Mikael and René went towards the forest, him with an uneasy feeling, René instead humming a light tune as if all this was just a happy trip.
The area warped from the occasional tree and bush to an ocean of densely grown, tall trees.
"This here is even more overgrown than Nodan. Without this pathway it would take ages to go through."
"Instead Nodan is far vaster, more dangerous and unexplored. Here we know what to expect and where the exit is. Except for the cultists, the most threatening creatures are Goblins."
As they went on, Mikael couldn't help but let his eyes dart around.
The looming danger of getting shot made him anxious, only the presence of René soothing his tense nerves.
"You need to be less obvious Mikael. They know we are here and vice versa. We are in here already at an disadvantage. When you don't leave them some sense of superiority or safety, they won't attack until finding the optimal spot. Also, you are a aspiring magician, with a good sense of your surroundings. Use that trait. Before by not even trying you managed to avert a serious wound, now if concentrating they shouldn't really be able to do that."
'He's right. But despite that I can't help it. This is too nerve wrecking.'
Stopping to glance everywhere, but sticking closer to René, Mikael tried to use his mind, getting into a state where he better perceived auren mana. It was even more strenuous than before, but as his control improved, so did his all around ability.
The dark and eerie woods looked now in his eyes a bit less threatening. He didn't know why, but after he used what little he could, his senses got sharper. Noises, smells, colors, touch, sight, awareness. The important bits got better, even making the darkness lighter.
'But this is hard to maintain. Even a little disruption or intense impulse cuts my concentration, and keeping my mind so busy produces a headache.'
He held his head, as after 30 minutes the load of information made him loose focus again.
"Not bad, already using a bit of your mana there. Try to limit the amount you perceive. Noticing a lot is nice, but also nearly useless. Concentrate on the important parts, hearing and sight. For now that should suffice. And take that."
René handed Mikael a small knosp, not bigger than a pebble.
'Oh, know this one. Should soothe headaches and clears the mind, but also produces a slight painkiller effect.'
Without hesitation Mikael took it, chewing on the green ball, looking forward when the effect kicks in.
"Not even gonna ask?" René raised a brow.
"Don't need to," Mikael patted the small booklet on his hip. It had become now a certain part of his equipment, due to the uses and time-killer-effect it has.
"I have my fair small bit of knowledge about plants."
Shrugging his shoulders, René tugged the cart he dragged with him over a large root that grew over the path.
The noises from pans, tools and different objects was quiet loud, despite dampened by the cushion between.
As the wooden wheel jumped over another root, it landed on a rock, which upon contact with the heavy object got flung away, into Mikael's direction.
He, just about to enter his state again, stopped his tracks and bend backwards, seeing the stone cutting through the air, just missing his head.
"Argh, dammit! Needs to happen now, good second hand cart, my ass!" René cursed, and after overcoming the seconds of shock, Mikael saw why.
Bending down to the cart wheel, the wooden tire was broken, not only a spoke, but also part of the wheel itself, missing a fourth.
"Tell me you got an solution for that. Or do we have to take all that with us on foot now?"
"Don't fret it, I purchased a spare. If the other got damaged tho, we'd be screwed." holding up the broken part, René saw that the wood was at that part moldy and brittle.
"Doesn't seem to be the result of termites, so good for us. But now we need to unload this stuff, change the tire and make sure to get everything right. At least they made the small carts with exchangeable ones. Come, give me a hand."
As he got closer, already unloading half the content, Mikael felt once again his hairs stand on his neck. He gave René opposite to him a quick glance, only to see him give a slight signal with his eyes towards a upper direction.
'Are they only watching or want to strike, too? I hope only the former.'
Taking the simple task as support, he concentrated again, his mana and control perceiving everything clearer.
His hopes were shattered as he with his heightened senses heard the sound of a wooden shaft sliding against other wood, as he often heard it from Herald as they fought. Not only one or two, but 5 other instances all around them.
He also noticed an aura reaching out from René, stretching out like a wave in a barely for him perceivable manner.
'What should I do? Hide? Attack? Flee?' In this moment his thought began to race, and without instructions he didn't know what to do.
Again searching with his eyes for René, who again grabbed into the cart, not taking another bag, but a spare sword he had with him.
'Guess we fight.' with this conclusion Mikael felt weirdly relieved. Knowing roughly the position of the assailants, he was ready to charge the instance the arrows got shot.
The silence that lasted only a second was more like minutes, Mikael only waiting for the sound of the shaft ripping against the bow so he could evade by simple moving away, running and fighting the cultist.
'Behind me to the right is one, another more directly facing my back, but his position is farther and higher. I can reach the first much easier, then...' he couldn't finish his strategy, as the awaited action began. Almost simultaneously they both moved, René ducking deeply to the ground, using all his four limps to begin a charge towards the bushes where the attackers hid.
Mikael instead used his hands, used the cart as support and pushed himself out of harms way to the right.
A blink later five almost simultaneous tocks were heard, all in the position where they stood.
Mikael used all his strength to dash, not unsheating his hammer as in this environment its usefulness was limited. Instead the knife on his back could shine. Ignoring the twigs lashing against his face and jumping over roots, he soon found himself in front of the assassin.
He got stared at from the camouflaged person, his hands already holding another arrow from the quiver next to him. Half crouched, they were both on the same height, but Mikael had the advantage of a close range weapon.
Mikael knew from experience hesitating now could spell his doom, so he held his knife with both hands, using his whole weight and momentum, thrusting through the clothes and frail armor of this enemy.
The target himself was thrown backwards, Mikael on top so upon contact he couldn't retaliate, other then only gargling in pain.
Mikael knew the wound he induced wasn't lethal, so he took his knife out again, pinning the grown person to the ground as good as he could as he squirmed in pain, trying to get Mikael away.
The fight was in close proximity, so as Mikael wanted to strike again, he missed the targeted head by inches, falling over the shoulder as the enemy gathered all his strength to throw Mikael off.
Scrambling away, but falling over his own feet the person didn't manage to get away more than 2 meters.
"Arrrgh, help, Bortis!,Arta!,Please!" he pleaded, curling together on the ground, holding his stomach in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
Mikael got on his own feet in time, also nearly tripping as he bend down to grap his knife.
As the assailant screamed for help, it ran down his back.
'No, don't let his calling get to you! He is a human that did terrible things, attacked me and wanted to kill!'
He walked up to the person, knife ready.
He stayed vigilant, as anytime an arrow could come out from the bushes.
While the cultists laid there, holding with one hand the wound, with the other holding onto a root as a support.
Turning over onto his back, Mikael stared now from a superior position in the mix of emotions down into the eyes of his victim.
'I see hate, anger, fear, frustration, pain and denial. All that, more than any creature before did.'
"Curse you! You and your stupid Deity. Not that it can do anything to help. A pure entity of false hopes and useless promises!"
Spitting out these words, the man laughed in hysteria.
"Wait until the mighty one comes down on you, conducting justice upon all man no matter their stand, family or history."
As he talked, Mikael stood there, unsure how to proceed. His hands played nervously with his knife, the tip of his tongue wetting his lips.
'Wo t you just shut up! Don't talk, and don't look at me like that!'
He realized what René meant. A person can talk, implement his thoughts, feelings and ideology into the other, making him consider and overthink.
'But the situation is the same!"
Mikael inhaled deeply, using his will to overcome his doubt.
He kneeled down, holding with his free hand the man's mouth, and in a fluid motion without much resistance cut through the throat. The blood didn't gushed out, but flowed down, calm and steady. The hate filled eyes changed to fear, and the already weakend body tried to push Mikael away, to no avail.
While the life sloy seeped out of him, Mikael noticed again how a bow was drawn, barely able to react due to the close proximity.
He stumbled backwards, just to see he wasn't the target of that attack, but instead the know lifeless body of his enemy, with an arrow sticking where his heart is.
'A finishing shot. And with such precision. These guys are so dangerous.'
Mikael escaped behind a tree, away from the danger of being shot without reacting.
His hands shook uncontrollably, and his stomach was in turmoil. Seeing how the mans life was ended by him, with or without the arrow, the result wouldn't change. It did something with Mikael.
'I can lament later. Now I have to get this done. Or I can't even worry about this. Where is the next one..."