Shout and smoke

In a town not too far from the village of Baron Endrick, in the villa of the Cut family, one feels a certain tension of the people who live there.

"How is it possible that my father hasn't arrived yet? He just had to warn that useless baron about the marriage to his daughter, how can he bear all this time?" Did something happen? Did Endrick react violently to my father? No, that baron isn't stupid enough to do such a thing.

Inside a room, sitting on a large luxurious sofa, a boy with blond hair and moss green eyes stared at the ground, his hands clasped under his chin. This boy has facial features very close to those of Viscount Limosa.

'Something must have happened to him on the return journey, after all he sent a message warning that he would leave that village immediately.' I look out the window, it's morning, it's a few hours late, it should have arrived just before midnight.

"Young master, I report news of your father!" Suddenly, when the door opened, a young waiter had entered without warning.

"Idiot! You have to knock before you enter, can't you do that either, bug? I should send you to slaughter just for this Insubordination." I yell angrily at the waiter, he immediately stops in place, obvious beads of sweat dripping down his face.

"E-excuse me young master, i-I'm still new to this job, I won't do it again, forgive me!" the waiter kneels on the ground, asking for forgiveness.

'Yes, that's exactly the pose you ordinary wormy citizens should have.' I look contemptuously at the kneeling boy "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and tell me what you found out about my father!"

"I-immediately, milord. The patrol he sent up the path that connects the baron's village to our town, found battle marks and a lot of blood scattered around. The carriage was completely overturned, and all the escort was destroyed, and besides... besides..." the waiter stammers in the last part of his speech.

"Besides what? useless worm, speak!" I yell at the boy who is shaking with fear.

"T-the viscount also apparently fell victim to the attack, several chunks of human flesh were found scattered about in one spot, wearing shreds of noble robes-AHHHH." I kick the kneeling waiter with all my might, slamming him against the wall, smashing him. The waiter remains motionless on the ground, with a lot of blood oozing from his pores, most likely the organs inside him have burst.

"How is this possible?! My father is dead? Damn! This will be a problem, why is this happening now? Shit, shit, shit." She continues to curse, stamping her foot on the smooth floor. 'Who dared to attack the Cut family? Some bandits, perhaps a rival family, or perhaps restless citizens? There could be many hypotheses, but why was my father's body in pieces? Human beings wouldn't have left such traces, and then it wouldn't make sense... an animal, it had to be an animal, indeed more than an animal, a Noterozo.'

"Milord, I heard a noise, what is it... I understand." The butler of the house enters and witnesses the scene before him, having already guessed what has happened. 'Fortunately I sent that boy to warn the young gentleman of the viscount's fall, otherwise it would have been me on the ground.'

"Rolf, send a letter to the count, the count must be informed immediately of this event, he is also preparing everything necessary to make a succession of roles, from today I, Vastum Cut, will be the viscount." I also look at the body that is in this room "And also send someone to throw out this garbage, it starts to stink." I take a rag, and put it over my nose, plugging it, to avoid the smell that is spreading in this room.

"Right away, my lord." Rolf is preparing to do my bidding.

'I have to try to figure out who did it, otherwise I might be the next target.' I begin to reflect on what happened, closed in my thoughts.

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Returning to the mansion of Baron Endrick, the message of the death of Viscount Limosa has already arrived.

'Limosa is dead? Mhhh I must say I didn't expect it... who has the courage to go against the nobles?' I tap my index finger rhythmically on the table while I read the letter sent to me by Villa Cut.

"Attacking the head of a noble house, a move as bold as it is stupid, unless you have something in mind, of course. Even bandits would think twice before making such a move. What do you think, Josh?" I ask my charge nurse, who is standing next to me.

"I say one less being on this earth, like Viscount Limosa, is a joyous release." I think I saw a slight lifting of Josh's lip "But humor aside, from what I've been told the viscount's body was found in pieces in the middle of the path. I would think of a Noterozo, but in that small forest there are none, and furthermore he had to be a powerful beast to kill a dozen soldiers he is a nobleman in the thirtieth degree, perhaps he had a herd with him, but he certainly will not go unnoticed in those parts."

"And besides, they wouldn't have left any bodies untouched. Apparently the soldiers died of stab wounds, not bites or claws." I continue Josh's guess. "I can't think of anything right now, but it's not our problem yet, we'll send our condolences, just so we don't look bad in front of that rotten family."

"Hey Darion, did you hear? That slimy viscount is dead, a letter arrived this morning advising the baron." Coming back from break, I heard Jeff say this.

"Really? Well, great I'd say, at least I won't see his ugly face again." I rejoice to hear this.

"Yes, you can say that again, but now his son will take his place ... and I don't think it will be better, after all as they say, 'the apple never falls far from the tree', right?" Jeff is not wrong, the old sayings are almost never wrong, we'll see what happens in the future.

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On that same night, a village is ablaze and desperate cries of innocent souls echo in the night sky, accompanying curtains of smoke rising towards the moon.

More human blood, both noble and citizen, has been spilled into the ground, in the relentless war lust of beasts driven by the pure instinct to kill...