A Fantasy Mage in a Cthulhu World

Chapter 19: The Final Payment

"Give me the reward you promised." Jonathan was standing in a dim tomb, demanding payment from Piers Bennett, the ancestor of the Bennett family.

"Of course, of course. We would never break our word. But please, allow us to speak for a moment first, and then I will give you your reward. Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll take it and leave immediately." This was the tomb Mr. Bennett had built in the church cemetery. With the events at the mansion concluded, the now-lucid Mr. Bennett had testified that Jonathan had once again protected him from an intruder. How Mister explained Yolanda's disappearance and dealt with the aftermath was no longer Jonathan's concern. He had come to the tomb on time to collect his payment.

"Hurry up. I have a public carriage to catch today," Jonathan said, the strange smell in the tomb testing his patience.

The Ghoul Piers stood respectfully before him and bowed. "First, allow me to express the Bennett family's gratitude. Mister has told me everything. I never imagined that a mysterious person like yourself, who wields magic, would end up saving our entire family over a small commission from my great-great-granddaughter".

"I accept your gratitude, but I have no desire for any further entanglement with your family." Jonathan's mind was clear. Even if this Ghoul was once human, even if he appeared educated and polite, it didn't change the fact that they were now two completely different species—one of which considered the other's corpses food.

One must always remain vigilant around such inhuman races.

"I can understand your prejudice against us. However, as Mister was not entirely lucid during his imprisonment, could you please answer a few of my questions to better protect my family?" Piers asked politely.

"I can, but it will cost you extra." If I refused, Piers, would you still be so polite? Jonathan thought. He was prepared for the potential danger of this meeting, but it was always better to avoid conflict if possible.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Jonathan. You were the last person to see my great-granddaughter Yolanda. I was wondering if you know how she learned witchcraft, and why she would want to harm her own father and bring ruin upon her family?" Piers looked directly into Jonathan's eyes, his tone still gentle and polite.

"By the time I arrived, Yolanda had lost all humanity and become a wooden puppet, unable to communicate. I have no way of knowing how she learned witchcraft. But as for why she wanted to harm her father... I think you, Mr. Piers, have no need to be so puzzled. The fact that Mister beat his wife, torturing their mother in front of the children... I don't believe you were unaware. You didn't stop it. More accurately, you simply didn't care. And your family's ancestral misogyny—it all started with you. You sowed the bad seed; you must also swallow the bitter fruit." Jonathan concealed the part about the god; he didn't want to tell Piers.

Piers was silent for a moment, his expression grave. Then he resumed his polite demeanor. "'You sowed the bad seed; you must also swallow the bitter fruit.' That is a thought-provoking statement. Thank you again, Mr. Jonathan. Now, let's see the reward we have prepared for you".

"This is from Mister for saving his life. The envelope contains three hundred pounds in cash. I hope you are satisfied." Piers handed him an envelope, then fumbled in his own clothes and produced a few gold coins. "These antique gold coins, not even counting their historical value, are worth at least 100 pounds in gold alone. Consider it an extra reward for answering my questions".

"This is quite a sum." Jonathan took the envelope and coins, stuffing them into his pocket with one hand, but leaving the other hand outstretched.

"Of course, please be patient. There is still my reward for you. I very much hope to dispel your prejudice against our Ghoul kind. A mystic scholar like yourself must be interested in arcane knowledge. I give you this Codex of the Ghoul Cult".

"It details how we Ghouls are not a species with malicious intent toward humans. Many, including myself, have voluntarily transformed into Ghouls to receive the gift of immortality. If you ever wish to join us, you are welcome to find me again." Piers handed him an old, parchment-bound manuscript.

The reward was unexpected, but Jonathan took it. Seeing there was nothing more to be gained from Piers, he turned to leave, but before he did, he shot a sharp look back. "Remember. Make Mister admit that I found the autobiography, and give Miss Lettie the share she deserves".

Piers nodded and smiled.

Jonathan didn't breathe a sigh of relief until he was out of the cemetery.

He opened the Codex in his mind. Back at the oak treehouse, his magic had already reached its seven-day maximum. The excess magic was about to dissipate, but he could use it to learn a new cantrip before it did.

Cantrip: Read Aura

You focus on a target object, expanding your senses to perceive its magical aura. When you finish casting, you learn if the item is magical. If the item is an illusion, you only discover this fact if the effect's level is lower than the level of your Read Aura spell.

He carefully inspected the envelope, the gold coins, and the manuscript. Confirming none of them were magical, he put them away. He then took out the ritual dagger he had picked up from the ritual site. A faint magical aura shimmered around it, but Read Aura could only detect the presence of magic, not its function.

He had no choice but to put the dagger away for now and inspect it more closely when he returned to London.

Yolanda's body was a semi-mythical creature and didn't meet the Codex's sacrifice requirement. His priority now was to find a new mythical creature to hunt and sacrifice to raise his mage level. Otherwise, the seven-day countdown would be a whip at his back forever.

He didn't dare to hunt the Ghouls here; there were too many of them. He couldn't possibly escape from under the noses of a hundred Ghouls. But now that he knew where their gathering place was, just because he couldn't do it now didn't mean he couldn't in the future.

And so, Jonathan boarded a carriage back to London and returned to his apartment.

Back at the Bennett mansion, Miss Lettie was led by a maid to see her grandfather. Mr. Bennett lay in bed, reaching out with a loving hand to cup her face. "My dear Lettie, I hope you won't blame me. Although your detective found my autobiography, I was not in my right mind when I made the will. I have invalidated it. But I will compensate you in other ways, my darling. Has Detective Jonathan left? Did you see him off?".

The innocent Lettie was not concerned with her own loss, only happy that her grandfather was recovering. "Yes, Grandfather. I saw Mr. Jonathan to the carriage and paid him the final payment for finding the autobiography. As for the other matters, I said nothing, just as you instructed".

"Excellent, my dear Lettie. You are my best child," Mister said, his voice trailing off as if he were drifting off to sleep from exhaustion.

Lettie tiptoed out of the room. Behind her, a faint sound, like the chirping of a bird, yet also like a sinister cackle, drifted from her grandfather's room.