Monster Hunting

There wasn't much use staying on Prika's Steps now that Sellen had chosen his prize and grabbed some extras for his family. The crowds had dispersed some as the games were ending for that day. The sun hovered over the sea, ready to plunge into night. The kanti approached his vessel, setting his stash into the hull before pushing it back into foam. He could feel his adrenaline dissipate, allowing fatigue to set in deep within his muscles. His eyelids already felt heavy. It was time to get home before darkness set in.

Sellen hopped aboard, settling snuggly into place as he steered into the open sea. The main shore wasn't visible from the islets, which was a bit concerning. Sellen knew he would have a bit of a hard time navigating his way back with the way the currents snaked their way around the bay. The wind wasn't too favorable either. He would sigh, knowing full well his only way back would be to go further into the open sea before looping back along the rocky coastline.

He veered into the looping current, allowing the lazy breeze to carry him all the way home. Sellen could at least watch the sunset here, the sky burning bright with reds and oranges highlighted with golden hues of yellow. A sense of calm washed over him as he observed the sun settling down into sleep. He hoped his wife was watching the same beautiful scenery, letting him long for home more than ever.

The orange and red hues only grew darker until they melted into the dark blues of night. Sellen could see the rocky shores at a distance, so he was closer to home than he thought. Perhaps he would be in the door before midnight!

What a hopeful thought.

Sellen sat up as he noticed a strange fog settling along the surface of the water. The sea was normally rough, the waves rocking him from side to side. Yet the surf was almost like glass from the still air. The kanti leaned over the side, a little nervous as the current that was used to carry him ceased to exist. The wind died as well, letting the mast droop into mere cloth. "What is happening..." he questioned, now glancing around the mysterious fog nervously. This was no normal mist, something ominous lurked behind it, watching him. He could feel eyes upon him.

Sellen stood up, standing in a defensive posture. Eyes swept across the mists, searching for anything menacing. Time felt slow, but stopped completely once his eyes locked onto two glowing orbs staring back at him. Breath hitched into his throat, afraid to release in case he made any sort of noise. He didn't know what it was, but the figure was completely veiled in fog as if it wielded the mists itself. The creature swept forward, forcing Sellen to jerk back and duck into the hull. There was hardly any room to hide.

A horrible popping sound caught his attention, Sellen looking beneath him. Black ooze filtered through the boards of the boat, causing the wood to moan in protest, unable to handle to pressure. Splinters shot out, deflecting off of the kanti's scales, causing him to yell in shock. "Void ooze!" he exclaimed, trying to keep from stepping into the pools forming along the bottom of his vessel. He quickly glanced around, catching the eyes peering from the fog periodically but immediately disappearing once the kanti caught them.

There was no choice. He had to abandon his ship. As a jeweled crederian, he had an advantage in the water.

Sellen grabbed his belongings with the snap of his teeth before he plunged into the dark and cold depths. He used all of his strength to propel himself down as he assumed the fog monster couldn't follow him if he was low enough. The void oozlings could swallow his ship if they wanted it so bad, and while he felt a little disheartened that his hard work was shattered in an instant, what was more important was returning home to his wife and child.

Sellen climbed down until he could feel silt beneath his feet, allowing him to glide along the sea floor, away from the monsters. He was no fighter, he knew he wouldn't be able to take them on at all. It was too dangerous, he found no worth in battle. He pushed along until he felt his lungs burn, screaming that he needed oxygen. Sellen pushed against the floor, elevating up until he broke through the surface, gasping for air. He was near Windan's town center, which was good enough for him. The kanti would wade his way until his feet touched the cobble.

"Ah, that's better," he said, shaking himself off. "It's time to return home."

The kanti would follow the path of Windan and then off into the wilderness where he would find his home. It never felt so good to be back.