As soon as I turned around to check out the sound a rabbit jumped out of the bushes,
[it's just a cute little rabbit, why are you so tense, let us see who catches that rabbit first.] said Freya in her carefree attitude.
even if she said that the uneasy feeling in my heart was only increasing and one thing I learned on the battlefield is to trust my intuition.
[Freya I will give you the first chance you go chase it.] I said making up an excuse to send her away.
soon Freya left with excited cheer, but my focus was now on the silent sounds of bushes that were making me tenser than the rustling sounds.
The place that I am currently in is very far from the hunting area and is regularly kept in check by the local magic-users as well as is a regular place for kids to play, so it is considered safe but today I think some unfortunate event might occur.
and soon my intuition came true red glowing eyes peeked out of bushes searching for its prey, slowly it peeked its head out of bushes, hot air blew from his mouth with the low sounds of howl, slowly it creeped out of bushes staring towards me like his tonight's dinner. oh dear god now even punny wild animals sees me like Food, such a disgrace, but it is not like I can do anything about that I just need to hunt it down and let him repent his sin of looking down on Heaven in his afterlife.
[Come on I was thinking of checking my process, and you get to be this great lord first punching bag] I said as he creeped fully out of bushes
It looked like a sub specifies of a Red-eyed Howler, since it was smaller in size and it had red stripes in its black body which is unlike a common howler, it might be mutated or after these many years it evolved into this, oh it's gonna be exciting.
The howlers are clever beasts and always hunt in a group they never attack anyone who is stronger and never let go of weaker ones, they are the perfect example of the natural order. but the sight before me was truly different, this beast is alone and is quietly observing me. this is truly fascinating. "let's see how it would react to little provocation", thinking that I threw a small knife from my pocket, and as expected it dodged it swiftly, but it still didn't attack me.
This howler is getting more and more interesting, but why is he not attacking. Are his instincts this good that he can tell that he is no match for me? well not bad but now that I am getting bored and that little obstacle of mine is far away chasing that innocent rabbit I can start my attack.
[ Myriad Vission] I said channeling my mana into eyes to activate my myriad vision, the skill I learned when I was unable to walk, not only it shows mana colors based on their elements I can also now guess the power of individual based on the mana that they are emitting,
A common person attracts very less neutral type mana, and after that, the mana density around the person increases based on the number of rings, and after that, with each increase in rank they get a quantitative as well as a qualitative boost of mana, but still, I have not seen anyone having mana as much as my mother when I see her I could almost go blind, not even Aunt Greed has that much mana around her, and she is supposed to be one of the strongest witch as well as guardian witch of this empire.
Meanwhile, this little puppy here has an amount of mana that is about equal to 4 to 5 ring appreciate mage, but on other hand, I don't exclude any amount of mana which is strange as I use mana to activate myriad vision.
As I was busy with my thoughts that sly howler took the opportunity to pounce on me, little did it know I was waiting for this chance, in our little standstill I was already creeping around my knife, and with a roll to right I took the knife in hand and dodged that puppy, now that knife was in my hand I stabbed the leg of that puppy.
[Old hag Greed you can come out now] I said out loud and with that, the howler disappeared.
well as I said I can see mana around the person and each kind of mana has its own unique outlook or shape and the howler emitted the mana of the same kind as that old hag, I call this little trick "mana signature".
[oh you little overaged thing who do you think you are calling old hag, you are more like my great-great-grandfather, you are old hag your whole family is an old hag, your whole descendants are old hag and for the last time I am just over 500 years old. ] said witch of greed appearing in the place from where the howler disappeared.
[so why did you attack me, wasn't our deal that you will not kill me] I said ignoring her rambling.
[I was just testing you, I noticed that you were coming and practicing here daily and despite being heavenly blessed you don't have a shred of mana in you. ] said the old hag.
A normal child first attains blessing at the age of 5 and some royal kids get that before it since they are said to be blessed by mana, and since when I was just a season old I got heavenly blessing instead of a normal blessing by the elder of village in our case this old hag I should have a pseudo core And it is said that after getting blessed a human can start their journey to become Magician based on their talent.
[so you are saying I don't have a shred of mana and thus don't have any talent to become a magician.] I asked that old hag.
[Sorry grandpa, you know the rules I can not tell you anything unless you give me something of equal value, and currently, the answer related to your body is of very high value, and thus until you tell me about your past life there is nothing you have of equal value hah hahaha hhhaaa] said that old hag repeating that same line I have been hearing for past 3 changes.
[But since I tested you today on my own accord and got an ok response I can tell you this that it's time to have "the talk" with your parents.] said old hag.
[Oh so it's finally the time.] I said when suddenly a hand crept on me from behind.
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Alan and Freya are just a season(3 months) different in age.
Alan is 3 change( 3 years) and Freya is 2 change and 3 seasons ( 2.9 years).