Chapter 40 - Continent of Monsters
Lucas was not the type to trust first impressions, especially in places like this. But with the creak of the village gate opening, revealing something completely different from what he knew, he couldn't help but feel a sense of astonishment creeping over him.
The village spread before him, primitive but full of life. Its raw wooden structures and towering wooden walls were an unmistakable sign of an ancient society. The buildings were simple, made from tree trunks and wooden planks, with thatched roofs, and smoke rising from chimneys on the horizon. The air was thick with the scent of earth and firewood, and the sounds of people talking and animals moving filled the air.
But it wasn't the architecture that caught Lucas' attention. No, it was the creatures. The monsters. Strange, savage creatures, some larger than anything he'd ever seen in his life. Huge tigers with metal-like fur, giant turtles, bizarre dog-like monsters with multiple heads, and even flying beasts circling above the village, their wings slicing through the sky with an odd grace.
"Huh, what is this?" Lucas whispered, his eyes wide open.
He could feel Andre and Darlene moving behind him, but he barely registered their presence as his eyes scanned the scene. The size of the animals, no, the monsters, was enough to make his stomach churn. He didn't know whether to feel terror or awe.
As for the villagers, they seemed not to notice the strange trio as they walked through their midst. But their eyes were hard, watching Lucas with a curiosity he felt was almost intrusive. Whispers followed them as they walked through the streets.
"Who are these people?" one whispered, their voice low but sharp. "Where did they come from?"
"Why are they wearing these clothes?" asked another, her eyes narrowing as she took in their strange attire.
Lucas didn't know what to think of their words. There was a hidden tension in the air. It was clear that they were strangers in every sense of the word.
Despite his growing unease, they continued walking. The path led them toward a large building at the heart of the village, one that stood out even among the simple wooden structures around it. The building was luxurious, but not in the way that luxurious buildings usually appeared... There were several guards standing alert outside, each with their own beast. A carefully armored boar, a giant bear chained up, a bird-like creature perched on a column, its sharp beak gleaming in the sunlight.
The guard who had led them to Lucas approached, his face expressionless. "I will go inside to inform the village chief," he said curtly.
Lucas nodded, though the silence between them was thick with unasked questions. He then turned to Andre and Darlene, exchanging a brief and uncertain glance with them. There were no words. What could they say? But their eyes spoke volumes. This place, this world, was strange. Very strange.
Finally, the guard returned, his face still guarded, but he gave them a small nod. "Please, come in," he said, stepping aside to signal them to enter.
Lucas took a deep breath and stepped forward, his boots creaking on the wooden floor as he crossed the threshold. Andre and Darlene followed closely behind.
Inside, the building was as luxurious as its exterior suggested, but it wasn't what Lucas had expected. It was simple. The walls were decorated with tapestries depicting several monsters, some ferocious, some regal. The furniture was primitive… an old table here, a wooden chair there. The air carried a faint scent of cedarwood and herbs, a sharp contrast to the scent of the outside world.
In the center of the room sat an elderly man in a massive wooden chair. His long white hair and beard hung down to his chest. He stared out the window with a sharp gaze. The atmosphere around him buzzed with a strange energy.
Next to him, there was a creature curled up on the floor in a ball of soft white fur, causing Lucas to take a deep breath. It was a tiger, small compared to the larger monsters outside, but it had delicate wings growing from its back.
Lucas didn't know what to think. He had never seen anything like this before. Was it a summoned monster? Was this what the guard had meant?
"Well," the elderly man spoke, his voice low and deep, steady and unhurried. "Who are you?"
"I… I'm Lucas," he finally managed to say, his voice shaky but firm. "These are my companions, Andre and Darlene. We… don't know how we got here."... "We were attacked, and then we woke up here."
The old man's eyes shifted to Andre and Darlene, who were standing behind Lucas, their expressions unreadable. He nodded briefly to them, then returned his attention to Lucas.
"You don't know how you arrived here?" the man repeated, his voice soft but carrying an implicit edge. "Interesting." He paused, letting the silence seep in. "I suppose you wish to know more about this place?"
"Yes," Lucas said, his voice steady. "I need to know where I am. What is this place? And what do you mean by 'summoned monsters'?"