Right path

Edward and Louise entered the cave first and took the right path.

- Do you have any idea what we are up against? Asked Louise.

- Well, actually, I do! When you prepare to become a knight, you study all kinds of creatures that live in this world.

- So, enciclopedia man. Tell me what you know about ghouls then. - Said Louise jokingly.

- Ghouls are undead creatures. They can't reproduce naturally, so they "spread" their kind by bites. Specifically, their blood or saliva can turn you into one of them. They, physically speaking, are weak, too, as the goblins. But the difference is that ghouls are more agile. They can and will walk on walls faster than you can blink and will attack without hesitation. These are creatures of the night as well, but this is much more aggressive. They do not use weapons. They just use their long nails that sometimes can still, if they scratch you, turn you into one of them.

They are thin, extremely thin, and specifically feast from human flesh. They can poison other species such as elfs or beasts but can not turn you into one of them. That doesn't mean that they won't eat you whole if they have the chance. Their skin are grey, and they don't have eyes. Old magicians hypothesize that they evolved and lost their eyes because they do not need them in the caves that they inhabit. Am I talking too much?- Said Edward a little worried. They walked all the time as he talked and talked.

- No Ed. Is fine. Go ahead. It's interesting. My people just learn how to kill things, not how they work. - Said Louise with a silly laugh.

- Well, they have long and big ears, exactly like the bats! So they hear really WELL!

The "WELL" echoed through the cave. Louise made a hand gesture to indicate that he should keep his voice down. Edward nodded a little concerned but quickly continued his speech but in happy whispers.

- They are unded. Which means that they can handle really, though wounds, and will still continue to attack. They won't die unless you cut their heads. That is the only way to stop them. If you don't, you will only slow them down.

- That is why the elder, I mean, Elyrielle said that we should keep out distance?

- Exactly. That elder lady seems to know these things. Anyways. Only one more thing. You won't find them alone. They hunt in teams. And, most importantly. For some reason, they seemed to be attracted to the night shimmers for some reason. People think it's because the flower has some kind of pheromones that they like or something. I don't know.

- Wow. You really remember all about them, huh? - Said Louise and punched Edward in the back.

- Hey! that was uncalled for! And yeah! What kind of knight would I be If I didn't know the monsters that I would encounter?

- Believe me, I know some people that don't.

While they were talking, a subtle but putrid smell started to appear. This made Louise to stop and smell the cave carefully.

- What is it? - Said Edward.

- I smell them Ed. Grab your sword they are-

Louise didn't finish her sentence. One ghoul jumped from the back and pushed her to the floor.

- Shit! Don't you touch me, you bastard! - Said Louise and kicked the ghoul on the stomach.

<< HISSSSSS >>

The ghoul flew upwards and crashed against the cave's roof. A Stalactite went through his right eye socket. It fell to the floor as a sack of potatoes with a loud thud. Still, it got up and hissed at them.

Another six pair of empty eyes appeared from the dark and started hissing.

Louise got up in a move and grabbed her weapon. A sword that looked like a machete but shorter that she got out of her coat.

- You are not getting a bite our of me, you pieces of shit! - Said her as she pointed at the one that attacked her. - Get ready to fight, Ed! Ed?

Edward ran with his word on his hand and faster than Louise could blink. With only one move, he decapitated the ghoul that attacked Louise.

- Don't you DARE to put your undead hands to Louise! You are NOT worthy to even LOOK in her direction! Said Edward, fully red, because of his primal anger.

Louise smiled and blushed a little. That was the sweetest thing that he ever said to her that wasn't something stupid as always. She felt that he truly matured. But now was not the time for that. She grabbed her sword and got ready to fight as well.

- Listen to me, Louise. I will protect you. Go ahead and look for the flowers.

- What? NO. I'm not leaving you with these freaks.

- Don't you worry. I have an armor that they can't penetrate. Just run and look for the flowers. I will cover you.

- But!-

- No buts! You are faster than me anyway. You know how heavy this goddamned armor is.

Louise laughed, nodded, and took a run for it. After all, they were friends since they were little. If she could trust her life to someone, that would be Edward.

She ran. The ghouls jumped in pairs and she dogged them all. She jumped to the left to dodge one. She punched one right in its face and sent it flying far away. She grabbed another by the arm, broke it into 3 different places, and then threw him back to his partner. Grabbed another by the leg, made it fall, and stepped on it with al her might. A laud crack echoed as its column broke. She grabbed two at the same time and crashed them to the wall.

This is enough. Gotta find those dammed flowers! - Said Louise and prepared to run even faster. Run with her arms and legs. She could run faster that way, her natural running form. She could easily reach 56 km/h. That is not all. She could lift up to 500 kg as well. She is as strong and as fast as the animal that she owed her beast form to.

She rapidly was so fast that the ghouls couldn't even touch her. She saw a little glow at the end of the cave. It was the flowers! There were other 3 ghouls guarding them. No problem. She was tired of this mission already.

Louise jumped and landed a kick at the back of the face of one of them, smashing it to the wall. Now she got their attention. The other two hissed at and ran at her. One jumped at the wall and went that way. The other tried running straight to her. She grabbed her little sword and waited for the perfect time.

Once both jumped and were perfectly aligned, Louise, with a single slice, cut them both in half.

Their mutilated bodies fell to the floor, still moving. Louise looked at them with disgust and said:

- It looks like Edward is right. You won't die if I don't cut your heads, right?

One of the ghouls used one of his hands to move towards Louise, still hissing. The other raised both his hands to try and grab her. It used one of his legs to move forward.

- I kind of pity you. I must admit. I will take you out of your suffering. - Said Louise, grabbed her sword, and decapitated both of them. Even like that, it took them a few seconds to stop moving.

Now alone. Louise calmly approached the flowers and cut them with one of her claws. Carefully out them on a flask. "I need to find the others," she said.

She heard what seemed to be Leonard's screams from the other side of the cave. She turned, and one ghoul's head came flying towards her. Behind it, Edward was walking, clearly tired.

- Ed! Are you alright? - Said and ran towards him.

- Yes... Of course I'm fine! I'm just too tired now... And the others?

- We need to go for them. I heard Leonard scream.

- Do we have to go back? - Said Edward in a sad tone.

- Not necessarily. - Said Louise and started touching the walls.

- What are you doing?

- Looking for a soft spot. So I can break the walk without making the roof fall on us. Here!

With a strong (but not too strong) punch, Louise managed to break a whole into the wall.

- See? Now let's find them! - Said Louise, clearly proud of her monster strength.

Sue couldn't see it, but Edward smiled behind his mask. He was really proud of her strength.

Both came through the wall and started looking for Leonard and Elyrielle.

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