In the morning everyone packs their bag and get ready to head back to Alana but Biscuit who went to fill the water by the river run back looking panic.
“Someone magic help!”
“What?”
“What do you mean Biscuit?” said Eirian.
“It’s it magic water we have help.”
“Slow down, it’s alright Biscuit. We’re safe here.” Amy walks to Biscuit side and use her antenna to hold Biscuit hoof, as far as an antenna can hold thing.
Usually, Amy won’t let other races touch her antenna since they are sensitive to smell and touch but Biscuit like to hug her so Amy thinks this will help calm Biscuit down.
“I... someone use ice magic to call for help downstream. We need to help them.”
“Someone use magic to call to you?”
“No, not me specifically. Sheep and goat can send a signal into water in any direction we want and just now as I was filling the flask I can feel the call for help in water. A goat is in danger.”
“Can you tell how far it is?” Amy asked.
“No... only that it’s come from downstream.”
“So, it’s could have come from the edge of Cinder Wood or down to the end of great red river and Nadia port.” Calamity points out.
“Yes” Biscuit don’t have anything else to say. This is the first time she got a message like this, all Almathorian must learn the basic code for emergency that how she knew what the signal mean.
“It’s alright Biscuit you didn’t do anything wrong thank you for telling us.” Eirian consoles her and she only nod.
‘Follow the goat, does it mean this moment?’
“Since I’m still a team leader, I say we should at least head down south to check in case someone do need our help but we won’t go further than the edge of Cinder Wood ok?”
“If we deliver the herb late, our team point will be deducted though” said Amy.
“But we can’t just ignore a call for help right?” said Josh.
“If you all agree to go at the risk of losing point then I will agree to it.” Amy looks at everyone.
“I think we should go” Josh reaffirms.
“I think so too” said Bill and Calamity simply nod when Bill look at him.
“Very well lets us go then.”
The team walk south along the river while Josh fly ahead to scout. For three hours they walk, not stopping to eat opt to just bite from a jerk meat they have with them.
On the path they only come across a group of red deer on the opposite side of the river who quickly run back into the wood when they were spotted. There is no sign of any goat or anyone living here just a sound of rushing river that too width for them to cross.
“It’s already past mid-day, we might need to head back if we still want to return to Alana before midnight.” said Amy.
Eirian looks ahead where Cinder wood stretches on with no end and then looks at his teammates who are all quite tired from walking “Biscuit do you still detect any call for help? If their ship sank they might already make it to land by now”
‘Or already drown’
Biscuit put her hoof down into the river “the signal for help is gone.”
“I see, it's unfortunate that we can’t confirm that the goat who called for help is safe or not but we need to head back now. Let’s call Josh and head back.”
“Wait we come all this way let’s just walk a bit more” said Bill.
“We already waste enough time and definitely lose point on this assignment let’s not lose more by return to dorm past midnight” Amy argues to cut their lose.
“I’m sorry Bill but we might already enter Republic of New Terra territory, it’s might not be safe for us here.” Eirian speaks just as Josh lands on a tree branch above them.
“I found them” Josh interrupt everyone.
“Them?”
“The goat! His truck is stuck on a rock near the riverbank. There are about ten people there trying to pull the truck up.”
“Is it far?”
“About twenty minutes from here.”
“See they are just right around corner” Bill claims his win.
“Let’s us go then maybe we can help them pull the truck up.” said Eirian and Josh lead everyone to where he saw the truck.
When they arrived, Eirian noticed a group of fox, badgers and a single huge brown bear who turn to look at them with hostility. They have men on land tie a rope between a tree and small wooden ship anchor in a middle of river to try pull the truck up from where it stuck. A single goat sits alone on the truck roof looking wet.
‘Bear? that rare.’
“What? Why are there people here?...student from Alana?” the brown bear proclaims when he sees the main six.
“Hello” Eirian speaks “It’s seemed your friend is in trouble maybe we could help?”
“Help? Don’t worry about us kid we got this under control” the brown bear turns back to look at his men “Err thank you for your offer but you kids should go back to Alana now, this is New Terra territory it’s dangerous here.”
“Really we can help, you guy doesn’t have magic but we can easily pull the truck up” Eirian looks at Amy and Biscuit.
The brown bear turns back to look at his men again, five badger and one fox on this side of river and four foxes on the boat is struggling to hold the rope so the truck doesn’t get wash away with the river. “Alright but let’s me check with our friend on the truck first, you go tell Val.” The bear points at one of the red foxes by the river. He’s carried a bow on his back and seemed to be youngest in their group, a few years older than Bill.
The red fox simply nods and quicky jump on rope and climb until reach the truck amid rushing river without fear. He whispers something to the goat before wave hand to the bear.
“Alright do your trick kids” said the bear as he walks back to give space.
“Shouldn’t we help the goat out of there first?”
“Err...he’s too scare to move just lift him along with the truck.”
“Amy, Biscuit come help me”
“I’m I...”
“It’s ok Biscuit just help me push this thing up with your water, I’ll help you land it.” said Amy.
“Alright, Evenio Aquam” Eirian and Biscuit said together and float the water along with truck up above riverbank while Amy makes an earth form into two big wire and catch a truck before slowly place it on land.
The fox then jumps down with Val and land on two feet while Val flops on grass “Thank you lad, we got it from here...Hey boss maybe we should reward these kids for helping us before we part way?” the red fox turns to the bear.
“Right, I suppose a few coins for you kid to buy some snack when you get back” the bear approach Eirian and offer a small bag of coin.
“Oh, it’s alright we’re just happy to help” Eirian rejects the coin.
“I can take it” Bill speaks up.
Eirian turns back to shake his head in disapprove but Bill responds with a rapid nod to make his intention clear.
“Please ignore him” Eirian smiles and refuses to look at Bill further.
“Well then, Val says your thank before we part way huh” the bear turns to the lone goat who still look panic and was wrap around by a hand of red fox on his shoulder.
“I...Thank...Help! I’m being ROB!”
The bear face twisted “Valtos you selfish jerk! Are you dragging children into this?” he raises his voice as every fox and badger start to pull their weapon out.
“Help me kid! You're Amiel, at least three of you have magic you can beat these guys, I promise to reward all of you handsomely.”
The red fox pulls his knife out at Valtos throat to make him quiet. The bear sigh and look at the main six who is now looking wary and ready to fight.
“Look kids if you’re all walk away now, we’ll let you go. We don’t want to hurt anyone.”
Eirian turns back at his teammate “you guy think can we take them?”
Josh replied by casting a wind magic “espiro” and cut the only rope linking their ship to land, cut four foxes from their side out of equation for a time. “It’s six of us versus seven of them, you’re a leader just tell us what our next move.”
“Wow I didn’t know you got it in you Josh” said Amy.
“Please I didn’t just read book all day you know.”
‘That is literally the only thing you do all day.’
“Bill uses your MAM to fire a warning shot at them” Eirian hopes the present of a MAM gun would scare them into giving up Valtos without fight. The gun shot sound is quite scary to most people.
“ok” Bill quicky arms his MAM and shot a single BB directly into the badger leg.
“I SAY WARNING SHOT!”
“I’m sorry—I miss!.”
Since Josh cut the rope the bear has been hesitating to make a move against student of Alana but now his men is shouting in rage.
“That human shot me, I’ll kill him!.” the badger shouts and staggers his way to grab a crossbow placed under a tree.
“Tucker Stop” the bear shout but badger still trying to nocks an arrow to aim. “Do you want all of Eardwulf come hunting for us? Stop now!.”
Just as badger is aiming at Bill ready to fire, the red fox shout “Tucker!” only then the badger furiously lowers the crossbow.
‘Wait is that fox...’
“Everyone knocks these kids out but don’t kill them” the bear order as every badger rush in with sheath blade.
“Calamity focuses on capture that red fox, Bill Biscuit stay behind me, Amy Josh tries and take some of them down.”
Calamity without question follow Eirian order and rush at the fox making the bear change his target from Eirian and go block Calamity.
“The fox?” Biscuit confused.
“He’s their real boss” Josh says before takeoff and blast a wind to slow four badger who are running at them. Badger whose leg got shot fall back on the ground when fail to stand against Josh wind.
Amy takes a chance that they stop to block the wind to cast “Jacto” making a ground pierce up when she punch ahead and smack one of the badgers in the face. Before rush in for close combat with other.
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“Biscuit remember our practice?” Eirian turns to the river and lift a cube of water up; he swings his hand and water ropes one of the badgers up high before throw him into the river.
Meanwhile other badger rush on their flank so Bill fires his flamethrower to stop him from getting close.
“Are you serious” the badger shouted in disbelieved since he almost got roasted. Biscuit took this chance to follow Eirian example and ropes his leg with water and throws him into river.
Although her throw isn’t very far and that badger quickly swims back to riverside.
“Let’s us use our weapon” one badger shout at the red fox who still hold a knife at Valtos throat.
“No”
The red fox hope that his men would be able to scare these kids away or his bear should at least able to subdue without hurting them but now seeing this grey wolf fight he realize he has miscalculated.
Despite being younger Calamity is fighting on par with the big bear and either dodge or block a punch without taking too much damage. It’s also didn’t help that Calamity willing to use a claw while the bear hesitates.
In the river other four fox is rowing a boat to come help their boss but Josh is swooping up and down while cast a heavy wind when dive to push their boat from coming near riverbank. One time their boat almost overturn.
“Calamity, Flash!” It’s was this moment that Eirian cast light magic that blind everyone for a moment and Calamity rush past the bear to get the red fox.
The fox has no choice let Valtos go and use a sheath sword to match Calamity claw.
“Hey hey you’re not trying to kill me right” the fox smile when he feels the strength of Calamity.
Calamity didn’t answer and quickly strike again but the bear turns back and jump at him, made Calamity dodge and let the red fox go.
“Valtos stop!” the fox red turn and shout when he sees that Valtos is back in the truck and started an engine.
“This is for tricking me!” Valtos shout and try to ram the red fox down. However, the bear grabs the fox and jump to slide so Valtos turn the wheel to follow but this only causes him to lose control of the car and fall into river again.
This time there is no rock or rope to stop it from sweeping with the river. It won’t take long before the truck sink.
“Ahhh” the red fox sigh before order everyone to retreat “We should have cut our lose hours ago, dam him. Hey if you guys still want to save that selfish goat you better hurry.”
Eirian seeing all badgers back away tells his friend to run after that truck.
The red fox let the main six run past him without attacking them and tell everyone to get back on their ship.
“We’re letting them go?”
“There’s no way for us to save that truck alone or beat those kids without hurting them. Pissing off those teachers at Alana is not an option for us.”
The bear nod and follow the fox back.
Eirian now must find a way to stop the truck, the river current isn’t too fast but the water is actually quite deep.
“Hey get out of the car Josh can grab you” Bill shout.
“No! if I open the door the water will come in faster and my truck will sink.”
“Who care about the truck, you’re going to drown.” Amy shout.
“No! All my merchandise is in here. All my money!”
‘Is he being serious right now’
“Amy can you make an earth to extend and grab that truck.” said Eirian.
Josh is flying above the truck but can’t do anything since half the truck is sinking under water and can’t be pushed with wind.
“He’s already swept too far even if my magic can reach him the earth will be too thin to hold and pull the truck in.”
“Ok I’ll go out there and push the truck closer to riverbank. You guy try to catch up and pull him into land.”
“What? How?”
“With this, congelo” Eirian step on the water as a thin sheath of ice form under his feet. Eirian smiles proudly but then when he tries to step forward an ice on his right foot break and he almost fall into water.
‘ok ok going slow. Ice is not my forte but it’ll have to do.’
Eirian then slowly slides forward to catch up with the truck on ice surfboard. “Aquam” He try to make the water push the truck back but found that he’s still too far and the magic is too weak so he pushes himself to go faster.
The ice start cracking but Eirian manages to arrive just on the front side “Aquam” he tries again and this time the truck start to move to the left.
It’s was that moment that a gust of wind come out of nowhere and push Eirian so hard the ice sheath break casing him to fall into the river in front of the turning truck.
“Aqu cough” Eirian struggle to cast magic when water got into his mouth.
“Eirian!” everyone on the shore shout as the truck is about to hit Eirian in the water.
“CONGELO” Biscuit shout and put her hand into the water before turning a section of river into solid ice and stop the truck just before it’s hit Eirian.
“What?” Eirian surprise that all the water in front of him was turn into ice but since the river is still moving it didn’t take long before the water start to rise over the ice so Eirian climb up, use congelo to cut an ice around the truck and float it to riverbank where Amy help lift both of them up.
“Biscuit you save me” Eirian genuinely surprise. He always thought she is too timid to do anything and her magic is weak but that ice magic just now, almost half of the river from where they stand to where the truck was were turn into a solid ice, even it’s just on the surface of water but that is also very impressive consider they are quite far from riverbank.
‘If the truck hit me I could have been knock out.’ Eirian shook at the thought.
“Your ice magic is awesome why didn’t you use it before” Amy asked.
“No, I shouldn’t use ice magic I’m not worthy.” Biscuit express shame at her action.
“Nonsense you were wonderful my girl” Valtos open the door and walk out “You save my truck—All of you save me oh thank you thank you so much” Valtos shake hoof with everyone.
“But where were J and his band of thief?”
“They left after you fall into river.”
“Huh those cowards if I ever see them again—but never mind them all of you should be rewarded” Valtos jump back into his truck and look for a box.
While waiting Eirian use magic to make his head dry and make a small fireball to warm himself. Bill hand him a small towel from his backpack.
“Here it is” Valtos come back and open a box. Inside is a dark red crystals with a rotten egg smell.
“Wait is this...”
“This is a Mundeus, I plan to auction them along with other stuff I got. But I think you kids deserve this, if you guys don’t want mundeus I can give you money on their market price instead around 75,000 Nil.”
‘This is amazing we’re all going to get mundeus and...’
“I’ll take the money” Bill rush to answer first in case Valtos doesn’t have enough money to give all of them.
“No Bill you should take mundeus, don’t you know what it does?”
“No and I don’t care”
Eirian walk in front of Bill to save him from making a wrong decision “I’m sorry Mr. Valtos but can I have a discussion with my friend on the way back first before we tell you our decision?”
“Of course, I’m heading to Alana as well but can you help me get the water that got inside the truck out please? my truck won’t work in this state.”
“I’m not sure it can still work after it fell into river like that” Bill observes.
“Oh don’t worry my truck use a core not oil.”
“Really?” Bill got excited and go check the car hood, inside is not a normal engine but an engine carved with glyph and one big core lock in the middle in place of battery.
“Wow this truck much be super expensive” said Bill.
“Yup I spent a lot of money on this baby, took a while to learn how to drive too. New Terra doesn’t sell a lot of car to outsider you know I might be the only goat who got this baby.” Valtos taps the hood.
“Aquam” Eirian make all the water struck inside the car to flow out and then everyone hops on the back.
“To Alana” said Valtos.
On the way Eirian try to convince Bill to take mundeus “Bill this crystal is not just for decoration, with the right method it can be turn into a powerful potion that will help strengthen your body and mind—rumor to help increase magic level for each person. It’s even work on human to make them stronger and faster. Even if you have money it might not be possible to acquire a mundeus you know.”
“I don’t have a used for being stronger, I can make any kind of MAM or glyph to do the labor for me. I would rather take the money.”
“No Bill that would be the wrong choice”
“Who are you to say which choice is right or wrong? I pick a choice that suit me best.”
‘Your choice is clearly stupid. Everyone else agrees that mundeus is far too rare for us to pass up’ Eirian gone silent to find a way to change Bill mind.
“Josh how do you know that fox is the real boss?” Biscuit speaks up when everyone gone quiet.
“Ah I thought he is the boss at first too” Josh answers “but I noticed that bear keep looking back at his men, to one red fox specially and he confirm it when that badger, Tucker, listen to him not the bear.”
“That bear name is J” said Voltus “I found them in Niv town and hired them as a mercenary to protect me while I brought staff in Eardwulf to think that they would betray me on the way out...now that I think about it all of them properly use a fake name too dammit why didn’t I see it coming.”
“What were you doing in Cinder Wood anyway, isn’t there a main road lead directly to Alana from inside Eardwulf?” Josh looks to the north.
“Err...J said he know a short cut that why we come through here”
Josh doubts Voltus but didn’t ask further.
Eirian looks at the box around them ‘Whatever he brought from inside Eardwulf is properly illegal, that how he got mundeus and maybe this truck...’
“Biscuit what were you talking about earlier when you said you are not worthy?” Amy moves to sit next to her.
“Oh, it’s not really important.”
“No, it is. Tell me why do you think you’re not worthy.”
“I don’t want to...”
“Why? you think we will think less of you if we know the reason?”
Biscuit nod.
“Stupid girl, did all sheep and goat lady this coward?”
“Hey” Valtos shouts from the front.
“Sorry, what I mean is, you just learn a lesson about being strong so people will listen to you right?” Biscuit nod “So speak what you feel without fear, we are listening.”
‘Does Amy like or not like Biscuit? I can’t tell sometime.’
“In our holy book, Droverbum, it’s said that a sheep must pray to our god Amalthaea everyday by channel a water from surrounding, if we can create a ball of water out of thin air then it’ll be a prove of our faith to Amalthaea. Those who can’t summon water mean they doesn’t truly love our god or Amalthaea rejected that sheep and they must atone for their sin by working harder.
“Wait just sheep? What about goat?”
“Most goat can only use ice magic and it’s much harder to create ice out of thin air so they are allowed to use holy water when pray and turn them into a beautiful sculpture of Amalthaea horn.”
“This doesn’t seem fair though and you are a geep right? Clearly you are better with ice magic so just go with goat standard.”
“No, I am Pan’s daughter. The best of my brother and sister who is not geep can use both water and ice. I who is half goat and sheep must be able to do the same...until then I’m not allowed to use ice magic.”
“Wow that is stupid”
“Amy” Josh stared at her.
“What? it is stupid.”
“Ahem” Voltos make a sound “I’m sorry Ms. Biscuit I didn’t recognize you as our father Pan’s daughter, please forgive me.”
“It’s alright sir even I don’t remember all of my brother and sister.” Biscuit said in cold voices.
“Well if it’s make you feel better I’m suck at magic too, can barely make an ice cube to move at all but you did save me with that amazing ice magic so you are definitely closer to Amalthaea then me Ms. Biscuit.”
“Thank you Mr. Valtos.”
At night the truck finally leaves Cinder Wood and everyone can see the white tower of Alana head.
“Alright everyone I going to drive around the city a bit and we’ll enter through the east gate, I got a friend there.”
When Eirian saw the city he knew he ran out of time “Bill, do you know why our currency call Nil?” without waiting for him to answer Eirian continued “Because money is not real. Money is just a man-made concept it’s has no real value. This pieces of paper?” Eirian hold one hundred banknote in his hand before tear it in front of Bill.
“If you’re gonna do that just give it to me.” Bill looks at the poor hundred banknote lies dead on the floor.
“It’s just a paper Bill. It’s worth nothing! We’re the one who give value to money, We are!. Please...I’ve seen so many people spent their entire life living as if it was other way around, don’t be like them Bill.”
“I’m-taking-that-money.”
Eirian bows in hopelessness before finally speak “Alright Bill how about this. If you choose to take and eat mundeus, I’ll give you an extra money on top of mundeus as well.”
“You’ll give me money? How much?”
“...10,000 Nil”
“That seem a little less for a rock I don’t even want.”
Eirian is about to ask how much does Bill wants but his instinct stop him “20,000?”
“40,000”
‘That almost half the money aunt Euri gives me for the school this year.’
“Bill aren’t we friend?” Eirian tries to lower the price.
“45,000”
“You monster! Fine 45,000.” Eirian feels like crying.
‘This is for the team, for mine team.’
“Hey Eirian, I think I start to don’t want mundeus as well” Josh says jokingly.
“Not funny Josh, not funny.” Eirian squints at Josh and everyone who is smiling. Then Eirian looks at Calamity and wonders if this is amusing to him.
“Mr. Voltus I’ll be taking six mudeus from this box then.”
“Go ahead, I trust you won’t take more than your share.”
“Of course, sir” Eirian then picks six mundeus out and puts in his own backpack. There are three mundeus left in a box.
“I’ll keep all mundeus and find a herbalist and make a potion for all of us ok?”
Everyone agrees and doesn’t doubt that Eirian would steal from them, seeing how he just paid Bill to make him take the potion.
“We’re here.” Valstos stop the car and everyone get off at the east gate.
“Dilay my friend how are you doing? You wouldn’t believed what happen to me” Valtos hands the wolf guard a small bag of coin “I was robbed but then rescued by these brave students. Please you must let us in so they can get back to rest and I’ll tell you all about it in the bar.”
Eirian can’t help but wonder if Valtos winks at the wolf.
“Sure, after we search your truck you may enter.”
“What? but we have an arrangement.” Valtos seem shocked but quickly hand Dilay another bag of coin.
“You picked a wrong day to enter the city Val” the wolf push Val hand away “there was a bombing tonight, a bird has been murder. Every single animal who enters the city must be search, no exception.” the wolf tone is serious and Valtos immediately knows he’s in trouble.
“I’ll come back later then” Valtos turns back but the city guard stops him. Three more guards come out from the gate and start searching the truck.
“Wait please, student, Eirian you must vouch for me” Valtos cried at the main six while he was hold in place, other guard hand is ready at the sword hilt.
Everyone looks at each other and Eirian can’t help but tap mundeus in his bag.
“Sir we found morphine in his vehicle.”
“That is a contraband drug Val... what else have you been smuggle into the city? Something that could build a bomb?”
“What? No, that absurd Dilay you know I’m not— ouch!”
“Unless you have a medical license which we both know you don’t so you’ll be spent time in the prison tonight. We’ll interrogate you tomorrow.” the guard handcuff Valtos and handed him to other wolf.
“No you’re making a mistake I’ll talk about our arrangement Dilay, Dilay!”
As Valtos being drag away Dilay walk to the main six “open all your backpack please.”
Everyone do as the wolf say and watch his reaction when he see six mundeus in a bag.
“Mundeus...a goat and student shouldn’t be able to acquire this.” Dilay look up at Eirian eyes “but it’s not a contraband. You may enter the city Miss Helen is waiting for you in front of the dorm.”
Everyone then picks their bag up and follows other city guard who guide them to their dorm where Miss Helen is waiting for them.
From the street Eirian can see a small winter storm circling two dorms building, in the sky are a dozen crow and raven scouts searching every corner of the city for possible suspects.
“You’re finally back. You all will report to me first thing tomorrow but head back to your room now.”
Everyone follows her instruction and goes back to their room.