Ch. 7 - Deals

A Single day had only past after Mason and the goddess Jessica had settled down. Druid Liz had helped him learn more magic and its understanding the rest of the evening of yesterday. With both of then growing to understand one another. It was today however, that the town rang its bell. signaling that something was stirring up, but also that Liz was being summoned.

Mason was up as the sun was reaching the peak, making it the afternoon, and noticed Liz getting her satchel with herbs ready. "Don't tell me your being summoned?" he asked while the still unconscious goddess was asleep in his lap. both being on the couch and her head on his lap being stroked gently along her hair by him.

Liz spoke up to him and nodded. "in a way.. sometimes they need medicine, it's a part of the deal I made to keep my forest under my control. at this point, after proving how much knowledge I have, and how many time I have helped them. I should be able to rearrange our deal with the mayor. but it's the church there that's the problem. they don't like monster like us. any subspecies that isn't human is looked at as a potential enemy to them and... around this part of the world... if the church deams monster a treat, they will seak out people to fight and exterminate us... I won't have much influence or a chance to speak about this if they get involved. I won't get you involved smdont worry for all they know I was the one experimenting yesterday" she told him as she was finished getting ready and stood by her door.

Mason however didn't like this complicated approach. "screw that... your my people. I look after my own... this is sudden, but im not about to let you do anything on your own again, not anymore since I'm around"

"I'm not some child"

"I never said you were Liz." gently he moved aside the goddess and let her rest alone on the couch while he grabbed his clothes and followed her to the door. "I'm just being cautious... I've lived with humans... and I've read text books about them... our ancestors attempts to negotiate. there foresight in war. I know a lot about them in my own modern era at the time. they but worms. every last one. I nonce or not. they've perfected the sin of greed. even if you manage to make a deal that was more beneficial, they'll want more from you as well. I'll be there to keep them in line. to make sure that they need to be wary of who exactly they make am enemy out of. and this church will not get in your way, I'll be sure of it. you, just worry about your forest. You have no ties with them beside co-existence" he told her.

"but youll make things worse...!" she was worried and walked outside with him. "just, don't say anything. if it doesn't look like... things are going anywhere, then you may act can we agree.. ?"

"sure... and don't worry, I don't plan on killing anyone. the point here is get everything we need across. nothing more." he reassured her, and then asked once they began to walk. he stood firm and tall, not hutched over. his chin and head strong on his shoulder. for a moment it looked she was next to a tower.

as she looked up to him she thought. "to be honest... I was hoping to expand my reach. and my forest. I have enough room. but a druid shouldn't be limited. however this will likely ruin there woodcutting, so I'll gave to my stand all to the south. so I'll just notify them, my forest has expanded. at least my control and territory. I won't interfere with them, as long as they don't disturb my forest, and of course I'll have to give them medicine and protect them from the south. only."

"before it was around all there walls right... nice change. and thinking, if they want more they better offer a better deal"

"yeah, but the issue will be if they will comply, I've found many of there hunters roaming my woods... just people wanting coin, I've wounded them only... but I know nasty rumors have been spreading" she explained to him and soon felt his palm on her upper back.

"You were just reminding them of the deal... don't feel awful or guilty. they were in the wrong... but it's odd they didn't stress this agreement to the people. so it could be intentional that they want conflic" he explained.

"but why?"

"for your land. you've been bring Medicine, natural herbs to help these strangers... they think if you could be rid of, they'll have a stable profit and line of medicine. however, they don't know if yours powers being the major influence... and by the way, it'll be best to keep that fire incident secret, just say it was an enemy casting it, but you took care of them. your power over them will likely increase, rather than them being scared of your possible threat. you'll also at the same time convince them you've been keeping your word" he told her as he kept having the foresight for plans. if they potentially sensed she would be a danger, she would be deemed a threat. or they wouldn't want to be more negotiable, if the sudden passive druid was gaining even more strength.

"sounds good... we got all that sorted out... I'm sure this will be easy for us" she said in a softly more happier mood.

"I don't plan on hiding my powers forever... sometime, I'll destroy this town. and it's vermin." he told her, as this was a realization for her.

"then... why haven't you yet...?"

"because that sleeping God in your home... hasn't woken up. she summoned me. and I want to know why. and why, I have this burning urge to kill them. I wasn't a killer before. and now I can do so easily Demonic or not. people don't change an instant. I want to know what I am now... more than anything. and I have my other goal. to find my scattered family on this planet. once I have them. anyone is a treat to me... if they get in my way" he said coldly as his body was getting warm and even emitting such warmth outward.

"So until I know more... I won't go on such a rampage. whatever it is cursing my mind. my will won't be so easily broken. it never was back then... and it will never now" there a strong and heavy authoritative like presence around him. his body was strong. his strength and magic was overwhelming. being his enemy was a clear death sentence.

"your strong Mason... truly... and you hold this aura of security... even now, as scary as you speak behind this words... I don't feel threatened. thank you." she said and leaned into his warmth.

for years and tears she spent time alone wondering when humans would revolte against her and forcefully take her forest. all this time endured and now she was safe. she knew that well. without a hint of hesitation this man she stood with was safe to be around.

After more time traveling the path, there was an assembly of people as well the mayor and city's district lord In the center speaking to the people. as they got closer they joined the crowd and stood out well.

but that didn't stop the mayor from speaking up as he noticed her as well and so had the lord. "everyone... please calm down... we just wanted to warn and notify you all... the Holy kingdoms knight are arriving... we've seen them on the road and matching here. but please don't be scared. they are allies and we an extention of there Holy hand..."

an Archbishop stood now approaching from behind them. in his back cloth his stood up between them. "yes...! do not worry! they will not do us harm... however this druid is another story"

he pointed her out as Mason clicked his tongue

"tch.... damn asshole" he was annoyed that this was just an announcement it seemed. and wanted to even make a target.

"now now... the lady of the forest is no threat..." the mayor said and stood up for her. "she has been defending us for so long and helping our sick and injured."

"Mason let's go. I have a very bad bad feeling" she said and grabbed his clothes gently.

"I'm in no position to change your mind... so let's go..." he turned with her but were stopped as the bishop spoke up.

"But mayor you heard the stories... she's been purposely harming our hunters and that dangers our food supply..." the lord then go involved.

"keeping up your deal is one thing Druid... but harming my people I'd another... stay where you are..." he said and began to cast a spell ready to use. "that fire yesterday. it was you wasn't it... or that male?"

the lord asked, and this was now something both couldn't be ignored. she looked up and nodded. "yes, but how you think... there was intruder. so I eliminate them before there spell was at all effective"

"noble... so bring the corpse, the male can bring you and you can stay..."

"no can do... I left nothing behind" she kept trying to throw him off.

"hm... fine... but explain why you'd harm my people... just for hunting, life is life. we hunt to kill it doesn't directly harm. you our our treaty" he said and only kept persisting.

"damn this annoying..." Mason said looking at the lord with a piercing and intimidating glare. "does it fucking matter... your ready to use your magic without care about the people you rallied... if it's intimation be damn careful who your trying to scare boy..." Mason said and extended his hand opening his palm as he had put out his magic like a match. "now we can talk like gentlemen..."

the lord was silent. but then, the Archbishop spoke. "so she had a demon as her protector... then we can't trust her... everyone knows demons are just brutes... with no concept of civilization"

knowing he would only try to antagonize Mason more he sighed and let it go. "belive whag you want... but I'm no brute... and I promise if you don't tred careful against the unknown it will kill you... let us go..."

grabbing Liz he did walk again and now the mayor spoke. "wait! please. we could use her medicine... it was our deal was it not... we have some sick in the church.."

"it's your choice... what do you wanna do...?" he asked Liz.

she turned and looked to him. "on one conditions. the terms of our treaty change."

"I'll allow it... if the lord and bishop as we accompany me... and you of course can being your male" he said as that had concluded the meeting.

"Let's go..." he told her and walked close with her to the direction of the church.

"even I know that curchs much have a heavenly aura... and presence. yet this one if filthy and dark." he said to Liz. "Don't heal anyone of them. let me investigate what's going on.."

he told her and she wanted to disagree. but did have this feeling everytime she would go there. "Please do..."

once st the church the nuns all were covered from head to toe in a black cloth with only there eyes shown. the woman were hidden, but the men weren't. he followed her closely as they walked to the back as there injured children and woman near death, but also very scarred.

walking over to a young boy, Mason grabbed his hand and channeled his magic to examine his body and organs. "he's missing some vital organs... and not just him I imagine..."

he walked to the older and younger woman as he saw bruises, scars, stabbing and beating. every form of abuse across a multitude of there bodies.

he stopped Liz from using herbs. "even if you do... they'll wake up more traumatized. those more up front are also likely victims here... I said I wouldn't kill anyone... but i wont be able to help it" he told her as Liz then thought.

"it's my duty to heal them... but... i know it's wrong for them to continue living..." she stopped and didn't continue. "Please... Mason help Me" she said and looked to him sadly.

"You have no connection to them... so look sad..."

"but... these are just children and young adults... what they deserve for this..."

"human lust... and greed, is that's simple. organs sell for lots... they be put into others to save lives... it can be good. but this method is awful. and you see the girls here. there's no returning to a normal life. they're likely slaves and pets here. we have no business getting involved and you should be forced to help them live such dreadful lives. but you have all this time" he told her.

"yes... I have... but out care for my forest... but I also dread helping... they are just innocent lives... please... it's all I ssk" she pleaded and looked to him in the eye.

he scratched his neck and sighed. "fine... just heal them... I'll put this church down... do not go anywhere... for your own good" he told her as he then stepped out to the front of the church. it's open lobby was being cleaned, however a man pinned a woman against the bench as he began to ready his fist and attack her.

Mason walked over grabbing his wrist and destroyed it crushing it as he pulled him off of her "your bishop wanted a fight... he'll get one... but first I'm sending a message..." he then grabbed the man's head and cruch it open tossing his body aside. the woman was in fear of her savior as Mason looked down to her. grabbing her clothes he undressed her and exposed her body. she was covered in scars, cuts even along her neck and legs.

the flashing image of his family appeared as his violent wrath was showing yet. "You didn't desever to endure this fate.... but just know this world will change. into my image" he then covered her as the other men around were ready either daggers and knuckles.

"those are some fancy weapons... should a person of the clothes really be holding them..."

"screw you... you killed my brother..."

Mason disappeared and appeared in front of the man who said that and by his throat. "Your brother, like the rest of you are vermin. I don't care. and thing you've done... will be something you may never attone from... no matter if your family... not matter if your in a church... there is now means of sanctuary for you" he said and snapped his neck as a loud violent Crack was heard.

he then looked to the last man as he was in fear. "your just playing some hero..." soon Mason stabbed his arm into his chest. "what hero easily kills humans... and the heros you speak of... are next. if they allow this... they are just vermin" he pulled out his spine through his chest as he then had let him fall. as the Archbishop entered Mason then looked over. "Archbishop... let's make a deal..."