Chapter Seventeen

Walking was the worst part of traveling. It wasn’t that it was difficult for her ; she was in decent enough shape. Her endurance wasn’t the best, but she could still make it through most of the day before having to rest. But walking just never seemed to be fast enough. Nia felt as if whoever had taken her mother was getting further out of her reach with every step she took.

At least she wouldn’t have to worry about losing the trail they left behind.

A large swath of forest had been cleared, trees cut clean just above the ground, toppled over to either side of a wide path like they had been brushed to the side by a giant hand. It was something she had never seen before ; magic used in such a way was unimaginable to her and seemed an enormous waste of mana that served no real purpose, at least until Mister Greeny pointed something out that was obvious once she bothered to look.

Wagon tracks. he said, stopping momentarily to look closer at the ground.

“Huh?” Nia was off to the side and slightly behind him, gawking at the white, puffy clouds and hardly paying attention. She was barely an adult and still had much growing up to do if she wanted to survive.

He swung his heavy head around, his eyes drawing her attention immediately. They used wagons from here. To transport the villagers.

They were almost a week away from the village, further than she had ever been . Although it looked much the same as everywhere else she had been, the feeling the forest was giving her was heavier, more dangerous, like hungry eyes were watching her every move… waiting for their chance. Mister Greeny had told her that feeling was because there were monsters hiding in the shadows, that this far from the village wasn’t safe, but as long as she stayed near him, she would be fine.

That had terrified her to no end at first, but even surprising to her, she had adjusted to the danger quickly. She wanted to believe that was because she had become strong and brave due to her small amount of magical training , but as she thought about exploring further away from the calming presence of Mister Greeny, she quickly discovered that belief in herself was mistaken.

“So, they’re getting even further away?!” She nearly stomped and screamed in anger, but the thought of attracting some ravenous monster stopped her before she could. “We need to go faster, we need to—”

It will make no difference. Mister Greeny interrupted before she could work herself up into a fury. It had happened a few times due to her frustration and their perceived lack of progress, and he would rather not have to deal with it again if he could prevent it. Their speed would have only increased; nothing we do will be able to make up the difference.

Nia’s mouth dropped open to retort, but only an annoyed grunt managed to crawl out of her throat. It was her way of accepting what he had said but still letting him know of her irritation if her stomping her feet as she moved further down the clearing wasn’t enough.

Little one, we will find her. He said to her as he padded beside her, his long strides easily keeping pace with her anger-fueled march.

“You haven’t lied to me yet, so please don’t start now.”

Her voice almost pleaded , causing his prepared consolations to catch on his vines. He turned his head away from her, suddenly feeling as if he had been chastised. Forgive me. I only wish to ease this burden on you.

Nia sighed , her pace slowing into a more even pace. “No, I’m sorry. Let’s just keep going, there’s still loads of daylight left.”

Mister Greeny shook his head. Mister Long has found a small pond not far from here. His connection to his golem was permanent and persistent, no matter the distance. When he concentrated on the connection, he could control it, seeing through its eyes directly . We will not use up all of the light available to us, but it is an excellent place to rest.

Nia ran her fingers through her tawny hair, working out the tangles like she wished she could her feelings. “…alright. You’re right, we should take a break, huh?”

It will be an opportunity for me to catch you up on the lessons you have missed.

“That should put me right to sleep then.” She said with a gentle laugh, “Unless you’re going to show me some more magic?”

Mister Greeny nodded, the vines supporting its weight creaking like the swaying trees around them. Some things will help you outside the forest, and magic is one of them. You have learned to use your mana to protect yourself, but now I feel it is time for you to learn how to use it to kill those who wish you harm. Nia didn’t say anything, but he felt her body go rigid as they walked. It is a necessary lesson, one that you would have learned eventually if circumstances had not called for it sooner.

“What’s it like? …to kill someone?” Nia’s soft voice was like a soft tap on his shoulder, bringing his emerald eyes to hers.

I assume much like it would a rabbit. He said, drawing a comparison that Nia found difficult to comprehend.

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“… a rabbit?” Her steps faltered , “b—but that’s not at all the same.”

You are right ; they are not the same, but that is how you must see it.

“What do you mean? How could I see someone’s life like a rabbit’s?”

You will understand when I teach you the magic you must know. Although it may be difficult for you to accept it, it is how things must be.

The pond was a muddy thing. Dark brown was the color of the water, interspersed with scummy green as the algae strangled the life below it in a constant battle for sunlight. Long grass surrounded the small body of water as if trying to hide it from view, it grew in clumps from soft shores that would swallow anything that strayed too close to the brackish water. It was a hazard that she avoided only because the musty smell of the pond kept her far enough away to avoid it.

“I thought you said this was an ‘ excellent’ place to rest?” Nia accused Mister Greeny as she held her hand up to her nose in a vain attempt to save her from the awful smell. “I see only water that would make me sick just looking at it and nary a tree to sleep under.”

What else do you see? He asked her as he moved toward the stagnant water. What do you feel?

She took a few moments to look around, her eyes stripping everything bare but seeing nothing. She shook her head. Still, she didn’t want to admit that she didn’t know, “It smells so bad that nothing will come close to eat us?”

It wasn’t often that Mister Greeny laughed but when he did, it was a deep, cracking rumble, like a tree slowly popping as it was pushed over. You are half right, but the smell is not the cause.

Mister Greeny ambled toward the filthy pond, his wide paws sinking deep into the boggy soil. He pulled himself out of the grasping mud easily and, soon enough, waded into the tepid water until he was mostly submerged. Nia watched in rapt attention as she felt the air around her prickle her skin like a storm was bearing down on her without a cloud in sight.

The muddy water lapping at Mister Greeny’s body suddenly took on a lighter hue before rapidly clearing, becoming pure. As if he were a rock tossed into the pond, a cleansing wave slowly rippled out from him, transforming the dirty waters into glass. The ‘fur’ on Mister Greeny’s body, made up of soft grass and verdant plants, quickly took on a yellow, sickly appearance before sloughing off like autumn leaves, dropping into the now pure water of the pond. Wide pillows of slimy algae still floated like clouds on the water's surface , but the smell had dissipated entirely , and the water was so clear as to see the silty bottom; it was a miracle of magic, and Nia was amazed.

Although she had been learning magic these past few months, and this was far from the flashiest spell Mister Greeny had shown her, the fact that he purified this tepid pond astounded her. She didn’t know why, but the fact that he had taken something so dirty and sickening and made it clean again tugged at something deep inside of her that she couldn’t quite grasp.

She walked closer to get a better look at the now clear pond, ignoring that the soft mud was mucking her boots . Her brown eyes looked back at her, mirrored in the water now lapping at the hem of her long skirt. Her hair had grown longer. Now, past her shoulders, it looked like a rat’s nest due to her trekking through the forest, complete with a small twig she hadn’t known was there. She wanted nothing more than a bath, but even though the water was now safe enough to drink, she couldn’t stand to be in it for more than a few minutes before freezing to death.

Tell me what you see now. Mister Greeny asked, still standing in the water before her in the water, looking like a small island big enough for a person to sleep on.

Nia wanted to comment on the clear water before her but knew that wasn’t what he was speaking of. She was supposed to see something else here , but she still didn’t… There was something in the water.

A large ball was deep below the surface, resting on the bottom of the pond and half buried in silt . It looked as if it were blue, but the clear sky above them, reflecting off the clear, rippling water, made it difficult for her to be sure. One thing that she was sure of , though, was that it was huge. She doubted she would be able to wrap her arms around it if it were next to her, making it every bit as big as Mister Greeny’s head while he was in his bear form.

“What is it?” She asked ; no matter how long she stared at the object, she couldn’t figure out what it was.

A warding stone. Monsters and other magical creatures find them to be… uncomfortable to be around, he explained. Although I do not know their origins. They are spread throughout the forest, creating shelter amongst the dangers here.

“Why hasn’t anyone ever brought one back to the villages?”

They are hidden, buried under the earth, or drowning like this one before us. Also, only magical beasts can feel their effects, so finding a protected area is a task in and of itself.

“Wait. So, you knew I wouldn’t be able to tell you anything when you asked?” Her glare was full of mock anger, and her fists perched on her hips promised retribution in the future.

Bears couldn’t smile, especially bears made of vines, but Nia thought that Mister Greeny would be what they looked like if they could. No, there was a chance that you would have been able to feel it. A small chance, but a chance, nonetheless. It is a skill to be able to sense the flow of mana ; I was simply using this as an opportunity to see if you had such an ability.

“Oh.” Nia’s shoulders slumped slightly.

Not to worry, little one. It is an exceedingly rare skill and has no bearing on your ability to use mana. Mister Greeny explained, realizing his actions had caused her to doubt herself. He didn’t really know how rare it was ; it was just something he could naturally see, and he was curious if she could do it as well. Admittedly, he could have gone about it in a better way.

Come, let me start your lesson. I have much to show you.