Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 37 (Patreon)

Gentleman’s Guide to Fantastic Beasts 37

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Wordcount: 2500

Commissioned by Sivantic.

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The parasites made a grave mistake.

They overestimated their strength and how much lives were valued by the rulers of this land.

Gale took a seat beside me, as I had left the enclosure for the parasite after having heard enough. Djet’Is stayed to get more of the information that she desired, while I left the matter to them. I had made my journey here with the intention of seeing a pandemic stopped, yet in the end I found myself embroiled in the prelude of a greater struggle.

The parasites were a grave threat, powerful in fact, but they were already being countered.

This Kingdom created the tree of light, pulled into itself to concentrate its industrial might, and knew how to contain the creatures and discover them. They can prevent the infestation, they knew that it couldn’t be reversed, and the only thing stopping them from rooting it out was the hate of those that they left behind. If those who they left behind hadn’t received aid, if they had died, then they would’ve weathered the attacks, marshalled a strong defense, and counter-attacked and destroyed the enemy.

This wasn’t a fight against the eternal night or the creatures that created it.

It was to be a battle between those who were left behind and those who stood to gain from the conflict.

Needless to say, even though I wished to help people, it wasn’t easy to continue when I knew the intentions and goals of the people that I was helping.

But, despite the dreams and desires of the leaders of the people, I couldn’t stand idly by and allow the disease to spread.

“So, that’s it? Even though you know the truth, you’re still going to help them?” Gale looked my way. Her eyes filled with anger. She barely controlled herself after hearing Lucien’s words. The city controller’s words regarding fearing reprisal from those who were abandoned instead of the darkness and the parasites had incensed her. “They don’t regret it, physician. They never will. They took everything from us and abandoned us without telling us why, then they expected us to die so that they can take everything back more easily.”

“I see that. I know that, but would you have me condemn the citizens of this nation to death and despair for the actions of their leaders, Gale?” I looked her way. Over our journey her shortened hair had lengthened, but she still remained boyish and lean. A life spent hunting with her father, struggling to survive, only to be abandoned by those that exacted taxes for her and her people. She watched many of the people she knew die, and nearly died herself, because her leaders drew inward and abandoned her and hers. “I know that you hold great hatred in your heart, but can you tell me right now… that everyone behind those walls deserves to die?”

“No. I don’t, but helping these people will only condemn those that they left behind. I understand that you want to help as many people as possible, physician, but these people will use the help you give to further their own desires.” Gale told the truth of the matter, which I had been trying to ignore. To aid these people would be to complicit in their actions, but it was also true that to help them would save the lives of those who had no choice in the matter. “I know that these people did not choose their path, but… but they still benefit from what their leaders do.”

Such was the cruel truth of the matter, was it not?

I could not go forth and save lives as I wished, because to do so would be to ease the path for those with ill intentions. The kingdom of this place will benefit immensely from the aid that I provide, and they will use the degradation of the threat posed by the parasites to bring those opposing them low. It will be a civil war where one side can barely survive, whereas the other has at their disposal all that they need to wage a great and terrible war.

However, as I considered that fact, I recalled something that was at odds with Lucien’s confidence and his portrayal of the people of the realm.

Their great tree of light had, for a brief moment, gone dark and plunged the world into night.

If they were so secure and capable, with only the rebellious cities they left behind stopping them, why would their greatest claim to power have faltered?

Can these people truly march off into war… especially if their enemies are stronger?

“Gale, do you know how to reach the rebelling cities?”

Gale’s eyes widened at my words.

“You’ll give them power?”

“I believe that giving them the ability to defend themselves and their lands will make everyone step back and focus on dealing with a threat to all.” The kingdom of the forest currently worried about the rebellion and considered the constant monster attacks and the parasites to be a thorn in their side. Thus, they intended to wipe out the rebellion the moment that the task would be easier for them, then they can deal with the lesser threat. However, what if the rebellion was a greater threat and also knew of the parasites? Would that not bring all to the bargaining table? Or, at least, I could hope that it would. “I will give you the necessary information to discern the parasites and empower them. I want the kingdom to be incapable of fighting against them, without leaving themselves exposed to the parasite.”

At the very least, I want the two parts of this broken land to solve the issue of the parasites, before they fought one another.

Once this living disease is gone, I will wash my hands of this place and look for other lands.

“Good… great! That’s for the best, I’m sure of it, physician.” Gale nearly got up due to her excitement. It was chilling to see how refreshed the young woman was in the news that that those fighting her former rulers would be given more power. This could go very wrong. The people I’m sharing my studies with could use it to create powerful people to strike against the kingdom, rather than protect themselves. They could look for revenge, rather than some form of ceasefire with their former rulers and enemies hesitant to destroy them for their newfound strength. “When will I leave?”

“As soon as you have the scrolls. You know how to get there, correct?”

“Aye, I journeyed north before and the roads in these lands are still whole. Two cities upward, then head on west. I’ll be able to reach them quickly.” Gale nodded twice in quick succession. She looked around and found none listening to us. All were still speaking and watching the parasite below. “Physician, I’ll be sure to tell them that they should use everything to defend themselves. I don’t want war. I just… want people to be able to tell those who abandoned us to leave us alone.”

The words were simple, and I knew that the leaders of those left behind would have other intentions, Gale’s statement lessened the burden on my heart just a little.

…

Djet’Is glared at me and spoke to me in the As’Kari tongue, as we made our way back to the city.

“You’ve made some sort of plan. One that upholds the principles you always speak of.” Principles weren’t a foreign concept to the As’Kari. They valued loyalty, honor, and being able to take responsibility. If a man’s fellow warrior fell in battle, he would take care of that man’s wife and children. Even if that man was without a clan, he would do it and work to feed all those he was now responsible for. However, my principles were not the same as those of the As’Kari, so Djet’Is spoke of them as almost a foreign, alien idea. “You risk many lives for the sake of your own satisfaction.”

“I want the infestation dealt with and this eternal night gone, while these people do not benefit from leaving so many to die.” I told her simply. I wished to stay true to myself and my oaths. “Is that a bad thing, Djet’Is?”

Cornelius trundled along the ground at a steady pace with the rest of our group. We marched down a long dirt road surrounded by tall grasses and following plants. Above us flying ships lazily sailed through the darkened sky, with circles of faint lights surrounding them, to ensure that they wouldn’t be missed by their fellows. They rose and fell from the massive walled city that Lucien was appointed ruler of.

These people had wealth, power, and soldiers.

They left in peace while others struggled and died, even eating beef and pork beneath an eternal dark sky.

“To help these people’s enemies is to harm them.”

“And, to do nothing, would condemn those left behind to death.” I answered Djet’Is back. A frown formed on her face. We’ve had many conversations like this before. Her arguing about what needs to be done, while I argued about what must be done. Our views on nearly every matter differed immensely. I could say for a fact, though, that she was the perfect leader for the As’kari. “Would you condemn those people to death and despair without the ability to fight back, Djet’Is? Wouldn’t you hand your foe a weapon, if they hated you so and you earned their ire?”

“I would, but would the people of this land feel the same? They are weak. They struggle against even lesser foes that apprentices would dispatch with ease.” Djet’Is, I supposed, wasn’t speaking for herself in this regard. She was thinking about how Lucien’s people would feel. “What will you do when these people decide to fight against you? If they try to kill you for helping those they betrayed?”

“I don’t plan on staying here. I’m going to travel the world. Perhaps, one day, I’ll find a place to stay. But I know that isn’t here.” I want to help people in this world. To live a life with as few regrets as I was able. “And, Djet’Is, I will fight against those who would kill me the same as I always have.”

“You cannot be strong forever. These people are weak, but they have their own methods of fighting. I know that you do not take stock of old myths and tales, but these people know how to kill those who are strong.” Djet’Is was warning me, which was surprising. Usually, she said nothing and simply moved onward. “They are many. They only need to succeed once, then you will die.”

My blood ran cold at those words, and a shiver went down my spine.

She was right.

“I cannot stand idly by and do nothing as people are made to suffer and die, Djet’Is.”

“Neither should you choose to die for those whom you know little. Sending that huntress off is enough, but only if you aid these people. If you do nothing for them, while aiding those who oppose them, you will be hunted.” Hunted. In the As’kari tongue it held a different meaning than the one I knew in my previous life. In theirs, it was to set your gaze upon an opponent and do all that you can to kill it, whether it is a person or a beast. A dogged mindset where years can be spent simply training, accumulating wealth, and studying their foe, until the deed is accomplished while the hunter is victorious and alive. They used the same word for vengeance. “You are strong. Stronger than me. But you are not beyond the reach of all.”

With that, Djet’Is said her peace and leaned back, while I looked onward whilst holding Cornelius' reins.

I looked upon a massive city filled with people behind walls bristling with defenses. Inside those walls were tens of thousands of people, all working and living and contributing to a single nation. Amongst them were soldiers who were well armed and armored and trained, and they were led by people who could use the power inherent in the people of this world to greater heights. Above them were hallmarks of their industry, flying ships made through magic and their own knowledge and intellect.

Finally, there was the single source of light in this endless night.

A great tree of light created and maintained against the great darkness by those that ruled over this nation.

Djet’Is had the right of it.

I was not beyond the reach of the people I sought to fight against.

Yet, still, the method to appease them was something I already planned on doing.

“I already planned to help them and make sure that they did not suffer from the threat posed by the parasites.” I told Djet’Is.  “But, you are right, it would be foolish to make these people my enemies.”

“Hm. You are without a people. All you do is stand by yourself. That grants you strength, but it also makes you weak.” Djet’Is spoke once more, but a sigh left her lips. I half-expected her to offer me a chance to return to the As’kari again, but it did not come. “You’ve chosen this path. At least walk it with some sense.”

I looked over my shoulder at her and found her staring past me towards the tree of light.

Of course, she saw the works of another nation and judged them accordingly. She was meant to rule in the future. Even if the As’kari regarded the people of this land as weak, they would have to be fools to deny their strength. These people, even if through terrible means, prepared for this coming disaster perfectly.

Wait.

How exactly did they manage to predict this, if it was a plan made by the parasites, and they only discovered the parasites now?

By what means did they manage to predict that an eternal night would come and prepare everything to overcome it?
I tried with all my might to find some form of answer, but none came to mind.

All I knew was that Djet’Is was correct, and that I had nearly walked into a path that I couldn’t survive.

Or, at least, a path that I didn’t know how to survive.

I knew little of this world and moved with little thought or consequence, because of my confidence in my abilities. Through that confidence, I struck out, went to do as a pleased, and did what I could in accordance to my principles.

But, still, there were limits to my strength.

If I wished to continue doing as I wished, I would have to become stronger still.