Galen Vesa

*Move!*

But I couldn’t. In the corner of my eye, I saw a shape madly approaching with each passing heartbeat. As if the world suddenly stopped, I witnessed the creature closing on me in slow-motion.

And I felt no fear. No desire to move.

Burning mana, in a final effort, Erta waved together a spell. Even before it happened, I knew my mana disobeyed her. The spell failed, dispersing before the beast. With my fate sealed, I stared into the dead eyes of that hideous creature. Nothing short of a miracle would save me now.

And it happened.

Square wooden shield crushed the undead like a battering ram, inches before my face. Two long spears pushed it away, and a heavy mace crushed its head.

Nothing. That looked absolutely nothing like they show you in the movies. They were no men flaying their swords in well-rehearsed, flamboyant, scripted manner. No. They were killers. Raw, quick and efficient.

Not wasting energy, they’ve slain the beast then formed a barrier towards the direction from which it came, preparing for more if more would come.

“Is she the one we’re looking for?”

A male voice broke the silence after the longest several seconds of my life.

“The place is right but… I can’t feel any mana from her. You, were you bitten?”

A new and oddly accented voice addressed me. I would say, it belonged to a female although, the cloaked figure in front of me did not possess any noticeable, feminine features and each word it spoke had a strong nasal feel to it.

It came closer, lifting the hood off its head. And I stared, stared at a creature that would put to shame any prosthetic makeup I ever saw. The frame appeared human enough to the eye at first glance but at a closer look, I could see the subtle differences in the shape of its arms and legs.

The head? While human in size and proportions, had fur growing all over it with shapes and patterns akin to a wild cheetah. And the ears, a human skull can’t have ears like that.

Its animal eyes shined in the dim torchlight.

“Something’s not right…”

*Stop staring you dolt and say something before they decide to kill us!*

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“Forgive me my rudeness,”

My eyes were still locked in the inhuman, feline gaze of the newcomer.

“I have never met anyone such as you. As for my mana, it is unstable and no, I was not bitten. The city guard already checked that, but you may see for yourself if that would help.”

I tried to get up.

“Slowly. Hands away from the body.”

Suddenly a lot of spears and blades were pointing at me. Steadying myself against the wall I rose from the ground and prepared myself for, yet another, inspection.

If I would call meticulous, the witch that checked me earlier, this individual I should call paranoid. Every inch of my skin got stared at and sniffed at. Much to the enjoyment of those gathered around us.

“Human pigs…”

The one bending over me muttered in disgust while its ears twitched.

“Oh, don’t be sour Dosie. She may have bigger boobs but we still love you!”

One of the men spoke while the others sniggered in response.

She growled causing instant silence. Tilting her head, she watched me. Her ears twitched in a pattern oddly resembling my dual heartbeat.

“What are you?”

Could she hear my dragon heart?

*A ferru? Perhaps. From her appearance I judge, she may have more than that gift to be wary of. Also, with the way your body is, you too can be classified as a ferru.*

“A result of what may happen if you drink too much wine in less reputable company and leave your oven wide open.”

I shrug my arms. Hopefully, they’ll get the idea.

“Well fuck, you can call me poops! I sure have baked some cakes that way!”

Another round of laughter rolled over the merry men. Oddly, one of them did not laugh but watched intently the woman standing before me.

“Leon, she’s clean but… I’m not sure. I can’t feel any power in her. For all I can sense, she can be a charmer. There’s some fancy magic put on her. Best if you avoid touching her body.”

A charmer. Is that something bad? A lesser kind of a magician?

*No, dolt. That is a local euphemism for a whore. Especially one using cheap magic to suck dry her patron’s moneybag. *

Oh. Well, can’t expect anything else while standing butt naked inside a dungeon.

This time the silent man approached me. I never complained about my height and the witch left my six feet and three inches intact but even I had to raise my head to look at his face.

“Well, pretty face. Tell me, are you a witch?”

A hit from that wall of muscles and we’re gone. Erta, I think it is time for one of your shield thingies. And by the way, I’m open to ideas.

*Raise your palm up and prepare yourself. It may hurt.*

I grit my teeth and as slowly and non-threatening as I could, I raised my hand for them to see it. Within a heartbeat, a tiny ball of blue light formed above my palm. Concentrated, mana swirling in the air. The most basic form of mana control. And all at the price of hundreds of nails jammed into my arm.

Erta canceled the spell before my legs folded underneath me. Even though not as powerful as before, the pain made me see black spots.

“So, a magic user. What’s wrong with you?”

The muscle man continued his interrogation.

“As I said, my mana is unstable. The range of spells I can use is, limited.”

*If any…*

I know that, you know that, they don’t have to know that.

“You have my deepest gratitude.”

I continued.

“Cover yourself.”

He unbuckled and tossed me his cape, then addressed his companions.

“Stavis, Yerga. You go first. Hennet and Joreb, you take rear guard. Dosie, you keep an eye on our witch and you…”

“Khareen.”

I supplied. At the same time, a rune on my throat activated making it sound, less reputable than I intended.

“You stay behind me.”

I gladly did as ordered.