“So, are we going to just go up to him and, ask him to help us?”

“Well, he and I have, a little bit of a history, although getting him to help us requires, something.”

Hey Clark, need to bounce, I’ll meet you later… and remember, just scream.

I said to my human host and dragged myself to the edge of the swords blade, as I detached a part of myself and splatted on the floor quietly. I then slugged my body through the small cracks to get outside, as I was outside, I then positioned myself to a nearby alleyway and formed a small arm which I used to grab a nearby trashcan which I went into.

Seriously, getting a body is hard enough as it is…

I thought while I rummaged through the trash, looking for pieces to build a stable body, as I managed to build a little skeleton, I climbed out of the trashcan and made a small flat and smooth surface which acted as a mirror and looked at my new form. I now looked like a humanoid wolf with the height of an infant, although not the face, while I sniffed around with my nose, I heard Clark again.

Hey Tom, quick question, if someone was to impress somebody with a skill although your said ability is very…… weak?

Be creative, use your limited, well limited right now, skill in a unique way, try to think out of the box… or just do your best.

Oh, alright, thanks, where are you?

Heh, don’t think about it.

I replied mentally as I started to form a couple of skin tissues and altered their pigments to a dark brown, while I turned the furs into white accents of clothing. With the addition of turning some of my cells which weren’t the lower arms and legs to scales which were similar to clothes. I looked back at myself with a third eye, I smirked as I grew little amount of white hair and formed a small skin cloak.

This is, fine, for now.

I thought as I inspected my arms and tuned my vision into wolf/dog sight, which did make me slightly colourblind, but anyways, I walked out to the streets while making sure my hood was covering my face. As I looked around for a specific landmark, I looked around to see a small kid getting stomped on by a huge bulky adult while laughing, which made my face darkened and gritted my teeth for a second. I then sighed as I looked around to see a few, unprideful things, I took a little breath and turned to a specific street diversion, which had a building at the dead end, I walked to it and smirked as I saw the day turning slightly evening, I knocked on it and waited, and sure enough, a person opened the door.

“Hello? Uhm little one, what are you doing here---”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“On a scale of one to ten, how drunk are you?”

“Wha---”

I struck the opposers neck and knocked them out, while the thud of a body was heard, I rushed into the building after I managed to silently altered the guards mind. I then walked into the establishment while crouching, as I sneaked into the room, as the vintage furniture seemed welcoming with a painting of some sorts hanged on the wall. I went to grab a little candle holder which’s light was out, with a little twist, it let out a clink and a little secret door opened.

Bingo.

I said as I entered the room which had a circling staircase going down, while I grabbed a hanging torch for a little light source, and after a little long, long, walk. I finally was greeted with a door that had an advanced lock for this age, although it was just an everyday ‘modern day’ lock, not as advanced as a ‘post modern day’ lock. I formed a two organic lock picks and kneeled at the lock in eye level, then I went to pick the lock and finally was cracked as I entered.

Welp, too easy.

I then opened the door as I saw a little, beast compartment I guess, multiple cages with raging chained monsters, which made lots of noises while I walked through them. I then saw a small switch and went to it although a little book was found laying around on the dirty and greasy floor. I then picked it up but the entrance door opened which I let a side glance at who had entered, I grabbed the book and faced the intruder, although they weren’t someone I had expected to be.

‘”What!? How!? Wait! You! Why is a child doing here!?”

Oh right, they can’t see my face…

Eh… Tom, I kinda need your help, well, just knowledge…

Heh, go ahead Clark.

I said as I saw the girl opposing me whose white hair slipped through her hooded cloak, I raised a hand to grab the lever while taking every notice of the girl’s feature, even if it included a certain area. As I formed sharp claws on my fingers, alongside with some sharper canines as I stepped back closer to the lever.

“Stay away from that lever kiddo, come on, don’t be afraid, are you lost?”

So, how to get as much, damage from a small ball of mana?

There’s an easy trick.

I just let out a grin as I used my feet to grab a nearby stool and positioned myself a little bit taller as my hand was about to flick the lever down. The girl seemed to realize what was going to happen and rushed with some weird energy forming behind her, although it was to no avail as I pulled the lever and somersaulted out of my position.

“YOU IDIOT BRAT!”

How again?

Basically the force generated by an object, it will be spread on the area which comes in contact with another area, so, if you minimize the area of the ball let say into a cone, it will deal more damage than just a ball.

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”

I said as I dug my claws into her back, with blood started to spew out, and silenced screams as I yanked her throat cords out, splats of blood began cover my face as I heard more roars charging at me who was holding her in a, threatening position, as I saw all of the blood thirsty beasts drooling and ready to pounce at the weak human. I smirked showing my sharp wolf teeth and raised a claw to her eye balls, alongside of spitting out a small, failsafe.

“Don’t cry, death isn’t permanent.”

I said as I heard a couple of water droplets hitting the floor, although it could have been something else. And if screams could be heard as a human female was getting mauled, eaten alive, with flesh splatting to the ground, alongside of me getting some extra bones, best to ignore it. After a little session of torture, I walked out of the room as I looked back to see a horrifying corpse getting devoured by a group of otherworldly monsters, and as I got out of the room and sneaked outside, I cleaned the excess blood from my face while licking a few parts of it.

Blood type O, not my favourite, I wonder what Clark is up to, well, better clean up this branch.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So… Perce, how exactly are we going to get that item?”

“Well, getting money first and then, buying the two pieces needed for crafting it.”

I heard Perce reply as I swung my sword at a pouncing little slime, while Perce was conjuring a fire pilar as he struck at a group of three sludges, evaporating them except for the centre part. I focused a mana blast on my finger and concussed two slimes and slashed their cores, while dodging a fireball, I stabbed the last remaining slime which was red and Perce sheathed his rapier.

“Good job, you seem to be stiff, and hesitated.”

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“Are you being a mentor?”

“No, just stating the obvious, pick up the cores.”

I nodded as I grabbed the jelly-like substances and put them in a basket while Perce scouted the area as he picked a few flowers, or plants. After I was finished, Perce looked back at me and smiled as he saw the contents of the basket. We two then were walking back to the town as he passed through a few plains of grass, alongside of a butterfly fluttering away.

“You know Clark, what you did back then was, impressive.”

“What? I mean, I just used basic mana, and… well, low tier spells.”

“Yes, but you used it in a unique way, turning the edge of a mana blast into a cone, delivering enough damage to penetrate a plank of wood.”

Well… Tom suggested the idea, he said it about being the main principle of under-basic plasma, whatever weapon…

And you are right! I’m touched seeing that you’d remembered it!

I almost jumped out of my skin as I heard Tom’s voice back in my head, luckily Perce was looking at the sky, probably deep in thought. I then looked around to make sure nobody else was around before going back to talk with Tom again.

Hi Tom, where are you?

I should be asking you, what shenanigans are you doing with Perce?

Eh, getting a few pieces for a trade.

Probably that so called mage?

As I confirmed the statement by replying again, me and Perce went to buy the two items, which were stationed in opposite parts of the town. we were walking down to another store which seemed to be a blacksmith, he walked to the door before he stopped and faced me.

“Wait for me here, and I’ll come back, just a quick grind.”

“O..kay.”

I just said as I watched Perce go inside, while I looked around the place, I felt a tug on my leg as I looked down. But nobody was there, just a small dagger, I picked it up and inspected it. Although while I was about to ask Tom about it, a small voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Hey, down here.”

“Huuuah!?”

I slightly exclaimed as I felt a little tug on my pants, I looked down to see a child, with weird and wild clothing, but his wolf-like face was probably the most disturbing thing of all. I took a step back and tried to put a smile on, although a shaky one right as the kid approached me. And alarms rang in my head even more as I saw the, sharp and unnatural claws on it’s left hand with, a hint of red?

“You know Clark, if you’re uncomfortable with something, better hide it.”

“Wait!? Tom?”

“In the flesh.”

My mouth was left agape as I saw the child wolf? Transformed back to the similar sludge I was more familiar with and left a pile of trash on the ground, while Tom went back into my swords blade. I turned around to try and look back at Tom, although right as I was circling around, Perce let out a sarcastic cough as he stood behind me.

“So, something crawled up your back?”

“Eh!? What!? No! I was just… checking the area.”

“Okay… whatever, let’s just go.”

I nodded and Perce sheathed his rapier and he walked away alongside of me trailing behind him, and Tom seemed to be finally settled back in my swords blade. We two finally had reached the magic store again after a couple of walks, and as Perce was entering the door, I looked back at the sky which the sun’s setting as the orange sky was visible.

“Clark, you going in?”

“Yeah, just a second.”

If you’re wondering about my new form, just forget about it, it took too much energy to withhold.

Energy?

I’m a living being Clark, I need food to survive, calories.

Where do you get the food from?

From you dummy, I already explained it the second day we met.

I just let an ‘oh’ as I recalled that day, I walked into the store as Tom muttered something else, and the sight that greeted me was Perce who had a scowl as he argued with the shopkeeper, or Lenard. I just silently walked in and closed the door as the two kept lashing back, Lenard with a smile and Perce with a scowl, I looked back at the display of mana crystals and the array of handheld artifacts while the two behind me kept arguing.

Man those two remind me of a couple of acquaintances.

Who? You keep on saying your old host and their friends…

*Sighs, just recalling old times.

I just mentally nodded as I grabbed a phoenix shaped pendant, while assessing it, a slam sound interrupted me and I looked back to see the door opened with Romaine there. She seemed out of breath as Perce went to check her up, while he was doing that, I felt a hand on my shoulder and I looked back to see Lenard there, with a floating crystal on his outstretched right palm.

“While my war buddy is busy taking care of his business, care for a free vision?”

“Uhh…”

“Think this as a gift, for my new friend.”

Does he normally call every one non-hostile to him a friend?

Tom said in my head as I saw Lenard smiling alongside with him forming a crystal ball on his right hand, I looked at it with curiosity as I nodded to Lenard’s previous question. He then chanted some spell and I could feel the mana pulsing around the ball as I took a step back.

“Alright, let me see---”

“Clark, I need to go, stay here.”

“Uh, yeah Perce, I don’t really have a choice?”

I said awkwardly as I looked between Lenard and Perce, Perce and Romaine then ran out of the door right as Lenard was finished chanting and the ball turned into dust which circled around me and him, which he then opened his eyes. I took a step back as Tom was surprisingly quiet, probably looking at Perce and Romaine.

“So, let us see, this spell works in a way which only I’ll be able to see the result, but I can’t lie about what I say to you, ready?”

“Yes.”

I nodded and Lenard took a small inhale and then chanted a second spell, while I looked around as the surroundings began to be covered by the crystal particles and changed into a circling storm as I and Lenard was standing in the eye, I saw the hurricane around us transformed into a couple of fog made silhouettes as they seemed to be portraying multiple scenes, I saw Lenard frown for a split second before the spell seemed to be finished and the crystal particles calmed down.

“Okay…… I, finished.”

“That spell, WAS AWESOME!”

I exclaimed as I saw Lenard recovering from a seemingly huge mana usage, he smiled and formed the crystal ball again in his palms. I looked curiously at the ball as it’s insides displayed a vortex, Lenard sighed and went back behind the counter.

“Alright, ask away.”

“Uhm, can’t you just tell me?”

“I can’t, that’s just how the magic works.”

I stammered as I tried to think of a question to ask, as I sheepishly asked for a quill and paper which Lenard gave to me, I wrote down a few questions before giving it back to Lenard who read them. I saw that as Lenard was writing back the answers, his hand was concealed in mana, as he was finished, Lenard shook his hand while I looked at the piece of paper I was given from Lenard.

“Why don’t you read it? To make sure it’s correct.”

“Uh Okay, what will happen to me in the future?: You’ll face a lot of hardships, but the end lays an unimaginable reward. Will I be a royal guard?: No, your dreams will be attained, although not in they way you expect. And will I be able to surpass my sister?: Yes, but no if you won’t grow up.”

“Yes, that’s it.”

“Uh, is this set on stone?”

“Not really, some may change, but only if you know certain things in too much detail, or a slim chance.”

I nodded and folded the paper alongside of me putting it back in my pocket, and I looked around before finding that Lenard had went back to polish a few pendants as he let a few mana flow into the phoenix pendant. I looked around while Tom seemed to be back to chatting again in my head.

You really believe some weird prediction?

Well… it is magic?

And has magic ever been always right?

If it’s done correctly…

That’s a big if.

Tom and I conversed in my head as I waited for Perce to come back, although as I looked out, I could see that it was already mid-way to evening, with the sun still above the horizon but has set down slightly. I heard a slight growl in my stomach which Lenard has seemingly heard and let out a chuckle.

“Looks like someone is feeling starved.”

“Uh… yeah, I’ll go get something to eat.”

“But don’t wander around too long, Perce isn’t one to take lateness easily.”

“You and Perce seemed to be close friends…”

I said to Lenard, who instantly wiped his easy-going smile into a deep thoughted frown, which made me a little bit nervous inside. I stammered as I could feel Tom slightly pushing me, or pulling me? To the door, and I was about to leave before stopping myself to look back at Lenard.

“Eh, I, sorry if I overstepped… I’ll come back later…”

I said as I heard a little sigh from the inside of the store as I skedaddled out the store and into the market district again, as I was trying to find something to snack on, Tom was back in my head again.

You know, sometimes it’s better to shut your mouth and ask things only during specific times.

Yes, I know……

*Sighs, well, what are you waiting for? Let’s get some local delicacies!

Tom said cheerfully in my head as we approached a food stand and ordered two servings, as I and Tom were sitting by the middle fountain, watching as I inspected my swords blade again. I snuck one serving in my bag as I could hear Tom munching in my head, while I ran my mana through the sword’s blade rivers.

Hey Tom, what chances do you say I have in beating one of the cult members by myself?

0%, you are far from being close, not with any external help… well, for pity I’ll give you a 10%, if with your sword, Perce, and your training.

And with you?

You don’t need to know Clark, and it’s better if you didn’t know.

I just sighed as I continued to feel the mana flows as practice, as I finished my snack as I could feel Tom shifting back into the cracks, which gave me a weird sense of tingle. I then stood up and was about to go back to the magic store, but as I was walking towards it, I yawned and strolled back to Lenard’s as I ate the last bit of food.

That was good, what was that?

The food? It was meat and spices, wrapped in bread.

So basically it’s a burrito, what meat?

Eh, goblin I think, why you ask?

It was too, strechy, muscle filled.

Well, it is the cheapest in the market.

I replied in my head as I shuddered, remembering the old days when my sister and I would prank each other by serving each other, and usually ends in her favour. Although after the end, we would go for bonding time, as I finally had seen the magic store back in sight, Tom interrupted my thoughts.

Clark, do you see that girl? Or are my senses deceiving me?

Huh? Oh, yeah she’s there, why?

Tom shrugged it off about his comment on the girl I had suspicions on before, but I knew something was up, as I took note of her mana status, I stopped staring at her and entered. And this time, I saw Lenard getting ready as well as Perce alongside of Perce and Romain, Perce sensed my presence and approached me.

“Ready up Clark, we got a location.”

“Uh, now?”

“Yes, against a higher up cult member.”

“Who?”

I asked as Perce and Romaine walked out the store with Lenard in tow as I followed at the behind. While Perce had stayed silent for a few minutes, he replied again as us four had reached a small alleyway and faced me.

“Based on the notes, we’re against a girl code named, Mitosis.”