Rubble in the Forest

In the night sky, the rain has lessened, but it is still present. The guards traverse into the forest where the tornado appeared that alerted the masses. The guards continue on and noticed a corpse missing a head and two arms.

"I found a dead body." one of the guards said. "Those wounds are that of a blade. Whoever did it must be merciless."

"I found another one. This one is missing a jaw." another one said.

"Another one too. Legs severed from the ankle down and...headless. It was torn off by something" said the other.

"Found the other body. Bite marks on the neck. Died quickly. Judging by their attire, they're bandits." one guard concluded. The others also nodded as the corpses were also bandits.

"I see the bandits met a bad fate." a male voice said.

"Captain." the guards said, standing up straight and saluting.

"At ease." The captain said. "What did you find?"

"We found their limbs cut apart cleanly. The strange ones are the bite marks on the necks." one of the guards said.

"Captain! I found something!" one of the guards yelled. The group walked to the location where the guard yelled to see a sight unbelievable to unfold. A pile of rubble, unknown entrails, dried blood, and body parts.

"My god...what happened here?" the captain said, struck in awe of the destruction the tornado did. He then noticed a dead body who is much worse. One limb was missing and the others are mangled, especially there is a hole in his chest.

Despite the horrible sight, he recognize that bandit.

"Fredrick Barnes. He is the leader of the bandits and have a bounty of 120 silver. Many people wanted him dead for his actions and some monster must've did the job." the captain said. He looked down and picked up a piece of wood and pieces of what cloth is left.

He also looked around that there are craters charred and spiraling patterns on the ground. What even baffled him more is that the trees surrounding the rubble is mostly unscathed.

"A lightning strike and then a tornado. Yet none of the trees were destroyed?" The captain wondered. He could think more, but right now, he must make a report.

"Gather the bodies outside the forest. We'll signal the others to collect them and bury them." The captain said.

They obeyed and began carrying the bodies and body parts outside the forest. The other guards helped the captain carry Fredrick, the leader outside the forest as well.

Meanwhile, sometime later in the night, in Anna's office, she heard a knock on the door.

"The door's open." Anna said. The door opened up and the captain of the guards entered to the room.

"Madam Zailhouse. About the bounty hunting quest." the captain said.

"Yes, it was issued one month ago." Anna said. "Did you find the reason for the tornado and lightning?"

"Unfortunately, no. However, it is the reason how Fredrick was killed. He set up camp and settled for some time and today it was utterly destroyed. Few of the corpses that were mostly intact had bite marks." the captain concluded.

"Bite marks... do you know what it is?" Anna said.

"I have no clue. When that tornado appeared and subsided, no trees were destroyed or damaged." the captain said. Anna knew what it meant for a tornado. A natural tornado vary in size, but is large enough and destructive enough to uproot trees. A magical tornado is dependent to the caster and at times not damage the trees at all.

"It's a magical type of tornado. Otherwise the trees would've been destroyed." Anna said.

"We could not find the one responsible once we arrived. What should we do about the quest?" the captain said.

"I'll have to cancel it. Since he is found dead and you were to find it, there's no reason. Is this the end of your report?" Anna said.

"No, Madam Zailhouse." the captain said. Anna slightly pouted at his formal attitude.

"Ray, how many times must I tell you not to call me that? Call me Anna." Anna said.

"But you're of great importance of the guild. Without you, Noltia wouldn't be like what it is today." Ray said.

"I know. Us elves may have long lifespans, but I want rest easy knowing that every person, whatever race they may be can fight to protect the kingdom and to protect those who could not." Anna said. "I'm only 90 years old, but I can wait."

"I'd probably have some gray on my head." Ray sighed. "That's the end of my report."

"Okay, have a good night." Anna said, waving to Ray. Ray bowed and left the office. She too left her office to go to her personal room to retire for the night.