Chapter 5: The Horror of Hillsdale

The moonlight spilled softly through the large windows of Ryuto's bedroom, casting shadows across the lavish space. The air was heavy with the lingering scent of the night before, and Ryuto lay motionless on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. His mind was a swirling mess of emotions, guilt, pleasure, and the weight of what his relationship with Celeste had become.

The room was quiet, save for the soft rustle of sheets as Celeste stirred beside him. She had been more relaxed lately, her possessive streak somewhat calmed after their time together, but that possessiveness still hung like a shadow. She was wrapped around him now, her body pressed close, her arm draped over his chest as if she feared he would vanish in the night.

Ryuto shifted slightly, pulling himself from beneath her. He wasn't feeling up to it tonight, his mind was too occupied with the recent events in Hillsdale, and his body was weary from the day's travel. But as he tried to pull away, Celeste stirred, a soft hum escaping her lips as she blinked her eyes open.

"Ryuto…" she murmured, her voice still thick with sleep. She slowly sat up, her nightgown slipping slightly down her shoulder, revealing the pale skin beneath. "You've been so distant tonight. Why don't you let me help you relax?"

Ryuto shook his head, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I'm just… tired, Celeste. We can pick this up another time."

But Celeste wasn't going to take no for an answer. A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes as she slid out of bed, standing at the foot of it with her back toward him. She looked over her shoulder, a slow, playful smile spreading across her lips.

"You say that now," she purred, turning to face him fully, her fingers slowly trailing down the strap of her nightgown, slipping it off her shoulder. "But I think I can change your mind."

Ryuto opened his mouth to protest, but the words died on his lips as Celeste began to move, her body swaying to a rhythm only she could hear. She stepped closer, her hips rolling in smooth, sensual movements, her nightgown slipping lower with each step.

"You've been working so hard," she whispered, her voice husky and teasing. "You deserve a reward."

Ryuto swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest as Celeste danced closer. Her hands slid over her body, teasing the fabric of her nightgown lower, revealing more of her bare skin as she moved. She twirled gracefully, her hair spilling down her back, and when she turned to face him again, her nightgown was pooled at her feet, leaving her standing in nothing but moonlight.

She stepped up onto the bed, crawling toward him with deliberate slowness, her fingers lightly brushing his chest. "Let me take care of you," she whispered, her lips just inches from his.

Ryuto's mind screamed at him to resist, to push her away, but his body was betraying him. Her touch, her scent, the heat of her skin, it was too much. He tried to sit up, to move away, but Celeste gently pushed him back down onto the bed, her lips ghosting over his jawline.

"Stop fighting it," she breathed, her voice soft but commanding. "You need this as much as I do."

Ryuto's resistance crumbled as Celeste straddled his hips, her body pressed against his. He could feel her heat, her desire, and it was driving him crazy. "I can't," he protested weakly, even as his hands came up to rest on her hips. "We can't do this again, Celeste. It's wrong."

But even as he spoke, his fingers dug into her skin, his body responding to her touch despite his best efforts to resist.

Celeste leaned down, her lips brushing against Ryuto's ear as she whispered, "Who cares about what's right or wrong? We both want this. We both need this. Give in to it, Ryuto. Give in to me."

She began to move against him, her hips grinding against his in a slow, sensual rhythm. She could feel his hardness pressing against her through the thin fabric of his pants, and she knew she had him exactly where she wanted him.

Ryuto groaned, his head falling back as Celeste continued to move against him. He was torn between his desire for her and his guilt, but the pleasure was too great to resist. "God, you're so tempting," he gasped, his fingers digging deeper into her skin. "You drive me crazy, Celeste. You always have."

He lifted his hips, meeting her movements with a slow, deliberate thrust.

Ryuto couldn't take his eyes off of Celeste as she rode him, her long hair falling in a cascade over her breasts. Her movements were hypnotic, her body moving in perfect sync with his as she took him deeper and deeper inside her. He reached up, tangling his fingers in her hair as he watched her breasts bounce with each thrust. "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Celeste smiled down at him, her eyes dark with desire. "You're not so bad yourself," she said, her voice husky. "I love the way you look at me, Ryuto. Like I'm the only woman in the world."

She leaned down, her breasts brushing against his chest as she captured his lips in a passionate kiss. Her hips never stopped moving, her body moving in a slow, sensual rhythm that was driving him wild.

Ryuto wrapped his arms around Celeste, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss. He could feel himself getting lost in her, his guilt and reservations fading away as pleasure consumed him. "I can't get enough of you," he gasped, his hands roaming over her body. "You feel so good, Celeste. So perfect."

He began to thrust up into her, meeting her movements with his own as they moved together in perfect sync.

"Let go, Ryuto," Celeste whispered, her voice filled with urgency. "I can feel you holding back. Don't hold back. Let go and come for me."

She leaned down, her lips brushing against his ear as she continued to ride him. "I want to feel you lose control. I want to feel you fill me up with your seed."

Ryuto's control was slipping, his body responding to Celeste's words and movements. He could feel his release building, the pressure growing with each passing moment. "I'm so close," he groaned, his hands gripping her hips tightly. "I can't hold back much longer."

He looked up at her, his eyes locking onto hers. "Come with me, Celeste," he said, his voice rough with need. "I want to feel you come around me."

Celeste nodded, her movements becoming more frantic as she chased her own release. "I'm close too," she gasped, her body trembling with need. "Come for me, Ryuto. Fill me up with your hot seed. I want to feel it deep inside me."

She leaned down, capturing his lips in a desperate kiss as they both hurtled towards the edge.

Ryuto let out a low, guttural groan as he finally let go, his release spilling deep inside Celeste. She moaned, her body shuddering as she felt him fill her up. She continued to move against him, milking every last drop of pleasure from him until they were both spent and panting.

Ryuto lay tangled in the sheets, Celeste curled up beside him, her body pressed tightly against his. Her arm was wrapped around him like a chain, her leg draped possessively over his as if she feared he would vanish if she let go. The room was silent except for the soft sound of her breathing, but Ryuto's mind was far from calm.

He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a tangled mess of conflicting emotions. The night had been passionate, there was no denying the pleasure he had felt, but the weight of what their relationship had become gnawed at him. There was no turning back now, no pretending that things were still normal between them.

What's going to happen tomorrow? Ryuto thought to himself. How long can I keep this up?

Celeste stirred beside him, her fingers tightening slightly around his arm as she mumbled something in her sleep. Ryuto sighed softly, his body relaxing against the mattress as sleep finally began to claim him.

But even as he drifted off, the lingering feeling of being trapped, both by his own desires and Celeste's obsession, remained.

The next morning, Ryuto was jolted awake by the sound of raised voices coming from downstairs. He blinked, groggy and disoriented, as he realized Celeste was no longer beside him. Her side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold.

He quickly got dressed and headed downstairs, following the sound of Celeste's voice. As he descended the stairs, he could hear another familiar voice, Nina.

The two women were standing in the middle of the grand hall, their voices sharp with tension.

"Nina, what are you talking about?" Celeste snapped, her arms crossed over her chest. "We dealt with the werewolf. Ryuto handled it personally."

Nina, her usual chipper attitude replaced by a look of urgency, shook her head. "That's just it, Celeste. The werewolf wasn't the real threat. Refugees from Hillsdale came to the village early this morning, and they said something else is out there. People have been disappearing, some of the bodies were found half-eaten."

Ryuto's stomach twisted as he stepped into the room. "Half-eaten?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with concern. "What's going on, Nina?"

Nina turned to him, her eyes wide with worry. "It wasn't the werewolf. Something else is attacking the villagers. They think it's a wendigo."

Ryuto's blood ran cold. A wendigo was far worse than any werewolf. They were cursed creatures, born of cannibalism and driven by insatiable hunger. They were nearly unstoppable, hunting relentlessly and feasting on human flesh.

"Are you sure?" Ryuto asked, his mind already racing.

Nina nodded. "The villagers found more bodies after you left. They're terrified. We have to go back."

Celeste, standing beside Ryuto, immediately shook her head. "No. You're not going back out there. You just got back, Ryuto, and now you're talking about facing something even more dangerous?"

Ryuto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't have a choice, Celeste. This thing is killing people. We have to stop it."

Nina nodded in agreement. "We'll need the whole party, Roland, Ruda, and everyone. This is going to be a tough fight."

Celeste crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "I don't like this."

Ryuto gently placed a hand on her arm, trying to reassure her. "I'll be fine, Celeste. We'll handle it. I'll come back."

She stared at him for a long moment before sighing and looking away. "Just… be careful."

Ryuto wasted no time gathering the rest of his team. Roland was already waiting for him in the courtyard, his sword strapped to his back, and a determined expression on his face.

"So, a wendigo, huh?" Roland asked, his voice tinged with both excitement and nerves. "Not exactly what I was expecting."

"I wasn't expecting it either," Ryuto replied, his mind still focused on the task ahead. "But we have to take it down before anyone else gets hurt."

As they spoke, Ruda appeared from the shadows, her golden eyes gleaming in the morning light. She smirked as she approached them, her arms crossed casually over her chest. "A wendigo? Sounds like fun."

Ryuto gave her a brief nod. "It won't be easy. We'll need all the firepower we can get."

The three of them quickly prepared to head back to Hillsdale, the weight of the looming battle pressing heavily on Ryuto's mind. He had never faced a wendigo before, but he knew enough to be afraid. The stories of their power, their hunger, and their relentless pursuit of flesh were enough to make any adventurer think twice.

As they prepared to leave, Celeste appeared in the doorway, her expression unreadable. She approached Ryuto, her hand resting lightly on his arm.

"Be careful," she said softly, her fingers tightening slightly. "I don't want to lose you."

Ryuto gave her a reassuring nod, though his heart was heavy with the knowledge of the danger ahead. "I'll be back," he promised.

With that, they set off toward Hillsdale, the weight of the hunt hanging over them like a shadow.

The deeper they ventured into the woods surrounding Hillsdale, the more unnatural everything seemed. The once familiar trees now stood twisted and gnarled, as though the forest itself had been tainted by something dark and ancient. The air was heavy, thick with the scent of decay and the kind of rot that sunk into the bones. Every step felt like it was pulling them closer to something they were not supposed to find.

"Something's wrong here," Ruda whispered, her golden eyes glowing faintly in the gathering twilight. She sniffed the air again, her expression darkening. "It smells… old. Foul. Hungry."

Ryuto felt a cold shiver run down his spine, but he forced himself to press on. "Stay sharp," he muttered, glancing at Roland beside him. "This thing is close."

They moved in silence through the woods, every sound amplified, the snap of twigs beneath their boots, the rustling of leaves in the wind, the occasional growl from Ruda's throat as she caught traces of something sinister. As they pushed deeper, the light of the setting sun barely filtered through the thick canopy, leaving the forest in an unsettling half-darkness.

Then, they saw it. The ground before them sloped downward into a shallow ravine, and at its center lay a grisly scene that made Ryuto's stomach churn.

Scattered across the clearing were bones, human and animal alike, some gnawed clean, others still covered in rotting flesh. The stench hit them immediately, a sickening combination of blood, decay, and something else, something metallic, almost sweet.

Ruda growled low in her throat, her body tensing. "This is a feeding ground," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The wendigo is close."

Ryuto tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. "Where is it?"

Before anyone could answer, a sound echoed from the trees, a low, rasping breath, followed by the unmistakable sound of flesh being torn apart. It was a wet, slurping noise that turned Ryuto's blood to ice.

"There," Roland whispered, pointing toward the far edge of the clearing.

Through the shadows, they saw it.

The wendigo stood hunched over a body, its gaunt, skeletal frame barely covered by stretched, decaying skin. Its limbs were grotesquely elongated, its fingers ending in jagged, black claws that dug deep into the flesh of its victim. The creature's ribs jutted out grotesquely from its emaciated torso, and its mouth, filled with sharp, jagged teeth, was stained red with blood. Every breath it took was a horrible, wet rasp, like air struggling to pass through lungs filled with rot.

As they watched in horror, the wendigo lifted its head, its sunken eyes glowing with a sickly yellow light. Its face was a twisted mockery of a human's, with hollow cheeks and a stretched, lipless grin that seemed far too wide for its skull. Its jaw hung slightly open, blood dripping from its fangs as it tilted its head, almost as if it were savoring the taste of the flesh it had just consumed.

Ryuto swallowed hard, his mouth dry. "By the gods…"

The wendigo sniffed the air, its head snapping toward them with terrifying speed. It grinned wider, its eyes narrowing as it let out a low, gurgling growl.

"So… hungry," it rasped, its voice barely more than a hollow whisper. "More… flesh."

In an instant, the wendigo lunged.

The wendigo moved with horrifying speed, its long limbs propelling it forward in a blur of motion. Ryuto barely had time to react as the creature charged at them, its claws slashing through the air with terrifying precision.

"Move!" Ryuto shouted, diving to the side just as the wendigo's claws tore through the space where he had stood moments before. The ground beneath him exploded in a spray of dirt and leaves as the creature's talons dug deep into the earth.

Roland swung his sword, aiming for the creature's ribs, but the wendigo twisted its body unnaturally, avoiding the blow with an almost serpentine grace. It turned on him, its yellow eyes glowing with hunger as it lashed out, knocking Roland back with a swipe of its massive claws. Roland crashed into a tree with a grunt, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

"Roland!" Ryuto yelled, but there was no time to help. The wendigo was on him again, its grotesque grin widening as it reached for him with bony fingers.

Ryuto raised his sword, channeling fire magic into the blade. With a shout, he swung, unleashing a wave of flames that hit the wendigo square in the chest.

The creature screeched in pain, its skin blackening and peeling away as the flames licked at its flesh. But even as it burned, it didn't stop. If anything, it seemed to grow more frenzied, its hunger driving it forward despite the agony.

"Kill it!" Ruda snarled, leaping into the fray with her claws bared. She shifted into her werewolf form, her body rippling with muscle as she attacked the wendigo head-on.

The two creatures collided, a whirlwind of claws and fangs. The wendigo's claws tore into Ruda's side, sending blood spraying across the ground, but she barely flinched. With a feral growl, she sank her teeth into the wendigo's shoulder, tearing a chunk of flesh away.

But the wendigo didn't falter. It grabbed Ruda by the throat, lifting her off the ground with inhuman strength. Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of bloodstained teeth as it prepared to bite down.

Ryuto acted without thinking. He raised his hand, summoning a surge of magic so intense it made the air around him crackle with energy. "Let her go!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of flames directly at the wendigo's head.

The fire engulfed the creature, its skin bubbling and melting as it screamed, a horrific sound that echoed through the forest like the wail of a banshee. It dropped Ruda, stumbling back as the flames consumed it, but still, it did not fall.

The wendigo's body twisted and contorted, its limbs snapping and realigning in grotesque ways as it tried to regenerate. The burned flesh sloughed off, revealing new skin beneath, though it was raw and bleeding. The creature's eyes burned with a terrible hunger, its grin wider than ever.

"It won't die," Roland gasped, struggling to his feet. "What the hell is this thing?"

The wendigo's body was a grotesque parody of regeneration. Every time it seemed like they were about to kill it, its body would knit itself back together, though weaker and more grotesque each time. Flesh hung loosely from its bones, and its movements were becoming more erratic, as though its very form was falling apart.

"We need to end this," Ryuto muttered, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

Ruda, blood dripping from her wounds but still standing, growled in agreement. "Hit it with everything you've got."

Ryuto knew they couldn't keep this up. The creature was relentless, driven by an insatiable hunger that even their combined attacks couldn't quench. If they didn't finish it soon, they would all be dead.

He looked to Roland, who nodded grimly, readying his sword. Ruda bared her fangs, her golden eyes locked on the creature.

"Now!" Ryuto shouted, channeling the last of his strength into one final attack.

The air around him crackled with energy as he summoned a massive ball of fire magic, the heat from the spell causing the very air to shimmer. With a roar, he launched it at the wendigo, the flames consuming the creature in a fiery explosion.

The wendigo screamed, a bloodcurdling sound that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality. Its body twisted and convulsed, the flames eating away at its flesh until there was nothing left but charred bone and ash.

Finally, the creature collapsed, its body crumbling into a pile of smoldering remains.

The forest was silent once more, the only sound the crackling of the dying flames and the labored breathing of the party.

Ryuto stood over the fallen wendigo, his chest heaving, his sword still glowing with residual magic. He glanced at Roland, who was leaning heavily on his sword, and Ruda, who shifted back into her human form, panting from the battle.

"It's over," Ryuto said, though his voice was hoarse with exhaustion. "We did it."

The town of Hillsdale was eerily quiet as Ryuto, Roland, and Ruda made their way back into the village, dragging the severed head of the wendigo behind them. Its grotesque, emaciated face stared lifelessly, its gaping mouth frozen in a horrific grin. The villagers, who had been hiding inside their homes, began to emerge as word spread that the nightmare was finally over.

They gathered around, wide-eyed and trembling, as Ryuto and his party stopped in front of the mayor's house. The mayor himself hobbled out, his old, weathered face pale with fear as he caught sight of the wendigo's head.

"It's… it's dead?" he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Ryuto nodded, his exhaustion clear in his expression. "Yes. The wendigo won't be terrorizing your village any longer. You can return to your homes."

A collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd, and the villagers erupted into murmurs of gratitude. Some even knelt, offering prayers to the gods for their safety. The mayor, tears welling in his eyes, shakily reached for a small pouch and pressed it into Ryuto's hand.

"Here… the reward. You've saved us… more than we can ever repay," the mayor said, his voice choked with emotion.

Ryuto glanced at the pouch of coins, but his mind was far from the payment. The weight of what they had just endured still hung heavily over him. The sight of the wendigo's twisted form, the sound of its sickening voice, the smell of death that lingered in the forest, it all clung to him like a dark cloud.

"We're just glad it's over," Ryuto replied quietly, pocketing the reward.

The villagers began to disperse, some with smiles of hope on their faces, others with haunted looks that would no doubt remain for a long time. Hillsdale had been through a nightmare, and while the wendigo was dead, the scars it left behind would take time to heal.

As the group left the village, making their way back toward the Velclair estate, Ryuto noticed something out of the corner of his eye. Ruda, now back in her human form, was walking beside Roland, her wild black hair falling in loose waves around her shoulders. Her golden eyes glinted mischievously as she shot him sidelong glances, her lips curling into a playful smirk.

Roland, still sore from the fight, was limping slightly, his armor dented and scuffed. He seemed to be lost in thought, his mind likely still on the battle, when Ruda suddenly moved closer, brushing her shoulder against his.

"You fought well today," Ruda purred, her voice low and teasing. "Strong. Fearless. You know… I like that in a man."

Roland blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her sudden proximity. "Uh, thanks?" he said awkwardly, glancing at her with a nervous chuckle. "I mean, we all did well, right?"

Ruda grinned, stepping in front of him and placing a hand on his chest, her touch lingering a little too long. "Oh, come on, don't be so modest. You were impressive." She tilted her head, her eyes gleaming. "I like a man who can hold his own in a fight. It's… attractive."

Roland's face turned beet red as he tried to laugh it off. "I, uh, appreciate the compliment, but, "

"But?" Ruda interrupted, her voice dropping to a seductive whisper. "What's the matter, big guy? You afraid of a little attention?"

Roland's mouth opened and closed as he searched for a response, clearly flustered by Ruda's boldness. Ryuto, watching from a few paces ahead, couldn't help but smirk to himself. As terrifying as Ruda was in her werewolf form, it seemed she had another side to her, one that found great joy in teasing poor Roland.

"Look," Roland stammered, clearly at a loss. "I'm just saying… we've got a long way back, and, "

Ruda leaned in closer, her lips almost brushing his ear as she whispered, "Don't worry, I'll be gentle."

Roland practically jumped out of his skin, taking a hurried step back. "Yeah, uh, I think I'm gonna walk up front with Ryuto."

Ruda chuckled softly, a wicked glint in her eye as she watched him retreat toward Ryuto's side. "Suit yourself," she called after him, her voice dripping with amusement. "But I'll be right here if you change your mind."

Roland fell into step beside Ryuto, his face still flushed as he shot his friend a pleading look. "Can you do something about her?" he muttered under his breath.

Ryuto chuckled, shaking his head. "Sorry, man, you're on your own with that one."

Roland groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. "Great. Just great. First, a wendigo, and now I've got a werewolf with a crush on me. This is turning out to be one hell of a week."

When they finally returned to the Velclair estate, Ryuto couldn't help but feel the weight of exhaustion bearing down on him. His body ached, his magic reserves were depleted, and his mind was still racing from the events in Hillsdale.

As soon as they entered the grand hall, they were greeted by Elena, the guild quest giver, who had been eagerly awaiting their return. Her eyes lit up when she saw them, and she rushed forward with an excited grin.

"You're back! And alive, too!" Elena exclaimed, her gaze flicking between Ryuto, Roland, and Ruda. "So? Did you handle it? The wendigo?"

Ryuto nodded, handing her the severed head wrapped in cloth as proof of the kill. "It's done. Hillsdale is safe now."

Elena unwrapped the cloth just enough to confirm the wendigo's death, her eyes widening slightly at the sight of the grotesque head. "Impressive. You guys took down a wendigo? That's… wow. You've earned this."

She handed Ryuto a new quest form, but more importantly, she handed him a Rank B medallion, signifying his promotion. "Congratulations, Ryuto. You've officially made it to Rank B. That's no small feat."

Ryuto accepted the medallion, feeling a sense of pride swell within him despite his exhaustion. It was official now, he was no longer a novice adventurer. He had earned his place among the more elite ranks of the guild.

"Thanks, Elena," Ryuto said, pocketing the medallion.

Elena flashed him a wink. "You've earned it, hero. But don't get too comfortable. I'm sure there's plenty more monsters out there with your name on them."

Ryuto chuckled, though a small part of him wished he could just enjoy the victory for a little longer before diving back into another life-threatening quest.

As Ryuto made his way to his room, the weight of the day's events finally hitting him, he wasn't surprised to find Celeste waiting for him just inside the door.

Her arms were crossed, and though her expression was neutral, he could see the flicker of worry in her eyes. "So… another day, another battle, huh?" she said quietly, her voice calm but edged with tension.

Ryuto sighed, setting down his things before walking over to her. "It was rough, but we made it through. The wendigo is dead."

Celeste's gaze softened, and she reached out, wrapping her arms around him in a tight embrace. "Good. I don't like the idea of you out there fighting monsters like that… but I know it's what you do." She pulled back slightly, her eyes searching his. "Just… promise me you'll be careful. I don't want to lose you."

Ryuto gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I promise."

Celeste smiled back, though there was still a glint of possessiveness in her eyes. "Good. Now come to bed. You need rest."

Ryuto nodded, his body finally succumbing to the exhaustion as Celeste led him toward the bed. As much as he wanted to stay awake and process everything that had happened, sleep quickly took him.