An owl looked at him.
Fabkas was investigating strange poisoning in his town. It seemed to come from the major source of water township supply. So he walked along one of the tracks surrounding the stream, being very quiet as he was doing so. While walking, the bright light of the moon was shafting through gaps in the canopy formed by group of trees, then suddenly, something with claws grabbed him by the shoulder. He could feel it and hear rustlings against his ear, but when he looked out, there was nothing there, only a tree branch. So he tried to pull away and after being set free noticed many pairs of eyes staring at him. They were those of water creatures hiding amongst leaves and stones. The eels seemed more conscious of Fabkas's presence. He watched a number of them slide away in under rocks. Numerous grasses crowding the background seemed like a good place to hide, so he merged with them. Only after hiding did he think to himself, is this a good idea?
After a while, a half-bodied man pushed through the wind. It's very appearance provoked a menace of terror in the heart of Fabkas and even worse as it walked on the water with palms outstretched. He almost blew off it's content but for Fabkas.
"Stop," Fabkas shouted.
The half-bodied man stood still with mouth opened and shock written in his wrinkled face. You might think the half-bodied man would say 'too late' but he did not. There appeared to be something of greater relevance.
"You can see me," the half-bodied man asked.
Fabkas cleared his throat. So it is you? You are behind it all.
"Who are you that is able to see a Halfendoid?"
"What do you mean?"
"Only the Grot can see Halfendoids. We are his messengers too."
"Did this Grot ask you to wipe out the entire town?" Fabkas asked.
"If you answer my question, then I would answer yours," the man bowed his head.
"Ask your question, Half-man," Fabkas folded his arms.
"Who are you?" The man asked.
"I am someone who cannot tell you his name for security reasons. Besides, standing before a creature like you is enough challenge for a lifetime."
"I must be in my last days as I cannot remember the Grot putting me under any curse, considering that I have indeed been very loyal. Certainly, in my last days I must be, to meet someone other than the Grot that can see me. Even the Queen of Dark Legions never has."
"Queen of Dark Legions!"
"Yes! That is how we praise her."
"Her?"
"That is the wife of the Grot."
"Who is she?"
"She is a Sorceress and this is why we call her the Queen of Dark Legions. Many years ago, when magic was ubiquitous and Sorcerers walked amongst the people of Green Kingdom, it came to be noticed that Sorcerers used their magic to harm the people. King Bon, the Emperor at that time waged war against Sorcery and all those who practiced it. Meanwhile, the Sorcerers formed a community called the Dark Legions. Several sorcerers and sorceresses successively took over the throne to fight the war but failed except for her. However, she would not have been successful if not for the help of my Master, The Grot."
"No wonder the strange happenings alongside demons and beasts that keep attacking our dear town," Fabkas lamented.
"Tell me son, who are you?" the man shot Fabkas a stern look.
"I am Fabkas, abandoned at birth by a woman who is supposed to be my mother and looked down upon by the society because I am a Nobody."
"Only the Grot sees Halfendoids because of his extreme power. No one is as powerful as he is here. The one who would have been able to match him in strength wasn't even allowed to be born. Tell me who you really are."
"I do not know what you are talking about. But you will not poison the stream today or any other day. My mother didn't want me so she abandoned me. But I will never abandon the people of my town. I will continue to take care of them and risk my life for them. After all, I have nothing to lose. If I end up not returning alive, no one would miss me, except perhaps my Dwarf friend and he would stop doing so when he notices his ration at the orphanage has increased because of my absence."
"I am only a messenger. Nothing personal."
"Then leave! Please!"
"Then what do I tell the Grot?"
"Tell him that you choose not to harm others because lives are important and should be saved not the other way round."
"I will become history."
"I would not let you do..."
The Halfendoid blew off from his palms, a powder of gold phosphorescence before Fabkas could jump to stop him. The substance floated in the current around and glowed like fireflies before disappearing. The Halfendoid also vanished.
Fabkas had ended up breathing, kicking with his legs and stroking eagerly in the water with his arms like a butterfly about to drown, after he missed his target by passing through him. He didn't stop until he successfully propelled himself out of the water. For an instance he thought it to be sheer luck not to have made body contact with the Halfendoid. Whatever the consequences were to be, he was fortunate not to have found out. He coughed out and cleaned his mouth through steady spitting out so there would be no chance he takes in the water. After resting with hands on his thighs, he picked up a dismantled rock and began to run. Whenever he reached a place people lived, he would knock steadily with the rock, then announce that no one should drink from the stream or its supplies. It has been poisoned.
After doing so for long, Fabkas lost his voice, but the people picked up the information and shouted it to others. One told another. Another told another who told others until the news went viral. The next morning, people were amazed at the animals that drank and stretched to their ends. They prayed for the boy who told them not to drink. Soon, Fabkas became known amongst the people as 'the boy who told others not to drink' and they loved him too.
