The Enigmatic Encounter
A/N: this is the chapter guys, with that, we have reached 15k words and now I will focus on stocking up chapters with the goal being between 20 to 30. I will tell you more about that later.)
Let's see what place is close to me' he thought, and with his trusted map in hand, Corkus gazed upon the carefully etched lines and names of various villages and towns, all sprawled across the parchment in a mesmerizing dance of ink.
The map was a parting gift from Kerlic, a guide to help him navigate the vast lands as he embarked on his journey.
As he traced his finger across the map, a particular name caught his eye: "Elderwood Village."
' It is close by, just a short distance from where I am. The village's name piqued my curiosity. I mean, how can someone have that bad naming sense?' Corkus thought while deciding to make it his first destination:
With a resolute nod, Corkus folded the map and tucked it securely into his bag as he journeyed towards the village of Elderwood.
The verdant fields and picturesque landscape offered a comforting contrast to the dark and dangerous world of Berserk.
---
As he approached the village, Corkus noticed a weathered wooden post covered in faded parchment. On it, a plea for help caught his eye: "Missing Children: A Reward for Bringing the Children Back."
'I might say that I will evolve my moral code, but I don't think ignoring children is a good idea they are innocent' he thought while sighing, the gravity of the situation weighing on his mind.
Following the sign's directions, he made his way to the local orphanage. The building stood tall. He stepped inside, hoping to find someone who could provide additional information about the disappearances.
A peculiar encounter awaited him at the orphanage. Inside the stone walls of the building, he was greeted by the matron, an old woman whose appearance could only be described as strikingly unusual. Her hunched back and wrinkled face bore the marks of a long life lived, and her silver hair cascaded down like a shimmering waterfall. The matron's face was a tapestry of wrinkles and lines, she had moles in the fewest places you could imagine, especially on her long nose, bigger than Pinocchio, her brows were thick like the forest of the Amazon, and under them, her eyes seemed like snakes hiding behind some bushes.
She had a way of looking at him with eyes that sparkled with mischievous delight, and her warm smile with her black and uneven teeth that would put any child predator to shame was as inviting as it was puzzling. As she spoke, Corkus couldn't help but feel a strange sense of comfortlessness in the way she addressed him, her words hinting at a hidden playfulness.
"Young man, it's not every day we have someone as handsome and strong as you grace our humble orphanage," she said, with a rough sonorous voice carrying a subtle hint of admiration.
Corkus, unused to such compliments that would make any man faint, felt his face pale slightly. "Thank you, ma'am."
"I'm just passing through and thought I might be able to help with the missing children."
The matron chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "Well, aren't you a gallant soul? You remind me of a brave knight from the tales of old, with those big muscles."
Though taken aback by the comparison, Corkus couldn't help but find her flattery frightening. Despite her unconventional appearance, the matron possessed a certain charm that made him want to throw up.
'I came to an orphanage or to a whole different dimension she looks like a paralysis demon, and Baba Yaga had a child' he thought.
"I saw the notice about the missing children."
I'm passing through and thought I might be able to help in some way," Corkus replied.
The matron nodded appreciatively. "It's a terrible situation indeed." Four children have vanished without a trace, and the villagers are distraught. "We fear the worst but hope for their safe return."
"Do you have any leads or clues about what might have happened to them?" Corkus inquired, hoping to gather as much information as he could before setting out to investigate.
The matron sighed, her expression growing somber. "No, my dear." The children were last seen playing near the forest at the edge of the village. It's not uncommon for them to venture there, but they've never been gone for so long. "We're all at a loss, and the villagers are afraid."
"I'll do my best to find the missing children," he assured her, having a strange gut feeling about her.
"Thank you, young man. Your kind heart is a ray of hope in these dark times," the matron said gratefully.
"The reward is 50 silver coins, but if you do well, you will get an extra reward, if you know what I mean," she said with a playful wink while licking her uneven and dark teeth.
"Thanks, I guess I will go search for them right now," he said with a pale face, and then he started running outside until he reached an alley.
Then he started puking his guts out.
"What a disgusting encounter that was! Not only do I have to deal with the fact that I am in the berserk universe, but I will have to deal with that pedo as well, but what can I do? 50 silvers are 50 silvers, let's be done with this, get the 50 silver and runway as far from this place" he said with a serious tone in his voice.
---
The forest loomed at the edge of the village, a vast expanse of ancient trees standing tall like silent sentinels. The wind whispered through the leaves, and the rustling of branches seemed to beckon Corkus into its depths. The moon cast a faint glow, guiding his steps as he ventured into the unknown.
'The Forest is scary. I hope I don't meet an apostle here, or if someone like that has to do with the missing children, but I should do it for the children and the money to buy better equipment later on,' he thought, his heart pounding with anticipation and a hint of fear.
As he journeyed deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around him, creating a maze. It felt as though the forest itself was watching, a silent witness to the enigma that had befallen the village.
' I should look for trails,' he thought, then he found an unmarked trail and started following it, his senses on high alert for any signs of the missing children.
Soon, Corkus stumbled upon an abandoned campsite. The embers of a long-extinguished fire lay scattered around, hinting that someone was there before him. He scanned the area, seeking any other trace of their presence.
In the distance, a whisper reached his ears: "You smell so good!"
Corkus immediately turned around, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon, fearing the worst. To his surprise, he saw an old man who appeared ancient, clad in tattered robes that seemed to absorb the shadows. Wisps of silvery hair cascaded down his shoulders, and his eyes burned with an indigo gaze that held the knowledge of countless lifetimes.
The wizard's presence carried an air of mystique and weariness as if he had witnessed the rise and fall of empires. Yet, beneath the aura of power, there was a hint of sorrow and longing for an existence beyond eternity.
"Who the hell are you, and why were you smelling me?" Corkus asked, his voice tinged with curiosity and caution.
"Please refrain from using such crude language in front of me, mortal!" The man's voice boomed with authority and a touch of annoyance.
"My name is Zarvash Nuriq, The Harbinger of Desolation, the founder, and the first Emperor of the Kushan Empire. I am a wizard," he declared, his voice carrying the weight of centuries of knowledge and experience.
"As for why I was 'smelling' you, I can sense your Od. It has an affinity close to the dark arts. I can also sense your despair and sadness, hidden deep within your subconscious."
Corkus was taken aback by the wizard's grandiose introduction and his ability to sense his emotions. It was as if Zarvash could peer into his very soul, seeing all the doubts and insecurities that Corkus had kept hidden from the world.
"But the reason that I approached you is that I can sense powerful magic cast on your body and your mind," Zarvash continued. "You have intrigued my interest, and I would like to offer you a deal."
Corkus furrowed his brows, uncertain about the proposition. "What kind of deal are we talking about here?"
Zarvash smiled, a cryptic glimmer in his eyes. "A simple one, really. I get to experiment on you, and you get to become my pupil. I will teach you everything I know about magic in general, but also about the dark arts. I can sense that you are looking for more power."
Corkus considered the offer carefully. The idea of learning magic and gaining more power was appealing, but something about Zarvash's demeanor made him uneasy.
"Do I have a choice in this matter?" Corkus asked, hoping there might be an alternative.
Zarvash's smile widened, but there was a chilling edge to it. "No, my young friend. If you had refused, I would have burned you alive and resurrected you as a skeleton, making you my undead servant."
Corkus felt a shiver run down his spine. It seemed he had no choice but to accept the wizard's deal, whether he liked it or not.
"Alright, I accept your offer. But can you at least tell me where I can find those four missing children?" Corkus asked, his thoughts still preoccupied with the task at hand.
"Of course, I was the one who kidnapped them, after all," Zarvash admitted matter-of-factly. "But don't worry, I didn't sacrifice them. I just needed their blood for my rituals. You can find them in the clearing of the forest that is on your right."
Corkus felt a mix of relief and horror. He was glad to know that the children were still alive, but he couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that he had just made a
deal with a potentially dangerous and sinister figure.
'Who I am kidding of course he is dangerous and sinister I should try not to anger him he seems to have a God complex' he thought.
"Thank you for the information," Corkus said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the unease creeping within him.
"You're welcome," Zarvash replied with a faint smile. "Now, about our deal..."
As the wizard began to explain the terms of their arrangement, Corkus couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation.
' I know that delving into the dark arts came with its own risks and consequences, but the allure of power and knowledge is hard to resist and it will help me further into my life.
With a deep breath, Corkus made his decision. He would become Zarvash's pupil, eager to learn the secrets of magic, even if it meant venturing into dangerous territory. He knew he had to be cautious, but he was bent on using this opportunity to grow stronger.
"Alright I agree but let me take the children first back to the village," he said.
"Don't take too much also prepare yourself for what you will hear from them" Zarvash said with a hint of advice in his voice.
"Thanks, I will prepare myself for that:" he said and with the help of Zarvash's directions he ventured deeper into the forest until he finally stumbled upon the missing children in a small clearing.
Their innocent faces bore signs of fear and desperation as they cautiously approached the stranger before them.
"Who are you? Are you here to take us back home?" one of the children, a young boy, asked timidly.
Corkus nodded, trying to offer a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm here to take you back to the village. Don't worry, you'll be safe now."
But the children hesitated, still visibly shaken and trembling. "We can't go back! The old woman will hurt us if we do," a little girl whispered with tears in her eyes.
"Why would she hurt you? What has she done?" Corkus asked, his heart sinking as he sensed their fear.
The children hesitated once more, their voices quivering as they shared their horrifying experiences. They spoke of the matron's sinister intentions, the dark secrets hidden in the basement, and the unspeakable acts they had endured.
Corkus felt a surge of anger and sorrow, understanding the children's terror. "I promise you, she won't hurt you anymore," he said, his voice firm and filled with a hidden tone of fury that surged through him
.His fists clenched, and a burning rage ignited within him.
"I promise you, no one will ever hurt you again," Corkus declared, his voice tinged with wrath. "I will personally deal with the old woman, and she will never harm anyone ever again."
With great care, Corkus led the children out of the forest and back to the village. The matron, who had appeared concerned about the children's disappearance, feigned surprise, and relief at their return.
"You found them! Oh, thank the Holy See," she exclaimed, but her eyes betrayed a hint of fear.
Corkus, however, saw through her facade. He glared at her, his anger boiling beneath the surface.
"You knew what was happening, didn't you? You used these innocent children for your own twisted desires!" he accused.
The matron's face paled, and she stepped back, her deception unraveling. "I... I didn't mean to hurt them," she stammered, her voice filled with fear.
With the commotion villagers coming out of their houses waiting to see what has happened.
Corkus couldn't bear to listen to her excuses. He turned to the village elders and townsfolk who had gathered, holding the children protectively.
"This woman is responsible for what happened to these children. She preyed upon their vulnerability and innocence," he declared, his voice echoing through the crowd.
The villagers gasped in shock, and some of them exchanged fearful glances.
"How can you be so sure? The matron has worked for the orphanage and the village for his years, her appearance might be hideous but she has a good heart" a villager asked.
"Who are you?" Corkus asked.
"I am the village chief of this place," he said with an all-knowing look.
"If you are so confident about her innocence search the orphanage's basement," Corkus said with a confident tone.
"Alright I don't have a problem with that, men if some of you are willing to come with me," the chief said while walking towards the orphanage and being followed shortly by some villagers.
After a while, the men came out of the orphanage with pale faces and frightening expressions plastered on their faces.
"He is saying the truth there were really children down here only Young boys the appeared to be drugged and with no sense of what was happening around them except boys from the orphanage there were children of fellow villagers some dead and some alive, I saw the body of my little son who I thought was killed by wolves," the chief said while sobbing.
The truth about the matron's dark deeds was now exposed for all to see.
The villagers, deeply disturbed by the revelation, took immediate action. They restrained the matron and promised to bring her to justice for her crimes.
"Burn her alive!" one villager said, and after that, shouts of people who agreed with him were heard.
"No! You can't do this to me, you stupid villagers! I have done so much for the village. I deserve better, and what is wrong with liking 'em young and ripe?"
"Someone shut her mouth," a female villager said.
"Alright," Corkus said, and with one swing of one of his axes, he cut her tongue off.
The village started gathering wood, branches, and other easily flammable things and set the matron on fire as she struggled to escape her fetters.
But all of their efforts were in vain, and soon nothing was left of her but ashes.
As for the children, they were taken into the care of the villagers who would ensure their safety and well-being.
Corkus stayed with them for a while, offering comfort and reassurance, knowing that the road to healing would be long.
Once the children were safe, Corkus was ready to bid farewell to the village, but he was stopped by the chief.
"Young boy, thanks for what you have done for our village, and I am sorry for not believing you earlier. I and the rest of the people of this village have decided to build a small statue in the village square for what you did for us, and you will also have our eternal gratitude," he said with a serious gaze.
"I don't blame you. I think building a statue for me is taking things a little far, but if that's what you guys want, then no problem," Corkus said with a smile.
"It's time for me to leave, so please pass on my farewells to the rest of the villagers."
"Wait, before you go, I want to give you something. It's armor that I and the rest of the villagers made for you."
[Image in the comments]
"It was the best we could make with the resources we had," the chief said.
"Thanks, I will cherish it well," Corkus responded, and then he started his journey back to the forest. When he looked back once again at the village, he saw the villagers waving goodbye to him.
He waved back with a smile on his face as he continued his journey.