The antennas locked on, and just as suddenly as they did, did the beast's dozen legs start moving. All marching in uniform pattern towards Naren.
Blind and deaf his ass, that thing was staring right at him. It definitely knew he was there.
Naren backed up slowly, but his feet grazed the edge of the platform. The floating village was already rocking as is from the rough waves, but with an open expanse of an ocean behind him, his situation was just that much more dire.
"Damn it..."
His eyesight was hazy, the tumultuous rain only aiding in smudging his vision even more.
With the blink of his eyes, he had fallen out of rain drop right next to Vera. Sending her jumping a bit.
"Eeep!"
Vera quickly covered her mouth at the unconscious sound.
Naren got up to his feet reluctantly, limping slightly.
"Okay it's deaf and blind. Then let's go."
Vera grabbed his arm. Naren looking back in annoyance.
"What now?"
She hesitated at first then spoke.
"We...We must slay the beast.."
"The hell?"
"The only boat here is chained up. Where can we go?"
Naren stared at Vera. His mind running a marathon. She wasn't wrong. There was really nowhere for them to go. Even if they abused the creature's disability, the village was quickly loosing it's cover thanks to the storm.
If anything, they'll only be putting off the inevitable for a little longer.
He grumbled as he turned to look at the beast. So it was blind. How will that help him. It seemed to be able to perceive him despite that blindness.
Which meant it used something else to see.
See. Did it really see?
Naren watched as the beast tossed and turned, trying it's hardest to find Naren. Well at least he could confirm that it was blind.
It's antennas continued flailing around. Reaching and grasping at the air like an arm...The antenna!
Just as his thoughts reached that conclusion, the antenna locked onto him. Well, it should've, but instead it seemed to lean a little more to the left. Focused right on the little girl beside him.
The creature lurked forward slowly, as if witnessing something new and exhilarating.
Well of course, even if Naren was cursed and had the smell of a witch lacing him, it would never beat the true scent of a real witch.
The antenna's seemed to charade around in celebration as the beast took a slow methodical step. One by one it's dozen legs began to crawl towards Vera. It's mouth etched into a hideous smile that chilled Naren.
"I think he likes you."
Naren felt the clutch of something small and fragile grab onto his shirt. A slight tugging sensation causing him to turn and look at the little girl.
Vera stood, tears swelling in her eyes, her face a mess from trying to show no fear.
"Uhm...I am not afraid...But should you not slay it?"
In the next second the Scuttleback lunged at the two, Naren barely grabbing Vera and jumping away in time.
"Unfortunately I need you Shrimpy."
"Unfortunately?!"
Naren landed softly on the balls of his feet setting Vera down on the rocking platforms. Dark waves crashed upon them from either side, the very ground they stood on shaking.
Shifting the scarf on his neck, Naren turned to look at the beast before, his golden eyes already focusing on the thousands of raindrops around it.
Narrowing his eyes, one particular droplet blinked into focus.
FWIP
Naren was suspended midair, right atop the beast, the subtle shine of the carapace forming a dull reflection of two golden beady balls in the maelstrom squall.
Before the antenna's could react, Naren was already clutching them tight with both hands. As soon as the balls of his feet landed on the carapace shell, the two thin biological wires were torn straight off the beast's head.
He jumped off the Scuttleback, barely sticking his landing on the rocking platform underneath.
The Scuttleback was immediately sent into a frenzied rage. Shifting, flailing, and thrashing at anything in it's radius. It continued whipping it's long body around until it eventually broke through the floor itself, disappearing into the dark waves below.
Just like that?
It was gone just like that?
Naren stood, his body bruised while his clothes were soaked. As rain continued beating down on him he couldn't help but wonder just what had happened.
Despite Naren not caring if he ran away or killed his enemies, he couldn't help but put this into perspective — There was nothing he could do to hurt it.
A bug had pushed him to the brink of exhaustion and disappeared just like that. Still alive. Still breathing.
Was this what he had to face to become a shaman?
Was this what Alice was talking about?
His eyes twitched as his vision grew hazy.
'Oh right...'
He was at the cusp of passing out just a moment ago. He was surprised he was even able to pull of what he just did with a clear head...
THUD.
Naren's body fell to the ground. The exhaustion catching up to him.
————————————
Naren's eyes fluttered open almost a day later. His wounds subsiding a fair bit and his energy returning once more.
Springing up her looked around where he was. A wooden room with sunlight cutting in from the open window. His eyes scanned for nothing in particular and landed on nothing in particular. The room was completely empty other than the blanket placed above him.
Taking it off he realized he was completely shirtless and his scarf was also missing.
At the same moment of realization, Jan walked through the curtained doorframe.
"Oh you're...what're you doing?"
Naren was on the floor in all floors, trying to pry up the floor boards, looking through the slightest crevices, including under the blanket at least three times.
"M-my scarf...Where's my scarf!"
Jan burst into laughter as he pointed pointed outside.
"Pfft...It's out back with your shirt. I left it to dry."
Naren ran out, running into Vera in the process.
"Ow! Be more atten—"
Before she could finish, Naren was already up, grabbing his scarf from the makeshift clothesline first then putting his shirt over it.
"Listen to me when I'm speaking—"
Naren grabbed a hold of Vera, covering her mouth with one hand as she shushed her with his other.
"Shh...We gotta get outta here before the old coo does something again."
A hand grabbed his shoulder sending Naren jumping.
He whipped his head back to the see Jan holding a key in his hands.
What the hell was this guy's deal? The man had thrown him at some beast then tucked him in and even dried off his clothes and now he had some key dangling in front of him. But above all...Not once did Naren hear his footsteps.
Jan titled his head as he gripped the key, stopping it in mid motion.
"What is your purpose?"
'My purpose?'
Naren wondered what kind of odd question that was. What's someone purpose in general? Is it not to eat, drink, have fun? How can someone be born with a purpose?
He twirled his head bouncing ideas off for a minute, his face showing the growing strain of trying to figure out what to say to get this man off his back.
Until he finally gave up. It was just too hard to think about. He ended up saying the first thing that came to him.
"To be remembered."
A long beat of silence filled the air along with a distinct salty sea breeze.
Naren watched the man wondering if he had said the right thing or if he had to fight him right then and there.
But before he could get into a battle-ready stance, a bright smile plastered over the man's face. His hand extending closing, dangling the key.
"You pass."
The keys jingled in front of him as he connected what they meant. The thick metal chains that held down the fishing boat would be undone with just this one key.
Naren didn't say anything else, he took the key, grabbed Vera and made an eased lurk back towards the boat. On the off chance Jan changed his mind, he would definitely not let him take it back.
————————————
Soon the ship was swallowed up by the distant horizon, Jan left alone in a floating village without a soul around.
He cracked his neck as he turned back to the rocking planks, then he took a step off the platform, right onto the murky waters.
Miraculously, the obsidian black water began to solidify, freezing under his feet with every step.
"Why make the kid wait. Just come out already Cinderella…"
Before long, it seemed as if the entire ocean before him was nothing but solid ground.
"…Maybe then you could finally kill me."