Published at 23rd of May 2020 09:19:33 PM
Chapter 36
Encounter with a Magical Beast
Walking in the thicket took about twice as much energy as walking along the paths, which were maintained .
This is exhausting .
His breathing had become haggard .
“Are you ok?” Illia asked him .
“Yeah, I’ll be fine” he replied, looking over at her as she walked at his side .
He noticed the way she carried herself in the thicket was quite different . She didn’t seem to be under any particular strain . In fact, she was walking along as if they were still on one of the paths .
It wasn’t just a matter of physical condition either .
Despite walking right next to him, she didn’t have to fight her way through the vegetation, or parry away any branches the way Lynn did .
Each step she took, the vegetation around her seemed to recede, especially around her feet . It would compress down and soften, providing a sort of cushion for her feet .
Each time she passed under a tree with lots of branches, the branches would wither and fall away to the side, opening a path for her .
She’s using magic .
Because of the exceedingly natural way the vegetation and trees shifted and moved around her as she moved through the thicket, Lynn didn’t immediately notice she was using magic to make her passage easier .
Exceedingly natural would be an understatement . The world around her adjusted in seemingly infinite minute ways, to the point it was almost like she and the world were one, and her nonchalant attitude to this process was only fitting .
“That’s amazing . It looks just like the trees and flowers are avoiding you by their own will” .
“You could learn to do this in no time . When you take Magical Beast class it’s the very first thing you learn” .
“How do you do it? You’re not reciting any incantations, or using your staff” .
“You have to foster a divine response with the spirits of the trees and the flowers . If you can just convey your desire to move past, they’ll help you” .
This was the first time he heard that spirits also reside in trees and flowers .
He had been walking along without paying attention, and their presence was very faint, so he hadn’t noticed .
He tried to listen for some kind of communication from them, but try as he might, they didn’t open up to him .
It didn’t come as easy to him as ring magic .
“It’s difficult” .
“Then let me help you” . .
She placed her hands on his shoulders .
Her magic permeated through his surroundings .
He was now looking at the world through her eyes . Not only did he see what she saw, but he heard what she heard too .
It was as if he had stepped into another world .
The forest, which seemed dull just moments before, he now saw was filled with the many glowing balls of light of different spirits, and he could hear the forest whispering and murmuring, its insects crying out in song .
In front of him the spirit of a tree blocked his passage . He tried to meet eyes with it, and it regarded him with what looked like a smile, before twisting its body just enough to open enough room for him to keep going .
This is incredible . So this is the world as she sees it!
Her magic was literally of a different dimension . He was suddenly hit with the realization that all the magic he had learned so far in the academy was, in comparison, crude and childish .
Just then his ring began glowing brightly .
“Huh? Does this mean…”
“Yes . There’s a magical beast nearby”, she whispered and removed her hands from his shoulders .
She seemed to be redirecting her power to locating the beast .
“Over there” she said, and pointed toward a spot a little ways off to his right .
“It’s lurking over there, in the undergrowth” .
Just as she said that, they heard a rustling sound from the thicket .
Lynn readied himself and focused his vision on the spot Illia had pointed to . The dense undergrowth, he saw, was moving .
However what came out of the thicket was a beast the size of a rat, which would probably fit into the palm of a hand .
Although it had pointed, sharp teeth, its ears tapered to a nice point, and it’s tail stood up like an antennae . It looked more cute than fearsome .
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“Oh my, how rare! It’s a Pellrat” .
“A Pellrat? What’s that?”
“It’s a type of the rat species of magical beast, but it doesn’t pose a threat to people . It detects danger with its tail . Look, see? It’s unusual though… They’re timid creatures, they never reveal themselves in front of people” .
The second she finished speaking, the Pellrat fell to the ground with a flop . It appeared as though it had fainted . Together they crept over to it slowly, timidly, trying not to make a sound .
“It’s injured . The wound’s deep”, she said .
“You’re right” .
It must have been attacked by another beast, because it had a deep bite in its stomach .
Illia chanted an incantation as she gently caressed its stomach . In mere seconds the wound closed .
She can use healing magic too?
He was astonished at her versatility .
“It really is so strange though . Pellrats are usually so good at sensing danger” .
Having finished administering the healing magic, she picked the pellrat up in her arms tenderly, and laid it in some thin bushes . They would wait for it to wake up .
Before long it appeared to regain consciousness .
As soon as it regained its wits, it jumped to its feet in a fright and immediately scurried off several feet .
It turned back to them and stared . Its body was shaking slightly, whether from fear or from listlessness it wasn’t clear . It seemed to be trying to intuit what Lynn and Illia were doing there .
“Don’t be afraid . We just want to know what happened to you”, Illia said in a gentle tone .
The language she spoke wasn’t that of magic .
Although Lynn managed to grab a faint understanding of what she said, for the most part it was like trying to understand the smattering talk of a baby .
Illia persevered with her attempts at talking to the frightened Pellrat, who showed no signs of coming any closer .
When it didn’t respond to her attempts to converse, she switched tactics and started throwing it feed in order to lower its guard .
“Please, help yourself . Eat up! You must be hungry” .
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It drew closer to the fallen food, testing Lynn and Illia to see if they posed any danger . Urged on by Illia, it eventually hopped onto her shoulder . It was making indistinct noises in her ear .
She angled her ear so that she could listen more closely .
She can communicate with magical beasts too? Who am I kidding, of course she can…
Lynn for the most part didn’t have a clue what the Pellrat was saying .
His understanding of the language of magic afforded him the comprehension of only a very small amount .
“Really? I see… Yes… Ok, I understand the general picture . Thank you very much” .
Having listened to the Pellrat’s story from beginning to end, Illia turned to Lynn to retell it .
“Apparently, somehow or other he was attacked by a chimera” .
“A chimera?”
“Well… It’s not pretty, but picture the head and torso of a lion, the body of a goat, and a snake for a tail . It’s a dreadful sight” .
“That… Sounds awful” .
“Apparently the Pellrat’s friend is still being pursued by the chimera . He protected him by drawing him away . He says he wants our help . Lynn, what do you want to do?”
“Huh? Well… That’s a tricky one…”
“What if you tried fighting it? It’s summer season so I was planning on taking it easy, but it might be a good experience for you,” she said, her eyes bright, “then again… It might also be a bit too heavy of a foe to take on for your first time” .
“Would I be able to slay it?”
“The Vesper Sword should be able to take it down” .
He hesitated for a moment . Was this really a good idea? Then again this was his chance . Stealing himself, he spoke again .
“Okay . I’ll do it” .
“That’s the spirit, young man! This will be good . I’ll stay close to cover you” .
Being called a young man by Illia made him feel, ironically, just like the young boy he really was . His heart danced . But he only allowed himself several seconds of savouring the feeling before refocusing himself . He felt adrenaline rushing through him .
He wanted to show her what he was capable of .
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Guided by the Pellrat, the two of them delved deeper into the thicket . Deeper and deeper they went…
To keep up with the Pellrat Lynn and Illia had to increase their pace . Before long they were at a light jog .
Illia took the front position, and Lynn followed close behind .
Because the forest twisted and morphed around Illia as she blazed through, Lynn too was able to follow fast in her footsteps .
The reason they moved in this formation was of course so that they could move quickly and nimbly, but it was also so that Lynn’s strength could be preserved in readiness for the fight .
All these things were Illia’s command . Assessing the situation and their objective quickly, she had exercised her best judgment and promptly relayed the plan of action to Lynn .
Lynn’s impression of her was changing fast, and seeing her in this way made his heart beat hard and fast . Up until just a little while ago she had been so princess-like, and while she was kind and warm in nature, just talking to her Lynn had sensed a hidden room in her heart . This reservation now, however, had completely vanished as she demonstrated her fast wit and agility . Her attitude too was impressive . It was the attitude that belonged to the kind of person who had plenty of experience .
Instead of a princess, now he saw a hunter .
After a while of making steady progress deeper into the forest, Lynn began to feel a light breeze caress his skin, and he noticed the stones on the floor were getting larger .
“There’s a waterfall up ahead”, she said, calling out to him .
“Ah, so that’s why I can feel the wind” .
“Yeah… Shh!” She hissed, “Don’t make a sound . We’re going out into an open area now . Let’s take it slow . Be silent” .
She spoke in a quiet but strong tone .
Doing as she said, Lynn slowed his jog to a slow walk .
She stopped to put her hands on his shoulders again, the way she did earlier .
Under her touch he felt his essence become thin, diluted .
It must have been either her power, or perhaps her spirit’s . He saw the Pellrat jump nimbly up onto her shoulder .
Together, hidden in the shadows of the bush, the two wizard apprentices and the Pellrat observed the clearing .
What they saw was a rocky area that jutted out over a cliff . The waterfall cascaded over the edge .
Just to one side was the Pellrat, which was cornered up against the sheer precipice, cornered by its hunter .
It was the chimera .