Chapter 8 (Part 3)

We all turned to look at the wolf, who was now coughing up large amounts of blood.

“Thank you… for lifting…curse,” the wolf struggled to say in between pained breaths.

My eyes widened. I know of these types of animals. The books described them as capable of human speech and magical morphing like dragons. In fact dragons can be placed in the same category as this wolf; just more magnificent, splendid and exceptionally superior in every way than this wolf. They are magical beasts.

Magical beasts are animals with abnormally more rion than their usual counterparts. For example, this wolf before our eyes must have at least three to four times more rion than a normal wolf to be capable of intelligent stratagem, human speech, and morphing. Magical wolves are rarer than normal wolves to the point of endangered because of evil human activity. They do so much horrible stuff to these poor animals for shallow reasons like research or building a collection or showing off wealth just because they can purchase expensive parts of these beautiful creatures. I was so appalled to the point that I sometimes ask myself “Of all the creatures in this sweet world, why was I born a damn human?” This utter disgust of humanity combined with my admiration for dragons became the driving force for my current profession: a Dragon Slayer Slayer. 

I know what you’re thinking. Just for the record, I am not psychotic!

 “And thank you…sparing…leader’s life,” the wolf continued, pulling me out of my silent seething. I wanted to heal the wolf but something was preventing me from moving. What was paralyzing me was not magic or anything of the sort. It was simply the wolf’s strong and willing gaze. He might as well have said, “I am willingly accepting my death. So the least you could do is just stay put right there and listen to my final request.”

I felt like a little kid being scolded and forced to listen to a tirade. Sheesh. For a dying wolf, his eyes sure are demanding.

“Our clan… held hostage. The leader…manipulated…with us. He forced …to attack you,” the wolf was now breathing heavily, forcibly squeezing out air from his lungs. And for a dying wolf, he sure talks a lot… Is he really dying?

But wait. There’s more, “Please…save…help leader.” And with that, his eyes slowly, peacefully closed, his breathing gradually becoming shallower until it finally ceased. He finally passed away.

Without that piercing gaze, I could finally move again. But something about the wolf’s dying message bothered me. If someone you just fought to death with just a second ago said thank you and help consecutively, won’t you feel compelled to help? Is that what they call pity the loser of a death match…? Or was it camaraderie…? I’m not sure. 

“I can sense him,” Noirxus whispered, breaking the icy silence. It was eerie enough after the fight, then made worse after the wolf’s dying message and now Noirxus is sensing something? Not to mention the darkness of the forest and the flickering of the dying campfire is not helping at all. I feel like something will jump at me from behind.

“Who?” I asked resisting the urge to slowly turn my head to look behind.

“The demon that placed the curse on these wolves,” came his dark reply.

Wow. Riding the atmosphere much?

“I’m going to catch him,” Noirxus said as he turned to leave. “You stay here Chryisle. Although there’s a slim chance of it happening, more wolves might attack. The Lady and the Captain needs you.”

He thought ahead that much. “Alright,” I agreed. With that, he quickly disappeared into the darkness of the forest using that lightning speed of his. There wasn’t even a rustle of leaves as he left. It looked as if he was never there in the first place.

Alright me. Stop thinking right now. You’re freaking yourself.

I decided to think about more important stuff like what would that ‘demon’ be after? Was he the presence I felt when we first entered the forest? If he was after one of us, it must be Rascielle. She is the one we are escorting after all. And why use magical wolves instead of normal wolves to attack us? I mean magical wolves are so rare that I could only bid someone good luck when trying to find even a shadow of their footprint. But for that ‘demon’ to manipulate three magical wolves, he must be incredibly strong. And now even two out of those three died in my hands. He must be a magical beast hunter, who manipulated me into doing his dirty work, using me to kill those wolves so he could sell their hides and all that when we walk away.

Me? Manipulated? Let me give him a piece of my mind.

“Noirxus might be in great danger.” I said as an excuse to get going. And then I paused. Is that believable enough? I'll work it out. 

“Why do you say so? He’s very strong,” the Captain remarked.

“Because the ‘demon’, as Noirxus dubbed him, uses curses,” I said, doing quote marks in the air. “And Noirxus isn’t exactly immune to curses. Do you want him coming back to kill us?”

The Captain stiffened. If you think about it, he knows about Noirxus’ prowess and anyone experienced in combat would know the fact that that is not even his real strength. I may have unintentionally scared the living daylights out of him. He immediately, unhesitatingly gave me permission to follow Noirxus. But of course I can’t leave them there defenseless after what Noirxus said. I mean I could but I’d rather not be responsible for human corpses littering on the forest floor or losing the twenty diamonds. So I casted a translucent barrier around the whole camp that would make it invisible to everything except me of course. And this barrier will not let anything in except maybe air.

“Stay inside this barrier. You go outside, you can’t get back in. Got it?” I instructed sternly. They both nodded in reply. And so I proceeded to search for Noirxus first.

The crescent moon was providing barely enough light for me to use. Using light magic, I can track Noirxus if he’s under the moonlight. And he is since he’s happily hopping on treetops like a monkey. He just made my tracking job easier.

Noirxus stopped swinging around as he reached the presence of the curse user. Now I can sense two beings face to face with each other with my light magic sight. I planned on stealthily following them and maybe lag a bit so that Noirxus wouldn’t think I followed him immediately after he said not to.

I was surprised to see the mysterious evil magician. He, no IT wasn’t human. It was a shadow man standing on the ground. And it didn’t have a shadow. Its face didn’t have any features except for eyes and even that is wrong. Glowing orbs replaced its eyes. I didn’t even know if it was naked or anything but it did have the form of a man. Hair-like wisps of its shadow particles would constantly move to and from its person making its silhouette fuzzy.

“…prophecy. She must die.” I heard him say to Noirxus in a raspy voice as soon as they were within earshot. It seems as if they were already in the middle of the conversation. But my theory that this guy is after Rascielle became stronger. We are the only ‘she’s he could be after and I haven’t seen this guy before. And besides fighting someone like this is definitely worth twenty diamonds.

“I won’t allow it.” Noirxus said in a stoic voice. With a quick dash, the shadow man’s head flew in midair. And then like a ghost, the shadow disintegrated into nothing.

I waited a minute to emerge from behind the trees, figuring out what I should say to him. I decided to pretend I never heard a thing.

“You can come out now.” Noirxus called turning to look at my general direction.

Okay. So much for feigning ignorance.

Since my cover was blown, I quickly walked to the open lest he think I enjoy sneaking around.

“How long have you been hiding there?” he continued. “I explicitly asked you to stay behind.”

“First, I was not hiding. Second, long enough to see you decapitate the guy or whatever it is,” I answered coolly. “And last, I placed the lady in a barrier so no harm can get to her.”

And then a faint female scream proved me wrong.

“Define safe,” Noirxus retorted before rushing back to the camp.

I immediately followed, evenly pacing beside him. 

A/N: HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!