C12 Eliminate the Blood Leeches

Gazing into the depths, he tossed a piece of wood into the center of the water, only to watch it sink unexpectedly. It was so peculiar. "Wow, what's going on here? Wood is supposed to float. Why did it just plummet to the bottom? Maybe something ate it!"

Rupert had a hunch about what was happening. It might be time to part ways. "Go on! Go drink some water and then find your own way back. You're not needed here anymore. Off you go..."

The horse seemed to take the hint, neighing and trotting off to quench its thirst. Rupert headed to the riverbank to freshen up. Meanwhile, a log drifted by, and Spark began to frantically dance about, trying to catch Rupert's attention. "What's gotten into you, Spark? Always jumping around. Are you trying to put on a dance for my entertainment?"

Spark leaped onto a barren boulder, gesturing toward the drifting wood. Rupert took a closer look and realized, "Oh... There's a body on that log? This sun is so unforgiving; I'm afraid this person is beyond saving..." Spark's urgent squeaking interrupted Rupert's thoughts. "You little creature, don't make things difficult. That's quite a distance, isn't it? And look at the water, it's three different colors. Do you understand what that means? To us, it appears clear and blue, but as it gets deeper, it turns a lighter green, signaling danger. The dark green in the center indicates unfathomable depths, and who knows what mysteries lurk beneath?"

Spark seemed to grasp Rupert's reluctance to attempt a rescue and perched on the stone with a listless air, chirping mournfully to the sky. Rupert, unable to bear Spark's piercing cries, gestured dismissively. "Shush! You were much calmer yesterday. Now, this constant chirping is driving me mad. Can't you tell that playing in the water isn't safe?"

Rupert dove in and swam out to the log, gently guiding it to shore. On it lay a young man who appeared to have passed out, with no visible wounds. Perhaps he had accidentally fallen into the water. Rupert decided to drag him to a shady spot to try and revive him.

When Rupert emerged from the water, he was horrified to find his body swarming with bloodsucking leeches, each one greedily feasting on his blood. In a panic, he hastily grabbed salt and water from his pack and scrubbed himself clean, taking care to also wash the young boy with him. After ridding themselves of the leeches, Rupert shivered uncontrollably. The boy's wrist was adorned with a string of red jade bells, their purpose unknown to Rupert—perhaps a token for familial recognition.

"Damn it, Spark! I warned you there was more to this than meets the eye. You nearly got me killed! I ought to knock some sense into you!" Rupert yelled.

Spark, the small creature, couldn't possibly grasp the concept of blood leeches. Accused of being a vampire and scolded without reason, Spark stood its ground against Rupert. The two faced off, circling and glaring at each other, neither willing to back down. Despite its size, Spark was not easily intimidated and seemed ready to challenge Rupert with bared teeth and wide eyes.

"Where am I?" The boy suddenly came to and asked. "Snap out of it, little brother," Rupert said, as he and Spark stopped their bickering and rushed over to check on the boy, realizing that his life was at stake. If there was a response, there was hope—no point in arguing now.

The boy barely managed to open his eyes and asked feebly, "Did you save me?"

"What? Uncle? You can call me brother; I won't mind," Rupert replied, a hint of amusement in his voice. Spark, seemingly catching on to Rupert's self-promotion, couldn't resist giving him a playful kick. "Yes, you're very weak right now. Rest a bit and have some food to regain your strength. Don't move—you've been drained by those leeches."

Rupert awaited a response. The boy, Mileson, lived in the village of Ofanlenor, nestled within the Mountain of Flames. The day before, the heat had driven him and another child to play in the stream. A sudden thunderstorm had brought a deluge, and before he knew it, Mileson was swept into the quicksand river, adrift for two days. As they spoke, a horse nearby began to drink from the water and inexplicably sank, its quiet whimpers turning into desperate cries before it vanished, leaving only a trail of dust and water stains—an unsettling sight. "Mileson, there's something strange here. Why hasn't your family come looking for you?"

"I'm not sure about that," the child said innocently, "but I've heard people in the village say that anyone who falls into the quicksand river is as good as gone. If they don't die from the fall, the giant beasts in the river will finish them off. There's no point in searching for them." The child's words were so matter-of-fact, it was as if human life held little value, easily dismissed and forgotten.

"Big beasts? Why?" Rupert gazed at the turbulent river before him, its waves churning with ominous sounds. It seemed likely that monsters lurked beneath the surface, though he had never encountered such creatures himself.

"Sir, you must be from out of town," the child continued. "We always say that if you walk under the sun, you'll be soaked through all five apertures. If you enter the water, you'll bleed from all seven. Anyone who lasts half an hour in there is sure to be nothing but bones..."

"Ha! You're quite the storyteller, aren't you, kid? Since I'm a foreigner, I'm quite intrigued by this perilous place. Tell me more," Rupert said, seemingly unfazed.

"Sir, this quicksand river is a natural barrier for our village of Ofanlenor. Just look at how deep and wide it is. The trees can't even float, and with bloodsucking leeches by the water's edge, it's impossible for most people to cross. See that inscription on the tombstone? 'Only a deity can traverse this river.' It's been passed down from ancient times, a warning for us not to get too close. But there are always those who ignore the warnings and end up as nothing more than skeletons..." Rupert took in the child's words, his eyes scanning the river's edge where dried-up remains and freshly gnawed bones were scattered.

"You're not implying that I'm one of the foolhardy ones, are you? I have business up the mountain! Sure, there may be a few who are out of their minds, but I've heard that even people from your village descend the mountain to trade for supplies, right? If you've never had any trouble, how do you manage to cross the river?"

"Sir, how do you know about these little details of our village? You're not planning to go up the mountain in search of divine artifacts, are you? Since you've done me a favor, I should be the one to guide you, but I'm clueless about the village's recent events. It's still early, so we should head down the mountain now. It's best not to take any risks. I've heard the village elders say that only top-notch martial artists dare to venture into the mountains, and even they often meet grim fates. So please, I urge you, don't take this risk..." Mileson said, his voice tinged with hesitation.

"Mileson, I know you're a good kid, and I won't pressure you. It's okay; I can find my own way up the mountain. Take good care of yourself. Here's some food for you to keep." Rupert and Spark made their way back to the riverbank, pondering how to cross the river when, unexpectedly, Mileson appeared.

"Mileson, why are you here instead of resting? Weren't you headed home? Surely you know your way back, right?" Rupert asked, surprised. He couldn't help but wonder if he had just gained an unexpected responsibility.