1 Witch-hunter

It was a bright and summer morning in the idyllic country fields of Lapet--a village in the north-western province of Sisalfin.

The grass was green, the dairy cows--for which Lapet was known for--were fat and had just delivered a new generation of calves. Always a blessing.

Things were looking great, at least if you asked Lutie, one of the most beautiful girls in the village, currently milking one of her locally renowned cheesemaking family's prized cows. The sun momentarily blinded her as she came out of the barn, heavy milk-bucket in both hands, and saw it burning high and bright--its light making her golden hair shine white. A good day to work.

Around the corner of her emerald eyes, though...she saw a traveler.

It was a cloaked man with a wide brimmed hat who drove a cart pulled by a black bull. Behind him seemed to be large, oaken barrels--which to her probably meant he was a merchant who dealt in wine or other spirits.

The man waved to her with a friendly smile.

Lutie waved back.

As his figure got nearer she noticed him drawing closer--eventually leaving the road altogether.

He was making his way towards her.

She stood there. Wondering why. Could he have some question he wants to ask? Does he want directions? Is he looking for someone?

She got her answer soon enough:

"Hello, young miss!" The cloaked man said, tipping his hat in courtesy.

"Hello, sir traveler," said Lutie. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Yes, uhm...I've been on the road for a couple of days now. I was hoping if it was all right for me to take a moment of respite here? I've got money--I'll pay for the trouble."

"Is that all?" Lutie smiled. "Then please sir, no need! You can stay here for as long as you want! Give your bull some water too!"

"Too kind! Too kind!"

Lutie welcomed the man into her home--a humble place, a small hearth, but clean and cozy. As expected of a small village dwelling.

Inside the house was Lutie's mother, her sisters, and her father--a cripple in crutches. Solidly built with a salt-and-pepper mane and beard.

Her mother was a kindly looking woman. Her dark-brown hair tied in a bun. Lutie's two younger sisters played around her legs, both with shocks of auburn hair, yet to be tamed by a comb.

"Oh, apologies!" said the traveler. "Hope you don't mind a stranger imposing on your hospitality."

Everyone smiled and bade the man to go inside: to make himself at home.

The traveler put down his hat in one of the tables and shook his hair: wild and black, just like, as Lutie soon noticed, his eyes. He was a handsome man, kindly and fair. The tone of his voice was soft and comforting. His smile was infectious and full of mirth.

"Ah, thank you, miss….Umm, excuse me can I have your name?"

"Call me Lutie."

"Ah, yes. Lutie. Lovely home you've got here. Again, many thanks. Very kind, very kind."

"Of course, good sir." Lutie replied as she gave him something to drink. "Would you like some fresh milk?"

"Would I?" smiled the traveler. "I would LOVE some milk! It's been ages since I've come to a place like this. My hometown was very similar."

"Oh, where are you from?"

"Ah! I live south from here. I'm from the Empire," said the traveler with some pride. "Though I was originally from a place north from the Capital. Somewhere in between here and there, I suppose." He laughed and sank his shoulders into his seat.

"The Empire! Is the Maelian Capital as beautiful as they say it is?" said Lutie. "I would love to go there once."

"Oh, it's that and more, young miss! A city built in marble and dyed in crimson and purple. Truly a city worthy of the gods."

"Do you know anyone interested in buying cheese from Lapet, sir?" Lutie's father interjected.

"Father?"

"What? We might need to find new customers soon," added her mother as she played with one of Lutie's sisters. "We've got more milk now than ever. We're gonna need more people to sell to."

"Ohhhh! Yes. Maela loves Sisalfin cheese! It's a delicacy! Famous! Divine! They can't get enough of it!"

"Oh, wait. How rude of us. Can we get your name, traveler?"

"Call me Aemilai."

The family felt at ease as they conversed further with Aemilai, the handsome traveler. They traded jokes, and barbs--he even made a few funny faces for one of the children.

Then he asked more questions:

"On the way here, I saw a rather scary sight, though." Everyone listened on. "The town south from here...two villages south, Lucan, I think?"

"Yeah...We heard," said Lutie.

"Heard what?"

"The Stormhammer Legion," said the mother. "They've come."

"Nasty sorts, aren't they?"

The family nodded and sighed. Their expression full of sympathy--their eyes dejected and full of frustration.

"Hunting monsters, my foot! They're the real monsters!" the father said, his face twisting in a rage filled moment of release.

The room felt tense and heavy now. Deep contrast from just a few minutes earlier.

Aemilai ended the tension. He got off his seat--

"!"

--and rubbed the father's back in sympathy.

"They'll get through this. Lucan is full of strong people. Strong, resilient...It's gonna take more than the damn Stormhammer to finish them."

"I'm sorry," answered the father. "They're your countrymen, right? How do you see them?"

"Hmm...Yes. They are. And yes, we know how their reputation goes: Burner of villages, exterminator of entire clans, enemies of all magic. Zealots. Fanatics. Self-righteous brutes."

"Same here, then." the father chuckled.

"Aye," Aemilai smiled.

'Father! Please, it's not good for you to dwell on that! Not with a guest!" Lutie said.

"You're right, dear. Sorry, Sir Aemilai."

"No offense taken, sir. It's your home."

"Would you like to stay the night then?" asked the mother. "You've been a lovely guest."

"Oh, no! Kind hosts! I think I'll be gone soon. I just need to figure out where I'm going next. That's why I came here to rest. To better figure that out. Just a few calculations."

"Oh, how can we help then?"

"The Stormhammer got in the way of my journey, but one of the people who lived in Lucan was kind enough to point me...well, here. In Lapet." Aemilai leaned in closer. "One of them told me...I could find one of 'their' kind here. Perhaps engaged in some trade. I would love to get my hands on wares made by 'their' hands."

"I'm sorry, sir. You heard wrong. No one here knows where they went after the Stormhammer Legion came there."

"Not even rumors?"

"None."

"You sure?"

"I'm sure."

"That's a shame," Aemilai sighed and rubbed his thigh in frustration.

"Where do you suppose they'd go to hide? The forests?"

"Probably. They were originally from those places, after all."

[Waas, elomdiwa nae?] (Indeed, ain't the witch-folk something else?)

The father's eyes widened.

Lutie went pale.

"No!"

"Yes."

"You're one of them."

Tension grew deep and thick in the room--the family now knew whom exactly it was they let into their home.

Aemilai stood up and took a gracious bow.

"Allow me to introduce myself more accurately: I am Martelai Euniai Aemilai--Commander of the Fourth Company; Stormhammer Legion."

Lutie's hands covered mouth as she shook and looked at Aemilai as if he was some sort of wild beast.

Aemilai smiled.

The wolf was now inside the sheep pen.

"Sir, please, what I said earlier…"

"Like I said, good host. No offense taken. It's your home. Your castle. And while I might disagree with your assessment of our work. Nothing you said is inaccurate. We did actually do those things...for reasons you probably don't agree with or don't care to understand."

Aemilai kneeled down and playfully rubbed Lutie's little sister's head. He could feel her mother's fear grow along with her father's contempt for him.

"But this time? No more lies," Aemilai said. "Oh, and just so you don't do anything stupid--ni casma!"

Two men, clad in ocean-black cloaks and imperial blue tunics, lightly armed with short swords came in. Lutie's mother nearly screamed her lungs out.

"In case you were wondering: they hid in the barrels and did some light scouting. Did you find anything?"

"No, sir. No one was in the barn."

"Did you check beneath the barn?"

"In the gutters?"

"Yes."

"Good, boys."

"What do you want?" asked Lutie's father.

"Information. The truth. Also, your name?"

"...."

"Come now, sir. You know mine. What's yours?"

"Wait...Are you the Witch-hunter?"

"That's what people call me, yes. But you didn't answer--"

"Oh, Gods!"

"Your name, sir." Aemilai stressed and faced the father. "Please."

"Gusrame."

"Nice to meet you, Gusrame. Again, you were wonderful. Also, your leg. Curious, how did you break it?"

"I lost it in a hunt. Manticore. Eight meters."

"Brave man, and I suppose you bought your cows and built this dairy farm from the money you made as a young hunter of witch-species?"

"Yes."

"So you're just like us then."

"I'm NOTHING like you!"

Aemilai's men drew their swords--Lutie sank to the floor in fear.

"Respect the commander, knave!" said one of Aemilai's men.

Aemilai put out a hand and motioned him to stand still. He did so at once--sheathing his blade.

"I know a lot of the Sisalfin people still see the many witch-species scattered throughout the world as gods or semi-gods. I get that." Aemilai said. "But, do know you're wrong."

Aemilai stood before the father and looked him straight in the eyes.

"They're pests."

Aemilai spoke with all the conviction of a true fanatic. His words laced with venomous intent.

"I hunted fae-beasts and forest guardians when they went wild or were close to death,"said Gusrame. "Not all of them are like that."

"And yet, too many of them are."

"I also never slew people! PEOPLE! Just for being 'gifted!'"

"Cursed. They never should have been born." Aemilai said. "And careful now. You're getting into dangerous sympathies here. Think about your family."

Gusrame paused and stared daggers at Aemilai.

"Ask your questions and get out!"

"Gladly." Aemilai returned to his earlier seat again--taking down the hat and handing it over to one of his men. He then drew out a map and asked Gusrame to come closer.

"We've combed through all of Lucan. All the witch-beasts have been slain. Including Lucan's rabid wolf-god witch 'guardian'. But, here's something more troubling: There are five witches on our list that are unaccounted for and need immediate processing. Our scouts reported that they're supposed to be there. But, when we got there, well, they weren't. Can you clue us in on where they might be now?"

"They moved further north. To the Great Northern Plains. Or East to take a ship to God's Gardens.

"OK. That's where they're going. Where do you think they are now as of this time?"

"Probably already there."

"Unlikely"

"How?"

"I sent my men in advance to block the exits and the roads and patrol the forest trails before I ever came to Lucan. Even for creatures as tricky as witches, we would've noticed something."

"Maybe you had a few blind spots on your watch? Maybe you lost them, Aemilai?"

"Perhaps. Nothing's impossible for anyone desperate enough to live.' said Aemilai. "Or...They could be hiding under my nose all this time."

"You can't mean my--!"

"Close. But not you. Not yours," Aemilai looked around him. The dread was obvious in Gusrame's family and the young girl Lutie who now regrets welcoming him in--truth be told, it made Aemilai kinda sad. "Not what you think...The problem with witchfolk...is that they look just like us," said Aemilai...staring right at Lutie.

"Hair the color of spun-sunlight. Clear green eyes...born to parents with neither."

Aemilai's men drew their blades.

"I found you."

Lutie, in a panic, rushed out the door and transformed into a monstrous golden fox. One with seven tails, three green eyes, and several spell-marks all over her body: proof of previous battles with those who knew or understood magic.

But the fox Lutie wasn't interested in fighting.

All she wanted to do was get away.

[Third Key! On Laws Regarding All Under Bahmoth! By Divine Imperial Edict: Bind!]

Aemilai raised his hands in a supplicant's gesture and out of his cloak came flying a stream of long white ribbons marked with mystic symbols.

"GRAAAAGHHH!"

The monster fox "Lutie" screamed as the ribbons bound her in place and took away her mobility the more she struggled.The harder she fought the harder they constricted.

At some point--

"Gaaah!"

Aemilai could swear he heard a bone break.

"Lutie?" said Gusrame in a shock.

"See, Gusrame? That? That enchanted you. Violated your mind and preyed on your good nature. Made you think it was your daughter. Made you want to protect her. Protect 'IT'. Doesn't that just ruin your day?"