+++ ???’s Perspective +++

Jaggeroth was a crude talker, a terrible gambler, and a heavy drinker. However, in a profession where death was your neighbor, he managed to claw his way up the ranks into being respected enough to be trusted with a convoy captain job for the guild.

While some of it was owed to his beastman physique, a large part was due to him being cautious and wary of danger.

He always hired just a little more muscle than necessary, packed a little more supplies than needed, gave himself a little more breathing room in case of an emergency. His margins were thinner, but the quality of work he provided matched his prices.

However, no amount of caution can prepare a sitting caravan for a monster wave; they were lucky that the evacuation protocol even worked. But despite the obvious retreat path he could not fathom why the convoy leader wished to risk so many lives to save a single carriage. He would have ignored his orders if the silver knights didn’t point a sword at his throat and a threat at his livelihood.

“Ha...” He sighed at the sorry sight, a dozen or so casualties and more than half wounded. Not to mention when the iron carriage was finally saved, his nose could tell that there had been a blood bath within. “It’ll be a miracle if anyone survived in there, mage or no mage.” He muttered.

“Jaggeroth! Is there anyone capable of the mana transfer spell on your side?” The black knight approached him with a simple question that had an obvious answer.

“Not many casters amongst the mercs my friend. Even if there were, mana transfer is a second class spell, not to mention uncommonly learned. And even if there were someone who knew the spell, they woulda used up all their mana in that last fight.” He rambled on about the unlikeliness of what Hirlicind was asking for, “And suppose in the most outlandish of scenarios, there was someone both knew the spell and hadn’t used up all their mana. Even then the mana transfer spell is so inefficient that you’d have to have an ungodly mana pool for it to even work. You’d better luck bringing her to a hospital in Halyis.”

Though his suggestion was also wistful thinking, anyone could tell she wouldn’t last that long.

“Can’t the priestess heal her?” Jaggeroth asked inquisitively.

No response.

“Do you not have the potions?”

“We have the potions.” The black knight spoke matter of factly and turned away. “But this isn’t an issue about external wounds.”

“Not an issue? Just look at the poor lady!” Jaggeroth was baffled as to why hadn’t they been administering proper aid to her.

However, the black knight paid him no heed, “I ask once more! Is there any mage with remaining mana amongst the combatants!?”

Hicilidn sheathed his longsword and sat, awaiting an answer desperately. His mind raced to think of countermeasures, in the event that no one could be found.

If the seal could not be maintained they would have to cut their losses. It was an absolute tragedy to lose such a valuable specimen, but it could not be helped. They would need to evacuate as fast as they could, the leftover adventurers and guards could cover their retreat with their lives. Should they force some drastic measures onto Helena to delay the release? Though it was likely not worth the risk, in fact, it may even break the seal sooner.

“Director,” A knight in silver reported back to him, “There has been a volunteer.”

Hirlicind shot up, “Where? Lead me to them.”

His subordinate led him to a rather peculiar scene. Two children, who looked no older than eight, guarded by the green garbed rogue that assisted them towards the end of the battle. The rogue had been a marvelous fighter, if she had energy left to cast a single instance of mana transfer Helena would surely be saved.

“I had no idea you were a gifted mage as well as an adept adventurer,” Hirlicind praised her combat prowess, “We require you to cast the mana transfer spell on our fallen comrade.” He pointed towards where their priestess was kneeling.

“Stay away.” The blonde haired woman put her hand over the boy, she exuded an aura of hostility. “From my boy.”

“Sir, the woman isn’t the one volunteering, it's the child.” His lieutenant informed him.

“The child?” Hilricind whispered back.

“Yes, the one blonde haired one, with the backpack.”

Hilicind thoughts turned towards doubt. Even if the child was a gifted mage, there was no way his mana reserves would be enough to stabilize the seal.

But when the alternative is abandoning the project, he’ll take any chance he can get.

“Right, hello there young one.” The black knight kneeled to look eye to eye with the boy, “If you are capable of spellcraft, we would require your assistance.”

The boy nodded, unphased by his ominous helmet, his maturity shocked the black knight.

“No!” However, the mother seemed to take issue with the situation, “Alfy you can’t!”

“Mom, I have to.”

“Now now, if he’s able to cast the spell I don’t see why he-” As Hirlicind reached his gauntlet out for the boy a directed, ominous stream of bloodlust made him pull back quickly.

‘Was that... the mother?’ He thought. But as his eyes darted towards her it seemed like she wasn’t paying attention to him at all, instead having an argument with the young boy.

“It’s too dangerous.” The mother attempted to persuade the boy, but the resolve in his eyes held firm.

“Sir, the monsters have begun gathering.” Another silver knight relayed the situation, “The central swarm might arrive soon... and the vessel is...” He would have to put off finding the source for now, they didn’t have much time.

“Hirlicind.” Jaggeroth stormed up to him, furious at the delays, “We have to leave now! Or we’re all going to die.”

The situation was getting dire. The convoy didn’t have much time left, they should cut their losses. Hirlicind knew this, but as he was about to make the order, a pair of hands grabbed his armor.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Wait... let me try.” It appears the boy had somehow convinced his mother. But judging by how the emerald-eyed woman stood silently with her fists clenched, it wasn’t done peacefully.

“Look kid, I don’t know where you learned your magic, but this is beyond you okay?” Jaggeroth was doing his utmost to hurry their retreat, the monsters had started gathering on the edges and some of the remaining adventurers had already engaged in combat. “Kids should sta-”

Two rods of ice manifested from the boy’s heavily scarred right arm before flinging themselves at the feet of the beastman. Those onlooking the discussion all stopped in silence, mouths agape.

Compound elements like ice magic were at least third rank.

“I can do it.” The boy’s words carried a weight beyond his years. Enough weight to persuade Hirlicind to nod his head.

“Make it fast.”

+++ Alfon’s Perspective +++

I’ll have to apologize to my mother later. Holding myself hostage was extraordinarily cruel, but I had no other choice.

For now though, I needed to focus on the spell.

I wish these people wouldn’t gather around me like this while I was laying my hands over Helena, it made me a bit more anxious than usual. Though I suppose they were monitoring me to see if I did anything wrong.

Second rank spell: mana transfer. It was the lower class version of the Lord ranked spell mana injection, whose purpose was to move life energy from the caster onto the target. The spell was rather uncommon given that it was not only extremely inefficient but also less effective and more demanding than its clerical counterpart ‘sustain life’. The key difference Rafine had taught me about, however, is that the spell ‘sustain life’ circulates mana throughout, repairing bodily irregularities pertaining to its mana flow whilst ‘mana transfer’ instead brute force transfers mana straight into the body as per its namesake.

Thankfully she taught me the chant when I asked. Though casting a spell from a single reciting of its chant was like recreating a painting after looking at it once.

I had no idea why Helena even needed a mana transfer instead of whatever the priestess was doing but...

“Mana transfer.”

Judging from the glow on the staff one of the knights gave me, the spell was activated successfully. I just have to maintain it now. I had tested it before when fighting the Wolvenhils, but my right arm was really much better at using mana than my left, a shame it was scarred so heavily though.

I heard gasps around me as I concentrated on my magic.

“Dam... a kid that young? And I thought I had seen everything already.” I heard the voice of the beastman fighter I had seen earlier. I didn’t recognize him at first with his animal ears but now that I think about it he was the guy always calling Prisilla to gamble wasn’t he? It was no wonder they got along so well, both being beastman and all.

“That’s good! Her heart rhythm has evened out!” The priestess next to me began to cast her own incantation, “You can stop the spell now.”

Ah, that was good, my light headedness had turned into heavy nausea a while back. It was taking a lot not to throw up my innards right this moment.

Looks like I made it in time. I can puke during the ride home, I just need to stop the spell now....

Stop the spell now...

Stop... the spell...

I...

...

‘... give..’

...

I can’t stop it.

In fact, my mana was draining faster.

Crack.

I heard a small noise coming from Helena’s wrist.

“Boy.” A sharp threatening voice was directed in my direction, the black knight, who had previously been looking at me was now staring directly at the iron carriage. “Didn’t you hear her? Stop the spell.”

Okay let’s try again...

....

What’s going on?

...

‘... it...’

It’s not stopping.

Thud.

A loud crash came from the direction of the pseudo train trailer.

Thud.

Crack.

“BOY I SAID STOP THE SPELL!” Hirlicind urgently yelled.

“I...I can’t.” Tears had started welling up in my eyes from the pain of the spell and the pressure of his words. My magic simply wasn’t listening to me.

‘...back...’

...

The helmet of the black knight darted between me and the iron carriage, which had started glowing an ominous black, until he made a snap decision and unsheathed his sword.

“Stop the spell now. I won’t ask again.” He repeated solemnly.

“What are you doing?” The priestess looked up from her treatment, and seeing the uneasiness in the air, she put her body between Hirlicind and me. “Are you drawing your blade against a child?”

I shook my head in despair, trying desperately to wrestle control of my body back. “I-I’m trying.”

“Tch.” I heard his gauntlets clench as the pitch black longsword was brought down upon me and the priestess, fully intent on killing us both.

Clang.

But the pain never came, instead it was blocked by my mother’s twin daggers. Seeing that emerald cloak billowing before me really did wonders to calm me down.

Enough for me to regain control.

Tzzz.

There was a backlash of magic as I forcefully canceled the spell, and the staff I was holding began to blacken from the rebound.

“Ha... Ha.. I-Its stopped. I stopped it.” I breathed a sigh of relief as I pulled my body away. Judging by the color of Helena’s cheeks and her rapidly closing wounds, it seems we’re in the clear here.

Though, the words of the black knight disagreed.

“It’s too late. Lieutenant, initiate the immediate withdrawal.” He spoke quickly, picking up a cracked bracelet from Helena’s wrist, before he and his subordinate raced off towards the direction of the main road.

“What the? Oi where are you going?” The convoy captain looked confused as the remaining silver knights followed suit, “You’re leaving us behind?”

THUND.

A rupture sounded from the iron carriage once more, this one louder than the last.

No way.

As the pieces clicked together in my head I realized it... too late.

They were keeping it inside the carriage.

“Get down!” The priestess yelled out the command before slamming her staff against the ground. A golden bubble surrounded us before...

ARRWWOOOOOO.

A hellish wave of mana swept over me.

No, this wasn’t mana.

It was something else, something more primal, something with deeper, darker roots.

The ancient energy invaded my body despite the translucent barrier.

“Ha..ha..ha..ha..” I held my ears and started hyperventilating.

It disturbed the core of my being, it felt so wrong.

“Ergh...” Mother let out a soft cry as she fell to the ground beside me, yet despite the obvious pain she was in I felt her arms wrap around me. “It's going to be okay Alfy. Mother will protect you.”

No...

Wait...

I didn’t want this to happen.

“AARRHHRHRHHHAGAHHHHHG” I heard an ear-curdling wail, an unearthly screech of despair. However, it was not from the carriage this time, but rather from beside me.

I managed to turn my head sideways towards the direction of the voice that seemed too familiar to me to be true.

Nina had collapsed, writhing in horrific pain, blood spilling from her every orifice.

“RRRAGHHAAAAA”

The sound of her agonizing screams echoed through the air as she looked like she was being torn apart from the inside out.

click.

Click.

CLICK.

CLICK CLICK CLICK.

CLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICKCLICK.

Her body twitched and spasmed; pale, bloody, flesh-made raptorial limbs the size of large tree branches erupted from her back and began convulsing and contorting unnaturally as if they were being wrung around by a cruel puppeteer. Her horns grew rapidly and began branching and twisting in different directions.

I watched the transformation in horror.

When her sickly, crab-like, appendages stabbed the forest floor, the sheer force of the impact made deep gaping holes into the earth like an iron rod being plunged into wet concrete. A wild swipe from one of the angular white limbs struck a fir tree and completely obliterated its trunk, sending wooden splinters flying everywhere; if anyone got near her right now they'd be ripped to pieces. She was destroying everything around her as her body unraveled itself.

It wasn’t just her screaming in pain either: most of the other combatants were kneeling with their heads down, some of them lying flat, unconscious, and just foaming at the mouth. The wave of tenebrous energy had affected everyone on site differently, and it was terrifying to watch.

An ominous presence tore my gaze away from the dreadful sight of my friend. A harrowing, shadowy beast had emerged from the iron carriage.

A singular, bloodshot eyeball of dark amber gazed upon us.

The screams of Nina and the others fell away as silence enveloped the battlefield; death was staring us in the eye, and it wasn't happy.

I had wondered if the tales I've been told were an exaggeration, if a singular creature could truly have a nation on guard. However, at that moment I understood, that far from an exaggeration, the stories were likely even understatements. I sat, unmoving, hoping it was all a nightmare.

“N-No... The reports said it was dead...”, though the terror filled whispers of Jaggeroth ascertained my dread, “The Fenrir class demon. Nyxarus, the Slaughter Hound.”