Chapter 2 – Onto the stage
Part 1
The very next day, after the one when I had arrived at a certain village and saved a certain girl, a young half-elf, from some rampaging werewolves. It was a nice, fresh, cool morning, grass and plants covered in dew, the sun glaring down through the foilage of the trees and creepingly but steadily warming up the ground.
Right after waking up and having breakfast, both for the other's sake, not mine, mind you, we set off. We were heading northeast right through the woods, as no path was bound towards there.
"You-!" looking at me wide-eyed, with disbelief, and perhaps for the first time some distrust in her natural ability, Lessa'El stopped her movements midstep when I had revealed her my future plans.
I don't know what she thought of me the evening before, when I proclaimed that I would become a god, as at that time she merely silently nodded and dozed off, weary from the stress from the midnight onslaught of the werewolves. But now, as if I had declared something even more profound, she stared at me flabbergasted.
"You plan on going to the demons' territory, gathering them under your rule, creating an army and your own nation?!" short of breath, she almost choked on her words.
"Yeah, that's what I said. Though it's merely the first objective from a grander project," I replied just as lightheartedly as when I had described my plans earlier.
"Isn't that what a demon lord would do!"
"Umm, yeah... I am demon, you know..."
Staggering, as if she just had a revelation, she sought support from a tree to lean on.
"Eem, is it really such a shock?" I asked.
". . . Eehh, no, sorry," she seemed to regain her composure, "It's just that I didn't quite expect such an ambitious goal." It was more as if she was perturbed by how much my desire encompassed, rather than the objective perchance being evil, villainous as you would say. Did she not for a moment doubt her perception of my personality? If so, then she's quite assured and confident in her assessment.
"Alright, we're moving on then."
Continuing eastward, we should enter demon territory at some point during a week, and by the week's end or so should at least reach a road, perhaps even a settlement or an outpost.
How about some details about the surrounding lands that are of relevance?
The general location was that of a deciduous forest, a temperate climate, perhaps about 45 degrees of latitude. It was fairly in the middle of the continent, thus seasons were well-defined, with adequately hot and humid summers and respectfully cold and crispy winters. As mentioned before, currently it was summer. To the south was a mountain range, behind which expanded vast plains, while in the north were sweeping ancient forests with gigantic and voluminous trees. East and west was the inbetween – a mixture of great woodlands and verdant grasslands.
As for the relating territories, likewise it was an assortment of various nations. You see, just as geographically it was on the border of two biomes, it was also, or rather exactly because of it, in the central neutral region between different countries. While the northern ancient forests and the southern mountain ranges were justifiably uninhabitated, apart from a few rare indigenous tribes, to the east spanned human races and their countries, whereas to the west extended the land of demons and their jurisdiction. Two perfectly opposing, hostile forces.
Because I, as well as my companion, a half-elf, would certainly be unwelcome in human lands, we opted, or more accurately I designated our direction to be the demon nations, as that served my aim more suitably and comfortably.
Lunchtime.
Lessa'El had brought along a small supply of foodstuff she gathered at the village, since finding edible plants or hunting a wild animal wasn't always assured. A gentleman as I was -a demon gentleman... like, what?-, I helped her and carried an additional bag as well.
As she was enjoying her a meal, some meat, a piece of bread, and broth, she brought up a certain topic. Also, apparently good manners didn't include not speaking while eating in this world, or maybe that just applied to the community she came from.
"I noticed something odd, not that it's bad, but rather it's quite nice. Namely, that we haven't come upon any wild animals or magical beasts. ...Now that I think about it, there's hardly any birds singing as well."
"Yeah, I'm aware. It was the same back when I was venturing on my own..."
Tilting her head, "Do you perhaps have an idea as to what might be the reason? These forests should in fact be quite densely populated, but..."
"Isn't it because of my presence?"
"Ee, what do you mean?"
"Animals should be capable of sensing danger, right? So when a powerful creature, me, is in the vicinity, they'd run away – in that sense."
With a confused, somewhat amused expression she looked at me, "You? A dangerous beast?" She couldn't hold back, and a minute, high-pitched, girly giggle came out.
She's really underestimating me, isn't she? But... She sure is cute,' such a thought crossed my mind.
"Aah, no offence," she continued, "but I can't quite imagine you being dangerous or ferocious."
'Hohoo, should I demonstrate some of that fierceness I shouldn't have?...' "Your ability to see auras, huh? Well, naturally, let me make it clear, I'm not responsible for any illusions you might have or any disappointments I may or may not be the cause of at some point in the future. Understand?" Though I said that, trying to sound stern and reproaching, she didn't take me seriously, as she merely responded carefreely,
"Yes, yes, I understand. My ability does not lie, that much I'm certain of. I can see your true nature, however, I'm also aware and of course keep in mind that not everything is visible. Some acts might be cruel, but they'd also be inevitable, such is the world. But, I can say, it's the inner self that matters, and from that I know you're a good person," finishing with a heartwarming, tender, bright like the sun, smile.
'Really now... Well, no matter...'
Lessa'El had mentioned that, aside from wild animals, magical beasts also resided in the forest. Thus, unfamiliar with that term and interested, I inquired about it.
From what she told me, magical beasts were creatures that came into existence through magic... Well, that would be quite obvious, deriving from the name. How they appeared was more precisely an effect of mana.
You see, as I requested her to clarify that also, mana was supposedly, theoretically, however, also without doubt due to observation and practicality, everywhere. In the ground, in the air, in rock, in all lifeless things; in grass, bushes, trees, all plants, and also animals, from bugs and small rabbits to giant mammoths, ultimately in all living things and beings.
By the way, mana in sentient living beings was innate and comprised what you would call a mana pool – a certain amount of mana that one could freely use to employ magic. We'll perhaps get back to this some later time.
So, the way magical beasts could emerge was from two phenomena. Firstly, if mana concentrated into a lifeform, which wasn't that rare, as the size of the mana pool and therefore available mana could be increased, but then went out of control, it could induce mutations and deformations, leading to the development of a living being originated magical beast. The type I magic creature.
The second way a magical beast could appear was from condensed mana, which, exactly as it sounds, meant that in some areas of higher environmental mana concentration an exceedingly dense accumulation could spontaneously give rise to a mana formed magical beast. This was the type II magic creature.
Coincidentally, or for whatever reason, the shape and appearance of both the kinds of magical beasts was for the most part the same. They were, still, essentially both creatures of magic. The difference, however, came from the quality of their strength. While animal origin magical beasts retained their physical abilities to some extent, only having their vitality and endurance enhanced, and gaining instinctive magic power, but not strength or intelligence, the ones you could perhaps call real magical beasts, those emerged from pure mana, could have a broad degree of power. The reason was unknown as to why sometimes one could be a simple, for example, bird, while other times, and most commonly, it could be equivalent or slightly tougher than its counterpart. And finally, seldom, an immensely powerful, aggressive and robust magical beast could appear.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
That's all for now. We'll come back to it as go along or when we meet, most assuredly, some kind of magical beast, as not all were violent and could be tamed and utilized in everyday life.
In the evening, after Lessa'El had eaten dinner, while I, still not hungry, merely watched and pondered about my own things, mainly about magic.
She had kept up with my pace fairly well. Except stopping for a meal, we didn't have any breaks at all, so she, too, must have quite good stamina. Or perhaps... She's using magic to augment her robustness and endurance? Interested, I asked about it.
"Ah, yes, I'm using a fundamental self-reinforcement spell. It enhances all physical abilities, stamina included, so it helps during long journeys."
Apparently there was such a thing. I hadn't yet thought about it, but now that I was aware, might as well ask her to teach me, or improvise and formulate one myself. I was able to practice magic at night while Lessa'El was asleep.
Actually, now that it would be time to make camp, it reminded me of something. Since I didn't sleep, but she needed a night's rest to recover, thus staying still for hours, our overall pace of advancing was cut almost in half, so I had developed a useful spell the night before.
"Hey," I began, "there's something I'd like to try."
"Hm, what is it?"
"It's a spell. I came upon it yesterday night, and it would greatly help to increase our pace, since, you know, I don't need sleep."
"Yes, and what does it do?"
"Come here for a second."
Standing before me, I could smell a lovely, faint whiff of an aroma emitting from her. Yet again, I couldn't help but become hazy from her refreshing presence. Why was she so bewitching?! I was returned from my stupor as she looked at me inquisitively, tilting her childishly cute but feminine head, and expecting for some magic.
Shaking my head to clear my thinking, I raised my arm, pointed my hand towards her, and concentrated on the effect that I wished for. A dim, bluish light formed at my palm and surged towards her, enveloping her whole body.
"Chantless magic!? She blurted incredulously.
Not paying attention to that, I continued, and in a moment the desired effect was achieved.
"Wah-! Aaaah!" Lessa'El cried out, startled, because she was now floating in the air. "A levitation spell!?"
"Yeah," I replied, "How is it?"
"You cast a levitation spell, which in itself is a high level technique, on another person! Such a thing was deemed to be impossible, according to my knowledge at least. Moreover, you didn't use any chants! Amazing!"
"Umm, thank you?... But that's not what I meant. How does it feel? Comfortable?"
"Aa, yes, it feels as if I'm floating in the clouds, like a perfectly soft feather mattress. I feel like I could fall asleep against my will at any moment."
"Then it's a success. You see, I created this spell so that during night when you have to sleep, I could keep moving, with you floating beside me, that is." I cancelled the spell and let her down.
"This is..." she looked at me wide-eyed, with a glint of respect, "quite incredible, I must say. You just don't cease to amaze me. But all in the good sense, of course."
"Mhm..." Perhaps I would've been embarrassed by such an earnest compliment in different circumstances, however, at the moment I didn't really care. Such magic, which supposedly was complex and quite high level, was almost effortless for me, only having required a bit of focus when creating and during its first uses.
Lessa'El had stimulated my curiosity in this world's magic system, mentioning that levitation should have been unfeasible to cast on others, and something about chanting. I remembered that back in the Tomb of the Ancients, when I had woken up, the mages I battled chanted each time before using a spell, or rather, they chanted to use a spell, whereas I've always been using magic without chanting.
I turned to her, "Tomorrow you'll teach me how magic works, though I can use it, I don't really know the theories, okay?" ...It came out a bit demanding, however, she nevertheless acceded cheerfully.
So, meal finished, discussion over, and otherwise a would-be time for camp, I proceeded with the idea.
"Well, ready now?"
"Yes, if you would, please."
Once more I cast the levitation spell on her, and subsequently she started to float.
"Well..." Looking at her floating 2 meters off the ground, settling on a cosy posture, curled up on her side, in delectation I marvelled at her easy-going, trustful disposition. Or perhaps it was because I was the one in her company?
No, no, don't get ahead of yourself!', I reprimanded myself. "I guess... Good night!"
"Good night! ...Don't let the bugs have a bite."
Amusing.
- - -
Moving about in the forest during the night posed no difficulty to me, as I could use the "Nightvision" spell. Otherwise, even if the sky was clear, allowing the starry heavens and the twin, one reddish and the other bluish, moons to illuminate the surroundings, the dense foilage permitted little light to permeate through, thus, consequently, without enhanced sight, it would've been almost pitch-black. For that reason, as I trudged onward, never did I stumble on any protruding roots or rocks, and easily, untroubled, avoided all the trees.
And in that manner a week passed. Lectures, as well as remarkably jolly and elated idle chatting and topics during the day, and solemn marching during the night for me and harmonious, undisturbed sleep for Lessa'El. At least, with her new teachings, I could progress with improving my current magic and spells and creating new ones.
Lessa'El could sleep truly soundly, and, refreshed, she had a habit of waking up with a "Fuaaa--" sound, stretching her arms high and twisting, curving her body like a feline. Cute indeed, insofar as tempting me to pinch her, presumedly soft, and rosy, cheeks. She really praised the comfortability of the spell, appreciating the much more serene dreams it bestowed compared to sleeping on a makeshift bed made of branches and leaves.
The levitation spell was of use even more. Besides not having to carry the bags of however little food that remained, because my pace was ostensibly too much for her, for some periods so that she could rest I added her under the spell's effect during the day also. She said that she couldn't maintain the buffs, the self-reinforcement spells, that is, indefinitely, due to depletion of mana, and was amazed by how lavish I was with my use of magic, never exhausting my mana pool. Thus, sometimes the lectures and idle talk was carried out as she was drifting in the air beside me.
So, just as predicted, by the week's end, on an unusually sultry day, we came upon a faint but clearly trodden trail. Coursing on the path towards a randomly picked direction, after half an hour the forest at long last ceased and the sight was changed to that of vast plains, seemingly farmlands, and a small but extending castle town in the distance.
We had arrived at demon territory.
- - -
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