Velga glared at the pouch, appearing focused on it, but a small glance was also upon a laying duck for whatever reason.

“20000 gold for a spatial object seems normal, or abnormal depending on it. Unless it's something specific or damaged, it can be a couple of thousands of gold. But... What do you take me for, woman? I reached Level 65 according to the guidance of the God of Battle. Of course, I know what this thing is, but for you to be interested and willingly be apprehended by 3 Falconers, your actions seem stupid as attacking us. You speak of offers, yet you already attacked. Are you an idiot?”

“Don't force me to unleash my wrath!” Velga spitted those words out, growling and wishing to curse.

“Heh! Funny. Wrath of a wretch. My bet is, that you know the content of this bag, which I couldn't open nor damage at all. Me! I can force a lot of things with my hands, you know? It is something I bet you will be soon aware of. This also adds to the suspicion of that succubus demon, which I trust is real from the reports, or this duck that appears to be some demonic beast. What is it, heretic? Speak, and maybe I won't be that hard on you.” Razmund said, but Velga didn't tell him much.

After all, she didn't know what was in this pouch, nor she was interested in it. The reason for anything didn't matter as her own eyes and the mana core within her body were firmly set on her purpose. To this man, she had nothing to tell.

The spatial object was hard to find, depending on quality, or grade. However, such a topic wasn't her purpose since the very beginning. Velga felt the divinity of that thing, causing her a deep surprise since it was her purpose. The reason was strange, yet seeing it was something she had to discover herself. It was a gift of someone special, to someone even more abnormal. She also recognized the Anatidae special, but that was a secondary issue that she found less confusing for some reason.

“Very well, you stupid men. I will kill you and no one will blame me for that, since you are so unwilling to cut a deal,” she uttered the words filled with bloodlust and killing intent. She wasn't a person who was trying to cut a deal. No. She was a cunning devil that will butcher them all.

She meant what she said, and within the Ward itself, she began a second chant. It was a dangerous prospect for mages to do this with another one active, but this time, she didn't take any talisman. The Ward itself was high-level enough and required some need of fueling mana from her core.

Though she did what she wanted, and her chant made dozens of floating mana runes appear and flicker around her praying hands. Mana flared up within the Ward, but it didn't seep out. It was revolving as if the mana within the Ward itself was turning into a chaotic storm - or acting with it instead.

Razmund frowned upon recognizing the motions and incantation of what she was doing, so he turned to Waldorf.

“No time to waste on this heretic. She indeed feels inclined to destroy us here, or maybe this entire village as well. Here, use this instead of me. I will give you compensation for this later.” Razmund said to him, tossing him something out of his own pocket. It was a sharp needle-like shard, which Waldorf unwillingly grasped. It had strange liquid inside, while the needle-like shard itself had a glossy finish to it. It wasn't manmade to be exact.

However, the mana undulation that this object had wasn't normal, and natural. Waldorf held it with a surprise and quite an apprehension. Yet, he nodded, since the situation called for a small sacrifice and he was a Falconer too, albeit not really. He was under Razmund's status as a Blesesed companion so he had no choice but to follow his desires.

He quenched the shard within his right hand and pierced his shoulder with its tip. Before that, however, he quickly pulled his upper shoulder, chest, and armor pieces away. Without hesitation, the pierced flesh underwent a dark change that seeped into the bone. A sharp pain enveloped his mind and at least half of the shard went inside his right shoulder.

Blood seeped out of rough penetration, while the shard broke to many pieces upon his wild grip. The content of it was already inside of him, letting his body, and something else, go wild in his bloodstream.

Waldorf grimaced in the pain, clutching his right arm that began to change. The veins swayed and twisted, bones cracked apart and the arm in itself exploded in power. Muscles popped off strangely, causing the arm to grow to almost 2 meters in length along with the shoulder and a small part of his chest.

The thick muscles of the right arm seemed disproportional to the rest of his body. His fingers turned thick, and the fist he made was like a hammer. He would easily grasp any weapon, and he did. From his pouch beside his left hip, a long pole emerged under his left hand's control

It was the handle for a huge 3-meter-long curved blade that he swung out of the pouch. It was thick and silvery in metal appearance. Yet, he held it with a single hand, as if it wasn't anything abnormal.

Paulfred and Razmund stepped aside, leaving the revolving mana inside the Ward up to Waldorf's forced abilities.

Moving forward in the unsightly face, and unbalanced body, Waldorf's whole body was sweating, and veins were visible all over the section of his visible skin. That was his face, and burly swelled body, but most of the impression would go toward the hand, which was the biggest, and strangest.

Velga looked at the change amidst her incantation. She was no longer able to see what went on behind the Ward since the mana turned dense under her control. She had her own things to worry about, but even she can tell that something strange was happening.

One way or another, it was too late for her to get faster, or change the idea midway through.

“Dangerous double incantation will be your death. Not by it, but by my own hands. Heheheh.” Waldorf chuckled, and like a pouncing tiger, he flickered his sturdy hand with unnaturally fast speed.

It was like a snap of a Dragon's jaw or a flick of a Greater Gian'ts arm.

In almost an instant, this slash completely obliterated the Ward. It went even further, hitting the ground, while the aftereffects of this semi-vertical cut, affected a few trees and about dozen houses, cutting them to a few pieces with the wind alone. This was a terrific swing, but an unnatural one. Waldorf had no way to stop or control this strike, but the surrounding villagers were long gone to safety. The clash between the Falconers and Velga was an easy excuse for them to flee. Although some stayed, too fearful to move.

The Ward's 3 sections exploded, revealing bloodied Velga, which endured the aftermath of the destroyed War and following the destruction of the ground. Her mana was disturbed, and incantations failed. She endured this slash to a certain extent. At least she wasn't cut in half.

Still, a residual power reached her. Bloodied mark was around her upper body, reaching her arm, and chest, but it wasn't deep to be fatal, since it didn't hit any vital areas.

She looked towards the monstrous Waldorf in unwillingness. The sudden change and the sword that shattered her tries were more than she could defend against. Such fast movement and destructive attack were wild.

She was unable to stop her 2nd incantation in time, and it blew her plans away. Though, it was her gamble, which she lost the moment she performed the Enchanted Ward before Waldorf dealt with it accordingly. Explosive power stopped her incantation without her own violation, which was a terrible thing for any mage who had a long incantation for certain powerful spells. It was supposed to kill those Falconers, but backlash caused some internal injuries to her mana core instead.

Velga coughed up blood and dropped to her knees. The Ward was long gone, dissipating to mana that dissipated to the world. It was a perfect chance for Razmund to clutch her face with his left arm before pulling her high into the air. The pouch was left in Paulfred's hands since Razmund wanted to interrogate this heretic by his own methods.

Similar to Lazar, he lifted Velga's body upwards. She was lighter than him by a large degree. However, what Razmund didn't notice was a dagger, still hiding underneath her bloodied body, hidden by her tattered cloak.

Fast like a flicker of dragon's wings, Velga stabbed towards Razmund's neck, but it was too late, or maybe too slow.

Noticing the motion of her hand in a split second, Razmund stumbled to his left, dodging the dagger by a couple of centimeters. While he was in motion, he swayed back and flexed his arm. Still grabbing her face, he smacked her head to the ground, cracking the hard surface, and maybe even her skull.

Velga helplessly let go of the dagger, feeling as if the world shattered, since her physicality as a mage was quite poor. She let the dagger go not because she wanted to. Muttering something inaudible through her broken face and blood, she was beyond hope of turning this situation better.

She was fucked, per Murai's internal thought, albeit he felt sympathy, as he felt no different from her.

“Now, this is a mage I could see and talk to,” Razmund said in a good mood, lifting her bloodied head with his grip. The rest of her limp body followed. It was as easy as lifting a baby for Razmund, even though half of his body wasn't useful, or put in any effort.

“You are alive, which is why I had to be gentle. Hehehe.” he chuckled with his sinister laugh, which was many times crazier by now. It was worsening his expression and the tone of his voice, which was becoming hoarser and deeper. “Now. Now... You will talk, or I will kill that duck for good.” he stated, shoving her open eyes towards Murai not far away.

“N-no... N-no...” she struggled to say, moving her lips that were bloodied in the same matter as her throat.

“I am kidding. It's not like I need your permission for that, heretic, or should I say... Well, I will see it for myself.” Razmund said and put forth his eyes towards hers.

Velga looked at Razmund unwillingly, unaware of what he wanted to do at all. Albeit, looking was the easiest thing to do in her state. Razmund's eyes were full of madness and red veins, showing a sheer dedication that he never blinked even once in a long time. It was a focused gaze of a lunatic and she realized it far too late.

What she didn't expect to see and feel was a sudden penetrative force that went from his eyes. It was light. A Spell? Ability.

“N-no! “she cried, understanding that the man before her was using high-level appraisal on her soul, memories, or something within her mind. None of them was something she wanted him to know, since the forceful extraction of anything from one's mind was an atrocious process, and not one bit good.

She knew her secrets, and they were fresh in her mind, making them easiest to extract than old memories or ancient secrets. They were her highest secrets and the most important thing that a person like her had at that moment. She was on her mission, unaware of much information, apart from a few important ones, so she would know her desires and purpose.

This Appraisal was ferocious, hurting her mind, which was almost going crazy from the inside out. She could scream all she could, but nothing would stop her eyes from being open. Razmund unblinking eyes were terrifying at the moment, and a small tinge of light was coming off of the iris. Much information was coming in, and some were something he expected, while others weren't.

Yet, there was also something else. It was a force that Razmund didn't expect.

“Oh? Protection put forth by Grand Mage? Was this your Master's hope? What a suspicious and careful mage ... I am glad he or she is long dead, but this doesn't matter to me. I will extract just the things I need in this situation since your life or your own memories are less than important to us. That's how pitiful, and weak you are, heretic and follower of the Order!” Razmund stated, his glowing eyes further brightening in the light.

He appeared like an evil god that watched the mortal with loftiness and arrogance, trying to sough out the deepest secrets or desires by force.

Velga couldn't do a thing, since her own defenses failed. Her own Will wasn't powerful enough to stop Razmund. Their level differences weren't the biggest, but one thing stood like a mountain before them. He was a Blessed, and she was neither that nor a Gifted. She was a simple mage of the Battleworld along the side of a person, living in the flow of the River of Manaflow.

The only thing that was helpful was the inner seal of her master, but it can't help her completely against her fateful mission, which was more than she expected.

Razmund continued the extraction of the memories, but only a little of important things were following since the seals were strong. Those were the fresh ones, which happened in the last months if he was forceful enough. Most important things weren't available for his taking. The powerful seal that was beyond his power, guarded Velga's mind. Any knowledge of her past, desires, purpose, Spells, or fundamental Path was hard to force out.

So, Razmund pushed his own Will that used the powerful version of the Appraisal, further. Light enveloped her face, piercing through everything. He was reaching for the distant memories that enveloped the current situation. which amounted to nothing much but penetrating her soul space with his Wil. Those were somewhat easier to see since what Velga thought or worried about was easiest to proclaim, and not forget.

It didn't take long for Razmund to see what he could see, but not what he desired. Her memories didn't include a lot, indicating something brief, much to his disappointment. In fact, the case of the memories was salvageable, but they entangled distant parts within one other, making them difficult for Razmund to recognize and seek.

Alas, he succeeded when a sliver of memories went from the seal, under the forceful push of his Will. They amounted to nothing much, but a fraction of the complete secrets were much better recognized by his Will. It put forth a certain pain in his eyes, which started to bleed, making him appear as if he was crying blood.

“Ohhh... Finally.” Razmund moaned in pain, clutching Velga's neck firmly as he almost fell to the ground from the pain alone. A series of images, words, conversation, and information entered his mind the moment he closed his eyes.

This was the full effect of his appraisal since when Appraising it wasn't workable to seek things when doing so. Thus, when it was over, the meanings will turn clearer.

“You... What the fuck! A Futuresight? Such a high level...” Razmund found what he wanted, but it was surprising. “Your master predicted the appearance of this duck, but not an exact time, so you spend the last 2 years in the mountain as a guest for Dark Mages? Who are you?! This makes little sense to me.” Razmund asked in agitation while appearing quite different now that he had his eyes closed.

He appeared hurt, pained, and fragile. Under the eyelids, the pain seeped from there, coloring his contorting face with crimson colorful lines. It made him appear very different from his regular unblinking face.

Velga didn't answer, not she wanted to say a thing. Her silence was the worst answer that Razmund wanted to hear, so he couldn't help but chuckle since the memories can't be wrong, or false. They were truthful since only gods could work with human minds, and Velga wasn't like that.

The pain of doing this high-level appraisal was high. It involved no ordinary thing, such as a material, but a living and breathing soul. Adding the view of another person's memories, it was no wonder that only a lunatic would use it in this way. It was a tough thing to achieve and was common practice to be frowned upon.

It was a true high-level prohibited action, but one that the Centralis Kingdom possessed and agreed to use. It wasn't the kind of ability that Battleworld would give on its own, but it didn't matter to countless mages in the vast history of the Battleworld.

There were many mages and beings that went against the bigger picture of conventional magic, creating all kinds of abilities, techniques, and tomes that included powerful spells and abilities that they, themselves, created. It didn't cater to the Battleworld or its system.

The Appraisal wasn't such a spell but could be upon its use. It was an ability that could envelop the user with all kinds of information with very little effort. That is, If the Will requirements were high enough, of course. Not just anyone would get one, since the mind had to be sturdy to go through the process of the Appraisal.

Behind Razmund, Paulfred was clutching the pouch, while Waldorf was kneeling on the ground in pain and misery. Forcing his way through the forbidden body material wasn't pleasant, but he endured it. He was clutching his convulsing right hand with the other, while it was twisting, and shimmering when it was turning back to normal.

This process was much more painful than the start - more than the surge of blood and adrenaline where it started. Now, he felt the blood seeping from the busted veins, twisted muscles made his mind scream in pain and bones? They weren't intact in any part of his right hand.

“Kekekek... Now, what to do with you, woman?” Razmund laughed after regaining clarity after the Appraisal was done shoving him the things. “I don't need to know what you are, or what was the case of this strangely fateful encounter... I didn't see it. I know it is there, but this much was enough for me. You really didn't know a lot of things about what you wanted to seek. You wanted to retrieve a duck.. or was it something else? Something would emerge from the well. That is something clear to me. Was this about the pouch rather than this duck? What is this then? This duck... inside of that spatial pouch?” Razmund asked, forcing his grip against her skull, after changing his grip.

He was forceful enough to almost crack her skull, yet Velga didn't say a thing.

Razmund was further having some confusion since the information wasn't clear. They never would when unwilling Appraisal happened, and even seals were in use.

“It was your Master's task or his last wish? I can't see it otherwise, but it makes me question your decision, and ability... wait... I already dealt with that duck in your memory, so you wanted to take revenge? No... What kind of reasoning is that? Any mage to regard the demonic beasts in such a manner is a disgrace to the Battleworld. I fear you are out of your mind... Moreso than myself.” Razmund said in recollection of the memories and things he discovered from Velga.

“Y-you... know nothing of magic and its mysteries,” Velga mumbled, forcing her words under her tired, hurt, and given-up voice. “You are just a thug. A fanatic without a speck of wisdom or care for the world that created us all. You are a sicko. That's what you are. Bastard.” she said, glaring at the man underneath his grip. She tried to move her hands or legs, but she couldn't. Her neck didn't listen to her either, nor was the mana stable enough.

Now, her overall battle prowess was like the duck laying beside the well, but even then, it was higher. Probably.

“Ahh... a physically hurt mage is indeed easy prey to the strong Knights. You... are not needed. You don't need to worry about your state of secret, or why such a master of the Futuresigth would seek out this duck or this pouch. I will get rid of you, and your desirable task. I will kill this duck, and have the pouch, so either way, everything failed and you have nothing. This way, your master can reach nirvana in his afterlife or whatever heretics go through when one dies.” Razmund said, moaning in faked-up pleasure.

He appeared disturbed, or he was motivating himself to appear that way since he wasn't feeling that well by now. With little change of expression or words of wisdom by Paulfred behind his back, he decided on something drastic but needed.

Without even seeing where, he tossed Velga right toward the well, right towards the part where Murai was laying beside the stones. There, she met half of her goal for another time.

Maybe when she struck Razmund for the first time in her ambush, she should have attacked the right hand first. In a fearful and focused stand, she did her best, which wasn't enough. Now, she ended up like that in the current nasty situation.

No. Perhaps even earlier. She could've forced the situation with the villagers. Killing few, and forcing that duck away along with that pouch. Why she didn't do that was beyond her idea, since too much time passed with no purpose and desire in sight. 2 years, in fact.