The Non-Human Society

Well, this had to be it.

I was not far from Vorli, a town that surprisingly had diminished in population since I'd last seen it. The town had never been too popular or busy, but it still had a port. One big enough that many of the larger sea-faring vessels stopped here to exchange cargo with the smaller ones heading north. It even had a large river that went rather deep inland, so had all the makings of a trade-hub. Yet it seemed even with all its natural riches, the town was steadily losing its importance and its people.

It looked half-empty when I had traveled through it, with several empty buildings even upon the docks itself. Which meant business was bad, though I wasn't entirely sure how or why it had happened. Though for all I knew it was just because of something simple as rising taxes.

But I wasn't here to check on the port, or its people.

Walking up to the large pyre, I studied the way the stacked logs were situated. They looked… settled. Wet. And the chopped parts looked less rugged than typical.

Yes. This was likely it. It had been many years since I'd seen a beacon like this being used, but there was no doubt its intended purpose.

Someone had made this, likely a few months ago. I knew that they'd light it once they believed it was ready to do so. To use as a beacon for the ship out at sea, to let them know where to dock.

This wasn't the highest hill overlooking the ocean, but it was both high enough and secluded enough that they wouldn't need to worry over it being found. The few footprints that were barely visible in the grass and dirt around the stack of wood made it clear only a few people had been here recently. And those very people were who I wanted to find.

I had gone into Vorli first, expecting to find them there, but I had not seen or smelled any hint of them. Here though, near this pyre, I could smell them. The light scent of a non-human, though it was not strong enough or fresh enough to tell me if they were actually nearby.

"Probably should have asked for a bit more detail," I whispered as I looked around. Not far from the edge of the cliff, which overlooked a small beach and lots of rocks, was a forest. Not as thick as the ones up north, but still thick enough that I couldn't see very far into it. Oddly though, with just a cursory glance at it, I noticed several deer. A large herd of them was nearby, grazing and sitting just beyond the forest's edge.

Not too strange, of course, but it told me that Light's people weren't nearby. Non-humans stunk a tad bit more than humans, and that stink usually kept such large groups of animals at a distance. And if these people here, waiting for the ship, were anything like those Light had taken with her to Lumen… they'd likely be rather thick in the blood. Just like Renn and Lilly.

But they couldn't be too far. I wonder if I can do something as simple as follow their footprints…?

Glancing around, I deduced they led north. So I went to following them.

They faded rather quickly, but I found something of a path. One that obviously was used by animals, by game, but figured it was what they had used too. It didn't take me long to verify I had assumed correctly, as a man appeared in the distance. One with a large walking stick.

Approaching the man, who went still upon noticing me, I wondered if every last one of them were going to wear that stupid robe. This man too was wearing the gray robes of the church.

I mean, I got it. Their entire shtick to survive and blend in with the human world was their church and faith. But sometimes too much was too much, in my opinion.

"Vim…!" the old man shouted my name, in shock, as I got closer. He actually dropped his walking stick, he was that surprised. I frowned, but not because it was a surprise he recognized me.

Instead I did so because of his shock. The man looked utterly flabbergasted that I was in front of him. Which meant he had not expected me at all, not now, not ever.

Maybe that meant Light had not planned at all, originally, for me to be involved in this ship or any of them. That was kind of worrying. That meant the reason I was here, the prophecy of the monarch attack, had been recent. Fresh.

Unforeseen until the last moment.

Not good at all…

Approaching the old man who had seemingly gone still, as if still unable to comprehend who and what he was seeing, I bent down and picked up the stick he had just dropped. I found it was just a light piece of driftwood, one that had been cut and sanded into shape. "My name is Vim, I was sent by Light," I said as I handed the old man the stick.

He took it, but upon hearing Light's name he froze once more. The moment passed and he gripped the stick, and with a small jerk quickly shook his head. "Oh… Oh no!" he said, realizing the meaning behind my words.

I frowned as I studied the old man, and wondered who he was. I didn't recognize him, at all. He looked human, outwardly, but his pupils were elongated sideways, implying he was some kind of prey creature. He was clean shaven, but nearly bald… and it looked like he had a slight indent in the back of his head, from an old injury.

"Ah… this is not good. Is it concerning one of the ships? Pray say it isn't so!" the old man asked, sounding distraught as he leaned heavily on his stick.

Gently nodding, I spared a moment to glance around real quick. We were standing in the middle of the game trail, heading down a hill, but were alone. I didn't see anyone else anywhere. "Yes. I've been told a monarch will attack them, and," I started to explain but the man suddenly tumbled backward.

Rushing forward, I barely got hold of the man before he completely collapsed backward. He moaned as I held him up by his arms, and I wondered if he had just nearly passed out. From the news alone. This time he hadn't dropped his stick, and instead had clutched onto it even harder.

"You okay?" I asked quickly as he seemed to come to his senses. He wobbled his head; though I wasn't sure if that was him answering my question or if just shaking off whatever had just happened to him. He seemed to regain his strength, and I warily released him as he stood back up on his own strength.

"Thank you, Vim… I'm sorry, I sometimes pass out during bursts of great emotion…" the man mumbled as he spoke, telling me he was still slightly out of it.

Frowning in worry, I wondered if such a thing was from his bloodline, or a remnant of that indent in the back of his head. It was such a sunken dent that it no doubt had damaged his brain, so…

"Deep breaths. I promise to do all I can to not let anything happen to them, but I'll need to know all you know about what's going on. When were you meant to light the beacon?" I asked.

I definitely didn't remember this man, at all. I'd remember someone who had such issues, I'd think. Even though many members had such ailments, such older men were rare in the Society. Most didn't live to be this age anymore. Hadn't really back then either.

"Yes… I mean, no. We weren't meant to light the beacon until we see a pair of white seals on the shore," he said with a small point towards the ocean.

White seals? That was one way to tell, I guess. Such things were rare in this region, very rare. "You sure you're okay?" I asked. He looked to be far more reliant upon that walking stick than before.

"Yes, Vim. Thank you… my ailment is one I've lived with my whole life, just a thing I deal with… Come, you should speak with the others. They'll know more, and you might need to hear what they have to say," the old man said as he turned, gesturing back down the path from whence he came.

I nodded. "I'll admit it, I do not remember you," I said as I went to walk beside him.

The old man chuckled at me. "You wouldn't, protector. My name is Gavel. I used to live in Telmik, working under Randle. You and I pretty much never spoke to one another," he said.

Ah… yes. Many under Randle had treated me with the same distaste that Randle had all those years. Keeping their distance, and rather upfront about their grievances. "All the same, I'm glad to see you well Gavel. Are there many of you here?" I asked.

"Twelve of us. A few I know for a fact you'll remember, too!" Gavel said, sounding happy over such a thing.

I wasn't, though. "Is there a reason you're not using Vorli as a place to wait?" I asked.

Gavel nodded. "A couple of our members are not as capable of blending in. Instead of forcing them to live alone outside the city, we decided to share in the burden. A few of us go into town occasionally for supplies though," Gavel said.

That made sense, I guess. "The town does seem…" I wasn't sure how to phrase it, but decided to just say it. "Dying."

"Yes. The plague had not been kind to it, I'm told. Then they had a winter where no fish could be found in its rivers or inlet, further driving the humans away. You know how they get during such things, a superstitious lot," Gavel said.

Raising an eyebrow at that, I wondered if this man only wore the robes because it was expected of him. "Superstition or not, a lack of food is a big deal," I said.

"It is. As far as I know, the town is back to normal. Fish once again in the waters, no more sickness amongst its people… but still it dwindles. At the rate it's going I'll not be surprised if it ends up becoming a hamlet of some sort. See there?" Gavel then paused to point between some trees. I followed his point and saw a large stone building, one that looked very obviously like a church.

"It had been abandoned. An old monastery. We've settled in it without complaint, and are left alone. A few of us here are even considering staying, even after our duties are done," he explained as we headed for it.

"Hm," Following Gavel through the trees, I saw a few figures in the distance. The main building was the stone church, but there were a few other buildings around it. There was a small garden near the main building, where three people which currently busying themselves with. I wasn't too surprised to see them all wearing the same robes, but I was surprised to see someone I recognized so readily.

Slowing a little, I frowned at Jennifer who emerged from the church. She was carrying a large basket, and was saying something to someone still inside the building. Someone that didn't follow her out of it.

"Allow me to go find Charrson, Vim. He might be asleep, being the night-owl he is," Gavel said with a small chuckle as he nodded to me.

I nodded back, and slowed my pace a little as he left me behind. He headed straight for the main building, and in doing so made Jennifer notice us.

She nearly dropped her basket as she realized who I was, and then hurried towards me. "King-killer!" she shouted.

As she approached, those working in the nearby garden all paused in what they were doing to look at us. I ignored their looks, and Gavel who seemed to scurry into the church with renewed purpose, as I nodded in greeting… only to have to catch the basket that she promptly dropped as she hurried over to give me a hug.

I lifted the basket up above her, and myself, as she wrapped me in a hug and giggled happily. "It's been so long!" she shouted as she gave me a squeeze.

Keeping a sigh inside, I shifted the basket so I could hold it with one hand and went to patting the woman on the back. "Yes. It has," I said. Especially since I had thought she was dead.

Jennifer wiggled a bit as she laughed, and then she leaned back to smile up at me. "What'cha doing here? Not only are there no crowns to take, we're to be bored for months!" she asked.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"Light had a prophecy, concerning one of the ships," I said as I lowered the basket, it felt like it was full of clothes.

"Oh that's not good," Jennifer said with a sudden frown.

"No. It isn't," I said. Her still holding me wasn't good either. Or well… was it?

How was I supposed to act during such moments, I wonder…? I was married now, right? Should I stop letting people get so close to me…? It honestly didn't bother me much, and as much as I'd like to think Renn would get jealous and bothered by it I knew better than to think she did. Renn actually liked it when our members acted like this with me, since she preferred this over them being distant with me or outright rude. So maybe it was fine…?

Next time I see her I'll ask. I didn't mind, myself, not really, but I didn't want to assume. Last thing I needed was to be negligent and…

"Not going to hug me back?" Jennifer then asked.

I blinked at that, and wondered if that was why she was still latched onto me. "I patted your back?" I said, wondering if that wasn't enough.

She giggled at me and finally released me. "Same as ever!"

Allowing a sigh to show itself, I went to hand the basket back to her. "I'm glad to see your well, Jennifer. I had thought you dead," I said.

A huge grin covered her face, a mischievous one that reminded me of a memory I'd legitimately forgotten. Remembering that night was kind of surprising, and suddenly I felt slightly uncomfortable. "Dead? Really? That's not nice, Vim!" she said with a happy laugh.

No, I suppose it wasn't.

"Jenn…?"

I looked away from the woman giggling happily, and watched a thin man walk over. A small crowd had gathered near the front of the church, but I noticed Gavel and his walking stick wasn't amongst them. I scanned their faces quickly, for anyone else I recognized, but didn't outright see any that I did. There indeed was likely a dozen of them here, as Gavel had said.

"Vim, meet Formpress. You may dispose of him anytime you wish, I'll not complain," Jennifer said as he stepped over to us.

The man flinched, almost as if he had just nearly tripped on his own robe, but he still stepped up and nodded. He held a hand out, and I noticed he was trying his best to smile. He wasn't doing too well at it. "Vim… the protector. It's an honor to finally meet you, I'm Formpress," he said.

I took his hand, and noticed on the back of it was the feeling of smooth scales. "Pleasure."

"No it's not! Come, ignore him. If you're here on important business you likely need to talk to Charrson," Jennifer said, and then promptly pushed the basket she carried into Formpress's arms and went to grab my hand. She didn't give him or me a chance to complain, or argue, as she tugged me away from him and towards the church.

I sighed at her, and tried to remember if she had always been like this. Now that I remembered her, better than I had upon seeing her just now, I remembered a gossip. Someone not too unlike Oplar, who had gone out of her way to live amongst humans just to indulge in their society. Particularly the noble and royal types, since she had found their gossip-fueled lifestyles absolutely fascinating.

Last I had heard of her, she had moved up north to a noble's estate where another member had been. After she had helped me kill a king, one who had been hiring mercenaries to track down and capture our people. The castle she had gone to had been ransacked and collapsed not long after Celine had died, so I and many others had thought her dead since no one had ever heard from her afterward.

Yet again, just like Martin and his family, and Mono and hers… and Light, of course, I was being proven wrong.

Which meant all this time it hadn't been a matter of me just not paying attention, but with intent. They had intentionally kept me in the dark… or well… someone had, at least.

"Is that really the protector?" someone asked as we drew near the crowd.

"Part ways! Don't just stand and gawk!" Jennifer yelled at the crowd, who hurriedly went to obey. A small path was made to allow us to walk into the church, and I sighed again as I allowed her to pull me through the crowd and into the building.

"It's not this pressing, Jennifer," I said gently as I nodded at the crowd of staring faces. As I passed, I thought I saw a few who I might remember but couldn't place any names to them. I was kind of surprised to see so many men amongst them, even if most looked old like Gavel.

Though I suppose Light's group had its fair share of men, too, hadn't it?

Entering the church, I wasn't too surprised to find it had been retrofitted. Instead of a large open area, for praying and listening to sermons, there were now sectioned off areas with half-built walls of cloth. As we walked through them, heading deeper into the building, I noticed that only a few had beds within them. Some were just little rooms with chairs, or tables.

"About half of us live in here, I and a few others live in the other building in the back," Jennifer said, likely noticing my staring.

"Hm," I nodded, not sure why I found it so odd.

She giggled at me. "We have some here who have taken vows, Vim. So they can't sleep amongst the men," she told me.

Oh. Right. "Become a nun have you?" I asked, smirking gently at that.

Jennifer paused a moment, and then turned to look at me. A mighty smirk planted itself on her face. "I have. And I've heard you got married, so we're both acting out of character, aren't we?" she asked.

"Not wrong…" I mumbled.

We rounded one of the larger makeshift rooms, and I was led into a hallway. Jennifer finally released my hand, and she slowed a bit as we headed to the end of the hall. Where a door was open.

Finding Gavel, and another older man. One I didn't recognize.

"Ah. Here he is," Gavel said as he turned to nod at me in greeting.

"You awake old man?" Jennifer asked.

"I am now. Come, sit protector. Tell me of your quest," the old man, who I assumed was Charrson, gestured for me to join him at a nearby table. One that was littered with books.

Glancing around the room as I entered, I realized it was likely his bedroom not just his office. I didn't see a bed anywhere, but there was another door in the corner. One that I didn't doubt led to what had previously been some kind of closet. Which was likely now a bedroom.

"Charsson is it? My name is Vim," I said in greeting as he went to sit down. The chairs looked a little old and rickety, so I hesitated a moment as I pulled my own chair away from the table.

"You don't have to sit Vim, if it'll break," Jennifer said.

Pausing, I smiled and nodded. "Right. It does look like it would, huh?" I said as I tilted the thing a little. The legs looked decrepit, as if termites had gotten to it or something.

"What's this now…?" Charrson asked as he glanced around.

"I'm a bit heavier than I look," I said as I pushed the chair back under the table. I wasn't going to risk it, since if I broke it I'd just feel obligated to make them a new one. And if I did that, who knew how much else I'd have to do around here.

The old man frowned at me, but didn't seem too bothered. "I see. I hope you don't mind if I sit, protector, my legs are…" he shuffled a little, as if suddenly trying to gather the strength… and the nerve, to stand up. Maybe it hurt him to do so. Joint problems, maybe?

"You're fine. I was sent here by Light, from Lumen. She had a prophecy concerning the ship. It's to be attacked by a monarch, and she claims it will happen at any moment," I said.

Charrson sat up straight and quickly looked from me to the other two. I ignored the two who, by the sounds of it, shrugged and shook their heads.

"All I need to know is when you expected the ship to arrive. I'm told you were to be on the lookout for white seals?" I asked.

Charrson fidgeted as he nodded and reached up to rub his temple. He suddenly looked older than he had before. "Yes… After winter when the days are long and hot, a pair of white seals are to be seen on the shore. When we see them, we're to light the bonfire and keep it lit until we see the sails on the horizon," Charrson said.

Made sense, at least when concerning a prophecy. "Can you think of a reason they'd have set sail this early?" I asked. Winter was ending, but they were still talking about months from now what with the hot days.

"Only two reasons for them to sail early, Vim. Either they received word to do so, which shouldn't have happened, or lives were in danger and it needed to happen," Jennifer said.

I glanced at her, and frowned at the way she had crossed her arms. Why'd she look angry all of a sudden? Worried I'd understand, but angry? "How would you send word?" I asked.

"By sending someone there, of course? That's why it's not likely. As it is right now, no one has any plans to sail back. It's too risky, especially for smaller boats," Jennifer said.

I nodded. That had been why they had requested my aid when going there the first time. And even then it hadn't been easy. It had taken months and…

"What… what do you need from us, protector? What do we do to save them?" Charrson asked, his voice heavy.

"I just need to reach them. As long as they're on course, I can find them. My goal is to reach them before the monarch does," I said. There was no point trying to hunt the monarch before it found them, the ocean just wasn't the kind of place one could do that in. Not safely at least.

The old man nodded gravely. "We don't have any ships…" he said worriedly.

"I'll just swim," I said.

"Swim…? It's a month long journey on sail!" Charsson said, shaking his head as if he wouldn't allow it to happen.

"You obviously don't realize who you're talking to," Jennifer said with a huff.

"I do, and even I can't see how that is the better option, Vim. If we send word we can have a ship in a few days. There's one in Nevi now," Gavel said as he shifted and squeezed his stick.

Shaking my head, I gestured lightly at the old man sitting in front of me. "Light wanted haste. Those few days to get a ship could make the difference here. If they're already on route, I need not swim the whole way. I'll likely find them en-route. And I can swim far faster than you think," I said.

"But…" Gavel seemed to disagree, but didn't continue voicing his opinion.

"Why didn't Light tell you what to do?" Charrson asked, frowning at me in confusion.

"Well…"

"Vim and prophecies don't go well together. He has his own way of dealing with them," Jennifer said.

I nodded with a small shrug, unsure if I should be glad she remembered.

"Still… Gavel, please go summon Plain. If you would," Charrson said with a nod.

"Sir," Gavel nodded and obeyed. Jennifer had to step out of his way as he left the room, his walking stick tapping the stone floor as he hurried to go.

"Plain?" I asked Jennifer.

"A fellow nun. I'm to assume you're to send her on a message trip?" Jennifer asked the old man.

"To Nevi, yes. Not to discount you, protector, but I have a responsibility. I'll be summoning that ship just in case," Charrson said.

I frowned at the old man who looked ready for an argument, but I had no plans to give one. "Of course. If you don't mind however, I plan to leave immediately," I said.

Charrson shifted in his seat, and I could tell by the look on his face that he was a little surprised. It was kind of annoying to have someone doubt me so readily, but knew better than to really let it bother me.

"Do you need anything Vim? Before you go?" Jennifer asked.

Shaking my head as I glanced around the room, and again noticing the books upon the table, I wondered if I could trust Jennifer with a few of my bags or not.

I had not stopped at the crystal cavern before getting here. I had wanted to, but I had worried I had been running late… So I still had stuff on me that I couldn't risk foolishly. The monarch leather ones would be fine in the ocean, being waterproof and water-tight, but I had a couple that were normal leather bags. Not suited at all for the ocean's waters.

Hearing footsteps heading down the hall, likely Gavel and this Plain he had been sent to find, I decided it was time to leave. Before I got too wrapped up in those here.

"I'll be on my way then. I suggest still keeping an eye out for those seals, just in case," I said as I stepped towards the door, and thus Jennifer.

"Oh…! Okay… um…" Charrson stood, seemingly unsure of what to say or do. I gently waved him down as I left, not wanting him to trouble himself further.

"Mind doing me a favor, Jennifer?" I asked as I left the room.

"Hm? I'll not swim with you, no," she said with a small laugh as we left the old man behind. I stepped aside, to let Gavel and a blonde haired woman pass me by and enter the room I'd just left. She stared at me with wide eyes as she passed, but didn't say anything.

"Mind if leave a few bags with you? If not I'll just find somewhere to bury them," I said as I headed down the hall.

She laughed at me. "Of course, Vim. Something like that doesn't even need to be asked for," she said.

Yes it did.

"One's a little heavy…" I said as we re-entered the common area of the church. A few people were standing around, talking lightly about me and my arrival. By the sounds of it none of them had been told yet of my real purpose here.

"Then this way," Jennifer took over, passing me by and leading me out of the building.

I followed her, likely to the building in the back that she had mentioned she and the other women slept in.

Once I re-arranged a few things and was ready I'd head back to the shore. Then I'd set off, swimming towards the other continent. I wasn't really looking forward to spending days out at sea, especially when not on a ship, but I knew this was the best option for now.

The way Renn and Merit had explained it, Light had seen me fighting the monarch. That meant I was most likely going to find them, the odds were heavily in my favor.

Though I had a lot of suspicions about this, I knew there was nothing I could really do about any of them. Not until I handled the monarch, at least.

"Ah, one second Vim… let me make sure no one's improper," Jennifer slowed and waved me back as we neared a single storied building, one that looked like it needed a new roof.

I nodded as she entered the building, and I heard multiple voices from within once she did. I sighed a little as I waited, and wondered how exactly these people planned to take care of almost six hundred people here shortly.

This place looked like it wasn't even big enough for the dozen of them.

Though, I suppose they had been under the assumption that it would be many months before they had to worry about it…

"Okay, come on in Vim!" Jennifer shouted at me from inside.

Entering the building, I quickly did what I had to and left. I was lucky to do so before Jennifer could say anything to me that could make my eye twitch.

Sometimes having such a serious task at hand was beneficial.