the world was constantly attacked by monsters. The people wished for the attacks to stop, but they had no where else to go.

Then one day a young boy walked through the village, he wore an old traveller's cloak and carried a battered sword. The villagers feared he was a bandit or one of the wicked that travel the world destroying everything in their path.

Mothers pulled their children in doors, the men picked up axes and pitch forks to face the stranger. A mob faced the stranger shouting, "Who are you? What do you want?"

"My name is Csaba," he said. "I am a Huntsman, looking for monsters."

"What is a Huntsman? Why would anyone look for monsters?" the mob shouted, suspicious of his motives.

"Huntsman are warriors with the power to fight monsters. We've sworn sacred oaths to defend the people from monsters, and to hunt down the evils of the world," Csaba answered.

The mob did not believe him, they shouted "Liar!" "Bandit!" "Murderer!"

Csaba was not bothered by the insults, he heard it all before. But he saw something in the distance, with a loud cry he shouted over the crowd, "Monster!"

The cry silenced the mob, they turned to see people running from the farming fields, chased by monsters. The mob ran in fear, Csaba leapt over the crowd towards the monsters.

With a great jump Csaba landed between the monsters and the fleeing villagers, drawing his battered sword he battered at them to draw their attention towards him. "Run!" he shouted to the villagers, buying time for them to escape.

Once they got away Csaba was able to focus on fighting the monsters. He leapt over the monsters over and over, slashing shallow with his sword, enraging them. When the monsters charged in a rage to counter-attack, Csaba saw his openings to finish them.

The last monster was the largest and strongest, its hide was to tough for Csaba's sword. Jumping backwards to gain some distance, he took a very deep breath, then let out a mighty scream that made the hiding villagers cover their ears in pain.

It was far worse for the monster who feel to ground dead.

Amazed by what they saw the villagers praised Csaba as a hero. They threw a celebration to honor his heroism. At the height of the celebration the village head man stood up, "Sir Csaba, we thank you for saving our village. However, we are still in danger of other monsters. Would you please stay in our village, and protect us?"

"Of course," Csaba said. "I've sworn to defend the people. I will stay and protect the village."

From that day on Csaba watched village. When ever monsters came to close, he shouted a warning to the villagers, then slew the monsters. Thanks to Csaba no one was hurt, only scared by the occasional monster's attacks.

The villagers were very grateful, thanks to him clearing the land of monsters, the farmers could work more land, letting them grow more food. The village prospered it began to attract people, including many skilled trades people and merchants.

The small farming village on the edge of the world grew into a thriving town. The boy Csaba grew into a young man, respected by in the town. As thanks for his good work the townspeople gifted Csaba with a new sword, armor and a house.

Over time the monster attacks became less frequent, the villagers grew less afraid of the monsters, and more concerned with their businesses and their daily lives. They began to ask if Csaba really had to interrupt their business and lives with warnings, his fighting and his loud cries that shook glass.

A day came when there was another monster attacks, Csaba ran to fight the monsters shouting warning's for the people to run. To his dismay only half of the people heeded his warning. Fortunately, no one was hurt.

But the next time Csaba warned about a monster attack, even less people ran to safety. Then only a few ran the next time.

Worried Csaba called a town meeting, "People are not heeding my warnings. I know it disrupting your lives, but what I am trying to keep you alive."

The townspeople grew angry and countered on Csaba, "We're tired of you always calling monster attacks. Disrupting our works, cutting into our profits. We want you to stop!"

Csaba tried to remain calm, "As long as monsters continue to attack, I will continue to shout warning."

Despite his warnings, few of the townspeople fled during future attacks. Csaba managed to protect the town and the people. However, every time Csaba shouted a warning or used his scream attack, he irritated another person.

Then one day a large horde of monsters attacked the town, larger than any that attacked before. While Csaba fought the monsters he shouted at the top of his voice warning the people to run; no one ran.

He continued to shout, pleading for the people to get to safety, but no one was convinced. Not until some monsters slipped past Csaba into the city, buildings were destroyed and were people were hurt.

Csaba managed to defeat all of the monsters, but the people were very angry that he failed to keep them all out of the town. Some refused to speak to him, others refused to do business with him, others threw things and insults at him.

One day an even bigger horde of monsters attacked the town. Running to fight the monsters Csaba warned the people to head for safety, but again no one heeded his warning. Even when the monsters were outside of the gate, Csaba shouting warnings, no one fled.

Some monsters got past Csaba into the town, destroying homes, business, and killing people. Finally, people near the monsters began to flee. Despite the cries of the fleeing people and Csaba's warnings, people further in the town refused to leave and went about their business.

More and more monsters made it past Csaba into the town, destroying more and more. Despite the warnings people still refused to leave until they faced the monsters.

By the time Csaba managed to defeat the last monster half of the town was destroyed. Many people were killed, even more lost everything. They were very made at Csaba, and told him to leave.

Csaba was very angry at the way he was being treated, but he also knew that if he stayed the people would be so hostile that he would not be able to do his job. So, he left the town to search others in need of protection.

The people of the city were pleased with themselves, thinking that by getting rid of the Csaba they could go back to when they prospered. For a time, they were happy to rebuilt their business and homes. Not realizing that they're prosperity was the result of Csaba protection.

That was until the next monster attack came, without Csaba to protect the town many buildings were destroyed and many people were hurt. The people tried to rebuild again, but another attack came, destroying more of the city.

More and more monsters attacked came, destroying the town piece by piece. Never giving the people time to recover.

Under such threat of attack travelers stopped visiting the town. Merchants stopped bringing business, and wealth. With no more business the trades people left to find new opportunities. Leaving behind the original villagers.

Once again those left behind wished for the attacks to stop. But without the prosperity they once had, the people had nothing to keep them in the ruins of their homes. So, the original villagers left.

Turning their home into a ghost town.

The End