Villain Regressor

5. A short story

Garuda slowly withdrew his hand from the water. There was a big cut inside his palm and seem to be bleeding. Without showing any signs of pain he grabbed his sword naturally as one would react to danger.

But as those people had their attention on the Silver jaw. He stabbed their backs swiftly.

The mohawk guy roused his life force holding his blade, "You!"

Sagithan's lips arched up noticing the perplexed expression on the mohawk's face.

[The Celestial Nefarious with twisted kindness, wonders what's in your mind.]

Garuda's attention was solely on the other passengers and the helmsman. And helmsman is the one who knows the ways of the water and around the locality. And he is also a well-known guy.

If the helmsman were to be enquired, he'd be needlessly tailed and cause trouble. More importantly, he needed to avoid that one person.

This is why he stabbed the Helmsman. From there on it was easy. The others were in a panic, unable to deduce what was going on.

Solving problems in a difficult situation while thinking clearly is a skill that most didn't possess. At least the ones in the boat didn't.

"Rawrrr!"

The grotesque monster silver jaw precisely bit the mohawk's head and dragged his body into the water and the other silver jaws in the lake followed. The water was tainted in red reflecting the bloody sun.

Now the boat just had three men alive in it excluding the three that were killed.

The helmsman slowly crawled back in fear, "Why? Why?"

"Can leave no traces or clue."

Garuda replied and quickly pierced his neck making blood spray on him.

"My instincts were right. If I didn't decide to leave you'd have killed me? Ain't It right son?"

" "

Garuda just walked towards the paddle and sat there whilst slowly paddling the boat towards the mountain several distances away from their location, covered in mist.

"I have watched you from your earlier days yet, I cannot comprehend what you truly are... Fascinating."

Garuda simply stared at him.

"Those red eyes, I am sure that I have seen them in the past. Perhaps your predecessors? I don't know."

"Predecessors?"

"Oh, Now you are paying attention to this old man's blabbering?"

Garuda stared at him a while and said, "Tell me about it..."

The children of the Village grew up listening to the stories of the old man. They didn't dig it deep to know if it was true or false. And Garuda was indeed one of those children who grew up listening to them.

Since the duo has to pass some time until they reach the mountain they decided It was a good moment for a short story.

***

Alright listen,

I was a young lad, Brimming with hopes and dreams traveling by the Drow's forest escorting a noblewoman on her way to her home. I was in love with her.

I didn't confess though. How can a noble marry a local slum boy? I thought to myself. Yet, sometimes the lady would talk fondly to me. Her words were sweet and enchanting making me believe she is indeed in love with me.

I worked my way in and out to reach the closest distance possible for me to reach her. For that, I worked hard...

" " Garuda looked at the old man dead in his eyes.

Yes, Yes I know. Working hard for a woman instead of yourself is stupidity. But, at that time I was young with no experience.

Good old days, It was.

There were four foot soldiers and a knight including me, all armed and cautious. The path we took was the safest. The carriage had enchants placed so that it wouldn't attract monsters.

Little did we expect that it was all planned by the Noblewoman?

All of a sudden a masked man appeared out of nowhere. That's when I realized that She was eloping with a stranger she was in love with. He attacked the knight and beheaded him.

I was heartbroken and enraged as I swung my sword. Before I could realize I was at the edge of death, and I stood no chance. Yet, somehow managed to break his mask.

That's when I saw those crimson red eyes akin to that brightly glimmering bloody sun in the sky. The Lady pitied me knowing that I was in love and made the red-eyed spare my life.

I wandered hopeless hiding from the town and her family. My family was executed in my stead and I lost my place in the world. I Joined some bandits and committed sins, then before I could know I was in Jogar.

***

Sagithan stopped looking for a response from Garuda.

[The celestial Nefarious with Twisted kindness claps his hands expressing his appreciation.]

"Maybe he was your predecessor? Mayhap your grandfather? I don't know but I've always kept this story to myself... And reminded of him when I look at those eyes. Truly fascinating this life is..."

As he finished they were already on the shore of the mountain.

"Mr.Sagithan... Why do you fear death?" Garuda asked.

The question had another meaning only Garuda and Sagithan knew. It meant 'Why didn't you stay in Jogar? Are you afraid that I'd kill you?'

Sagithan began to laugh, "Haha, It's like asking a fish why it is swimming?"

He stopped and then asked. " Then tell me, Why did you try to survive all your life?"

"Because I found it natural to fight back." His answer was the same as Sagithan's phrase.

"There are many reasons for people to live out there son. For some it's the thrill, for some it's the fear of death, for some it's a desire. For me, it's ticking time. I do want to die but, I instinctually cower. Do you think all those monsters and the passengers wanted to die?"

It is natural to live. That was the answer he received. Garuda jumped down the boat and took the bag of coins and left the boat without anchoring it.

"Where are you leaving to?" Garuda asked.

Sagithan smiled and looked down at his legs, "Wherever my legs take me to."

"Don't ever speak of Jogar... Ever again," Garuda said and withdrew a hand-sized gem out of his bag.

"A payment for keeping my mouth shut?"

"Yes,"

Sagithan smirked, "Then I'll take it."

The surroundings had a few boats tied to the shore but the path was still closed. When he turned back and viewed the other side, the dark smoke covering the sky and the wildly burning forest were in his vision.

The old man's eyes welled up with tears as Garuda turned his attention toward him.

"You've erased all sorts of evidence of you, didn't you? Then why aren't you killing me?"

"I find it useless," Garuda replied and walked turning his back to the Forest and breaking the lock and unchaining the entrance gate.

Now he stood before the heaven-touching mountain towering before him.