We set off on a jagged and snowy road, heading to the city of Pike. Though we still weren't far away from the village, Norman suggested that we should stop and rest.

"Can we not do this tomorrow?" He groaned.

I didn't blame him. He was exhausted. Ever since we met, we've had no time to rest. But then I felt it. How could I not? A feeling that rattled my bones. It creeped throughout the entirety of my body. It felt as if something wicked was about to come. Is this what they call fear? I don't know. Whatever it was... it was not a good omen.

"Norman, I'm sorry but... we can't do that just yet." I said.

"Why not?" He asked. His voice was monotonous and tired. It felt like a statement rather than a question.

I sighed. "Look. Just keep Walking. Ok?"

He obeyed me. However, it didn't stop him from sticking his tongue out at me while I turned away.

"Childish," I thought.

We kept walking, but my anxiety didn't go away. The mana around me was slowly drifting away. As if... as if something was taking it. Slowly consuming it as time went on. I casted a utility spell, traditionally used to keep aromas stable and in place. But I choose this spell as one of the side effects was that it kept mana from drifting away.

But as far as Norman was concerned. Bright yellow sparks came out of my hands and enveloped us in a warm light. It was gentle and soft. Like fireflies buzzing around a cool summer night.

"AMAZING!" he yelled, his eyes shining brightly like a child's.

Suddenly my spell cracked. Is not that it wasn't working. Rather, my spell just wasn't enough. Whatever entity had manifested itself, it was desperately hungry for mana. Although I couldn't pinpoint the exact direction, I could tell that the entity was closer to the village than to us. The village was doomed. Nothing we could do about it. But at least we had time. I was lucky to not have torched down the village. Its juicy concentration of mana was the perfect bait.

I chuckled as I quickly ordered Norman to walk faster.

"Why the sudden hurry?" He asked with a puzzled expression.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." I said with a frown.

It was at that moment that the sky lit up in a deadly red. Norman definitely noticed it. It was hard not to. The mana discharge was so unstable. So ugly. It threw the winter sky into chaos, making it hard to tell if it was day or night. A deep and riveting storm could be heard. It slowly got louder and louder, turning into a screech that could have shattered my ear drums if I were any closer. The creature had made its move.

I kept walking. I was alone, however. I looked back. What I saw didn't surprise me. Norman was standing there. Still. He was looking back at the village. He was wide-eyed and scared. He started to shake. I could understand why. The village... was burning.

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"We need to go back and help the village," he said. Even if he shook in fear, he walked back. Towards his death.

I swung forward to catch him. Clenching my hand around his wrist. I pulled him back with force.

"Stop it!" I shouted. I wasn't willing to compromise.

"B-but.. the village!" He stuttered.

I started dragging him, holding his wrist firmly. I wouldn't let go. No matter what. I held onto him tightly. Like a father holding the hand of a child in a crowd.

"Stop- Macer- we have to go back a- and- help the people!!!"

Enough of this.

"I have a plan to save the village." I said. As a wave of hope came over Norman, he smiled. A sheepish smile. "What's the plan??" He asked.

"Count to three Norman," I gently whispered, "When you open your eyes, you'll see my plan." He started counting, trusting me.

THUD. Something hit the ground hard. But Norman kept counting.

"One, two, three!" He finally yelled.

When he opened his eyes, he saw my equipment on the floor and the foot steps that I made as I fled.

"If that thing catches up to you, you'll die again!" I screamed while sprinting away.

"MACEER Wha'do youuuu meeean I'll die again!?" He said. Dropping all of his equipment and running towards me.

"SHUT UP and KEEP running!" I shouted back. We had no time to waste.

It wasn't hard to follow me, he just had to follow the footsteps on the snow. Norman was able to catch up to me once I got to the river marking the end of the count's domain. We were breathing heavily. Upon looking for the bridge to cross the river, we were met by a girl. She was fully clad in armor. Standing in the middle of the bridge, she blocked our way. I thought about evading her by freezing the river, but I couldn't risk using my mana. Who knows what would happen if that beast suddenly noticed us. I had to think of something else.

"You two smell like Villains." She said, with her hands firmly clenching to her sheathed sword.

Norman like the fool he was, raised his left arm and started sniffing himself. "But I took a shower two days ago." He said, unaware that he smells like a hollow. The small price to pay for multiple resurrections.

The girl had yet to unshed her sword, but she made exaggerated facial gestures. Was the smell that bad? or was she hesitating? Maybe she meant to intimidate us, but failed.

Besides spell casters, the only other people capable of smelling those who are hollow are Hero ranked adversaries. This was not good.

"Look sweetheart, we don't have all day." I said. "Either move or unsheathe that little needle of yours."

"S-shut up," she stuttered. Casually unsheathing the legendary sword 'Catharsis'.

Just like that, as Catharsis was unsheathed. All the particles in the air accelerated and turned into mana. This process systematically released billions of mana particles into the air.

I sighed. Knowing fully well that she just ruined my day.

I took a single step forward and then half a step back. Positioning my left foot out of her sight. Then blew up on her "Do you not have any honor? you pull a sword like that and you don't introduce yourself yourself?"

I kept roasting her and as her smile evaporated, my hand gestures got more exaggerated. "That, sword of yours might be fancy, but you are still a child."

Like many other young fellows her age, she was not ready to contend against me. She was nothing but a young puppy against an old, clever fox. By the time I was done with my tirade, I had secretly drew 3 sigils on the snow with my left foot.

"Very well, Old man" She said, while politely nodding for a few seconds. "I am The Sword Saint, Cecilia." She said. "I know you are full of shit. Don't you dare make a fool out of me. I saw those sigils you so carefully drew."

I was absolutely embarrassed. I don't even know if I could take a direct hit by Catharsis in my current state.

"Fuck" I said. It was louder than I expected. "Bring it on sweetheart."

I threw the first blast.