The Forge

"But if it is machine, and only if," Ayleth began, "someone else is behind this whole kidnapping. Isn't that what we need to worry about?"

"Yeah, but its going to be hard trying to narrow down the possible people who would make that happen could take a while."

Gwene thoughts dwelled on the shades screaming, why was she the only one affected by it, she was paralysed by it, yet everyone else just heard a shrill scream. She needed answers.

"...it escaped by portal, yes?" Atticus said.

Gwene nodded, to confirm Atticus' question.

"Well, that would suggest it was trying to escape to somewhere far from here." Atticus said.

"I just wish... Just wish I could do something. I feel so... Helpless." Gwene admitted.

"...we all feel this way sometimes, Gwene." Atticus said solemnly. "But we can't let it weigh us down."

"There is something else as well." Gwene said "When it started to scream, my whole body paralysed, yet, the same thing didn't happen to anyone else."

"...how strange. Perhaps it is some form of psychic influence." Atticus said.

"But I don't have any magical properties." Gwene said. Or did she? She had never really thought to try it out.

"I need to go for a walk." she said, rising from her chair and going to the door. "Don't worry, I'm not going after it, I just want some thinking time." she looked over to Alyeth "Thank you for the Tea, it was very nice." she opened the door and exited the house.

"Or you have sensible ears", Ankoku said with nonchalance. He had grown a big opinion of hers.

"Anyway, she is wrong. I too landed an hit of it.... and wasn't it for me, she would have been finely-cut meant ready for the butcher shop - the twelve years old boy stated with his cold stare - And I doubt it was a machine... I bashed it with a staff. No metallic clang to pull such off. I think it's more of a ... construct. A being held together by this so called magic. The portal was.... frankly enough, beyond me. And I think she was simply afraid of the scream, frankly enough"

Of course, some blood was still running down from his ear due to the fact he had not bothered to close them as the monster had shrieked inhumanly. Not that he knew it

Atticus noticed the blood running out of his ears. "...I think you should check your ears."

Gwene walked through the streets of Castle Town, many of the citizens were speaking between themselves over what had transpired, others didn't care and had continued about their business.

Before she knew it, she was all alone out in the field of the Southern Entrance to Castle Town. This was good, she sat down on the grass, then lay back, putting her hands behind her back in a reclined position.

She began to think about the events that had taken place.

Ankoku looked up and said: "Why?"

He then placed an hand close to them and felt the blood. His reaction?

A pefectly deadpan: "Drat? When did that happen? Maybe at the scream which froze the blonde... yeah, most likely"

"You should probably clean that blood off..." Atticus said.

Ankoku nodded and wiped the blood off with his long bell-shaped sleeves until he was clean.

"However, I might hold an idea how to track such monster down", he stated

"Oh? And what would that be?" Atticus asked.

Ankoku nodded and said: "There might be. There is a fortune teller in the outskirts of the city..... I thought he was a fraud, yet he seemed to know my name.... he might have an idea about.... the location.... I think"

Somehow, his tone, while a bit stuttering, failed to falter, and his deadpan remained through his whole speech

Atticus nodded so slowly. He smiled a bit. "Come on, cheer up a bit. If your lead is correct, then we have a chance of catching this creature."

Ankoku looked up at him and said:" What? Why should I cheer up?"

Atticus blinked. "You seem so...unhappy. Unmotivated."

"I simply find no reason to act neither happily nor sadly. Still, I have as of the moment a drive... and worry not. Lack of emotions aside.... I fully intend to bring Zelda back.... frankly enough, I doubt the blonde is up to the task", he said with a shrug

Atticus raised his eyebrows at him, and then quickly glanced at Ayleth, before looking back at Ankoku.

"...interesting." he said. "Why don't you follow this lead, then? I would come with you, but as you can see, Ayleth here is in such a state that I'd rather not leave her alone."

"I am going to obey", he said before looking at Aelyth and bowing

"Best wishes, ma'am", he augurated her as he took his leave