A Horned Boar rummaged through the undergrowth for food. Its black hide rubbed against the bark of the pine tree as its large tusks and a single horn on its forehead dug through soil and roots. It let out a snort as it pulled out edible roots from the ground. Its massive teeth began to grind the thick roots between its powerful jaws. Crack. Crack. Crunch. The sound of the roots being crushed in its mouth did not alarm it. Its nose twitched as it let out an audible snort. It dug through more earth in search of a meal and its red eyes failed to see the different shade of green that hid in the bushes near it.

Fwoosh. The animal's ears twitched but it was too late. Yellow eyes, green skin, sharp teeth, and a large dagger were the last things the Horned Boar saw as the dreaded creature lunged at him. Blood spilled out of its neck as the monster bit into him. Its claws tightly grabbed the matted, black fur of the boar as its hand twisted and shoved the dagger deeper into its neck. Earth and foliage were thrown up into the air as the Boar resisted and shook its body violently to get its attacker off of its body. Dying and violent squeals rang out of the forest as it tried to run deeper into the forest. But with a final twist of the dagger, the boar let out one last weak squeal of death as feet gave way. With a loud and wet thud, the boar dropped to its side as its last breath of air left its body.

Even in death, its eyes stared at the creature that felled it. It possessed its race's infamous pointy nose, long ears, sharp claws and teeth, and green skin. The small creature loomed over it as it stared at its kill. Blood dripped from its dagger, the intoxicating smell of blood and gore mixed with upturned earth filled his nose as he stood over the boar's body in silence. After a moment, the sound of two people pulled him out of his contemplation. He whirled around to face the green-haired girl that leapt out from the bushes and the man who dragged a large stick and rope behind him.

"If we stuck with the caravan, we wouldn't be hunting fuckin' pigs and rabbits in the mountain, ya' know?"

"Can't be helped. Seems that they're gonna make a few stops along the way. We won't make it to Windport by- Woah."

Stefan stared at the Horned Boar behind Sirius while the Goblin wiped away the blood on his dagger on the boar's skin.

"Sirius, what the fuck?! I told ya' to go find some herbs or mushrooms, not to go kill some wild boar!"

The Low-Elf clicked her tongue as she knelt beside the boar. Sirius looked away when she glanced at him, but she said nothing as she looked back at the animal.

"But good job. Next time, say somethin' if you're gonna do something like this."

Just as Semilia said that, she grabbed the soft cheeks of the Goblin and stretched it outward as her azure orbs bore into his body intensely.

"Are ya' hurt anywhere? Won't forgive ya' if you hurt yourself somewhere. Scratches here, there... Seems like you're fine! Let's get Stefan to carry the meat and dry it."

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Semilia slammed her palm onto his back while she loudly laughed. He quickly regained the wind in his lungs as he scowled at the cheerful Low-Elf and her stinking rabbits.

"If I cure this, we're gonna have to use up all of our salt. But we could sell the hide and the teeth at the nearby village."

Stefan said as he tied the rope to the boar's legs. With a powerful yet precise throw, he threw the other end of the rope over the branch of a tree while he checked to see the branch's strength. After a few tugs, he nodded and turned towards Semilia and the Goblin.

"You two will help me skin this thing."

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Riel sighed as she sat on the flat in their camp beside the stream. It was getting dark. The campfire heated her cold hands and the pot of water she boiled. Grumble. She clutched her stomach as she stared up at the indigo sky. Magic coursed through the sky in a myriad of vivid colors and varying strength. The Magical Winds that dictated the laws of the world looked different compared to three years ago. Shades of Necromantic Magic and Shadow Magic steadily creep into the Magical Winds yet at the same time, she could see that the other forces within it were now stronger and much, much, more powerful than ever before.

"Achoo!"

She shivered as she felt a chill run down her spine. Her hat tilted to the side while her thin fingers ran down the length of the staff that sat on her small lap. A long, heavy sigh left her lips as she laid her back on the smooth rock. Everything in the world is going wrong, she thought to herself with a furrowed brow and tired, melancholic eyes. She didn't want to visit her village. There was nothing there except stones and rotten logs that once belonged to houses. Nothing except the thing that her teacher and uncle said will help her find greater power and understanding in her work. Stefan and Semilia were simply dragged along since she tagged along with them for a few quick quests for money. She didn't know it would only take a handful of quests for the two of them to tag along with her.

She let out a sigh once more as she stared up at the sky. Where there was once light there was now only the twinkling stars, empty darkness, pale moonlight, and the flow of Magic governed by the Shadow, the heavenly bodies, and whatever else she didn't bother to think about when she was still in the academy. Magic. Now that she thought about it, the Goblin also used magic. That foul creature she sometimes cared for but mostly feared, hated, and ignored could use it. Not Shamanistic Magic that drew power from the belief of those around it but magic. A Goblin using magic was an impossibility, or it was supposed to be.

Her emerald orbs flicked to the fireflies in the trees. Magic. Fundamentally, it was supposed to exist in all creatures. But not all creatures could draw out or harness magic. Some monsters could use magic, but there are also monsters that couldn't use it. A firefly landed on the brim of her hat while she thought long and hard about the Goblin's ability to use magic. After a minute or two, she decided to give up and leave the matter for another day. Her hands pointed and drew lines between the stars as she tried to empty her mind of thoughts. After a moment, she smiled to herself as she connected the stars in her mind.

The stars over her head formed the emblems of the kingdoms east of the Arendine. Among the constellations she knew of, she drew the first one that came to mind. It was the sigil of Te'loinn and the creature that adorned its flag and coat of arms. A symbol of the Te'loinn people's stubbornness and hardiness, it flew across the night sky with its wings of starlight. Its snout sniffs through the darkness of night to dig up more jewels to adorn the night while its hooves thunder after the Stag of Leroun. One day, the two will do battle and horn and antlers will clash with one another. Still, she wondered.

Why did Te'loinn choose a winged Horned Boar as its symbol?