Селеста / Сelesta: Глава 2

Chapter 2

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 15:01

He wanted to curse and howl in anger before he even opened his eyes: nothing had changed, the next awakening brought the same sensations as the day before. Pain, weakness, a wary desire to find suitable prey. Thirst. Andrew cursed. Would it be like this forever now? Or would the thirst change over time - grow or weaken? He needed to figure that out soon, so he could be ready for anything.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 16:39

In other words, it takes an older companion. A more experienced ghoul. Where to look for him? Of course, wherever there are people.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 16:58

Yesterday Andrew noticed figures creeping in the dark, which his senses perceived somewhat differently from the living. Distance prevented him from seeing exactly, but instinctive apprehension at the sight of some humanoid creatures did not allow him to perceive them as prey. He dared not approach - besides, ghouls disappeared quickly and hid well. Today he felt ready to communicate, but preferably on his own terms.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:00

This time, peering into the ruined city and already knowing what to look out for, Andrew noticed an interesting pattern. The larger gangs camped farther from the port than the smaller groups of three or four, but the latter were much more numerous. It made sense: there were better targets for the ragamuffins in the backcountry, and on the other hand, the dangers were greater. Inevitably, the treasure hunters banded together, sought out leaders, and armed themselves, eventually becoming organized groups. It is possible that the bandits divided the quarter among themselves and carefully guarded territories against the encroachment of competitors.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:15

A girl in tattered rags must have looked more than a little strange, climbing onto the sagging roof of one of the houses. But there was no one there to see her: it was too dark for the awake sentries. Her kin, on the other hand, was a different matter. They probably noticed her, but for some reason not in a hurry to get acquainted. Unfortunately for them, Andrew was determined to talk tonight - he had too many questions. However, not all of them could be answered by the ghouls, even if they wanted to...

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:18

The worm of doubt reared its head from time to time, and then the earthling began to feel the world around him again as a nightmarish dream, a virtual reality created by the hypnotist. He had to look around, to pinch himself, to listen to the shouts carried by the wind, to inhale the smells of dust and burning, once again being convinced of the clarity of sensations unusual for a nightmare. Except that any psychiatrist, and just interested in medicine knows very well how difficult it is for the patient to distinguish the imaginary world from the real one. Without help, the severe stages of the disease are incurable. What if a self-taught sorcerer accidentally caused too much damage, and now Andrew lies in a coma in a room with padded felt walls, and friendly muzzles in white coats are pricking him with syringes?

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:27

One could stay the night in the open street. Then, according to yesterday's prisoner, the dead body would burn, and Andrew might return to his native, human body. Or die, if he became a ghoul. It is quite possible death from painful shock - this option can't be ruled out either. He would die in a madhouse, fried in his sleep under the imaginary sun... It was more than enough material for one dissertation.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:29

No, it's better not to risk it. Sooner or later the subconscious will help, will give a clue - until then one should just survive, accumulate information and strength. Time will put everything in its place. In the meantime, it is necessary to consider the destroyed city and the woman's body as a reality - it is easier to survive that way.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:31

He jumped from the improvised observation tower and ran in the direction where he'd seen his kin or someone like himself yesterday. However, he realized almost immediately how stupid it would be to run into an ambush or just run into people, so he took a brisk step. Gradually slowing down, listening more and more closely to the silence of the night, in the end, Andrew did not so much hear as feel the presence of someone else ahead.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:38

Human silhouettes began to be seen in the distance, and the smoke of the fire tickled my nostrils. People: another gang camping out. Twelve bandits camped by the fire and one sentry. Unlike the ragamuffins you've seen before, these are armed. Curious. Knives, axes, leaf-tipped spears, and something like a crude semblance of a halberd were normal; they were ancient weapons, simple and reliable. But there were no bows and no swords. Shields are not visible either, throwing weapons are represented by short spears. And they were dressed much better - in roughly made leather clothing, broken boots, and some were seen wearing cloth shirts, albeit dirty and tattered. But there were plenty of rags, too, not to mention the cleanliness of the men themselves: a gust of wind brought to my sensitive nostrils a smell more suitable to a wild beast than to a human.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:42

Though it was impossible to see the details from this distance, Andrew was not going to get any closer. Today hunger was bearable, so he should do more important things than hunt. At his last thoughts, the darkness lurking in the depths of consciousness began to stir unhappily: for it, the possibility of quenching thirst meant everything.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:44

After wandering around the camp for a while, avoiding the attention of the sentries, Andrew finally stumbled upon the first undead in his life. It was the first undead creature he'd ever encountered, and he couldn't quite make out the exact classification at the time. The dog, mid-thigh-high, full of fangs, stood in the darkened alley, blocking the path as he waited. The encounter must have come as a surprise to her, too, because the creature didn't pounce, but moved backward, mewing warningly.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:46

The upper part of the creature's skull was missing.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:46

Neither was the brain.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:46

The opponents froze, studying each other. After a period of mutual scrutiny that lasted for ages, Andrew, trying not to make any sudden movements, slowly began to step back. The dog growled again. He sniffed. It sniffed discontentedly, jerked the ground with its paw, leaving three deep scratches on the stone, but did not pursue.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:54

Only when he turned the corner, Andrew dared to turn back and run, cautiously listening - whether there is a quick clawing sound from behind, whether the terrible creature has changed his mind to let the unexpected witness?

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:56

The girl ran away and froze, looking around. Andrew was waking up from an unexpected shock. Some kind of nightmare. If the beast were a real monster, disgusting and unlike anything he had ever seen before, it would not have frightened the earthling as much as an ordinary dog like a husky, only with its skull neatly cut off. He hadn't expected that. The captive had spoken of monsters roaming, but, first, he had never encountered them in the city before. Secondly, people are always prone to exaggeration, and Andrew simply brushed aside the story he had heard. He remembered it but did not take it seriously.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 17:59

It was a mistake.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:00

"Is you new?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:49

A muffled voice, coming from somewhere on the side, would have made a mere human jump on the spot. The dead body, on the other hand, froze, only to jump sharply in the opposite direction. His mouth grinned viciously, a muffled growl escaped his throat.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:56

"The new girl, then," the short ghoul hummed contentedly, his face crouched in the dark corner. The half-naked man, with his eyes flashing and his tongue licking nervously, was not a trustworthy companion. On the contrary, as evidenced by his subsequent speech. "Quick, warm. Recently drank. Lucky, lucky. Dark gods, merciful and punishing, send a prey to your servant, do not leave the chosen one, give blood. Blood. I am not well."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:58

He suddenly crumpled, like a deflated rubber ball, and repeated wistfully:

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:58

"Not well."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 18:58

"Who are you?" Andrew asked, and immediately berated himself for asking a stupid question. He hastened to correct himself. "How long have you been like this?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 19:00

"A long time," the ghoul whimpered. "Second summer."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 19:01

However, the temporary insanity had passed - or, on the contrary, there had been a brief lucidity of the mind, who could tell. The man's eyes gleamed keenly and interestedly. There stood before him a short girl of about seventeen, with thin features and long blond hair. She was thin-skinned and frail, with a supple figure and small breasts, and looked like the ideal of a man who liked petite women. More accurately, she would have looked like this if she had washed her face and body of dried blood crust and put on something prettier instead of a torn rag. Or at least clean. The ghoul sensed his kin - young and inexperienced.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 19:22

He had already opened his mouth to let off a greasy joke when the girl stepped forward slightly while looking him straight in the eye. Unusually she was acting out of character, wrong. All the new risen ghoul had previously encountered were a pitiful sight: shaking, pitying for help, hungry and vaguely aware of their condition. Or, on the contrary, wildly laughing madmen, in the euphoria of drunken blood attacking people. Such people didn't live long. This one he'd just met looked too calm, too sure of herself. And she was standing unusually - leaning slightly forward, one leg resting on the ground behind her, her arms relaxed, but covering her head, her body, and most importantly, her throat. She watched warily, but without fear. Women were rarely taught to fight, except in temples or noble families.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 19:36

The aristocrat?

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 19:37

"How long have you been an uprising, mistress?" it came out involuntarily.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:09

"Third night. What about you?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:10

"Second year," the man grinned. "My name is Artak."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:10

Andrew suddenly realized that he should not introduce himself by his real name. In general, his whole story in the eyes of the locals would look a little strange. It is better to pretend to have lost his memory: it is safer and avoids unnecessary questions.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:11

"I don't remember my name, I've lost my memory." He said and was glad that there was no gender division in the first-person conversation in Salvian. Otherwise, there might have been problems.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:20

"It happens," Artak agreed understandably. "Sometimes the Master takes away my memory before he brings us back to the world."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:12

He calmed down a little and became angry with himself. Just an ordinary girl-just an odd-looking girl. She didn't remember anything. Now she was going to start asking him what was going on, asking for help.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:27

The girl really began to ask questions. Just not the ones that the man was used to.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:28

"Are there ghoul groups in town?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:28

"What?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:28

"Do you hunt alone or with others?"

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:29

Artak remained silent. His intuition, honed over the past three years, which had more than once saved his life - and the afterlife, as the uprising called its existence - insisted that he stay away from the odd stranger.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:30

"The community lives nearby, in the former monastery," he finally pointed behind. "I'd show you, but I didn't have anything to eat yesterday. If I don't eat tonight, the demon will come out."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:32

"Need a hand? I just saw a dog without a skull."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:33

"The brainless don't touch us. One Lord we serve," Artak brushed off. "Go straight down the street, when you see the wall with the Judges' symbols painted on it, a simple cross and an eye, go right to the gate. There will be someone there to take you to Carlon. That's our head's name, Carlon."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:37

The first ghoul he encountered was left behind. Despite his instructions, Andrew twice had to avoid the bands of marauders who had camped overnight, so he arrived at the monastery almost before dawn. Fortunately, it didn't take him long to find the gate. Or, more accurately, the search for the archway, for the gate itself had disappeared, only the massive hinges left of it. The monastery appeared to have been burned long ago; the stone of the low walls and the courtyard paved with carved tiles were black with soot, and there were no wooden parts left. In some places, grass made its way between the stones, wild ivy braided statues of unknown saints, crawled up the walls of buildings, climbed onto the roofs, and through windows with broken glass. I wonder if there is anyone left in the country who knows how to cast glass, or will people have to restore the lost technology?

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:42

The announced guide was sitting in the courtyard. The gatekeeper was useless: he noticed the stranger's appearance when the girl was five paces away. The ghoul's gaze was unconcerned, unaggressive, unafraid, unconcerned. Skinny, ragged-looking, with his hair, pulled together in tangles, he stared at the stranger indifferently, hunched over and frozen in an absurd pose on the ruins of a column. Andrew said hello:

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:43

"Hello."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:44

The answer was silence, which gradually became unpleasant and viscous. The ghoul seemed either asleep or in a narcotic-like trance. What was the next thing to do? Just ignore it and walk on by, go looking for this guy, Carlon himself? There was no guarantee of what the blank-eyed jerk would do - a man with a face like that would have been committed to the nuthouse a long time ago.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:45

"Hi."

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:45

The only reaction was a blink. The eyelids slowly lowered and lifted, once.

Camrad_RIP 01.01.22 в 20:46