"Fret not freeman, We shall deal with these amalgamations" Louis Everhart spoke to Oscar, a tone softer than before.
'A.. amalgamations?' Oscar pondered. But he didn't ask,he was sure he'd see for himself at that very moment.
The blade in Everhart's hand glew brighter, and at the sharp pointed tip was forming a circle. Oscar looked very intrigued. He thought The knight was about to drop from his stead and start to slash and burn them all.
He thought wrong
Louis Everhart spoke an incantation,Oscar missed what he had said. And in the moment between when his lips shut—the sword dulled, a ball of light appeared near the end.
Then a bright light which blinded Oscar for just a moment.
As soon as his eyes opened. He saw what transpired.
The inn turned to ash, fire engulfing all the buildings besides it. Screams coming from the inside. Begging for their lives. Oscar couldn't understand what happened, it was too quick. He looked at Louis Everhart. His face didn't have any emotions to it. It was as if he did this every other day….maybe he did.
Everhart, after looking at the destruction,then looked at the man beside him, face confused and jumping his eyes from the ruined inn and himself. The mans hands were shaking…probably from the shock.
"You're not from around here" Everhart didn't ask, but told Oscar."You dont seem aware of who I am or what transpired…..And that's just not in the realm of possibilities if you were born here. What's your name freeman?."
Oscars started to panic inside—didn't know what to answer. 'This man just made a building a campfire fire in an instant. Who knows what he'd do to me'. He started to think, the man was clearly of a great status—Radiant to be precise and the group he's with called the luminar.
They're attire is what a knight would wear in old 18th century paintings.
The group at the entrance on their horses had slight green colors on their armour—the Radiant Everhart's armour had lines of gold going wherever his suit parted. With a white paint near his chest making some sort of an insignia. The other lacked that.
Oscar did notice the shift in Everhart's tone towards him had softened.
Oscar was about to tell the knight his name—
A huge piece of wood went flying from the inn towards the men at the entrance. Their horses ran on instinct.
But the main gate was destroyed.
Oscar's eyes darted immediately towards the burning inn.
And what he saw looked worse than the corpse.
It was a humongous claggy mass of flesh—Eyes at every fold—it formed something that in the dark would look almost human.
The wet body glistening, bleeding from pores that shouldn't even exist. You could hear the squealing of flesh burning from the fire around it. Even standing the thing quivered and throbbed. Eyes bulging in and out like misplaced hearts.
Teeth jatted at random places. It was pure flesh—No bone in sight.
"Pitty" Everhart spoke."You see freeman, this is what we call amalgamations, this horrid sack of flesh finds a place to rest and divides itself into multiples. Then acts like the prey it wants,to satiate its insatiable hunger—All that flesh is from past victims."
Oscar witnessing the amalgamation thrashing around in pain because of the fire asked,"You called them people before….you didn't know it was.. THAT!". Oscar ended with a yell—out of anger instead of fear. He felt hate for authority being careless…for some reason.
"Your mind is sharper than most, indeed i couldn't tell before. The fact they didn't come out and surrender as soon as I announced my name told me all I needed to know."
"You speak with great pride."Oscar said.
"An odd connection, but no, I speak from experience and authority." Everhart looked at Oscar for a moment more."You intrigue me with that remark, You shall be coming with us to the kingdom now. But first…"
Everhart looked at the group behind him."A question for you all, whats an amalgamations weakness."
Each one of the group started raising they're hands some yelling something aswell. Then somone screamed on the top of their lungs that an amalgamation will not fight people in numbers and will rather retreat.
Oscar was flabbergasted by what's happening and even more so by the fact that said amalgamation has been on fire for more then 10 mins.
"….Are u teaching a class while that thing can get itself together and have us all killed?!?!" Oscar screamed at louis Everhart.
Everhart answered swiftly." Yes i am, and no there is no danger here.Now." He directed at the group "what are all of you waiting for? Go on now, kill it." The command was said in such a calm demure it seemed as thought he was inviting them for some tea and biscuits.
The 'students' ran eagerly towards the digusting pile of flesh. And now all of Louis Everharts attention was at the strange freeman.
"Im terribly sorry, i feel each time you were about to provide me an introduction on yourself you got cut off. You can take all the time you need now. Tell me who are you freeman?"
Oscar thought for a believable lie, something which wouldn't being up suspicions on him. A pilgrim? From where though?…..and that's where his train of thought ended.
'The truth will save you they say' he looked at Everhart with that final thought.
"My name is Oscar, I was sent here by a higher being to deal with the illness that plagues these lands." He tried his hardest to use vague words, But makesure to not mention books or sins. He wanted to see his response
"A prophet?"
"No, a commoner below even your lowest troops afraid."
Everhart's gaze was intense, oscar could tell even through the helmet.
In the background they could hear the group congratulating each other on slaying the amalgamation.
Everhart turned ever so slightly at the congratulations then looked back at oscar.
"You have no residance anywhere do you?" Everhart asks,intrigued by the confused expression on oscars face.
"No i do not.."
"Ive this vague feeling your telling the truth, and are indeed here to help. You will come with us to Oskandor"
Oscar was confused."Oskandor?"
"The kingdom of Oskandor, where we are from. Now dear 'Oscar' you'll be riding with me"
Louis Everhart jumped down his steed and took off his helmet.
The face that Oscar saw—no word other than divine could suffice.
His skin, a majestic golden brown, his eyes a dark caramel that glowed with unmistakable warmth.
His hair, the purest black imaginable, tied neatly into a bun.
He smiled kindly, head tilted slightly toward his right shoulder, a hand extended before Oscar to grab.
A face like that could make even an atheist believe in God.
Oscar was entranced by him.
Oscar grabbed the knights hand—As their palms met Oscar felt something, a faint pulse, a heart beat that wasn't his own.
For an instant his vision distort, the burning inn flashed before his eyes, it wasn't just wood burning—the screams of people's flesh cooking.
Then he came back. Breath shallow.
Everhart hadn't noticed..or maybe pretending to not have noticed.
He remembered Everhart's words — "The fact they didn't come out told me all I needed to know."
How sure could Louis Everhart have been?
"Come now" Everhart exclaimed."You ride with me"
Oscar brought a weak smile and nodded.
"I have plenty of questions to ask you on the ride back"
Oscar swallowed, his hand still warm from Everhart's touch. He didn't know if it was awe or fear.