33

33

I thought about the two notification. As for the system quest, I accept as there is no consequence of failure. Will decide whether I will talk to Taal and Rhya when I did found them. I am more concerned about the trial. Will the this theater of the masque wrapped up if I am not joining? I doubt it will be the case. So the 2 could just sow chaos while disguised. It will be nigh impossible defeating the Changeling and I don’t know much about the Masque of Slaanesh. Isn’t she cursed to dance forever? Or does Slaanesh offered to release the curse if she won?

"I did it! Wooo!" I turned my head towards the tall female mercenary who now covers her mouth. Her cheeks redden in embarrassment. Surely that was not the Changeling. Or it might be a ruse. But definitely not the Masque. I think. Things already start to get confusing. I wade through the sea of people. Trying to get my bearing first before deciding on accepting the trial or not.

I entered the nearest overpacked tavern. Loud conversation and drinking sound fills the place. I put my hand on one of the newly cleaned table before a man could touch the stool. Other seats similarly also immediately taken. He scowls before spitting on my foot then leave to search another tavern maybe. Then I sit with a ragtag group of people. One old man with already white hair. A female hunter judging by the well maintained bow. Two barely adult twin boys. One of them are visibly nervous. Intimidated by my size. My Facsimile is not that good yet so I can only disguise myself as a huge guy. Even though I have pushed myself to make myself as short as possible most people here still barely reached my chest.

A tired and overworked barmaid arrived to take my order. I looked around the room to see what is normally served. Just some bread and cheese with some water please. She nod, taking the others order, and left. The money I get after escaping the witch hunter’s hideout at the beginning is lost. Thankfully those nuns of Shallya gave me some of their money after I helped them and saying that I have no money. Still not much though. So I need to find myself some job

“What you youngsters here then? Refugee? Or wanting to enlist?” The old man start for new novels

“To enlist of course. Hear the Huntmarshall recruiting too. Ain’t no way I’m missing the chance.” Said the hunter before one of the boys could answer.

The boys nodded too and the old men cackle at the response

“That’s the spirit. How bout you big man? Surely someone blessed by Ulric like yourself thought of enlisting.” the old man turn to me

“Still thinking about it. Though I am more inclined to join the Graf’s army.”

“Aw come on big man. Surely it is better to join the Huntmarshall. We can go anywhere too. No need to stay in this sh-same place all the time.” the hunter said and corrected her word. Pretty sure she almost calls Middenheim a shithole.

“I am thinking about it.”

“What’s in this drink?”

A man a few table away tightly grabbing the wrist of the barmaid who desperately trying to pry her hand away. The smell coming from him. The man start vomiting blood and those who share table with him immediately took a step back

"WHAT DID YOU GIVE ME!!?"

I stand as the smell suddenly grows stronger. A wooden spear thrown. Freeing the barmaid and pinning the man to the wall. But still the man writhe in pain even though his heart is pierced. His body suddenly bloating. One of his hand fall off, rotting immediately. A gaping maw with long tongue now replace the stump on his arm. Mouths start appearing all over his body. One mouth split his torso diagonally from his shoulder to stomach.

The people in the tavern watch in silence horror. For many this is the first time they ever saw a chaos mutation happening. Not to mention this is much faster than what it should be. The man turned into a bloated Chaos Spawn in seconds.

"Don’t just stand there! Get out!" The old man shout break through the spell that took hold.

People start running. Shoving and kicking each other away. Not the best decision but the right one in this situation.

"WHAT’S HAPPENING TO ME!?"

The man screamed in pain as his mutated body move against his will and dislodge itself. I throw the table to the chaos spawn as it lunge at the fallen and terrified barmaid. The Amber Wizard jump to the ceiling then lunge at the spawn. His arms morphed into bear’s. Both clawing each other as the mutated man head screams in pain and confusion. Grabbing my stool, I wade through the panicked people. Slamming the stool towards the creature’s back as it almost overpowers the wizard then jabs the sharpened part of the broken stool foot to its side.

Then an arrow pierced the creature as the wizard push it back. It’s from his companion. But the creature unfazed and lunge towards me. Its massive maw on its torso gape wide to bite. I hold the maw opened with my arms as it bites. The wizard took hold the left side and pulled. With one side free, I hold the right side and we pull. Ripping the spawn right through the middle. The head still screaming and weeping before being stomped by the wizard. The face pulverized. I stomps the other half of the body as it tries to wriggle away. The wizard joins in.

The city guards finally arrived. The old man helping those that are trampled when the people run away along with the wizard’s companion. The barmaid still sat still on the ground. Too shocked to do anything. The female hunter puked at the corner of the table. She was trying to help too at the start. But found her bows swaying with doubt as the gruesome sight overwhelms her. The twin boys pat her back. This act of caring, an effort to shift their minds away from the sudden mutation and ensuing brutality. Me and the wizard still stomping the body. Just to be sure. We must look like two lunatics brutalizing a corpse if the context is omitted.

The guards told us to stop with some hesitation. The idea of spending time here in disguise doesn’t sound appealing anymore if this will be a common occurrence. But I already accept the quest to find Taal and Rhya. So fuck it, I accept the trial too. It’s fine as long as I am not the first to be ousted.