Dissociation

"Quick! Look at this!" Kassel enthusiastically ushered Karlos towards a small animal pen. Several people crowded around the meat stall, each whispering and pointing with the people beside them.

The stall owner was weathered old man in leather armor holding a wooden bow, diligently sat beside the metal cage. His short hair was beginning to grey, but his hairline was still healthy, accentuating the distinct wrinkles on his face. Complimented by his vibrant brown eyes, he was likely quite handsome in his youth.

Squeezing in between the people, Karlos blankly stared at the curious thing inside.

The creature appeared to be a rabbit, yet it possessed deer-like antlers and bird-like wings. Its slender fangs frantically nipped at the metal bars, while sharp claws clashed and rattled against the cage. Despite its size, not surpassing that of a regular rabbit, the constant flapping of its expansive wings made it seem larger and more intimidating.

"Meet the Rasselbock, folks." The old man grinned at the spectators. "Came across the little wretch trying t' snatch my fowl while I was out huntin' in these parts. If it catches your fancy, you can take it for 2 Wriels... You'll have to bring it home dead, though.

"Excuse me... Is that thing really worth 2 Wriels?" An onlooker questioned with skepticism. "That's over three week's worth of work!" 

The old hunter grabbed a knife and gestured towards the wings of the irritated rabbit. "The feddah make for a heavenly grill matching that of angel's wings..." He remarked, then pointing his blade to the Rasselbock's legs. "...And this little critter makes for rabbit stew even better than ones you find in the royal palace."

Audible gulps could be heard. A few villagers licked their lips. As peasants who lived on the outskirts, most of the residents only ate repetitive, plain meals like potatos and small amounts of game.

"Donnerwetter!" Kassel's crimson eyes were speckled with curiosity as she eagerly clapped her hands. "Where does one find such fascinating creatures in the forest?"

The hunter dropped his grin and stared intently at the rabbit creature, his callused hands tightening on his bow.

"...This is likely the only one you'll find around our forests of Anafang," he began. "This here's a certified 'Monster,' dangerous beasts known to cause trouble wherever they go."

Looking in the direction of Egris, he continued, "The little one here is likely an escapee from a colony captured by hunters from the Holy Kingdom. There's no chance they would let these devils reproduce, given how troublesome they are."

Uncovering his arm, the hunter revealed a bandaged wound on his left arm. "Even one of these damned rabbits is enough problem for one lifetime, let alone hordes in the dozens."

Karlos listened to the explanation with a haze in his mind. He struggled to process what the hunter was actually saying, but he caught onto one word in particular.

"...Monster?"

The old man gave a sigh as he unfurled his sleeve. "Ay, son. Mutated animals turned ferocious killers. In short, think of a bear with the smarts of a drunkard and give it a sword... That's the Björn in the colder regions of Svanr."

He took a swig of his ale before continuing. "That's also how we Tiôrden make our fortune. Each monster is given a bounty on their heads according to their species and capabilities, and our job is to hunt 'em down. For example, this little varmint isn't worth a whole lot on its own, only a couple Wriel at least, but the colony leader can fetch up to a Kelich!" The hunter outstretched his arms, his voice hearty.

Murmurs arose in the crowd. A kelich was no small sum of money, and for a small village like Anafang, it was a tremendous amount of wealth. For a brief moment, some people in the crowd had seriously considered the monster-hunting business.

"Of course, it's easier said than done trying t' off a bloodthirsty beast protected by several meters of flesh, claws, and antlers, but the reward is more than worth it." He lively sharpened his dagger, completely opposing his seemingly old age. "The money's a joy, but killin' pests for the safety of the village ain't feel too bad either."

He paused, dropping his grin.

"Just don't let overconfidence get to ya..."

Reaching for the rack of assorted meats behind him, the Tiôrden cut off a piece of chicken and threw it into the cage.

Immediately, the rabbit was overtaken with rage and brutally attacked the small slab of meat, quickly shredding it into even smaller pieces.

"...Otherwise, you'll find teeth clawin' at yer jugular."

The old man emanated an intimidating atmosphere, one almost as fearsome as the rasselbock yet of a completely different variety. Unfortunately, he also scared away everyone crowded around the stall, except Karlos and Kassel.

"A creature that dangerous... It seems so... Exciting!" Kassel quickly turned to Karlos. "Waz Sâlig, Karlos! Let's go find one of these Rasselbocks!"

The Tiôrden raised one eyebrow at her positivity. "Ey, little missy, that wasn't meant to be encouragement. I said that as warning so rascals like you stay out of this business. Besides, you'll find more joy playin' with a dolly than trying t' hunt one of these. I guarantee you, the rush of accomplishment ain't worth giving your life away."

"Hm... Are you sure? It sounds absolutely thrilling!" Kassel closely examined the monster rabbit, watching in joy as it ate the last of the meat.

"I can promise that as long I'm out here hunting these vermin, you're better off staying put in the village than practising to fit in a casket. You're an odd one, ain'tcha?" The old man stood up and grabbed a machete, ready to behead the rasselbock.

"Alright, you ready to buy the thing or not?"

"Oh, I don't have any money on me."

"..."

"Let's check out the other stalls, Karlos!" Kassel took his hand, and Karlos wordlessly followed behind.

"...Darn brats, I s'pose you're my dinner for the day, little fella." The old hunter took another swig of his ale and sighed in exasperation, glancing towards the rabbit, who had fallen asleep from boredom.

...

"Karlos, what do you think of this accessory? I think it would look great on Sêlafrien!"

She handed him a shiny necklace engraved with colourful rocks from the nearby river, presenting an image of natural and jovial beauty.

Karlos finally felt the fog in his mind clearing as he completely took in his surroundings. The pressure he felt coming from his back had all but dissipated, and his mood was reinvigorated by the spirit of the bustling village market.

As for the cause of his abnormality... He decided to put it to the back of his mind.

"I think it'd be suitable for a more... Spirited personality, such as yourself?"

Kassel chortled. "Lächerlicher versuch, Karlos. Well, I guess you're right. Let's find something else for her - perhaps a nice dress or a ribbon."

…

Karlos pointed to a food stand.

"Kassel, look."

According to the sign, they were something called 'steamed buns'. They appeared to be circular, white pieces of bread that contained various meats, herbs, and spices inside.

"They smell great!" Kassel enthusiastically picked one from the pile. "Excuse me, shopkeeper…!"

An elderly woman answered. Her face was aged but full of life, and her smile brightened everyone around her. "My, aren't you a chipper young lass? What can I do for you?"

Kassel pointed to the bun in her hand "What are these? I've never seen anything like them!"

"These, dearie, are something I learned from the Western Continent. Steamed buns, or 'dim sum,' as they call it." The elderly woman explained as she took out a bag. "They're quite delicious, would you like some?"

Karlos watched Kassel purchase the buns as he took in the air.

…

They continued their exploration through the marketplace full of life, sampling local delicacies, enjoying the festive atmosphere, and acquiring small souvenirs.

As the sun shined overhead, casting a warm breeze over the village, the duo had completely filled their baskets and decided to rest near a tree. They layed on its stump, letting the shade shield them from the sunlight and relaxing as the wind gently flow around the two.

Looking at her basket full of food and trinkets, Karlos's voice was laced with suspicion. "Every time we 'coincidentally' meet at the marketplace, you 'coincidentally' forget to bring your money, and I end up buying all of your items..."

"Oh come on! When you first arrived, you had to rely on me to guide you everywhere!" She asserted. "Why don't you think of this as a fee for my excellent services? You didn't spend more than 27 Sqauz, after all!"

"...I may be the son of a noble, but they don't hand me money for free, you know? This was my allowance for the week, diob..." Karlos gave her a look of vexation.

Kassel suddenly got up. "Alright, how about this: I'll pay you back in fruit! I know a place full of unpicked pomegranate trees, you wanted fresh ones this morning, right?" Clapping her hands, she enthusiastically encouraged Karlos to stand as well.

"Sure, that sounds great." Karlos had no reason to object and followed her to her home, storing their full baskets and exchanging them for empty ones.

Walking along the village path, they eventually reached the entrance to the nearby forest.

Fifteen... Twenty... Thirty...

After about sixty steps, they arrived deep within the trees at a glade littered with the red fruit. The lush vegetation and aroma of flowers set a beautiful atmosphere, a location perfect for embracing the warmth of nature.

"Well, no time to waste!" The young girl said as she rolled up her sleeves. "Let's get to picking!"

Just as the words escaped her mouth, she had already collected over six fruits, putting them into her linen basket.

One step behind, Karlos also began harvesting the pomegranates, tracing the trail along the trees and placing the fruits into a basket of his own. He continued until he reached the end of the dirt path, arriving at a large clearing next to a small hill.

Glancing into the distance, Karlos could see several wooden fences of poor quality, along with the words "Beware Bears," and "Please Don't Feed!" etched into signs. Karlos naturally didn't think much of it. Anafang was a fishing village, and relied on the large lake populated with fish for food. It wasn't often the hunters went out of their way to kill the land-based predators, since it was simply more profitable to catch rabbits or deer.

It wasn't uncommon to see such warnings plastered outside the village.

Since Anafang is a fishing village... I wonder if I should become a fisherman in the future? No... I'll probably just manage the manor. It's not like I have talent in fishing in the first place...

Turning around, Karlos started walking back, following the rough gravel. He didn't wish to be separated from Kassel this deep into the forest, since it was likely he might attract the attention of an unwanted animal - such as a bear.

'CRUNCH'

Karlos almost fell as his ankles twisted. The scattered sticks and weeds flattened under his shoes as he swiftly turned around, facing the hill again.

He rapidly studied the surroundings, hoping to see... something. His gaze moved at a speed so fast that it strained his eyes. After a moment, he focused his attention toward the hill and saw a dark opening in the dirt and stone, one so small it could easily be missed.

Was that always there?

That same excruciating feeling struck Karlos again. He noticed it, but fell victim to the feeling of confusion that came with the overwhelming angst. His back felt like it was contracting and expanding rapidly, almost like a hearbeat.

Those mocking words echoed in his mind once more.

'Bear your fate to heart.'

'Lay your resistance aside.'

He didn't know why he knew that opening was there. He didn't know why he was picking pomegranates with Kassel. He didn't know what he was thinking just seconds ago. Karlos's mind was flooded with questions, some of which he should have known the answers to. 

Rational thoughts were replaced with questions. Questions were replaced with concentrated thinking. The familiar feeling of disarray rooted his feet to the ground.

And yet, he felt compelled to enter the tunnel.