Gorgon Girlfriend: Meleda (special preview)

I have been called to a small village in Pirlipat to take care of a monster that is terrorizing them. I don’t know many of the details at the moment, all I know is that they are desperate to get the creature out of the way. Never one to turn down a chance for adventure, I decided to answer their plea. I also enjoy Pirlipat a great deal, as they have some of the most amazing foods in all the land. Although, I have been told by my fiancée I could spare a few pounds, so I promised her I wouldn’t indulge while there.

This was also my chance to earn the money I needed to get my fiancée the wedding she wanted. It was quite extravagant, and her family refused to pay for anything since this was supposed to be my responsibility to look after her and all her needs. I’m not certain, but I don’t think her family is very nice. But perhaps I can change their opinion after slaying a dangerous monster and bringing home the reward for the wedding.

Once I arrive in the village I am surprised by how nice it all looks. I was expecting a small struggling village, maybe made up of farmers or something. Instead everything looks like big fancy houses, expensive boutiques, not a place that would need help with anything.

“You must be the paladin, Sebastian!” I am greeted by a man in a rather fancy hat. He comes up to me, shaking my hand and grinning. “Welcome to Plumstone. I am Mayor Cobble, the one who sent for you!”

“Hello,” I make a quick bow. “So I am in the right place. I saw all the hat shops and thought perhaps I was lost.”

Mayor Cobble pats me hard on the back. “You are in the right place, my boy! Now come, let me tell you of the awful monster plaguing us.”

The town looks as though it is all in one piece. I have been in places where buildings have been burnt down, people eaten, total chaos. This place looks untouched. Yet Mayor Cobble keeps going on about how women are fainting, men are at arms, children can’t sleep. But I’ve not heard much about the monster except that people can’t seem to go to the picnic grounds.

“I’m sorry, but are you sure this monster of yours isn’t just some agitated opossum?” I ask, just trying to be helpful.

Mayor Cobble looks at me stunned. “Would you call a dragon a gecko?”

I shrug. “The Gecko Beast, I would.”

He claps me on the back again. “Listen here, my boy. You’re a big lad, you can handle this monster!”

I still don’t know what the monster is or is even doing to the village. “I’m sure I can, sir. But perhaps I am overkill.”

“Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”

Maybe I am dumb like my fiancée says, but I don’t quite get that.

“Just go off along this path here, it’ll take you right to the picnic grounds. Once there, I’m sure you’ll come across that creature that is plaguing us.” He then takes a pistol from his pocket. “Would you like a gun?”

I shake my head. “No. Please. I don’t think even you need that. All I ask is my horse is put up in a stall. It’s suppose to rain, I think, and he doesn’t like getting wet without bubbles.”

Mayor Cobble gives me a strange look like my fiancée does when I talk to her, but he smiles, unlike her. “Fine, fine. Your horse will be kept dry,” he chortles. He then hands me a bag. “Your first half of the reward. You’ll get the rest when you bring me the head of that monster.”

I’m taken aback. I mean, I may kill monsters, but I always make it point to see that I can bury them at least. Sure, it may takes ages to dig the grave of a giant beast, but I was always taught to be respectful. “I have to cut the head off, sir?”

“To make a point,” he smiles.

Perhaps I could get away with painting a rock or something. “Okay,” I say with an awkward smile and I make my way down the path.

My fiancée would love the place. All the shops, all the fancy streetlamps, even this cute pathway lined by flowers that alternate in color to make a pretty pattern. She’s always loved fancy and expensive things, so she would fit in here. Although, I doubt I could afford it for her, but I’d try.