image [https://i.imgur.com/RCGrn1f.png]

It's finally the day of departure. Now that the guardian's scouts have judged the surrounding areas free of Imago, the blockade instituted by Brenna has ended. Adventurers could go on missions, and merchants could travel the roads with the guards. Drac and his party can leave and take the long, many-mile journey to Dew. Fergus bit on a fresh apple under a tree's shade while playing with his blade’s tassels, watching Drac pack their essentials. Many of him hurry around their caravan, carrying boxes of food. Fergus watched with awe as Drac passed a sack to himself. One of him was enough and he could make four. Drac friends laugh and joke as if this spectacle was normal. A hungover orc lugged over to the caravan.

“Look over there! The orc!” A frightened child shouted behind an old mage's leg.

“Calm, child. The Multus has him under control. And he is bringing the orc with him on his travels.”

“Hood is leaving? Where?!” Another child asked.

“I don't know for sure. But wherever he sets foot next, will have his protection.”

As Fergus overheard, something pulled at his heart. He watched Drac pack, wondering what other feats he would show. What sights will he see? What new things could he have taught him? Fergus had travelled far from his homeland to follow his sister yet Drac made this hub of adventure that is Heartbrook feel small.

Brenna surprised everyone by landing from above. She rested the huge chest she was carrying on the ground by a Drac. Fergus squinted at the familiar chest. Is that his?

The two warriors talk. Drac sighed but a smile crept onto his lips and then a nod. Drac's eyes met Fergus's, and then went back to carrying the chest in.

Brenna strode towards her brother. Her presence pauses people on the street. Even as her brother, he felt a lump in his throat as she approached him.

“What are you doing here?” Brenna asked.

“Huh…?” said a stumped Fergus. Half-eaten apple hung from his hand.

“Your party is leaving without you,” Brenna said as she pointed with her thumb at Drac waiting with Marina and the rest. Marina waves with a cheery smile.

“Your first job as a silver is to escort them to Dew. Impress them, and follow beyond.”

“Really?... I can…?!” Fergus' voice trembled. His apple fell from slack hands. His vision blurred with tears.

Brenna pulled Fergus by the arm and wrapped her strong arms around her shorter brother.

“Keep safe out there. Trust Drac. Help him. Learn from him. Come back stronger. And come back soon. Our heir cannot be out in the wild for too long.”

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The two separate. Both wiping tears from their eyes.

Fergus smiled with full, rosy cheeks. “I am just saving the seat for the real heir.”

High on joy, Fergus ran towards the caravan, baslards jingling by his sides. The noble focused. Aura flowed through his body with quickness. Lightning filled his feet and he jumped metres high to land on the caravan.

The hooded man mediated and Fergus followed his example.

“Teach me more. About surge,” determined eyes stared. The hooded man relaxed out of meditation and answered.

“Only if you don't mind a bit of experimentation.”

Two days pass on the winding roads to Dew. Deeper into the Great Forest, the group went. Lusher greenery surrounds them, and stronger beasts attack.

Fergus blocked a swipe of a claw with his right blade. His left cut a forest lion’s head.

“Good. Quick and clean. Watch for the t- no… a whole pack is here.” Drac looked deep into the shrubs with aura sense. Colours ripple from stalking eight forest lions. The eyes looked frenzied and bloodshot. Black mucus bubbled out of the mouths like foam.

“Males and females hunting all at once for humans? Yes, you're right. Something is tampering with them.” Flida said, beside Drac.

“Controller…”

What's that?

Parasite demons. They find it easy to cross due to they initial small size and weak energy. But slowly, they can increase strength by either taking over the recently dead or sometimes the living. The church deals with these a lot.

Drac turned to Flida. “Can you find it?”

Flida nods. “I need one alive to feel connected. Only one.”

Drac's mind drifted to copy with a tome open in its hands.

“Lord Fergie! Come back!” Shouted Drac.

“This one's a bit different! One bite or scratch and you turn into them!”

A aura jump and Fergus avoided a bite from the rabid beast. He landed on his bottom on the caravan with a sigh of relief as the forest lions encircled the caravan.

“I will handle this.” A copy split from a Drac.

The Drac leapt high, crashing down like thunder. A lion lay on the forest floor in half. Heilong flared white in Drac's gloved hand.

Two lions attack with foaming teeth. From under, Drac sliced a head. His blade continued its motion, slicing down on the second lion, completing the arc. A lion pursued Drac between his dead friends. A left fist hammered down on a beast's skull. Teeth shattered. Blood burst from the impact/ A bone crunch echoed in the forest between tall trees.

The forest lions paused. They inch backward, sensing the danger.

Drac pulsed-stepped over the crushed lion. Five lions run in different directions.

Quickly.

Drac pulsed again, catching a beast with a stab to the back. His arm disappeared as he unleashed a wave. A lion died in the distance. An empty arm tuned Ignis and two compressed balls of fire flew out of Drac's hand with near bullet speed. Two lions fall into the bushes, charred black.

Last one.

Drac sheathed his sword. A rope of blue Murus formed around his arm. ties In the foam of the lasso, it swung over his head and was thrown at the fleeing forest lion. Drac pulled back and the lasso tightened around the beast's legs

Nice catch. Where did you learn?

My real father taught me some neat tricks while out hunting.

Real?

“Flida, you are up.”

Flida stepped off her wolf. With two Dracs holding the lion down with aura strength, she held her hands out to the animal's body.

Flida flinched as if repelled. With a tired grin, Flida spoke between heavy breaths, “Follow me.”