Third Misfortune - [voice] - Backdated to Halloween night

[devourthemfirst]

[It’s Halloween night. Czes has never really been one to worry over celebrating Halloween, candy, dressing up in costumes, the works, but these past few days have been hectic and he needs some entertainment.  Ghost stories is the best option he has though the story he has in mind is one he'd rather not discuss.  But if he can get a few people scared from it, maybe it'll be worth it.

Not sure how people can't not be scared by it at least...

His voice is low, almost like he’s scared to speak too loudly in case the creature pops up behind him. Which he kinda is. It somehow wouldn’t be that big of a surprise to him if the Malnosso were that cruel to him]

Back in my world, there’s this legend. It’s of a red monster called the Rail Tracer. [The meaning of the word ‘monster’ is used to the fullest extent here.] It rides the rail tracks and follows trains in the shadows and they say that when anyone on board believes he’s real, he climbs on board and overtakes the train, murdering everyone on it.

[A beat] But I don’t think that last part is right. I think he just waits until the opportune moment… then [SMACK. His hands hit the table that the journal is resting on. He’s trying to focus on scaring others rather than himself] goes in for his kill.

The scariest part about this legend, is that it’s real. [No really, it’s real.] I didn’t think it was at first but then I saw the blood-covered monster with my own eyes once! [Saw him, was killed by him and was tortured by him. All in one night.]

I even saw him murdering the passengers. He would silently snatch them up from their cars and hold them over the tracks until they would get so close to the moving ground that their faces and limbs would be ripped right off! [His arm starts to tingle from the memory and he bites his lip for a moment.  The memory is all too vivid, even after all this time.  It haunts him still.

See, Czes is really telling his own story here. He was the one who got his hand and arm literally ripped off by that monster’s torture tactics. He isn’t entirely sure if anyone else got this treatment but it wouldn’t surprise him if anyone did.

He shudders] It was really scary…

Comments

[paladinlost]

The monster if at all possible, but setting part of the train on fire after evacuating it could also work if it blocks the monster's path.

[devourthemfirst]

Golly, I don't think it would've been possible to set him on fire! No one ever saw him coming, he was really fast.

[paladinlost]

That'd be hard to deal with without certain spells... But can he truly be that fast, if people are able to discern his gender?

[devourthemfirst]

We don't have anything like magic back home... [Half lie but only alchemists (which in the time he's in his world no one really knows or studies alchemy anymore) knows that kind of stuff. And even then it's not 'magic magic']

Not many people were able to see him since he'd drag them away and kill them really fast but when I was hiding and saw him walking around in one of the cars... it was really easy to tell it was a man. [A man soaked in blood but you know]

[paladinlost]

I see. I suppose there's very little we can do about it now... But would you be able to identify him if he showed up in Luceti?

[devourthemfirst]

Yes, unfortunately. Though I'd rather not... [Because. the thought of Claire coming to Luceti is just his worst nightmare right now]

[paladinlost]

It'd be a very bad sign if you had to actually do it. But at least you'll not get caught offguard if it's needed.

[devourthemfirst]

That is true... [And being offguard is something he doesn't need when it comes to Claire] What's your name, Mister?

[paladinlost]

I'm Cecil. Cecil Harvey. And what is your name, young man?

[devourthemfirst]

My name is Benjamin. It's nice to meet you Mr. Cecil.

[paladinlost]

Likewise, Benjamin. I hope you've not had to deal with the same sort of monsters during your stay here?

[devourthemfirst]

Golly no! [No one can scare him as badly as Claire. Except for Fermet and other immortals but that's on a whole different level and story.]

Though those third party people are sure scary...

[paladinlost]

I have to admit that their manner of thinking and their goals are extremely alarming. Some are surprisingly good fighters, too.

[devourthemfirst]

Are they as good of fighters as the people here in the village? [Czes has only been on one draft and was injured by one but hell if he could tell if they were good fighters. They all seemed rash and barbaric]

[paladinlost]

I could not say if they can match everyone in the village, but they can give most of us a run for our money in relatively even conditions.

[devourthemfirst]

How scary! [Probably couldn't make him run like Claire could but you know] Have you ever had to kill any, Mr. Cecil?

[paladinlost]

A few times, though I've not participated in a draft for many months. It's not pleasant, but it's necessary.

[devourthemfirst]

I-I understand... [Like how he thought it was necessary to blow up a whole train car filled with innocent people to find one person whoops] Though gee Mister, you sure are lucky to have not been drafted for a long time.

[paladinlost]

It is both good and bad luck. It keeps me out of harm's way, but it also means I cannot help those who are taken.

[He sounds much more upset about the bad luck than happy about the good.]

[devourthemfirst]

Golly, you sure are thoughtful of others. [He can take advantage of that] But at least those who are taken get to come back in a few days, right? So no one stays gone for long.

[paladinlost]

I've not heard of anymore being permanently killed or taken, at least. Still, even a single day is a day too many.

[devourthemfirst]

Yeah, it is! [Granted the one time he went of a draft he liked it the first few hours because OUTER SPACE but other than that he can agree to that.] Say, Mr. Cecil? Do the third party come back to life just like us too?

[paladinlost]

They do. Everyone in this world is brought back when they die, whatever their allegiance might be.

[devourthemfirst]

Golly, I wonder why that is... [So basically everyone's immortal to a point.]

[paladinlost]

That's a good question. I've no idea if the Malnosso ever told us the reason.