Cursed Ones part 4

Izzy walked around the town, trying to interact with the people who lived there. However, it was harder than she thought, most of the people avoided her as soon as she approached.

Some even told her to get away.

Not understanding their hostility Izzy returned to the inn and sat outside on the stairs, completely dejected.

" What's wrong with these people?" she asked.

" They're afraid" Izzy looked up and standing behind her was Sven.

He looked down at her and sat down offering her a smoke.

" No thanks," she said. " You mentioned they're afraid".

" Yes. They're afraid of the fallen. They usually sport a human skin and infiltrate towns spreading diseases, misery and death."

Izzy looked out and saw people walking about. They did seem very worn out and every person she met had this look of suspicion in their eyes.

" Ah, I see".

Izzy guessed that the townspeople were just afraid of her because she was an unknown person.

" Heard you're looking for a job".

Izzy looked up at him, " How'd you know?"

Sven breathed out the smoke from his cigar.

" When you're in a small town, word travels fast."

" Yeah! I'm kind of broke" she chuckled and Sven looked her over.

" Well you're a mage aren't you?"

" Yes," Izzy responded.

" Good, my team and I were looking for an extra to accompany us hunting in the Night Forest".

At the mention of the Night Forest, Izzy trembled inwardly.

She let out a tight smile and debated whether or not she wanted to venture into the forest again.

' Just do it' Theonymphi said sensing her reluctance.

"Yes, if it's not too much to ask" Izzy bowed her head politely and Sven smiled.

He got up and Izzy heard the faint pop of his knee.

" Great we'll set out immediately!"

" Now!" Izzy said jumping up. She hadn't expected them to go out hunting now.

Sven nodded. " This is the best time to go. When the sun is just setting. That's when the creatures come out to play". The ominousness in his voice made Izzy second guess her decision to go with them. She didn't want to get caught in a similar situation to when she faced the Armoured Tiger.

Sven went into the inn and Izzy waited until he was out of earshot to argue with Theonymphi.

" There's no way I'm going back into that forest"

' Ugh stop being such a baby. You need the experience and the money unless you want me to commit crimes for you to eat.'

Izzy let out a frustrated breath. Sven walked out with his other four companions.

Izzy was introduced to the other four; the blonde haired man with a scar was named Dyran, a woman who wore a cloak and had red hair was named Vina. The other two that Izzy met were brothers, they looked like twins with pastel blue hair and thin faces. They called themselves Stem and Petal.

Izzy thought those were weird names but she just smiled and greeted all of them. Once the introductions were over Izzy walked with them towards the Night Forest.

She gulped as she thought about what dangers lurked behind those green trees. Sven lagged behind to keep Izzy company and they walked into the forest.

" What are we hunting?" Izzy asked.

" Well, there's been a couple of goblins and wild beasts terrorising the town. Which is why we were sent here." Sven said.

Then the woman Vina shushed him and pointed ahead.

" A goblin cave".

Sven smiled his beard waving in the direction of the wind.

" Okay let's do this cleanly. Izzy, you sit back and watch, we'll inform you when we need your help".

Izzy crouched down in the bushes as watched as the team of adventurers went to work.

Vina stood in front of the cave entrance and began to chant a spell.

Her voice was high pitched and akin to opera singers. The earth around her shifted and a large boulder sprung from the earth.

Vina's voice drew the attention of the goblins as they began to rush out of the cave in hordes.

Izzy was startled by the sheer number of them. They were no taller than a grown person's knee and had scaly green skin and warts. They appeared crude and disgusting, with only loincloth to cover them.

" Kah!" One of the goblins in the front screamed and the rest charged.

The boulder in front of Vina split into sharp shards. She sang out one high pitch note and the shards shot forth.

The shards took out most of the goblins and once their numbers were cut, Sven and Dyran emerged from the bushes.

In Sven's hand was a thin silver cutlass, which he swiped down upon the goblins, cleanly cutting them to pieces. The goblins tried to attack with pitchforks and bows but were pushed back.

The let out pig-like squeals as they died. Fascinated and disturbed Izzy watched as the team mowed down the goblins effortlessly.

From her observation, she knew that Vina was an earth mage, Stem a water mage and Sven and Dyran were swordsmen. The only person who seemed to do nothing was Petal who sat perched upon a branch watching the scene.

His beady eyes made contact with Izzy and he smirked.

' These guys are good' Theonymphi said, ' you should learn from them'.

Izzy rolled her eyes, as that was exactly what she was trying to do. The group was coordinated and

knew each other's strengths and capabilities.

Izzy felt like she was watching a live action show before her eyes.

" Cool," she muttered as the team finished their attack.

" Petal, would you do the honours," Stem said waving his hand dramatically in the air.

Petal stood up in the branch and floated down.

" Of course" out from his satchel, he held a round ball, he lit hummed a long tune and then threw the ball into the cave.

After a few seconds.

KABOOM!

An explosion went off. The cave collapsed and Izzy could hear the faint squeals of the goblins who were still trapped inside.

Sven laughed heartily and gestures for Izzy to come out.

" How was that? Were you impressed?" he asked stroking his beard.

Izzy smiled " You guys were amazing, I've never seen anything like this before!".

" You're just saying that" Petal teased.

Of course, Izzy was telling the truth when she said that. In all her life the events that took place were things only movies, television and games could produce.

" Of course little Izzy here knows a good hunting team when she sees it" Sven came up behind her and patted her on the back.

Petal's eyes lowered and he smirked.

" Of course, what you saw here, will be exactly what we do to you. If you don't tell us where your friend Ruben is" Sven's sinister voice said...