82 Friend And Foe (1/2)

As the night began to settle in, the travellers talked amongst themselves while Dygo sat in silence eating the grilled meats he was given. He was never much of a talker, to begin with.

The hounds in his shadow were restless from the aromatic smell, but Dygo paid them no mind. The hounds were beneath him, afraid of him. Without any direct orders from him, none of them would dare move. Loyal bastards.

Just as he was about to chew on his last piece of meat, pondering if he should ask for another, Dygo heard the shouts and raised voices. When he looked up, he realised the travellers were fighting with one another.

The kind one who had offered him a seat and food was throwing punches at another. The other was bearded, with a burning flame in his eyes. Dygo knew this look all too well. It was fear and disgust. He knew instantly who it was directed at.

Dygo finished the last of his food, only to realize how dark it had gotten. His shadow was a lot larger now.

To catch all of their attention, he tapped his staff on the ground twice, vibration signals reverberated through the ground. All the arguing and bickering stopped instantly. All eyes were on Dygo. The fear and disgust remained in the eyes of those who were fearful.

Dygo bowed and said, ”My apologies, I seem to have overstayed my welcome.”

He looked up at the kind man and thanked him for his hospitality.

”You have been most kind, but I think it's time for me to go.”

”Damn right, leave you monster,” another shouted.

As he wondered what had gone wrong, looking into the crowd of people standing before him. He realised a child, staring at him dead in the eye. The child's eyes flickered between looking at him and at the shadow he had cast.

How careless of him. That was a child with the gift of Mirror Sight. Most humans labelled it a curse.  Without much thought, he approached the child.

”I told you he's evil! Now he wants to hurt the child!” Someone shouted.

The mother of the child tightened her grip on her child, fearful and shivering. She tried to back away in the crowd, but Dygo only came closer.

”You sick bastard! Get away!” the bearded man growled.

His face was flushed, his body reeked of alcohol. The bearded man pulled out a dagger from his belt and lunged at Dygo.

Before Dygo could even react, someone blocked his view. Someone took the stab for him. Everyone gasped in shock, even the bearded man did. He released his grip on the dagger but he could not move. The kind man slumped to the ground, as he bled out.

There were screams of fear, cries of panic.

But nothing could beat the look on the bearded man's face. Dygo's has lifted his illusion spell. His hounds no longer hid in the shadows.