The Record of Unusual Creatures

The weather was clear in the Royal City of Holletta, an ancient city of peace and prosperity situated in a mild climate zone. Guards stood proudly on the towering walls, overlooking the bustling streets in the business district. Horses of the nobility and merchants traversed on the stone pavement in the garden area and Besenginster Avenue. The city was like an incredibly complex machine, running within its own thick city walls. Its people made up the components that kept it functioning, creating the fire of human civilization.

It had been three years since what happened in the Beinz Diocese. Even the incredible event of the removal of the Sore of the Planet by the foreigners was an old story now. Some scholars and priests used the Sore of the Planet narrative to tell of the riddance of the First Born from the earth to the public. It was a common legend among people who had no idea about what actually happened.

Three years was just a brief moment in the history of the ancient kingdom. But for busy, ordinary people, it was long enough for them to accomplish many things. The significant event back then had become a gossip. The collapse of Dragonspine Ridge, the turning of Beinz Blood Lake into a crystal pit, the Beinz Diocese that had become the rendezvous of scholars and adventurers, the pope who had died a martyr, and many other people and things had gradually faded to the background of the ordinary people, becoming a new source of story for bards. As time went by, there were few things that people could still remember. They included the stories of the legendary hero and mercenary, Becky, the mysterious and powerful ‘foreigners’ who were said to be sent by the goddess to save the world, and Hodeceus, the air fortress suspended on the west side of the kingdom.

Ordinary people had no knowledge about the meaning behind these things. For them, the legendary mercenary, foreigners, and air fortresses seemed distant and only appeared in poetry and books. Especially the air fortress, with the exaggerations by the bards, had turned into a stronghold of the God, known as the treasure of the goddess to the devout guardian kingdom of Holletta. But whether there was the hidden hand of the royal family behind it was anyone’s guess.

The edge of the Royal City was a lively but slightly old city. The buildings here were low and dense. The smells of inferior spices, sea produce, and leather filled the streets. The noise from the blacksmith shops could be heard from the corner of the street, and the loud chatters from the street pubs until late at night. It was a place where merchants and poor knights gathered to look for opportunity. Some of the imported goods from the gulf in the west and the empire in the north would transit here. Many elite adventurers from all over the kingdom would choose to start a new life here after they had accumulated enough wealth and fame. Some of them became guards of the royalty and the nobility, some joined the royal knights to embark on a journey of climbing to the upper echelon of society, some left and returned to their villages to live a life of an ordinary adventurer after spending a few years and accomplishing nothing in the Royal City. These people of different backgrounds gathered here, turning it into a lively urban area known as Blacksteel Avenue, where true and fake information circulated around. Street bards became the most popular profession, and the number of street pubs here was almost three times that of the inner city. This establishment was a source of wealth to the city officials and provided a venue of recreation for the idle people.

In a thriving street pub, the owner had invited a famous bard to play the xylophone at the counter and told a famous story with a long and short poem called the Epic of Gevah. Customer thronged the pub and spent their times here. Near the entrance, three people dressed in the costumes of the Royal City but faces looked like foreigners were watching the performance. The rendition was nothing to shout about, but a narrative poem of the narrator was the reason why he was popular.

“The sun on that day turned into a spear. When the goddess threw it from the clouds, the earth broke apart, and the rocks melted.

“The female marshal charged at her enemy with her sword. Her armor gleamed, and the blade flashed in light with the tassel danced in the air.

“The demon of the earth had awakened. Its body was twisted and rotted, and the tentacles were filled with venom and infinite magic power.

“The divine power hovered in the clouds. As it threw boulders and fireballs down, Dragonspine Ridge collapsed, and the blood lake evaporated instantly.

“The legendary mercenary was fearless. She fought among the foreign army, killed an uncountable number of monsters, and finally came to the heart of the demon. A filthy flesh pulsated before her eyes, the magic of darkness made her limbs shiver in pain.

“The light spear from the sky pierced through the evil runes, the devil’s heart stopped beating at last. The curse dissipated in the glory of the goddess, and turned into a circle of aura above the blood lake… legendary mercenary returned on the ground and cheer with the crowd for the victory…”

When the bard’s voice gradually faded, people sitting at the table near the counter began to clamor. At the long table by the entrance, Hao Ren smiled and nudged Lily’s arm. “Listen, this is the third version.”

“But there was mention of the ‘silver-white sacred beast standing on the earth.’” Lily pouted. “I heard that there is a version that is dedicated to me. I had been very active that day, and bigger than you all.”

“What is the use of being big? There were many big things on the battlefield that day,” Vivian snorted. “I like this version. All characters, who should have appeared have appeared, and unlike other versions, it has less mistake. Have you guys heard the magic version that we heard in the square before? Those ancient magic emperors that resurrected were completely over the top.”

“No matter which version it is, Becky seems to be playing a major role,” Hao Ren said with a smile. “It seems that the royal family of Holletta has spared no effort to promote her as a poster girl.”

“They couldn’t help it. They must include at least a character from Holletta in the epic event for the sake of the dignity of the kingdom. Anyway, Becky had indeed been participating actively since the beginning.”

“All right. We have enough story for now. It’s time to find Becky.” Hao Ren patted Lily, who appeared unwilling to get up, as he got to his feet. “I didn’t inform Becky that we’re coming tonight. Just in time to give her a surprise.”

Becky’s manor was located not far outside the city. She was entitled to a mansion in the inner city and even the nobility zone. But this free-spirited mercenary could not stand life as a noble and chose to live in the manor outside the city. Hao Ren and his entourage arrived at the estate in the evening. The servants and steward of the manor remembered these mysterious and respected foreigners and immediately opened the door. But Hoa Ren was told that Becky was not at home.

“Becky is not here?” Lily was surprised. “It’s getting dark. Where could she go?”

“Our master went to the Gloom Mountains with the royal knights a few days ago,” the steward said respectfully. He knew that these people before him had a close relationship with his master and were the ‘legendary figures.’ So there was no need for the steward to hide anything from them. “She is now a senior officer of the Royal Knights and a countess. So she has received a royal order.”

“She joined the Royal Knights?” Hao Ren’s eyebrows arched. He was not surprised by Becky’s Countess title. He knew it; after all, the mercenary had played a role in the Beinz incident and later was regarded as a hero. It was only natural for the royal family to confer the title to Becky but without a land. Becky had vowed to retire and spend the rest of her life counting her wealth when she became rich one day. So it was a surprise that Becky had joined the Royal Knights and been doing the fieldwork.

“Our master has been on horseback for years and does not accustom to the aristocratic life,” said the steward. “So, Marshal Ophra recommended her to join the Royal Knights. But I don’t much about the details—as you know, it’s the duty of the servant to ask about the private matters of the master.”

Since it was Marshal Ophra who recommended Becky, Hao Ren already knew what was going on.

Even if without Marshal Ophra, Becky would have become a mercenary again. After all, she had gotten used to the life of living on the edge and would not be able to settle down quickly to live life as a noble.

“When will she come back?” Hao Ren asked. “Or you tell me where she is.”

Meanwhile, Hao Ren was calculating in his mind that if he could not find Becky, he would just go to see Marshal Ophra to first discuss the ‘family-visit’ plan.

The steward bowed slightly as a sign of respect and said, “It’s only an escort mission. Our master will not stay in the Gloom Mountains. She will be back tomorrow.”

“That’s great. Can we stay here while waiting for Becky to come back?”

“Of course,” the steward replied. “Our master has rooms reserved for your all, our honorable guests. Please come with me.”