As this leftover night no other attack came, they all had at least a bit of a rest.
More energetic René took the lead again, the others following behind, more or less focused.
Alf and Herald took the rear guard, keeping Mark and Meri in the middle, with Sophia and Leon to the sides.
Their pace was not as fast as before. But as tired as they got even with a little pause no one complained, welcoming this speed.
Mikael was next to René, hesitant to ask questions about his whole new power.
'I don't even know where to begin, it is all too much. Not that I could even think most the possibilities or risks this magic comes with.'
René saw from the corner of his eye Mikael's hesitation, amused by his fidgeting and excitement.
"Calm down first. Nothing will emerge when you try to think of all questions you wanna ask. What is it you want to know most urgently at the moment?"
He asked, stepping over a large fallen tree that blocked their direct path.
Mikael ducked under one of the branches, his hair caught in the twigs but quickly escaped.
After he thought a moment he said:" Why now and me? I felt this energy for a little while, but never did it rush into me like that, nor was it so strong. Even when others emitted their mana, it never made such a impact like you did. How come someone like me is able to become a magician? "
Mikael still thought to feel the rush of mana through his body, the pure and forceful flood of energy foreign to him.
"This can no one really answer you. The requirements to begin with magic are unclear, different from person to person. And so are the means to awaken oneself. A scholar once assumed as every creature has naturally mana in his body, everything could use it. But as you know, there are few magicians."
René stopped for a second, looking around the forest with observing eyes. One of his hands was risen, ordering them to halt.
No one spoke, and Mikael watched as René bent down, stroking over the bark of a tall tree.
Herald also noticed some signs, pointing out to broken twigs and a small bundle of fur that was left.
"The beast comes here more often, maybe it patroled this area or wandered around.
Stay alert, keep a bit more distance to each other so we can't get surrounded too easily. And keep a keen eye to dark corners and caves we might pass. Immediately tell if you suspect something." were the orders told by René, loosening his sword and one hand now constantly on the handle.
As they proceeded through the undergrowth, their group walked even slower, their eyes darting to every small noise they heard.
René took up his sentence:" When we heard and read of you, the missions and reports, we assumed you could have potential, and that was spot on. In this piece of land are far fewer magicians than in the west, so our conditions are looser and we follow smaller trails. Why you tonight could break through the barrier and perceive the Mana inside yourself has many reasons. The simplest were exhaustion, exposure and assistance."
Mikael thought back when he before sleeping began doing simple training, tiring himself out. Or the times the energy was around him, him unaware of it but still perceiving.
"Right, I felt often this energy after comming to this village. From Jenny, woman with the envoy, Mr. Simon, that evolved Goblin..."
"That was most likely the result of an untrained aura. Everyone who practices magic has one or when invoking a spell expels it, even you right now."
Hearing that he himself was now so visible shocked Mikael.
'Of others can feel my presence like I did I'm like a candle in the dark.'
"How can I hide it? Isn't it dangerous for me to be around you when this monster obviously can use magic?"
René calmed him down.
"It's okay, you only started perceiving Mana, not even using it effectively or doing anything. At most when expressing strong feelings you'll show it off, but right now you won't endanger us. Wait till you learn how to utilize mana and weave together spells, then you are a torch drawing in moths.
Also this is among the first things Simon is gonna teach you when we get back. After we two get some lessons together, obviously."
Hearing that the situation isn't so bad for him, he relaxed, thinking about the kinds of magic he might do.
'Casting fireballs, heal nasty wounds or shoot invisible arrows. If that is my future, won't I be pretty awesome? Just with a flick of my finger, and like the Goblin magician hords of enemies fall.'
"That Goblin we took down back then shot out fireballs with insane speed and a strong impact. Can I do something like that, too?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Honestly, it depends on you. We will teach you the proper steps to perform and create phenomena, but also the limitations.
As said before, magic is mysterious, even with decades of research. Some people can do magic better that destroys things, others exceed in healing, and another group can alter reality to an extend. Heck, I met once a demi-beast that used magic not to create something, but on himself, his body. It made him stronger, faster, tougher. A hell of a guy, a good talker but sadly he was killed by an experiment he conducted. Said he'd like to think faster, something about his brain and keeping up. That's why I advice you strongly to abide by the rules. There are reasons for them. Back on topic, find out what is suitable for you, what is more comfortable to do. Maybe you hurl massive fireballs, produce torrents of water, or show illusions to enemies, maybe even create entirely new magic."
'So many ways to do this, and all that is laid out in my future, only to be discovered. Somehow it is scary. What if I realize I can't do anything good, or all I can do is feel mana, but not change the form.'
Thoughts upon thoughts filled his mind, wondering what he might become, might accomplish.
But he soon was interrupted, as René unsheathed his sword, taking a stance ready to clash.
The others behind didn't seem to have noticed anything, slowly reacting after their leader spoke loudly:" Get ready, we might get company soon!"
Mikael followed his example, hammer in hand. As he looked around, searching for whatever was near them, he felt his mana inside him resonating with something.
'Somehow resembles when I felt mana or what René said, aura. But now it isn't like a flash in my mind, more as if my whole body responds.'
Mark helped his companion gently down on the ground, leaning on a tree. Meri might be able to walk, but her condition was still bad. She sweated a lot, could hardly keep in the bit of food she ate and had to rely on Mark's shoulder to traverse the terrain.
"I'll stay by her side. If the monster should target us, don't try and save us. Not if it means endangering yourselves. Rather use this window and strike when it lowers its guard." he said melancholic, viewing their situation realistically.
"Don't know yet if that thing is out target.
Only felt as if something is approaching. And considering that beast knows how to hide itself, either it isn't Tusk Stalker, or another threat."
"Or it wants to lure us into a trap." Leon mentioned.
They all gathered at a perimeter around Meri's spot, not wanting to just let her be attacked in the open.
"We just have to be that lucky, don't we. Another bunch of these stupid Undead?" Sophia complained, seeing how from the distance in her field of view the monsters came, slowly but steadily.
"Guess he wants to divert our forces before it strikes. I can slightly feel its Mana Aura, and it don't seem wanting to hide anymore." René said, and Mikael by his side could vaguely perceive how an aura from him began to emit, likely a result of him using his mana.
Herald had in the back climbed a tree, searching for a good place before taking position, readying his bow and arrow. He narrowed his eyes, looking into the distance.
"I can't make out in this bunch the person you described. And the numbers also are much smaller. But there are bigger animals mixed in, bears, Reptiles, even some large snakes and deerlike Draéns. Didn't know these where even in these woods. Everyday learning something new." he said bitterly. He loosened the thread to a small pouch on his belt, revealing some small round objects in complete black.
He began cursing under his breath again, spitting in the direction of the Undead.
"But the corpse can't have vanished on its own. I bet he managed to turn her, and she is hidden somewhere." she said in their round, asking:' Is that a possibility?"
"Sadly, yes. The more own mana the necromancer injects into his creations, the better their performance gets." he replied, looking to his side where Mikael faced roughly the same way as he did.
"You don't need to fight against this monster right now. Rather help our other companions deal with the Undead, and guard against surprises. Stronger ones emitt a bit of their masters aura, not able to conceal it. So you are their best hope of detecting unwanted Undead."
"Why are you so sure to handle that beast? It is larger, stronger and faster than any of us as I had seen. With this army approaching, shouldn't some of us at least help you?"
"Haha, rare that I get doubted in my abilities.
You know all Adventurer or Hunter got a profile, right? It wasn hard to find out I'd come with you, and also what I'm capable of. In the future improve your information gathering. It is necessary when you want to advance. Trust me, I can at least hold it back, if not force it to retreat or downright kill it."
To underline his words, the next moment Mikael witnessed something amazing, almost too unreal.