( Yuuki's POV )
I could feel the power emanating from the prism I had created, but I would have to wait to examine the possibilities this would give to my family, the hooded woman had priorities here.
Yuuki: Well, about that deal you made earlier, turning runes into strength isn't necessary, but you have something I want.
Melina: What would that be?
Yuuki: information, there's so much I need to know about this place and you strike me as the kind of person with their ear to the ground.
In the presentation she made, I found lies mixed with truths, and her true intentions were not being shown, but it was worth working together, Melina regained her composure and maintained a cold expression as she contemplated her next move.
Melina: then I will be happy to impart my knowledge to you, traveler.
Yuuki: My name is Kurosawa B. Yuuki.
Melina: Very well, your mount is not here, in that case, allow me to give you this ring, this will allow you to call a spectral steed named Torrent, treat it well.
Melina handed me a ring-shaped whistle and when I used it, a fully saddled, horned steed appeared out of nowhere much like Melina, I rode Torrent and Melina sat behind me, well she returned to her spectral form but I could see her well and she was behind me, it looked like we were riding together.
Melina: Can you see the guiding grace?
Yuuki: Are you talking about the trail of light that comes from the sites of grace?
Melina: Correct, follow its guidance, and we will make our way to the foot of the Erdtree.
Yuuki: very bold of you to believe that I can follow simple directions.
Melina was a little too serious, so I threw a joke in her direction to get some kind of reaction out of her, but she just stared at me, not that I have anything against serious women.
After that failed attempt, we galloped into the distance, and I used an infinite number of water bullets to stop anyone who got in our way, with that, I remembered to question the kind of magic that was used in this world.
Melina was silent for a few seconds before answering my question seriously, magic in this world was divided into main systems, incantations, and sorceries, Incantations were based primarily on faith and the following of higher creatures and beliefs, not something I'm particularly interested in but maybe other members of my family would be more interested.
Sorcery was a type of magic that was studied and there were different schools that taught different types of spells, they drew their power from a mineral called Glintstone which was thought to be the amber of the essence of the cosmos, this instantly caught my attention because Jinkis and Materia have similar concepts, Materia was like a Sekirei core that could be used by anyone and was an extreme downgrade of a Jinki and I didn't fully understand how Jinkis worked.
I asked where it was possible to learn this power, and she replied that the quickest and simplest way would be to go to the academy of Raya Lucaria, Melina didn't urge me to stay on course despite my clear interest in that topic, but I decided to leave that for later anyway.
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With Melina by my side, I now had someone telling me every time we entered a new area and when we reached a place called Stormhill, I got a little derailed when I heard the howling of wolves, there are countless enemies all over the lands between, but my instinct was telling me that this was different and I listened to it.
The howls led me to an abandoned shack being stalked by a pack of wolves, finishing them off was an easy thing and I walked to the hut where I found a woman with a little red riding hood sitting and muttering to herself, I reached my hand out to her to check if she was okay but as I got closer my hand broke through some kind of invisible barrier.
The woman looked up, and I saw her eyes empty of life, she looked me straight in the eyes and put on a melancholic smile.
Red hood: a child? In these dangerous places, I guess desperation finally made me lose my mind, it was only a matter of time, I suppose.
Yuuki: are you okay? what happened to you?
Red hood: My companions, I lost them all to the terrible spider of Stormveil castle, that thing took their arms and legs and added them to its repulsive body, that would have been my fate too, had it not been for the fact that my companions gave their lives so that I could escape, and now I can only await my end, in this shack, just me and the wolves.
I'm sure there's no shortage of stories like hers in these lands, and there are probably many desensitized by it, but in my case, I couldn't just leave things like that.
Red hood: Maybe I should let the spider take me too, then at least we'll be together again, maybe that will make them happy.
Yuuki: I don't know the people you're talking about, but if they sacrificed themselves for you, they wouldn't like you throwing away what's left of your life.
I put my hand on the woman's head, and tears began to flow, and that silent crying turned into loud crying at one point, I let her release all her emotions and turned to make my way to Stormveil Castle, and I left Thanatos guarding the shack.
Yuuki: Melina, what do you know about this?
I had a neutral expression on my face, but I was a little angry, I don't know why, but just by seeing that woman, a feeling of wanting to protect her grew in me, Melina took note of my reaction and analyzed me for a moment, and then she unleashed her knowledge on me.
But before talking about the creature the red hood spoke of, she released information about the core of the problem, the lord of Stormveil Castle.