Chapter 16: Chapter 8: Monster in the Cave

“Sheesh, speed up slow poke.” Roxy taunted Ash as she slowly walked behind him.

After another year of training, the two now sixteen year old church members were currently walking through the forest. Instead of their normal clothes they were both wearing full sets of leather armor.

“Pfft, you try walking with this heavy ass shield.” Ash grumbled as he adjusted the large bone-steel slab he was carrying on his back.

“Told you not to bring it, you should have just brought some guns like me.” Roxy said as she twirled her revolver around her finger. The young girl was also carrying a second revolver strapped to her leg, and two pouches of ammo strapped to her waist. “Besides, with hardening who needs a shield.” Roxy reached out and tapped the shield on Ash’s back.

Ash was carrying a large bone-steel shield on his back, which was almost half his own size, and a spiked mace hanging off his hip. The boy was still trying to figure out what weapon suited him best. 

“You’re gonna be happy I brought this shield when I keep a jaguar from biting off your small butt.” Ash grumbled as he stopped and took a seat on a large tree root. Roxy gave Ash a small kick to the leg as she took a seat next to him. “Though I wouldn’t have brought this shield if Amelia would just let me try the flamethrower.” 

“You should have brought flamethrower anyways, I would have loved seeing Amelia beating you for burning down the whole forest.” Roxy said with a grin. “But it doesn’t matter, we’re here to kill and collect a few  Longnoses. Those things eat bugs, should have just brought a sword or something.”  

The two young church member’s were currently on their fifth ‘mission’ given to them by Amelia. The blind woman called them missions but they were more like chores to the young pair. Their latest mission was to hunt a monster called, Longnose, Amelia told them there was a pack traveling close by.

Ash let out a yawn as he placed a hand on Roxy’s shoulder. “Do me a favor, go track the Longnose.” Ash tried to put on his best, puppy-dog eyes, as he spoke.   

“Nope,” Roxy relied with a grin as she poked Ash’s cheek. “It’s your turn, and I’m not gonna have Amelia nagging me about you being lazy… Again.” 

“I’m not being lazy,” Ash mumbled. “You’re just better at tracking then me.” Ash said with a shrug. While Ash struggled with his mastery of the Mist, it came easy to Roxy. Amelia explained it was due to Roxy’s Mayan blood, but his struggle with the Mist led Ash to training his body more then his Mist.

“Which is why you need this training more than me. Now go, no more slacking. Lets get home before it gets dark.” Roxy said as she started gently pushing Ash’s back.

“Fine, fine.” Ash grumbled as he stood up. The young boy started looking around, observing his surroundings just as he was taught. “There, the Longnose went this way, probably.” He said as he started to follow some small tracks hidden in the dirt. Instead of using the Mist to heighten his senses, Ash just followed what he could see. Roxy simply hummed as she jumped up to follow him. 

“Shouldn’t you be carrying that shield on your arm?” Roxy asked as she knocked her fist against the solid bone-steel. “What good is it on your back?”

“This things heavy, probably weighs more then two of you. I’ll take it off my back when I need it.” Ash said with a huff as he adjusted the shield. He regretted bringing the heavy shield, Ash strapped the shield to his back tight because wasn't even planning on using it even when they found the monsters they were looking for. Roxy knew this as she taunted him, but he ignored her and kept his eyes on the dirt as he tried to follow the trail.

~S~o~t~G~

 “Wait,” Roxy whispered as she gripped Ash’s leather armored arm. The boy stopped instantly, pulling out his mace as his eyes darted around.

“What’s wrong?” He asked with his own whisper.

“Heighten your sense of smell.” Roxy said while pulling out her revolver. 

Ash did as she said, he started channeling the Mist in his body to his nose. Instantly he had to fight the urge to sneeze, Ash hated heightening his senses. He was overwhelmed with smells that normally go unnoticed by him. Everything, from the smell of the dirt, to the smell of the shampoo Roxy used that morning. It all hit his nose in a tangled mess.

“Breath, and focus.” Roxy said, she placed a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t focus on everything. Identify and ignore everything that’s familiar, and find what you shouldn’t be smelling.” She explained as she kept her eyes on their surroundings.

Ash shut his eyes as he tried to separate the different scents. He ignored the dirt’s smell, he ignored Roxy’s smell, he ignored leafs, and he ignored his own sweat. After a moment of focusing, he realized what Roxy wanted him to find. “Is that?” He mumbled as he focused on a familiar metallic scent, it was so strong he could almost taste it. “Blood.” He gripped his weapon as he tried to find the where the smell was coming from. But he couldn’t pinpoint it, to Ash the smell was coming from everywhere, his lack of training was catching up to him. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll take over tracking.” Roxy stated. Ash could only nod as he quickly stopped channeling the Mist into his nose. He let out a sigh of relief as he tried to ignore the sudden throbbing pain in his head. “Big baby,” Roxy whispered as she walked by him, leaving Ash to quickly follow behind.

~S~o~t~G~ 

“Welp, there goes the Longnoses we were tracking.” Roxy grumbled as she kicked away a bloody rock.

“All this blood, some scraps of fur but no… Well, loose body parts.” Ash said as he studied the bloody ground. He crouched down and tried to find any clues of what may have happened. His eyes landed on small holes in the dirt  in the puddles of blood. “These look like they were made by blades. Maybe a spear or sword pierced through a Longnose and dug into the dirt?” 

“So, they killed the monsters and took them… Bandits?” Roxy asked with a frown. 

Ash’s heart stopped at Roxy’s question. The idea of bandits so close to the church made his body tremble. “We should head back, let Amelia know.” He said as he tried to keep his voice steady. 

“Why?” Roxy questioned, she didn’t notice his nervousness. “We can take a few bandits… But than again, I doubt it’s bandits. Amelia would have told us, you really think she’d not know if anything really dangerous was nearby?” She gave Ash a pat on the back and a small smile as she pointed deeper into the forest.

“Come on, I can smell the blood trail, it’s that way.” Roxy didn’t wait for Ash to reply, the young girl started walking forward instead.

‘Crap,’ Was Ash could think as he quickly followed behind. As nervous as he was, he didn’t want to leave Roxy behind.

~S~o~t~G~

“Get ready, I can smell the dead Longnoses up ahead.” Roxy whispered she quickly moved through the trees. “I don’t smell anyone else though? No bandits no other monsters.” She said with slight confusion.

The pair turned silent as grew closer. Then, they reached their destination. The pair walked out of the trees, and into a small clearing. They both froze at what they saw.

“Crap,” Was all Roxy could say, and Ash could only nod in agreement. 

Three dead Longnoses laid in the middle of the clearing. The plump four-legged creatures were only as tall as Ash’s knee, they had long bodies and short legs. Their noses gave them their name. The monsters would stick their long and thin noses deep into the dirt and mud in order to find bugs to eat. The three dead Longnoses were stacked into a pile, but they were not what had the young pair nervous. Behind the pile of dead Longnoses, there was a hill that stood half as tall as the trees that surrounded them. In the center of the hill there was an opening, a cave. They pair recalled what Amelia told them about caves.

~S~o~t~G~

Ash yawned as he stretched out next to the campfire. All three members of the church were currently taking a lunch break during their training mission. Amelia took the younger members deep into the forest to a river in order to collect some Rip-pez. 

“Listen up you two.” Amelia said, the two young members immediately turned to the woman. This is going to be the last training mission I take you on. Your next missions will be just the two of you. I believe you’re both ready, but there is still one last thing you need to know.”

“Huh? What thing?” Ash asked. Roxy was sitting next to him, instead of speaking the young girl was finishing her lunch.

“You need to learn about the most dangerous things you may come across… Caves.” Amelia said which caused Ash to give her an unimpressed look.

“Caves?” He repeated.

“Yes, if you ever come across a cave, leave. Don’t go near it, and NEVER go into a cave.” Amelia stated in a firm voice. Both Ash and Roxy were getting nervous at the seriousness in her voice. “When the Goddess gave us the Mist, it spread across the world. Most of the Mist faded away in the air. But, there are still pockets of the Mist that exist. They exist in caves, in dungeons, and in labyrinths, all of the Mist that still exist in the world is trapped underground. These pockets of Mist hidden in caves is how we can still collect and use the Mist, it’s how I was able to get some for you to inhale.” She said as she raised her hand to Ash.

The young boy shivered at the memory. “But,” He quickly said. “Isn’t that a good thing?” He asked.

“Yes… And no. Yes, because without caves or dungeons and labyrinths, the Mist would have faded away overtime… But no, because as I’ve said before, all living things are effected by the Mist. Which means monsters can inhale the Mist and become even stronger. The strongest monsters that have ever existed have lived in caves. Monsters with the Mist can become strong enough to wipe out villages on their own. This is why when a cave is found, only a team of the strongest fighters is sent to explore it.” 

Both of the young church members looked at each other, they tried to imagine powerful monsters. But they couldn’t. Even though they both knew monsters were dangerous, the only monsters they’ve ever seen have been weak. Monsters that they could kill, or they’ve seen Amelia kill with a flick of her wrist. 

Amelia could only sigh, she tell what the two young members were thinking. “Look you two,” She said while keeping her voice firm. “Never, ever enter a cave. If you find one, or any path that leads underground, turn and run. If you ever find a monster who’s inhaled the Mist, that monster will kill you… Even I would be slaughtered by A monster who has inhaled the Mist.”

Amelia’s final words finally convinced the young pair. To them there was no one stronger than Amelia. “There is so much you two will learn.” Amelia said as she stood up. “But for now, let’s get back to the mission at hand.”

~S~o~t~G~

“Let’s go,” Ash said as he turned to Roxy. 

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“Yeah,” Roxy quickly agreed. But, before they could turn and run, Roxy gripped Ash’s wrist. 

“We’re surrounded.” She said in a whisper, her voice shaky, and her face turning pale.

“W-What?” Was all Ash could say.

“They’re rushing us, fast.”  

“GRRAAWWRRR!” An ear-piercing roar echoed from the cave, freezing the pair. 

Their hearts thumped in their chest, matching the sound of foot steps leaving the cave. 

“Th-They’re here.” Roxy whispered, but Ash already knew. He didn’t need to enhance his senses to hear the growls and screeches coming from monsters hidden in the trees all around them.  Ash pulled the mace off his hip as Roxy gripped her revolver, they could do nothing but wait. Wait and listen as the footsteps echoing in the cave grew closer.  

‘I have to get Roxy out of here.’ This was the only thought bouncing around Ash’s mind as he listened to the footsteps in the cave get closer. His eyes darted around the clearing, looking for a way out.

“GRRAWWRR!” The roar sounded out again, shaking Ash out of his thoughts. The boy turned his attention back to the cave, and his eyes widened when he finally saw the monster.

“You?” Ash said as he stared down the Mono that exited the cave. Ash recognized the Mono, he could see the scar on the monsters side. “That scar, it was caused by Amelia wasn’t it? You’re the one that attacked me a year ago, and got away three years ago weren’t you?” Ash questioned the monster as he remembered the first day he and Amelia came to the church. 

Ash remembered what the monster looked like that day. It was a small furry humanoid creature, wearing scraps of monster fur, nearly as tall as Ash when he was thirteen. But now, as Ash looked at the mono, one word came to mind. ‘Monster,’ the mono’s sharp fangs, sharp claws, and even sharp glare, this was the most vis. The scraps of fur the monster once wore, were now replaced with bits of monster bones crudely stitched together with fur scraps. 

“GRRAWWRR!” The monster let out another roar as it started to beat it’s chest.

“RUN!” Ash shouted, this was his moment, he knew it and he didn’t hesitate. As soon as the monster started roaring to the sky and beating it’s chest. Ash dropped his mace, then used all of his Mist infused strength to rip the shield off of his back. Breaking the leather straps holding it in place, Ash threw the shield forward as hard as he could.  

The shield tore through the air, and slammed into the Mono’s stomach. The roaring monster was sent flying back into the cave and out of sight. The loud smack caused by the shield smashing into the Mono caused all the monsters surrounding the clearing to start their own round of roaring. But the young church members weren’t standing around. As soon as Ash’s shield left his hands the two turned and ran. Roxy’s reflexes were fast enough to shoot the young Mono flying out of the trees and blocking their path.

~S~o~t~G~

“They’re gonna catch us!” Roxy shouted as she struggled to keep up with Ash. The young, and skull-faced girl didn’t physically train as hard as Ash did, and the added stress of channeling Mist into her muscles to run faster was putting too much strain on her body. Roxy didn’t know how much longer she could run at full speed.

“Just focus on shooting!” Ash called back, he knew Roxy was having trouble. He knew her better then anyone. So, in the spur of the moment, Ash did the first thing he could think of. Ash grabbed Roxy’s arm, and yanked her up. Slamming her chest against his as he wrapped his arms around her tight, carrying her. The young girl didn’t weight nearly as much as his shield did. Roxy winced at the sudden impact of slamming into Ash, but she quickly realized what he was doing. She wrapped her legs around his waist to make herself easier to carry, and she aimed her revolver at the Monos running through the trees. Opening fire at every Mono she could.  Ash gritted his teeth at the gunfire, the fact that Roxy had to shoot meant the Monos were getting close. So he focused every fiber of his being into running. He had to get them away, so he drowned out everything around him, and only focused on running.

~S~o~t~G~ 

Darkness surrounded Ash as pain filled his body with every beat of his heart. The young boy couldn’t tell if his was awake or dreaming, dead or unconscious. All he knew was pain.

“A…sh…h…” A small voice echoed around the darkness causing Ash to twitch in pain. “As…hh…!” The voice grew louder, and Ash groaned in pain as he felt something shake his body. “ASH!” The Voice shouted one final time causing Ash’s eyes to snap open. The pain he felt sent shock waves through his body, and the boy let out a soundless scream as every single muscle in his body locked up.

“Relax, Boy, you’re okay. Just breathe, just focus on your breathing.” Amelia’s familiar voice filled his head, but Ash couldn’t see her. His vision was still filled with darkness. 

“That’s it, just breathe.” Amelia said once more, and Ash followed her words. With every deep breath he took, pain followed. It burned, as if a monster was dragging claws made of fire through his veins. But with every breath he took, his vision started to clear up. The darkness was now starting to be replaced with blue sky.

“Wh… What happened?” Ash managed to mumble out as he saw Amelia appear next to him.

“You pushed your body past its limit. Channeling that much Mist into your muscles for as long as you did was to much for your body to handle. You blacked out as soon as you made it back here.” Amelia stated, her words caused Ash to sigh in relief. He made it back, they were safe, but then his eyes widened.

“Wait!” He quickly said as he tried to sit up. Amelia put a hand on his shoulder, keeping the boy on the ground. “Where’s Roxy?” He asked.

“She’s sitting next to you.” Amelia answered simply.

“Wha-” Ash started to say as he turned his head. Roxy was sitting on the ground next to him, there was a concerned look on her face as she held his hand. Ash hadn’t even noticed she was holding his hand. “Are you okay?” He managed to say but he couldn’t help but wince as he spoke.

“Am I okay?” Roxy said, her concerned face turned into a frown as she stared down at him. She let out a sigh of her own as she squeezed his hand. “Just shut up, and breath.” Ash could feel his body dragging him to sleep, and he could see the darkness creeping up at the edge of his vision. “I think I’m gonna puke.” He couldn’t he couldn’t help but mumble as he blacked out once more.

~S~o~t~G~

“How are you feeling today, Boy?” Amelia asked as she walked into Ash’s room. Roxy followed behind with a tray of food in hand. 

“Like I just got done swimming in a pool of Rip-pez.” Ash groaned. It had only been a day since he blacked out.

“Well, you’ll be fine in a week.” Amelia said as she pressed a hand against his forehead checking for a fever. 

“It’s time to eat.” Roxy said as she placed the tray of food on his nightstand. “I got your favorite, vanilla ice cream with bacon and cucumbers mixed in.” Ash’s stomach rumbled at the thought, he never kicked his habit for strange food combinations.

“Wait,” Ash said as he suddenly remembered why he was so injured. “What about that cave? And that Mist infused monster?!” Ash asked, but his words caused the two female church members to turn silent.

Roxy simply scratched the back of her head with an embarrassed look. “That wasn’t…” She started to say, but just let out a sigh.

“That wasn’t a Mist infused monster.” Amelia said, causing Ash to look at her in confusion.

“What? But it lived in a cave and was really strong looking.” 

“You need more training, Boy.” Amelia said with a sigh and a shake of her head. “While we’ve been living here I’ve walked every inch of this forest around our church for miles. I know about the dangers in this forest, and I’ve gotten rid of the most powerful ones. I already knew about that cave and some others you haven’t found yet. I’ve already sent word to the church and that and it’s already been explored. There is no Mist in it or any other caves around here.”  

“Wha… Really?” Was all Ash could say. “But, wait. I thought you said it takes a team of the strongest warriors. Why didn’t we meet them? Or at least seem them?” Ash couldn’t fight the pout from appearing on his face. The young boy was upset at missing the chance of meeting the Church of the Mist’s strongest members.

“If we told the Explorers Union, then they would a team of people and it would take days for them to make sure there’s not Mist. But the Church of Mist can do it in a matter of hours. It’s all thanks to a certain member of our Church. She, uh, she’s in charge of reconnaissance on Unity, she watches over all our operations on this continent. She has her magical potential unlocked, and her ability… Well, lets just say she can summon and control the souls of monsters she’s killed.” Amelia stumbled over her words as she spoke, but Ash didn’t notice.

“Whoa, really? That’s-” 

“Don’t interrupt me. As I was saying, her ability allows her to send her monster souls into caves and look for Mist. She sent them into the caves around here, and found nothing, so there is nothing for you to worry about.”

“Really?” Ash asked as he remember the fierce looking Mono living in the cave. “So that really wasn’t a Mist infused monster?”

“Ash, I’m training you to become stronger. If you die before training is over, then these past three years would be wasted. So do you think I’d let you walk into anything I didn’t think you could handle?”

“Um? No, I guess not.”

“I wouldn’t, and besides you should have known that monster wasn’t infused with the Goddess’s gift. If that monster inhaled the Mist and survived to become stronger. It would have killed you, you would have not have gotten away.” Ash shivered at the thought. “You need more training, as soon as you’re better we will be doubling your training.” Amelia said in a firm voice as she walked out of the room.

Ash could only sigh as he laid back in his bed. But as he closed his eyes to go back to sleep, a spoon was shoved into his mouth. The boy started to cough and spit the spoon out as he turned to the young girl next to him. “Roxy what the heck?” He asked, but the girl simply huffed.

“Think you can ignore me after I made you this food?” She said as her pout turned into a glare. Ash could only gulp as she picked the spoon back up. Ash would rather face a Mist infused monster over a mad Roxy.  

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