The Divine Hunter

Roy followed the girl back to the village. Surprisingly, she had a pair of steady feet, not unlike an experienced hunter. And yet her feet were perfect and flawless. They went through the patch of thistles on the west side of the village, passed through the ancient watermill, and crossed the gurgling stream.

Eventually, they came to the base of a cliff, where the ruins of a temple stood. Vines crawled upon the pillars and walls of the ruins, and the air was filled with a sense of desolation. No mortal soul was to be found here. The only residents were foxes, mice, and other critters. This was their home.

And in the spot where the falls and ruins met, a black stone door stood. Sherry slowly opened the door, revealing a sanctuary within. First, Roy saw an abundance of plants growing around the space behind the door, and a brightly-lit corridor stood before them. It felt warmer inside, and the air tasted fresh.

"Whoa. Is this your secret base?" Roy looked around. Seems lived-in. There's a bed made of hay and blanket, a doused bonfire, a rack, and a simple bookshelf.

"Yes. I'd come here for some peace and quiet." She held the witcher's hand. "As promised, I'll show you a surprise."

She took him through the corridor, and they entered the inner chamber of the mountain. Standing before them was an indoor garden bustling with greenery. Flowers bloomed, and streams gurgled down the surrounding walls of stone, slithering around the garden before flowing out of the cave.

A hole opened up at the top of the cave, letting rays of sunshine rain down upon the garden. Roy felt like he just barged into a magical space, and then he saw a staircase made out of white marble standing within the garden.

Sherry took him upstairs, and then Roy noticed an oil painting perched in the center of the mini plaza. It depicted a scene of two people sitting beside a stream, basking in the sunset. And standing beside them was a watermill. They were huddled close together, their arms held high up in the air as they waved the butterflies goodbye.

Roy could see the smiles hanging on the lips of that pair in the painting. The girl was sweet and lovely, while the boy was handsome and dashing. They looked like the perfect couple.

Sherry stood before the painting, her eyes twinkling with delight. "This is the surprise. It's a painting of us catching butterflies beside the watermill. Do you like it?"

Despite his impatience with her childish behavior, Roy still felt a little moved. Nobody else would do something like this for him. Not even Coral. And then he was reminded of the request the old fisherman told him. Make her happy. Well, she's a likable girl. And he smiled. "I love it. Didn't think you'd be as good a painter as you are a dancer. It's beautiful. I love it. Thank you, Sherry." He looked into her eyes.

The girl clutched her chest and heaved a sigh of relief. She then spun around in delight once more, dancing beautifully like a ballerina. "Good to hear. Now can I make my third wish?"

"Of course." Roy looked at the painting and the girl in delight.

"I…" She hesitated for a moment, then she swung her fists to bolster her courage. "I'd like you to move into Redmount and be a part of the family. Everyone's more than happy to welcome you. Even Caroline. And then we can play all day. We can have breakfast together just like a family. Then we can play at the beach. And the falls. Then you can try to come up with some new dance moves for me at night. You came from the world beyond. You must have seen a lot of things in your life. So, how about it?"

Roy's smile froze. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "Sherry, I can't. I told you I must find Sam. I have to leave this place. There are people out there waiting for me. They're important to me. I can't leave them behind."

"But why? Redmount is the best place in the world. There's no sickness or hunger here. Everyone's kind, and the weather is always sunny." All the color was drained from Sherry's face, and she took a step back.

"Sherry, I—"

"It's me, isn't it? I'm just a stupid brat everyone hates. Just a stupid brat who thinks she can have everything she wants. You think my games are stupid and boring, don’t you?" Suddenly, she raised her head, and with determination in her voice, she spoke. "But I promise I'll change. I'll make you happy."

"Sherry!"

The girl hugged her shoulders, shivering as if she was assailed by a chilly gale. "I-I just want you to stay. If you leave, I'll be alone again. And I don't want that. Please, don't leave me."

Roy remained silent. But when he heard the girl's thundering heartbeat, he changed the subject, "Sherry, I have a few questions for you. Ever since I came into the village, something has felt off. You know what I'm talking about. The perpetually setting sun, the villagers who somehow act the same… And why would you be alone without me?"

"I have something to tell you." Worriedly, she said, "But I don't want you to hate me. They did."

"I won't." What is she talking about? "And everyone likes you, don't they?"

"They weren't like this a long time ago. I changed them." She hung her head low, whispering, "I never wanted to keep them here. But this is the only way to make sure they love me. I-Is that believable?"

"Wait, what do you mean 'keep them here'?" Roy's heart sank. I think I know why I can't teleport away now. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'll explain." The girl let out a sigh. A moment of silence swept down on them, and then, with a shivering voice, she recounted her past.

"A long time ago, everyone in the village hated me. Every time I’d walk down the streets, the men would give me weird stares. Stares filled with lust. Like they wanted to tear my clothes off and gobble me up. And the women would give me hate-filled looks. Called me a whore behind my back. They would spit at me every chance they had."

Roy was in disbelief. That's how the villagers used to treat her? But they're so kind. This sounds impossible. What happened?

"All because I looked different from them. Caroline said I was too beautiful."

Roy interjected, "I thought they started liking you because you found a mine for them and enriched their lives."

"That's what they think. What I want them to think."

Wait, what? Roy had a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Everything changed after that old man died." Sherry crouched and held her knees with her hands, and she rested her chin on her knees, her eyes spacing out. With sorrow in her voice, she said, "An old man went by my house one day. I was basking in the shade by the front of my home when, all of a sudden, he grabbed my hand and started touching my legs. In all my terror, I shoved him away. And he fell. The moment he did, his heart stopped beating. But everyone said I murdered him. Accused me of using witchcraft on him. Called me a whore."

Roy massaged his temples. He couldn't imagine the kind, helpful villagers were nothing but beasts controlled by their lust and envy in the past. They used to be nothing but an ignorant mob. Wait, maybe that's the truth. That's what most villagers are supposed to be like. The kindness they showed was nothing but a mask.

Sherry started trembling, and when she looked at Roy again, there were tears in her eyes. Sadly, she said, "They knew it was a lie. I would never hurt anyone, but they framed me. They had… plans for me."

"And? What happened?"

"They took the body away and barged into my house at night. Caroline and I were sleeping, and then they tried to take me away by force. I screamed. I cried. Caroline came to my defense and slapped the man who tried to take me away, and… and he whipped out a knife. Mother tried to hold it, but she was too weak."

"And then he killed your mother?" Roy asked calmly, but the flames of fury burned in his eyes.

"No. He stabbed her in the stomach, but he did it again and again. And all of a sudden, I saw blood everywhere. The floor, the walls, my clothes…" Tears trickled down her cheek. "And then, realizing what they had done, the villagers ran away. Then they lit our house up. I held Caroline and hid in the corner. All I could smell was smoke. My lungs felt like they were on fire. I couldn't breathe, and…"

"And then Sam, the statue on the necklace I took, spoke to me."

"Wait. Sam is a pendant? And you've been wearing it all this time?" Roy's eyebrow twitched, and he held his fury down. No wonder he told me to take the necklace.

"Yes. I saw it in this very garden. It was lying in the center of this plaza." Sherry's eyes shone with reminiscence. "I fell in love with it the moment I laid eyes on it. Ever since then, I've been taking it around with me."

She touched the center of her chest, and Roy saw something bulge. "I didn't tell you because I was worried you might leave the moment you have it."

"What did it tell you that night?"

"That it could change everything for the better. That it could grant all my wishes. All I had to do was open my heart to him."

Wait. Did he possess the girl? Roy had a grim look on his face. What is Sam? And what did it do to the village?

"I agreed, and then everything turned black. I fell asleep, it seemed." The light of delight and disbelief shone in her eyes. "And when I woke up, I saw my home, still bright and beautiful as ever. Mother was no longer bleeding. Instead, she was sitting on my bed, holding me in her arms. She told me I had a bad dream. Said I should look around now. And I did. It was how I found out that things did change. Nobody was calling me names anymore. Nobody hated me anymore. They saw me as family. Everyone loved me. I was happy."

"What about the mine?"

"A figment of my imagination. Everyone then thought I did find one. It just made for a more believable story, don't you think?"

Roy was happy that things changed for the better for her, but he was also worried. "So the perpetual sunset is your idea too? You control everything in the village?"

Sherry buried her chin deeper in her knees, and she pursed her lips.

"So why are you still not happy?"

"Redmount is perfect, but it's different from the outside world. The statue controls all the people in Redmount. Everyone is just doing what I want them to do." She stared down. "Just like puppets do. It's perfect. Too perfect. I keep telling myself that nothing is better than this. That I'm going to live a happy life with everyone forever. That I'm happy."

But then she said, "Still, I eventually realized something was off. Everyone does what I tell them to do. Even Caroline." She took a deep breath, and with a breaking voice, she whispered, "It feels like I’ve been playing with myself all this time. Until you showed up. I noticed you the moment you came into the village." Sherry stared at Roy, her eyes filled with passion. "You aren't the first outsider, but everyone else loses their individuality after a while. They turn into puppets, but you didn't. You still have a mind of your own."

No. Perhaps I've been influenced as well.

***

"Can you return everything to how it was, then?"

"If I plead with Sam, perhaps. But everyone's going to disappear if I do that. They've lived many years without going sick or growing old. They've probably lived longer than a normal human should," she said. "Or maybe they're going to hate me again if I return everything to normal. And you'll leave me. I'll be alone again. Sorry, but I can't do it. Stay with me, Goldie."

"Sherry…" Roy scanned the garden once more before he turned his gaze to the girl. And he sighed. "Ask yourself. Do you want to live in this utopia of your own imagining, or do you want to end everything and see the world for what it is? Yes, it's going to be a lot harsher than Redmount, but it's going to be a lot more interesting," Roy said. "If you can't do it, then take Sam's necklace and leave this place with me."

***

"I-I'm scared…" The girl was hyperventilating, her fingers and teeth chattering, and she hissed in fear. "What will happen to Redmount if I dismantle everything? Everyone will be gone. What if you leave me too?"

"I won't." Roy stared into her eyes, and he promised, "If I can leave this place, I'm taking you with me. I swear, on my name as a witcher."

"Maybe you're right." Sherry found a sliver of courage within her, and she muttered, "You've been kind to me. Patient, too. Helped me with my wishes and gave me the happiest day of my life. But you might disappear once I give Sam to you. I'm scared. I don't want you to die."

"I won't, I promise." Roy extended his hand again.

"Okay. I trust you, Goldie." The girl slid her hand into her shirt and held her necklace. And then she froze. "Sam spoke to me again."

"What did he say?" a nervous Roy asked.

"That Redmount will change if I give it to you."

"A minute, please." Roy changed his mind. All because the girl said she trusted him. "I'll stay around for a while. See if we can leave this place without changing anything."

Sherry remained silent for a long time. Then she raised her head and smiled at him. It was a beautiful smile, like a flower growing into full bloom only to wilt moments later.

"It's alright. I've made up my mind." Even though she was smiling, tears couldn't stop streaming down her cheeks. With a trembling finger, she wiped them away. "You're right. I shouldn't live in my own lie anymore. I should see the world."

She huddled closer to Roy, her ponytail swaying in the air. And with anticipation, she stared at him. "You will take me with you, won't you?"

"I will."

She handed the pendant to Roy and stuffed it into his hand with enough force to almost bury it in his flesh. The girl decided to put all her trust in the witcher.

Roy opened his hand and saw the statue of a strange man. It was the same mage he saw back in the inn, but then, the statue changed into a grotesque humanoid creature filled with bony spikes and a hardened hide. Flashes of red and black shone upon it, and its goat horns were curled to the back, the pattern of a black rose adorning its face.

A devilish smile curled the monster's lips. "You got me. Well done. Here's your reward, but hold her tight. Don't let her run away." It winked at the witcher.

As if struck by lightning, the witcher was trembling all over.

***

"I don't feel so good, Goldie." Sherry frowned, and she started losing her strength.

Roy tightly held the pendant and quickly held her in his arms. Nervously, he looked at her. "Where does it hurt?"

"Everywhere. Help me. Something's burning me. It hurts. Help me!" Her face was contorting at a blistering rate, her skin starting to crack like it was porcelain. And then blisters started to form. Then the blisters broke into burns and formed scabs.

The girl let out a scream of agony.

No! "Hold on, Sherry. I'll save you!" Roy held her tightly in his arms, even though she was scalding hot. A hint of madness welled in his eyes, and he quickly opened up his inventory. The acorn. He fed the acorn to her with reckless abandon and waited with bated breath to see if it would work.

It did not. The girl changed even further. Her skin became blood red and started melting away, revealing the ruined muscles and bones within.

Sherry's screams echoed across the air, and the pendant unleashed a stream of white-hot fire. It engulfed them, and everything around them rumbled.

The witcher heard an explosion in his head. Is this the end?

Everyone around was shaking, melting away. Something squeezed the witcher's heart, suffocating him. He felt like he was trapped on a cliff, surrounded by roaring waters. The only thing he could do was to hold the girl tight in his arms. And he curled up, not even moving, not even looking.

The only thing below him was the abyss. And howling gales of death. He felt the winds cutting through his skin, tormenting his spirit. And yet he held on to the girl in his arms.

An eternity later, the pain slowly went away, and around him was raucous laughter.

***

"Who are you? What did you do to her?"

"I am Sanguine. As per her wish, I returned her to her original form. Part of it is thanks to you. Most of it is her greed, though. If she had just stayed in the village, then none of this would have happened. She could've lived a happy life until my power was exhausted. But you awakened her greed and pushed her to destroy everything. I expected no less from the champion of our drinking contest. Now you may claim your prize. She is yours."

The white light faded away, and the witcher opened his eyes. He could feel himself bleeding all over his face. Even after he used his charge of Activate, he only had less than ten percent of his HP and Mana remaining.

What is this place? He was in a desolate ruin. Weeds grew everywhere, and the house around him was charred. And all the buildings around him were broken down. Before the dilapidated door were piles of human bones. Bones that had existed for years. Most of them were gone, leaving thin, spindly remnants behind.

This place must have been abandoned for a century. It's nothing but ruins now. So that village… All those villagers… Were they just an illusion?

He looked at the pendant before him, and for some magical reason, the pendant turned into a sword. It had a cross-shaped crossguard, and its blade was covered in runes. That's the one I saw in the inn. Wait. Why didn't my acorn save Sherry?

Sherry was still lying in his arms, and she was dying. Like the village, she was almost destroyed. Burns covered her whole body, and her face resembled something from a horror show. Only her left eye remained. It was still gleaming brightly. "I remember now, Goldie," she whispered. The last of her life was quickly leaving her, and this flower of youth would soon wilt. "I died the night my house was burned down.

She extended her left hand and placed it in the witcher's hand. With her other hand, she feebly touched the witcher's cheek. And she whispered, "Don't cry, Goldie. Don't… Don't leave me."

"I won't."

And her arm went limp. The girl closed her eye as she drew her last breath. And then, her body broke into shards of light. Like butterflies, they fluttered into the sword. A silhouette appeared above the blade. Roy recognized her. It was Sherry, and she looked as beautiful as she was before the tragedy. She leapt around as if she was trying to catch a bug, and the spirit smiled at Roy.

As if given life, the sword glimmered and shone. There was a name engraved on the hilt. Roy didn't recognize it back at the inn, but now he knew what the sword was called.

Sherry.

***

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