Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Part 2

The village of Garven was located directly at a river mouth on the edge of the forest.

A quiet place. The picture was dominated by several wooden huts with thatched roofs.

Goats, sheep and cattle grazed along the riverbed and raised their heads as the covered wagon rumbled over a small bridge that crossed a stream.

The village, as quiet and tranquil as it was, was also deserted.

“Where is everyone?” asked Leuven, irritated, as he tugging on the reins brought Ida and the entire cart to a halt.

The half-demon looked around suspiciously and jumped down from the coach box.

The doors and window hatches of the houses were closed. No one was walking along the branching paths.

“As if night had already fallen,” Leuven remarked, following Evan every step of the way and looking around.

“Yeah, kind of,” Evan murmured, “something’s not right.”

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a man’s voice rang out. It sounded rough and harsh. “Get out of here!”

At first the half-demon could not pinpoint exactly where the voice was coming from, then he spotted a shadowy figure peering through two window hatches.

Evan took a step closer. “You don’t have to be afraid of us,” he said.

“We are not afraid of you either,” replied the voice behind the window hatch. “Evil is lurking out there. Get out of here or you will end up like the others!”

“The other one?” asked Evan.

“This beast will take anyone. It has already taken our hunter, and even some brave young men who wanted to kill it have lost their lives. For weeks, no merchant has dared to come into this area.”

Evan turned around and looked at the animals grazing on the riverbed.

“It doesn’t seem to harm your animals,” he said finally.

“No, no,” stammered the man, “it only thirsts for human blood. Now go, before it gets you too.”

“What kind of beast is it?”

“Goes!”

Evan turned on his heel.

“Wait, you want to go?” asked Leuven, following the half-demon back to the cart.

“Don’t you want to help them?” he added.

“We’re not welcome here. You heard it.” Evan looked seriously at his companion. “Of course we won’t just leave, but I have to find out what we’re dealing with here.”

“That’s how I know you,” Leuven said. “You fight the monster and I wait with Ida. That’s how we do it!”

“You will contribute something too. You will help me figure out what we are dealing with.”

“How am I supposed to do that? Nobody here wants to talk to us.”

“There is definitely someone. People are scared. They need someone to help them.”

Evan pricked up his ears. Something moved in the alley behind him.

As he turned around, he noticed an old lady walking toward them.

She was small and very old. She walked stooped and every step seemed to put a great strain on her brittle bones.

In a scratchy voice she spoke to the half-demon: “You have come to help us?”

“Actually, it’s just a coincidence that we’re passing through your village.” The half-demon looked at the old lady.

“But my friend here,” Leuven interjected, grinning broadly, “he is the best demon hunter in the entire kingdom. No, no, in all the kingdoms, I promise you. I saw him make short work of an evil demon.”

“Leuven, shut up,” Evan said briefly, turning back to the old lady. “The beast that’s been lurking in the forest. Tell me everything you know.”

The old lady looked nervously to the left and then to the right. In a lowered voice she answered the half-demon: “I can’t tell you much about it.”

She coughed. “All I can tell you is that it started about a month ago. The miller’s young daughter disappeared there. After that, hardly any travelers made it to the village. The story about the monster in the forest quickly spread.”

“That’s not much,” Evan replied thoughtfully. “Is that all you know?”

“I’m just an old woman,” she said. “I don’t care anymore. But if you want to find out more, then…”

The old lady took a step closer and began to whisper. “Talk to the seamstress. She can help you.”

»With the seamstress?«

“Yes, she can certainly help you. But please do me, the old lady, a favor. Treat her well. She is such a nice and sweet girl.”

The half-demon raised an eyebrow in irritation. “Why should I treat her badly?”

Again the old lady looked nervously to the left and right. “I can’t tell you. But do me this favor.”

“Well, I’ll do my best,” Evan said.

“Thank you,” the old lady snorted and coughed. “Your shop is right across from the blacksmith’s.”

The half-demon nodded gratefully as the lady disappeared back into the alley.

“What a strange old bag,” said Leuven, scratching his shaggy head.

“Indeed.” The half-demon put a finger to his chin and thought. “How is a seamstress supposed to help us?”

“Maybe she has some nice dresses on offer. Even monsters want to dress up.”

Leuven’s upper arm hurt. The half-demon’s blow was firm and precise.

“Work on your aggression!” he scolded, rubbing the sore spot.

»Then please take this whole thing seriously.«

“I do. But you don’t always have to let the demon out. Words of warning are enough.”

»Not at all with you!«

Leuven groaned loudly. “So what shall we do next?”

“I’m going to pay this seamstress a visit.”

“Okay, let’s find that seamstress.”

The half-demon looked at his companion and shook his head. “Not us, just me. You will try to get other villagers to talk. Besides, we hardly have any provisions left. Try to get some.”

“Oh, I get to do the dirty work again,” snorted Leuven. “You pay a visit to a seamstress, and I get to relieve these poor villagers of their last supplies. Now that’s a really great plan.”

Evan frowned. “Try being less sarcastic and ask nicely. Besides, the seamstress might be a dead end. Maybe you’ll find out more. Once they realize I’m half-demon, they’ll think I’m the monster. So stop complaining.”

Leuven thought about it. Indeed, Evan was right. The villagers were scared, and the arrival of a half-demon would only cause more unrest.

“Very well,” he said finally. “We’ll meet back here at the car.”

The half-demon nodded. “And Leuven, do me a favor, don’t do anything stupid.”

He held his hands in front of him defensively. “What are you thinking?”

The half-demon looked at him suspiciously and then walked away with a heavy sigh.

After he had disappeared into the next street, the young merchant looked after him briefly before walking into the middle of the dead-looking village.

Leuven looked around nervously. The streets were quiet and empty, and not even the slightest sound penetrated the narrow cracks in the shutters. The silence was oppressive.

He turned around quickly, as if he had expected Evan to suddenly appear behind him. But no one was there. A feeling of relief flooded through him and he took a deep breath.

“Your days of terror are over!” he finally shouted, raising his voice, trying to hide his uncertainty. “Help is on the way! You were hoping for the demon hunters, and today is your lucky day! The best demon hunter has reached your village!”

The words echoed through the quiet streets. No answer. Only the light wind that blew through the streets and gently rustled the straw on the roofs could be heard.

Leuven felt uncertainty creeping up inside him. This was not the reaction he had expected. He scratched his head as he looked at the empty windows and doors. Had he made a mistake?

Suddenly a hesitant voice broke the silence. “Is that… true?”

Another, barely audible voice followed. “Have the demon hunters finally arrived?”

Slowly the first shutters opened and isolated faces appeared in the shadows behind them, uncertain but full of hope.

Leuven looked almost diabolical when he realized that he could lure the villagers out of their hiding places and perhaps prove to Evan that he was not as useless as he thought.

Evan paused for a moment as he stood in front of the door of a small house. He heard a roar in the distance.

It was Leuven’s voice, his sharp ears recognized it, but he could not understand the words.

“I hope he doesn’t get up to any mischief,” thought the half-demon and finally looked around.

Only a small sign with the inscription “Clothes, boots and fabrics”, leaning against the wall of the house, indicated that the seamstress was practicing her craft here.

He carefully opened the door.

The little house did not look like a business, but more like the home of simple villagers.

But the bell attached to the doorframe, which immediately began to ring when Evan opened the door, convinced him.

It was dark in the room. The window hatches were closed, not a single candle was lit. Only a light shone from a room at the back.

The half-demon looked around.

Colorful clothes hung on the walls everywhere or adorned life-sized dolls made of potato sacks filled with straw.

It seemed scary to him. Even though he didn’t feel afraid, a strange feeling came over him.

He didn’t just tell himself that he needed to be careful, his whole body was telling him that.

The lovely voice of a young lady came from the back room. “The shop is closed.”

Evan still dared to follow the voice.

The bright light blinded him as he entered the back room.

“Haven’t you heard? – The shop is closed,” repeated the lovely voice.

Evan spotted a young woman with straw-blonde hair, deep blue eyes and velvety, almost glittering skin.

“Forgive me, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” said the half-demon, looking around the brightly lit room.

Needles and thread flew delicately through the air, connecting green and beige fabric, while scissors flashed in the light and whizzed past him, cutting the fabrics into shape.

The young woman narrowed her eyes. “You don’t look like you’re looking for new clothes.” There was a rough tone in her voice.

But Evan was blinded. Not so much by the light, whose source he couldn’t identify, but rather by the various objects that were whizzing around the room from left to right, each with a specific goal.

Then he turned to the young woman who was sitting on a stool in a blue and white dress. In front of her, on a long table, various sewing patterns were spread out.

“Seamstress,” he said smugly, almost mockingly. “More like a sorceress. What brings you to such a small village in the middle of nowhere?”

“That’s hardly any of your business,” she replied, glaring at Evan. “A half-demon should hardly ask such questions. You’re surprised, aren’t you? – You can’t fool me. I recognize what you are, even if I feel pity.”

“Pity?” Evan was surprised; pity was the last thing he expected. “You don’t have to pity me. But I still wonder what brings a sorceress to such a devious village and, above all, why she chose the profession of seamstress. Perhaps pity would be more appropriate here.”

“The reputation of my tailoring is widespread. Noblemen come here to have me make them dresses, doublets and even fancy shoes. You can earn good money with that. I hope that’s enough of an answer for you. You won’t get any more answers,” the seamstress replied with a snort.

Evan watched as a pair of fine trousers was spun from the ceiling using fabric, needles and thread. Then he looked seriously at the young lady. “It seems to me that your business has suffered somewhat since a beast started roaming the area.”

“Only for a short time. Monsters come and go, they rarely stay in one place.”

“Is that so? – You seem to know them well, but you have done nothing.”

The seamstress looked grim. “What could I do? I sew and knit. I’m not a monster hunter.”

Now Evan understood why the old lady asked him to be nice to the young woman. “Nobody knows about your powers. You hide, you deceive the villagers. You could help them.”

“Is that so?” asked the young woman. “And how should I do that?”

“You certainly have the skills to find out what is plaguing this village. Unless… unless your skills are actually limited to tailoring. Perhaps you have never nurtured your talents. It’s a shame, but never mind.”

The half-demon looked around the room in amazement before a pair of sharp scissors rushed towards his face and stopped just before the tip of his nose.

The half-demon remained relaxed. He knew that he did not have to fear for his life. “Impressive. So you can handle your skills after all. I assume you were at the academy. But now you’re wasting your talent?”

“I already told you, I will not give you any more answers.”

“I understand.”

“And yet you still ask questions. But now it’s my turn. Who are you and what do you want?” The sorceress’s voice became harsh and almost hissing.

“Okay, then I’ll start. My name is Evan Dhorne. Actually, I came to this village by chance. Although that’s not entirely true. A man fell from the sky. I wanted to get to the bottom of him.”

“A man fell from the sky?”

“Yes, sir. Very unusual, isn’t it? – By the way, may I sit down?” asked Evan, pointing to a free stool at the table.

The scissors still hovered threateningly in front of his nose.

“You may remain standing,” the sorceress replied imperiously, waving her left hand, and the scissors quickly flew away.

Evan couldn’t help but notice how a silver ring on the young woman’s left hand began to glow.

“You must have real talent if a ring serves as your catalyst.”

Caught, almost frightened, the sorceress looked at her silver ring with the blue sapphire.

“You seem to have a lot of knowledge about the wizard caste,” she said suspiciously. “Unusual.”

A wide grin appeared on Evan’s face. “I once knew a wizard who used a gold pendant to focus his magic. He was really talented, so I think you have a certain amount of talent too.”

“I’m almost flattered.” The sorceress crossed her left leg over her right, propped her elbow on the tabletop and rested her cheek on her palm. Her expression seemed almost bored. “But you’re babbling too much. Now tell me what you want.”

“I want to know why people fall from the sky.”

“I don’t believe you. What do you care, a half-demon, about what happens to humans?”

“I don’t care, but when monsters and demons increase in number, it is usually not a coincidence, but a bad omen or, rather, an intentional act.”

“Intentional act? – You think someone sent this monster to this area? – Why would anyone do this? – There is nothing here except this small, sleepy village. No one could have any interest in it. As soon as autumn is in its midst, the beast will move on. Believe me.”

Evan tilted his head. “And you’re so sure, why?”

“Because then there will be nothing left to get here. The trees will no longer bear fruit, the merchants will travel west towards Cadeira, where it is warmer and where they won’t have to wait for a war to break out.”

“What if the monster is something cursed?” Evan asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Something cursed? – You think someone might have used dark magic?”

“It could have been a dark ritual. But it’s strange that I meet a sorceress who apparently has no interest in protecting the village.”

Enraged, the seamstress slammed her fist on the table. “How dare you? – You come into my house and accuse me of creating a monster that attacks innocent people?”

“Of course not. But thank you for finally giving me answers.”

“Excuse me?” The sorceress’s fist relaxed. “What kind of game are you playing?”

Evan leaned against the doorframe and folded his arms; his voice was serious. “I’m not playing games. Help me find out what’s going on in the woods, then I’ll be gone.”

“Pah!” spat the sorceress. “You ask a lot for coming into my house uninvited.”

“I am sure that you know more and, above all, have the skills to help me.”

The young woman sighed and swung her left hand again.

The ring lit up, and all the objects in the room that were busy sewing clothes flew back into their drawers and boxes.

“I can’t help you. It’s not that I don’t want to help people. But I can’t risk them finding out what I really am.”

“People die every day.”

“I’m aware of that!” she replied loudly. “But a seamstress is not a monster hunter. That’s not possible, that would be the wrong way.”

“You are a sorceress.”

“A sorceress would not be welcome.”

“Well, let me tell you one thing: sometimes we can’t choose what we are.”

The sorceress laughed briefly. “You can save your empty phrases.”

“That shouldn’t be an empty phrase. But I don’t want to waste any more of your time than necessary. I thank you, however, for listening to me.”

The half-demon nodded goodbye and left the sorceress thoughtful.

“What is he thinking?” she grumbled quietly to herself.

She got up from her stool when she heard the doorbell ring and was sure that the half-demon had disappeared, and paced up and down the brightly lit room for a short while.

If the half-demon’s goal had been to make the young woman feel guilty, he had obviously succeeded.

She caught herself absentmindedly biting her fingernails.

It was an annoyance in her eyes that the half-demon could confuse her like that.

The seamstress raised her left hand, waved it in the air, and her ring began to glow again.

A drawer in her dresser opened and an old book shot out, rose almost to the ceiling and landed on the long cutting table with a loud bang, kicking up dust and scraps of fabric.

“Such a fool,” she said, sitting back down on her stool and starting to leaf through the book. “Is it supposed to be a spell, or a dark ritual?”

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

Did you enjoy this chapter? If so, follow us on our social media channels to never miss an update!