100 favorites and over 3k views daily… I am happy. It s good to have your author happy. Keep having me happy and you will be beneficial. That’s all… or wait, not all at all… why I have so few weapons to chose? Honestly, I thought that the list would be like 2 pages long… and we have swords (and variants), spear(variants like staffs,  halberds n glaives) scythes (cuz why not… maybe treat it like yet other spear category?...) daggers, axes, guns (NOPE. Medieval things… like deep shit medieval… dark ages and stuff)… knuckledusters and gauntlets… well no idea why… we have claws and stuff buutt… maybe while “undercover”… well… if there would be something more on your mind… under chap 58.

Edited by: KenChi死

So… You may think that girl that a girl that doesn’t speak a lot would be cute. Well… in some time, perhaps yes. But as I wanted a few answers, mostly about where are we going too (I know that “to capital” but where is this shit!?), how long would it take, and asking not directly of course about map itself, other cities and villages, what kind of people are within the council or which gestures are polite or rude (to not make any faux pas)… nothing… ALSMOT nothing. It took me over 3 hours to get her saying that normally getting to capital by foot would take 5-6 weeks or about 3 while riding in carriage. And then she told me that we are not going there. Not directly.

SO WHY THE FUCK DIDN’T YOU TELL ME THAT AT THE VERY BEGINNING?! After 3 more hours… that we are getting to the small wizards outpost, where we will use teleportation to get there much faster. And we will be there in less than a weak.

I tried talking a little bit, I really did!!! I mentioned that having a teleportation devices are pretty useful and having them to travel must be extremely convenient.

She looked at me like I was an idiot… and then I was informed that activation is extremely consuming a lot of mana, and the process itself is complicated… so teleportation is used for emergencies… even those outposts are only guards and teleportation device crew. And the very teleportation altars are something from ancient times.

Haa… so in the end I am an emergency.

You have left [uninhabited] areas and entered [outskirts] areaYour skill [Predatory] will be weakenBenefits from [Predatory] will be nullified in [Resident] areas

Can this day become any worse? On the horizon the black clouds appeared and thunder could be heard from the distance.

I needed to ask… did I?

POC change.

* “We were given information, that thebso called Devourer is willing to attend in the gathering… what do you think about it, Daralon?”

The Curse speaker once again tossed an apple in the air and once again caught it. As he was thinking about something really carefully, that actually happened rarely, he liked to play with whatever would be in range of his hands. For today it was an apple.

* “The actions rarely speaks about the intention of the one who performs it. What should you asked is “what does he want to achieve by coming here”” he started walking over the room “You see… why he decided to come here is actually important… for example, if he came here just because he was curious… he is an idiot… if he came cuz he missed his teacher… he is a naïve idiot… but if he has something prepared to do… if he wants to achieve something… then… I think I could be good friends with him, you know? In the end I hate naive idiots”

He put an apple aside a turned his back to his superior.

* “And I also know already what you wanted me to ask… for real. By checking my … emotions toward some I am interested with you wanted to know… if I would be ready to kill him.” He once again turned now he faced his interlocutor. “And my answer is: I will do everything needed to make his psychological portrait for your reports, then in case if he would be interesting I would try to recruit him. And if he won’t be interesting and would cause problems, then yes. I would “protect” the peace of the gathering by all costs needed”.

* “And if he would be interesting and cause problems?”

The “evil mage” showed a bright, innocence smile on his face.

* “Then you better not let me know, cuz who know? I am thirsty for a companion, and some action.”

The archmage shivered, yet said nothing.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

POC change. A few days later.

Four days. Four days traveling with “someone”… and for duration of those four days speaking like…40 sentences? Good morning – morning – are you hungry – yes – here you are –thanks … all we said during the morning…

AND IT IS OVER! It is finally over! The outpost appeared in our view as we came out from the small valley. The outpost was actually the fortified ruins of an old castle.  And for everything I treasure, they seem to not know the meaning of “excessive”… especially if you would have on mind the amount of guards. Patrol over patrol. Guardian tower almost lying on each another. We haven’t yet entered but I already counted over 30 guards… half of them wearing magician roboes.

* “Hello miss Miria!” The guards said in a happy manner “We were informed that you would come, is that the “package” we were told you will carry?” he pointed at me, even if he was obviously joking I couldn’t help the low growl that escaped my throat. “Whao! Easy there bad boy! I am just kidding! Chill out a bit!”

* “Pardon my bad manners, I am not used with anyone joking about me… even more, please restrain yourself from addressing me as some kind of object. I may be a bit oversensitive in that manner…”

* “WHAO! It talks! MWAHAHA! Sorry lad, I simply can’t let a good joke if go I see one…”

* “It is understandable… I also had one event not so long ago that made me giggle for whole day.”

* “Is that so? Go on! Tell me”

* “I was being hunted not so long time ago, and after I cut one of my would-be assassins head, and took it with myself as souvenir. But as some time has passed my hand became tired so I decided to throw that head away. And I have thrown it high in the sky, but as I heard it hit something, I went to check it, and… haha, you won’t believe it, but it hit another assassin in the head, he was sitting on the branches pretty high, fell down and broke his neck. What are the odds? One to million! Or even less! Ha… from this time I began to collect their necklaces as souvenirs and head throwing left and right… That’s my kind of humor…”

* “Would be pretty funny, but you dear sir, are bluff…” he shut his mouth as I pulled a few amulets of witch hunters. Jokes on you, silly mage. “your papers are all right miss, have a safe dive.”

As we went a few steps, my guide said quietly.

* “You. Creepy.”

* “I made the whole story up. Somehow he annoyed me.”

* “He is nice. You – meanie.”

It wasn’t the last control. As we get to the castle itself, we were redirected to the small room built from strange stone… and we were guided there under the care of a small army. Those teleports are really a national treasure, are they?

* “They all are clear. No nullification artifact in their possession.” A voice from somewhere said, sounding a bit like it was through a megaphone .

* “After me, please.” Yet another control, yet another room till we get to the very basement. And I was speechless. The altar was… big… it was a platform that could hold a few dozens of people. Surrounded by columns, few rocks casually flowing around and few lesser platform where magicians were standing in front of small blue crystals.

* “Go on, go on! We don’t have whole day. Warming this shit up was already tiresome!” Someone very old, very grumpy, and apparently being the boss of the place started lamenting. “Oy. Lad. It’s yar first time using teleportation?”

Better watch my mouth and be nice… or I may land in the door… literally.

* “That’s right, sir.”

* “Ya wanna long instruction or quick one?” his attitude showed which one HE prefered.

* “Short one, please. Just to keep me alive.”

* “Good.” I think I don’t have to point out he was happy after my suggestion? Or at least less grumpy. “It will be unpleasant, all is set so don’t worry, try not to puke, for no one knows on which side it will actually land. And if you would see something… or something would say something to you… pray to almighty, and ignore. NEVER. EVER. Show that you have noticed anything… it is rare…but just in case… Go with the flow, do not oppose it and maybe you will not land at the bottom of the ocean. Yar ready?”

A..actually…

* “Perfect. Start that shit already!”He went to the middle platform, raised his hands, so did the rest of the magician, and soon I felt something sucking me in.

Ya watched Star Trek? Of course you did, you bunch of nerds. Ya remember when the ship hit warp speed? Same thing happened to me, but I was not the ship. I felt like my whole body was twisted and squeezed to be pushed through a really small hole… likely a keyhole. And in this cacophony of sounds, kaleidoscope of colors… there were shapes. Probably those I was told to ignore. So I did as I was asked. There were many tunnels” I could travel with, yet the main force was pushing me almost not allowing me to pick anything else… why should I pick those anyway?

And I was spit at high speed through something I believed was the other end of the portal. I flew a small distance and instinctively landed on my fist and knee. I also saw the little magician was gathering from the floor massaging her head.

* “Whoa! Look at him! Perfect landing and can keep standing after his first dive! That’s a piece of tough bastard!”

The door opened and a few other magician stepped into the room. Welcoming committee?

* “Ah! Mister Zariel! We are really honored that you decided to visit us in our humble facility! Can I please know how was your trip? Mister Za…”

I only raised my hand asking him to give me a second… My head was dizzy, my eyes and ears hurt like a bitch, and I really, REALLY wanted to let my breakfast out of my stomach.

I wanted to heal myself, yet decided against it. First- no one knows (or at least I don’t) how this whole structure would react if someone would start messing with magic nearby, and why should I show him what I can do? There is no need for him to know more than we want him to know. A minute has passed before I was able to greet him properly.

* “I am ashamed that you were forced to see me in such… an unprepared state, Chairman.”

* “Ho? You knew it’s me? Really good instinct… or maybe our little genius described what I look like?”

Neither. I appraised you. But saying that “I am in possession of a skill that literally is showing me who is the one I am looking at as long as he is not 10-15 levels stronger than me”… could be wrongly understood, or even worse, could generate a need to use such a skill for the private purpose of Mr. Chairman.

* “I am good at guessing.”

* “Indeed you are.”There was a bright, cheerful smile on his face so either, he was the type of gentle reassuring grandpa… or was great at lying. Pardon me, and my distrust… but as he is a politician, for now I will go on with the second option. “The gathering will start tomorrow, for today we wish you to rest a little, strengthen yourself up after a journey with some food. We will also inform Miss Hanna about your arrival, she probably would like to see you… Tell me please… would you like to rest now… or to explore the building of the council?”

I used to hunt whole day while being covered in mud and blood… it is still early, I am not that tired nor sweaty… why not?

* “I feel like I could make one more dive or two… so I will humbly go with your offer to move my bones a bit.”

* “Splendidly! It is good to see youth so eager to explore and study! This gentlemen here, will be your guide. His name is Daralon.”

* “Nice to meet ya! Hope to have looooots of fun together.”

So they picked some elite killer to keep an eye on me… so I will have to be very nice and polite all around. How did I know he is strong? I appraised him of course. And he was at a completely other level than those I have met so far. You could probably tell that notification said that this target is impossible to be appraised… but I could appraise him. He twitched a little bit as I did so… so he already he showed that he noticed. The other thing - he could interfere with my powers, or simply could lesser his own powers, for notification said:

Daralon [Human]level: [-20]title: [No one special]  [Do not mind me]Hp: [1/1]Someone who deserve absolutely 0 attention. Go back to your business.

Seriously. Leave. Him. Alone

* “I hope to enjoy your companion too” I said with a small smile while shaking his hand. “I know it may sounds strange, or even creepy, but I have to say you smell wonderfully and we will get along.”

I didn’t lied. I could recognize this smell and taste under every circumstances. The more I could tell was that the smell was so strong that it broke through the smell of soap. He needed to bath in it for decades to replace his normal body odor with this smell.

With the smell of blood.