The Enemy You Don't Know (Overlord / Lord of The Mysteries)

[Stimpak Medic]

Author's Note: I came up with this idea after reading a short horror story a while back. This might be a One-Shot, but if you want to see more, let me know.

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Prologue: The Enemy

One day, in the middle of the pleasant spring, for no reason at all, Enri Emmot decided that something didn't feel quite right.

Enri first noticed the change in the local weaver, her neighbor Mrs. Lisa James, when the tablecloth she had asked her to make was finished early, and Mrs. James arrived at the door of her home. Mrs. James had, for the past four years, walked with a slight limp in her left leg. It was barely noticeable, but Enri was observant of such things. It wasn't that she had suddenly stopped limping or any such dramatic observation; it was that the limp was slightly off from how it was before, as if it was being copied by someone who had known such a limp existed, but wasn't sure of the right amount of pressure to intentionally apply.

After Mrs. James, old as she was, left the cloth with her, she turned away as she wished her good day with a smile that didn't quite reach her cheeks like it so genuinely and naturally used to.

All in all, it was completely normal, but it did give Enri a slight twitch of the eye.

With the weaver and spinner leaving, Enri took the light blue tablecloth and brought it over to her younger sister not far away in the house, letting her hold one side of it as the two walked to the kitchen.

"What was that?" She murmured. On the edge of her consciousness, something felt odd, but it wasn't worth thinking about.

"Oh, I'm sure that I'm just overreacting. Nemu, come help me place this tablecloth on the kitchen table." She waved it off, making a small waving flick gesture with her free hand.

It had been three years since the passing of their parents, and Enri took the responsibility of caring for her little sister and making sure the home was tidy. All in all, she had become quite proficient at looking after everything, and even helped the old men and women in the village who had become too infirm to look after themselves.

And so, the feeling passed.

Several weeks meandered by before anything new happened to the village. Not a hint of that strange feeling remained, forgotten in favor of collecting red berries and tending to the gardens.

Whistling and almost skipping down the town's northern road of rough dirt and small rocks came a stranger. He was garbed in an immaculate royal black robe, with a tall, pointed, round-rimmed black wizard's hat. On his right eye, shining in the sunlight through the trees, was a clear crystal monocle that was round with a delicate silver chain.

Enri watched with curiosity the newcomer from her spot at the broad entrance to the small stables of the town.

His skin was pale despite the nearest village being miles away, with the amount of sunlight from there to the village enough to begin to give anyone the shadows of a tan. He had a thin face and a thin build, like a scholar who does nothing but study books far away from everything and everyone else. He carried no bag nor pouch, and was entirely too leisurely for entering a village that bordered the dangerous forest of Tob.

Thankfully, the Wise King of the Forest protected them from the things that lurked in the dark of the forests by proxy of being near its territory.

The stranger walked into the town like he had no reservations, and already knew the place inside out. In fact, he walked directly to the front door of the chieftain's house. He tapped on the door several times in quick succession, before stepping back.

On his face was a smile she thought she had seen before, but at the moment her mind drew a blank. Smiles weren't rare, especially in a safe little town like this where everyone knew each other. But still, a feeling she had forgotten had returned to her. That insincere smile latched to her mind like a prickly burr.

The door to the chieftain's home opened, and the stranger bowed, giving a flourish of his hat, revealing just how thin his face was, and how handsome he was.

Enri, taking an interest in the stranger, quietly made her way closer, trying to listen in on the man's conversation.

She couldn't make out much without intruding into a conversation not meant for her. Still, a stranger was a stranger, and he looked just like the wizards the occasionally passing adventurers sometimes spoke of.

The town's chieftain invited the man inside, and for a moment, Enri felt a gaze on the side of her face, and sure enough, not far away, filling a bucket from the town well, the weaver Mrs. Lisa James was staring at her with that strange smile. It wasn't wide enough to be happy, nor was it warm enough to be friendly. It had a slightly malicious hint in it, but it disappeared when Enri cocked her head to the side.

Mrs. James nodded to her, then with no further action, turned away with her full bucket of well water and walked towards the home she lived in with her also old husband, who was three years past her respectable age of forty-six.

Enri now knew something wasn't quite right. She felt a cold shiver twitch down her back, and she for a brief moment felt a sense of incongruity. It was as if something had altered the temperature of the world to an extreme degree for the briefest of moments.

She knew what she was about to do was stupid, irresponsible, and dangerous, but she knew she would need to confront the weaver. Of course, without any form of evidence of foul play, she would just be calling her sanity into question, but she was never one to leave such a curiosity unexplained, especially when it involved her village.

She stepped forward. Once, twice, three times. On her fourth step, as if the weaver had eyes on the back of her head, she stopped and turned about.

"Can I help you, Ms. Enri?" She asked, looking towards Enri with an expectant expression. The two were no more than ten meters away. Still, Enri felt fear begin to crawl up her throat, and she swallowed for a second. She didn't know why, but she felt like she was looking at someone who was decidedly not Mrs. James.

"Mrs. James, has anything happened strangely lately?" Enri asked as she came closer, swallowing the uneasy feeling in her heart.

Mrs. James gave an amused smile and gave a soft chuckle.

"No, dearie, everything has been swell." She responded, placing down her bucket and stepping forward with a wholly artificial smile.

"Alright, I'll get going," Enri responded, turning around and leaving swiftly.

"I'll be home if you need me." Mrs. James responded sweetly and stood watching as Enri scurried away. When Enri was gone, Mrs. James reached into the pocket of her coat and pulled out a crystal monocle, then placed it over her right eye with that same amused smile. Then, she picked up her bucket and walked home.

Several weeks had passed, and spring gave way to the early yellow and green of summer, and the stranger had left the village quietly and with no send-off. He had stayed one day in the hospitality of the village Chieftain and his wife before continuing out of the village, to whatever other place he might go to. He didn't make a commotion, nor did he cause harm. He simply came, slept, and left, carefree as the wind.

Enri was running low on milk, and she had left that morning to pick some up from the farm not one mile away. When she arrived, she met the usual farmer, Mr. Johnson, a tall, stocky man with short, cut, graying hair, a square face, and dark gray eyes. He was as he always was, but on his right eye, curiously, was a monocle. It instantly brought Enri's mind back to the stranger that had entered the village. Perhaps it was a new fashion trend from the capital that had made its way all the way out here.

"Hello, Mr. Johnson, how are you? By the way, did a thin man with a black hat and a monocle visit you sometime in the recent past?" She asked as Mr. Johnson gave her a small nod from behind the counter of the shop he ran at the farmhouse. He sold beeswax, honey, milk, brisket, and vegetables.

Mr. Johnson put his hand to his chin, looking up in thought.

Then, after a second or so, his eyes lit up in recognition.

"Ahh, yes, Mr. Amon. A good fellow. He purchased a bottle of milk before making his way to wherever he had gone. Very polite, and immaculately dressed. He gave me this Monocle and a few to give to other people who like them. They're very classy. Would you like one, Ms. Emmot?" He finished, reaching into his pocket and taking one out.

"Perhaps later," Enri responded, looking at the monocle. It was very finely made, and did look rather pricey. But she didn't fancy herself wearing a monocle anytime soon.

"They're made of fine crystal and silver. I'll save one for the day you change your mind. Now, what can I help you with?" he asked, taking the monocle off and flipping it over in his right hand reverently before placing it back on his right eye.

"I came to pick up some milk; we've run a bit dry, and Nemu is drinking way too much lately." She replied, letting out a sigh.

"Ah, the expenses of a growing girl." He chuckled, then spoke again.

"My daughter Lisa drank a lot growing up too. Here, I'll give you an extra bottle with whatever you buy. He said, giving her a warm smile.

"Thank you, that's a great help."

"Think nothing of it, dear. Look around for a little while while I go get the bottles you usually buy." He said, before walking over to a door to his left that went down to the basement where he kept perishables like fresh milk, vegetables, and meats.

Enri turned away and looked about the shop. On the shelves were glass jars of honey, wooden boxes, salted meats, and little carved statues. The glass windows let in the early daylight, and Enri stood in front of a small shelf, on which was a carving of a cat; it was lithe and had a tiny hat that looked just like a wizard's.

"It's pretty." She said, picking the small six-inch carving off the shelf. She looked at it for a moment before placing it back. She didn't have much money, and carvings were out of her price range.

Click.

She heard the door closing as Mr. Johnson came back from the basement with a wooden box of four milk bottles that had a hempen cloth handle. An extra bottle was in his other hand, in a tiny basket.

"Oh, you like that carving? I'll sell it to you for two coppers. I'm sure my wife wouldn't mind if it's you buying it. She made it herself." He said, placing the box on the shop counter.

"Oh, uhhmm. Thank you. I don't know what to say, honestly." Enri said, slightly bashful. The farmer and shop owner was being excessively kind, and she was unsure why. Either way, it made her feel awfully self-conscious. Still, she took the carving and pocketed it.

"As I said, think nothing of it. We have been getting a lot of customers lately, and if it's for you and the young Ms. Nemu, I doubt there would be anyone who objects to being generous. You've done so much for the village, and for us. We're very grateful for the herbs you gather and for the medicine you made for our daughter." The man gave a grateful smile before exchanging the milk and carving with Enri for the few coins she brought.

"Best of luck, Ms. Emmot. I hope all goes well with you and your sister." He said, before turning away and going back to the basement.

Enri took the box and basket, and made her way back to the road that wound its way to Carne village.

Halfway back, something blocked the road, and it made Enri's stomach tie in a knot.

Three small creatures the size of small children meandered in the road; they were brownish green, and each wore shabby cloth clothes that looked stitched together hastily. They saw her coming, and walked to the side of the road.

There was no running away. They were goblins, and they were much stronger than Enri was, and likely could run faster than her.

Enri shut her eyes, praying to whatever god that she made it back to Nemu safely.

She, with trembling legs, walked forward.

One step.

Nothing.

Two steps.

Nothing.

Three steps.

Nothing.

For five, six, seven.

And before she knew it, she was walking by them. Turning her head, just to see them, the knot in her stomach tightened even more. On the goblins' eyes were small glass monocles that fit their broad, pointy faces perfectly.

"No bandits today on the road, Ms. Emmot; everything's well. Mr. Amon told us not to eat you yet." One of them said, with its raspy voice. Giving her a bow. Its monocle glinting in the sunlight.

"Uhhm. Right..." She said, stepping away and forward with slow, deliberate steps.

"Yet." It said from behind her, and she didn't need to look to know it was licking its lips like she was a juicy steak ready to be consumed.

Then, when she was sufficiently away, she took off in a terrified sprint back to her village.

When she arrived at the front of her village, she stopped, gasping and panting from her violent sprint.

Something was not right. She had tried to ignore Mrs. James to some success, and hadn't thought much about the stranger. She didn't think much about Mr. Johnson's Monocle, since his explanation was based on concrete logic, but what was that?

Goblins do not wear monocles and speak clearly to people passing by. They kill them and take their belongings. Perhaps even eat them if they're hungry.

Whatever that was, it was not natural.

She had to speak to the chieftain and warn him of the stranger before things got worse. She placed the milk down at the entrance to the chieftain's house, knocking frantically on the door.

She heard some shuffling behind the door, and the sound of the Chieftain's wife asking who it was from down the hallway.

"It's me, Enri. There's something strange going on. Please, open up!"

"Coming, dear, one moment." The woman's reassuring answer came from behind the door, before the door opened on its oiled hinges.

Enri's relief turned to terror as she saw the Chieftain's wife.

"No..."

Enri stepped back, almost falling to the ground.

"Is something wrong?" The Chieftain's wife asked, her monocle glinting in the sunlight.

"Uhhh. Nothing. All is well." She said, taking three steps back. Her legs quivered.

"Yes, Ms. Enri. All is well." The Chieftain's wife chuckled before closing the door on her.

A black bird atop the roof of a nearby home screeched, and Enri, sufficiently nervous, turned her head to it, seeing it stare at her.

It looked at her directly into her eyes.

It screeched again, and then she saw something glinting on its glossy right eye. No doubt, a round crystal monocle.

"I must be dreaming. This is a nightmare I haven't woken up from." She murmured, turning away.

At that moment, all the nearby doors opened at the same time. All her friends and fellow villagers had amused smiles on their faces as they stared at her, each with a crystal monocle over their right eye.

"You're the last one, Ms. Enri." The weaver said from her door not far away.

"No! Get away from me!" Enri shouted, but her body no longer responded to her. She felt like she was sinking in deep mud. Slowly, her consciousness faded. Leaving behind something that looked like Enri Emmot, but no longer was. Enri Emmot, the proud, kind village girl, no longer existed. Only Amon was left in what once was Carne Village.

Several weeks later, a force of dozens of knights wearing the symbols of the Baharuth Empire attacked the village. There were no losses of life from the attack that day. For all of them joined hands in the greater existence that was Amon in perfect harmony. So did their leader, Nigun, and the rest of the sunlight scripture. Nothing changed outwardly in their actions, other than them not killing the villagers, who, of course, welcomed them with open arms.

Waiting for the beast to enter the trap.