After four days of constantly bringing my soul to the limit with magic scroll crafting, I feel that I am very close to breaking through not the 3 stage of the soul. I just need a little push.

So my plan for the next 3-4 days are making enough scrolls for thee mission, preparing scrolls and gadgets for a mission and engrave the new spell into my soul. 

The spell is called ‚soul shock‘. A soul type spell with a range up to 15-20 meters. The damage it does is nothing major, but on hit, it confuses the soul, thus making the enemy a lot easier to kill.

++++++++++++++

Three days later.

In front of me are my prepared supplies. A big leather bag, 7 grenades, a big stack of magic scrolls of different spells, 3 throwing dagger and some food rations. In case of any accidents, I also packed two vials of magical infusible ink, enough for 15-20 scrolls and 20 unused goatscrolls.

I hang three of the grenades on my belt, stuff as much magic scrolls as possible into my robe, and put the rest into the bag. On the way, I also brought two robes, in case I destroy the one I am wearing.

My destination is a place called Black beetle forest. My mission is to bring back 2 string bugs alive. Those bugs are the reason that the black beetle forest is named like that. They look like oversized black beetle, they have the size of a child’s fist. Are very dangerous, that’s one of the reasons I choose this place. Few are willing to go there, because as an apprentice, not a lot have means of protecting their souls. Another is the dark environment of the forest itself, very suitable to sneak around and/or getting sneak attacked. Leaving the tower, I board a carriage towards black village, the village closest to black beetle forest.

+++++++++++++

I day later I find myself at the entrance of the forest. While travelling, I also noticed three pursuers. They didn’t dare to make a move outside of the forest, in fear of getting tracked and punished. This also made me realize how lucky I was when dealing with that apprentice in the restaurant he sneaked out without anyone knowing, thus the only thing I had to do is to make my new underling dispose of his body.

Such instances happen, and in a big city, it is hard to catch the culprit. That is, as long they don’t make a commotion.

The instant I enter the forest, I cast ‚shadow of concealment‘ on myself. The advantage of doing so, I that I can keep the spell going, as long as I use some mana and a little bit of my concentration. Getting hit by something would dispel it.

Then I made my way slowly into the forest. I don’t know whether my pursuers are tracking me, but I have to make sure, that they find me. For now, I am safe, they still need time to track me.

So I make my way deeper into the forest.

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The forest itself is in very bright, there are also a lot of spots with shades. I make sure not to expose myself in bright spots and continue my way deeper into the forest.

The forest gives me a strange feeling, I don’t know why, but I feel a bit restless. The number of animals I have seen so far has not been a cause for concern, so I am still in the dark. Most animals were some variation of wild pigs and deer. The main difference was their ability to sense and predict danger. Even in my concealed state, they would immediately run away if I get closer than 50-60 meters. 

Continuing my way in the forest, I abruptly feel my head explode.

Instinctively, I roll to the side, to find wolf-like monster on my spot. Having luckily escaped, I throw a fireball at it. Dodging it growled

*growl* *growl*

Grenades would be not useful in this situation. Casting minor swiftness on myself, I began bombarding the wolf with arcane bolts. 

One of them hit right before the beast could rip open my throat. Instead, it made a big gash on my left hand. Feeling my blood flowing out, I prepared to end this fight as fast as possible. When the wolf was still licking it’s wound, I activated one of the grenades and throw it, Right before the wolf could jump away, I cast ‚soul shock‘, which made the wolf unable to escape. Sadly, the casting of the spell also delayed me in finding a cover, thus now I have some boneachses in my muscle.

The wolf got killed from the explosion, no sooner I realised this, a black beetle flew out from the under bush to flee.

„where are you going little buddy?“I mumbled, then spammed ‚soul shock‘ into the beetle, after the 3rd one, he went down.

Faster then the wind, I scooped up the beetle and put him into a glass container, which had been provided for the mission. Luckily, the little guy was alive.

Next, a bandaged myself and rested. The wolf was a grey wolf, a beast, which often worked together with the black beetles to ambush targets. I was pretty stupid for not expecting it, and running right inside the ambush. I made my mind up to learn a detection type spell the next time I visit the library. Having sat down, my body slowly recovered. The spent mana also recovered slowly. 

*BOOOOOOOOM*

I heard an explosion 1,5 hours after I began my recovery. 

„It seems like my pursuers ran into some trouble, let‘s have a look.“.

I picked myself up, and packed my stuff, replacing the grenade I used with another one. Luckily half of the objective I came is already finished. At the end of the fight, I felt that I could break through any time. Just a random spot in a dangerous forest is not the perfect place for it. Getting my shit together, I left for the explosion, but not bevor using a concealment scroll.

After 2 minutes, I reached the site of the battle. Which was still ongoing. My pursuers seem to be still fighting. The ambush of a beetle and wolf duo hit them a lot harder than mine. They also don’t have enough power to kill it in one hit like I did. I crept closer hearing their shouting.

„Lat, use it, I know you have it for that Osric boy, but dying is not worth it.“ One guy said.

„but..“ the heavily wounded man wanted to say something, but he got interrupted by the third.

„Just use it, “ said the third guy. This time the heavily wounded one took out a scroll from his pouch. It looked a lot more expensive than the normal ones. Is it maybe a bonafide mage scroll? I can’t let them waste that in such away. Thus the responsible collector that I am armed three grenades. Then cast an arcane bolt towards the one with the scroll to kill him, and tossed the three grenades towards the wolf and the two guys. I also made sure to rip open a ‚soul shock‘ scroll towards the wolf.

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM*

An extremely loud explosion followed. This time I was safe from it behind a tree. Not wanting any more complications, I capture the beetle and looted the three persons, One of them need some killing, so I graciously provided it.

Not even looking at the loot, I threw everything into my backpack and made my way back to the village.